Author's Note: As always, thanks to everyone who has reviewed. Now here is a fun fact for you guys: I rarely write in chronological order. I'm weird like that. I like to skip around a lot, haha. So I actually wrote the next chapter before this one and even though I like this chapter I am super excited to post the next one! So keep an eye out for another update tomorrow! :) Please review!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders. I hope you realize that by now. ;)

Chapter Seven

Stranded

Darry managed to get out early again that day so he could be home when Soda got off work. Pony had made dinner again and soon Darry heard Steve's old car pull up outside.

"In here guys!" Darry called from the kitchen as he heard the front door. He looked up at Steve and Two-Bit as they entered the kitchen he immediately knew that something was wrong. Both faces look deeply worried.

"Is Soda here?" Steve asked sounding nervous.

Pony spun around to look at them and Darry felt himself pale.

"What do you mean?" Darry asked, a hint of panic in his voice. "He went to work with you guys today. He should be with you."

"He left work about an hour ago," Steve said, shifting uncomfortably.

"What do you mean he left?" Darry demanded, standing up. "How could he just leave if you had the car?"

"He walked," Steve said shortly.

"How could you let him walk?" Darry asked, shocked.

Steve sighed in defeat. "There were some Socs that came for a fill up and they started harassing him and he got really upset," he explained. "I told him I could give him a ride home, but he wouldn't let me. He was walking in this direction, I assumed he was going home."

Darry swore, something he hardly ever did as he went for his keys.

"I'm going to look for him," he said quickly, heading for the door. He didn't like this situation at all. Whether Soda wanted to admit it or not, he was very limited because of his injury and if he were to get jumped the result could be very bad.

"We'll go too," Steve said, following him with Two-Bit in tow.

"Pony, stay here in case he shows up," Darry called over his shoulder.

"Okay!" Pony called back, sounding worried. He walked out onto the front porch after them and lit up a cigarette as he watched Steve and Two-Bit jump back into Steve's car and take off again. Darry climbed into his truck and took off. He figured that Steve and Two-Bit would have seen Soda on their way to the house, so he headed in the opposite direction of the DX station.

Darry felt anxious as the sun was going down. He searched hard, going up and down every street. Finally as he came upon the park he saw a lone figure sitting on the edge of the fountain. Darry quickly pulled over to the side of the road and jumped out, feeling his heart pumping with adrenalin. He tried to walk as calmly as possible and was relieved as he recognized Soda's form in the dull light. He was surprised that Soda could have gotten this far with his injured leg.

"There you are," Darry said with relief as he approached.

"Here I am," Soda agreed flatly, not even looking up at Darry. He lifted a cigarette to his lips and took a long drag.

"Why didn't you come home?" Darry asked as he sat next to Soda. He felt uncomfortable sitting in this spot, fully aware that this was where his youngest brother had almost been forcibly drowned almost two years ago. He couldn't imagine why Soda wanted to be here.

"Just working my muscles," Soda said. "Thought a little exercise would do me some good."

Darry sighed. "You know you won't be able to build your muscles back up in one evening," he said slowly. "You can't just walk to Oklahoma City and back and expect it to be fixed. It's going to take some time."

"Yeah," Soda said with a sigh. He stared down at the ground. "Truth be told… I'm kind of stuck here." His voice was flat and Darry could tell that he hated to admit it. "I got this far before the pain got too bad." He rubbed his left thigh absent-mindedly.

Darry felt his heart ache. He hated that his brother was in so much pain that he couldn't even walk home. That was dangerous. He could have been stuck out here all night if no one had gone looking for him.

"I've got a half day tomorrow," Darry said. "I'm only working one of my jobs and I don't go in until lunch time. Why don't you take the morning off work? I can drop you off at the station if you feel up to it on my way to work."

"Yeah, okay," Soda said reluctantly.

"It's getting cold out," Darry remarked. "How about we head home, Pepsi Cola."

Soda nodded. "I'm… I'm gonna need a little help," he said slowly, looking up at Darry, pain in his eyes.

Darry simply nodded. He helped Soda to his feet and his little brother groaned and winced, betraying how much pain he was actually in. He supported Soda as he helped him limp across the park to where he had left the truck. As he helped Soda climb into the passenger's seat he kept thinking that if he ever found the Socs that had caused this he was going to beat the tar out of him.

Soda was quiet as they drove back home. As they pulled into the driveway back at the house Darry saw that Pony was still standing on the front porch, looking anxious. Darry got out of the truck, but Soda didn't move. It said something about how much pain he was really in that he didn't even try to get out on his own. As Darry walked around to help Soda out he felt worried. Was his injury getting worse?

Pony walked up as Darry was helping Soda down from the truck.

"You okay, Soda?" Pony asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine, kid," Soda said with a smile that was also a grimace. "Just got a little stranded is all."

Darry was glad that Soda was still trying to put on a brave face for his younger brother, because that was something that was normal for Soda. Darry kept a hold of Soda and helped him all the way into the house.

"Have Steve and Two-Bit been back yet?" Darry asked.

"No not yet," Pony said.

"Ah, what did you do, send out a search party?" Soda asked as Darry helped him over to the recliner. "I was gone, what, an hour?"

"Yeah, and you were stranded," Darry pointed out lightly.

Soda just rolled his eyes, obviously not wanting to admit that Darry was right as he sat back in the recliner.

"You want some aspirin?" Pony asked, watching Soda grimace.

"Sure, Pony, thanks," Soda said with a smile.

As Pont went to the kitchen there was the familiar sounds of Steve's car pulling up outside.

"Jesus, Soda," Steve said as he walked in and immediately spotted Soda. "Scare the hell out of us why don't you?"

"You okay, Soda?" Two-Bit asked, flopping down on the couch.

"I'm fine," Soda said stubbornly.

Pony came back with a glass of water and the bottle of aspirin. Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow as he watched Pony hand both to Soda. Steve dropped onto the couch next to Two-Bit.

"So, we gonna eat, or what?" Two-Bit said, successfully relieving the tension.

After the five wolfed down the dinner Pony had made Soda excused himself to go to bed early again. Darry watched him go, feeling concern. It was extremely odd for Soda to go to bed so early, and this was the second night in a row. The first night Soda had tried to stay up as late as he could so he could be with everyone. The last two nights he had seemed more withdrawn. He knew he kept telling Pony that he just needed time. He sure hoped he was right.

"He's not gonna work tomorrow morning," Darry told Steve and Two-Bit after Soda had left. "His leg was hurting him pretty bad so I convinced him to take it easy. If he feels up to it I'll drive him over before I go to work."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Steve admitted.

"What kind of things did the Socs say to get him so worked up?" Darry asked carefully.

"I didn't hear much of it," Steve said darkly. "I mostly just heard the laughing. I even told them he was a veteran, I though it might make them back off. But they just made fun of him for not getting into college to avoid the draft."

Darry was appalled. That was a new low for the Socs. Soda wasn't just some Greaser anymore. He had served the country. That should demand respect. How they could continue to taunt a veteran was beyond him.

"I'll tell you one thing," Two-Bit spoke up. "If they show up again tomorrow, I'm kicking their asses."

"I'll be right there with you," Steve agreed.

"Come on, guys," Darry said, grudgingly stepped into his role as voice of reason. "You can't fight while you're at work, you know that. Especially customers."

"They aren't customers," Steve spat. "Socs have no business at our DX."

"Still," Darry said. "It's not worth either of you losing your job when you could just as easily track them down when you're off the clock." He smiled.

"Good point," Two-Bit admitted with a laugh.

Darry nodded as he bid the good night. He knew that the Socs couldn't get away with what they had done. After everything he had been through, Darry wasn't about to let anyone try and put Soda down.