Okay, you guys better show me lots of love because I'm updating on my BIRTHDAY. Can you tell how exciting it is? LOL No, we mostly celebrated yesterday. I could be mean and wait until tomorrow, but I'm being good and not making you wait. So show me some love!

Oh, and in answer to lots of questions, yes, I did write that poem. And, no, I'm not suicidal(not that that was a question, I just wanted to clarify that).

Soda's POV

"What is it?" Pony asked in a quiet voice as he came out of our room. He still looked shaken. I placed a hand on his shoulder. Maybe it was just the scare Darry was giving us. What was wrong with Two-Bit?

When Darry remained silent, I spoke his name, watching him carefully. He seemed in shock, scared. I stepped away from Pony and went to him, looking him in the eye.

"What is it, Darry?" I asked.

"We-we have to go. We have to go to Two-Bit's house. Now."

I nodded, but Darry was already ahead of me, running out the door.

The three of us got in the truck as quickly as possible. We were delayed slightly because of Pony and his wheelchair. Darry sped away from our house faster than I'd seen him drive before. Two-Bit only lived a few miles away, but with Pony, we'd take a while to get there.

Darry remained silent, not telling us what was going on. Pony looked frightened. I wrapped an arm around his shoulder. He looked up at me and I smiled encouragingly at him.

When we got to Two-Bit's house, Darry was out of the car immediately after he stopped. I went around to the bed of the truck and got Pony's wheelchair. I helped him get in so we'd go faster. Once Pony was settled, I chased after Darry, hearing him scream Two-Bit's name.

I went into the living room of Two-Bit's house and found Darry sitting beside Two-Bit. A large puddle of blood was pouring out of his shoulder. Before I could turn and block Pony's view, he was there, seeing it all. By the look of terror on his face, I knew he was as surprised and scared as I was.

"Help me get him up," Darry ordered, his voice stern, though I could tell it was from the emotions weighing on him.

I quickly complied, rushing to his side and taking Two-Bit by the feet. Darry held his upper body as gently as he could, but Two-Bit moaned. I noted the gun resting where he had lain. Two-Bit had done that to himself?

"We have to get him to the hospital. Let's bring him out to the truck. You okay?" Darry said.

"I'm fine."

Pony backed up and out of the house, tears in his eyes. I couldn't imagine what this was doing to him. he had been going through enough lately, as I overheard from his conversation with Rose. I was glad she had been there for Pony, though I was jealous it wasn't me he chose to talk to.

Shaking myself from those thoughts and making myself focus on the present, I backed out of Two-Bit's house. I didn't like doing it backwards, having to glance behind me every few steps. But Darry had it hard enough trying to keep Two-Bit comfortable and not bother his bleeding shoulder.

We finally got him to the truck. We turned so Darry would go in first. He was too limp to leave sitting.

"Where should we sit?" I asked him, meaning Pony and I.

"I guess in the back. You want to drive? I can hang on to him back there."

"No, no. You drive. I'll take care of him."

Pony was waiting for me at the back of the truck. He must have overheard our conversation.

"You going to need help getting up here?" I asked him. He nodded, surprising me.

"Okay." I leaned down and scooped him into my arms, sitting down on the back of the truck. I backed up a little, then placed Pony in the back. I quickly got out of the truck and put Pony's wheelchair in with us.

"Ready?" Darry asked.

"Ready." I replied. I scooted over to Pony, wrapping an arm around him and hanging on to the side of the truck.

"Just hang onto me, okay?" I told Pony. He nodded, wrapping an arm around my waist.

Darry drove us to the hospital, careful with turns. Pony and I did okay in the back. Pony's wheelchair bumped into my side a few times, but I didn't mind as long as it wasn't hurting Pony.

When we arrived, Darry took Two-Bit in before I could get Pony out. By the time Pony and I got inside, Two-Bit was already being taken back.

When we walked up to Darry, he turned, looking grim.

"I-I have to find his mother."

"Do you know where she is?" I asked.

"Probably here."

I was confused.

"Why would she be here?"

"Because Molly died here today."

I gasped. Pony looked equally surprised. Two-Bit's sister died? How?

"I'll be back as soon as I can, okay, guys?"

I nodded and Darry walked away and to one of the nurses' stations.

Pony and I went to the waiting room. I sank down in the chair, feeling emotionally exhausted.

I looked over at Pony. He seemed to be taking it better than I expected, but I assumed there was more to it than he was showing. I was proud of him for all he had told me this afternoon.

When I walked in on him talking to Rose, he hadn't noticed. Rose had acknowledged my presence, but kept her attention on Pony. The power behind his words had shocked me. I hadn't know he was feeling that way. The fact that he wouldn't tell me and Darry anything to protect us made me proud, but sad, too. Pony should be able to tell me and Darry anything, but he was too afraid to. He shouldn't have to worry about me, Darry, the gang. He was the youngest. It wasn't his job to worry.

His observation on me had surprised me. I didn't laugh as much as I used to? It was probably true, but I hadn't done it intentionally. It was hard. I realized the problems of the gang, too. I hated seeing Steve so bitter. I had even picked up on Two-Bit's secrecy. I wondered now if part of that had something to do with his sister. I had more stress and worries than I had before. I figured it had something to do with my change of attitude.

Rose had left once Pony realized it was me, not her, who was holding him. She promised to come back soon so Pony could talk more. I hoped he wouldn't need to talk to her as much.

Pony didn't tell me too much after Rose left, but I got the gist of it. He was scared, sad, worried. I didn't want him to be feeling any of those things, but it seemed out of my control.

I looked over at Pony again and found he had fallen asleep. It was no wonder. I hadn't realized the time. It was ten thirty at night.

I snuggled in the chair, getting comfortable. I'd try to stay awake until Darry came back, but I wasn't making any promises.

Darry's POV

I found out from one of the nurses that Mrs. Mathews was on the third floor, talking to some of the doctors. She hadn't left since Molly died, but had planned on leaving soon. She was waiting on the elevator, to go down, when I came up.

She must have read my expression because when she saw me she put her hand on her heart and said, "What is it?"

I sighed, taking her by the elbow and bringing her to a chair. When she was seated, I stooped down in front of her. I took her hands in mine, comfortingly, and looked her in the eyes.

"Two-Bit got shot." She gasped, and tears began to fall. I continued. "He's here right now, in the hospital. I brought him into the emergency room. He called me before he got shot. Um, ma'am, I'm not positive, but I think he may have shot himself."

I wasn't sure she heard me. She took her hands out of mine and covered her face. She cried for several minutes, and when she stopped, she had an amazing calm.

"Take me to the waiting room, please."

I nodded. "Okay."

I walked her to the elevator and to the waiting room. She had amazing control over herself, for someone who lost her daughter and might lose her son in one day.

When she saw Soda and Pony, who had both fallen asleep, she smiled. I was surprised to find it there.

"Poor boys. They look so exhausted."

I smiled at their sleeping forms as well. They did look tired. I didn't like that.

After I sat her down in one of the chairs across from Soda and Pony, I sat down beside her. Within a few short minutes, a doctor was out.

"Is there a Darry in here?" He asked, looking around. I stood.

"Yes. That's me."

He sighed, then smiled. "Good. I take it you know Keith Mathews? He's conscious at the moment and he's asking for you."

I looked to Two-Bit's mom. I could see surprise there, but she nodded her consent.

I followed the doctor back. I was told to put on a surgical mask to keep germs out. I also put on latex gloves.

When I got to Two-Bit's side, they allowed us as much privacy as possible.

"How you doing, buddy?" I asked as I stood beside him on the hospital bed.

"I-I didn't mean to. I wasn't going to do it. I-I-I chickened out. I couldn't do it. But, but, I realized it too late. I don't want to die. Please, tell my mom that."

"Sh, calm down." He was getting too jittery. "She's here. She's worried about you. But you need to calm down and let these people do their job so you can get better, okay?"

He nodded and a nurse was already placing a mask over his mouth. He began to drift off. I held his hand as he went under. With one last squeeze to my hand, he was out.

"Thank you," I said to the doctor, and let myself out.

When I came back into the waiting room, Soda was awake and talking to Mrs. Mathews. When I walked in, they both turned to me.

"He...he said he didn't mean to shoot himself. He hadn't meant to do it, but I guess he realized he didn't want to die too late. He wanted me to tell you he doesn't want to die."

Mrs. Mathews nodded and began to cry quietly. I looked over at Soda and smiled reassuringly. He settled back into his chair and closed his eyes. I walked over and sat down beside him. He leaned his head on my shoulder and soon he was asleep.