Well, since I got quite a few questions on her, I figured now is the time to give you a moment with Rose. YAY! Everyone excited? I was planning on waiting a while, but she'll be in this chapter and a few future chapters. Oh, and Tom is NOT a Ponyboy clone, despite what RockerLane thinks. Ha. Enjoy!

Pony's POV

I waited in the hallway while Darry prepared to get ready. Soda was bringing the car around and I waited to go down with Darry. He was already signed out. He was just getting changed.

I was heading out of the gift shop when I saw a familiar face.

Rose was standing at the nurses' station talking to someone. I smiled. It had been a long time since I had seen her.

As though sensing I was watching her, she turned to me. When she saw me, her face registered her surprise, but then she smiled. She turned to the lady she had been talking to and then walked over to me.

"Hey, Pony!" She said as soon as she was within hearing range.

"Hi, Rose."

She leaned down and hugged me. I hugged her back awkwardly.

"So how are you? It's been quite some time, huh? You're not sick are you?"

I shook my head. "No. My brother, Darry, was here. He has an ulcer."

"Aw. Is he okay?"

"He seems to be."

"Well, that's good."

"So what are you here for?"

"Just another check up. No big deal."

"I'm glad you're doing okay."

She took a step back and studied me a minute.

"Are you doing okay?"

I blushed under her scrutiny. "I've been better."

"I'm sure you have. You did read that note I gave you, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you listen?"

I looked up at her then. She had such a direct way of talking about things. There was no beating around the bush with her and she seemed to understand everyone.

I was speechless.

Just then, Darry walked over.

"Hey, guys. Rose, I didn't know you were here. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Darry. I take it you're okay now?"

Darry smiled at her. "Yeah, but not before I gave Pony and Soda quite a scare."

He ruffled my hair affectionately.

"Well, it was good seeing you two. I'd better get going. My appointment should be starting soon."

"It was good seeing you, too, Rose. We'd better get going, too. Soda's probably waiting on us impatiently," Darry said.

"I'll see you guys around." Before she walked away, she turned back to me.

"Don't forget what I said, Pony."

I smiled. "I won't."

"I'll know if you didn't!" She called as she walked down the hallway, her back to us.

I shook my head. She was something.

"You ready?" Darry asked me.

I nodded and we went out to the parking lot where Soda was waiting on us.

Soda's POV

I waited for Darry and Pony to get in the truck. Pony sat by me and Darry sat on the other side of him. As soon as Darry got Pony's wheelchair in the back of the truck and got inside, I drove off.

We had to stop on the way home to get Darry's prescription. Darry went into the pharmacy and came out looking grim. I didn't need for him to tell me to know the bill was expensive.

The three of us decided to take the day off. Pony said he didn't have much going on at school. The school made a special exception for his absences anyway. He had to miss every now and then for his physical therapy sessions. His grades never suffered for his absences.

I knew Darry needed to have the day off anyway and, though reluctantly, I decided that I should take off.

We spent the day catching up. It made me sad to think that we had to actually catch up on each others' lives. We had been so close. we spent all our time together. There was never a time I didn't know what Darry and Pony were doing. But things had changed, and not for the better.

"Hey, Darry. You feeling okay?" I asked when I noticed he was looking a little pale. This made Pony look at Darry, too.

"I'm okay. I just don't like feeling so lethargic. These pills really take their toll."

"You want to go lay down for a while?"

"No. It's not everyday I get to spend time with you guys. I don't want to miss a minute of it." He reached over and patted Pony's arm and ruffled my hair playfully.

"What's with you and ruining the hair?"

He laughed and we turned back to the television.

I let my mind wander, a dangerous thing. I felt resentment rise in me once more.

I thought I could trust Darry. I thought he trusted me! He'd usually tell me everything that was going on. Why didn't he tell me he was hurting? I knew he had been keeping it from me. What had he been doing the other day when he was in the bathroom? Was he sick, bleeding, hurting so badly he couldn't stand it? I hated that he hid it from me. What happened to the trust between us, the openness? Had our time apart really affected us so much?

I felt tears of anger and frustration well in my eyes. I stood to leave.

"Everything okay?" Darry asked, looking at me in concern.

"Yes. Everything is fine."

I walked quickly from the room. I didn't want his pity or his apologies. I went into my room to lick my wounds.

Darry's POV

I watched Soda as he left the room. I wondered what was wrong. I had heard the frustration in his voice and I couldn't help but feel responsible for it.

I looked at Pony who shrugged, not knowing what was wrong either.

I was about to go to Soda, but then there was a knock at the door.

I quickly went to the door, wondering who it could be, since the gang all just walked in.

I opened the door and found Tim Shepherd, holding Steve Randle, who was bleeding.

"Soda!" I screamed, knowing he'd want to be there for his friend.

I opened the door wider and Tim helped Steve inside.

"What happened?" Soda asked when he came in.

"I don't know. I found him in the lot. He's hurt pretty bad," Tim answered.

Steve, barely conscious, mumbled something.

"What is it, buddy?" Soda asked after Tim laid Steve on the couch. Pony backed out of the way, into the kitchen.

"It...hurts."

"I know, buddy. We're going to take care of you, okay?"

Steve's lips moved, but no sound came out. He closed his eyes and lay weakly against the couch.

"We're got to patch that up," I said, meaning the cut on his side. I hadn't even seen the actual cut, but knew that it was bad considering it had soaked through his shirt so much.

I went into the bathroom and got out our first aid kit. I was thankful that I had just filled it recently.

I came back, wondering if I'd be able to do this.

"Soda, hold him still. I don't want him to regain consciousness and fight me."

Soda complied, holding Steve my the arms.

I lifted Steve's shirt and saw that this was going to be too much for me to do.

"It's too bad, guys. All I can do is cover it. He needs to go to the hospital. Now."

Soda looked a little pale after seeing the open, bloody wound on Steve's side. Whatever had happened, Steve was cut open deeply and he wasn't going to heal over night.

I lifted Steve and I headed for the truck. I let Soda and Pony get in first before I got in. Soda would drive so I could carry Steve easier.

"You want to come?" I asked Tim while Soda and Pony got situated.

"No. You take care of him. I'll see you around."

I nodded and then got in. I laid Steve's upper body on Pony's lap, making sure that the blood would just spill on me.

Soda sped to the hospital and we arrived in record time. I looked down at Steve's face and noticed how pale he looked. This wasn't good.

"We need a doctor over here right now!" I screamed as we came into the emergency room.

Nurses turned and, seeing that we were very serious, moved to get a bed. The wheeled it over and I laid Steve onto it. A doctor appeared and looked at Steve.

"What happened?"

"We don't know. We found him like that."

The doctor tore away Steve's shirt and inspected the wound.

"Get him back there. We'll need to stitch him. He's lost too much blood, so put him in the ICU," The doctor ordered one of the nurses.

The man turned back to us and, seeing our pale faces, gave us some encouragement.

"He's going to be all right. We'll take care of him." With that, he ran off.

I turned to face Soda and Pony. It was a good thing because just then Soda passed out into my arms.

A nurse came over to me.

"Weren't you just here?" She asked as she checked for a pulse in Soda's neck.

I smiled. "Yeah. we just can't stay away."

"Has he had any injuries lately?"

"No."

"Has he eaten recently?"

"Yes. He ate supper not two hours ago."

She nodded.

"Well, he should be okay. It's probably just fear."

"Thank you."

I carried Soda and sat down on one of the benches in the waiting room. Pony wheeled beside me, looking fearfully at Soda.

"He's okay, kiddo. He's just worried about Steve."

Pony nodded, but he didn't look like he believed me. I reached my free hand over to him and patted his shoulder.

Pony smiled at me, though it wasn't very believable, and I smiled in return.

I sat back against the chair to wait on Soda to regain consciousness.

Steve's POV

I stood across the street from my house, or maybe my ex-house. I still wasn't sure. I waited to see my father come home. I'd judge by his demeanor. If he looked drunk, angry, or frustrated, I wouldn't ask if I was allowed home. If he looked pleasant enough, I'd ask.

I was about to give up when I was shoved from behind.

"What are you doing here, boy? Didn't I tell you never to come back?" My father's slurred voice screamed at me.

I turned from my position on the ground. I looked up into his face, filled with rage.

"I told you to get! Can't you hear?" He kicked me in the ribs. I cried out in pain, wrapping my arms around my ribs to protect myself.

"Dad! Stop!" I screamed when he came at me with a busted bottle.

I crawled backwards as fast as I could, trying to get away from him.

"This'll teach you!" Dad came at me. I stood, about to run away, but I wasn't fast enough.

I felt the bottle crash into my side, slicing me open. I screamed, fighting the pain.

When I felt the bottle slide out of me, I ran as fast as my aching body would allowed.

I headed to the lot, stumbling all the way. I made it half way across. I could see the Curtis' house. Just a few more yards and I'd be there.

But I fell to my knees, exhausted. The blood trailed down my side. I tried to move, but fell into unconsciousness before I could.