Pony's POV
Nothing bad has happened since I got to the hospital. But I had a nagging feeling that this wasn't it.
Darry started working his normal hours again, and Soda worked, too, but he came over for his lunch break. The gang came to visit me a lot, but no one could really make me talk. Not even Johnny or Soda.
It was night time and Darry was home, but Soda was with me. Darry would be coming back soon, but not soon enough for my taste.
Every noise made made me jump. I heard the creaking of a door. The quiet foot steps. And every sound made me think the Socs were coming.
Soda turned to me and noticed the way I shook and whimpered every other minute.
"What's the matter, baby?" He asked.
It was as though I couldn't hear him. I was lost in the noises. They were every where. I could hear them all. I put my hands over my ears, trying to block out the noise. Make it stop!
I shook the noises away, but it wasn't working.
"Stop it!" I screamed, throwing the pillow across the room.
"What is it, Pony?" Soda asked, the concern sounding in his voice.
I pulled the covers over my head. I can't take it anymore!
Darry's POV
I ran up the steps of the hospital. I didn't need any elevator!
I walked quietly to Pony's room, knowing that most people were asleep by now, maybe even Ponyboy.
I opened up Pony's door, and walked inside.
I saw Soda sitting on Pony's bed, and Pony was under the covers completely.
"What's going on?" I asked, looking worriedly at the form under the covers that was Pony.
"I don't know. He just screamed "stop it," threw a pillow across the room, and hid under the covers."
I walked up to his bed, and sat down next to him.
"Pony?" I said quietly as I rubbed his back.
A loud whimper was all I got in return.
I tugged at the blankets, but Pony's grip was tighter than I thought.
"Come on, Pony. Let go."
But he wouldn't. I'd had enough of this.
With one final tug, I got the blankets off of Pony.
He was curled up in a ball, covering his face with his arms. He peaked out from above his arms, and the look in his eyes made me step back.
He looked horrible. That haunted look in his eyes was enough to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. What was wrong?
I sat again on the bed. Soda was watching over him, looking as scared as I was.
"What's the matter, Pony?" I asked, and I knew it was about the millionth time this week alone.
He shook his head over and over again. "No, no, no, no, no." He continued to mumble.
"No, what?" Sodapop asked.
"No!" Pony screamed.
"Go get a nurse or something, Soda." I figured he needed a sedative or something. He was in misery and I hated it as much as he probably did.
I tried to take him in my arms, but he wouldn't let me.
"NO!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. It was enough to wake every sleeping person in the building.
Soon Soda was back with a nurse and a doctor.
"Pony, will you take some medicine for me?" The nurse asked gently.
"No!" He yelled again.
She took out a shot, and poked Pony in the arm.
"Ow." He mumbled, but he was already close to sleep.
"What was that?" I asked.
"A sedative." The nurse replied.
The doctor checked Pony's heartbeat, which was a little faster than usual, but it had calmed.
"What happened?" The doctor asked.
"I don't know. He started shaking every few minutes, then he covered his ears with his hand, then he threw a pillow across the room, and then hid under the blankets. I don't know what was wrong." Soda answered.
"He was probably just panicking again. I think he hears things and expects it to be something worse than it is. Hopefully, this will blow over soon."
"Let's hope." I agreed.
The nurse and doctor left, and Soda and I were alone with the sleeping Pony.
I lay down beside him, and Soda did the same.
We each placed an arm around him, trying to protect him from the many fears he faced.
Why did this happen to Pony? It'd be different if it happened to anyone else. Pony can't take all this. He's too young.
Dallas' POV
I had finally healed from my previous beating. Every chance I got, I beat up a Soc. I never knew which ones it had been, but I beat them up anyway. Except for the chicks. I tried to leave them alone, if I could help it.
Pony was coming home today and I was supposed to watch him. I went to their house to wait on them. I hated the thought of any of us being alone. Two-Bit almost got jumped the other day, but me and Steve weren't far away. The Socs ran off before anything could really happen.
Damn them all to hell. I hate the Socs. I hate what they've done to Pony. He never says anything when I see him. I haven't heard a word out of him since before he got to the hospital. I mean, he never talked much anyway, but now he's mute.
I placed my hand over my back pocket. I had started carrying a gun around, just in case. I didn't know what we were up against, so I figured I'd better be prepared.
I got to the Curtis' house and walked inside. They weren't home yet, so I just sat on the couch.
I didn't have to wait long. Soon the door was opened and Soda walked in, followed by Darry, carrying a sleeping Ponyboy.
"Hey, guys." I said, not even looking up.
"Hey, Dallas. You ready to watch Pony?" Darry asked.
"Yeah." I replied.
"Okay. I need to get to work soon." Darry said as he walked down the hallway to lay Pony down.
Soda came and sat on the edge of the couch.
"What's up, Dally?" He asked.
"Not much, man. How's the kid?"
"Not much better, but the docs wanted him home. They think he'll do better here."
"Yeah, right." I said, knowing that this was where most of it had taken place.
"You'll take care of him? Soda asked. I knew them Curtises were always concerned about their brothers. But, hell, I was responsible enough.
"Yes. Go to work, before you lose your job." I barked.
"Okay." He got up and went to his and Pony's room. Darry came out before Soda.
"You take care of him, all right?" Darry said.
"If I have to hear that one more time, I'm leaving." I growled.
"Okay, okay. Just keep an eye on him." Darry said as he walked out the door.
"See you later, Dally!" Soda said as he ran outside.
Those Curtis boys are a weird bunch.
After I watched some stupid cop show, I got up and went into Pony's room. I figured he's feel better if he saw someone with him when he woke up.
"Soda?" He mumbled when I sat down on his bed.
"No, it's Dallas. Your brothers went to work."
"Oh." Was all he said.
We sat there in silence for over an hour before I heard the door open. It must be Soda coming to check on Pony.
I was about to get up to greet him, when I saw a bunch of Socs come down the hallway.
I heard Pony yelp behind me, and he hid from them behind me.
"Stay cool." I barked under my breath at him.
"Well, well, well. Check this out guys. We get two today." The one Soc said. He had rings on his fingers.
"Yeah, Bob, how cool." A tall dark-haired boy agreed with Bob.
"You'd better get the hell out of here, or you'll all be pretty damn sore tomorrow." I threatened.
Three more Socs came in. Oh, great.
"Is that right? It looks like you're outnumbered, grease. I think we have the upper hand." The Soc named Bob said.
"The hell you do." I pulled out the gun from my back pocket, preparing to fire, but the I saw Bob pointing a gun at Pony's head.
Pony began to breathe heavily. I could hear him fighting to keep from crying, but he wasn't doing a good job of it.
"Put the gun down, Greaser." Bob said.
"Not until you do." I replied. I couldn't lose my gun. They'd kill us for sure if I did. I hated the fear in Pony's eyes, though.
"If you don't, I'll shoot this kid." Bob said.
"And you'd have a bullet through your head." I growled back.
Bob cocked the gun, preparing to fire.
"This'll be on your conscious, greaser." He said.
I cocked my gun and two shots rang out.
Bob shot first.
