As Johnny Cade lay in the lot trying to go to sleep, he was constantly distracted by the pain in his side. It had rained the night before and he had spent the night with the Curtis's. When he left for his house he paid no attention to the mud. That is until he got and got mud on the floor. His mother started to scream at him and that subsequently awoke his father who acted as though his mother hysterics were his fault and began to hammer him. This particular beating his primary focus seemed to be on his ribs. His father went at him which such tenacity he seemed to be on a mission. As it turns out he was. His father hit him until he felt one of Johnny's ribs break and then kicked him out.

So here Johnny lay, in pain and a little cold. It was September. Not quite winter but there was still a chill in the air. He would go over to the Curtis's, but he didn't like to seem needy so he never went two nights in a row.

Dallas Winston was bored. This is something he rarely ever was. Everyone one was busy and he wanted something to do. He would be at Merrill's but he could only stomach his taste in music for so long. Tim Shepard and his brother Curly were both in the slammer. Soda and Steve were out on dates and Two-Bit was sick. He had assumed that the kid was asleep at his house until he walked by the vacant lot and saw a familiar shaped lump. Groaning internally and hoping the kid had just decided to crash here instead of being forced to, he walked to the lot more quickly then he normally would have.

"Hey Johnnycakes" Dally said, "What's up?"

"Just sleeping of a beating" was Johnny's forlorn reply.

Dallas was irritated about how little Johnny seemed to care about how often and without reason he was beat. This lead to his smart ass reply "Well no sleeping beauty is sure doesn't seem to be working". Johnny looked up at him with a slight twinkle in his eye and a slight chuckle. That pleased Dally a little. Damn right he was funny. "So Johnnycakes, what is it this time" he asked trying hard to sound casual instead of angry and helpless. Because of the flood light across the way Dally new it wasn't a black eye or a cut lip. The fact that Dallas couldn't see Johnny's injuries worried him. Dallas knew that the wounds you can't see are always the worst.

Johnny replied "I've just got a broken rib or two".

'Just' was went through his head but he decided not to voice it. The kid was in pain and hated it when Dallas raged on his parents. He would do that later at Darryl's. That's where he decided they were going now. He told Johnny of his plan. He could tell that the kid had some protest but Dallas gave him the look, together Dally being careful not to hurt his ribs they slowly made it to the Curtis's with Johnny leaner deeper and deeper into him with the strain of walking. They quietly walked in knowing the door would be unlocked. Dally gently set Johnny down on the couch and went quickly and quietly to the kitchen and medicine cabinet to get some supplies for Johnny.

When Dally came back Johnny was almost half asleep. He felt groggy from the pain and being up most of the night. Dally came in with much more supplies then he had assumed he would. Not only did he have Aspirin and water for him but he also had medical tape and crackers.

"Crackers" Johnny asked confused.

Dally cracked a knowing smile and replied "trust me; the pain seems worse on an empty stomach".

Dallas wrapped his ribs in medical tape very slowly trying not to bump a rib to hard, after that he made sure Johnny had at least one stupid cracker and was pleasantly surprised when he ate five. The kid was just too damn small. Johnny then took the Aspirin and finished off the water.

"Thanks' Dal" he said, "you're a real good friend".

"Just don't go around telling people that okay kid" Dally said jokingly feeling slightly uncomfortable with the flattery. Johnny gave him one last amused smile before drifting off to sleep.

Dallas decided to stay there during the night, to make sure the kid wasn't in pain. Then in the morning he was going to tell Johnny to come to the Curtis's when he was hurt. Then after that knowing Johnny wouldn't listen he would bitch to Darry about it. He didn't like how everything just seemed to cycle, all he could do was hope for a change and want it to be for the better.