Disclaimer: S.E. Hinton owns the Outsiders. Dropkick Murphys owns the song. I own Sam.

Ch. 13 – The Warrior's Code

You're the fighter you've got the fire
The spirit of a warrior, the champion's heart
You fight for your life because the fighter never quits
You make the most of the hand you're dealt
Because the quitter never wins

Soda's P.O.V.

After our wrestling match when Sam and Darry got back, things resumed as normal. The TV blared; Darry sat in his armchair looking annoyed. Steve was beside me talking about a car. Pony was on the floor daydreaming. But Sam – she looked different. She came over to me and I gave her a quick kiss, and pulled her onto my lap. She was more relaxed than she'd been in a while. I know she was feeling a little weird around Darry, and I hope that talk the just had was a good one.

Sitting there, I felt like I had the whole world at my fingertips. I was hard to believe that only just a few months ago, I was heartbroken, depressed, reserved from my life. It's amazing what one person can do for you, how one person can change your point of view.

I had the best brothers that a guy could ever want, certainly more than I deserved. I had a best friend who stood by me through everything, who always would. I had another buddy who could make me laugh, anytime and anywhere. And I had the tuffest girl in the whole world – one who loved me for who I was, not how I looked, and who would stand beside me. Sometimes, it was hard to believe that she was mine.

I sat on the couch, idly staring at the TV thinking, my life couldn't get any better. And it's funny; every time I think something like that, something bad happens. I really oughtta learn my lesson.

Sam's P.O.V.

The day after Darry and I talked, I was feeling really good when I woke up. I caught up on some chores that had to be done, did the grocery shopping, made a casserole for a night I didn't feel like cooking. I just couldn't believe that things were going so well. My brother had good jobs and we kept a roof over our heads. I had the best boyfriend who ever was and he loved me. I loved his family and his friends and I felt like I had a real home.

I decided around 2 o'clock to head into work a little bit early. I was only lazing around the house anyway, and I thought maybe I could grab a Pepsi before work and talk with the boys. I changed into my work jeans and DX shirt, threw my hair into a messy ponytail, and laced up my shoes, grabbing a few dollars as I headed out the door.

It used to be, when Pony was sick, that Owen would drop me off at the Curtis' house and I'd walk the 2 blocks from there to get to the station. But my house was a good 10 blocks from the Curtis' and it was a decent hike for me to be walking. It usually takes me about a half hour because I get caught up in my thoughts and daydreams. If it's raining, which is sort of rare, Soda usually comes and picks me up in Steve's car. But I really don't mind the walk. In fact, it's kind of nice. I get some time to think and listen to the sounds of the neighborhood I was beginning to call "home". I don't mind the loud cars or the always-present sound of Elvis drifting through the air. The screaming sometimes gets me, but usually I can ignore it enough to almost forget that it means someone's being hurt somewhere close. I guess domestic violence is pretty regular here; no one thinks twice of smacking their kid and there's nothing that anyone can do about it. That's something that I had a hard time adjusting to. Maybe I'm soft, but it seems like kids are kids and they shouldn't be getting hit. But really, what could I do?

Today was no different. I left my house about 2:15 and headed toward the DX. I never count blocks or anything; I just walk. It was a calm day, the sky a dull blue rather than the shining color it usually was. There might be rain coming, I thought to myself as I neared the empty lot just a block from the Curtis'. I got distracted, like I sometimes do, and sat for just a minute on the old car seat in the lot, looking up at the sky trying to make out the lyrics to the song I heard playing somewhere in the distance.

Just as I was standing up, I saw a car approaching. It was a tuff car – a red Corvair – and it clearly didn't belong on the east side. I got up and stuck my hands in the pockets my jeans, trying to look as threatening as the boys do when they strike their tough poses. I started to slink away, calculating my chances of actually making it to the DX if these guys decided to make trouble. Realizing that there was no way I'd be able to make it the 3 blocks if I was being chased, I tried to keep my cool but it wasn't working. The car slowed as it approached me and finally stopped about 10 feet in front of me, giving me a great view of the three guys inside. The driver, looking to be the oldest at about 19, called out to me.

"Hey, grease! What are you doing all by your lonesome? Don't you know bad things happen to grease monkeys on their own?"

Shrugging my shoulders and trying again to be tough, I nearly spat my words at him in my anger and fear. "What the hell are you doing here? You're not on your turf. What do you want?"

"Oooooh, an attitude," he said as he crawled out of the vehicle. "I sure do like 'em feisty, don't you guys?" He directed the question at his bumbling idiot friends. The both cackled like hyenas, which is exactly what the three of them reminded me of now – scavenging beasts. "What do we want?" he asked, stepping closer to me. "We want a nice grease monkey to have some fun with."

He was only steps from me now and I was starting to get really nervous. I began considering my options again. If I ran, I'd never make it. I could fight, but I couldn't take three of them. I could scream, and maybe someone would hear me. I knew the boys were at the DX, but 3 blocks is a mighty far way to be hearing someone yell. Maybe it would scare them off though, thinking that someone will come around. I figured the best bet was to fight as best I could and scream like hell, hoping someone would hear.

"Get the hell away from me, bastard," I snarled when he was only a step or two away from me. "You'll have to look somewhere else to find someone dumb enough to do anything with you."

His eyes flashed a certain danger and knowing he would lunge at me, I dodged to the right. He tumbled forward, obviously not expecting me to know what I was doing. The fact that he looked like a fool in front of his friends clearly pissed him off more and when he stood he barked at his friends to grab me. The first took a step toward me and I mustered up all the bravery I could and slammed my fist into his jaw with a right hook. He was pushed back, but I didn't have the strength to do anything of significance or break any bones. The second grabbed me from behind and I managed to free my left arm and elbowed him in the gut. He doubled over and the leader was on me again. He drove his fist into my left cheek and I saw stars for a minute. He took advantage of the situation and wrapped his arms around me so I couldn't move and spoke into my ear with an evil tone.

"You are going to regret that you did that, greaser. I'm gonna make you pay."

Disgusted by his form being so close to mine, I brought my knee up as hard as I could to hit him square in the groin. Both of his friends had recovered from the minor blows I had gotten in on them, but didn't come at me again. I backed away, clearly shaken but not giving up.

"Stay the hell away from me. I swear to God, if you come near me, I'll kill you." My voice came out rougher and edgier than I imagined I could sound, but I suppose fear and adrenaline are good for some things.

I continued backing away slowly, but when the guy I elbowed took his first step toward me, I turned and ran as fast and hard as I could toward the DX. I guess he was pissed that I had taken a shot at him and he hadn't gotten much on me. I was a good runner, and I kept in front of him for a block and a half, leaving me close enough for the guys to hear me yelling.

"SODA! STEVE! HELP ME. SODA, HELP! GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME, ASSHOLE. STEVE! SODAAAAA!"

I continued to run as hard as I could, but I was getting winded and my eyes were starting to blink from the shot I had taken in the face. I slowed a little bit and as my vision started to darken, I felt hands on me and I heard footsteps approaching.

Soda's P.O.V.

The day was wearing on, but as I looked at the clock, I noticed it was 2:35. Only a little more time until Sam gets here, I thought.

I walked into the back to see if Steve was gonna finish the job he was working on when the bell rang to let me know someone was ready to be fueled up.

I walked outside and started filling the tank for the elderly lady in front of me when I heard screaming.

"SODA! STEVE! HELP…" There was some muffled yelling and then again, I heard my name in distress. "SODAAAAA!"

Oh my god, I thought, that's Sam. "Steve! STEVE!"

Hoping he'd heard and would come out to help if I needed it, I ran down the road toward a two distant figures. When I saw the first fall to the ground and the sun shone off red hair, I pushed my body harder to get there. As I got closer, I saw a guy about my height, but skinnier bend down to grab her. He saw me coming and I saw a look of fear in his eyes.

I'd never been angrier than I was at that moment. I remember when I saw that Soc kicking Pony in head and I attacked him with all I had. I felt like that now, only worse, because this was a girl, my girl, and this wasn't a rumble. She was walking to work.

"If you lay a single hand on her, I swear to God you'll never see the light of day again," I roared as he turned to run. He only made it three steps before I tackled him from behind and turned him over to see his eyes as I hit him. I never heard Steve approach, but before I knew it, he was pulling me off the bastard who touched Sam and telling me she needed to get inside.

As I stood up, a red Corvair pulled up and Steve had to hold me back from jumping both the guys in the car. One had the makings of a black eye and the other looked just a little pale, but I figured that wasn't near enough. The guy with the shiner got out with his hands up and grabbed his beaten friend before retreating the car with haste.

I realized I hadn't looked at Sam yet and my conduct immediately changed. I ran to her side as the car pulled away and saw that she'd been hit. Her face was pale and she was out cold. I picked her up as gently as I could and started toward my house at the end of the block.

Steve started to follow but I realized there was no one at the station and sent him back to cover and asked him to come to the house right after work.

The walk to my house was the longest I've ever faced, holding the girl I loved close as possible. As I stepped in the door, I laid her on the couch to see what kind of injuries she had. Her face was starting to bruise and she had a cut across her knuckles.

Good, I thought, at least she gave it back. Where was I? How could I let her walk alone, especially after Pony got jumped just a few weeks ago? This is all my fault.

I got the first aid kit and bandaged her cut, trying to keep back the tears threatening to fall. I grabbed ice from the freezer and came back and pulled her into my arms, holding the ice to her bruise as I rocked her. I don't know how long I sat like that, rocking Sam, willing her to wake up, but it wasn't working.

Sam wasn't waking up.

A/N - Ooooh, a cliffy? It's my first. :) And in all honesty, I'm not sure what the next chapter will hold.

I just wanted to address the Mary-Sue concern. I don't really think that Sam is Mary Sue-ish. She's innocent because of the way her family has sheltered her. And she's sweet by nature, but I don't think she's a Mary-Sue. Mary-Sue's are helpless and unopinionated, which Sam definitely isn't. She's just sweet, which I think most of you find endearing. If you think about it, her reactions are the kind that a typical girl would have. This chapter was to show that she's not as weak as she might seem - that she's only vulnerable around the people she cares about and trusts.

Though, I suppose it's all in the eyes of the reader. That's just what I mean for her to come off like. Ok, wish me luck. I have an appointment tomorrow to go over my photo portfolio at an art school. Yay.

Not sure when I'll update, but enjoy!