Hi everyone! Due to input from my readers I have decided to try my hand at a sequel to Just How Far a Brother Will Go. The title just came to me one day and I've decided to see where it will take us.

This story's format won't exactly be like its predecessor but more like snapshots of important events after Ponyboy is rescued and what he and his family and friends go through. I hope everyone enjoys and I would love tons of feedback! Happy reading

Disclaimer: I own nothing from the Outsiders. However characters like Detective Kendall are uniquely mine.

Chapter 1

Ponyboy Curtis slowly opened his blurry eyes and blinked sluggishly in the morning light streaming in from the open window. The lanky teenager sat up with a wince and waited for the world to stop spinning around him.

The room he shared with Sodapop didn't look any different than it had six weeks ago on the day he had been taken by Daniel and his bang of creeps and yet everything seemed to have changed to Pony. The walls seemed to be closer than before and the light was always brighter, so bright than it took every ounce of his strength to get out of bed every morning.

Two weeks. That was how long he had been back at the Curtis house after two weeks of sitting in a dirty old shack and then the resulting two weeks in the hospital getting taken off the damn drug he had gotten partially addicted to during his time as Daniel's guest. Was his life ever going to just be normal?

Ponyboy had lost Dally and Johnny the year before and now he seemed just as lost as they were. He was going through the motions but sometimes Pony wondered if he really was still alive. Everything was just too different.

The door cracked open and Soda's golden head popped around the corner. A large grin split his face when he saw Pony sitting up in bed and he entered the room with a glass of water in one hand.

Soda sat on the edge of the bed and offered the glass to Pony. His younger brother reached out and took it, bringing it to his lips and letting a little slid in and down his throat.

Soda studied his brother as he drank. Pony had always been pale but now color just didn't seem to ever stay in his skin and he was constantly clammy and sweaty. Sodapop had foolishly thought that after they had rescued Pony everything would be ok but he was beginning to realize that things were very far from perfect.

"Shouldn't you be getting ready to go to work?" asked Ponyboy, staring down at the cup.

Shaking his head, Soda answered, "It's early. I still have time."

The middle Curtis brother continued to observe his listless brother. "Did you have another bad dream?" he asked softly.

Ever since the day Ponyboy had been rescued from the shack completely high he had been having horrid nightmares. Only these dreams weren't like the ones he had had when he was younger and could never remember. No, these he always remembered very clearly. It was always dark and the images of his drug induced visions of his parents haunted the corners.

Some nights Soda had to shake Pony for several minutes and call out his name before the boy was able to pull himself away from that horrid world.

Pony just shrugged which Sodapop of course took as a yes. He reached out hesitantly and placed a hand on Ponyboy's shoulder. Pony finally looked up at him and Soda murmured, "It's going to be ok, baby. You know that don't you?"

Turning to look into the too bright sun, Pony shrugged again. "Sure," he answered, "Of course I know that."

Soda smiled tiredly. "Liar," he thought. Of course he couldn't blame Pony though. Sometimes not even Soda himself believed it. Only the certainty that he wouldn't be able to live without his little brother kept him fighting for the day when everything really would be alright.

"Come on you," Soda said, pulling Pony gently to his feet, "Darry should have breakfast ready for us by now."

Pony scrunched up his nose, "He should be getting ready for work too."

Darrel Curtis looked up and smiled as his two younger brothers entered the kitchen. He had just put three plates of food on the table and he motioned for them to sit.

The two oldest Curtis brothers watched Pony carefully as he pushed the eggs and toast around his plate, not eating very much of it having already finished theirs.

Pony felt a dull sense of indignation at their scrutiny and looked over at the clock. "If you both don't get going soon you're going to be late," he said.

Soda jumped to his feet with a curse and proceeded to run off to find his shoes. Darry, however, was not so easy swayed.

"Are you sure you're ok staying by yourself during the day?" he asked.

Rolling his eyes, Ponyboy answered, "Of course I'm sure. Two-Bit and Steve always come over for a while. I'm not finishing the school year since it's almost over now anyway so there really isn't anything I can do that would get me into trouble."

"Right," called Soda as he hopped back into the kitchen still putting on one of his shoes, "Because quite honestly you've been in enough trouble to last you a lifetime Pony."

Pony snorted and Darry finally got up to go and find his own shoes. A few minutes later the two Curtis brothers were at the door and ready to leave.

"You're sure you'll be ok?" Darry asked one more time to Pony who was still at the table with a nearly full plate of food.

Pony rolled his eyes in exasperation and waved at them to get going. Soda kissed the top of this head on his way past and said, "Finish your breakfast baby."

Then they were gone and Pony was alone in the kitchen. He looked around at the pale walls and the unbearable light that streamed in through the windows. Getting up, Pony yanked the shades tightly closed.

He went back to the table and forced a couple more bites of food down his throat. Then he proceeded to stand up and took the plate over to the sink. Ponyboy stared down at the half full platter and then dumped its contents down the sink, making sure to rinse the basin out to leave no trace. Placing the plate on the counter, Pony walked back to his bedroom.

Review please everyone!