Recap-

"Damn it , Pone. What in the hell were you thinking? The state is watching us so closely, they could take you and Soda away. You need to stop day dreaming and start thinking with that head of yours. Your head isn't just attached to your neck, it's there for you to use, so use it", I say

Pony began to yell back and he yelled, " Damn it, Darry. You'll never understand, even if I told you. You don't give a damn about me. If i was sent away you would be fine with it. You only care about Soda. I do think and sometimes, I deserve to be a kid. You are the worst big brother"

"Go to your room", I yell as the phone rings. I rub my temple as I sigh before answering the phone. "Darrel Curtis, speaking", I say

"This the Tulsa Police, Chief Adams", Chief Adams says

"Damn, another issue. This day keeps getting worse", Darry says

Only if Darry knew the events unfolding and how they would forever change their small family. Darry sighs and begans to questions why the police called.

Darry-

"Yes, sir", Darry says

"I am sorry but there's been an incident at the DX station with your brother, Sodapop Curtis", Chief Adam says

"What happened?", Darry asks frantically, trying to remain calm

"I really am unsure, sir. There was a robbery turned hostage situation. All we know is someone has been shot in the chest and other is unknown. They are being held at gun point and have been for around at hour. The call was placed, a officer and ambulance showed up but were unable to enter the building. Threats have been made and we are working on it. ", Chief Adams

" I will grab my wallet, keys, insurance card and kid brother, we will be down there shortly", Darry says without an emotion in his tone

"I'm so sorry. Be prepared that anything could happen in this situation", Chief Adams says

"Thank you Officer", Darry says

Chief Adams turns and goes out to his car. He remembered when he was young and like Darry, short tempered, strong and stubborn. His mind went to remember his brother killed in gun fire by a cop. A case gone wrong, he wasn't much older than the kid he just told bad news too. He remembered having to tell this same kid that his parents were dead, this family beens through too much.

Chief Adams vaguely remembers finding that young man in a heap of crashed metal in a car accident. He remembers telling those kid brothers how their brother might die. He remembered this as he drove back to the gas station. He had one thing on his mind, get the boys out safe and sound, they deserved to go back home to their families.

Chief Adams didn't care that he was a west side police chief. He didn't give a damn which side of town you come from. Human life was much more important than little stupid things like whether you came from the west or the east.

Darry quickly grabs his keys, wallet and insurance card. He fears for the worst, the one fear Darry had was to lose a brother. He fights so hard to keep his fragile family together. After nearly losing his life a few months ago, he now fought harder to keep his family together. After relearning to walk and reclaiming guardianship over his brothers, the last thing he wanted was to lose one of them.

"Pony", Darry calls

"Go away", Pony says

"Pony, i hear you crying in there. Please come out, I need to talk to you", Darry says with a softer tone

"You told me to go to my home", Pony replies his voice hoarse from crying

"I'm sorry, little colt. The circumcises have changed", Darry says gently

Pony opens the door , his eyes red and face blotched with tears. Darry brushes his tears away before kissing Pony's forehead. He looks into Pony's eyes and hugs him gently knowing Pony hated when he was too rough.

"I sorry, I yelled at ya'. ", Darry says

"I'm sorry I skipped school. That was stupid and shouldn't have.", Pony says

"I'm sorry I lost my temper", Darry says

"I'm sorry I yelled at you", Pony says

Darry brings Pony into a hug. Pony squeezes back tightly and Darry whispers "I love you, little man". Pony shocked at Darry's affection whispers the words back.

"I need to tell you someting", Darry says

"What is it?", Pony asks

"Something happened, a robbery turned hostage situation at the DX. They heard one person was shot. They don't know how Soda is doing. We need to go to the DX", Darry says

Pony looked like he was going to cry. Darry rubs his back as they walk out to the truck. They both climb into the truck. The drive to the DX was silent and no words were said. They were both worried and unable to speak,

Tears threaten Darry's eyes while he tried to remain strong. "Stay strong, Dar. Superman's supposed to be the strong one, keep it together for the kid", Darry said to himself

Pony had tears and a runny nose as they pulled into the DX station. Police cars everywhere and two ambulances . Darry climbed out the truck with Pony clinging to him like a small child. Darry walked to where the police chief was standing.

They heard a gun go off and the sound of a scream. The police jumped and the police chief barked out orders. They were going to negotiate, they had no other options.

Soda-

I watched the man's movements, he seemed skilled at this, and Dally says its the experienced you have to worry about. The words Dallas Winston had once said played back into my mind.

Flashback

We were sitting at the house, it was after Mama and Daddy had died. I had just started to work late nights at the DX three times a week. I was sitting around the table playing poker with Steve, Two-bit, Dally, Johnny and Pony was reading a book in the corner.

"Soda, a piece of adive from a hood is when it comes to robberies watch the man's movements. A nervous shakey shooter is more likely to kill. A expriced calm and rational one knows better than that. It's less jail time , if they just rob, hold hostage and cause problems. Killing is a life sentence if caught", Dally said while smoking a cancer stick

"What I do if I get in the middle of a robbery or hostage situation?", I ask

"You remain calm and collected, think rational and think like a hood. Hoods just enjoy the trills of committing crimes, many aren't that heartless. Many don't enjoy killing, fightings are another story.", Dallas said

"How do you think like a hood?", I ask

"If you are tough, nothing can hurt you", Dallas says

"Thanks, Dal", I say

"If you get in a bind remember those things and remain calm. Being scared or irrational will get you killed. Most importantly, don't be the hero that can get you killed also.", Dallas said

Flashback over

I watched in horror as the man tried to shoot me. I fought back and tried to get the gun out of his hand. I wrested with him and i heard the sound of the gun going off. My eyes widened at the shock of the gun being in my hand.

I killed him, I killed someone, he's dead. "I killed him", I say in shock. I killed him, blood pooled around him. His eyes wide open and I came to realize he wasn't much older than me. Maybe nineteen, or twenty, but around my age. I couldn't think of him as a bad person, i thought about who he might be,

Maybe he has someone at home and had no more options but to rob. Maybe he was like Dallas , tough, cold and wanted to die violently. But to me , he was another person who had a life I didn't know about. I walked to the door, my shirt stained not only with the man's blood, but my blood and Tommy's.

I opened the door the the DX and handed the gun to the closet officer. They rushed in to carry off Tommy and I to the hospital. I caught a glimpse of my brothers.

Tommy looked awful pale and blood was everywhere. I felt the sticky ooze sticking to the black of my head and my head ached. I caught another look at the man I killed. I rushed out of the building and vomited my guts.

I felt sick and weak as the emts helped me into the ambulance.