Just so you guys know, I don't really know much about how high a fever is before you go to a hospital or how the doctor would know Darry isn't contagious, so don't remember as anything helpful. I doubt you would, but better safe than sorry.

Ponyboy's POV

I'm almost asleep when I hear the bedroom door creak open and Soda walks in. "How's Darry?" I ask.

"Oh, you know," says Sodapop in his caring and soothing voice, "he's acting like he's fine, but you can tell it hurts. I got him to drink some water before I left, though."

I nod and try to fall asleep. After dinner, I had almost forgotten that Darry was even sick. He just shuts himself in his room and stays real quiet. Well, every once and awhile we'll hear a loud cough or he'll stumble into the bathroom, but that's it. If we check on him, he'll sit up real fast, clear his throat, and try to look and sound as healthy as possible. That's just what he does, I guess.

Sodapop's POV

I hear someone yelling in the night and I immediately look to Pony laying next to me. Seeing he's sleeping soundly I'm at a loss for who it is. I can't recall ever hearing the voice yelling, but it sounds so close. Some wheels in my brain start turning and I realize it's Darry. I jump out of bed and run down the hall and figure out why I didn't think it was Darry- because I've never heard him scream.

I burst into his room and see him sitting up and breathing hard. Turning on the lights, I can see tears falling down Darry's face and it stops me for a second. Darry crying is new territory. Running up to him, he pulls me into an unexpected hug saying, "Soda, Soda, you're okay."

"Of course I'm okay, Darry, what's wrong?"

Ignoring my question he lets go of me and harshly asks, "Where's Ponyboy? Is he okay?"

Ponyboy appears in the doorway and walks up to Darry who pulls him into a hug as well. He holds Pony's head in his shoulder while turning his head to me asking, "Where's Mom and D-" Darry stops himself remembering and waking himself up. He just squeezes Pony tighter and cries harder making is whole body shake.

He finally lets go of Pony and wipes his eyes and says weakly, "I'm sorry."

I sit down on his bed looking straight at him and reply, "There's nothing to be sorry about. What happened Darry?"

He wipes his eyes and sniffs mumbling, "I-I."

"Had a bad dream," Pony finishes.

Darry nods.

I reach over to feel the back of Darry's neck, but he pulls away insisting, "Don't worry about me, Soda. It was just a dream."

Any reassurance his statement could have provided was taken away because of the look in his eyes. They were wide, tired, and flustered. I feel his neck despite his protests and does feel pretty warm. "Hey, Pony," I manage softly, "why don't you hop in bed with Darry and I'll be right back."

"Yeah, okay," agrees Ponyboy.

I walk out of Darry's room to get another glass of water and the thermometer and see Pony crawl in bed next to Darry.

Darry's POV

I have a whole new respect for Pony. With his nightmares I always thought he just needed to toughen up a little bit, but I had no idea. I lay back down and am thankful that Pony and Soda are going to sleep with me. Getting over my frantic state, I realize how lousy I feel. I can almost hear the thumping in my head and I wonder why Soda and Pony had turned the thermostat down so low. When Soda walks in I ask, "Hey, can you turn the thermostat up- it's almost freezing in here."

Soda's face seems to fall a little bit and he sets a glass of water down and sits next to me on the bed. "Buddy, the thermostat's on 72 degrees and you usually think that's too hot," Soda explains gently.

I sit up and think about how bad of a job I'm doing trying to look fine. First, I wake up screaming and crying and then I think it's way colder than it is. Soda must sense my feelings because, as he sticks a thermometer in my mouth, he wraps his arm around me gently saying, "It's okay, Dar, we know you ain't feeling too hot. You just gotta let us take care of you."

When I say nothing, Soda takes the thermometer out of my mouth and reads aloud, "102.1- you're fever went up. Here have some water and then get some sleep."

Feeling like a small child, I pick up the glass shakily with both hands and bring it slowly to my lips. When I'm done drinking, Soda takes the glass away and sets it down. Silently, Pony and I scoot over so Soda can get in and I close my eyes.

Sodapop's POV

I tried to take care of Darry the right way, but on the inside I was a little shaken up. I said a prayer thanking God for my brothers and asking for Darry to get better and I go to lay down. As I'm crawling into bed I smell something and see Darry's trash-can filled with the little that he ate. I had been thinking that maybe Darry wasn't getting sick as often, but it looks like he was just getting sick in here.

I wrap my arm around Darry and go to sleep.