(A/N: I don't really have much to say today, just that I'm trying to finish this story up. I hate to leave you guys hanging like I always end up doing, so I'd rather finish it while I have the time than draw it out. Sorry about this chapter, though. I know it's pretty long and boring. But, it kind of had to be done. So, here it is!)

Chapter 36

The next morning, Rae was woken up with a nudge. She opened her eyes and looked up, sleepily. Darry stood there, half dressed.

"Sorry, Rae. I don't want to half to get you up but we have to get going soon," he said, looking regretful. She'd never seen him like that. She nodded and started to uncurl from her human ball. Her body was stiff from not moving all night and hurt as she got up. Darry walked back to his room. Rae looked around and saw everyone in the same place they had been the night before. Except for Two-Bit. He was nowhere to be found in the Curtis house. She went into the bathroom to clean up. Then, she remember the fight last night. She remember the mud and that her bruised cheek and the back of her clothes were covered in dried mud. She looked at her face more closely and saw where she had been crying. She imagined him. The entire scene replayed in her head.

"Dally…," she said, unable to hold back again. Unable to make him proud…

"Rae!" Soda exclaimed as he passed by the open bathroom door. She looked up at him. She hadn't noticed she had bent over the sink and hidden her face in her arms. He hurried in and helped her stand up again. "Hey, it'll all turn out alright, you hear?"

"How could it?" she asked. "The person who has taken care of me my entire life is now gone. My only family…" She looked back down at the sink.

"Don't you dare be like that. You know every single one of us in this house is just as much you family as Dally was." Rae was silent. Soda grabbed a washcloth that was hanging from the bar next to him. He we it in the sink and began wiping the dirt off her face. She winced. It hurt. Once he got it all off, he examined the bruise. "Wow, he slugged you good." He put the towel down and started to leave. "By the way, Tim brought your backpack in last night. It's by the front door."

"Thanks," she whispered as he left. She went out and grabbed her extra pair of jeans, a shirt, and went back to the bathroom to change.

Less than twenty minutes later, Darry, Soda, and Rae were in the Curtis's truck. After they dropped Soda off at the DX, the other two made their way to the police station. They found Two-Bit and his mother there, plus a lawyer who happened to represent both the Curtis brother and the Matthews family. An officer took Rae and the Matthews first.

"Here's the deal," he said as they sat down. "They've found your father in New York. Once he gets back here, you'll have to testify against him. There is a chance that he will be set free." Rae sat up, alarmed. "Without any evidence whatsoever, there's nothing we can do, really. You didn't get tested. You have no witnesses…"

"I do have a witness!" she almost yelled, angrily.

"You do?" he asked, puzzled. Rae relaxed a bit and nodded. "Who?"

"Darrel Curtis was there with D- with my brother," she answered. "He let me stay at his house that night."

"I see," the cop said. "Also, I understand that Mrs. Matthews would like to take you in as her foster child?"

"That is correct," Two-Bit's mother piped up.

"Alright. We'll set both hearings for the same day. In the meantime, in light of the circumstances, we'll allow you to stay with the Matthews. Normally, we wouldn't let this happen. But seeing as how…" He stopped without finishing his sentence. Rae nodded.

"Thank you," she said, quietly.

"Now, if you'll come with me," the cop said, standing. "You'll have to come identify your brother's body before we can release him." She stiffened.

"Officer, I don't think-" Two-Bit's mother started.

"No," Rae interrupted. "I'll do it." She stood up and followed the older man down to the morgue. He brought her to a windowed room. Inside was a table with a large white sheet covering up what she could only assume was Dally's body. She sucked in a deep breath as the officer opened the door.

"Is your name Raelee Angela Winston?" the officer asked as she followed him inside.

"Yes," she said and shivered. The room was freezing. He asked a few other questions about her age and her parents. Finally…

"Was your brother Dallas Winston?"

"Yes." He took a step closer to the white sheet and lifted it. He folded it over, just enough to expose the head and shoulders. And there he was. Dally's blonde hair. It's funny how her hair was so dark and his so light… She examined his face. It was paler than normal. But still handsome.

"Is this Dallas Winston?"

"Yes," Rae said trying to keep her voice from faltering. Her face started to get hot and she felt tears well up in her eyes.

"Thank you," he said. "I'll…leave you alone for a few minutes if you would like." She nodded.

"Thank you," she said. "Could you bring Two- Keith down here?"

"Of course." He nodded and left. Rae put her hands on the side of the table. She peered down at her brother's face again.

"So, he we are," she started. "Why wouldn't you hold on for me? I mean, I know you loved Johnny. But, he was my friend too." She sighed and closed her eyes. A few tears dropped down her cheeks. "Damnit, Dally." More tears came down, faster. Some landed on her brother's face. "Look at what you're doing to me. I never cry. Just like you. I wanted to be like you so much." She looked up and laughed. "Now who do I look up to?" She stopped to wipe her tears. "I'm lost, Dally. I need you. I miss you. I love you." Suddenly, she felt anger rise inside of her. "Damnit, Dally!" she yelled and hit the metal tabletop with her fists. She felt a sharp sting in one hand. It hurt so bad, she pulled away and hissed in pain.

"Rae…" Two-Bit's voice said from behind her. She spun around, holding her hurt hand in the other. He walked closer to her and looked over at his friend's body. He pushed past Rae and covered Dally's head up again. "That's enough. We should go." Rae looked back down at the white sheet. She was so reluctant to leave. Instead of doing what her mind wanted to do, her head nodded in agreement. Two-Bit put an arm around her shoulders and walked her out of the room. The police officer led them back upstairs where Mrs. Matthews and her lawyer were talking dates with another man.

"That should work, thank you," the older woman said and stood up. She turned towards her son and Rae. "Ready?" They both nodded and left.

"See you later tonight," Two-Bit said to Darry as they passed. He nodded.

Not long later, the two were sitting on the couch in Two-Bit's room. He made Rae give him her hand to look at. Two of the knuckles of her right hand were already swelling up.

"The two fingers are most likely broken," he deduced. He stood up and grabbed a roll of medical tape off of his dresser. He threw it at her. "Tape them together and they should be alright as long as you don't do anything so drastic again." She nodded and began winding the tape around her ring finger and pinky. Two-Bit's mother poked her head in the room.

"Rae, I had your clothes and things brought over from your former foster house and your other home," she said, smiling.

"Thank you so much, Mrs. Matthews. It means a lot," she said, trying to smile. She nodded and left the room.

"Don't worry about my mom," Two-Bit told her. "She knows that you're just like me." She looked up at him with a smirk. "Well, minus the booze."

"I wouldn't be so sure," she said, and the broke the tape off of the roll with her teeth. "Little innocent Rae started partying hard after she got taken again…" He smiled a bit.

"Well, anyway," he started. "She knows we'll be out more than in."

"Let's go then," Rae said. "I don't want to be stuck here, thinking about one thing." Two-Bit nodded.

"Good idea." He led her out of the room and closed to door behind him.