Hey, tk421beth and Dangerous Combonation, I'm glad ya 2 liked it so much. sorry it took so long to update, but school's been a freakin pain in the ass and I really haven't ha dtime to even check my emails or reviews or anything fun in the last two months. But, hey, that's all over and now here's the next chapter, which I hope you enjoy just as much as you did the last one. Thanks for reviewing and do the same thing again when ur done with this chapter. Enjoy!

Ch. 6 – A Painful Hell Part Two

Faith's POV

When I got back home, only Ponyboy was there. He was sitting on the couch looking at an old photo album of mine. I already knew what picture he was staring at when I sat down next to him. It was the one of all of us at the local pool, where Two-Bit was doing a cannon ball off the high dive and Darry and Dally were cheering him on while Steve and Soda watched in awe and Johnny, Pony and I had a splash fight. Some lady at the pool who was taking pictures for her photography class took the picture about six years ago. She'd said that she had to take pictures and capture the emotions of people in one moment in time and it had to have at least three emotions or something like that. The picture of us was, according to her, full of four emotions and it got her and A+ in class. She made a copy of it for us and said that it was rare to get pictures like that in our neighborhood…. She was right. It was hard to find people who had a relationship like ours: full of love, sibling-like instincts in each other's protection and righteousness.

He sighed and said, "It was only a week and a half ago but it seems like it was five years ago that we were all okay and just finding out about you and Johnny."

I nodded, going numb.

For a while I just stared at the floor in a sort of shocked state of mind and I could feel Ponyboy staring at me. We stayed like that for a good five minutes until Ponyboy shifted and pulled me into his arms like Two-Bit or anyone else except for Johnny (he had a different way of doing that) would.

I wrapped my arms around his body and laid my head against his chest so that now I could hear his heart pounding against his ribcage like something that wanted out. His embrace was warm and welcoming like that of a brother.

His voice was soft as he spoke. "You coming to the rumble tonight?"

"Shit. I forgot about that…. I dunno…. You?"

"Yeah, I'm going and we're gonna win…for Johnny."

"…. Yeah, I'm going…. Weapons?"

"Nah, they fight fair…for once…those punks."

I honestly didn't care if they fought fair or not, I was going to the rumble and no one was going to stop me from killing those Socs…. I was going to make those Socs pay for what they did to us and for starting with Pony and Johnny that night…or at least die trying.

"I'll kill 'em, Pony, I swear…. I don't care if they've lost someone too – they deserve to die for all they've done. It's over now! I ain't taking this shit no more! It's their fault Johnny's gonna die and it's their fault that dumbass – Bob Sheldon – is dead! They started it and now they're gonna pay!" I was shaking now and Ponyboy squeezed tighter around me to keep me calm.

"Yeah…. You know what's sad though?"

"What?"

"That guy, Randy – Bob's best friend – he knows it's their fault and he feels bad about it, which is why he told me that he ain't fighting tonight. He said it don't matter who wins or loses…because it'll always be the same…the social class he meant…."

"He's right…but if they win it means nothing…. If we win it means that we overcame society's biggest menace: society itself. And we'll have pride to defend after that because we beat them and we need to rub it their face every chance we get, but in a discrete way so we don't look like them…like snobs or Socs."

"Yeah, true…. Hey, how was Johnny?"

I shuddered at the memory and hugged Ponyboy tighter as if trying to hide myself from it. I told him what'd happened at the hospital and when I was done I looked up at him and almost cried. The look on Ponyboy's face was one of fear and anguish. I guess he felt me staring at him because he turned his head to the side in an attempt to his now quivering lower lip and his eyes, which were now brimming with tears.

God, why is this happening? Why Johnny? Why Pony? Why the gang? …. Why me?

For a minute or two I just stared at Pony's now blonde, short hair and then, no longer being able to stand it, I turned his face toward mine, stared him in the eyes for a few seconds and then hugged him.

"You scared, Faith?"

"Yeah…. You?"

"Yeah…. He's too young…."

I nodded and let myself succumb to the sleep that was luring me into its warmth that lay with Pony's arms. Soon the sick feeling in my stomach, head and entire being went away with my consciousness far away from where I was, which was at the moment, in the middle of the vacant lot, staring at the gang…. The scene looked familiar…and it took me a while to figure out why, but when Johnny burst into flames and started screaming I realized that I was once again having the dream that had woke me only a week ago. However, this time Johnny hadn't said anything to me and that was what woke me up because I was scared so badly by it. I don't know if it's true or not, but I've always thought that if you have a dream twice and someone who's talking to you in it the first time but not the second time, it means that that person has died. It's not like I just came up with that theory out of the blue – like Angel always thought. I began thinking that when I had a dream that Mr. and Mrs. Curtis were with me at church and saying, "Peace be with you," and the second time I had the dream they said nothing.

I jerked awake and knocked Pony's chin as I sat up and let go of him. "Sorry, Pony."

"It's okay…. Two-Bit, she's up," Pony said as everything came into focus.

The gang was now here and sitting around the living room. Soda and Darry were on the couch with us while Steve sat at the table and Two-Bit entered from the kitchen with a glass of water and some Tylenol that were very welcome at the moment.

"Finally. We thought we were going to have to amputate Pony's arms by the time you woke up because the circulation got cut off," said Two-Bit, handing me the Tylenol and water.

I tried to laugh but my head pounded along with vision. "How'd you know I'd have a headache?"

Pony got up, flexing and stretching his arms and Two-Bit sat down next to me saying, "You may think that only Johnny knows about your dreams, but you're my baby sister…it's my job to know everything about you…. I knew you'd have a headache because you were having one of those dreams…again."

I stared at him for a minute, completely in awe. All these years I've known how much Two-Bit loved and cared for me and I always thought that I'd appreciated it as much as I could, but now I knew that I'd never even come close…. Two-Bit had known all along about my dreams and never said anything about them because he knew I didn't want him to know…. Now, I could see how much Two-Bit wanted to keep me happy because he loved me so much. I took the Tylenol and handed him the glass.

He smiled and for the first time since the night at the Nightly Double I was calm and at peace. As he walked into the kitchen, Steve opened his big mouth and said, "Awww, lookit, Keith loves her," in a baby's voice.

Two-Bit came back out and smacked Steve upside the head saying, "Call me that again and I'll skin ya." He sat down at the table and looked out the window, a glazed over look on his face.

"Did ya visit Dally?" asked Sodapop as I leaned back into the sofa.

I shook my head and stopped quickly because it pounded painfully. "No, I left before I could even remember that he was in there…. I guess it just slipped my mind. I'll go tomorrow and deliver whatever news comes out of tonight."

Soda nodded and stared at me for a while.

I stared back and chuckled slightly at the memory of a time when I used to have the biggest crush on Soda and could barely think of him without getting a funny feeling in my tummy. Of course that crush was long gone, but not before he found out and had to make a choice: either make fun of me or make it easier for me to get over him. He chose the latter, contrary to what his usual behavior might imply. He'd broken it gently to me that I was only eight years old and too young to be thinking like that about an eleven year old who's going to be twelve. I looked back on that and started laughing my ass off even though my head ached.

"What?" he asked, a look of perplexity emerging on his hansom features. (Hey, I got over him – I never said he stopped being gorgeous.)

I laughed even harder and wrapped my arms around him saying, "Nothing, just remembering."

He pulled me closer and asked, "About?"

"When I was eight and you were eleven going on twelve," I said, looking him in the face.

He thought for a minute and then I knew it hit him. "Oh, I remember," he said, laughing.

We laughed as the other stared in confusion.

I fixed myself comfortably in the crook of his arm, his other arm wrapped over me, and looked at Two-Bit, who was still staring out of the window.

"What's on your mind, Mickey?"

"It's getting dark…. The rumble starts at sundown…. Faith, you ain't gonna fight."

"Yes, I am."

"No, you're not."

"Look, Mickey, I'm gonna fight and there ain't nothing you can do 'bout it. I know you wanna protect me and all, but I need to fight and show them Socs that they don't own everything, let alone anything on this side of town."

He gave me and apprehensive look and I continued, "Two-Bit, you of all people should understand the feeling of overwhelming hate you feel when someone hurts someone you love…. And you of all people should know what that feeling of hate makes you wanna do, which is why you know I need to fight tonight…."

He gave me another apprehensive look, nodded and said, "Fine…but all of you better keep and eye on her and make sure she doesn't get hurt."

Kissing the top of my head, Soda said, "Always do, don't we? You know she can't be anywhere without one of us knowin' and watchin' her, Two-Bit."

"Of course she can't," said Steve. "She's the only girl in our gang and the baby at the same time."

I made to kick at him, but he jumped out of the chair and I decided against ripping myself from the warmth of Soda's arms to chase Steve. The Tylenol then began to kick in and soon my headache was gone, but I guess all the stress of the past week affected how the Tylenol worked on me because not only was my headache gone, but now I was numb…. Not 'my – leg – fell – asleep' numb, but numb so that I felt nothing – not even Soda's warmth or Darry's knee bouncing up and down because of his nerves. I felt drugged (in a bad way, not in the way I just was by the Tylenol), but I didn't say anything because I didn't want Two-Bit to think that I couldn't fight.

"We should get going…. Is it weapons or no?" asked Two-Bit, getting up and stretching.

"No…. No weapons but bring ya blade anyway. You know them Socs never fight fair," said Soda and we both got up.

"True…. Faith, I swear it: you get hurt and I'll go ballistic so be careful…please," said Two-Bit.

I looked him in his fear and worry filled eyes as they gleamed in the light and nodded. "I will."

Ten minutes later we were walking up to Tim Shepard and his crew in the vacant lot, and Darry was warning Soda and Pony about leaving if the fuzz show.

"Yeah, yeah, we know," said Pony, though I barely heard him through the pounding in my ears and I wasn't paying attention either. I was too busy trying to keep form reeling and passing out. I only snapped back to reality when Tim started howling with laughter at my being there to fight. I glared at him and waved him over to me.

He came forward but stopped just short of my arms reach and asked, "What?"

"A little closer," I said, waving again.

He stepped a little closer, fearfully.

"C'mon, I gotta tell you a secret."

"Well, okay, " he said, stepping up to me.

I smirked and smacked him upside the head. "Got anything else to say, Timmy?"

"No!" he yelled resentfully, rubbing the back of his head.

"That's what I thought. Now git!"

He walked back over to his crew and Two-Bit and said, "Ya sister has an attitude problem. She can't take a little joke."

Two-Bit laughed and came over to me saying, "Look, I don't have my switch with me so look for something that can help you if you need it…but only if you need it. No stabbing people because you hate them."

"I know," I said, looking at the ground because now I was seeing two Two-Bits and I didn't know which one to talk to. "There're always some bottles over there by the gates…. I'll grab one if I need it…otherwise I'll just kill the bastards with my bare hands."

He nodded and left me alone, knowing that I would kill the fucking bastards with my bare hands.

I walked around for a while, kicking some spots of dirt, saying nothing to anyone around me except for the occasional 'hey' to people who greeted me. I had too much on my mind! Johnny's back had probably given in…he probably died…. This rumble would decide everything: who's stronger, who stays out of who's territory, and most of all…who one-upped the other…. We had to win…no matter what we had to win.

So much shit rides on this rumble…. We have to win! As that thought crossed my mind, the Socs arrived in their mustangs and khaki pants (high-waters).

I glared at them as we passed each other on our way to the our side of the 'ring'.

Darry was saying something to an old high school buddy of his (a Soc) who'd gone on to college when Darry couldn't. I didn't know what he was saying because I was trying hard now to keep from hitting the ground, but I still felt sorry for Darry. He deserved to go to college because he worked so hard to take care of Soda and Pony and watch out for the rest of us when he knew we were in trouble. He deserved it so much, but he couldn't have it because we were keeping him back (though he denied that we did).

He'd always said that he'd rather live a thousand 'dead – broke – taking – care – of – my – greaser – friends – and – brothers' life than one 'ha – ha – I – have – more – money – than – you – greasers!' life at any time…. I'd believed him because I knew that deep, down inside, Darry knew what he deserved (and should have it), but he also knew that if he got the things he deserved we (the gang) wouldn't come with them. So every time someone complained about not being able to have enough money, Darry always reminded him or her that with money comes hell and you lose those you love. Darry was smart like that…. Always was for as long as I could remember.

Without me even noticing, the rumble had begun and a Soc (a puny Soc, but a Soc) was coming at me.

I let him take then first swing (and miss), but I got the rest without missing once. In less than a minute the Soc was on the spinning ground and screaming bloody murder as I beat his face in and kneed him in the groin. I stopped only when I heard a nasty CRACK that announced the breaking of his jaw and I moved, clumsily, to another Soc…one of the Socs that'd jumped Johnny.

He gasped when I spun him around to face me, but got over it quick and swung.

I tried to move out of the way but I didn't know which way to go because everything was spinning the other way of whichever way I looked, so he ended up socking me right in my gut…. BAD MOVE…. Since I'd eaten nothing all day, only stomach acid came up and splashed him in the face. (A/N: It's been a while since I've learned this kind of crap in fifth grade science so if the stomach acid stuff sounds a little weird, just bare with me and keep reading. Thanks.)

He screamed bloody murder…. Now, I knew that stomach acid burned when it came into contact with exposed flesh. He wiped away the liquid and, face now red with anger and burns, he charged at me. This time I moved quickly, but only my upper body so that I could trip him with my leg. As soon as he was on the ground, I made my way over to his head, brought my leg up so that my knee was hip height, hanging over his head and said, "You remember that kid you and your buddies beat up?"

"Yeah," he whimpered.

"He killed your buddy…now you're gonna be with him soon."

"Nooooooooo!" he yelled as I began to bring my leg down…. I was really going to kill him…the physical score wouldn't be even but the social score would.

Everything was going in slow motion. My leg lowered slowly, but before it could even get within an inch of his forehead, I felt a sharp pain in my side.

Johnny's POV (No – he's not dead…. Yay!)

It was a painful hell! I thought I'd died when my back cracked, but it turns out that I'd only passed out form the pain I felt when my back cracked. When I woke up, the nurse had damn near suffocated me with attention until I asked what'd happened. Then she told me that I was 'a fucking medical miracle'.

Apparently my back, instead of giving in and killing me, had aligned allowing it to begin to be able to heal. It'd take a long ass time for my back to heal and there was no guarantee that it would or that I'd be able to walk again…but I'd live. That was for sure…. I'd live. I'd see Faith again. I'd see the gang again. I'd see Faith again. I'd go to school again. I'd see Faith again. I'd live out the rest of my life…with Faith…. I'd see Faith again!

At the moment I was lying flat on my back in a dimly lit room, facing the door. I wondered what the gang was doing right then…. I wondered what Faith was doing right then…. Was she crying again? Was she asleep? I hoped she was asleep instead of crying because not only couldn't I stand to see her cry, I couldn't even think of it…. She shouldn't have to cry…. She shouldn't feel pain…. She's too precious for that.

For a while I thought of how life would be when I got out, as I listened to the steady 'beep…beep…beep' of the machine next to my bed. I was supposed to be getting hooked up to another one because that one had stopped beeping a couple of times when I was passed out, which is how I almost ended up in the morgue with a tag on my toe. I laughed at that and soon fell asleep, dreaming of my life to be…with Faith….I get to see Faith again! Yay!

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, but school's been hectic what with taking my PSATs for the first time and other highschool sophomore junk. Well, I have to go and do hw, but I promise I'll try to update the next chapter as fast as I can. As always, leave a review as you leave. Tx, much luv!

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NY GE Pyromaniac