DreaminaboutDall: really??? Thanks! *blushes*

MissLKid: I'm not that enthusiastic about acting, so I had a really small part as one of the workmen (Robin Starveling) and also a fairy (Moth). It was really funny cuz we had to do a modern version as well as the Shakespearean version, and all the fairies had to do this dance to that britney spears song 'oops I did it again' and we all had boas and had to drag a guy from the audience onto the stage and dance with him. LOL!

Thanks to Estelle Yavetil, Ruth, Crazy4nc128 and Kelzee for reviewing too!! : )

*PONYBOY'S POV*

The rest of the week was a bit of a blur. I was so sick I didn't know much of what was going on or where I was. Occasionally I was aware of someone taking my temperature or giving me an injection. Whenever I woke up, there was always one of the gang there with me. I don't know how I could have survived being in the hospital without them.

*SODAPOP'S POV*

It was around one in the morning and I was sitting next to Pony's bed. I had just given Darry a backrub and successfully got him to fall asleep. He was stretched out on the other seat in the room. I rubbed my eyes tiredly. None of us had gotten much sleep in the last week, and Darry and I had had the least. Worry for our youngest brother had kept us up through almost every night.

The doc told us that Pony had a pretty high fever, but once it broke, he could go back home. I smiled softly and put my hand on Pony's shoulder. He had been tossing and turning feverishly in his sleep, but now he was sleeping peacefully.

I watched as his green-gray eyes half opened. They searched around the room, finally coming to rest on me.

"Soda?"

"It's me honey."

I put my hand on his forehead. It felt normal, not feverishly hot.

"Am I still in the hospital?" His voice had a note of panic in it.

"Yeah, you're in the hospital," I said, not really wanting to answer, but knowing he would figure it out anyway. His eyes got wide and afraid and he clutched onto my hand.

"Soda!"

"Hey Pony, don't worry. I'm right here with you." I stroked the back of his hand reassuringly. "I'll wake Darry up and he can go to the doc and ask if you can get outa here okay?"

He nodded, still holding my hand so tightly that I couldn't feel it anymore. Turning my head slightly, I looked towards my older brother. His head was on his chest and he was snoring softly. I hated to wake him when he finally got some sleep, but I knew he would be mad if I hadn't woken him when Pony was awake.

"Hey, Dar," I reached over with my other hand and shook his shoulder. "Wake up."

He woke up immediately.

"Soda? What's wrong?"

"Pony's awake!"

Darry jumped out of his chair. I turned back to Pony, who looked as if he was terrified to the verge of tears. Darry looked questioningly at me.

"Get the doc and ask him if Pony can get outa here," I whispered to Darry. He understood immediately and ran out of the room.

He was back in less than two minutes with a doctor. The doc quickly took his temperature and told us that he could go.

"But he needs complete bed rest for at least one week," said the doc as Darry scooped Ponyboy off the bed. "At the very least!"

Darry thanked the doctor and we walked out. I held onto Pony's hand as we walked through the corridors out of the hospital, and Pony buried his head in Darry's chest, his whole body shaking.

Finally, we got out of the hospital. It was still early in the morning, and the weather was chilly.

"Pony, we're out of the hospital," I said. Pony mumbled something.

"Come on Ponyboy," I said. "Look around."

Pony cautiously lifted up his head and looked about. He gave me a small, relieved smile. I grinned back at him.

We reached the truck, and Darry laid Pony down in the back seat. I hopped in too.

"Put a blanket around him," Darry ordered as he started up the truck. I found a wool blanket in the back and wrapped it around Pony, who immediately fell asleep in my lap. I yawned.

"Soda, get some sleep too," said my oldest brother, turning around and seeing me yawn. Without complaint, I rested my head on the back of the seat and quickly fell asleep.

*DARRY'S POV*

I smiled as I looked behind me again. Both my kid brothers were fast asleep. I felt a surge of protectiveness come over me as I watched them. I'll take care of you both, I promised silently. I'll never let you come to harm.

I started up the truck, and drove home.

*STEVE'S POV*

I went to the hospital after school like I did every week. I walked into his room, and saw a young girl, around eight or nine, lying in the bed. I stared at her. Had I walked into the wrong room? Nope. It was room 124. What the fuck?

I ran out and grabbed the nearest doc.

"Hey, which room is Ponyboy Curtis in?"

I watched impatiently as the doc flipped through his chart. Finally, he looked up.

"Ponyboy was discharged from hospital early this morning."

"Thanks."

I turned away from the doctor, taking a deep, relieved breath. Pony was okay.

REVIEW!!! Pleeeaaase? Pretty please with a hot steamin' Sodapop Curtis doing a sexaaay dance on top? Teeheehee. *evil grin*