Ages:

Darry: 24

Two-Bit: 22

Soda: 21

Steve: 21

Dallas: 21

Johnny: 20

Pony: 18

Curly: 19

Tim: 22

Part2 – There's a new cop in town

Two days later

Two-Bit, Steve, Pony and Johnny were at the Dingo, Soda and Darry had to work and no one knew where Dallas was. But not long after they arrived Dallas came walking.

"What's up Dally", Steve said while he was leaning against his car.

"Hi Steve your car looking really sharp today", Dallas said. "New paintwork?"

"Yeah and I've fixed the engine too. She's purring like a kitten. Let's take her for a spin sometime."

"Yeah I take you up on that", Dallas said as Marcia came towards them.

"Well hello beautiful", Two-Bit said and threw an arm around her. "What do we got here a little college student."

"And what do we have here if not a big hobo", Marcia joked.

"How have ya been Marcia", Pony asked.

"Oh, just good thank you Ponyboy. How are your brothers?"

"Still working."

"Is Soda still as cute?"

"Aw Marcia babe", Two-Bit said and pouted. "What do ya won't Soda for when ya got me?"

"I was just asking honey", Marcia leaned her head on his shoulder. "Ya know you're my knight in shining armor."

"Aw", the others teased.

"Shut up", Two-Bit said and swung towards Steve who stood the closest. He and Marcia had gotten real close in high school and still held contact.

"Hey greasers leave the poor girl alone", a voice yelled and they turned to see three socs calling from their car.

"Oh yeah and what are ya gonna do if we don't", Dallas said and lit a cigarette. "And what is that lame excuse for a car ya drive."

"Lame", the socs who owned the car yelled. "You're just jealous 'cause you don't have wheals."

"Oh yeah", Dally said and smirked. "Steve?"

"Yes Dallas my man", Steve said and came up to him.

"What about taking ya car on a spin right now? I bet it's faster than these loser's." Dallas flipped the cigarette towards the red Corvette.

"Man if you just did what I think you did I'm gonna rip your head off", the socs said and climbed out of the car.

"Aw it's just ashes", Marcia said.

"You wanna race greasers", the socs said and Dallas turned to Steve.

"It's fine with me", Steve said and threw his keys to Dallas.

"Okay", a greaser name Josh said as the both cars lined up. "First car to 'haunted hill' wins. Go!" (I made that plays up...)

The cars took off and pretty soon the greasers were in the lead, with Dallas behind the wheel and Steve's upgraded engine it was no surprise.

"Yahoo", Two-Bit hollered. But their happiness was short lived when a police car came up behind them.

"Aw man", Pony sighed and Dallas stopped the car. The socs stopped three meters behind them. The police car stopped in front of them and a single officer came out.

"Oh shit", Steve thought as he saw Marcus coming towards them.

"Well gentlemen", he said and took out a notebook. "It went a little fast there."

"Sorry officer we were just having some fun", Dallas said and smirked.

"Well at that speed your fun could endanger not only yourselves but others too", Marcus said as he eyed the greasers. "I'll let you pass with a warning."

"What", the socs yelled in anger and the greasers stared at each other as Marcus walked up to the socs that were protesting loudly.

"Is there a problem gentlemen", he asked the socs.

"You can't just give them a warning!" the owner of the car yelled.

"Oh and why not?"

"Look how fast they went!"

"And you went almost as fast", Marcus said.

"But… But they're greasers!"

"So?"

"So you should give them a ticket for fuck's sake."

"Oh really."

"Yeah!"

Marcus walked back to Dallas wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to him. The socs laughed but stopped when Marcus came back to them and handed them two papers.

"What's this", the socs asked.

"You also went over the speed limits son", Marcus said softly. "So here's your ticket for speeding and this is for the left brake light. It's not working." Marcus then waited until the socs was gone before he left himself.

"How big ticket did ya get Dall", Johnny asked and leaned forward.

"Nothing", Dallas said and handed them the piece of paper. On it was written: "Great race."

The greasers, except from Steve broke out laughing as they started to drive towards the Curtis house. Steve didn't like this; he knew his brother could get in trouble and that he tried to pay back for everything he'd missed.

The next couple of days Marcus Randle or officer Marcus as he became known busted more socs for things they'd done and just sometimes when they were innocent. He arrested some greasers too but not as many. Everyone in town liked the new police officer and Darry was actually eager to meet the man. He knew it wouldn't take long until the man came by with one of the boys in the gang.

"I tell ya Dar", Pony said at the dinner. "Officer Marcus is the best cop in the world! The other day he arrested a socs for assaulting him but when Two-Bit joked with him he didn't do anything."

"What did the socs do?" Darry asked not looking up from his food.

"He hit Officer Marcus on the arm."

"Ah that's why he didn't arrest Two-Bit 'cause he just joked with him."

"Yep", Two-Bit said and smiled. "Man Officer Marcus is hated by all socs and loved by all greasers." Steve snorted from the living room where he and Dallas were watching TV. "Well almost all greasers."

"Yeah", Jonny said and swallowed the last of his mashed potatoes. "Hey Steve ya must be the only greaser in town that doesn't like him."

"Yeah why is that", Two-Bit swung his chair around so he could watch Steve. "Damn even Tim and Dallas like him."

"I just don't like the guy", Steve grumbled. Soda was the only one knowing Marcus was his older brother, well Tim, Curly, Angela and the munchkins knew too. But the Sheppards were not gonna say anything, it would ruin their reputations if it came out their cousin was a cop.

"What is there not to like", Pony asked.

"A lot…"

"Aw come on Stevie", Soda said cheerfully. "Lighten up!"

"Hey let's go to the Nightly Double", Dallas suggested.

The gang agreed and went.

When the movie was over the gang was walking down the road when a police car came up.

"Hey you", the officer yelled as the car stopped.

"Hey you", Dallas called back.

"Who me", Two-Bit asked.

"Who", Soda said.

The officer left the car and they saw it was Officer Marcus.

"Well hello there Officer Marcus", Dallas said smugly.

"You", Marcus said and pointed at Steve.

"What do ya want", Steve asked nonchalantly.

"I wanna talk to you."

"But what if I don't wanna talk to you?"

Officer Marcus sighed, took off his hat and scratched his head.

"So you are the infamous Officer Marcus", Darry said and stepped forward. "Nice to meet ya I'm Darrel Curtis."

Marcus took Darry's outstretched hand.

"Nice to meet you too Darrel. No if you'll excuse me I have to talk to Steve."

"No you don't", Steve said and started to walk away.

Marcus walked after him and grabbed Steve's collar.

"Hey what's the big idea", Steve protested.

"I told you I need to talk to you."

"So? I don't wanna talk to you. Stop following me!"

"What's going on", Darry asked and crossed his arms.

"Nothing", Marcus said friendly. "I just need to talk to Steve here."

"How many times do I have to tell you", Steve growled and stomped down on Marcus foot and his older brother let go of his collar with a yelp. "I don't wanna talk to you!" Steve took off down the street.

"Shit", Marcus said and went back to his car and drove after him.

"Soda", Darry asked his younger brother.

"Yeah Darry?"

"Do you know what that was all about?"

"Nope", Soda said and shrugged and they continued walking. "No idea."

While the gang walked back to the Curtis house Marcus had stopped his car right in front of Steve, cutting off his escape.

"Are ya nuts you almost ran me over", Steve yelled at him.

"I told you I need to talk to you", Marcus said annoyed.

"What do ya want?"

"Get in the car", Marcus said and opened the door to the passenger side and Steve, though a bit hesitant climbed inside and Marcus drove off.

"Okay what do ya want", Steve grumbled.

"I wanna meet the munchkins."

"So can't ya just drive back to the school and meet them?"

"Ya know the policy Steve. No one other than pupils or school personal is allowed inside."

"So what do ya want me for?"

"I need you to help me get inside. You've done it before."

"Fine I'll help…"

"Good and one more thing."

"What?"

"Who is the guardian of them?"

"I am."

Marcus hit the car's brakes so abruptly that if Steve hadn't gotten the seatbelt on he would have flown out the windscreen.

"Geez man you almost gave me a whiplash", Steve grumbled. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"You can't be serious?"

"Huh? Okay maybe not a whiplash but…"

"Steve I mean that you're their guardian!"

"Why not? As soon as I turned 18 I took 'em."

"But… but…"

"What? I've basically been their guardian since they were born!" Steve felt anger flare up in his chest. "Why are ya asking?"

"Uh… I was just shocked that's all."

Steve huffed and crossed his arms. "When do ya wanna go?"

"I was planning on going after my shift is done."

"When is that?"

"In ten minutes."

"Okay fine", Steve grumbled. "Drop me off home and then come and pick me up… I gotta call Soda and tell him were I'm heading so he and the gang won't worry."

"What about your work?"

"I live at my boss' house hello I told you this!"

"Right… Eh I just forgotten", Marcus started to drive again.

"For a smart guy you are very absentminded. "

Marcus chuckled.

"So you have no idea what's up with Steve", Darry asked Soda for the hundredth time.

"I told you that Darry", Soda sighed. "I don't know why he doesn't like Officer Marcus."

"If he gets in a feud with him it will end badly for all greasers", Dallas grumbled. "We gotta knock some sense into him."

"Ya really think that's an good idea", Pony asked.

"Ya are probably right..." Dally grumbled. "It would burst my knuckles..."

Suddenly the phone rang.

"I get it", Two-Bit shouted and answered the phone. "Oh hey man did Officer Marcus catch ya? Aw come on Steve don't be like that."

"Give me the phone Two-Bit", Soda snapped and took it from the older man. "Hello. Yeah… Okay I understand. What?! Oh well I guess it's obvious… Yeah ya too man. But Steve seriously it might not be as bad as…. Yeah I get it. Okay see ya bye. Oh and say hello to the munchkins from us okay?"

Soda put down the receiver and turned to see the confused faces of the others.

"What", he asked.

"Is something wrong with the munchkins", Dallas asked. The gang hadn't known Steve's siblings for long but they still had a protective thing about them. The same went for Ponyboy, he was the kid but the twins were the munchkins. The older members of the gang had gotten a little sister and another little brother and Pony was happy he wasn't the youngest anymore.

"Nah Steve is just gonna go see them", Soda said and plopped down in the armchair. "No biggie."

"You sounded a bit shocked there", Darry pointed out. "What was that about?"

"Oh nothing… Steve just said something stupid."

TBC