On Thin Ice

Chapter Eleven: "Dead"

Tuesday January 11th, 1966

A few minutes earlier...

Detectives Rodgers and Jenkins rung the doorbell on the Whitfield's house for the second time that evening. Mrs. Whitfield was the one to open the door like last time, and her husband came walking up behind her.

"Sorry to disturb you again Mrs. Whitfield." Rodgers sounded firm and sophisticated. "We just came by to see if your son has returned. We have a new lead to the case, and it's really urgent that we speak to Shane as soon as we see him."

Mrs. Whitfield shook her head. "He's not back yet, I'm sorry. Um, would you like to come in and wait? I don't know how much longer he'll be out."

"Yes ma'am, we'll come inside."

The two police officers stepped inside, and Mrs. Whitfield pointed at the sofa. "You can take a seat."

"Sorry about all this," Mr. Whitfield said to the police. "Shane has been out late nearly every night. He just doesn't listen to us when we tell him to not be out long, or ask where he is going. He completely changed after a friend of his died a few months ago."

Jenkins looked up at Shane's father and asked,"Robert Sheldon?"

Mr. Whitfield nodded. "Yes, they were buddies, not best friends but they'd hang out with each other every so often. They known each other since kindergarten. Shane just couldn't accept that Bob was dead."

The room fell silent for a moment as Jenkins and Rodgers exchanged ' theory about the Sheldon murder being apart of this had some evidence to support it. But always when there's silence, something always has to break it. All four of the adults in the room jumped when a loud pop was heard coming from outside.

o0o

Shane didn't hesitate the moment Pony said "shut up." As soon as the words slipped from the greaser's mouth, the seventeen year old pulled out a gun from his waistband. He pulled the trigger without even finishing his sentence.

BANG!

Everything fell into slow motion. That split second the bullet left the gun's barrel and into Pony's abdomen felt like five minutes instead. So many things went through Pony's mind-Sodapop, Darry, Two-Bit, Steve… Pony wondered about Dally. Was this what it felt like that second the first shot at him flew the night of the last rumble they had against the Socs? the night that Johnny died? Pony knew then he was going to die.

He felt a white hot pain enter his belly, but he didn't scream, and he couldn't put his hands over the hole due to his restraints. He could feel the sticky, warm liquid ooze from his body and he felt numb. Shane dropped the weapon as soon as he saw the blood come out of Ponyboy and ran for his life. He wasn't going to risk getting caught. He had to get away.

Even though it felt like hours, the two detectives ran into the guest house the moment Shane was running out the door, but the police officers weren't concerned about the began to untie the ropes as Rodgers puts his hands on Pony's side causing the young greaser to groan in pain.

"It's alright kid. It's gonna be alright. You're gonna be alright."

Jenkins and Mr. Whitfield helped Pony out of the chair and Rodgers kept his hands on the wound. Mrs. Whitfield was standing on the other side of the room, her eyes were locked on the dying fourteen year old as she waited for the other line to pick up.

Pony could hear faint sirens in the distance, coming closer and closer, but he just couldn't keep his eyes opened. His stomach hurt too much and he felt so tired.

"Stay with me kid!" Rodgers yelled desperately, but despite the fact that the detective was right on top of him, his voice sounded like he was hollering from miles away. Pony stopped fighting to keep his eyelids open.

o0o

The next thing Ponyboy knew was that he was no longer in the guest house. He wasn't in a ambulance or a hospital either. It was unknown territory to him.

The room was sort of cloudy like you were in a dream and the air was moist and refreshing. Pony never smelled air that was so pure and clean before. Then Pony realized his side didn't hurt at all, there wasn't even a drop of blood on his once covered shirt.

That's odd… I could've sworn I was just shot a few seconds ago…

"Am I dead?" Pony asked aloud in a room he thought he was alone in. He jumped as a figure stepped into the picture and said, "No kid. It's too early for ya."

"Dallas?" Pony was stunned. He had to be going crazy. Seeing dead people just wasn't something a sane person had experienced.

"The one and only, why ya here man? Shouldn't you be doing school work or something rather than visiting this place?"

Pony just simply shrugged, not quite sure what to say. He was really confused on what was happening. "I...I think I was just shot…how am I still alive? If you're here than shouldn't I be dead?"

"You're dying kid. You have a choice. Either fight this, survive and live that happy successful life we all knew you would live or you could come with me and see Johnny and your folks. I'm here to deliver the message. So what's it gonna be kid? Life or death?"

Pony opened his mouth, but Dally shushed him. "Listen Ponyboy. You're fourteen years old! Johnnycake only lived to be sixteen and he didn't want to die. I wanted to die and lived to seventeen, but that's not the point. The point is is that you have a life to live-things to see and do. You have your two big brothers… Soda would probably go insane if you died, and Darry probably wouldn't be Superman anymore. I told you he was worried sick about you when you were in Windrixville. We all thought Johnny was the one who kept the gang together, but when he and I left, you guys got stronger. We were all wrong about that kid. It's you who would cause us to all crumple. Steve probably would get frustrated with Soda and stop hanging around so Two-Bit would probably be left in the dust all alone.

"You're not dead yet kid, but you are going to be soon. It's your choice to fight and live a good life, or hang around me, and I know we both know how fun that is but make the right choice. For once in your life, use that head of yours kid."

"Dal, will you tell them I said hi? That I miss them?"

"Shoot kid, they already know. You don't think that we're not looking out for you kid? I'll tell them for you but they already know. They miss you too."

"Thanks Dally."

"Any time kid, but glory Ponyboy, I'd love to stay and chat with ya, but you're really wasting your time. You need to be getting back. Good luck kid, and I better not see you until another hundred years, got that?"

Pony widely grinned and nodded. "I'll try my best. Thanks Dally!"

o0o

Darry and Soda ran like their life depended on it up to the front desk. It was like deja vu. It was almost nearly a week ago on Darry's birthday that they were rushing over to the exact same hospital to the exact same reception desk after Pony had gone missing and was found injured. The were hoping that this wasn't going to become a habit of theirs.

"Ponyboy Curtis?"

The nurse had several files on her desk. It was another busy night at the hospital it seemed. A truck hit a bus, and it was a bad collision, but Darry and Soda weren't concerned for their lives rather than for their brother's.

"He's in surgery at the moment. I don't know anything about his condition. His doctor will come and talk to you when he can."

The two Curtis brothers stood against the wall in the emergency waiting room. All the other chairs have been taken by the other people waiting to hear about their loved ones conditions.

At least it was only a car crash… Darry couldn't help but think. Those people involved in the accident were more likely to survive compared to what had happened to Ponyboy. Truth was Darry and Soda didn't exactly know what had happened to their brother, but they knew it was more serious than the last time they got a call.

It was a long hour. Darry and Soda both worried about Ponyboy, felt so sad that Darry almost was in tears, and then worried some more. It felt like it was a million years until the doctor had come out rather than an hour.

"Guardian of Ponyboy Curtis?"

Darry and Soda walked away from the wall they have been leaning on for a while and made their way towards the doctor.

"He's stable. The bullet didn't pierce through anything important and we were able to get it out before it could cause any serious damage and stitched him all up. We gave him some more blood due to the amount he had lost. He is currently still asleep but the anesthesia should wear off soon. Ponyboy will be able to go home in a few days and should be back to his regular self in a few weeks. He's young and healthy and should have a full recovery. You can see him now if you'd like."

The two greasers nodded and followed the doctor to their brother's room. Soda's face went pale, and he grabbed Pony's hand as he took a seat by the bed.

"He shot him Dar. He really did attempt to kill him." His voice was sad, but at the same time filled with rage at the person who had done this to his little brother.

Darry nodded his head. "I know little buddy, but everything's going to be alright. Those cops are going to put this man behind bars."

"I sure hope so."

o0o

The next thing Pony knew was that he was no longer with Dally, but in some other place. The boring, white, colorless walls instantly told him he was in a hospital, and the pain he felt on his side reminded him why. Shane Whitfield tried to kill him, and it now dawned on him that this was the right decision. If Pony chose to go with Dally then that would have meant that Shane had won-luckily he didn't.

"Hey Ponyboy, try not to move too much, alright?" Soda's voice made Pony feel a lot better. "You feeling okay Pony?"

"Good considering the situation I guess," Pony whispered to his brother. "Where's Darry?"

"Calling in to work to get tomorrow off. You scared us to death you know? Two-Bit thought it was his fault when you disappeared that day. Then the police came and said that a kid named Derek Sanders was murdered… we didn't know what would happen to you. We were so worried about you."

"I'm sorry Soda."

Sodapop shook his head. "You ain't got nothin' to be sorry about Pony."

"Hey little buddy." Darry's voice made both Pony and Soda jump. "How you feeling?"

"I'm fine Darry. When can I get outta this place?"

Darry rolled his eyes, but gave Pony a soft smile. "As soon as you get well enough. Probably two or three days."

Pony groaned. "Can it be sooner?"

"Don't rush it Pony, alright? You're going to be here as long as it takes for you to get better. Don't argue about it."

o0o

Shane ran until he was far away from the house that those cops wouldn't be able to see him when the ambulance came. Shane knew they would chase him when there was an injured person at the scene. But that wouldn't stop them when the ambulance came to take him away.

Hopefully it's too late. Hopefully the job is done. Hopefully they won't find me.

Shane got on a bus and took off out of town to a place that hopefully the two detectives on the case would not find him. Shane Whitfield was on the run, and he planned this game of hide and seek to last a long time.

Hey you guys! Okay first of all sorry it took longer than I thought for this update. I was busy with school, working on an original story and finish planning out this story completely. The last chapter of this story is going to be chapter 13. So just two more to go I suppose... I'll either have that chapter published the last week of January or the first week of February depending on how much time I can get to write. After this story is completed, I DO plan to write more for the outsiders, but not directly right away after this. Maybe middle of February? I don't know. I really like to read and write about terrible things happening to Ponyboy, but I'm sort of thinking of doing a story about Soda next. Not a long one, just about three-five chapters but that's it. SO keep an eye on it within the next month!

I was so happy about the amount of reviews I have gotten over the last chapter. It really made my week really! I got over ten reviews! Thank you guys so much, it means a lot, and just an FYI, I didn't ever plan on killing Ponyboy the whole story, it was just a little bluff to keep you guys on your seats, so I'm sorry for tricking you guys like that. Ponyboy's like my favorite character, I can never kill him! Also I have no idea what heaven really looks like so this is just what I kind of pictured. And I am no doctor as well. So if any of the medical stuff is wrong is because I couldn't find a lot of stuff about what I was searching for. Stay tuned for the ending, I plan chapter 13 to be pretty good! :)

Don't forget to review... remember Shane's still out there... free! I wonder what will happen next...

-Michelle Loves Chocolate 99