Hey guys! So this chapter of What If is dedicated to one of my favorite authors Pony'sgirlfriend. Y'all should go check her out! Enjoy!
oOoOoOo
"Jennifer? You okay?" Sodapop asked, cracking Jennifer's bedroom door open just a tad to see her doubled over in her bed, hacking her lungs out. It was about one in the morning and Pony was the one to hear her; so he made Soda go check it out.
Jennifer rolled over and looked at her older brother? "Huh?" She asked, her voice congested and hoarse; as if it was being strained.
Soda opened the door a little more and leaned against the doorframe. "Jeez Jen, you sound horrible.
"I feel like it too…" She stated, turning over to cough some more.
Sodapop walked to his sister's bedside and sat down on the edge of the bed, feeling her forehead when she rolled back over. "Wow, you're pretty hot."
She smiled. "Thanks Soda, but I'm your sister and that would be gross." Jennifer strained to say in her weak voice.
"Jen, I'm bein serious; are you feelin okay?" Soda asked worried as he pushed Jennifer's hair off of her forehead.
"I don't know, I'll come talk to you in the morning. It's probably just allergies Soda, don't worry about it."
Soda hesitated before getting up. "Oh alright, but if you need anything, me, Darry or Ponyboy are just a room away."
"Kay, night Pepsi-Cola." Sodapop walked to the doorway and opened the door, checking on Jennifer one last time before leaving for the night.
oOoOoOo
"GOOD MORNING CURTIS RESIDENCE, NO NEED TO WORRY! WE HAVE ARRIVED!" Two-Bit screamed at the top of his lungs as him and Steve entered the Curtis' house.
Soda threw a spoon at him. "Two-Bit! Keep it down! Jen isn't feelin too hot." Darry and Ponyboy stopped what they were doing and looked at their other brother.
"What about Jennifer?" Darry asked, getting up from his chair at the dining room table.
"She was hackin her lungs out last night and it woke Pony up so I went to go check on her. She felt pretty hot but she told me not to worry." Soda admitted.
Before Darry could make it to his sister's bedroom, it flung open and Jennifer went flying into the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before throwing up all over her hand and into her designated area. "Jen!" Darry screamed.
He ran into the bathroom and pulled her hair back as she continued to be sick and dry heave into the toilet; gagging once or twice before throwing up again. "Woah hun, you okay?"
"No…" Jennifer barely said; her voice barely above a strained whisper as she spit saliva and extra vomit into the toilet.
Jennifer sat on the floor with her head against the cool porcelain toilet as her eldest brother wet down a rag and wiped off her mouth. Darry knelt down and put his hand against Jen's cheeks and forehead. "Jeez Jennifer, you're burnin up!"
"S-s-sorry…" Jennifer stuttered before she started shaking and leaning her head against Darry's chest.
"Ya cold?" He asked. His sister only nodded before Darry put one of his arms under her legs and the other under her back; lifting her up. Jen wrapped her arms around Darry's neck and nestled her face into his warm and welcoming chest.
He flushed the toilet before carrying his ill sister out of the bathroom with everyone watching panic struck. Oldest Curtis carried her back into her room and gently laid her down onto her bed, middle and youngest Curtis entering soon after. "Soda, go get me a cool, wet washrag, Pony, fetch me the thermometer."
The two other brothers of Darry's and Jennifer's set off to get their requested items. Jen's eyes were shut when Darry shook her softly. "Jen?"
"Hmm?" She managed to get out, her eyes still closed.
"You feel okay?" He asked.
Jennifer wrapped her arms around her stomach and curled into the fetal position. "Hmm-mm…" She responded while shaking her head.
"Where does it hurt?" Darry asked as he was knelt down at the side of his little sister's bed.
"Everywhere Darry," Jen opened her eyes and they had tears clouding her vision. "Everywhere…" She whispered.
Sodapop and Ponyboy came back with the deliveries and Darry stuck the thermometer in Jen's mouth as her eyes closed. He was about to put the rag on Jen's forehead, but he stopped. "Soda," He said, looking one of his younger siblings. Soda perked up. "I said to get a cool and wet rag…"
"Oh!" Soda yelled, causing Jennifer to groan in agony. Soda winced and took the rag, leaving the room.
"Pony, can you go stall Two-Bit and Steve for me?" Pony nodded, walking out of the room, almost tripping over one of his older siblings on the way out.
"Dar, here ya go. I rung it out too, just incase." Darry grabbed the rag and folded it up, putting it on Jennifer's forehead; causing her to flinch and tense up. She seemed a little too out of it to recollect what was going on.
Taking the thermometer out of Jen's mouth, Darry read it aloud so Soda could hear. "102.8… my goodness Jen, what have you been doing?"
Darry stood up and pulled the blankets up to Jen's waist, so she wouldn't get too hot and raise her fever. Soda patted his back and motioned for him to leave the room with him.
oOoOoOo
"What's goin on with Jennifer, Dar?" Two-Bit asked nervously.
Darry only shrugged and put away the thermometer. "I don't know Two-Bit, judging by what's goin on, I'm gonna go off the limb and say she's sick." Darry replied sarcastically, walking to the living room where Two-Bit, Steve and Soda were sitting on the floor and Ponyboy was laying on the couch.
"No need to get sassy Superman…" Two-Bit answered, snapping his fingers.
"Well, how did she get sick?" Steve said in a sincere voice.
The Curtis trio shrugged. "Probably school," Pony answered. "Everyone's been gettin a cold or the flu here and there and I've been trying to get Jen to avoid people who have it."
Darry and Soda were all ears now. Darry pointed to the guys. "I'm sorry guys, but I'm not letting you go back until Jen's better and the kids there stop gettin sick."
Two-Bit only smiled as Pony frowned. Steve high-fived Soda, Soda being happy that he could spend some more time with his best friend. Soon, Mickey Mouse came on and everyone settled down in the living room to watch.
oOoOoOo
Getting up from her bed, Jennifer was determined to make it to at least the living room. She hated having to stay in bed all day and her stomach was again bothering her some, so she wanted to move around.
It had been about two hours since she fell asleep and when she sat up, she could hear her bones crack from stiffness and feel how weak not just her legs were, but her whole body was as she swung her legs over the side of the bed.
She stood up and waited a second before regaining her balance. Pulling her soft and warm blanket off of her bed and wrapping it around her head and body, Jen started for the door; slowly, but surely.
She opened the door and squinted at the bright lights beaming through her door. "Jen, what are you doing?" Steve asked as he passed her door, only stopping when he saw her.
"Where's Darry?" She asked hoarsely and quietly, but loud enough for him to hear. Steve pointed to the kitchen.
"Makin some chocolate cake." She cringed at the mentioning of food and made her way to the kitchen.
When Darry saw her, he almost spat out the cake batter he was eating. "Jennifer! You should be in bed!"
Jen only rested her head on oldest Curtis' chest and kept a tight hold on her blanket. "My stomach hurts again…" She whined.
Darry set down the spoon and beater he was licking the batter off of and wrapped his arms around his only sister. "I understand, but you should really be resting."
"But that only makes it hurt more." Darry mentally rolled his eyes because he honestly felt really bad for Jen. He hated to see her miserable in any situation. He wishes he could take her spot and be the sick one, not his baby sister.
Darry swayed back and forth. "I know baby, but I can't have you up and about while you're like this and while everyones over. I don't want you to get even more sick and I don't want you to get anyone else sick," Jen looked up. "No offense."
Jen didn't say anything in response, only turned around and started coughing violently, causing her blanket to slip off of her head and onto her shoulders. She started shaking. "Where's Soda and Pony?"
Darry helped Jen to the couch and covered her up with her blanket when she laid down. "Went to go get you some medicine and stuff."
"For me?" She asked in her congested high-pitched voice as her eyes were closing. She saw Two-Bit, Steve and Darry turning off the lights and shutting the curtains to make the room dark.
"Yup," Darry said. He kissed her head. "Now get some rest here or else I'll take you back to your room." Jennifer only obeyed and shut her eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.
oOoOoOo
Upon entering the pitch black house of theirs, Soda and Pony saw a lump lying down on the couch, confirming it was Jen when it started coughing some. Ponyboy entered the house as quietly as he could with Soda trailing him. "Hey Darry?" Soda whispered shouted.
"Yeah?" Darry answered also in a voice only loud enough for his brothers to barely hear. He walked out of his bedroom.
"Where's Two-Bit and Steve?" Soda asked as he put a bag on the table.
Darry pointed to the living room. "Steve's in the recliner and Two-Bit's on the floor. I told Two-Bit he could take my bed, but he insisted on the floor."
"Why's everyone asleep?" Pony asked, setting the second and third bag on the table. The beg had The Dingo food in them and Soda was anxious to start eating it.
Darry started rummaging through the drug store bag. "Jennifer didn't wanna sleep in her room and her stomach was hurting her again," Darry whispered. "So I let her sleep on the couch. Me, Two-Bit and Steve darkened the house and we all ended up going to sleep too. You guys just woke me up." Darry yawned as something started moving around on the floor.
Everyone looked over and saw Two-Bit sit up and rub his eyes; his hair sticking up here and there. "Wha…" He grumbled in the kind of voice where you don't give a shit what's going on, you just want everyone to shut the fuck up.
"Sorry…" Soda whispered. Two-Bit laid back down and adjusted his pillow, covered himself back up with his blanket and went back to sleep as the Curtis sister started coughing again. Only this time, waking up and gagging.
"Jen?" Darry asked full of concern when he saw Jennifer sit up. He rushed over to her and started rubbing her back to avoid a massive cleanup.
Luck was on their sides this time because she finally calmed down and stopped gagging. "Hey Jen, you alright?" Darry asked, but he got no answer for Jennifer had passed out once more in her oldest brother's arms.
Darry laid her down and felt her forehead again, it felt more hot this time around, concerning Darry more than he already was. He sighed and got up, walking back out to where his younger brothers were. "How's she doin?" Pony asked, just to be saying something.
Darry picked up the cough syrup and brought it to the kitchen where he turned on a light. "Well, as you can see, not good. I think it's that nasty cough that's botherin her the most," Darry answered, getting out a spoon. He handed it to Soda. "Soda, go wake Jen up and give this to her," He also handed him the medicine bottle. "You need to give her two spoonfuls, alright?"
Soda took the spoon and bottle and nodded. "Sure thing Dar," He walked out to the living room where Two-Bit and Steve were awake and whispering to each other. Soda bent down in front of the couch and gently shook his younger sister. She stirred and and gave a wry groan. "Jen? You awake?"
Jen turned over to see Soda bending down in front of her. "Soda?" He voice was getting a little worse since they left, something Soda noticed.
"Yeah, Jen, I need you to sit up for me," She tried to and ended up having Soda help her. He poured some of the medicine on the spoon. "I need you to take some of this."
Jen shook her head. "I can't…" She moaned.
"Why not?"
"Because, if I do… I'm gonna be sick."
"Jennifer, it's medicine. It'll help with that."
She didn't have any more strength of energy to fight back so she only nodded and proceeded to take some of the cough medicine; making her a little queasy, but she was able to hold it back. "That better?" Soda asked, putting the cap on the bottle.
Jen nodded. "Sure…"
Sodapop stood up and put the medicine and spoon on the coffee table. "Kay Jen, I'm gonna help you back to your room."
Soda pulled the blanket off of his little sister and took her arm, helping her stand up. Jen tried to, but she must've been a lot more exhausted then the last time she got up for she started seeing spots cloud her vision and a sudden shortness of breath when she swung her legs over the side of the couch. She put her head in her hands and burped, Soda getting a little worried.
"Everything alright Jen?" Soda asked. Jennifer didn't wanna worry her brothers more than she already was, so she just nodded.
"Yeah Soda, I'm fine… I think…" She pushed herself up and off of the couch, stumbling and wobbling for a second before Soda got a hold of her and helped her start walking.
"Wait Jen," Soda stopped. "You think you can make it back while I go get the medicine from the coffee table?" Jen nodded, taking a step towards her bedroom door before passing out completely.
"Jennifer!" Ponyboy screamed since he seemed to be the only one who saw his sister faint. He dropped the plate he had on the floor and rushed over to her.
"Pone? What is it?" Soda asked, turning around and dropping his things too when he saw his sister on the ground. Darry looked from where he was in the kitchen and ran straight over to Jen.
"What happened?" Darry asked as he picked his little sister up and off of the ground.
Soda shrugged. "I was helping her back to her room and I went back to get the medicine and she said she could make it back herself… but I guess she was wrong." Soda was blaming himself when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Pony's.
"Soda, it's not your fault." He assured him while Darry didn't go to Jen's room, he took her to his room, wanting her to be cooled off since his room was pretty cold.
He set her down on the bed when he noticed her sweating some. "She needs to shower when she gets up," Darry said to his younger brothers who had walked into the room a little after. "But I don't see her getting up from here for a while."
"Well, then why'd you put her in your room?" Ponyboy asked. Soda had left to go talk to Two-Bit and Steve.
"It's cooler in here, if I put her in her room where it's hot, that'll only raise her fever."
oOoOoOo
She awoke lightly to the sound of chairs moving around. She saw that it was dark out and that she wasn't in her room. Looking around, she noticed she was in Darry's room. How long had it been? She wondered as she sat up from the bed, giving her stomach a moment or two before standing up from the bed. She looked down and saw she was wearing the same clothes from when she had gotten sick the other day.
Fishing around in her eldest brothers dresser, Jen took an old shirt and put it on, leaving on her yoga shorts for she was scared she was gonna get too hot if she put on pants and become sick once again. She tucked in the front of the shirt and slid on some of Darry's socks. Making her way to the door, she tried to see if she could hear some of the conversation going on in the living room or wherever.
"Darry, it's been four days, don't you think you should get Jen and have her walk around some?"
"Not until she wakes up on her own, she's gettin better, I just don't know when she'll get up is."
"When was the last time she had something proper to eat?"
"Ponyboy, why do you wanna know?"
"Because she's my sister too and I wanna make sure she's okay!"
"I don't know, I can just assure you that she's gonna be hungry when she gets up."
"I am pretty hungry actually." Jen announced as she left the bedroom and stared at her brothers who were playing cards at the table along with Steve.
"Jennifer!" Soda screamed, throwing his cards and running up to hug his baby sister. "You had us so scared!"
"Soda, please stop, my stomach still hurts a bit and so does my head…" Jen said as she pushed her older brother off of her.
"Sorry…" Soda said full of guilt as Darry got up from his chair and stood in front of his sister.
"How ya feelin?" He asked as he put a hand on her cheek and then on her forehead.
Jen shrugged. "I'm still a bit sore, but other than that, I'm just hungry."
Darry drew back his hand and stared at Jen for a moment. "Well, you're still pretty warm,"
"Darry, just feed the damn child! She looks like she hasn't eaten in a month!" Steve announced. Ponyboy covered his mouth to avoid bursting out laughing as Soda nodded in agreement.
"Fine," Jen turned to the kitchen. "If you aren't gonna feed me then I'll just feed myself." She opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle or beer, jokingly. Jen doesn't drink and also, she was too young.
Darry rushed towards her. "I don't think so missy," He said sternly, taking the beer bottle and putting it back in the fridge. He looked around and picked up an apple. "Why don't you go easy if your stomach's still botherin you a little, you do seem like you've lost some weight."
Jen took the apple gratefully and bit into it, savoring the sweet taste of food and especially her favorite fruit. The sweet juices making her taste buds beg for me. "Thanks Dar."
Darry put a hand on her back and helped her to the dining table where the guys started playing Gin Rummy. Jen sat back and just watched, continuing her sweet apple when suddenly her head gave a nasty throb. She stood up with a sharp intake of breath. Everyone looked up. "Jen? You okay?" Soda asked, also standing up and making his way to her.
"I'm fine, my head just hurts pretty bad…" Another throb made Jen throw her apple away. She had only taken a couple bites out of it.
"Well maybe you should do lie down." Soda suggested, helping her to Darry's room.
Jen nodded. "Kay…" She slowly laid down on Darry's bed, not covering up with the blankets or anything. She sprawled out all over the bed and closed her eyes, listening to Soda quietly leave the room, leaving the door open just a crack; just the way she likes it.
oOoOoOo
About two days later, Jen was doin fine with the exception of a small headache here and there and an upset stomach every once in a while. One night, she had a headache and was lying in her bed, staring out the window and up at the stars. She couldn't go to sleep; so she just star gazed. Sometime around this moment, she realized just how lucky she was with a family like hers. Loving, caring and supporting brothers who are always there for her; protection and concerned friends who were always glued to her side. She sighed and chuckled, taking a few deep breaths before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
