Hi here is the next chapter. I know that Soda and Steve seem a little out of Character but hey it's my story. There will some brother bonding in this chapter and the next, there may also be a fight between buddies in the next one. Let me know what you think should happen. Oh Ponyboy is twelve in my story. I had a typo earlier in the story that said he was 13. Sorry for the mix-up. So enjoy and review. Thanks Chellie

The sun brightened the sky as the cars traveled down the highway toward the Tulsa Forest Preserve. It was mid-afternoon when they pulled up outside the main lodge. The guys got out to stretch their legs while Darry went in to register.

"Can I help you?" The girl behind the desk asked pleasantly.

"Hi, my name is Darry Curtis, I'm here with a party of seven. We'll be here for two weeks."

"Oh yes, Mr. Jax called to tell us to expect you. We have the cabin all ready for your arrival. Here's the key. If you need anything, please let me know. I'm Karen."

"Thank you." He smiled at her. "Some of the guys want to camp out, and we brought tents."

"That's fine. There are plenty of places to camp along the trials. The cabin is by the lake and there's even a small waterfall close by."

"I hope I'll see you again." Darry told her thinking she was beautiful. Karen had dark, curly, shoulder-length hair and blue eyes. The cabin was the last one in the campground. The trail was lined with huge trees. Pony and Johnny went running off to explore as soon as the cars stopped.

It was late when the tired group sat sown to dinner. Pony picked as his food, not eating much. Darry told him that Rachel was gone. When Pony ran to his room, Soda followed. He held his little brother and tried not to think about what he'd been through. The others came to set with them.

"Dare?" Soda whispered.

"Yeah, Soda?"

"Can we all sleep in the living room?"

Looking at Dally before he answered, Darry replied, "Sure I think that is a great idea."

Once everyone was in bed, Dally turned all the lights out but one. After a while Soda sat up and rubbed his eyes. He kept seeing images of Ponyboy and what he tried to do, images of him lying there cold and still. He jumped up and barely made it outside before getting sick. Steve quietly followed his best friend. Although he didn't care much for Ponyboy, he would do anything for Sodapop. For the better part of an hour, Soda was throwing up. Steve tried to ease the distraught young man's pain. Finally, when the dry heaves came, he went to get Darry.

Trying to be quiet, the dark-haired greaser picked his way across the floor to Darry and Ponyboy. He shook him to wake him up.

"Darry, wake up. Darry, Soda needs you."

"What? Steve, what's wrong?" He sat up.

"It's Soda, come on."

Darry followed Steve outside after making sure Pony was still asleep.

"I'll be inside if you need me." Steve told him.

"All right." Darry quickly went to his middle brother and knelt beside him as he was sick again. He rubbed Soda's back in an attempt to soothe him.

"Easy Pepsi-Cola, it will pass."

When the spasms in his stomach eased a little, Soda leaned against him.

"Darry, I can't get the image of Pony lying dead out of my head. Help me." He cried as he gagged, then curled up on the ground weeping helplessly. Darry lay beside him and pulled Sodapop into his arms.

"Shh . . . Soda, breathe and relax. It will stop. Just breathe. Pony is fine. He's in the cabin asleep." Darry murmured as he held him. The door opened and closed.

"Dare, Sodapop?" Pony whispered.

"Yeah, Little man?" Darry answered.

"Are you okay, Soda?" He stopped beside them.

"I think I have the flu. Go back to bed."

Pony looked at his tear-stained face.

"Would you go to bed and leave me like this?"

"Of course not!" Soda's voice broke.

"Then don't expect me to." Was the reply. Soda buried his face in Darry's neck and cried. Pony sat beside them and rubbed his back. The three brothers sat silently trying to reassure each other everything would be all right.

In the cabin, the rest of the gang talked quietly.

"Are we going out there?" Two-Bit asked.

"I think they need some time, just the three of them. Soda is really tore up." Dally said watching their friend cry in his brother's arms, he knew this was what they needed.

"I don't know what to do to help Sodapop." Steve said.

"You did the right thing, Steve." Two-Bit told him.

"This is all my fault." Ponyboy cried. Soda sat up and hugged him tight.

"Don't say that! You're not to blame." He told the younger boy.

"Do you want to try to get some sleep guys?"

The boys shook their heads no.

"Let's stay out here and enjoy the night then." Darry told them as he leaned against the cabin wall. Soda leaned against him and pulled Pony until the child's head was resting on his shoulder. Pony played with Soda's hair and soon the two were sound asleep. Darry relaxed and watched the stars come out as they slept. An hour later, Dally came out.

"Want me to take Pony in?" He asked.

"No, let them sleep while they can."

Nodding Dally got a blanket for them, then sat by his friend. Soon they were joined by Two-Bit, Steve, and Johnny. The seven boys sat outside a long time before Dally carried Ponyboy inside. Darry looked at Sodapop.

"I hate to wake him up. He's sleeping so well." He gently eased Soda into his arms and stood up. Steve opened the door, once he laid Soda down, Pony immediately reached for him and they curled up together.

"Let's all try to get some rest. We have early plans tomorrow." Dally told them.

Darry tried to sleep as he listened to first Pony, then Soda cry out in his sleep. Despite the drama of the previous night, the gang was up early. Darry had a big breakfast ready by the time everyone was awake. They were going on a hike and would camp out a few nights. Since they were not in a hurry, a leisurely pace was set with Johnny and Pony looking at all the different leaves, bugs and animals they saw.

"According to Karen, there's a campsite about a mile and half up the trail." Darry told them after they'd been walking about an hour. The trial was wider and the guys walked two by two, talking about anything that came to mind.

When the group reached the campsite, they got busy putting tents up. Pony wanted to help, but kept getting in Steve's way. Steve glared at Pony and snapped, "Get out of my way kid." Then shoved him.

"Steve, don't do that again." Darry said before turning to Pony.

"Hey Pony, why don't you and Johnny go fishing and see if you can catch dinner."

"All right." They got the poles and left.

"What's your problem with Ponyboy now?" Darry asked Steve.

"He's always in the way. Always tagging along."

"Maybe you're in the way Randall." Dally shouted.

"Steve." Soda said.

"Well he is. He's always with you. We can't do anything without him along."

"Steve, Pony is my brother. He's not in the way. How can you say that?"

"I think he needs to grow up and get a life. He should be helping out more." He snapped.

"No, he doesn't. Pony is still a kid and I want him to enjoy what's left of his childhood. He doesn't need to worry about adult stuff, that's what I do. I understand you think he spends too much time with Soda, but keep your opinions to yourself. Keep your mouth and hands off my little brother. Do I make myself clear?" Darry thundered barely civil.

"Yeah, crystal clear." Steve shouted back.

They didn't see the two boys walk around the cabin or the one run away. Johnny got Dally and the three went back to fishing.

There was an old beaver dam that had made a nice little pool for swimming. The water was cold at first, but they quickly got used to it as they splashed and played around. The rest of the day was great. One of the most relaxed days that Darry could remember in a long time. There would be grilled fish for dinner. Soda noticed the color in Pony's cheeks and how relaxed Darry was and decided the fresh air was good for them all. He sat, arms wrapped around his knees watching, for a change he was content.

The next day Darry and Dally went hiking. Soda and Two-Bit were swimming waiting for the others. Just as Pony was getting ready to go join them, Steve demanded that he leave the older boys alone.

"I don't have to listen to you." Pony burst out.

"Stay away from me." Pony cried when Steve walked toward him. Johnny jumped in front of the younger boy, determined to stop the other greaser. Steve stared from one boy to the other and in a sudden move, backhanded Johnny across the face, knocking him to the ground. Two-Bit and Soda ran in to see what was keeping them. For a moment they were too stunned to say anything. Johnny held his hand against the side of his face, and fighting tears of pain. Two-Bit helped him up and got some ice for his rapidly swelling face. Johnny nodded in thanks, then lowered his head as the rest stared at their friend.

"Why?" Soda whispered.

"He was going after Pony, and I had to stop him." Johnny's voice was weary.

Steve advanced toward the four boys.

Soda heard a quiet whimper. It was Pony. Suddenly it didn't matter that Steve was his best friend, the only thing that mattered was Pony was his brother and it was his job to help keep him safe. He moved in front of Steve blocking his path.

"Get out now!" Soda told him through clinched teeth.

"Soda, I can explain." Steve said.

"Explain what? That you were going to hit Ponyboy, or that you got Johnny instead when he tried to stop you? For God's sakes don't Johnny have enough problems without you belting him? Two-Bit, get him out of here." Soda demanded before going to the two boys.

"Are you all right?" He asked.

"Yeah, great." Was the only answer he got.

"Pony, I won't let Steve hurt you. You know that right?"

"Just go away. Leave me alone." Pony whispered. Soda stared helplessly at Pony unsure of what to do next.

"That was way stupid Steve, you know Dally will be madder than a wet hen when he sees Johnny."

"I know that I didn't mean to hit him. I snapped. Everyone always takes up for poor little Pony. It makes me sick."

"Why do you hate Ponyboy so much?" He asked.

"I don't hate him. I wish he wouldn't be always tag-a-long and stuff. What am I gonna do?"

"I don't know, but you better figure it out quick because here come Dally and Superman." Two-Bit said as they went in.

"Johnny, I'm sorry." Steve told him. Pony and Johnny were sitting on the couch with Soda close by when the two older greasers opened the door.

"Johnny, " Darry said. "What happened?"

Dally reached him first and raised his head.

"Did he do that?" He asked nodding at Steve.

"It's nothing, just a misunderstanding." Johnny explained.

"Did you hit him?" Dally in an even, controlled voice they barely recognized.

"Yeah, I did." He admitted slowly.

Dally started toward him with an alertness that worried even Darry, but it was Johnny that stopped him.

"Don't bother Dal. He won't do it again. Pony, let's go outside. Dal, come with us." He pleaded. The three walked out.

"What the hell has gotten into you Steve?"

He walked off without answering Darry.

"He was going after Pony again." Two-Bit supplied.

Darry shook his head.

"Talk to him Soda. This has to stop."

"I know that."

The rest of the night was tense and they went to bed early.

It had been two days since Steve gave Johnny a black eye. Dally was still mad and the gang knew he was spoiling for a fight. They were a group divided now and Darry didn't like it one bit. Dally kept the two youngest with him and Steve spent most of his time alone or with Sodapop, who had no luck getting him to talk.

"You know he's gonna blow, don't you?" Two-Bit asked Darry.

"I know, maybe Steve deserves it." He tensed as loud voices reached them.

"Sounds like they are about to rumble." Two-Bit joked.

Standing outside the cabin, they watched as Dally's fist streaked out and plowed into Steve's face. An instant later they were rolling on the ground.

Soda reached down, but if his intention was to break it up, he failed. Now there were three wrestling in the mud. Darry sighed and stalked over to the trio.

"All right enough!" He reached down and grabbed Soda's arm. "Sodapop Patrick, I said enough."

After letting Dally get in a few more good hits, Darry jerked the guys apart and pushed Steve at Soda.

"Go get cleaned up."

When all the guys were in the living room, Darry cleared his throat.

"This ends here and now. We have enough to deal within our lives without fighting each other. Steve, whatever problem you have with Ponyboy, deal with it and move on. He's here and he will always be here. Don't touch him or Johnny again. If you do, you'll answer to me and I'll make this look like a walk in the park."

A door slammed, Darry looked around to find Pony gone. He stared at Steve.

"Whatever you say." Steve agreed.

"I'll go Soda." Darry said when Soda started to the bedroom.