The next morning, the greasers got a phone call that Darry could return home. He still had a long road of recovery, but the doctor felt it was a better idea for him to go home to grieve on Ponyboy's passing. It would help the process, and help the physical recovery with that healthy grieving. Steve felt that bit of a good news was what the house needed. He had a feeling in his gut though that things weren't about to get easier.

Steve walked upstairs with a bowl of soup and some water. It felt like forever since he arrived to the Curtis house in a panic, desperately trying to reach his best friend. Now, he was feeling more grateful every time he saw Soda. It may have been always seeing Soda in bed, but at least it wasn't not seeing him at all. Steve was also taking many opportunities to check on his pills, to make sure they weren't touched. He still wanted to just throw them away, unsure if he'd ever be able to look at them the same, but Two-Bit kept him from making too drastic of a decision. Arriving at the bedroom door, Steve softly knocked and entered the room.

"Hey," he greeted. Soda continued to just lay in bed, back facing the door, looking out the window. Steve walked around the bed and placed the bowl and water on the side table. "Made you something to eat." Soda's eyes were opened, but he didn't seem awake. He just stared right past Steve. Looking down at the bed, Steve thought of the irony that Soda originally moved into the room to help Pony sleep, and now he would probably want to move out after everything that had taken place yesterday.

"You know, if it's hard to be in here, I can clean up your old room and get that bed made up." Soda's eyes shifted to looking at the floor. "Well, I can get it cleaned up anyway just in case. Then you can decide what you want to do."

Steve sat down on the edge of the bed, "I got some good news though. They are letting Darry come home today. They, um...don't want to keep him at the hospital while he...well...go-goes through e-everything. So I'm going to go get him." Steve scratched his head as he waited for a response, but Soda didn't even show a hint of emotion towards the news. "Do you want to come with?" Still nothing. "Alright, try and eat please. I'm going to get Darry out of there alright?"

Without a word in return, Steve got up and walked towards the door. As he placed his hand on the door, he turned and looked at his best friend. He didn't know what to expect to happen next once Darry got home. He honestly wasn't going to expect Darry to be much different. Closing the door behind him, Steve looked up towards the ceiling, "As long as you're still here, buddy."


"Okay, I'm going to get Darry," Steve slipped on his shoes and grabbed his keys by the front door. He was feeling the excitement come over him to finally get Darry home. It had felt like a long time since he had originally moved in to help Soda.

"Are you sure you don't want help?" Two-Bit asked, "We can get Soda out of bed to come with us if you want me there."

"No, just stay here with Soda. I'll be fine. Where's Johnny?"

"Out back smoking," Two-Bit looked down, "He hasn't said much since I brought him here last night."

"Yeah well, Soda ain't much different," Steve shrugged.

"Alright, well call if you need any help. I'll drag Soda out of here so he isn't alone," Two-Bit said.

"Okay, be back soon," Steve closed the door behind him. He stopped before proceeding down the porch steps. He just looked at his car that sat in the driveway. Remembering that night, the night the accident happened, and he first parked his car there. It was late, he was tired, and Soda was exhausted. He carried a bad inside that was filled with clothes, unsure how long he'd have to stay. Now, in about an hour, he'd be pulling up with Darry in the car. Darry would be exhausted. He'd walk slowly into the house, just like Soda had walked into it that night, like it wasn't really their home. And it wasn't going to feel like home, because someone was missing from it.

The drive to the hospital felt long. Steve was depending on his inner conscious to take in the road signs, as his mind was too busy racing. The realization was coming over him that this would be the last drive to the hospital. Darry still didn't know what had taken place last night, and Steve still didn't plan to tell him. He managed to convince himself that Soda hadn't actually done anything. He didn't take any of the pills. If he had gotten the bottle open, maybe he still wouldn't have gone through with it. There was no telling Soda was going to go through with it. He was just caught at an odd timing. He could have changed his mind. Even with those convincing thoughts, Steve didn't feel comfortable leaving Soda alone. He just hoped he wouldn't have to explain to Darry why.


Out on the back porch, Johnny took the last drag that was on his cigarette. He had smoked a lot in the last twelve hours. He could feel himself coughing too much, but there wasn't enough nicotine to relax him. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Ponyboy having the seizure. Every time he opened his eyes, he saw the realization of never seeing Ponyboy again. Unable to handle the quietness outside, being alone in his thoughts, he tossed the cigarette down and stepped on it hard.

Johnny walked back inside the house and took a seat on the couch. He had stayed quiet to himself, expecting to wake up any moment from this nightmare he was in. If he didn't acknowledge it too much, maybe a different reality would come out. Part of Johnny's brain was poking it's way through though. The truth kept peeking out. His best friend was gone. That's what he was told. That's what he was living right now. He didn't want to accept that, he couldn't accept that. He kept repeating to himself that it wasn't the truth. Ponyboy was asleep. He was just healing like he had been this entire time. Everyone else thought he was gone, but Johnny knew better. Johnny knew there wasn't a chance he was just gone. He was too young. His body was too strong to just give up. He was a greaser. He was too strong.


Steve slowly entered Darry's hospital room. He was out of his hospital gown and in a t-shirt with sweats. That was a nice image for Steve to walk into. He almost looked himself. He sat on the edge of his bed, back towards the door, hanging his head low. When he heard the click of the door closing, he turned to look at Steve.

"Hey," Steve said only taking a couple of steps into the room.

"Is Soda not with you?" Darry asked.

Steve shook his head, "He's just been in bed. I wasn't going to try and make a big deal of it. Just wanted to get you out of here."

Darry nodded and stood himself up, "I just want to get out of here."

Steve picked up Darry's bag and held the door open for him. Darry still had a weak limp to his walk, but he was looking good. As they exited the room, Darry turned and looked at the room that was next to his. The room that had held his little brother. The door was no longer close, holding the privacy of a patient. It wasn't keeping everything out from the outside world, and holding silence inside to help a body heal. The door was now wide open. It was emptied and it had been cleaned up. The body that had been in that room was now gone. It had been transferred elsewhere. It was never to be attached to machines again, it was never to be helped to breathe again, or to help the heart beat. It wasn't because the body gave up. Darry truly believed his little brother's body would have never healed to it's potential to move on through life. His body needed to be put to rest.

Darry felt the tears sting in his eyes. He wasn't taking his little brother out of that room to bring home today. Someone else took his little brother out of that room. Someone took his little brother somewhere unknown. He wasn't to be seen walking again or talking again. He wasn't coming back.

"You deserve something too Darry."

He was never coming back.


Two-Bit returned downstairs from checking on Soda. He attempted starting any conversation, but Soda was staying quiet. Two-Bit didn't bother pushing too hard, knowing it was probably better to let Soda have his time. He didn't want to push his friend to try anything stupid again.

"Hey Johnny," he said taking a seat in the armchair, "Steve went to go get Darry."

Johnny nodded, looking up at the TV.

"Are you doing okay, kid? I know none of us really are, but...I want to make sure you're doing alright."

Johnny shrugged, "I don't know if it's real."

Two-Bit nodded, "Alright." He wasn't sure if he was suppose to take that conversation much further. He knew Soda and Johnny's minds were going to be shooting in all sorts of directions, and he didn't want to try and redirect them right now. If Johnny was in denial at the moment, there was no use fighting with him. Two-Bit would just have to let that work itself out for now.


Steve and Darry were driving back. It was a silent ride. Steve didn't have the energy to say much. He didn't sleep last night. He was unable to get himself to take any of his pills, knowing what they could have cost him.

"Steve," Darry began, "You've done a lot for us. You don't have to stay the night if you don't want to. You can go back home and get some rest. I'm sure you need it."

Steve shook his head, "Darry, all I'll do is sit in bed all night thinking about you guys. I'll be worrying about you guys. You need the gang. I'm not going anywhere. I can guarantee Johnny isn't going anywhere either. Two-Bit will probably stay too. Hell knows where Dally is."

"Alright, I ain't going to fight you on it."

"No use doing that, Superman."

They pulled up the driveway and headed inside. Two-Bit and Johnny were still on the couch, eyes glued to the television box.

"Hey Dar," Two-Bit greeted as he stood up, "Here, sit down." Darry limped over and slowly lowered himself into his armchair.

"Does it feel good to be back in that again?" Steve asked.

Darry sighed, not even a grin crossing his face, "Yeah."

Steve patted Darry's shoulder, "I'll go tell Soda you're home."

Picking up his bag, Steve headed upstairs. He set the bag down in the hallway as he entered Soda's room. "Hey buddy. Darry's downstairs, if you want to come down."

Steve watched as Soda's shoulder raised and lowered evenly. He walked over and saw Soda was sound asleep. Turning around, Steve walked out of the room and quietly shut the door.

"He's asleep," Steve commented as he got back downstairs.

"He needs it," Darry said.

"Do you need anything?" Two-Bit asked.

Darry thought for a moment, "I need one thing, but I don't want you to take it the wrong way."

"Sure, what is it?" Two-Bit asked.

"Do you guys mind leaving me alone for awhile?" Darry asked looking down to the floor, "Just go out for a couple hours or something?"

Steve didn't like the idea of leaving the brothers alone, "Are you sure, Darry? I don't know if that's..."

"Yes," Darry interrupted, "You don't need to worry. This is just...a lot right now. And if Soda is asleep, then I want to take advantage of just being alone for a bit. Please."

Two-Bit grabbed Johnny by the arm and gently lifted him to his feet, "Come on buddy. Let's go find Dally."

As the two left the house, Steve just looked at Darry. He knew Darry wasn't well. He was going to get hit hard by Pony not being there, and Steve was worried how he would react to that. "Darry, I just..."

"Steve," Darry looked up, "I promise I'm okay. I'm not okay, but I'm okay. I just need to be alone. Please." Steve watched as Darry's eyes welled up. "Just give me an hour at least. Please."

Steve bit his lip in hesitation, but began walking to the front door. "I'll be back soon."

Darry kept his eyes forward as Steve's body disappeared behind the chair. He patiently waited for the right moment. He heard the front door creek open. It took a minute for it to close, as Darry pictured Steve looking back at him, making his final decision to leave. The moment Darry heard it click shut, he let the tears fall.