Hello everyone! I'm finally back. Thank you everyone for sticking with me this whole time, your support and reviews have meant a lot to me. Your support has really made this process a lot of fun and has kicked me back into gear on more than one occasion.

This is it, the end.

I will have an epilogue that I'm hoping to post in the next week. I hope that you have enjoyed this story and that all your questions have been answered. (there's one last thing that the epilogue will wrap up.)

Until then enjoy!

A soft light streamed in from the window and called me awake. I slowly blinked and opened my eyes. The blinds were closed except for a crack at the bottom and that was what had woken me.

I lifted my head and grimaced as the crick in my neck protested. Twisting my neck to relieve the pain I let myself remember where I was.

The hospital.

Ponyboy!

I bolted into an upright position, my eyes darting around in search of him. A soft grumble to my right pulled my attention and my heart rate calmed when I turned to see the auburn head burrow into the pillow.

I smiled down at the sleeping form of my brother. We were both sitting on his bed with a few pillows propping us up in a recliner position. Ponyboy had been curled into my side, sound asleep and thankfully hadn't been fully woken up by my movement.

I gently settled myself back against the pillow and Ponyboy moved in his sleep so his head was resting against my side. I rubbed at my eyes, trying to get the last bit of sleep to clear.

Quiet snores came from where Darry was slumped in a nearby chair, his arms crossed over his chest. The room was dim with the only light coming from the crack in the blinds.

It had sure been a wild 24 hours. Against all odds we'd found Ponyboy. We'd fought the Donovans for him and that crazy lady had shot me.

I looked down at my left arm, the bandage still crisp and white, undisturbed. It ached an awful lot. I kept forgetting about it until I'd go to move then the pain would flare up. The nurse had given me Tylenol to take the edge off and I was probably due to take another one.

Still it was worth it to have Ponyboy back. I'd stand between him and any danger.

I curled my arm around his shoulder.

He'd still gotten hurt though. Guilt settled in my stomach. Even with my best effort he'd fallen onto that branch and had almost lost his kidney. Hell, he could have died.

When his sheet white face looked up at me, sweat glistening on his forehead, I'd thought we were gonna lose him. That my baby brother was gonna die in my arms.

My stomach clenched and I thought for a second that I was going to toss my cookies.

I looked back down at him and pulled him a little closer.

One second I was holding his clammy hand in mine in the back of the ambulance then he was being whisked away

Those hours that Ponyboy had been in surgery seemed to stretch on forever. The 4 of us, alternating between sitting in uncomfortable plastic chairs in the waiting room and going outside for a smoke or in Darry's case to refill his coffee.

When the doctor finally appeared he told us that Ponyboy had a laceration that had injured his kidney and that the surgeon was doing everything he could to repair the damage. They weren't sure yet if they could save his kidney or if he'd even make it through the surgery.

I'd damned near lost it at that and if Steve hadn't clamped his hand down on my shoulder I'd have taken off as if hellhounds were on my heels. Darry had paled, his teeth clenched so hard that I thought they'd crack. Even Two-Bit didn't have a quip.

If I thought that time had no meaning before it slowed down to a halt then. I was gonna spend the rest of my life in this nightmare of uncertainty.

Finally a new doctor approached with the news that they'd saved his kidney and that they were hopeful that he would heal. The relief was enough to turn my legs to jelly and I sank down onto a nearby chair. Darry was all business asking necessary questions about his recovery but all I could do was silently thank anyone who was listening for not taking my brother away.

The door of the hospital room creaking open pulled my attention from my thoughts and Steve stuck his head in. He tipped his chin and I nodded before he disappeared back into the hallway.

I put my hand under Pony's head then pulled my other arm free, lowering him back onto the pillow. He sighed deeply but didn't wake. I padded to the door without waking either of my brothers and slipped out the door.

"Hey." I said.

"Hey," Steve answered, passing me a coffee cup. I took a sip and grimaced. He'd put a lot of cream and sugar but it still wasn't enough to cut the bitterness. I was pretty wrecked though, so I needed the cafeine.

Steve rolled his eyes as I dumped 2 more sugar packets into my cup. "How's the kid?" he asked?

"Better," I answered, taking another sip. "He woke up for a bit early this morning. He seemed like himself just exhausted and hurting some."

"He must be hurting after those docs sliced and diced him." Two-Bit added, speaking around the half mashed up donut that he had shoved into his mouth.

Steve elbowed him in the side and Two-Bit doubled over, coughing. Two-Bit smeared his hand over his mouth and sent Steve an irritated look.

"Where'd you two go?" I asked to avoid the brawl that was brewing. Steve and Two-Bit had disappeared after the nurses had started complaining about how visiting hours were over. Darry had leveled his disapproving stare at her before she'd decided to try to ask the two of us to leave. She'd huffed but let the matter drop after the others left.

"Not far." Steve said, turning his attention back to me. "We slept in the car."

"The car?"

"Sure thing," Two-Bit hooked an arm around Steve's neck. "Ol' Stev'o here cuddled me for warmth."

I barked out a laugh as Steve snarled and jabbed Two-Bit in the side with his elbow. Two-Bit grinned crazily and tightened his hold around Steve's neck.

I hopped back as the two of them started to shove, my grin feeling genuine for the first time in weeks. The door of Pony's room swung open and a bleary eyed Darry peered out.

"Knock it off you two," he said gruffly. "You woke up Ponyboy." Darry stretched his back and his grumpy face brightened as Steve held out a large coffee.

My smile widened, happy to be able to speak with my little brother again, but before I could take a step towards his room Two-Bit elbowed me out of the way.

"Pony my boy!" He yelled jovially. "How much did you miss me? Go on, tell me. No need to be shy." Two-Bit bounded over to the side of the bed like an excited puppy and Ponyboy, who was once again propped up against a pillow, chuckled.

"Sure thing, Two-Bit."

My heart felt lighter looking at Ponyboy. Sure his eyes had the glazed look of someone who still needed more rest and the crinkles around the corners told about the pain he must be in but he was here. He was alive. He was laughing and honestly after this past week who could ask for more?

Two-Bit reached out and clasped Ponyboy's shoulder leaning forward, his face settling into a seriousness that was unusual for him. "Boy howdy, you sure gave us a scare this time." He swallowed heavily. "You're alright now, right?"

Ponyboy nodded slowly, his eyes growing to the size of saucers at the uncharacteristically serious Two-Bit. They watched each other for a moment then Two-Bit leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Pony's slight shoulders. Pony returned the hug and Two-Bit mumbled something that I couldn't hear. Over Two-Bit's shoulder, I saw Pony nod and he squeezed Two-Bit tighter for a moment.

They both pulled back and Pony turned his face away to hide that his eyes were bright with tears. I moved up beside him and rubbed the back of his head while Two-Bit moved to the window to peer out.

Steve put down the tray of coffees and turned back to Pony with a frown.

"Did you really have to go get your ass kidnapped two states away, kid? I had things for do, you know?"

Pony rolled his eyes, "sorry, I interrupted your big plans of hanging around our house like your part of the furniture."

Steve smirked. "Smart ass." He pretended to punch Pony's leg but pulled up at the last second and just patted his knee. Ponyboy batted his hand away and Steve barked out a laugh before sitting down in a nearby chair.

I'd never understand those two.

Two-Bit by now had grabbed the last chair in the room and had put his boots on the end of Pony's bed with his ankles crossed. "So when are we gonna blow this popsicle stand?"

Ponyboy perked up. Darry settled his stern gaze on him and replied firmly. "Once the doctor says he can and not a second before."

Steve scratched his chin. "That might be a problem, me and Soda are supposed to work tomorrow. I'm sure I can get a couple of the other boys to cover one day but after that we'll need to be back.

My stomach dropped and I turned pleading eyes towards Darry. There was no way I could leave Pony here. Pony sent Darry an identical look and it warmed my heart to know that he wanted me close too.

Darry's frown deepened and he scratched the back of his head. "Let me talk to the doctor and see what I can do."

Ponyboy dropped his eyes and started picking at his nails. I moved to his side and clasped his shoulder.

We all fell into a silence that was suffocating. Steve suddenly moved forward and shoved Two-Bit's legs. Two-Bit windmilled his arms for a second before he and his chair tumbled backwards.

"What the hell Steve?!"

"Get your boots out of my face, your feet are ripe." Steve snapped then moved his gaze to mine. I smiled back at him and his blunt way of diffusing the tension. Ponyboy laughed softly beside me and I moved back to sit beside him on the bed.

"How's your back feeling honey?" I asked quietly as Two-Bit jumped to his feet and started throwing insults Steve's way.

Pony turned his green eyes my way and winced. "It's alright I guess."

I cocked my eyebrow, "alright?" I could feel Darry's eyes on us and knew that he was listening closely.

He looked away quickly. "It hurts." He started slowly. "But not all that bad. I'm sure I could come home with you soon."

Darry sighed heavily, but before he could start in there was a knock on the door.

Sergeant Clarkson stuck his head into the doorway and I swear Darry bristled. He surged to his feet.

"Good morning Mr. Curtis. I came to see if I could speak to Ponyboy and take his statement."

Darry crossed his arms and I could see his muscles flexing. "He just woke up after surgery. Surgery that he needed because those Donovans kidnapped him."

The sergeant pulled his notepad from his back pocket and flipped through. "My notes say that the cause of the injury was accidental. That he fell onto a branch that punctured his kidney…?"

"He wouldn't have been anywhere near here if it wasn't for that family." Darry snapped. I wrapped my arm tightly around Ponyboy's shoulder as he watched the scene with large eyes.

"Mr. Curtis," Sergeant Clarkson said in a tone that would be used to placate a small child. "I need to get Ponyboy's statement if you would like to press charges against the Donovan family."

"But I don't want to press charges!" Ponyboy said sharply.

Darry froze and both Steve and Two-Bit heads snapped towards Pony. Darry turned and fixed Pony with an incredulous look.

Pony shrank back a bit at the attention and started to twist his bed sheet between his fingers. "I…uhh….I don't want to press charges against the Donovans. They were fine before... I mean…I don't want to break up a …I just want this to be over. I just want to go home."

I watched him stutter through his answer. There was more to his reasoning, more that he wasn't saying but I'd be lying if I said I was surprised by this reaction. It was just like my brother to want to forgive. He'd always just seen people. He'd been able to see that Socs Randy's side after everything that happened. Of course he could see past their actions to the unbearable loss that motivated The Donovans.

Glory, he was a good kid.

I didn't have that same feeling, the hate I felt for that family burned hot. I wanted them to pay and I knew that Darry felt the same way. But I didn't want Pony to feel this hate, he was still so innocent. Somehow life hadn't beaten down my daydreaming little brother.

What was it that Johnny called it in that letter that I'd found stashed away in Pony's thing?

Gold, Pony was still gold.

I wasn't smart enough to really understand what that meant but it sure sounded pretty.

Darry ran his hand over his face then leaned forward so Pony had to meet his eyes. "Kiddo, nothing is gonna stop me from bringing you home. As soon as the doctors say it's safe we are all going home." I squeezed Pony's shoulder to show my silent agreement. "But that doesn't mean that the Donovans should just get away with what they did."

Ponyboy dropped his eyes to his lap. "I don't want to split another family up."

Darry's gaze met mine before returning to Pony's bowed head. "You didn't do anything to them, so get that crazy idea out of that head of yours," Darry said.

Ponyboy lifted his eyes to Darry's and the softness he found there took any bite out of his firm words.

"This is all well and good." Sergeant Clarkson interrupted. "But I contacted children services for the state of Oklahoma and they will be pressing charges for the incident."

"Incident?" Steve huffed out a hollow laugh. "I think you mean kidnapping Serg."

Clarkson narrowed his eyes at him but didn't comment.

Darry crossed his arms again. "Well, at least they're doing something right."

Pony worried his bottom lip and I gave his shoulder a gentle shake until he met my eyes. His brow was furrowed and I knew how much he hated this. I pulled him closer into my side.

Ponyboy hissed and I felt his shoulders tighten in pain.

"Are you okay Pony?" I asked.

"It's starting to hurt really bad." He whispered. Darry turned his back on Clarkson and moved closer.

"It's okay, I'll go get the nurse and see if she can give you anything for the pain."

Steve moved towards the door before Darry had finished speaking and Darry nodded his thanks before he left the room.

Clarkson clearer his throat and was met with 3 glares from Darry, Two-Bit and I. "I'll just step outside for a moment, but it is important that I get Ponyboys testimony today."

Darry and I ignored the sergeant and closed ranks on Ponyboy mummering words of comfort. Pony had now squeezed his eyes closed against the pain. He didn't make a sound and I felt a wave of protectiveness and pride for my tuff little brother.

Soon the nurse came in and added something to his IV. I didn't catch her explanation but I was sure that Darry was listening intently.

I slowly brushed my hand over Pony's hair as the medicine pulled him back under and he relaxed into the pillow.

In sleep his face looked so young.

Just as I was settling myself beside him there was a knock on the door and the doctor entered. He quietly checked Pony over without waking him and then asked to speak to Darry. I felt a cold dread creep in.

They spoke in the hallway for what felt like forever but was probably only a few minutes.

"What's going on?" I asked as Darry entered.

Darry's face broke into a large smile. "He's doing very well, the doctors want to keep him until tomorrow but if there aren't any problems he's willing to discharge him tomorrow."

Two-Bit whopped with joy and pumped his arm in the air and even Steve grinned.

I frowned. "Tomorrow? Isn't that too soon?"

Darry sat down and watched Pony sleep. "The doctor understands our situation and we both agree that you leaving to go home for work wouldn't be good for Pony's recovery. The doctor thinks that if we take it easy we should be able to go home tomorrow, as long as we immediately book an appointment to get him checked once we get there."

I smiled, feeling the last bit of tension drain away.

Home, we were going home together.

The last few days had both crawled and flown by. I'd been in and out of consciousness at the hospital. The pain medication that they gave me sure made me drowsy. But every time I woke up my brothers or the guys were there.

I'd gone over my story with Sergeant Clarkson and he'd pressed me for details until Darry had growled out that he wasn't getting any more from me. Clarkson didn't think that they'd need much more from me not with the testimonies of the guys and the Donovans all saying the same thing. The only one that didn't match was Mrs. Donovan, who still believed that I was Peter. Soda told me that she was in the psychiatric wing of the hospital and that she was getting the help that she needed.

Yesterday, the doctor discharged me and we started our slow trek home. I wasn't very mobile and it hurt an awful lot to move but with Soda and Darry by my side I made it in and out of the car.

We stopped every few hours and I was still on some strong painkillers that made my head feel funny, so the drive felt like a dream.

For the last half hour Soda had been buzzing with excitement and Two-Bit was progressively getting louder. I just rested my face against the cool glass of the window.

"Pone?" Darry called softly from the driver's seat and I blinked over at him. "How yah feeling?"

"I hate this stuff," I grumbled. "I can't think straight."

Darry rubbed the back of my head. "We can get the doctor to give you something different tomorrow."

I nodded and turned back towards the window. The sign of the DX passed by and I sat up straight ignoring the full pull in my back.

"We're back in Tulsa?" I asked.

"Nothing gets by this one." Two-Bit laughed.

Darry just smiled, his eyes still on the road.

Now fully paying attention I drank in every detail that we passed. The old worn homes of my neighbourhood seemed bright and the familiar streets inviting. My eyes slide over every crack in the pavement and every neighbour sweeping their walk. It felt like years since I'd been back here, not a few weeks.

For a minute there I thought I'd never be back and this alone made every sight seem like it was draped in sunlight.

I blinked back tears as the rickety fence around my house came into view. The paint was more grey than white now and the front step was still crooked but it was perfect.

Darry pulled into the driveway and Soda bounded out the back door. He rounded the car and opened my door.

"Ready to go home, kiddo?" He asked with a gentle smile.

I returned his smile and grabbed his offered hand. He pulled me to my feet and Darry stepped up to brace my other side.

"So ready." I sighed and together we walked up the path to our front door.

Thank you for reading,

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