Engaged!
Pony's POV
"I'm here with news about Gloria Curtis." The doctor said coming over to us with a clipboard in hand.
"I'm her oldest brother," Darry said standing to meet him.
"Well, I have good news, and some bad news, she's going to be fine, but she's going to need a lot of care for the next couple of months, she has three broken ribs, a sprained wrist, and she had some internal bleeding."
"We caught it early enough to stop it, and she shouldn't have any more problems with that."
"But she does have some swelling in the cranium, but that will fix itself over then next couple of weeks, she may be in and out though, and there may be a few things she won't remember for a while."
"The bad news is because of the emotional trauma she received, I can't tell you what her mind will choose to remember, and what it won't or how long that self imposed memory block will last, you'll just have to go along with it until she heals enough to let herself remember."
"Our brother went through the same thing a while back Sir, we know how to handle it," Soda said.
" Can we see her?" Darry asked.
"One at a time, and not for too long, she's under sedation, so she can't answer you quite yet, but she can hear everything that you say."
" Soda, you go first," Darry said turning to take a seat with a sigh.
" How are we going to pay for this?" I asked.
"We don't have to, she's got insurance at her job."
"Oh Shit," I whispered spotting a non-to happy Tim Shepard making his way over with Curly trailing behind him.
Soda's POV
Holding my sister's hand I struggled to control my anger. The Soc's had gone too far this time; they had damned near killed an innocent girl. She hadn't even been around last year when everything went down with Johnny and Pony Boy, and Of course the bastards would go after the ex- girlfriend, and not Pony.
"S-Soda," She croaked making me wince. Her lip was badly swollen, and with the myriad of bruises on her jaw I knew it had to hurt to talk.
"Shh baby, I'm here," I said gently stroking her hair.
"It hurts Pepsi Cola," she whispered moaning as I got up to bring her a glass of water.
" I'm sorry baby, we'll got those fucking Soc's," I said knowing we'd have a rumble soon to rival the one that had taken place a few months ago for Johnny.
" I want Dally," She said making me wince.
He had always been real good at comforting her when she was hurt. It was no wonder she's chosen not to remember he was in the cooler.
"He, he's out of town right now baby," I whispered.
" Then I want Tim!" She said suddenly finding her strength as she began to thrash about in the bed.
" I want my fiancé!" She said making me pale.
"What!"
" Come on Soda, we been going out since I was like thirteen! Now where is he?" She asked calming when he walked in two seconds later.
"Hush Lovey I'm here, don't get so riled up, or they'll kick us hoods out," he said coming to sit beside her bed as he held her hand.
" I'm gonna get the boys, I'll be back," I said all but running into the waiting room where Steve and Two- Bit had known joined my brothers.
"Umm, guys we have a problem," I said.
Pony's POV
I had been relieved when Love's yells had interrupted the confrontation that was about to happen between Tim, and Dar.
"She, she's blocked out Johnny all together, and put Tim in his place, she thinks they're engaged, said they'd been dating since she was thirteen," Soda said as everyone stood there slack jawed.
"What!" Darry said running a hand through his grease less hair.
"She thinks she's engaged to that…" He said trailing off when he realized Curly was standing a few feet away.
"Y'all heard what the doctor said I chimed in glad that they could be together for a while longer without needing explanations.
"So we have to make like she's Tim's Fiancée?" Steve asked wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"You got a problem with that?" Curly asked stepping away from the wall where he had been slouched, with his thumbs looped through his belt loops.
"Nah man," Steve said shaking his head.
"Its just a shock you know, I mean Lovey, and Ole Shep, who would have thought?" Two-Bit said trying to relive tension.
"Yea who would have thought," I mumbled, knowing the truth wasn't too far off.
Tim's POV
I tried to play it cool while I took in the damage the Soc's had inflected, but Love was so swollen I could barley recognize her.
" Timmy, I wannna get out of here," She said struggling to breath as she laid back down.
" I know baby, soon as they're sure you're okay to go home, I'll take you myself," I said not sure just what her state of mind was.
I had caught the tail end of what the doctor had told the Curtis's and if she was thinking we were engaged something was off.
"Oh Timmy, they took my ring," She said sobbing as she found her left hand bare.
"Shh, don't cry, I'm sure it's just in the park somewhere," I said, mentally making a note to pick up something pretty from the pawnshop.
" The boys are awful worried about you, I think I should let them see you for a while," I said moving to leave when she nodded.
" I heard what the doctor said."
" I'll play along with her," I said not wanting to come out with the truth until she was back to normal.
" You sure man?" Darry asked.
"Yea, I'll take care of her," I said shaking hands on it.
" I think she'd like to see you guys now, and I'm going to let Ang know what's going on," I said heading to the pay phone.
" Ya aint gonna tell them you two really are dating?" Curly asked following me around the corner.
"Not till she's all healed," I said knowing she'd be pissed if I didn't wait till she could defend herself before letting the cat out of the bag.