Chapter 2

Darry POV

After I got the call, I asked if I could leave work.

"Why?" My boss asked.

"One of my brothers are being rushed to the hospital. Can I please go?"

He gave me the day off, and I was grateful. I got my truck, and rushed to the hospital.

XXX

I got into the waiting room, to see Two-bit already there. "Any news?" Two-bit shook his head, and I sighed as I sat down next to him. He asked if he could call the rest of the gang, and I said sure. He left down the long hallway, and took a right.

How did he know where he was going? I wondered.

XXX

After a few minutes, Two-bit came back. We talked for a bit, and he said that the gang was on their way. A nurse came over to us.

She said, "The school told us that the patient's' name is Ponyboy Curtis. Is that correct?" I nodded. She looked at me, then Two-bit, and back again. "Immediate family only please."

I followed her as Two-bit sat down.

She took me into a small room, and closed the door behind us. "How are you related to Ponyboy?"

I said, I'm his legal guardian. He is my brother."

She nodded, and said, "Well, It was said that he passed out due to lack of breath and coughing. We did some tests, and, I'm sorry to say it, but they didn't come back very good." I stayed silent, as she continued. "I'm very sorry to say Mr. Curtis,, but everything came back positive. It looks like Ponyboy… Has lung cancer."

I gasped. I felt like someone had slapped me in the face, and said they did it on purpose.

My little brother, who was 13 and almost 14, was most likely going to die.

"H-how far is it? Could we get rid of it somehow?" I tried to keep my voice from shaking. I felt like crying.

She sighed, and said, "From the looks of it, he has stage 2 lung cancer. That means that the cancer is already in one of his lungs, and its in nearby areas as well."

"Can we do anything to get rid of the cancer?" I asked.

She said, "Well, the cancer is almost at stage 3. Surgery is an option, but, I honestly don't think that the odds are in Ponyboy's favor. For how far his cancer is, I think surgery would be a little to risky. Then again, it's up to you."

"Is surgery the only option?" I asked.

"Well, you could try chemotherapy. Of course, that may cause a lot of side effects."

"What are the side effects?"

"I'm not saying that Ponyboy will receive these side effects, but there is a high chance that he will. Chemotherapy is different for different people. Some side effects could be hair loss, easy bruising and bleeding, infection, nausea and vomiting, appetite changes, skin and weight changes, and mood changes."

I tried to pretend that this stage of cancer wasn't as bad as it was. I knew deep inside though, that it was very bad.

She said, "Now, I'm not saying that those things will happen to Ponyboy, but they are very common."

We talked about money prices, and other concerns, until I decided to leave. She was okay with that, and she said to keep a very close eye on Ponyboy. She also told me that he could go home today, as long as we were keeping a close eye on him.

She also said that Ponyboy already knew he had cancer, but that the boys in the waiting room didn't.

She walked me back to the waiting room.

Two-bit was still in the waiting room, along with Johnny, Steve, Dally, and Sodapop. Soda came over to me quickly, and said, "I heard about what happened. What's wrong with him, Dar?" I was about to say something, when a different nurse came over to us. I looked back, and saw that he was being followed by Ponyboy.

As soon as the nurse got out of the way, Ponyboy ran over to us, and I engulfed him in a hug, as he broke. I wish that moment never ended. I loved hugging my brothers, and I loved it when they hugged me back.

Pony said, "I'm scared Darry!"

Soda joined in on the hug, and just said, "Why, Pony?"

Ponyboy started crying into my shoulder harder, and said, "I'm dying."

Soda's eyes went big, and he asked what was wrong. I said, "I'll tell you at home." He just nodded.

"Are you guys ready to go?" I asked the gang, and my brothers. When they nodded, we left.

When we got home, I told the gang that Ponyboy had lung cancer. They all seemed shocked and scared. Even Dally seemed a bit worried.

I talked to Ponyboy in private about doing chemotherapy. I told him about the same effects, and that was enough to talk him out of it. He just hugged me, and cried his heart out.

I begged, "Ponyboy, please? It might stop the cancer."

He said quietly as his sobs subsided, "And it might not."

As much as I wanted to deny it, I knew that Ponyboy was right.

So, I guess that was that.

No chemo. I guess a part of me was okay with that. I knew that chemo would also Cause Ponyboy to suffer even more. I didn't want him to suffer.

XXX

Johnny and Ponyboy were sitting on the couch, while I made dinner. Soda, Steve, Two-bit, and Dally were talking. Johnny was talking to Pony as well. Every now and then Ponyboy would cough. I winced.

It sounded painful, and pain was written all over his face.

His coughing fits weren't that common though. He got a few here and there, but they didn't take to long. He had a smaller appetite though. I usually wouldn't let him get up from the table until I thought that he ate enough.

I wasn't trying to be mean. I knew he didn't want to eat, but I know that he'd get worse quicker if he didn't.

Pony looked tired at the kitchen table. He finally ate enough, and so I let him go to bed. Soda decided to go to bed early as well. By just watching Ponyboy with Sodapop, you could tell that they loved each other with all their heart.

They were always there for each other.

When one was down, the other could usually lift him up.

Usually.

Sorry this is such a bad story. Please review, and tell me how I am doing.