Itry to update quickly, but it's a bit hard. Writer's block.

xxx

About three hours later, a doctor came out. He smiled grimly at the group of boys lying in the waiting room. They had cried themselves to sleep. They looked so innocent and young, asleep. Perhaps, all kids were like that…

Poor kids. They wouldn't have turned out this way if someone had given them a chance…

He hesitantly poked the oldest, toughest looking one on the shoulder. Darrel, that was his name.

Darrel blinked and opened up his eyes. "How is he?" he asked in a strangled voice.

His brother, the blonde one, shook himself up, and looked at the doctor with bright, anxious eyes. The boy next to him opened one of his eyes, and got up. Soon, they were all awake (including the little girl and the lady), awaiting the verdict.

"Ponyboy," the doctor said, clearing his throat. "Ponyboy…"

"How is he? Is he ok?" Soda begged.

"Tell him or I'm going to beat you to pulp," said Steve, rubbing his fist in his hand. Perhaps they weren't so innocent after all.

"He's in critical condition," the doctor said. "He fractured two ribs, one femur, one arm, and has countless bruises. The person or people who attacked him—well—he or they had knives. They cut him, and he needed stitches. At this point…" he sighed, "I can't tell whether he's going to make it or not."

Soda dropped his face is crushed hope. "He's going to make it," he breathed. "He is. HE IS!"

He screamed and buried his face in Steve's shoulder. Steve felt guilt twist in his heart. Pony, please make it. I DIDN'T MEAN IT. I didn't. I'm so sorry.

But it was too late.

xxx

"Darrel, Soda," Mrs. Matthews said, wiping her eyes. "You boys go on home now. We can't stay here all night."

"I'm not going to leave him," said Soda, his eyes rimmed with red. "I'm not going to leave him."

"Soda, honey," Mrs. Matthews said, hugging him. "You can't do anything here."

"HE NEEDS ME!" Soda screamed. "HE NEEDS ME! He needs me," he said, sobbing. "He needs us. Don't you understand?"

He looked wildly around at Darry, who was crying into his hands. "I can't leave him…" Darry moaned. "I can't… I have to be here in case he wakes up. You don't understand… the last thing I ever let him know was that I hated him. What kind of brother am I?"

"Darry," Mrs. Matthews started, and then stopped. She awkwardly patted him on the back. Then, giving up, she left.

"Mom," protested Two-Bit.

She shushed him. "Just leave him there," she said. "It's ok."

xxx

Darry sat, numbly staring at a picture that hanging in front of him on the wall. There were brightly colored flowers in the picture, blooming up towards the sun.

How can they grow? he thought to himself. How can they if my life is gone? HOW CAN LIFE GO ON WHEN PONY'S SICK? How is it possible?

His vision blurred, and he thought to himself, No more of that. I have to be brave for Soda, I have to.

But a voice, deep inside his head, thought, I'm tired of being brave. I just want my Pony back.

xxx

A pale, white figure was being lowered into a coffin, sunk down into a grave. He was afraid to look at it, who was it?

There was a pale flash of reddish-brownish hair, and he had to see who it was. Leaning towards it, he let out a yelp of fear. It was Ponyboy.

"NO!" screamed Soda, scratching wildly. "No, not Pony, not Pony."

Someone was shaking him, yelling, "Wake up! Come on, Soda, it's just a dream, it's just a dream."

Soda woke up in a cold sweat. "Oh my God Darry what if he doesn't make it?" He sobbed brokenly into his brother's arms. "I don't think I would make it Darry. I don't think I would."

Darry hugged him, and buried his face in his brother's hair. "I love you Soda, I love you, I love you. He's going to be ok, it's ok."

"I love you too, Darry," Soda whispered. "I love you…"

xxx

They waited miserably that week. That first night, Soda and Darry had yelled themselves hoarse demanding to stay there. The doctor simply called a security guard, who kicked them outside. Then, they had nowhere to go but home.

Steve had left his house again after his dad chewed him out, and took refuge with Soda. Soda was someone he could help, someone who needed him. He couldn't help himself or his dad, so he helped his friend.

He was a shoulder for Soda to sob in when Darry had to go to work. He talked to his best friend at the gas station. But he was so racked by guilt, he started to lose himself. How could he have hurt Pony? What had happened to him?

Steve didn't tell Soda of course. His friend would disown him, but also, he would hurt his friend even more. And he had already hurt him enough.

Steve couldn't eat. He couldn't sleep at night. He couldn't look Soda in the eye, but the poor guy was already so hurt, he didn't notice. He started talking to himself, having dreams where Soda hated him. He woke up screaming.

He couldn't tell Soda, could he? He couldn't. Soda was angry and bitter with revenge. He attacked every Soc he saw, not knowing who had beaten up Pony, so he got every one. Little did he know that it was his best friend.

And all Steve could do was hope that Pony would get better. But once Pony woke up, everybody would know the truth.

xxx

It was the call that started it all. Darry, tired and disheveled, answered the phone listlessly. Probably that Soc Randy, who wanted to know if Pony was okay, or maybe Two-Bit.

But it was Bryon. "Hey, Darry."

"Yeah."

"Hey, I'm at the hospital, and the doctor says you can come visit Pony now. He says he's better. He's not in critical condition anymore."

Darry brushed his hand through his hair in joy. "You serious?"

"Yeah," said Bryon, who didn't seem to get excited that easily. "You and Soda can come because you're family… but I guess that means Steve and Two-Bit can come too." Bryon had run into Two-Bit and Steve several times trying to see Pony.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

Darry hung up the phone, and stood there for several minutes. Then, he yelped in joy. "SODA, SODA, SODA!"

Soda who was wearily eating a piece of chocolate cake looked up. "What Darry?"

"The doctor says Pony's going to be ok, and we can visit him now!"

Soda stood staring at him for a second, and then leaped up and gave his brother a hug. Darry told him to call Steve and Two-Bit, and they all met at the hospital.

Steve looked a little shaken up: he was afraid of what could happen.

xxx

"Darry, Soda, Darry, Soda, Mom, Dad, Darry, Darry, Soda, Soda," mumbled a delirious Pony.

Darry reached out and shook his brother's shoulder. "Pony?"

His brother looked so pale, and white… so innocent and vulnerable attached to IVs and a huge white plaster cast on his leg. He opened one of his grayish-green eyes, and Darry's heart broke.

"Oh God Pony, I thought I lost you, I love you, I'm so sorry, Oh my God, I missed you, please forgive me, I love you, I couldn't live without you, I couldn't ever lose you..." All his desperation came pouring out, and pretty soon, he was babbling away like an idiot, sobbing and crying, his voice cracking in pain. "I love you Pony, I'm sorry."

Pony's eyes filled with tears. "I love you too Darry," he managed to whisper.

Soda jumped next to him. "I love you Ponyboy Michael Curtis," he said with a laugh. "I love you baby brother."

Pony flashed a grin at Soda. "I love you too Sodapop Patrick Curtis."

Two-Bit smiled. "Now, I know you're all lovey-dovey with your brothers, but doesn't a good pal deserve some lovin' to?"

Pony grinned. "Two-Bit, you're a great guy."

"Now, that's right," Two-Bit said, wearing his floppy smile like a small puppy.

Steve cleared his throat. "Hey Ponyboy."

Pony's heart froze. This was Steve. This was the person who had hurt him in the first place.

Review?