I own nothing. And here we go with another one about Mel's stay in the hospital.

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Two-Bit's PoV

I bolted to find a doctor and literally drug the one I found back to Mel's room. I pointed to the heart rate monitor and he saw it do something he called flat-lining. I guess it's because the line went flat or something like that. Anyway he called for a nurse and together the two of them went to work. I sat back watching them. After what seemed like hours, but was probably only minutes, the monitor read 99 beats per minute and the line was looking like a mountain range again. "She's a stubborn one." The doctor said.

"Yeah she is." I confirmed as I watched her chest rise and fall. "Will she be ok?"

"Yeah she'll be fine."

"She told me right before her breathing stopped that she couldn't hold on much longer." I said as he looked over a clipboard.

"She was probably just mumbling. I doubt that she has any idea where she's at or what happened to her."

"No she sat up, looked directly at me, and said quote 'Two-Bit I don't know how much longer I can hold on' end quote."

"Like I said..."

"No she went on to say 'Tell the guys I'm sorry and I love them all and tell…tell Jason whet Jen did and that I love him so much but I can't do this any more, oh and tell Angel to tell Steve everything I told her' I'm pretty sure she knew what she was doing."

"Like I said she probably doesn't know what happened or where she is. All she might know is that she had to tell you something and who you are." The doctor said before walking out of the room.

By the time I had found everyone and told them what she said it was two weeks later. The gang and Jason knew within the next day but it took a while to track Angel down. Once I found her and told her what Mel wanted her to do Angel smiled.

Angel's PoV

When Two-Bit told me what Mel had said I smiled. Oh I was going to love telling Steve, but then I thought about what he was going through and what she had actually said about him and I realized that it was going to hurt him. Not as in break his heart because she cheated on him hurt but as in I'm hurting because you aren't awake for me to hold you kind of way.

"I don't know if I can Two-Bit. Some of the stuff she's told me will make him hurt because he can't hold her and show her some things but I know she loved him so much."

"Loves Angel." He corrected.

"Huh?"

"You said she loved him. She's not dead Angel she's gonna recover. She still loves him." He snapped at me.

I backed up. "Sorry I meant she loves him so much that it's gonna hurt him that he can't hold her and hear her say it right now. Are you sure she wanted me to tell him everything I know?"

"Yup she said to tell Angel to tell Steve everything."

"Maybe it was because she thought she didn't think she was gonna hold on any longer and it was her dying wish."

"You should tell him anyway. It might cheer him up."

"Alright tell him to meet me in your lot tonight at 6:30 pm and tell him it's extremely important." Two-Bit nodded and wandered off.

So just like I asked Steve showed up at 6:30 sharp. "Two-Bit said it was important and if it ain't about Mel you have only 1 minute to tell me what's so important.

"Trust me it's important and it's about something Mel wanted me to tell you." I said motioning to the car seat behind me. "Have a seat."

"Alright then what is it?"

"I don't know if Two-Bit told you but when Mel gave up two weeks ago she told Two-Bit to tell me she wanted me to tell you everything she told me."

"No he didn't say anything." Steve said hiding his look of worry.

"Well then I guess now you know that she wanted me to tell you you're wondering what it is."

"What is it Angel?"

"There are something's you should know. I didn't want to tell you in the first place because it might make you hurt even more that you already are, but if Mel wants to know you should."

"Oh God, Angel just tell me already so I can go contemplate already."

"Relax. It's nothing bad. She says that you might be the one."

"What?" He asked confused.

"Yeah what did you think I was gonna say that she cheated on you? Hello Steve, think about who she is and the example her mom and dad set for her."

"Sorry there's just always that chance you dig?"

"Yeah anyway like I was saying she thinks you might be the one you know if you were to propose tomorrow she automatically say yes and that crap the whole 9 yards ya dig?"

"Yeah I get it."

"I asked her if she was serious but she wasn't listing to me she was off in her day dreaming world again."

"She day dreams?"

"Yeah and I'm stunned at one of them." I said then went on to explain her day dreams to him. I explained the beach one first then the one about the Cadillac.

"She it's ok for her to dream about doing it but not actually do it?" Steve asked when I finished.

"Yeah I mean think about it. There aren't any consequences in a day dream."

"There aren't any in the real world if you're careful." He interrupted.

"Yes there are. Condoms are only 98 percent safe. There's still a 2 percent chance you could end up with something you hadn't planned on. You know she's a virgin right?"

"Well yeah." He said.

"When I got her out of her day dream and asked her if she was serious about you being the one she said she was and that you're really sweet to her, although she won't admit it to anyone but her brother who was just making sure you treat her like the princess she is, but that you have a nasty temper but she can handle it. I told her as long as she's careful I supported her." I said. He seemed to be in thought about something. "Steve?"

"Huh?" He asked.

"What are you thinking?"

"Just about what you said."

"If you are thinking about proposing the minute she wakes up I will skin you. We don't know how bad her mental damage is if she has any and it isn't what she wants. She's a bit old fashioned about that."

"You mean I have to ask her father?" He said looking horror stricken.

"You've never met her father have you?"

"No he was always working every time Soda and I went over there."

"Ask Two-Bit about her father. He's a nice man and as long as you make Mel incredibly happy and promise to never ever hurt her I'm pretty sure, 99.9999 percent sure, he'll give you permission. She also said something about how weird it would be if you proposed the same way her dad proposed to her mom."

"What do you mean?"

"Her dad was in a gang when he was around your age. Well it wasn't really a gang it was more like a group of friends that he hung out with. Mel's mom Steph was one of his friends little sister. They usually hung out at another friend's house which kinda turned into the unofficial meeting place. After three months of watching her and how she interacted with her boyfriends he finally got up the nerve to ask her out. At first Steph's brother hated the idea but after about 6 months he approved. She was 14 when they started dating. When she was 16 he was 17 and had a factory job. 4 days after her 16th birthday at 12:03 in the afternoon he dropped down on his knee on their hangout's front porch in front of their entire gang and her brother and proposed. She agreed quickly and three months later they were married. Funny thing, Mel's usually cracking up with laughter every time she remembers this part of the story, two weeks after they were married she dropped the bomb that she was 5 months pregnant with his baby."

"Why does she want that to happen? I mean her 16th birthday is long gone." Steve said.

"Well I know that but she says if you did that like 4 days after her 19th birthday then she would be ecstatic. That's the weird part her mom was already pregnant when her dad proposed and she doesn't want to be she said it would be weird if you proposed some time along the lines of 4 days after one of her birthdays at exactly 12:03 in the afternoon on the Curtis's front porch while everyone was around."

"I get it. Do you think she'll pull through?" He asked. He seemed concerned but I couldn't really tell.

"I know she will Steve. Mel's a tough chick she pull through and be just fine." I said more confidently than I felt. He nodded and walked me home.

"I didn't know that she loved me that much. I mean I knew she was in love but not like that." He said stopping in front of my door.

"Do you feel the same way?" I asked stopping next to him. He turned toward me and let out a deep sigh.

"I don't know Angel but I sure wish I did." He said before walking away. I walked inside and pulled a beer out of the fridge.

"Something bothering you Ang?" Curly asked sitting down at the table. I sat across from him and shook my hair out of my face.

"Curly how do you know if you did the right thing when someone asks you to do something?"

"This ain't my area of expertise Ang. You know who could give you a clear answer?"

"Who?"

"Ponyboy Curtis. He seems to know stuff like that."

I almost sprayed my drink on him. Once I recovered I put the beer down and looked at him. "Ponyboy won't talk to me he doesn't like me." I said.

"Look just come with me at lunch tomorrow and talk to him, he'll listen if he knows it's about what Mel asked you to do."

"How do you know what Mel asked?"

"Two-Bit told me when he asked me where you were." Curly said.

"Hey kids." Tim said standing in the doorway.

"Hey Tim." We answered.

"Something wrong there Ang?" He asked swiping my bottle.

"No." I answered.

"Angel." He said.

"Seriously it's nothing."

"Think about what I said Ang." Curly said standing. "Night Ang, Tim."

"Night kid." Tim answered looking at him as he walked out the door. Tim drained the rest of my beer and then pitched it into the garbage can where it shattered when it hit the bottom of the can.

"That was mine."

"You're right it was. Now what's bugging you and what did Curly want you to think about?"

"How do you know if you did the right thing when someone asks you to do something?" I asked for the second time that night.

"I don't know kid sorry ask Ponyboy Curtis he might know."

"That's what Curly wants me to think about doing tomorrow at lunch, but like I told him Ponyboy won't talk to me 'cause he doesn't like me."

"Dallas says he doesn't like you because you're always flirting with him if you didn't flirt with him so much he might answer your question directly."

"Thanks night bro."

"Night Ang." He said smirking. I rolled my eyes and went to bed.

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The next day Tim drove me and Curly both to school and Curly walked me to my locker. "I'm fine now big brother you can go now." I said sarcastically.

"I know you can take care of yourself." He hissed. I recoiled. "Listen there's been word that a few guys are looking to get Tim back for something or another. You just might get caught in the cross-fire and I don't want that to happen. I just wanted to let you know so you're alert and watching your back."

"Thanks Curl and don't worry I grew up with the second tuffest hood in Tulsa. Don't forget he taught us both how to fight when we were growing up." I answered.

"I know but just think about what I said last night." He said before walking away. Beth and Tara came up.

"Angel what the hell are you wearing?" Tara asked. She was the one who was always concerned about fashion and stuff.

"They're called clothes Tar." I answered looking down at what I was wearing. A nice blouse that I think might have belonged to my mom a while ago and a blue jean skirt that was about two inches above my knees. I was also wearing a lot less make up than I normally did.

"Girl if I didn't know any better I would say you're trying to impress some soc." Tara scolded.

"Yeah what's going on Angel?" Beth asked.

"Look I figure this way if I didn't look so sluttish Ponyboy might talk to me and I really need him to I've got a few questions only he can answer." I explained.

"It's your funeral." Tara said.

"Angel I've heard a few people say this like the day you beat up Jenni and when Curly was talking to you. What do they mean you grew up with the second tuffest hood in Tulsa? I thought Tim was the tuffest." Beth said.

"He's not even says so himself."

"Well if he ain't then who is?" Tara asked.

"Jason Whitfield. Jason won't admit it now but he used to when he was younger, about three years ago, before he ran off. No one is willing to challenge Jason and everyone I know respects him."

"Wonder how that makes Mel feel." Beth said looking at her shoes.

"No idea no one's ever brought it up. All she says is that she misses the twelve year old Jason back when he really showed he cared about her."

"You mean back when she was 8?" Tara asked as we walked in the direction of homeroom.

"Yeah back then." I answered. At lunch I found Curly right outside the back doors.

"So?" He asked.

"Where is he?" I asked hanging my head slightly.

"That's my sister." Curly said walking in front of me to a car not to far off. When I looked up there was Steve, Two-Bit, Ponyboy, and another one of his friends. I think Mel said his name's Johnny but I'm not to sure.

"Hey Curly." Ponyboy said.

"Shepard." Steve growled slightly.

Curly took a deep breath before continuing. "Hey guys I know normally I don't come over her but Angel's got a question." He said dragging me out from behind him.

"That ain't Angel." Two-Bit said.

"Shut up Two-Bit. Ponyboy can I talk to you for a minute?" I said then glared at Two-Bit.

"Um sure." Ponyboy answered chewing on his lower lip.

"Over there?" I said motion to a spot farther away. He nodded and led the way.

"What's up Angela?"

"You know Mel asked me to talk to Steve about two weeks ago right?"

"Steve mentioned something about it last night."

"Yeah I guess my question which my brothers couldn't answer is how do you know you did the right thing when you do what someone asked you to do?" I asked. He dropped his gaze and seemed to be thinking.

"Angela there's no exact answer to that question. It all depends on the situation."

"Mel asked me to tell Steve everything she told me about him and I did. Well Two-Bit said that was what Mel wanted before she slipped a few weeks ago." He nodded. "Some of the stuff I told him might make him question their relationship." He seemed to be confused. "I told him how much she cares about him and stuff like that. She's never cheated on him or anything she just loves him so much it'll make him question how much he loves her and stuff like that. How do I know she stills wants him to know all that and she wasn't just asking as a last wish and all?"

"Well we don't know for sure but maybe it's better that he found out from her best friend how she really feels instead of having to pick up on the vibes he gets from her or some garbled image from someone who doesn't want them together." Ponyboy said.

"Hmmmm" I said thinking. "You might just be right about that. Thanks for your help Ponyboy." He smiled.

"I like your outfit Angel." He said before walking back to his friends. I watched him a bit until someone blocked my view. I looked up and saw some Brumly guys standing around.

"My dear Angel how are you?" The guy asked running a hand through my hair. Every one of my instincts told me to run.

"Um just fine." I said pushing away my fears.

"Really well why don't we see just how fine you really are." He said pushing me backwards. I felt a guy lift my hands above my head from behind me. My pulse quickened and my instincts were screaming to get the hell out of there or scream. He raised his hand and inspected it. "You know I've never found out which hurt more an open handed slap or a straight out punch." He said.

"You could always find out on her." One of the guy's friends said.

"Let the girl go." I heard someone growl from behind my attacker.

"Stay out of it pal." My attacker said.

"Sorry don't think I can." The mystery guy said. He turned around and I caught a glimpse of a red t-shirt. "If I stayed out of it the pretty little dame here would get hurt and I don't think her brother would forgive me if I let her get hurt."

"Let her go Sam we'll finish this later." I was released and they walked away.

"Thank you." I said looking at the guy who saved me rubbing my wrists. He nodded. "What's your name? I've never seen you hanging around with Tim."

"My name is Tommy, and I used to hang around with Jason Whitfield but I figured that saying I knew your brother would make them leave you alone."

"Did you know Mel?"

"Jason's baby sister?" I nodded. "Yeah she was a good kid."

"She's in the hospital right now. Her brother's ex-girlfriend beat the shit out of her and now she's unconscious, has been for the past two months."

"Oh God." He said. "And tomorrows the last day of school too." I hadn't realized that. I shrugged and the bell rang. "Well to class then." Tommy said motioning to the school behind me. It was three days before something wonderful happened.

-Well that's all for now.-