Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders
Pony's Pov
I was asleep, I had been for days. Somehow I knew that I had been. I was tired, so very tired. I didn't know how much longer I could hang on but I wanted to hang on as long as I could. I wasn't afraid of dying. I knew I'd go to Heaven when I died. I'd be with God and Jesus. I'd see my folks and Johnny again, Dallas I wasn't so sure of. I'd be out of pain both physical and emotional. I'd thought of giving up a lot of times but then I'd remember two very important details, Darry and Soda.
I didn't want to leave them. Its not that I thought I'd never see them again, its that I knew how much my dying would hurt them. Soda especially, he feels things so deeply and we're so close.
All of a sudden I began to dream. I saw a background of beautiful swirls of colors. The sunset at Windrexville wasn't anything like this. I got the sudden feeling that I wasn't dreaming but dying. A figure appeared both frightening and calming, both terrifying and beautiful. She, I think it was a she, wore a simple white robe with beige sash. She had long wild blond hair and clean skin with silver gold flecked wings. Light seemed to illuminate from her but I was scared out of my wits, I thought she might be the angel of death.
"Don't be afraid Ponyboy," her voice was calming, soothing not scary at all, "God loves you very much. He has heard your prayers and those of the ones you love. God has heard their cry. He has been with you every step of the way in life and he is with you still. He will always be with you. Remember this and have peace." With that she was gone and with her my aches and pain,.
My eyes opened. I hadn't opened my eyes in so long. I could breathe with ease. I felt tired but no half as much as before. I felt so peaceful so at ease. I turned my head. Darry was asleep beside me. I ran my fingers through his hair.
Normal Pov
Darry felt something, someone was, was caressing his hair. But who could it be? He opened his eyes too meet the familiar brilliant green gray eyes of his brother, his baby brother. How could it be?
"Pony?" he asked surprise. Ponyboy would have smiled if it were not for the tube down his throat. Instead he cocked an eyebrow. Darry's heart was racing. What was happening? He stared long and hard at his brother.
Pony's lips no longer had a bluefish tint to them; he had gotten some color back, not that yellow pasty color either. Darry lifted his head toward Heaven. Something told him Ponyboy wasn't dying anymore. "Thank-you God, thank-you so much." he whispered.
He smiled at his brother. "I'm going to call Sodapop and get a doctor. You stay there." Not that he could get up but Ponyboy gave his brother a look that said he would and Darry was off.
At the DX Two Hours Later
Sodapop opened the cash register, put in the bill and handed the women her money. "Have a nice day maim." Politeness was a must at their business. The phone rang."
"Tulsa DX, Sodapop Curtis speaking."
"Soda you need to get to the hospital. There's been a change. Get Steve to bring you." Sodapop's legs shook and he hung up the phone before Darry could say anything else.
He broke down then and there. Falling down to a heap on the ground he began to bawl and pound his fists.
Steve and their boss ran out of the back garage to see what the commotion was. When they saw Soda they gave each other a look that said plainly 'oh no, Ponyboy.'
Steve ran and knelt beside Soda and held him like Soda had held Johnny that day at the lot only two years ago. "Soda, easy Soda."
"Pony, hospital." he mumbled. Mr. Nilsson the proprietor of the DX also bent down by Sodapop. He genuinely liked the kid. He and Steve were good boys and great mechanics. He couldn't stand to see one of 'his boys' like this.
"Sir, can I drive Soda up to the hospital? Mr. Nilsson nodded. He put a hand on Sodapop's shoulder. "You take all the time you need." Soda nodded meekly he didn't trust himself to speak.
The boys drove to the hospital and got out. All Soda could think was he didn't get to say goodbye. Steve more or less pushed Soda to Ponyboy's room on the fourth floor expecting the absolute worse. Were they ever surprised when they walked in.
"PONYBOY?" Soda was aghast. His brother was sitting up in the bed no ventilator, no fluids no nothing. "How in the….."
"God given miracle. The doctors can't explain this any other way." Darry said.
"Thank God then." Soda said. He looked upwards. "Thanks God, thank you so much. I have my brother back." he whispered his prayer with a grin then made a dash for his brother.
"Easy does it Sodapop." Soda just gave a nod and jumped on the bed wrapping his arms around Ponyboy who gladly returned the affection. Steve and Darry flashed each other grins then looked up toward Heaven both giving God their silent thanks for prayers answered.
Soda and Pony let go of each other and opened their arms towards Darry. He joined them. "Aw come on Steve you can come too. I don't have cooties." That was the first time he had heard Ponyboy's voice in a long time. He gladly joined, thanking God again that the kid was still around and would apparently still be around for a long time coming.