This is a shorter chapter, but it's also a very sad chapter, so I tried to avoid torturing you too much. Get your tissues ready.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders

Soda arrived to see Darry arguing with Ponyboy's social worker on their front porch. He skidded to a halt beside Darry and watched the argument play out; he didn't want to interfere because he had a feeling that would make this worse.

"You can't just take him!" Darry cried, glaring at the social worker. Who did she think she was, barging in here to take Ponyboy away from his good family? The neighbors, the gang, some of Ponyboy's teachers, and Ponyboy himself had told her that Darry was a good guardian. Why didn't she listen?

"Mr. Curtis, someone reported seeing very worrying bruises on Ponyboy," Ms. Jarris sighed, exasperated. Why couldn't they see that it was her job to keep children safe? It wasn't always an easy decision when it came to certain cases, but she worked in what she and the state thought was the best interest of the child.

"We don't abuse him if that's what you're asking! Some kids jumped him," Darry said. "In a town like this, that's not uncommon."

"Even if that's the case," Ms. Jarris told him, "you failed to take Ponyboy to the hospital, despite his worrying injuries."

"We had it under control. We don't have the money for hospital bills, so I didn't see why we should take him if we could heal them ourselves."

"Refusing to take a child to a hospital, despite major injuries that could get worse if left untreated, is a type of neglect, Mr. Curtis. Ponyboy has several fractures in multiple parts of his body, and these fractures could've become breaks, which could've healed wrong."

"But-"

"I'm afraid we have no choice, Mr. Curtis. You were already walking on thin ice after Robert Shelton died. I'm sorry."

With that, Ms. Jarris gestured inside for Ponyboy to come along.

"Darry," Pony said as he stepped outside with a small suitcase holding only his most important possessions and some clothes. "Please don't let her take me!"

"Pony, I want you to go with her for now," Darry instructed. "And I-I promise I will find some way to get you back, okay? Now... promise me you'll behave yourself and be the good kid I know you are."

Pony nodded, tears springing to his eyes without his permission. "I promise, Darry. I'll miss you."

Darry embraced his little brother, tightly. "I'll miss you, too."

Soda joined in on the hug before Ms. Jarris broke up the embrace and lead Ponyboy to the car.

Pony waved goodbye as they drove out of the driveway and disappeared down the street.

His baby brother. Taken. Soda had never felt so helpless.

As soon as they were out of sight, Soda collapsed and started bawling.

Darry knelt beside Soda and held onto the only brother he had left, afraid that the minute he let go, Soda would be taken from him, too.

Soda knocked on the door to Aimee's house (she hated it there and spent most of her time at Darry's, but she gave the Curtis brothers some space after Two Bit got Soda and waited for Soda to come to her).

"Soda," Aimee gasped as she answered the door. "What happened with Ponyboy?"

"Social services took him," Soda sobbed before melting into Aimee's arms.

Despite her own aching heart, Aimee attempted to comfort Soda before she comforted herself. No matter how much she wanted to lock herself away, she didn't.

Being Soda's girlfriend meant she had taken a silent vow to always be there for him, and she wasn't about to break that promise.

I will eventually write a story based on Ponyboy's experience in foster care, but I'm not sure when that will be (before he returns home in All That Matters. I know that). Once I have a specific date, I'll be sure to inform you.

Thanks for reading.