I felt blood rush down my face when a soc kicked my face. I was lying on the ground with five of them surrounding me. I had been walking home from the library when I got jumped. I was about a block away from my house when a black mustang pulled beside me. The five of them jumped out of their car and shoved me against a fence in a front yard.
"Hey little grease! I could smell ya from three blocks over!" One of them hollered.
I tried to run but I tripped and felt a really bad pain in my ankle. I wanted to scream.
"Let's get him some red paint huh?" Another yelled.
I was confused about what he meant by that until he nicked my side with his switchblade. He sat on my stomach and started punching me in the face. I threw my hand to my back pocket to get my blade. But before I could get it, the damn soc stabbed my hand. I cried out and clutched it in pain as he pulled the blade out of my pocket and tossed it to his friend. I felt liquid running down my face. I shuddered, knowing it was blood. He took his hand and rubbed it all over my face.
"Got ourselves a pretty painted greaser huh?" The guy yelled.
"Darry! Soda! Help!" I screamed, squirming like crazy as I tried to get the guy off of me.
"Shut up kid! No one can hear your screams!" The soc yelled, twisting my right wrist hard.
"Darry! Soda!" I screamed again.
"Shit! Let's get out of here!" The one on my stomach yelled.
He jumped off of me and bolted when he saw the gang come. The others followed him, running to their car. I saw someone jump over me. I then saw Two-Bit, Steve, and Soda punching the soc's heads in. I closed my eyes in exhaustion. Before I knew it I was lifted off the ground.
"Ow!" I whined.
I opened my eyes and saw that Darry was holding me out in front of him.
"Are you okay baby?" Darry asked, shifting me to his hip.
"No! They hurt my face, my ankle, my side, my hand, and my wrist!" I cried.
I started to bawl. Darry put his face in my hair and started whispering in my ear.
"Shh little colt. They aren't going to hurt you. Big brother has you." Darry soothed me.
I nuzzled my head into his chest as he held me close. I heard the car speed away.
"The kid okay?" I heard Steve ask.
I lifted my head and attempted to look behind me, but Darry gently pushed my head back against his chest.
"Relax Pone. We will be home soon." Soda told me.
"He's hurt pretty bad. Two-Bit can you run home and grab the first aid kit?" Darry asked.
I heard the sound of running footsteps. I felt Darry begin to walk.
"Did you have a blade?" Soda asked.
I could feel Darry's gaze fall on me.
"Yeah I did. But they stabbed my hand when I tried to get it. Then they threw it away!" I cried.
I felt Darry rub circles into my back as we continued walking.
"Soda. Get the door will ya?" I heard Darry ask.
Soda opened the door and Darry set me on the couch.
"Steve. Get me a washcloth with cool water." Darry instructed.
Steve nodded and ran off to get it.
"Here's the kit Dar." Two-Bit told him, handing him the kit.
"Thanks." Darry responded.
I felt him pull my shirt off. I winced in pain when he ran his finger along my side.
"This one is gonna need stitches. So's the one on your hand." He told me.
I started crying again and Darry stroked my hair. Steve came back with the washcloth and Darry took it from him. It felt nice and cool when he rubbed it on my face. He then poured rubbing alcohol on my cuts. He stitched them while I often cried out in pain. Luckily I had Soda there to comfort me as Darry stitched me up. Darry took the wraps out of the kit.
"You sprained your ankle Pone." Darry told me.
"Our poor baby!" Soda sighed.
Darry got my legs wrapped up. He then wrapped my wrist which was luckily just sprained as well.
"Let's get you into the bath." Darry told me.
I struggled to get up and hop to the bathroom. But I felt Darry pick me up and set me on my hip.
"You can't use your wrist until it heals. Since they stabbed your hand, I would take it easy on that too. Your left leg is going to get tired after you hop on it for too long." Darry instructed.
I resisted rolling my eyes as he carried me to the bathroom. I knew he didn't have to carry me places, but I think it comforted him as much as me in that moment.
"Soda. Get him some pants, shirt, and underwear will ya?" Darry asked.
Soda nodded and went out of the bathroom. Darry started the water.
"You want bubbles?" He asked.
I rolled my eyes.
"I'm not a baby anymore!" I complained.
"Yes it is then!" Darry replied, pouring in soap.
Before I could complain about the soap, Darry started to help me take off my pants.
"Darry? Whatcha doing?" I complained.
"You need to get in the bath. You're really weak right now. I don't want you bathing by yourself right now." Darry explained.
I felt my face turn red.
"Here's the clothes Darry." Soda told him, walking back in.
"Thanks Soda. Can you make dinner while I give him a bath?" Darry asked.
"Yeah sure! See you both in a little bit." Soda told us, walking out of the bathroom.
"Darry! I don't want to take a bath with you watching me!" I whined.
"Why not?" He asked.
"It's just that I'm not gonna be wearing any clothes. I need some privacy." I responded.
"How about you have the shower curtain closed and I sit on the other side? Deal?" He asked.
"But Darry! It's still embarrassing!" I complained.
"Pony. You don't have to be embarrassed. I'm your older brother. Hell I even helped mom change some of your diapers. And let me tell you they weren't pretty." He told me.
I felt my face flush and I grumbled in response. But I took my underwear off and allowed him to help me into the tub. I grabbed the bottle of soap.
"Pony. Remember what I told you about your arm and wrist? I want you to take it easy." He told me, taking the soap out of my hands.
I wanted to give out an angry groan but I decided against it. He was being kind by helping me. He squirted some out on a washcloth and gave it to me through the curtain.
"Darry! I'm such a baby!" I complained.
"No you're not. Quit talking like that. Your legs hurt. That's all." He told me.
I still couldn't help but feel bad for making him spend more time looking out for me. I got finished up and drained the water. He threw my towel at me from the side of the curtain. I yelped in surprise. He laughed at me. That jerk would've done the same thing if I'd scared him like that. I wrapped the towel around me and he carried him into his room. He threw a shirt, boxers, and shorts at my face.
"Darry!" I laughed.
I threw the shirt back at him. He grabbed it and used it to ruffle my poor tuff hair. I let out a giggle as I snatched it back from him.
"I'm gonna check on dinner. You get dressed and I'll come back up to help you down stairs." He told me.
He came back from checking on dinner. I was dressed at this point. It was a little hard with my wrist but I managed. He sat behind him with my comb. He started to comb my hair.
"I used to do this when you were little." He told me.
"Do what?" I asked.
"When I'd help mom give you a bath she'd always let me comb your hair." He answered.
I felt my face flush with embarrassment. I was happy that he was sitting behind me so he couldn't see it.