Chapter Five:

The Return and The Hospital

(Darry's POV)

June made a great dinner, I didn't know that she could cook. She must've had to do it a lot when she was growing up. There was a knock at the door. 'Huh? That's odd, nobody knocks on the door.' Than June got up.

"I'll get it guys, you keep eating." June disappeared into the living room. Once the chatter began we heard her scream.

"DARRY!" She screamed again and I raced out of there to find her being grabbed by a couple.

"Let her go! You damn Bastard! NOW!" I screamed.

"Dad let me go! I can't breath!" June coughed out.

"Silence you! And you get out of my sight! June belongs to us, not you!" He tightened his grip around her neck and she gasped out. and if you don't you'll have to take it out with me and my gang! GUY'S GET OUT HERE NOW!" I screamed again as I saw Dally walking down the block. "DALLY GET YOUR ASS OVER HERE!" Dallas turned around and ran over.

Mr. Smith looked at everyone but continued to keep a firm grip on June, which was defiantly hurting her.

"Help-me." She barely choked out. Dally stepped forward and as we pulled out our blades. Everyone except Ponyboy, who ran inside to hopefully call the police. We all froze when Mr. Smith pulled out a heater and placed to her head.

(Ponyboy)

I ran inside to call the police.

"Hello Tulsa Police Department, What's your emergency?" A woman asked.

"Hi, there is a man here holding my friends sister captive and there's a gun being held to her head!" I practically yelled.

"Alright son, just give me your address and I'll send help immediately!" She said and I gave her my address, than I hung up. I looked through the window, (carefully) watching Mr. Smith point the gun at the others.

"NOW, ON THE GROUND!" He yelled but had no intention on leaving yet. I locked all the doors and windows, so at least he couldn't get me and I could dial 911 again if I needed too. In the distance you could hear the sirens from the police.

"Thank god!" They finally arrived and pulled alongside the curb…badly too.

"PUT THE GIRL AND THE GUN DOWN!" The officer yelled and walked towards him. He only tightened his grip on June harder. June's face looked like she was turning slightly blue.

"Make me!" He tried and the ops surrounded him completely.One of the cops who was facing his back. He fired at him as I covered my ears. Than a few more shots ran out and Mr. Smith dropped to the ground….dead. I unlocked the door and ran outside.

"Darry!" I yelled and ran to him and Soda.

"Oh Ponyboy, your alright. Did you call the police?" I nodded and he hugged me.

"What about June?" I asked and went over to where Dally and Two-Bit were. "Is she okay?"

"I'm not sure Pony. Hey! Can we get some help over here?" Dally yelled and some medics came over.

"Stand back!" They pushed us away, but Darry fought through.

"I'm in charge of her right now and I'm not leaving her!" He ordered, I think scaring some of the medics. I looked over at Mrs. Smith being arrested and Mrs. Smith was being loaded into a body bag.

"She's unconscious and will need a hospital." The medic said and radioed for one to arrive ASAP. (I did originally have her condition in this part, but I decided to wait) An ambulance came speeding down the street shortly after.

"Dally, go and get Johnny and take him down to Tulsa General. Soda, take Pony, Steve and Two-Bit in my truck. I'm going to ride with her." Darry said tossing the keys to Soda and going inside the ambulance. Than things started clearing up slightly, except for a couple of cops who were still investigating the scene.

"Pony, lets go, come on." Soda dragged me along as he headed towards the truck. We road in silence for a half hour the entire way. When we reached the hospital, Darry was un the waiting room. I choose to sit away from the gang.

"How is she?" I heard Soda ask.

"I don't know, They haven't said anything. Where's Pony?" Soda nodded towards me but I didn't move. Soda came over.

"Hey, what's wrong? You've been like this ever since the medics came." Soda said while putting an arm around me.

"I just can't get the image of Mr. Smith being put into a body bag out of my head. It's all freaking me out." My voice was trembling me.

"It'll be okay Ponyboy, he's gone." He rubbed my back.

"I know Soda but that's not it. It's the fact that I saw him die and being shoved into the bag." He said wrapping his arms around me.

(Darry's POV)

We were sitting there for about a half hour until Johnny and Dally burst through the door.

"Where is she? Is she alright? God I knew I shouldn't of left her!" Johnny was rambling and wouldn't stop. I stood up grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

"Johnny calm down! Your not helping anyone by getting upset!" I let him go.

"Your right Darry, I'm sorry. It's just…" Johnny sat down and put his hands in his head.

"Johnny, don't worry about it. She'll be fine I promise." I sat with my arm over his shoulders. To be honest I wasn't sure what was going to happen but I wasn't about to tell that to Johnny.

I turned towards where Soda was and saw he was comforting Pony who looked terrified.

"Uh…June Smith's guardian?" A doctor asked.

"I'm her brother and these are my cousins from Texas. How is she?" Johnny said.

"Well June has five broken ribs and her windpipe was slightly damaged, but I fixed that. I have her on some medication for now and she'll have to stay here for a few days."

"Can I see her now?" Johnny asked.

"Of course, follow me." We all followed the doctor into the room. June was out cold in the bed.

She looked pale and she had a mask on her face, most likely to help her breath.

"Hey Soda?" Pony asked him.

"Yeah Pone?" He asked.

"You think you or Darry can take me home?" He asked us with a pleading look. I looked at him and he was a few shades paler than his normal color.

"Are you okay?" I asked him and he shook his head. "Steve and Two-Bit your going to have to go home with Dally or walk. Come on you two." And with that we left the hospital.

"You feel okay Pony?" Soda asked him.

"Not really." Pony leaned his head on Soda's shoulder and went to sleep. It remained quiet as he slept. Once we reached the house I pulled into the driveway.

"Pony? Honey, wake up." Soda gently shook him and he opened his eyes. "We're home Ponyboy." Pont sat up and got out of the truck following Soda.

"Pony, I want you to go get ready for bed and I'll be in in a minuet." I called after him and got out of the car and walked inside careful not slam the door. After about 10 minuets I went into Pony's room.

"Pony, you okay?" I asked and he shook his head. "Soda! Get my the thermometer!" I yelled and I saw Ponyboy wince. "Sorry Ponyboy."

"That's okay, I know you didn't mean it." He whispered. Soda returned with the thermometer in his hands.

"Here Dar."

"Thanks." I placed the thermometer in Pony's mouth. When it beeped (I know thermometer's didn't beep back than) and took it out of Pony's mouth.

"What's it say?" Soda asked.

"101.9, he's not going to school tomorrow. If it's still bad one of us will have to stay home tomorrow. We cant leave him alone like this."

"I understand and as much as I love Two-Bit, and all, he's not fit to take care of a kid. Ponyboy just tray and get some sleep. Holler if you need us." Soda and I got up and went into the living room.

After about forty-five minuets Soda and I turned in for the night.

(Soda's POV)

I woke up in the middle of the night when the sheets began to stir. Ponyboy was having a nightmare.

"Pony, it's okay honey. Wake up!" I wrapped my arms around him but he just kept thrashing. "Ponyboy its just me Sodapop!" He than woke up.

"I-I'm sorry Soda."

"It's okay." I felt his forehead. "Still pretty hot, Just go back to sleep." He laid back down and I laid next to him and we both went to sleep.

I woke up early the next morning. Ponyboy still looked pale. Sighing I got out of bed and walked into the kitchen.

"Morning Sodapop." Darry said looking up from the paper.

"Morning Darry. Ponyboy had a nightmare last night."

"Was it bad?"

"Nah, he only thrashed, which is what woke me up. It lasted only a few minuets."

"I'm going to check his temperature." Darry walked into our room and I followed. Darry picked up the thermometer and carefully placed it in Pony's mouth. When it beeped Darry took it out to read it.

"What's it say Darry?" I sat down on the bed pushing Pony's hair back a few times.

"102.3! That's it, one of us will have to stay home with him. Can you Sodapop? I can't take off today. I have a job and I'm suppose to be getting paid double!"

"I can call and ask but I'm not sure." I said. I left to call to call my boss.

"Hello? DX Gasoline Station, East Tulsa, Oklahoma. How may I help you?" Mr. Parkers answered.

"Mr. Parker its Sodapop Curtis, I was wondering if I could take off today? My little brother is sick and Darry can't stay but somebody needs to watch him."

"Well Sodapop, I'm not sure because than Joe would be the only one working. Are you sure you can't get somebody else to look after your brother?"

"Well if you give me some time, I can try and find somebody and I'll work extra hours to make up for it?" I was hoping he'd let me stay home.

"Alright, Sodapop. Just give me a call before eleven okay?"

"I will sir, thank you! Have a good day."

"You too." We hung up

"What did he say?" Darry asked.

"He said I need to call him by eleven to see if I could find somebody to watch him. Dar, go and get ready for work okay? I'll handle it." He nodded and left.

When he was done he came back into the kitchen and began to eat breakfast.

"Hmm, now that there's food on the table Two-Bit and Steve should be here by now." Just than Steve walked in the door, slamming it behind them.

"Steve can you do us a favor today?" I asked.

"Yeah, but I have school. Is Pony ready?" Steve asked.

"Actually Pony's not going to school today. His temperature is 102.3. Can you look after him today?" Steve looked kind of pissed.

"Sure, I guess I can. I'll just have to tell Two-Bit-" Steve was interrupted because when another voice said something.

"Tell me what Steve-O?" Two-Bit asked.

"That your walking to school. I'm not going and neither is Pony." Steve said.

"How come Pony's not going?"

"Sick." Darry said.

"Hell, than I'm not going school, what's the point?" Two-Bit said.

"Thanks guys, Soda go and call your boss and get ready." I left for the phone and to get ready for work.

(June's POV)

I woke up in a white room and I squinted against the light. Looking over and saw Johnny asleep in the chair.

"Johnny? Johnny wake up!" I shook his leg and he started to wake up.

"Wh-what? June!" He gave me a gentle hug. "I've been so worried! Are you okay?"

"I'm in some pain and it's hard to breath. Can you get a nurse?" He left and a few minuets later he came back in with a nurse.

"Good morning June. I'm glad to see your awake. How are you feeling?" She said in this peppy voice.

"Sore, and it's difficult to breath."

"That's normal, you damaged your windpipe and you have five broken ribs. I'll go get you some pain killers." She than left.

"Johnny what happened to my parents?" I asked

"Your mom's in the cooler and your dad was shot to death." I was free? Tears spilled uncontrollably. "June its okay."

"I know it is. I'm free Johnny. They can never hurt me again! What happened to the gang?"

"Darry and Soda took Ponyboy home last night because he felt sick. The rest left soon after."

"Is Pony okay?" I asked.

"I don't know June, I've been here all night. I'm not going to leave you again." He grabbed my hand.

The nurse came back in and gave me some pain killers. She told me not fight the sleep. I didn't and I soon fell asleep.

That's the end of chapter five! Megan I have to give you credit because you guessed who was at the door! Although I didn't tell you. The next chapter is going to be all about Ponyboy and him being sick. New characters coming soon! Read and Review! Hope you enjoyed the chapter!