Soda's POV

I was almost home when I heard two shots ring out. I jumped at the sound, and then realized, it came from home! Soon after the shots, I heard a scream, sounding too much like Pony.

I raced home; almost afraid to see what would greet me there.

As I came up the sidewalk, four Socs came running out of our house. I wanted to stop and beat the crap out of all of them, but I was too worried about Pony to stop.

I flung open the door running to Pony's room.

As I stepped into the doorway, a Soc I didn't know fell backwards, nearly falling on me.

I looked to the bed, where Dallas was holding his side. Pony was crying, shaking harder than ever.

"What happened?" I shouted.

The Soc wasn't moving much, and that scared me.

"This s.o.b and his friends came in here and tried to shoot Pony. Luckily, I shot him, and he shot me, not Pony." Dallas said through a groan. I noticed the blood seeping out of his left side. I looked down at the Soc, who was bleeding from his right shoulder.

"I'm calling an ambulance." I said.

I ran out of the room and got to the phone. First, I called the ambulance. Then, I called Darry.

"Hello?" I was surprised he was at the phone. Usually, I had to go through several people to get to him.

"Darry. This is Soda. Dallas has been shot, and he shot someone. The Socs came back with a gun, and they tried to shoot Pony. Only they shot Dallas instead."

"Is Pony okay?" He asked, fear in his voice.

"He's pretty shook up. Other than that, I'm not sure. I just got here. I called an ambulance. They're on their way."

"Okay. I'll be over as soon as I can. I can't keep missing work, but today's been an easy day. I'll leave in an hour or so."

"Okay. I'll see you then."

"Take care of Pony."

"I will. Bye, Darry."

"Bye."

I hung up the phone and went back to mine and Pony's room.

"Dally, you okay?" I said as I stepped over the Soc.

"I'll be fine. It just stings is all." I handed him an old rag to put over the wound to stop the bleeding.

I looked at Pony, who was rocking back and forth. I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and squeezed. I wanted to comfort him more, but Dallas and the other guy needed more attention.

He looked up at me, but didn't smile.

I heard the siren as the ambulance was coming. I didn't realize they'd bring the police, too. But I should have known. It was a shooting.

I went to stand on the porch and lead them in.

"They're in here." I said as I led them to Dallas and the Soc.

They brought both stretchers in and put the Soc in one and Dallas in the other. He wasn't too thrilled about getting on one, but they made him.

The cops came in when they took Dallas and the Soc, named Bob, out into the ambulance.

"What happened here?" The first cop said bluntly.

"I'm not sure. I guess a group of guys came here and one pulled a gun. Dallas, one of the ones who got shot, pulled a gun too, and they both shot and were shot. Pony might know more." I said, turning back to Pony.

He looked up, fear showing plainly on his face.

"What?" Pony said, sounding panicked because he'd have to talk.

"Pony, can you help the officers? Can you tell them what happened?" I asked gently.

The officer sat down beside him on the bed.

"I'll need the whole story, son." The man said.

"Well. . ." He looked up at me, looking for support. I nodded to him, showing him it was okay, and he continued.

"Well, I was lying in bed. I'd been sick before. And Dallas, he's one of the ones who got shot; he came over to watch over me. Then this group of guys came into our house. No one let them in; they just barged on into our house, uninvited. Then, they came into my room. They were glad Dallas was there, so they could beat someone else up this time."

"Wait. This has happened before?" The officer asked.

"Yes. Three times these guys have beaten me up. Every time, it's the same ones. Once was outside. The other two were in this room."

"You'll have to start farther back to the beginning than that."

Pony's eyes turned to me. He didn't want to tell it, didn't want to relive it. But he had to.

"Ponyboy. . .you have to." I said.

And so he told him. Every single detail. And I was sick with rage.

They beat me, threatened me.

I was kicked in the ribs by the ones standing up. One had jumped on top of me and began punching me in the face and in the stomach. I was scared out of my wits and aching all over.

With one final kick to my head, I lost all consciousness. And it was welcomed. I whimpered from fear, and begged for the gang to show up.

They realized what I was doing and the gun was aimed at my chest.

A gunshot rang through the house. My heart stopped beating. But I was still alive.

I felt tears begin to fall.

"Greaser. Greaser. Greaser." They all began to chant. I covered my ears, trying to block out their mocking voices. But it didn't work.

"Stop it! Stop!" I screamed.

"If you don't, I'll shoot this kid." Bob said.

"And you'd have a bullet through your head." Dallas growled back.

Bob cocked the gun, preparing to fire.

"This'll be on your conscious, greaser." He said.

Pony looked up at me. He hadn't wanted me to hear it anymore than he wanted to relive it.

"I'm sorry, Soda." He said.

"No, Pony. I am." I said as I ran up to him, hugging him close. We were both crying, not even noticing the cop was still in there.

He cleared his throat.

"Well, I think that covers it." He said.

"Thanks, officer. Would you mind giving us a ride to the hospital? We want to check on Dallas." I said.

"Sure." He said.

Pony and I got in the car with the cop and soon he was dropping us off at the entrance.

"I'll go talk to a nurse, okay?" I told Pony.

"Okay." He said quietly.

He'd been through more than I could have ever imagined. It only made sense that he was so scared. Hell, I would be, too.

"Ma'am?" I said when I walked up to the nurse's station.

"May I help you?" She asked pleasantly.

"Yeah, um. I was wondering. How is Dallas Winston doing? He came here with a bullet wound."

"Are you a family member?"

"You could say that." I replied. We were the closest to family that Dallas had.

"Okay." She picked up the phone and called someone.

"The doctor said he's doing fine. He only needed his side stitched up. The bullet missed the vital organs, so he'll be fine. He'll probably be home by next week." She said, turning back to her work.

If I knew Dallas Winston, he'd be out of here by tomorrow.

Darry's POV

This was the last straw! They come into my house and then try to shoot my brother? No way! This was it. I wasn't going to take anymore of their crap.

I ran into the hospital, not really knowing where to go. First, I went to the waiting room.

Pony was curled up in a ball on one of the chairs, rocking back and forth, his head hidden from view. Soda was sitting next to him, and every few seconds he'd reach out and pat him on the shoulder.

Johnny and Two-Bit were sitting across from Soda and Pony. Johnny looked worried, and Two-Bit looked angry.

"Pony." I said from the doorway. He looked up at me for a few seconds. But that was all I needed to see the fear in his eyes. The torture and torment. What had he been through?

Pony put his head back down on his knees. I walked to his other side and took his curled-up-body into my arms.

He buried his face in my shirt, and he seemed so much like the young boy he once was. He was still young, but the fear left him looking more like the little five-year-old who was always in my way. I'd never think that of him now. He's never in my way. Heck, I'd be happy if he got in my way.

I wrapped my arms around him, pressing him to me. He needed to know he was safe, but I don't think he'd ever feel safe again.

Before long, a rumble would be breaking loose.