Alright, Alright. This is (the real) Chapter four of Alternate.

Still surprised that people read this, or wanted to read it, but thanks so much for the reviews. I really appreciate it.

To xodamhsoirxo: sorry about fooling you. My friend guilted me into adding the idea anyway so don't kill me.

To everybody else: Yes, there was a fourth chapter but I had to delete. It wasn't the real chapter just a gag one my friend made me post . . . sorry about the confusion. Anyway, this is chapter four.

Disclaimer: I do not own 'The Outsiders'

Sodapop narration/POV

Darry's been yelling at me for hours. Telling me even Ponyboy had the common sense to use protection. Yet, there we were, arguing about the same thing; my girlfriend Kara, having my kid. She had lived a few blocks from me and we had been friends a while. She had soft, blonde hair and nice, dark blue eyes. She liked that gang, which was good, 'cause if it was her or them I'd choose my brothers, all six of them.

Finally Darry dropped it, knowing that there was nothing we could do now. I went into my room and fell onto the bed without even changing into pajama pants. I was having the strangest dream. Something about living out in the country and chocolate cake, and mickey mouse . . . a scream shocked me awake.

I sat up abruptly and saw Ponyboy next to me, screaming his head off for me and Darry. I stroked his reddish-brown hair. He was shaking really badly. He was breathing really heavily, and kept begging for me and Darry. Pony opened his eyes and started crying, those dreams really shook him. He would have these dreams night after night. They seemed to only get worse. I held onto him and he sobbed into my shoulder. I was whispering to him.

"It's alright Ponyboy, I'm here. Calm down. Everything's alright now."

Darry came in. He sat down on the end of the bed, watching as I slowly rocked our younger brother from side to side. Pony was calming down and looked at me then Darry, with a confused, tired look on his face.

"Go on to sleep." Darry said to him. "We're here."

He closed his eyes again and I laid him down on his pillow. I looked at Darry as he watched our baby brother fall back asleep. He shook his head.

"He's been having these nightmares for weeks. I wonder what happened." He said.

"He'll talk about it when he's ready . . ."

"What if that's what's making him have these dreams. Maybe he just has to talk to someone."

"Just, don't push him Darry. He's having a hard time, anyway."

"Who's giving him a hard time?" He said, tensing up slightly.

"Some kids in his class. Mostly Socs, go figure."

He was quiet for a moment before looking at me.

"You should get some sleep. We both have work in the morning."

I nodded and he left the room. I looked down at my younger brother. He was as close to innocent as any greaser could get, except maybe Johnny. Him and Johnny both, they didn't deserve this. They didn't deserve to get kicked around by people who thought they were better. They didn't deserve almost getting murdered by those damned . . . but I'm getting off topic. The point is, he's fine. Except for the nightmares . . . I wish I could figure out what happened so he could get past it, but every time I ask him he changes the subject or walks away. He must be really shaken up. I laid my head on the pillow and put my arm around Pony. He needed me and I looked after him, that's just how things always worked . . .

Anyway, he went to school the next day, and although he had a lot of homework, he didn't seem to mind, which made me wonder what he was up to. He wasn't too eager to go the week before, when those Socs started picking on him. But, maybe he's just over it, or maybe there's more going on than I thought.

Darry narration/POV

"Ponyboy Michael Curtis! What on earth is the matter with you?" I yelled.

Ponyboy had been sent home early for starting a fight in class, which really wasn't in his nature. He was always the quiet one, even when I was back in school. He hadn't talked much to anybody besides me, Soda, Steve, Two-Bit, and Johnny in school. Now, he was out starting fights? There was something else going on, there had to be. He shielded his eyes behind a bold front. He had learned that from Dally, the basics anyway, but I broke him down and his eyes looked somewhat scared, though his stance still said "Bring it on ."

"What was the fight about?" I asked, holding back the anger in my voice.

He just looked down and mumbled something to himself. I felt my frustration and anger rising. The door opened and the screen door slammed closed. I knew it was Two-Bit. He plopped down on the couch next to Ponyboy and slung an arm over his shoulder.

"Man, if I could belt a Soc like that I wouldn't need to go to school no more." He said, smiling at Pony.

He then noticed the way I was looking at him right then and must have realized I was upset about it. His eyes suddenly turned serious and he looked at Pony. Keeping a compassionate and light voice he asked.

"Why did you do it, Ponyboy?"

Pony was looking anywhere but me and Two-Bit. His ears turned red and he was breathing a little faster, as if he was having trouble breathing. He seemed to have zoned out completely. Two-Bit put his hand on his shoulder and Pony turned white. I was right. He didn't start this fight without a reason. It must have had something to do with that week and a half he was gone . . .

I went up and sat down on his other side. He was shaking so I put my arm around him. Right then Sodapop came home. I told you Ponyboy got sent home early so I had to leave work to go get him. Soda looked in our direction and noticed what was going on. He came over to us. Two-Bit got up, giving Soda his seat. He looked at Ponyboy, who was still trembling. Soda put his arm around him and whispered in his ear.

"What's wrong, Ponyboy? What happened?"

He shook his head and kept looking down. He buried his face in his hands, not wanting to look up. Soda looked at me and I just shrugged. Sodapop stayed with him awhile 'fore he calmed down enough to tell us what was wrong.

"There was a whole bunch of them . . . a blue mustang full . . . I got so scared . . ."

I remembered those exact words. Johnny had said them no more than four or five months ago. That was when he got jumped right by the vacant lot. We had found him, covered in blood, and bruises, and cuts. Those were his words. A blue mustang . . . and a whole bunch of guys . . . I looked at Sodapop and he seemed to have come to the same conclusion. The Socs that took Pony from us before were the same ones that hurt Johnny those months ago. I told Ponyboy to go get something to eat but he said he was just gonna lie down. Me and Soda started talking about it once he left. Trying to figure out a way to make our brother feel safe again.

Ponyboy narration/POV

I could hear Soda and Darry talking outside. First Darry yelled at me, then I ended up almost crying right there, then all this happens and they talk about me while I'm not there. I don't know why I'm so scared. I mean, what's happened happened, right? Maybe it's 'cause it ain't over. I got this weird feeling that that ain't the last time I'm seeing them. Today's evidence of that. They started that fight with me. I wanted to tell Darry that, hell I wanted to tell everyone that, but I just couldn't get the words. I could handle this. Maybe I should tell Johnny. He don't like to talk about what happened but this is important.

I fell asleep before Soda came into the room but awoke in a cold sweat screaming for my brothers. Soda had his arm around me, trying to get me to stop crying. I couldn't help it. I was so scared . . . of ending up alone. Of losing my brothers like I did my parents. Them just disappearing without so much of a warning. That's what was scaring me. For a while I thought that my parents would always be there to protect me, then they just disappear. I could have disappeared before. I was pretty close to dying before. I could have seen my parents again. My mother . . . golden and beautiful. My father . . . so free and spirited.

Wait! What am I saying? I didn't want to die! I just miss them so much. Deep breaths, deep breaths. I'm losing my mind, that's it. I've lost my mind. I just wish I didn't have to be nervous about all those Socs trying to kill me again. It's not like it hasn't happened before. I got jumped once, then the gang rescued me. But, they won't always be there to protect me. Someday I'll be gone from here and I'll go out into the world and wham, it'll get me. I don't quite know what it is but it's coming for me. Everything's coming for me.

"Easy, Ponyboy. We ain't gonna let nothing happen to you." Soda said, as if reading my mind.

"I wouldn't be so sure." was what I wanted to say but instead I said. "Sure, Soda. Whatever you say . . ."

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Okay a bit of a going nowhere chapter but I think it was alright, I guess. Ponyboy seems a bit paranoid but you would too if you went through what he has. Oops. Have I said too much? I try to write long chapters but I'm in a mood to post real quick like so here it is. Please R&R. I can't write this without reviews. And you can't review without reading so . . . wait! Babbling sorry. Anyway please R&R.