A/N: I am so sorry for the late update! I've been very busy, but now all of that is over so I have more time to write! I really missed our favorite greasers! Thank you for all the wonderful feedback. I can't even express how excited I am when I see all the kind reviews in my email. Thanks again!

Two cops stood in the doorway, with their arms folded across their chest. "Hi boys. I'm Officer Reynolds and this is my partner Officer Williams. We have to ask you two about the accident that occurred two weeks ago."

My stomach gave a leap. I was in no mood to be questioned, and I know Ponyboy wasn't in the mood for it either. "We're not up for it. My lung collapsed and I had to have surgery to repair it. My brother just had his kidney taken out. He's trying to sleep." I answered. Ponyboy has hardly gotten any sleep since the accident. He's been having those night terrors again and I wished that I could do more to protect him from those awful dreams. A nurse came in about an hour ago and gave him a sleeping pill, which knocked him out cold. At least he's finally getting some rest.

"We won't stay long Mr. Curtis. It's not our intention to bother you or your brother, but this is just standard protocol," said Officer Reynolds, taking out a notepad. I found it strange that he referred to me so formally. Usually the fuzz called us "kids" or "hoods," never "mister."

"I need to take your statement now. You were the driver, correct?"

"Yes." I stared at him and realized that he wasn't going to back down from my challenge. I didn't want him to think that I was hiding anything, because I wasn't. I didn't remember much from the accident, but I know one thing: it was not my fault.

"Let's get this over with," said Reynolds, sitting down in a chair next to my bed. "Now, why were you out on the road?"

"I was picking my brother Ponyboy up from the movies, then we were going straight home. The Strip was packed with all the other high school students celebrating that school was out, so I took a shortcut down Maple Street to avoid the traffic." I decided that it was best to answer as honestly as I could so that these cops wouldn't think I'm guilty of anything. I couldn't give this guy a reason not to like me. Besides, I've learned that lying to the cops never got Dally anywhere.

"What did you do when you approached the intersection of the accident site?"

"I made a complete stop, then I drove through the intersection when it was safe. The car came out of nowhere."

"Mhmm." Officer Reynolds nodded and made notes in his pad. "And what happened after the crash?"

"I went to find Ponyboy, who was thrown from the truck. He wasn't awake when I found him. We sat on the side of the road until someone found us. Paramedics came soon after and took us in ambulance to the hospital. We both had to have surgery for our injuries."

"Were there any signs of the other driver?"

"No, not that I saw."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"Ok, thank you Mr. Curtis." Officer Reynolds stood up to leave. "That will be all for now. We'll continue this in court."

Wait, what? Did I hear him right? I couldn't go to court for a crime I didn't commit! I did nothing wrong! Not another issue, not right now. Social Services would split us up for sure. Reynolds must've seen the look of pure panic across my face, because he backpedaled his words.

"No, don't take that the wrong way. Your older brother Darrell is taking legal action against the other driver and I'm afraid the only way to settle this issue is in the courtroom. Your court date is on June 23rd. I'll see you then."

My head was starting spin and I wasn't feeling so well anymore. All of this new information was hurting my brain. Darry was suing somebody? I couldn't believe it. How could he afford a lawyer? I had to get out of this hospital to get some answers for myself.

Our nurse for the day came in to check my vitals. She took my blood pressure and frowned. "Your blood pressure is more elevated that I would like it to be. I knew I shouldn't have allowed those officers to question you," she said.

"Then you shouldn't have let them in," I said dryly. All they did for me was stress me out further.

"I'm going to administer you a medication to help you relax. It will make you tired, which is good for you. I don't think you're getting enough sleep. Take a nap, and you'll be awake when your brother comes up to visit tonight."

Her last sentence made me chuckle a bit. Even the nurses had picked up on Darry's routine. She left the room, and the medication started to hit me already. I felt my eyelids drooping and I found it hard to stay awake. I didn't even notice when I fell asleep.

XXXXXX

Man, was I beat. My routine was getting exhausting. After my long shift at work, I went up to visit my brothers in the hospital. I think they were getting discharged soon, which I was very glad for. It would be better to see them resting at home on the couch rather than in a hospital bed.

Ponyboy was still knocked out when I arrived, but Soda was sitting up with his arms folded across his chest.

"Something interesting happened today," he said, even before I had the chance to sit down.

"What?"

"A cop came to question me. Told him everything I could, so he wouldn't think I was guilty of somethin' I'm not. But that wasn't the interesting part."

"Shit," I muttered, knowing what he was about to say. I planned on waiting to tell him after he got out of the hospital. Him knowing about what I did now was not going to be good.

"You're suing the other driver? You're suing him? Darry, what has gotten into you? Where have you gotten the money for a lawyer? What are you planning on doing? Were you ever going to tell us?"

"Soda, relax," I ordered. "I wasn't planning on suing, but a lawyer approached me. He read about the story in the paper and thought we had a good chance of winning the case. Believe me, it wasn't an easy decision to make. I thought long and hard about this, but when someone hurts my family, well, I can't let that go. I can't let that asshole go free without any punishment. I just can't."

"What are the charges?" Soda's eyes remained trained on mine.

"Reckless endangerment and fleeing the scene of a crime."

"How were you planning on telling Pony this? How long is this process going to go?" Soda rubbed his temples, feeling a migraine coming on. "Oh God, this is like a living nightmare."

"Get some rest Pepsi. Everything will be better when you wake up."

"How Darry? How will everything be better? If you know, I'd really, really like to hear it."

I hoped everything would be better. I wished. Hell, I even prayed. I wish I had that answer, but truth is I didn't know. I feel like I just don't know anything anymore.