.::I do not own The Outsiders::.

"And if you go, I wanna go with you
And if you die, I wanna die with you
Take your hand and walk away"

"Ponyboy...Oh Pony..."

"M-Mama?"

"Hey there lil booger long time no see?"

"Daddee?"

Laura Curtis nodded slowly with a smile on her face, Darrel Curtis was beside her his hands on her shoulders both staring at Ponyboy who sat up from his laying position. He didn't know where he was, everything was too bright and the only figures he recognized were those of his parents. They seemed to be waiting for him to do something but it has been such a long time since he saw his parents that he was very still eyeing them thinking this was all a dream. Ponyboy stood up feeling very weak and with his wobbly legs he walked towards them trying to see if they were real.

"Mama? Daddee? Awe you weal?"

His mother kept on smiling wrapping her arms around her small son, "Of course we are 'lil Colt ."

His father rubbed his back giving a kiss on his head, "We love you so much son."

Pony began sobbing against Laura's shoulder burying his face, it felt like forever since the last time he felt complete. The warmth of his parents love. Family together again. Now knowing it wasn't a dream he cried.

"We can't stay long Pony."

"W-why not Mama?"

"We have to leave soon." His father said.

"B-but I don't want you to leave me."

His mother put a hand on his cheek stopping the flow of his tears, "Look at me sweetie, you have to make a choice. Now listen good, Darrel?"

Darrel cleared his throat, "Ponyboy, son, we love you so much. Always remember this. Always. Your brothers love you too. They'd do anything to make you happy."

Laura continued, "You can come with us or go with your brothers. Please honey, think very hard ."

Pony furrowed his eyebrows, "If I leave with you...Will- will my brodews be sad?"

Darrel gave a sad smile, "I'm afraid so."

"Will you be sad If I go with by brodews?"

"Oh Pony...We're okay where we are son don't you worry. Even though you can't see us we will always be watching you. We love you." His dad ruffled his hair.

"Ok...I love you Mama ... I love you Daddee."

The three of them hugged each other feeling that relaxing warmness Pony felt, then a very bright light shone upon them and then darkness...

Sodapop frowned sadly as he sat on a chair beside Pony's bed his small hand in his own. The doctor informed them that he wasn't responding well, that he might not make it. The brothers felt their hearts sink so deep they thought it had disappeared. Steve was sitting next to Twobit and Johnny, their heads against the wall. The greasers felt so powerless against what was going on. Johnny had tears rolling down his cheeks after failing on trying to stay tough. Twobit took a very deep breath to not lose it in front of everybody, God dang it squirt...

Steve had his arms folded in front of his chest staring down at the floor angrily, Stupid Doc, so he's just gonna let the kid die?! This is bull... Please kid, don't die on us.

Darry was on the other side of the bed slouched down looking at Pony's sleeping face. This whole situation was wrong, his little brother wasn't suppose to going through this at all. He was supposed to be at home sleeping next to Soda right now not in a hospital bed dying. He's too young...Merely a baby.

Dally, after bolting out of the hospital, was out in the neighborhood walking aimlessly not caring where he went. He even past people accidentally hitting their shoulders, they would yell: "Watch it punk!" But being Dally he'd flip them the bird. Some Socs saw him by his lonesome so the two followed their victim. Dally knew he was being followed so he turned around swinging at them.

"C'mon you little bastards! C'mon!" He shouted madly.

One of them backed away taken aback, the other one tried punching him though. Dallas snorted at his weak blow so he gave him a harder one. The fighting worked a little to blow off some steam he had built up. The other Soc joined pushing the greaser off his friend. To end it all, Dally pulled out his blade and through his gritted teeth he warned, "I dare you to make another move."

Both socials ran away knowing better than to stay. He saw them run their figures disappearing down the street. His hand rubbed his eyes feeling better, well, only a little. The thought of Ponyboy being very sick to the point that he could die made Dally kick a glass bottle breaking it into little pieces against a brick wall. You can't die on me Pone, ya just can't...Christ...

The rest of the gang were still inside the small hospital room, the only sound was that of the small machine making a beeping sound letting everyone know of Pony's heart rate. Twobit sighed getting up leaving, "I'll be right back guys. Ya want anything? I'm heading to the cafeteria."

His friends shook their heads not really hungry even though it's been some time since they ate anything at all. Steve shrugged "I'll go with you." Twobit nodded leaving with him. Darry bit the inside of his cheek remembering something a nurse had recommended a while ago. I suggest you call a priest, you know, Last Rites. His mother was a Catholic, his father was Christian. His stomach churned in a bad way thinking that Pony really was dying. He was going to die. Shaking his head slightly Darry let out a quivered breath. Soda heard, "What's wrong Dar?"

"Soda...I-I'm going to have to call a Priest. You know for-"

Sodapop let out a small cry escape, "Oh Christ Darry, no no, he ain't dead! He's not going to die!" At that moment the middle Curtis moaned resting his head against Pony's chest hearing his faint heart beat. He's alive! He-he can't die! No Pony you can't...I-I'll go with you, I swear I will! If you die I wanna die with you.

"Soda it has to be done."

Johnny shut his eyes after hearing Darry's words. That small hope mustered inside of him began to fade. God, I never ... prayed before but please make him live. Please...

"So what? You just gave up?!"

"No! I didn't, Soda the doctor even told us Pony-"

"Ok! Ok. Do whatever you want."

Darry sighed getting up to phone a Priest they knew very well in a church nearby when they used to go when their mother was alive. Sodapop sniffed while Johnny walked next to him awkwardly putting a hand on his shoulder, Soda smiled weakly. Time was ticking and it was only a matter of time before Darry came back with the Priest. Sodapop remembered when his baby brother was born how he promised himself to always care for Ponyboy that no matter what he'd do everything in his power to have him safe.

Johnny stared at his small friend looking very pale in that hospital bed. He had a gauze wrapped around his head and one of those tubes placed up his nose. The machine kept making it's annoying sound...Beep...Beep...

Suddenly they heard something. A small croaking voice saying in barely a whisper.

"S-Soooda."

"Ponyboy!"

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)