"You okay?" Soda asked softly once Steve sagged back against the pillows.

"No," Steve breathed, like Soda knew he would. He gazed at the doorway where Evie had been standing. "What was she doing here?"

"She came to see you, man. Remember? I told you I ran into her the other day."

A couple of tears slipped down Steve's cheeks. "I don't remember," he said dejectedly. "I don't..." he trailed off. "Soda..."

Soda cringed as his best friend began to bawl. Steve's hand was pressed hard against his closed eyes, like he was trying to shut out everything.

"Hey," Soda said softly, doing his best to keep his voice steady. "Look at me, Stevie."

But Steve shook his head.

Soda took the emesis basin from Steve's lap and set it on the table. Then he put a hand on Steve's neck and squeezed gently. "Do you want me to tell her to leave?" he hedged.

"No," Steve responded quickly, still struggling to hold back tears.

"Then what's going on, huh? You still feeling bad? Do you need me to get a nurse in here?" Soda knew that Steve usually felt better after giving into the nausea, so he wasn't sure what had caused his friend to become so upset.

Again, Steve shook his head at Soda's inquiries. "I'm okay," he breathed, but it wasn't very convincing over the sobs wracking in his chest.

Soda noticed the shake in his buddy's hands and thought he understood. "Just overwhelmed, huh?" he asked. When Steve nodded, Soda immediately drew him in for a hug.

He was surprised when Steve reciprocated and hugged him back with strength Soda didn't know he had. Fresh tears were hot on Soda's neck and Steve's stale breath was encompassing, but Soda wouldn't dream of letting go.

They needed this.

"I just want to go home," Steve whispered. "I just want this to be over."

"I know, man," Soda said, rocking Steve gently. "I know." He pressed his lips softly against Steve's temple and felt him relax at the touch.

Soda wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, just holding each other in an embrace.

It felt nice.

Much later, Steve sniffed loudly against Soda's sternum, and then started to shake.

It alarmed Soda at first…

…until he realized that Steve was laughing.

Honest to God laughing.

Soda pulled away from him then, so he was at an arm's length, trying to read Steve's expression.

Steve's cheeks were stained with tears, but sure enough, he had a smile on his face and was giggling wildly. Soda didn't know what to make of it. "Are you okay…? Steve?"

Steve wiped at his eyes and had to take a second to catch his breath. And then: "Can you imagine what Winston would say if he could see us right now?"

While the mention of Dally caught him off guard, the fact that Steve made a joke was what really threw Soda. He laughed in spite of himself and threw his arms back around his friend. "He'd probably ask us when we grew a pair of lady parts," he mumbled into Steve's hair.

"He'd knock our heads together," Steve agreed and squeezed Soda tighter.

They were still holding that embrace when Darry and Evie returned to the doorway, nearly fifteen minutes later.


"Okay, Steve, we're going to try and stand up now. Are you ready?"

Steve took a deep breath from the edge of the bed and glanced at Soda. A walker had been placed in front of him.

Soda nodded slightly from his spot by the door and gave him a reassuring smile.

The nurse and physical therapist were trying to get Steve up and moving again. Each had a hand behind Steve's back and they were planning on hoisting him up by the armpits.

Once Steve was able to walk 150 feet on his own, the staff would consider discharging him.

So Steve was highly motivated to stand. He nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready."

"That's what we like to hear," the PT said encouragingly. "Okay, on the count of three… One… two… three!"

Steve pushed up from the bed and Soda and Darry held their breath while they waited to see if he would maintain his balance. The staff's hands hovered near him, but Steve didn't require any help.

He looked good.

He was standing.

Soda beamed and felt Darry squeeze his shoulder from behind him.

"How do you feel?" the nurse asked her patient.

"A little stiff," Steve answered honestly. "But it feels good. I feel good."

"No dizziness?" the nurse inquired.

Steve shook his head.

"Think you're up for a little walk?" the PT asked. He nudged the walker closer.

Steve swallowed hard, but nodded his consent. He reached for the walker.

That's how Soda and Darry found themselves walking behind their friend as he took a slow stroll down the hallway.

"He looks great, doesn't he?" Darry said softly.

"Yeah. Yeah, he does," Soda responded, voice catching in his throat.

And it was that moment – that exact one – that Soda knew everything was going to be okay.


"So how'd you leave things with Evie?" Soda asked, once Steve had settled back into his bed.

Darry and Soda had given them some privacy to hash things out, and when they'd returned, Evie was gone and the nurse and PT were in her place.

Steve let out a big sigh. "It was brutal," he said. "She couldn't stop crying and it just… it just made me so mad, Soda. I was so mad at her for bawlin' like that. She was the one who hurt me. She had no right."

Soda nodded. He understood that.

"I told her how much she had hurt me, how horrible it was to see her with that drifter. I yelled at her, man. Like actually shouted at her. And she just sat there and took it. Didn't try to make excuses or anything."

Steve chuckled and ran his hands through his hair.

"But while I was yelling at her, I realized something."

"Yeah? What's that?"

Steve sighed. "That she's still the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. That even though she hurt me, I don't think I want to call it quits on us."

Soda raised his eyebrows. "So you're going to try and work it out? You're going to try and forgive her?"

Steve shrugged and started playing with the snagged string on the hospital sheet. "I told her I needed some more time to sort it out, and that I'd look her up once I'm out of here."

Soda felt a wave of hope wash over him. He liked what he was hearing. Steve had shown emotion today. That fight that was always in him was starting to resurface. And he was talking about getting out – going home. That meant he wasn't giving up.

"She does seem awfully sorry," Soda commented gently. "I think she still really cares for you, man."

Steve scrubbed a hand over his face. "Yeah, I kind of got that vibe." He smirked. "Besides, it's not like I'm an innocent saint over here, right?"

"Hey, we're greasers, man. It's in our blood." Soda playfully punched Steve in the shoulder, just as he yawned. "You tired?"

Steve nodded. "Yeah, that walk took a lot out of me."

"You looked great, man," Darry piped up from his spot by the door. Soda had almost forgotten he was there.

"You really did," Soda agreed. "I liked seeing you on your feet again."

Steve snorted lightly, as if he were embarrassed. "I had to use a walker," he said dully.

"So what? It's a start," Soda said sternly. "You had to start somewhere."

"Yeah," Darry echoed. "You'll be out of here in no time, brother."

Soda saw how all the tension seemed to melt out of Steve at his brother's words. He was nodding off.

Soda squeezed his shoulder gently. "Get some shut-eye, man. We'll be here when you wake up."

TBC…


A/N: Just one more chapter to go! Thanks for reading! :)