How goes it, folks? Sorry it's been so long in between updating the past couple chapters, life in general has been hectic. Aside from working a part time job and a full time job, I'm also going to school.

Not that that's any excuse.. I write every free chance I get. Chapter Five will be updated sooner, promise.

One Love,
Riley GL Hale

Ponyboy was thrashing around in his bed, blankets strewn on the ground. Two-Bit's hands were on Pony's shoulders, and Steve was holding his wrists. Two-Bit was speaking in a low voice to him, but the yelling continued.

"Please, no, I didn't do anything!" Pony was screaming. His open eyes were misty as he fought with unseen enemies. After the initial shock wore off I rushed over to the bed, moving to the other side. I took hold of Pony's shoulders.

"What's goin' on, man?" I asked Two-Bit over Pony's cries.

"I dunno," he panted, still trying to hold Pony still. "He just spazzed and almost fell off the bed."

"Sodaaaaa!" Pony wailed, shutting his eyes.

I snaked my arms around his waist, rubbing his back softly. Gradually, the pitiful cries for help slowed, and Two-Bit and Steve removed their hands from him. I held on, though, and laid him back down against the pillows. Darry came around and stood next to me, laying the back of his hand on Pony's forehead.

Snatching the blankets up off the floor, I draped them across Pony's thin frame. He shivered some, and I tucked them in close to his shoulders. I sighed and looked over at everyone else.

Two-Bit was wide-eyed, as if he expected Pony to have another flare-up. Steve was bent over, hands on his kness, still panting.

"Thanks, y'all," I finally said.

"Damn, what was that? Have his nightmares ever been that bad?" Steve asked, looking up at us.

"Naw," Darry said, running his fingers through Pony's blond hair. "It's probably just the delirium, he's burning up still."

Sitting down on the edge of the bed, I scooted closer to Ponyboy, laying his head in my lap. I settled his pillow under his head, and rubbed his shoulder.

Two-Bit plopped down in the seat I had occupied last night, Steve settling for the floor again. Darry also took his usual spot in the other chair.

The day was long, with nurses coming in and out to check on Pony, and occasionally, the attending physician. He never spoke to me, but he and Darry would go out in the hallway and talk for a few minutes. He never seemed to have any news on Pony's seemingly unchanging condition, though.

At dinner time, a nurse brought in a tray of food for Pony. She set it on the night table by his bed.

"Darry? How are we gunna get him to eat?" I asked, puzzled. Pony wasn't conscious, there was no way he could eat the soup they'd brought for him.

Without a word, Darry took the plastic bowl of tomato soup in his hand. "Set him up," he ordered.

Gently as I could, I gripped my brother under his arms, holding him into an upright position. Pony's head lolled back over my arm, but Two-Bit jumped up, holding Pony's head steady. Darry took a small spoonful of soup, blowing on it to cool it down, and lifted it to Pony's slightly open mouth.

The second the warm liquid touched his lips, he sputtered, sending it flying onto his gown.

"No," Pony said, eyes still shut. "No baloney."

"Please, Pony, eat something," I begged. He had to of been starving, he hadn't eaten hardly at all in the past week. He had already been small, but now he looked like just skin and bones.

"No baloney," he said again, this time a little more firm. "Please, no baloney." His voice now faltered, his exhaustion evident. When he quieted, Darry fed him a little bit more soup. Pony said nothing else.

It was nearing seven o'clock, and rain pattered against the windows behind Darry's chair. Two-Bit was asleep with his head in his hands, Steve laying on his stomach in the floor. I still sat on the bed holding Pony. He'd slept easily most of the day, save for earlier this morning.

The door opened quietly, and in walked the doctor. He motioned for Darry to follow him out into the hallway. Darry stood, his knees cracking, and the two of them left. I stroked Pony's hair as I looked out the window, watching the rain run down the glass panes. The rainclouds made the sky unusually dark for this hour, orange lights from the Tulsa cityscape dotting the view.

The door opened once again, and Darry walked quietly back inside. I raised an eyebrow, wanting to know what he and the doctor had spoken about.

"We're taking him home in the morning," Darry said as he settled back into his chair. "The doctor said he would probably fare better in his own bed, but he's sending another physician out to the house every day until Pony wakes up."

I smiled, looking down at Ponyboy. No, this was far from over, but if the doctor was discharging Pony from the hospital, he had to of been doin' better, right? Hell, we weren't doctors, but Darry and I could take care of Pony just as well. Maybe this would be all he'd need to wake up.

Darry leaned back in his chair, shutting his eyes. Two-Bit and Steve remained asleep. The pitter-pattering of rain was making me sleepy, too. I rocked Pony gently back and forth, then slid down underneath the blankets with him.