Author's Note: Well, another slow day at work, so you guys get another chapter! ;) Fair warning, I didn't get a chance to really proofread this chapter, hopefully there aren't too many errors. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders

Chapter Nine: Rumble

After school the gang drove right over to the middle school and dropped off Two-Bit so he could wait for Pony. Johnny decided that he would walk with Pony as well and left with Two-Bit. Steve had thought ahead and had his DX shirt in the car, but Soda had to run home for his. Steve waited outside with the engine running as Soda ran in and found his shirt laying under his bed.

"Let's go," Soda said, jumping back into Steve's car, his work shirt in his hand. They were cutting it a little close. Plus Soda was actually anxious to get back to work. He missed it. As Steve took off Soda pulled off his t-shirt and shrugged into his DX shirt.

"Welcome back," Steve laughed as he parked around the back of the gas station.

"Finally," Soda said, getting out of the car and leading the way in the back door. They clocked in, relieving two of their coworkers, and then headed out to the garage where the cars were.

They had the radio blasting as they worked. Steve was definitely better with cars than Soda, but Soda was still very good. There was a very light atmosphere in the garage as they worked, taking frequent breaks when a good song came on the radio and they would sing and dance around the garage, mimicking Elvis. Soda felt like he was in a genuinely good mood for the first time in the past ten dark days.

There was a honk from outside, indicating someone wanting a fill up. Soda slid out from under the car he was working on and did a backwards summersault before popping up. He walked out to see Buck Merril's car with Buck and Dally standing beside it.

"Hey Dally," Soda said as he approached. "Buck."

"I'm going inside to get some smokes," Buck grunted as he walked away.

"Remember, no thieving on our watch!" Soda reminded him as he started filling up his car. It was a rule among the Greasers and their friends that they couldn't steal from the DX while one of them was working since it was a good way for one of them to get fired.

"He's got plenty of money anyway," Dally said, pulling out his own pack of cigarettes and leaning against a pump. "Just won a big race." Dally looked bitter and Soda suspected that Buck had bet against him.

"Hey, don't light up here, you'll blow the whole place up," Soda said.

"I ain't stupid!" Dally spat. He just held the unlit cigarette in his lips. "Hey, I heard you got into it with some Socs yesterday."

"Yeah, where'd you hear that?" Soda asked.

Dally just shrugged. "Around," he said vaguely. "They're gonna be lookin' for you, you know."

"Gosh, I sure hope so!" Soda said with a grin.

"Listen, what time do you get off?" Dally asked.

"Not till nine," Soda said as he finished up with Bucks car, replacing the hose on the pump.

"Why don't you and Steve swing by the Dingo after work," Dally said. "I bet you could find some action there. Those Socs are lookin' for trouble."

The offer was too tempting to pass up. "Sounds like a plan to me," Soda said, smiling. He knew that Dally would be there too. There was no way Dally would miss out on a fight. "You should bring Two-Bit too. Make a little rumble out of it."

Dally grinned a dangerous smile. "I like the way you think, Soda."

Buck came out just then and paid Soda for the gas, no tip. Soda waved at them as he headed back to the garage.

"That was Dally," Soda told Steve. "You up for hunting a little action after work tonight?"

"What kinda action?" Steve asked.

"I was thinking a little meaningless violence," Soda said with a grin.

"I'm in," Steve said immediately.

The rest of their shift dragged on as Soda anxiously awaited nine o'clock to come around. They clocked out right on time and decided to walk over to the Dingo. It was more of a Greaser hang out than a Soc hang out, but the Socs liked to go over in order to feel dangerous. They quickly spotted Two-Bit and Dally, leaning up against Two-Bit's car and smoking.

"Fancy seeing you boys here," Two-Bit said loudly as they approached, obviously half crocked already. "We were just admiring your new friends over there." He nodded across the parking lot at where a group of Socs were gathered. Soda immediately spotted the boy who had harassed him at school and could hear his friends calling him Rick.

"Well, it'd be rude not to say hello," Soda said with a smile. He wanted to look tough so he borrowed a cigarette from Steve and lit up as the four of them walked over. "Ricky!" As Rick spun around Soda sucker punched him in the face, sending him sprawling backwards.

The rest was a blur. Punches were flying and with Rick down it was four Greasers taking on five Socs. Soda did his best trying to avoid any blows to the face, not wanting a situation at school like Pony had had. He took a hard shot to the stomach, knocking him down to his knees, but he lunged forward, taking out the Soc's legs. He whipped around and gave the Soc a few good slugs in the face for good measure, before moving to help Dally who, as usual, was taking on two at once.

Soda wasn't aware of anything going on outside of the fight, so it was a good thing Steve seemed to be paying attention. Suddenly he grabbed Soda and started pushing him away from the fight.

"Soda, it's the cops, run!" Steve hissed.

Soda didn't pause even for a moment. He took off at a dead run as he registered the wailing of sirens in his ears. He realized he was running in the wrong direction to get home, but didn't slow down, trying to put as much distance between him and the cops as possible.

Soda was in shape, but he had never been a runner like his brother Pony. As he reached the park he was winded, gasping for breath. He slowed down to a walk as he circled around to head more in the direction of his house, glancing around to make sure no one was coming after him. Soda had no idea what time it was and realized he probably should have let Darry know that he wasn't coming right home after work.

He stumbled in the front door, still gasping to catch his breath. He immediately fell onto the couch, hardly noticing Darry sitting in his recliner.

"Where the hell have you been?" Darry asked. He didn't sound angry, just tired.

"Went to settle a score after work," Soda said, looking up at Darry.

"Busted your knuckles up a bit," Darry observed. Soda looked down, seeing the blood covering his right hand for the first time. "Make sure you keep that covered up at school."

"Yeah," he said, sitting up and looking over at Darry. "You okay?"

"Just tired," Darry said as he rubbed his shoulder. "I think I pulled something in my back this afternoon." He pushed himself out of his chair and headed for the kitchen. "Go get cleaned up. I saved you some dinner."

Soda obediently got up as headed for the bathroom, realizing how hungry he was and glad that Darry had thought to save some food for him. He cleaned up his hand and was glad to see that his face was unscarred. All the rest of the injuries would be easy to hide at school. He pulled out the first aid kit and cleaned and wrapped his hand before heading back to the kitchen. Darry had laid out a bowl of stew for Soda at the table.

"Sorry, I didn't have much energy to make anything else," Darry said, sitting heavily in the chair across from Soda.

"This is fine," Soda assured him, now feeling guilty for not being home earlier, though he knew that even if he had come right home after work it still would have been too late to help with dinner. He hungrily wolfed down ever last bit of the stew. "Where's Pony?"

"I sent him to bed, it's already after ten," Darry said.

"Sorry for keeping you up," Soda said, realizing how tired Darry must be as well. "I'll clean up, you go on."

"Yeah, okay," Darry said with a yawn. Soda watched him go as he finished up his meal, and then went to get seconds off the stove. After he finished he quickly cleaned up the kitchen, feeling the tiredness of the long day finally catching up to him as his adrenaline wore off. He got ready for bed before knocking softly on Ponyboy's door.

"Hey, Soda," came Pony's voice.

"Not sleeping yet, Pony?" Soda asked as he closed the door behind him.

"Not yet," Pony said, scooting over to make room as Soda crawled into bed next to him. Soda suspected that Pony had been waiting for him. "Where were you?"

"I went to fight some Socs after work," Soda said casually as he yawned.

"Really?" Pony asked, sounding impressed. "Man, I wish I coulda been there."

Soda smiled at his younger brother's attitude. He was a tough kid. "Yeah, it was a good fight."

"How many of them were there?" Pony asked.

"Ah, come on, it's late," Soda said good-naturedly. "I'll fill you all in in the morning. Let's get some sleep."

"Yeah, okay," Pony said reluctantly as he rolled over.

Soda sighed. The long day had taken a toll on him. He did not toss and turn tonight. He quickly fell asleep.