Sorry about how late I've been, I fully intended to up load this earlier, but that never happened.

I do not own The Outsiders.


The walk over to Andy's house was quiet, and since most people were in bed already, Dallas and Andy didn't have to worry about unwanted attention. Which was a good thing for Dallas, since he definitely didn't fit in with the neighborhood like Andy did.

Well, like she usually did.

Because of what happened, Andy's clothes were dirty and lay haphazardly on her. Both of her hands as well as her knees and shins were scuffed, and she moved the way someone in pain would. If anyone were to see her, they'd more likely think she was a bum rather than a daughter of a wealthy family.

Regardless of those things, Andy kept her eyes forward and stayed a couple steps ahead of Dallas as she lead him to her house. He was certain it was because she didn't want him to see the nervousness on her face, but it came through anyway in her hurried footsteps. And the further they walked through the town, the more Andy's composure began to slip as she began to flinch at the smallest of sounds.

After a couple minutes more of that, Dallas hurried up just enough to catch up with Andy before he kept pace with her. A couple minutes passed and he caught hold of her hand wordlessly. He could feel Andy look at him, but he stayed silent, and she turned back shortly after. The rest of the walk was just as quiet, and in time they arrived at the gate of her aunt's house.

Dallas frowned at the place. The pure white building still gave off the tense, imposing air that it had the last time he'd gone there. That unwelcoming feeling had held up him and Johnny back then for a moment before they continued. Back then he'd certainly never consider a future where he'd walk Andy back there to ensure her safety.

He expected Andy to enter, but she stood there warily instead.

After a full minute of standing there, Dallas said, "You know you can still turn around and get yourself to the hospital. You have some nasty injuries there." Andy shook her head before she said, "I know I should get myself checked out, but it's like I said before. You don't want to get on the wrong side of my aunt Christy." Dallas made a small noise as they continued to stand there. Andy huffed a minute later an exasperated expression on her face as she said, "And yet, here I am. Cowering like a little girl afraid of being punished."

She slipped her hand out of his and raised her good arm as she said, "Thanks for walking me here."

She turned toward the house and sucked in a deep breath before she released it and stepped forward. Dallas began to turn away before he stopped. He huffed, then turned back and said, "Hey, which is your room."

Andy gave him an odd look before she told him. Dallas smirked as he jerked his head towards the house as means of telling her to get moving. And while Andy looked confused, she went ahead and entered. Dallas continued to smirk as he waited until the door shut behind her. He then hurried into the yard and made his way to where Andy had said her room was and let himself in through the window. The room was much like the rest of the house, all white and fancy. He plopped himself down on the bed and frowned as he was practically sucked into it.

He didn't have to wait too long for Andy who entered a minute later looking exhausted as she mumbled mockingly, "Yes Aunt Christy, I know I was late. Well of course I went looking for trouble, why else would I come back beat up late at night. Definitely didn't get attacked or anything. Nooo, it has to be all my fault doesn't it? Yes, definitely all my fault." She sighed as she locked the door behind herself before she turned around and stared dumbly at Dallas. After a minute of being stared at, Dallas pointed out, "You did tell me where your room was." Andy laughter shortly before she said, "I did, didn't I?" She dropped onto the bed, winced, and muttered, "Shouldn't have done that. The sitting down hard, I mean."

She slowly moved to lay next to Dallas, wincing all the while. Once she'd gotten herself positioned, she said, "Thanks for being here. I really appreciate it." A small smile pulled at Dallas' mouth and he replied, "With everything that happened, it seemed wrong to just leave you alone."

Andy's smile brightened before it faded away completely as she reached over to touch her arm. It was a bitter laugh that slipped out this time as she said, "It's strange. Every time I feel like I'm getting stronger, that I'm getting better equipped to face the world, something always comes up to push me back right to the place I was before."

Her hand tightened around her arm causing her to wince.

Dallas caught hold of her wrist as he said, "Quit that." Andy blinked as if she were just becoming aware of her actions and released her grip on her injured arm. She tried to smile to smile, but the pain in her eyes didn't disappear. "Quit that." This time the phrase came out of Dallas in a softer voice. Andy blinked in surprise as Dallas carefully slipped an arm around her, "You don't need to pretend to be fine. There isn't a single one of us who'd think worse of you for being scared after what those bastards did." This time, the smile on her face held some amount of warmth as she leaned into Dallas. They were both quiet for a while before a single chuckle slipped out of Andy. Dallas raised an eyebrow at the sound and Andy looked faintly amused as she admitted, "I just got a mental image of Sylvia if she found out about this."

Another chuckle slipped out of Andy although she didn't look quite pleased at the thought. Dallas raised an eyebrow at the odd expression on her face as he replied bluntly, "What she doesn't know won't hurt her. To Dallas' mild annoyance Andy continued to chuckle as she said, "No, I suppose not."

Her laughter subsided momentarily, and Andy fell asleep shortly after.

Dallas glanced towards the window. If he'd been being smart, he would have left once Andy fell asleep. But apparently he wasn't that night because some time later, he was still lying in that uncomfortable bed as he watched Andy sleep.

It had infuriated him, seeing that guy all over Andy, seeing the traumatized expression once he had gotten them off her. And watching her break down after that? His hand tightened into a fist as he trembled in anger. Andy kept her nose clean, she stayed out of the conflict. She didn't deserve to be pushed back to the state she arrived at Tulsa in. That thought of how she was all those months sparked a memory, and he finally remembered where he'd seen the redhead before. He'd been the guy who'd harassed Andy on her that very first day.

With that in mind, Dallas slipped off the bed and over to the window. He climbed out quickly and made his was across the lawn and into the town.

He didn't know much about that Marcus guy, but if he was willing to go after Andy twice, then who was to say he wouldn't go after a third time, or a fourth? There was no telling if he'd be a permanent threat to Andy's safety and Dallas didn't want to take any risk. He'd teach that damn Soc to leave Andy alone in a way only idiots like Marcus could be taught: by beating him to a bloody pulp.

Luck must have been on Dallas' side at that moment, because it didn't take much to find Marcus and his goon sulking over beer bottles.

Dallas kicked a nearby empty beer bottle which skittered away loudly and drew the attention of the two boys who staggered to their feet. The pair of them glared at Dallas who eyed them disdainfully as Marcus yelled, "The hell do you want?" Their ham-handed attempt to intimidate him failed miserably as Dallas called back, "Trying to figure out how much of an idiot you are." The comment succeeded in infuriating the Soc and Dallas continued, "Most sane people would leave a girl alone after getting beat up, but you don't seem to have gotten the message." Marcus' voice shook with anger as he approached Dallas and asked, "Just what message would that be, huh?" He stopped right in front of Dallas as he continued, "I see, I should have made sure she couldn't have gone whining for help before I fucked her. That's it, isn't it? I'll keep that in mind for the next time I see that blond broad."

Marcus smirked, clearly pleased with himself, but the expression didn't last as Dallas snagged him by the collar and snarled, "I meant that if you mess with her, and the entire gang will mess you up." Marcus didn't seem to get he was being threatened as he sneered back, "Is that so. Hold on, let me see if I can drag up some fear. hmm, sorry buddy, but that seems like a 'no can do' there. maybe try again next time." as he patted Dallas' cheek

That last statement and action severed the last bit of self control Dallas had, and in seconds he had the Soc pinned to the pavement as he beat every inch of him he could reach. Marcus tried to fight back at first, but that quickly dissolved into panic as he tried fruitlessly to escape. Dallas was vaguely aware of the sound of an approaching siren before he glanced was yanked off of a bloodied and piss-soaked Marcus and forced onto the ground. Dallas continued to glare at the Soc even as the officer cuffed him and read him his rights.

Once he was stuffed into the back of the police car, he twisted around to smile viciously at Marcus who looked away terrified. There was no doubting it. After that beating, Marcus would't be a problem anymore.


And the award for the biggest dumb-dumb goes to ... in any case, Marcus needs to learn to shut up.

Despite the delays I've had, I'm rather pleased with this chapter. I feel this time that I've kept Dallas more in character than I previously did. Also, Yikes! starting from chapter 22 where I introduced Sylvia, I've managed to turn the originally two chapter story arch into roughly a twelve chapter one. (next chapter will probably be the end where Andy finds out Dallas has been jailed.) I'm not quite sure how to feel about that to be honest.

Hopefully, the next chapter won't take so long to work on.