Upon hearing Two-Bit's concerned tone, Sodapop rushed into Darry's room first. What he saw almost made him fall. Instead he turned towards Two-Bit, "I hate you." Turning back around, he rushed over and wrapped his arms around his older brother, who was sitting up.

Soda felt the tears rush down his face, "Oh Darry, I can't believe this!"

"Hey, little buddy," Darry said weakly wrapping his arms around his little brother. They just held each other. Soda bawled into Darry's chest. It happened. What he had longed for, what he had panicked over, and what he had cried for had finally happened. Darry was going to be okay.

Two-Bit couldn't help, but grin as he strolled into the room with Steve. Steve whacked Two-Bit in the back and smirked, "You're kind of an ass."

"It's what I do best," Two-Bit shrugged.

Darry, still holding onto Soda, looked up at the two greasers at his doorway, "Hey you two."

"What's up Superman?" Steve grinned.

"It's great to see you awake," Two-Bit smiled.

Soda lifted himself off and looked at Darry. He still looked tired and winded, but his eyes were open. "I thought I lost you Darry," Soda cried and let the words just spill out, "I thought this was just it. I thought you were gone forever. I thought I was gong to be alone. Darry, I was so scared."

"I'm not going anywhere buddy," Darry grabbed Soda's face.

"Darry, I'm so sorry," Soda held Darry's hand against his face.

"There's nothing to be sorry about. You didn't do anything, at all." Steve and his unanswered questions couldn't help but notice what Darry had said. He said Soda didn't do anything, nothing at all. Was he saying that, because Soda didn't need to feel guilty, or because Soda really didn't do anything? Maybe he could ask Darry later if he remembered anything from the accident. He'd have to be patient before jumping into that though. Darry sighed, "The doctor says I've been out for some days."

Two-Bit nodded, "Yeah, but don't worry. We've been helping Soda out and Steve's been fixing up your truck."

"What?" Darry asked looking at Steve, "You didn't have to worry about that."

"Oh it's nothing," Steve replied.

"It wasn't nothing," Soda shook his head, "He's been there so much. The night you and Pony got here, Steve came straight here and stayed at the house with me. He's kept me straight in the head." He looked over at Steve with a smile. Steve returned the smile.

"Thank you, Steve," Darry said, "I'm not really sure what else to say right now. That's just incredible."

"What else is family for?" Steve shrugged. Darry smiled and felt some relief. It made him happy to think someone was really there for Soda and didn't let him lose his mind through all of this.

"Has the doctor seen you?" Soda asked.

Darry nodded, "Yeah. I still might be here for a few days, so they can keep an eye on me. They want me to try and get up later and see how I feel. I'm sure I'll be hurting. Doctor also thinks I'll have a concussion for some time."

"Is anything broken?" Soda asked.

"A couple of ribs, nothing I can't handle," Darry winked.

"You are a tough son of a bitch," Two-Bit remarked.

Darry nodded. His smile turned into a frown, "They told me Ponyboy wasn't up yet."

Steve shook his head, "They have been trying to wake him up."

"Have you seen him yet?" Darry asked.

"No," Soda shook his head, "I've been scared to. I'm sorry."

"It's nothing to be sorry about Soda, I'd be scared too," Darry leaned back against the pillow, "I just wish I could get up and go in there."

"I'll go check in on him," Steve said, getting up from leaning against the wall and leaving the room. He walked over and opened Ponyboy's door. As the door closed, he saw a nurse checking his vitals. "How has he been doing?"

"No seizures today," the nurse smiled, "Dr. Turff is deciding if he wants to lower the medicine again or take advantage of the progress."

Steve nodded, "That's good."

After the nurse finished writing her notes, she left the room. Steve observed Ponyboy's condition. The tubes and wires attached to him just seemed endless. The one eye was still covered in bandage. The bruising to his face was still there, but it did seem less dramatic. Part of his head was also bandaged. His arm was in a cast, and the leg that was originally being restricted was now in it's own cast. He seemed crowded by machines. How would he react waking up to this scene?

Steve ran a hand down his face and sighed, "We're still on a long road, aren't we kid?"

The machines continued to beep. Steve pulled a chair up to the side of the bed and took a seat.

"Well kid, we've made a big step here. Darry woke up, and Soda...he's thrilled. I'm thrilled. We're all thrilled. He seems to be doing great too. He's going to be walking away with less than what I would have imagined. But you know, and I know, Soda and Darry still can't go on in life without you pulling through too. They need you kid, we all need you here with us." The thought of Soda losing Pony brought tears to Steve's eyes. He couldn't imagine seeing his best friend go through that. Steve quickly wiped at his eyes, stood up, and replaced the chair. He walked to the door and opened it. Holding the door open with one hand, Steve took one look back. "Just pull through, Ponyboy."

After a long visit, Darry grew tired. That was the sign for the boys to leave. Even though Soda didn't want to, he also knew Darry needed the rest. As Darry lowered himself into a resting position, Soda fell against his chest. Feeling his older brother's chest against his cheek again brought an incredible comfort. Soda and Darry lasted in a long embrace before departing.

"I'll be here tomorrow. I love you," Darry said as he let go.

"I love you too," Soda turned and left the room. He blinked away tears fast.

"Do you want to go see Ponyboy? He hasn't had any issues all day," Steve said. Soda looked at the door that lead to his little brother's body. "There's still a little bit of time for visiting hours."

"Okay," Soda said, "I'll go in for a minute." Soda opened the door and slowly entered by himself. He walked over and kissed Ponyboy's forehead. As much as he hated seeing the machines and bandages, Soda did feel warm inside seeing his little brother. Darry waking up really gave him more hope than ever. "I can't be in here long. I'm sorry I haven't come in much, but...your seizure scared me something awful. But you seem to be having a good day. Darry woke up, so that's amazing. Now I just need you to wake up. I'll come in here more tomorrow, okay? I love you so much, Pony."

Soda left the room after his quick words. He didn't like that the seizure had effected his visits to Ponyboy. Soda silently prayed that Pony would wake up quick so those effects wouldn't last.

The three boys exited the hospital and got in Steve's car. Soda quickly helped himself to the backseat. He looked outside his window and up at the sky that was slowly changing from day to night. As he sent a thankful prayer, he began to cry happy tears. He felt bad he had been in so much doubt, but Darry's waking up changed everything. Now he began to feel optimistic about Ponyboy.

Looking in the rear view mirror, Steve saw Soda's tear-stained face. "Do you want to get something to eat?" he asked. Soda wiped at his face and nodded.

"I know this is going to sound weird," Soda began as the car drove, "But I'm scared Darry is going to go to sleep and go back in a coma."

"That's not how that works, buddy," Steve said, "You know that. He's going to be okay."

Soda nodded, "I know, I know. I guess it's hard to completely believe that when we're still leaving him at the hospital.

Steve drove the boys to the Dingo. They saw Johnny and Dally sitting at a table, so they walked over to join them and tell them the news.

"Hey guys, guess what?" Two-Bit started.

"What?" Johnny asked.

"Darry's up!" Two-Bit said excitedly.

"No shit?" Dally asked taking a bite of some fries.

"Yeah he woke up earlier," Steve added, "And Pony went without any seizures today."

"All improvements," Two-Bit commented, "Makes me hungry."

"Well we can probably come with you guys tomorrow then," Johnny said, beginning to feel hopeful himself for his best friend.

As the greasers settled in and ordered some more food and drinks, Steve and Two-Bit stepped outside to smoke.

"So," Two-Bit lit his cigarette, "Do you still want me to stay over tonight? Or do you think Soda will be okay tonight?"

"You can do whatever. I'm sure Soda will be fine tonight," Steve inhaled at his cigarette.

Two-Bit looked at Steve. He could tell Steve had let some stress go with everything positive that happened today. Unfortunately that meant Steve was starting to feel the exhaust of not taking care of himself, and was now starting to look like a complete wreck. "What about you?"

"Huh?" Steve asked.

"Are you going to be okay?" Two-Bit asked.

"What are you talking about?" Steve exhaled his smoke.

"You seem out of it. You've been holding a lot on your shoulders. Maybe you should take a night off. You can go home and I'll sleep with Soda," Two-Bit offered.

"No, no," Steve shook his head, "I'm fine, Two-Bit."

"But Steve..."

"I said I'm fine, Two-Bit. Really."

"Okay, fine. But I'm coming over anyway."

"Cool, cool" Steve put his cigarette out.

When they returned to the Curtis house, the three boys went in the backyard. Two-Bit and Soda started a basketball game while Steve sat on the back porch smoking another cigarette. He was feeling really tired, and a little too weak to even get up and shoot a basketball. He didn't care though, he was just glad to see Soda having some fun. He was acting like his normal self with Two-Bit. They were throwing wisecracks at each other and making bets over shooting the baskets. At one point, Soda even chased Two-Bit around the yard and tackled him. It was all making Steve smile and laugh. After some time of relaxing on the porch, Steve could feel a headache coming on. He figured it was just the day's events. It was good stress, but it was a lot. Exhaustion was also starting to come upon him.

After spending some time outside, the boys began to settle for bed. "Fuck it, I'm taking Darry's bed," Two-Bit commented following the other two upstairs.

"You could have this entire time," Soda commented.

"Naw, it would've been too weird before."

Steve was in the bathroom and began washing his face. As he looked at his reflection, he didn't think he looked that great. He was slightly pale. "I just need a really good sleep," Steve told himself.

Getting settled into bed, Steve took out his pills, "Do you think you'll be okay tonight?"

Soda nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay." As Steve took out one pill for himself, Soda continued, "Steve, I'm sorry I accused you of taking some street shit. I know you wouldn't do that, let alone give it to me."

Steve took a drink of water as he swallowed the pill, "It's okay Soda. I understand."

"Steve?"

"What?"

"What are they for?"

Steve took a breath. Maybe Two-Bit was right, it shouldn't be a big deal to talk about. Steve did feel insecure about it though, because he didn't really have the answers to what caused it. He didn't want the gang to treat him any different or act like they needed to help him get extra tired before he tried to sleep. The word that scared him the most was 'disorder.' He hadn't liked when the doctor used that word, especially for something as common as sleeping. Who couldn't just go to sleep? Who needed a prescription to just sleep? Didn't only babies have trouble sleeping?

"Insomnia," Steve simply replied.

Soda's eyebrows furrowed, "A sleeping pill?"

Steve shrugged, "I mean, yes, but it's a little more complicated than that. A few months ago I just started noticing something different with me. I was feeling off. I was feeling really tired, like really tired. I was feeling some anxiety, I started having trouble sleeping throughout the entire night. I couldn't focus on anything. So, I did go to the doctor and he told me I have insomnia. He said it's a disorder though..."

Soda couldn't speak for a moment as he took it all in. "A disorder?" Soda repeated, "What do...why didn't you say anything?"

"It was too hard," Steve admitted.

"I'm so sorry Steve," Soda put an arm around his best friend, "Just...wow."

"It's okay. I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I was trying to get my mind wrapped around it myself, I still am I guess."

"So the medicine just helps you sleep?"

"I mean, yeah. There are some nights I do wake up and can't get back to sleep, but the pills help that not happen much," Steve explained.

"So what about the nights you let me have one? What happened to you?" Soda asked concerned.

"I just hung out outside. If I lay in bed awake, it can mess with me. That's really when my anxiety rises and it can get the best of me. So, even though being outside doesn't put me to sleep, it does help me relax," Steve answered, "It helps me not be as anxious the next day."

"I wish you would have told me about this. I would have never taken your medicine when you really needed it," Soda said feeling the guilt.

"It's okay, Soda. A couple nights of sleep won't kill me," Steve assured, "I do need to sleep tonight though. I have a pretty bad headache. I'm not feeling the best."

As Steve settled onto the pillow, Soda said, "Thanks Steve. For everything."