The Return of Dallas Winston

Tim's POV

Pulling up in front of the cooler I watched as Dallas Winston made his way out the front gates. Casually strolling like he didn't have a care in the world. Shaking my head I swore softly, next to Curly he was probably my closest friend. No matter what we fought about or how pissed off we got at each other we always got over. Now with everything going on with Lovey I wasn't sure how he'd react. Johnny and Love had always been the only ones he really cared about, with them being the babies of the gang, I guess even cold hearted Dallas couldn't help but get attached. Hell you couldn't know Love for long without losing a part of your heart to her. In his eyes, Johnny had been the only Greaser "Clean" enough for his Love. Johnny who jumped at his own shadow, and never said more than five words at one time.

Damn if I wasn't the exact opposite of ole Johnny Cade. Hell I was the guy all mothers' warned their daughters about. I swore like a sailor drank like a fish, got in to fights, went to the cooler at least once a year and stole like it was going out of style.

"Hey Shep," Dally said leaning against the car like he was in no hurry to leave.

" Hey Dal, you ready to get out of this place or what," I asked smiling when he tossed his cigarette to the ground, and hoped in to the car.

" So what's been going on with the gang man? Is Pony boy doing ok? Two- Bit still Mickey Mouse obsessed, How's Lovey?"

"The Boys are good man, everyone's pretty much the same, Pony's moving on, he finished out the school year ok, back to making good grades and running track, he's seeing Angela actually," I said laughing when his eyes rounded with shock.

"Yea I never saw that one coming either, gave her his Dad's class ring and everything."

" Not that I'd admit this to anyone else, but I think they're good together, balance each other out in a weird way."

" And Love," he asked noticing that I had skipped talking about how she was doing.

"I can't lie to ya man, she got hurt real bad a couple of weeks ago, some drunk Soc's getting revenge for everything that went on with Johnny."

"There's a big rumble about it tonight, wanted to wait till you were out of the cooler," I said lighting a cigarette to calm the nerves that had begun to twitch.

"Fuck man, they're jumping our girls now, I am gonna stomp some fucking heads in."

"Is she all right now?"

"Mostly, there's things she doesn't remember, but the doctor says that's mostly emotional, and she'll heal when she's ready."

"Yea man, here and Johnny we're each other's world, I knew she'd take this hard."

Nodding my head I let a comfortable silence fall in the car. How was I supposed to tell him about Love and me.

"Look Dal, we been friends a long time right?" I said parking the car near my house as we pulled in to the East side.

"Yea, so?" He asked narrowing his eyes as I light another square and turned to face him.

"Just, don't mention Johnny for now, she doesn't remember him." I said deciding to let Love tell him what was going on, he'd take it better from her anyway.

Love's POV

"Dallas!" I yelled throwing the screen door open as I raced to the car where the two boys were engrossed in a conversation.

They'd have plenty of time to catch up later.

" Hey baby girl!" He said making me squeal as he jumped from the car and swung me around.

Being in his arms felt familiar, and I knew he had always made me feel safe. Blinking as he set me back on my feet I pressed a hand to my head to steady myself. He hadn't been out of town, he's been in the cooler… for what I couldn't recall.

"Stay out for awhile this time okay?" I said hugging him once more when he shrugged.

" You know trouble follows me wherever I go."

Nodding my head knowingly I looked down as he took in my bruises and winced.

"They worked you over pretty good kid, you're gonna have a tuff scar near your eye," he said making me smile shyly when he brushed the bangs away from my eyes.

Pony's POV

Watching Dally with Love stung a little, and I couldn't help but think of Johnny. There was a time when you'd always catch the three of them together. I think Dal thought of himself as Johnny's mentor in some way, always lecturing him about being tough, and not caring what any one thought. Love was his only link to that feeling now, and the minute he saw the shiny piece on her hand all hell was going to break loose.

"He noticed yet?" Steve asked as the boys huddled around me trying to get a clear view.

" You hear fighting yet," Darry asked rolling his eyes as the boy's blood lust.

We didn't fight too much among ourselves, but Tim wasn't really one of us, and a fight between him and Dally would be something to see.

Love's POV

"The fellas are waiting," I said wrapping my arm around his waist as we made out way in to the tiny house that I called home.

"Good to have you back Dally," Darry said making me laugh when he shook his hand.

" Good to be back ," Dally said moving to say hello to the others.

Watching the range of emotions that crossed Pony's face when they embraced I held my head once more. They had been through some ordeal together, just before the cooler, but I couldn't quiet… remember.

"You ok princess?" Tim asked wrapping an arm around my waist.

"Yea, just remembering a few things," I said smiling as I placed what I hoped was a reassuring hand over his.

Pony

"What the fuck!" Dallas asked exploding as he spotted the gleaming rock on my sister's ring finger.

"There goes the neighborhood," Two- Bit murmured making me shake my head as I watched the scene play itself out.

" Where'd you get the hardware sweet heart?" Dally asked holding her hand up to the light as he examined the jewel.

" What do you mean Dall… don't you know?" She asked turning to Tim confused.

" Was he in the cooler. I- I can't remember," She whispered suddenly looking very small and unsure of herself.

"What don't I know?" He asked, blue gaze locked on to Tim's steel gray.

"That we're engaged," Tim said all ready braced for the punch that met his jaw a few seconds later.

"You son of a bitch!"

Love's POV

"Dallas Winston!" I yelled stomping my foot.

I knew he was protective of me, but this was ridiculous! This was Tim we were talking about, the man who knew where I was at all times, and asked me if I was ok a million times a day.

"Dally, after all this time, you had to know this was going to happen," I said shaking my head at him as the boys jumped in to keep them separated before the fight could even start.

"After all this time…" he whispered.

"Five years," I said feeling sick to my stomach as he paled.

"Come on Lovey, let's just give Dal some time to cool off," Pony said dragging me off to the bedroom we shared.

" I don't understand," I said shaking my head as I sat on the bed.

Tim's POV

"Outside," Dallas said snatching his arm from Darry.

"What the fuck is going on Tim."

" She doesn't remember Johnny so I took his place."

"Are you telling me, Love thinks you were the one she's been dating… you!"

" Look man I aint scamming on her, or taking advantage of the situation if that's what you're thinking," I said making sure we were far enough away from the house before I told him the truth.

" Truth is, me and Love were dating before the Soc's got a hold of her, and if I ever find the son of a bitches that did it, I'll kill em."

"You r, dating my Love," He said sighing as he ran a hand through his hair.

" Look Dal, she's changed man, even before the accident, she had an edge to her, you saw it that day," I said shaking my head as I light a cigarette.

" I've known that girl my whole life, and the last thing I'd ever do is hurt her, she knows the score," I said thinking back to our first night together.

"I'm guessing Darry doesn't know," He said shaking his head as he looked at me once more.

"Nah, she'd skin me if I didn't wait till she was better to tell him."

Nodding his head in agreement he light a weed of his own, taking a long drag before speaking.

" Look Shepard, Fact is I don't like this one bit, we both know Love it too good for you, and if you hurt her, I'll give you the beating of your lifetime, but if you're what makes her happy…" He trailed off shrugging.

"You making something easy for once?"

"Look hood, I was real worried about Love after Johnny died, when I was in that operating room, fighting for my life she was all I could think about, wondering who'd be there for her now ya know, when she was writing me in the cooler I thought her heart would be broken forever."

"She's like a sister to me, so as long as you treat her right we wont' have any problems savvy?"

" I dig it man," I said relieved when we shook on it.

I was going to need Dally on my side later, when I had to deal with Darry, and the boys.