Hi Everyone, here is my next chapter. Hope you all like it. Please review and let me know how I am doing. Happy Holly Days.

ANYONE POV

Only Johnny saw Dally by the door, the look on his face when he turned and left was so hurt. He quietly followed the greaser out.

"Dally, wait up," he called.

When the two reached the lot, they sat down.

"What's going on with you?" he asked

"Nothing! I needed some air," Dally replied.

"I saw your reaction to what Pony said. What's up with you and Darry?"

"Look kid, stop with all the questions. I'm going to Bucks, but you go back to Pony's."

Johnny grabbed his arm.

"Let go!" Dally snapped coldly. The boy was stubborn, refusing to let go no matter how much he jerked.

"I don't want to hurt you Johnny, let me go."

"We both know you won't hurt me. What's the matter Dallas, can't you admit that you care about someone besides yourself?"

"Johnny, you don't understand."

"I understand enough," Johnny told him dropping his arm. "Or is it that you can't feel anything except hate now?"

Dally's eyes narrowed, he made a fist. The greaser knew he had a reputation for being cold, unfeeling and totally untouchable. Everyone said he was, but it never hurt him until Johnny Cade said it to his face.

"I do have feelings' Johnny, sometimes it's better if they don't come out," Dally admitted.

"Better for who? You, Darry, us? Why should it matter what anyone thinks except you two?"

"It just does," he hissed.

"You can't run from this Dal, you got to face it and deal with it. I think the people who love you will understand. Who cares what the rest thinks?" Johnny told him seriously.

"It's not that simple," the older boy argued.

"Actually it is. You care about someone, and you let them know."

"I'm going to Buck's. Where you headed?"

"Guess I'll stay here," Johnny told him sitting back down.

"All right, see ya later."

"Bye Dally."

Pony slept for hours after Darry made sure he ate some soup. Soda slept beside him while the elder Curtis leaned back in the chair, closing his tired eyes, feeling a headache starting.

DARRY POV

"Hot," Pony muttered quietly.

I sat up and put a cool cloth on his head. I spoke softly trying to soothe him. He grabbed my hand.

"Hot," he repeated pushing at the blankets.

"Daddy, so hot," Soda's eyes popped open.

"I'm here Little Colt, rest now. You'll be fine."

"Daddy?" Pony cried.

"I'm here," I told him stroking his hair.

Soda cried out and stumbled from the room. "Hold me," Pony requested so I picked him up and sat down to another restless night. Soda finally came back in a little later glaring at me.

"What Sodapop?"

"You're not Dad!" he snapped.

"I know that. He's sick and I was trying to comfort our little brother. I don't appreciate your tone either."

He lay down and didn't speak again though I knew he was still awake. Dally came in and sat on the bed, watching as I rocked my baby brother.

"Hey D.S., how's the kid?"

"Finally sleeping," I told him slowly rocking back and forth. I'd taken him to the doctor earlier and was told he should be better in a few days.

"Let me have him and you go get some sleep," he reached for Ponyboy.

DARRY POV

"Daddy, don't go," Pony screamed struggling to get away from Dally finally latching a death grip on me, he was still half asleep.

"He's not Dad! Pony, you know that," Soda yelled storming out.

"Ponyboy, calm down," it took Dally and me thirty minutes to get him calm again. He wanted Dad, Mom, Soda, and me. Soda was mad and it was making him worse. Steve eventually pushed Soda into the room and when he laid down, Pony fell asleep and slept the rest of the night curled next to our still mad brother.

The next day Soda refused to talk to Pony and left with Steve.

"Darry, what did I do?" he asked.

"When you were sick, you thought I was Dad."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay, don't worry about it," after making sure he was sleeping again, I went to lie down awhile. A few minutes later, he came to lay beside me. I kept him out of school the next two days to make sure he was well. Pony felt better the next Monday and wanted to go to school so I let him. I had the day off so when Bree Ann called, we made plans for lunch. We went to the Dingo, then went back to the house since school was out and I wanted to see how Pony was feeling.

The gang was on the porch. Ponyboy looked upset and had a black eye. I slowly walked up to them, watching as he held my gaze. I checked his eye.

"Bree, I need to talk to my brothers," I said still looking at Pony. "Boys, let's go for a walk," when we were away from the house we stopped.

"What happened?" I asked.

"I got in a fight," Pony told me.

"With whom? Why?"

"Some guy on the way home, I don't know why."

DARRY POV

"Who was it?" I asked again. Pony and Soda traded looks and he shrugged. When we reached the house, he went to find Johnny.

"Let it go for now Darry," Soda said quietly before going in the house. Bree and me sat down to talk.

"So how've you been? The truth this time."

"Holding on, I never dreamed it would be this hard though.""If anyone can do it, you can."

We sat there a long while in the quiet.

"So have you told Superman yet?" Steve asked his best friend.

"No, I haven't. I don't know how."

"He'll find out, better tell Darry."

I opened the door in time to hear the last statement.

"Tell me what?" I asked. Soda jumped and ran a hand through his hair.

"Nothing, I better get dinner started. Where's Pony?"

"He's prolly with Johnny What are you hiding?" Sodapop looked guilty, then went to the kitchen. I turned and walked away.

"Go talk to him Soda," Steve urged.

"I'm scared to Stevie."

"He might get mad, but it will be okay."

They went outside where Darry and Bree were watching the two youngest greasers wrestle.

DARRY POV

"Darry?" Soda called.

I turned my head to look at him.

"What Sodapop?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"So talk," I told him.

"I'm going to drop out of school and get a job to help with the bills."

"No, you're not!" I bit out.

"Yes I am. I already made up my mind."

"Sodapop," Bree put her hand on my shoulder.

"Darry, take a minute and calm down."

I got up looking at both my brothers.

"I'm going out or awhile. Soda, you stay with Pony instead of going out with Steve and make sure he eats dinner.Johnny, you can spend the night," Pony wrapped his arms around me "I'll be back later Little Man, I just need some time alone."

Bree told me that she would stay, I nodded got in my car and left. I drove around a while before going to the liquor store, all the time wondering how I could do this.

ANYONE POV

Pony sat on the porch with Johnny. Steve had talked Soda into going with him and Two-bit despite what Darry told him. Dally walked up the sidewalk.

"Hey Johnnycakes, Pony, what's up?" he asked.

"Hi Dally, Pony's worried because Darry ain't back yet and Soda's gone to."

"I thought he told Soda to stay put."

"He did," Pony responded, not wanting to cry I front of Dallas. He was tired because it was close to midnight, but he didn't want to go to sleep unless his brothers were home.

Dally thought a minute. "It's late. Johnny, have you and the kid had dinner?"

"Bree's here, she fixed something, he wasn't hungry."

"Okay Pony, you and Johnny go to bed. I'll go find Soda and Superman."

"I don't want to," Pony snapped. He wanted Darry and thought he was old enough to do what he wanted, but still listened to the gang especially Dally.

"I didn't ask what you wanted, now go." Dally walked in with them. Bree Ann was on the couch, after making sure both boys were in bed, "Go to sleep Pony, don't worry. I'll make sure your brothers get home soon."

"Bye Dally," Johnny told him.

"See ya Johnnycakes," on the way out he stopped to talk to Bree Ann.

"Pony is upset so I'm going to find Darry. I'll send Soda home if I run into him," he left and Bree went to talk to the boys.

"Are you okay Pony?"

"Yeah fine," was the terse reply.

Dally eventually found Darry at the cemetery.

DARRY POV

"Darry?"

"Go away Winston!" I took another drink of liquor. Eyeing the gun in my hand, he sat down.

"Your parents wouldn't want this, your brothers need you. Give me the heater," he held out his hand.

"Go home!" I snapped at him.

"I'm not leaving you here," he moved to sit by me. "Darry, think about Soda and Pony, is this the example that you want to set for them? Just give up when life gets hard. Without you they will be split up, Buddy, you can't let that happen."

"Why does this have to be so hard? Why did it happen?"

"I don't know. Why does anything happen?" Dally reached over and disentangled my cold fingers from the gun and stuck it in the waist band of his jeans. "I can't do this, I can't."

"You don't have a choice anymore. We're all here to help you."

"Dal, you don't understand," I spit out wishing he would leave me the hell alone.

"I'm listening," he said rubbing my arm.

"Pony is so little, everything I do will influence him. Now Soda wants to drop out, what kind of message is that for him?"

Dally was quiet a long time.

"All right think about this, what kind of message is his going to send them? That you don't love them enough to stick around. Or when things get rough just walk away. What about me? Did you even think about me D.S. Do you even care hat if anything happened to you, it would kill what's left of my soul to live in a world without you in it? I told you I was here for you, why didn't you come talk to me?" he raged at me.

DARRY POV

"I didn't think..."

"What? Didn't think I'd listen or that I'd care?"

"Dal, I'm sorry, I didn't want to bother you with my problems."

"That's bull shit and we both know it. You know I'm here for you."

"I'm still getting used o the changes in my life," I started to say before he cut me off.

"You can kiss me, feel me up, even sleep in my arms, but you can't tell me when you are scared or unsure. I told you I can be different when it's just us. I'll listen to you, hold you, hell I'll even cry with you if that's what you need. Just tell."

"I'm sorry. I wasn't really going o use it, but the next time I feel like this, I'll find you."

"I hope so D.S., just because Soda does something doesn't mean Pony will. Let him do it on the condition he goes back later. I'll go so you can think about this," he stood up.

"Don't go Ace, I don't want to be alone," my voice broke and Dally pulled me closer until my head rested on his chest as I once again lost it.

Dally's heart pounded when he heard Darry call him 'Ace' it was the name he'd given his friend years ago, but rarely used.

I don't know how long we sat there before I pulled away.

"Darry, you should go home now."

"I'll get there Dally," I dried my eyes.

"I told Pony I would bring you back. He's prolly waiting."

"He should be in bed, Soda know that."

Dally shook his head.

"Why not?" I wanted to know.

"He went out with the guys. Johnny's with Pony, I made them lay down, but he didn't want dinner. He's really scared so I came to get you."

"Dammit," I shouted almost running to the car.

ANYONE POV

Pony sat against the wall after waking up whimpering. Bree sat beside him. Johnny was doing his best to console his panic-stricken friend.

"Is there anything I can do?" Bree asked.

"No!" Pony shrieked trembling before the dark-haired boy drew him closer, rubbing his back. He was almost calm when they heard a car door slam, followed by another one.

DARRY POV

Bree was waiting on the porch when I stomped from the drive way.

"Pony's awake," she told me as I stopped to hug her.

"Thanks for staying Brennie," I told her. She hugged me back.

"We'll talk later, you need to be with your brother now."

I stood in the doorway a second. "Ponyboy," they looked up and Johnny left us alone. I took Pony in my arms.

"Go to sleep Kiddo, I have you. It was only a dream," I told him gruffly over and over. When my baby brother was sleeping again, I laid him down. By the time Soda came in it was really late and I was more infuriated than I'd been in a long time.

"Hey Darry," he said looking at Pony's tear-stained face.

"Not now Sodapop Patrick, I'm to irritated to deal with you," I snapped walking into the living room. I didn't see Dally, he must have already left.

"We didn't plan on being gone so long."

"That doesn't matter. I told you to stay with your brother. We need to get this straight now, when I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it. Maybe I was wrong to think I could count on your help with Pony."

"No, you weren't wrong. I'm sorry Darry."

DARRY POV

I watched my kid brother a second .

"All right Soda, I accept your apology. This doesn't happen again, is that clear?"

"Yeah, can I go now?"

"Yes, go on. Your grounded for a week. Pony was terrified."

"I told you I was sorry," Soda said.

"Don't tell me again, tell Ponyboy."

He nodded and went out on the porch with Steve. Johnny asked if he could sleep in with Pony, I nodded my permission.

I walked into the kitchen to make a sandwich. "You might as well join me, I won't bite."

"Don't be mad at me," Soda begged sitting down.

"I'm not mad Little Buddy, I'm just trying to figure this out."

"I know, that's why I want to get a job to help out. Steve can get me on at the DX with him."

"Soda," I started.

"Darry, I wasn't doing any good in school anyway. Please this is what I want to do."

"All right, I won't fight you on this if you promise me you'll go back someday," I told him.

"I promise."

"I won't lie and say this is going to be easy because it's not. I wasn't ready to be a parent. Pony is hurtin so much and I don't have a clue how to help him."

"We'll do it together. Dare, this is where we're supposed to be."

ANYONE POV

Soda and Steve were standing on the porch when Dally walked up to them. He hit Steve in the jaw and slammed Soda into the side of the house, drawing back his fist.

"Dallas, leave him alone," Darry opened the door.

"Stay out of this. Soda and Steve need to learn to listen more."

"Let go of me. Darry, do something," Soda struggled to get loose.

"I don't want to fight you, don't make me. Dally, let him go. I can't take anymore tonight, just leave him alone."

Dally pushed the boy back against the house.

"Please Ace," Darry's voice was a mere whisper. Dropping his arm, Dally turned his head to see the other man go inside. Soda and Steve stared.

"D.S.," Dally quickly followed him, but came out after a few minutes and left.

"Sodapop, get Steve some ice for his lip," Darry called from the living room.

"Stevie, why don't you go lay down in the bedroom? I want to talk to Darry a minute."

DARRY POV

"Darry?" Soda turned to me.

"Yeah Soda?" I answered from the swing.

"What's going on between you and Dally?" he asked and even though I knew this would come up because of how Soda had found us, I still wasn't ready to answer. Honestly, I didn't know how to.

"Nothing," I told him.

"What was the other night about?"

"I needed a friend, he was there. That's all it was," Pony came out to lean against me.

"Did you have another dream?" Soda asked.

He nodded sleepily and I lifted him onto my lap. Yeah I know he was 12, but I figured he needed to be babied a little. He didn't mind because he relaxed against me.

"So can I check on the job tomorrow?" Soda wanted to know. I watched Pony's face, his struggle to stay awake after giving my consent, I took Ponyboy to my room and after hugging Soda, I lay down and pulled my baby brother close. He was mine now, him and Soda both. I silently prayed for everything to work out for us. Soda ended up with us early in the morning. When I got up, I stood in the door and watched both my little brothers sleeping peacefully. Yeah, they were mine now to care for and protect and I vowed to do just that.