Sam's POV

I stumbled down the hall from my bedroom to the ringing of the phone. "Hello?" I mumbled into the receiver and was met with Steve's voice.

"Sam? Can you get Two-Bit for me."

"I don't think he's home but I'll check hold on." I did a quick check of Two-Bit's room which was empty before making my way back to the phone.

"He's not here Steve, I don't know where he is." Steve swore faintly before coming back on the line.

"If he comes home you tell him to get down to the station you hear?"

I perked up suddenly, "The Police station? Is everything alright?"

"Yeah fine, Dal and I just got into a bit of trouble and need someone to bail us out."

"Why didn't you call Soda?" I wondered, Steve and Soda were thick as thieves, surely if Soda wasn't right there alongside Steve then he would call him first?

"Yeah I'm going to have to I think." Steve said and he sounded less than happy about it. The line went dead and I hung up. I couldn't very well get back to sleep now but I also couldn't go to the police station to bail him and Dal out. I wasn't 18 and I didn't know if that social worker had put a hit out on me or not after I disappeared from the hospital.

I couldn't remember Two-Bit saying where he was going or what time he would be home but after 10 minutes of pacing the living room trying to decide what to do, he walked in the front door.

"Hey, I didn't think you'd still be up." he said surprised.

"Well I wasn't but then I got a phone call, or rather you did. Steve and Dal got arrested and they need you down at the station to bail them out." Two-Bit threw his head back and groaned.

"Alright I'd better get down there." He turned to go but I stopped him.

"Wait I'm coming too!"

"No way!" Two-Bit frowned, "Stay here and I'll be back soon."

"I'm not waiting here, Keith, just let me get dressed." I turned for my room as Two-Bit yelled out, "I could seriously hurt that lady for spilling my name to you, you know!"

15 minutes later and Two-Bit and I were sitting in the waiting room at the local police station as the cops finished up with Dally and Steve. I was nervous sitting here and really wanted to go, maybe I should have waited at home like Two-Bit suggested. I felt his hand on my knee which was bouncing slightly.

"Not long now and we'll be out of here." As he said this Dally and Steve came out from the back and after Two-Bit signed some paperwork we all left. Two-Bit cornered them in the parking lot.

"Alright, what did you do and why didn't you invite me?" I grinned at Two-Bit but Steve and Dally didn't look like they wanted to share and both were avoiding my gaze.

"Nothing Two-Bit, we'll talk about it later. We need to get out of here." Steve said.

"Aww c'mon! You leave me out of it and then hold out on details! That's not fair."

"Drop it Two-Bit. We need to go, now." Steve growled and threw a glance in my direction. I frowned now, something was up and it clearly concerned me. Before I could say anything headlights flashed across the parking lot where we were standing and a familiar truck pulled up. Steve cursed softly and my mouth ran dry as I stepped closer to Two-Bit, not sure if I could handle seeing him tonight. Two-Bit stepped slightly in front of me but relaxed when he saw it was Soda who climbed out.

"What did you do?" he asked Steve and Dally as he neared, "You told me you were handling it, whatever 'it' is, and then you call me to bail you out of jail?!"

"Hey I thought you called me." Two-Bit said and Dally replied, "We did but you weren't home. We weren't going to sit in jail all night so we called Soda too." Soda was looking at Steve's hands whose knuckles were all busted up and he frowned.

"This has something to do with that Soc doesn't it?" he asked and suddenly Two-Bit grabbed my arm and was trying to pull me away while Steve hissed at Soda, "Drop it right now, I'll tell you tomorrow."

I wrenched free from Two-Bit's grasp and faced them, Soda seemed to see me for the first time and looked down awkwardly. This was the first time we had seen each other since before the accident but right now my focus was on Steve and Dally.

"What did you two do? What Soc would Soda be talking about and why are your knuckles all busted up?" my breaths started coming quicker when Dally stepped forth.

"We took care of Joel Davis. He's not going to come around the East side anymore and he'll never lay a hand on you again." Soda's head whipped up to look at Dally but I felt like I'd been sucker punched. Joel Davis was his name. I felt myself growing smaller when what Dally was saying sunk in and I looked between the two.

"You really took care of him? He's not going to come after me? Ever?" I asked in a small voice and Dally grinned with pride as Steve shook his head, "I don't know what to say. 'Thank you' seems kind of wrong considering you beat the shit out of someone, but all I can bring myself to feel is gratitude." I smiled at them both when Soda stepped forward and stopped right in front of me. I met his eyes as he reached out a hand before dropping it to his side again.

"Someone laid a hand on you?" he asked quietly and I suddenly couldn't look at him anymore, "You didn't hurt your face falling down the steps did you?" he made the connection a lot quicker than I would have thought before he turned to Steve.

"Why wouldn't you let me be a part of that? Did you think just because of what went down between her and Pony I wouldn't want revenge too?"

"Soda," Steve shook his head before answering, "We didn't even know if we were going to be able to stop or if we'd kill him for what he did. I wasn't going to bring you down with me."

"'Kill him for what he did'?" Soda questioned and turned back to me, "What exactly did he do?" he asked icily and I looked up and held his gaze. I tried but I just couldn't bring myself to say it out loud again, especially not with everyone's eyes on me. No matter how much time passed I didn't know if I'd ever be able to say it again.

I stared at Soda and suddenly I saw his eyes scrunch up and the pain that crossed his face was like a physical punch straight to my chest. Soda stepped forward and rested his forehead against mine, "The pregnancy?" he whispered and I nodded and felt myself sagging at having being reminded of that. Soda caught me up and whispered in my ear, "I'm so, so sorry, Sam." His arms tightened around me and I breathed deeply, inhaling the reassuring scent that was just Soda.

Tears threatened to spill but I was so done crying over this jerk and what he had done to me. I was going to be strong and try to move on and put it behind me.

"Let's go home Sam, it's late." Two-Bit said and Soda let me go.

"I'll give you a ride. Dally, Steve get in the back." No-one argued with Soda as Two-Bit and I climbed in the front seat and Steve and Dally settled down in the back of the truck. Soda dropped Dally at Buck's and Steve at his place before driving to Two-Bit's. I went to follow Two-Bit out but Soda grabbed my arm and Two-Bit shut the door before waiting on the front step to give us some privacy. I turned to Soda who looked devastated.

"Sam, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that and that you had to keep it all locked inside. I'm sorry I practically deserted you after the accident, Two-Bit was right, you really needed us and I wasn't there for you."

"Soda please, there's nothing to feel guilty about. You had to focus on Ponyboy. How is he?" I asked hesitantly and Soda shrugged.

"He puts on a brave face but I know he's struggling. Maybe you should come over and talk to him." Soda started but I was shaking my head before he'd even finished the sentence.

"Pony thinks I cheated on him and I think it's best if we let him think that and move on. He doesn't need to know about what happened, it wouldn't do him any good."

Soda frowned and met my gaze, "Can you please come by the DX tomorrow? I want to talk to you with more time."

I nodded my head, "Sure Soda I'll come by. See you tomorrow." I climbed out of the truck and up the front steps to Two-Bit who was opening the door.

"Is everything okay?" he asked as we settled on the sofa after our long night.

"Soda wants me to tell Pony everything." When I looked up at Two-Bit he was nodding his head, "You agree?" I asked.

"Pony's hurting because he thinks you cheated on him but you didn't. He doesn't need to be angry anymore, you can get past this and be together."

"I think Pony deserves better, Two-Bit."

"Bullshit. Pony loves you and I know you feel the same way. You belong together and it's only hurting you both the longer you stay apart."

"How am I supposed to tell him? Him of all people, it would destroy him, Two-Bit, he'd never be able to forgive himself for not being there or not knowing or not doing anything about it."

"I'm not saying he wouldn't be hurt but you shouldn't let what happened define the rest of your life, don't let it control you or it'll drag you under. Be honest with him and let him help you to heal." I let Two-Bit's words sink in. It would be so good to let Pony's strength and support help me get through this but I just didn't know if I could tell him. I didn't want that to be all he saw whenever he looked at me.

"Go to bed. There's no need to make a decision tonight, you can think on it for however long you need. And until you make a decision you'll have me and Soda and even Steve and Dal, we've all got your back." I smiled before getting up and heading to bed. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep but I was asleep as soon as I lay down, the events of the night catching up with me.

XXXX

Soda's POV

I pulled the truck into the driveway at home and killed the engine but then sat in the car. I couldn't process what had happened to Sam and how she hadn't let on to anyone. She'd kept it all buried deep inside and I don't know if I admired her strength or was furious at her stubbornness, probably both.

I heard the front door open and saw light spill out onto the porch as Darry stood in the doorway staring at me. I reluctantly got out of the car and made my way up the steps and Darry stood back as I passed and collapsed on the sofa.

"What's going on, Soda? I heard the phone ring and then you barreled out of here so fast and I had no idea what was going on. Is everything okay?"

"Steve and Dally got arrested tonight and they needed me to bail them out, Two-Bit beat me to it." Darry's brows raised and he waited for me to continue, "They went over to the West side and beat the shit out of a Soc."

"Why in the hell would they do something like that? What does that achieve?" I took a deep breath and wondered how to tell Darry. Should I tell him? Then everyone would know but Pony and I didn't think that was fair. I don't think I could keep it inside though, I needed to be able to unload on someone and I knew Darry would be there for me and eventually for Pony too.

"Come on Soda, stop worrying and just tell me. Who did they beat up? Was it that Soc bothering Pony?"

"Yeah it was, turns out he's been so quiet lately because he already made his move and it wasn't directed at Pony. Well it was but they didn't go after him exactly. They went after Sam."

"Oh god." Darry sighed, "Is she okay?" I felt tears prick at my eyes and I tried to stay strong but I was struggling.

"I don't know if she'll be ever okay again, Darry. They really hurt her." I looked at Darry with tears in my eyes and though he looked pale, I kept going, "That baby wasn't Pony's." I finished in a whisper and Darry sighed and put his head in his hands. I looked down at my lap and tried to keep the tears at bay.

"How are we going to tell him?" Darry asked softly and I looked up in surprise.

"We're not Darry. This is for Sam and him to figure out. She needs to be the one to tell him so they can work through it. She's coming over to the DX tomorrow so I can try and talk to her some more. She thinks Pony doesn't need to know and he can just forget about her and move on but I know he never will. She was it for him, and he's it for her too even if she won't admit it."

Darry looked up at me, "We just keep it from him, we all know and he doesn't and you think he'll be okay with that?"

"No, he'll be furious but it's not our news to tell and he'll get that, eventually. I'm going to bed, I can't deal with anymore tonight." I got up off the lounge and Darry followed me down the hall and into his own room.

I'd have to find a way to get through to Sam tomorrow, I just had to. Her and Pone couldn't be without each other for much longer.