When Two-Bit headed to the bathroom to see if Rick needed any help with Dally, he found it empty. He turned and noticed his bedroom door was closed. Just as he approached it, Rick emerged from the room and closed the door behind him.
"He's getting changed," Rick told Two-Bit. "Just give him a minute or two."
"Okay," Two-Bit said. "You patched him up pretty quick."
Rick nodded. "He was more bruised then sliced," he said. "Except for that cut on his head. I just cleaned it up and put a bandage on it. It didn't take long at all."
"Well, thanks for doin' that," Two-Bit said. "I appreciate it."
"It wasn't a problem," Rick said. He started to head to Mrs. Mathews bedroom, but then he stopped and turned around. "You're okay, aren't you, kid?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Two-Bit said quickly. It was only half-true. He was better than Dally, that's for sure. But he felt drained. Emotionally and physically. But even with how he was feeling, he knew Dally's pain was a thousand times worse.
Rick tilted his head at him and studied his face. "Okay," he said slowly. "Just get the Winston kid settled, and then head to bed yourself. You look beat."
Two-Bit nodded. "I will," he promised. "G'night Rick."
"'Night champ."
After waiting in the hallway for a couple of minutes, Two-Bit knocked on the door to his bedroom and then opened it slowly. Dally was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands. "Can I come in?"
Dally shrugged without looking up. Two-Bit stepped in to his room and sat down beside him on the bed.
Two-Bit didn't say a word. He was hoping Dally would be the first one to speak.
"I fuckin' hate Socs," Dally said lowly after a couple of moments. He lifted his freshly bandaged head to look at Two-Bit. If Two-Bit hadn't been so worried about him, he would've made fun of him for it. Those bandages didn't exactly make him look tough.
Two-Bit nodded. "Me too," he said. He cleared his throat and looked down at his hands. He wasn't sure what else to say, but he couldn't just ignore everything that had happened tonight. "Are you okay, Dally?"
"I will be, once we stomp all over those assholes," he growled.
"I ain't talking about what the Socs did to you," Two-Bit told him softly.
Dally sighed heavily. "Yeah, I know you're not." He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "But what's the point of asking if you already know the answer?"
Two-Bit was at a loss for words. Dally had a point. Two-Bit already knew Dally wasn't okay. How could he be? And even if he admitted he wasn't okay and needed help, then what? How would Two-Bit help him? He wasn't cut out for this. He could barely handle his own life, let alone the life of a hood who'd seen and dealt with more shit than anyone should ever see or have to put up with.
Dally spoke again and his voice was hollow: "I wish I could just erase these past two months," he said brokenly. "Because honestly, Two-Bit, I don't know how much more of this I can take."
Two-Bit swallowed hard. He didn't like hearing Dally talk like that. Two-Bit knew he had to say something, but he wasn't really one to lecture. He was quiet for a moment, trying to formulate the right words to say. "Listen Dal, I'm gonna make this real short because I know you ain't feelin' well and you probably just want to go to sleep," he said finally. "But you have to realize that I'm not going to let you give up. You're a fighter and I will not stand by and watch you go down without a fight. You understand me?"
Dally nodded, but Two-Bit could tell he wasn't really hearing him.
"Look, my mom says you can stay here until you're well," Two-Bit continued. "So you ain't gotta worry about having a place to stay, okay? I told you man, you ain't gotta handle this on your own."
"But it ain't fair to you, Mathews," Dally said, frustration evident in his voice. "You shouldn't have to be the one to put up with my shit."
Two-Bit started to laugh. It was a sincere laugh, and Two-Bit was horrified at himself for laughing at a time like this. But he couldn't help it. "Shoot, Dally, I've been putting up with your shit for as long as I've known you. What makes you think I'm gonna stop now?"
Dally managed to give him a half-hearted smile. "You know you're out of your mind, right?"
"Oh believe me, I know it," Two-Bit assured him. He stood up and helped Dally get under the covers. "You feelin' okay?" He put the back of his hand to Dally's forehead, comforted by the fact that he didn't feel feverish.
Dally nodded. "Just tired," he mumbled.
"Then get some rest," Two-Bit told him. He nodded to the glass of water Rick had put on the nightstand. "And try to drink some water if you can."
"'Kay," Dally said as his eyes began to droop.
Two-Bit didn't say any more. He quietly made his way out of the room and he was certain the hood in his bed was asleep before he'd even turned out the light and closed the door.