Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders

A/N: This entire fic is dedicated to aero because without her, this would have never been created. Thank you for being so awesome.

XXX

February 18, 1964

"You don't have it in you," Wayne spat. Staring at him intently, you were surprised that you weren't shaking. Maybe he was right about you failing miserably, but you knew you would do a whole hell of a lot better job than he did.

Keeping the expression on your face emotionless, you had thought long and hard about what was going to happen, and all the answers led back to this situation. You knew what had to be done now, what was coming next.

Maybe this was why Ben brought you in, teaching you everything that was necessary to know to be able to survive in this whole other world. Maybe he knew this was going to happen sooner or later and this moment was what he prepared you for. Taking a deep breath, you stared at Wayne awhile longer.

He was a born leader, the leader of The Crawford Gang. People couldn't help but follow him; it was who he was. Maybe they were scared of him, or maybe they just liked how they felt around him. He had a way with people, made them feel as if they were worth something. And around here that was a hard thing to find.

"You'll have to kill me, Tim," he said, interrupting your thoughts. Jesus, the thought of actually taking someone's life away was truly nauseating, but you knew that it wouldn't be the last time it come to this. Ben had warned you a long time ago that this business was no game, either kill or be killed—there was no in between.

You gave him conniving smirk this time, telling him without words that that was exactly what was going to happen. It was hardly noticeable, but the smug look on his face fell a little.

"You remind me of myself," he said and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The more he talked, the more you wanted to shut him up; the way he was talking it was almost believable that he might have something up his sleeve. For all you knew, he did; he was Wayne Crawford. He was smart, quick; he was someone that had better damn well been dead if you were threatening to kill him.

"The only difference is one of us has a gun pointed at their head," you finally spoke.

It was the gun that made you nervous.

XXX

A/N: Special thanks to Al and aero for their help with editing and encouragement.