Still don't own The Outsiders.

I think this might be the last chapter. I don't know. Depends how I feel I guess. Oh, and taking antibiotics without seeing a doctor first is BAD.

Dally pushed Johnny away from him roughly. The look he gave Two Bit made it clear that this wasn't something that he needed to discuss. Johnny jumped quickly off the couch.

"Um, right. So I went to the pharmacy. I even got a little not for ya from the pharmacist." Two Bit said quickly changing the subject. He pulled the note out and read it proudly. "Dear Mrs. Winston, I hope you feel better soon. It's so wonderful you have such a caring grandson to look after you and pick up your medicine. If you ever need anything further please don't hesitate to call."

Dally rolled his eyes. "Okay caring grandson, just gimme the drugs."

"My grandma, what a big temper you have," Two Bit said handing over the bag. He was tempted to mention something else that Dally had that was unusual on grandmothers but Dally was already in a bad mood and sometimes Two Bit suspected that the blond didn't really appreciate his jokes.

Dally swallowed the pills dry and stretched back out on the couch. "Don't you got someplace to be Two Bit?"

"Nope."

"Don't you think you might want to find someplace to be?"

"What the hell kind of thanks is this? I made small talk for forty minutes about my poor dying grandmother and this is what I get?"

Dally shut his eyes wishing shutting out Two Bit's voice was as easy.

Johnny stood there not saying anything. He hoped Dally wasn't mad. He ain't got no reason to be, he told himself.

"Fine whatever, I'm gonna head down to the DX see what Soda and Steve are up to. Feel like coming along Johnny? You ain't invited Dally."

Johnny shook his head. "Maybe I'll catch up with you later."

Two Bit shrugged and headed out. "Suit yourself."

Dally cringed as the door slammed shut.

"Did you want me to get going?" Johnny asked.

"Whatever."

"You want something to eat? It's almost noon and you didn't get no breakfast."

"Not now kid."

Johnny sighed. He'd thought for a second that maybe Dally was opening up to him, but he'd been wrong. Dallas Winston didn't open up to anyone. He was tough and hard as nails and the tuffest guy Johnny knew. He was also curled up on the couch looking like death warmed over.

Dally pulled his jacket back off and muttered something about how the Curtis's should get the heating in their house fixed. Johnny was silent.

Dally started coughing again.

Johnny shyly brushed his cool hand against Dally's flushed cheek.

Dally caught Johnny's hand in his own and gave him a little half smile. "I don't know about you sometimes kid."

Johnny settled back down on the couch next to Dally. Dally fooled around with the ring on his finger. It was a nice ring; too nice for Sylvia. He'd known that. Known she was no good, but he'd wanted it to work, wanted desperately for it to work; for the security of a real relationship. It was funny though, even with her he could never really relax and drop his guard.

Dally realized that Johnny was staring at him. "What?"

Johnny blushed and lowered his eyes. "Nothin, just thinkin's all. Dally?"

"Huh?"

"You miss New York?"

Dally blinked, startled. "Why you ask?"

Johnny shrugged. "Maybe someday when I'm done with school I'll move there."

"You don't want to do that. It ain't like here. I mean it's real tuff and all but shit Johnny, you don't want to live there. You don't even have to go lookin for trouble there, it just comes and finds you. I mean half the guys there that I knew are dead now."

"You always made it sound real cool…"

"Well it is, but that doesn't mean you should go and live there."

"I don't want to live here forever."

Dally shrugged. Tulsa and New York were the only places he'd ever lived so he couldn't say much.

"Pony's always yakking on about the country. Maybe I could live there."

"Why you want to leave?"

"Get away from my parents for a while. The Socs. You know."

"We might miss you."

Johnny grinned, "you could come and visit. All y'all" He added quickly.

Dally leaned his head on Johnny's chest. Johnny drew in a quick breath and hugged Dally against him. It was nice. He didn't get much physical affection and he intended to enjoy what he could get.

Johnny touched Dally's hair. It was so blond it was nearly white and soft. Not greasy either, which was nice and a bit unusual for that neighborhood.

"We ain't saying nothin about his." Dally said firmly.

Johnny didn't object. Say nothing about what he almost asked.

"I like you, you know that kid."

Johnny nodded. He what he wanted to say was 'do you like me or do you like like me?' but after about sixth grade things like that just sounded silly.

Dally didn't appear inclined to say anything more though so Johnny just sat there holding Dally against him. He cautiously leaned over and kissed Dally's forehead, knowing he was tempting fate.

"Maybe I was lying. Maybe I'll let you get away with that after all," Dally murmured.

Johnny kept his lips pressed against the older boy's forehead. Dally looked so innocent like that. His hair all messed up and his cheeks pink. Holding Dally that close Johnny could feel him breathing. So fast and shallow. Was it supposed to be like that?

"Dally?"

There was no answer, Dally was already asleep.

So What did you think? Honestly?