Sorry yall, I know it's later than I promised, but I really have been working on it between when I've had the chance, it just never was my best. I'm at work on Chapter Six right now. Thanks to all of you who have left reviews. Enjoy. -Riley GL Hale

The rain was still passing through the next morning, making the roads slick. It was a scary drive home; Darry had to drive real slow to keep from skidding off into a ditch. I held onto Ponyboy tightly, in case we did get in a wreck. Two-Bit and Steve were in Two-Bit's car behind us, driving just as slow.

We had left the hospital at about seven. Pony hadn't slept soundly through the night; and neither had I.

Lightning split across the sky, flashing so bright that I could see it under my closed eyelids. Thunder roared a second later. I felt Pony stir next to me, then I heard a light whimpering. Lightning struck again, and Pony's tremors of fear gradually increased. He tossed and turned in the bed, crying softly.

"Please," his soft voice begged. "Please, no. Momma.."

The thunder boomed overhead, so loud that even I jumped a little bit. Pony rolled over, scooting towards the edge of the bed. The rails prevented him from falling off, thankfully. Propping myself up on one arm, I gripped Pony's gown and pulled him towards me.

"Shhh.. Come on, Ponyboy; You're safe, you're safe.." I whispered as his crying continued. Next to the bed, Darry stretched, yawning.

"Soda? What's goin' on?" he asked in a low voice.

"The storm woke Pony up," I whispered, still holding my little brother. His crying reduced to a light whimpering. Lightning still flashed outside, and rain pounded against the windows. The sound made me tired. Darry ran his fingers through Pony's hair.

I lay a hand on Pony's forehead, noting how he was warmer than he had been before we went to sleep. Silently, I prayed that he wasn't getting worse, and that we could still go home in the morning. I was convinced he'd do better just by being in the familiarity of our house. I swayed Pony gently back and forth, and he quieted.

Now that Ponyboy was back asleep, Darry resumed his position in the chair, and I laid back down, wrapping the covers around Pony. He shivered next to me. I ran my knuckles gently across Pony's warm cheek, hoping that he would sleep through the rest of the night.

"We're home."

I looked up at the house through the dirty windshield of Darry's truck. It still looked the same as it did before Mom and Dad died, and even now it looked like it had before Johnny and Dallas had died, too..

I shook my head. I had been trying to keep my mind off them while Pony was in the hospital, trying to be strong for Darry, because I could see that he was about to break. But now, seeing Two-Bit and Steve tiredly dragging themselves from Two-Bit's car and Pony limp in my arms, it was painfully obvious how our number had decreased. It tore at my heart.

Carrying Pony through the front door, I noticed the magazines and cards that still lay scattered on the floor from the night of the rumble. Nothing appeared any different. But if felt different. A tear formed in the corner of my left eye, but I hurriedly wiped it away.

Ponyboy was sweating something fierce I noticed as I laid him down in our bed. His face was flushed, and perspiration was beading on his forehead and lip. Darry removed the hospital gown and Pony's trembling worsened. I pulled the blankets up to his chin.

"Soda, I'm gunna go lay down," Darry said, looking at our brother. I nodded, and he walked out the door. I sat on the bed beside Pony for a little bit, then decided I'd might as well get some sleep, too.

"Soda?" Pony whispered next to me.

"I'm right here, Pony, go to sleep." I hoped that he would relax and go back to sleep. He said nothing more, so I shut my eyes and fell into a fitful rest.

It was late afternoon when I awoke. I lay there for a few minutes, debating on whether or not I should get up. I was tired as hell, but I knew I probably should so I could help Darry with anything. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up and looked over at my baby brother.

He lay on his side, facing away from me. His face was still flushed, but he wasn't sweating anymore. The door opened slowly behind me. Darry walked in, holding a white washcloth.

"Did I wake you up?" he asked softly.

"Naw, I had just woken up."

He nodded, then sat on the other side of the bed, wiping Ponyboy's face with the rag. He ran his fingers through Pony's short hair.

"I'm gunna get him cleaned up," Darry said, setting the rag on the night table.

"You sure that's a good idea?" I asked hesitantly. I was worried Pony may have one of his episodes and hurt himself.

"No, but he's still dirty from Saturday night. Come on."

We both stood, and Darry removed the undershorts Pony was wearing. He gathered our little brother, then we headed to the bathroom. I noticed Steve and Two-Bit asleep on the couch and armchair. Darry held Pony as I started filling the tub with warm water. I gathered a few towels while it filled, laying them on the ground.

Darry gently set Pony into the water when I stopped the faucet. I held him up, and Darry gently cleaned Pony. As the dirt and grime was cleared away, the numerous cuts and bruises made themselves more apparent. The poor kid looked like hell. Darry set about to wash his hair, but the bandage was getting in the way. We were going to have to remove it.

I prepared myself for the worst as Darry started undoing the white gauze. I figured there would be a big hole in the side of his head, where that bastard Soc had mercilessly kicked him. I shook away that thought, knowing if I dwelled on it any longer I'd go hunt down that sorry son of a bitch.

The wound didn't look too bad in reality; after the blood was cleaned away it was hardly noticeable. I knew the underlying effects could be bad though, and that Ponyboy may not be his normal self when he woke up. The possibility made me want to cry.

As Darry started rinsing Pony's soapy hair, I felt him sieze up underneath me. My eyes widened, and I looked at Darry.

"No!" Pony said, his voice raspy. "Let me go, I didn't do anything!"

He started kicking and trying to lash out, and though he was weaker than I was, it took all my strength to restrain him.

"Ponyboy, calm down," Darry said, squeezing Pony's shoulder. He poured more water into Pony's hair, hoping to hurry and get him out of the tub and back into bed.

I gripped Pony's other shoulder and bicep as he continued struggling against us. screaming. Confused, I wondered why Pony was so frightened all of a sudden. Then it hit me.

Before Johnny had killed the Soc, Pony was almost drowned. In his delirious mind, he probably thought he was being drowned right now.

"Soda! Darry!" Pony cried.

"Pony, it's okay, we're right here," Darry said, trying to soothe.

"He thinks he's being drowned." I told Darry. "Let's hurry and finish cleaning him."

Darry nodded, and I tried to suppress Pony as long as I could. As we dried him off, Pony calmed, but was still crying out.

"Johnny.. no, he didn't mean to.."

Hearing my little brother calling for his dead buddy broke my heart. How long would he suffer from this loss? It was bad enough losing our parents, but now our buddies too.. They were so young.. God, the world could be so cruel.

"Shhh.. it's okay, babe, we know." Darry whispered to him. Walking into the bedroom, I dug a clean shirt and sweatpants from our drawers. Darry laid Pony on the bed, and I dressed him. He was quiet again as I tucked him back into our bed.

"You hungry?" Darry asked.

My stomach growled, reminding me that I'd barely eaten in the past week. I wanted to eat, but the thought of everything that had happened made me feel sick. I'd never be able to keep anything down.

"Come on, Soda. Let's get some food, then you can come sit with Pony."

Looking back at my sleeping brother, I nodded and allowed Darry to lead me to the kitchen.