Dixie Love

Chapter One

He promised

"Nurse Cade, you're needed in the waiting room," 24 year old Jonathan Cade was told as he walked out of the cafeteria.

"Why?" He asked, spinning around to look at Nurse Gibson, a large white woman in her 30s.

"There's a man out there yelling for you. He's disturbing the other patents," she told him as she walked away.

Johnny sighed and walked the way to the main waiting room on the first floor. He was almost sure he knew who it was and wasn't surprised by the order he'd gotten. This happened almost once a week at the hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma that he worked at.

That would all change that weekend for him. No more yelling for him in the waiting room. One of the perks he saw in moving out of the state.

He made his way out to the waiting room, getting hopeful looks from the waiting people in the small room.

Johnny looked passed them and over to the corner where Dallas Winston was standing with a smirk painted on his face.

"What'ch doin, huh? You're gonna get me fired," Johnny asked with fake anger.

Dally shrugged and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, "Smoke?" He asked, pointing to the door.

Johnny sighed and nodded, following his friend outside. He took a cigarette from him quickly and leaned against the brick wall.

"Don't you have to keep that thing clean?" Dally asked, tugging on the shirt of Johnny's scrub.

"I can change them," Johnny answered, lighting up.

Dally did the same, standing in front of Johnny.

No one could say that Dallas grew up fully, but just enough to accept Ponyboy and Johnny being together. It took two years in isolation for him to understand that it was okay for Johnny and Ponyboy to be gay. When he finally understood everything about the gang almost went back to normal. By almost it meant as normal as it could ever be.

"So, what's going on, John?" Dally asked after a few moments of silents.

"Nothin," Johnny answered, not sure if it was time to tell Dally about his and Pony's plans to move that weekend. Of course, everyone else knew.

"Well, I heard from Two-Bit you and Pony are about to skip town," Dally said, nudging him a bit.

"We're moving, yeah," Johnny answered, feeling pretty bad about it.

Johnny was everything to Dallas and he knew it. He knew it since Dally gave in to his Queer hating and let Johnny back into his life. He loved Johnny in a father son kinda way for years and now Johnny was just going to up and leave.

Dally nodded, stuffing his hands in his pockets, "Where?" He asked, looking at the building in front of them.

"Cullman, Alabama." Johnny answered, looking down at the concrete.

"Why so far?" Dally asked, looking over to the younger man.

"Pony wants to go south. Its south," Johnny answered, shrugging.

Dally sighed and nodded, trying to cover up how upset he really was.

"It's gonna be great," Johnny muttered, not able to keep himself from smiling.

"Yeah? Well, you need to get back to work, huh?" Dally asked, turning around to leave.

"See ya later, Dal," Johnny called, stomping out his cigarette.

Dally waved over his shoulder, not looking back.

Johnny sighed and went back inside to change into some new scrubs.

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Johnny made his way home around six, letting the next shift take over. He got into his old car that he happily bought the year before.

His apartment wasn't far from the hospital, just a bit out of town.

Ponyboy loved it at Johnny's apartment. He went to it every weekend when he was still in high school. The day he moved in, he claims, was the happiest day of his life. Johnny didn't believe him when he said it, but was just glad he was happy.

Johnny's apartment wasn't big at all. It was a one room apartment with one bathroom, and bedroom and living room combo, and a small kitchen in the back. It was really small, but Pony kept it really clean when he moved in. Pony was really good with house work, something Johnny wasn't good at.

Johnny got to the apartment after fifteen minutes of driving. He knew Pony was home, he always was since he finished college.

Ponyboy didn't like going back to town with out Johnny with him. It was just something he didn't want to do. He waited till Johnny was off and they'd go back and see everyone.

Johnny got to his door on the third story and unlocked it, pushing the door opened. He saw Pony sitting on the bed on the phone.

Probably talking to Sodapop.

Pony looked up and saw him. He smiled and ended his conversation quickly to greet him.

"Hey," he said, hanging the phone up and going over to Johnny.

"Hey," Johnny muttered, kissing him softly like he did every day he got off work.

Pony smiled as he pulled away slowly, "How was work?"

Johnny shrugged and sat on the bed, "Dal showed up. I told him about our plans." Johnny muttered.

"Oh, how'd he take it?" Pony asked, sitting beside him.

Johnny shrugged, "Pretty good. He didn't throw a fit or anything."

Pony nodded, putting his arms around Johnny's waist, "I can't wait." He muttered, smiling.

Johnny nodded, putting an arm around his neck, "But we have to be a secret again. For real this time."

Ponyboy shuddered, but nodded. He never liked the thought, but it had to be that way.

Johnny gave him a weak smile, hugging him.

Pony smiled, putting his head on his chest. "I love you," he muttered, closing his eyes.

"I love you too," Johnny said, laying down slowly, rubbing his back.

"We're gonna be okay? Being that far away?" Pony asked after a few minutes of sweet silents.

"Yeah, we are. I promise."

Looks like it got here earlier then I thought. Well here ya go and I'll be working on chapter two for you.