Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders

Carol paced back in fourth by the phone her arms wrapped around her. "where is he George?" she asked worriedly. George sat in a chair his leg moving up and down.

"Dallas can take care of himself."

"But he isn't used to the landscape. I should have gone after of him. I…"

"Carol take it easy. We can't do anything until daylight anyway."

Carol shivered. "What if he doesn't even find James? What if it's all for nothing, what if we lose them both?"

George sighed. "Carol calm down. You want do any good worry yourself to death."

Carol nodded. She took a deep breath. The phone rang and she jumped up. "Oh!" Carol immediately picked up.

"Is this Caroline Hanson?"

"Yes it is."

"Hello I'm Jane Heartlan and I'm a nurse at county hospital. We have your nephew here, a Dallas Winston. He is your nephew?"

Carol's heart pounded as George gave her a strange look. "Yes he's my nephew."

"We need you to come in as soon as possible."

"Yes of course."

Carol hung up. She had tears in her eyes. George walked over. He cocked his head. "Well Carol?"

"That was County Hospital. They have Dallas there. Oh George what if he got lost and…" George walked over and put a hand on Carol's shoulder.

"Easy Miss Carol. Don't go making a mountain before you've seen the molehill."

Carol gave a sad sort of smile. "I didn't know you had a sense of humur."

George flushed. "I don't mame."

"I've told you not to call me mame anymore."

"Yes mame."

Carol sighed. "I best be heading out then."

'I'll drive you. You are in no condition to be out on these roads."

'Thank you kindly George."

As they headed out George looked at Carol. "What is it?"

"You love that boy, don't you?"

"He's my nephew of course I do."

"You've done a good job with him you know. A few months ago I would have gladly slapped him side the head. All he did was back talk and wait for a fight. Now look at him. He went after James, right after him. I never thought that boy would care about anything or anyone but himself."

Carol just shook her head and grabbed her coat. "He's always cared George, he just never was one to show it."

*****

"Thank you for driving me George." Carol said sadly. She had a lot on her mind. "I don't think I could be alone right now."

"I'm sure Dallas is find. He's a tough kid and kids like that tend to make it."

Carol sighed as she watched snow fall to the ground. "He's not a kid George. He hasn't been a kid since Annie died."

"It had to be hard on him."

Carol nodded blinking back tears. George reached for her hand.

"We were finally getting through. I never should have told him. I never should have told James. Annie was right to ask me to keep it a secret. Now look at what happened. They could both be dead for all we know, dead."

"Carol take it easy. I'm sure everything is fine. You did the right thing. Dallas deserved to know. He and James both had a right to know."

* * * * * *

Carol rushed into the hospital. George at her heels. "I'm here to see Dallas Winston. I'm his aunt."

The nurse at the desk looked at her. "Just a minute." She diled a number.

"This is Stacy. I need a fix on a Dallas Winston."

"- - - - -"

"Yes the family's here."

"- - - - - - - - - -"

'Alright I'll tell them." She hung up.

"Fifth floor waiting room. A doctor will be in with you as soon as he can."

Carol nodded. "Thank you."

"Are you sure you can do this Carol?"

She nodded. "I'll have to try."

" Come on then."

The waiting room was empty and cold. Carol sat herself in a chair by the window and looked outside at the falling snow. She sighed.

"Do you want some coffee?"

She looked up. "No George. I'll be fine."

He sat down. "Thank you, for taking me. You've been a good friend." George flushed and put his hand behind his neck.

"Its just the just the right thing to do."

"You've still been good to me George. Thank you for putting up with all this. I know yloure not to found of Dallas…"

"He can be trying but…"

Carol sighed, her mind all ready elsewhere. "I remember the night he was born."

"You were there at the hospital?"

Carol shook her head. "He wasn't born in the hospital. He was born at my house. Annie came banging on my door in the middle of the night. It was when Frank left her. She went into labor and walked me through the delivery. "

"You delivered him?"

Carol nodded. "He didn't cry at first but when he did he just wouldn't not stop. Then Annie sang to him and walla. He was such a cute baby, so small." She let out a sob.

George got down in front of her. "It's going to be okay."

A doctor walked in. "Family of Dallas Winston."

This is short and kind of crappy but I tried my best to get an update since this story rarely is. If you want to know more about Dallas's birth read and review Never More Love.