Home sweet home ?

When Ponyboy ask his normally happy-go-lucky brother the next morning at breakfast if he was okay he told him of course he was.

His little brother new exactly that he wasn't. They had no time to discuss it, because they had to go to Mr. Emerson's office. They received a lecture about their behaviour last night and then they were sent to school.

They had to fill in a test. Ponyboy started with it because it just was boring but Sodapop didn't start. The teacher got annoyed with him and treated him with detention. So Soda started to fill in the test not caring if the answers were right or wrong. The whole morning they had to write boring tests.

In the afternoon they had sport and group therapy. Soda had already enough of it and was so angry that he nearly exploded.

Just before five Mrs. Robertson came to their group therapy room and told them to follow her. They had to pack their bags and then follow her to Mr. Emerson's office. Darry waited for them in front of the office and Soda flew in Darry's arms and Pony hugged him too.

"Did you get the custody back," Soda asked Darry.

"No little buddy, I didn't get the custody back but Mac received it until the trial. So you can come home. Mac talk's with Mr. Emerson and needs to sign some papers."

Mr. Emerson informed Mac about their behaviour and the test results from Ponyboy and Sodapop. Mac just let him talk, then signed the papers and then said goodbye.

When he came out of the office Ponyboy flew into his arms. "Hi, Thanks' uncle Mac for helping us," he whispered into Mac's chest.

"Hi, little nephew, you're welcome." Soda just greeted Mac but at least politely and his uncle greeted back and pulled him in for a short hug. Then they left immediately.

Mac drove them home and then cooked dinner while Darry helped them unpack. Mac had noticed with concern that Soda was even more imbalanced than before. He had a bad feeling.

After a while they came down and watched TV until dinner was ready. Ponyboy asked if he could help and Mac told him to set the table and then tell his brothers to come for dinner.

Both boys were very hungry and inhaled the lasagne without a word. Mac and Darry tried to start a conversation but without luck. After dinner Mac told the boy's to clear the table and do the dishes.

After that you come sit down in the living room. I want to talk to you. Pony nodded and Soda just made a face but Mac did not react.

Darry and Mac already sat in the living room when the boys joined them. Soda looked annoyed and Pony just tired at him. Mac decided that he had to set the rules down now.

"I'm your uncle and guardian now. I want both of you to understand that I want only the best for you. From now on you will tell me where you go and when you come back. If needed I or Darry will give you a lift. If I'm not here you tell Darry. You obey him as well. Just to be clear, we are the adults and you two are the children in this family. Please do what you are told. The house rules your parents and Darry set for you are still valid.

If you want, need or did something don't hesitate to talk to me.

Soda you can go back to work on Saturday and you Pony go back to school on Monday. I will inform your employer and your school about my decisions.

I want you two to get some sleep and have some time to recover from this experience.

Tomorrow at 17.30 we have an appointment with our lawyers Mrs. Chesterfield and Mr. Sawyer. It is a very important meeting and all of us have to participate. It's about Ponyboy's trial and the subsequent reassessment of the custody of you two and the twins.

Do you have any questions or concerns you want to share," Mac asked.

"Can I go to the library tomorrow? I need a book for an essay," Pony asked.

"Sure, we can go in the morning, Duncan said."

"I want to go back to work tomorrow," Soda insisted.

"I already told you that you can go back on Saturday and that's final."

"Am I still grounded," Soda asked moody.

"Yes, you are still grounded nothing has changed."

Soda exploded and yelled, "Just give me a break Macleod. He stood up and stormed into his room.

Mac let him run off to cool down a bit.

Pony said, "Thank you Mac that you care about us. I'm glad you got us out of there. It was horrible and I have the feeling something happened to Soda."

"Tell us what you know," Darry said.

Pony told them about the body search and about the trouble with the security guards when he had a nightmare.

"Thank you Pony for telling us," Mac said.

"I or we will talk with him about it."

"I go upstairs now, I want to read just a bit," Pony said.

"Sure go on Pony. I come to say good night later."

Darry and Mac fumed about the news. "Should we talk about it with him right away," Darry asked uncertainly.

"No, I think he is tired. It is better to wait and see if he tells one of us. If not I still can talk to him. If I'm not successful you may try your luck Darry."

Steve stormed in and said hey. He asked about the boys. Darry told him that they are back and upstairs. Steve went upstairs to see Soda.

"Hey Soda, you are back," Steve hollered.

"Yes, I'm back from hell," Soda joked.

"Huh, that bad," Steve asked.

"Yeah, it was bad."

"Well, Mac and Darry did all they could to get you back as soon as possible."

"Yes, I'm glad I'm home but Mac's my guardian now and I hate it."

"Well buddy, that was to be expected, but Soda, Mac is a good guy and he cares about you. Everybody sees it just you don't. Just try to give your uncle a chance."

"I'm still grounded," Soda pouted.

"Uh, Soda in my opinion you were really sassy to them, but a months is a long time that's right. Maybe you can negotiate again when you try to get along with Mac."

"I don't want charity and kindness from him," Soda said forcefully.

"I'm your friend and I know it was all hard but maybe Mac is good for your family. After you were gone Darry had a breakdown. Mac was there for him and also for me and Two. Your parents trusted him enough to determine him as your guardian. I'm sure he is sincere and capable to understand and give you what you need."

"Steve, just stop to put him on a pedestal. I told you, I hate him."

"Okay, I don't mention it again. You know what I think about him." After this statement it changed to a real teenage boy discussion.

An hour later there was a knock on the door. Darry entered and said, "Get ready for bed Soda, its half past eleven. I'm really glad you are back home, little buddy."

"I'm glad too. Is Pone sleeping with you Dar," Soda asked concerned?

"Yes, he's already asleep. You can sleep on the couch Steve if you want. Good night you two."

"Good night Darry and sleep well," Soda retorted.

"Thanks and good night superman," Steve smirked.

"You heard big brother, I'm tired," good night Soda.

"Night, Steve."

Mac was still in the kitchen, when Steve entered the living room and lie down on the couch. They said good night and Mac went upstairs.

He had said good night to Pony earlier and had decided to let the older boys talk a bit longer together. He and Darry had anyway to discuss a lot. Mac knocked on Sodas door and stepped in.

Soda was in bed but the light was still on.

"You okay little buddy," Mac asked with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"I'm glad you are back home." Mac sat on the edge of the bed.

"Yeah, me too," Soda confessed.

Mac ruffled his hair gently. "You are my nephew Soda and I love you." With that said Mac stood up and then kissed his forehead.

"Can I switch off your light," Mac asked.

"Huh, sure."

"Well, good night and sleep tight Soda."

"Uh, night Mac."

Mac switched off the light and went as well to bed only to be woken up by Pony's nightmare two hours later.