Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsidcers, Enjoy!

"Excuse me Mister Curtis?" I yawned and looked up groggily at a nurse. "There is a cop and some reporters outside. They want to talk to you." I looked at Soda still asleep and Pony who was just completely still.

"Alright. I'll be right there." I looked at my watch. 10:30 AM. Soda could probably use something to eat by now. I shook his shoulder a little.

"Pepsi, wake up." His eyes shot open and he looked around. Then he took in a sigh of relief.

"Darry, don't scare me like that."

"Got it buddy. Soda I want you to go down to the cafeteria and get you some food. I have to go to the lobby to talk to someone."

Soda shook his head. He stretched then pulled closer to our brother. "Can you pick me up something. I don't want to leave Pony all by his lonesome."

I looked at the two, both worried me right about now. "All right then but you better eat."

"I will. Cross My heart."

"Okay then." I walked out of the room and into the lobby.

There were three reporters and a cop waiting on me. "Darrel Curtis?" The cop asked. When I said yes the reporters rushed over. They started asking a million questions faster then I could process.

"Whoa there. Give the man some room. I need to talk to him first."

They backed of then. I hate reporters.

"Mister Curtis, I am Officer Wise. We have reprimanded one of the boys who attacked your brother and his friend yesterday. He has turned himself in but refuses to turn in anyone else. However we have a lead, an anonymous witness of sorts. We are going to catch whatever sicko did this." He held out his hand and I shook it.

"Thank you Officer." It is rare that the police are on out side.

"I just need a statement from you as to what happened that night."

I nodded. I did not want to talk about it, how I hit Ponyboy. How I ran him off, didn't take good enough care of him. I didn't want anyone to know that I was just some jerk who couldn't control his temper.

"Alright then."

"In your own words what happened that night?"

I nodded. Be strong, Darry. Be strong.

"It wasn't a school night so I let Pony go to the movies with our friends Johnny and Dallas……"

"Dallas Winston?"

"Yes sir, he is a buddy of ours."

"Are you sure?"

Was he thinking maybe Dallas…. "Yes, Dallas is our buddy. He would never lay a finger on Johnny or Ponyboy."

"Sorry sir, something goes down in this area Dallas is the first person…"

"I understand." Because usually Dallas was the culprit. "Well as I was saying I let Pony go to the movies. He didn't come in till two in the morning. Do you know how agonizing that is. He could have been in trouble, he could have been hurt, like now."

"I see, go on."

I heaved my shoulders. I could do this. I couldn't do this. Come on just place the cuffs on me. NO I can do this. I have to do this. "He came in late. We had an argument. We argue a lot."

"Son, he's a teenager. If teenagers were not difficult then they would not be teenagers."

"Yes sir." My dad raised me to be polite. "Well you see I lost my temper. I hit him." I wanted to cry. I did this to him. I did this. I got to be strong. I got to be strong.

"How many times?"

"Just once. He fell against the door and ran out of the house. I was going to let us both cool off. I didn't want to make things worse. IU didn't see him again until we got the call."

"Thank you mister Curtis. You did a good job."

I shook his head again and the reporters bombarded me. I stood up straight and tall and held out my hand. "One at a time, please." They listened to me. I can be pretty opposing when I want to be.

"Mr. Curtis is your brother's name really Ponyboy or is that a nickname?"

Oh if I had a nickel for every time we had all been asked that. "His name is Ponyboy Michael Curtis. It even says so on his birth certificate. And yes we have a brother named Sodapop, Sodapop Patrick Curtis. We had a very creative father."

"Had?"

I hate talking about what happened to my parents. It still really stings but I don't have time or luxury to grieve. "My parents died in a car accident eight months ago."

They all mumbled apologies. I hate people's pity. It is degrading.

"Your brother, Ponyboy, how is his condition?"

I sighed. "He's in a very deep coma. He went a great deal of damage. We're pulling for him to wake up soon but we just don't know if he can." I hated saying that. If the truth hurts then this stung like, well it stung.

"How would you describe your brother normally?"

Ponyboy, what could I say about him, what couldn't I? I love my brother, so much, even if I hardly know him.

"Pony's a good kid. He runs a squad traclk at Will Rogers High School….."

"High School," a reporter asked, "I thought he was only fourteen."

"He is. Ponyboy skipped the third grade. He is…" Was maybe was. No he is…… "He is very smart. He's a good kid, never been in trouble with the law before."

"What are some of his hobbies?" That was easy. "Reading. He loves to read. He also loves football and art. He's a great kid."

"Thank you very much."

Soda

I rubbed Pony's hand. "Come on Pony, wake up. Come un wake up." I almost whined. "Come on Pony, you've been asleep long enough. Wake up."

I rubbed harder. "Come on honey. If you get up I'll go to the movies with you. We can see as many shows as you want. We can get some food from the dingo and…" I started to cry. Pony just had to wake up. He just had to.

"Please Pony. Don't do this. We need you buddy." I need you.