Author's Note: Okay here's another wonderful chapter. Might be a little slow but I guess it kinda picks up at the end. Be prepared for some fun ahead lol. Its gonna get crazy. Kinda sad what happens to Two-bit but itll be funny here and there and ill fix him at the end. ;) ENJOY. And keep reviewing, I got so many for just the 2nd chappie im so happy. I love reviews and if you want updates faster reviews always help. LOL. On with the show.

Thanks Goes out to my wonderful reviewers. Without you guys I don't know what I'd do:

Ale Curtis-Carter :LOL, Thank you thank you. I am an evil one aren't I? I wanted to leave you guys with a bit of a cliffy and I don't know maybe there will be one this time. Wait and see. It'll be good tho :D

Kate: Thanks so much for the kind words. A lot of people enjoyed the fact that it was different, didn't no people wanted that so badly. But HURRAY for me. Lol. Don't know how to help you with the chappie thing. Might be the site though because I know everyone else can sometimes see the new chapters I put on and send reviews to them before I can even see them. So it might take a bit of time. Hope you get to read it though. Tell me if you can, okay?

Streetpanther1: Lol, thanks for the review. Man, wasn't Matt Dillon hot as hell in the movie. MEOW! He had such a nice lean stomach when he came downstairs in just his jeans. Ooops gotta go fetch a napkin, I'm starting to drool all over the place.

Delirious-joy: Awe, thanks for the review, I love the awesomes. Lol they have so much umph. And heres the next chappie for you so you'll be able to find out if hes dead or not.

Ashlee: Thanks for reviewing my story. I hope it continues to be good and doesn't start to flop halfway through, but I can only hope. Keep reading tho and I hope you enjoy the next chapter.

Nikechick: LoL, I really enjoyed your review a lot. Not just because it was nice and praised me lmao but also because you posted it 4 times. Lol. Not that I minded, I thought it was funny. Was it done on purpose or was it an accident? In the end I liked it.

Not-that-kinda-gurl: I'll do my best with the well being of Two-bit. But hey, it's a fanfic starring him, so he might have some more problems. Don't be mad : (. Lol, what am I sayin he might have some problems. Of course he will, I'm mean. But I guess I can do my best to be as nice to him as possible.

Sodapop02: LOL. Don't worry about the torture. I'm here with another chappie hurray :D:D. Good thing I updated quick enough or I'd have a bunch of people chasin me with pitchforks. : S lol good thing that hasn't happened…yet. Enjoy the chappie.

WARNING: I AM NOT A DOCTOR I REPEAT NOT A DOCTOR. MY MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE IS VERY SMALL SO BARE WITH ME OKAY :D ENJOY!!!

Chapter 3:

"He's dead" Ponyboy mumbled in disbelief.

"Shut your trap Curtis" Dallas roared.

Pony shifted his weight uneasily, while his two eldest brothers shot warning glances towards Dally. The cold greaser didn't even flinch. On the outside he was putting up the usual front, the tough one that needed to be there to protect his reputation. A reputation that he'd build on death and blood and hate and everything he despised and loved. However, inside he was feeling a bit differently. Two-bit was a pal, just like anyone else in the gang, a pal who'd had his back plenty of times before. He was always there to help liven up those awkward situations with his annoying voice, or the bodily sounds he produced on purpose. The thought of there being no Two-bit, no joker to make him laugh when he didn't want to, to soften him up at times…

"He isn't dead." The gang turned to the doctor, his words bringing them back to a hopeful reality. They each looked from one to the other, sharing the same look of excitement in their eyes.

"If he's alive than what was that bad news you got us all worked up over?"

The doctor breathed a few times very slowly, and began. "Your friend received some minor bruises on his torso and a cracked rib. Those as you probably know weren't of much importance. However, the fracture on his head is a different matter. Whatever struck him struck him hard. We sewed up the back and bandaged it to stop the bleeding, but the damage has already been done. I'm afraid he may have received a bit of brain damage or perhaps might just have a touch of amnesia for some time."

"You don't even know what the hell is wrong with him?" Steve snapped. "You're a fucking doctor!" Soda placed a warm hand on Steve's shoulder and pulled him a few feet back from the sterilized man.

"I know this must be frustrating for you…"

"Damn right it is."

"But" the doctor continued, doing his best to keep a calm tone with the curly hared greaser. "We cannot be sure of the extent of the damage until your friend awakes."

"He's still out?" Johnny's voice squeaked. The doctor nodded.

"He's heavily medicated at the moment do to the accident."

"Can we see him?"

The doctor paused, knowing it would be too many people to take in there all at once but they seemed genuinely worried. They were obviously tough looking young men on top of that and he wasn't going to be the one who upset them. He nodded once more and ushered the group down the finely polished hall.

They stayed closed together, arms almost rubbing against one another's as they walked. Faces pale and lifeless, they tried to look ahead without doubt although it was beginning to seem more and more likely they would never see the old Two-bit again. Shuffling and yawning from lack of sleep, this routine went on until a beige door that stood out from the white walls and white floors was opened and they were asked to step in. At first there was nothing too important that seemed to catch their eyes, but something in it pulled at their heels and they continued to explore their new surroundings. There was one patient at the beginning, an older man with a broken leg and more than likely a few other damages hidden by the rough wool blanket draped across him. Johnny stared at the man, eyes wide and heart slamming against his chest. The room was spinning, the walls sliding down into the floors.

"He's over here Johnnycake" Dallas whispered as gently as could be expected. He was of course the legendary Dallas Winston.

Dallas put a strong hand on Johnny's shoulder and pushed him forward, past the man in the cast and to the back of the room. He'd already been back there while Johnny had been day dreaming. It wasn't something he wanted to see again, or that Johnny should have to see. Hell, none of them should have seen it, let alone Two-bit having gone through it but they did, just as he did.

Sitting underneath a wide window, with the curtains closed, was a quiet stiff looking bed. There was a body, covered in the same wool blanket as the other man, but this was different. They knew who this was and unlike the stranger they cared for him deeply. Johnny gasped when his eyes took in the mangle face again. They'd stared at it only a few hours earlier but it still looked as bad as it had then as it did now. There was less blood and you could tell he'd been cleaned up good but it still wasn't something he enjoyed. Beneath the covers, there was a whole other kind of pain and scars. His head was bandage like the doctor said. Thick white strips wrapped around his head in layers, pressing his rusty hair against his forehead in sweaty curls. Machines beeped noiselessly beside him, while different liquids passed through tubes and progressively pumped into his veins.

"I'll leave you be with him." The doctor said something to Darry that no one else could hear, possibly because it was delivered too low or they were just to caught up with their friend, but whatever it was Darry nodded in agreement before watching the doctor leave.

The gang stayed for an hour, some sitting on the floor or in nearby chairs or just standing and leaning against the wall. It didn't matter where they were, or where they were sitting as long as they knew they were in the same room. A fear had fallen over them in the past several hours. It was the impact of the accident, of Two-bit getting jumped, and realizing that it could have been any one of them laying unconscious in that bed. Darry kept glancing back and fourth at his younger brothers, relieved that it hadn't been them. Guilt swept through him because he shouldn't have been thinking of it like that, not when Two-bit could have died, but it was useless. Deep down, that was how he felt.

The needle on the small clock passed the nine and Darry stretched his sore back.

"It's bout time we got going" he told the younger Curtis'.

"Are ya sure Darry?" Soda whined, eyes pleading with Darry's before he gestured to Two-bit. "What about him, we can't leave him alone."

"I'll stay with him" Johnny said.

Everyone turned. Johnny hadn't said much during the long night at the hospital, course he had never said much of anything before that night. Dallas ignored the stares of shock everyone seemed to be shooting Johnny and just smiled.

"Good Johnnycakes" Dallas replied. "Now you three can get home and Steve you can go do whatever it is you do when you're not clinging to Soda." Steve frowned.

"Listen Dally…"he stepped forward, braking the unwritten rule of angering Dallas Winston and shoved him back a few steps. Dally's face scrunched in disapproval and he was just a foot away from smacking the gum out of Steve's mouth when Soda intervened.

"Not here. You two wanna act like kids do it outside. Two-bits been through enough bullshit already" Darry scolded. Dallas shrugged, letting Sodapop take Steve out of his line of sight and if he was lucky enough, out of the room before he decided to change his mind and follow through with his beating. Pony followed Soda a moment later, muttering a queit goodbye to everyone left in the room before dragging his feet recklessly against the floor on his way out. "Dallas"

"Yeah, Dar?"

"How long you plan on staying here?"

"For as long as I need to and until Johnny gets fed up."

At the mention of his name, Johnny faced them with a hurt expression.

"I didn't mean it like that…"

"I know" the dark greaser whispered. He went back into his own world, dragging a fluorescent orange chair to the side of the bed and taking a seat in it.'

Darry watched with mixed feelings, while Johnny sat by Two-bit. The kid wasn't taking it too good. He knew that was one of the reasons Dallas was probably staying there so long.

"Dallas, I'm heading to work in another two hours. You think you can call Ms. Matthews for me."

"No problem. She gets off her shift at the Diner soon anyway. I'll give her a shout and pick her up."

"Thanks Dallas."

Johnny barely listened as the hushed voices said their goodbyes. He was enthralled with his friend that lay beaten in the bed next to him. Darkness seemed to be calling to him, slowly pulling away the light and letting him drift into a deep sleep. His eyes shut and his body slouched forward and by the time Dally had come to stand at the foot of the bed, Johnny was out. Dallas only smiled and took a seat on another chair, watching tiredly as the two rested.

A few rays of sunlight peeked through the cracks in the hospital room curtains. The light tugged at Johnny's eyelids, eventually forcing him to open them. He gave in after only a short while when he realized he couldn't turn over in the Curtis' couch. Once again, he found himself taking in the scenery. He wasn't at the Curtis home, he was in the too clean, too sterilized, too white looking hospital room. Two-bit was still asleep in the bed, head still bandaged and monitors still beeping. But this time, was different. He didn't have Dally to keep him company. Sure there was good ol Two-bit but he wasn't much fun unconscious.

Johnny eased himself out of the rotten chair he'd been in for the past few hours and began to walk off the stiffness that had built up in his legs and arms. He made a quick venture around the room, going into the closet sized washroom to fix up his hair and comb it back even if most of the grease had dried. With a bit of warm water he looked a little less sickly and a bit more alive. There were bags under his eyes, stretching his skin awkwardly so that he appeared more haggard than he'd have like.

"I guess this is as good as it's gonna get" he moaned and shut the dim light off.

Dallas still hadn't returned from where ever he'd run off to, but Johnny didn't mind. It was nice to enjoy the piece and quiet. No one was yelling or breaking things, or cursing at him for dumb things like keeping his window open at night or not taking off his boots right away. The tranquility was just soothing and he was going to take advantage of it. He pulled an old Tulsa Times from the scuffed nightstand and began flipping the pages. The funny papers was what he liked to read, probably what Two-bit would have liked to be reading too. If he weren't sleeping that is. Johnny turned to the back section of the newspaper and began reading some Beetle Bailey cartoons.

Eyes fluttered in the bed next to him and if he'd had his attention on something else besides the paper, the young greaser would have noticed. The body stirred, struggling against the blanket that had him strapped to the bed, leaving him paralyzed for a minute before he was able to throw the covers off himself. He bucked around on the mattress and caught sight of the dark hared boy that sat in a chair next to him. Who was he? What the hell was he doing? Oh, did his head ever hurt. These thoughts raced through his head before the accusations began to take over his senses. What had that little bastard done to me? That was the last thing that came to mind before he took action.

Johnny put down his paper, laughing silently about the comic when he thought he heard something. The bed next to him lay empty. The sheets were ruffled and looked as though they'd been slept in and the same went for the pillows, but there was no sign of the person who'd slept in them. That's when he heard it. The shrill bang and the shattering of glass before it fell in tiny translucent shards to the floor. A flash of red and white passed hurriedly in front of Johnny's eyes before he felt the jagged edge of something against his neck. It barely touched the skin but he still trembled with fear, biting back a sob, he shut his eyes and prayed for help.

"Scared?" a voice growled behind him, cutting through his frail soul and tearing it to pieces. It was a familiar voice, yet at the same time it was one he'd never heard before. Something gripped his shoulder when he didn't respond and the object pressed dangerously on his neck. He shuddered and the person behind him laughed. "Wanna have some fun?" Johnny cried for anyone, but his voice seemed stuck in his throat. He was going to die and he wouldn't even know by whom. Where was Dallas when he needed him?

#$$&I think I'll leave it there. I gave you guys your fix and im getting tired. I still got this dumb cold and exams are coming up but I still managed to spit out a chapter. Lol how do I do it. Hope you enjoyed the chappie please review. WAsn't super exciting i no :( but it will get better.$##$##