Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders
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"We did extensive testing on your brother."
"Yes." Darry said. "We know. What did it show?"
"We did an EEG to measure brain waves as we tried various stimulators, such as light, pain, sound, touch. He was virtually unresponsive until pain was at a severe degree and even then.."
I looked at Darry. "Eyes are still fixed and dilated, he shows no reflexive response."
"What exactly are you saying, sir?"
"Mr. Curtis there has been no change. While there is evidence of brain activity there is not a significant amount."
"Not a significant amount, what kind of crap is that?"
Darry shot me a dirty look, a warning of sorts. The doctor blanched. "I'm sorry Mr. Curtis. It means we do not believe he will wake up."
And Presenting……
Darry
The sun was blistering hot on my back. I yawned. I hadn't been this tired since Pony first started having nightmares after mom and dad died. Between the worry and the hard hospital chairs I had not been able to sleep very well at all. My muscles were sore as I brought up a couple of bundles of roofing.
I sure could do with one of Soda's famous back rubs right about now.
"Hey Curtis, you look beat."
I set my bundles down and looked to my left. It was Sam Crandle, good guy been working for the boss for about twenty-five years are so. He and dad used to be poker buddies and it was Crandle that showed me the ropes here.
"I'm fine."
He rolled his eyes at me. "Kid your about half asleep."
"Been worse." I got back to work but of course Crandle likes to chat while he's on the roof. Never understood how he has not hammered his thumb by accident or fallen off. I bit my lip and stiffened. My back was about to kill me.
"So you say." He paused for a few minutes getting back to work and then… "How's the kid, any improvement?"
I closed my eyes for a minute remembering the doctor's words. I took a deep breath. Don't lose your temper; don't lose your temper.
I hammered down some shingles. "Curtis?"
"No improvement." I muttered.
"I'm sorry Darrel."
I closed my eyes. My father was Darrel. I like sharing his name but it still can hurt sometimes to use it. You lose somebody and you move on. It doesn't mean you miss them any less or that it stops hurting. It just means you've learned how to handle it.
"Yeha well we all are."
"That bad?" I don't want to talk about this. I don't want to think about this. I don't need this.
"Yeha." I said dryly. "It's that bad."
"I'm sorry."
"Me too." I muttered under my breath. "Me too."
Steve
Soda wasn't flirting with the girls who came in. He wasn't smiling or laughing. He wasn't joking. It just wasn't like Soda. When I gave him a lift to work he practically fell asleep on the door.
I sighed and wiped my hands with an old rag and walked into the actual station itself. Soda was at the register trying not to fall start snoozing. His head would fall into his hand and then he would jump up and shake his head.
"Soda?" Soda jumped startled.
"Oh, hey Steve." Soda's voice was kind of hollow sounding. Man did he sound like somebody else. Usually you can't shut him up or slow him down. He's got kind of an energy about him. He seemed so drained.
"You, you okay buddy?" He shrugged.
"I've been better." I may not be able to stand Soda's kid brother at times but I know he means the world to Soda, the world. I just know this whole thing is just killing Soda, just killing him.
I put a hand on his shoulder. "Its almost time to close up. Why don't I take you home and you can get you some sleep. Your about to keel over man."
Sodapop shook his head. "Nah, Darry has to pick up an extra shift. You think you can take me to the hospital. Pony's been alone all day. I think I should be there tonight.
"Gee Soda it aint like.." I stopped Think before you speak Steve, don't say something stupid. Don't say something stupid. I have a bad habit of opening my trap before my brain stops me. " It aint like there aint nurses there and all. Pediatric wards are crawling the nurses."
"It aint the same Steve." He looked at me wearily. "I know he, I know he's sleeping but Steve he's my brother." He wasn't sleeping but I wasn't going to say anything to Soda. He knows good and well what is going on. Soda has a hard time coming to reality but when he does he takes it hard. So he tries to think of it in a different light.
"Sorry buddy. Yeha I'll take you to the hospital. Maybe we can pop in on Johnny too. I think two-Bit was supposed to swing by after school but he's about as dependable as that car of his."
Soda gave a small laugh. I hate seeing him so down.
The phone rang. I picked up the receiver. "DX Station. How may I help you." I can be polite when I want to.
"Steve this is Darry. I need to talk to Soda."
"Yeha sure." Oh lordie…… I handed the reciver to Soda. His face was bleak. 'Its Darry." I explained. He nodded.
"Hey Darry. Pony is he…."
I saw him sigh in relief. "What?"
"------- "
"You got ta be kidding."
"--------------- "
"Yeha, Yeha sure."
"------- "
"See ya then."
"-------------- "
"I will, bye." Soda hung up the phone. He looked at me red eyed.
"What is it?" Please don't be Pony. Glory if its Pony Darry and Soda they'll really lose it. Soda will go off the deep end and Johnnycakes; he's already got to be feeling guilty.
Soda sucked in his breath. "They got'em Steve. They got the guys that did this to Pony and Johnnycakes."
"really?"
"They got those…" Soda proceeded to use some words I wasn't even aware a guy as good as Soda knew. He would do old Dally proud.
"I'm glad Soda."
"Darry's going down to the police station. He wants me home at 9. But now I'm going to the hospital. I got to tell Pony."
I nodded. "Lets go."
* * * * * *
Soda ran into the room. I followed silently. Glory the kid looked bad. Those machines dwarfed him. I reckon it made it worse that I knew what the doctors said, about him not waking up. Poor kid. Annoying as he was I could actually say I'd miss him.
Sodapop walked over to the bed. I watched from the corner of the room as he leaned down. Soda held his hand tightly and stroked his cheek. "They got them honey. They got those guys who did this to you."