Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Outsiders characters.

I do own Virginia.

Johnny POV:

"Well, she seems nice." I said absently to Pony.

"Yeah. Let's get back, it's gettin cold." Ponyboy complained.

"Well, why didn't you bring your coat." I laughed, handing him my jacked.

"I just forgot. Thanks Johnnycakes."

We walked the rest of the way home in silence, both lost in our own thoughts.

As we neared Pony's house, we saw Dally out on the steps talking to Tim Shepherd.

"Hey there Dally, Tim," I said, grabbing Dally's pack of cigarets and taking one for myself.

"So, where'd you pick up the girl? She sure was cute," Dally said with a wink.

I'm sure I was turning red as a tomato. "Well, I was in the lot and she came past."

"Then you just randomly decided to bring her here," Dally smirked.

"Well, I saw her arm. You saw it too Dallas, you saw that bruise on her wrist," Dally looked suprised, probably at the tone of my voice and how much I had talked. I looked at Pony, then to Tim, both looked just as suprised, hell, I was evan surprised.

"Yeah Johnnycake, I saw, holly kid." Dally said

"I'm sorry." I said, sitting down next to Tim.

We sat there for about half and hour, just talking, before Tim decided he should ho and the rest of us went inside.

About and hour later, Steve went home , and just as Two-Bit and dally were about to go, there was a pounding on the door. It was late, and had started raining a while ago. Anyway, no one ever knocked on the Curtis door, not anyone who came this late at least.

"um, I'll get it," Dally, who was closest to the door, said.

Dally opened the door and as soon as he did someone flew into his arms. he looked down and put two fingers under the persons chin. "Ginny?"

"Oh Dally, it was horrible." Ginny cried out.

"It's gonna be alright Gin. Come over here, come on, over to the couch." Dally kept saying in a rare soothing voice.

I went over and kneeled in front of Ginny. "Hey come on, it's gonna be OK," I brought a hand up and was just about to move her hair before she flinched away. "What's the matter Ginny?"

"Nothing," I heard Ginny mutter.

"Then go ahead and move your hair so we can see your pretty face," Dally whispered gently.

I know everybody would be making fun of ol' Dally if circumstances were different.

squatted

Soda came over and squatted next to me. "Hey Ginny, you know that when your here, your safe, don't ya. You are always around friends here." Good old Sodapop Curtis, always there to sweet told everyone.

Ginny slowly lifted her face and Two-Bit reached over to move her hair.

As her left eye came into view, I heard gasps from all around the room. Her eye was a dark purple.

"Who did that to you?" Dally asked.

"My... my dad." Ginny responded after a short time.

I felt myself growing hot with anger. "What did you do so wrong? From what you told me, you stay as far away from him as possible!"

Everyone was staring at me as I finished. I never rose my voice.

As I was ranting, Dally seemed to have gotten madder. "I'm gonna go show that man a lesson," Dally said getting up.

"No!" Ginny yelled, grabbing Dally's leather clad arm.

Pony and I had gotten Dally a new leather jacket after the old one was burnt in the fire at the church on Jay Mountain.

Dally was looking down at the short blonde grabbing his arm. We all knew Dal could have easily pulled away, but he didn't.

Sodapop took and took Ginny by the shoulders. He led her to the couch and sat her down again. "Do yo wanna stay here for the night Ginny?"

"Yeah, I mean, I don't wanna impose, but I also don't wanna go back to that house." Ginny sniffled.

It'll be OK, I'm gonna stay here for the night too." I said.

"and if ya want," Pony offered, "I can stay out here with ya also."

"Well, I have to go, but my mom says ya'll can come over tomorrow for some of her cookin'. Don't get too close out here kids," Two-Bit said with a wink, and closed the door cackling.

Darry turned to Pony, "Ponyboy, go get some blankets and pillows for you, Johnny, and Ginny. Ginny, you lay back. And Soda, go get her some water and something to eat."

Everything was a scramble as everyone went to something.

When every thin quieted down again, I noticed Dally gone. "Hey, where'd Dally go?" Ponyboy voiced my thoughts.

"He left," Ginny said, watching the TV screen, "Said he'd see you all tomorrow."