Parental consent… parental consent…

It was all Andi could think of as she rode to the hospital with Two-Bit and Ponyboy on the bus. Johnny had a chance to get better, and they needed parental consent. It drove Andi insane. Dr. Henry McCoy was the best doctor she knew, and his way of practicing medicine was new and state-of-the-art. If there was anyone that could help Johnny, Dr. McCoy would be it. Andi fidgeted uncomfortably while Two-Bit and Ponyboy sat in a stony silence. Andi snuck a glance at Ponyboy and knew at once that he wasn't feeling well.

"You okay, Pony?"

"I'm fine," he answered bluntly.

Andi was so preoccupied she didn't think to pursue the question and shrugged it off. Two-Bit did the talking when they got to the hospital. He explained calmly to the nurse that they were there to see Johnny, but it wasn't until the doctor came by that Andi, Ponyboy, and Two-Bit were allowed in. As soon as the three of them were in, they stared silently at the still body before them. Two-Bit was the first to break the silence.

"Hey, Johnnykid."

They watched as Johnny's eyes opened slowly before he greeted them. The doctors had placed him facedown on a stretcher and just looking at his back made the three of them grimace.

"Are they treating you all right, Johnny?" Andi asked softly.

He tried to smile weakly.

"They don't let me put… enough grease in my hair is all, doll."

"We're having the big rumble against the Socs tonight, Johnny," Two-Bit said, all-business now that the nurse had left. Andi watched as Johnny's back heaved a little as he took in a sharp breath. "This'll make us or break us. We need every man we've got, and it's too bad you and Dally are stuck in this here place. It's the first big rumble since the one we had against the Shephard gang."

"Tim came by," Johnny said simply.

"He did? To do what?"

"Came to see Dally."

"Well," Andi said, "Dallas and Tim always did get along… hard-headed punks the both of them. Your name was in the paper, Johnny, did you see?"

"Tuff enough."

"So… hair grease, right, Johnny? Anything else you want?"

"The book," he managed to wheeze.

"Book? What book?" Two-Bit asked as he and Andi both turned to look at Ponyboy.

"Gone with the Wind. We were reading it in Windrixville. I think he wants me to finish reading it to him," Ponyboy answered.

"Sure," Two-Bit nodded. "I'll be back soon. Don't ya'll go no where."

"I'm gonna go outside, too," Andi said, trying her best to sound nonchalant. Seeing Johnny in this condition only made her realize that he needed more help than this hospital could provide. She couldn't bear to see him in such pain and pushed the door open to sit outside and wait until Johnny finished talking to Ponyboy alone.

"I'm pretty bad off, ain't I, Pony?" Johnny asked softly.

"You'll be fine," Ponyboy said, sitting down in the chair that Two-Bit had vacated. "You'll be just fine. I mean, what would the gang do without you? We wouldn't be able to go on."

Ponyboy and Johnny lapsed into a long silence as the reality of the statement hit both of them.

"I won't be able to walk again, you know," Johnny continued with difficulty, "not even with crutches." Ponyboy didn't say anything, so Johnny continued. "I used to talk about killing myself, remember, Pony? But now… now… sixteen years ain't enough. You know going to Windrixville was the first time I even left our neighborhood? I haven't seen enough of the world yet. It ain't enough, Ponyboy."

"You'll be okay," Ponyboy continued to say. "Don't get too worked up, you hear? The doctor won't let us see you if you get upset."

Johnny breathed heavily as he rested, attempting to regain the strength he had lost in that speech.

Outside, Andi was staring at her hands, once more contemplating the situation she was in. She was deep in thought when a shrill voice broke into her conversation with herself. Andi knew that voice anywhere from those countless times she had walked by Johnny's house only to hear it emanating from the thin walls. She straightened out of her slouching position immediately as the voice became more audible.

"I have every right to see my son!"

Andi shuddered as Johnny's mother's voice pervaded every nook and cranny of her brain. She closed her eyes tightly as the voice came nearer.

"You!"

Andi opened her eyes. Johnny's mother was standing right in front of her, an ugly look on her face. The nurse that had been with her moments before had gone into the room to tell Johnny that his mother was here to see him.

"Yes," Andi said meekly, "me. What about me, Mrs. Cade?"

"You're one of those hoodlums, aren't you? Little slut. What have you done to my son? I've seen you hanging around outside of our house. Has he slept with you yet?"

Andi felt her blood rising into her face. She stood up slowly from her seat.

"I beg your pardon-"

"Andi?"

Two-Bit had returned, a small bag in his hand. Ponyboy rushed quickly out of the room door, the nurse at his heels.

"You can't see him now," the nurse said, when she saw Two-Bit with his bag.

"Could you give this to him, then?" he asked, and the nurse nodded before taking it.

"Andi," Two-Bit said firmly. She was still glaring at Mrs. Cade.

"It was your fault," Mrs. Cade said, her eyes fixing themselves on Two-Bit and Ponyboy now. "Running around in the middle of the night, getting into God knows what kind of trouble." Two-Bit's eyes narrowed uncharacteristically as he took a protective stance in front of both Andi and Ponyboy.

"Two-Bit…" Ponyboy began.

"No wonder he hates your guts," Two-Bit snarled before ushering Ponyboy and Andi along. Ponyboy breathed a sigh of relief. With the glint in Two-Bit's eyes, things could have gotten ugly.

"Wait," Andi said. "I have to talk to Johnny's mom."

"Are you crazy, Andi-girl?" Two-Bit said, his voice shaking. "I can't believe he has to live with that-"

"I need to talk to her," Andi repeated. "You two go on and see Dally without me. Tell him I had to talk to Johnny's ma."

"Why?"

"Don't ask questions, Keither, just take the kid and go."

Two-Bit pushed Ponyboy along, glancing back once to see Andi squaring her shoulders and taking a deep breath before walking back towards Johnny's room.

"Mrs. Cade, I need to speak to you," Andi said as calmly as possible. She fought the urge to clench her teeth in anger. She saw the older woman begin to open her mouth. "Before you say anything I need you to hear me out. Johnny's a close friend of mine, and I'd hate to lose him. I will if he continues to stay in this hospital." She took another deep breath. "There's a place I know that can help him… free of charge," she added hastily. "All I need is for you to consent to let him come with me there."

"After all the trouble his father and I went through to raise him, this is how he decides to thank us. I think that this is right punishment for the problems he's caused."

"He's your son, ma'am," Andi said indignantly. "If he doesn't live how is he going to learn his lesson?"

Mrs. Cade set her lips in a firm line, at a loss of words at last.

"Free of charge, you said?"

"Yes," Andi said exasperatedly.

"Fine. Take him to your fancy place. See that he gets better."

Andi blinked in surprise. She stood stunned as Mrs. Cade brushed past her and towards the exit of the hospital.

Professor, Andi said, reaching out with her mind, did you see any of that? She closed her eyes tightly, recounting what had just happened.

That's good enough for me.

Andi smiled in relief, looked at Johnny's door one last time before heading towards the elevator to see Dally.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"I want to get Johnny back to the Institute as soon as possible," the Professor told Darry. "I understand that there is an important fight tonight between you and some other more privileged teenagers?"

Andi had broken the news to Ponyboy, Two-Bit, and Dallas as soon as she had reached his room after her encounter with Mrs. Cade. They seemed relieved, even optimistic about the outcome.

"I would like to leave tonight, if possible," the Professor continued.

"Sure, Prof," Darry said, a little surprised. "If you've cleared it with the hospital and everything, I think we're okay with Andi going back to the Institute."

"I must thank you for your hospitality, Darryl. It was quite nice of you to offer your home to my students."

"Yeah? Well, thanks for taking care of Andi, too… and take care of Johnny, will you, Prof?"

"Of course."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Andi said good-bye to her brothers and her gang again, wishing them good luck at the rumble as she went. She was sorry she couldn't join in but doubted Darry would have let her anyway. She was scrappy, but no match for the larger Socs.

"Ponyboy, you're sure you're all right?" Andi asked one last time, feeling his forehead with concern.

"I'm fine… I took a couple of aspirin. I'm good for the rumble," Ponyboy sighed.

"Okay…" Andi said, grinning affectionately. "Take care, okay? If the guy you're fighting is too big, you holler."

"Right… right…" Ponyboy muttered. Andi turned to leave. "Hey, Andi?" She turned around. "Take… take care of Johnny, will ya?" She nodded. Ponyboy bit his lip, thinking of something to say that would lighten up their parting. He suddenly brightened a little bit. "And if he comes to, ask him about a 'she'."

"A she?"

"Yeah," Ponyboy said. "He'll know what you're talking about."

Andi raised an eyebrow as Ponyboy gave her a thumbs-up. She shook her head and disappeared up the ramp and into the plane.

Andi headed straight for the back of the Blackbird, setting her duffel bag on the ground beside the seat next to Johnny's stretcher. He was sleeping, Andi could tell by the rhythm of his breathing. She felt her lip twitch slightly as she glanced down at his short now-blond hair. Something would have to be done about that.

"Second degree burns should heal."

Andi looked up and met Terry's eyes.

"I'm not worried about the burns," Andi said in a hushed voice. "What if… what if he can't walk anymore?"

"Well, that's not so bad. I mean, I can't-"

"No," Andi interrupted. "It's not the same for Johnny. You've never met his family."

"Then the very least we can do for him is let him recuperate somewhere where it'll be good for him. You can't tell me that being at the Institute won't do him a world of good, Andi. He'll get better, and he can go home when he wants to."

There was a gasp from the stretcher as Johnny awoke with a start.

"Where am I?"

"I'll leave you two alone. I think you have a bit to talk about," Terry said before rolling back towards the cockpit.

"Hey, Johnnycake."

"Andi! Where am I?" he asked again.

"You're coming back to school with me. There's a doctor there, and we think he can help you get better faster. I talked to your mom, Johnny."

"You did? What did she say?"

"She let you come with me. I think on some level she might just like you a little bit," Andi said, trying to grin.

"How long do you think I'll have to keep lying on my stomach?"

"Until the burns heal, silly," Andi laughed. "What kind of question is that? In fact, I would be more worried about your hair, and how we're going to fix that."

Johnny snorted.

"What?" Andi continued. "Did you just want to let it grow back? We could dye it, you know…"

Johnny marveled at Andi's ability to talk to him as if nothing was wrong, but he could tell she was babbling, trying to fill in some kind of void.

"Andi…" he said, quietly interrupting her mid-sentence. She stopped talking immediately. "Andi, I'm not going to get better. I busted my back. Eventually, I'll have to go back home, face my parents. I can't feel my legs at all."

There was a clicking as Andi unbuckled her seat belt and slid to the ground beside Johnny. She lay down, facing him from the ground.

"Do you think you're gonna die, Johnnycake?"

"I… I don't aim to," he said, gulping a little. It had been a while since he had made eye contact with anyone so intensely. "But I can't walk."

"That don't matter," Andi said, shaking her head. "Me and the boys, we'll take care of you. Who cares what your parents do? You'll still be part of the gang."

"I'll be dead weight."

"Is that what you're worried about? We'd never abandon you, Johnnycake. The gang is forever."

"You left, Andi," Johnny whispered.

"I… Pardon?" Andi said, her eyes widening a little bit. Johnny swallowed hard at Andi's puzzled expression.

"You left without saying good-bye."

"Darry told me not to-"

"I don't care what Darry said!" Johnny said angrily.

"I didn't know it meant that much to you."

Johnny didn't say anything.

"You ain't mad at me, are you, Johnnycake?" Andi asked tentatively. "Johnny?" He didn't respond. Instead, he closed his eyes.

"Just leave me alone."

Johnny didn't open his eyes again. Eventually he heard a rustling as Andi returned to her seat and buckled up. They passed the rest of the trip in silence.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Aw… can you believe I've let this fic lie for over a year? Well, fans… I think it's time I finished it, don't you? Hopefully I'll be done by the end of this year, and you can all have your ending! Yay! Don't forget to leave a review!