Ok everyone here is another long chapter! Thanks SO much for all the reviews they def spurred me on to write quicker!

Zikachik73: thanks so much for the review! It was so sweet and I giggled with happiness! Haha.

AlleyCat80: Wouldn't that be a cruel twist of irony? Haha. Nice thought.

Ok-everyone enjoy and please leave reviews.

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I been in the right place

But it must have been the wrong time

I'd of said the right thing

But I must have used the wrong line

I been in the right trip

But I must have used the wrong car

My head was in a bad place

And I'm wondering what it's good for

--Dr. John

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Pony's POV

Bitter and defeated, I trudged home cursing my foul luck and even fouler temper.

My nerves were shot. I had sat shivering for the last two hours in the park until I had fallen asleep on the hard concrete. The final blow to the night had come when I had woken up screaming bloody murder.

Another nightmare. Something concerning Dally, Johnny and the war. What else?

The only bright side was that I had possibly spared Darry and Soda another night of fretting over me.

I really didn't want to go home and break the embarrassing news. Two-Bit would have a field day with this, Soda would be concerned and no doubt Darry would give me that look of his: You lost your jacket? Why didn't you have a blade on you?

Same story, different day.

But I had no choice; I had no wallet. I couldn't go see a movie or buy any comics.

Stumbling up the steps, I wrenched the door open against the howling wind.

The house was dark but soft voices floated out into it from the kitchen. "So Darry and Soda haven't called?" Steve asked. My hand groped blindly for the light switch.

"No," Two-Bit said miserably. "I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to get some more beer."

"No you didn't buddy. You're drunk enough off your ass as it is. I'm lucky I found you over at Buck's. Here drink some coffee."

Two-bit made a choked sound and Steve paused. " I really can't believe it."

"It's my fault," Two-Bit said morosely. "I got him upset and he took off."

"Stop playing the damn martyr," Steve snapped. Then in a shocked tone he said, "I'm sorry Two-Bit."

I smirked. Well, if it isn't what I've lived my entire life to hear: a Steve Randle apology.

Finding the light, I flipped it on only to trip over a few bottles of beer. They clanked together as I danced around them. "Son of a…Goddammit Two-Bit, I almost broke my neck!" I yelled.

Instantly, the kitchen was still.

"Fine, I'll pick them up myself you filthy pig," I muttered angrily as I swept the room.

Steve and Two-Bit stood in the kitchen, frozen. Two-Bit stared at me in disbelief while Steve paled considerably.

"What?" I asked, running a hand through my hair.

Two-Bit backed away from me. Steve turned on Two-Bit. "Was this some kind of sick joke?"

Two-Bit shook his head mutely, eyes wide. Then he covered his eyes and whispered in a barely audible tone, "Am I dead?"

"I thought you were drunk," I retorted. Then I gawked at him closely. "What's wrong with you?"

"Kid," Steve approached me slowly, speaking in a cautious tone, "we thought you were dead."

I faltered, confused as to whether take Steve seriously or not. "Huh?" was my only articulate reply.

"Your brothers," Steve explained hurriedly, "they got a call, something about going to ID a body." He paused at my bewildered expression and his own bewildered look came upon his face. Steve chuckled weakly. "And I'm guessing it wasn't you."

"Why would they…" All of a sudden it dawned on me. My hand flew to my back pocket. Empty. "Oh crap!"

So much for not worrying them tonight.

Steve and I stared at each other unsure of what the next steps were in this sort of situation.

"We gotta go find them Steve!" I suddenly blurted. "Who knows what they're thinking-" Panicked, I moved toward the door.

"Oh no you don't," Steve said briskly, darting out and grabbing my arm. "You're not leaving this house again tonight. Let's just sit here…and wait," he said a little more calmly.

I frowned at him, but I nodded and sat tentatively on the edge of the couch.

"I feel sick," Two-Bit interrupted bluntly, stalking off into the bathroom.

"Welcome to the club," I said, upset at the mess I was in.

We sat in silence for five minutes or so; my face buried in my hands, while Steve puffed through a pack of smokes. He grinned at me and blew a smoke ring. "I figure Darry'll be too caught up with you to even give a shit."

"You're a genius, Steve," I shot back exasperatedly.

He readied himself for some pissed-off reply but it was cut short by Darry bursting in. "Is he here?" he asked Steve breathlessly without noticing me.

Soda saw me. He flew around Darry and grabbed me. He hugged me harder than I had ever been hugged before-if that was even possible. "Oh God," was all he could say.

"Sorry for the scare," I said, doubting he even heard it since my face was pressed into his shoulder.

Soda kissed the top of my head and pulled back to look at me. "You have no idea."

I saw Darry's face then. A face I had only seen once before; when he got the call about our parent's. It was a look I had tried to forget ever since. If Darry were scared who would be strong for Soda and me?

I just went to him and hugged him.

His arms closed shakily around me and I heard him exhale with relief. "I don't think I've ever been so-" he caught himself, "…worried."

I knew he had wanted to say scared.

Laughing softly I said, "And this time, I didn't even purposely cause it."

He shook his head and then dropped into his recliner. "I don't think I'll ever move from this spot again," he sighed. "What happened tonight Pony?"

My eyes dropped to the floor. "I got robbed. I was taking a walk and this guy pulled a blade. I gave him my wallet." Steve raised an eyebrow and ashed his cigarette into an empty beer bottle. "Darry, if I had known the trouble he was going to cause I would have fought him for it."

Darry rubbed his eyes. "Pony, I really don't want to hear that." Then he looked at me through his fingers. "Please tell me you didn't consider it."

Soda, injured and angry, spoke up, "Well I guess that guy got what he had coming to him."

Steve and I both shot Soda the same incredulous look. Even though he was speaking all our minds, a downright cruel Soda was rare.

"What?" Soda asked Steve. "That guy pulls a blade on Pony and you expect me to feel bad for him?" Soda threw an arm around me protectively.

Then I realized that the queasy feeling building up in my stomach was because I did feel bad for the guy. I hated him and yet I pitied him. I had been him over there and I could have been him back here.

Still could, a voice reminded me.

"Pony," Darry interrupted my thoughts. "Go to bed. You need some rest." He watched me worriedly as I shook my head. "It's ok. Soda and I are fine. A little shook up, but we'll survive."

"I'll go find Two-Bit," I said feebly.

"Steve, are you smoking?" I heard Darry ask grumpily as I knocked on the bathroom door.

"Two-Bit? You alive in there?"

I heard a grunt so I opened the door and went in, praying he wasn't throwing up his guts. Two-Bit was lying in the empty bathtub. I grimaced, wondering how long it had been since it had been cleaned. I sat opposite him, on the toilet lid.

"Glad to hear you're not in the morgue right now," he said.

"Thanks. That was news to me too."

"I think," he shifted in the tub, "that I'll need a new liver after tonight."

"Nah," I grinned thinly. "Yours will last for years to come."

"I heard what happened," he said, switching topics. "About the robber."

"Ok, ok, get your jokes in while it lasts," I sighed.

"No. No jokes." He smiled but his eyes didn't. "Promise me something kid. Watch yourself. You're awfully lucky…"

I groaned, resigned to another lecture from Two-Bit.

"…and I don't want to be there when your luck runs out. Please. I couldn't do it again."

I shifted uncomfortably. I knew Two-Bit was drunk, but his words were honest, provoking my tamped down fear.

My stomach jumped and I did too. Then I told him, blurting it out. "He…he was in Vietnam. I saw his medals."

Two-Bit's head jerked up in surprise. "Oh, kid," he said softly. "That's not you."

I just stared at him. It better not be.

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Ok-I tried to make this chapter good/touching, but not cheesy. Hopefully I succeeded…let me know, leave reviews!

Peace&Love