"Johnny?" Andi said pleadingly. She shook his shoulder gently, but he
remained where he was on the hard church floor, unconscious. Andi felt a
stinging behind her eyes that wasn't just from the smoke that was filling
the room. She collapsed onto her knees beside Johnny's very still body.
She knew that if any of her boys died, she would be devastated, but she
realized suddenly that Johnny held a special place in her heart.
"Where're you, sweetheart?" Andi heard a gruff voice cut through the roar of the flames.
"Dally?" she sniffed. She had been attempting to push the hot beam off of Johnny by sheathing her hands in ice, but she was shaking and not nearly strong enough to get the heavy beam off.
Dallas appeared on the scene, and he nearly doubled over when he saw the condition Johnny was in.
"Help me," Andi said. Dally pushed into the beam with his shoulder, but it still wouldn't move. "It's hopeless!" Andi screamed in frustration. She kicked the beam just as the room erupted with more smoke. Andi coughed and waved her hand in front of her face in an attempt to see what was going on.
"Liebling?"
"Where are y'all?"
Andi had never been more relieved to see Kurt and Rogue in her entire life.
"Over here!" she called loudly.
When Rogue saw what had happened she was immediately lifting the beam off of Johnny's lifeless body.
"What happened?" Kurt asked.
"Just get him out of here," Andi said. "We can't carry him out. It'd be easier if you teleported him out instead, just in case he's more injured than he looks."
"I don't think he could be any more injured than he looks," Dally muttered darkly. Andi shot him a death glare and grabbed his arm to head towards the exit. Dallas jerked in pain. "Watch the arm there, sweetheart," he growled.
"Wha-?" Andi asked, staring at the charred sleeve of Dally's jacket.
"Never mind, I'll tell you later," Dally answered gruffly. "Let's blow this joint."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The ambulance jostled about on the bumpy country road. By the time Andi had reassured the bystanders that she didn't need to go back to the city in an ambulance, Ponyboy's ambulance had already left. It turns out that he had heard her cry out when the beam fell and had tried to run back into the church, except that his jacket had caught on fire. Dallas had to club him unconscious to make him stay out of the building. Andi had to snort softly at how hardheaded her younger brother could sometimes be. She had hoped to be there when he woke up, but they had left before she had the chance to hitch a ride. She got into Johnny's ambulance instead.
Andi was surprised when her brother was rolled into the ambulance along with her.
"Hey, Ter."
"So, that's Johnny, huh?" Terry asked, peering at Johnny's lifeless body lying on the stretcher. Andi nodded. "You okay?"
"Not really," Andi managed to say in barely a whisper.
"C'mere," Terry said, opening his arms. Andi buried her face into his jacket, trying not to cry about what was happening. Terry tried his best to solace her as she took deep breaths to push down the sobs and tears that were threatening to overtake her control. "It's okay, Andi. He'll be okay."
"Thanks," Andi said, sniffing slightly as she pulled away.
"You'll be okay riding in the ambulance?" Terry asked, a worried frown creasing his forehead.
"I'll be fine. You go on in the Blackbird," Andi answered reassuringly. She watched as Terry was helped out of the ambulance. The door closed, and Andi was left in the darkness save for Johnny and the medics that were attending to him.
The ride back into the city was rather long. The medics did as much as they possibly could for Johnny before they reached the city. When they reached the hospital at last, Andi got off of the ambulance looking rather dazed. She watched with a dumbfounded expression as the nurses rushed forward to help Johnny into the Intensive Care Unit.
Andi followed silently behind the train of chattering nurses. She stared down at the squeaky clean hospital floor listening to the little sounds her sneakers made as she walked across the tiles.
"Big day, kiddo?"
"Shoot, boy," Andi said softly, "you been crying?"
"I guess… I thought I lost you two."
"Lose us, Darrel Curtis?" Andi said, raising an eyebrow. "You know Pony and I aren't as dispensable as that." Andi was shaking like mad. She was trying to act as normal as possible, but she couldn't contain the fear and worry that was rising up.
"Shoot, kid…"
"I don't want him to die, Darry!" Andi cried as she threw herself at her older brother. "I mean," she said, sobbing into his shirt as the tears came at last, "I'm not much of a crier and all… but here I am bawling like a baby."
"It's okay, sugar," Darry said, wrapping his arms around Andi and swaying back and forth. "He'll be okay… he'll be okay…"
"Aw… I messed up your shirt… it's all snotty now. I'm sorry, Darry," Andi said, a hiccup accenting her sentence as she pulled away. She attempted to wipe away the wetness.
"It's okay, kiddo, as long as you and Pony are all right, it's all okay."
There was a multitude of reporters lounging around the hospital waiting room, wishing to get a word with Ponyboy. Andi had had her own share of interviews before she collapsed onto the long bench along with Sodapop and Darry. Sodapop had closed his eyes with his head resting in Darry's lap while Andi sat on the other side of Darry, holding onto the crook of his arm, head resting on his shoulder, and eyes staring off into space. They were waiting for word on Johnny and Dallas' conditions now that the rush of reporters had subsided to the occasional question directed at Ponyboy.
Darry tried to get some news about Johnny's condition out of some nurses that walked by, but they wouldn't say anything until Darry finally got hold of a doctor. The doctor said that he would only talk to family.
"We're the only family he's got," Andi said rather quietly. She felt rather deflated when she thought about Johnny's parents. The doctor took one look at her dejected and pleading expression that he consented to give them some news.
Dallas would be fine. He only needed to stay for a few days to make sure that his arm would be all right. Johnny, on the other hand, was not faring so well. His back had been broken when the beam from the ceiling came down and landed on him. There were some burns on his back, but they weren't too bad, second degree at the very worst. It seemed that the fire on the beam had been extinguished before it managed to land on him. The Curtis boys sent furtive glances at Andi who stared at her shoes as she listened to the doctor's diagnosis. If Johnny lived, he would never be able to walk again.
Andi and Ponyboy shared a look at those words. If? IF he lived? If Johnny lived, he might as well be dead. His inability to walk would force him to remain home forever. It would kill Johnny to live in conditions like that. Ponyboy began trembling at the very thought, and Andi put an arm around her brother to calm his shivering.
"Let's go home," Darry said softly. "Professor Xavier and the others are probably back there already, and it'd be rude to keep our guests cooped up in the house alone."
His younger siblings nodded in agreement although rather unenthusiastically. Ponyboy and Andi fell asleep as soon as they got onto the car, leaning on each other like two little kids napping in preschool.
"Come on, guys, wake up," Sodapop pleaded. "We're sleepy, too."
Andi blinked her bleary eyes open and yawned before trudging out of the truck. Ponyboy, however, was far too tired to even move from the position he's in. Darry sighed, getting tired of wasting time outside. He leaned into the truck and hauled Ponyboy out like a huge baby.
"He's getting mighty big to be carried," Sodapop commented.
"He can sleep on the couch," Andi interjected. "I'll just sleep on the ground tonight."
Once Ponyboy, Andi, and Soda were settled in their respective sleeping areas, Darry headed into the kitchen. He was surprised to find Professor Xavier sitting at the dining table with a book in hand.
"I hope you don't mind us using this home as if it is ours. My students have had a rather difficult day, and they occupied your home as soon as they got back here," the Professor apologized.
"No, it's fine," Darry yawned.
"Might I recommend that you get some sleep yourself, Mr. Curtis?" Professor Xavier suggested, smiling a little.
"Yeah… you're sure you'll be-"
"I'll be fine, Darrel. Good-night."
"G'night, Professor."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oof," Andi grunted as a foot landed on her stomach the next morning.
"Sorry," Ponyboy squeaked apologetically, "I didn't see you there."
"Yeah?" Andi grumbled. "Well, I ain't gonna get any sleep now, might as well get up with you chickens."
Andi crawled out of her pile of blankets on the floor as Ponyboy scurried into the bathroom to take a quick shower. Andi got dressed and met Ponyboy in the kitchen. He scrounged around the ice box looking for eggs that would be their breakfast. Andi yawned as she turned on the stove and set a pot full of water and a pan on it. It was typical routine in the Curtis house. Whoever got up the earliest made breakfast, and on this particular morning, it was Andi and Ponyboy.
"Anybody home?"
"Keither!" Andi shrieked as she shot towards the screen door in the living room just as Steve and Two-Bit entered the house.
"Hey, baby girl!" Two-Bit said, catching Andi into a bear hug and spinning her around off her feet. "Where're your brothers?"
"In here!" Ponyboy called from the kitchen. "Don't slam the front door."
He winced as the front door slammed loudly and Two-Bit burst into the kitchen with Andi and Steve trailing behind. It was a surprise to Ponyboy when Two-Bit hoisted him off of the ground and proceeded to spin him around as Two-Bit had done to Andi. An egg went flying towards the clock on the kitchen wall while the other egg cracked in Ponyboy's hand as Two-Bit shoved Ponyboy towards Steve.
"Great… there goes our breakfast. Couldn't you two have waited until I set the eggs down before you started shoving me all over the country?" Ponyboy grumbled. Andi laughed.
"Man, dig baldy here," Two-Bit said circling around Ponyboy.
"Awright, you guys," Andi cut in. "That's enough. I've already given the kid enough grief about his hair."
"Read the newspaper this morning, sweetheart?" Steve drawled. Ponyboy snatched the paper away and proceeded to read the headlines. Andi peered curiously over his shoulder and managed to scan an article entitled JUVENILE DELINQUENTS TURNED HEROES.
"They're thinking of putting us in an orphanage?" Ponyboy squeaked.
"Something like that," Steve answered.
"What?" Andi snapped. "Let me see that." She snatched the newspaper away from Ponyboy and glossed over the article. "I don't believe this…"
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it. It won't happen. Darry's good at taking care of you guys, and I sure as hell don't think he'd let y'all get shipped out of this place anytime soon," Two-Bit said coolly as he scraped the egg remains off of the kitchen clock, but it reassured Andi and Ponyboy.
"Yeah," Steve nodded in agreement. "Besides, they don't do stuff like that to heroes." Andi rolled her eyes.
"Good morning."
"Professor!" Andi said jerking to attention. "Morning, sir."
The Professor smiled as he rolled into the kitchen.
"May I have a word with you, please, Andi?"
She gave him a confused look before nodding her consent. She followed Professor Xavier into the living room.
"I've been thinking about your friend Johnny," the Professor said, pressing the ends of his fingertips together. "I would like to meet him today, assess him. I think that we could offer him better medical care if we took him back to the Institute. I've discussed this over the phone with Dr. McCoy, and he has agreed to take Johnny as a patient."
Andi's eyes widened as Professor Xavier spoke. She was listening to him so intently that she didn't even hear Darry and Sodapop enter the kitchen until she heard their truck pulling away as they left for work.
"Andi?"
She snapped out of her daze suddenly.
"That'd be great, Prof," Andi managed to whisper.
"Good," Professor Xavier said, smiling. "All we need is parental consent, and-"
"Parental consent?" Andi said in a voice that stopped the Professor's sentence dead cold.
"Yes, is there a problem?" Professor Xavier asked.
"Just a little. I'm sure you'll find out once you meet Johnny's parents," Andi murmured. "I'm sorry, Professor. I have to help Ponyboy tidy up the kitchen before we can leave. Do you mind?"
"Of course not. I'll meet you back here once you're done."
Andi nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen once more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/n: So… what do YOU think will happen? Remember to REVIEW!!!! I LOVE REVIEWS!!! I LIVE FOR REVIEWS!!! I'LL CRY IF YOU READ THIS AND DON'T GIVE ME A REVIEW!!!! And remember… um… keep a story in your heart! (er… yeah, I don't know if anyone still remembers that old PBS show "Storytime"… I must be the only one… *sniffle*)
"Where're you, sweetheart?" Andi heard a gruff voice cut through the roar of the flames.
"Dally?" she sniffed. She had been attempting to push the hot beam off of Johnny by sheathing her hands in ice, but she was shaking and not nearly strong enough to get the heavy beam off.
Dallas appeared on the scene, and he nearly doubled over when he saw the condition Johnny was in.
"Help me," Andi said. Dally pushed into the beam with his shoulder, but it still wouldn't move. "It's hopeless!" Andi screamed in frustration. She kicked the beam just as the room erupted with more smoke. Andi coughed and waved her hand in front of her face in an attempt to see what was going on.
"Liebling?"
"Where are y'all?"
Andi had never been more relieved to see Kurt and Rogue in her entire life.
"Over here!" she called loudly.
When Rogue saw what had happened she was immediately lifting the beam off of Johnny's lifeless body.
"What happened?" Kurt asked.
"Just get him out of here," Andi said. "We can't carry him out. It'd be easier if you teleported him out instead, just in case he's more injured than he looks."
"I don't think he could be any more injured than he looks," Dally muttered darkly. Andi shot him a death glare and grabbed his arm to head towards the exit. Dallas jerked in pain. "Watch the arm there, sweetheart," he growled.
"Wha-?" Andi asked, staring at the charred sleeve of Dally's jacket.
"Never mind, I'll tell you later," Dally answered gruffly. "Let's blow this joint."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The ambulance jostled about on the bumpy country road. By the time Andi had reassured the bystanders that she didn't need to go back to the city in an ambulance, Ponyboy's ambulance had already left. It turns out that he had heard her cry out when the beam fell and had tried to run back into the church, except that his jacket had caught on fire. Dallas had to club him unconscious to make him stay out of the building. Andi had to snort softly at how hardheaded her younger brother could sometimes be. She had hoped to be there when he woke up, but they had left before she had the chance to hitch a ride. She got into Johnny's ambulance instead.
Andi was surprised when her brother was rolled into the ambulance along with her.
"Hey, Ter."
"So, that's Johnny, huh?" Terry asked, peering at Johnny's lifeless body lying on the stretcher. Andi nodded. "You okay?"
"Not really," Andi managed to say in barely a whisper.
"C'mere," Terry said, opening his arms. Andi buried her face into his jacket, trying not to cry about what was happening. Terry tried his best to solace her as she took deep breaths to push down the sobs and tears that were threatening to overtake her control. "It's okay, Andi. He'll be okay."
"Thanks," Andi said, sniffing slightly as she pulled away.
"You'll be okay riding in the ambulance?" Terry asked, a worried frown creasing his forehead.
"I'll be fine. You go on in the Blackbird," Andi answered reassuringly. She watched as Terry was helped out of the ambulance. The door closed, and Andi was left in the darkness save for Johnny and the medics that were attending to him.
The ride back into the city was rather long. The medics did as much as they possibly could for Johnny before they reached the city. When they reached the hospital at last, Andi got off of the ambulance looking rather dazed. She watched with a dumbfounded expression as the nurses rushed forward to help Johnny into the Intensive Care Unit.
Andi followed silently behind the train of chattering nurses. She stared down at the squeaky clean hospital floor listening to the little sounds her sneakers made as she walked across the tiles.
"Big day, kiddo?"
"Shoot, boy," Andi said softly, "you been crying?"
"I guess… I thought I lost you two."
"Lose us, Darrel Curtis?" Andi said, raising an eyebrow. "You know Pony and I aren't as dispensable as that." Andi was shaking like mad. She was trying to act as normal as possible, but she couldn't contain the fear and worry that was rising up.
"Shoot, kid…"
"I don't want him to die, Darry!" Andi cried as she threw herself at her older brother. "I mean," she said, sobbing into his shirt as the tears came at last, "I'm not much of a crier and all… but here I am bawling like a baby."
"It's okay, sugar," Darry said, wrapping his arms around Andi and swaying back and forth. "He'll be okay… he'll be okay…"
"Aw… I messed up your shirt… it's all snotty now. I'm sorry, Darry," Andi said, a hiccup accenting her sentence as she pulled away. She attempted to wipe away the wetness.
"It's okay, kiddo, as long as you and Pony are all right, it's all okay."
There was a multitude of reporters lounging around the hospital waiting room, wishing to get a word with Ponyboy. Andi had had her own share of interviews before she collapsed onto the long bench along with Sodapop and Darry. Sodapop had closed his eyes with his head resting in Darry's lap while Andi sat on the other side of Darry, holding onto the crook of his arm, head resting on his shoulder, and eyes staring off into space. They were waiting for word on Johnny and Dallas' conditions now that the rush of reporters had subsided to the occasional question directed at Ponyboy.
Darry tried to get some news about Johnny's condition out of some nurses that walked by, but they wouldn't say anything until Darry finally got hold of a doctor. The doctor said that he would only talk to family.
"We're the only family he's got," Andi said rather quietly. She felt rather deflated when she thought about Johnny's parents. The doctor took one look at her dejected and pleading expression that he consented to give them some news.
Dallas would be fine. He only needed to stay for a few days to make sure that his arm would be all right. Johnny, on the other hand, was not faring so well. His back had been broken when the beam from the ceiling came down and landed on him. There were some burns on his back, but they weren't too bad, second degree at the very worst. It seemed that the fire on the beam had been extinguished before it managed to land on him. The Curtis boys sent furtive glances at Andi who stared at her shoes as she listened to the doctor's diagnosis. If Johnny lived, he would never be able to walk again.
Andi and Ponyboy shared a look at those words. If? IF he lived? If Johnny lived, he might as well be dead. His inability to walk would force him to remain home forever. It would kill Johnny to live in conditions like that. Ponyboy began trembling at the very thought, and Andi put an arm around her brother to calm his shivering.
"Let's go home," Darry said softly. "Professor Xavier and the others are probably back there already, and it'd be rude to keep our guests cooped up in the house alone."
His younger siblings nodded in agreement although rather unenthusiastically. Ponyboy and Andi fell asleep as soon as they got onto the car, leaning on each other like two little kids napping in preschool.
"Come on, guys, wake up," Sodapop pleaded. "We're sleepy, too."
Andi blinked her bleary eyes open and yawned before trudging out of the truck. Ponyboy, however, was far too tired to even move from the position he's in. Darry sighed, getting tired of wasting time outside. He leaned into the truck and hauled Ponyboy out like a huge baby.
"He's getting mighty big to be carried," Sodapop commented.
"He can sleep on the couch," Andi interjected. "I'll just sleep on the ground tonight."
Once Ponyboy, Andi, and Soda were settled in their respective sleeping areas, Darry headed into the kitchen. He was surprised to find Professor Xavier sitting at the dining table with a book in hand.
"I hope you don't mind us using this home as if it is ours. My students have had a rather difficult day, and they occupied your home as soon as they got back here," the Professor apologized.
"No, it's fine," Darry yawned.
"Might I recommend that you get some sleep yourself, Mr. Curtis?" Professor Xavier suggested, smiling a little.
"Yeah… you're sure you'll be-"
"I'll be fine, Darrel. Good-night."
"G'night, Professor."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Oof," Andi grunted as a foot landed on her stomach the next morning.
"Sorry," Ponyboy squeaked apologetically, "I didn't see you there."
"Yeah?" Andi grumbled. "Well, I ain't gonna get any sleep now, might as well get up with you chickens."
Andi crawled out of her pile of blankets on the floor as Ponyboy scurried into the bathroom to take a quick shower. Andi got dressed and met Ponyboy in the kitchen. He scrounged around the ice box looking for eggs that would be their breakfast. Andi yawned as she turned on the stove and set a pot full of water and a pan on it. It was typical routine in the Curtis house. Whoever got up the earliest made breakfast, and on this particular morning, it was Andi and Ponyboy.
"Anybody home?"
"Keither!" Andi shrieked as she shot towards the screen door in the living room just as Steve and Two-Bit entered the house.
"Hey, baby girl!" Two-Bit said, catching Andi into a bear hug and spinning her around off her feet. "Where're your brothers?"
"In here!" Ponyboy called from the kitchen. "Don't slam the front door."
He winced as the front door slammed loudly and Two-Bit burst into the kitchen with Andi and Steve trailing behind. It was a surprise to Ponyboy when Two-Bit hoisted him off of the ground and proceeded to spin him around as Two-Bit had done to Andi. An egg went flying towards the clock on the kitchen wall while the other egg cracked in Ponyboy's hand as Two-Bit shoved Ponyboy towards Steve.
"Great… there goes our breakfast. Couldn't you two have waited until I set the eggs down before you started shoving me all over the country?" Ponyboy grumbled. Andi laughed.
"Man, dig baldy here," Two-Bit said circling around Ponyboy.
"Awright, you guys," Andi cut in. "That's enough. I've already given the kid enough grief about his hair."
"Read the newspaper this morning, sweetheart?" Steve drawled. Ponyboy snatched the paper away and proceeded to read the headlines. Andi peered curiously over his shoulder and managed to scan an article entitled JUVENILE DELINQUENTS TURNED HEROES.
"They're thinking of putting us in an orphanage?" Ponyboy squeaked.
"Something like that," Steve answered.
"What?" Andi snapped. "Let me see that." She snatched the newspaper away from Ponyboy and glossed over the article. "I don't believe this…"
"Don't worry your pretty little head about it. It won't happen. Darry's good at taking care of you guys, and I sure as hell don't think he'd let y'all get shipped out of this place anytime soon," Two-Bit said coolly as he scraped the egg remains off of the kitchen clock, but it reassured Andi and Ponyboy.
"Yeah," Steve nodded in agreement. "Besides, they don't do stuff like that to heroes." Andi rolled her eyes.
"Good morning."
"Professor!" Andi said jerking to attention. "Morning, sir."
The Professor smiled as he rolled into the kitchen.
"May I have a word with you, please, Andi?"
She gave him a confused look before nodding her consent. She followed Professor Xavier into the living room.
"I've been thinking about your friend Johnny," the Professor said, pressing the ends of his fingertips together. "I would like to meet him today, assess him. I think that we could offer him better medical care if we took him back to the Institute. I've discussed this over the phone with Dr. McCoy, and he has agreed to take Johnny as a patient."
Andi's eyes widened as Professor Xavier spoke. She was listening to him so intently that she didn't even hear Darry and Sodapop enter the kitchen until she heard their truck pulling away as they left for work.
"Andi?"
She snapped out of her daze suddenly.
"That'd be great, Prof," Andi managed to whisper.
"Good," Professor Xavier said, smiling. "All we need is parental consent, and-"
"Parental consent?" Andi said in a voice that stopped the Professor's sentence dead cold.
"Yes, is there a problem?" Professor Xavier asked.
"Just a little. I'm sure you'll find out once you meet Johnny's parents," Andi murmured. "I'm sorry, Professor. I have to help Ponyboy tidy up the kitchen before we can leave. Do you mind?"
"Of course not. I'll meet you back here once you're done."
Andi nodded and disappeared back into the kitchen once more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/n: So… what do YOU think will happen? Remember to REVIEW!!!! I LOVE REVIEWS!!! I LIVE FOR REVIEWS!!! I'LL CRY IF YOU READ THIS AND DON'T GIVE ME A REVIEW!!!! And remember… um… keep a story in your heart! (er… yeah, I don't know if anyone still remembers that old PBS show "Storytime"… I must be the only one… *sniffle*)
