Part 12 – Name's Fingers

Steve and Soda were working at the DX a hot Saturday when the gang came by. It was mostly to help Steve get Tim off his back. The leader of the Sheppard outfit still hadn't given up on bringing Steve into his gang. Even though Darry had told him over and over again that Steve was already taken.

"Howdy oil-rats", Two-bit yelled at them when the gang got there. Steve and Soda were covered in oil and grease.

"Did you hear something Steve?" Soda asked.

"Nope mate I think you're starting to hear things."

"I could swear I heard a new kind of bird."

"Oh what kind of bird did ya hear?"

"Sideburned-rusty-idiotivitis."

"Ah a Two-Bit."

"Very funny", Two-Bit grumbled and the two mechanics beamed at him.

"Wow", Dallas said and looked at the Mustang they were working on. "That's one tuff car."

"Hell yeah", Soda said and sighed. "Man if I only had the money."

"And the license", Steve grinned.

"Shut up."

"Excuse me", said a voice and the gang turned around and saw a young man in Steve and Soda's age. He had red hair, dark eyes and scars across his cheeks and nose.

"Yeah", Soda asked. "What ya want?"

"Oh nothing I'm just looking for a dodger."

"Well we don' know any dodgers", Two-Bit grinned and walked up to the guy. No one noticed how big Steve's eyes had turned or how a big smile started to spread on his face.

"Oh", the guy lit a cigarette. "I think you do."

"Nope", Two-Bit continued and held out his hand. "Name's Two-Bit."

"Name's Fingers."

The guy shook Two-Bit's hand.

"I've never seen ya around before", Dallas said and lit his own cigarette. Soda was at his side at once.

"Are ya both crazy", he asked. "This is a gasoline station!"

"Sorry", Fingers said and put it out on the shoulder of his leather jacket. "Bad habit."

"Hey", Two-Bit exclaimed and started to pat on all his pockets. "Where's my switchblade!"

Fingers' grinned.

"What so funny Scarface", Dallas said to him.

"Oh nothing mate, nothing at all."

Steve's eyes fell to Fingers' fingers… they were twitching. He grinned and walked up to the guy.

"You slimy, filthy, scary, scarred, ugly, oily, miserable thief!" He yelled and grabbed the guy by the collar and pushed Fingers backwards so he stumbled.

"Nice to see ya to ya greasy, oily, poor, sneaky, traitorous, lunatic maniac git", Fingers answered and straightened his jacket and his eyebrows went up. "Give it back Dodger!" He lunched at Steve who jumped out of the way.

"What this", Steve held up Two-Bit's blade. He was twirling it around a finger. "Why should I give it to ya Fingers? It belongs to Two-Bit here."

"Find it keep it Dodger ya know that!"

"Well Fingers ya oily little sneak I think I just found it."

They glared at each other before breaking out laughing and embrace hard.

"Damn man it's good to see ya", Fingers grinned and patted his back.

"You too man. How'd ya get out anyhow?"

"Aw come on no cop can keep the big Fingers in!"

"Hold it", Darry demanded and the two thieves looked at each other and then him.

"Yeah Darry", Steve asked.

"Who is this nutcase", Two-Bit asked the grinning Fingers. "And how'd ya know him?"

The two former thieves looked at each other.

"Work", they said and shrugged.

"This lunatic is Dodger", Fingers answered.

"And this maniac is Fingers", Steve answered. "And he is supposed to be in jail."

"What can I say, the world loves me."

"Like hell it does."

Soda was grinning. Steve had told them everything about Ohlson and Fingers and co. Well he hadn't mentioned their names. Two-Bit marched up to Steve and took back his switchblade.

"You're welcome", Steve grumbled.

"Thanks", Two-Bit grumbled back. "Now keep your fingers of my stuff." He pointed a warning finger at Fingers.

"Who is this Dodger", Fingers asked and put his arm on Steve's shoulder and leaned on him. "A guy who think he's tuff?"

"Fingers", Steve began.

"I don't think I'm tuff", Two-Bit growled. "I know I am."

"Oh yeah in what universe", Fingers asked. "It can't be this it ain't big enough for your big fat head."

"Why you little", Two-Bit took a threatening step forward but Darry held him back. Soda looked at them and sighed and walked up to Fingers.

"I'm Sodapop", he said. "This is my brothers Darry and Ponyboy."

Fingers cocked an eyebrow. "Original names."

"Yeah dad's an original person", Pony said.

"Nothing wrong with that", Fingers turned to the others and looked at Dally and Two-Bit. "And who are you dumb and dumber?"

"That's Dallas and Two-Bit", Soda continued. "And this is Johnny Cade."

Fingers looked at Johnny and saw his big eyes and scared look.

"Nice to meet ya Johnny", Fingers said softly.

"So now you know who we are", Darry asked and crossed his arms. "Now tell us who you are."

"I told ya name's Fingers."

"That your real name", Dally asked.

"It's what ya need to know."

"Fingers", Steve warned.

"What Dodger I'm just telling this idiot the truth."

"What did ya call me punk", Dally growled.

"An idiot."

"Do I look like some idiot?"

Fingers looked him up and down. "Could have fooled me."

"Why you little", Dally growled and took a swing at Fingers who ducked and kicked Dally in the chest. "Ouch!"

"Well come on then pretty lady", Fingers taunted. "Let's see what ya can do. Hey!"

Darry had grabbed his collar and held him up by it.

"Calm down kid", he growled. "We ain't used to lowlife like you here."

"Oi I happen to be one of 'em lowlifes", Steve growled.

"No you're not", Soda said softly. "Ya were."

"Put me down superman", Fingers growled. "If ya know what's best for ya!"

"What are ya gonna do", Pony asked and grinned.

"This", Fingers pulled out a gun and put it towards Darry's temple. "Now put me down or I'll blow your fucking head off!"

"Fingers", Steve exclaimed and hurried forward and grabbed his arm. "What the hell are ya doing?"

"Let me at him Dodger", Fingers growled.

"Darry let him go", Steve pleaded. "I'll take care of it."

Darry growled at Fingers but he let him go. Fingers straightened his jacket but Steve grabbed the collar and pulled him out of the garage and away from the DX.

"Was that really necessary Fingers", Steve said as they walked down the street. Both had their hands in their pockets and a bit of a slouch.

"Hey they were annoying me."

"Fingers they are my friends."

"So I'm your pal! Your brother."

They walked in silence and then Fingers chuckled.

"So Steve eh?"

"Yeah got a problem with that?"

"Not at all mate", Fingers grinned and turned to him and held out his hand. "Tony Makensie."

Steve smiled softly and took the offered hand. "Steve Randle."

"Well then Mr. Randle", Fingers aka Tony said with a broad grin and let go of Steve's hand. "Show me around this dump."

"Not until ya tell me how ya found me."

"Wasn' too hard. I saw ya in town and followed ya here."

"Ya saw me in Chicago?"

"Yeah ya came out of the graveyard. What about that? Did ya go to see Fox?"

"Yeah and my mother."

"Oh when did she die?"

"When I was eight."

"Oh… sorry man."

"Is okay."

They were silent for a moment again.

"So you heard abou' Fox then", Tony asked.

"Yeah it was in the papers. How'd you hear about it?"

"Vixen came in an tol' lil ole me. She was crying when she left an' two days later she too did DBC."

"Why, weren't their relationship going well?"

"Well it did until some of Ohlson's ole chumps foun' 'em an' tried to kill them. Fox knew they couldn' be together in this world so he took it to the next."

"And Vixen, loyal to him as ever, followed."

"Yeah. Ya know anything about Ranger?"

"Only that he is the slimeball that ruined it all. Last time I saw him I beat him to a pulp in an alley."

"Ranger betrayed us? That little rat!"

"Oh yeah."

They continued to walk and shared jokes and made fun of socs never knowing they were being spied on.

"I hate him", Soda growled to Darry. "I hate him I hate him I hate him."

"Are ya talking about Fingers?" his brother asked.

"Yeah that slimy creep is only causing trouble."

"What did he do?"

"He made Steve go back to his old self… they broke windows and stole things!"

"Soda…"

"And they were having a laugh and joked and had fun and-"

"Pepsi Cola I think you're jealous."

"Jealous on that asshole are you nuts?"

"No. But I think you are. Fingers just waltz in here and Steve is happy to see him and they are having fun together. It took you months to get to that with Steve and this guy just does it at once."

"Well they did know each other before. But Steve said it was only on professional basis!"

Darry chuckled. "Soda Steve won't forget you because of that guy. They are just having some fun together. Let it go."

"I can't that guy will get Steve into trouble."

"I know… but I've called for the cavalry."

"What?"

Darry smirked. "Tim wasn't too happy about a Chicago hot shot coming here to try to rope in his member-to-be. Say what ya want about Tim but when his mind is set he is stubborn."

Soda grinned evilly. There was no way that slimy Fingers would take Steve away from Tulsa and their gang.

TBC Sorry I know it's short