A/N: Thanks everyone for the great reviews! Sanskrit, DistantThoughts, Lady Rose 05, Kal's Gal, YegBB10, anyone else that I am horribly forgetting!

Ok enjoy the show...

xxxx

Two Bit's POV continued…

"I did it," the girl returned breathlessly. "The ambulance is on their way."

I stopped shaking Pony and turned to her desperately.

Grabbing her arm, "There's a party on Euclid Avenue. Go there and get Sodapop Curtis."

She gave me a blank stare. Whether it was dependent on Soda's odd name or that I had actually asked her to run 5 minutes in her coke-filled haze I didn't care. All I cared about was getting Soda here. I didn't know how else to get in touch with him. And Pony needed his brother.

"It's his brother," I said urgently. She glanced at Pony's still form, my stricken face and left running.

I turned back to Pony and breathed hard. I prayed for the ambulance to hurry its ass up and kept my fingers on his neck, feeling the slow beat of his heart. "C'mon," I muttered through gritted teeth and shut eyes.

xxxx

Steve's POV

"You know we could have stayed and played cards at my house," Soda said robotically, in a trance. We were standing over four random guys who were engaged in a skilled game of poker.

"Yes, yes we could have."

Soda and I were both amazed to be in the company of poker players who didn't cheat.

It hadn't been worth my effort to hook Soda up that night. At least not without getting myself into trouble. Evie's best friend Jill was there and had been eyeing me suspiciously.

"Oh unclench Jill," I whispered loudly after she had strutted over. She had seen me leering at the trio of Two-Bit's redheads. "It's for Soda's sake…"

"Right, like I'd buy that you pig!"

Bitch. I always knew she hated me. Or wanted me, what's the difference?

Then she flashed Soda a syrupy sweet smile. He shot her a wary glance as she cozied up to him twirling her bubble gum around her hot pink nails. "Hi there," she cooed.

"Help," he mouthed to me, over her head. His eyes widened in horror as she giggled like a hyena. Without a word, I dragged him away to watch the poker game that was occurring on the other side of the room.

Soda laughed as a guy lost a hand. He ignored the angry stares of the loser.

"Oh man, if he just would've…" He then proceeded to instruct me in the fine ways of cheating.

I heard a bang come from across the room and Soda and I both turned to see a tall, gangly girl run through the house. In her excitement she sprawled flat on her face. She clung to the nearest guy's pants and hauled herself up babbling "Sodapop? Sodapop?"

"Hey buddy," I nudged Soda, winking. "Think you have a young, excited admirer."

"Maybe she's talking about the beverage. She does look thirsty," he said hopefully.

The group of guys pointed over at us and she turned her deer-in-a-headlight eyes in our direction.

"Wanna make a run for it Soda?"

"Too late."

She reached us and gasped, "Listen," she turned between Soda and I unaware of who was who. "Your brother is at 305 Rose Street…an ambulance should be coming but I am not sure what's wrong...an older guy told me you were here…"

This was all said in a jumbled slur as she blinked distractedly.

Soda started at the word ambulance. "What? What happened?" His voice rose several octaves higher, his face paling very quickly.

Without waiting for an answer he dashed around her and ran for the door. "Soda!" I yelled after him, catching up as he fell down the front steps, stumbling.

I grabbed his elbow and lugged him up. He didn't stop running and I had to let go before he ripped my arm off.

"Christ Soda, slow up!"

"305 Rose, 305 Rose," he kept repeating as if it would get him there faster.

"Shoot, what's he done now?" I said aloud, knowing that Soda was too caught up in getting to his brother to care about what I said at the moment.

I need to stop smoking, I thought as I huffed along to keep up with his lanky sprint. Either that or I need to get a car.

We rounded a corner, almost there.

Hell, at least Pony was considerate enough to get into trouble within five minutes of us.

"Little shit," I said under my breath.

"Shit!" Soda spat and ran harder as the glow of the ambulance lit up 305 Rose Street.

Damn that stupid kid, I cursed my one last negative thought as we tore through the yard.

Kids from the party were standing around outside smoking. Soda whipped one around, "Where's my brother? Ponyboy?"

"The paramedics are upstairs with someone…"

Running inside, Soda took the stairs three at a time. Down the hall we saw the room we wanted. Soda flew inside and skidded to a halt, a choked sound in his throat. I ran into him and he sagged against me.

I took in the scene being played out: Two-Bit, hand clasped over his mouth, was standing in the corner, looking increasingly distressed. His eyes met mine quickly, guiltily, and then they darted back to Pony.

Ponyboy was lying on the sofa, his face pale and eyes shut. He looked so young and for a moment my protective instinct almost kicked in. Almost.

The paramedics were standing over him doing their job: shouting instructions, evaluating the situation.

"Dilated pupils. Temp of 103."

"BP 65/30."

The younger of the EMT's checked his watch while holding Pony's wrist, frowning.

"Severe brachycardia. Less than 60 beats per minute. We gotta get him outta here."

The kid wasn't moving, he wasn't…breathing? Biting my lip, I glanced at Soda, hoping he hadn't noticed what I thought I had.

I felt him move towards Pony and I held him to his spot firmly.

"Don't Soda. Let them do their job."

"Steve." With a pained look he threw me off.

Suddenly, the paramedics shouted: "He losing consciousness… cardiac arrest!"

Soda and I watched in horror as they began CPR, pounding on Pony's chest.

A/N: Ok, I did research to make this all fit together, but not being a medical expert there may be some chinks.

: Begs forgiveness :

Also, I hope it's not too cheesy…I don't know how EMT's talk! If you're confused about what's happening let me know for clarification…

Just let me know how I am doing overall! Puh-leaze? For the sake of Pony's life?

Muhahaha!