Two-Bit POV

"You've got quite some mother Keith…" Steve told me as he sat down on the floor next to me. Everyone was staring at him, including me.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" I yelled weakly. My voice was still shot and it hurt like hell. I was really sensitive and protective of my mother and I would do anything to see her, but Darry refuses to let me leave his eyesight until I get better.

Steve threw his hands up in surrender. "OKAY DAMN! I was just saying! Gosh," Steve stared me dead in the eyes before he continued. "I just meant, I was out talking to your mom and she's a very smart lady. Do you take offense to that too?"

I gave Steve the death stare. I was ready to pounce him and apparently Darry noticed it too. "Okay boys, that's enough. Steve, you have some explaining to do. Two-Bit, you need to get some sleep," Darry got up from the chair. I was happy for him to say that because yelling at Steve made me feel light-headed. I was ready to pass out. "Come on Two, let's go."

Darry walked over to where I was and held out his hand for me to grab. I took ahold of his hand and Darry pulled me off of the ground. I must've gotten up too quickly, because my vision turned black and I couldn't see anything. I started swaying and I started to lose my breath.

"Two-Bit, you okay?" I heard Ponyboy ask. I nodded, but that didn't help with my pounding headache. I looked up at Darry.

"Dar… I don't feel good…" I whimpered. I wanted to start crying again. And I wasn't doing it for attention at all. I felt horrible. Worse than I did yesterday.

Darry wrapped his arms around me and engulfed me in his warm and welcoming chest. I didn't wrap my arms around him like he did me; he hugged me so I couldn't move my arms. My face was squashed against his chest. "It's okay Two-Bit… I know," I could feel hot tears begin to roll down my cheeks. "If you take your medicine and go to bed, you'll feel better."

Then something struck me. I was beginning to wonder if I should stop hugging Darry. I didn't want him to get sick. I remembered Ponyboy's face from earlier and it looked like he was getting sick himself. Let's hope not… I thought as Darry pulled me off of him. He looked at my face closer and noticed my tears. "Can we just go already?" I asked. My voice broke and I was trying so hard not to do two things: pass out, and cry.

"Yeah… let's go." Darry put his hand on my shoulder and turned me around. But before I could take a step, I did happen to pass out.

oOoOoOo

I opened my eyes and the bright and shining light was hurting my eyes. I looked around the room and saw a figure walk over to the window and close the blinds. It got real dark and it made me happy. It soothed my headache a little bit. The only thing on my mind then was who was that in the room?

"Darry?" I mumbled? I realized that I was in Darry's bedroom, on his bed and under all of his bed covers.

"Yes Two-Bit?" So it was Darry. I could've figured. I mean, I was in his room.

"What time is it?" I asked dimply. My head was still hurting pretty bad.

"Um… about three why?"

"Three? That's it? It feels like it's later though…" My hand flew up to my forehead, but I pulled it away when I felt all the sweat on it mixed with the hotness of my fever.

"Well, sorry to break it to ya little buddy, but it's not," Darry walked to the side of me. "Before you go back to sleep, I wanna take your temperature again. Than give you something for that nasty cough."

"I was coughing?" I asked vaguely. Darry popped the thermometer in my mouth.

"Were you? Gosh Two-Bit, you wouldn't shut up. Just be quiet for a minute okay?" I only nodded and continued to stare at Darry. A moment of so passed by before Darry too the thermometer out of my mouth and read it. "102.3… it's looking better Two-Bit. Hang tight while I get your medicine ready, kay?"

"Kay…" Darry got up and left the room. I realized just then how bad my voice still sounded. It bugged me something awful because I couldn't scream or mock Steve anymore. What he said about my mother really made me mad earlier.

Darry came back a minute later with a spoon and a bottle. He sat on the edge of the bed and began pouring the orange liquid into the spoon. "Open up Keith," I complied and let Darry feed me the disgusting "orange flavored" medicine. I turned my head but Darry grabbed my chin. "One more, just hang on." And another one he feed me.

"Hey Darry… thanks for doing all this. I really think I'm starting to feel better…" I tried to lie.

"Oh really? With that voice, throwing up and passing out, and hacking your lungs out makes you think you're getting better? Sorry little buddy. Can't fool me this time," I frowned. "Two-Bit, ya wanna know something?"

I shrugged, not knowing what I would get myself in to. "I… I guess."

Darry sighed. "Now, I'm not saying this is your fault. It's probably just because he was hanging around you so much. But… Ponyboy's sick too… And I'm talking really sick."