A/N: Okay guys! So here we go with our little adventure. Hopefully it turns out well. Please enjoy and review!

We ran as hard as we could to get to the lot. Dally couldn't go to jail now; he was hurting too much on the inside. The grief of losing one of the only people he's ever truly cared about would eat him alive in prison. Especially since we all knew he would blame himself for not being able to stop Johnny from doing what he did.

Dally knew it would haunt him. He probably could never truly get over Johnny. But even more that that; I don't think I could stand it if he went to jail. He loved Johnny like I did, maybe even more. No one else could really relate to what was happening. Dal and I were the ones who were with him when he died. Everybody else would be mourning, no doubt, but they'd all have the annoying sympathetic looks at me. They knew it hit me harder: I watched my best friend die. Dal could whip them into shape if any of them so much as though of giving him sympathy and would stand up for me too, at least I think he would.

I don't think I could do this if he went to jail. Unless his plan wasn't to get caught. The wheels in my head started turning as I realized what was truly happening: Dallas wanted to die. He wanted to be with Johnny. No! I thought. He can't do that to us, to me. I can't watch two friends die in the same night! I ran even harder. I pulled it from inside me and I ran faster than I ever have before.

The lot came into view as Dally ran into the light of the street lamp. I was twenty feet away from him when he started to reach into his waistband. He's got a gun! It's not even loaded! They'll shoot him! But, thats what he wanted. I ran even harder and straight into Dally at full speed, tackling him to the ground before he even had time to pull out his heater. I pinned both his arms down and sat on his chest, preventing him from getting up. He could easily have shaken me off, but he was too stunned to do anything. I looked straight into his dark eyes. All I saw was a mix fear, adrenaline, and utter desperation. Sweat was running down his forehead, and he was shaking. It made him look half-mad. We were both breathing heavily. The rest of the gang showed up in the background, but I didn't shift my focus; I couldn't.

"You can't do this, Dally. You can't leave. You can't die on me. I can't loose two friends on the same night, and I sure can't watch it happen." I said, a little shakily as I fought back tears. "I loved Johnny too, Dally. I miss him just as much as you do. I can't bear it if I loose you, too. I just can't do it. Just, please, please, don't do this." I realized I was crying and stopped trying to hold it back.

My head suddenly felt like it was made of concrete, but at the same time, I felt light as air. My head was swimming and I couldn't hold it up anymore. Laying my head on his chest I listened to his racing heartbeat and heavy breaths begin to slow.

A sturdy hand fell on my shoulder. Figuring it was Soda, I instantly stood up, only to collapse again into their arms as the tears flowed, unable to be stopped. I felt pitiful for letting the gang see me like this, but I couldn't control it. Only when I heard my brother speak did I realize that it wasn't Soda that was holding me, but Darry. "Pony, it's alright. Dally'll be fine. We'll be fine, okay? We'll get through this." He cooed to me softly as he rubbed my back and held be close.

I just nodded, not sure if I totally believed him. I just lost my best friend. I watched him die. Heck! It's my fault that he was dead. I should have stopped him; should've done something.

Peeling away from Darry, I looked back at Dally, to see what he was doing. He was sitting in the same spot I tackled him in, with his knees up and his head in his hands. I think it probably was just sinking in for him; what he was about to do to himself. It had just barely sunk in for me, if it even had yet.

I was about to bend down and talk to him, but the fuzz beat me to him. They picked him up by the elbows and handcuffed him. He didn't argue. He didn't even have that characteristic smug grin and mischievous twinkle in his eyes that he always has when he's getting hauled away. He just looked broken, defeated. He didn't struggle or argue, or even do anything when the cops put him in the back of the car. I don't think he had the mind to right now.

It was almost painful to watch them drive away with Dallas Winston. It never has been before. He'd always come back a few months later, just the same as he always was. We'd visit him from time to time, especially me and Johnny. But that wouldn't happen this time. He wouldn't be the same Dally we all knew. Johnny and I wouldn't go visit him together. Johnny would've wanted to every single day, he always did, but we never let him. We thought he needed to let Dally be Dally. Dally said he didn't want him to come everyday. 'People would think he was getting soft, with a little babysitter to check up on him everyday.' Dally used to say that every time we told him about Johnny.

I promised myself I would go every day. For Johnny. Dallas and I both needed it. If I wasn't gonna go, who was? And who else would Dally listen to? Or talk to? He needed me. He didn't have anyone else. His parents wouldn't visit him. The gang was his only family. If we traded places I'm sure he'd visit me. And I would at least have Darry and Sodapop if he didn't.

He had no one besides me who truly understood how he felt. I was with Johnny the whole time. When he killed Bob, when we were in the church, when we were rescuing the kids. Dally and I were the last ones Johnny saw before he left. We watched him die. Neither of us can ever forget that, but we have to live with it. Johnny can't come back. I know that now. He was dead. No matter how much I told myself he wasn't, he was still gone. I can't keep pretending that he isn't. One of us has to be strong and accept the reality, not try to get ourselves killed, like Dally did.

I hadn't realized that I had shouted out "No!" while they drove off with Dally. I didn't even feel or hear myself scream, but the rest of the gang did. Darry just came over and put his arms around me again. "It's gonna be okay, Ponyboy. We'll be just fine. It'll all work out. He'll be out before you know it. He always is." He said quietly to me.

I couldn't even respond, I wouldn't know how. Squeezing me tight again, he kissed the top of my head. "C'mon, lets go home." I nodded my head through my tears. Darry let go of me, expecting me to walk back on my own, but I couldn't get my feet to move. I just stared at the road, acting like I could still see him. Could still see Dally's haunted face. Could hear the cops giving him a hard time, calling him by name because he's been in the back of a cop car who knows how many times before. Him, not responding, thinking about Johnny. Maybe crying a little. I couldn't bear the thought of his pain right now.

I took a few steps forward, towards the road, getting faster as I went. I don't know what I was gonna do. Run to the jail? Beg them to let Dally out? I probably would have if Soda hadn't realized what I was gonna do. "Oh, no you don't Ponyboy." He said, as he picked me up, almost with ease. I'd lost quite a few pounds while hiding. I could tell it still wasn't easy for him, though. So Darry came over and took me from him. He cradled me in his arms as I cried. We walked home somberly, no one saying a word.

Darry, Soda, and I walked into the house and Darry carried me to my bed, as I finally got a hold of myself. The rest of the gang had gone back to wherever they were sleeping that night, it always changes with them. Mine and Soda's room seemed almost foreign to me. I knew it hadn't changed though: I had. The bed felt soft, even through the pain.

I kicked off my shoes and relaxed in bed. Soda was in the other room doing whatever while Darry put me in bed. I got under the covers and got comfortable. He ruffled my hair a little bit. "Night, Little Buddy." He said as he walked to the door. I smiled. I loved it when he called me that. He flipped the light off and was halfway out of the room. "Hey, Darry?" I said fast, so he heard and didn't leave the room. "Yeah, Pony?" He replied. "Thanks. For being there for me and all. I couldn't live without you. I appreciate it." I said. I saw him smile through the dim light shining through the door. "I wouldn't wanna be doing anything else, Pony. I love you, Little Buddy." He said, and walked out the door. As soon as I was alone I whispered "I love you too, Darry. I love you too."

My silence and peace were short-lived as Soda bounded in and hopped into bed. He threw his arm around me like always. "Night, Ponyboy." He said, and not very quietly. I don't think he had a quiet mode. I chuckled drowsily. "Night, Soda." And I let sleep pull me under.

A/N: Okay, so what did you think? If you feel like you've read this before, you probably have. I just fixed a few things. This is just the basis for what happened after everything happened. I promise that in a few chapters it will be new material! And if you haven't read it before...what did you think? I'd love to know! And also, I need help coming up with a new name for this story besides "The Alternate Ending" because that's what it used to be, and it's what the first couple chapters are, but soon it will stop being that and become an actual other plot-line. So it may be a few chapters before you can really come up with an idea, but just start thinking! Please R&R! Any advice or criticism is welcome!