Well, here I am 31 chapters later and still going strong! Never thought I would get this far. The updates have been taking a little longer than usual lately but I have to thank my readers for sticking with me.

Pony is finally starting to get better, but will it last? I know where I see this story going, but where do you? I'd love to hear from you. Reviews (and PMs) are always appreciated.

~ Simona

Soda's first thought was that Pony had wet the bed. It was embarrassing and for a minute he contemplated telling Steve and Two-Bit to scram. But then he glanced at the urinary catheter that was discreetly hanging off the edge of the bed and realized that couldn't possibly have happened as everything was intact.

Two-Bit had apparently come to the same conclusion but for once he wasn't joking around. He gave Soda a look before turning back to the kid and speaking up. "You ok, Ponyboy?" he asked.

Ponyboy opened his eyes. "Is it hot in here?" he asked weakly.

Steve obviously didn't care about keeping anything quiet. "Kid's soaked through the sheets and he says he's hot?!" he pointed out.

"Steve…" Soda warned, putting a hand on his friend's chest to tell him to back off. But it was too late, Pony had heard him.

"I'm sweating," he answered, lifting his head slightly and looking around at his damp sheets.

Soda leaned over and pressed his hand against Pony's forehead. He was in shock.

Suddenly Darry appeared in the doorway, wearing the same clothes as before, hair freshly slicked back. He saw Soda, Steve, and Two-Bit standing around the bed and immediately got worried.

"What's going on guys?" he asked in concern, getting closer. That's when he noticed Pony was awake and the bed was damp.

Soda was practically jumping up and down like a kid in a candy store. "Darry," he said excitedly, "I think Pony's fever broke."

The relief in Darry's heart was enormous as he pressed his hand against Pony's cheek and forehead. "Pony, how are you doing?" Pony looked up at him, trying to sit up by propping himself on his elbow, but he was still too weak.

"I'm sweating...It's so hot in here, Darry," Pony moaned, annoyed that his head was spinning.

"Yeah, you sweat right through your sheets, kiddo," Darry said smoothly. "It doesn't seem like you have a fever either, Pone. We need to get the nurse in here to be sure," he said. He felt like cheering.

"It's probably not comfortable for you right now is it, huh Pone?" Darry continued, "Here, I have an idea. You wanna try sitting up, little buddy? Soda, help him," he said before Pony could even answer.

Since Pony still had IVs in his arm, Soda came around to that side, where the tubes were attached to the bags hanging from a pole. He leaned over where his brother was laying on his back. "Pone? Think you can sit up?" he asked. Pony agreed so Soda began gently assisting him up. Two-Bit helped.

When he was sitting up, worn out and unstable, with Soda's arm behind him holding his weight up, Darry pulled the sheets under him as Soda put another arm under his knees and sort of maneuvered him in a semi-circle so that his bony legs were dangling off the edge of the bed.

If he wasn't so dizzy, Pony would probably have been embarrassed by the whole thing.

Pony was obviously connected to the catheter because he wasn't going to the bathroom on his own yet. As Pony sat off the side of the bed, the bag flopped against the floor. Soda remembered it and quickly pushed it under the bed with his toe so no one would say anything.

Then he held on to Ponyboy to keep him from pitching forward, when he saw that he was shaky. The gown Pony wore swallowed him.

At the same time, Darry pulled the damp sheet off the bed, and balled it up, pushing it to the other side in a rumpled heap.

Soda threw an arm around Pony's shoulders, pulling him close, and kissing the side of his Pony's head as he sat next to him. "How are you feeling, kiddo?" he asked.

"I'm dizzy," Pony said, and he leaned heavily into his brother's side.

"Let's get the nurse," Darry said and pressed the call button.

Two-Bit came over and stood in front of them, eyeing Pony warily. Then he cracked a grin, "Kid, you look like you're ready to run a marathon!" he joked. Pony buried his face in Soda's shoulder, tired and embarrassed. It was strange to be up and about and even though he had no fever, he was still foggy and not feeling like himself.

"Aw, Two-Bit, lay off!" Darry called from across the room.

"Yeah, Two-Bit, leave my kid brother alone," Soda teased and then looked down at Pony and cracked a smile. Pony grinned back. Soda always made him feel better.

The nurse came in at that moment, "What can I do for you boys?" she asked and then noticed her patient was not laying down. "Ponyboy! Wonderful to see you sitting up for a change. How's that fever?" She fidgeted with one of Pony's IV bag, realizing she would have to fill it again soon.

"Actually," Darry answered for him, "We think it broke. Pony sweat through his sheets."

Pony's ears got hot when he thought he saw Steve smirk but tried not to think about it.

The nurse pressed her hand against Pony's forehead. She smiled. "Yes, it seems like it," she predicted and pulled out her thermometer.

It was like an old habit by now. Pony opened his mouth waiting for the god forsaken glass stick to hit beyond his tongue and gag him. Come to think of it, he did feel a little better, though he was exhausted as hell. But it was nice to be sitting up for a change, next to Sodapop.

Soda rubbed his back as Pony leaned against Soda and stared straight ahead. Darry talked to the nurse. "We'll change his sheets, and get him a fresh gown," the brothers heard her say, "He'll be good as new."

Two minutes later she pulled out the thermometer and the boys watched as she stared at it for a moment before grinning suddenly from ear to ear.

"99.2 Ponyboy! Your fever has indeed broken!" You'd think they had just won the lottery the way the tension in the room dissipated and the guys cheered. Darry had to look at the thermometer himself, as he wasn't sure he had heard her right.

Two-Bit whooped like he was at the rodeo for a good minute, before Steve elbowed him.

"You hear that, Pone?" Soda exclaimed, and despite being tired and unfocused, Pony cracked a sliver of a smile watching everyone so happy.

"Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves," the nurse said suddenly, "We're not out of the woods just yet. There's always a chance the fever could come back. But this is a good sign. We need to keep that bugger down, don't we, Ponyboy?" she rubbed his arm affectionately,

"Yes ma'am," Pony said in a low voice.

""This is excellent news. The doctor will be pleased," she said.

She turned to Darry, "I'm going to need you and your brother to help me move Ponyboy to a chair so that I can get the bed in order," she said.

"Sure thing," Darry said.

"Sit tight, Ponyboy. I'll be right back with new bed linen and a gown."

When she left, Pony decided he would try to stand up before anyone could stop him. And he did.

It was a bad idea. His legs weren't ready for him, as a wave of dizziness maybe the room spin, and his legs buckled.

The room erupted in sudden shouting when he fell and Pony could barely make out one voice above another.

"Whoa, whoa," Soda shouted, as he stood up and grabbed Ponyboy under the arms.

"Catch him" came a voice from somewhere off to the side.

"Hey!" Two-Bit leapt forward in front of Pony, his hands catching his sick friend's around the waist before he hit the floor.

Darry ran over to help.

"Easy, Pony," Soda said as they gently eased him back down on the bed.

Darry kneeled down in front of his brother, rocking back on his heels. "Pony, are you ok?" he asked, hand protectively on his brother's arm as Soda rubbed his back.

"I – I – I thought I could stand up," Pony responded. But I got dizzy. I guess I shouldn't have,"

"Yeah, you got that right," Darry said sternly, but then his voice softened, "You're just not ready yet. It will happen soon. Your fever's down but like the nurse said you're still fighting something, so don't get up without help just yet, ok, little buddy?" Darry stood up.

Two-Bit punched Pony lightly in the arm. "Don't get tough, kid," he said, with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.

The nurse came back into the room carrying a small pile in her arm. She set it down off to the side.

"He tried to get up just now on his own and almost fell," Darry told her immediately, "He still can't stand up well on his own…"

"Darry!" Pony hissed in the background, his face turning red. Soda hooked his arm around Pony again and pulled him towards his side. At least Soda could make him feel better.

"Right," The nurse turned to Pony, looking at him with concern. "Now, Pony, you haven't moved in some days, and you're still sick, so it's ok if you're not 100 percent and need some help," she said, "Let's move him so that I can take care of the sheets," she said to the others. "Pony, we'll move you to the hospital recliner so it will be more comfortable for you."

"Here, I can help," Darry offered right away, almost like he wanted to offer an olive branch to his little brother for telling the nurse he had fallen when he tried to stand.

She didn't say it out loud but the nurse realized that Pony was too weak for a regular chair. She could tell that he was already having trouble sitting upright. At least the special recliner, designed for patients recuperating post illness and surgery, would let him recline a little and maybe lift his feet.

"You need to grab him around the waist and help him stand," she told Darry, "Make sure you've got your feed wide to keep your balance."

Darry motioned to Steve and Two-Bit to help move the recliner even closer to where Pony was sitting so they could pivot him easily.

Darry loomed over his little brother like a tall building, but not quite as steely.

"Ponyboy," he said, putting a hand on his brother's shoulder, "When I lift you up, I want you to put your arms around my neck, ok? Just hold on to me and I'll do the work," he said. "Don't let go."

"Ok Darry," Pony said, with complete trust. Anyway, he was getting worn out and knew he would need all the help he could get.

"Soda, stand behind him in case," Darry said.

Darry got in front of Pony and placed his feet far apart to create a barrier around Pony's knees. He bent forward and clasped his hands behind Pony's lower back, preparing to lift him up as soon as Pony's arms came out. Pony put his arms around his big brother's neck like he was hugging him and waited to be lifted.

"Ready?" Darry asked.

"Yea," Pony said, and felt himself being lifted up to a standing position by the strong arms of his brother. His legs were, in fact, much weaker than he had expected and though his feet were on the ground, Darry practically carried him to the chair.

It wasn't easy but Darry was surprised by just how much weight Pony had lost in just a few days.

Darry plopped Pony down into the recliner and the nurse got to work, checking Pony's IV and the bags of fluid that were hanging off the pole he gripped in his left hand. Then she changed his sheets and fluffed his pillow.

The sweat gathered at Pony's temples and he shivered in the loose hospital gown that stuck to his clammy skin as his head drooped to the side.

"You alright, Pone?" Soda asked. He was watching his brother tremble a bit - probably sweating out the fever had made him cold. Before Pony had time to answer, he felt Soda leaning him back in the recliner slightly and covering him with his jacket.

Pony didn't go to sleep, but his eyes were glazed and hazy. Steve noticed it first as he peered down at him.

"What's wrong with you, kid?" he asked gruffly, getting everyone to look at him and lightly kicking the chair which jarred Pony awake.

"I'm just a little dizzy," Pony said, his eyes closing, "I'm ok," he said.

Soda put a hand on Pony's shoulder and carded his hand through his hair as he stood behind him while they waited for the nurse to finish what she was doing. It was putting Ponyboy to sleep.

"Pony…" the nurse called out in a sing-song voice, effectively interrupting his nap, 'Don't fall asleep just yet. I want to get you into a new gown. I don't want you to stay in that one."

Pony opened his eyes again, even though what he really wanted to do was conk out. Darry helped him back to the bed the same way he had helped him to the chair. Since they still had to change the gown, he sat Pony down on the edge of the bed, and this time, he was the one who sat next to him instead of Soda, to keep him from falling over or pitching forward.

"Darry, when do I get to go back to sleep?" Pony asked his brother wearily. He wanted to stay awake, he was mentally tired of sleeping, but his body was telling him otherwise, and all the moving around had exhausted him.

"Soon, buddy, real soon." Darry said, patting Pony's shoulder, "You can lean on me, if you like."

"His fever breaking is a good sign," the nurse told Darry a few minutes later, "As long as it stays down and he starts eating, I don't see why he can't make a full recovery," she paused thinking for a moment, "I think the doctor will say we can start getting him somewhat mobile in the next day or so. Let's start by taking the catheter out," she suggested. "I need to get approval for that, so I'll go ask the doctor. He might want to see Ponyboy anyway. I'll be back in a moment,"

When the nurse left, Pony yawned loudly and then asked for water. Soda poured him some in a plastic cup which he downed quickly before his shaky fingers would topple the whole thing.

The nurse came back about 5 minutes later. "Well, the doctor can't see Ponyboy right this moment, but he's very happy to hear that the fever is down. The good news is that he okayed taking out the catheter and seeing if Pony can manage without it," she said, smiling like it was the best news in the world, "If Pony starts eating and drinking well, we could even start giving him medicine orally instead of through the IV," she said, sounding hopeful.

Soda was encouraged, "You hear that, Pone?" he asked his brother, squeezing his shoulder.

The nurse gave Darry a look. "We'll take the catheter out now. I think you might want to give Ponyboy a little privacy?"

"Ohh," Darry said, realizing what that meant. "Hey guys," he said, turning to Steve and Two-Bit, "I think maybe y'all should take five. We need a little pri-"

Steve nodded, getting it right away. "Yea, no problem Darry. Hey Two-Bit," he said, grabbing his friend a bit rough around the neck, "Let's go have a smoke, the guys need some space."

"Huh? What?" Two-Bit wasn't quite as up to speed, "I just had two cigarettes like 15 minutes ago," he said, confused.

"So you'll have another…" Steve told him, practically dragging him out of the room.

Just before he was out the door, Steve turned back to the guys. "I'm heading into work soon, so I probably won't be back. Soda, I'll ask about putting you on the clock…"

"Sure thing," Soda replied, nodding, "Thanks Steve,"

"I'll send this idiot back up in a little while," he said, pushing Two-Bit out the door. Darry, Soda, Ponyboy and the nurse could still hear them arguing in the hallway as Steve closed the door behind himself.

Ponyboy didn't quite get it either. "Why did they leave?" he asked innocently from the bed.

"They wanted to give us some privacy. Pone," Darry said, coming closer to the bed as he wondered how he was going to explain the situation, "You know you've been out for a few days and haven't been able to go to the bathroom...so they had to put in a catheter - you know like a bag that -"

Pony's face turned red again, "Darry, I know what a catheter is,"

"Yeah Darry," Soda said, grinning and lightly punching him in the arm, "Spare us the details."

Darry blushed and smiled too, remembering that his brother was less naïve than anyone gave him credit for, "Yeah, well, you seem to be doing better finally, so the nurse wants to take it out."

Pony looked over at the nurse who was standing off to the side patiently waiting.

"Is it going to hurt?" he asked.

"It shouldn't," she said, "Maybe it'll be a little uncomfortable."

Pony glanced at Soda with an apprehensive look in his eyes and Soda immediately understood without either of them saying a word. He sat down in his chair on the right side of the bed and without calling attention to himself or Pony, took his brother's hand and squeezed knowingly.

Thankfully, the procedure was quick and painless. After it was over, the nurse told Pony to get some rest and warned him that he was going to have to try eating later. Then she collected her things and left.

Ponyboy sagged back against the pillows. His eyes burned with weariness and his eyelids drooped. He put two fingers up to his forehead, pressing at his temples as his head lolled forward.

"What's wrong?" Darry asked him.

He looked up at his brother, obviously worn out. "I have a headache," he said, frowning.

Sodapop stroked gently at his hair from the side of the bed.

"Yeah, Pony," he said, "You look beat."

"That was harder than I thought," Pony said in a low voice, "I don't know…if I'm ready for this."

"You are," Soda replied, "Take it slow. Get your energy back. We'll help you. No rush getting out of the hospital…"

Darry knew that was the wrong thing for Soda to say, even though he didn't say anything. It would only make Pony feel more guilty.

Dammit Soda, no use putting ideas in his head, Darry thought.

He was right.

"Maybe…I should get out of here sooner," he said under his breath, "Too many medical bills to pay."

"Pony," Darry's voice was stern as he reached over to clap his little brother on the shoulder.

"I told you before and I'll tell ya again. I don't want you worryin' about that. Alright? You need to concentrate on getting better," he paused, "And if that's going to take weeks in the hospital, well, then…we'll figure something out."

Sodapop grinned, proud of his brother. He wasn't used to Darry saying things like that, to make Ponyboy feel better, even though it probably wasn't the whole truth. Neither of them knew just how much the medical bills would be, but it was gonna be pretty.

Neither of them wanted to tell Pony that, though, as he was just starting to get better. And they wanted to protect him.

"Anyway, I'm probably going into the warehouse for a few hours today in about 20 minutes," Darry said. He glanced at Soda, "I wasn't sure if it I would go, you were still pretty sick - but now that the fever broken," he paused, thoughtfully, "It's still a big mess out there and nobody's gonna be climbin' any roofs anytime soon. But the warehouse said they're opening today and they could use someone to unpack the inventory," Darry explained, "And we could use the money," he said more quietly

"Ok Darry," Pony said, already nodding off, his eyes fluttering closed. "But you be careful out there, ok?"

Darry grinned, loving the fact that his sick in a hospital bed little brother was trying to protect HIM. It made him laugh inside.

He brushed his hand along Pony's cheek, grateful that it seemed to be a normal temperature.

"Sure I will, kiddo," he said.