I do not own The Outsiders. All characters used, are borrowed with respect to S.E. Hinton. Many thanks to you that read and review. Cheers!

It was late when my feet dragged heavily up the steps to the porch. It was ten-thirty; sixteen hours of carrying roofing up ladders, pounding nails under the hot beating sun, and then off to the lumber yard to stack and stock. I was tired and I was sore and was relieved to finally be home, even knowing I'd have to repeat the day over and over again until well into the next week.

I caught the screen door so it wouldn't slam, and expected my brothers to be in bed for the quietness that blanketed the house. Our house never seemed to be quiet before a year ago. The TV was always on too loud with the stereo blaring, and at least two people were wrestling if not the entire gang; tipping over chairs or breaking tables. Everything had changed. We all changed.

My tool belt hit the top of my boots once I managed to kick them off, and I made my way into the living room where I was shocked to find Steve Randal on the sofa watching the television on low with my youngest brother's bare feet in his lap as he was lying asleep. The hand that Steve had resting on Ponyboy's ankle quickly left as he realized I was in the room, but he didn't make to move Pony's feet.

"Hey," I looked around the living room cautiously as I greeted Steve.

"Yo," Steve answered quickly as he straightened out on the sofa, still leaving Ponyboy asleep and undisturbed.

"Everything alright?" I still felt like a bomb was about to go off, or hell was about to freeze over with the oddness of the picture in front of me.

Steve gave a slight nod as he stared intently at the television, trying to ignore me, and I felt my jaw drop briefly before I consciously closed my mouth.

"Oookay," I spoke under my breath, still a little weirded out as I made my way to the kitchen to put my lunch kit away and grab a quick bite to eat before going to bed.

"The kid made up a cold plate for you. Check the ice box." Steve walked into the kitchen, and I'm sure by the look on his face, I was still looking at him strangely. "What?" He asked irritated.

I raised my hands and shook my head in response. It was clear that Steve wanted to pretend he wasn't caught red-handed being decent and downright tender with Ponyboy, and I was too damned exhausted to fight with him at the moment, but it all still left me with one burning question.

"Where's Sodapop? He go to bed without Pony? That ain't like him." I commented as I opened the ice box and smiled gratefully at the cold plate Ponyboy had managed to put together for me.

"Out. Didn't say where. That peckerhead made me help, just so you know." Steve motioned to the platter of food I was holding, and I rolled my eyes as I shoved a piece of carrot in my mouth.

"Whadaya want, a medal?" I asked dryly as I chewed, ravenous due to the fact that I hadn't eaten in nearly eight hours.

"His hand is pretty fucked up. Leg too. How the hell is he gonna manage school? You think I'm gonna carry him around, you're fuckin' crazy."

"Is there something I can do for you?" I interrupted.

Steve looked at me blankly. "Huh?"

"Why are you even here, Steve? Where's Two-Bit? Lookin' after Pony's never really been your style. What are you doin' here?"

"Soda asked me. Said he had something important to do. Wasn't a big deal." Steve shrugged, and I watched him carefully for a while before nodding.

"How'd it go?" I asked as I continued eating the supper Pony had managed to make for me; with the help of Steve.

"He's alive, ain't he? You oughta keep a better eye on him anyways. Damn kid hustled me outta three bucks."

"Poker?" I chuckled as I rolled up a slice of ham and took a bite.

"Gin." Steve answered shortly as he got up from the table in a huff.

I gave a wholehearted laugh as I remembered how mom and Ponyboy would spend hours at the table playing gin rummy. They played so much, I wasn't sure who was the better player, but one thing was for certain, no one else in the family was stupid enough to take either one of them on. They were in a class of their own. It gave me comfort to know Ponyboy had retained this small part of his past, especially at Steve's expense.

"Your fault." I'm sure I was beaming at the thought of Ponyboy handing Steve's ass back to him at cards.

"My fault? How ya figure that, muscles?"

"You underestimate him. Always have." I shook my head and finished that slice of ham.

"Well, he can take a beating like nobody I ever seen, so…" Steve looked at me cautiously to see if I was taking offence, but in a way he was spot on. "You're probably right. Anyways, me and Soda gotta work early so I better split."

"Thanks, Steve." I mumbled as he headed out of the kitchen and for the front door.

"Yup," I heard him answer before the screen door slammed behind him, and I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

I shoved another piece of ham in my mouth while I quickly got up and peered into the living room to make sure Ponyboy was still asleep. He looked so young to me in spite of the fact that he was now fifteen. His face was still round and boyish, and I realized the difficulty I was having treating him like the fifteen year old that he was. I knew most of it was because of coming so close to losing him, but also because of his disabilities and the fact that he seemed so small to me. I sat back down and thought about it as I finished the supper he had made for me.

..."Shhh…you're gonna wake Darry. Go back to sleep."

"It's late, Soda. Where ya been?"

"I told ya. I had some stuff to do. Now go back to sleep. I gotta work in the mornin'."

I kept my eyes closed as I listened on to my brothers whispering to each other in the dimness of my bedroom from the bed side lamp I always kept on for Ponyboy. I had no idea what time it was, but it was after eleven when I carried Pony to my room and settled him in the middle of my bed before turning in myself. It wasn't unusual for Soda to be out at all hours, but given the fact that his usual partner in crime was left to watch over our little brother, I was a little more than curious as to what he'd been up to.

"Soda, you mad at me?"

"Shhh…stop talkin' like that. I ain't mad, Pony."

"Then why'd you leave? Did I do somethin'?"

"No, Pony it was nothin' like that. You know I love you more than anything, right?"

"You do?"

"Of course I do. You're my little brother. That's for life, honey. Nothing can ever change that. Now go back to sleep."

"Okay. Soda?"

"What is it, Pony?"

"Maybe don't leave me with Steve next time."

"He wasn't mean to ya, was he?"

"No, he was being nice. That's almost worse."

Soda chuckled as he shuffled around the bed trying to get comfortable and no doubt was throwing one or both of his arms around Ponyboy. I grinned to myself, as I felt myself start to drift.

"Soda?"

"Yeah, kiddo?"

"I love you."

"I know, babe." Sodapop was already half asleep and mumbling. "Go back to sleep."

Sodapop's light snoring started moments later, and I settled back and concentrated on my breathing to try and fall back asleep. I'm not sure how long it'd been, but I felt Ponyboy reach out and hold my fingers in an attempt to hold my hand. My eyes opened when I heard his voice.

"I love you too, Darry."

The smell of coffee and bacon hit my senses and I stretched out in bed to find myself alone. I smiled when I realized it was finally the one Sunday I had off in what felt like a month, even though it'd only been a couple of weeks.

The pressure eased up a little with the State off my back, but bills had to be paid as well as the upcoming school year for Ponyboy that had already cost me a new pair of sneakers for him, and school supplies. I was working as much as I could so he wouldn't have to go without. Lord knows, I had enough to worry about with him going back to school.

I grinned as I walked in the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes as I caught both of my brothers helping each other to make breakfast. I walked up behind Ponyboy as he was trying to crack our eggs without wrecking them, and I rested a hand on his shoulder as I reached up and over him to grab a coffee cup from the cupboard.

"'Mornin', Pony." My hand moved up to gently rub the back of his head while I poured coffee in my cup with the other.

"'Mornin'," Ponyboy gave a soft smile as I took a drink and moved my hand to ruffle his hair.

"Bacon's done, Pony. How ya doin' with the eggs?" Soda turned to see how our brother was doing, and gave me a wink.

"I dunno. I think I shoulda cooked the bacon instead." Ponyboy frowned as he inadvertently dropped a shell in the bowl he was cracking our eggs into.

"Awe, kiddo. We gotta do somethin' about that hand of yours. C'mere."

Soda stood behind his brother, taking Pony's right hand in his own, and between the two of them, they managed to successfully crack an egg.

"Thanks, Soda." Pony grinned.

"Ya just need more practice, Pony. It'll come. Don't worry, we'll work on it. You'll be crackin' eggs with one hand in no time." Soda smiled back.

"You two need any help, or you got everything under control?" I grinned as Soda and Pony started picking the shells out of the bowl of cracked eggs.

"Nah, we're good Darry. Sit down." Soda nodded to the table and then threw his arm around Ponyboy.

I watched on while I sat with my coffee. I watched as Sodapop stood over his brother, teaching him and helping him cook breakfast. It felt strange; things were so different, and yet here it felt just like before with my two brothers standing there trying to get breakfast on the table.

"Okay, Ponyboy. Think you can get some toast started. I'll cook this up."

"No way," Pony shook his head as he gave his brother an odd look.

"Whadaya mean? You can do it, it'll be okay." Soda looked worried.

"I don't want green eggs, Sodapop." Pony frowned and I let out a laugh.

"Oh my God! Betrayed by my own flesh and blood!" Sodapop shook his head in mock offence while grabbing Ponyboy by the arm to give him a sideways hug before shoving him in front of the stovetop to be in charge of the eggs.

"Hand it over." Pony grinned at his brother and held out his hand.

Sodapop smiled and dropped the tiny bottle of food colouring into Pony's hand. Pony returned his brother's smile, and I snickered to myself unknowingly when I noticed his eyes roll. I brought my coffee cup up to take another drink when I heard Soda yell.

"Pony? Jesus Christ, Darry!"

My coffee cup and its contents hit the kitchen table as well as the front of my sweat pants as I bolted up from the kitchen table to make my way to my brothers. Soda, for the most part had broken his brother's fall, but Ponyboy still hit the floor with a sickening thud along with the hot fry pan.

"What happened?" I demanded unnecessarily.

Ponyboy was in the middle of a full blown seizure while Sodapop was frantically brushing food and grease off that came down along with Pony.

"Is he burnt?" I yelled as I moved one of the chairs that were too close to Pony's head. Soda didn't answer. He was frantic as he continued brushing off food and debris.

"Soda! Is he burnt?" I yelled again to get my brother's attention.

"No!" Sodapop cried. "No, I don't think so. He looks okay."

"Alright, kiddo it's okay." I was on the floor by Ponyboy's head, watching him closely as his whole body seemed to clench and unclench rhythmically.

Soda continued looking his little brother over, making sure he didn't have any burns from the hot frying pan and breakfast landing on top of him. He was shaking like a leaf, no doubt as scared shitless as I was at that moment.

"No warning." Soda spoke in my own thoughts.

Ponyboy's seizures had never exactly been predictable, but this was the first time he'd had a full on one out of the blue while carrying on normal day to day things. I felt the tension in my neck and shoulders, and my head started to ache. What did this mean for him?

"It's okay." I said automatically. I didn't know who I was trying to calm at this point. It could've been all three of us.

Pony then mumbled incoherently as he was slowly coming out of his episode.

"Shhh…" I started.

"Hush now, Pony. Just take it easy, kiddo." Sodapop shuffled over next to me so he could talk to our brother. "You okay?"

Ponyboy barely nodded, but he nodded nonetheless which told us he was understanding his surroundings. Soda and I both breathed a sigh of relief when his eyes slowly fluttered open, and he looked at the both of us.

"I'm sorry," Pony's voice was barely audible, but we both understood and heard him loud and clear.

"Sorry? What on earth have you got to be sorry about?" I gave him a grin as I shoved a hand in his hair.

"I think I fell." His eyes closed as he slowly shook his head.

"You hurt anything, Pony? You okay?" Soda asked worriedly.

"I'm tired." Pony answered solemnly, and I felt so bad for my brother and the toll the last year was still taking on him.

"Can you just put him on the couch? I'll stay with him if you had stuff to do on your day off." Sodapop suddenly looked as sad as his brother, and the mood seemed to envelope the house.

"I ain't leaving you two, little buddy." I gave Soda a soft punch on the shoulder before I scooped Ponyboy up to lay him down on the sofa.