This is gonna be about Dally. He's my favorite character, and I had a really good idea for him. For this story, I'm not gonna write another chapter UNTIL I GET AT LEAST 5 REVIEWS. I hope you like it!

I do not own the Outsiders.

Dally POV

Johnny was dead. Emotion swelled in my throat. I had seen him die. I squeezed the tears out of my eyes when I closed my eyes. I hurriedly wiped them away. I didn't need some Soc spreading rumors that Dallas Winston isn't tough.

I walked into the store, and pointed the gun at the clerks head. "Give me the money." My voice was low and dangerous, and I revelled in the power that I felt with the gun. If this thing were loaded, I could kill this guy in a second.

I could kill anyone. Hell, it's got to be better than life. I could even kill myself. But no...it wasn't loaded. Than a grin spread over my lips, I grabbed what money the clerk had procured and ran to the pay phone outside.

I tried to keep the excitement out of my voice as I explained to Darry my new revelation.

I made sure the clerk called the cops, then started sprinting towards the east side of town.

I had never run faster. I had not cheated death like Pony's story characters always did, I would cheat life.

I grinned widely and pushed on running through the exhaustion I felt. The sound of sirens egged me on.

I saw 5 figures running towards me. They stopped as the cops surrounded me, pulling out their guns. I grinned. I pulled out my own gun.

There is nothing more dangerous than a man who has nothing to lose. If that gun had been loaded, I would have shot all of them dead before one bullet reached me. I hated those men, those people who had made my life a living hell.

But no more. If there was hell in heaven and earth, at least I could be with Johnny.

I felt something hit me in the back of the head, then I felt as though my skull were splitting open. Thn the ground rushed up towards me, and I welcomed death.

Soda POV

we all waited on the edge of our seats to see how Dally was. Losing Johnny had been enough, but none of us could bare to lose another in the same 24 hours.

I took it as a bad sign that the surgeon came out only an hour later. His face was impossible to read, even for me, and I could understand anyone.

"Darrel Curtis?" The entire gang walked, as though in a trance, towards the surgeon.

"Which one of you is Darrel Curtis?" Darry raised his hand like a school boy.

"Darrel, I'm happy to say that Dallas Winston is fine...er, well I'm not happy, but I'm happy for you..." The doctor grinned at his own joke. The rest of us were still stony faced.

"How?" Darry asked, sounding about 12 year old.

"Come again?"

"How the hell did he survive? He was shot in the back of the head! Hell, I thought he was dead before he reached the hospital."

"Naw. He's a fighter. Listen, do you mind if I publish this case? It could help Dallas in court if I did..." Darry just nodded. The surgeon was getting on his nerves.

"Fine, fine. Can we see him?"

"Ah. Well, I forgot to deliver the bad news. Dallas wont-wont be the same. The bullet hit him just hard enough to damage his brain permanently, but not enough to kill him. It's an unbelievable case, maybe even unique..."

"He's gonna be crazy, is that what your trying to tell us?!" The entire gang looked devastated. Dally would kill us if we ever said it outloud, but we all really loved the kid. That's what he was. A kid. He was only a few months older than me, and I will always be a kid.

"But after therapy, he is likely to remember. You can visit him when he wakes." the doctor finished, wincing at our glares. He turned heal and ran, muttering something about hating being a doctor.

Dally POV

I woke to a screaming pain in my head. It hurt more than...I had no experiences to compare it to. That scared me. Had I never felt pain before? Somehow I knew what english was. I knew what the words I was saying meant, but I had no memories.

Mom. Dad. I knew what these words meant. Why did I not remember them? Did I have a mom and dad? Did everyone? I wondered what my dad looked like. Did he look like me?

What did I look like? What do I like? And scariest of all, WHAT'S MY NAME!

I heard a mumbling of voices. How did I know they were voices?

I heard someone say, "Don't worry boys, he's just about to wake." I wondered who they were talking about. I opened my mouth to ask, but all that came out was a groan.

There were more mutterings, but this time they sounded excited. Excited? I moaned again, just to make sure. More voices. My heart leapt.

I could barely manage it, but I was able to mumble, "Mom?" The voices stopped abruptly.

"What was that Dal?" I didn't know what a "Dal" was.

"Dad?" The voice sounded male to me. I marveled at how I could tell that. "Why can't I see?"

"Dal, your eyes are closed."

"Oh." I paused for a second while I found the muscles to open them. I slowly and painstakingly let them slide open. I frowned at the person from where the voice was coming.

"You aren't my Dad. Or my Mom. You're too young and you're a man." Although my voice had been raspy when I first woke up, it was gaining confidence.

"Uh, yeah Dally. It's me. Darry." I giggled. I decided that I liked Darry. The people gathered around Darry muttered distressedly. I wondered if I'd caused that, but I dismissed the possibility. All I had done was laugh.

"Uh, Dallas, what's so funny?" Darry's voice was calm and soothing.

"Our names rhyme!" I told him, a grin spreading across my face. The boys obviously didn't get the joke, but I kept chuckling. They looked scared. Were they scared of me?

"Where's my mom and Dad?" No one spoke. I saw one of them wheel around into the hall and I heard his shouting for a doctor.

"Are you guys my brothers? Do I look like you? You're too young to be my dad. Darry, where's my dad?"

"Dally-"

But I interrupted him "Is that my name? Is my name 'Dally?' Is that what a Dal is?" I smiled, proud of myself for figuring it out.

"Dally-" But Darry was disturbed by the boy coming back, dragging a reluctant nurse behind him.

"See? He's not right!" The nurse glared at me. I felt tears come to my eyes. Why did she hate me? I was so confused! The nurses face cleared when she saw the tear, and I smiled at her, deciding that she was a nice person.

"Do you know your name honey?"

I smiled, glad to show off my knowledge. "Dally. I'm also called Dal. And that's Darry. Our names rhyme!" The nurse grinned distractedly at me. Darry muttered something to her, and she asked another question.

"How old are you Dally?"

"How old are you?" I think she thought I was being sassy. She bristled, but when she realized I was serious, she answered.

"47. How old are you?"

I thought for a moment, trying to come up with a smart answer. "Am I older or younger than you?"

"Younger."

"Am I 46?" The nurse shook her head. "45? 44? 43?"

"Honey, your a lot younger than me."

"20?"

"Younger." I grinned. I liked this game. And this lady. She had a nice smile.

"19? 18? 17? 16-"

"Honey, your 17."

"Ok."

"Do you remember anything?" I creased my eyebrows. What was she talking about?

"Yeah! You're 47, his names Darry, and that boy," I pointed at the boy who had run to get the nurse. "That boy can scream real loud."

A golden haired boy laughed at that, and went over to me to ruffle my hair. Darry gasped when I smiled up at the boy.

"You seem nice. What's your name?" The boy smiled disbelievingly.

"My names Sodapop. I'm Darry's brother." I smiled at his name.

"So-da." I said, liking the way the name rolled off my tongue. "Do I have a brother?"

"Uh." For some reason, when I asked this there was a tense silence.

"No. You never had a brother. But, We're all really good friends and we're all sort of like brothers. But one of us in particular was like your brother."

I cocked my head to the side, and I saw a flash of yellow out of the corner of my eye. Distracted, I grabbed it, then yelped, realizing it was my hair. Soda started to laugh, and even Darry (who looks kinda serious) smiled a little.

"Why is my hair so long. And why isn't it all shiny like yours?"

"Uh. You don't like to wear grease in your hair and we do." I patted my hair, liking the silky feeling of the blonde strands. I nodded.

"I like my hair. I also like his hair." I pointed to an auburn haired boy who looked terrified. I smiled encouragingly at him.

"It's ok. I'm not gonna hurt you. What's your name?" When the boy looked unlikely to answer, Soda pop hurriedly stepped in.

"That's Pony. He's Darry's and my brother." I beckoned for Soda to come nearer. He did, looking confused and slightly bemused.

"Why is he so sad?" I whispered. I think Darry hear, because he shook his head at Soda. Soda seemed to choose his words carefully.

"Well, we just lost a friend. And one of our friends is different now." I cocked my head to the side again, going cross eyed looking at the blond hair.

"What was your friends name?"

"Uh. Johnny."

"That's a pretty name. Is he our brother too?" Soda nodded, unable to talk for some reason.

"Yeah. He was." He managed finally. "He-he's dead now." Soda gulped. I reached out my hand to his hand, which lay limply on the bed. I gave it a squeeze, and he looked startled by this show of affection.

"Poor Johnny." I said. Soda nodded, and I saw tears in his eyes. I felt a strange sensation and tears started streaming down my face. They tickled and left dry, tight skin behind in the tracks.

"Dally, what's wrong? Do you remember Johnny?" Soda looked half hopeful, half anxious.

"No." I sniffled, wiping my tears on my hand. "I just don't want to see you guys sad."