Author's Note:

Ahhh! I tried all last night to get this chappy in by NO stupid fanfiction wouldn't let me upload it. So here it is, it's delayed but it's here:D

Maggie sat in the car as silent as she could get. Her hand was gripping the side of the door so hard her knuckles were white, but she didn't quite know why. It was just weird. She was sitting in the car with the one guy she thought she might never talk to again, let alone sit in a car with him. Her mind just hadn't processed it all yet. It was like it was impossible to realize that Dallas was awake, and driving her to the local Dingo. It was almost like a dream that her mind kept repeating. She couldn't even feel. Her whole body was numb. It was unfeeling. She couldn't tell what she was feeling more of, anger, love, or hate. It was just so hard to tell.

"We're here." Dallas' cold voice spoke up. Maggie snapped out of her thoughts to find that they were already at the Dingo, the car was turned off and parked, right next to one that was just like it. She nodded her head towards Dally, her whole body still numb.

"So is this whole day going to be awkward or are you going to talk to me?" he said suddenly. Maggie looked up at him as he opened the door for her, searching his dark blue eyes. She knew he was serious but she couldn't bring herself to answer him.

"I just don't know what to say." she whispered as she crawled into a booth across from him. He nodded. "You've been gone for so long. I guess it's like you just disappeared and showed up again so suddenly. What do I say when something like that happens?" she was saying this all more to herself than him and Dally realized that. He also realized that she was right. She was right on every level.

"How was New York?" he finally cut in, hoping to lighten the mood a bit.

"You mean how is New York?" she corrected. "I'm going back in a week and half. And it's good. Val took me in. He treats me like a kid though. I guess he just worries sometimes. He's a good guy though..." she trailed off though, remembering how she had left it with him. Finding out his secret.

Dally's jaw tightened at the first sentence, Maggie knew, but chose to ignore it. He probably didn't like the idea of her going back now that she was in Tulsa and he was awake.

"Val Fields?" he asked instead, wondering if she was talking about who he thought she was.

"Yeah." she answered, raising an eyebrow in question.

"Why're you hanging out with that guy?" he asked suddenly, almost defensively.

"He took me in. Gave me a place to stay, clothes on my back, and food in my stomach. Why wouldn't I?" she retorted, glaring at him now.

"He's a drug dealer, Mags." Dallas snapped. Maggie bowed her head. She hated thinking about that.

"I know, Dallas. But what can I say? I can't just dump him after everything he's done for me. I'm not happy about it, but I can't stay mad forever can I? You of all people should know that." Dal's jaw tightened again and Maggie looked away when she saw the familiar fire in his eyes. She really didn't want to hear a lecture right now, or have him be mad at her. She had just gotten here and he had just woken up. Why did he have to lay into her now?

"Hey, Dallas, whose the broad-" a familiar voice started to say but stopped when they saw Maggie. Maggie's head shot up. She hadn't been called a broad in a few years, not since she first met the gang anyway.

Her eyes widened a bit and she stared in a bit of shock and embarrassment. Tim stood in front of them, looking at Maggie. He hadn't recognized her dark brown hair from the back, it was longer now or something. And Maggie, Maggie was older, more mature looking.

"Close your jaw, Tim." Dally said, glaring at his so called friend. Maggie glared at Dallas, but kept silent none the less. The last thing on her list was to see Tim Shepard. Things would just be too awkward.

"Maggie." Tim said finally, his voice was low, almost unbelieving.

"Tim." she answered back with a cold nod. She didn't know what else to do. But what was she supposed to do? Jump into his arms? I think not.

"Tim!" a woman's voice floated through the Dingo in a singsong voice. Maggie looked up to see a woman about Tim's age just now starting to hang on his shoulder. And Maggie had to admit, she was drop dead gorgeous. She had long legs and perfect shiny light brown hair that went down to her shoulder. It was perfectly strait too. She was no greaser.

"Close your mouth, Dallas." Tim said roughly before chuckling. It was a cold chuckle though, a guarded chuckle.

Maggie looked at Dallas, a wave of jealousy washing over her. But it wasn't because Tim was dating this beautiful girl. No. It was because Dally was staring at her.

Oh god, she thought, did I just think that? She felt like throwing up. He was like a brother to her.

I'm just hormonal, she told herself, trying to make up a reason to why she was acting this way.

The next time she looked up Tim had disappeared into the crowd with his girlfriend and the food was sitting in front of her. She looked at Dallas again and blushed when she found him looking at her.

"Since when do you blush?" he said, a smile forming on his face. A real smile.

"Since now." she replied with a smirk, trying to cover up her blush.

"You've changed, Maggie."

"For the worse or for the better?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll let you know when I find out." he told her again. She smiled and nodded her head. They dung in, chatting like old times and talking about random things. Maggie wasn't even thinking or feeling. She was just enjoying being the company of a friend. She liked it here and she didn't want to have to think about the future, and she definitely didn't want to think about her past.

"I'm going to drop you off at the DX with Soda and Steve for a while. I have to take care of some things." Dally told as they both got in the car. She nodded, just like old times was right. He was, yet again, dumping her on someone else so he could go do God knows what.

"Whatever." she murmured as she stared at out the window at the passing scenery. Tulsa hadn't changed a bit. The people in it hadn't changed much either. But it was still like a foreign land to her because she hadn't been there in what seemed like forever.

"I'll see you in a few hours." Dally said as stared out at the road in front of him.

"Sure thing, Dal." Maggie agreed, trying to keep the sadness out of her voice. It was just like Dallas to dump her somewhere. He always did it.

At least he's not dumping with some stupid hoodlum, she tried to reason with herself, it's just Steve and Soda.

But come to think of it Steve hadn't spoken more then 2 words to her since she got back. He hadn't so much as looked at her either. It was weird. Steve and Maggie had always been really good friends. They could tell each other everything and here he was, not even speaking to her.

Can you blame him? You left him and the gang here by themselves, her mind screamed at her. She shook it off. She really didn't want to feel guilty right now. She didn't want to think about the stupid decisions she made and she definitely didn't want to think about the fact that she left the gang to fend for themselves, even if it was the right thing to do for herself. Then again the gang never seemed to think about what was best for Maggie, they always thought about what was best for the gang as a group, and sometimes, most of the time, Maggie hated it.

Maggie slide out of the car without another word, if Dallas was going to dump her then so be it, maybe she could get Steve to start to talk to her again.

"Hey Mags, what are you doing here?" Soda asked as Maggie walked into the DX station.

"Dally dumped me here, why else." she said with a shrug, still trying to keep her face cold and bare of emotion. She didn't know why being dumped here by Dallas was making her so mad, but it was.

"Steve's in the back if you want to go talk to him." Soda said, picking up a magazine from the check out counter.

"You've noticed, too?" she asked, referring to the fact that Steve hadn't spoken to her.

"Yeah, I've noticed. All of us have." Soda answered with a nod. Maggie sighed and made her way to the back. She could here Elvis blaring from the radio as she walked towards the car he was working on.

"What're you doing here?" the cold voice made her jump about 2 inches in the air. She calmed down a few seconds later realizing that it was only Steve. She could see now that he was working under the car.

"Dallas dumped me here." she told him, jabbing a thump in the direction of outside even though Steve couldn't see it. She stood dumbly not even knowing what to say. Before she left she had no problem striking up a conversation with him. Now, it was just pure awkwardness.

"So, what's your deal?" she decided on finally.

"What do you mean 'what's my deal?" he snarled back, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

"You haven't even sat down and had a real conversation with me since I got here. You're avoiding me and when I do try and talk to you you end up making some idiotic, snide remark to push me away again. So, what's your deal?" she explained. She was getting impatient with having to wait this long for an answer. He should know very well what she was talking about but he still avoided it.

"What? Am I supposed to forgive you in a snap of a finger?" he asked, finally sliding out from under the car and standing in front of her.

"Well, that would be a miracle. But since you're not a miracle worker I would just settle for you at least talking to me about it." she told him. She thought for a moment longer before saying anything. "What is your guys' deal? I leave for the sake of my sanity and you blame me! All you guys ever do is think about yourselves. What about me, huh? What if I needed to get away from you guys so I could clear my head and right things? Did you ever think about that? No, of course not. Because all you guys think about is what's best for you!" she poked him in the chest at the last word and was angered further when he grabbed her wrist, glaring at her with his icy brown eyes.

They stood there for more then a minute. Steve holding on to Maggie's wrist and the two of them glaring at each other.

"I know." Steve said finally. "I know you're right. Does that make you feel any better? Excuse me for at least wanting you to call or write or let us know you're alright. We were all worried sick back here, thinking about what could of happened to you in the damned city! I can't stand here and talk to you like nothing happened and I can't pretend I'm not mad. You left us, Maggie..." he trailed off, his stare softening.

"You left me." he finished finally. Maggie's eyes fell. She begged herself not to think about it to forget about the whole thing. She begged herself to calm down and think it over before she went hysterical.

"You're wrong, Steve." she blurted out without thinking. "I didn't leave you, because that whole time while I was in New York, my heart was back here. Right here in Tulsa. With you. And the rest of the gang. I tried, Steve. I tried so hard to get my heart back. I tried to pick up the pieces. But I couldn't. I couldn't live with myself. I spent night after night wishing that maybe, just maybe if I hadn't of shown up, if I would have died in a dumpster somewhere that Dallas wouldn't have been shot. And you guys wouldn't of had to go through everything. I blame myself for everything. And now that I've started I can't stop." tears had started to form in her eyes but she willed them away. She wasn't going to cry and she wasn't going to give in to her emotions. She was going to hold tough. She was going to be stone, just like Dallas. That's all she wanted, to be void of emotion. She wanted life to be simple again. Was that so much to ask?

Maggie didn't stick around to talk anymore, instead, she bolted. She ran out of the garage, out of the station and down the rode. Headed towards God only knows where. She just wanted to leave.

After an hour of walking and thinking and deciding she had landed herself in the park, on the swing. Her hands were shaking from all the drama and pressure and her eyes were red from unshed tears. This is what she had been degraded to. She had come back to Tulsa to see them, to comfort them, to catch up. She had not expected all of this. All of this hurt, all of this pressure, all of this hatred.

"Maggie, Maggie, Maggie. Didn't expect to see you here." the voice was cold and piercing but she recognized it right away and it was the last person she wanted to see right now. She kept her head down, hoping if she ignored him that he'd just go away. Why did she always have to be terrorized by the Shepard boys?

"Go away, Curly." she told him sternly and shakily as he sat down in the swing beside her.

"You know, everyone's looking for you." Curly said matter of factly.

"Well if they didn't have enough sense to look at the park then its their own damn fault they can't find me!" she snapped back harshly, kicking a pile of sand and rock harshly.

"You're temper hasn't changed one bit." Curly observed. Maggie just rolled her eyes.

"You're the last person I want to see on this Earth right now Curly Shepard. I'd rather see a Soc. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back." she stood up, hoping to make it out of there before he stopped her.

Sure enough he just had to grab her wrist. Why was it that guys always seemed to do that?

"Not so fast. Tim's waiting in the car to take you home."

"Home. You know, that's a funny word. Because I don't have one." she was tempted to yell it at him, but instead she said it in a hushed voice.

"That's a little harsh don't you think?" a new voice asked. Maggie stomped her foot on the ground like a child. Another Shepard.

"Why do you guys always terrorize me?" she finally asked, turning to face Tim.

"Go get in the car, Curly." Tim instructed, not even looking at his younger brother. Curly cursed under his breathe but obeyed his older brother. When Curly was safely out of ear shot and out of eye site, Tim turned to Maggie.

"I've been waiting a long time for this." Tim said lowly before practically pouncing on Maggie. His mouth clashed with hers and she squirmed under him. She pushed him away with all her strength.

"That's the last thing I need right now, Tim!" she shouted at him, taking a few steps back. "I didn't come to Tulsa so I could make out with you." she cursed under her breathe. She was deeply regretting coming to Tulsa in the first place.

"I'm leaving." she said finally, breezing past him. She sighed with relief when he made no move to stop her. She was finally alone again. She looked up, noticing that the sky was finally becoming dark. It was time to make her way back to the Curtis'.

It took another whole 25 minutes before she got back again. She had stopped a lot of times to talk to some greasers who had welcomed her back to the town. She even got the down low on the Soc activity, which seemed to be pretty low lately.

By the time she had gotten back Darry, Soda, and Steve were all home from work and Two-Bit, Pony, Johnny, Pete and Bennie all sat around the t.v. She had no idea what time it was but she didn't have any intention on talking to any of them to find out.

But luck was against her today.

"Where ya been?" Darry howled when she walked in, standing up quickly to stand in front of her.

"Out." she grunted.

"Soda and Steve tell me you took off and didn't tell anyone where you were going. What the hell were you thinking? You know this town, Maggie. You know the socs'll jump you the first chance they get. What is the matter with you?" he yelled, his voice was harsh and cold, even more so then it used to be. She shook her head at Darry, not offering up an explanation.

"You've changed, Maggie, and I don't like it. From now on you're not going anywhere without someone from our gang with you. I'm not taking the chance of you getting beat up again. And I definitely don't want to get chewed out by an angry, drug selling gang leader either!" he snapped. Maggie fumed, her eyes turning to fire. She could here the door slamming behind her, signaling that someone had come in. But she didn't pay attention.

"At least Val was there when someone wasn't, isn't that right, Darry? He didn't let me get shipped off to the orphanage to wallow in my self pity and to fend for myself. At least he would have visited me in the hospital when I was 1 inch from death. He was there, Darry. He didn't plunge into his work and start drinking! That's right Darry everyone knows. You drink, you drink a lot. Your as bad as me so don't pretend you're not!" she snapped back, her voice was at its highest level and steam would have come out of her ears if it was possible. How dare he say things about Val.

"At least I don't let myself get caught up with people like Tim fucking Shepard. I can actually take care of myself and my brothers. You on the other hand, you'd be dead by now if it wasn't for us. You'd probably have killed yourself a long time ago." the room fell silent. So silent you could here a pin drop. Maggie hadn't even soaked in what he'd said yet. She was just standing there, her shoulders slumped and fists balled at her sides. What was she supposed to say to that? How was she supposed to react to something like that?

"Shut the fuck up for once in you're life, Darry! I'm not a kid anymore. You can't control me anymore then you can control Pony or Soda. I came to Tulsa for you guys but if you guys are just going to keep treating me like shit and acting like I don't exist then fine! I'm going back early!" she yelled. She turned without another word, breezing past a hard body and walking onto the porch. She was going to run off but a strong hand caught her first.

"What's going on?" Dally's voice floated to her ears and she closed her eyes, wishing him away. It was the man that ran away.

"I'm going back early. I'm leaving. For good. I'm sick of it, Dallas. I'm sick of you dumping me on other people and I'm tired of them treating me like a little girl. I'm tired of Steve hating me and I'm tired of Tim making moves on me just so he can use me to get in my pants. I'm down right tired of Tulsa. I've had enough. I don't want to be here anymore." she finished finally, taking in a deep shaky breath. It felt good to get all of that out. It felt good to explain it all.

Maggie turned around to face him finally.

Maggie looked up at him. His eyes were slightly softer just by looking at her, but they were still that cold blue she had come to recognize and love. Where had that come from? Since when was there anything about Dallas that she loved? He was like her older brother...right? But then why were these feelings suddenly hitting her like a train? She wasn't so sure about anything that involved Dallas Winston and that wasn't like normal. It wasn't like Maggie. These feelings were scaring her but they gave her a since of the unknown at the same time.

Her eyes were searching his now, looking for some kind of answers to the questions she so needed to be answered. She found nothing, just coldness. Her feet seemed to move on their own as she took a step closer and stood on her tippy toes. She hesitated a few inches from him, her mind not working except for one little question.

Did she really want to do this?

She waited for him to pull back or stop her, but he didn't. She closed the last few inches between them slowly, giving him a soft and innocent kiss. His lips were soft, puffy even, unlike anything she had ever felt. It sent a jolt down her spine. A little shock. That's when she realized it and everything seemed to click. The feelings she had when she looked at him, when she saw him smile. The thought about him with Sylvia. Him always leaving her. It all clicked. But somehow, it felt wrong. Wrong on her part. Dally wouldn't want this. He looked at her like a sister, someone to take care of. Someone who couldn't take care of herself, so he did it for her.

Once she was done she finally pulled away quickly placing her hand on her mouth.

I'm so sorry, Dallas, I shou-" she was cut off by being pushed into the side of the house harshly. One hand sat on her right hip, the other on her left cheek. His kiss was anything but gentle and innocent. It was lustful and passionate, it was full of something unknown to Maggie. She wanted to yelp in surprise, even pull back. But she thought better of it, and instead, settled for melting into his kiss.

Anothor Author's Note:

OMG! We had like 18 reviews last chapter. Can you believe it? HAH! I'm so happy:D

Ihope none of you are too terribly mad with the outcome. But Dallas sweeped the stakes with this one. He won by 2 votes, but Steve and Tim were in a tie 2 behind him. So I had to go with Dallas. Something felt right about this chapter though. It felt good kind of to write her having problems with Steve and then being kissed by Dallas. But oh well...let me know what you think.