So I could tell you that I haven't updated in a while because I had work and school and family, but it'd be a lie. I just forgot when I updated last and then I got a small writer's block while writing this. And I'm a horrible procrastinator. Having said that, I hope you can forgive me. A big thank you goes to alley529, divine energy, and Chick1966 for reviewing.

Also, have any of you ever tried a cream cheese frosted brownie? Let me tell you, epic deliciousness!

I do not own The Outsiders

I staggered back, trying to hold Alex in my arms. "Whoa Alex, what's wrong?" Her legs didn't seem to want to work and I ended up kneeling on the floor with her, holding her close.

She gripped the front of my shirt in a tight grip and bawled into my shoulder. She sobbed real loud and her body started shaking badly. Then she started wailing, the sound of it breaking my heart. I had never heard a person cry that hard before and it sounded like she was being torn apart. I tried to hold her closer to stop her trembling, but it just made it worse to where I thought she might have given herself a seizure. She struggled to take a breath, but she barely let herself get any air before another sob broke out of her. Her usual toughness vanished and she was completely vulnerable.

Darry and Soda knelt next to us. Darry rested his hand on her shoulder and Soda wrapped his arms around both of us. I rested my cheek against her hair, but I caught a glimpse of her arm. A big red handprint spanned across her pale skin and I saw part of it already turning purple. My heart leapt up into my throat and I managed to swallow the lump in my throat before any tears came. I couldn't cry right now. Not when Alex needed me to lean on.

It took a while, but finally I heard Alex's cries start to die down. She kept a firm grip on my shirt but her head fell to my chest. I rubbed her back soothingly as she took a shaky breath.

Then her hand went to her eyes to dry them. "I'm so sorry you guys," she gasped.

"Don't be," I said gently. "None of this is your fault."

"B-but if I h-hadn't left, then Jim w-w-wouldn't have come over. I-I can't…I just…" Her shuddery breaths cut her off, not letting her form a complete sentence. I held her closer.

Soda lightly rubbed the mark on her arm. "I don't know about you guys," he started, talking to me and Darry. "but I am not letting her go back there." Turning to Alex, he said, "You are staying here, no matter what else Jim does. It's not safe for you and I can't stand the idea of you getting hurt again."

Darry nodded. "I'm with Soda on that. You're a hell of a lot safer here and we will protect you."

She looked up at Darry and Soda for a moment before turning to me. Her dark blue eyes were so wide and so fearful that she looked like a little girl asking her parents to scare away the monsters under the bed. She was trembling just a bit now, but I could still feel it. I tightened my grip on her a little, hoping that she could see the determination in my eyes. She rested her head back on my shoulder and relaxed, her trembling finally stopping.

Right then the door flew open and Two-Bit walked in, smiling so crazy I figured he was already drunk. Even though it was nine in the morning. "Hey, how's it going?" Then he saw Alex and his eyes widened. "What happened?"

As Darry recalled everything to Two-Bit, I felt Alex's hands reach up to cover her ears. If I was lying to myself, I would've said that I liked to see this vulnerable side of her. But I didn't believe myself at all. I wanted the tough Alex back. Not that I didn't like her being emotional, I just hated to see anyone so broken and upset. I wanted to see her as the girl who I had talked to that day we met. I wanted to see that girl who was either tough enough or crazy enough to pick a fight with Dally. I could only hope that that girl would come back and that Jim hadn't destroyed her.

I kept my hold on her and helped her stand up, her hair falling over my arms. Two-Bit looked at her with sympathy in his eyes. He carefully pulled her out of my grasp and closed his arms around her, lifting her off the ground.

She squealed. "Two-Bit, put me down."

He smiled and turned, swinging her around and making her squeal even more. But between the high-pitched sounds Alex was making, I swore I heard some laughter. "Not until you start smiling and stop being mopey." He reached around and grabbed her legs, and somehow managed to swing her so that she was over his shoulder. Her hair trailed on the floor behind Two-Bit as he ran around the living room. I couldn't help but let some laughter slip and Darry and Soda were clearing trying to hold theirs in.

Soon we were all laughing our heads off, including Alex. Two-Bit still had her slung over his shoulder and was trying to dodge her legs since she had started kicking.

"Okay Two-Bit, I'm smiling and laughing and having a good time. Can I get back on the ground now?" she managed to gasp out through her giggles. Two-Bit sighed and set her down, catching her when she swayed a bit.

Once she got her bearings, she punched him in the arm. "Don't do that ever again." He just smiled and rubbed his arm. Then she turned and grabbed her bag. "I'm gonna go get dressed. I catch any of you trying to sneak a peek, you will be sorry." She walked into the bathroom and shut the door.

"Why do I get the feeling that was meant for me?" Two-Bit wondered aloud. Soda laughed and slapped his back.

"Probably because it was."

A quiet knock came from the door, so quiet that I almost didn't hear it. Darry walked over and opened it, revealing a red-eyed Julie.

"Hello boys," she said softly, not making any move to open the screen door and enter. "I know that Alex is here. May I speak to her?"

I was about to speak up when I heard Alex behind me. "Momma?" She ran past me, fully clothed with her hair braided again, and pushed open the screen door, into her mother's arms. "I'm sorry Momma, but I couldn't stay any longer."

Darry closed the door to give them some privacy. Soda, I guessed in order to break the uneasy silence, clapped his hands together and said, "Why don't we all eat?" Darry rolled his eyes and walked into the kitchen with Two-Bit following, probably looking for a beer. I sat at the table and waited, occasionally letting my gaze flicker to the window where I could barely see Alex and Julie.

Darry brought out breakfast and we ate, Two-Bit keeping the air light with his usual jokes. Soda and I washed the dishes together. Alex and Julie were still talking.

Finally the door opened and Alex stepped back in. She didn't look sad or upset, she looked satisfied. She looked at up to find all our eyes on her. "Momma wanted me to come back home. I told her that I wouldn't if Jim was still there. She kept begging me, but I just told her I couldn't. I would only come back if he was gone. She didn't say anything else, she just left."

I stood up and slowly walked over to her. She looked at me and there was something strange in her eyes. Satisfaction, guilt, confusion, I wasn't quite sure. I placed my hand on her shoulder. "You did good Alex."

She nodded, and satisfaction became the visible emotion in her eyes. She let a big smile crawl across her face and she really looked happy.

Then Two-Bit appeared next to us. "I don't know about you guys, but I'd like to go find some booze. Didn't have enough this morning."

We all laughed and walked outside.

Not my best chapter, but I'm terrible at ending stories. Yep, there's only two more chapters left of this. I haven't written them yet, but I will soon. I'm sure all I plan on putting in the next chapter could be divided into two, but one would end up being really short so I'm combining them into one.

Ciao,

Kris