A/N: Wow this is a long chapter! I hope it's not too tedious. I am just having so much fun writing this…I can't stop! Like a maniac, maniac…

So…anyways…hope it's not dragging too much…it seems like I have so much more to happen! Kee-razy!

Enjoy!

XXX

Steve's POV

Two-Bit and I sat in the waiting room of St. Joseph's. We had made it there in record time after bumming a ride off of some young grease that was leaving the party.

I had to wait until I got to the hospital to use the pay phone to call Darry. Two-Bit couldn't stay with me while I made the call.

"Steve, I just... can't." He bolted in the direction of the waiting room. I knew he felt guilty. It wasn't his fault though. It was that damned kid's. He never listens to anyone.

There I go again. Blaming Ponyboy. My special talent.

With shaky fingers I dropped a few coins and waited until Darry picked up. During the ride to the hospital, I had run what I was going to say over a few times in my head.

Darry. Pony's in the hospital. Again.

or

Your little brother ditched Two-Bit and got himself into trouble, as usual.

or

So, Pony lied about where he went tonight. Curly's. That's right Darry, as in Shepard's.

I'm such a bastard. Soda was probably going through hell and here I was coming up with smart-ass comments about his brother.

After about four rings Darry picked up. "Hello?" he said groggily.

Great, I'm waking a sleeping grizzly.

"Darrel. It's Steve."

"What's wrong?" he said steadily, suddenly alert.

"Pony got into some trouble tonight at the party-"

Darry inhaled deeply readying himself for what was next.

"- and he was taken to the hospital. Soda rode with him in the ambulance and me and Two-Bit are already here."

Silence. Then in a slow, composed tone he said, "Is he okay? What happened?"

"Darry, no one knows anything…"

Except that he had a heart attack.

"…but Soda wanted me to call you and tell you to get here."

"I'm already there," he said and hung up.

I felt bad keeping specifics from him but I would leave those to Soda...and Two-Bit who seemed to know more than we did.

Two-Bit was hunched over in his chair, chin in his hands as I walked back to the sanitary waiting room. I wished he would snap out of it.

It's not easy seeing your normally cheerful buddy so sober.

"Hey Two-Bit, just tell Darry that you'll pay for Pony's hospital bill." I plopped down beside him.

That snapped him out of it.

Wincing he bitched at me, "Thanks Steve. Make me feel better why don't you."

I just couldn't stand seeing Two-Bit so serious. His gray eyes looked haunted and his face strained and pale.

"Two-Bit, it's not your fault. Darry and Soda know that, I know that. Now you just need to get it!"

Two-Bit sighed, sitting back in his chair. He dug in his pockets and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up. He offered me one. I took one, but it wouldn't shut me up.

"Listen," I continued forcefully, "if that kid would use his goddamn brain once in a while-"

Two-Bit made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, which stopped my flow of abuse on Pony. His eyes darted to Soda, who was being pushed out of the ICU by a tall, pinched-face nurse.

I squinted, reading her nametag. Nurse Hendricks.

"Sir, we will notify you about your brother's condition as soon as we know more. I am sorry sir, but you will have to wait." She prodded him in our direction. "Out here."

Soda refused to be shoved away. "This is ridiculous! He's my brother!" he yelled at her. Like a madman, he threw a fit, storming around the waiting room. Soda banged his fists on the front registration desk, scaring the receptionist.

In a less gloomy situation I would have laughed to see my best friend in such an enraged state.

"Let me see him, please! Can't I just-"

The nurse crossed her arms in front of her chest and eyed him coldly. She pursed her mouth and spewed frigid words directly at Soda.

"Sir. I am about one minute away from completely barring you from seeing your brother for his entire hospital stay."

Soda stopped his ranting and stood stock still, his mouth dropping in shock at the harsh threat.

Carrying out her warning would kill Soda. Two-Bit got up guardedly as if he was needed to stop a beat-down. Or join in on one.

I didn't bother to interfere. Soda wouldn't take any chances with a warning like that. I lay back lazily, stretching my legs out, and winked at the cowering receptionist.

Like a scolded child, Soda stalked back to me and Two-bit. Without a word he sat down rigidly in a chair between us, staring at her stonily.

"That's better." Smiling smugly at Soda she turned her back on us and exited through the double ICU doors.

Soda jumped up and sputtered, "Can you believe that stupid bitch! I was this close to busting her freaking head!"

He dropped off and shook his head at the injustice of her words. "Thanks for the back-up there Two-Bit." Soda tried to grin wryly.

"Anytime."

Letting out a long sigh, Soda sat back down. "Did you call Darry, Steve?"

"Yeah, I did. He should be here soon."

We faded into edgy silence. The only sounds were the clock ticking on the wall and random nurses slurping their coffee and smoking cigarettes. Then we heard pounding on the stairs. Darry exploded into the room, reaching us in three quick strides; Soda shot out of his chair.

Darry pulled Soda toward him by the shoulders. Darry evaluated Soda's restless face, looking at his brother cautiously for any clues as to his or Ponyboy's well being.

"How's Pony?" He asked huskily.

More frustrated than upset, Soda said, "I don't know. The paramedics said to wait until I got to the hospital to know more. But I'm here and I still don't fucking know anything!" He glowered at where the nurse had left.

Then Soda remembered Two-Bit. Two-Bit who had found Ponyboy. Soda pulled out of Darry's firm grip and turned to him.

Looking down at his friend he asked, "Two-Bit what happened? You were there weren't you?"

Two-Bit looked nervous in his chair, shrinking back into it. I wished I could help him out of this tight spot. But to be honest, I wanted to know what the hell went down there as well.

His brows furrowed and he looked up gravely at Darry and Soda.

"Oh man," Two-Bit said. "You're not gonna like this."

XXX

Reviews please? Ideas? Suggestions? Lavish gifts to be showered upon me? No?

Oh well, worth asking.

Anyway. Review! It gives me the motivation to write PonyPeril.

: AHEM : Sanskrit? Other fabulous reviewers who haven't updated their own stories! Do it and all that jazz!