"Ponyboy," Soda squeezed his little brother's hand, "I'll stay by you. I'm going to keep fighting for you. I love you so much."

In that instant, the machines next to Pony gave off uneven beeps, and alarming sounds. Soda tensed up as he was expecting a seizure was about to happen, but Pony's body lay still. The beeps became faster. Soda watched as the squiggly lines coming out on the paper jumped all over the place. The noise began taking over the room. As scared as Soda felt, he refused to to let go of Ponyboy's hand. He fought the anxiety that tried to take over him.

"I'm not going anywhere," Soda said keeping his eyes on his little brother, "I'm going to keep fighting."

Pony's body continued to lay still. Not even a flinch as the beeps became uncontrollably fast.

"Pony?" Soda asked, wanting him to give him some sign.

Soda watched his little brother remain still as the fast beeps turned into one steady, ongoing beep.

Soda's mouth hung open as he waited for something else, anything else to happen, "P-Ponyboy? Ponyboy?" Soda shook the hand that was still attached to him. He wanted Pony to squeeze him back. He felt his own heart stop.

Within seconds, doctors and nurses were rushing into the room. One of the nurses grabbed Soda and pulled him out of the room. "You need to leave right now," was all she said as she closed the door, leaving Soda out of the room.

"Soda?"

Soda looked over and saw Steve closing Darry's door behind him. Steve grabbed Soda by the arms and took him away from the rooms. "Soda?" Soda didn't respond as he stared at Ponyboy's room. "Soda, talk to me."

"Something's wrong," Soda's shaky voice said.

"Soda..."

"No Steve, something is very, very wrong," Soda desperately tried to get back to Pony's room. Steve pulled Soda into his arms and held on tight.

"Soda, just stay here," Steve softly said. He led Soda into a chair and sat next to him. He watched his best friend get teary-eyed and look desperately towards his little brother's room, begging for an answer or reassurance. Unfortunately, Steve knew what outcome he was going to have to prepare for.


There was a couple minutes of silence before Steve spoke up. "There's more isn't there?"

Darry looked between Steve and Two-Bit. Tears formed in his eyes. "It's not good. It's not good at all. Everything went wrong. It's all bad." Darry took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "It's over."

"What?" Two-Bit asked.

"The doctor came and talked to me after Ponyboy's...Ponyboy's...seizure," Darry was becoming choked on his own tears, "He said it was only fair to bring to my attention that I should prepare to...to..." Darry brought his hands over his face and began to cry harder.


The loud noise coming from Pony's closed door was not changing. It was continuously going. It seemed to go forever. Steve kept his grip on Soda's hands trying to wait patiently for it to end. A lump began to form in his throat, but he tried hard to remain under control. He had to be there for Soda.


"Mr. Curtis," the doctor put a hand on Darry's shoulder, "I should be honest and fair with you. This last seizure did some significant damage. I think you need to prepare for the outcome that Ponyboy won't be coming home with you."

"What..." Darry stared towards the wall that separated his room from Pony's, "What are you saying?"

The doctor looked Darry in the eyes, "There is a more than not chance he may not make it."


Darry looked up at the ceiling. He wanted that noise to stop. He wanted to run away and get out of that room, so he didn't have to listen to it. Aware of what was happening just at the other side of the wall, he begged to be able to run in there and fix it, to save him. Tears began streaming down his face, and he grabbed the pillow and put it over his face to cover his ears.

"Please stop," he pleaded into the pillow, "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" He began hyperventilating, unable to control himself. This was something his big muscles couldn't fix. His strength wouldn't force his youngest brother's organs to work the correct way.


The nurse helped Darry into a wheelchair and brought him over to Ponyboy's room. Darry, unable to bear the news he had received, grabbed Pony's hand into his own and placed it on his heart.

"Pony," Darry said softly, "I am so sorry. The doctor doesn't think I'll be able to take you..." Darry couldn't finish as he lost it and began crying, tears flowing down to his hospital gown. "Ponyboy, I love you so much. I am so sorry I caused this. I am sorry you don't get to live life to the fullest." Darry sobbed as he placed Pony's pale hand against his lips. "I don't know what else to say. I'll make sure Soda comes to see you. I love you Ponyboy." Darry didn't say anything else. He sat there, holding Pony's hand. The only noise being the steady beeps. The memories poured into Darry's head. Some made him cry, and some made him laugh. The last memory that came to him was that night.


They had finished their pizza and were heading home. Pony was in the passenger seat, turned around looking at Soda. They were laughing as they were joking about what to spend the money from Darry's raise on.

"Now I can really start saving up for a car!" Soda said proudly.

"Let's get a motorcycle," Pony commented.

"What?" Darry grinned, "Since when have you wanted a motorcycle?"

"It'd be fun!" Pony said.

"Uh that will be something to discuss," Darry chuckled.

"Darry, maybe you can save some aside for college," Pony suggested.

Darry smiled, "That's nice of you to think of little buddy, but that's just not in my cards right now."

"Why?"

"We'd just be better off saving up for you," Darry explained.

Pony scratched at the back of his head, "You deserve something too Darry."


Darry's cry became hard and vocal as Pony's words replayed in his head. He breathed through the crying as he heard the door reopen. Turning, Darry said to the nurse, "I have to make a phone call please." Darry gave Pony's hand a squeeze and a long kiss. He slowly stood up, used the bed for support as he kissed Pony's hair. "God why?" Darry choked through his crying. He sat back down in his chair and gripped the armrests hard. As the nurse turned the wheelchair towards the door, Darry looked back at his little brother, "I'll see you again someday little buddy."


The noise stopped. Soda tried getting up, but Steve held him back. "Soda," Steve said with a shaky voice. He hadn't meant to have started softly crying, but the emotions were getting to him. "It's going to be okay, Soda," Steve whispered to himself, "It's going to be okay." The doctors and nurses slowly filed out of the room. One of the doctors walked over into Darry's room.

"What is he telling him?" Soda asked. He looked at Steve and noticed his watery eyes. "Steve? What is it?"

Steve quickly wiped at his eyes and cleared his throat. He whispered again, "It's going to be okay."

When the doctor exited Darry's room, he walked over to Steve and Soda. The boys stood up and Steve kept a tight grip on Soda's hand.

"Hello Sodapop," the doctor said.

"What is it? Is Pony okay?" Soda asked with quivering lips.


"Steve?"

"Yeah?" Steve asked.

"Please get Soda back here early tomorrow morning. I want him to spend as much time left with Pony," Darry said wiping at his eyes, "But I don't want to tell him what's going to happen. He's on thin ice enough as it is."

Steve nodded, "If that's what you want, I won't tell him."


The doctor took a deep sigh, "I'm sorry son. Ponyboy didn't make it."

Soda's mouth fell open, "What do you mean? What does 'didn't make it' mean? Steve, what is he talking about?"

Steve forced his tears back as he waved the doctor away. "Soda," Steve looked Soda in the eyes, "Ponyboy...he's gone."

"Gone how?" Soda asked.

Steve took a deep breath, "He's passed on, Soda. He's not with us anymore."

"Steve, what does that mean?" Soda cried, "I know you don't mean what I think, so tell me something else. What is it?"

Steve knew he'd have to just straight out say it, even though it was killing him to say it. "Ponyboy...he died."

Soda tried to back away, but Steve wouldn't let go. "Let me go!" Soda tugged back and freed his hands from Steve. "No!" Soda screamed, "No, Steve! You're lying! No!"

"Soda," Steve felt the tears fall down his cheeks, "Ponyboy's body couldn't handle it anymore. He's...he's not in pain or having to deal with a useless body."

Soda collapsed to the floor, slammed his head into the ground, and began bawling. He lifted his fists and punched at the floor. "No! He was strong Steve! I didn't care if he had a useless body, he was suppose to come home!" Steve got down and put himself around his best friend. He didn't say anything. He let Soda scream, cry, and say whatever he had to say.

Suddenly, Soda shot up, causing Steve to fall back to the floor. "Soda..." Steve got up from the floor.

"Just don't say anything," Soda wiped at his eyes. He looked around the waiting area, at the desk, at Darry's door, and at Ponyboy's door. "Ponyboy..." Steve tried to reach for Soda, but he backed away. "I need to get out of here."

"Wait Soda..."

"Don't follow me! I'm going home! I just want to go to sleep and not wake up to this! I'm going to bed and never getting up!" Soda yelled and turned away.

Steve watched as his best friend ran off.


After taking a moment to calm down and decide whether to follow Soda or not, Steve decided to stay put. He knew it was probably best for Soda to go home and try to process. He didn't want to just strand Darry alone either. Steve slowly walked into Darry's room and closed the door behind him. Darry looked up at Steve with tears rolling down. "He left," Steve simply said.

Darry looked out the window and let the cries out. Steve walked over and put his arms around Darry, letting his own tears escape.

"You guys will be okay," Steve choked out, "You'll be okay."

The two greasers just sat there and cried together. Darry grabbed onto Steve's arm and held tight, bawling into his chest. Steve took deep breaths to try and keep himself calm, but he couldn't help to cry into Darry's hair.


Time passed. Steve and Darry stayed together in silence. Darry would cry, then he'd lay back into his pillow, stare out the window, and cry again. Steve would hold Darry, cry with him, pace around the room, and go be there for Darry again. They didn't say a word to each other. Steve wanted to give Soda as much alone time as he could, knowing anything he tried to do or say right now was pointless.

At one moment while Darry was laying back with his eyes closed, and Steve was looking out the window, the door softly opened and closed.

"Hey." Steve knew his face looked like a disaster, but he turned anyway and saw Two-Bit.

"Hi," Steve sniffled.

"It happened?" Two-Bit asked looking over at Darry.

Steve nodded, "Yeah."

"How's he doing?"

Steve shrugged, "We've been crying for a couple of hours now. He passed himself out."

Two-Bit's eyes got watery, but he tried to keep them under control. "How, um..." Two-Bit looked towards the wall and cleared his throat, "How are you?"

Steve backed to the corner and sat in a chair. He took a deep breath, "I'm fine."

Two-Bit watched as Steve's leg began bouncing up and down. "Really?"

Steve looked down to the floor. After a couple hours worth of crying, Steve thought he'd be dried out. Shaking his head, he replied, "I'm a mess." Two-Bit walked over and pulled Steve into his arms. They both lost it, but kept their cries as soft as they could to not wake Darry. "Two-Bit, why did this have to happen? Darry doesn't deserve this, Soda doesn't deserve this. Ponyboy had so much more to live for, more than any of us."

Two-Bit wiped at his eyes, "Well, maybe he was meant to do something more on the other side."

Steve shook his head, "It's not fair."

Two-Bit thought for a minute, "I want to tell you something Steve, and it's because I don't think you'll hear it from Darry or Soda while they are going through all of this. But you need to hear it."

"What?" Steve choked, "What could I possibly need to hear right now?"

Two-Bit got down to his knees and looked up at Steve. "On behalf of of Darry and Soda, just thank you for all you have done. You've been there for them this entire time and I know it's only about to get harder, so thank you for all you've done. I'm going to be by you the rest of the way, because you'll need it, they'll both need all of us."

"Thanks Two-Bit," Steve nodded, "Really."

"Let's go grab something to drink while he rests," Two-Bit stood up. Steve followed Two-Bit down to the cafe and grabbed a couple coffees. "So, where's Soda?" Two-Bit asked as he poured milk into his coffee.

"He left," Steve simple answered, "I figured it was probably best to just let him be alone. Nothing I said was going to calm him down or anything."

"Do you think he just went home?" Two-Bit asked.

"I mean, I think so. Maybe he walked the whole way, maybe he caught a bus or a ride with someone," Steve said, "I really don't know. I couldn't just ditch Darry though, he can't just leave and get away from here like we all can."

"No, no, I think you're right," Two-Bit agreed, "You had to stay here for Darry and I think Soda needed to be away from everyone. I think you handled it fine."

Steve took a sip, letting the hot liquid soothe his throat. It was becoming raw from the crying. "I'll have to head out to go find him soon," Steve said.

"That's a good idea. I can stay with Darry."

"Actually, I think you'll need to find Dally or Johnny," Steve suggested.

"I can do that," Two-Bit nodded.

"Soda did say he wanted to just sleep, so even if he walked, he's probably made it home and is in bed by now."

Two-Bit thought for a minute, "He said he wanted to sleep?"

Steve nodded, "He said he wanted to sleep and not wake up to this."

Two-Bit took another drink of his coffee, but then his eyes suddenly widened, "He said that? Those exact words?"

"Yeah," Steve shrugged, "I don't blame him. I'd hope to wake up and find out it was all a dream too. Unfortunately he won't."

"No, Steve," Two-Bit put his cup down, "I might be overthinking his words, but he said it like that? He didn't want to wake up?"

"Yeah, what are you getting at?"

"Steve," Two-Bit put a hand on Steve's shoulder, "Your pills."