Author's Note: Hey, took a longer pause in the updates than I wanted. Sorry bout that once again. Hope your all still reading and hope you enjoy!

Thanks goes out to all my reviewers. Sorry I'm too tired to thank all of you personally but I love the reviews and its because of those that I update(even tho its not so often) So thank you all so much and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 8:

Leon crumpled in front of the stunned group of greasers. Two-bit caught him before the hood had a chance to hit the pavement. Blood was flowing at a steady pace from the side of Leon's head and there was a cut that had sliced halfway through his ear. Johnny moved a step forward and took hold of one of his brother's lifeless arms. Two-bit looked surprisingly towards the young boy before remembering that Leon was slowly sinking out of Johnny's loose grip. Grabbing hold of the other Cade brothers arm, Two-bit and Johnny were able to haul him up further and drag him back to the Curtis'.

"Pony, what were you doing walking by your lonesome?" a rough voice snapped.

Ponyboy recognized that voice and cringed, turning back he saw a head full of curls and grease walk past him. They shot him a dirty look and fell into place behind Johnny and Two-bit.

"I got out early today. You know, cause of track and all." Steve grunted and kept up his pace.

"We gotta get his head looked at" Johnny was saying.

Two-bit was watching him out of the corner of his eyes; just to make sure the kid didn't loose it halfway home. His eyes were glazed over, staring out down the street and not really focusing on anything. Sweat glistened off the top of his brow, running down the sides of his face and underneath his chin.

"Hey, JohnnyCakes, you sure you got him?" Johnny raised his head at the mention of his name. He stared at the rusty hair greaser, never slowing down with the fast walk he'd begun with. As he processed what Two-bit had said, his scared eyes clouded over and darkened, a silent grey storm replacing the white.

"Yeah."

"I can take him…" Steve said. Johnny's head whipped back around. His teeth bit down hard on his bottom lip.

"I got him Steve" he said quietly and confidently. The others nodded and knew to leave him alone. It was rare to see Johnny speak up for himself or even come close to being defensive around them, so they let it be.

Together the group made their way silently down the sidewalk. Over the hill, Pony watched through tired eyes as the blue sky transformed into radiant pinks and soft oranges, the luminous sun setting slowly behind colored clouds. A smile, although small as it was appeared on his cut lip while he continued to gaze at one of the world's natural beauties. He felt awful inside for what had happened to Leon, only because it was Johnny's older brother and he knew how much Johnny idolized Leon; maybe even a little bit more than Dallas at times. To watch his best friend walking beside him, holding up his older brother tore Pony apart inside. Tears were barely staying back behind Johnny's glassy eyes. Any minute and they would fall, leaving behind a translucent trail on his soft dark cheeks. But when Pony glanced over at his best pal five minutes later, watching him shift Leon's weight on the shredded Curtis lawn, he was surprised to find no tears. Johnny bit his lip and dragged his brother up the porch steps and inside the house.

"Lay him right there" Steve commanded ushering Two-bit and Johnny towards the torn couch. Pony brushed off some scattered sweaters and stray socks.

Leon's eyes flickered open while his body was slowly descended onto the lumpy cushions. His pupils were larger than usual Johnny noticed and the cold toughness that usually encased them had vanished; instead it was replaced with pain and something else he couldn't quite figure out. They darted around the room, taking in everything, panicking almost. Leon struggled despite Two-bit firm hand on his chest. Exhaling a agonizing breath, he relaxed and sunk back into the couch.

"Johnny?" His eyes shut and his head rolled over towards the left as he once again past out.

Two-bit looked down pityingly and noticed out of the corners of his eye as Johnny disappeared into the bathroom.

It was dark out when Leon next woke up. His legs were stiff and the side of his head pained something awful. He squinted through the black, trying to pick out anything, but nothing moved or stood out that he could recognize. The ebony was thick and suffocating, devouring him in a way, no, choking him was more like it. Like some guy's meaty hand wrapped around his neck, just squeezing, waiting for his air to disappear entirely. Leon shifted the sheets off his legs and stumbled a bit before regaining an upright position. He brushed a tired hand through his dark greasy locks, stopping a bit confused when his fingers touched the thick white bandage. There was pinch and a sharp pain shot through his head as his thumb brushed against the contours.

"What the hell?" he mumbled in disbelief.

The house he was in stayed silent all the while he stood, talking to himself and debating what to do. He figured something had happened, but he couldn't quite remember what it was exactly. Leon decided on going outside, maybe wander around and find a payphone where he could get Tim or someone else from the gang to come pick him up. His running shoes were still tied tightly about his feet, while his jacket was nowhere in sight. Wrapping his arms about his chest, he gave a shrug to the muggy air and quite room before stepping out onto the porch. It was the middle of the night; the bright sodium street lights were lit, sending pools of candescent glow to devour the shadows. Leon smiled a grim smirk and leaned against the railing. A cold breeze ruffled his light t-shirt. He reached with fumbling hands into his back pocket, only to find a crushed back of cigarettes. His blade was missing along with his wallet. Cursing, he tossed the pack of smokes onto the lawn.

"Make sure the fuzz don't catch ya doing that." Leon turned to where the voice had risen and saw a dark figure leaning up against the side of the house. "I think it's a crime or something."

Dallas flicked the remainder of cigarette into the driveway and made his way around the porch and onto the steps. His eyes were dark and cold, revealing nothing to Leon. He smiled, but it was a fake smile, just there for show. Leon gave a swift nod as if to acknowledge Dallas presence. He suddenly felt himself becoming uneasy with the reckless greaser, remembering then how he'd been told to stay away.

"How's the head?"

Everything came back in an instant. The endless day, the socs jumping Johnny…no that kid…the Curtis boy. Than getting hit with something and waking up here, in the house. Leon glanced up and took in his surroundings, dimly lit by the streetlights he recognized it as the Curtis, famous for taking in stray hoods. He felt a grin rising on his chapped lips when he thought about Dallas standing just a foot or so away, possibly feeling like an ass about what he'd thought of him before. Defending the Curtis boy may have proven himself worthy to Dallas although he could care less what that hood thought.

"Awful, what'd you expect?"

Dallas snorted. "Guess ya should learn to mind your own business. That or learn to fight better."

Leon had to hold himself back. His hands gripped the rails almost as if he was trying to strangle the wood between his fingers. Dallas crossed the porch, roughly bumping his right shoulder into Leon's chest as he went. Leon bit back the sting. Whipping his head around, he released his hold on the porch rail and grabbed hold of Dally's jacket with both hands. He drew the towheaded boy inwards and then pushed him back out with a hard thrust. Dallas struggled to stay up as his feet began to loose their place on the weak wooden floor.

"You son of a bitch…" Dallas came at Leon but the older Cade brother shook his head.

"What's your problem Winston? Huh? You think your big shit, is that it?"

"What?"

"I see the way you act round Shepard and everyone, like you own Tulsa or something. You don't own this town Winston, the real hoods do! You're just white trash blown in from New York."

Leon spit towards a spot on the porch just a foot away from Dallas' booted feet.

"Get your ass outta here!" Dallas cried out. He couldn't control his emotions anymore and for once he didn't care what people thought of him just loosing it. If someone spotted him taking offence or getting upset than let them. "You ain't never been wanted around here. At least I got somewhere's, you ain't got shit Cade. This town would chew you up and spit you back out in a second if it'd had the chance. Shepard's the only one you got and he don't even really want you. Johnny don't even want you… "

Leon gritted his teeth and nailed Dallas with a strong left hook in the jaw. The greaser swayed back on the balls of his feet, barely standing. When he looked back, Leon was gone. Off in the distance he could make out the sound of feet slapping against the wet asphalt. He smirked triumphantly.

"What you did! It doesn't mean anything! You're still the same hood you always were!" Dallas' words called out after him, cutting through the air like sharp rusty knives that reached Leon. He didn't stop running, but when he heard what Winston had said he cringed inside himself because he knew it was the truth.

While Dallas turned around he recognized Darry leaning in the doorway. Dressed in a casual black t-shirt that outlined his thick muscles. He had a stern look on his face.

"You know he did the right thing today. He ain't that bad. Side he's Johnny's brother."

Dallas cleared his throat and made a moved to go around Darry but the tall greaser didn't budge.

"I know your looking out for Johnny an all but chasing the only family he's got away isn't doing any good Dallas."

"I know what I'm doing Darry. Now will you let me inside, it's cold out here and I'm tired as hell."

Darry nodded and after a moments hesitation let Dallas back inside. Sooner or later the two of them-Leon and Dally- were going to have to accept one another if not for the safety of everyone around them but for Johnny's sake.

Author's Note: blah, i'm sorry it's so short. Usually their a bit longer but i've been a bit lazy. Sides i should be studying for exams rite now but well here i am. Hope its an okay chappie.