Okay, I know I've held you in suspense for a while here, sorry, its beena
long hectic, horrible week, except for your great reviews of course. So
here goes, but not before a VERY brief A/N and responses to reviews.
A/N: Okay, just a quick note to keep in mind while you're reading Reesa's POV. Keep in mind that she has a slight head injury, and she is in shock, so basically she isnt really thinking straight. Its all a little repetative and weird, but that's really how shes thinking...I have to say that was one of the hardest parts of this to write...except the part I am working on now that comes in the far future...but that's aside from the point. Just remember it so you know why its so confusing, but it had to be straight forward enough for you all to understand...so I hope I got the balance of it. Wow, that wasn't so brief...sorry it's really late.
Reviews!
Tensleep: Holy crap...how do I even write a response to that? I mean, I was SOOOO overjoyed when I read that, I was nearly screaming I couldn't even contain it. I told you curve ball was an understatement, didn't I? Yeah, we can be pretty evil at times... You loved how Soda freaks? I do to...that's sadly one of my favorite parts...and we had a lot of fun writing it. It took us a long time to get that together though, I mean a few hours of just talking non-stop... ideas popping here and there and then putting it all into the story...but it was fun. Im soo glad you liked it and FELT it, that's what matters. Wow...I just don't know what to say except thanks! This last week was horrible, and to tell the honest to goodness truth, your reviews kept me going...ask Keira - she'll tell you that those made me smile even when I was having the worst day. Well, I'll let you get on with it then...
Oblivious Misconception: You liked Darry's and Reesa's POVs? Wow... that's a compliment for me...thanks! I spent weeks on those...it was SOOOO hard...just how everyone reacts and how things happen. But...yeah, that was basically where the story takes off...and pretty soon everything in the last thirteen chapters will come into play...we really tried to pull all of this together, which has been the hardest part of the whole thing...I think. About the retalitation thing, I guess you'll just have to see...its not for a few chapters, but you'll find out a lot more pretty soon...just keep reading and reviewing! Thanks again!
Two-BitGortez: Thanks! Keep reading. We realy appreciate your support in always reading! Enjoy the next Chapter.
Okay, well I think that's it! Enjoy!
Chapter 15 (Reesa's POV)
It was so cold. That was the first thing I knew, cold. Really cold. Everything around me was cold, and I couldn't get warm. I felt like I was shaking and I couldn't figure it out, but it didn't matter. I was too cold for it to matter. But then I started focussing on other things, get my mind off of the cold. I couldn't figure out where I was at first, but then it hit me in a wave of fear. The party. Skye. Clay.
Things were quiet and still around me now, and it seemed like it was over. No one was around to start the whole thing over again, thank god. I had only woken once, maybe twice since I had first gotten there, but those few seconds were enough for me. And as confusing as things seemed, I remembered everything and the pain hadn't gone.
Everything in my body ached and throbbed. It was an almost disconnected pain, but it was something I had never felt before. It was the kind of pain that was bad enough to make you never want to move again.
As I came closer to reality and my mind cleared a little more, I found that my arms and legs were completely numb, but that everything else hurt like hell. My head throbbed and sharp racking pains stabbed me every time I took a breath. I was so weak, it was hard to move, and when I opened my eyes, the world was spinning wildly. The light had been left on (not that it made much difference with how dim it really was), and looking around as best I could, I saw no one. Again, I sighed in relief. Oh, I hated Clay more than anyone anywhere. Not that I hadn't before, but now I really did. What a bastard.
I had no idea of the time, or how long they had been gone. I could hear music from a party near by, but that didn't tell me much because party's always went late. I knew that I had to get out of there, I had to get home. I couldn't stay, and I needed Darry or Soda...or someone. I needed protection, and more than that, I needed help.
I tired to roll over, but shook in weakness and from the cold. Yeah, that. I had to find my clothes. They would help a little...but where were they? Again, I tried to push myself up, and this time I got far enough to be in a half sitting position, resting on my arm that I had finally found. It was starting to gain back some feeling, and although not pleasant, I would rather have an arm.
I suddenly felt like I would pass out again, and almost did. I don't know how it is that I didn't, but somehow I managed to hold on. I hated that feeling, and it scared me. I knew that there was no other way to get out of there unless I took myself, so I couldn't keep passing out. Sure, I wanted to, but it wouldn't do me any good.
After a few minutes of sitting in that same position, I started moving just enough to feel around the mattress I was on to find my pants or shirt or something. I knew they had to be around, it was just a matter of finding them.
It took a few minutes of searching before I finally found what I was looking for. I don't know why it took so long, they were not far, but it didn't really seem to matter much at the time.
I took my jeans and started to try and move enough to get them on. I had no idea how hard pants could be to put on. First one thing then the next was wrong. I couldn't do this or I couldn't find that. It was so frustrating but somehow I ended up against a wall once I had them on. By that time every movement of my legs, or anything else for that matter, but it was worse for my legs, brought tears to my eyes. If I had wanted to scream I don't think I could have. It was so bad that a sound would never make it out of my mouth. Hell, it was hard to breathe.
By the time I was ready to get out of that place, I felt even worse. I was weaker than before, and the pain only worsened with the time. I was even more dizzy, if that was even possible and it was colder. I wondered how it was that I was going to make it home. I wasn't taking any chances with some stranger, and I couldn't walk all that way. But then I remembered that I had Dally's car. A car.
I stood up, and that took forever to do in itself, and swayed on my feet. I didn't stop though. I had to get home. Darry would kill me for missing curfew and...but I didn't even know if I had already missed it...it didn't matter.
I stumbled to the door, barely keeping my feet under me. The thought crossed my mind that I wouldn't ever make it to the car, and it was a stupid thing to drive a car if you couldn't even stand up straight. But, again, I wanted to get home, I had to get home. I still don't know why it was so clear to me that I had to get home, but it just was. If there was one thing I was sure of, it was that I had to go home.
The night air brought more shock to my system as I stepped out of the garage. If I was already cold, I was past frozen in a split second with no jacket to keep the wind out. Not to mention the fact that I was only wearing a shirt with a small strap. But I could hear the leaves rustling through the street, and at least that was a good thing to hear.
Somehow, I found Dally's car. I haven't a clue how long it took me, I was in a daze the entire time. I couldn't tell you what my name was at the time had you asked me. Again, it must have been a miracle that I made it to the car.
When I got there, I got the door open and tried to slip into the seat, but missed. I ended up on the cold ground, my legs folded under me and my head resting in the seat I had been trying to sit in. That was real awkward and confusing to me, but I didn't have an ounce of anything left to do anything about it. My legs had basically given out and I now just sat in a daze of sorts, not knowing or caring what happened around me.
The next thing I remembered, I was being shaken a little and someone was talking to me. At the time I didn't understand what was being said, but I still remember the words:
"Hey, guys, we gotta get her home." He almost yelled away from me.
"Why? You'll get killed if you take her home, you know how it works. You take her home, you get blamed. Just leave her." Another guy said.
"Yeah, she's just drunk, Mike." Yet another guy piped in.
"I don't care, and she ain't drunk." I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and I was being gently shaken again, "C'mon, you need to wake up, Curtis. Wake up. Open your eyes."
I still had no idea what he was saying although I remember it clearly. It was like I couldn't make a connection, and it just didn't make sense. Finally, he stopped. Thank God for that one too. As dazed as I was, I was still feeling the pain, mostly when I moved, so I preferred not to.
"Here are me keys, follow me over to their house. You don't even have to come in or be involved, just be there to pick me up. If I get the shit beat out of me, then you can leave and come back later."
"Uh...fine, but don't say we didn't warn ya."
Soon it was quiet again, and I fell back into a black eternity. That is until pain shot through my body as I was moved. Someone was hauling me up from under my arms, telling me to stand up. No such luck, I couldn't if it meant my life. Then my feet were swiped up from under me, the movement creating a ripple effect in my body and the intensity of the pain from that was enough to see me through. Before I knew it I had passed out again.
`~`~``~``~`~`
(Soda's POV)
Some time had passed since Darry took Skye to the hospital and I was getting really antsy. First of all, I had seriously blown up when I saw her in that condition and now I wanted to try and make things right again, because I think I scared her. I don't know why, but something was eating at her badly enough that she was scared when I yelled. It could be because... well, I don't remember the last time I yelled at or near her, which means she probably doesn't remember either and... that might have upset her a tad. I know I apologized and all, but I don't think I can really resolve anything until I talk to her one on one. Then there was the subtle fact that Reesa wasn't home and it was two-thirty in the morning. Normally that wouldn't bother me, only because I know she's a good kid and she wouldn't usually get herself into some trouble. But after tonight many memories and fears flooded back to me and I couldn't be sure of anything.
Over the last few hours, the rest of the gang had wandered to our house. Two-Bit and Johnny had showed up a few minutes after Darry and Skye left, just to hang out and maybe spend the night (they since changed their minds); then Dally came in around two. He always came in during the later hours because he practically lives on our couch. You can imagine his shock and contempt at discovering no one was planning on going to sleep which meant that he wouldn't be able to either. Actually, he could because he can sleep anywhere anytime because he has to do that a lot, but once he found out what was going on he was so angry he punched a hole in the wall and a couple of pictures shattered to the floor. Steve offered to clean it up for me which I was grateful for because I really could have cared less about picking it up and it would've only been left for later. Later always seems to be worse.
We were all sitting around in the living room, minus Ponyboy, and we were in almost complete silence. It felt almost as if someone had died. Not quite to that extent, but pretty damn close. I was afraid if I opened my mouth one more time that I'd pull a Dallas and end up breaking something too. Steve and Johnny were respectfully staying quiet, although I don't think I would've minded it if they had talked. I just couldn't. Two-Bit had sat in the big armed chair for nearly the last two hours in bewilderment and Dally was working hard to keep his temper under control. He was the only one making remotely any noise with all his grunting and muttering. If they all hadn't been there, I would've probably been doing the exact same thing.
I didn't have the heart to wake Ponyboy. I knew he'd be mad later that no one clued him in in the beginning, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. If I could hardly talk without losing it, how was I supposed to tell him? None of the others volunteered, so I didn't ask them. I didn't blame them for not wanting to. It had taken me enough to tell them in the first place, why would they want to step into someone else's territory? Not that only I could bring it up; that's not what I'm meaning. I'm just saying that I sort of felt as if it was my responsibility to inform people because she's my sister and it was clear that they could sense that. I wished one of them would ask if they could tell Pony, because it would take a lot off my mind but I couldn't make them.
Not long afterwards, the doorbell rang. My first thought was that it was the police. It wouldn't have surprised me in the least if had been them. Them I could handle. It was them who I expected to show up if anyone. But what we got was something else, something a lot worse.
Steve was closest to the door so he got up and answered it. I couldn't see who it was at first, just a tuft of dark brown hair and then I heard Steve gasp. I immediately stood up not wanting to be left out of anything else.
"Oh my God. What happened?" Steve asked as he walked out on to the porch. "What the hell happened!"
A nervous voice replied, "I don't know. I only just found her in the west- side and she was out. She was sitting next to a car and she had the keys so I brought her back here. I figured I couldn't leave her alone because she looked pretty bad off and –"
"Soda!" Steve snapped in a panic. My heart sank into my stomach even further after hearing that little bit. Hell no. "Here, give her to me." Steve reached out to whoever the kid was and took Reesa from him. I still couldn't see either of them and I wasn't all the sure that I wanted to. "Soda, get over here!"
I didn't need to be told again. I rushed over to the door and came face to face with one of the most horrible sites I have ever seen. Reesa was lying limp in Steve's arms, bloody, battered, and just about lifeless. If I hadn't seen the slight rise and fall of her chest I would've sworn she was dead. There's no way someone in that condition should've been able to live. I couldn't even look at her for very long the first time. I saw her, covered my mouth, closed my eyes, and turned away. I was almost sick it was that bad.
Everyone else had risen from their seats to get a better view. Two-Bit jumped up from his and pushed past us to the door and onto the porch fairly quickly. "Who are you?" he growled.
"Um... Mike Tucker. Listen, man, I swear I had nothing to do with this. I just found her and... shoot, ask her when she wakes up if you don't believe me. I swear..." His eyes were wide with fear and shock. He held up his hands in surrender and promise. I believed him. That should've been all that mattered.
Two-Bit just glared at him and stepped back into the house. Dally lowered himself back to his seat and Johnny came over to sit by him. Steve moved Reesa over to the empty couch and laid her down. She didn't move at all.
Voice shaking and a little higher pitched than I would've preferred, I said, "Hey, thanks. You really don't know how grateful I am and –"
"Yeah, I know." He shrugged. "I couldn't leave her there and live with myself." He sort of stood there for a minute then stepped back down the stairs before turning and leaving to get in another car. "Good luck."
"Thanks."
I closed the door and paused for a couple of seconds before turning my full attention on Reesa. Whatever was important before was now somewhat a backdrop and would come back into focus later when we got everything situated. In the mean time I had to help Reesa and get her to a hospital.
"Reesa?" I crouched down next to her and pushed some of her blood-caked hair out of her face. "Can you hear me?"
She lay still, not responding. I didn't expect her to but I had to try. I had to try anything I could to make sure she was alive. I knew she was alive physically, however, in all other aspects I was scared to death. I could barely breathe myself.
I looked her up and down, not really wanting to see what was there, but wanting to know what happened. The hardest thing I have ever done was that, and it didn't take long before I thought I knew what happened. The signs were nearly unmistakble; torn clothing, rope burns on the wrists, where most the blood was...and many other things. But I didn't know how that could be possible. Not only was it wrong, it was damn near impossible...but I would be calm.
"Damn it." I stood back up and raised my fist to my mouth, resting my elbow on my other arm. I bit my fingers as I tried to think of something to do. Anything. "Two-Bit, go get her a blanket. I can't stand to look at that." And by that I meant her entire appearance. The least we could do was cover up her body and hide some of the gruesome details.
Two-Bit nodded and ran off to the hall closet and found a suitable blanket. In the mean time I kept brainstorming and rattled off instructions to the others.
"Dally, can you please go wake up Pony? Steve, go get some towels, and Johnny if you could go and get me a bowl of water real fast..." I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it all but it seemed like a good idea, so I asked. Steve and Johnny went without hesitation, but Dally was a different matter.
"Hell, what do you want the kid up for? He's not gonna do us much good. He'll be in the way. There's already enough people up and --"
"Dallas, please. We have to take her to the hospital. Just look at her..."
By that time Two-Bit was back and he went ahead and draped a lightweight blanket over her body leaving her head uncovered so she could breathe. He backed off again and looked to me to see if I needed anything else, but I was still looking at Dally. Dally stared at me for a moment looking slightly murderous and threatened by my abrupt approach. Then he got the message and without saying another word went to my room to get Ponyboy.
Johnny came back with a large metal bowl of water and Steve with several towels. I figured I could try and clean her up a little bit before we took her. I didn't want the doctors to have to see her this bad. Perhaps, just maybe, she wasn't as bad looking without all the blood.
I dipped the end of one of the towels into the water and brought it up to her face without wringing it out and let it drip on her forehead a couple of drops before setting to work to wipe off the excess residue. Surprisingly, it came off easily and I had her face cleaned up before Dally returned with Pony. And by saying that I mean it was fast. I heard Pony thump to the floor when Dally pulled him off the bed. That's the type of thing he'd do too.
Ponyboy came into the living room now pulling on his jacket, looking tired and very confused. "What's going on?" He rubbed at one of his eyes that was turning red.
"No questions. Not now," I said as I stooped down to pick up Reesa. She didn't weigh all that much but her dead weight was tiresome. There were only a couple of other times, to my recollection, that I had to carry someone in such a careful way. It was really unnerving.
"Soda. I ain't leavin' unless you give me a good reason, because –"he stopped to stifle a yawn and then never picked up again.
"Pony, now's not a good time," Two-Bit said and grabbed him by the sleeve to pull him out of the way.
"Sure it is. What happened to her? What's going on? Where is Darry? Did Skye ever come back? We can't just leave an empty house for her to come home to. Y'all know what could happen if we did." He glared with tired bleariness and it was clear that he was talking jumble because he was still half asleep. "God, Steve, let go of me."
"I ain't touchin' ya, kid," Steve said from over by the door which he was holding it open. "C'mon, Sodapop, we gotta go. We'll explain it in the car, Pon."
I quickly adjusted Rees so that her head was resting against my shoulder and I walked past Steve and carefully down the steps to his car, leaving Pony's protests behind me. I was so scared that I'd drop her and break whatever she had left in her that I almost wanted someone to spot me, but I had too much pride and continued to walk to the car while Steve ran ahead and opened the door for me.
Luckily, we made it to the car just fine and I was presented with my next obstacle. Getting in with her. I turned to my side and as carefully as I could I stepped with my left leg into the car and sat down without smacking her head on anything. Breathing a sigh of relief, I slid all the way across and Steve closed the door behind me. He ushered Pony in and Dally sped around to his side and got in, starting the ignition. Steve stood outside of the car for a moment. He looked like he was debating something and then turned to Two-Bit and said.
"Hey, you and Johnny take my car. We'll meet you at the ER entrance, all right?"
"Okay," Two-Bit said. Steve threw his keys to him and Two-Bit caught them with ease. Then he and Johnny ran to Steve's car and Steve jumped in Dally's and we were set.
On the way to the hospital, Pony turned around and sat facing me, kneeling on his knees, to get a better look at what was going on.
"Soda. What happened to her? Is she all right?" he practically whispered, like he was scared to get an answer.
I gulped and down a hard lump and stared down at Reesa trying to figure out what to say. I wasn't even all that sure myself, how could I tell him? I didn't know hardly anything. Her face was illuminated as we passed under a street lamp and something that was somewhat of an answer came to me.
"Well, um... you see, she... I honestly don't know exactly what happened, so I'll tell you all that I can, but it looks like she... Pony, I hate to tell you this, but it looks like she's been..." I couldn't bring myself to say it. I don't know why, but something was holding me back. Maybe it was the fact that Pony still had somewhat of the youthful innocents that Skye and Johnny still possessed, or because I couldn't tell him what happened to his sister. Not just Reesa, but Skye. God, how would we tell him about Skye? "It looks like she's been..."
"Beat up?" Pony asked as if it was the most obvious answer.
"Raped, Ponyboy. We think she's been raped," Dally said. Well, that was blunt and it could've been said differently, but I didn't mind it all that much. It was said, and I'm glad that it wasn't by me. I was glad that it seemed that everyone had caught on, except Pony, it was an unspoken agreement that that was what had to have happened, it didn't make sense, but nothing else did either. I wasn't alone in it, and I wasn't crazy.
"Wait... huh? Are you kidding me? I didn't know that it was that bad. Is it that bad? I never thought that they looked so -- Oh, God." And the actualization finally dawned on him.
I looked back down at Reesa and back up at Pony, trying to get my message across without the usage of words. Couldn't anyone besides Dally tell that I didn't want to talk?
"Pony, I don't think you understand. It's never good," Dally said as he glanced into the rearview mirror. "I admit that I might not be all that innocent when it comes to this, but violating a girl's privacy like that ain't what you wanna go doing. It damages them, man. It ruins them." Thank goodness for Dally. And I knew he meant that sincerely, because he's told me that ever since the first time with Rees, he's never gotten around to forcing a girl into anything she didn't want to do. Pony opened his mouth to say something else in addition to his questions, but Dally knew what he was going to say. "It doesn't look good, kid. She's pretty messed up. I ain't no doc, but I can tell you that it ain't lookin' so hot right now."
"She's not gonna die is she?"
"I don't –"
"No," I broke in. "She ain't dying, Ponyboy. Get that in your mind and keep it there. She'll be fine. Don't you even worry about her livin' or not." I closed my eyes tightly at that point and tried to block out everything. I didn't know whether or not that comment was directed more towards Pony or me. It was tearing me up that I couldn't do anything else about this besides get her to a doctor. There was nothing else for me to do at that instant and it was eating at me.
"Okay," Pony whispered a little scared by my reaction. "How are we gonna tell Darry? Where is he? He should be here, shouldn't he? I saw him earlier."
Now for the real test of Pony's level of maturity. I slowly opened my eyes to look at him. The poor kid didn't know enough to give me a minute to think on my own. I didn't want to think about any of this. I wanted to block it from my mind and think happy thoughts. That wasn't looking very possible, however.
I waited for Dally to answer this as well. He had been doing a pretty good job, thus far, and I saw no reason for him not to continue his monologue. Then I got a better look at him and saw that not only wasn't he going to stay silent, but he was suddenly having a difficult time staying in his own lane and not tailgating anyone. Of course he wouldn't answer that. He was too upset about Skye to. I understood where he was coming from. If it had been both Steve and Johnny that were in the hospital, I wouldn't be able to help but feel more regret and anger on Steve's part. Skye was his mini-me and I think that he might care about her just as much as he cared about Johnny.
Steve touched Pony's shoulder and gently turned him around. Pony sat and stared at him with is eyebrows stitched. "What?"
"Ponyboy, Soda doesn't want to tell you this because he thinks you'll take this badly, and I don't blame you if you do -- so I'll tell you. But you have to promise me that you'll stay levelheaded when I do, okay? I can't wrestle you down to keep you under control in a car." Oh dear Lord. He wasn't that bad was he?
"Okay." Pony nodded.
Steve looked deeply into his eyes one more time before inching back and saying, "Darry's not with us because he had to take Skye to the hospital."
"Why? What'd she do this time?" He didn't seem at all fazed by it. I don't know why he wasn't. She was hardly in the hospital to begin with. Whenever she did hurt herself we hardly ever took her to a doctor unless it was bad enough. Not only that but if it was serious enough that we were having a difficulty saying it, he should've caught onto that.
"She didn't do anything," he said. "Now, I don't know how this is possible, but it's happened and so it must be, but she was raped too, Ponyboy."
Pony's eyes slowly widened as he drew in a slow breath. He didn't remove his gaze from Steve, but instead asked him another question. "Is she okay? She's not gonna... die is she?"
"No one's dying!" I cried from the backseat. "Pony, ain't nobody gonna die tonight. She's fine!"
"Then why did Darry take her?"
"Because she was in pain and he had to get her tested out," Steve said. "Listen, I know it's a hard story to swallow, but –"
"You have no idea," Pony said while shaking his head. "Steve, you don't know what it's like to have two sisters on their death beds at the same time. Don't go telling me that it's a hard story to swallow. I'm not gonna take that."
Steve looked taken a back. He was feeding Pony a look as if to say that Pony better be shutting up because Steve knew exactly what he was talking about. "For the last time, they're not dying. I wouldn't be surprised if Skye went home tonight or tomorrow. /I saw her, /I would know. /I never been involved with anything like this, Curtis. You didn't see Skye and you have no idea what's gonna happen to Reesa now. I don't know either, but I have a much better idea than you." At this I couldn't help but let a tear slip. Steve felt like he knew more than Pony, which he did, but if that was true then I definitely knew more than Steve did. It was all so overwhelming; I couldn't help myself.
It was then that I realized how much Pony would be growing up tonight. Not only were his sisters going to both be checked into the hospital for injuries that can only come from a brutal sexual attack, but he would be learning about Reesa's own past history regarding this. This wasn't the first time she was attacked and he'd find that out sooner than later. All I know is that I ain't gonna be the one to tell him.
Pony sat back knowing better than to argue with him. He and Steve had their tough relationship when it came to them and I doubted it'd be smoothing over anytime soon. Pony knew how to be rude and cocky towards Steve, but he also knew when to back off and keep his comments to himself because Steve would knock his block off if he didn't. I felt my heart wrench in guilt and sympathy on Pony's part. He had it a lot rougher than the rest of us. I knew it had to be hard being the youngest in the gang. Well, the youngest when it came to the guys. The girls were in a category of their own.
I didn't have a lot of time to think on that, though, as we pulled into the emergency room parking entrance. Dally pulled to a screeching stop at the doors and allowed the rest of us to get out while he went to park.
I gave Reesa to Steve and ran ahead to alert the doctors about what was going on. I couldn't believe I had to do that. What was I supposed to say? I've only ever done something like this when I was coming to visit a friend or two, and that was rare.
"Excuse me," I huffed as I reached the receptionist's desk. I tried to collect my senses before talking, but I knew that my face was tear streaked and my voice shaky. I hated to lose my composure in public. I hated to lose it anyway, but it's always better if I did it at home.
"Yes?" The woman looked up from her files. "Can I help you?"
"My sister," – I pointed behind me to Steve who was walking up with her – "we think she's been raped and assaulted and she's in real bad shape and -- "
"Why didn't you call for an ambulance?" she asked as she picked up the phone, probably to dial someone down there.
"Not enough time. I know I should've but I couldn't. I figured this way was faster." I didn't know what to say, I hadn't thought of calling an ambulance. The thought never entered my mind. But the truth was, I probably wouldn't have anyway. I mean, even as bad as she was, we didn't have money for that. Don't get me wrong, if we felt like it was that bad, the money wouldn't matter, but I didn't see how and ambulance could be any faster than Dally's driving anyway, especially after waiting for ten minutes for them to get to the house. This way was faster, even if the lady didn't seem to think so.
"Well, that would've been the logical thing to do. Hold on." She began to talk into the phone. "Yes, I need to have Dr. Ross down here immediately. He's got another patient in emergency. Thank you." She set the phone down and looked back up at me. "They'll have her taken care of in a while. In the mean time, there'll be some nurses over there who'll prepare her."
Right then two young nurses who had seen her from their positions inside the actual ER came rushing over with a bed on wheels. The both took her from Steve and gently laid her on the bed and whisked her off. It wasn't much more time consuming than it sounded.
"Wait, where's she going to? Can I go with them?" I asked the receptionist. "She's my sister –"
"I'm sorry, but until we get a hold of her parents or guardian we'll need to have you stay out here and wait." She didn't look sympathetic at all, but I knew she wasn't lying.
"My brother -- he's her legal guardian. He's already here with another one of my sisters, Skye Curtis. Can I go find him? Can you tell me where they're at?"
"Young man, that's a very private thing you're wanting to know and –"
"Darcy, let him in." An older nurse who had been observing all this said. "It's all right. Look at him, he's upset and if he knows that much then he must be family. I can tell he's family. He looks like them."
The receptionist dubbed Darcy looked miffed and a little embarrassed. "Very well. You'll find them in room 612, but family only right now, okay? We don't want that whole crowd gallivanting in there. She needs her rest." I nodded and took off towards the elevators with everyone on my heels.
`~`~``~``~`~`
(Darry's POV)
I sat holding Skye's hand by the bedside. She wasn't all that bad, but she was really out of it. Anyone who walked into that room knew she was on a ton of pain killers. The doctors said they wanted her there for observation that night, and she could leave in the morning if she was doing good. I felt relief at that one, I had enough doctors bills to pay off. It just hadnt been our week, it seemed to get worse by the day.
I was just glad to know that at least physically, I didn't need to worry to much about Skye. Sure, it would be a rough few weeks of recovery, but she wasn't to bad off, and she would be fine. She had been checked over, and that was enough for me.
She wouldn't let me leave her side, not even be a few feet away, she had to feel my hand so that she knew I was there, that I wasn't going anywhere. She was out of it, and well...a little bit more insecure than usual. It wasn't surprising to me, but I hadn't gotten away to call Soda, so it was a little frustrating. I wondered if Reesa was home yet, and where she had been. I thought vaguely that she had better have been home on time, but it didn't really matter, I just wanted her home.
More than that though, I thought over the family situation. I didn't know if I would still be considered fit to take care of my siblings with stuff like that happening. Sure, I couldn't do much to change it or prevent it, and a forty year old adult couldn't either, but the state didn't care. Things that were ignored with actual parents were pounded on my shoulders, because for some reason no one thought I could do any good at taking care of the only people I loved. It made me mad, but that wasn't what mattered. It scared me. We couldn't be taken apart, not then. It would ruin all of us, we were a family, and we were going to stay a family.
I heard quiet footsteps in the room so I glanced up expecting to see a nurse, but it wasn't. There stood Soda, and Pony in his shadow. Pony looked apprehensive, like he felt awkward and confused. But when I looked to Soda a stab of fear shot through me.
He was as upset as I had seen him...since mom and dad died. He had a look of calmness, aside from the tears rolling down his cheeks and the slight quivering of his bottom lip. But there was a fear in his eyes, an anger, a desperation. Not to mention that he had blood on his clothes, and arms. It basically looked like blood had been smeared onto his shirt, but in some places it was thinker than in others. There wasn't much blood, but there was enough to tell that it was blood, enough to worry me. Where had it come from?
I stood up quickly, leaving Skye. She was startled and started whimpering, but I couldn't do anything about it. Soda was freaking me out, so I left her there. She would be fine, if angry later, but now other things were at hand.
"Soda? Hey...what's...going on?"
He looked down at the ground, fiddling with a piece of lint with the tip of his shoe.
"Pony?"
He shrugged, like he didn't really know what was up. I walked over to Soda, "Pony, stay with Skye. She might act a little weird, but she's fine, alright?"
He didn't say anything, but walked a few steps closer to her, almost in apprehension. Like he was afraid to, but that was something he had to work out. I tugged on Soda's shoulder and led him outside to the hallway.
I was a little panicked by that time, I wanted to know why everyone was so upset, what the blood was from...all of it.
Soda leaned against the wall in silence, like he wanted me to start it, so I did.
"Soda, tell me what's going on. Now. Don't try any beating around the bush shit on me, just spit it out." I said a little more firmly and panicky than I meant.
Soda looked into my eyes, the pain clearly penetrating me. I knew there was something really wrong, but this told me it was bad.
"Soda, where'd the blood come from? Who's blood is that?"
He took a deep breathe, "Rees...she—"
"Is she here?" I asked quickly.
"Yeah, we brought her in about five minutes ago and...I don't know Darry. You wont like this, but I think the same thing happened to her...but its...a lot worse. Darry...she..."
Tears were streaming freely down Soda's face now, and I knew when he said bad, it meant bad. It scared me to death. How could this be happening? Two, in the same night, same family...and with Rees?
"The blood came from Rees?"
He couldn't answer it verbally, but Soda nodded his head slightly. I took off then. I had to see her.
It took forever to get to the first floor where the ER was from the sixth, or so it seemed. I was scared to death, Soda just doesn't freak out. I mean, he could hardly tell me what had happened.
When I reached the receptionist's desk, I said, "Hey, I was just told that my sister was brought in here. Where can I find her?"
"You can't see her right now."
"I know...but can you tell me what is going on?"
"No." the receptionist looked back down to her papers, and tried to ignore me. Oh, god, not now. Not when I needed more than anything to know what was going on.
I stood there silently not knowing what to do. Could she tell me no? Then I took off again, finding my way back to the actual ER where all the blood and gore was seen. I was walking through at a quick pace trying to spot someone who might know what was going on, or just to find the room she was in and talk to the doctor, but I didn't get far before a male attendant that I recognized from being with Skye came towards me and asked, "Can I help you?"
"Uh...maybe. Do you by chance, know about a sixteen year old girl who came in here about five or ten minutes ago?"
"Are you her legal guardian too?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, well in that case I can tell you a little. From what I have been able to gather in the short time she has been here, it doesn't look like she's doing to well, although I don't know that it is life threatening. She is being worked on by Dr. Ross right now. You cant go and see her, its off limits to, well, basically everyone but a few doctors and a select few nurses. They are working to stabilize her at this point, and Dr. Ross will be out to see you as soon as he can. It'll probably be...a while though. If I get a chance, I will tell him that you are waiting and came in to ask about it."
I nodded, in shock. Not looking good? Damn it!
"Uh...thanks." I said, but I didn't move, I couldn't. This was killing me.
The guy looked at me weird, "You have to leave now...Im sorry..." he said.
"Right, sorry." I said, and turned and walked out numbly.
Soda was sitting in the waiting room with everyone else, except Pony, he was still with Skye. I went and sank down into the chair next to Soda.
We sat in silence, not even Two-Bit made a sound, for a few minutes. It seemed like forever, but I finally was calm enough to turn to Soda and say, "Hey, Soda, you can go up and see Skye if you want. The guy said it would be a while, and you might as well. It would be fine."
My voice was quiet and without expression. If I granted myself to have expression, I think I would have yelled it.
A minute later, Soda got up and left to go see Skye, leaving me with the rest the guys.
A/N: Okay, just a quick note to keep in mind while you're reading Reesa's POV. Keep in mind that she has a slight head injury, and she is in shock, so basically she isnt really thinking straight. Its all a little repetative and weird, but that's really how shes thinking...I have to say that was one of the hardest parts of this to write...except the part I am working on now that comes in the far future...but that's aside from the point. Just remember it so you know why its so confusing, but it had to be straight forward enough for you all to understand...so I hope I got the balance of it. Wow, that wasn't so brief...sorry it's really late.
Reviews!
Tensleep: Holy crap...how do I even write a response to that? I mean, I was SOOOO overjoyed when I read that, I was nearly screaming I couldn't even contain it. I told you curve ball was an understatement, didn't I? Yeah, we can be pretty evil at times... You loved how Soda freaks? I do to...that's sadly one of my favorite parts...and we had a lot of fun writing it. It took us a long time to get that together though, I mean a few hours of just talking non-stop... ideas popping here and there and then putting it all into the story...but it was fun. Im soo glad you liked it and FELT it, that's what matters. Wow...I just don't know what to say except thanks! This last week was horrible, and to tell the honest to goodness truth, your reviews kept me going...ask Keira - she'll tell you that those made me smile even when I was having the worst day. Well, I'll let you get on with it then...
Oblivious Misconception: You liked Darry's and Reesa's POVs? Wow... that's a compliment for me...thanks! I spent weeks on those...it was SOOOO hard...just how everyone reacts and how things happen. But...yeah, that was basically where the story takes off...and pretty soon everything in the last thirteen chapters will come into play...we really tried to pull all of this together, which has been the hardest part of the whole thing...I think. About the retalitation thing, I guess you'll just have to see...its not for a few chapters, but you'll find out a lot more pretty soon...just keep reading and reviewing! Thanks again!
Two-BitGortez: Thanks! Keep reading. We realy appreciate your support in always reading! Enjoy the next Chapter.
Okay, well I think that's it! Enjoy!
Chapter 15 (Reesa's POV)
It was so cold. That was the first thing I knew, cold. Really cold. Everything around me was cold, and I couldn't get warm. I felt like I was shaking and I couldn't figure it out, but it didn't matter. I was too cold for it to matter. But then I started focussing on other things, get my mind off of the cold. I couldn't figure out where I was at first, but then it hit me in a wave of fear. The party. Skye. Clay.
Things were quiet and still around me now, and it seemed like it was over. No one was around to start the whole thing over again, thank god. I had only woken once, maybe twice since I had first gotten there, but those few seconds were enough for me. And as confusing as things seemed, I remembered everything and the pain hadn't gone.
Everything in my body ached and throbbed. It was an almost disconnected pain, but it was something I had never felt before. It was the kind of pain that was bad enough to make you never want to move again.
As I came closer to reality and my mind cleared a little more, I found that my arms and legs were completely numb, but that everything else hurt like hell. My head throbbed and sharp racking pains stabbed me every time I took a breath. I was so weak, it was hard to move, and when I opened my eyes, the world was spinning wildly. The light had been left on (not that it made much difference with how dim it really was), and looking around as best I could, I saw no one. Again, I sighed in relief. Oh, I hated Clay more than anyone anywhere. Not that I hadn't before, but now I really did. What a bastard.
I had no idea of the time, or how long they had been gone. I could hear music from a party near by, but that didn't tell me much because party's always went late. I knew that I had to get out of there, I had to get home. I couldn't stay, and I needed Darry or Soda...or someone. I needed protection, and more than that, I needed help.
I tired to roll over, but shook in weakness and from the cold. Yeah, that. I had to find my clothes. They would help a little...but where were they? Again, I tried to push myself up, and this time I got far enough to be in a half sitting position, resting on my arm that I had finally found. It was starting to gain back some feeling, and although not pleasant, I would rather have an arm.
I suddenly felt like I would pass out again, and almost did. I don't know how it is that I didn't, but somehow I managed to hold on. I hated that feeling, and it scared me. I knew that there was no other way to get out of there unless I took myself, so I couldn't keep passing out. Sure, I wanted to, but it wouldn't do me any good.
After a few minutes of sitting in that same position, I started moving just enough to feel around the mattress I was on to find my pants or shirt or something. I knew they had to be around, it was just a matter of finding them.
It took a few minutes of searching before I finally found what I was looking for. I don't know why it took so long, they were not far, but it didn't really seem to matter much at the time.
I took my jeans and started to try and move enough to get them on. I had no idea how hard pants could be to put on. First one thing then the next was wrong. I couldn't do this or I couldn't find that. It was so frustrating but somehow I ended up against a wall once I had them on. By that time every movement of my legs, or anything else for that matter, but it was worse for my legs, brought tears to my eyes. If I had wanted to scream I don't think I could have. It was so bad that a sound would never make it out of my mouth. Hell, it was hard to breathe.
By the time I was ready to get out of that place, I felt even worse. I was weaker than before, and the pain only worsened with the time. I was even more dizzy, if that was even possible and it was colder. I wondered how it was that I was going to make it home. I wasn't taking any chances with some stranger, and I couldn't walk all that way. But then I remembered that I had Dally's car. A car.
I stood up, and that took forever to do in itself, and swayed on my feet. I didn't stop though. I had to get home. Darry would kill me for missing curfew and...but I didn't even know if I had already missed it...it didn't matter.
I stumbled to the door, barely keeping my feet under me. The thought crossed my mind that I wouldn't ever make it to the car, and it was a stupid thing to drive a car if you couldn't even stand up straight. But, again, I wanted to get home, I had to get home. I still don't know why it was so clear to me that I had to get home, but it just was. If there was one thing I was sure of, it was that I had to go home.
The night air brought more shock to my system as I stepped out of the garage. If I was already cold, I was past frozen in a split second with no jacket to keep the wind out. Not to mention the fact that I was only wearing a shirt with a small strap. But I could hear the leaves rustling through the street, and at least that was a good thing to hear.
Somehow, I found Dally's car. I haven't a clue how long it took me, I was in a daze the entire time. I couldn't tell you what my name was at the time had you asked me. Again, it must have been a miracle that I made it to the car.
When I got there, I got the door open and tried to slip into the seat, but missed. I ended up on the cold ground, my legs folded under me and my head resting in the seat I had been trying to sit in. That was real awkward and confusing to me, but I didn't have an ounce of anything left to do anything about it. My legs had basically given out and I now just sat in a daze of sorts, not knowing or caring what happened around me.
The next thing I remembered, I was being shaken a little and someone was talking to me. At the time I didn't understand what was being said, but I still remember the words:
"Hey, guys, we gotta get her home." He almost yelled away from me.
"Why? You'll get killed if you take her home, you know how it works. You take her home, you get blamed. Just leave her." Another guy said.
"Yeah, she's just drunk, Mike." Yet another guy piped in.
"I don't care, and she ain't drunk." I felt a warm hand on my shoulder and I was being gently shaken again, "C'mon, you need to wake up, Curtis. Wake up. Open your eyes."
I still had no idea what he was saying although I remember it clearly. It was like I couldn't make a connection, and it just didn't make sense. Finally, he stopped. Thank God for that one too. As dazed as I was, I was still feeling the pain, mostly when I moved, so I preferred not to.
"Here are me keys, follow me over to their house. You don't even have to come in or be involved, just be there to pick me up. If I get the shit beat out of me, then you can leave and come back later."
"Uh...fine, but don't say we didn't warn ya."
Soon it was quiet again, and I fell back into a black eternity. That is until pain shot through my body as I was moved. Someone was hauling me up from under my arms, telling me to stand up. No such luck, I couldn't if it meant my life. Then my feet were swiped up from under me, the movement creating a ripple effect in my body and the intensity of the pain from that was enough to see me through. Before I knew it I had passed out again.
`~`~``~``~`~`
(Soda's POV)
Some time had passed since Darry took Skye to the hospital and I was getting really antsy. First of all, I had seriously blown up when I saw her in that condition and now I wanted to try and make things right again, because I think I scared her. I don't know why, but something was eating at her badly enough that she was scared when I yelled. It could be because... well, I don't remember the last time I yelled at or near her, which means she probably doesn't remember either and... that might have upset her a tad. I know I apologized and all, but I don't think I can really resolve anything until I talk to her one on one. Then there was the subtle fact that Reesa wasn't home and it was two-thirty in the morning. Normally that wouldn't bother me, only because I know she's a good kid and she wouldn't usually get herself into some trouble. But after tonight many memories and fears flooded back to me and I couldn't be sure of anything.
Over the last few hours, the rest of the gang had wandered to our house. Two-Bit and Johnny had showed up a few minutes after Darry and Skye left, just to hang out and maybe spend the night (they since changed their minds); then Dally came in around two. He always came in during the later hours because he practically lives on our couch. You can imagine his shock and contempt at discovering no one was planning on going to sleep which meant that he wouldn't be able to either. Actually, he could because he can sleep anywhere anytime because he has to do that a lot, but once he found out what was going on he was so angry he punched a hole in the wall and a couple of pictures shattered to the floor. Steve offered to clean it up for me which I was grateful for because I really could have cared less about picking it up and it would've only been left for later. Later always seems to be worse.
We were all sitting around in the living room, minus Ponyboy, and we were in almost complete silence. It felt almost as if someone had died. Not quite to that extent, but pretty damn close. I was afraid if I opened my mouth one more time that I'd pull a Dallas and end up breaking something too. Steve and Johnny were respectfully staying quiet, although I don't think I would've minded it if they had talked. I just couldn't. Two-Bit had sat in the big armed chair for nearly the last two hours in bewilderment and Dally was working hard to keep his temper under control. He was the only one making remotely any noise with all his grunting and muttering. If they all hadn't been there, I would've probably been doing the exact same thing.
I didn't have the heart to wake Ponyboy. I knew he'd be mad later that no one clued him in in the beginning, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. If I could hardly talk without losing it, how was I supposed to tell him? None of the others volunteered, so I didn't ask them. I didn't blame them for not wanting to. It had taken me enough to tell them in the first place, why would they want to step into someone else's territory? Not that only I could bring it up; that's not what I'm meaning. I'm just saying that I sort of felt as if it was my responsibility to inform people because she's my sister and it was clear that they could sense that. I wished one of them would ask if they could tell Pony, because it would take a lot off my mind but I couldn't make them.
Not long afterwards, the doorbell rang. My first thought was that it was the police. It wouldn't have surprised me in the least if had been them. Them I could handle. It was them who I expected to show up if anyone. But what we got was something else, something a lot worse.
Steve was closest to the door so he got up and answered it. I couldn't see who it was at first, just a tuft of dark brown hair and then I heard Steve gasp. I immediately stood up not wanting to be left out of anything else.
"Oh my God. What happened?" Steve asked as he walked out on to the porch. "What the hell happened!"
A nervous voice replied, "I don't know. I only just found her in the west- side and she was out. She was sitting next to a car and she had the keys so I brought her back here. I figured I couldn't leave her alone because she looked pretty bad off and –"
"Soda!" Steve snapped in a panic. My heart sank into my stomach even further after hearing that little bit. Hell no. "Here, give her to me." Steve reached out to whoever the kid was and took Reesa from him. I still couldn't see either of them and I wasn't all the sure that I wanted to. "Soda, get over here!"
I didn't need to be told again. I rushed over to the door and came face to face with one of the most horrible sites I have ever seen. Reesa was lying limp in Steve's arms, bloody, battered, and just about lifeless. If I hadn't seen the slight rise and fall of her chest I would've sworn she was dead. There's no way someone in that condition should've been able to live. I couldn't even look at her for very long the first time. I saw her, covered my mouth, closed my eyes, and turned away. I was almost sick it was that bad.
Everyone else had risen from their seats to get a better view. Two-Bit jumped up from his and pushed past us to the door and onto the porch fairly quickly. "Who are you?" he growled.
"Um... Mike Tucker. Listen, man, I swear I had nothing to do with this. I just found her and... shoot, ask her when she wakes up if you don't believe me. I swear..." His eyes were wide with fear and shock. He held up his hands in surrender and promise. I believed him. That should've been all that mattered.
Two-Bit just glared at him and stepped back into the house. Dally lowered himself back to his seat and Johnny came over to sit by him. Steve moved Reesa over to the empty couch and laid her down. She didn't move at all.
Voice shaking and a little higher pitched than I would've preferred, I said, "Hey, thanks. You really don't know how grateful I am and –"
"Yeah, I know." He shrugged. "I couldn't leave her there and live with myself." He sort of stood there for a minute then stepped back down the stairs before turning and leaving to get in another car. "Good luck."
"Thanks."
I closed the door and paused for a couple of seconds before turning my full attention on Reesa. Whatever was important before was now somewhat a backdrop and would come back into focus later when we got everything situated. In the mean time I had to help Reesa and get her to a hospital.
"Reesa?" I crouched down next to her and pushed some of her blood-caked hair out of her face. "Can you hear me?"
She lay still, not responding. I didn't expect her to but I had to try. I had to try anything I could to make sure she was alive. I knew she was alive physically, however, in all other aspects I was scared to death. I could barely breathe myself.
I looked her up and down, not really wanting to see what was there, but wanting to know what happened. The hardest thing I have ever done was that, and it didn't take long before I thought I knew what happened. The signs were nearly unmistakble; torn clothing, rope burns on the wrists, where most the blood was...and many other things. But I didn't know how that could be possible. Not only was it wrong, it was damn near impossible...but I would be calm.
"Damn it." I stood back up and raised my fist to my mouth, resting my elbow on my other arm. I bit my fingers as I tried to think of something to do. Anything. "Two-Bit, go get her a blanket. I can't stand to look at that." And by that I meant her entire appearance. The least we could do was cover up her body and hide some of the gruesome details.
Two-Bit nodded and ran off to the hall closet and found a suitable blanket. In the mean time I kept brainstorming and rattled off instructions to the others.
"Dally, can you please go wake up Pony? Steve, go get some towels, and Johnny if you could go and get me a bowl of water real fast..." I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it all but it seemed like a good idea, so I asked. Steve and Johnny went without hesitation, but Dally was a different matter.
"Hell, what do you want the kid up for? He's not gonna do us much good. He'll be in the way. There's already enough people up and --"
"Dallas, please. We have to take her to the hospital. Just look at her..."
By that time Two-Bit was back and he went ahead and draped a lightweight blanket over her body leaving her head uncovered so she could breathe. He backed off again and looked to me to see if I needed anything else, but I was still looking at Dally. Dally stared at me for a moment looking slightly murderous and threatened by my abrupt approach. Then he got the message and without saying another word went to my room to get Ponyboy.
Johnny came back with a large metal bowl of water and Steve with several towels. I figured I could try and clean her up a little bit before we took her. I didn't want the doctors to have to see her this bad. Perhaps, just maybe, she wasn't as bad looking without all the blood.
I dipped the end of one of the towels into the water and brought it up to her face without wringing it out and let it drip on her forehead a couple of drops before setting to work to wipe off the excess residue. Surprisingly, it came off easily and I had her face cleaned up before Dally returned with Pony. And by saying that I mean it was fast. I heard Pony thump to the floor when Dally pulled him off the bed. That's the type of thing he'd do too.
Ponyboy came into the living room now pulling on his jacket, looking tired and very confused. "What's going on?" He rubbed at one of his eyes that was turning red.
"No questions. Not now," I said as I stooped down to pick up Reesa. She didn't weigh all that much but her dead weight was tiresome. There were only a couple of other times, to my recollection, that I had to carry someone in such a careful way. It was really unnerving.
"Soda. I ain't leavin' unless you give me a good reason, because –"he stopped to stifle a yawn and then never picked up again.
"Pony, now's not a good time," Two-Bit said and grabbed him by the sleeve to pull him out of the way.
"Sure it is. What happened to her? What's going on? Where is Darry? Did Skye ever come back? We can't just leave an empty house for her to come home to. Y'all know what could happen if we did." He glared with tired bleariness and it was clear that he was talking jumble because he was still half asleep. "God, Steve, let go of me."
"I ain't touchin' ya, kid," Steve said from over by the door which he was holding it open. "C'mon, Sodapop, we gotta go. We'll explain it in the car, Pon."
I quickly adjusted Rees so that her head was resting against my shoulder and I walked past Steve and carefully down the steps to his car, leaving Pony's protests behind me. I was so scared that I'd drop her and break whatever she had left in her that I almost wanted someone to spot me, but I had too much pride and continued to walk to the car while Steve ran ahead and opened the door for me.
Luckily, we made it to the car just fine and I was presented with my next obstacle. Getting in with her. I turned to my side and as carefully as I could I stepped with my left leg into the car and sat down without smacking her head on anything. Breathing a sigh of relief, I slid all the way across and Steve closed the door behind me. He ushered Pony in and Dally sped around to his side and got in, starting the ignition. Steve stood outside of the car for a moment. He looked like he was debating something and then turned to Two-Bit and said.
"Hey, you and Johnny take my car. We'll meet you at the ER entrance, all right?"
"Okay," Two-Bit said. Steve threw his keys to him and Two-Bit caught them with ease. Then he and Johnny ran to Steve's car and Steve jumped in Dally's and we were set.
On the way to the hospital, Pony turned around and sat facing me, kneeling on his knees, to get a better look at what was going on.
"Soda. What happened to her? Is she all right?" he practically whispered, like he was scared to get an answer.
I gulped and down a hard lump and stared down at Reesa trying to figure out what to say. I wasn't even all that sure myself, how could I tell him? I didn't know hardly anything. Her face was illuminated as we passed under a street lamp and something that was somewhat of an answer came to me.
"Well, um... you see, she... I honestly don't know exactly what happened, so I'll tell you all that I can, but it looks like she... Pony, I hate to tell you this, but it looks like she's been..." I couldn't bring myself to say it. I don't know why, but something was holding me back. Maybe it was the fact that Pony still had somewhat of the youthful innocents that Skye and Johnny still possessed, or because I couldn't tell him what happened to his sister. Not just Reesa, but Skye. God, how would we tell him about Skye? "It looks like she's been..."
"Beat up?" Pony asked as if it was the most obvious answer.
"Raped, Ponyboy. We think she's been raped," Dally said. Well, that was blunt and it could've been said differently, but I didn't mind it all that much. It was said, and I'm glad that it wasn't by me. I was glad that it seemed that everyone had caught on, except Pony, it was an unspoken agreement that that was what had to have happened, it didn't make sense, but nothing else did either. I wasn't alone in it, and I wasn't crazy.
"Wait... huh? Are you kidding me? I didn't know that it was that bad. Is it that bad? I never thought that they looked so -- Oh, God." And the actualization finally dawned on him.
I looked back down at Reesa and back up at Pony, trying to get my message across without the usage of words. Couldn't anyone besides Dally tell that I didn't want to talk?
"Pony, I don't think you understand. It's never good," Dally said as he glanced into the rearview mirror. "I admit that I might not be all that innocent when it comes to this, but violating a girl's privacy like that ain't what you wanna go doing. It damages them, man. It ruins them." Thank goodness for Dally. And I knew he meant that sincerely, because he's told me that ever since the first time with Rees, he's never gotten around to forcing a girl into anything she didn't want to do. Pony opened his mouth to say something else in addition to his questions, but Dally knew what he was going to say. "It doesn't look good, kid. She's pretty messed up. I ain't no doc, but I can tell you that it ain't lookin' so hot right now."
"She's not gonna die is she?"
"I don't –"
"No," I broke in. "She ain't dying, Ponyboy. Get that in your mind and keep it there. She'll be fine. Don't you even worry about her livin' or not." I closed my eyes tightly at that point and tried to block out everything. I didn't know whether or not that comment was directed more towards Pony or me. It was tearing me up that I couldn't do anything else about this besides get her to a doctor. There was nothing else for me to do at that instant and it was eating at me.
"Okay," Pony whispered a little scared by my reaction. "How are we gonna tell Darry? Where is he? He should be here, shouldn't he? I saw him earlier."
Now for the real test of Pony's level of maturity. I slowly opened my eyes to look at him. The poor kid didn't know enough to give me a minute to think on my own. I didn't want to think about any of this. I wanted to block it from my mind and think happy thoughts. That wasn't looking very possible, however.
I waited for Dally to answer this as well. He had been doing a pretty good job, thus far, and I saw no reason for him not to continue his monologue. Then I got a better look at him and saw that not only wasn't he going to stay silent, but he was suddenly having a difficult time staying in his own lane and not tailgating anyone. Of course he wouldn't answer that. He was too upset about Skye to. I understood where he was coming from. If it had been both Steve and Johnny that were in the hospital, I wouldn't be able to help but feel more regret and anger on Steve's part. Skye was his mini-me and I think that he might care about her just as much as he cared about Johnny.
Steve touched Pony's shoulder and gently turned him around. Pony sat and stared at him with is eyebrows stitched. "What?"
"Ponyboy, Soda doesn't want to tell you this because he thinks you'll take this badly, and I don't blame you if you do -- so I'll tell you. But you have to promise me that you'll stay levelheaded when I do, okay? I can't wrestle you down to keep you under control in a car." Oh dear Lord. He wasn't that bad was he?
"Okay." Pony nodded.
Steve looked deeply into his eyes one more time before inching back and saying, "Darry's not with us because he had to take Skye to the hospital."
"Why? What'd she do this time?" He didn't seem at all fazed by it. I don't know why he wasn't. She was hardly in the hospital to begin with. Whenever she did hurt herself we hardly ever took her to a doctor unless it was bad enough. Not only that but if it was serious enough that we were having a difficulty saying it, he should've caught onto that.
"She didn't do anything," he said. "Now, I don't know how this is possible, but it's happened and so it must be, but she was raped too, Ponyboy."
Pony's eyes slowly widened as he drew in a slow breath. He didn't remove his gaze from Steve, but instead asked him another question. "Is she okay? She's not gonna... die is she?"
"No one's dying!" I cried from the backseat. "Pony, ain't nobody gonna die tonight. She's fine!"
"Then why did Darry take her?"
"Because she was in pain and he had to get her tested out," Steve said. "Listen, I know it's a hard story to swallow, but –"
"You have no idea," Pony said while shaking his head. "Steve, you don't know what it's like to have two sisters on their death beds at the same time. Don't go telling me that it's a hard story to swallow. I'm not gonna take that."
Steve looked taken a back. He was feeding Pony a look as if to say that Pony better be shutting up because Steve knew exactly what he was talking about. "For the last time, they're not dying. I wouldn't be surprised if Skye went home tonight or tomorrow. /I saw her, /I would know. /I never been involved with anything like this, Curtis. You didn't see Skye and you have no idea what's gonna happen to Reesa now. I don't know either, but I have a much better idea than you." At this I couldn't help but let a tear slip. Steve felt like he knew more than Pony, which he did, but if that was true then I definitely knew more than Steve did. It was all so overwhelming; I couldn't help myself.
It was then that I realized how much Pony would be growing up tonight. Not only were his sisters going to both be checked into the hospital for injuries that can only come from a brutal sexual attack, but he would be learning about Reesa's own past history regarding this. This wasn't the first time she was attacked and he'd find that out sooner than later. All I know is that I ain't gonna be the one to tell him.
Pony sat back knowing better than to argue with him. He and Steve had their tough relationship when it came to them and I doubted it'd be smoothing over anytime soon. Pony knew how to be rude and cocky towards Steve, but he also knew when to back off and keep his comments to himself because Steve would knock his block off if he didn't. I felt my heart wrench in guilt and sympathy on Pony's part. He had it a lot rougher than the rest of us. I knew it had to be hard being the youngest in the gang. Well, the youngest when it came to the guys. The girls were in a category of their own.
I didn't have a lot of time to think on that, though, as we pulled into the emergency room parking entrance. Dally pulled to a screeching stop at the doors and allowed the rest of us to get out while he went to park.
I gave Reesa to Steve and ran ahead to alert the doctors about what was going on. I couldn't believe I had to do that. What was I supposed to say? I've only ever done something like this when I was coming to visit a friend or two, and that was rare.
"Excuse me," I huffed as I reached the receptionist's desk. I tried to collect my senses before talking, but I knew that my face was tear streaked and my voice shaky. I hated to lose my composure in public. I hated to lose it anyway, but it's always better if I did it at home.
"Yes?" The woman looked up from her files. "Can I help you?"
"My sister," – I pointed behind me to Steve who was walking up with her – "we think she's been raped and assaulted and she's in real bad shape and -- "
"Why didn't you call for an ambulance?" she asked as she picked up the phone, probably to dial someone down there.
"Not enough time. I know I should've but I couldn't. I figured this way was faster." I didn't know what to say, I hadn't thought of calling an ambulance. The thought never entered my mind. But the truth was, I probably wouldn't have anyway. I mean, even as bad as she was, we didn't have money for that. Don't get me wrong, if we felt like it was that bad, the money wouldn't matter, but I didn't see how and ambulance could be any faster than Dally's driving anyway, especially after waiting for ten minutes for them to get to the house. This way was faster, even if the lady didn't seem to think so.
"Well, that would've been the logical thing to do. Hold on." She began to talk into the phone. "Yes, I need to have Dr. Ross down here immediately. He's got another patient in emergency. Thank you." She set the phone down and looked back up at me. "They'll have her taken care of in a while. In the mean time, there'll be some nurses over there who'll prepare her."
Right then two young nurses who had seen her from their positions inside the actual ER came rushing over with a bed on wheels. The both took her from Steve and gently laid her on the bed and whisked her off. It wasn't much more time consuming than it sounded.
"Wait, where's she going to? Can I go with them?" I asked the receptionist. "She's my sister –"
"I'm sorry, but until we get a hold of her parents or guardian we'll need to have you stay out here and wait." She didn't look sympathetic at all, but I knew she wasn't lying.
"My brother -- he's her legal guardian. He's already here with another one of my sisters, Skye Curtis. Can I go find him? Can you tell me where they're at?"
"Young man, that's a very private thing you're wanting to know and –"
"Darcy, let him in." An older nurse who had been observing all this said. "It's all right. Look at him, he's upset and if he knows that much then he must be family. I can tell he's family. He looks like them."
The receptionist dubbed Darcy looked miffed and a little embarrassed. "Very well. You'll find them in room 612, but family only right now, okay? We don't want that whole crowd gallivanting in there. She needs her rest." I nodded and took off towards the elevators with everyone on my heels.
`~`~``~``~`~`
(Darry's POV)
I sat holding Skye's hand by the bedside. She wasn't all that bad, but she was really out of it. Anyone who walked into that room knew she was on a ton of pain killers. The doctors said they wanted her there for observation that night, and she could leave in the morning if she was doing good. I felt relief at that one, I had enough doctors bills to pay off. It just hadnt been our week, it seemed to get worse by the day.
I was just glad to know that at least physically, I didn't need to worry to much about Skye. Sure, it would be a rough few weeks of recovery, but she wasn't to bad off, and she would be fine. She had been checked over, and that was enough for me.
She wouldn't let me leave her side, not even be a few feet away, she had to feel my hand so that she knew I was there, that I wasn't going anywhere. She was out of it, and well...a little bit more insecure than usual. It wasn't surprising to me, but I hadn't gotten away to call Soda, so it was a little frustrating. I wondered if Reesa was home yet, and where she had been. I thought vaguely that she had better have been home on time, but it didn't really matter, I just wanted her home.
More than that though, I thought over the family situation. I didn't know if I would still be considered fit to take care of my siblings with stuff like that happening. Sure, I couldn't do much to change it or prevent it, and a forty year old adult couldn't either, but the state didn't care. Things that were ignored with actual parents were pounded on my shoulders, because for some reason no one thought I could do any good at taking care of the only people I loved. It made me mad, but that wasn't what mattered. It scared me. We couldn't be taken apart, not then. It would ruin all of us, we were a family, and we were going to stay a family.
I heard quiet footsteps in the room so I glanced up expecting to see a nurse, but it wasn't. There stood Soda, and Pony in his shadow. Pony looked apprehensive, like he felt awkward and confused. But when I looked to Soda a stab of fear shot through me.
He was as upset as I had seen him...since mom and dad died. He had a look of calmness, aside from the tears rolling down his cheeks and the slight quivering of his bottom lip. But there was a fear in his eyes, an anger, a desperation. Not to mention that he had blood on his clothes, and arms. It basically looked like blood had been smeared onto his shirt, but in some places it was thinker than in others. There wasn't much blood, but there was enough to tell that it was blood, enough to worry me. Where had it come from?
I stood up quickly, leaving Skye. She was startled and started whimpering, but I couldn't do anything about it. Soda was freaking me out, so I left her there. She would be fine, if angry later, but now other things were at hand.
"Soda? Hey...what's...going on?"
He looked down at the ground, fiddling with a piece of lint with the tip of his shoe.
"Pony?"
He shrugged, like he didn't really know what was up. I walked over to Soda, "Pony, stay with Skye. She might act a little weird, but she's fine, alright?"
He didn't say anything, but walked a few steps closer to her, almost in apprehension. Like he was afraid to, but that was something he had to work out. I tugged on Soda's shoulder and led him outside to the hallway.
I was a little panicked by that time, I wanted to know why everyone was so upset, what the blood was from...all of it.
Soda leaned against the wall in silence, like he wanted me to start it, so I did.
"Soda, tell me what's going on. Now. Don't try any beating around the bush shit on me, just spit it out." I said a little more firmly and panicky than I meant.
Soda looked into my eyes, the pain clearly penetrating me. I knew there was something really wrong, but this told me it was bad.
"Soda, where'd the blood come from? Who's blood is that?"
He took a deep breathe, "Rees...she—"
"Is she here?" I asked quickly.
"Yeah, we brought her in about five minutes ago and...I don't know Darry. You wont like this, but I think the same thing happened to her...but its...a lot worse. Darry...she..."
Tears were streaming freely down Soda's face now, and I knew when he said bad, it meant bad. It scared me to death. How could this be happening? Two, in the same night, same family...and with Rees?
"The blood came from Rees?"
He couldn't answer it verbally, but Soda nodded his head slightly. I took off then. I had to see her.
It took forever to get to the first floor where the ER was from the sixth, or so it seemed. I was scared to death, Soda just doesn't freak out. I mean, he could hardly tell me what had happened.
When I reached the receptionist's desk, I said, "Hey, I was just told that my sister was brought in here. Where can I find her?"
"You can't see her right now."
"I know...but can you tell me what is going on?"
"No." the receptionist looked back down to her papers, and tried to ignore me. Oh, god, not now. Not when I needed more than anything to know what was going on.
I stood there silently not knowing what to do. Could she tell me no? Then I took off again, finding my way back to the actual ER where all the blood and gore was seen. I was walking through at a quick pace trying to spot someone who might know what was going on, or just to find the room she was in and talk to the doctor, but I didn't get far before a male attendant that I recognized from being with Skye came towards me and asked, "Can I help you?"
"Uh...maybe. Do you by chance, know about a sixteen year old girl who came in here about five or ten minutes ago?"
"Are you her legal guardian too?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, well in that case I can tell you a little. From what I have been able to gather in the short time she has been here, it doesn't look like she's doing to well, although I don't know that it is life threatening. She is being worked on by Dr. Ross right now. You cant go and see her, its off limits to, well, basically everyone but a few doctors and a select few nurses. They are working to stabilize her at this point, and Dr. Ross will be out to see you as soon as he can. It'll probably be...a while though. If I get a chance, I will tell him that you are waiting and came in to ask about it."
I nodded, in shock. Not looking good? Damn it!
"Uh...thanks." I said, but I didn't move, I couldn't. This was killing me.
The guy looked at me weird, "You have to leave now...Im sorry..." he said.
"Right, sorry." I said, and turned and walked out numbly.
Soda was sitting in the waiting room with everyone else, except Pony, he was still with Skye. I went and sank down into the chair next to Soda.
We sat in silence, not even Two-Bit made a sound, for a few minutes. It seemed like forever, but I finally was calm enough to turn to Soda and say, "Hey, Soda, you can go up and see Skye if you want. The guy said it would be a while, and you might as well. It would be fine."
My voice was quiet and without expression. If I granted myself to have expression, I think I would have yelled it.
A minute later, Soda got up and left to go see Skye, leaving me with the rest the guys.