AN: Hey y'all! I got stuck in a study hall but we have computers so I'll have more time to update once I get my homework done. Darry didn't get Katherine too bad but he'll still get to kick some butt for Pony don't worry.

(Ponyboy POV)

I woke up a few hours later hearing whispers all around me. Soda and Darry were standing in the corner of the room talking but they both stopped as soon as they saw I was awake. "Pony!" Soda called out rushing over to me with Darry not far behind. "How are you feeling baby?"

I just groaned as Darry looked me over bringing his hand to my forehead. "Looks like all the excitement brought your fever back kiddo." I huffed, flopping back on my bed as Darry and Soda chuckled. "The gang's been asking to see you for hours. You want to see them or should I send Soda to kick them out."

"Nah. I'll go out." I must have sat up too quickly because I started to feel dizzy and had to sit back into the bed.

"Take it easy Pone. Maybe I should tell them to leave, they can come back when you're feeling better." I just nodded realizing Darry had already made up his mind and was already headed out to tell the gang to leave. He came back in a few minutes later running his fingers through my hair again. Usually he was rough with me without meaning to but right now he was tyring his hardest to be gentle which I appriciated. "I'm gonna kill her. Ponyboy why didn't you tell us what she was doing to ya?"

I just shrugged leaning into Soda who sighed holding me close to him. "I knew something was up, I should have forced you to tell me. Next time you have to tell me you dig?"

"Yeah Yeah." I nodded as I attempted to sit up again. "But how did y'all find out what happened anyway? Weren't you two at work?"

"I asked Steve to come check up on you since I knew you weren't feeling so hot." I looked over to Soda seeing more anger in his eyes then I've ever seen before. "He found you and Katherine in here and sent Johnny out to go find us."

I nodded and started to close my eyes falling back to sleep when Two-Bit came busting through the door. "6 o'clock Friday at the lot. I didn't include Pony in our numbers, didn't think he'd be up to fighting."

"What do you mean fighting, Darry what's going on? If y'all are having a rumble I'm in, I'm not missing out on it!" I shot up looking at my brothers who were both sending glares Two-Bit's way.

"Pone there's no need for you to join in a rumble right now, besides it's not certain yet." I gave him a look but let the subject drop for now. I'd find a way to get in.

That Monday I was walking home from school and passed the high school when I spotted someone out of the corner of my eye. A bunch of Socs including Katherine had spotted me and started to follow me away from the school. I started to pick up my pace and turned in the lot but just when I thought I lost them, they cut me off.

"Hey Grease." One who looked sort of familiar grabbed me by my shirt and knocked me down while two others climbed on top of me. "You're friend's been threatin' to get back at us for you getting hurt. We don't like that." He slugged me hard in the jaw while someone kicked me and I screamed out hoping someone would come find me. Just then I felt something cool against my neck and realized it was blood. Rolling my eyes over to look up I saw one of those Socs had a blade and was slicing into my neck once again.

I started calling out for Darry or Soda but they just covered my mouth continuing to beat on me until suddenly they all ran off. I went to sit up but was pushed back down, there was no way I'd be able to get up just yet anyway. "Damn, Soda's gonna flip when he sees you. You ok kid?" I looked up a bit seeing Steve reaching out a hand to help me up.