*okay yeah I know I haven't updated in a really long (far too long) time, I've just been lacking motivation and I kinda got caught up in the Rise of the Brave Tangled Frozen Dragons fandom (I wrote one, haven't finished, should I publish it? would anyone read it?) so yeah really sorry for those of you still interested... this chapter should be a little easier cuz I don't have to keep referencing the book cuz it's not in the book I just get to make up some stuff up! Let's see how it goes!*

Chapter 8:

Darry and I sat nervously in Ponyboy's hospital room. The doc said he was suffering exhaustion, shock, and a minor concussion. When I heard that he got a concussion, I wanted to whip that Soc again, twice as hard. Maybe I'd kill him this time. Though thinking of Johnny and Dallas and, yeah, even Bob, I decided I could never kill anyone because I knew what it was like for people who loved them. I ended up being wrong about that too, but in a different way.

The doctor had also said Ponyboy had been asking for me and Darry, but now that we were with him, he wasn't saying a thing. Until almost a half hour later. He moaned quietly and mumbled, "Soda?"

I got up and hurried to his side. "Yeah, Pony?"

With his eyes still closed, he rasped, "Where's Mom and Dad?"

I stared at him, surprised and confused. "What do you mean, baby?"

"I wanna see Mom and Dad."

I turned helplessly to Darry. He joined me and whispered softly to our kid brother, "Listen, Pony, you can't see Mom and Dad now, but me and Soda are right here."

Now I stared at him. He sounded very un-Darry-like. I'd never heard him talk so gently. I admit, I was slightly impressed.

Ponyboy opened his eyes slowly.

"Hey, Pone, you feel okay?" Darry asked slowly.

Ponyboy blinked in response.

Darry faced me and said in a low voice, "Why don't you go get the doc, tell him Pony's awake."

I did as I was told and returned to the room with Pony's doctor. He checked some things and asked Pony some questions, and then promptly reported to us that he was just delirious and going to be fine. He also said that Ponyboy could go home the next day, which was Monday.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

And on Monday morning, even though Ponyboy was still kind of out of it, we all went home.

*Okay so there, that's out of the way :P Short, I know, but I'm making progress! So did anyone catch that whole "I could never kill anyone... I was wrong about that" bit? Weeell I just so happen to have something in store for that :) I'm going to make another fic that is connected to the end of this one and I'm not gonna give it away but some stuff goes down... it's craaaaazy*