Dally survived the shot wounds, because Dallas Winston can survive anything. But with Johnny still gone - he's worse off than ever before.
"Dally!" Ponyboy exclaims, walking into the hospital room with Sodapop.
"How ya doin' buddy?" Soda asks cheerfully.
"I'm alive ain't I?" Dally half smiled, but he didn't really want company right then and there. Soda grinned and Dallas couldn't help grinning back, Soda just has something about him, you can't resist feeling how he wants you to feel.
"How's the boys doin' man? Two-Bit and Steve and Darry and the -" He was about to say the kid, as in what he called Johnny sometimes, but then he remembered..Johnny was gone. A pain shot through his heart and he struggled to keep his face looking neutral.
Soda seemed to catch this. "They're all fine," not wanting to worry Dally with what was really going on.
They were all a mess. The gang just wasn't with it anymore, everything was falling apart. Two-Bit was getting drunk and high a lot more than usual, he was barely around anymore. Infact, they hadn't seem him since the night after the rumble. That was almost a week ago.
Steve was around as much as usual, but usually red-eyed and in a bad mood. He almost punched Soda in the face for asking a simple question. Steve and Soda never fought.
Darry was carrying on good as usual, but even you could tell he missed Johnny sometimes. Johnny was a great kid, one in a million, and his death took a big toll on everyone.
Dally sighed, he knew Soda well enough to be able to tell when he was lying. When you grow up with a guy, you pick up everything about them.
"What's really happening, man?" Dallas asked, in a firm voice that said he wasn't messing around. He just wanted the truth. So Soda told him. He cussed at himself and punched the wall. It's all my fault. If only I'd of worked harder to keep him safe, gotten into the church a little faster, made sure we all were more careful with our smoke and the whole damn fire never woulda happened. If only I'd of done my job and protected him! Now the gang's losing it because of me, because I couldn't keep an eye on him. Because I'm a screw up. It's all my fault.
"No, Dally.." Ponyboy says slowly. "This ain't your fault. This ain't any of our faults. You did all you could." Dally was startled, he must of thought that last sentence out loud. Dally gave him a disgusted look, not believing it at all.
"Yeah, Ponyboy? Just like how you didn't have to run into that burning church! You could of let the kids die, and saved Johnnycake. We all could of done something to stop it, so don't go acting like we tried!" Dallas snapped at him.
"Okay Pony, we should go now." Soda says quietly, leaving Dally stare at the ceiling, his blue eyes blazing in anger.