Chapter 29

Dally-

After the funeral I had returned to Buck's and had gotten drunk. Man, was I flying high , I forgot how much I enjoyed this. Not only did it clear my mind of all my problems but it made me forget all the memories I had of the kid, especially the ones of him lying lifeless in his own yard. I wish I could go back in time and bring Ponyboy home to his brothers but since I couldn't I would get drunk as often as I could to forget the kid as much as I could. I would not let his death hurt me. I was too tough I could not let it happen.

Glancing towards the doorway I noticed a half drunk Two-Bit and he was watching me. I turned away from him but not before seeing the disappointed look in his eyes.

"Who cares what he thinks" I muttered "its not like he doesn't' spend the majority of his life drunk himself."

Getting bored with the party downstairs I stumbled to the bar to get another beer and then headed upstairs to "my" room. Sitting the beer on the nigh stand I laid down on the bed. I just wanted to forget the pain I had seen in Darry and Soda. I couldn't get the image of Soda laying on Ponyboy's grave crying out for him to come back, out of my head. The pain Soda had showed during the funeral only told how much Soda had loved his kid brother.

Reaching to the night stand I grabbed the beer, popping the top, I lifted it to my lips as I took a sip I noticed a light shining and someone was standing in the light.

"Dallas" a familiar voice said "I'm not dead I need your help."

Spitting out my beer, I hurriedly wiped my eyes and the image disappeared for a moment I had thought Ponyboy was talking to me.

"I've had too much to drink" I muttered dropping the rest of my beer into the trash. Suddenly

feeling tired I laid back down and closed my eyes, within ten minutes I was sound asleep.

Steve's POV~

The fact that Two-bit didn't believe me, did not surprise me, in fact I would have been surprised if he did. I mean they did think the kid was dead and now buried, which led me to wonder exactly who it was they had buried. I had seen the body in the yard and I had thought it was the kid but now I was beginning to wonder.

Instead of going back to my house after I had left Two-Bit's house I headed back to the hospital. I had left before I could find out the extent of Ponyboy's injuries. I was kinda worried; the kid wasn't doing all that great in the first place. I was hoping that Soda and Darry wouldn't have to bury him again.

Sighing, I shoved my hands into my pockets . For some reason I was feeling extremely protective towards the newly found Ponyboy and that wasn't like me at all. I had always disliked him so much before this entire mess.

The walk to the hospital didn't take all that long and for once nobody bothered me. Which left me to wonder what the socs were up to. They didn't usually leave any lone greaser embarrassed so they must be up to something big. Since they weren't bothering me. Even as I had entered the hospital and went to the waiting room. I was starting to get a bad feeling about what they were up to.

Sitting down in one of the hard plastic chairs that was facing the window. I stared out, Thinking that Soda probably hated me by now, especially if Two-Bit had gone and blabbed about what I had tried to convince him. There had to be a way I could get them to come to the hospital. If they could see the kid , they would know that I was right.

Twenty minutes later a very tired looking doctor came out of the ER doors.

"Family of a Ponyboy Curtis?" the doctor asked and I stood and he walked over to me.

"My name is Dr. Ferguson" he said holding out his right hand, I reached out and silently and shook it.

"How is he?" I asked wanting to find out exactly what was wrong.

"He's alive" Dr. Ferguson started "unfortunately he's in a coma due to the injuries he has sustained" he paused and when I only stared at him blankly he continued. "he has six broken ribs, severe internal bleeding that we were able to find and fix. He also has a severe head injury either from being beaten or dragged we don't know. His brain is swollen which we believe is what led to the coma, and at the time being he is unable to breath on his own which is why he is on a respirator."

I closed my eyes, he was hurt much worse then I had expected him to be. Then again he had been in pretty bad shape when I had found him. It all made me very angry and made me want to go find the guy that had done this and kill him.

"When can I see him?" I asked.

"In a few minutes, we're still getting him situated in his room in the intensive care unit." Dr. Ferguson replied before turning and walking away. I sighed and sat back down I had the feeling I was in

for a long wait.

Johnny 's POV~

After a few hours lying in the cold, I decided I would go home to at least be warm, I wasn't sure if my parents would be home or not. It was a Friday night. So maybe they wouldn't be at home for a little while and if they were I would go to Two-Bit's house. \I would at least get a few moments rest without having to worry about getting beat.

Climbing to my feet I walked as slow as I could, hugging my jacket to me, to my house. I would leave if I saw so much as I hair of either of their heads. I wasn't going to be hurt tonight, not after what I had gone through what with burying my best friend. I had never been through anything so painful in my life then what I had dealt with today.

As I approached my house I could hear the screaming coming from within the four walls of my so called home. Sighing, I should have known I wouldn't get that lucky, my parents never seemed to go to work yet they never seemed to lose whatever job they did have. Lucky for me I guess for when they were at work I got a few hours of peace.

I turned and I headed towards Two-Bit's house, he would more than likely be home, if he wasn't he'd be at the Curtis house or out getting drunk. Either way I would be able to find him. I just wished I could stay at my own home for once without worrying about being hurt. Its not like I deserved any of the beatings I got. As I walked I noticed the lack of socs prowling the streets. Which for this side of Tulsa was extremely unusual. I could remember the countless times I had been chased by them. I had only been beaten by them once and I wasn't exactly wanting them to do it again. I wondered what they were doing that had all of them away from our side of town. I hoped it wasn't anything to bad.

In five minutes I had reached Two-Bit's house, and I noticed Two-bit was standing at the window staring out. He didn't seem to see me out on the porch cause he jumped when I knocked on the door.

"Hey, Johnny, your parents fighting again?" Two-Bit asked and I nodded .

"Of course, when don't they do anything else?" I asked noticing the fact that Two-Bit was neither smiling nor was he drunk. "something bothering you?" I asked.

"Steve, came by earlier claiming that Ponyboy wasn't dead" Two-Bit replied.

"So, that's his excuse for missing the funeral" I commented "you know Soda and Darry won't go for that fairy tale especially after the day they've had today."

"I know it" Two-Bit said "but what if there was a way that Steve was right and they buried the person they thought was Ponyboy?"

"like I said fairy tale, stuff like that doesn't happen to us, you forget we don't get any breaks" I said.

"You sound a lot like Dally would" Two-Bit said frowning.

I frowned also knowing that although I worshipped the ground Dallas walked on, sounding like him probably wasn't the best idea in the world. Nobody should have to turn out the way he did. No one should have to turn tough just to protect themselves. Sometimes that's just the way life turns out, and I guess Dallas made the best decision that he could when it came to protecting himself.

"I wish this day was over" I muttered "this has been the hardest day I have ever gone through."

"yours and mine both and I actually made it through a day without really getting drunk, I got buzzed earlier but I wasn't full blown drunk." Two-bit said leaving his spot by the window to go get a pillow and some blankets for me.

"thanks for letting me sleep over" I tell him as I go over and lay down on the couch.

"anytime, you know I would rather you be at my house or the Curtis' so you don't get beat on all the time."