Disclaimer: SE Hinton has ownage of characters. Francis Ford Coppala probably has more of a right then I do.

A.N: Victim #1 is set. First in line is…..

Summary: Spin-off of Crossfire in the sky. One by one, the remaining gang dies and joins Dallas and Johnny.


He groaned as his eyes fluttered. Okay, so maybe he shouldn't have had that last drink. His head was pounding. He groaned again and turned on his side, scrunching up into a ball, his eyes shut tightly. He found as he laid there his headache disappeared. Finally, he flopped back on his back and cracked open an eye.

Followed by the other.

He stood staring up at the sky blankly. He blinked.

Then blinked again.

Finally, with a groan he sat up and looked around. It took a moment to realize where he was. This was the lot near the Curtis' house! He stood up quickly, nearly tripping over himself. He blinked hard and looked around.

Wait, he remembered, being in a hospital or something...something. It eluded him at the moment. Unconsciously, he reached up to run a hand through his hair. It came back greased.

What the...? He hadn't really greased his hair in years and if he did, it wasn't with this much. He touched his face. No stubble or beard. He looked down. He was wearing his Mickey Mouse shirt! Granted, he still had several (and various Mickey Mouse accessories but that was another issue) but this was the one he was wearing when he was a teenager.

Okay, now he was really confused.

Two bit Keith Matthews pressed the palms of his hands into his eyes, trying to remember what eluded him. He was sure it was something important. It was a moment before he looked up and looked around the familiar lot, which he hadn't seen in quite awhile. It was a comforting sight at the moment. He gave a small smile before he sighed.

"Now, to figure out…what the heck is going on?" he murmured to himself. But honestly, he had no idea where to start. He seemed at a lost.

Finally he decided to check out the park. So he began walking all the while watching around him warily. Something was unnerving him and it took him awhile to figure it out. He finally did figure it out.

It was quiet.

Almost too quiet.

Two-bit seemed to slip back into that familiar role he had been when he was a teenager. Suddenly he stopped and patted himself down. He paused, a thought catching up to him. Then he ran. He ran until he got to the fountain, which he was thankful that the water was still going. It would serve his purpose. Cautiously he peaked into the water. He lifted a hand and touched his face, and then his hair. He looked at the Mickey Mouse on his shirt.

It was as he thought…he was as he was when he was 18 years old. His mouth opened and for once he couldn't seem to think behind that.


"I'm pretty sure it was around this area", Johnny murmured walking towards the lot.

"You probably can guess better than I can", Dallas snorted.

"That's cause I pay attention", Johnny glanced at the older male with a smirk. He ducked a playful punch by Dallas. Johnny stopped and surveyed the area.

"If this means someone else has died and joined us, I highly doubt they would stay in one place. They might have awaken and walked off. And we have no idea where they went", said Dallas.

"Maybe…if we weren't so far we might have gotten here sooner."

"That how you got to me so fast?" Dallas asked after a moment had passed. The two didn't particularly talk about that night or their deaths much.

"I was at the Curtis' actually, when I saw the tornado light and came to investigate." Johnny answered glancing around, "So I wasn't that far."

Dallas just nodded, looking around. "Hey." He nudged Johnny and pointed to a figure coming from the general area of the park. Said figure stopped and looked around before picking a direction and walking off.

"Is that…?" Johnny asked. Part of him dreaded it because of what it meant yet another part was excited.

"Yeah, I think it is", Dallas grinned and took off running.


Two-bit walked out of the park. Now where to? He still didn't even understand what was happening. How could he be 18 years old again? He was pretty sure it went against all logic. He stopped and looked up the streets before deciding to walk around and hope things would began to make sense.

He hadn't been walking long when he heard running behind him. He turned, his hand going to his back pocket, bringing out his switchblade. He blinked and had to falter to look at his blade. Two-bit hadn't done such a thing in a long, long time. It was just his 18 year old instinct.

"Two-bit…is that you?" came a voice.

Said male looked up and near dropped his blade. His eyes were wide as saucers. "No..no…this…this can't be", he whispered. He stared at his two friends that had been dead for years and they look exactly as they did just before they died.

"Sup." Dallas sketched a salute with a cocky grin.

Johnny smiled before he frowned, "Hey, Two-bit…I know it's weird, but it's us."

"No", Two-bit said gripping his blade and his eyes going flat like it would when he would fight, "It's not possible. You two are dead. Have been for years….."

"We know", Dallas stated. He took a step towards Two-bit who turned the knife on him. "That wouldn't do anything to us", he tried to explain, "I mean…we are dead."

Two-bit just started at the two. Something was coming back to him.

Hospital.

Cords.

Words.

Doctor saying something...

Suddenly he dropped his knife. "Oh my God….I'm dead, aren't I? I'm dead!" he asked.

"Yeah, sorry about that", said Dallas.

Two-bit sunk to the ground, sitting Indian style, his eyes wide. Johnny took a seat next to him and put an arm around him. Two-bit just stared at him. Dallas sat in front of the two. He picked up Two-bit's knife and began playing with it. Silence reigned for the longest while. Johnny dropped his arm and began watching Dallas. Two-bit was lost in his thoughts.

.

.

.

"...I was 46."

"I'm sorry?" Dallas asked looking up as Johnny looked questionably at Two-bit.

Two-bit sighed. "I was 46 years old, when I died and somehow I look like I used to look. You know when I was 18."

Dallas and Johnny nodded as Two-bit continued. "Died of liver cancer…..citrus-toeis or something."

"...Cirrhosis..."

Dallas and Two-bit look at Johnny, with an impressed but amused look. Johnny blushed and shrugged. "I know some things…" he murmured.

Two-bit grinned looking like his old self. "Yeah, I was diagnosed with it a year-ish earlier. I had been sick the past two months. The gang was always visiting when they could. I finally died. I think I went peacefully for the most part. I hope that the gang isn't too worried." He frowned at the thought.

"I'm sure they'll get through it", Johnny tried to comfort Two-bit.

Two-bit nodded. "Yeah…didn't mean to leave so soon but…." He trailed off not having anything else to say.

"They got through us…they'll get through you too", Dallas added.

Two-bit gave a dry grin. "Gee, thanks…."

Dallas flash a grin. "You're welcome."

"Well at least you got a long time to live. What did you say? 46 years old at time of death?" Johnny asked.

"Yep. 46." Two-bit nodded with a small grin.

"And I'm pleasantly surprised you lasted that long." Dallas snorted.

"Well someone had to stay and help keep together what was left of the gang."

"I'm glad." Johnny murmured.

Silence reigned for a bit until Dallas snorted as a thought came to his mind.

Two-bit looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

"You finally drank yourself to death, huh?" Dallas said with a bark of laughter.

Two-bit gave a cheeky grin. "Would you have it any other way?"

Johnny shook his head. "Hey. What about the others?"

"Sodapop and Steve brought the DX and became and still is the popular gas station in town. I actually got a job in a bar."

"What? The world is ending…quick!" Dallas cried in mock horror, "Save yourself Johnny!"

Two-bit jumped on Dallas and wrestled him playfully. Johnny laughed. "Seriously, you held a job, longer than five minutes?"

Two-bit looked up from Dallas in a headlock. "Yep, worked there for 15 years", he released Dallas and settled back down, "Well actually, worked there for five and owned it for 10."

Dallas gaped at him. "Wow, Two-bit you made something out of yourself. I'm impressed." He ducked at swing at him.

"How about Darry and Ponyboy?" Johnny asked his breath catching on his best friend's name.

Two-bit gave a wide smile. "Well, Darry was finally able to go back to college later in life. Got a degree or whatever and became owner of a construction company. He played football in college as a hobby. Ponyboy became a renowned writer since he was in his early 20's…even earlier actually."

"Wow! That's great!" Johnny said ecstatic to hear about his friend's success.

"Yep…once Ponyboy was out of high school and went to college for two years and started making some money officially…he got a house in the country. Invited all of us to live with him. So we did. The greaser/soc conflicted ended officially a few years after ya'll deaths, but we wanted to do something different so we gave country life a try. Like I said, Darry went back to college which Ponyboy paid for his writer money. Pony had to near threaten Darry to go back. Darry didn't want his kid brother to pay his way….but he was finally convinced or rather was threatened."

"Wow! That's so great of Ponyboy to do that."

"Yeah, he was making some money before he was out of high school with his writing, got a scholarship and most of the writing schools wanted that boy, so that practically paid his way. So with some of the money saved from his writing he shipped Darry off of school, partly as a thank you for raising me gift, I reckon."

Dallas and Johnny were grinning at that. "Our boy went on and became somebody…." The former gave a laugh.

Two-bit nodded then sobered, "I think our biggest conflict after ya'll death was that Sodapop was shipped to Vietnam."

"What?" Johnny asked.

"Seriously?" asked Dallas.

"Yeah, the war started and got so bad they started drafting people. It's a miracle that Soda didn't die over there."

"That must have been horrible, especially for Darry and Pony." Johnny lamented.

Two-bit sighed at the memory, "It was…the longest year of our lives…excluding again when you guys died. We almost fell apart. Steve drifted away, I tried to help Darry and Ponyboy as much as I could. Ponyboy barely survived that. But thankfully, Sodapop came back and things went on."

"That's good", Johnny breathed.

"All in all, I think I lived a pretty good life. Woulda been great to get longer to live but its cool…especially since I get to see you two." Two-bit gave a small smirk. Johnny beamed while Dallas gave a smirk.

After that silence followed for the longest as the three reflected on recent events.

A thought suddenly occurred to Two-bit. "Hey, since you two are here and I'm here…do you think we'll meet up with the others someday?"

Johnny smiled. "I do actually."

"Wonder how that happens?" Dallas mused.

"Don't knock it, Dal."

"Who said I was?"

"So what's the dig here?" Two-bit asked.

Dallas grinned. "I think you'll love it,"

"Yeah…do tell", Two-bit returned the grin.

"Well, this place looks exactly like our neighborhood and surrounding area." Johnny explained.

Two-bit's grin dropped a fraction. "Okay…" He couldn't see much point there.

"But there is no one else here but us…and Curtis' parents", Dallas said.

"Wait, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are here?"

"Yep."

"And what do you mean no one else is here but us?"

Dallas rolled his eyes. "What do you think I mean?"

"We have the run of this place. Even on the West side where the Socs lived there is no one." Johnny elaborated.

Two-bit looked thoughtful. "You mean aside from the three of us and Mr. and Mrs. Curtis we could do anything we want?"

"Yep, pretty much."

Suddenly, Two-bit grinned mischievously, "Then I know the first thing I want to do."

Johnny looked a little nervous while Dallas grinned and leaned forward. "What?" the latter asked.

Two-bit leaned in, the devious grin widen if that was possible, "Raid the West side."

Johnny rolled his eyes and Dallas stared at Two-bit. "How come I never thought about that?"

Two-bit and Johnny cracked up at how indignant Dallas sounded. Two-bit snatched his blade that he was sure was no more for show then anything and jumped up. Dallas and Johnny followed suit.

"Let's go…we got work to do!" Two-bit cried as he took off to the West side followed by his two friends. He really hoped that what Johnny said was true and one day the gang would be reunited again. He'd look forward to it.

TBC….


A.N: Yay, Two-bit rejoins the gang! One down and four to go.

Wonder who's up next for the chopping block? Any guesses?