A/N: Here it is, the end to Broken Bond. I've enjoyed writing this story. Thank you, everyone, for reading and giving me feedback. It means a lot I especially want to thank OldSchoolStuff for all the wonderful reviews. I'd also like to thank SimonaK1 for all her help and advice. You guys are amazing. I hope to see you guys again in my next The Outsiders story. Love, ellivia22

Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders, unfortunately.

Broken Bond

Epilogue

Darry

It's five minutes to 9 on a chilly Monday morning. Normally Sodapop and I would be at work and Ponyboy at school. Unfortunately, today we're at the last place I want to be: the Tulsa courthouse. The three of us are alone outside the courtroom, except for a young policeman at the brown double doors. My heart is pounding harder in my chest than it's ever beaten before-if that's possible. The terror I fear now is ten times worse than when Ponyboy ran away or when I saw him at the hospital. One simple decision by the judge and I will lose my brothers for real.

I use all the strength I can muster to not let my emotions show and keep my face blank. I have to remain strong for Sodapop and Ponyboy, who must feel just as scared as I am. It isn't easy. I shift my weight from one foot to the other and clear my throat for what feels like the hundredth time. To keep myself distracted I straighten Ponyboy's tan suit jacket and tie with shaking hands. I'm wearing a suit of the same color. It's itchy and suffocating around the chest. I wish I was in my usual jeans and T-shirt, but I'm willing to sacrifice my comfort so I can make a good impression on the judge.

"Darry, I'm scared," Ponyboy trembles, grabbing my attention. An anxious look is on his face, which is unnaturally pale. This time I know it's not because he's still recovering from his illness. He doesn't sound like my fourteen-year-old brother but like a scared little kid. "W-what if the judge don't believe me when I tell the real story?"

I look sadly at my youngest brother. The past few weeks have taken a toll on him. Not only is he still mourning the untimely deaths of Johnny and Dally, but he's still recovering from being seriously ill. He's getting better physically every day after suffering from exhaustion but mentally is a completely different story. For some reason, he keeps thinking that he was the one who killed that Soc. No matter what Sodapop and I told him, he just hasn't been able to accept the truth. I mentally kick myself for the hundredth time for allowing Ponyboy to participate in the rumble in the first place. Some caregiver I am!

I place my hands on his small shoulders firmly and look seriously into his frightened brown eyes. "Listen, Pony, I don't want you to say nothin' about what happened that night. Just answer all the questions honestly. Got it?"

"But-." Pony begins but decides against it when I give him a stern look.

Sodapop rubs Ponyboy's back comfortingly. Ponyboy immediately starts to relax, and I can feel the tension in his shoulders slowly ebbing away underneath my hands. "He's right Pony. Don't worry. Everythin' will be okay."

Ponyboy looks at Sodapop pleadingly. "Promise?"

Sodapop and I look at each other. How can we make a promise like that when our future is so uncertain? When I speak again my answer comes out in a croaky whisper. "I promise that no matter what happens you will be taken care of." Even if it's not by me I think to myself sadly.

"One-minute warning," the young police officer by the door says, breaking into the moment. His arms are folded, and his facial expression remains stoic.

A lump forms in my throat again and I can feel my eyes starting to burn. Before I can stop myself, I grab both of my brothers in a hug. I grip them tightly in an attempt to calm the increasing anxiety I'm feeling. This time it's not working. I can feel the sweat appearing on my forehead and my entire body is shaking. I think I'm going to be sick. I don't want to let them go in fear that this will be the last time we're together. Both Sodapop and Ponyboy hug me back just as tightly. In this moment I feel our bond stronger than ever.

I reluctantly let go a few seconds later. I wipe my face before a tear falls and stroke Ponyboy's hair gently. "Better get in there."

Without looking at each other we enter the semi-full courtroom, all three of us ready to get this over with.

The hearing so far isn't turning out anything like the nightmares I've had. Instead of the courtroom being full of everyone in town and reporters, only the Socs that were involved in the attack along with their parents. The redheaded girl Ponyboy met at the movies, Cherry, is also present with her parents. Each of the Socs testified to what happened at the park that night. Hearing the details about what happened to my little brother makes my blood boil. If I wasn't trying to be on my best behavior, I'd pummel every one of them for what they did.

The brown chair at the witness stand is made of wood and is extremely hard. It's a struggle to get comfortable, but I force myself to endure it. The courtroom is completely silent, and everyone is staring at me, putting my nerves on edge. The judge isn't the elderly woman who often appeared in my nightmares, nor did he look anything like my dad. The man dressed in black robes looks to be in his early fifties with red hair that's receding, black square glasses, like Buddy Holly, and a beard that's also red but has speckles of grey. According to his nameplate in front of him, his name is Honor Ferguson.

"Please state your name for the record," he says to me in a dignified tone.

I clear my throat. "Darrel Shaynne Curtis Jr."

"You were born January 5, 1945, which would make you twenty years old," the judge says, more as a statement than a question.

"Yes Sir."

And what is it you do for a living, Mr. Curtis?"

It's so strange being called Mr. Curtis. Not even my bosses call me that. Just Darrel. "I am a roofer for Lash Roofing and Contracting. I also do construction work for OLP Construction Inc."

The judge looks at the papers on his desk, rather than at me. "How well did you know Dallas Winston and Johnny Cade?"

The loss in my heart sears as I think about our fallen friends. It had only been a couple of weeks since Johnny and Dally died, yet the pain is so fresh it's as if it happened yesterday. "Dallas may have been rough around the edges, but he was a good buddy. Deep down he cared for all of us and was always there during our time of need. And Johnny…Johnny was a lost soul with a big heart. He never woulda killed that Soc unless he absolutely had to."

The judge continues to ask me questions about our friends, but I tune him out as I answer. I don't want to think about what happened. It hurts too much. I just want all of this to be over.

"You have been the primary caregiver for Sodapop Patrick and Ponyboy Michael Curtis since the deaths of your parents. Is that correct?"

My heart continues to pound hard against my chest without any signs of stopping. I force myself to remain calm. "Yes sir. With my two jobs and Sodapop's contribution, I have been able to provide for them and still have the time to be there for them when they need me."

"Sodapop dropped out of school shortly after your parents died. Is that correct?" he asks says in a disapproving voice, his green eyes narrowing behind his glasses.

"Yes. That was his decision, not mine. I wanted more than anything for him to stay in school, but the decision was made that we would work together to make sure that Ponyboy was taken care of."

The judge continues to look at me long and hard. His green eyes look as if he's sizing me up. I bite my lip and look at him imploringly, hoping with all my heart he will see how much I love my brothers.

"Thank you, Darrel," he says after a moment. "You may step down now."

My legs feel like Jello as I rise to my feet and wobble slightly, but I maintain my balance. I resume my seat in the front row next to Sodapop. Sodapop pats me on the shoulder, but I don't notice. I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach that I just made everything worse.

Ponyboy is the last person called to the stand, right after Sodapop. By now I am convinced that my brothers are going to be taken away from me. During the hearing, the judge kept glancing at me, and not with encouraging looks either. My eyes keep burning, but I refuse to let the tears fall. Not until the final verdict has been read.

My little brother is on the witness stand, nervously chewing on his fingernails as he waits for the judge to start his questioning-a habit he's had since he was a little kid. The judge grins at him encouragingly. "Quit chewing your fingernails. You have nothing to worry about."

Ponyboy immediately does so and drops his hands back into his lap. "Sorry sir." The judge winks at him.

"Your school records show that you're a Freshman at Will Rogers High. Do you like school?"

Ponyboy shrugs. "School's alright. I like English and I run track."

"What kind of grades do you make?" He asks.

"Straight A's sir. My brother, Darry, makes sure that I study hard and do all my homework."

"Do you like living with your brother?"

D-don't send me home with him! Ponyboy's terrified tone rings in my head. My breathing becomes uneven, and I start to shake. Soda puts a hand on my back in an attempt to calm me, but it does nothing as I relive my nightmare all over again. M-my older brother Darry is so mean! He yells at me and hits me. I-I'm not safe with him!

Ponyboy smiles. "Yeah. Darry takes care of me real good. He can be hard on me sometimes, but he does it because he loves me and wants me to succeed. And he loves Sodapop too. He works real hard to make sure that we are taken care of. I want more than anythin' to stay with him and Sodapop."

A silent tear falls down my cheek. Hearing Ponyboy say those things after all we've been through warms my heart. He truly has forgiven me.

"Thank you, Ponyboy," the judge says after a moment. "You can step down now."

The judge looks at his paper for a few minutes and then writes something down. Then after he adjusts his glasses, he addresses the court again. "After listening to all the witness testimony and reviewing all the evidence I find you, Ponyboy Michael Curts, not guilty of murder." His gaze diverts between Ponyboy, Sodapop, and me. I hold my breath in anticipation. "Now that I've spoken to the three of you, I have a clear picture of what your home life has been like since the deaths of your parents. It has touched me how hard you guys have worked to stay together. Therefore, I have decided to grant Darrel Shaynne Curtis Jr. full custody of Sodapop Patrick and Ponyboy Michael Curtis. We are adjourned." He slams the gavel on the hard block on his desk.

SLAM!

This isn't real. It can't be.

I meet my brother in the middle of the courtroom in a daze, followed by Sodapop. I don't hesitate to grab both of my brothers in the tightest hug I've ever given them. Tears silently slide down my cheeks and for once I don't bother stopping them. Happy ones. I have never felt so relieved, so carefree. The tightness in my chest is gone and breathing is easier than ever. The euphoria I feel is like I've won the lottery. No longer do I need to worry about losing my brothers to the court system. We're staying together and nothing is going to ever rip us apart again.

The end