A/n: I do not own S.E. Hinton's book, The Outsiders, nor am I receiving any profit from this story. I do not own the song Where Do the Children Play?, written and performed by Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam).

This story is a tie-in, though not a parallel, with my earlier fic, Intervention. Enjoy! Reviews and concrit are love!

Well you roll on roads over fresh green grass,
For your lorry loads pumping petrol gas,
And you make them long and you make them tough,
But they just go on and on, and it seems that you can't get off.

"Hey, big guy, watch it, willya?"

"You oughtta watch out yourself, Thompson. You're gonna knock the poor kid off the roof if you don't watch out," Jimmy said.

"Might as well," Thompson murmured. "Kid shouldn't be workin' this hard. He should be looking for a date or somethin'."

Darry turned to his co-workers after regaining his footing. Thompson really did almost knock him over. "Hey, dickheads, you know I can hear y'all."

"Good." Thompson grunted and got up to look for a missing nail. "Then get out of here. We'll cover for you. It's Saturday, kiddo. Take the day off."

Darry shook his head. He knew he should be taking his friend's favor with glee, but he just couldn't. Despite the knots in his back, the calluses on his hands, and the sunburn on his neck, Darry was just as stubborn as he'd been in high school. Besides, he wouldn't go home just yet. It was too quiet there without Sodapop. Sure, Pony was there, yes, but it just wasn't the same. No matter how close he and Pony grew, it would never replace what Soda had been to the both of them.

"Kid, what's it to you? We're almost done anyway. We'll fill in for ya, you ain't losing anything. Get outta here. Thompson and I don't care where you go, but just stay away from here until Monday. Okay?"

Darry sighed. "Either of you have a cigarette?"

Jimmy grinned. "If I give you one, will you go?"

"Yeah, sure. I just need something to help me out."

Jimmy lit a cigarette and handed it to Darry, giving him a nice shove away from the construction site at the same time.

As Darry reached the ground, he heard Jimmy's low voice talking to Thompson. "Lordy knows that kid does need some kind of help."

Darry cringed as he heard Jimmy's words hit him. Charity. He wasn't no fucking charity case and he certainly didn't need anyone's sympathy, especially not bums like Jimmy Larson and Peter Thompson. He sighed and took a long drag on his cigarette. The smoke hit his throat with a surprising rush and Darry was thrown into a coughing fit. There went his good health record. Some little punks were laughing at him across the street and Darry glared over at them. What did they know? He doubted they'd ever worked a day as hard as he was having in their life. Plus, he doubted any of them ever got action. If they had, would they be over there, pointing and laughing at his misery? No, he thought not.

Oh, who the hell was he kidding? He hadn't even gotten to second base in months, let alone gotten enough rest to try. For twenty-four years old, he hardly had an excuse to be too stressed. The bastards over at social services were virtually gone since Pony would soon be eighteen; the mortgage was finally paid, and Pony had his track scholarship to college. Things were actually looking up for him. A recent raise had given Darry enough to put away for both him and Pony, and there was always the money that Soda had made in the army, but for now he'd have rathered they didn't have any of that money.

Darry sighed and took another drag on his cigarette. This time it was better and he actually felt relieved. Smoking didn't help everything, but it at least took some weight off of his shoulders. Now if someone could just block the sun out. He'd put at least half a bottle of sunscreen on his neck and arms before leaving the house, and yet they were still burnt to a crisp at the end of his shift. Well, this just sucked royally. He guessed he'd walk on over to Two-Bit's, see if he was off of work. (Two-Bit had finally gotten a job as a waiter, which was perfect for him. Customers loved him, the cooks loved him, and his boss couldn't get enough of him, though Darry couldn't imagine how. Sometimes Two-Bit got on his last nerve)

Right about now Darry really was regretting allowing Ponyboy to borrow the truck. It was scorching hot out and mosquitoes were biting into him like he was the last supper. The Mathews' place was luckily only a block away, so Darry kept on trudging, despite the desert-like heat. Darry took a deep drag on his half smoked cigarette and exhaled. Half a block left. He kept on walking, counting his steps as he did. Quarter left. Inhale, exhale.

Finally, he was there. Jesus, it was about time! His shirt was soaked through, and even if Two-Bit wasn't home, Peggy made sure to let Steve, Pony, and Darry aware that they were welcome any time, any day. He opened the screen door and poked his head in.

"Hello?"

No one answered and Darry let himself in. Sweet Jesus, what a relief. It was at least fifteen degrees cooler in there than it was outside. Again, Darry hollered and heard something move upstairs. It couldn't have been Peggy, he was sure. She was working at the factory during the day. Perhaps it was Anita, Two-Bit's little sister. But if Darry knew Anita, she was probably out with her friends, like any other sixteen year-old would be.

"Hello?" Darry said, a bit louder this time.

A muffled response came, finally. "Who's there?"

"It's Darry."

A few moments later he heard heavy footsteps plod down the stairs. It was Two-Bit. He could tell just by the loudness of his steps.

"Well, hey there. Long time no see, Dar." Two-Bit grinned and Darry smiled a little. He couldn't stand the sonofabitch sometimes, but other times he just couldn't help but smile around him.

"It's only been a week, Two-Bit."

"A week without seeing my favorite oldest Curtis brother! That counts for something."

"Sure, Two-Bit, sure." Darry followed Two-Bit's lead and went into the kitchen. Lucky for Two-Bit, he lived with a nearly neurotic cleaner, and Peggy insisted on a clean kitchen, even if the rest of the house lay in disarray. He took a seat at the table while Two-Bit rummaged through the ice box to find something to drink. He came back with a bottle of beer and a glass of milk.

Darry cocked his eyebrow in question. "Milk and beer?"

"Beer's for you," Two-Bit grunted, sitting down. "I'm laying off for the next week or so. Kathy says she ain't talkin' to me until I do. Funny thing is, I'm hardly ever drunk. She just don't like that I drink on weekends. I got the right to, don't I?"

"Sure, whatever you say." Darry took a church key from his pocket and opened the Budweiser. He took a sip and sighed. What a relief to drink something other than crummy tap water from the work site.

"How's it going for you?"

"Horrible," Darry said. "My back aches something terrible and they're talking about laying off a few workers since there's talk of recession."

"Shit, really?" Two-Bit looked genuinely concerned. "What'll you do if they lay you off?"

"Find somewhere else to work, I 'spose. I can always pick up more hours at the warehouse."

Two-Bit sighed. "Well, you know, I'm always willin' to help and all if you need it."

"Yeah, thanks, buddy."

The two sat in silence for a few moments, drinking. Darry ran a hand through his hair and wished he really could go to the Mathews' for help. He had no idea what to do if he did get laid off. Going to Peggy would be unfair. She was working hard enough to make ends meet for just Two-Bit and Pat, let alone help him and Pony out. Steve wasn't much help, either, seeing as he had hardly seen Steve since he and Evie officially got back together.

Two-Bit apparently sensed Darry's unease and spoke up once more. "How's everything on the dating front? Getting any action there?" His friend tried to smile, but it looked all too forced.

"Nah, not really. I haven't seen many interesting girls around the factory or any of our work sites."

"We gotta get you some action." He tisked and smiled. "I know what! Peggy's always looking to take on some new project. She knows this girl, Martha something. Maybe she can set you two up."

He laughed. Since when did Two-Bit care about who Darry did or didn't date. Maybe Two-Bit was becoming his own mother. "All right, Mother Mathews. Just who is this girl?"

"Aw, come on. Be fair, man." Two-Bit laughed. "She's real nice. Pretty, too."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, she's got real nice red hair, and she's real tall."

Darry sighed. "I wish I could, man, but I dunno. I've got too much on my mind right now. Maybe another time?"

"Dar, I'm starting to worry about you. You need to get yourself laid."

"Two-Bit, I've been laid plenty of times. That's not the problem. I've just got things on my mind, you know?"

"Okay, fine. You need to get yourself laid again. I'm starting to think you're asexual or something. Even Ponypunk's outdoing you... So to speak."

Darry sighed. "Maybe you're right. I guess I should find someone, you know?"

"Yeah, well, I'll talk to Peggy. She likes being a matchmaker and all."

Darry was quiet for a few minutes, and, finally to break the silence, said, "What time is it?"

Two-Bit shrugged and glanced at the wall clock. "Near five. Why?"

"I dunno, I guess I'll get goin', though. Maybe make dinner and see if Pony's home. I'm not working at the warehouse tonight, anyway. They hired a few new guys, so I'm not needed for the week."

"All right, man. See you later."

Darry smiled. It was a sad, even forced smile and both he and Two-Bit knew that. Neither of them wanted to say anything about it, though. Some things were just better left unspoken of.

He walked out of the Mathews', back into the sweltering heat and began his trek home. The distance from their houses was less than a mile, but in this heat it felt more like ten miles. He really needed to get out of all of this self-pity bullshit, but right now, just wallowing in it seemed better than nothing.

He almost wished Two-Bit would set him up with that girl. He knew it'd never happen, it was just a kind gesture, but he still wished it could happen. Two-Bit had his own problems, though, like mending a relationship with Kathy that was hanging on by a string.

Two more blocks and he'd be home. Right now, that was all he wanted to do. He wanted to pass out on the couch and sleep, or maybe have a couple of beers and another smoke. Maybe even read a book and find a movie to catch. He hadn't been to a picture in months, and he really did miss it. Yeah, sure. That's what he'd do. It wasn't much, but it was something to do.

"Hey, Darry. You home?"

Shit, was Pony home already? Darry opened his eyes and then immediately covered them with his arm to shield them from the bright lamp he'd left on. "Yeah, I'm in here." His voice croaked and Darry wondered how long he'd been asleep. "What time is it?"

"Seven. I just got home."

Darry opened his eyes and sat up. "Yeah? What'd you do?"

"I was out with Terry and Douglas."

"Douglas? Bryon Douglas?" Pony nodded.

"I always liked Douglas, even if he was kinda stuck up... Oh, hey, want to see if there's a movie playing later tonight? Check the paper or something?"

Pony grinned. Damn, he looked like Soda just then. "Like a date or something?"

Darry threw a pillow at his brother. "Shut up." He grinned.

Pony laughed and threw the pillow back at Darry, then darted out of the room before Darry could react. "Oh, you're dead meat, kid!" He heard laughter from the other room, picked up the pillow, and ran after his brother. Apparently, though, his brother had been much more prepared, because as he rounded the corner into the kitchen, he saw Pony brandishing the handle of a wooden spoon toward him.

"En garde!"

"Oh, Christ." Darry laughed and jumped out of the way to avoid being prodded with his brother's weapon of choice. He reached blindly behind him and grabbed the nearest kitchen wear. It turned out to be a cutting board, which he held as a shield in his right hand, and hit with the pillow in his left.

"Oh, you cheater," Pony shouted.

"You didn't call no shields."

The fight lasted for a good half hour, and when the two finally finished at a draw, they collapsed on the couch, both laughing and breathless.

"I really gotta cut back on how much I smoke. It's amazing I can even run still."

"You sound like an old man, kiddo."

Pony chuckled. "Well, I guess I'm mature for my age."

"Right." He reached over for a newspaper, which, during the fight, had been discarded and stepped on and now lay in tatters on the ground. He opened it and flipped to the entertainment section. "Want to see the 8:30 for the new James Bond?"

"Sure. What other movies are out?"

"Um...Willie Wonka, Harold and Maude, and, uh, something called A Clockwork Orange."

"As much as I'm tempted to watch Gene Wilder dance around in a kid's movie, let's go with James Bond."

"Good choice," Darry said. "But we're driving. No way am I going back out in that goddamned heat."

"'Course. It's terrible outside."

Darry lifted himself off the couch and grabbed a pack of cigarettes and the keys.

"You smoke? I never knew that."

"Occasionally. Today was my first time in a year or so. I just did it at parties to show off in high school." He made his way toward the door and clapped Pony on the back. "Today was the first time for a few things." And hopefully tomorrow will be better... Darry thought to himself. Hopefully.

Oh, I know we've come a long way,
We're changing day to day,
But tell me, where do the children play?