"Steve? Steve! Steve, come on buddy, wake up!" Steve slowly opened his eyes and saw a blurred figure shaking him. He wasn't sure what was going on or where he was. "Steve? Can you hear me?" He blinked his eyes a few times and could slightly make out Two-Bit's figure standing over him.
"Wha-What happened?" Steve mumbled bringing his hands to his eyes. He began rubbing at them and tried sitting up, but a pain in his head forced him to stay down.
"Hold on, slow down," Two-Bit said giving Steve some support as he lowered back down, "You just passed out, but only for a few seconds."
"Why?" Steve asked as the fuzziness started to even out in his vision, "What's going on?"
"I don't know why you did. You just dropped out of nowhere. Let's get you back to the house," Two-Bit slowly helped Steve up to his feet, "Just go slow."
Steve got to his feet. He took a few deep breaths as his legs stopped shaking. He briefly looked around at his surroundings and remembered why he had been out in the first place, "What about Soda? Where is he?"
"I'm sure he's fine. He was pretty upset, but he'll come home when he's ready. Right now, I think you need to lay down."
Two-Bit walked with Steve back to the house. Steve would feel his body go weak at times, but he managed to make it back. He didn't like that he had gone weak and couldn't handle what was happening, but he kept quiet about it and just focused on needing the rest. They got back to the house with Dally and Johnny still there by themselves.
"You guys weren't gone long," Dally commented.
"Steve isn't feeling well," Two-Bit said helping Steve onto the couch, "He blacked out for a second."
"Why?" Johnny asked.
"Who knows," Steve grunted holding his head.
"I think you just have too much going on," Two-Bit commented, "I told you you can't handle everything by yourself."
"We all told you that," Dally added in, "It's going to kick you in the ass."
"Can it," Steve said frustrated. He slowly sat up, "I'm just going to go upstairs to take a nap."
"Good idea," Two-Bit said, "You should just go ahead and take one of yo-" Steve shot Two-Bit a glare before he could finish his sentence. Two-Bit caught himself and stopped. "Just go get some rest."
Steve slowly went upstairs and got into the bed. His head was throbbing and there was a dull pain behind his eyes. "Damnit," he mumbled as he let his head sink into the pillow. He was feeling anger and annoyance rise. An anger towards himself. He refused to let himself go weak now, not when they could be so close to the finish line of everything. He had to be there for Soda. "I promised him I'd be there for him, all the way," Steve told himself, "I can't back down now."
About an hour passed when Two-Bit, Dally, and Johnny went out on the front porch for a smoke.
"So what's going on with Steve?" Dally asked as he took an inhale of his cigarette.
"I just think Steve is stressed out and not taking very good care of himself. We all know that. We all know he's trying to be Soda's supporter through everything and refuses to show any weakness. Typical Steve, hard to really stop him," Two-Bit shrugged, "And Soda stormed out which didn't help, he's denying everything Steve told him."
"What do you mean?" Johnny asked.
"Well you know Soda thinks he was the one driving when the accident happened, but Darry told Steve that it was him who was driving. So, something is just going on in Soda's head," Two-Bit took a seat on the porch swing, "Steve tried talking to Soda about it, but maybe Soda has to hear it from Darry. Either way, Soda just isn't believing it, so...I don't know, something is definitely up."
"Damn," Dally muttered.
"So, now what?" Johnny asked.
"I do think Soda needs to talk to Darry. And I think Steve needs to start relaxing, which hopefully he can now that Darry is awake," Two-Bit suggested, "But I don't know, maybe we don't need to get to the bottom of the driving thing right away. We don't need it to freak Soda out."
Johnny sighed, "I do wish Pony would wake up too."
Dally put an arm around Johnny, "Don't you worry, kid. He'll come around."
"I hope so. I'm glad Darry is awake and all, but I do miss Ponyboy."
"We all do," Two-Bit commented.
"Well, look who's coming back," Dally said looking down the road. Soda was walking back down the street with his head hung low.
"Alright guys, I'll go ahead and talk to him," Two-Bit said getting up. Dally and Johnny tossed their cigarettes to head inside as Soda made his way up the driveway.
"Hey buddy," Two-Bit greeted as he walked down to meet Soda.
"Hi," Soda said quietly.
"Want a smoke?" Two-Bit reached in his pocket and took his pack of cigarettes out.
"Yeah," Soda took the pack and took one out.
"Let's talk," Two-Bit said. Soda took a seat on the porch steps and faced the driveway while Two-Bit stood behind him. "Steve told me what he told you, and what Darry told him." Two-Bit just watched as Soda shook his head. "Are you trying to take the blame for this, Soda? Do you not want Darry to get in trouble? He wouldn't get in trouble for this, you know that right? It was just an accident."
"No, Two-Bit, that's not it," Soda said, "I remember I was driving."
"Steve said that you kept talking about some trick you were doing that caused the accident. What trick was it?"
Soda just shrugged, "I was just speeding around, trying to do some fast turns and stuff."
"You don't really know though?"
Soda began sounding irritated, "I don't know. No one will just listen to me!"
"Soda, is there a chance you really weren't driving?" Two-Bit asked.
Soda shook his head, "Two-Bit, if I wasn't driving, why does my memory have me remembering it? I remember us leaving the pizza diner, I got into the truck with the keys, I started it up, and I began driving. There was no one out, it was a little late, so I figured I could drive fast and take some sharper turns. Then the truck turned over." Soda began to choke up, but took a deep breath to compose himself. "I remember crawling out of the truck, I was hurting bad. And I turned and saw Darry and Pony in the truck, but they couldn't answer me. They weren't opening their eyes, they weren't moving. I was...I was so scared."
Two-Bit thought for a minute about what Soda said. He wasn't sure what to believe with the details Soda was recalling. "I think you need to talk to Darry. Maybe not right away while he's still in the hospital, but you do need to talk to him. We'll have to see what we can put together. If Darry is remembering it wrong, then he should get some help, you know?"
"Yeah," Soda nodded, "Two-Bit, I hit Steve."
"I kind of figured," Two-Bit commented, "He was holding his face after you left. He didn't say anything though. I don't think he cares, honestly."
Soda's head dropped down, "I didn't want to. I just wanted him to stop talking. I wanted him to stop asking questions."
Two-Bit grinned, "So, is that the most effective way to shut up Steve Randle? I don't think any of us have figured out a way, ever. Just a flying fist to do the trick?"
Soda tried fighting off a smile, but let out a couple chuckles, "Seriously Two-Bit, I shouldn't have done it."
"Soda, I really don't think you have to worry about it. He didn't say anything, in fact he tried going to find you right away. So I really don't think he cares. I wouldn't sweat over it," Two-Bit reassured.
Soda turned to face Two-Bit, "Where is he? Is he still out there looking?"
"He's upstairs resting. He wasn't feeling well when we went to go find out, so we came back here and he's just laying down."
"Should I go talk to him?"
Two-Bit shrugged, "I can't imagine he's actually sleeping, if you catch my drift."
Soda nodded in agreement. He stood up and walked inside the house. He didn't say anything to Dally or Johnny as he went straight upstairs towards his room. Standing outside the door, Soda reflected hitting Steve. He regretted it immediately. He hated that he went to that measure out of frustration. Soda knew Two-Bit was probably right and Steve didn't care at all, but Soda felt rotten and still felt the need to fix it.
"Steve?" Soda asked as he slowly opened the bedroom door. Soda sighed, feeling some relief as he found his best friend out like a light.
The four greasers decided to go visit Darry while Steve rested. They piled in Two-Bit's car and headed for the hospital. Two-Bit was surprised, but happy when Soda told him Steve was actually asleep. They both knew Steve needed it, a lot.
At the hospital, the greasers found Darry sitting up and eating some dinner.
"Hey guys," Darry smiled.
"Hi Darry," Soda went in for a hug. He was feeling anxious about being there. He knew Darry was aware about his uncertainty of what happened at the accident. Soda didn't want to talk about it though. He hoped he could just be with his big brother and feel protected from everything again.
"Hey buddy," Darry returned the hug.
"How are you feeling?" Dally asked.
"Okay," Darry replied, "Weak."
"Any news on Ponyboy?" Johnny asked.
Darry shrugged, "I don't think they want to tell me much. They don't want to get me riled up, but not knowing isn't helping either."
"I'll go ask," Soda offered, "Come on Johnnycake." Johnny and Dally followed Soda out of the room.
When the three left the room, Darry turned to Two-Bit, "Where's Steve?"
"He's not feeling well," Two-Bit answered, "I think it's stress with everything. He's just relaxing at the house."
"Good," Darry nodded, "He seemed out of it when I saw him earlier. We were talking, but he didn't seem to feel too good."
Two-Bit nodded, "He tried talking to Soda about the whole...who was driving question."
Darry sighed, "I couldn't believe when Steve told me that today. I had no idea that was going on with Soda. I don't even get it, Two-Bit. How did Soda get that in his head?"
Two-Bit shook his head, "I have no idea. Steve wonders if maybe he blacked out or is just in shock."
"I need to talk to him," Darry commented.
"He is still fighting it," Two-Bit added in, "Even when Steve talked to him about what you said, and I even tried talking to him too, he's just not believing us. But maybe you should wait to talk to him until you get out of here. To me, it's not the most serious issue to figure out. You getting out of here is the bigger priority."
"Maybe, but knowing what is happening isn't helping me either," Darry said.
"You can't always be Superman," Two-Bit grinned, "Besides, if you want to be there for whatever is going on with Soda, you need to heal first."
"I know, you're right."
"Sometimes I can be pretty smart," Two-Bit laughed.
Darry shook his head, "I must have been out for a long time."
"Wow!" Two-Bit mocked being hurt, and then laughed, "I do miss you giving me a hard time."
Darry smiled, "My life would be boring without doing it."
Soda, Dally, and Johnny returned inside Darry's room. "What did they say?" Darry asked.
"Well he's off," Dally answered, "He's not on anything anymore."
"No seizures?" Two-Bit asked.
"Nope," Johnny answered.
"So now what? We just have to wait?" Two-Bit asked, "Again?"
"Pretty much. More and more waiting," Dally said. He looked over and saw Johnny's anxious state and patted his back, "Come on Johnny, let's go get a Coke or something." Johnny simply nodded and followed him out.
"He's getting pretty anxious," Darry commented.
"Can you blame him?" Two-Bit asked.
Darry shook his head, "I guess everyone is. Soda are you okay?"
Soda nodded, "I...just hope something happens. Soon. I'm kind of scared."
"It'll be okay, buddy," Darry reassured, "If he's not having any seizures, that's all good." Darry looked over at Two-Bit and understood what he meant by waiting to talk to Soda about the driving problem. No matter how the conversation would go, Soda was not in the right mindset to actually talk about it, or listen to anyone else.
After about an hour of visiting, Johnny and Dally caught a bus while Two-Bit drove Soda back home.
"Two-Bit, I really am scared," Soda admitted.
"What's scaring you?"
"Pony is officially off the medicine. He's not having seizures. He should wake up, but the doctor doesn't know when he will wake up. It could still take a long time," Soda explained, "It's like his body could just refuse to do anything."
"But at least he has a good chance to wake up. It is good news," Two-Bit said, "Don't be scared. Everything is going the right direction. And if it takes a while for his body to wake up, it should just mean he's healing.""
The boys walked inside the Curtis house. It was quiet. They both walked upstairs and entered Soda's room. Steve was still in the bed. Two-Bit picked up the bottle of pills sitting on the nightstand. "I don't know if he took any, but I think he's out for the rest of the night. That's okay, he needs it."
"He must really not be feeling good," Soda commented as they left the room to go back downstairs, "I guess it's kind of my fault, huh?"
"Stress and not sleeping well will do a lot to a guy," Two-Bit said, "But it was all because he cares about you, Soda. It's not your fault. He just loves you."
The boys took seats at the kitchen table, Soda with chocolate milk and Two-Bit with a beer. "This really is just a waiting game now," Soda said, "It feels so close to being done, but so far too."
Two-Bit nodded, "Everything's going to be good, Soda. I can feel it. Did the doctor mention anything about Darry going home?"
"It could be as soon as a few days. Darry's looking real good to them, so they think he can do some recovery at home fine."
"That's great news, huh?"
"It is," Soda replied, "It just won't be perfect until both of my brothers are home."