Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders

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Darry ran a hand through his hair. "The cafeteria's closed but there is a dinner down the road. "

My thoughts raised to Ponyboy. We couldn't leave him alone. "But Darry, Pony he.."

"They're fixing to run some tests Soda."

"Oh, well."

"Come on little buddy, you need to eat." I looked wearily at my little brother.

Two-bit smiled. "I'll stay with the kid till Doc comes."

"Its settled then."

And Now

Darry took a sip of his coffee making a face. I never understood how he can take it black like that. He set it down. "We need to go back to work tomorrow."

I sighed. We needed the money but I hated leaving Ponyboy all by his lonesome. What if he woke up.

"I'm going to try to pick up some extra hours at the dock." I nodded.

A waitress walked over. "Two ham sandwiches on rye with chips and one double cheese burger with bacon and fries." She sat down our food on the table.

I grabbed for the burger. "You eating healthy?"

"No, I just wanted some ham."

I nodded desperate for conversation, anything to get my mind off of Pony. I took a bite of my burger but I wasn't really hungry.

"Eat." Darry told me. Darry has a second sense about these things. I rolled my eyes and took another bite. I noticed he was fiddling with his food too. Poor Dar, he blames himself for everything and he's taking it hard.

I kind of see where the guilt is coming from but it's not all his fault. He doesn't need to carry all that weight on his shoulders. "That goes for you too Superdope."

Darry's eyes narrowed. "That's superman too you."

I fiddled with my fries some. Darry eyed me and I put a few in my mouth. "Mhew." I gulped. 'Geez Dar I'm eating I'm eating."

"Good and don't talk with your mouth full."

It seemed so weird to be having a conversation like this and not having Pony to pipe in every now and then. Kind of like when we first lost our folks. I don't even want to think about losing my little brother.

Johnny

I sighed in relief as the doctors turned me face up. You can only count the floor tiles so many times before it grows old.

"There you go Mr. Cade. You just call me if you need anything. You know where the call buttons is." I did but I never used it. "Well I'll be back in fifteen minutes to turn you again." She walked out of the room.

"Howdy partner." Oh glory I'd know that voice anywhere, Two-Bit. You got to the guy, he's as good of a buddy as any guy could ask for but he's a little, well I don't know if there is a word for him. I wish I could ask Pony, he'd know.

I sighed again. Nobody will tell me much of anything."

"Hey Johnnycakes." Two-Bit walked over. 'How are you doing this fine September afternoon?"

"Same as usual. What you doing here?"

"What I can't ditch booze and blonds for a day?" He raised an eyebrow.

I did the same. "Okay, okay. I was staying with the kid while Darry and Soda got themselves something to eat. Lord knows they aint hardly done that these past few days. Kid went for some tests so I thought I'd swing by and give a howdy do."

I frowned. "How is Pony?" So far everyone had dodged my questions. I'm not a baby. I'm as tuff as any greaser. I can take it."

Two-Bit put a hand behind his head. He seemed awful serious. I hate it when Two-Bit is that way. You know things are bad when he aint laughing or smiling goofily. He wasn't even drunk and usually its pretty hard to tell one way or the other.

"Two-Bit.."

He nodded. "Pony's in the ICU. It ought be in the papers soon enough. He's in a coma Johnnycakes. They're doing tests or something right now. Some mumbo jumbo that I don't really savy but he's had some kind of seizer or something last night."

My heart pounded. "Johnny, Johnny help."

Oh Pony. He's smart. This can't be happening. "Is he" I paused. "He's going to be alright, right?"

Two-bit shrugged. "We really don't know much Johnnycakes."

Don't cry, Don't Cry, Don't Cry!

"Can we come in?"

Two-Bit turned around and then back to me. "Its Darry and Soda."

"Hey yawl." Oh glory I couldn't face them. How can they even think about me with Pony so sick? I didn't deserve that.

"We brought you a burger and fries. Figure your hospital food's got to be crap."

"Thanks." It was hard looking them in the eye. "I'll eat it later."

The nurse walked back in with a couple of orderlies. "We have to turn him now." She looked at Darry and Soda. "Your brother's the one with the funny name?"

Give me a quarter for every time I heard that one. "Yes mame."

"Doctor Hanson should be done with the tests in a half hour or so. He'll want you to go to his office. If you wait outside, there I'll show you to it."

"Thank you."

The guys all left and the nurse smiled at me. "Are you ready?" I never would be. This whole hospital thing, ugh. It sucks.