What woke me up...

Chapter 3: Ice water

A/N: Someone brought up the fact about cat scans and mris not being in the 1960's. Truthfully, I suspected that too, so I was freakishly vague on the 'scans' stuff. Didn't seem to work, but I had a nice chat with an mri tech over lunch. Apparently they didn't come out until the 1980's...not enough research on my part.

Johnny's P.O.V.

I stared at the ground while the nurse came in and did something to Ponyboy's I.V.s. If not she'd meet my eyes and give me this 'I pity you' look, I was tired of it.

I was studying my shoes 'fore I heard a gasp and I glanced up. The nurse wasn't lookin' at me, she was staring at Ponyboy.

"I swear, these coma patients always look like the dead waking. Sweetheart, do me a favor and go get the doctor. And close the blinds on your way out." She told me.

I stood up and looked over at Pony knowing if this was false hope I'd die. But it wasn't, he was moving—not much but he was! Ponyboy was awake, Ponyboy was awake!

I stumbled and laughed at myself half-heartily while closing the manila colored blinds and speeding out into the hall. I came to a skidding halt nearly losing my balance again but I didn't care.

A doctor, a doctor.

A few of the nurses gave me a dirty look for rushing out like that and I chose to run up to them anyway.

"I need a doctor, Ponyboy Curtis woke up." The nurses looked as shocked as I did, but lost the look calling the doctor.

I didn't know what to do so I sat down on my usual bench and waited nervously. He woke up! I kept telling myself that in a happy voice but part of me remembered the whole brain damage speech. The dread was creeping up on me but the two balanced each other out and I sat there feeling like I was waiting longer than the six months ever was.

I was about to get up and call the Curtis' house when the door to Ponyboy's room swung open and the nurse came striding out. They wheeled Ponyboy's bed out and it vanished down the hall. I tried to catch a glimpse at him but I never got the chance 'cause the nurse walked over and kneeled next to me.

"Was that boy your brother?" She asked which seemed kinda odd.

I shook my head. "Just my best friend. Do you know anything about –"

She smiled and patted me on the knee probably forgetting she was talking to an East Side greaser 'cause most of the nurses still kept their distances. This one was a real nice lady.

"He is stable, and from what we can tell at this point there is no severe braindamage."

I was about to open my mouth to ask her to explain that. I know I'm not that bright, but people always explained it too quick for me. I didn't have to ask anything, she started talking.

"He can talk, respond and think like normal. He can't remember that night though…"

Part of me knew that was good. Pony wouldn't want to remember that, and besides, he couldn't tell the gang who did it anyway.

"We're just taking him to get some scans done. I'm sorry, but you can't see him by doctor orders. Family only until he snaps back to reality. Do you think you could contact his family for me? It'd save a lot of digging through files."

I nodded and smiled stupidly but I didn't care. Ponyboy was awake, and he was fine enough. I strode over to a courtesy phone and called the house having memorized the number.

"Talk." A very sleepy but commanding voice came on the line. I placed it at once.

"Dally, it's me Johnny." I was fiddling with the phone cord and occasionally glancing over my shoulder.

"Whatya need kid?" He sounded like he had a hangover.

"Is Sodapop or Darry there?" I did my best not to sound rude just blowing Dally off but he didn't notice.

"Nope, not home." I looked at my watch. The Curtis brothers didn't get home until five, and Soda was nearly fired when he quit going to work for that week. He only kept his job by going everyday and working longer shifts not to mention whenever the boss called him in. I knew if I called him at word he'd leave and be fired.

I hesitated not knowing what to do. Ponyboy was going for some tests and wouldn't be back for awhile.

"Uh, Dal when they get back can you tell them Ponyboy woke up?"

I heard a sputtering on the other line like Dally choking on whatever he was drinking.

"Are you serious Johnny?" He cussed too.

"Just wait till they get home." I added it.

"Does he remember who jumped you guys?" Dally asked wide awake now.

I suddenly grew cold like someone splashed me with ice water. I'm glad Dally couldn't see me or he'd know something was wrong. I remember the Soc's threat so vividly…we couldn't tell the gang who it was.

"No Dal," I tried to get my voice not to quiver. "He don't remember nothin'."

0-0-0

I really hope I didn't kill Johnny's P.O.V...I tried to give it a more relieved happy sense since Pony woke up with underline dread. I'm not sure how it worked out though, but the most of the following is in Ponyboy's P.O.V.

Chapters keep getting shorter and shorter it seems like. They won't get smaller than this one though.