Here's chapter 3, I hope you like it. Sorry it took so long, but I've been sick again and have school also. Please read and review. I'm working on chapter 4 and 5 now. Hopefully will have them read by next week.

Johnny whistled back in answer to the one he heard then he watched as Tim Shepard and several of his outfit came into view.

"Johnny, what's up?" Curly asked.

"They chased Pony and he fell."

"Aw man, how we gonna get the kid up?" Curly asked his brother.

Tim laid down and leaned slightly over the edge so he could see. Pony was holding his arm which was prolly broken and he was getting more panicked by the minute.

"Pony, we'll get you up, but you need to calm down." Tim told the younger boy.

"Johnny, talk to him, if he keeps moving around, he's liable to fall. Tell him to keep still."

Johnny took Tim's place as the older greaser went to talk to his gang.

"We need to call the fire department." Curly said.

"I agree, but we don't have that kind of time. He's gonna freak out anytime. We gotta get Pony up now. Here's what we'll do. Curly, run to the car and get the rope that's in the trunk. Johnny, come here."

"Yeah Tim?"

"Do you think you can keep Pony calm till I get down there?" Tim asked as his brother came back with the requested rope.

"I think so."

"Pony, Tim is gonna come down get you. Just stay still."

"Okay. Johnny, my arm hurts."

"I know. It's almost over, then we'll go home."

"Tim, are you sure we can't just lower a rope and pull Pony up?" One guy asked.

"Not with his arm hurt and the way he is scared. Pony, I'm coming down now." Looking at the six guys standing there he said, "You'll have to support our weight. God, I hope this rope holds."

"We got it Tim." Curly said.

"Ponyboy, when I reach you, I want you to climb on my back and hold on. We'll e back up here in no time. Johnny, keep talking to him."

"All right."

Twenty minutes later, Tim and Pony were pulled up to the top. Ponyboy lay there crying. Johnny went to kneel by him.

"Pony, you're safe now. Let's go." He said helping his friend stand up. Curly came to help, but called Tim as he passed out. Tim picked him up and went to the car.

Darry and the gang trooped into the quiet house. They'd been looking for hours and still no sign of the kids. Everyone was exhausted and worried sick. Darry pushed Soda to his room and soon everyone was asleep. Darry sat up, but the crying went on. He didn't need the light to see that it was Soda. He was lying on his side, face toward the window.

"Oh Sodapop." Darry whispered as he knelt beside his middle brother.

"I want him back, God, Darry, I want Pony back." Soda sobbed on his shoulder.

"He'll come home. Pepsi-Cola, I promise he will." Holding each other, the two finally fell asleep.

The phone kept ringing. Darry groaned and rolled over to get up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes he fumbled for it as Soda moved beside him. Sitting up, he dropped his legs over the edge of the bed noting how cool the hardwood floor was.

"Hello?"

"Darry?"

Darry opened his eyes wider trying to come out of the deep sleep he'd fallen into. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn't guess who it was.

"Darry, it's Tim Shepard."

He felt as if he'd been hit in the stomach and he jolted awake. If Shepard was calling this late it wasn't good.

"Tim, what's up?" He wanted to know.

"I've got the dark-haired kid and your brother over here."

"Are they okay?" Darry asked as Soda sat up.

"Johnny is, but your little one is very shook up and his arm is hurt. He's been crying for you and Sodapop."

"We're on the way. Thanks Tim." Darry said.

"No problem." Tim replied.

"Darry?" Turning to face his brother, Darry cringed inside.

"I've got news. Go get the guys up. Shepard's got the boys. Pony's arm is hurt other than that, he said they were fine."

Soda ran to do what Darry told him to, then filled the gang in and soon they were on the way to pick up the two youngest of the gang.

Curly took his friends to his room so Pony could lay down. There were a lot of people around.

"Are you okay Pony?" Angela asked.

"He's fine." Johnny answered knowing his friend wouldn't want a girl to see him cry. "Pony's just wants his brothers."

"We'll be in the living room if you need anything." Tim told them before ushering his brother and sister out of the room. Pony eventually fell asleep only to wake up screaming. Angela and Tim jumped up and went to the bedroom where Johnny was talking softly to a hysterical Ponyboy. Darry and the guys weren't here yet.

"Can we help?" Angela asked.

Pony looked up to see them watching.

"Johnny make em' leave. Please, I want Darry and Soda."

"They'll be here soon. Angie, could you guys go back in the other room?"

"I just want to help." She said.

Pony cried harder and trembled in Johnny's arms.

"You're not making it any better. Please go in the other room." Johnny told them again. They did.

"Pony, they're gone now. Calm down." But the 13-year-old continued to cry for his brothers.

"What if they don't want me back?"

"You know they will, why would you even say something like that?"

A car pulled up and stopped.

"See I told you. Here they are now." Johnny said rubbing Pony's trembling back.

Tim was standing on the porch when Darry strode from the truck.

"Pony had a nightmare. Johnny's with him." Angela said, he stopped and nodded.

"Darry?" Tim said.

"We'll talk later. I need to be with my brother now." He told Tim as he walked into the house with Soda following him.

"Ponyboy, we're here." Darry said at the door. Johnny quietly left after seeing the older man take Pony in his arms.

"Shhh baby, it's okay. You're safe now. Calm down. I'm here now." After a long while, Pony was calm and sleeping again so Darry laid him down, watching as Soda curled around the youngest Curtis and held him close.

Meanwhile Johnny went into the living room. Dally was angry and he lit into the quiet greaser as soon as he saw him.

"What is wrong with you? When I tell you to do something, it's for a reason. You and the kid could have been hurt really bad."

Dally wasn't watching Johnny so he didn't see the pale face, tears running down the cheeks, or the shoulders that shook from silent sobs.

"Winston, that's enough." Tim said, but Dally went on ignoring him.

"Dallas enough!" Tim thundered when Johnny sat on the floor and buried his face in his knees and cried.

Dally looked at his friend.

"Damn, Johnnycake, I'm sorry. Come on buddy, get up." When he reached to help him and the boy flinched, Two-Bit sat beside Johnny as Darry came in.

"What happened?" He asked Tim and Johnny.

"Pony didn't want the guys to get in trouble so we left. I wasn't about to let him go off alone. We were chased by some socs, then Pony fell and Tim showed up." Tim took over the story from there.

"Johnny, go tell Soda that we'll be leaving in a minute." Darry said.

"Dallas, leave Johnny alone. This is as much or more our fault than theirs."

"Darry, Pony won't get up." Johnny called.

"Okay, I'll get him." He called back.

"Go get in the truck boys." Darry told them walking over to the bed where he gently picked his baby brother up.

"Thanks Tim." Soda said on the porch.

"No problem. We gotta take care of our own."

The ride home was quiet, once there Darry took Pony to his room.

"I'd better get home." Johnny told them.

"Johnnycake, stay awhile." Ponyboy murmured.

"I really need to go." HE stared at Dally a long minute then hurried out the door.