.::I do not Own the Outsiders::.

I left off on chapter 32, the bolded text are parts I used from chapter 32. This is the alternative ending. I thank you for taking time to read this. Enjoy.

"And if you are a ghost
I'll call your name again
And if you are a ghost
I'll call your name

You, always..."

"Ponyboy...Oh Pony..."

"M-Mama?"

"Hey there lil booger long time no see?"

"Daddee?"

Laura Curtis nodded slowly with a smile on her face, Darrel Curtis was beside her his hands on her shoulders both staring at Ponyboy who sat up from his laying position. He didn't know where he was, everything was too bright and the only figures he recognized were those of his parents. They seemed to be waiting for him to do something but it has been such a long time since he saw his parents that he was very still eyeing them thinking this was all a dream. Ponyboy stood up feeling very weak and with his wobbly legs he walked towards them trying to see if they were real.

"Mama? Daddee? Awe you weal?"

His mother kept on smiling wrapping her arms around her small son, "Of course we are 'lil Colt ."

His father rubbed his back giving a kiss on his head, "We love you so much son."

Pony began sobbing against Laura's shoulder burying his face, it felt like forever since the last time he felt complete. The warmth of his parents love. Family together again. Now knowing it wasn't a dream he cried.

"We can't stay long Pony."

"W-why not Mama?"

"We have to leave soon."His father said.

"B-but I don't want you to leave me."

His mother put a hand on his cheek stopping the flow of his tears, "Look at me sweetie, you have to make a choice. Now listen good, Darrel?"

Darrel cleared his throat, "Ponyboy, son, we love you so much. Always remember this. Always. Your brothers love you too. They'd do anything to make you happy."

Laura continued, "You can come with us or go with your brothers. Please honey, think very hard ."

Pony furrowed his eyebrows, "If I leave with you...Will- will my brodews be sad?"

Darrel gave a sad smile, "I'm afraid so."

"Will you be sad If I go with by brodews?"

"Oh Pony...We're okay where we are son don't you worry. Even though you can't see us we will always be watching you. We love you."His dad ruffled his hair.

"Ok...I love you Mama ... I love you Daddee."

Some moments of silence passed before Ponyboy grinned extending his arm to his mother, his father ruffled his hair smiling. The choice was made. The three of them walked away from the bright light stopping by a big large brown door decorated with many beautiful abstract figures and a golden door knob. Pony glanced behind him, he saw memories fade like a movie but fast forwarding his short 4 years of life from a distance. The faces of his brothers popped up, friends, Pepsi... "I'm gonna miss you Soda, Dawy...My fwiends...Goodbye..." With a final wave, Pony giggled hugging his mother. Darrel lifted him from the ground, Laura Curtis kissed his cheek, "C'mon sweetie, it's going to be a long road ahead." Together, they opened the door...

"Soda, Steve."

Both turned to Darry, he had a bleak look on his face, this was not a good sign. Steve let go of Soda's arm instantly having a bad feeling in the bottom of his stomach.

"What is it Dar?" Soda asked his voice calmed down.

"It's Ponyboy. We need to see him now. He...he really might be dying."

With those words spoken all of them hurried off to Pony's room.

Sodapop frowned deeply when he saw his brother laying very still on the big hospital bed. His small body looked so tiny with so many wires connected to him and that beeping machine by his side. Steve silently walked towards where Twobit and Johnny were sitting next to them. Darry ran his hand through his hair nervously thinking the worst. Twobit scratched his cheek wanting to not feel the sadness growing inside. Johnny sighed staring down at the floor feeling helpless, Steve started biting his nails watching Ponyboy's chest rise up and down wishing it would never stop, C'mon kid! You gotta fight death! You gotta! Please, I promise-promise that I won't um, be such an ass! Just...Please live...

Darry grabbed one of Pony's small hands stroking it, it felt cold in his own hand making him shudder, I love you so much. Then Pony twitched, Soda jumped up from his seat shaking his body slightly, "Baby, baby can you hear me?"

Ponyboy moaned yet kept still. Darry licked his lips, he needed to make a serious phone call. His stomach made a strange sound, Steve asked, "You hungry big guy?"

Shaking his head Darry thought, It's not hunger...It's the feeling of anxiousness...

The only sound was that of the small machine making a beeping sound letting everyone know of Pony's heart rate. Twobit sighed getting up leaving, "I'll be right back guys. Ya want anything? I'm heading to the cafeteria."

His friends shook their heads not really hungry even though it's been some time since they ate anything at all. Steve shrugged "I'll go with you." Twobit nodded leaving with him. Darry bit the inside of his cheek remembering something a nurse had recommended a while ago. I suggest you call a priest, you know, Last Rites.His mother was a Catholic, his father was Christian. His stomach churned in a bad way thinking that Pony reallywas dying. He was going to die. Shaking his head slightly Darry let out a quivered breath. Soda heard, "What's wrong Dar?"

"Soda...I-I'm going to have to call a Priest. You know for-"

Sodapop let out a small cry escape, "Oh Christ Darry, no no, he ain't dead! He's not going to die!" At that moment the middle Curtis moaned resting his head against Pony's chest hearing his faint heart beat. He's alive! He-he can't die! No Pony you can't...I-I'll go with you, I swear I will! If you die I wanna die with you.

"Soda it has to be done."

Johnny shut his eyes after hearing Darry's words. That small hope mustered inside of him began to fade. God, I never ... prayed before but please make him live. Please...

"So what? You just gave up?!"

"No! I didn't, Soda the doctor even told us Pony-"

"Ok! Ok. Do whatever you want."

Darry sighed getting up to phone a Priest they knew very well in a church nearby when they used to go when their mother was alive. Sodapop sniffed while Johnny walked next to him awkwardly putting a hand on his shoulder, Soda smiled weakly. Time was ticking and it was only a matter of time before Darry came back with the Priest. Sodapop remembered when his baby brother was born how he promised himself to always care for Ponyboy that no matter what he'd do everything in his power to have him safe.

Johnny stared at his small friend looking very pale in that hospital bed. He had a gauze wrapped around his head and one of those tubes placed up his nose. The machine kept making it's annoying sound...Beep...Beep...

Suddenly they heard a small gasp come from Ponyboy. His eyes shot open with his mouth quivering. Soda instantly asked, "You hear me Pone? Is something wrong? Pony? Pony?!"

Ponyboy's eyes stared at his brother's, a small weak smile appeared, "I'm gonna miss you Soda...Dawy..." Then he glanced at Johnny who was holding back his breath, "My fwiends...Pepsi..."

Sodapop made a weird sound from his throat, as if he were choking, shaking his head slowly, "No baby no, don't say that p-please Pony p-"

With one final breath he was able to say one last thing, "Goodbye..." A sigh escaped his lips, his eyes that once twinkled with life now were left with a grayish color. The machine that was in charge of letting everyone know of his heart beat now showed a flat green line. Beeeeeeeeep.

Soda who had his small brother's hand in his let it drop, his mouth was open in shape of an 'O'. Johnny backed away step by step tears springing to his eyes until he hit the wall behind him with a loud thump. Nurses came running inside with the Doctor shouting orders. A defibrillator was laid beside, the Doc rubbed them shocking Pony on the chest. Darry appeared with a wild eyed face, he took Soda by the shoulders shaking him roughly wanting immediate answers, "What's going on?! Soda, what's going on, talk to me ! Soda, damn it!"

Soda was left without words, the only sounds he heard were that of the doctor frustrating yells, "C'mon kid stay with me!" It all felt like a slow motion movie. Johnny covered his face with his hands not believing any of this. Finally, everything went quiet... The machine kept making that flat line sound almost in a mocking manner. Darry turned around, the Doctor lifted his arm looking bleakly at his watch, "Time of death, 3:47. a.m."

Death...Death...Death...Ponyboy!

"T-time of death?" Darry asked stuttering.

"I-I'm real sorry boys...W-we tried everything...It seems that his...His small body couldn't take it...I'm real sorry." His voice started to crack a little, "I'll leave you alone. Take your time." One of the nurses disconnected him from the machine, no sound again. Another one hung her head down as she walked out. The doctor could not meet his patient's family in the eyes knowing he had failed them, guiltiness read all over him.

The only ones alone now were Darry, Soda and Johnny who were still in shock of what had happened.

Sodapop was the first one to do make a move, he took one step forward then another till he reached the bed. He then fell on his knees trembling while letting out the tears, a wail of agony broke out, "No! Pony! Ponyboy! Please! No! God, no! Pony!"

His oldest brother clammed his fists tightly showing the whiteness on his knuckles, his jaw clenched. No no no no, this cannot be happening, no no please...no! No! Tears formed, a stingy feeling grew on the back of his head. His heart raced now grasping the situation of Ponyboy dead. His baby brother dead. On his birthday. Soon, Superman, the one who was supposed to be the strong one, will break as well into anguish. A human being could only take so much.

The whole room felt suffocating, Soda's wails didn't help, Johnny sobbed too, shoulders shaking crying into his hands. His heart broke into a million little pieces, already he lost two people who he felt they loved him as parents, now his little brother, he called him that even though they weren't really blood related. "Youw my bestest fwiend Johnny..Bestest fwiend..." The one little boy who filled his heart with happiness, forever gone.Oh Pone...Oh Pone...

"Pony, Ponyboy," Soda whispered, "Y-ya gotta wake up. Please honey...Wake up..."

All of this was a living nightmare.

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)