This is a bunch of one shots inspired by the song/movie Stand by Me. The entire gang is close and they're all there for each other. So this is stories about those different times when they've comforted each other. I hope you like it.

I don't own The Outsiders (belongs to SE Hinton of course :)) or the man in the hole story (that belongs to West Wing).

Story One

Steve and Soda

"I Know the Way Out"

Soda stuffed his hands into his pockets, staring at the ground. He felt broken and crushed. What was he going to do? How would he handle this? He had to be strong for Ponyboy though and he knew Darry was grieving, no matter how much he tried to hide it. He just needed to be alone to think.

Now was a good time for that. It was late, around midnight. He had waited until Pony fell asleep then left the house. He'd be back in an hour or so. He just needed fresh air. He reached his favorite park and immediately made a beeline for the huge tree planted right in the middle of it. This was his place. This was where he had come to think since he was a kid.

He climbed up, perched himself on a branch, and stared out, watching the night sky and a few lights in the town that were left on. He leaned against the trunk, arm slung over another branch, and took some time to think about what had happened a month ago.

Golly, his parents were amazing. They were so understanding and patient and kind… They were parents to seven boys. How could they be taken? They were so needed. His mother was the only person who could calm Dallas. She was his chance at a better life.

And the both of them were showing Johnny what being loved meant. Poor Johnny Cade was yelled at, hit, or ignored at home. This was the only family he had. So why did it have to shredded too? Why couldn't it stay intact for Johnny if not for any of the rest of them?

His father had become the role model Steve didn't have at home anymore. Steve would come over when things got rough and spend time talking to Soda's dad about it. He'd just tell him what was going on and what had happened this time and Soda was never in the room when his dad answered Steve but whatever it was always helped. If no one else knew what the magic words were to cheer him up what would happen now?

Two-Bit needed to know that not all dads just ran out on families. He needed them both to show him that he was more than his father's son. He goofed around a lot, sure, but he could do anything if he put his mind to it. He wasn't a loser and he was more than a greaser. But Soda wasn't sure he could see that on his own.

Ponyboy was only fourteen. He was only fourteen years old. He needed his parents to help him understand things like girls and school and worrying about the future. Who would teach him to shave or help him train for cross-country? And who would give him advice and make him feel better after a bad day?

Not to mention that now Darry was never going to be able to go to college. That wasn't fair. Darry was a genius. He deserved his best shot at life. Besides that, Dad was practically his best friend. Darry was grieving just like they were but felt like he had to be strong for them. He wouldn't talk about it and he certainly wouldn't cry, not in front of them anyway.

And Soda needed them. He needed them both so badly. His mother was the only one who could help him with school. No one else helped him focus on what he needed to do. They taught him about respecting girls and being a gentlemen and applying himself and learning where he belonged when he felt like the world was against him. What would he do? They taught him so much about life and love.

His father, Darrel Curtis, had been at a restaurant with some friends when he met Soda's mother, Molly Curtis. He saw her and knew. He said he just knew. On their first date, he carved their initials into a tree, told her he was going to marry her, and sure enough a month later, they were married.

What his parents had was love. That was what he wanted. They had showed him that what marriage was and what parenting was. Thanks to them he knew he could be a good dad someday.

His stomach lurched as he realized that now he'd never be able to ask them questions about kids. He'd never be able to call his mom when he got in a fight with his wife and ask her how to handle it. He'd never be able to ask his dad how to have "the talk" with his son.

He bowed his head, tears rolling down his cheeks. It had been one long month and he couldn't imagine life going on past this. He couldn't imagine it not hurting. He couldn't imagine ever feeling better.

"I was wondering when you'd show up."

Soda jumped, grabbed a branch for support, and looked up to see Steve sitting a few branches above him. Steve climbed down to his branch and sat beside him. Soda looked at the ground, unsure of how he felt about being caught. It was nice to have someone there with him. It was comforting. But at the same time he wanted to sit and think. He didn't want to put on a brave face. Not now.

"You knew I'd be here?" he asked finally.

"I know you better than you know you. This is the first tree you ever climbed. Your dad taught you. I remember that." Steve looked out at the park. "How are you doing?"

"Awful," Soda whispered honestly. "Absolutely horrible. I miss them. I miss them so much it keeps me up at night. I can't sleep. I only eat because Darry makes me. Have you ever been so upset you're just not hungry?"

Steve nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know the feeling."

"I feel like that a lot… Not all the time, but a lot… And it is exhausting trying to be happy. I'm trying so hard to act like I see the light at the end of this tunnel but I don't. I don't see how it can possibly get better."

"Yeah, I know. I know you've been struggling. I can see past that grin of yours. I know when you fake it. And I don't think I've ever seen you fake it like you have the past month," Steve told him. He was quiet for a minute before adding, "I think you should take some time off work. You deserve time to heal."

"I can heal at work just as easy."

"When you get done with school for the day you should be able to go home and relax."

Soda took a deep breath. "I think I might drop out." It was the first time he voiced the thought but saying it out loud just increased his confidence that it was a good idea.

"What?"

"I might drop out."

"Darry will never let you," Steve said softly.

"Yes, he will. He needs help with the bills and he's too emotionally drained to fight me too hard." Soda picked at a piece of bark. "He'll let me…."

Steve was quiet for a few minutes before responding. "Are you sure that's what you want?"

"Yeah. I am. I hate school. Mom's the only thing that got me through this far. Without her…" He shook his head. "I don't want to do it. I don't want to be called dumb anymore or struggled or get stressed. I'm just done with it. I can do more good by dropping out."

"I get it… But think it over okay?" Steve looked at him. "Just make sure you aren't only doing it because you're overwhelmed right now."

Soda nodded slowly. "Yeah, alright…" He took off a piece of bark and tossed it. "Why'd they have to die? It ain't fair. We need 'em. Every one of us."

"I know."

"They were such great people. They didn't deserve that. They deserved the best life possible. And the longest life. And what do they get?" He pulled a newspaper clipping out of his pocket. ""Couple killed by drunk driver". That's what they get. That's it." He stuffed it back in, feeling himself getting worked up. "Killed by drunk driver. Damn it!" Soda hit the tree trunk furiously. "People shouldn't drink and drive. Why do they do it? Why the hell do they do it? What's the point? Can you tell me the point?" he ranted. Steve shook his head silently. "It sucks and it ain't fair! It ain't alright and it ain't ever gonna be because some idiot couldn't wait for a beer!"

Steve gently put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "People can be idiots," he said softly. "But there's good in the world."

"Since when are you an optimist?" Soda looked at his friend, one eyebrow cocked.

"Since you stopped being one. I figure one of us should be. I guess it's my turn."

Soda glared at the sky. "I don't know how I'm going to get through this."

Silence fell between the friends. "Did you know that your dad's dad was kind of like mine? Not as bad but he drank a lot too. He tried to kick him out sometimes but his mom wouldn't let him."

Soda looked up, intrigued. "I didn't know that. He never talked about his dad."

"That's why your dad was the one who always took me outside to talk to me." Steve stared down at the ground. "I don't know how I'm going to get through this either. I don't know how I'm going to make it. But that's what I thought when my mom died."

Soda reached over and slung an arm around his friend's shoulders. It made sense now. Again, however, he was hit with an overwhelming feeling of pain. Who could relate to Steve's situation now? Who would guide him? There was no one who could.

"I'm going to tell you a story," Steve said, taking a deep breath and shrugging out of Soda's arm. "This guy is walking down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep that he can't get out." Steve turned his eyes to his friend, who was watching him as well. "A doctor walks by and the guy calls out "Hey, doc, will you help me out here?" The doctor writes a prescription and tosses it in the hole then keeps going. A priest then walks by and the guy calls up "Hey, Father, I'm stuck. Will you help me?" The priest writes down a prayer and tosses it in then walks away. Finally, a friend walks by. The guy calls up, "Hey, Joe, will you help me? I'm stuck in this hole here." His friend jumps in the hole. Our guy looks at him and says, "You idiot! Now we're both stuck in here." His friend says, "Yeah but I've been here before and I know the way out.""

Soda slowly looked back down at the ground, feeling himself tearing up again. He fought the tears desperately, although he wasn't sure if he was strong enough to stop them for long.

"I've felt this before." Steve's voice quavered with emotion. "It gets better. Slowly but surely. Every breath gets a little easier. You just take it one day at a time. But for now it's okay to cry."

That was all the incentive Soda needed. Steve wrapped his arm around his friend and sat in silence with him as he wept. As Soda cried he thought. He thought about his mother's laugh and his father's grin. He thought of how they met. He thought of the meals his parents would make and of the food fights they would get in every now and then. He thought about how proud they had been when Darry won his first football game, or when Soda got his job at the DX, or when Ponyboy's teacher called home to tell them how wonderful he was in class. Soda thought back to the first time he had experimented with dinner and the looks on their faces and then the laughter that had hit the table like a thunderstorm. Finally, he thought about the story. He thought about the hole he had fallen in and he turned his gaze to the friend who had jumped in it with him.

Without saying a word, he nodded to his best friend, who gave him a small smile and jumped out of the tree. Soda leapt after him, landed, and brushed himself off. As the two of them started the walk home, Soda found his voice at last.

"Thanks for coming to talk to me."

Steve smiled sadly and nodded his head. "What are friends for? It'd sure be a shame if I knew you this well just to let you tackle things like this all by yourself don't you think?"

Soda smiled a little himself. "I suppose so."

"Besides, we both know that soon enough you'll be doing this for me."

"You ain't wrong there." Soda shoved his hands in his pockets. Five minutes later, they reached the point where they would separate to go to their own houses.

As Steve started to walk away, Soda looked after him. "Steve, hang on." His best friend stopped and looked at him. "That story about the guy in the hole... That's what my dad used to tell you isn't it?" His voice broke as he asked the question he already knew the answer.

"Yeah. Yeah it was. Always told me it was mine to share if I wanted. Now you've got that chance too buddy."

Soda nodded, gratefulness written plainly all over his face. Steve threw him a reassuring smile and a nod of the head then headed home. Soda turned and went him, hands in his pockets.

Yeah, he was in a hole. But maybe together they could all get out of it. He looked up at the starry night and nodded a little. "Don't worry about me," he whispered. I've got someone showing me the way out."

Thanks for reading! It'd be great if you'd drop me a review. :) If you guys would like feel free to request another two characters to do and a situation for me to write them going through. Or just two characters or just a situation. :) Thanks again guys! You rock!