Darry POV

Hey guys! Sorry for the long absence. I've been really busy and really sick and I wasn't really up for writing. I'm finally starting to feel better so I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! I'll start updating on a regular basis now. In case I can't get an update in for a while, I'll publish a one-shot for y'all.

~I don't own The Outsiders (sadly)

Stay Gold

Ponyboy was getting sick. I couldn't have this happen on my watch. I'm already watching out for Two-Bit, now Ponyboy?! This couldn't be happening! He just got finished throwing up and before he got a chance to catch his breath, he was out like a light.

Soda whimpered and pushed Pony's hair off of his forehead. I sighed and stood up. "Well… I guess I should go tell Two-Bit the news… he's gonna take this mighty hard." I said as I brushed Soda's hair out of his eyes a little.

"He's gonna think this is all his fault. Have fun trying to explain all this to him." I slouched a little because I just realized that. This was gonna be mighty hard.

I nodded a goodbye to Soda and made my way down the hallway to my room. I cracked open the door and noticed that Two-Bit was still asleep. It was about ten minutes before Two-Bit started to stir and show signs of life again. He opened his eyes, looked around the room and squinted at the bright light coming in from the window. I walked over to it and shut the blinds, darkening the room so his eyes weren't straining.

"Darry?" Two-Bit mumbled.

"Yes Two-Bit?" Two-Bit's face seemed to relax when he realized it was me.

"What time is it?"

I looked at the clock that was on my bedstand and tried to read it, but it was really hard since it was super dark. "Um… about three why?"

Two-Bit's face scrunched up. "Three? That's it? It feels like it's later though…" Two-Bit put his hand on his forehead but snatched it away shortly after.

I walked over to the bedside. "Well… sorry to break it to ya little buddy, but it's not. Before you go back to sleep, I wanna take your temperature again. Then give you something for that nasty cough."

"I was coughing?" Two-Bit asked as I stuck the thermometer in his mouth.

I stifled a laugh and said sarcastically. "Were you? Gosh Two-Bit, you wouldn't shut up. Just be quiet for a minute okay?" Two-Bit only nodded and stared at me with his feverish glossy eyes that made me want to hug the daylights out of him for having to see him in this condition.

Finally I took the thermometer out of Two's mouth and sighed, reading it aloud. "102.3… it's looking better Two-Bit. Hang tight while I get your medicine ready, kay?"

"Kay…" Two-Bit said groggily. I walked out of the room to see Soda crutching out of Pony's room.

"Hey Darry, how's he doing?" Soda asked as he followed me into the kitchen where I got a spoon. Each time he took a step his crutched would make a slight tapping noise that was soothing yet maddening at the same time.

"He's doing better. His voice is still shot but his fever's going down finally," I grabbed the medicine for Two-Bit and stared at Soda. "How's Pony doing?"

Soda sighed. "He's out cold. Sweating and coughing. Every time he coughs I try to get him to do something but he just lays there, sick as a dog…" Soda turned around and crutched back into Pony's room when he heard Pony coughing again.

oOoOoOo

"Open up Keith," I told Two-Bit as I feed him the "orange flavored" medicine that I knew didn't taste good at all. After he swallowed one spoonful he tried to turn away but I grabbed his chin. "One more, just hang on."

I could tell Two-Bit didn't want to do this anymore than I did, but he just keep quiet and complied. Two-Bit lifted his head up. "Hey Darry… thanks for doing all this. I really think I'm starting to feel better…" Two-Bit all but lied.

"Oh really? With that voice, throwing up and passing out, and hacking your lungs out makes you think you're getting better? Sorry little buddy. Can't fool me this time," Then I frowned. "Two-Bit, ya wanna know something?"

He shrugged. "I… I guess."

I sighed. I really didn't want to be the one to tell Two-Bit this. I didn't want to tell him in general! But I had to. "Now, I'm not saying this is your fault. It's probably just because he was hanging around you so much. But… Ponyboy's sick too… And I'm talking really sick."

And this was the part where Two-Bit lost it. "What?! Really?! How sick?! I knew I shouldn't have let that kid around me!" Two-Bit began crying. "It's all my fault! He just got over being sick and here he is, having to suffer through it again all because of me!" I sighed.

I walked over to Two-Bit beside and pulled him in for a hug, but he retaliated. "No! Stay away! All I'm gonna do is make you sick too! Cause that's all I apparently do now! It was all my fault for Ponyboy getting sick after Johnny and Dally died because I didn't bring him home and then you let him fight in the rumble. If I just brought him home then that never would've happened! If I didn't hang around him then he wouldn't be sick now! And, and," He caught his breath. "If you hang around me then you'll just get sick too!"

"Soda!" I yelled which only made Two-Bit cry harder. Soda came busting through the door.

"What?! What?!" He looked around the room, a little too panicky. I knew he was a little too worried than usual.

"Soda, calm down," I walked over to him. "I want you to calm Two-Bit down."

Soda glanced behind me and saw Two-Bit. "What's wrong with him?" He asked.

"I'm pretty sure he'll explain if you try to hug him…" Soda walked around me and sat on the edge of the bed as I walked out the bedroom door.

"No! You're just like Darry! Get away from me!" I sighed and closed the door, leaning heavily against it for a second before I noticed that Steve was gone, Pony coughing like there was no tomorrow, Two-Bit crying and Soda's soothing voice was enough to drive me insane. But before I did go crazy, I locked myself in the bathroom and cried for the first time in a while.