Title: Stuck in the Middle

Author: Dana

Rating: PG

Warnings: Mild violence, illness, probably a swear word.

Summary: This is a missing scene from the book. It starts out right after the rumble and takes off from there.

Author's note: As you can tell by title this is from Soda's POV. Rewording because you really aren't supposed to copy things.

I leaned back resting my tired head against the armchair. A hand was resting against my ginger ribs as I listened to my older brother, Darry, talk about a Soc having sharp teeth. It wasn't supposed to be this way. We were supposed to be celebrating. We had finally beaten the Soc's. Didn't I say I wanted to have a big party? Right now I just want to go to sleep. I would too if I wasn't so concerned about my kid brother. I haven't seen or heard from him since he and Dally left after the Rumble ended.

The door opened and I saw Pony Boy standing there looking like hell froze over. I was on my feet at about the same time Darry did. "Where were you?" He demanded.

Oh please Darry don't do this tonight. He looks sick. I wanted to yell.

I felt like someone had punched me when Pony Boy said Johnny was dead. It wasn't that we didn't know he was dying I just didn't want to believe it. Man Pony's shaking something fierce.

Darry turned to me and whispered, "See if you can get him to sit down." We both knew I was the only one who Pony would listen to.

"Pony," I said taking a step closer. He looked like he was going to run away again. "Come on sit down. You look sick."

"I don't want to sit down!" He said backing away again.

"Pony..." Darry said taking a step closer but Pony backed away.

The phone rang and Steve said, "Darry it's for you!"

Darry went to answer the phone while I walked slowly up to my brother who I honesty thought was going to pass out then and there. "Come on baby sit down." I tried again but he just shook his head.

Darry came into the room looking as pale as Pony Boy does. "That was Dally. He just robbed a convenience store and we need to hide him. He'll meet us in the lot."

We all took off at a dead run for the lot. I forgot my sore ribs, as I feared we could lose another friend. When we got there Dally was waving a gun at the cops. I remember him once telling Steve and I that he always carried an unloaded gun as a bluff. Stupid idiot those cops don't know it! The gunshots rung through the air as I watched Dally fall to the ground.

Steve let out a whine and I put my hand on his shoulder. He looked like he wanted to run towards Dallas but I was afraid the police would shoot him.

"Glory look at the kid!" Two Bit yelled. Kid? Pony! I thought turning around just in time to see my brother fall to the ground.

I was at his side as fast as I could. Darry was checking him and was yelling for an ambulance. Oh God we can't lose him too.