Author's Notes: Okay guys....*dramatic pause* This is the last chapter.
34021 words.
I can't tell how much your reviews and support have been throughout this fic. This was the first fanfic I ever posted, and your comments got me through posting another four. 199 reviews. Wow. I'm just totally in awe. You guys are awesome! Man, to think that my little story got almost 200 reviews. *blinks* And I could never have done it without you guys! (Okay, fourteen chapters isn't little, but still.)
Hey, don't think I'm leaving you forever! I still have Between going, and a sequel in the works for this one. That is, if you guys are interested, of course. ^_^
Alright, now, to answer my reviews!:
Kimmerkay: Well, Jake IS human. He just grew up to a different life, just like the Greasers did. He has the same hatred for their easy-going lifestyles as the Greasers hate the Socs for having it all. The right thing for the story? Sure you want to trust ME with that? lol. Thank you! Hey Kate and Lynne!
Kate~ What do YOU want?
Lynne~ Hiya!
Kimmerkay says hi.
Lynne~ *waves* Hi Kimmerkay!
Kate~ Hey.
Uh huh. Well, at least Kate didn't start cursing about how she'd rather be hanging out with an evil coconut, lol. Thanks!
~
Lantinagal: Your story is awesome, keep it up! ^_^ Er...that wasn't the last chapter, this was. Haha. Between...right...*scratches head* Alright, I'll see what I can do!
Lynne~ You gotta update 'Almost Alone' soon! I needa know what happens to Pony!!
Kate~ I think he dies.
Lynne~ KATE!
Hey, be good you two! Well, at least the sugar diet is working...
~
Aemilia Rose: Thank you for your review! We all hope Pony will be okay! ^_^
Kate~ False advertising. I don't.
Shut up, Kate.
~
MissLKid: Interesting. Yeah.
Kate~ Interesting wouldn't be the word I'd use to describe it.
Lynne~ That wasn't nice, Kate.
Kate~ Your point?
*sigh* Thanks, MLK.
~
Queen Seta/Remme da Insane: Thank you for thanking me to thank you! You feel so happy....poor pony? That was the most hypocritical thing, ever lol. ^_^
~
Pony's Girl: Sorry, but this is where I always planned for the story to end. I have a sequel forming that I may use if you guys seem to want one! Thanks for your review!
~
DBZ Gal:
Lynne~ You're right. She'd better. _
Kate~ No! Kill 'em!
Er.... Don't listen t my muses. They're still arguing over whether or not to kill Pony. Thanks for the review!
~
Celestra: Er.....Your right, if I kill him, I'm planning to run for the hills so you people don't kill ME! Lol. Glad you trust me. That'd be interesting if the readers DIDN'T trust the writer. Hahah.
No! Don't take my baby away from me! LIL' ZERO COME BACK! *cries* Oh well, Aunty Ellie will keep you safe...mummy will just wait until the evil gun goes away...*sniff*
Er...*watches as Elanna picks up Ponyboy and walks with him to the hospital* LANI! COME BACK! I NEED PONY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!!! Ahhh, I hope she gets my message in time. What kind of chapter would this be if Ponyboy mysteriously disappeared?!?!?
Bkate~ A better one.
Shut up, you.
Lynne~ Hi Lanni! *waves*
Man, Lani, you really ARE a human rights activist, hahahah. Lol. Ttyl! *sniffs* Lil' Zero, come back to mummy...*sniff* Muse-stealer...
~
Wanda: Thank you!
~
Vera: I do too! XD Thanks for the review!
~
Gold: Yupp, considering he hates that darn hospital, he isn't gunna be happy...Thank you!
~
Burnin': *watches as little army is formed against her* Er...*starts to cry* Lil' Zero! Come back to mummy! Aunty Burnin' and Aunty Ellie will take good care of you...but...Lil' Zero!!!!! -_-;;
Lynne~ *huggles G!kate* It'll be okay...
Wow, you're so much nicer when your on a sugar diet! *sniff* Thanks, Lynnie-lyn-lyn!
Lynne~ I know. -_-
B!Kate~ Good riddance, that kid was getting on my nerves what with his...unablitlty to pronounce words correctly...that little stuffed animal he took everywhere...And how he clung to you like you were his biological mother...and how he was so small and breakable...and how he always thought I was the most powerful B!Conscience in the world...Aw, who am I kidding. I loved the kid. -_-
Wow. *sniff* B!Kate has a heart. Who would have thunk it?
Lol Burnin', I thought you'd like the burning church part.
B!Kate~ COCONUT DUDE! *glomps* Long time no see, buddy! ^_^
Wow. Burnin'. I take it you liked the chapter then. *Is in awe* Wow. Lotsa praise. That means soo frikkin much to me, you don't even know. Thank you! *hugs Burnin' even though gets burned* Thank you, you, uh, burning church, you! O_o
Between was sorta put on hold while I work mainly on this story and Cursed. *nods* Will get to it...sometime...
Er. Keep breathing there, Burnin'. Always a good idea...
~
Jessie C: Wow, you reviewed all thirteen chapters! Of course you get a cookie! *hands cookie* Thank you sooo much for your feedback! It really helped a lot! ^_^
~
Ponyboy's Girl1: Thanks for the review!
~
Tati1: Thank you!
~
True-Slytherin-Gurl: Thanks!
~
GirlsDontCri: Thanks for reviewing!
~
Trinity Star and Her Muses: Hey Kate! Get over here!
Kate~ Ya huh? *gets wrapped up in paddlock* HEY!
Thanks for the review, chains and paddlock!
Kate~ LEMME OUT!
Lynne~ I think you should let her out.
-_- Fine, but only because you're my good conscience...
*lets Kate out* Well, it was fun while it lasted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, gushy-ness aside, I probably would have stopped writing this story long ago if it wasn't for you reviewer's loyalty to this fic! Every time I read a good review, I couldn't believe it was MY story you were talking about.
I got mushy again.
Damn.
Okay, on with the story, I'm sure I've made you all very impatient by now.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A young man's dark brown eyes stared down into a pair of green ones, his eyes wide and staring in first disbelief and anger, then softening to a love and care born only of the bond between close brothers. The green ones shone with pain, but didn't move from watching the pair above, even though the green orbs glistening with tears.
Soda felt a tear escape the corner of his eye and run down his cheek. He brushed it off automatically with a half gasp and sob, then the same hand went back to stroking Ponyboy's reddish-brown hair. His other hand was clasping the younger one's in a hand that tried to be firm, but ended up as shaky.
Darry slowly closed his eyes, his breath coming jerkily and fast. No, this wasn't a time to lose his calm. It didn't matter HOW bad his youngest brother looked; he had to stay strong. He had to stay strong for what was left of his family. His eyes snapping open, he picked up his switchblade, which lay on the grass next to him. Darry flicked the blade open, and started to cut Ponyboy's shirt. The fabric ripped away beneath his fingers, and he winced inwardly as he came close to the bloody stain on the cloth.
Pony gasped as the shirt came away, leaving the bullet wound exposed to the quickening twilight air.
Another tear escaped from the corner of Soda's eye, then a few more. He didn't bother to wipe them away. All his attention was on his little brother. Ponyboy's face was deathly pale. Blood spread around a small hole in the side of his chest. He squeezed Soda's hand throughout the sharp throbbing pain. But, as Soda noticed in horror, his grip became steadily weaker.
"Common, honey, you gotta stay with us." Soda whispered, his voice hoarse, to his little brother. "Talk to me. Say somethin', anythin', don't leave us, okay? Ya hear?"
"'Kay." Pony said so quietly it was almost inaudible.
Darry glanced up at him, clumsily disguised fear clear in his eyes.
"Keep talking, baby." Darry murmured. His hands shook slightly as he slices Pony's shirt into strips. "Soda...Prop him up, I gotta wrap these around him."
Soda nodded deftly, and lifted Pony's head slightly off his lap.
"Whats...er...your favourite part of...of...Gone with the Wind?" Soda asked desperately. His stomach clenched and flipped over as Pony cried out in pain as Darry tightly wrapped the strips around his chest. "Honey?" More tears ran down the elder's face. Similar continuing tears streamed from Pony's eyes.
"Jo-Johnny's favourite....part was the...gentlemen...riding..." Pony muttererd, then cried out again.
"What's your favourite part, Pony? Pony?" Soda asked urgently. "Stay with us, Pony. What part you dig of Gone with the Wind?"
Ponyboys eyes had fallen shut temporarily, but now they slowly came open, filled with timeless exhaustion as well as deadening pain.
"Frankly...my dear, I...I don't give a damn."
Soda blinked, assuming that must be a quote, as that didn't sound like something Ponyboy would say.
"'Right. Uh, Darry?" Soda asked urgently, looking up at Darry for idea's.
"Ask him 'bout that poem he likes. The one 'bout the green gold grass or something." Darry suggested distractedly as he pulled the make- shift bandages tight. Pony gasped in pain, more tears forced from his eyes.
"Okay Pony. Say it with me, 'kay? I ain't really know the whole thing. Half. Okay, I know the first line." Soda said, cracking a nervous grin, but tears still ran down his own face.
"O-okay." Ponyboy whispered.
"Natures first...uh...leaf, no, green is gold," Soda murmured, trying to remember.
"Her hardest h-hue to-to hold," Pony said quickly, then squeezed his eyes shut in agony. Darry's eyes snapped up.
"Sorry, honey."
"Her early leaf's -see, I knew the leaf was in there somewhere- a flower;" Soda said in a low voice.
"But only...so an hour," Pony whispered.
"Done." Darry said, and grabbed Pony's other hand in his fingers.
Pony's eyes closed.
"Pony? Wake up, baby. You gotta help me with the end of the poem. I-I can't do it by myself." Soda choked.
Darry cursed, and shook Pony's shoulder gently. The younger one's eyes opened slits.
"Stay awake, honey! You have to, ya hear?" Soda said, relief flooding his veins.
"M'wake." Pony murmured, looking blearily up at his brothers.
"Then leaf subsides to leaf..." Darry said, helping a speechless Soda along. Tears stung at Darry's own eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
"So ede-eden sank to......grief," Pony whispered.
"So dawn goes down to day," Soda said quickly, remembering.
Darry and Soda said nothing, neither of them wanting to say the last words of the poem. Pony smiled through his dizzying haze of pain at them.
"Nothing gold can stay."
Pony had finished, barely auditable. Tears mixed with blood on the grass beneath them.
"Hey, you okay kid?" Steve asked, braking the silence. He and Two- Bit came unceremoniously up from behind them.
"I promise not to call you sleeping beauty ever again." Two-Bit promised the hardly conscious Ponyboy.
"You serious?" Soda asked, not embarrassed in the least at the tears streaming down his face.
"Not really. But I won't call you that for the next 24 hours, how's that sound?" Two-Bit asked Ponyboy.
"S-sure." Pony whispered with a small smile, his eyes drifted to half shut.
"We gotta get him to the hospital." Darry said quickly. He bent down and gently and carefully placed his arms beneath Pony's legs and arms.
"Anything we can do?" Two-Bit asked, genuinely concerned for the youngest member of the gang.
"Yeah, steal a car." Soda said seriously. Steve stared at him.
"You ain't kiddin', are ya?" Steve asked. Soda shook his head. Steve smiled.
"Well, unfortunately for the Socs, it seems we have only Mustangs to choose from..." Two-Bit said, looking around.
"Such a shame too," Steve said, delivering a kick to Jake as he walked past. Then he stopped, bent down, and fished through the shreds of clothing.
"Er, you undressed him?" Soda asked, stunned.
"Yessirybob!" Two-Bit said. "He's going to have the joy of walking all the way home in his boxers."
Despite everything, Soda had to crack a grin at that.
"Yeah, we figure the rest a 'em will wake up before him, and ain't gunna wait around for him to wake up." Steve said, standing up with Jake's keys. "Don't worry, we'll take REAL good care of it."
"Uh huh. Just get your butt in the car." Darry said, walking quickly but carefully over to the black mustang that was at the head of the 'pack' of mustangs, and they knew to belong to Jake. Soda jumped in the back seat, and Darry slowly lowered Pony down across the seat so that Pony's head was on Soda's lap.
Steve and Two-Bit climbed in the front, but Darry pushed Steve aside so that he was at the wheel.
"Hey!" Steve said, but moved over.
"What? There's no way in hell I'm gunna let you drive a mustang with Pony like he is." Darry snapped.
"Fine, fine." Steve muttered, shoving Two-Bit across the front seat. It was a tight fit, even for a mustang.
"Darry!" Soda yelled.
"I'm drivin', I'm drivin'. Hold on, Ponyboy!" Darry shouted, and put his foot on the gas pedal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"No! Darryl Curtis, you have no right to be his guardian! I'll have him put in a foster home, a group home, for heaven's sake! This is the second time he's been in intensive care in just over a month!"
Everyone basically ignored the social worker, except for Darry who was currently getting yelled at. Everyone else was worried out of their minds for Ponyboy. Not that Darry wasn't, it was the complete opposite, but he had to listen to the lady.
"Mrs...Whatever your name was, I am a fit guardian, and am willing to take you to court over this matter. It was an accident that he was here, and you can't take away my guardianship just because an accident." Darry said calmly.
"ACCIDENT?!?" She shrieked. "You call getting SHOT an accident?" She looked faint. She was wearing the same ugly yellow dress, with her hair still up in that tight bun, with glasses low on her nose. Again, she was waving a fistful of papers in Darry's face. "Your house is evidently not a place for a child!"
"Ma'am, he's fifteen. Please do not treat him like a child, because that's not what he needs nor deserves." Darry said.
"DON'T TELL ME WHAT THE POOR CHILD NEEDS!" She shrieked again. Soda sighed and stood up.
"Hello, Ma'am. I'm Soda Curtis, Ponyboy's older brother, I'm sure if you'd like to speak to Ponyboy about where he'd rather live, at home or in a foster home, it would be much better if you came while he was awake." He said, a cool smile on his face.
"Well, I'm sure that would be more adequate, but- HEY!" She cried. Steve had come up behind her and snatched her clipboard.
"Well, what do we have here..." He drawled. He lifted a few pieces of paper, then found what he was looking for. "Ah, here it is. 'Notes on Ponyboy Curtis.'."
"GIVE THOSE BACK! THEY'RE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY!" The social worker screeched.
"Give the lady back her clipboard," Darry said like he truly didn't care.
"Hmmm, notes, lesse...And I quote, '1. Darryl and Linda Curtis obviously on drugs when naming children.' Well, I always did think Soda and Pony were aweful strange names, ya know? Here she's been a kind marm and supplied them for us." Steve read, then laughed. Soda gave him a shove.
"'2. House unclean, and not fit for a child living environment.' Hey, he ain't a kid! And of course it ain't clean, five teenage guys live there. '3. All three Curtis brothers lacking manners of any sort.' I dunno, I think Darry isn't lackin' any manners. You lackin' any manners, Darry?" Steve asked, grinning. The social worker was speechless. Darry shook his head.
"Well, now that that's settled...'4. Daily eating habits have no nutritional value.' Hell, they ain't healthy, but they taste good, and that's what matters..."
The social worker grabbed back her clipboard, and Steve started laughing again.
"That was COMPLETELY out of line!" She screamed.
"Really? I thought it was only a little..." Two-Bit said, from where he was reclining on a chair with his hands behind his head. "Cummon Marm, play nice. We ain't hurtin' you!"
The social worker whirled around and gave a curt nod to Darry.
"You'll be hearing from me." She snapped, and stormed out of the hospital. The watching crowd of nurses, doctors, and patients dispersed.
Darry rolled his eyes and rubbed his face with his hands.
"Don't worry, Darry, we'll win. We always do," Soda told his older brother.
They were interrupted by Joe walking out into the hall from the hospital room Pony was in.
"Darry?" He asked. The person in question nodded, and followed him into an empty.
"How is he?" Darry asked immediately. Joe held up his hand and shook his head.
"He'll pull through. It was close though. Darry, I have to be honest. Your brother won't be able to take many more beatings like this. What with the fire, the incident a month ago, and now getting shot, one more medical case and he might not pull through. There's only so much a human body can take. But your little brother's a strong one. He's already handled more then most. Anyway, about your brothers condition. The good news, is that the bullet didn't hit any major organs, such as the heart or lungs. The bad news, it that it broke two ribs, and did extensive eternal damage. But about a month of bed rest, which I know he'll love, and he'll be okay."
Darry breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Can he come home, instead of staying here for the whole time?"
Joe nodded. "But he'll have to stay here for at least a week for observation. You and your 'family' can go visit him now, he's awake and asking after you."
Darry smiled weakly. "They're our cousins. Really."
"Uh huh." Joe said, raising an eyebrow. He opened the door and Darry walked out. Immediately he was surrounded by the gang.
"Is he gunna be okay?"
"Hows the kid?"
"Can we see him?
"Hows Ponyboy?"
Darry nodded. "He'll pull through. He's gunna be okay."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ponyboy walked out on to the front porch, lifted his arms above his head and stretched. It had been a month since the 'showdown', and this was the first time Pony was to be let out of the house. Not alone though, of course.
"So, how's fresh air, Pony?" Soda asked, putting his arm on Pony's shoulder.
"It gets better and better," He sighed.
Soda laughed. "Sure kid."
"Seriously, it does!" Pony said defensively, but he grinned.
"I'll bet." Soda said, and jumped down off the porch.
Pony followed him and did a handstand. He rolled out of it, an did a no- hands cartwheel. "Whoo-hoo!" He yelled.
"Man, don't be too happy or anything." Soda said, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.
"Don't worry, I won't." Pony laughed.
"Alright, common." Soda grabbed Pony's arm and pulled him out on to the sidewalk. "You do know Darry would kill you if he saw you flippin' and stuff just as you got well, right?"
"Yepp."
"Alright, just so that's clear."
They walked along in silence. Suddenly, they heard the screech of tires on pavement. They both whirled around. A mustang whipped past, and two Socs shoved their heads out the window and yelled insults at the Greasers, and spit at them.
"They never learn, do they?" Soda sighed, his arms behind his head.
"Nah. They like it this way." Pony said.
Soda nodded, whistling the Mickey Mouse theme.
Ponyboy stared at the retreating mustang, remembering everything that had happened in the past year. And then he knew.
It's not over. And it wouldn't ever be.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's Not Over
By Eh, Man
August 24, 2003
34021 words.
I can't tell how much your reviews and support have been throughout this fic. This was the first fanfic I ever posted, and your comments got me through posting another four. 199 reviews. Wow. I'm just totally in awe. You guys are awesome! Man, to think that my little story got almost 200 reviews. *blinks* And I could never have done it without you guys! (Okay, fourteen chapters isn't little, but still.)
Hey, don't think I'm leaving you forever! I still have Between going, and a sequel in the works for this one. That is, if you guys are interested, of course. ^_^
Alright, now, to answer my reviews!:
Kimmerkay: Well, Jake IS human. He just grew up to a different life, just like the Greasers did. He has the same hatred for their easy-going lifestyles as the Greasers hate the Socs for having it all. The right thing for the story? Sure you want to trust ME with that? lol. Thank you! Hey Kate and Lynne!
Kate~ What do YOU want?
Lynne~ Hiya!
Kimmerkay says hi.
Lynne~ *waves* Hi Kimmerkay!
Kate~ Hey.
Uh huh. Well, at least Kate didn't start cursing about how she'd rather be hanging out with an evil coconut, lol. Thanks!
~
Lantinagal: Your story is awesome, keep it up! ^_^ Er...that wasn't the last chapter, this was. Haha. Between...right...*scratches head* Alright, I'll see what I can do!
Lynne~ You gotta update 'Almost Alone' soon! I needa know what happens to Pony!!
Kate~ I think he dies.
Lynne~ KATE!
Hey, be good you two! Well, at least the sugar diet is working...
~
Aemilia Rose: Thank you for your review! We all hope Pony will be okay! ^_^
Kate~ False advertising. I don't.
Shut up, Kate.
~
MissLKid: Interesting. Yeah.
Kate~ Interesting wouldn't be the word I'd use to describe it.
Lynne~ That wasn't nice, Kate.
Kate~ Your point?
*sigh* Thanks, MLK.
~
Queen Seta/Remme da Insane: Thank you for thanking me to thank you! You feel so happy....poor pony? That was the most hypocritical thing, ever lol. ^_^
~
Pony's Girl: Sorry, but this is where I always planned for the story to end. I have a sequel forming that I may use if you guys seem to want one! Thanks for your review!
~
DBZ Gal:
Lynne~ You're right. She'd better. _
Kate~ No! Kill 'em!
Er.... Don't listen t my muses. They're still arguing over whether or not to kill Pony. Thanks for the review!
~
Celestra: Er.....Your right, if I kill him, I'm planning to run for the hills so you people don't kill ME! Lol. Glad you trust me. That'd be interesting if the readers DIDN'T trust the writer. Hahah.
No! Don't take my baby away from me! LIL' ZERO COME BACK! *cries* Oh well, Aunty Ellie will keep you safe...mummy will just wait until the evil gun goes away...*sniff*
Er...*watches as Elanna picks up Ponyboy and walks with him to the hospital* LANI! COME BACK! I NEED PONY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!!!!! Ahhh, I hope she gets my message in time. What kind of chapter would this be if Ponyboy mysteriously disappeared?!?!?
Bkate~ A better one.
Shut up, you.
Lynne~ Hi Lanni! *waves*
Man, Lani, you really ARE a human rights activist, hahahah. Lol. Ttyl! *sniffs* Lil' Zero, come back to mummy...*sniff* Muse-stealer...
~
Wanda: Thank you!
~
Vera: I do too! XD Thanks for the review!
~
Gold: Yupp, considering he hates that darn hospital, he isn't gunna be happy...Thank you!
~
Burnin': *watches as little army is formed against her* Er...*starts to cry* Lil' Zero! Come back to mummy! Aunty Burnin' and Aunty Ellie will take good care of you...but...Lil' Zero!!!!! -_-;;
Lynne~ *huggles G!kate* It'll be okay...
Wow, you're so much nicer when your on a sugar diet! *sniff* Thanks, Lynnie-lyn-lyn!
Lynne~ I know. -_-
B!Kate~ Good riddance, that kid was getting on my nerves what with his...unablitlty to pronounce words correctly...that little stuffed animal he took everywhere...And how he clung to you like you were his biological mother...and how he was so small and breakable...and how he always thought I was the most powerful B!Conscience in the world...Aw, who am I kidding. I loved the kid. -_-
Wow. *sniff* B!Kate has a heart. Who would have thunk it?
Lol Burnin', I thought you'd like the burning church part.
B!Kate~ COCONUT DUDE! *glomps* Long time no see, buddy! ^_^
Wow. Burnin'. I take it you liked the chapter then. *Is in awe* Wow. Lotsa praise. That means soo frikkin much to me, you don't even know. Thank you! *hugs Burnin' even though gets burned* Thank you, you, uh, burning church, you! O_o
Between was sorta put on hold while I work mainly on this story and Cursed. *nods* Will get to it...sometime...
Er. Keep breathing there, Burnin'. Always a good idea...
~
Jessie C: Wow, you reviewed all thirteen chapters! Of course you get a cookie! *hands cookie* Thank you sooo much for your feedback! It really helped a lot! ^_^
~
Ponyboy's Girl1: Thanks for the review!
~
Tati1: Thank you!
~
True-Slytherin-Gurl: Thanks!
~
GirlsDontCri: Thanks for reviewing!
~
Trinity Star and Her Muses: Hey Kate! Get over here!
Kate~ Ya huh? *gets wrapped up in paddlock* HEY!
Thanks for the review, chains and paddlock!
Kate~ LEMME OUT!
Lynne~ I think you should let her out.
-_- Fine, but only because you're my good conscience...
*lets Kate out* Well, it was fun while it lasted.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, gushy-ness aside, I probably would have stopped writing this story long ago if it wasn't for you reviewer's loyalty to this fic! Every time I read a good review, I couldn't believe it was MY story you were talking about.
I got mushy again.
Damn.
Okay, on with the story, I'm sure I've made you all very impatient by now.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders.
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A young man's dark brown eyes stared down into a pair of green ones, his eyes wide and staring in first disbelief and anger, then softening to a love and care born only of the bond between close brothers. The green ones shone with pain, but didn't move from watching the pair above, even though the green orbs glistening with tears.
Soda felt a tear escape the corner of his eye and run down his cheek. He brushed it off automatically with a half gasp and sob, then the same hand went back to stroking Ponyboy's reddish-brown hair. His other hand was clasping the younger one's in a hand that tried to be firm, but ended up as shaky.
Darry slowly closed his eyes, his breath coming jerkily and fast. No, this wasn't a time to lose his calm. It didn't matter HOW bad his youngest brother looked; he had to stay strong. He had to stay strong for what was left of his family. His eyes snapping open, he picked up his switchblade, which lay on the grass next to him. Darry flicked the blade open, and started to cut Ponyboy's shirt. The fabric ripped away beneath his fingers, and he winced inwardly as he came close to the bloody stain on the cloth.
Pony gasped as the shirt came away, leaving the bullet wound exposed to the quickening twilight air.
Another tear escaped from the corner of Soda's eye, then a few more. He didn't bother to wipe them away. All his attention was on his little brother. Ponyboy's face was deathly pale. Blood spread around a small hole in the side of his chest. He squeezed Soda's hand throughout the sharp throbbing pain. But, as Soda noticed in horror, his grip became steadily weaker.
"Common, honey, you gotta stay with us." Soda whispered, his voice hoarse, to his little brother. "Talk to me. Say somethin', anythin', don't leave us, okay? Ya hear?"
"'Kay." Pony said so quietly it was almost inaudible.
Darry glanced up at him, clumsily disguised fear clear in his eyes.
"Keep talking, baby." Darry murmured. His hands shook slightly as he slices Pony's shirt into strips. "Soda...Prop him up, I gotta wrap these around him."
Soda nodded deftly, and lifted Pony's head slightly off his lap.
"Whats...er...your favourite part of...of...Gone with the Wind?" Soda asked desperately. His stomach clenched and flipped over as Pony cried out in pain as Darry tightly wrapped the strips around his chest. "Honey?" More tears ran down the elder's face. Similar continuing tears streamed from Pony's eyes.
"Jo-Johnny's favourite....part was the...gentlemen...riding..." Pony muttererd, then cried out again.
"What's your favourite part, Pony? Pony?" Soda asked urgently. "Stay with us, Pony. What part you dig of Gone with the Wind?"
Ponyboys eyes had fallen shut temporarily, but now they slowly came open, filled with timeless exhaustion as well as deadening pain.
"Frankly...my dear, I...I don't give a damn."
Soda blinked, assuming that must be a quote, as that didn't sound like something Ponyboy would say.
"'Right. Uh, Darry?" Soda asked urgently, looking up at Darry for idea's.
"Ask him 'bout that poem he likes. The one 'bout the green gold grass or something." Darry suggested distractedly as he pulled the make- shift bandages tight. Pony gasped in pain, more tears forced from his eyes.
"Okay Pony. Say it with me, 'kay? I ain't really know the whole thing. Half. Okay, I know the first line." Soda said, cracking a nervous grin, but tears still ran down his own face.
"O-okay." Ponyboy whispered.
"Natures first...uh...leaf, no, green is gold," Soda murmured, trying to remember.
"Her hardest h-hue to-to hold," Pony said quickly, then squeezed his eyes shut in agony. Darry's eyes snapped up.
"Sorry, honey."
"Her early leaf's -see, I knew the leaf was in there somewhere- a flower;" Soda said in a low voice.
"But only...so an hour," Pony whispered.
"Done." Darry said, and grabbed Pony's other hand in his fingers.
Pony's eyes closed.
"Pony? Wake up, baby. You gotta help me with the end of the poem. I-I can't do it by myself." Soda choked.
Darry cursed, and shook Pony's shoulder gently. The younger one's eyes opened slits.
"Stay awake, honey! You have to, ya hear?" Soda said, relief flooding his veins.
"M'wake." Pony murmured, looking blearily up at his brothers.
"Then leaf subsides to leaf..." Darry said, helping a speechless Soda along. Tears stung at Darry's own eyes, but he refused to let them fall.
"So ede-eden sank to......grief," Pony whispered.
"So dawn goes down to day," Soda said quickly, remembering.
Darry and Soda said nothing, neither of them wanting to say the last words of the poem. Pony smiled through his dizzying haze of pain at them.
"Nothing gold can stay."
Pony had finished, barely auditable. Tears mixed with blood on the grass beneath them.
"Hey, you okay kid?" Steve asked, braking the silence. He and Two- Bit came unceremoniously up from behind them.
"I promise not to call you sleeping beauty ever again." Two-Bit promised the hardly conscious Ponyboy.
"You serious?" Soda asked, not embarrassed in the least at the tears streaming down his face.
"Not really. But I won't call you that for the next 24 hours, how's that sound?" Two-Bit asked Ponyboy.
"S-sure." Pony whispered with a small smile, his eyes drifted to half shut.
"We gotta get him to the hospital." Darry said quickly. He bent down and gently and carefully placed his arms beneath Pony's legs and arms.
"Anything we can do?" Two-Bit asked, genuinely concerned for the youngest member of the gang.
"Yeah, steal a car." Soda said seriously. Steve stared at him.
"You ain't kiddin', are ya?" Steve asked. Soda shook his head. Steve smiled.
"Well, unfortunately for the Socs, it seems we have only Mustangs to choose from..." Two-Bit said, looking around.
"Such a shame too," Steve said, delivering a kick to Jake as he walked past. Then he stopped, bent down, and fished through the shreds of clothing.
"Er, you undressed him?" Soda asked, stunned.
"Yessirybob!" Two-Bit said. "He's going to have the joy of walking all the way home in his boxers."
Despite everything, Soda had to crack a grin at that.
"Yeah, we figure the rest a 'em will wake up before him, and ain't gunna wait around for him to wake up." Steve said, standing up with Jake's keys. "Don't worry, we'll take REAL good care of it."
"Uh huh. Just get your butt in the car." Darry said, walking quickly but carefully over to the black mustang that was at the head of the 'pack' of mustangs, and they knew to belong to Jake. Soda jumped in the back seat, and Darry slowly lowered Pony down across the seat so that Pony's head was on Soda's lap.
Steve and Two-Bit climbed in the front, but Darry pushed Steve aside so that he was at the wheel.
"Hey!" Steve said, but moved over.
"What? There's no way in hell I'm gunna let you drive a mustang with Pony like he is." Darry snapped.
"Fine, fine." Steve muttered, shoving Two-Bit across the front seat. It was a tight fit, even for a mustang.
"Darry!" Soda yelled.
"I'm drivin', I'm drivin'. Hold on, Ponyboy!" Darry shouted, and put his foot on the gas pedal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"No! Darryl Curtis, you have no right to be his guardian! I'll have him put in a foster home, a group home, for heaven's sake! This is the second time he's been in intensive care in just over a month!"
Everyone basically ignored the social worker, except for Darry who was currently getting yelled at. Everyone else was worried out of their minds for Ponyboy. Not that Darry wasn't, it was the complete opposite, but he had to listen to the lady.
"Mrs...Whatever your name was, I am a fit guardian, and am willing to take you to court over this matter. It was an accident that he was here, and you can't take away my guardianship just because an accident." Darry said calmly.
"ACCIDENT?!?" She shrieked. "You call getting SHOT an accident?" She looked faint. She was wearing the same ugly yellow dress, with her hair still up in that tight bun, with glasses low on her nose. Again, she was waving a fistful of papers in Darry's face. "Your house is evidently not a place for a child!"
"Ma'am, he's fifteen. Please do not treat him like a child, because that's not what he needs nor deserves." Darry said.
"DON'T TELL ME WHAT THE POOR CHILD NEEDS!" She shrieked again. Soda sighed and stood up.
"Hello, Ma'am. I'm Soda Curtis, Ponyboy's older brother, I'm sure if you'd like to speak to Ponyboy about where he'd rather live, at home or in a foster home, it would be much better if you came while he was awake." He said, a cool smile on his face.
"Well, I'm sure that would be more adequate, but- HEY!" She cried. Steve had come up behind her and snatched her clipboard.
"Well, what do we have here..." He drawled. He lifted a few pieces of paper, then found what he was looking for. "Ah, here it is. 'Notes on Ponyboy Curtis.'."
"GIVE THOSE BACK! THEY'RE GOVERNMENT PROPERTY!" The social worker screeched.
"Give the lady back her clipboard," Darry said like he truly didn't care.
"Hmmm, notes, lesse...And I quote, '1. Darryl and Linda Curtis obviously on drugs when naming children.' Well, I always did think Soda and Pony were aweful strange names, ya know? Here she's been a kind marm and supplied them for us." Steve read, then laughed. Soda gave him a shove.
"'2. House unclean, and not fit for a child living environment.' Hey, he ain't a kid! And of course it ain't clean, five teenage guys live there. '3. All three Curtis brothers lacking manners of any sort.' I dunno, I think Darry isn't lackin' any manners. You lackin' any manners, Darry?" Steve asked, grinning. The social worker was speechless. Darry shook his head.
"Well, now that that's settled...'4. Daily eating habits have no nutritional value.' Hell, they ain't healthy, but they taste good, and that's what matters..."
The social worker grabbed back her clipboard, and Steve started laughing again.
"That was COMPLETELY out of line!" She screamed.
"Really? I thought it was only a little..." Two-Bit said, from where he was reclining on a chair with his hands behind his head. "Cummon Marm, play nice. We ain't hurtin' you!"
The social worker whirled around and gave a curt nod to Darry.
"You'll be hearing from me." She snapped, and stormed out of the hospital. The watching crowd of nurses, doctors, and patients dispersed.
Darry rolled his eyes and rubbed his face with his hands.
"Don't worry, Darry, we'll win. We always do," Soda told his older brother.
They were interrupted by Joe walking out into the hall from the hospital room Pony was in.
"Darry?" He asked. The person in question nodded, and followed him into an empty.
"How is he?" Darry asked immediately. Joe held up his hand and shook his head.
"He'll pull through. It was close though. Darry, I have to be honest. Your brother won't be able to take many more beatings like this. What with the fire, the incident a month ago, and now getting shot, one more medical case and he might not pull through. There's only so much a human body can take. But your little brother's a strong one. He's already handled more then most. Anyway, about your brothers condition. The good news, is that the bullet didn't hit any major organs, such as the heart or lungs. The bad news, it that it broke two ribs, and did extensive eternal damage. But about a month of bed rest, which I know he'll love, and he'll be okay."
Darry breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"Can he come home, instead of staying here for the whole time?"
Joe nodded. "But he'll have to stay here for at least a week for observation. You and your 'family' can go visit him now, he's awake and asking after you."
Darry smiled weakly. "They're our cousins. Really."
"Uh huh." Joe said, raising an eyebrow. He opened the door and Darry walked out. Immediately he was surrounded by the gang.
"Is he gunna be okay?"
"Hows the kid?"
"Can we see him?
"Hows Ponyboy?"
Darry nodded. "He'll pull through. He's gunna be okay."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Ponyboy walked out on to the front porch, lifted his arms above his head and stretched. It had been a month since the 'showdown', and this was the first time Pony was to be let out of the house. Not alone though, of course.
"So, how's fresh air, Pony?" Soda asked, putting his arm on Pony's shoulder.
"It gets better and better," He sighed.
Soda laughed. "Sure kid."
"Seriously, it does!" Pony said defensively, but he grinned.
"I'll bet." Soda said, and jumped down off the porch.
Pony followed him and did a handstand. He rolled out of it, an did a no- hands cartwheel. "Whoo-hoo!" He yelled.
"Man, don't be too happy or anything." Soda said, rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.
"Don't worry, I won't." Pony laughed.
"Alright, common." Soda grabbed Pony's arm and pulled him out on to the sidewalk. "You do know Darry would kill you if he saw you flippin' and stuff just as you got well, right?"
"Yepp."
"Alright, just so that's clear."
They walked along in silence. Suddenly, they heard the screech of tires on pavement. They both whirled around. A mustang whipped past, and two Socs shoved their heads out the window and yelled insults at the Greasers, and spit at them.
"They never learn, do they?" Soda sighed, his arms behind his head.
"Nah. They like it this way." Pony said.
Soda nodded, whistling the Mickey Mouse theme.
Ponyboy stared at the retreating mustang, remembering everything that had happened in the past year. And then he knew.
It's not over. And it wouldn't ever be.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's Not Over
By Eh, Man
August 24, 2003