Disclaimer I do not own The Outsiders

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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."

A month later

Johnny

When you're stuck in bed with nothing to do you get a lot of time to think and that aint so hot of an idea. I hadn't been able to visit him and I was getting real worried. The gang acted like the doctors were not holding out much hope for him ever waking up. And Dally was in jail because of the fight he got into because of all this.

I should have done something. If I would have had my blade… I hated this. I was so helpless now like then. I couldn't do anything to help him. He was screaming. I could see him out of the corner of my eye. He was struggling and there was absolutely nothin I could do, nothin.

"Johnny?" I opened my eyes. Doctor Johnson was here.

"Hey Doc."

"I bet you're getting pretty tired of that bed." Boy howdy was that a way of telling a guy you were sorry he was laid up for the rest of his life.

"Yeha."

"Well I got a back brace and a wheel chair for you. I'm going to get the brace on you and we're going to try and get you sitting up in the chair. Then we'll have a trainer work with you some so you can learn to do things for yourself. "

I'd like to learn to do that.

"Would you like that."

"Yeha." I'm not exactly talkative. Doc was probably used to that by now. "All right then. I'll go get some orderlies and we'll even get you a new bed."

"That'd be great." I was genially happy about that. Nothing is more uncomfortable then a striker bed. It made the lot and some newspapers feel like a room at the Plaza Hotel.

* * * * * * *

Soda

Darry looked dead on his feet when he walked into the room."Geez Darry get yourself a cup of coffee." He nodded yawning. Darry had been working extra shifts at the warehouse in addition to the site and our visits to Ponyboy.

I shoved the chicken in the oven. "I'll make the potatoes."

Darry nodded. "Okay. I'm hoping in the shower. The warehouse is closed tonight so we can go right and visit Pony."

"Sounds good."

"Well I'm getting my shower."

"Okie dokie."

Johnny

It felt weird sitting up in this chair. My back was held straight by the braced not just sitting freely. I couldn't slouch. It wasn't painful just uncomfortable. I had been sitting n and off for a few hours. I had to work on my upper body strength, according to Doc, so I could lift my self with my arms. It prevents bed sores. Believe me they are not fun.

"Do you feel up to seeing your friend or would you like to go back to bed?" I could see Pony? I could actually see him? Was I even ready? Could I take him like that, knowing I half way caused it? If I had my blade I could have done something, anything. And I was already so uncomfortable. But I wanted to see him. I needed to see Pony.

"Yeha, I want to see Ponyboy."

"So you do know what a sentence is." I tried to smile although I wasn't in the mood. Doctor Johnson likes to joke around. He says seriousness isn't going to help a patient get any better.

I nodded. It felt good to have some free movement and not be trapped in bed all day, even if this was uncomfortable I could deal. I'd been in worse well not pain but I've been worse.

He wheeled me up to the ICU doors then left to stand in front of me. He kneeled down so we were eye level. Never trust anyone who won't look you in the eyes. That something you learn on my side of town. You learn fast or die hard, one way or the other.

"Are you sure you can handle this? Its not pretty."

I remembered how they say he aint aware of nothing, how he can't breathe for himself. He aint awake or alert. He was an all sorts of machines. Could I handle that? I'd have to.

"Lets go."

"You got it kid." He pushed me through the double doors. I held my breath as we went into the room, cubical?

Oh man oh man. I had never seen so many machines and wires in my life. Ponyboy had lost a bunch of weight too. He was pale and looked like a corpse. He didn't have much hair and his lips were almost blue.

He didn't move not an inch. I took a deep breath. I wheeled myself to his bed. Even that was an effort. I had lost a bunch of my muscle just laying there. And hospital food aint exactly appetizing. I'd rather have a bologna sandwich.

"Can you leave me alone for awhile doc?"

"I'll be back in half an hour. Then you should get back to bed. You are doing really well Johnny but don't wear yourself out on the first day." I nodded and he walked out.

"Hey Pone." I but my lip and closed my eyes. "Missed you buddy." I wish he were awake. We usually don't need to say much round each other. He just gets me and I get him. It's probably why we were always good buddies even though he's so much younger. Pony digs real good.

No movement no reaction. "I'm out of bed now, got me a chair. It sucks ya know." I sighed. "But its better then nothing." Still nothing. "You got to wake up Pony, ya just gotta." I sighed and just sat there a moment.

"Johnny?" A surprised voice called. I looked up. Darry and Soda were here. They had to be half dead between work and all this. I've talked to Steve and Two-Bit. The two of them hardly ever take the time to rest.

"Johnnycakes what are you doing?"

"Doc thought it was time I got my lazy but out of bed."

Soda tried to smile. "Well we're glad."

"Yeha kid." Darry said gloomily. "Good for you."

Soda sat on the edge of the bed. He moved back a wisp of Pony's very short hair."Hey buddy. Aint you gonna wake up for the party." No movement, nothing.

I thought everyone might get a kick out of the bologna sandwich reference. Review please.