"Ponyboy!" Two-Bit's footsteps sent pulses through the concrete as he rushed over to where I lay. "Pony, you okay?"

I was still trying to get my breath back, and all I managed to say was, "They got her."

He pulled me to my feet. "Damn, they cut you good."

"They got her!" I gasped, "They took her away! We gotta go after them!"

His eyes turned hard, they way they had when we got yelled at by Johnny's mom in the hospital. He let me go and I stumbled a little, just managing to stay upright. "Which way did they go? I'll go after 'em. You go get the boys."

I nodded. I could run faster. "That way," I pointed.

He took off into the darkness, and I went the other way. I prayed to whatever god there was that she would still be alive when I got there.

Home was a good 15 minute walk away and I didn't have that kind of time. I ran faster than I'd ever run before, the sticky air roaring in my ears. I tried not to think about what I knew they'd to her, but I couldn't help it. Anger and guilt surged over the images I tried not to see. It was my fault. She never did anything to them, and they'd hurt her just to get back at me. Why couldn't they have just taken me?

The house was in sight. I could see Soda and Steve in the window, laughing and chucking pillows at each other, and felt bad I had to ruin their fun.

The door flew open and I skidded to a halt in the living room, nearly crashing into Darry. "Come on!"

"Jesus Christ, Pony, what happened?" Darry asked, taking my face and looking me over.

I pulled away. "No time! We gotta go!"

"What's going on?" Soda asked, abandoning his pillow and striding over to us.

"Socs!" I shifted from foot to foot, eager to run again. "Two-Bit went after 'em, we gotta help!"

"Pony, Pony, calm down--"

"NO! THEY GOT HEATHER!"

Everyone was quiet for a second, then Steve leapt to his feet and darted out the door. I followed, Soda and Darry just behind me. I don't think anyone shut the door. I caught up with Steve pretty quick, leading the way to where we got jumped. I took a sharp right, hoping it wouldn't be too hard to find them from here. My lungs screamed and my legs begged for me to stop, but I ignored the pain. I had to get there in time. I had to.

After what seemed like an eternity of running, I heard faintly the sounds of fighting. I turned toward it, knowing the others weren't far behind.

We found ourselves in an alleyway, and through the darkness, I could make out Two-Bit fighting four Socs, the other five standing in a circle, literally passing Heather around like a beach ball so everyone could have a bit of the fun. She lashed out, managing to get away from the one who held her, only to fall back into the filthy hands of another.

I felt the rage from before erupt sevenfold, and I landed all over the closest one. He gave a shout of surprise, but I bashed the hilt of my blade over the top of his head and he went limp. Another turned to me with a pipe, but again I was too angry to feel any pain and I hit five times as hard. He didn't last long. Darry came up out of nowhere and lifted one above his head, hurling him into the side of a wall. Then he turned to another, and that was all he had to do; that Soc turned and ran like Satan himself had come for him.

Now there was only one left, the one with the gun. And it was pressed against Heather's throat again.

"Move and she's dead." he hissed.

Darry and I stood our ground. Through my fear and rage, I was proud of Heather. Only her eyes were scared, and even though she had been surrounded by teenage boys, she'd managed to keep them off her and remain fully clothed. For that, I was relived.

"We're gonna get you out of here, Sweetheart." I found myself saying, "Don't worry."

"I know," she tried to say back, but the Soc pressed the gun harder into her skin and cut off her voice.

Steve came up beside me. "Let her go." he growled. "There's five of us and only one of you. I don't think you want to get hurt."

The Soc laughed, red hair falling into his eyes. "Ah, but, who has the gun?" There was a loud click, and Heather stiffened. He started to back away, and we followed.

"Look, buddy," Soda was there, spitting blood (yet still looking tuff about it), "We don't want any trouble. Just give us the girl, and we'll walk away."

"Sorry, man." he snickered. Now they were walking backward up an iron fire escape, inching higher and higher above us. "No can do."

"And why's that?" Two-Bit was with us now, too. He did a good job of masking how tired he was.

"I got a score to settle with this kid." he nodded toward me. Now he was half way up the building with us just five steps below. I realized then that we were in the really old part of East Side. All the stores were abandoned and falling apart. I remembered vaguely when we were younger and used to play hide and seek here…

"Is this really the way things have to be?" Darry asked slowly.

"Yeah. Yeah, it is." he tightened his grip on the gun. We all hesitated mid step, then continued. "That kid ruined everything. He killed Bob. Bob was a great man and a great friend, and he didn't deserve to die at the end of a greasy blade."

Steve's knuckles popped as he clenched is fist tighter.

"Then Randy ran off. After everything, Randy up and left just 'cause Bob died. And then this little shit decided to beat the hell out of my kid brother. He can barely bring himself to get outta bed."

"May I remind you," Two-Bit said, "That you and you're friends have done the same thing to us many times before?"

"That's not the point!" he spat. We were on the roof now, towering above the little boarded-up building beside us. I watched him reach into his back pocket and retrieve a lighter. He flicked a flame to light, holding it just a few inches in front of Heather's face. She flinched just slightly.

Then he dropped it, an orange star falling from the night and disappearing into the smaller building. He turned back to me. "You want things personal? I can make it personal." As he spoke he dragged Heather closer and closer to the edge of the roof, to the flames quickly engulfing the other building. "You hurt my brother, I hurt your girl. Sounds fair, don't you think?"

"Look, man, I didn't mean to hurt your brother," I found myself trying to reason with him. Steve took a step closer. "What I did was self defense."

"Self defense my ass!" he shouted back, and his gun hand shook slightly.

Steve took another step closer. My eyes darted from him to the Soc and with a horrible feeling, saw what no one else did. He lunged forward just as the redhead aimed his gun, just for a moment…

"Steve, no!" I cried, shoving him out of the way as the gun bucked and a shot screamed over the cackling flames. The impact of the bullet jerked me half around, imbedding itself right were my shoulder and my collarbone joined. I gritted my teeth against the searing pain and dropped to my knees, clutching the wound. The boys shouted and rushed to my side, but I think Heather was too stunned to make a sound. Even the Soc looked a little shocked, but he smiled.

No one noticed Steve.

I'd knocked him clear of the bullet, sure, but it's hard to stop Steve Randle. In the confusion he ran to the redhead, twisted his wrist to retrieve the gun, and gripped him by the neck. The Soc gagged, but his hold on Heather was still tight. The two of them leaned precariously over the edge.

Steve shook the Soc and growled into his face, "Let her go."

His eyes looked a little fearful, then he smiled. "Poor choice of words." he breathed.

Then he released his hold, and Heather tumbled down, and her scream was lost to the now roaring flames.

I'm sorry, I just can't resist dragging this scene out. The question's still open. Please review even if you're indifferent to her demise!