I still don't own The Outsiders (trust me, if I did I'd be bragging about it.) Hope this isn't too too OOC.

A Place to Crash

Chapter 2

When Johnny woke up, he could hear one of the Curtis's in the kitchen making breakfast. Probably Darry, he figured. He realized suddenly that Dally was still there, sound asleep, his head leaning against Johnny's shoulder. Johnny wondered how long he'd been like that. Judging from the fact that his shoulder was asleep, it had probably been awhile. Dally looked so peaceful sleeping there, he didn't want to wake him. Johnny tried to get up without waking Dally. He gently eased Dally's upper body off of him and laid him down on the couch.

Johnny wandered into the kitchen. He'd been right, it was Darry in there.

"Mornin Johnnycakes. Sleep okay?"

Johnny nodded. "Thanks."

Soda came in then. He was wearing only his jeans and was carrying his tee-shirt. "Hey Johnny. So I came downstairs this morning and I think to myself, 'boy howdy, we got ourselves two greasers for the price of one tonight.' I wished I had a camera. Be real good blackmail on old Dally."

Johnny grinned. Before he had a chance to say anything though the front door opened and was then promptly slammed.

Two Bit came into the kitchen grinning. "Ain't that just about the cutest thing out there. Dallas don't look older than about fourteen when he's sleepin."

"You should have seen earlier. Johnny was sleepin there too. The two of them all curled up there." Soda laughed. "What's for breakfast?"

"Eggs, and I think there's some cake in the fridge."

"There better be cake in the fridge," Soda exclaimed rummaging through the refrigerator. He still hadn't put his shirt on.

"Chocolate cake?" Ponyboy asked, walking in. He wasn't surprised to see Two Bit and Johnny there already. "Hey, was that Dally out there on the couch?"

"Yeah, that's me." Dally strolled into the kitchen. "Can't get any sleep around here with the racket y'all are makin."

Ponyboy was tempted to point out that it was their house. But Dally looked like he was in a dangerous mood.

Dally sank into one of the kitchen chairs.

"Lemme guess, you want breakfast too?" Darry asked.

Dally shook his head, then regretted it as he already had a headache. "Naw, got any more aspirin though? I finished off your other bottle."

"That bottle was still half full," Darry complained and he went through their medicine cabinet and produced another bottle of aspirin. "Only take two of them."

Dally shrugged and pulled grabbed four. He swallowed them dry.

"Find some action last night Dal?" Steve asked walking in.

Soda snorted. "Not unless you count Johnny."

Everyone laughed and Johnny blushed. Dally looked confused but annoyed that he was somehow being laughed at.

"Get your shirt on Soda, we'll be late for work." Steve said. "Not that it wouldn't attract customers but…"

Soda grinned and the two of them headed out. "Later y'all." Soda called over his shoulder.

Darry sighed. "I should be getting to work too. And you got school there Pony. You want a ride?"

"Yeah sure."

"Any of you other juvenile delinquents want rides to school?" Darry offered.

Dally smirked. He hadn't been to school in years.

"Not today," Johnny said.

"I called in dead," Two Bit said grinning, obviously thinking he was just about the funniest thing in the world.

Darry shrugged and he and Ponyboy left.

Dally sighed and cringed slightly; breathing heavily was hurting his chest. He put his head down on the table.

"You don't look so good, you know that?" Two Bit commented.

"You never look good. But lookit, you feel like doin me a favor?"

Two Bit shrugged. "Not especially."

"Well do it anyway." Dally commanded. "Go down to the drug store and get me some medicine. Some of them antibiotics or something."

Two Bit considered. It might be an entertaining challenge. "okay. You want to come with Johnnycakes?"

"No thanks."

"Suit yourself," Two Bit said with a shrug and headed out. "You owe me though, Dally."

"Sleep okay Johnnycakes?" Dally asked.

Johnny nodded. "You?" He wondered if Dally remembered falling asleep on him.

"Not bad. No dreams which was a nice change." Dally lapsed into another coughing fit. "Shit." He muttered. "I ain't been sick like this in years. Not since I was a kid."

Johnny didn't say anything. He tried to remember Dally as a kid, how he'd been back when he was eight or nine, before he'd moved up to New York.

"My mom was always there when I was sick. Messing up my hair and shit." Dally grinned ruefully.

Johnny was silent, waiting for Dally to continue, but he didn't. He just lifted his head off the table and propped it up on his arm.

Dally stood up reluctantly and the room spun. He stumbled back into the living room and collapsed onto the couch. Johnny sat on the floor next to it.

Dally shivered, even with his jacket on. He pulled it a little tighter around himself.

Johnny looked on worried. Seeing Dally sick and vulnerable was disturbing.

"Don't look at me like that kid. I ain't dying." Dally said, he couldn't stop shaking though.

Johnny bit his lip. Nervously he moved onto the couch next to Dally and wrapped his arm around him, half expecting Dally to rip his arm off.

Instead Dally actually snuggled in closer to him, grateful for the warmth. "You're damn lucky I'm too out of it to kick your ass." Dally mumbled.

Johnny grinned. He sat very still holding Dally. Afraid that if he moved it would some how break the spell.

What the hell am I doing, Dally wondered to himself. He hadn't meant to let his guard down like that. Everything was just so foggy though, and he was so cold, and Johnny was being so gentle. He hated being sick, it made him miss his mother.

He didn't usually think of her. She'd died six years ago. Plenty of time to heal. If he was going to be honest with himself though, Dally had to admit that even right after she died he hadn't thought about her much. In fact he'd actively avoided thinking about her. Drinking and fighting to distract himself. If she hadn't died though he wouldn't be back here in Tulsa being held by the guy he basically considered a cross between a best friend and a kid brother.

"Hey Dally lookie what I got!" Two Bit exclaimed bursting through the front door. "I…oh" He trailed off in surprise.