Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders. All rights go to S.E. Hinton.

-Sodapop's POV-

I woke up in the middle of the night, my body shaking while I broke out into another fit of coughs. My chest felt like it was being ripped in two. I've been having these coughing attacks for almost two weeks now and nothing I seemed to do made them any better. Darry had told me to try not to lay down flat when I slept but that didn't even work.

That was my third fit of the night. I tried to suppress my coughs the best I could, but it was too late. Ponyboy had already heard me.

"Are you alright?" Worry was etched all over his face. "Do you want me to get Darry?" His voice rose an octave when he saw how bad I was coughing.

"No, I'll be okay." I knew Darry pulled a double-shift last night and I didn't want him to lose any more sleep because of me. "Can you get me a glass of water?"

I heard Pony creep down the hallway and returned with my water, which I was very grateful for. It felt as if someone was grabbing my lungs and squeezing all the air out of them. He handed me the glass and I took several big gulps.

"Thanks Pony." I set the glass down next to me on the nightstand in case I needed it again tonight. I hoped I wouldn't, but the way my night was going I figured I wouldn't be so lucky.

Pony flopped back down on the mattress and I slung my arm around him and pulled him in close to me. I wasn't feeling so hot lately and it was nice to have someone I loved close to me at night. He was out like a light as soon as his head hit the pillow. I ran my fingers through his hair and nodded right back off to sleep with him.

XxXxXxXxXx

When I woke up in the morning, I was glad to see that Pony didn't move from under my arm all night. That kid could sleep as long as you let him.

Darry's heavy footsteps entered the room and shook Ponyboy and I awake.

"Hey Pone," he said, his voice still gruff with sleep. "You got school today. Get up for some eggs and bacon."

"Five more minutes Dare?"

"I gave you five minutes ten minutes ago," Darry said, and headed into the bathroom to wash up and shave.

"I'm sorry you lost some sleep last night because of me Ponyboy," I said. He already lost enough sleep because of his nightmares.

"You lose sleep because of my nightmares so we'll call it even," He assured me with a smile. "Do ya got work today?"

I nodded. I dreaded the thought of going to work when I felt so lousy, but I had to do what was necessary to keep my family together. Finances were tight as it was, and taking a day off was a luxury we could not afford.

"Maybe you should take the day off," Ponyboy started. "You're awfully pale Sodapop."

I dismissed him and hurried into the kitchen in hopes of getting some breakfast. Darry was making bacon and eggs which smelled delicious. I grabbed a few helpings of eggs, with grape jelly of course, and joined Ponyboy at the kitchen table.

"You feelin' alright?" Darry asked me. "I heard you coughing last night."

I immediately felt guilty for waking Darry up. "It's probably just the flu or something."

"Or something," Darry repeated back to me. "I made an appointment with the doctor for you today. I'll pick you up at the DX after I'm done with my shift.

"Why'd ya have to go and do that?" I said. "You know we can't afford it."

"As your guardian and big brother, it's my responsibility to take care of you. Besides, you ain't feeling well and you know it."

With that conversation ending, Two-Bit and Steve burst through door and wandered over to the source of the food.

"Good Morning Curtis household!" Two-Bit announced at with unnecessary volume. "How are we doing on this fine morning?"

"Can you keep it down Two-Bit?" Pony asked. "Can't you see that Soda doesn't feel good?"

Steve hurried over to me and looked worried. "What's wrong buddy?"

"I'm fine." I pushed Steve's hand off my shoulder. "Let's just go to work, okay?" I know I told Steve I'm okay now, but if I knew my best friend like I think I did, he would have a long talk with me once we got to the DX.

"Ain't you got school today?" Two-Bit asked Steve.

Steve chortled. "I'm takin' the first four periods off to do a shift. 'Sides , what's at school to learn?"

"If you say so Steve-O," Two joked and took a swing at him. "But don't be cryin' when the day comes that I'm smarter than you."

Steve scoffed and easily deflected the swing. "That day won't come for a very long time."

I smiled and observed my friends and brothers getting along so well. Darry making breakfast for everyone. Steve eating our chocolate cake. Two-Bit watching Mickey on the TV. Ponyboy scrambling to get his school books together. It was all so natural. Just the way things used to be before everything changed.

Seeing them bounce back from the recent events never ceases to amaze me. Anyone else would have cracked under the pressure but not my buddies. They were a tough group of guys. I was proud to call them my friends. Watching them all interact made me forget about my pains that felt like my chest was caving in. I knew they would always be there for me, no matter how bad the circumstances.

Looking back now, I thought I had everything figured out. I never knew how bad things would get for me. But I'm glad to have my family always standing behind me.