Chapter 12

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, we do not own "The Outsiders" or any of the Curtis' Gang. The real owner, of "The Outsiders" is the fabulous S.E. Hinton, and we do not make a profit from the stories that we write here on this site.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

In response to Guest: If you read this, although you suffer from this condition, and I respect that, how it may affect you is different to how it affected me. Those injections as treatments were not offered to me as they were not available in Australia, so instead of making this story just about research, I wanted to use my experience of a time I suffered 3 months straight of daily headaches. Also I was basing the story in the 60's so that treatment may not have been available.

Thank you for your informative review and taking the time to read, but if this story upsets how you feel about the condition there is no obligation to continue reading.

As for mycookiegirl, GreaserG1rl201, Lovetoread75, Mggstaygold, Amanda, guest, theoutsider30 and Shattered Aura; thank you for your reviews and support and thank you to all other readers.

Steve's POV

"Hey Soda!" I greeted with a loud yell.

"Hey Steve, how's it going?"

His voice sounded really glum and exhausted, almost like he was a zombie.

"I got that work you asked for at school for the kid."

I handed Soda Pony's work that I picked up yesterday.

"Thanks Steve."

The rest of the day he barely talked to me and he had bags under his eyes. Some real pretty girls came in and flirted with him, but he showed no interest back at them. I was getting sick of his moping.

"What up, Sodapop?" I asked finally.

He shrugged, but I knew his answer; Ponyboy.

"You can't always worry about him, he's a tough kid."

"I can't help but worry though," he responded.

"How about we hang out tonight? At your place if you want, that way you can still be near the kid if he needs ya and it'll get your mind of the gutter," I suggested; though I was secretly rolling my eyes in my head.

I could see Soda thinking about it as he wiped a dirty rag over the hood of one of the cars.

"I don't know Steve. It's just Pony is really struggling at the moment, waking up at night; it's all just too unpredictable."

Boy Soda sure was moping about the kid, geez.

"Soda look, I get it's hard for you and the kid but this has been going on for weeks now..."

"Steve do you still think he's faking? The doctor said he had what's known as Cluster headache."

"Yeah I got that, but well, what's to say the kids not bunging it on? Haven't you ever heard of a symptom called phantom pain?"

"Steve I know Pony and this is real...it's just all too real...Darry can't even afford the oxygen treatment to get him better."

Soda let out a sigh and I watched him slump down against the bench. Now I felt bad. I rested my hand on Soda's shoulder.

"Look I'm sorry, and I'm sorry the kid has to go through that, but like I said he's tough; if anyone can survive those symptoms it'll be Pony."

Soda looked up at me and I saw his tired eyes and worn out face; heck I thought I had problems with my family but at least I could sleep, not worry about family or come into work looking like a zombie.

"Hey forget I said anything about tonight, we can hang some other time."

I hated to have to suggest that, it had been so long since Soda and I hung out or tried to chat up girls, but his response actually surprised me.

"No, I think your right Steve. It might do Darry and me some good, even Pony might like it; get his mind off his symptoms. The whole gang can be together tonight, just like old times," Soda said, giving me a smile.

"Perfect. Two's already there, ain't he?" I asked.

Soda nodded, "Yeah keeping an eye on Pony again."

Finally, some normality, I thought.

Two-Bit's POV

It was 11 o'clock, but Pony was still in his room. A few hours ago he said that he was going to try to sleep, so far he had been doing really well today.

I heard the phone ring and quickly got up to answer, not wanting to chance it waking Pony up.

"Hello?"

"Hey Two, it's Sodapop."

I was curious as to why Soda was calling when he was meant to be working, but then I figured he may just be checking up on the kid.

"Hey Soda, what's up?"

"Steve is comin' over for dinner and we'll probably all hang out for a bit; you stayin'?"

"Yeah, sure."

"How's Pony?"

"He's been sleeping for a while but been real quiet," I replied.

"Good. I'll see you later Two. Bye.

"Bye Soda."

I hung up and looked around the Curtis home; it was slightly messy and the dishes hadn't been done. I knew Soda and Darry had been working hard to get extra money for Pony so didn't have the time, so decided that I should help out. Crazy, I know.

I washed the dishes from this morning that Soda never washed and I grabbed some chicken from their freezer to thaw for dinner. I stepped back and admired my hard work; my mom would be proud, that was the most work I'd done in, ever.

I heard the front door open, followed by some chatter as Soda and Steve walked in, Steve was as loud as ever, but Soda was real quiet and I could tell he looked tired.

"Hey Two, ready for the big night? I'm gonna knock you out!" Steve called.

I nodded in his direction and sat down on the couch. "In your dreams Randle, just because I haven't played poker in awhile don't mean I'm no good!"

Soda pulled the chocolate milk out of the fridge and drank it right out of the container.

"Where's Pony?" Soda asked me.

"Bedroom," I responded.

"Alright, thanks."

Sodapop's POV

"Hey Pone," I whispered when I walked into the bedroom.

"Hey Soda," he whispered and flipped around to face me.

"I didn't think you were awake. How do you feel?" I asked.

"Yeah, I've just been lying here for a while. I feel okay, but my head hurts some. Can I have some aspirin?" He asked.

"Sure Pony."

"Thanks," he responded.

"Steve-o brought your schoolwork for you, just in case you feel better, Darry asked me to get Steve to grab it for you. Him and Two-Bit are staying for dinner. Do you want to hang out with us?" I asked softly.

I saw a small smile light up on Pony's face at the mention of being part of the gang again and I had to admit I felt relieved.

"I'd really like that, but maybe later, my head still hurts," he whispered.

He looked real upset that he couldn't come hang out with us because he still wasn't feeling good.

"Got a smoke, Soda?" He asked, suddenly out of the blue.

"No. Who you been bummin' smokes off of?" I asked; feeling slightly annoyed.

"Two-Bit," he said truthfully.

"You can't smoke Ponyboy, it'll make your headaches worse," I told him.

"How long have you been smoking since you been sick?" I questioned.

Pony shrugged, "Just one or two every couple of days," he mumbled.

I shook my head, feeling surprised and unimpressed at the same time; no wonder Pony's headaches weren't getting better.

"Ponyboy you know smoking messes with your oxygen and stuff. You best stop taking them. I don't care if you smoke when you're better, but if you don't stop taking them while you're sick and having headaches, I'm gonna have to tell Darry."

I didn't like having to be firm with him but I didn't want him suffering longer just because he wanted a smoke. I could tell he wasn't too happy with my threat.

"Soda," Pony whined.

"I'm sorry Pony but I have to keep to this, it's for your own health. I only want to get you better," I explained softly.

"Fine," Pony grumbled.

"I'll go get you your aspirins," I assured him and gave his back a gentle rub.

I was surprised to see Two-Bit helping with the dinner after I walked back into the kitchen to grab Pony a glass of water.

"Thought I'd help you and Dar-bear out seein' as you both are always so tired and all," Two-Bit explained.

"Thanks Two, you're a real buddy."

I gave a quick smile and rushed back to mine and Pony's room.

"Here Pony."

I handed Pony two aspirins and water and he gave me some sort of shocked look but took them with no arguments.

"I'll call you when dinner's ready, 'kay?"

"'kay Soda, thanks," Pony replied.

"Two-Bit's helping out," I said with a smile.

Pony turned, giving me a small smile before turning back around to rest against his pillow.