Chapter 11 The Hospital

"JESSE!"

I crawled over to my injured boyfriend and kneeled down beside him. The blood had soaked through his white t-shirt. I was hysterical. I pulled my sweater off and pressed it down on Jesse's wound. I didn't care that I was now covered in my boyfriend's blood. I needed Jesse to live! But the bleeding seemed to never stop.

"HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE!" I cried. I looked around frantically. No one was there. I spotted the payphone a few feet away and ran over to it. With shaky hands, I picked up the phone and dialed 911.

" 911 what's your emergency?" The lady asked.

" My boyfriend has been shot. Please, you have to help him!" I sobbed into the receiver.

" Where are you sweetheart?"

" On Yates. Between Park and Burke."

" Where is the wound?"

" His right shoulder."

"Keep applying pressure until the ambulance arrives. "I hung up and went back to pressing the sweater down on his chest. I checked his pulse. It was weak but there.

" You got to be ok baby! Please baby you can't leave me!" It was about four minutes until I heard the sirens. Jesse was growing weaker by the moment. They loaded him up on a stretcher and allowed me to go into the ambulance with him. I held his hand the entire time. I thought that if I could just keep it there I wouldn't lose him. When we got to the emergency room I was forced to let it go and it felt as if they ripped my heart out along with it. I was told to wait in a small waiting area. I balled myself up in a chair and silently cried.

"Darlin' I'm gunna need you to fill out some forms." The nurse came over to me with a clipboard.

" I don't know a lot of the information. I'm just his girlfriend."

" Well then just fill in a name, address and phone number." I quickly scribbled down the information and handed the clipboard back.

" Excuse me Miss. We are going to have to ask you a few questions." I looked up at the tall police officers. I hadn't even noticed them come in.

" Yes sir." I wiped my eyes and sat up.

" Do you have a parent or guardian we can contact?" The other officer that looked to be about Darry's age asked. I gave him my number figuring someone would be home by now. The older officer who I saw was named Willson sat down beside me.

" Can I have your name?"

" Daisy Curtis."

" Can you tell me what happened today Daisy?" he asked, jotting some things down.

" My boyfriend Jesse and I were just walking home from school when these guys pulled up and started shooting at us. They… they shot.. Jesse and drove off." I was once again consumed by sobs.

" Do you know who these guys were?"

" I don't know the driver. But the shooter was a guy named Luke."

" Do you know the suspect?"

" He's been bothering me for a while. He got mad cause I turned him down in front of the whole lunchroom today."

" Thank you Daisy. You've been very helpful." Officer Wilson stood and tipped his hat at me. His partner came over and notified me that my brother was on his way. It wasn't long before the doors opened and a panic stricken Soda rushed in with a shaken Steve following behind. I got up and ran to my brother, throwing my arms around him and squeezing him tight.

" Baby girl! Are you ok?" He asked, keeping me at arms length to look me over.

" He shot Jesse!" I sobbed.

" Who did?"

" Luke!" I cried. " Soda what if he doesn't make it?"

" He'll make it princess. Jesse's a strong kid." Soda assured me as he led me over to the chairs. I reclaimed my spot in the corner. Soda sat beside me with his arm around my shoulder. Steve say in fornt of us.

" I called Darry before I left. He's on his way." Soda told me. I just nodded. I pulled my knees up to my chest and silently cried into them. I was still shaking. I never in my life thought I would ever be involved in a shooting. I could still hear the pop as the bullet ejected from the gun. I still had Jesse's blood on my shirt. It was all my fault. Jesse could die and it was because of me.

" Daisy, honey calm down." Soda gently rubbed my back. I kept crying.

The door opened again and Darry ran through. He looked forty years older as he scanned the room. When he finally spotted us, he practically ran over to me.

" Daisy Lynn! Are you ok?" He kneeled down in front of me and grabbed my shoulders to inspect the damage. " Is that your blood?"

" Mo… Jesse's" I sobbed. " It's all my fault Dayyr! It's all my fault!"

" What is your fault? What happened Daisy?"

"Jesse got shot. Luke di it. He did it because of me. He was trying to get me!" He bothered me at lunch and I turned him down. He told me I'd regret it! And now Jesse could die!" I was hysterical.

" Daist this is not your fault." He looked me in the eyes before pulling me into his arms and let me cry into his chest. " I'm just so glad your ok."

" They have to know something by now." I sniffled and wiped my eyes. I lifted myself out of the chair and made my way to the nurses station.

" Excuse me m'am?" I tried to get her attention.

" Yes darlin'?" She looked up at me.

" Do you have any information on Jesse Russo?"

" I am only permitted to give that information to family members."

" Please. I am his girlfriend. I was with him when he was shot. I need to know if he's ok" I cried.

" I… listen I'm not supposed to do this." She said as she went through a pile of files on her desk. " But we can't get in touch with his mother so I'll make an exception. Jesse is stable. The wound was in and out. It missed all major organs arteries and blood vessels. He lost a lot of blood but is currently getting a transfusion."

" So he's ok?" I asked.

" Yes sweetheart. I am going to put you down as ahis sister so the doctor will keep you up with his condition. And allow you to see him."

" Thank you so much." I managed a small smile through my tears and walked back to the boys.

" Did they tell you anything?" Darry asked s I sat beside me.

" She said Jesse's going to be fine. The bullet didn't hit anything serious.

" Things are getting out of control in this neighborhood." Darry said disapprovingly. Darry was always a worrier.

" It ain't just blades anymore either." Soda commented.

"I don't want any of you walking anywhere If you can't get a ride from someone else you stay where you are until I can get to you. And if Two-bit has detention you stay at the school and wait for him."

" I will Darry. But all I care about right now is Jesse." Everyone was quiet. " He asked me to be his girl today." I barely whispered.

" Awe Daisy," Soda pulled me into his chest and held me close.

" Family of Jesse Russo?" The doctor called from the front of the room. I shot up immediately.

" Is he ok?" I asked.

" He is conscious and stable. You can go see him now Two at a time."

" I'll go call the house. Pony should be home I don't want him to worry." Soda said. " I'll tell him to come with Two-bit and bring you a change of clothes."

Darry came with me to Jesse's room. I hesitated at the door, not sure if I was ready to face what was behind it. Darry reached over me and turned the knob. Pushing the door open and nudging me in. Tears brimmed in my eyes as I took in the sight before me. Jesse was surrounded by wired and loud, beeping machines. His face was pale. But his eyes were open and he was alive. He smiled when I walked in.

" I'm so sorry Jesse.: I cried as I rushed over to his bed and grabbed hi hand.

" Don't be sorry. It's not your fault. Are you ok?" he asked. Only Jesse would be lying in a bead with a bullet wound and be concerned about me.

" I'm fine. Just worried about you." I said.

" Don't worry about me. And I should be the sorry one." He said with a smirk.

" How?!"

" I ruined your shirt." He laughed. I couldn't help but smile.

" Thank you Jesse." Darry broke into our conversation. " For saving my little sister."

" I would never let anything hurt her." Jesse said sincerely.'

" I don't doubt that. Taking a bullet for her definitely proved that." Darry half laughed. I was glad Darry took the time to thank Jesse. It showed he had a certain respect for him.

" Do you know who did it?" Jesse asked me.

" Luke." I said sadly. " Jesse if I hadn't…"

" Shh. Daisy you didn't do anything wrong. The kids crazy, that's not your fault."

" They're trying to get in touch with your mother." I tried to change the subject."

" She won't be able to come."

" Why not?"

" She's working a double. She works till 8AM tomorrow." Jesse looked away. I could tell he was upset that his mom couldn't be here.

" well I'm here baby. I ain't going anywhere." I assured him. He smiled at me.

" Excuse us but we need to speak with Mr Russo." The very same officers that questioned me were in the doorway.

" Let's go see if Soda got ahold of Ponyboy." Darry said as he put his hand on my shoulder and led me out. I saw him rubbing at his forehead as we walked down the hall.

" You ok Dar?" I asked.

" I don't like how close I came to loosing you. I can't loose anyone else Daisy. This family couldn't go on without you."

" Well I ain't goin nowhere." I winked at him and he smiled back.

Both Pony and Soda were sitting in the waiting room when we got back. Along with Two-bit who had given Pony a ride. Pony jumped up when he saw me and before I knew it he had me in a death grip.

" Lookie here! We got ourselves a personal super hero. Doging bullets like a champ." Leave it to Two-bit to joke around in a situation like this. I wanted to tell him that if I was really a super hero Jesse wouldn't be lying in that hospital bed, but I just smiled and shook my head at my goofy friend.

" I can't believe that kid shot at you." Pony was even more shaken up then me. I layed a hand on his shoulder.

" He's a psycho. I hope the fuz finds him soon." I sighed.

" Don't you worry Daisy. He ain't gunna bother you no more." Soda wrapped an arm around me. We waited another thirty minutes before the officers left the ER.

" I'm gunna go make sure Jesse's alright." I made my way back to his room. Jesse was sitting up in his bed when I got there.

" Hey." I smiled as I walked over to his bed.

" Hi baby."

" How'd it go?" Jesse looked away.

" Cops don't care about greasers like us. They sit around hoping we take each other out."

" Jesse they have to do something. You were shot. You could have been killed!" I sat down on the side of his bed.

" I don't know." He sighed. " Let's not talk about it anymore. I just want to focus on us." He grabbed my hand and lifted it up to his lips, giving it a kiss.

" Jesse I'm real happy you asked me to be your girl."

" I'm happy you said yes."

" Why wouldn't I?"

" Look at you Daisy. You're so beautiful and smart. Why would you want a dumb greaser like me?" He looked down and fumbled with his sheet.

" Jesse you are so much more then that. Your kind and you're so different from the guys around here. You say what you feel even if it don't make you tuff. Jesse you jumped in front of a bullet for me! I could never thank you enough for that."

" You being safe is thanks enough."

" I'm only safe because of you." I said. He scooted over and patted the space beside him. I climbed in and snuggled up to him.

" You smell really good." He laughed.

" Thanks?" I giggled. It felt nice to lay there in Jesse's arms. I wanted to stay there forever. All safe and warm, but nothing good can last forever.

Knock knock The door opened to reveal a nicely dressed woman followed by Darry. I sat up immediately.

" Hello Miss Curtis. How are you doing? I am your social worker Mrs, Martin." The woman held out her hand. I shook it. " Why don't we go out into the hall and speak privately."

" Whatever you have to say can be said here." I said sternly.

" Very well then. I am very concerned about what happened today. I don't feel like a young lady such as yourself should be living in a …"

" Mrs. Martin I assure you that I will be doing everything in my power to keep anything like this from happening again. From now on the kids will not be walking anywhere. I have instructed them to wait for a ride." Darry cut in to plead his case.

" Darryl, there was a deadly weapon involved. Daisy could have been killed!"

" She wasn't. Daisy always has someone around to protect her. Darry makes sure of it!" Somehow Soda had made his way into the room.

" I know how much you kids love each other. I want nothing more then to see you together as a family. But I can not turn a blind eye on the obvious danger that you are in staying here." Mrs. Martin argued.

" Please Mrs. Martin. I have worked so hard to keep this family going. Don't rip it apart now." Darry pleaded.

" Darryl.. Ok, I will have to keep this incident in my records but I will not present it to the judge. Do not make me regret this." She said as she slung her purse over her shoulder and exited the room.

" That was close." I sighed. I felt Jesse reach up and rub my back.

" We have to lay low. No getting into any trouble, understood?" We all nodded.

" We better get home. You got school in the morning." Darry announced.

" No Darry. I don't think Jesse should be alone." I argued.

" Daisy listen to your brother." Jesse said.

" But…"

" Baby go home and get some sleep. They're letting me out tomorrow anyway." He looked into my eyes and gave me that don't try to argue look.

" Ok." I gave in. " Call me if you need anything." I leaned in and kissed him. God, I don't know what I would do if those lips weren't there to kiss tonight.

" Get a room." I heard Pony groan.

" No! She is definitely not getting a room." Darry said seriously. We all laughed and went home.

I must have fallen asleep on the ride home because the next thing I was aware of was my body being lifted out of the car and into Darry's arms.

" Goodnight baby girl." He whispered in my ear as he laid me in my bed. " I love you so much. You and those brothers of yours mean everything to me."