A/N: Don't own The Outsiders. Don't own Reanimator.
Ponyboy's walk down memory lane turned into a drive as he, Darry, Soda, Steve and Two-Bit piled into Darry's truck.
Darry liked the idea of taking the truck for a quick getaway in case things on the west side of town got out of hand. If they couldn't make a quick getaway at least there were five of them now instead of two, which would put the odds more in their favor.
Seven would have been better but Dally refused to leave Johnny's side until he woke up.
Darry was glad they had numbers on their side because it now looked like the quick getaway was not going to happen.
Goddamn truck overheated.
Soda, Steve and Two-Bit hopped out of the back and flipped open the hood. A cloud of steam puffed out . The only thing on their side was there was no one around. The place was like a ghost town.
"Unbelievable. Right smack in the middle of Soc territory."
Darry looked over and saw a Corvair drive toward them.
"Day keeps getting better, " he grimaced.
The car stopped in front of their truck.
"Who the hell is that?" Steve snapped.
"Sure don't look like Triple A." Two-Bit observed.
"Can I help you?" The soc said as he stepped out of the car. He was being…nice?
All five of them were struck dumb.
Nobody said a thing for a minute.
Darry didn't even notice Ponyboy gingerly open the passenger side door and step out of the truck.
He did notice the Soc's eyes widen and mouth "Holy Shit."
Ponyboy walked toward him but the Soc quickly slid back into his car and took off like a bat out of hell.
Ponyboy, of course, ran after him.
"Shit!" Darry screamed and tore out of the truck.
"Ponyboy!" he screamed at, well, nobody.
The car, then Ponyboy, had taken off out of sight.
"No way he's gonna catch that car, " Steve observed.
Really, you sure about that one Dr. Science? Darry mused to himself.
Before he could think Soda had already taken off after Ponyboy.
"Soda!" he heard himself yell. Soda kept running.
Darry just covered his face with his hand and did a long wipe.
"I thought I told everyone to stick together. " he muttered.
"We're still here Darry, " Two-bit answered.
"Thank you Two-Bit, " Darry said in a defeated tone between a laugh and a whimper.
"Are we your favorite brothers Darry?" Two-Bit asked with a grin.
"You actually listen to me, " Darry sighed, then turned around and went in through the passenger side of the truck. "That's how I know you're not mine."
OK. Quick plan B.
Darry opened the glove compartment. Took out a map and a switchblade.
Yes, he was going after his brother alone but he would at least have protection. The fact that he was big also didn't hurt. He slipped the switchblade into his back pocket.
"You two stay with the truck, " he looked over at Steve and Two-Bit. All this game planning made him feel a little nostalgic for his football days. He unfolded the map and drew a line on it. " If this piece of shit decides to cooperate and start you come out to get us. We should end up over here." He mapped out the route to Dr. Sheldon's office. "If I catch up with them I'm going to take them there."
"Why?" Steve asked.
"First, apparently Ponyboy was taken to or dumped in the woods behind this guy Dr. Sheldon's house and second, " Darry thinned his lips and raised his eyebrows. "I would like to ask this Dr. Sheldon a few questions."
He handed the map to Two-Bit and jogged off in the direction of his brothers.