FOREVER CHANGED

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hello all, my name is Darry'sQueen (do you like my play on words?). I have recently rekindled my childhood obsession with The Outsiders. The year the movie first came out is when I first fell for Patrick Swayze and I love him just as much today. I also had a crush on the characters/actors of Ponyboy (C. Thomas) and Johnny (Ralph), and I still do. I remember bawling at the end because they killed off my Johnny (okay, so I was only eight, but still), so I'm here, 23 years later to rectify that. I've written many other stories under a few different pennames, but this is my first Outsiders, so please, please review. Thanks.

STORY SUMMARY: An alternate ending, based mostly on the scenes from the movie. This story starts right after Ponyboy passes out when Dally is shot. Dally still dies (sorry guys, but I could never warm up to him, and I don't think I'd be able to justly write that character). Johnny lives…….at least through the night…….(hey, I need to get your attention somehow). This story will mainly revolve around the Curtis brothers and their relationship with Johnny (no slash), however, all characters will be featured. Will be rated T for possible language.

DISCLAIMER: I absolutely love S.E. Hinton and all of her works, so I would never make any claims to her characters. I'm just borrowing them and putting my spin on the story.

CHAPTER 1

LIFE OR DEATH

"Soda, is somebody sick?"

"Yeah, go back to sleep now.", Soda said in a gentle voice, pushing his hand through his brothers hair. "He's so hot."

"That's the fever Son, it should go down soon. A round of penicillin and he'll be well enough to go home by morning.", the doctor said patting Soda's arm.

Soda nodded. The doctor started to walk toward the door, then suddenly turned to Two-bit and nodded at Pony. "You boys were here earlier visiting the boy who was badly burned yesterday, right?".

"Yessir."

"Do you know how I can get a hold of the family, the phone number I have here is no longer in service?", the doctor asked, looking through his charts.

"Don't bother with those two. Just a buncha no good drunks that never cared about Johnny none.", Two-bit shook his head sadly and sighed. "We'll claim the body……right guys?". He looked at his friends.

The doctor ruffled his brow in confusion. "Body? Boys, your friend isn't dead. What gave you that idea?"

"My brother came home tonight and told us Johnny had died.", Darry explained.

"No, no. Although his condition is very, very critical and he did take a turn for the worse this evening; your friend Johnny is still very much alive."

The boys looked at one another in utter shock.

"Whada you mean?", Steve barked.

The doctor sighed. "Because of the smoke inhalation and burns, Johnny went into respiratory failure. That means his lungs were filling up with fluid and began to shut down, which stopped his breathing."

The group huddled together and listened carefully as the doctor continued.

"We had to put him on a ventilator to help him breath and we inserted two chest tubes to drain the fluid and re-inflate his lungs. But, I'm afraid Johnny has slipped into a coma. We're hoping it's just temporary...", his words trailed off.

The boys seperated; Soda sat on the edge of Pony's bed, Darry began pacing around the room and Two-bit and Steve sunk into a couch behind them. The words of the doctor, starting to sink in.

Soda was about to speak when the doctor interrupted. "That's why we need to get a hold of his family; because he's still a minor, we need authorization for future treatment."

They all looked at one another again. "I'll go.", Steve offered.

"Thank you, Son.", the doctor said, patting Steve on the back and walking him out. He turned over his shoulder, "If any of you would like to visit your friend, I could take you down to the intensive care unit."

Two-bit stood up and nodded. "You two stay with the kid, I'll check on Jonnycake."

Darry nodded a thank you as the three men left.

Soda laid his head in his hands. "So that means Dally died for nothin'.", he sighed and looked at Darry.

"Looks like he's comin' to.", Darry smiled. "Hey Pony, how ya doin'?

"Thirsty.", a groggy Ponyboy said.

Soda chuckled, poured some water into a cup and handed it to his brother.

"Listen Pony, there's somethin' we need to tell you...it's about Johnny. He's taken a turn for the worse.", Darry stated, watching his brothers face carefully.

Pony yawned and rubbed his tired eyes. "Yeah I'd say dead is a pretty big turn for the worse."

"You don't understand...", Soda spoke up.

Ponyboy looked from Darry to Soda.

"What are you sayin'? I saw it...I saw him die...", Pony cried, writhing in the bed, trying to get away.

"No Pony, Johnny ain't dead...he's still alive.", Darry yelled, grabbing his brothers arms.

"No, I...I..." Ponyboy shrieked, right before his eyes rolled back and his head hit the pillow, passsing out for the second time that night.