I do not own The Outsiders, S.E Hinton does. But I do own the saying 'No Worms on the Bed'

Chapter 25

Darry's POV

We all fell asleep in Soda's bed. I rubbed Ponyboy's head with my thumb. He was warm and throwing up every hour. It must be the flu. I drifted off again until I felt motion on the bed. I opened my eyes and saw Ponyboy thrashing and tossing in the bed. Sodapop was dead to the world, so he didn't know that our brother was having a nightmare. I turned to him and shook him slightly. He was muttering things that I couldn't make out.

"It's okay Ponyboy, wake up now, your okay." I whisper to him. He rolls and tosses from this nightmare. I put my arms around him, cradling him.

"Alex! No, don't!" he screams. Soda stirs and turns to us. He sits up and rubs Pony's back.

"Wake up, Pony, it's just a dream." Soda mutters in Ponyboy's ear. Ponyboy starts to buck and gets out of my arms.

"Johnny, Dallas!" he screams. This was one of the worst nightmares yet. I don't know if it was brought on by the fever or just stress. I pulled him upright, shaking him. He opens his eyes, looking confused. He lurches and Soda grabs the trashcan, but it's too late. Ponyboy gets sick all over my lap; Soda gets the bin in front of him before he can get even more sick on me. He gags dry heaving and spitting out bile.

"Darry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…." He chokes out between vomiting.

"It's okay Ponyboy. You didn't mean it. I shouldn't have shook you. I'm gonna go change and get you some more ginger ale." I say gently. The last thing he needs right now is me yelling at him because he got sick on me. It wasn't that bad, it might stain a little, but it was on the knee, I could just rip it out. I go change and go into the kitchen. I look in the frig and see that we are out of ginger ale. I go back into the bedroom where Ponyboy is leaning on Sodapop pale as a ghost and looking weaker than I have ever seen him. I sit on the bed next to him.

"We're out of ginger ale, kiddo, I'm going to go to the store to get some. Will you be alright here with Soda?" I ask him rubbing his head.

"I'll be fine Darry. I ain't a little kid anymore." He says weakly. I smile and nod at him, Ponyboy was always grumpy when he was sick so I let it slide.

I went to the DX to get the ginger ale, when I ran into Tim Sheppard. He was lifting a pack of Camels from the counter when the guy working the counter wasn't looking. I smirked and nudged him in the ribs.

"Hey Darrel. What's going on?" he asks.

"Nothing much, just got back from New York." I say paying for the soda and leaving. He walks with me.

"I heard from Matthews that you found something in the big apple." He says lighting up. I give him a glare.

"Look, I know that you know, but don't go spreading it around. The last thing I need is for the state to find out he's back and take him away. If the state comes knocking on my door any time soon, I'm coming after you." I say pointing a finger at him. He holds his hands up and says calmly.

"I wasn't going to say anything. Just wanted to know when I can see him again." He said going back to his car.

"See ya, Darrel." He says zooming off. I get back in the truck with the twelve pack of ginger ale I just bought and went back to the house. When I got back to the house, I put the soda on the table and go to the bedroom. I found my brothers lying down next to each other. Ponyboy was asleep while Soda was stroking his hair.

"Hey, how is he?"

"He got sick again, but it wasn't nearly as bad. I gave him one of those pills and he went to sleep about ten minutes before you got here."

"Good, he needs it. In a few hours I'll make him some soup, he has eaten in awhile. I don't want him to get dehydrated." Soda nods and goes into the kitchen.

I walk over to the bed and knell down so that I'm at his height. This isn't how I wanted to bring him home, but this is better than nothing. Thank God that gun slipped. I do not know what I would have done if it hadn't. I wish I could be the one who has been going through this pain and not him. He's a good kid, and deservers better. I wish that our parents were here, they were always good with dealing with sick people. Sure, I've taken care of my brother when they had a fever, they were throwing up, the runs, a cold, but I've never seen either of them as sick as Ponyboy is right now. I rubbed his cheek with my thumb, he shivered at my touch. I got up and got a blanket for him. He starts to stir. I bend back down to his level.

"What…. What's going on?" he mutters. I rub his back and Shh him.

"Shh… Pony, go back to sleep. You're sick, you need to rest." I say gently. He shivers again.

"Why is it so cold in here?" he says. I sit next to him and rub his head.

"It's not cold in here, little buddy, you must be having one of those cold flashes."

He groans and holds his head in his hands. "This is hell!" he says. I smile and pat his back.

"I know kiddo, you want me to get you some more Ginger Ale. You can't have anymore pills just yet. We don't want you to overdose on those do you?"

"Fine, sure I could use more Ginger Ale." I nod and go into the kitchen for a can of the soda. I see Soda conked out on the couch. He's snoring and twitching in his sleep. I chuckle and pour the soda over a glass of ice. I go back into the room and see Ponyboy throwing up in the trash can. I put the glass on the dresser and rush over to him. I hold him and the trash can up while he gets sick. When he finishes I grab a tissue from the nightstand and give it to him. He wipes his mouth and spits in the trash can again.

"How do you anything left to throw up, Pone?" I ask him. He lies back down. I go over to him and lay next to him. He puts his head on my shoulder, moaning because of his stomach. I rub his head and sit up.

"Darry, will you stay?" he asks timidly. I smile.

"Sure Ponyboy."

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