Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders or Jesus Walks.

Warning: Rated M stuff below. You are forewarned.


Jesus Walks. God show me the way because the devil trying to break me down. Jesus Walks. The only thing that that I pray is that my feet don't fail me now. Jesus Walks. And I don't think there's nothing I can do now to right my wrongs Jesus walks with me... I want to talk to God but I'm afraid because we ain't spoke in so long.

He stood tall, his chin held up high. He wasn't going to let her see that this was getting the better of him. He wouldn't let her know how he cried himself to sleep last night. People like him aren't supposed to cry. They aren't supposed to run away like a coward back home to Mommy. He would let her see him like this. This was the last time she would.

He kept playing the words over and over in his head: Go up state. Stay there. Let me handle this shit! Get the fuck outta this town. Don't screw this up, Ron! Don't screw it up! You've already screwed up enough!

"Ronnie," she whispered. Her hand was tightly around his. "Your bus will be here in five minutes."

He knew this. She sure didn't have to remind him just how long he had left. "I know, Em. Five minutes can seem like eternity though."

He wanted her to feel better. He wanted her to understand why he stopped pressing that she run off with him. He didn't tell her about what really happened to his face. He didn't tell her about her brother. He didn't want her to be more bitter towards him than she already was. He didn't want her to know everything. She couldn't.

"Can you call me once you get there?" Her pleading eyes looked up at him.

Don't look back. Drop that broad! This is your life, kid. Don't screw it up. He let out a long sigh and looked away from her stare. "I can't, Em. You know I can't."

"Dally's turning himself in so what does it matter?" she complained. "Ronnie you're free aren't you?"

Ronnie watched the clouds pass by overhead. He closed his eyes and breathed. "I'm never going to be free, Em. I'm not supposed to leave. The cops can't know. This is our little secret."

She still didn't understand all this and he could tell. He could only tell her so much though. He knew she was the only one that didn't see him as a cold blooded killer. She was the only one who believed in him. He owed her a lot...he owed her an explanation. That was just something he couldn't give her though.

"I know I caused a lot of trouble," he said. "For everyone. A lot of people just hate me for letting Dally take the blame for me...I hate myself for letting Dally take the blame for me."

Emily rubbed his arm gently. "Don't say that. He's doing it for you."

"He shouldn't have to. I should be able to take care of myself but just look around, I screwed up, Em. I always do."

He thought of his brother's friends back in Tulsa. All of them wanting him dead and wishing he never showed up. That wasn't the first impression he wanted to make on them. They all saw him in the same way and he couldn't change that...maybe they were right in seeing him that way. Maybe he was the one not seeing the big picture.

"You're not a killer," Emily spoke gently to him. "I can see it. I understand you, Ronnie."

Ronnie squeezed her little hand. "Don't ever change that. Please? No matter what they tell you, I didn't kill Sam. I didn't kill Sam, Emily. Always know that. I didn't kill Sam!"

She agreed. He knew she'd stick by him. He hoped so anyway. She was the only who had believed him. Emily Matthews saw the best in people. She was an amazing little girl and he'd do anything to take her with him and spend forever with her.

That, sadly, just wasn't part of the plan. He had to stick with it. It'd save everyone.

"Here." He reached into his jacket pocket just as the bus pulled up to the station. He'd been saving this for her for a long time. He pulled out a silver chain and dropped it in her palm. "Promise you won't lose it?"

Emily stared at the piece of metal in her hand. She squeezed it. "Ronnie-"

"Promise me, Em."

Tiny tears dripped down her cheek and rolled down her chin. He wiped them away, trying not to do the same. "I promise...I love you, Ronnie."

He tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to hold a smile. He gently kissed her lips goodbye. He savored her touch. "I love you too, Emily. Remember that."

He was gone within a blink of an eye. He carried what little luggage he had and climbed up into the smelly bus. The last thing Emily Matthews saw was a hand sticking out the window, her first love, waving her goodbye.

Ronnie Winston didn't kill Sam. That was clear. If Ronnie didn't kill Sam...who did? Or was he just fooling everyone.


The bubbles stuck to our naked bodies. The water was warm, really warm. He kept his arms around me as I sat in-between his legs, resting the back of my head on his chest and rubbing his knee. I took handfuls of bubbles and played with them in my hands. I stuck them all over our bodies until they dissolved.

"Tomorrow night then, huh?" I asked softly.

"Big show down," he said.

"What happens after?" I asked. "What are you going to do?"

"Head on down to the big house," he said quietly. "That is if them MFs don't wise up and come after me first. Nah, what am I thinking? That ain't ever gonna happen."

I grabbed his arm and wrapped it around my neck to where he was holding me tightly. He slipped his other hand around my waist and hugged me there. He rested his chin on the tip of my head and watched as I scrubbed the dirt off my leg.

"I'm glad you're back," I admitted. "At least for a little while." I buried my face in his shoulder and shut my eyes and listened to the sound of water in the tub splash.

The water and his body heat kept me extremely warm. I could feel tiny beads of sweat on my forehead. It was quiet. The neighbors weren't yelling...we weren't yelling. It was peaceful for a little while. A little while that we needed. All our disagreements seemed stupid at this point. We knew our time was limited and after tonight, the real storm was going to start. This was all we had left.

"Hey," I spoke up quietly. "I'm...I'm sorry about coming on to you like I did. I just want you to know...I accept your decision to do this. To protect your brother like this."

He didn't say anything. His tightened his grip around my body and lightly tickled my stomach and my navel. He didn't have to say anything at this point. This was enough. "Came to your senses finally and realized I'm always right?"

I snickered and gently rubbed his shin bone. "Sure. That and the fact that your protective side is extremely sexy."

He smirked and reached his hand around my back side and gripped me underneath my thigh. "How flattering."

"Are you scared?" I asked, changing up the subject.

He readjusted himself and mumbled. He loosened his grip a little and rested his head on his arm. "I don't get scared."

"I'm scared," I admitted quietly. I wasn't sure if he heard me or not.

The bubbles stuck to our flesh and then dissolved. Most of them were gone by this point and the candles were melting away. They were starting to smell at this point and Dally was itching to chuck them out. He didn't want them in the first place. They were my idea of trying to make things romantic...romantic for us that is. They were old bug candles I found back in his closet. They were the best thing I could come up with.

"Did you miss me?" I giggled at the thought of asking him such a question. I kicked my leg up in the air and scrubbed the back of it. "You have to give me a good answer too."

He kissed me down my neck and stopped at the tip of the shoulder. He hummed. "All day every day, babe, darling. You were the last thing on my mind and the first thing on it when I awoke to the birds chirping your song!"

I splashed some water towards his face and laughed. "I'm going to pretend you really meant that."

He chuckled and put his arms around my stomach. He had been quiet all night. Tim picked him up, claiming he slept the whole way here. He didn't say much to anyone once he woke up. I think deep down, he was worried...maybe even upset about past events. Maybe spending some time away from Tulsa actually did him some good.

Large amount of bubbles squirted up from underneath the water. He giggled like a little boy. "Oops!"

Maybe not.

Ronnie was really gone now, according to Dally that is. Dally thought he had the cops on his tale now after he started up some rumors with the top dogs in the neighborhood. He was going to take the blame for driving the car that hit Sam. What happened after that was up to the judge. Dally was worried though. He knew this was bigger than anything he'd faced before. He was in pain.

"Dally."

"Hmmm?"

I paused and thought about the question I wanted to ask. It hadn't fully hit me yet that this was the last time I'd see him for a while not behind bars. I had spent so long dreading this moment and now that it was finally here, I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to dry off, put my clothes on, and have to say goodbye to him. I didn't want him to do this, though, I knew he had to. And deep down, I was somewhat proud.

I lifted my body up a little, to where my lips touched the end of his ear. I kissed him on the side of his neck slowly around his scar, taking as much time as the universe would allow. I savored his taste, his smell, the touch of his skin. I wrapped my fingers around his hand and moved it up to my breast and let his hand lay there.

His other hand moved up my sides and rested under my breast. He squeezed them tenderly and lowered his face to where his lips sat on mine. He left them there, giving me a slow, long lasting, kiss. I gripped his knee and arched my body up. My hormones went off the chart and I parted from him, breathing out slowly.

I touched his face, stopping him and making him stare at me. "Be careful...will ya?"

A sly grin appeared on his face and I knew right then he was holding back a smirk. "I can hold my own against the sweater vest gang. Don't you worry none about that, Curtis."

I grinned and ran my hand over his face, feeling it for the last time. I touched his chest and outlined every muscle. I ran my finger over his scar, trying not to remember. He eyed mine. I lifted his face up to me. "I'll be here when you get back."

He sneered and rubbed my hair. He stretched his neck out and blew out the candles, making the only light coming from the moon through the window. "You better."

"Don't be getting to frisky with your mates either now." I warned with a wink, bending upward and wrapping a towel around myself. "And try not to drop the soap in the shower. We all knows what happens after that."

He ducked around, jumping out of the tub and running toward me. I yelped as he pinned me down by my shoulders, making me laugh. "You think you're cute, huh?"

I kissed his lips gingerly. I rubbed his rough face. "I know I'm cute."

XXXXXXX

The midnight hour came down on us.

He lay on the bed, watching me. He leaned against the bed post and pressed his lips together and I slipped my socks back off my feet slowly. I teased him with them, taking them off so carefully and slowly. Seducing him with every move. He kept a sly grin on his face, watching the whole thing intently. His toes curled and I tossed the socks away and removed my shirt, only leaving on my bottoms. He stared at my chest, his stomach flexing, telling on himself.

I rubbed my hands over my body as he watched. I covered my chest and touched my stomach, teaching him where to touch. I rested my hand on the button of my pants and paused, watching his face.

"What are you waiting for?"

I ran. Our bodies collided on the bed and our lips locked. He twisted my body over to where he was on top. His favorite position. I was his prisoner here and he was in charge. He had full advantage of me here. He lifted me up, my breasts and nipples touching his smooth chest right on the scar. He slammed me into the wall, attacking my mouth. He pinned my hands above my head.

I breathed out. Pain. Pain. Relief. I slowly ran my hands up his back as he paused for the first time. He caught his breath and stared into my eyes as if asking for permission. We stared at each other. My nails latched onto his back. He took a fist full of my hair and held it. His eyes sparkled. They were beautiful...and this was the last time I would be able to truly enjoy them.

The momentum changed back to its fast pace. He kissed me forcefully and his hands fumbled for zippers and buttons and in one thrust he sheathed himself inside of me. I gasped and let the pain enter my body. I let him enter my body as if it were our first time all over again and I was just a nieve little girl, knowing nothing about the real world.

I cried out in pain, or maybe it was pleasure. He thrusted and he kissed me, not gentle, yet passionate and uniting. He rammed into me, with growls of fury and passion. He didn't stop, he couldn't stop. The pain, the horrible pain, it rose in him, and it overtook him, it filled him, it poured out, and he screamed as did I. He kissed me, and he bit my lips and tongue gently and breathed out on my face. I held his body so it stayed tightly on mine. I wrapped my hands around him and held him right here where it felt the best.

He groaned and cursed. Dally moved faster, almost as if he felt the wall behind us would crack into a million pieces and we would fall into nothing, getting lost in all the pain, in the adrenaline, and becoming lost in the loss itself. The loss was intense, never ending, never faltering. We both felt it move in our bodies. Life went on, but people didn't. People died, people left, people didn't come back.

I could feel myself growing teary eyed, and that made me scream louder and more. My head fell back and slapped into the wall. I heaved, getting some air in my lungs. I rose up and down, my legs and arms pinned by his force. He let my back ease away from him to gain better access. He felt so much pain, but in the moment, he lost it, and he couldn't find it. He released it into the atmosphere, hoping it would never return. The pain, it was eclipsed by pleasure and hunger and desperation and need and love and he rose up.

I locked eyes with him, and he kissed me smoothly, and held the kiss as we both came. We both lost our pain, both lost our sorrow, both forgetting to hate and cry and die, and lived, and loved and found everything, everything missing, and everything that had been missing for so long. It was over as fast as it started and my body shook as tears escaped my eyes. I clung to his body and let my tears run down his back.

He breathed in and out, in and out and the warm air cleared out the goose bumps. He squeezed my body so tight, my breathing didn't matter. Our bodies touched one last time. Ther were joined for one last hurrah. This was it. We took in the loss and held each other tight, not daring to move from this amazing feeling. This feeling we would only feel at this time and this time only. Here it was. It was better than our first. Better than any other times. Better than our last. The clock was ticking away our time and we were done. We were done forever. Our precious moment had ended. We had ended.

Tears flooded down my checks, soaking his body. Small sobs escaped my lips. I buried my face in his neck and smelled his sent for the last time. My body shivered and chill bumps took over my naked body once again. I shivered and his grip tightened as if telling me, everything was ok. He was here. He's got me. He didn't need to say it. I felt it. I knew he was there. I knew he had me. I knew he was there for me. He was protecting me. He loved me.

"Be careful," I whispered in his ear. I scrapped his back with my nails. "Goddamnit, be careful."

His hand went around the back of my head and his lips kissed me on my neck, answering for him. I could feel his sly smile forming on my neck. "I can't die, Curtis. Don't you remember?"

My face swelled up from the tears that didn't stop. I heaved for a breath. "I love you." My body shook again and mounds of tears ran down my face. "God, Dally, I love you."

He rose up, his eyes meeting mine again. His hand ran through my hair and he grabbed another fist full and held it. I shut my eyes and breathed out slowly. He let go and pressed his thumb against my lips. "God, Curtis...God."

The night disappeared. His body collapsed on mine and we fell asleep holding each other, just like this. No matter how hard we tried, there was still pain. Everyone felt pain. Pain took over our bodies and our minds. We can't ignore it. I couldn't ignore it. Dally couldn't ignore it. We both felt it.

We are humans. And humans felt pain.

Yo, We at war. We at war with terrorism, racism, and most of all we at war with ourselves. Jesus Walks. God show me the way because the Devil trying to break me down. Jesus Walks with me, with me, with me, with me.


A/N: So here we go. It all happens in the next chapter. :)