Chapter 9: Sick

The first thing Two-Bit felt when he woke up was the urge to throw up and he shakily sat up, whimpering and gasping suddenly, scrambling to try and get up.

"Wait, wait, here Two-Bit!" There was yelling and suddenly a trash can was set beside him at the side of the bed.

Two-Bit whimpered and leaned over the side of the bed, vomiting, groaning and wiping at his mouth when he was finished.

"Ugh…...ohhhh," He moaned, sitting back up, holding his head, not feeling well.

"Easy man," He heard Tim's low voice, followed by Dally's murmuring.

"He's definitely got a concussion…"

Two-Bit opened his eyes, trying to get his vision to focus. "T-Tim?" He groaned, lying back down, head hurting.

"And Dally. Take it easy, Two-Bit." He heard Tim's soft voice.

Two-Bit closed his eyes tightly, feeling miserable, groaning softly again, feeling a hand press against his forehead.

Dally frowned, feeling his friend's forehead, watching Two-Bit worriedly, who lay sweating and miserable.

"He's awfully sick, man…..he's still shivering too." He said lowly to Tim, who frowned, watching.

Two-Bit coughed, frowning deeply, eyebrows furrowed, eyes closed tightly. "Ti-Tim….Dally….." He whimpered. "I don't feel so good….."

"I know man, I know….." Dally frowned at him with a nod. "You're sick, Two-Bit…."

Two-Bit coughed, moving his head around on his pillow slowly. "Why does my head hurt so much?" He croaked.

"Your head was bleedin' pretty badly, Two. The back of your head was almost split open. We put a towel behind your head to soak up the blood."

"It hurts, Dal," Two-Bit frowned deeply, letting out a whimper, faintly coughing again.

"I know buddy, I know. Who the hell did this to you?" Dally growled softly.

Two-Bit didn't answer, moving his head around, feeling terrible. "Dally, i'm cold….." He shivered.

"We already put three blankets on ya, Two-Bit," Tim frowned. "You're still cold?"

"He's sick, you a******." Dallas growled at him.

"Where-Where's Darry?" Two-Bit asked, voice shaky.

"Darry?" Dally frowned a little, glancing at Tim. "He's at work; we tried calling him but he can't leave his shift."

"Why-why didn't he save me?" Two-Bit whimpered faintly before he erupted into a coughing fit, shaking badly.

"What?" Dallas frowned and came over beside Two's head, laying a hand down on his pillow, letting Two lay his face down ontop of it, keeping it there for comfort. "Easy man…."

Suddenly the door whipped open. "Where is he?! Where is he, is he hurt?!" A frantic Soda burst in, rushing over besides Two-Bit's bed, going wide-eyed. "Jesus Christ!"

Two-Bit shivered and opened his eyes, looking up at Soda with fearful eyes, flinching at his loud yelling.

Dallas took his hand away and Soda grabbed ahold of Two-Bit's hand, putting a hand to Two's forehead. "Lordy, he's burnin' up….." Soda eyed his friend worriedly, eyeing the sweat running down the side of his friend's face.

"Oh Two-Bit, what happened to you?" He wondered aloud, over-stricken with worry. He held Two-Bit's hand firmly, sitting in a chair close to him.

Two-Bit continued to shiver, watching his friends.

"What happened to his head?" Soda looked at Tim, then Dally, having seen the blood on the towel behind Two's head.

"His head was all cut open; it was bleedin' everywhere man," Dally huffed, moving the trash can away from the bed, moving away to give Soda more room since he was sitting.

"G-Got my head hit on the rocks…..I-I think." Two-Bit told them with a frown, letting out a yawn, struggling to remember what had happened.

Soda watched him with worry, wondering who the hell could have done this to his friend.

"C-Can you sit up, Two?"

"I think," Two sighed and slowly sat up, easing himself up slowly, groaning, his body sore and he held his heavy head.

"Easy, easy," Soda said softly and sat next to him, wrapping an arm around him, leaning Two's head gently on his shoulder, keeping him close.

Two-Bit shivered and leaned against his friend, hugging his arms to his chest, frowning deeply, his eyes closed tightly.

Tim came over and helped wrap another blanket around Two-Bit, frowning.

Soda rubbed Two-Bit's arm gently, keeping him close, frowning at his shivering. "It's okay, Two. We got you."

"Th-thanks," Two-Bit shook, sneezing, letting out a whimper. He was still very cold.

"Who did this to you?" Dally ran a hand through his hair, watching the two with narrowed eyes.

"Dally," Soda hissed softly, sending him a glare, rubbing Two's arm.

"No, no, it's-" Two-Bit sneezed again. "It's okay….." His teeth chattered.

"I mean, who the f*** did this to you?" Dallas was growling, swearing as he paced a little. "Who had the decency to even do this to you?!"

Two-Bit sniffled, remembering Darry, frowning deeply, sucking in a shaky breath.

He couldn't tell them it was Darry. He just couldn't tell them.

He almost started crying and Soda saw this. "Shhh, it's alright buddy…." He gave Two's shoulder a soft squeeze and Two-Bit hid his face into Soda's shoulder.

"Guys, he's tired and weak," Soda frowned at Tim and Dallas.

"He's got a concussion." Dally frowned.

"Why didn't you take him to Darry's?" Soda eyed them.

"We was tryin' to get his head to stop bleeding first…." Tim shifted on his feet.

"We outta take him to Darry's. He can help."

"N-No," Two-Bit peeped out. "Not Darry's. I-I'll be okay….." He sniffled, his nose running.

Soda frowned at him and handed him a tissue. "Two-Bit, you're not okay. You're very sick, buddy."

Two-Bit wiped his nose and kept close to Soda, keeping his face at his friend's shoulder. "I-I was scared, Soda….."

"I know buddy, I know." Soda gave his friend's shoulder a squeeze, frowning deeply, very worried for Two-Bit.

"Who did this to you, Two-Bit?" Dally demanded again and Soda shot him a glare.

Sniffing, Two-Bit prepared a lie. "J-Jus' some Soc. Caught me by the lake and p-picked a fight."

He remembered Darry punching and hitting him before throwing him into the lake and Two-Bit shuddered.

Dallas swore and almost punched the wall and Tim looked angry as well.

"God**** those Socs!" Dally growled. "We're gonna get 'em at the rumble next week; we're gonna stomp their heads in….."

Two-Bit frowned deeply, sneezing again. "S-Soda, I wanna go home…."

"I know, buddy. We're gonna take you to Darry's first though."

Two-Bit tensed, going scared. "No, no, not Darry's…...jus' take me home. Please."

"Why don't ya wanna go to Darry's, Two-Bit? We can give ya some soup." Soda frowned softly, rubbing Two-Bit's arm.

"I-I jus' feel more comfortable going home right now…." Two-Bit said softly, frowning deeply.

He didn't think he could even look at Darry now, or maybe never again. Not after what he did.

Soda frowned at Two-Bit, lips pursed, watching him. "O-Okay…..why don't we have someone stop by your place later to drop off some soup?"

Two-Bit nodded slowly. "S-Sure. Can I jus' go home now?" He really wanted to get to sleep, feeling exhausted.

"Yeah, Two-Bit, let us take you home though."

"I-I can get home myself…." Two-Bit sighed softly, teeth chattering, shivering. He hugged his chest tighter, trying to get warm.

"No buddy, we'll take you home," Soda spoke softly, trying to make his friend feel better. "You ain't well enough to be walking home."

"Come on, let's go, man," Dally said softly, coming over, extending his arms out.

Soda slowly got up and Dally gently scooped up Two-Bit into his arms, making sure the blankets were still wrapped around him closely.

Two-Bit shivered a little, nuzzling a little closer into Dally's shoulder, tired, already falling asleep.

He heard soft murmurs around him and could feel Dally starting to carry him downstairs and out of Buck's.

The last thing he heard was Soda's hushed voice, "Let's just swing by Darry's quick; get him some soup. Darry will wanna make sure he's okay anyways….."

Two-Bit wanted to protest, but he fell asleep before he could, sleeping soundly, curled up closely in Dally's arms, snoring peacefully.