What woke me up…

Chapter 4: Dreaming up that part

A/N: warning, my attempt at sap ahead. Don't worry, there isn't enough to kill.

The hospital was cold. It was the only thing I could focus on 'cause they kept rolling me from room to room and tellin' me too much stuff at once. I got my chest x-rayed for some reason about my ribs. They asked me tons of questions and the only blanket I had was thin so I couldn't listen—the hospital was really cold.

When they brought me back into the room I was awful tired, dead tired. I don't think I could have kept my eyes open if I tried, but I was spooked too. I've never been this exhausted in my life. What if I went to sleep and didn't wake up again?

When the nurse woke me up the room was still dark. She was walking around the room doing something but I didn't have the strength to sit up and look at her so I kept my eyes closed. It was raining outside. It seemed just like that rain on the night of the rumble. They both seemed real. Glory, they said that whole rumble was a dream. Johnny's death was a dream, but I'd never remembered anything more vividly in my life. I went to sleep next to Sodapop, maybe this was a dream… I wasn't even sure which was up anymore. My arm was sore but I managed to bring it up to my cheeks surprised to find I was crying.

The nurse shot me a quick glance but didn't say anything. I'm glad, I didn't want to talk to her anyway. I closed my eyes and tried to stop thinking. It worked for a few blissful minutes. I even imagined I heard Sodapop's voice.

"Hey Ponyboy, honey are you awake? Ponyboy…"

My eyes slowly opened, and I felt someone grasp my arm almost uncertainly. I looked over and had to smile.

"Sodapop?"

My older brother was hovering at the side of my bed resting his hands on my arm. 'Course tears were running down his face and he looked fairly sleep deprived but he was smiling.

"Hey kid. Welcome back." He let out a sob and turned away for a second. I reached my arms out and Soda enclosed me in a fragile but comforting hug. He was careful not to touch any of the tubes hooked up and I did my best to hug him. My arms wouldn't obey my mind though, and they were so weak I could hardly hug back. Soda probably noticed but he didn't say anything. He always understood.

Soda pulled away and the warmth that had been there vanished leaving the cold hospital again.

He sat down in a chair by my bed and didn't let go of my arm. He wasn't looking at me anymore, but staring across the room. I was about to ask but I followed his eyes. Darry was leaning against the door, eyes cast down, fists jammed into his pocket.

Six months, I thought an idea dawning on me, he had hit me. That is why I ran out of the house. The idea slowly sunk in and I wasn't sure what to do. Maybe Darry still did care, it wasn't only the dream. He always did care where I was, and when I didn't get home on time.

"Hi Dar." I reached my arms out and wordlessly Darry walked over and hugged me tighter than Soda, and my ribs kinda hurt but I felt safe in his arms.

"Oh God Pony," I could feel him shaking, "I thought you'd never wake up. I'm sorry kid, I didn't mean—" He pulled away and I could see he was crying.

Like that night after the fire—in my dream? Glory I was confused.

"What happened?" I asked to either of them. Darry went quiet watching me, but I could see the pain flash in his eyes.

"I'm going to talk to the doctor now Pony."

I reached out to touch his arm to get his attention before he left. "Can you see if you can get me out?"

Darry gave me a quick smirk before vanishing from the door. I closed my eyes for a minute. I felt real tired, but I didn't want to worry Soda. Golly, he probably has been worryin' something awful for the last six months.

"Soda." I said and he was looking back at me, his eyes full. I did my best to wipe the stray tears away. "I'm suppose to be crying more than you are."

He grinned at me but then caught my hand between his own and kissed it—something Mom used to do.

"Pony, they told us you probably wouldn't wake up again. I nearly went nuts when you lost consciousness in the park like that. We'd thought we'd lost you." I closed my eyes for a minute trying to fight off exhaustion.

I didn't want to go to sleep…

"I was so afraid…Aw kid."

"I'm fine." I said automatically smiling a bit when I heard him laugh.

"Sure…how ya feelin'?"

"Uhm…." I thought it over. I was confused, but Soda being here helped a lot. I was tired but too scared to go to sleep. "I can't feel nothin' below the middle of my back."

I tried to get rid of the thoughts of Johnny. It was a dream…a dream… I'd hoped it was a dream, but…

"You're gonna be okay Pone." He said trying to convince himself too.

His grip tighten around my hand and I tried not to drift off. "Need anything?"

I shoulda asked for a blanket but I couldn't think straight. I just shook my head 'cause it was the easier thing to do. Soda went quiet, rubbing my hand gently trying to put some warmth back in it.

"What happened Soda, before this?" I asked after a few minutes.

I figured if I could find out when I was knocked unconscious I could figure out what part of what was a dream.

"You were out with Johnny, baby, and got jumped by some guys. They hit Johnny so he don't remember much either, don't know who it was, we think it was Soc's but…" His voice was quiet—or maybe it was just me falling asleep. "They dunked you in the fountain. You don't remember?" His voice was worry, something I didn't hear to often from him.

I remembered Johnny and I getting jumped by some Socs but Johnny knew who they were before they even pulled up. The blue mustang and the guy with the rings. They couldn't have hit Johnny hard enough for him to forget that right? Or did I make up that part? I couldn't have though, I didn't lose consciousness before that.

"You know what a greaser is? White trash with long hair."

"You could use a bath, greaser. And a good working over. And we've got all night to do it."

If Johnny didn't know who did it then maybe I dreamed up that part. But it seemed real—everything seemed real.

Glory, confused doesn't much cover it.

I wanted to ask Soda that if I went to sleep, would I wake up again?... but I never got the chance because I drifted off before I could even answer him.

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And so an update. Yeah, I expected to finish Twice the Speed of life chapter long before this but go figure.

Reviewers. Few questions you could answer that'd help me.

Am I completely utterly killing the character with OOC ness?

With all the confusion with Pony, is it hard to read?

Do you like the fact it's in Pony and Johnny's p.o.v.s?

Does the sap bite? I'm not real good at brotherly love fluff…

Thanks.