Here's part two! Enjoy! AND NONE OF THIS IS DARRY/SODA SLASH! IT'S JUST BROTHERLY LOVE! Just thought I'd put that out there;)

~Rosey

Let It Rain: Part Two

"SODA!" Darry screamed, racing after his younger brother through the downpour. Soda was in the Curtis' truck, speeding down an old dirt (now mud) road, abandoned except for some lone trees. Darry was running after the truck as fast as he could, but he knew in moments Soda would be out of his sight. And then he'd have lost both his brothers. "SODA COME BACK! DALLY LIED TO THE COPS! HE'S NOT IN TEXAS! THINK ABOUT IT! WOULD DALLY REALLY TELL THE TRUTH TO THE CO-"

Suddenly, the truck slammed to a stop and the door was jerked open. Sodapop stumbled out of the car and fell to the ground on the side of the road, sitting in the tall grass with his knees drawn to his chest, the rain pelting him hard. Taking a relieved breath, Darry raced over to Soda, skidding down beside him. He hadn't even caught his breath before Soda whispered weakly "I'm so dumb sometimes I shock myself."

"Soda, you're not du-"

"I don't know the way to Texas!" Soda groaned, slamming his head back against a wooden fence post behind him.

Darry was about to open his mouth to talk when Soda spoke again, this time in a defeated tone. "They ain't in Texas, are they?"

"No, little buddy. Probably not," Darry mumbled, shading his eyes against the torrential down pour.

"Dang it!" Soda hissed furiously. "I'm so stupid. I'm so..."

But that's when the dam broke. Sodapop buried his face in his arms and started crying. Darry paused for a moment before wrapping his younger brother in a tight hug. The rain continued to fall, right along with Soda's tears. And so Darrel Curtis held his younger brother on the side of an abandoned road during a rain storm and let him cry. The shuddering breaths soon turned into broken sobs, and Soda wouldn't stop shaking. Darry rubbed his younger brother's shoulders gently, resting his chin on top of Soda's head. "Shh...Shh...It's gonna be okay, little buddy," Darry soothed as the sobs continued. "It's gonna be alright, Pepsi Cola." He stroked Soda's hair like their father would have, letting his brother cry into his shoulder.

After about ten minutes, Soda's sobs turned into helpless yawns. Darry gently helped his brother to his feet and lead him back to the truck. He all but lifted Soda into the passenger seat, and then climbed into the driver seat himself. Turning on the windshield wipers, Darry slowly began to drive home. He looked over at Soda worriedly. Sodapop's eyes were shut, and his face was drenched with tears and rain. His golden hair clung, dripping wet, to his forehead, and his face was flushed as if with fever. Darry carefully reached over a hand and touched Soda's cheek. It burned under his fingers. Praying it was just because his own hands were so cold, Darry looked back to the road and tried to concentrate through the pouring rain. Soda shifted weakly in the passenger seat, and Darry bit his lip. Sodapop was usually the happiest, wildest, most happy-go-lucky person in the world. He shouldn't have to go through so much pain at all, much less all within about three days.

"S-Sandy...Pony..." Soda mumbled sleepily. Darry looked over as his brother began sleep talking. Usually it was Pony who was having a nightmare, and Soda was the one comforting him. Now Soda was the one whose head was turning fretfully, his brows drawn together against the bad dream. Darry reached out a hand and gently rubbed Soda's shoulder. "We're almost home, little buddy. We're almost home."

When Darry pulled into the driveway, he gingerly reached over and shook Soda's shoulder. "We're home, little brother."

Soda wearily opened his eyes and smiled slightly. Only Sodapop would be able to manage a smile at a time like this, Darry mused.

"If you tell any of the guys about this I'll get ya good," Soda whispered hoarsely, forcing a chuckle.

"I won't," Darry promised. Soda grinned weakly before sliding his eyes shut again. Darry knew he had already fallen back asleep. Managing the smallest hint of a smile, Darry walked around to the passenger side of the truck and gently picked Soda up. His brother's head lay on his shoulder, and his eyes remained closed. Darry was worried at how light Soda was. He carefully mounted the steps and walked into the house.

Dally had already konked out on the couch, and Darry was silently glad the rough greaser wasn't awake to see Soda being carried like a little kid. Darrel walked back to Soda's room and gently laid his brother on the bed. He pulled Soda's Converse off and then grabbed a blanket, tugging it over his brother's shoulders. He put a hand to Soda's forehead again, and was relieved when it didn't feel quite so warm. He went into the bathroom quickly and poured a glass of water and grabbed an Aspirin, putting it by Soda's bedside for when he woke up. He then patted Soda's hair for a moment before turning to leave the room.

"Darry?"

Darry turned around to find Soda looking over at him with half-shut eyes. "Yeah, Pepsi Cola?"

"Do you think if I write a letter to Pony, Dally will be able to give it to him?"

"I'm sure he could."

"And what if I write a letter to Sandy?"

"If you want to, little buddy," Darry mumbled, secretly not wanting Soda to communicate with Sandy. "But no writing right now. You need rest."

"But-"

"No, Soda. Just get some sleep. You can do it in the morning," Darry reassured him.

"Okay. Good night, Darry," Soda gave in.

"Good night, little buddy."

And as Darry left the room, Soda opened his notebook for the first time since he dropped out, picked up a pen, took the Aspirin Darry had left him, and began to write.

The End! Well I hope you all liked it and "aww"ed at least once:)

REVIEWS GET YOU A HUG FROM THREE OUTSIDERS OF YOUR CHOOSING!

Stay Gold,

Rosey