(September 29, 1965, 11:45 PM)

(Ponyboy's Hospital Room)

(Ponyboy's POV)

Waking up was extremely hard to do. My head felt like someone was hammering nails into it. Everything seemed to turn into a fog. It was as if my memories were split up into pieces. I couldn't remember what had happened; it felt like a dream.

My whole body was aching all over. It came and went in throbbing waves. Even my eyes felt like they were glued shut. I couldn't open them for a moment. It caused me to panic. I didn't want to be stuck in the darkness alone.

But I suddenly felt someone touch me. The touch was gentle and soft. It didn't take me long to realize that both of my hands were being held, another was combing back my hair. I felt warmth from their touch. Just that touch alone gave me a sense of security. I wasn't afraid anymore; nothing could hurt me.

I forced myself to open my eyes after relaxing, being blinded by the bright light for a moment. I had to blink to focus my eyes on what was around me. When I could make out the scene, my eyes watered badly.

Darry was on my right side. Soda was on my left with Bexley beside him. She sat in a wheelchair and was covered in bruises. Soda and Darry were sitting on the mattress, my hands wrapped in theirs. Dally and Steve stood the furthest from the bed, leaning up against the wall. Johnny and Two-Bit were leaning on the foot of the bed, each having a pale expression on their faces.

I could feel the fabric of the blankets brushing against my bare skin, meaning that I was in the hospital. However, I couldn't put two and two together yet.

I tilted my head a little towards Darry, our eyes making direct contact. When I did, it all came back instantly and what my eyes saw scared me. Darry was crying, some old ones staining his cheeks.

I can't remember the last time he ever cried. It all made sense now. Had Bex and I been so blind that we hadn't realized that he did love us? He possibly loved both of us even more than Soda did. I guess I hadn't thought that me facing the Socs scared him that badly.

I didn't want Bexley to be there because I didn't want her to get hurt. But, she was also loyal to me. She had wanted to protect me just the same.

I glanced back at Darry and felt salty tears blurring my vision; they flowed down my face silently. My body shook with each quiet sob. The pain was getting to me; I couldn't hold it back any longer.

"I'm sorry, Darry…" I sobbed, my voice was croaky. It was difficult for me to speak because my throat felt swollen. Darry instantly pulled me into his lap and held me close to his chest, wrapping both arms around me.

His body shook as he sobbed quietly. All I did was bury my face in his chest, letting my tears soak his shirt. I sobbed loudly, getting all of that pain to go. Darry rubbed my back, going in circles. "It's alright, baby. You don't gotta be sorry. You fought bravely against those Socs. I'm very proud of you and Bexley." he whispered to me.

Did Darry say he was proud of both of us? He never once told us this. My heart was beating a million miles away, crying over how happy I was feeling. "Bex, c'mere hon," Darry said softly. Then, I felt the bed move; I opened my eyes to see my only sister sitting with us. Darry wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in close.

By this time, the three of us were crying our eyes out until we had nothing left to cry. I took Bexley's warm hand into mine and she squeezed tightly. It made me think that we were nothing more than just a burden.

But he was there, holding both of us in his arms as if he'd never let us go again. This was the feeling that Bex and I had missed this more than anything else. The two of us were feeling his rough hands caressing our cheeks, hold both of us without complaining.

"I'm so happy it's over…" I choked out, my voice was cracked while he held the both of us, "I'm glad that it happened to me. It taught me to be stronger. I can finally stand on my own two feet again."

"Pony? How come you did what you did? Why did you fight them? And how come didn't want me to come to fight with you?" Bexley asked, having a pleading look in her eyes as she looked at me. "I couldn't risk you guys getting hurt anymore. After you and Soda got jumped, that's what made me want to stop it. I'm glad that I stood up for not only myself but for you guys too. But I'm also happy that you were there to help." I replied, starting to get choked up.

Darry squeezed us a bit tighter; it hurt a little, but that was the least of my worries. Bexley looked like she didn't care about her pain either. My entire body was aching something awful, however, I just wanted to be in the arms of my brother and sister. I took in every moment, melting away into the loving embrace.

After about ten or so minutes, Darry laid me back down onto the bed. Bexley had to be put back into the wheelchair. A tearful grin stretched on Darry's worn face as he continued to comb my hair with his fingers. I caught Soda's movie star smile from the corner of my eye. Bexley was also grinning at me, that genuine smile that I love so much on her. I had a good feeling that we'd be okay now.

But that feeling was soon replaced by guilt. I turned my head away from their eyes. "I… I didn't mean to scare you guys…" I said, instantly regretting what I said. I remembered the last time Bex and I said that, it took a dark turn. There was even a bruise where he had hit me. He had pushed Bexley down to the floor, so I don't know if she has bruises from that since she tripped on the coffee table.

"Listen to me, both of you," Darry said, taking my chin in his hand to make me look at him. Bexley looks up at Darry a bit hesitantly. Neither one of us had the will to look away from him. Needless to say, we were both shocked to hear just how gentle his voice was. He never talked to us like that before.

"Both of you don't know all of it." he started before he looked at Bex, "Bex, I'm proud of you for being there for Pony. I ain't mad at you for helping him." He then gazes at me. "Ponyboy, I'm proud of you for doing what you had to. It ain't your fault."

I felt so grateful for being so proud of us. Suddenly, I shivered from the aching pain in my body. "I'm pretty bad off, huh?" I wondered. "Nah, the doc said that you'll be fine within a few days. All you need is a bit of rest." Soda responded with a beaming smile. "And you lost more blood than Bex. And you're underweight too." Darry replied.

I glanced over to my sister, who only smiled at me weakly. "What about you?" I asked, a bit worried. "I'm gonna be fine, Pone. You don't gotta worry about me," she assured, scooting herself up in the wheelchair so that she was closer to me.

"Oh," I reply casually. I hadn't put much thought into eating anything for the last couple of weeks and it had caught up with me. As if on cue, my stomach growled loudly and I suddenly felt my ears grow hot. "Heh. Looks like someone's hungry." Bexley chuckled, only for her stomach to growl ravenously. She tried to hide her flushed cheeks but we all seen it.

Everyone started to laugh, letting their voices bounce off the walls of my room. That alone was enough to fill the dark void that'd been in me for so long. "Hang tight, you two." Two-Bit chortled, putting his black leather jacket back on. "How about I fish you guys some grub? And I ain't getting anything in this hospital."

"I ain't sure if that's a good or bad thing coming from ya, Two-Bit," I said, mocking him. "Pshh, knowing him, it's gonna be bad," Bex commented, laughing a bit. Two-Bit cocked an eyebrow and grinned back at us sheepishly. "Hey, don't get mouthy with me, you two." he says, "Keep it up and I'll bring back that slop they call food here."

"Hey, lighten up, man. We meant nothing by it." Bex said, turning around slightly to face him. "I'm just kiddin'. Wouldn't want to put you two in that kind of torture. Don't go nowhere!" he laughed as he twisted himself on his heels and bounded out of the door.

I started to yawn, abruptly feeling sleepy. Every single part of my body was aching and throbbing, making me feel tired. "You tired, Pone?" Bexley asked. "A little bit. How long will he be gone for?" I reply softly. "Could be a while. Why do you ask?" Darry asked, his voice sounding too far away as sleepiness already started taking over.

I was about to ask them to wake me up when Two-Bit got back, but by then, I was already asleep. There wasn't any desire to stay awake; I already lost that battle. When I did fall asleep, there was no fear. Everybody's faces were flashing in my mind, Darry, Soda, Bexley, Johnny, Steve, Dally, and Two-Bit.

I knew that my family was here with me. Where would I be if they hadn't been here with me? My entire world would've remained the way it was before, shattered into unrepairable pieces.

There was someone gently holding onto me, enveloping me in a warm and comforting embrace. I didn't have any energy, completely exhausted as if it'd been sucked out. I was finally able to sleep again… letting said embrace settle me into a peaceful slumber. Golly, once you let the fear and tension go, you can't describe how amazing it feels.