Chapter 2

The sound of the machines beeping was a terror to his ears. It was almost unbearable and it even seemed to get louder the more he tried to ignore it. Johnny squinted and tried to focus, but he could only make out a few shadows in what seemed like a dark room.

"What the hell is wrong with him?" It was Dally's voice. "Why can't he freaking see?"

"It would seem he had damaged his occipital lobe but I can't be sure before we get a CT."

Johnny turned his head in the direction of the voice. A shadow was moving next to him but it all blurred together and his eyes were getting tired.

"Speak english, man! What the hell is an occipital lobe?" Dally hissed.

The shadow next to Johnny, sighed.

"It means he took a blow to the head. He might have brain damage."

"B-brain damage?" Johnny stuttered. He felt tears running down his face. His heart was pounding in his chest and he suddenly had problems catching his breath.

"Easy, Johnny. Calm down, buddy." A hand was put on Johnny's shoulder. It was Darry.

"W-where is Pony?" Johnny cried.

"I'm right here," Pony said. His shaking voice came from the end of the room.

Johnny stretched his arm out, his hand reaching into the nothingness and out of nowhere someone took a hold of it, making him flinch even though he had wanted to grab a hold of someone.

"It's not a good idea to just grab a hold of him," the voice that had argued with Dally said. It must have been the doctor that took care of Johnny. "He can't see anything and any sudden sounds and movement will startle him."

"Sorry, Johnny." It was Dally again and he let go of his hand.

"I will check in on you later, Mr. Cade," the doctor finished and walked off.

OoOoOoO

Dally walked around the room in circles after the doctor left. He felt the rage boil inside of him and he wanted nothing more than to just beat the living daylights out of Pony. Why would the kid pull a stunt like that? Why the hell would he? He looked over at Pony, who had moved over next to Soda.

"Don't even think about it, Dally," Darry said. His eyes locked on Dallas.

"Wha-what's happening?" Johnny moved his head from side to side. His eyes looked desperate and empty.

"Nothing." Dallas just turned and walked out the room, slamming the door behind him.

"Hey! HEY!"

Dallas turned his head to see Darry storming after him.

"Don't you just walk away like that!"

"Don't tell me what to do, Darry!" Dallas said as he kept walking down the hall.

"Where are you going?" Darry caught up with him. "It's not really a good idea to storm out and slam the door close to someone who can't see what's going on."

"Don't lecture me, Darry!" Dally spun around, his face close to Darry's. "You can lecture your goddamn kid brother but not me!"

Darry's eyes narrowed as he took a hold of Dally's collar.

"Now listen here, Winston. What I do with my brother is not your business. I'm asking you again: where are you going?" His voice was calm and low but his eyes cold as ice. The combination made it run cold down Dally's spine, but he didn't show it. He would never let anyone notice him being scared at all.

"I'm gonna go and get even with those freaking Soc's! It's their fault all of this shit!"

"What good is that gonna do?" Darry said. "We got the rumble tomorrow evening and there is no fighting until then. That was the deal." Darry let go of his collar, pushing him away from him. "If you care as much as I think you do about Johnny, start acting like it." He turned around to walk away but as he was about to walk, he looked over his shoulder. "And don't blame my brother. He did the right thing." Darry looked straight ahead once more. "I'm just glad they're both alive and you should be as well." Then he walked off, leaving Dally in the hallway.

OoOoOoO

Ponyboy sat next to Johnny's bed. Soda had gone to find Darry, since a few reporters had come by, wanting to talk to all of them. Soda had kindly asked them to wait in the hall for now.

Pony looked at his friend who was lying with closed eyes, his breathing indicating that he was trying to stay calm. Ponyboy reached his hand out and carefully touched Johnny's, making him flinch.

"I'm sorry," Pony said, moving his hand away. He felt so stupid. He knew Johnny would get scared. Soda had said so. He had asked Pony to tell Johnny what was going on but Pony had forgotten. He never used his head. Just like Darry and Dally said. He never did and now his friend was blind because he had wanted to play hero. It really was all his fault.

"It's... okay, Pony. I just... didn't know you were still here." Johnny opened his eyes but kept his gaze at the ceiling. "You were so quiet."

"I'm sorry, Johnny." Pony felt tears welling up in his eyes. "It should be me lying there. It's my fault this happened." He tried to keep his voice steady.

"Don't cry, Pony." Johnny's hand fumbled on the sheet, searching for Pony's hand.

"I'm not," Pony replied, drying his eyes with his left sleeve.

"Yes you are. I can hear it." Johnny's mouth twitched, sending him a small smile.

"I-I just... I shouldn't have run in there. It was a stupid thing to do." He took a hold of Johnny's hand.

"Then… then the kids would have burned to death. You did the right thing, Pony."

"I might have. Maybe it was the right thing to do but I kicked you back and that's the reason you're blind," he cried. "If I hadn't kicked you back you wouldn't have been hit and this would never have happened."

"Don't worry 'bout it, Pone. Please." Johnny's hand tightened. "Please don't talk about it no more."

Ponyboy's head dropped and he just nodded.

"Pony?"

"I-I won't, Johnny. I won't," he said.

"Good. And do-don't blame yourself okay? Don't." Tears started to run down Johnny's face again and his voice was breaking.

Pony let his hand slide up Johnny's arm to his neck, carefully so he didn't risk startling him again, and pulled him into a hug. Johnny buried his face against Pony's shoulder and sobbed, his hands resting on Pony's back.

"I won't. I promise I won't."