Jesse had to cash in a lot of owed favors.

Mr. Card, his lawyer, had told him about the testimonies, and anyone and everyone who could speak on Jesse's behalf lived all the way in California. Immediately upon hearing the news, Jesse made a mental list of everyone he had helped out over the years.

He used to watch his neighbor's kids when he was in high school, without pay because the family was going through a tough time financially.

Jesse saved the life of his college football coach when he had a heart attack. He and Jesse had been having a private conversation when it happened.

When Jesse's colleague, Dr. Orson, got drunk at a bar and couldn't drive home, Jesse had driven thirty miles out of his way to pick him up. Jesse then drove to his own home so Dr. Orson wouldn't have to go home to his wife in his inebriated state.

He lent countless friends money, helped them move, just stood there like a solid rock while they suffered a tough time in their lives.

He called all of them, telling each one a similar story. He vaguely detailed his mother's teenage love affair, his father's death, and the sorry state he found his three half brothers living in. When he described Ponyboy's situation, he could hear the little sighs of sympathy on the other end of the line.

"Of course I'll help."

The response was always the same. Even if a certain person in question did have a previous engagement, he dropped it immediately.

"Of course I'll help, man. You've helped me out enough times in my life."

Laura and her parents came, too.

"We're family now..."

Laura's father's voice echoed in Jesse's head.

"The best offense is a good defense," Mr. Card said as Jesse turned in a list of his testifiers to his lawyer. "These people will all defend you. But what if I could I knew of a good offense?"

"What?" Jesse asked, his interest piqued. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, you'll," Mr. Card said, his eyebrows moving up and down manically. "This one testimony will for sure win us the case."

XXX

"I think I'm gonna be sick."

Pony stood before his mirror. He wore the new clothes Jesse bought him, his hair parted to the side. Darry had told him to dress nice to impress the judge.

"What was that?" Soda popped his head into the room. He too was trying to look his best. He had ironed his nicest pair of pants the night before and he now buttoned up his one shirt that didn't have copious amounts of stains.

"I didn't say nothin'," Pony muttered, tugging at his suit jacket.

Soda stared at his little brother for several moments before speaking again.

"Where'd you get those?"

"They were just laying around," Pony lied. "They must have been dad's old clothes or something."

"They look new," Soda replied, stepping fully into the bedroom. He finished buttoning his shirt, mussing with his hair. He wore it in his usual style, without grease, longish golden strands obscuring his ears. "And expensive."

Pony opened his mouth as if to respond, but Darry walked into the room. The eldest Curtis stood clad in a suit of khaki pants and a brown jacket. He had parted his hair to the side. Wholly, he looked like a different person than the youngest two brothers knew.

"Hurry up," Darry said impatiently. "We're gonna be late. Pony, make sure you bring a book or some homework or something else to do."

"What?" Pony asked. "Why?"

"Cause there's gonna be a lot of sitting around, doing nothing," Darry replied.

"Can't I just come in and watch the hearing?"

"No, you can't. Soda can, but ain't allowed in."

"But that's not fair!" Pony wailed.

Darry slowly massaged the bridge between his eyebrows.

"Finish getting ready," Darry said softly, his patience already tested. "We leave in five minutes."

XXX

Fifteen minutes later, the three Curtis boys found themselves in Darry's old truck. They felt odd, each one dressed in his finest attire. It was Tuesday, and usually on Tuesdays, Soda worked from noon until midnight. Darry left the house at four in the morning and didn't return until nine at night. Pony ran three miles and then went to school.

Today, it felt different. It didn't feel right.

XXX

Jesse arrived at the courthouse with Mr. Card. Already, sitting in the benches next to the large courtrooms of family court sat Jesse's testifiers. Among them was Laura and her parents. The Peters had stayed at a different hotel downtown. They meant to eat breakfast together, but Jesse had slept late.

"Hey," Jesse said as Laura walked towards him. They gave each other a hug, a peck on the cheek, before sitting down next to each other.

"Nervous?" Laura asked.

"Words can't even describe," Jesse muttered, shaking his head.

"Don't worry. You're the obvious choice. The judge will have to be crazy to rule against you."

"Thanks for the pep talk, coach," Jesse teased. "I'm sure you're right. There's really no reason to be this afraid. With Mr. Card's help, I've built up such a good defense."

"See?" Laura smiled. "You've practically already won. You've just got to go through the motions. By this time tomorrow, we'll be on our way to California with your little brother."

As she spoke the words, the three Curtis brothers entered the far end of the hallway. The brothers were well out of earshot.

"There they are," Jesse said, pointing. "The shortest one is Ponyboy. The blond is Sodapop. And the big guy is Darrel."

"My Goodness," Laura whispered. "He looks exactly like you."

"Darrel? I know. Apparently, we both take after our dad."

The brothers' path was diverted as a young, pretty girl in a skirt suit accosted them. The woman led them to another vein in a hallway. Jesse and Laura watched as they disappeared.

"Pony's wearing the new clothes I bought for him," Jesse noted, his voice almost soft.

"That's a good sign!" Laura exclaimed. "That must mean he likes you."

"Yeah." Jesse tried to smile, but his lips felt stuck.

XXX

"All right," Annabelle smiled.

She had met briefly with her client and his two younger brothers before the hearing began for the day.

"It's time."

Darry nodded. He stood up from his spot on the bench.

"You can come in, Soda," Darry said. "But Pony, stay here. Read your book. Whatever. Just don't move."

Pony nodded his head wordlessly.

"Don't worry, Pony," Soda said. "I'll stay out with you."

"You don't have to do that," Pony replied.

"I know. But I want to." Soda didn't know why, but he felt like this might be one of the last times he could sit next to his brother knowing that after the day was done, they'd go home and be a family together.

XXX

"All rise for Judge Davis." The bailiff's voice echoed through the oak walls of the courtroom.

Darry scrambled to his feet as Annabelle rose gracefully. At the small table next to him, he watched as Jesse and Mr. Card got to their feet as well. With fearful eyes, Darry watched as a stately man in a black, billowing robe walked into the room, sitting down at his perch at the top of the room.

"Be seated," he grunted apathetically as he pushed a pair of glasses up his nose. He read some papers scattered at this podium before looking up. "Let's get started."

Darry watched as Jesse's lawyer stood up, prepared to give, in a sense, an opening statement. It wasn't exactly like in the crime movies. This was simply a time for each side to explain his case in his own words before the testimonies started.

"Judge Davis," Mr. Card practically purred, standing up, buttoning his jacket. "My client, Mr. Larson, met his brothers for the first time last month. At first, he was glad he found family. He is an orphan and his grandmother, who raised him, passed away. He soon realized, however, that a much graver situation resided here in Tulsa. He discovered that his youngest brother, Ponyboy, just a child of fifteen, was living in a dangerous situation. Not only is the boy being abused and neglected, he is also falling into the wrong crowds. Even at his young age, he has already been involved in the killing of another teenager. If he continues down the same path, Mr. Larson fears his brother will never grow up and go to college. Instead, Mr. Larson believes Ponyboy will find himself in prison, or, worse, dead."

Mr. Card paused here for dramatic effect before clearing his throat and beginning again.

"Judge Davis, it appears Ponyboy is in a very bleak situation. Fortunately, Mr. Larson understands this prodigious predicament. His love for his brother has compelled him here to court today, to fight for the right to give his little brother everything that he deserves. Thank you, Judge Davis. I trust you to make the right decision."

As Mr. Card sat down, Darry felt himself seething with anger. Abused? Neglected? Pony was neither of the those. Down the wrong path? Pony made straight A's. He was a track star. He was going to college, for Pete's sake.

Annabelle placed her hand on Darry's arm, calming him before she stood up, ready to start her own statement.

"Your Honor," Annabelle started, her voice ringing out clear and beautiful in the otherwise cold and barren room. "My client, Mr. Curtis, was thrown into parenthood when his parents passed away in a car accident two years ago. Since then, Mr. Curtis has forgone college and has worked multiple jobs at a time just to keep his two younger brothers out of a boys home. Ponyboy has done remarkably well in the last couple of years. He is an honor student and his a year ahead in school. He participates in extracurricular activities and is college bound.

"Your Honor, Mr. Curtis might not have a lot of money. What he has, though, is love. He loves his little brother more than anything in this world. Help keep this family together."

Annabelle sat down hastily, as if she wasn't quite sure of herself. Darry gave her a sideways smile. She smiled back, uneasily.

The game... well, it was on.

Now who would win?

Raise your hand if you like this story. No. Seriously. If you are reading this story and enjoying it, please let me know! If enough people honestly like it, I'll make sure to finish this story before moving onto my next project.