Disclaimer: S.E. Hinton owns all rights and creative genius in The Outsiders. Sadly, I don't own Ponyboy nor am I dating him (I wish!) and I do not profit from anything or own any of her writing or the any of her characters. I am just borrowing them fun and get no profit besides reviews.

A/N: In case it was not clear Ponyboy is 13 and the book hasn't happened yet.

Ponyboy's POV

The whole gang is cutting their hair for me? I was so touched, but I was embarrassed and upset that they felt the need to suffer with me.

I really wasn't too sure on how to react. I hugged them and thanked then got sticking with me.

X

Darry's POV (The Next Day at Hospital)

The whole gang had officially gone bald.

I walked in after my barber appointment to find Pony awake, but massaging his temples. He got headaches enough for me to know all the signs.

"Hey Ponyboy, how are you feeling?" I asked. He shrugged.

"Headache is all." He muttered. I hoped I could cheer him up with some really great news.

"I get to take you home today." His typically pale face lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Are you serious?" I nodded. He was already up and grabbing his clothes. He wobbled a little, still weak from chemo. I helped him get off the gown and change into some real clothes.

"Where's Soda?" He asked.

"He didn't feel good so I made him stay home but he really wanted to see you." I told him. It had been war trying to make him stay home and rest. If he was really sick he was not sleeping with Pony. The doctor said he could get sick really easily and to try and avoid infection.

Concern was written all over Ponyboy's face. I smiled at then two, they were inseparable and I knew if one of them had a cold they would act as if they were dying.

"He's okay, Pone, I promise." He nodded, staring out the window at Tulsa.

We walked in and Soda was on the couch next to Two-Bit.

"Hey Pony." Soda greeted, his voice hoarse. I felt his forehead, not too hot.

Ponyboy was sitting next to Soda when I came out. I didn't have the heart to tell him that he needed to be careful.

The thermometer beeped, 101.5. Not too bad I guess. Ponyboy glanced over my shoulder to read it. Soda rolled his eyes.

"I'm fine Pony." He wrapped his arm around him and Pony leaned on his shoulder, his eyes closed.

Soda's POV

I swear, Darry and Ponyboy will have gray hair before they turn 25! They needed to relax, I caught Steve's cold, no big deal! I tried to get Pony to relax by wrapping my arm around him. He fell asleep almost immediately. I smiled at his small sleeping figure.

I watched TV with Ponyboy and Darry for another hour before realizing it was after ten and I was tired and judging by the sleeping figure next to me so was Pony.

"Darry, can you pick up Ponyboy?" I asked him hoarsely, Pony may be small but he had some muscle on him and was about 100 pounds, I couldn't lift that much, that was Superman's job.

Darry nodded and picked him up and carried him to bed.

I grabbed my pillow prepared to sleep in Pony's old room but Ponyboy woke up.

"Why you leaving Soda?" He mumbled.

"I'm sick, I don't want to get you sick." I told him gently.

"Don't want you to leave. Please Soda?" I sighed, he was my weakness and I crawled in next to him and quickly fell asleep.

Ponyboy's POV

I woke up and heard Two-Bit's obnoxiously loud voice echo through the house.

I crawled out of bed, preparing for a long day. Two-Bit was suppose to baby-sit me.

"Heb Pone, can you cobe by the DX to tobay to visit?" Soda told me stuffily. I nodded.

After an hour of Mickey Mouse and I made us some breakfast, we decided to walk to the DX.

It felt good to be out in the open, but I felt like people were staring at me like I was a freak. I kept my head down until I heard the too familiar voices yell,"Hey Greaser."

I froze, soon we were surrounded by 5 or 6 Socs. They tall red haired one flicked out a switchblade and held it to my face.

(A/N: I was going to stop there but I won't so here you go!)

"Hey Greaser, Were going to fix your ugly, greasy faces." I gulped. Two Socs pinned me down, slugging me in the chest and kicking me in my ribs. The red headed one cut me on the cheek and on the stomach.

"Soda! Steve! Two-Bit! Help!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. All of a sudden, all the Socs stated to run, after giving me a swift kick to the head and ribs. I think I heard a crack.

Steve hauled me to my feet.

"Two-But okay?" I asked. I flipped around and saw Two-Bit talking to Dallas.

"Yeah, Dal and I were outside when we heard you screaming." Steve explained. I nodded.

"Come on, let's get ya'll cleaned up or else Soda and Darry will have a heart attack." Steve said. I wrapped my arms around my stomach, I knew I had broken a few ribs. Two-Bit wrapped his arm around me, helping me.

Soda ran out of the store when he caught sight of Two-Bit and I.

"What happened?" Soda yelled at us.

"We got jumped. We're fine." I explained to Soda. He still looked worried.

"Cobe to the back, Ib clean you up." He said. I nodded and followed him.

While he was cleaning my cut on my face I zoned out. His loud sneeze made me jump.

"Little zoned out there, huh, little brother?" He drawled, laughing.

"I guess. How do you feel Soda?" I asked. He rolled his eyes.

"I'b fine Pone. Don't worry so much." He told me. I laughed.

"There you go. Your ribs are broke and I got stitches in both cuts Pony, you can't hide this from Darry. You have fifteen or so stitches." He told me. I signed, I was so not looking forward to Darry's reaction.