"Please stop! Leave me alone!" Steve whimpered.

He felt Clara's hands on him and heard her voice. "You're such a good little boy, Steve." she cooed.

"Steve! It's just me. There's no one else here," Nicholas said.

Clara kissed Steve's cheek. "Just lie still," she said.

"Please don't touch me anymore!" Steve cried, curling himself into a ball.

"Steve! It's Dad! Come on, just look at me," Nicholas tried again, drawing closer.

"I'm sorry. I'll be good. I promise. I won't tell," Steve sobbed.

Nicholas felt a chill run down his spine. He hadn't ever seen this before, but it was clear to him that, in Steve's mind, Clara was here right now. She was abusing him all over again. "Steve? Son, no one is going to hurt you," Nicholas said, hesitantly reaching out to put a hand on his son's shoulder.

Steve jumped away from the touch at first, but slowly looked up at his dad, his eyes wild with confusion. "Dad?" he asked softly.

"Yeah. It's just me. I promise," Nicholas soothed.

"I thought...I thought it was happening all over again. I could feel her, and I could hear her voice." Steve trembled with tears on his face.

"It's okay, Son. It's just memories," Nicholas said.

"But they felt too real, Dad."

"I heard you when I first got to your door. It sounded like you were having a nightmare, but then, I saw you were wide awake."

"It was worse than a nightmare. No dream feels that real."

Nicholas pulled Steve close to him, hugging him tightly. "I'm sorry, Son. If I'd let you talk back then, all these memories wouldn't be so strong."

Steve relaxed in his father's arms, feeling fully back in the present now, even though his heart still pounded. "It's not your fault, Dad," he whispered.

"I'm here for you now. I'll listen to anything you have to say." Nicholas stroked Steve's hair.

Steve didn't say anything more, as he clung to his dad. He'd needed his comfort and reassurance for a long time, and now, he finally had it.

"Hey, little buddy," Darry said to Soda, as his little brother searched for the mate to a sock he was going to wear to bed.

"Hi, Dar. I'm just looking for-" Soda reached under the bed. "Found it!" He grinned at Darry.

Soda sat down to put the socks on, and he looked at his big brother questioningly. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked.

"Just wondering if you're okay," Darry replied, as if it should be obvious.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Soda shrugged nonchalantly.

"Cause I know you, and I know you care about your friends."

"Nothing happened to me, Darry. I'm not the one in pain. I'm not the one who had to-" Soda exclaimed, before he stopped himself.

"Clara hurt Steve, didn't she?" Darry asked, sitting down next to Soda.

"She did. And I met her. I knew her. I wish I could've-" Soda cut himself off again, realizing he couldn't say any more of what he was thinking without telling Darry the whole truth about what Clara had done to his friend.

"Soda, you were just a kid. I'm really starting to wish I knew what happened. It seems like it's bugging you a lot too."

"I'm just worried about Steve, and I hate that he's been hurting for so long. I mean, he's my best friend. We were just kids, but I wish I could've helped."

"Maybe you did. He doing any better, you think?"

"Maybe. I'm not sure. I'm hoping he'll talk to Evie and fix things with her. His dad too, but that seems even harder." Soda sighed.

"Sounds like it. Both Steve and his dad have had a hard time."

"But he made it harder for Steve," Soda pointed out, his voice hard.

"I'm sure he did his best, little buddy. It can't be easy when somebody hurts your kid," Darry said, feeling sympathy toward Nicholas Randle.

"No. Steve's dad didn't do his best. He was only worried about himself," Soda said, raising his voice.

"Take it easy, Soda." Darry put a hand on Soda's shoulder.

"Sorry, Dar. I'm just frustrated. And I can't even say all of why right now," Soda told his brother, deflating.

"I know. Just be there for Steve. I have a feeling he's going to need you even more."

"TwoBit, cut it out!" came Pony's voice from across the house.

Soda broke into a smile. "I wonder what he's up to."

"No telling with TwoBit," Darry added, as they both walked into the living room, where Pony and TwoBit were.

"Why do you want to keep on spooking me like that? Geesh, TwoBit!" Pony said, annoyed.

"What's going on, Pony?" Darry asked.

"TwoBit has made a habit of trying to sneak up behind me," Pony said, rolling his eyes.

"You just gotta be more aware of your surroundings, Pone," TwoBit said flippantly. "I'll see you guys later. Told my mom I'd be home for dinner."

"Bye, TwoBit. Thanks for walking Pony home!" Darry called, as his friend left.

"He's such a goof," Pony said.

"Hey, that's why he's such a fun buddy to have," Soda told his little brother.

Soda heard Steve crying out in his sleep from his place on the bottom bunk of his and Pony's bed. "Steve, wake up," he whispered to his best friend, who was tossing and turning in his sleeping bag on the floor.

Steve's eyes blinked open, and he stared at Soda, confused.

"Bad dream?" Soda asked.

"Something like that," Steve replied.

The door opened, and Mrs. Curtis appeared. "Everything okay, boys?" she asked.

"Steve had a nightmare," Soda told his mom.

"Sodapop!" Steve exclaimed, not wanting Mrs. Curtis to treat him like a little kid, who was afraid of the dark.

"But you were crying in your sleep!" Soda pointed out.

Steve buried his face in his pillow, embarrassed.

"Aw, Steve. Come have a glass of water," Mrs. Curtis offered.

Wanting to get up and out of the dark room and away from the curious stare of his best friend, Steve agreed.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Curtis handed Steve a glass of cold water. "I didn't want to say this in front of Sodapop, but I wanted to tell you I'm here if you ever want to talk about anything," she told Steve. "My husband is too."

Steve bit down on his bottom lip and stared at the kitchen tile."Thanks, Mrs. Curtis," he said softly.

"You're as much a brother to Soda as Ponyboy and Darry are, sweetie."

Steve looked up at Mrs. Curtis, and in that moment, he almost told her who his nightmare had been about. But only almost. If his own father wouldn't talk with him about what Clara had done, why would anyone else want to hear it?

He smiled at Mrs. Curtis, as she gave him a hug that made him think of his mother. Steve wasn't sure and was afraid to ask about it, but he thought he heard her voice tremble when she spoke again.

"And we love you too. So much. You're a great friend to our boy."

Steve laid his head on Mrs. Curtis' shoulder, pretending for a second that it was his mom holding him again.

"Has that ever happened before now?" Nicholas asked Steve, still holding him.

"No. It was like a real nightmare," Steve said.

The experience with his memories had been terrifying. It had actually felt like he was reliving the worst moments of his childhood. He could see, hear, and feel Clara all over again. Steve hadn't known the past could come back at him with that kind of power.

"Evie just left, and I was upset, then...it was like it was happening all over again. It's like I was fighting a ghost, Dad," Steve said.

"You feel like you're sweating too. I wonder how long you were like this before I came in here." Nicholas pulled away and felt Steve's forehead.

"I'm not sick."

"Just making sure, Son. You've been so stressed, and fever can do crazy things," Nicholas pointed out.

"The only crazy one here is me." Steve shook head in disbelief.

"You're not crazy, Stevie. Just stressed and hurting."

"That too."

"You and Evie okay?"

"I'm not sure. I told her about...you know," Steve hedged.

"You can say it, Son. I'm sorry. Clara abused you, and I'm sorry I didn't know she would do that. There's nothing I regret more," Nicholas said, his eyes welling with tears.

"You couldn't have known, but just so you know, I don't blame you that it happened."

"But I'm sorry for how I dealt with it." Nicholas thought for a moment. "Or for how I didn't deal with it at all, and just so damn sorry I ever let that woman into our lives," he said, the anger at himself slipping into his words, as he cried freely.

"Aw, Dad," Steve said, pulling his dad close to him.

Maybe Nicholas had needed the comfort and reassurance as much as Steve had.

Steve was watching Pony beat Soda at a game of poker when he felt a hand suddenly grab his shoulder. He jumped away and bolted to the other end of the couch, heart beginning to pound.

"TwoBit!" Soda scolded. "You need to stop sneaking up on people like that! Man! I didn't even hear you come in here."

He looked at Steve worriedly. He had told Soda about the experience with the memories and the fear that had accompanied it. It couldn't be good for TwoBit to spook Steve like that right now.

TwoBit hadn't meant to scare his buddy that much. He was only joking. "Steve? I'm sorry. I was only messing with you," he apologized.

"What happened?" Darry asked, coming into the room and seeing Steve pale with his eyes tightly shut.

"TwoBit's being a pain," Pony mumbled, setting his cards down.

"I'm sorry! I didn't know he was going to be like that," TwoBit insisted, confused at Steve's behavior.

Soda tossed his cards down onto the coffee table and went over to Steve. "Are you okay, buddy?" he asked, kneeling next to him.

"No," Steve managed to say, clutching his chest. "Can't breathe," he struggled to add.

"Let's get him outside," Darry said immediately, moving forward to help Steve up.

TwoBit watched, as Darry and Soda walked Steve onto the back porch and felt shame wash over him.

"Hey, TwoBit, I'm not sure what's happening, but no way is that your fault," Pony said softly. "There's something else going on with Steve."

"Just try to breathe, man. It was just TwoBit," Soda soothed, sitting beside his friend.

Steve continued to breathe shallowly and quickly.

"Deep breaths. Take it slow," Darry said, from Soda's other side.

Darry knew what was happening. Steve was having a panic attack. Soda may not have remembered, but their mom's aunt had had them a few times when she was visiting them. She used to come over often when he was twelve or so, and he had watched his mom calm her.

"There you go," Soda encouraged, his hand on Steve's arm, as his breathing evened out.

"Still feel like I can't get enough air," Steve said.

"Give it a few minutes. Soda, make sure you give him some space too," Darry said, knowing his brother would want to get closer than he should at the moment.

"He's good, Dar," Steve said, running a hand through his hair, taking more deep breaths, as the surge of fear began to ebb away.

"Was that what you were talking about earlier?" Soda asked Steve, who shook his head.

"No, this actually wasn't nearly as scary. I just got spooked and panicked," Steve said, some color returning to his face.

"This ain't about TwoBit, is it?" Darry asked, already knowing the answer.

"Sure ain't," Steve replied, unsure what he should tell Darry.

"What happened to you, Steve?" Darry asked.

"Hey, he okay?" came TwoBit's anxious voice, as he pushed the door open.

"Yeah, TwoBit, I'm all right," Steve answered, "It wasn't you, man," he tried to assure his friend.

"I'm still sorry," TwoBit said glumly, as he went back inside.

Steve sighed. This was not the day he'd wanted to have with his buddies.

"Steve, tell me what that was about," Darry said softly.

"He's going to figure it out eventually, buddy," Soda commented.

It was true, but Soda also just wanted Darry to know what Clara had actually done and why Steve was still suffering.

Steve met Darry's gaze and felt the hot summer sun beating down on them. "Are you sure you want to hear this?" he asked.

"No. But I know you need to say it. You're Soda's best friend," Darry said. "But you're my buddy too, and I want to help."

With that, Steve began to tell Darry everything he had told Soda about Clara, his dad, and also about the horrible onslaught of memories he had experienced.

After Steve was finished, Soda saw Darry looking at him like he was reading his mind.