A/N: I'm going away again, but managed to finish up a chapter for everyone to read in my absence. I'll be back on Friday but I got a bunch of stuff coming up that I am attending and everything so I'll try to update soon.

Chapter 29-Breakout

"What do you think has been going on lately…?" Sodapop asked, looking up at Darry in the kitchen. Soda was carefully cooking some scrambled eggs, green scrambled eggs, on the frying pan while talking to his brother in the kitchen. Sodapop couldn't sleep after what had happened last night. It just seemed odd that everything was starting to happen all at once. Dallas in the hospital, Two-bit in the hospital.

"I think you're overreacting little buddy." Darry said making several pieces of toast. "Two-bit was just acting like Two-bit. He was irresponsible and drank too much. And as for Dallas, him getting shot wasn't his fault."

"Surprisingly." Ponyboy piped up from the kitchen table.

"I know, but Chris was involved in that shooting. They were shooting at him. Not Dall'. And we all know Christian wouldn't be involved in drugs without a reasonable reason." Sodapop pointed out. He blinked putting his focus on the eggs.

"Well has anyone found out why? Christian kind of went on hiatus after what happened at the Dingo." Ponyboy pointed out. Both Darry and Sodapop shook their heads. "Has Reilly spoken to him?"

"She won't speak to him. To angry." Sodapop said. He realized he needed to cool off. He was usually the one that would be calming people now, but this time he was the one getting stressed. What was with him?

Darry took over cooking the eggs once he noticed Sodapop spacing. In a few minutes, Darry had prepared a plate full of eggs, bacon and toast for Ponyboy. He opened his mouth to ask Soda if he wanted anything, but decided he would get some if he got hungry. "Soda go wake Reilly up, and ask if she wants any breakfast. You know if Steve gets here before she's awake the food is likely to be gone."

Soda nodded slowly and started down to the guest room. Reilly was often staying with them now that all of this stuff was going on. She wasn't talking to Chris, her mom would just hit her, and Reilly didn't want the extra stress. Only time Reilly would need to leave is if the state showed up for an inspection. This wasn't a concern though, because they had one recently.

Sodapop opened the door quietly, shutting it behind him as he walked in. He walked over to the bed, which had an obvious formation of where a body is, and jumped on it. This would either wake Reilly up, or startle her if she already was. Soda layed down beside her body and looked over at her as she opened her eyes to see who had hoped on the bed.

"Darry asked if you were eating." Soda said.

"I don't know. I guess if it's already made, and I'm up I might as well." Reilly said slowly. She shut her eyes for a moment, and then slowly opened them again to look at Soda. She was about to ask if Steve and company had shown up but stopped because one, it wasn't loud and two Dallas and Two-bit were in the hospital. "Do you have to work?"

"Yeah," Soda said nodding slowly. Steve will be over soon so we can head out. Reilly nodded. Soda bent over to give Reilly a kiss then sat up and said, "Come on or it'll get cold." Soda said. He grabbed Reilly's hand and pulled her out of bed and led her out of the room and into the kitchen. Before she knew it she was sitting at the kitchen table in front of Ponyboy. "Now, I need to go get ready." And by ready, Sodapop meant get his work uniform on.

Ponyboy looked up as his brother ran off to their room to get changed. "Well that was a sure change in mood." Ponyboy stated. Reilly glanced up and raised a brow like Two-bit often did. Ponyboy blinked and did the same imitating her.

Darry had disappeared from the kitchen as well as Soda. They were both most likely getting ready for work. Well Sodapop was for sure, he already said that. It was quiet without them, Ponyboy didn't talk too much, at least when no conversation was initiated.

The silence didn't last long though, Skylar ran into the yard yelling about something. He ran up onto the deck, "Hey guys I have-" Skylar's voice was cut off suddenly by a loud thump on the ground.

Ponyboy turned around to see Skylar lying on his back on the floor in front of the door, his head hanging outside of the door. "What happened?" Ponyboy asked as a grin slowly spread across his face.

Steve came in behind Skylar looking down at the seven foot male. Steve was grinning widely, walking in past Skylar towards the kitchen. He was all ready to go for a shift at DX, The same uniform on as Soda would be running out in so long as he didn't lose any part of it. Steve was no raiding the kitchen for any leftover food, because he hated being anywhere near his house and his father.

Steve looked up at Ponyboy to finally answer his question, "The dumb ass ran through the door and hit his head off the top of the doorframe." Steve said picking a piece of bacon off of a plate.

"What is the matter Skylar?" Reilly asked.

Skylar sat up from the front door and looked over at the kitchen table. He was a little stunned at first, but shook it off as if he was an animal who just ran into a window. Might as well have been. "I have news!" Skylar said standing up quickly, careful not to hit his head off of the ceiling.

"And what's that?" Steve asked through a mouthful of chocolate cake.

"There is going to be a rumble in the vacant lot next Friday." Skylar said. Everyone in the room turned to him with different expressions. Steve had a devious grin, Ponyboy was wide eyed and Reilly had a raised brow. "All of the North side of Tulsa knows that a soc shot Dallas Winston. The greasers are pissed."

Sodapop and Darry came out at the same time and started listening in on what Skylar had to say. "Sheppard's gang was the one to start this idea." Steve added in.

"Tim can never make his mind up can he?" Ponyboy said.

"Those two may want to kill each other sometimes, but they are two of a kind." Sodapop said. He looked at Steve, "Ready to go?" Steve nodded and ran for the front door.

Darry was close behind, but he stopped and turned around to say, "We'll discuss this rumble business later." With that Darry was also out the door.

Sodapop hopped over to Reilly and kissed her. "Sorry, but if we don't leave now we'll be late, and then the boss will be pissed off." Soda said with a cheesy grin

"Go then." Reilly said. Sodapop nodded and was out the door. You could hear the old motor of Darry's truck going, followed by a squeal of the tires and the truck racing down the old street. Soda was driving today.

"So what happened last night anyway?" Skylar asked Reilly while he kept an eye on the road.

"Two-bit came in and was having stomach pains. We took him to the hospital and he had alcohol poisoning. That's what happened in a nut shell." Reilly said as she watched people fly by out the car window. It wasn't easy to talk about the previous night when it brought back memories Reilly would rather not remember. Thankfully Skylar was around at the time that stuff had happened to her and knew better then to bring it up further. "How in hell did you manage to hit your head like that this morning?"

"I'm seven feet tall?" Skylar smirked sarcastically, "You know those older houses, the doors aren't that big."

"I'm surprised your head didn't take the top of the door frame with it." Reilly laughed.

Skylar laughed lightly, "Darry would have been on my ass." Skylar looked around as he drove into the parking lot of the hospital. They were coming to visit Two-bit and see how he was, and also to inform both Two-bit and Dallas of the rumble next Friday. Both should be able to get out for it. Both would either way. Two-bit has his switch blade and Dallas would find something to use.

Reilly remembered the last time she had found out about a rumble, they were in the vacant lot when Cherry Valance pulled up in her fancy ol' sting ray. Johnny and Ponyboy were back in Windrixville in that old Church. She remembered how Dallas tried to pick her up and she told him to go to hell and also how Cherry was their personal spy through the whole thing. The thought sickened her, but if it got Ponyboy and Johnny out of danger then she was willing to tolerate it. Dallas always pretended that he had no idea where Johnny and Ponyboy were, but Reilly saw right through it, and so did Sodapop for that matter. Was something like what happened really in the works?

They didn't see Two-bit long, he was about to get some sleep when they had entered his room. Skylar told him about the news of the Rumble, and Two-bit's spirits rose at the thought of knocking out a few socs. As expected, Two-bit said if they wouldn't let him out he would pull out his trusty switch blade and get himself out for it. Although this wasn't expected to be necessary because Two-bit should be allowed out in a few days.

"Old Dal' is sure going to be happy." Skylar said walking to Dallas' room in the hospital. Reilly was trailing behind him glancing at the hallway they were walking in. "Though it might be hard on him to use that arm of his."

"That won't stop him. He'll still break several noses and beat people's heads in." Reilly said. Reilly opened the door to Dallas' room first and started in seeing he was awake.

"Well well, ain't it Reilly and the Giraffe. Come to break me out of this hell hole?" Dallas smirked devilishly.

"Totally." Reilly said sitting down. "How's it go?"

"Awful. I hate this place." Dallas said looking around.

"So do I." Reilly said looking around.

"Anyway what the hell brings you two here to see me?" Dallas asked as he crossed his arms over his chest. You could see the bandages on the arm that Dally had been shot at. He was moving it around more then the last time Reilly had seen him so that was a good sign that they might let him out soon.

"There is a rumble on Friday Dally. Once the entire north end found out you got shot they were ready to riot." Skylar said also looking around and the plain white room. Dallas had a nice big window to look out of in this room. "I can say you may have many enemies but when it comes to a soc and you they easily become your allies."

"Don't you think I know that?" Dally snarled. He never quite liked Skylar, so he avoided him. And now the skinny kid was standing there looking dopey in his room.

"Dallas…" Reilly warned.

"What?! I-" Dallas cut himself off once seeing Reilly's eyes shooting daggers at him. "Reilly you got one of your switch blades on you?"

"You plan on breaking out?" Reilly asked.

"If they don't let me out, damn straight I am. Now hand over one of them." Dallas demanded holding out his hand. Reilly rolled her eyes and then obeyed, at least if the fuzz got involved in him breaking out he would tell them it was her blade.

Reilly stood up, so Dallas was going to be at the rumble and so was Two-bit. That was great. Everyone would be there. She was just hoping that something like the last time wouldn't happen. No deaths, no robberies. Nothing. That's what Reilly hoped for. Reilly started out of the room.

"Reilly, before you leave…" Dallas started, "Find out what the fuck your brother was involved in that got me shot."

"It's a long awaited mystery that I am still trying to discover the answer for." Reilly said.