Pony's POV

I woke up and looked around the room. I was momentarily confused as to where I was, but it didn't last long. Memories of last night flooded my brain, and I shook them away, willing them to be nothing more than nightmares.

I looked down at my legs and saw that they were still bandaged. I was in the hospital. And last night wasn't a nightmare.

I began to sob as I thought of all the things I'd never be able to do again. I wouldn't get to run for track. I wouldn't even be able to walk around by myself. I'd become dependent on those around me. I'd be wheelchair-bound, with no way of helping myself.

As all those things I couldn't do crowded my mind, I began to shake uncontrollably as the sobs came harder. I choked on the sobs, unable to breath correctly. I gasped, trying to get enough air in my lungs, but to no avail.

Darry came in the room, with Soda trailing close behind. When Darry saw me, he rushed to my side.

"You're okay, baby." He said, but when he looked at Soda, I knew I wasn't.

"Soda, get a nurse." Darry said, and Soda took off after he broke out his daze when he was staring at me.

"Calm down, Pony. You're making yourself sick." He ordered, but I couldn't stop.

The tears blurred my vision. I couldn't see Darry anymore, just a blurry image that I knew as Darry. My breathing quickened, and I couldn't slow it. I grasped the bed sheets tightly, as I fought to breathe.

"Pony!" Darry yelled. He grabbed my hand and I squeezed it with all the strength I had.

A nurse came rushing in, followed by Soda and a man I knew to be the doctor.

"Sedate him!" The doctor ordered.

The nurse took out a shot and poked it into my arm. I felt myself begin to relax, and soon I fell back to sleep.

Darry's POV

I sighed with relief as Pony calmed down. I felt so helpless when he was like that. I couldn't help him, thought I wanted to so badly.

"I take it you told him?" The doctor said.

"Yes." I replied, tears shining in my own eyes.

"I'm taking the breathing mask out and I'll change it to a tube running through his nose. He'll be able to talk that way, and it should be a little easier on him."

"Okay." I said, detached from what he was really saying.

The doctor moved to work on Pony, and he was finished soon. It didn't take much.

When the doctor stepped back, Soda moved closer to Pony and sat by him on the bed.

"It makes him look younger." Soda said, as he looked at Pony with the breathing tube in his nose. I had to agree with him.

I reached out and touched Pony's wet face. It was still damp from the tears and I couldn't help but get a little teary-eyed myself.

"What are we going to do about this, Darry? It's torture for Pony. He knows what he won't be able to do. He's hurt, Darry. We got to make him better!" Soda said passionately.

"I know, little buddy. But I don't know how."

Soda's POV

I hated the sense of helplessness that continued to wash over me. It wasn't right. Pony shouldn't have to suffer this way. He hadn't done anything wrong! He only saved those kids, nothing more. Shouldn't he be rewarded, not punished?

Dallas knocked on the door before he stepped inside.

"What's going on?" Dallas asked, looking at Pony.

"Not much. We told him about how he may never walk again." I said.

I looked over at Darry and saw that he was still mad at Dallas. I didn't know why. Dallas hadn't done anything wrong.

"Poor kid. I don't understand it."

"I understand one thing: you should have done more to help him." Darry said quietly.

Dallas glared at Darry for a minute, then turned to me.

"Soda, I'll be back in a little while. Johnny wants to come see Pony." He turned and walked out the door, and Johnny came in.

"How is he?" Johnny asked quietly.

"Not very good. We told him about his legs." Darry responded. I noticed that he wasn't mad at Johnny. But then, none of us could get mad at Johnny. He was the gangs' pet.

"It's not fair." Johnny said, stepping closer to Pony.

Johnny reached out and squeezed Pony's hand. I smiled at his show of support.

Johnny looked at me and said, "Can I talk to you for minute?"

"Sure." We walked outside of Pony's room and into the hallway.

"What's up?" I asked, knowing that Johnny must have had something big on his mind to be talking to me.

"I wanted to talk to you about Dallas."

"What about him?"

"Darry's mad at him, isn't he?" Johnny asked.

"Yeah. I don't know why, though."

"I don't either. He should be kissing the ground he walks on."

I was stumped.

"Why would he do that?" I asked.

"Because Dallas was the one who saved Pony from the burning church."

His words hit me hard.

"You mean...Dallas saved Pony?"

"He saved his life. Pony had passed out inside the church, and wouldn't have made it out in time. Dallas ran inside and pulled him out. Seconds later, the roof of the church collapsed. The firefighters barely made it out, too. They had been on the other side of the church when Dallas had gone in. They hadn't even seen Dallas and Pony."

What Johnny told me hit me hard. I couldn't believe Dallas had done all that for Pony. And here Darry was hating him for not doing anything. And Dallas was too modest to tell him what really happened.

Dallas came walking back and he went in the room. I watched him, gratitude washing over me.

"Thanks a lot, Johnny." I said, reaching out and squeezing his shoulder.

"No problem." Johnny said, smiling. He turned and walked down the hallway.

I opened up the door and what I saw made me mad.

"Why didn't you do something? Those kids don't mean anything to us! Pony does! He could have been killed!" Darry was screaming, and I noticed there was blood on his knuckles from where he had hit Dallas.

Dallas hit Darry across the face with his fist. Darry stumbled back a little.

"Why don't you open your eyes?" Dallas screamed, cursing as he held his bloody nose.

I jumped in between the two of them, separating their punches.

"Stop it, Darry!" I screamed as Darry reared back to hit Dallas again.

"Why!" Darry barked.

"Because Dallas saved Pony's life!" I screamed.

Darry looked shocked. He stepped back, away from me and Dallas.

"What?" He asked, his voice quiet.

"Dallas saved Pony's life. If it hadn't been for him, Pony would be dead. Dallas went back in for Pony when Pony passed out in the church. Pony wouldn't have stood a chance if it hadn't been for Dallas."

Dallas stood back, his jaw clenched, his eyes flaring. Darry looked at him for confirmation, and Dallas nodded, blood still pouring down his face.

Darry sank into one of the chairs, and stared at the wall ahead of him. In a moment, he placed his face in his hands, and began to cry.

I stepped over to him and placed my arms around him. Dallas moved toward the door, but Darry stopped him.

Darry stood up and walked over to Dallas. He stuck his hand out, and Dallas took it, shaking it hard.

Darry drew him into a hug, and I heard him say, "thank you."

When the two separated, Dallas left the room.

"Darry?" Pony's small, hoarse voice spoke.

Darry and I turned to see him watching us.

"Yeah, baby?" Darry said, walking over to him.

"What happened to you?" He asked, reaching out and touching Darry's eye that was turning a dark purple.

Darry grabbed Pony's hand and held it tightly.

"Nothing, baby. It's nothing." Darry leaned over and hugged Pony tightly against him.

I smiled as I watched the two of them. Darry worried too much about Pony. But then, now he had good reason to.

Hey, everyone! I had a great time in Florida. I missed you guys, though. :( I didn't get to go to Disney World(though I'd love to) but I did get a nice tan. I'll try to keep up on the updating. Sorry for making you wait so long!