Chapter 5

Four days had passed since Darry tried to reason with the police and doctors about letting Johnny come and stay with them, and in the end they were finally convinced by his arguments for and against. It wasn't like Johnny could really run anywhere, and Darry surely wouldn't risk his brothers going to a boys' home for helping Johnny get on a train and leave. Dally had threatened the doctors with all that he had for not giving Johnny a CT right there and then, but they had just ignored it and excused themselves with the fact that Johnny was not in pain and that they had other patients that needed it more, but everyone knew it was because they thought of them as no good hoods and the doctors didn't care much for criminals. At least that was how things usually were.

Darry sighed as he swung his old rusty truck into the parking lot, He turned off the engine but remained seated. How had it all come to this? If he hadn't yelled at Ponyboy and slapped him, this would never had happened. If he had just tried to understand his brother more, maybe he would have settled with telling him he had been worried out of his mind that night and sent him to bed. Also he might have gone and picked up Johnny from the lot and brought him back home.

He couldn't help but smile. It sure sounded like one happy little family.

Taking in a deep breath, he opened the door, got out and slammed it behind him. The old truck sure looked awful and he would probably have to let Steve or Soda have a look at it before he ended up stranded somewhere because the truck broke down. He scratched the back of his neck as he went for the doors to the hospital. How will all this end? he thought as he made his way to the elevator, going up the third floor.

OooOooOooO

Ponyboy got up from his seat as Darry came through the door, and greeted him with a wave. "Hey, Darry."

"Hey kiddo," Darry said and actually returned the smile. His eyes searched the room but noticed Johnny was nowhere to be found, which in some way concerned him.

"Where's Johnny?" he asked and Pony sat back down on the bed.

"The doctor came and got him. Something about a last test or something," he said in a low voice. "I guess they decided to give him that checkup after all."

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Darry asked as he sat down in the chair next to the bed.

Pony shrugged. "I dunno. But Johnny did say that his mom came by earlier when I was down at the cafeteria. I dunno. I guess they might have felt sorry for him or something. I didn't really ask."

Darry nodded, understanding. He felt a bit angry about the whole thing. If it were true that they had only pushed him further up the list for a CT because his drunk mother had been by to yell at him, then this hospital was just going to hell.

OooOooOooO

A good thirty minutes passed before the door opened and a nurse, that looked to be in her early twenties, entered the room, leading Johnny along with a gentle grip on his arm. Darry was surprised to see Johnny walking and not being wheeled around in a wheelchair like most other patients.

"Hey, Kiddo," Darry said as he and Pony got up from their seats. "So you're already walking around?"

"Yes, Johnny's a fighter," the nurse said with a small chuckle and walked Johnny to the bed, leading his hand to the cold metal bars of the bedside.

His lips broke in a smile at her comment.

"Here you are, Johnny," she said as she let go of him. She then turned to Darry and smiled as she handed him a clipboard and a pen.

"If you'll just sign here, Mr. Curtis, I believe you can take Johnny home," she said and brushed her hair behind her ear.

Darry couldn't help smiling widely as he signed the papers and handed them back to her.

"Well then," she said. "I guess this is goodbye for now, Johnny." Her voice was calm and soft and she turned her head in his direction as she spoke. As she returned her attention to Darry, she handed him a small card. "This is the schedule for tests and evaluations for Johnny. It'll take a month before the doctor has the results from the CT. Also, if he starts getting headaches out of the ordinary, bring him here straight away," she said. Her face still lit up.

"We will," Darry assured and flashed her another smile. They stood there for a few seconds, just smiling at each other. She sure was good looking, Darry thought.

"Why did you turn your head when you spoke to Johnny?" Pony suddenly asked. "I mean, he can't see you're talking to him." His voice was filled with sadness as he concluded the fact about Johnny's condition.

The nurse turned and walked over to Pony who had placed himself beside his friend.

"Johnny can't see, that's true, but he can hear. And if I stand with my back to him I sound like I'm not talking to him," she explained. "But if I turn my head just a bit so the sound goes in his direction, he can hear me better and then he knows for sure I'm talking to him." She placed a hand on Pony's shoulder. "My brother is blind so I know a thing or two about how to act around people that can't see." She grinned as Pony gazed at her with an interested look on his face. "Just make sure to let Johnny know what you intent to do," she said and gave Johnny a soft pat on the shoulder.

Pony sent her a smile and nodded, slinging his arm around Johnny's shoulder.

She turned to Darry and gave him a small nod. "Well then. I guess I might see you around."

"Yeah," Darry nodded, clearing his throat. "Uhm, what was your name again? I mean - if we have to ask you something. About Johnny, I mean."

"It's Monica."

"Monica..."

She nodded and her gaze went to the floor as she ran a hand though her brown hair. "I... gotta get back to my shift. Have a safe trip home, okay?" she said a bit hesitant. Then she left the room.

"What was that all about?" Johnny asked.

"What was what?" Darry turned to look at the two boys. "We were just talking about your treatment, kiddo. You heard that, didn't you?" Hadn't Johnny heard their conversation?

Johnny snickered a little. "You both just sounded kind of flustered as you spoke to each other, you and that nurse."

Ponyboy couldn't help but laugh a little as Darry's face turned red. He had not sounded flustered at all. At least he hadn't noticed.

"Yeah yeah, kid. If you say so." Darry tried to laugh and hide his embarrassment as he got Johnny's jacket off a rack and put it over his shoulders.

Pony took a hold of his hand, leading him towards the door.

"Come on boys," Darry said. "Let's go home."

OooOooOooO

Pony opened the side window of the car as they raced down the street towards home. The cold fresh air was like new energy, filling up the body as it hit. Johnny sat next to him with his eyes closed, his expression showing he enjoyed the fresh air just as much as Ponyboy did. Johnny had been in the hospital for a good couple of days, so going outside would probably be the best feeling in the world for him right now.

"Will the gang be there when we get home?" Pony asked.

Darry nodded. "Yeah. Dally's kinda been living there since you boys came back, and if I know Two-Bit, he's keeping him company," Darry said and rolled his eyes. "Steve and Soda are at work, though, so they probably won't be home for another few hours."

"Did," Johnny started, "did you take time off work to come and get me?" His voice sounded small and sad. Pony had just now realized that Johnny didn't know what time of the day it was. He hadn't been told, at least.

"Yeah, I did," Darry said. "Two-Bit's car's breaks gave out the other day and, well, Buck's car's still in Windrixville. He ain't too happy about Dally leaving it there."

Johnny bit his lip and his face was a study in guilt. Darry must have noticed because he placed a hand on his lap, careful not to startle him.

"Look, kid. I took an extra shift on Sunday so I won't be losing any money. Don't worry 'bout it,"

Pony sent Darry a concerned look and mouthed; "did you really take an extra shift?"

Darry looked at him briefly and shook his head with a half-smile, making Pony roll his eyes and turn his head to look out the window. He didn't like lying to Johnny and he knew Darry didn't either, but if it made him feel less guilty then he guessed it was okay for now. Resting his head on his hand, he watched the houses go by. How was this gonna end? The trial was in a few days, but the outcome of it was very uncertain. Yeah, sure Cherry would tell them about the night and so would Pony. But the justice system always had it in for them. Pony doubted they would let Johnny off easy. He would be lucky not to get the electric chair. He sighed and forced himself out of his misery to keep Johnny company.

Then he saw the expression on his friend's face, which made his heart skip a beat. Johnny had that usual kicked puppy look on his face, but only worse. It was like he had been told that the world was ending and it was his fault.

Pony reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder, gently.

Johnny didn't move at the touch, just whimpered. "I'm sorry."

He wasn't sure what he had to be sorry for now but then remembered how well Johnny picked up on every sound around him. He must have noticed Pony's moody sighs and they made him feel guilty.

Not sure what to say, Pony bit his lip as he imagined what was going through Johnny's head. How he must feel not being able to see all the good things in the world that he was so sure existed. Not being able to see another sunset or watch a movie again.

Pony glanced at Johnny and then smiled as he closed his eyes. Listening to the sounds of the car hitting the bumps. The stones jumping up and hitting the bottom of the car. Darry giving it more gas. He had never really noticed the sounds like he did now where his eyes were closed, and he leaned into Johnny's shoulder, his hand moving down his arm and then held his hand.

"Sure is a lot of sounds, huh?" Pony said with a small chuckle and he felt Johnny turn his head slightly.

"What do you mean?" he asked a bit surprised.

"It kinda sounds like Darry's killing it, doesn't it? The car I mean," he laughed, but then whispered. "I closed my eyes. I wanna see how you see." He squeezed Johnny's hand.

"Why?" Johnny's voice was trembling a little, indicating he was on the edge of tears and he gulped before turning his head again.

"We're friends. I wanna understand you and help you." Pony hesitated but then kept going. "The best way I can help you is by understanding better." He opened his eyes just a little and leaned in, whispering into Johnny's ear. "Either this road needs to get fixed or Darry's a real bad driver."

Johnny gave a small chuckle and Pony put his arm around him and pulled him in close.

"Thanks, Pony," he said with a small laugh. "Thank you."

I've made a major decision. I've decided to NOT do the "hint of Johnny/Dally" thing, and instead do Johnny/Pony. And more than just a hint ;). I'm really, really sorry if I'm disappointing any Dally fans, but this will just work so much better with the way I'm planning the fic to work out. It kinda has a life of it's own!

Dally still has a part in the story of course so fear not. It's just not gonna be a slash between him and Johnny.