A/N: He's back. ;)

This song inspired the title so pretty please read the lyrics!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders or the song Today We Give Ourselves to the Fire.

We will sing 'til there's nothing left to be sung. Not gonna take it. They can't put our fire out. I am alive. I promise I'm a well-intentioned explosion. Here comes the light. Give me that light. Today we give ourselves to the fire.

"Everyone here?"

Everyone looked around. It looked like the snow might come in but it seemed unlikely. Until last night, Tulsa hadn't gotten any snow at all. What was left from last night was already gone. The four boys stood on top of the old bridge and leaned over, spitting down into the freezing cold water and smoking cigarettes. They all were itching to have this conversation.

Dally stood on the far side of them, a big smirky grin on his lips. "I want in on this."

"It's going to be played their way this time," Two-Bit explained. "Talked to my boy and he said the Socs want revenge for the last rumble we had. It ain't gonna be the same playin' field."

Steve threw a bud into the water. "They always play dirty. Ain't gonna be no shock there."

Dally snorted. "We're the dirtiest muthafuckers in the state of OK. Let 'em play." He took a drag from his fag. "Heard you beat the living shit outta Ron."

Two-Bit had kept his lips tight about that topic. He didn't exactly want to tell someone like Dally that he beat up their little brother. You just don't go after family here. Two-Bit was hoping this time was and exception to the rule. "Sorry, man. I know-"

"Hope you got a little in for me."

Two-Bit grinned and slapped hands with Dally again. A huge relief was lifted off of him. "It's good havin' you back, bud."

"How was the big south?" Steve asked, lighting another one.

Dally shrugged want dropped things into the fast current underneath him. He watched them float by and then stood up. "Dumb fucks down there. Can't get in on a race to save my life. You rig one little race and, damn, they think you're Evil Knievel."

"You fed the damn bull drugs!"

Dally laughed, remembering. His face light up. "Yeah...good times, man."

Steve brought up the topic that was on everyone's mind: "What about the cops, Dal? You turnin' yourself in, right? They'll be on your ass as soon as the rumble starts getting good, you know that don't ya?"

Dally waved it off. He hadn't been concerned with the cops this whole time. "Got some friends droppin' a few hinty hints to the big boys. They'll come for me, just after I'm down busting some Soc's heads together is all."

Soda remained quiet through the whole conversation. Keeping his eyes directly on the water until now. "Dal...what about Dan?" He lifted his head up and faced him. "Have you talked to her lately?"

Steve and Two-Bit whistled and turned on their heels, trying to avoid this conversation. It wasn't their place to listen to this and they sure didn't want to. Dally pulled out another stick. "Your sister," he smirked. "I'll get around to it. Let her stu for a bit."

Soda knew how Dally's mind worked. He tried to ignore it though and continue the conversation like two best friends instead of a big brother talking to his little sister's boyfriend. "You're going to tell her before, though, right? Before you turn yourself in? She's been...worried."

Dally blew out another cloud of smoke into the sky. He thought for a minute. "She cool down?"

Soda loosened up hearing Dally call her something other than broad. Dally had some respect and Soda was thankful for that. He knew Dally respect the situation they were in...somewhat. "Yeah. You should call her."

"Maybe."

Soda smiled. He'd known Dallas Winston enough to know what that meant. His body tension loosened. "Thanks, man."

Steve and Two reentered the conversation and changed the subject as fast as possible. "Sodapop, you sure you can't fight?"

Dally's ears peeled open and he took a step closer. "You ain't fightin'?"

Soda tried to control his face from going red. He really didn't want to tell them the real reason. It was embarrassing enough without telling the guys. "Dar is sick. I should...help take care of 'im. Plus he ain't really wantin' me to fight anyhow."

Steve rolled his eyes and took a puff. "Tell him to piss off. We need ya out there!"

"You're fighting." Dally stated clearly. He shook his head and looked up at the sky, annoyed. "Don't wus out on us now 'cause superman's bein' a dope. Man up and stand up!"

Soda's hands turned into fists. He wanted to fight so bad. This was going behind his family's back though. Something he never did. He made a promise. He never broke any promise he had with his family. Was this more important though? Could he go through with going behind Darry's back for something as big as this supposedly was?

"What's the point?" Soda shrugged and bent back over the bridge and focused on the water below. "Ain't like before. That was for Johnny and Pone."

Two-Bit rose to answer the question before anyone else had a chance. "They are goin' after us! We got a title to hold. You're just goin' to let them fuckers go after your sister and best pal's girl like they did?"

Soda bit his lip. "No."

Steve rested a hand on Soda's shoulder. He inwardly sighed. "You ain't gotta do nothin' you don't wanna do, man."

Soda looked at him. "You want me to fight?"

Steve thought for a minute, and then reluctantly nodded his head. "It's up to you though, man."

"We stood up for ya'll," Two said plainly. "I ain't sayin' we wouldn't have anyway. But man, you're family's our family. We're family. You stand up for your own. We stick up for each other and that's what we're doin'! Come on, So."

Steve grabbed Soda's shoulder blade. "How 'bout it, buddy? You in or not?"

Soda leaned against the bridge. He rubbed his head and spit a long spit into the rushing water. He stood back up and faced them. He shook his head again and looked up to the sky. He sighed loudly. What in the hell was he doing?

Ponyboy clipped off another toenail, this one landing near my face. I groaned and brushed it off the bed. "If you're going to be in here, must you cut your nasty toes nails?"

Pony clipped another one. "Yes."

I slumped back down on the bed and covered my face with my pillow. "I'm so bored! Why do we have to be on lockdown still? It's not like anything's happening in this town right now anyway. Can't we just go for a walk or something?"

"After what happened after Buck's party, Darry ain't gonna let us outta the house until college." He tore off his big toenail. "Thanks for that by the way."

I pressed the pillow harder. "Sorry."

"I'm kidding." He went on to his other foot. "You really scared Darry to death...well Evie did. After she almost passed out on the floor, that is. He was up all night talking to Kathy over the phone about it."

I lifted the pillow up some. This was new. "He did?"

Ponyboy nodded. "He even mentioned moving. It was late though. He wasn't really thinking clearly. I'm sure he's over it now. I mean, we've always lived here. We all grew up in this house. He wouldn't move us."

I couldn't think of my life away from Tulsa. My parents grew up here. My grandparents grew up just down the street. No one in our family had left this town before. This was our town. It was a part of us. Everything we love is in this town. Everything that made us what we are. Darry wouldn't take us away from that.

"Soda wouldn't let him."

Ponyboy shook his head. "Soda can't really do anything about it. I mean he could stay here, he's eighteen and no longer under Darry's control but Darry has custody of us and could up and move us any time he wanted to. Soda could fight him, sure, but Darry has the final say so."

I couldn't picture of a life away from here. A life without the title of a greaser or without Socs. Who would we be in a different town? We've lived all our lives under one name. As much as we all wished that that name would just go away, no one could picture themselves without that title. It was what we were. It always would be.

There was a knock at the door. "Hey, can we talk to you two?"

Kathy and Darry stood by the door, coming into the room. We both nodded and they took a seat at the end of the bed. I started to wonder what Kathy would do if we moved. Would she stay or come with us? Was the relationship between them really that big? Talking marriage type of relationship? No, they weren't ready for that step.

"What's up, Dar?"

Darry exchanged a look with Kathy. "This rumble's coming up. We just wanted to make sure we're still on the same page."

"We're not the ones you need to talk to," I informed him. "You ain't gotta worry about me fighting."

Darry nodded, already knowing that, and looked to Ponyboy who echoed what I said. "I wanna fight, but I guess it's your call."

"The other guys agree," Darry explained to him. "I've already talked to them and their not even letting Johnny fight in this one. I've made it clear to them too, if you show up, they'll bust your ass and then send you home and I'll do it again."

Ponyboy grumbled and looked to the ground. "I guess."

Darry lifted his chin up, making him look him in the eye. "Listen to me, I mean it. I hear one whiff of information that you're there, and I'll pick you up in front of everyone and you won't be sitting for a month. Got me?"

"Yeah, Dar," Pony said reluctantly, pushing Darry's hand away. "I got it."

Darry nodded and pulled away. He ruffled his hair playfully. "We'll check a movie out or something. That sound good?"

We both knew this was just Darry's way of making sure we really didn't go near the fighting. None the less, it was a free movie pass. Pony agreed. "Yeah, that sounds good."

"Sarah and me are having a movie date."

Pony rolled his eyes. "Sarah and I!"

"Whatever!" I turned back to Darry. "I promise, I won't go near the stupid fight. You ain't gotta worry about that."

Darry rubbed his tired face. "Yeah I know. That brings me to the next subject."

Kathy took over this one saving us all as she normally did during these types of talks. "Dally is probably going to fight. You know that don't you?" I nodded. "Whatever he does after that...please don't let it get to you too much."

I narrowed my eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

Kathy looked to Darry but continued her thought, "We don't want to see you get hurt is all. We know you don't like the idea of Dally going to jail, but if it happens that he does..."

Darry took over. "We don't want you to end up like you were last time."

Memories came flooding back. I hadn't thought of that time in a long time. It was more than a year ago. I sighed just thinking about it. "I won't. I'm past that point I think. I'll be ok. I'll be good."

"You sure?" Darry asked. "We're not asking you not to be upset. We just want you to be prepared...it was a rough year that year for you and frankly, the rest of us. I don't want to see that happen to you again."

"It won't," I promised. "Dally's going to do it. I know that and I've somewhat accepted it. We'll just...we'll just have to decide what to do from there when it comes."

Darry and Kathy accepted the answer. Kathy put her hand on top of mine. "You can come talk to me anytime. You know that don't you?"

I smiled. I felt like I was taking this gift of having another female to relate to, for granted. After years of praying for my mother to come back, God answered with Kathy. Kathy wasn't only a blessing to Darry, she was to me too. "Yeah, Kat. I know."

"You're like my little sister," she said honestly. "I'd do anything for you or your brothers. Just know that, ok?"

I nodded. I already knew this. "I do know that, Kathy. Thanks for taking this loser and making our lives easier."

Darry playfully shoved me. "Loser my ass."

"He's not a loser," Kathy said with a giggle. "An ass...sometimes."

Darry shook his head and chuckled at her comment. He'd begun to accept that trait. "You guys do understand now?" He stared at Pony and I. "We're on mutual terms?"

Pony and I assured him again we weren't going to take part in any of the rumble until Darry believed us and left the room with Kathy right behind him. I could feel Pony fidget, wanting to get on the fight, beside me. He knew better though. Darry meant business this time and everyone in this house knew it.

"Danni, Pony!" The bedroom door crashed open and Soda jumped around in the room. He quickly closed the door shut behind him and kneeled in front of the bed. His eyes were as big as basketballs. "Can you guys keep a secret?"

Pony and I gaped at Soda's excitement, both of us getting twin telepathy that this wasn't good. "Sure," Pony answered for the both of us. "What's goin' on Sodapop?"

Soda beamed proudly. He was so excited he could barely contain himself. He bit his upper lip and grinned. "Guess!"

"Just tell us!" I stressed, anxious to hear this, so-called, exciting new news.

Soda giggled with glee and bounced on the bed with us. Pony and I both went flying into the air. "You guys got to promise you won't tell Darry though. He can't know about this or it'll be my ass."

"Sure, sure!" Pony said to him. "Just tell us already!"

Soda settled down and sat on his legs. He paused for dramatic effect and then said proudly: "I'm going to fight."

Simultaneously, Ponyboy and my mouths shot open. He couldn't be serious. Soda never deliberately went behind Darry's back without having a really, really, good reason. Soda had promised Darry too and Soda had never broken a promise this big before to any of us. Pony and I sat in disbelief.

"Soda," Pony began seriously, trying not to burst Soda's bubble. "Are you serious? Darry just came in a minute ago to make sure I wasn't fighting! He said he'd tan my hide right red if he caught me! He's going to do the same to you!"

Soda waved him off, unconcerned. "Darry's not goin' to find out. He doesn't know what he's talkin' 'bout anyway. I gotta look out for the guys and my family. Darry doesn't get that. Plus I'm eighteen. Darry can't control every aspect of my life anymore."

I shook my head, still not understanding what his point was. "You sure about this? If Darry catches you, your dead. I mean maybe he's being unreasonable, but maybe he has a good point about not fighting. I talked to Randy the other day and it seems like these Socs mean business. It's not going to be like last time when we had the upper hand."

Soda's bubble was starting to pop. His smile faded and his face hung low. "You think it's a bad idea?"

Pony and I exchanged another look. Pony spoke, "I think if you think it's ok, then it's ok. Jus' don't drag us down if you get caught, will ya? Darry is already on our asses as is."

Soda's sweet smile returned and he reached out and mushed us both in a tight hug. "You guys are the best. You know that?"

For now we were. I had a feeling deep in the bottom of my stomach that told me Darry was going to catch on to what Soda was doing and hopefully he would before Soda even had a chance to fight. Soda could hold his own though. He would be fine in the fight. That wasn't what I was worried about.

"Dally's back," Soda spoke up, letting us go. "He's gonna call you later."

A weight was lifted off my shoulders. I ignored how annoyed I was that Soda knew this before I did and became happy by the fact that he was going to call. "Is he still mad?"

I could tell Soda didn't want to answer that question exactly. "Nah. Just wait for your phone call."

"You going to throw in a few punches for me at this rumble?" Ponyboy asked with excitement in his voice.

Soda bounced on the bed again, thrilled this was actually happening. "Sure thing, buddy! This is going to be good. I can feel it. They're gonna get what's coming to them and I'll be sure to land Randy a few extra punches for you Dan."

I smiled slightly. "Thanks, So."

Here we were. Two days before the show. Two days before everything would be settled. Maybe we could have some peace after this thing was over. Maybe we could all be on mutual grounds for a little while at least. Maybe things would go back to normal and the Socs side and the greaser side would finally be joined. Maybe this rumble really did mean something.

Maybe it meant a new beginning for our lives in this little town.

Then again, who are we kidding?

Put out your hands, I know it's scary. Light up your fire, I know it's scary. It's cold in your ribs, cuz you say they came and burned you down. Not gonna take it. They can't put your fire out. Today we give ourselves to the fire.

A/N: I'm sorry it's short. I'm wrapping up the next one as we speak and it should be up soon. The big chapter is coming soon. I promise. :)