Chapter 11

(Darry)

Pony was asleep between us, his head leaned back on the seat and mouth hanging slightly open. Gentle snores filled the cab as he inhaled, his breath escaping as quiet puffs of air when he exhaled. We hadn't made it out of the hospital parking lot before he'd started to nod off, his eyes slowly closing to the hum of our truck engine. Soda shifted and pulled him closer. He smiled a little as Pony moved instinctively in his sleep to lean fully against his shoulder. They were like magnets, those two, always drawn together. Soda sighed contentedly and hugged Pony to him, his own eyes drifting closed with his head leaned against the window. They were both exhausted. Heck, so was I.

It wasn't the way I'd pictured coming home. Pony's face was still a mess of sickly yellows and purples, though the bruises were mere shadows of what they had once been. He was staying awake for longer periods now, but I could tell he still tired easily, even if he was too stubborn to admit it to us.

And sometimes he said strange things. Sometimes he just stared ahead, seeing something we couldn't, and saying nothing at all.

I suppose I had expected more of a fanfare, even if it was only from my brothers. I had pictured Pony sitting up and eagerly leaning forward to look out the windshield, trying to catch an early view of the house as we got closer. And Sodapop would be bouncing his legs and tapping his fingers on the dash as boundless energy coursed through him.

But we had none of those things. I just had two exhausted little brothers. But still, I was happy.

The street in front of the house was empty when we pulled up, and the house looked dark, though I knew Two Bit and Steve were planning on coming around for supper. I desperately wanted a nap, but it looked like I'd have to force myself to stay awake with another round of coffee.

"Pony. Soda. We're home." I reached over and shook both of their shoulders.

Soda popped awake instantly and smiled at me. His eyes sparkled and I could see the excitement that I'd imagined lurking just below the surface. Apparently, his short nap had been enough to re-energize him. He reached for Pony.

"Ponyboy. Pony wake up. We're home kiddo."

Pony moaned and rubbed at his eyes, blinking heavily at the house before smiling at Soda then me. "Fin'ly." His words were heavy with sleep, but I didn't miss the joyous ring the word held as we climbed down from the truck.

I met them on their side, though I should've known that Soda would watch over his brother.

"Darry, I'm fine. I ain't gonna keel over. Quit following me so close." Pony glanced at me over his shoulder as we climbed the steps onto our sunken porch.

"Sorry, kiddo." I tried to give him some more space, but made sure I was close enough to grab him if he did decide to topple over. He wasn't lookin' too hot. I noticed Soda wasn't getting ahead of him either…and usually he would have bounced right up the steps and been long gone inside the house.

We had just gone inside the door when Pony sucked in his breath and squeaked. He stopped so suddenly that Soda ran right into him. Both nearly fell to the floor before Soda was able to wrap his arms around Pony and pull them back to standing upright. Pony leaned back against Soda's chest, breathing heavily, one hand coming up to cover his heart.

I stepped in front of my brothers as a shadowed silhouette came out of the kitchen.

"Jesus Christ!" I swore. Then, squinting, "Tim, what the hell are you doing here? Trying to put us all in an early grave? For God sakes, man, at least turn a light on."

Tim Shepard slinked against the wall, having appeared as if from nowhere like one of those mangy back alley cats. Only he wasn't mangy. His dark curly hair hung in purposeful styled ringlets on the sides of his forehead, the rest combed back. His face, amused now, had always reminded me of a hatchet, never smiling, chiseled and rough. There was just enough light that I could see the raised white of the scar that cut down his cheek.

Somehow, he managed a grimace that I think was supposed to be a smile, and his eyes glinted merrily. No doubt he found it hilarious that he had successfully taken off five years of our lives with his Houdini appearing act. No wonder him and Dally had been friends. They had the same look and feel about them.

"Curtises." He nodded a hello. Like it was completely normal for a hood to appear out of the shadows of your kitchen and scare the living daylights out of you.

"Tim." We all three replied at once, and Soda finally relaxed his grip on Ponyboy.

Tim chuckled.

An uneasy feeling was beginning to settle in my chest. Why was he here? It wasn't like a Shepard to be part of a welcoming committee, unless it was a special kind of welcoming committee that no one in their right mind would actually want welcomed by.

Shepard met Soda's eyes and my brother nodded.

What in the hell?

Tim pushed off from the wall and strutted, no slinked, towards Ponyboy. He stopped in front of him and ruffled his hair.

"Hey kid, glad to see you back."

"Thanks, Tim." Pony's voice was reserved. Curious. Questioning.

"Maybe you ought to sit down, kid. You ain't looking so good."

"I'm fine." Pony answered, but he swayed a little as he answered Shepard. I eyed him. He was looking awfully pale.

Tim looked like he was going to say something else, decided against it, and turned to Soda. "Sodapop, it's time."

Wait. What?

This tore my attention away from Pony.

Time for what?

Soda met Tim's eyes and held them until Tim nodded and made his way to our door, ignoring the questions I was hurling at his back. It was like I wasn't even there. I saw him lean against the post at the top of our steps and take a drag from his smoke, waiting.

"Sodapop…what the hell is going on?" I sounded, confused, angry. But deep down I knew. I knew. That uncomfortable feeling had been growing in my chest since Tim appeared.

Soda ignored me too, turning to kiss Pony on the top of his head before strutting towards the door.

I threw out an arm to stop him.

"Soda? Where are you going?" Then, because I couldn't think of anything else that would keep him from doing something stupid, "Your brother just got home."

Soda stopped for a second, bouncing from one foot to another. Finally, he shrugged a shoulder, trying and failing to look uncaring. But I didn't miss the worried glance he threw at Pony.

"Out."

"That's it? Just Out?" I could feel myself growing angry and that annoying muscle in my jaw twitched.

There were footsteps on the porch, and we turned together. Tim Shepard was back at the door. I guess he'd gotten tired of waiting. His muscles were taunt, almost like a spring wound too tight.

I could feel my eyes widen, understanding really settling on my shoulders now, as I turned back to Soda. "Soda, don't. Don't do anything-"

"Lay off Darry," he cut me off and I sucked in my breath at the anger that I saw swirling in his eyes. "I'll be fine."

"Yeah, you'll be fine. But what about us? Our family?" I tried again, "I told you, one more mess up and I won't be able to get you back. We need you here. Pony needs you."

He looked at Pony, who stared back, glassy eyed but determined to remain on his feet, lips pushed into a tight line. Soda was wavering, I could see it. He'd do about anything for his little brother.

But then he slowly shook his head, his expressive eyes telling me he was sorry. Sorry, but not changing his mind. "No, Darry. You know I got to. For Pony. This was my fault. And now I'm taking care of it. I couldn't protect him then, but I can do this now."

He didn't give me time to say anything else before he turned, glancing over his shoulder once more at a frowning, swaying Pony, and was out the door.

Tim eyed me, wary, daring me to say something.

But what could I say? Sure, I was worried… but mostly I was jealous. Jealous, because I wanted it to be me walking out there with Tim Shepard.

I wanted it to be me to find that little shit. And I wanted it to be me that got him for Pony.

I tore my eyes away from the backs of the two retreating greasers and looked at the one little brother left standing with me.

"Pony, sit down before you fall down."

(Tim)

"Curly! Out!" I jerked my head towards the door. Somehow, I'd managed to grit out the words without losing the smoke dangling from my lips.

He opened his mouth like he was going to argue but stopped when he saw Curtis step in behind me. His eyes widened just enough for me to see that he knew the score. Curly ain't stupid. He simply nodded, grabbing his beer-my beer- from the coffee table that was never used for coffee, and pushed himself off the sunken couch.

His eyes met mine, then Sodapop's, and he jerked his head in greeting before leaving the house, letting the door bang closed behind him.

I wondered briefly where he was going, trying to tell myself I didn't care, but I knew I was lying to myself. I'd been a liar for a long time now, showin' everyone I didn't give a shit about my little brother or sister...but I was a liar. I had always been a liar...I'd always cared.

But I was a dirty hood with a reputation and a gang. And dirty hoods with reps and gangs made enemies. And those enemies would hurt you any way they could.

So, I became a liar to protect my family.

Sodapop Curtis should have been a liar too, then no one would've gone after Ponyboy.

I'd seen what those bastards had done.

And I wanted them to pay.

Suddenly the door banged open again, and Curly stood in the frame, hands clenched. He glared at me.

"I want in."