FOREVER CHANGED

CHAPTER 4

FOR JOHNNY

The days passed slowly into months, it was now the middle of May. Johnny had survived the worst; there were numerous procedures, operations and even some setbacks that threatened his survival, but he made it. The doctors never expected him to last this long, but he did, and his friends were by his side the whole time.

Ponyboy came to see Johnny every day, to read to him or just to sit there while he slept. It was still very hard for Johnny to speak more that a few words at a time, his throat had been badly burned by inhaling hot air. His lungs were scarred and damaged from the smoke, so breathing was still very difficult too. Johnny was on heavy doses of pain medication, and even the slightest movement caused him excruciating agony.

On this particular day, Pony had a half day of school, so he walked over to the library to pick up some new books; then stopped to grab lunch, before heading over to the hospital.

Pony walked eagerly down the hall to Johnny's room, but immediately became disappointed when he walked in. Johnny was still laying face down, Pony usually got to the hospital, right after school, around three o'clock, so Johnny would be facing up; the nurses always turned him at two o'clock. Johnny was still on the same, revolving bed, he had to be turned every four hours so the nurses could tend to his burns. It also took the pressure off of his wounds, helped prevent bed sores and kept his broken back immobilized while it was healing.

"Hey Johnny", Ponyboy called quietly from the doorway.

Johnny took in a shaky breath, "Hey Pony, whacha doin' here so early?"

Pony took a pillow off of the nearest chair and slid underneath Johnny's bed, and moved the mirror out of the way, so he would be able to look at him.

"Got outta school early", Pony replied, Johnny smiled a bit. "I brought you a surprise", Pony added, sitting up too quickly and hitting his head on the metal frame of Johnny's bed.

Johnny tried not to laugh because laughing made him cough and coughing made him wheeze and wheezing made his chest burn, but he just couldn't help laughing at the look on Pony's face.

"Shit, that hurt", Pony hissed, rubbing his head. A smile started to form on his face. "Whadda you laughin' at?", he asked Johnny.

"You", Johnny gasped, but with a grin.

Ponyboy rubbed Johnny's arm, trying to calm his breathing. He fixed the nasal oxygen tube that had fallen out of Johnny's nose, and slid back under the bed.

He could tell Johnny was in a lot of pain and felt bad for making his friend laugh so hard, but it sounded really good to just hear Johnny laugh again.

"Look what I smuggled in man". Johnny opened his eyes to see a nice, cool milkshake in Pony's hand.

Johnny smiled. "It's chocolate, your favorite", Pony said, holding the straw up to Johnny's lips. He took a small sip and let the cold liquid run down his raw throat, he sighed happily. Pony wiped at the corner of Johnny's mouth, where some of the milkshake had dripped out.

Pony gave Johnny one more sip, then resumed his place on the floor, when the pretty blue eyed, blonde nurse, Maggie, came in to turn Johnny. "Hi Johnny, how ya doin'…..Ponyboy, you're here early", she greeted as she got close to Johnny's bed.

"Yeah, I had a half dayof school today", he answered, handing her the frame, leaning against the wall behind him.

She leaned down to replace the mirror Pony had removed and noticed the milkshake cup sitting on the floor. She looked at Ponyboy, he hung his head down as if ready to be scolded; instead, she gave him a 'this is our little secret' grin and returned to fastening Johnny to the board.

Once Johnny was turned and settled, Maggie came over to the head of his bed. She smiled sweetly at him, "You're my favorite patient Johnny…..I'm sure gonna miss you", she stated, brushing his grown out hair off of his forehead with her hand.

"Miss him?", Pony asked, confused.

Maggie looked from Pony back to Johnny, "Didn't Dr. Franklin come to talk with you this morning?". Johnny closed his eyes and nodded slightly.

"Talk to him 'bout what?", Pony practically yelled.

Johnny's dark eyes opened to meet Maggie's crystal ones, she knew he wanted her to continue. She cleared her throat, "They're gonna be transferring Johnny outta here soon….over to Lawndale."

"Are you kiddin' me….why would they be sendin' Johnny to some old folks home?"

"It's a nursing home and it's the only state funded facility that can take him in his condition", Maggie explained, hoping her hushed voice would calm Ponyboy.

Pony was screaming now, "That place is about fifty miles away…why can't he just stay here?"

"Pony, don't yell at her…….it ain't her fault", Johnny managed to gasp out.

Maggie patted Johnny's arm, and left the two friends alone.

The room was silent, except for Johnny's ragged breathing. Pony felt like crying, how could they take his best friend away, he thought.

Johnny broke the silence, "You better start reading if …..you expect to finish those books.…by the time….I leave here".

Pony sighed and pushed a chair next to the bed, he pulled a book out of his bag and sat down.

"And give me s'more of that milkshake…before it melts", he looked up and smiled. Ponyboy only nodded, he wasn't able to return the smile.

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"C'mon guys, we gotta help Johnny", Pony pleaded from the middle of the living room.

"What can we do Pony?", Soda asked.

"I dunno, but we gotta do something", he replied, looking around the room.

"It's not our place Pony, Johnny's a ward of the state now", Darry pointed out.

Ponyboy was on the verge of tears, "But we're his friends, we can't let them send him to that place."

"Kid's right, my neighbor, Mr. Johnson went to Lawndale after havin' a stroke.…he was dead within a week", Steve added bluntly.

"Your not helping Steve", Darry scolded. He turned back to Ponyboy and but his hand on his shoulder, "You just don't understand Pony……

"Damn it Darry, stop treatin' me like I'm some little kid, I'm not", he shrugged Darry's hand off . "All I want to do is find a way to keep Johnny from bein' sent away."

Pony wiped at his tears, Darry could tell how much this was upsetting his baby brother. "Alright, I'll go talk to Johnny's doctor tomorrow and see what we can do", he sighed and walked toward the kitchen. He turned back to Pony and pointed his finger at him, "Just remember Pony, I'm not doin' this for you, I'm doin' it for Johnny…….now get your ass in that bedroom, you're punished for talkin' to me like that."

Ponyboy walked into his bedroom and fell onto the bed. He looked up at the ceiling and smiled, it was a small victory, but he was going to everything in his power to keep the gang together.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to WhoaaReally53, Dallygally19, iheartponyboy33 and SamSammySamantha, for the reviews and critique, I really appreciate it. Creative writing and story composition were never my strong points, and it's been a long, long time since I've taken any classes on those subjects, so sorry for any mistakes. Please keep the reviews coming and I will definitely try to update every day or two.

I usually only put a disclaimer on the first chapter.…..but just in case, I don't own the Outsiders.