"Tia!" Dally called out.
He helped Johnny to his feet and brought him away from the burning church. He stopped dead in shock when one of the walls gave way and Tia came tumbling out onto the grass. He ran over to her and at first thought she was dead. She lay motionless on the ground but he could see her chest rising and falling.
Before he knew it, the adults were pushing him out of the way. He watch as Tia was loaded onto a stretcher along with Pony and Johnny. He insisted on going with Tia to the hospital, after much argueing they said yes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Pony came around, he was bouncing around and ached all over. He tried to think but all he could hear was a high pitched screaming. After a few second, he realized it was a siren, he thought it was the fuzz. Someone with a cold, wet rag was gently sponging off his face and a voice said.
"I think he's coming around."
"Where...?" He asked hoarsly.
"Take it easy, kid. You're in an ambulance." The man with him replied.
"Where's Johnny?" Pony cried "And Dallas and Tia?"
"They're in the other ambulances, right behind us. Just calm down. You're going to be okay. You just passed out." He explained.
"I didn't either, Dallas hit me. How come?" Pony asked, confused.
"Because your back was in flames, thats why." He replied.
"It was? Golly, I didn't feel it. It don't hurt." Pony said in shock.
"We put it out before you got burned. That jacket saved you from a bad burning, maybe saved your life. You just keeled over from smoke inhalation, and a little shock, of course, that slap on the back didn't help much." He explained patiently.
"Are you taking us to the police station?" Pony asked timidly.
"The police station? What would we want to take you to the policed station for? We're taking all four of you to hospital." He replied.
"Are Johnny, Dally and Tia all right?" Pony asked.
"Which one's which?' Jerry replied.
"Johnny has black hair. Dally's the mean-looking one and Tia is the blond girl." Pony explained.
"The towheaded kid is going to be just fine. He inhaled a bit of smoke but that hasn't stopped him from mouthing off. Johnny got a few burns and cut but will be fine in a few days. The girl pushed him out of the way when the roof collapsed. I am not sure about the girl, she was stuck in there for a few minutes but managed to knock one of the walls down that was burning. She was uncouncious when we got to her." He explained quietly "I swear, you kids are the bravest kids I have seen in a long time. Mrs.O'Briant and I think you were sent straight from heaven."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ponyboy was sitting in the waiting from with Dally and Jerry waiting to hear what was happening with his friends.
"Stupid doctors." Dally grumbled. "They could at least tell us what is going on."
Dally was still worried since he had watched them bring Tia and Johnny in on stretchers. Johnny had giving them a smile, tired smile but Tia still lay motionless.
"There are some people here to see you. Claim to be your brothers or something." Jerry spoke up.
Ponyboy leaped up and ran for the door, but it was already open and Soda had him in a bear hug and was swinging him around.
"Oh, Ponyboy, your hair...you tuff, tuff hair..." Soda said when he put him down.
"Ponyboy." Darry said in a husky voice.
He let go of Soda and stood there for a minute, he realized that Darry was crying.
"Darry!" Pony screamed and the next thing he knew, he had him around the waist and was squeezing the daylights out of him.
"Darry, I'm sorry..." Pony whimpered.
"Oh, Pony, I thought we'd lost you...like we did Mom and Dad..." Darry said, his voice cracking.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour later, two more visitors arrived.
"Ponyboy!" A voice screamed making him look up.
"Lisa!" Pony ran to meet him.
He wrapped his arms around her to hug her and lifted her clean off the ground.
"I thought you were dead or something." Lisa sobbed into his neck.
"Its okay, I'm okay, Everything is going to be okay." Pony hushed she sobs and continued to hold her.
They sat down, he kept an arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Hey." KJ said with his fists in his pockets, sitting down beside Darry. "Any news?"
"The Doc said that Johnny will be able to go home tomorrow at noon. He has a piece of glass in his arm that they had to remove and then stitch up." Darry explained.
"What about Tia?" KJ asked, his voice hoarse.
"They haven't told us a single goddamn thing." Dally said, his eyes blazing.
Soon after that the police and reporters came. The reporters fired one question after another and made Pony even more confused. When Darry told them, he was in no shape to be yelled at like this, they slowed down some. Sodapop kept them in stitches. He'd grab one guys press hat and another's camera and walk around interviewing nurses and mimicking TV reporters. He even tried lifting one of the officers guns. After a little while, the reporters left and everyone was dead tired. Soda was asleep with his head in Darry's lap and Lisa was asleep with her head in Pony's lap.
"We'd better go home. We can't do anything." Darry said rubbing the back of Pony's head lightly.
"I should stay for Tia, but..." KJ said looking at Lisa who was sound asleep.
"Its okay, you take her home, I will hang around here for when Tia comes around. I'll call when she does." Dally spoke up.
"Thanks." KJ said putting his hand on Lisa's shoulder. "C'mon, time to go home."
Lisa gave Pony a light kiss before leaving with KJ.
The three Curtis brothers left soon after that, waving to Dally who was now in the waiting room alone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey Pony, Two-Bit!" Johnny said brightly when they came into his hospital room the next morning.
Johnny was sitting up in bed, dressed in clean clothes. He looked like the same old Johnny except he had a bandage on his forearm.
"Hey Johnnycakes." Two-Bit said smiling, glad to see that Johnny was okay.
"Came to get me out of this place?" Johnny asked hopefully.
"Yep, lets go, heard anything bout Tia?" Two-Bit said as they headed out the door, towards the front desk.
"Not from the doctors, but Dally was around about an hour ago. Said that Tia was awake but the doctor wouldn't tell him anything. He didn't stay around for long, he left to phone KJ then went back to see Tia." Johnny explained as Two-Bit signed a form releasing Johnny from the hospital care.
"C'you tell me what room Thalia Laurel is in?" Two-Bit asked the secretary.
"Room 34, down the hall to your right." She replied after checking the list of room occupents.
The three of them followed her directions and soon found room 34 with the door opened. They quietly entered the room where they heard voices coming from. They saw KJ sitting on a chair beside Tia's bed and Dally sitting on chair beside the window. Much to their surprise, Tia was sitting up talking with them.
"Nice to see your not dead."Two-Bit said laughing.
"Nice to see you too." Tia replied with a light laugh.
Ponyboy was glad to see Tia was awake. When he had watched them bring her in on the stretcher, she looked so cold, like an empty shell.
"Dallas, looks like you haven't slept in a while." Johnny pointed out.
"He hasn't." Tia replied rolling her eyes "Seems to think if he leaves I am going to drop dead or something."
Dally just gave a smile. He had never been so scared in all his life when Tia was still in the fire. He thought she had been dead for sure. Even watching her now left an ache inside of his chest. Her complextion was pale, making the light freckles on her face more visible. Her blonde hair which was now streaked with soot, was scorched at the end. What hurt the most was when he looked at her eyes. They had lost their fire, like she was too tired to fight anymore. Even her voice didn't have the same edge to it.
"Which I won't, KJ wouldn't let that happen." Tia said reaching under her pillow.
She pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
"Got a light?" She asked KJ.
"Are you sure you should be smoking, I think you have enough smoke in your lungs for one day." KJ replied but handed over a pack of matches anyway.
She lit up and look a long drag and seemed to relax.
"Tim Shepard stopped by about 30 minutes ago, ya just missed him." Tia spoke up "He saw our pictures in the paper and couldn't believe it didn't say "Wanted Dead Or Alive" underneath it."
"Doctor told ya anything?" Two-Bit asked.
"Yep, nothing too serious, just breathed in a bit too much smoke. Made me pass out from 'lack of oxygiene' as the doctor said." Tia replied.
"So you are going to be okay?" Pony asked hopefully.
"I'm gonna be just fine. I just wish they would let me out here." Tia said with a hint of a smile "I need real food, real cloths and a haircut."
"Have they said when they will let you out?" Johnny asked.
"Not until tomorrow morning but I am leaving this afternoon, the rumble is tonight." Tia replied.
"For the last time, you ain't gonna fight tonight." Dally growled.
"Oh yes I am." Tia challenged. "What are you gonna do to stop me? Sit on me?"
"Good suggestion." Dally replied shrugging.
Tia started a comeback but was cut off by a coughing fit. She coughed for a good few minute, she was gasping for air and handed her lit cigarette over to KJ.
"That was not fun." Tia replied taking a few raspy deep breaths.
"Oh yeah, your in a great state to fight t'night." Two-Bit replied laughing.
"Oh stuff it Matthews. Even like this I could still take you down." Tia teased.
"Keep dreaming." Two-Bit said still laughing. "Well, we better get going, and I am guessing we will be seeing you home soon."
"Take Dally with you." Tia motioned to Dally.
"I'm staying here." Dally replied firmly.
"Not you ain't. Go home, get some sleep, we need to ready to fight tonight." Tia replied.
After much arguing, Two-Bit left with two more then he came with. Dally followed them out the hospital doors. Grumbling.
He helped Johnny to his feet and brought him away from the burning church. He stopped dead in shock when one of the walls gave way and Tia came tumbling out onto the grass. He ran over to her and at first thought she was dead. She lay motionless on the ground but he could see her chest rising and falling.
Before he knew it, the adults were pushing him out of the way. He watch as Tia was loaded onto a stretcher along with Pony and Johnny. He insisted on going with Tia to the hospital, after much argueing they said yes.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Pony came around, he was bouncing around and ached all over. He tried to think but all he could hear was a high pitched screaming. After a few second, he realized it was a siren, he thought it was the fuzz. Someone with a cold, wet rag was gently sponging off his face and a voice said.
"I think he's coming around."
"Where...?" He asked hoarsly.
"Take it easy, kid. You're in an ambulance." The man with him replied.
"Where's Johnny?" Pony cried "And Dallas and Tia?"
"They're in the other ambulances, right behind us. Just calm down. You're going to be okay. You just passed out." He explained.
"I didn't either, Dallas hit me. How come?" Pony asked, confused.
"Because your back was in flames, thats why." He replied.
"It was? Golly, I didn't feel it. It don't hurt." Pony said in shock.
"We put it out before you got burned. That jacket saved you from a bad burning, maybe saved your life. You just keeled over from smoke inhalation, and a little shock, of course, that slap on the back didn't help much." He explained patiently.
"Are you taking us to the police station?" Pony asked timidly.
"The police station? What would we want to take you to the policed station for? We're taking all four of you to hospital." He replied.
"Are Johnny, Dally and Tia all right?" Pony asked.
"Which one's which?' Jerry replied.
"Johnny has black hair. Dally's the mean-looking one and Tia is the blond girl." Pony explained.
"The towheaded kid is going to be just fine. He inhaled a bit of smoke but that hasn't stopped him from mouthing off. Johnny got a few burns and cut but will be fine in a few days. The girl pushed him out of the way when the roof collapsed. I am not sure about the girl, she was stuck in there for a few minutes but managed to knock one of the walls down that was burning. She was uncouncious when we got to her." He explained quietly "I swear, you kids are the bravest kids I have seen in a long time. Mrs.O'Briant and I think you were sent straight from heaven."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Ponyboy was sitting in the waiting from with Dally and Jerry waiting to hear what was happening with his friends.
"Stupid doctors." Dally grumbled. "They could at least tell us what is going on."
Dally was still worried since he had watched them bring Tia and Johnny in on stretchers. Johnny had giving them a smile, tired smile but Tia still lay motionless.
"There are some people here to see you. Claim to be your brothers or something." Jerry spoke up.
Ponyboy leaped up and ran for the door, but it was already open and Soda had him in a bear hug and was swinging him around.
"Oh, Ponyboy, your hair...you tuff, tuff hair..." Soda said when he put him down.
"Ponyboy." Darry said in a husky voice.
He let go of Soda and stood there for a minute, he realized that Darry was crying.
"Darry!" Pony screamed and the next thing he knew, he had him around the waist and was squeezing the daylights out of him.
"Darry, I'm sorry..." Pony whimpered.
"Oh, Pony, I thought we'd lost you...like we did Mom and Dad..." Darry said, his voice cracking.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
An hour later, two more visitors arrived.
"Ponyboy!" A voice screamed making him look up.
"Lisa!" Pony ran to meet him.
He wrapped his arms around her to hug her and lifted her clean off the ground.
"I thought you were dead or something." Lisa sobbed into his neck.
"Its okay, I'm okay, Everything is going to be okay." Pony hushed she sobs and continued to hold her.
They sat down, he kept an arm around her and she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Hey." KJ said with his fists in his pockets, sitting down beside Darry. "Any news?"
"The Doc said that Johnny will be able to go home tomorrow at noon. He has a piece of glass in his arm that they had to remove and then stitch up." Darry explained.
"What about Tia?" KJ asked, his voice hoarse.
"They haven't told us a single goddamn thing." Dally said, his eyes blazing.
Soon after that the police and reporters came. The reporters fired one question after another and made Pony even more confused. When Darry told them, he was in no shape to be yelled at like this, they slowed down some. Sodapop kept them in stitches. He'd grab one guys press hat and another's camera and walk around interviewing nurses and mimicking TV reporters. He even tried lifting one of the officers guns. After a little while, the reporters left and everyone was dead tired. Soda was asleep with his head in Darry's lap and Lisa was asleep with her head in Pony's lap.
"We'd better go home. We can't do anything." Darry said rubbing the back of Pony's head lightly.
"I should stay for Tia, but..." KJ said looking at Lisa who was sound asleep.
"Its okay, you take her home, I will hang around here for when Tia comes around. I'll call when she does." Dally spoke up.
"Thanks." KJ said putting his hand on Lisa's shoulder. "C'mon, time to go home."
Lisa gave Pony a light kiss before leaving with KJ.
The three Curtis brothers left soon after that, waving to Dally who was now in the waiting room alone.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Hey Pony, Two-Bit!" Johnny said brightly when they came into his hospital room the next morning.
Johnny was sitting up in bed, dressed in clean clothes. He looked like the same old Johnny except he had a bandage on his forearm.
"Hey Johnnycakes." Two-Bit said smiling, glad to see that Johnny was okay.
"Came to get me out of this place?" Johnny asked hopefully.
"Yep, lets go, heard anything bout Tia?" Two-Bit said as they headed out the door, towards the front desk.
"Not from the doctors, but Dally was around about an hour ago. Said that Tia was awake but the doctor wouldn't tell him anything. He didn't stay around for long, he left to phone KJ then went back to see Tia." Johnny explained as Two-Bit signed a form releasing Johnny from the hospital care.
"C'you tell me what room Thalia Laurel is in?" Two-Bit asked the secretary.
"Room 34, down the hall to your right." She replied after checking the list of room occupents.
The three of them followed her directions and soon found room 34 with the door opened. They quietly entered the room where they heard voices coming from. They saw KJ sitting on a chair beside Tia's bed and Dally sitting on chair beside the window. Much to their surprise, Tia was sitting up talking with them.
"Nice to see your not dead."Two-Bit said laughing.
"Nice to see you too." Tia replied with a light laugh.
Ponyboy was glad to see Tia was awake. When he had watched them bring her in on the stretcher, she looked so cold, like an empty shell.
"Dallas, looks like you haven't slept in a while." Johnny pointed out.
"He hasn't." Tia replied rolling her eyes "Seems to think if he leaves I am going to drop dead or something."
Dally just gave a smile. He had never been so scared in all his life when Tia was still in the fire. He thought she had been dead for sure. Even watching her now left an ache inside of his chest. Her complextion was pale, making the light freckles on her face more visible. Her blonde hair which was now streaked with soot, was scorched at the end. What hurt the most was when he looked at her eyes. They had lost their fire, like she was too tired to fight anymore. Even her voice didn't have the same edge to it.
"Which I won't, KJ wouldn't let that happen." Tia said reaching under her pillow.
She pulled out a pack of cigarettes.
"Got a light?" She asked KJ.
"Are you sure you should be smoking, I think you have enough smoke in your lungs for one day." KJ replied but handed over a pack of matches anyway.
She lit up and look a long drag and seemed to relax.
"Tim Shepard stopped by about 30 minutes ago, ya just missed him." Tia spoke up "He saw our pictures in the paper and couldn't believe it didn't say "Wanted Dead Or Alive" underneath it."
"Doctor told ya anything?" Two-Bit asked.
"Yep, nothing too serious, just breathed in a bit too much smoke. Made me pass out from 'lack of oxygiene' as the doctor said." Tia replied.
"So you are going to be okay?" Pony asked hopefully.
"I'm gonna be just fine. I just wish they would let me out here." Tia said with a hint of a smile "I need real food, real cloths and a haircut."
"Have they said when they will let you out?" Johnny asked.
"Not until tomorrow morning but I am leaving this afternoon, the rumble is tonight." Tia replied.
"For the last time, you ain't gonna fight tonight." Dally growled.
"Oh yes I am." Tia challenged. "What are you gonna do to stop me? Sit on me?"
"Good suggestion." Dally replied shrugging.
Tia started a comeback but was cut off by a coughing fit. She coughed for a good few minute, she was gasping for air and handed her lit cigarette over to KJ.
"That was not fun." Tia replied taking a few raspy deep breaths.
"Oh yeah, your in a great state to fight t'night." Two-Bit replied laughing.
"Oh stuff it Matthews. Even like this I could still take you down." Tia teased.
"Keep dreaming." Two-Bit said still laughing. "Well, we better get going, and I am guessing we will be seeing you home soon."
"Take Dally with you." Tia motioned to Dally.
"I'm staying here." Dally replied firmly.
"Not you ain't. Go home, get some sleep, we need to ready to fight tonight." Tia replied.
After much arguing, Two-Bit left with two more then he came with. Dally followed them out the hospital doors. Grumbling.