I do not own The Outsiders. S.E. Hinton does :)

Ponyboy awoke with a start. He was sure that he hadn't had a nightmare, but he was sweating and breathing fast. The boy felt hot, however when he pushed his covers off him, he suddenly felt cold again. This scared him, so he got up to get Darry.

However, when he attempted to open the door, he realized it was locked, just liked it had been in the morning. Fear overcoming him, he began to scream. He hoped his big brother hadn't left him.

A lock could be heard turning, and then suddenly Darry barged through the door, knocking Ponyboy to the ground. The smaller boy whimpered, wiping his cheek where Darry's elbow had hit him.

"Oh baby, I'm sorry," Darry sighed, crouching down and lifting the younger boy up. Ponyboy wrapped his arms around his big brother while the older man held him close.

"I don't feel well," Ponyboy sniffled, burying his face in his brother's shoulder. Darry put a hand on his baby brother's shoulder, and he knew that the youth was burning up. However, he was worried that if he gave Ponyboy any medicine, the boy could end up dangerously ill.

"I know, Pony, I know. Go to my room, alright? I'll bring you a glass of water," Darry smiled, putting Ponyboy down. The boy wiped his eyes before following his brother's command.

The oldest Curtis strolled to the kitchen and got a glass out of the cupboard. He filled the glass to the brim with water, and then put some ice in it before making his way back to his bedroom.

Ponyboy had curled himself up on the left side of Darry's bed. He was clutching the blanket in agony, blinking hard as sweat dripped from his forehead.

"Oh dear," Darry said softly, placing the glass down on the table next to his bed. The man rubbed Pony's back while the boy groaned in discomfort. "Want some water, little buddy?"

The youngest Curtis nodded and sat up, reaching out for the glass. Darry chuckled and handed the water over, observing how quickly Ponyboy was drinking the water.

"Easy buddy; drinking it too fast isn't good for ya," he warned, gently taking the glass from the younger boy. Ponyboy groaned once again and lay down on the bed, rubbing his stomach.

Darry switched the light off and climbed in the bed next to his little brother, wrapping his arm around the boy. Ponyboy, who missed Sodapop dearly, snuggled into Darry's embrace, while the older man wiped away a tear from his younger brother's cheek. The youngest Curtis hadn't even been aware that he was crying.

Soon, both brothers fell asleep. Darry had his arm around his little brother's small frame, as if trying to prevent him from ever leaving his side.

XXX

The next day, Ponyboy felt a lot better. Darry didn't; now that Ponyboy was feeling better, he wanted to go out, and Darry wasn't fond of the idea one bit.

"Just for a ten minute walk, Dar. I'll be fine!" Ponyboy protested, but Darry shook his head.

"You're still sick and that's final," Darry snapped, sipping from his cup of coffee. Ponyboy put his hands over his eyes, trying to stop himself from lashing out at his eldest brother.

Breakfast was silent after the argument. That was until Two-Bit and Steve came waltzing through the front door.

"Alright family?" Two-Bit greeted, sitting next to Ponyboy and pulling the box of cereal towards him. He dug his filthy hands though the box, grabbing a handful of cereal and shoving it in his face. Ponyboy chuckled while Darry scowled in disgust.

"Any news on Soda?" Steve asked, grabbing the juice carton and pouring a glass of orange juice for himself.

"Nope," Darry responded forcefully, snatching the box of cereal away from Two-Bit.

Two-Bit shook his head sadly, his signature grin disappearing for a second. The man was sad that another one of his buddies was gone, though he knew that there was still hope that Soda would be home soon.

"Wanna come out it me and Steve, Pony? We were just headin' over to The Dingo," Two-Bit offered, smirking at the way his little friend's face lit up.

"He's not going," Darry answered for Pony, ignoring his baby brother's angry expression. "I'm not having him go out when he's all sick."

"I ain't sick, Darry!" Ponyboy yelled, startling Two-Bit and Steve. Darry just shook his head, sipping from his cup again.

Ponyboy felt himself turn red; he was extremely annoyed at his eldest brother. Why was Darry being so protective? If Soda was here, then Darry wouldn't care about him!

"Just because Soda's not here doesn't mean you can use me as a replacement!" Ponyboy shouted, wanting to wound his brother. Indeed he did, but he didn't feel so hot about what he'd just done.

Darry slammed is coffee cup down on the table and stormed to his room, slamming the door shut behind him. Everybody in the kitchen winced, and Ponyboy ran a hand through his hair.

"You guys should go," he stated, turning around. He didn't look up until he heard the slam of the front door.

Slowly walking to Darry's room, Ponyboy took deep breaths. He had been meaning to upset his brother, but now that it had happened, he regretted everything.

It was a sad sight in Darry's room. The greaser was sitting on his bed, holding a picture of Sodapop. Ponyboy swallowed and sat beside his brother, who didn't seem to notice him.

"I'm sorry, Darry. I'll stay here with you," the young boy smiled, looking at his brother.

Darry didn't answer; he just continued to stare at the picture.

"Maybe we could do something together – just me and you. Remember when we little and we got sick, so mom and dad would put on a movie or we'd play board games?" Ponyboy said, hoping his brother would comply.

The oldest Curtis took his eyes off the picture of Sodapop and glared at his little brother, who shrunk back.

"You're right: I can't use you to replace Soda; you'll never be as good as him. Just go out and do whatever; I couldn't care less," Darry spat, turning away from his baby brother.

Ponyboy whimpered. What had he done? His brother had clearly wanted him to stay home so he could spend time with him, but Pony didn't want that; he just wanted to be selfish and spend time with his friends. Not with his brother who did everything for him. Not with his brother who feared losing another brother.

"I'm sorry," Ponyboy apologized, wrapping his arms around Darry. Darry shoved his little brother so harshly that he fell on the floor.

"Get out!" Darry demanded, and Ponyboy took no time in getting up and running out of the house.

He didn't go to The Dingo; instead he walked to the park, where Bob Sheldon had been murdered. The boy sat on a bench, next to a black-haired woman with four young children surrounding her.

"Go play," she ordered, and they all left. She sat back, and then noticed Ponyboy, who was biting his thumbnail manically. "Need a cigarette?" Ponyboy nodded.

He took the cancer stick and lit it up with a lighter he had in his jeans pocket. The woman requested to use his lighter, and he gave it to her without hesitation, since she had been the one to hand him a cigarette when he needed one.

"Rough day? You look upset," she remarked, taking a puff from her cancer stick. "I'm Dol - or Dorothy if ya fancy."

"I ain't fancy," Ponyboy laughed, rolling his cigarette between his fingers. "I guess you could call it a rough day. And I'm Ponyboy."

"What a strange name. And we all have our rough days. I've had a few this past week," Dol sighed, shaking her head. "My sister's been sayin' how she wants a son and everything. Keeps goin' on about this boy, though she hasn't told me his name. Said her boys are gonna talk to this boy, invite him over for dinner. But my sis, she's a little crazy."

Ponyboy nodded, interested in the information.

"My sis, she's got four boys already: Aaron, Cole, Greg and Brian. Brian and Cole are real nice, Greg's quiet, and Aaron…he's a bit like his mom. I would have thought that my sis wanted a girl, but she's insistent on having another boy. She's getting on a bit now, so she can't have no more. But this boy; she is obsessed with, and the boys seem to want him as their brother too."

"How strange," Ponyboy commented, taking one last drag of his cigarette before throwing it on the ground and crushing it under his boot. "At least they're all together; my brother went missing a few days ago."

"Oh sweet, I'll pray for your brother," Dol exclaimed, patting Ponyboy on the back. "Here, take this; you could use it," she said, shoving a small bracelet in Ponyboy's hands. On it were crucifixes and pictures of lambs.

"I couldn't," Ponyboy insisted, but Dol gently pushed the bracelet back into his hands.

"Your brother is a lost sheep. Wear this bracelet, and the Lord will find him," she promised, smiling at the boy. Ponyboy smiled back and slipped the bracelet on his wrist, thanked the lady for the cigarette and walked away.

Once he arrived home, he found Darry pacing the floor nervously. When Darry set eyes on his baby brother, he immediately rushed over to the smaller boy.

"Oh Ponyboy, never do that to me again!" Darry shouted, grabbing Ponyboy's face to force the boy to look at him.

"You were the one who told me to get out, Darry," Ponyboy reasoned.

Darry let go of his brother's face and fell to his knees, hugging Ponyboy close to him. Ponyboy lost his balance and ended up falling, but Darry caught him and held the young boy close to him.

"I'm so sorry, baby. If anything happens to you, I'll end up blaming myself. I'm sorry for telling you to get out. When Two-Bit and Steve came back over, I asked them if you were with them. But you weren't; they hadn't seen you. Any anger I had before is gone Pony, I promise."

Ponyboy just snuggled his brother, feeling bad for making the man so worried. He vowed he wouldn't worry his big brother like that ever again.

"C'mon, let's get you something to drink," Darry said, standing up and leading Ponyboy into the kitchen.

The youngest Curtis sat down while Darry prepared Ponyboy some chocolate cake. He made a cup of coffee for himself, and then decided to prepare Ponyboy one too. He slipped in some tranquilizer pills that he had found while Ponyboy had gone 'missing'.

Ponyboy made a face when Darry set the coffee down in-front of him. He crossed his arms and refused to drink it, but Darry just shook his head.

"Please drink it, Pony; coffee's good for sick people," he said, pulling a sad face. He knew that Pony would be willing to do whatever he wanted since he had upset his big brother earlier that day.

The boy groaned, however he drank the coffee down in one go to please his big brother, not even opening his mouth to shriek when the drink burnt his mouth and tongue. Darry just sipped his uncontaminated coffee slowly, smirking as his little brother ate his cake.

After eating his cake, Ponyboy began to feel a bit drowsy. He didn't know how it was possible; he had felt as high as a kite when he burst into the house.

Darry just cleaned everything up before picking up his baby brother and carrying him to his own room. Even though Pony's door had a lock on it, he wanted to put Pony in his bedroom to keep a better eye on him.

The man placed the boy down on the bed and removed his shoes and shirt before tucking him in. The oldest Curtis went into Ponyboy's old room and picked up a book before strolling back to his own room. He sat down beside Pony and opened the book.

"Darry, that's a book for little kids," Ponyboy complained tiredly, snuggling down under the bed covers.

Darry just ran a gentle hand through his baby brother's hair before beginning to read. Ponyboy tried to follow the words, but Darry's soothing voice and gentle hair-stroking made his eyes close. The oldest Curtis smiled, placing the book on the table and kissing his baby brother on the head.

"Sweet dreams, kiddo," Darry smiled, closing the door quietly.

Ponyboy didn't dream though; the pills were too strong, too powerful. He didn't have a nightmare though, and just slept peacefully as the pills did their work.

AN: Hope you enjoyed that chapter :) Please feel free to leave suggestions; they're highly appreciated ;) Thank you to everybody who has favorited, followed and reviewed this story so far – I can't thank you all enough :D