Chapter 2

Patrick's POV

J.D was going to kill me. I really regret what I said to Mr. York now. He was a good guy; I guess I'm just tense with Dad being in the hospital. Eric proposed to J.D three days ago and before she got to answer Dad collapsed on the spot. He was getting worse, even if J.D didn't want to tell us. She told me to be positive for M.J, but it's hard. Mike's only 7, he shouldn't be going through this.

I tapped my feet up and down until my heals got sore. Principal Simms called J.D half an hour ago. She must still be at the hospital. Somebody was always with Dad, I was all day yesterday. J.D is with his today with M.J. I put my head in my hands and try to think of what I will say to Dad and J.D. They won't buy the 'He doesn't like me' excuse. I am so grounded!

J.D came rushing in looking around for me. I groaned on the inside and stood up waiting for her to scold me. Instead she came over to me and took my hand.

"We need to go to the hospital. Dad's getting worse." She said hurriedly. I grabbed my bag as she signed me out. We nearly ran out of the school.

We drove to the hospital in silence, not wanting to bring up the hospital or Dad. She pulled in at the Emergency entrance, letting the orderly park it. We went up in the elevator and into Dad's room.

I've seen my Dad sick before. But he has never looked so weak. He had a mask over his face, going everywhere, the whole nine yards. M.J was lying next to him. Michael was crying. J.D went over to him and took his hand.

"Daddy? Daddy, Pat's here." She said gently. Dad slowly opened his eyes and gave me a small smile.

"Hey, bud. Come over here." He said. I smiled and went to his bed. I felt the tears in my eyes.

"Hey Dad. How are you feeling?" I asked taking his other hand that was around Mikey.

"Like hell, son. But don't think about that. I need you to do me a favor." He said, almost whispering. I had to lean in to hear him.

"What is it dad?" I asked. He sighed, trying not to cough.

"I need you to look after your sister and your brother for me when I'm gone. You'll be the man of the house now, and I need to know that you'll take care of them for me. Can you do that for me Patrick?"

I shook. I nodded quickly, forcing the tears to stay in my eyes and not on my face.

"Yeah, yeah sure Dad. I can do that."

The tears somehow came out, and Dad pulled me close to him. I wrapped my arms around him, not wanting to let go.

"I love you Dad." I said weakly.

"I love you too, Pat." He said.

All four of us somehow laid there in that small bed. Me next to Dad, Mikey on J.D's chest, J.D next to Dad. I don't know how much time passed. I didn't care though. I didn't want any of this to change. Why? What did we do? Why is this happening? We've already lost Mom! I can't lose my Dad to!

Soda and Aunt Rachael came in and sat by us. Soda went over to Dad and kissed his forehead.

"I love you kiddo." Soda choked out.

"I love you too Soda." Dad said trying to sit up a bit. Soda gently pushed him back down.

"Just stay there Pone. Don't strain yourself." He said softly.

We got off the bed and either stood or sat by Dad. Soon Darry and Lizzy came in with Shay and Cola.

"Hey guys." Dad said weakly. Darry came over to him and gave him a hug.

"Hey little buddy." He said, trying not to let us hear his voice crack. Dad gave a small chuckle.

"You haven't called me that since I was 16." He said smiling.

"Shut up." Darry muffles.

Soon everyone came, Steve, Eric, Two-Bit, Ronda, and Kevin. Steve and his wife got a divorce about 5 years ago, so she wasn't here anymore. We all just sat there, waiting for time to go by. Dad started coughing, and that meant blood would come out with it. Mikey couldn't stand that, so Aunt Lizzy took him out. At about nine' o'clock people had to go. Only me, J.D, Darry, and Soda stayed. Aunt Rachael took Mikey home so he wouldn't be here when "it" happened.

Dad kept hacking up blood, making it hard for him to breathe. Darry and Soda held him up as J.D held a basin to his face.

"Easy Ponyboy, just relax" Darry said rubbing circles into Dad's back. Dad kept breathing heavy, trying to stop coughing. The doctor finally came in, and went over to Dad.

"Alright, Ponyboy. How long have you been coughing?" he asked.

"About five minutes." Darry answered for him.

"Alright, let's just see what's going on." Dr. Redding put his stethoscope over Dad's chest and listened. The doctor sighs.

"Ponyboy, you've been a colleague of mine for almost 15 years. I'm not going to B.S you on this, you might not last the night. The tumor has created a blood clot in there and will burst soon. I'm so sorry. We'll make you as comfortable as we can, I can promise you that."

"Thanks Ben. But just give me local antistatic. I want to be with my family when I pass." Dad says calmly.

"Dad, don't. I don't want you to be in pain!" J.D says. Dad smiles and pats her hand.

"I'll be alright baby." He says calmly.

"Are you sure?" Redding asks. Dad nods.

"Alright, I'll order you it right now." He says leaving the room. There was an eerie silence.

"I've always hated that man." Dad says all of a sudden.

"What?" I laugh.

"I've never liked Dr. Redding. He's just annoying." Dad says. We all laugh.

"It's his voice. It sounds like a cat that got its tail stepped on." Dad says. I chuckle into his arm.

About 1 in the morning, it happened. Dad started to cough, not catching his breath. Alarms went off, and people ran in. J.D held onto me as the sound of the flat line wailed throughout the room and hallway. They tried to get him back, but they couldn't.

My Dad was gone.