Darry and Dally had Linda in the bathroom. They took her shirt off revealing a whole hell of a lot more cuts, scars and bruises all over her upper body. Darry saw how it looked like her left side of her rib cage was bulging a little. He had a disappointed mixed with pain look written on his face.

When she said it was from her mom she feared that Dally would do something about it. Or Darry would call the cops on her mother. She felt a wet, cold something get placed on her back then pain started to shoot down her back, making tears threat to fall again. She flinched and felt hands grab hers. She glanced up and saw Dally holding her hands down so she can't rip the towel off her back.

"Easy, just a few more seconds," the voice of Darry came from behind her. She nodded in reply trying to forget the pain that was shooting through her body. After Darry had the long cut and the small ones around it cleaned out he put a bandage on it, "There's that one done."

"It's okay, the rest will be okay and thank you," she told them and tried to get her hands free from Dally's grip. He shook his head no and held her hands tighter allowing Darry to clean her other cuts. She flinched when he touched the back of her ribs. Dally noticed she had her eyes closed tightly and the tears were slowly falling from her eyes.

"Stop bein' such a pansy ass and get through this. Think of some happy times or somethin'," Dally told her. She sighed and tried to think of the good times but nothing really was coming to mind.

How could a mother do this shit to someone? Dally and Darry both kept thinking. Darry started to wrap her ribcage in an ace bandage, trying to help them heal some. Linda knew they were broken, but she really didn't care. She learned to live with the pain.

She heard the bathroom door get opened and someone gasp in horror. She glanced and saw the guy she thinks is named Soda standing there.

"Wha-What happened?" Soda asked as he checked the cut on her cheek and saw the bandage on her back.

"I, my mom," she knew she couldn't lie, since Darry and Dally already knew the truth about the cuts and stuff.

"She, your mom did this all, man I thought Johnny's parents were bad," Soda spoke making Linda flinch a little. He had hatred in his voice and the last time she heard that tone she got smacked across the face.

"He ain't gonna hurt ya, Linda," Dally told her harsher then needed. She just nodded and looked down at her feet, "How long before she can take a shower and get all blood out of her hair?"

"Tomorrow would be better so the cuts on her back have some time to heal a little more, even though the water will help clean them more, but I'm just scared that the water will hurt the long one the most," Darry replied.

"Tomorrow I agree, plus, I am tired as hell right now," Linda replied receiving a smirk from her brother, "What?"

"Nothin', just you remind me of well, me. Ya know, puttin' off things till tomorrow and actin' like you're tough and shit," Dally told her.

"We must take after mom then," she told him and Dally gave her a weird, confused look, "she's the same way."

"Oh right, we'll never be like her, she's to…abusive," Dally told her as he helped her put her shirt on.

"Yeah," was all Linda got out; She hurt and really wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone right then. Yeah, she knew Dally was messing around, trying to get her to laugh or something but she was tired as hell and just wanted to curl up and fall asleep.

"Hey, wanna go to a party? You can crash there for the night; it'll keep you out of the house?" Dally asked.

"I would love to, but if I don't show up at night to go to bed and be there in the morning mom will beat me more," she softly spoke. Dally mumbled something as he left the room, she heard the front door get slammed shut and the tears started to fall.

"Let's go out and get another cup of coffee," Darry told her and led her out of the bathroom and to the kitchen.

"I, I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid," she said wiping the tears off her cheeks. Soda came in, got a pop and sat down with Darry and her.

"Wanna play cards Linda?" Soda questioned.

"Only if it's Poker and more than just us two," she replied with a smile, even though it hurt to smile.

"Let's go, Steve and I were starting a game, maybe we can con Two-Bit and the rest to play also," Soda responded and followed her to the living room. Soda got her a chair and she sat down in the spot between Soda and Steve.

"What's this now, thinking you can beat us?" Steve joked and Linda nodded in reply.

"I am Dally's sister after all," she joked and the guys acted scared making her laugh.

"At least we got you laughing now," Soda spoke. She nodded and glanced at Two-Bit.

"How 'bout the rest of you come and try to beat me?" she challenged them. Two-Bit raised an eye brow, she matched the look. He strolled over, sat down across from her.

"You're on girly," Two-Bit told her with a smile. She softly smiled back, but still was hoping that Dallas wasn't doing anything stupid.

Two hours later Dallas came in and found Linda crashed on the couch. He smiled to himself and covered her up, he saw the boys playing poker so he decided to join.

"Whose hand was this?" Dally asked picking up the few cards that were laid down on the table.

"Linda's," Soda replied, "She won two games and lost two."

"Nice, it's not that bad of a hand I'll play these until I can't anymore," Dally replied while thinking that Linda might have won another game if she didn't fold.

A while later Linda wakes up panicking. Dally sat down next to her, "What's wrong?"

"Bad dream, I've been having them ever since mom started the abuse," she replied with a yawn. She took the cards Dally had, "My turn again, I need to get my mind off the dream."

Dally smiled and let her play for a while. He knew he had to try to protect her, but he can't come out and take her away from their mom since he's not old enough. So he figured he'd do little things to keep her out of the house, if he doesn't go to jail first that is.