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

"As i was sitting there
Singing a song they had never heard before
Suddenly, a voice told me
Keep on singing little boy
And raise your arms in the big black sky
Raise your arms the highest you can
So the whole universe will glow"

Darry came back from using the phone, every step closer to his little brothers room was unbearable thinking of his premature death. He cursed all the people he thought responsible of. It didn't seem fair that the killer was dead, let off that easily, in his life while his family had gone through so much and still are with Pony's custody and the accident. It all felt so suffocating. Everybody was suffering in the gang over all this.

Getting closer to the room he took a deep breath waiting for Soda's harsh words but he heard something else. Laughter. He opened the door to find the doctor checking on Ponyboy while he giggled softly at Soda's goofy words. Johnny was sitting down watching with a smile on his face obviously happy. When he stepped inside everyone looked up at him. Pony shot him a small smile with his arm (the one that was not broken) extending it wanting a hug.

"I'm bettew Dawy!"

Pony's older brother swallowed thickly not understanding so he glanced at Soda, "He's ok Darry, he ain't gonna die. He's going to be ok."

Darry gasped silently then in just a couple of steps he was next to Pony giving him a soft hug careful not to hurt him, the doctor furrowed his eyebrows checking his clipboard and the machine the boy was connected to, "Ponyboy's signals are ... amazingly good. His reactions to this are excellent. My oh my...He must have a very good guardian angel up there."

Pony nodded still in Darry's arms, "I have two."

The doctor left saying that he wanted Pony for just one more day of observation then he would be discharged. Darry told him about the custody situation, the doc understood so he wanted was lawyer to come sign the papers instead. Johnny walked to Pony grabbing his small hand, "I'm real glad you're ok Pone."

"Me too Johnny."

Then came in Twobit with Steve who stopped on their tracks, there was Darry with Pony in his arms, Soda grinning ear to ear next to Johnny whose hand was grabbing Pony's gently. They expected to see a very sad scene, feeling the gloominess but instead it felt joyful no trace of sadness. Twobit dropped his bag of chips rushing towards little Ponyboy, "Gosh squirt, you look all better! Almost as healthy as a ... pony!"

Steve stared at his buddy who nodded giving him the answer to his question that showed with his look on his face. The kid is all right. He's all right! His small friend waved telling him, "I'm bettew Steve!"

"And I'm real damn happy 'bout it."

Twobit raised an eyebrow remembering all the bickering between Pony and Steve, "Care to repeat that again Stevie?"

"Shut up Twobit."

"So tell us, what'd the doc say? He was sure he was going to...Ya know." Twobit asked.

Sodapop explained everything to them since they disappeared in the moment Pony got better. How he could be discharged after tomorrow, that it was a miracle he recovered from his almost fatal accident. Darry had left to call the Priest again to cancel the visit, it felt very good to the oldest Curtis knowing that Ponyboy would live. Soda was now embracing Pony, carefully though knowing he wasn't all the way out of the woods. There was going to be more concern for his head injury and broken arm. After some time of enjoying the good news, Twobit left with Steve and Johnny. Steve for work the next day and also to tell his boss to give his buddy some days off, Twobit had to go home to not worry his family knowing how late it was. Johnny wanted to go look for Dally to give him the good news.

The sun was almost up. Darry came back, he noticed his middle brother's tiredness. His eyes had bags under them, his shoulders were down and a long yawn escaped his lips.

"Go home Soda, get some rest. You look beat."

Soda shook his head stubbornly, "No, I'll stay. I just want to be-be with Pony. I mean, he's ok. I thought he was gonna-"

"It's all right Soda, I'll stay. C'mon, you need it anyway. Come back in the morning or um, later. Now go." Darry had to use his serious voice.

Rolling his eyes, Soda nodded frowning a little. He turned to Pony whose eyelids kept going down from being sleepy. Giving a kiss on Pone's forehead, he walked out the room mumbling some words. Darry chuckled sitting on the recliner next to the hospital bed. Stubbornness runs in the family. I can only imagine how Ponyboy will be when he grows up...God almighty, help me when he hits puberty and his hormones break loose.

The window showed the bluish dark sky, the sun was just rising with its orange yellow glow. Darry gazed at it, the colors were in contact. The orange yellow ascending, the dark blue now light. The sun getting higher and higher by the moment. Finally the light seeped though the room, it almost felt like it was giving life inside. Pony then in his sleep took a deep breath letting it out slowly relaxing himself. Darry cracked a smile, Thank you Mom...Dad...God...I-I wouldn't have known what to do if Pony...Just thank you, I promise I'll do my best to keep him safe from now on. Thank you...

A nurse came inside, she checked up the kid. She checked the machine, her clipboard. She noted some stuff down then smiled at Darry, "Everything seems to be fine."

"I'm glad to hear that," He nodded.

There was a knock on the door, both saw Mrs. Jones with a solemn look, she cleared her throat, "I believe we have matters to discuss."

Darry stood up his hands clenched up having just about enough of her, "What are you doing here?"

"Apart from notifying you that Michael will be placed in a foster home after his discharge I also came by to speak with his doctor, that is none of your concern though." She said almost rudely.

"The hell he is! Because of you Ponyboy almost died! He'll be coming with me, I don't care what you or anyone else has to say."

"Excuse me?!"

Suddenly a small voice whimpered, "Dawy, I don't wanna go with the lady. I don't want a new fostew home! The stawngew! The masked man! Dawy!" It was Pony, he was beginning to have a panic attack remembering the past events. The machine went wild with his small heart beating quickly.

Darry rushed to him trying to calm him down. The nurse shot a dirty look at the Social Worker then hurried out coming back with the doctor, Pony was breathing heavily his eyes wide open shaking his head repeating, "No..No...No!"

Mrs. Jones frowned thinking it was just a meltdown, "Hush now Michael, there is no need for this kind of nonsense!"

"Don't you dare talk to Pony like that." Darry snapped still soothing Ponyboy.

"What is going on here?" The Doctor asked at the whole commotion.

The nurse answered, "This woman caused Ponyboy to have a panic attack, she had no right to even come down here."

"He is simply having a meltdown like any child would." Mrs. Jones grimaced.

The doctor went to Ponyboy, he was sobbing in Darry's arms, "I don't want to leave Dawy! I don't wanna!"

"You won't Pone, I promise. Just calm down, honey. Shhh it's all right."

"Mrs. Jones, your presence is causing a disturbance here. I suggest you leave the room and if you need to speak with me we talk in my office. There is no need for you to be here. If you come back in this room I'm afraid I'll have to call security, my patient is my priority right now so he has to be kept calm to heal."

Mrs. Jones gawked at him, the nurse smirked folding her arms. Darry was grinning inwardly with the satisfaction of seeing her defeated. The doctor extended his arm gesturing her to step out the room, she puffed stomping away. The nurse winked back at Darry also leaving with the doctor ahead. He blushed a little, "Thanks."

Ponyboy calmed down clutching on to his big brother's shirt, "Don't let them take me away Dawy."

Holding on to him closely, Darry said, "You're coming home with us Pony. I won't let them take you away no more. I promise."

"Ok Dawy...Ok."

On the hospital bed both brothers now laying down fell asleep. Pony's head resting on his brother's chest, Darry closed his eyes surrendering into the darkness. The last thing he was aware of were the breaths of Ponyboy. He's ok...He's alive...He's here with me...

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)