Dallas and Two-Bit continued driving. They were nearing New Jersey and didn't have enough patience for what story was playing on the radio. Two-Bit had stopped at a gas station and asked the clerk again about Ponyboy.

Again they either said they saw him or they didn't. Although most said they didn't see him. Dally was getting angrier at Ponyboy and Kitty. Two-Bit couldn't help but worry as they neared New York.

"That god damn girl," Dallas said as Two-Bit pulled out of a motel. They were nearing New York and had decided to sleep before going. Now, Two-Bit had to deal with Dallas's attitude. For some reason, the closer they got to New York, the angrier Dallas would get.

"Calm down Dally, you know Ponyboy he probably convinced her to," Two-Bit said, trying to calm Dally down. His attempts were futile as Dally seemed to pout. two-bit continued driving.

"Take a right here. Ill have to talk to my old man," Dallas grumbled to Two-Bit. Two-Bit followed Dallas's orders and took the right. As they drove Two-Bit saw Dallas shaking a bit. Dallas shaking made Two-Bit scared. Although, Two-Bit continued to drive until Dallas told him to stop.

"Ill go in first, knowing my old man, he would kill you if he saw you," Dallas said as he got out of the car. Two-Bit nodded and waited as Dallas went inside. The second Dallas walked inside, he was met with the stench of cigars. His dad was always an avid smoker, one of the reasons why Dallas started smoking so early.

"Who's there?" Someone said. Their accent was strong, coating every word said. Dally knew that it was his dad. Taking a step forward, Dallas faced his dad. His dad was on the old couch, the leather wearing out. The whole apartment looked weared out.

It was all to familiar to Dallas. Nothing had changed since he left. Maybe it was the cigar scent or the familiar hatred in his dads eyes that made him scared. New York had toughened him, Tulsa had softened him. Now, as he stood face to face to his dad, he couldn't feel the toughness he needed in that moment.

"Dallas," His dad said, venom seeming to coat Dallas's name. Dallas balled his hand into a fist and glared at his dad.

"Whadya want," Dallys dad started sitting up. Dallas took a step back but continued to stand up high.

"Has there been any kids here? Any new ones?" Dally asked. His dad thought for a moment and leaned over to a table. On the table were cigars, all in a single line. They were thick with tobacco, Dallas knew what his dad was going to do. He narrowed his eyes as he watched his dads every move.

""Not yet, heard there was gonna be a new one. Got told they should be 'ere soon," Dallys dads voice was muffled as he took a drag on his cigar. As he blew the smoke out, Dallas covered his nose from the stench. For 5 years he had dreaded coming back, now that he was back, there was tension in the air. Dally knew that his dad wouldn't mind trying to hit him but something in his words made him toughen up again.

"New one?" Dallas repeated as his glare hardned at his dad. Smoke was steadily filling the air, making it harder to breathe. No windows were opened, as there wasn't any to open. His dad nodded, "Yup, one of my men took a trip down south. Found a kid there that wanted to go to New York. So, we're going to bring 'em here."

Dallas felt himself panic at that. He went on the offensive, ready to take a swing at his dad. The tension was thick between them, with Dallas glaring at his dad.

Still, there was a pit in his stomach. His ribs ached gently, reminding him he was in no place to even fight his dad.

"You staying here?" Dallas's dad asked. Dallas was ready to shake his head, to leave. But the fear for Ponyboy was too much for him to just abandon him. He nodded, "until I find that kid you're talking about."

His dad nodded for a second. But then got up, "the warehouse is where they'll go, I'll show ya around."

Dallas shook his head, glaring at his dad.

"No."

Dallas's dad glared at him but settled back down. Soon, Dallas frowned and turned around to tell Two-Bit.

"WHAT!?" Two-Bit yelled out after Dallas told him. All Dally could do was nod, "damn kid. He's messing with the wrong people…"

Two-Bit was stunned. His mind raced with everything and honestly the news wasn't any good.

"At least my old man told me something useful."

Two-Bit looked at him, "like what?"

"He told me they're gonna send them to the warehouse. I'll bet he's already there," Dally leaned back on Two-Bits car. Two-Bit nodded and looked around.

"Where's the warehouse?"

Dally laughed, loud and cruel.

"I'll show ya."

They started walking. Every occasional step would make Dallas hold onto his ribs gently. Still, they continued walking, Two-Bit following Dallas's every step. Soon they made it to a concrete building.

"Is this?" Two-Bit started. Dally nodded and looked around. Two-But also looked around as a scream came from the warehouse.

"What the-" Two-Bit started.

"PONYBOY!" Dally yelled, running and almost tackling the kid. Two-Bit turned around and saw a limp Ponyboy in Dallys arms.

"What the-" Dally held onto Ponyboys body, away from the guy he was near. It took a good glare and the guy was jogging along to a different place. Two-Bit rushed over to Dally and looked at Ponyboy.

"He don't look well…"

"Well he don't feel well either!" Dallas shot back as he started to carry Ponyboy. Two-Bit put his hand to Ponyboys forehead and flinched back as if it burned him.

"Glory is he sick?" Two-Bit asked, looking at Dally. Dally sucked in a breath and nodded. The deadweight that Ponyboy was in at the moment wasn't helping his ribs. Two-Bit couldn't do anything as Dally started taking Ponyboy back to where they had been before.

"I'm taking him to the apartment. We can't travel a whole 8 hours back with a sick kid."

Two-Bit nodded to Dally and started to follow him. Dally kept looking around, his grip on Ponyboy getting tighter.

"D-Dad?" Ponyboys voice was weak. Dally sucked in a deep breath, causing his ribs to be agitated. Two-Bit cringed for a second, feeling sorry for Ponyboy.

"No, it's Dally," Dallas tried to say but Ponyboy fell back asleep.

"Is he…" Two-Bit didn't want to say it.

"Delirious?" Dally finished. Two-Bit nodded and watched as Ponyboys body went back to its limp phase again.

They walked all the way back to the apartment, trying not to notice all the weird stares they got. As soon as Dally got Ponyboy onto the couch, he started looking for his old man.

"He's worse than Johnny's old man-" Dallas was explaining, "-He'd beat you and Pony ina heartbeat."

Two-Bit just nodded, running his hands through Ponyboy's hair, "we needa get him some medicine…"

Dally cussed a bit and seemed to rummage through the beat up kitchen.

"Let me help-" Two-Bit got up and saw Dally trying to read medicine labels. He could've sworn he heard a sigh of relief from Dally as he walked to the kitchen. Dally walked to Ponyboy, gently cussing him out.

"Here-" Two-Bit threw some pills at Dally, "-try to see if you can get him to take three."

Dally nodded and shook Ponyboy gently.

"Kid, cmon- wake up."

There was a groan from Ponyboy.

"Darry?"

"No kid- Dally. You messed up the L's," Dally said seriously. Two-Bit laughed as he got a cup of water. It was obvious that Ponyboy would have a hard time taking pills dry in his state. Dally kind of forced the pulled down and forced Ponyboy to drink the whole cup of water.

The second that was done, Ponyboy promptly del back asleep. Two-Bit took Dallys place on the couch, running his hands through Pony's hair.

"God, he messed me up twice," Dally sighed. Two-Bit laughed softly, "well you get any gruff man and they just about look the same."

Dally shot Two-Bit a glare before running his hands through his hair.

"I needa find my old man. If Ponyboy tries to run off catch him."

Two-Bit rolled his eyes, "well I wasn't planning on letting him spend his time in New York forever."

After what felt like forever, Dally found his old man. He was outside the warehouse, seemingly cleaning up some blood.

"Yo-" Dallys dad greeted.

After a very- calm- conversation, Dally walked back without his dad. It was mostly just Dally saying not to beat up Ponyboy and Two-Bit. Two people that his old man wouldn't even bother trying to fight.

"Found him?" Two-Bit asked as Dally came back in. Dally nodded and they talked, mostly about Ponyboy.

"Think we should call Sodapop?" Two-Bit asked. Dally sighed and they continued talking. Two-Bit looked at Dally as he rushed over to Ponyboy.

"Kid, wake your ass up," Dally started to shake Ponyboy.

"Stop that Dal. You're gonna hurt him more than he already is," Two-Bit reprimanded softly. Dally glared at him, "Kid had his eyes open. He's awake, I know it."

"Maybe he's delusional again…" Dally stiffened at that. But instead of stopping what he was doing, Dally continued to shake Ponyboy.

"I think ya needa lay off on that kid! Ya know 'im?" Dallys dad suddenly said. Two-Bit caught Ponyboy opening his eyes in shock.

"Gig is up kid. I saw you open your eyes," Two-Bit joked. Ponyboy sighed as he got up, making sure to keep his head down. Dally shared a look with Two-Bit.

"What the hell were you thinking kid?" Dallas yelled. It took just a flinch from Ponyboy for him to quiet down. Two-Bit took the lead, slowly crouching down in front of Ponyboy.

"Glory kid, you scared us something awful," Two-Bit cried. Ponyboy tried to push him off.

"Cmon kid! We go searching for three days and you don't even give us a hug?" Two-Bit joked, trying to hide the tears that had fallen.

"Kid, if you ever do something stupid like this again, I'm gonna skin you," Dally said to Ponyboy, pulling him into a hug.

Ponyboy seemed shocked for a second before talking, "I'm- I'm sorry…"

"It's okay kid… let's just go back okay-" Two-Bit started.

"NO!" Ponyboy interrupted. His breathing was slowly getting heavier.

"K-Kitty s-she's," Ponyboy tried to talk.

"Why do you care about her?" Dallas yelled back. His voice was harsh. Two-But saw how Ponyboy looked around. He tried to give a warning look to Dally.

"Answer me!" Dallas yelled, "You made your brothers worry themselves sick just so you can run off with someone you just met? Then make us come all the way here-"

"I didn't ask you to!"

It happened so quickly.

Ponyboy running out. Then him running back in. His face had tears on it, his breathing unsteady.

"What did you do with Kitty?"

"Whoa whoa-" Two-Bit held onto Pony.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" Ponyboy yelled. Dally looked at his dad. His dad just shrugged.

"Guess my men had too much fun with the new kid."

Ponyboy attacked Dallys dad, pushing him to the ground.

"Ponyboy!" Two-Bit yelled. Even for Pony's small age, he got a couple of good hits in before being peeled off of Dallys dad.

"Did you-" Two-Bit breathed out. He gave Dally a look and Ponyboy ran off again. This time they followed him as he ran into the warehouse.

Even Dally felt sick at what he saw. Two-Bit froze too, seeing the limp body of Kitty. The only red on her being her own blood.

"Kitty?" Ponyboy's voice was soft. There was the sound of deafening silence. Save for the quiet dripping of an unknown liquid nearby.

"KITTY!" Ponyboy yelled, his voice breaking as he screamed her name. He dropped to his knees in heaping sobs and Two-Bit held onto him, softly dropping next to him too.