The dawn was rising, peeking over the only edge in the world and breathing life into every sleeping witness of the victim's killer, singing Keiner weiss, wie es mir geht, keiner weiss, wie es mir geht bis ich sing, and there he lays- two angels hovering over him, tending to his every need and bowing to his every wake, thanking the heavens for his return from the restless slumber that so tortures him on a weekly basis. He wakes yet again-

PONYBOY'S POV

My life was more complicated than you'd ever imagined; finding yourself in such a situation as I had when I woke from a very strength-sucking blackness is very confusing. Yet somehow I was able to find two of the most devoted brothers in the world, kneeling on my left and stroking my hand as softly and as gently as they could, calm yet subtle hints of doubt and neglect hidden in the five days that they had survived without me awake, worry lines replacing each day. They were speaking in low voices, of which I could hear, but could not understand, for I seemed to be the subject of something I had never heard of before.

"He's gonna wake up soon, Sodapop, I promise you," Darry said in a sort of high-pitched tone.

"But what if he DOESN'T! Darry, I'm so scared for him... I thought they threw Slater in the jailhouse and now Pony's so close to death because-" he stopped and then continued"- he's somehow escaped and we don't even know if he'll escape again!" Soda strained through closed teeth; I noticed something silver, glowing beneath his eyes, glimmering in the small beam of sunlight that traveled through the bleached curtain on my right. Last time I noticed something like that was when Darry had come and rescued me from my alleged kidnapper.

"Darry..." I whimpered. It felt weird to be in a hospital bed; not to mention the fact that I couldn't feel anything, just a small numb feeling running across my body. I could detect somewhat of pain, but it was deluded, sepressed by an overdosage of sleep and lack of physical contact.

"Ponyboy? Baby, you awake?" Darry asked in a small, hopeful voice.

"Who's Slater? I aint dead! ... am I?" I was so mixed up; a whole rushing wave of thoughts overpowered my brain like a tsunami. Darry and Soda exchanged panic-like expressions, Soda kept looking at me out of the corner of his eye.

"Soda why don't you go and get some food from downstairs for Ponyboy... um, here..." Darry gave Soda five bucks and Soda walked slowly to the door, his worried look turning into a pained look.

"Darry, what's going on? What's happening? Where's that guy who-"

"Shh... you ask way too many questions, and I think you'll pass out if you ask too much," Darry said quietly, scooting closer to me and running his fingers through my hair; his look softened sadly.

"What's going on?" I repeated.

"I'll explain to you when we're at home, okay babe? Right now let's discuss something a little less... um... well," Darry was twiddling his fingers, his eyebrows furrowing in deep concentration; I wondered what he was thinking about and I wish he'd say something.

"Soda told me you were... that you wrote my name on the window of the train..." He went on carefully; I felt myself stiffen a bit, everything was rushing back to me now, and I pondered specific memories. I really missed Darry then... that's it, that's all. What was there so special to talk about?

"Yeah..." I whispered. Surprisingly enough, I could feel one lone tear coming slowly down my face. I guess I missed him more than I remember.

"Ponyboy I'm sorry," Darry said with a heavy sigh, he then put his face in his hands and started shaking his head in a sad and slow motion.

"What for? You're not the one who shot that soc or the one who got himself kidnapped- I should be sorry for not using my head and dragging you through this mess. I mean for running away and for almost getting taken to a boys home and I- I just... ! It's my fault you had to come and get me... I don't even get why you'd save me- I mean, after all the trouble I've caused you-" Darry all of a sudden shot up and punched the wall. I remembered Dallas. Johnny dying and Dally heart-broken in the midst of it all... Darry was shaking; I was crying silently then, afraid of why it was that life had to be so pressuring; so together, yet so apart still.

"I DON'T EVER WANT YOU TO THINK THAT I WOULDN'T SAVE YOU!" Darry said turning around, giving me that same pleading look from the hospital and our parents' funeral. But this time, there was a little rage in them. I nodded my head, feeling more tears come down my face. Darry got back down on his knees and put his face in his hands.

"I love you Darry... You're my big brother, and I look up to you. Don't be mad at me...please," I begged softly. I tried to sit up, but then screamed and fell back down in bed, still letting out short screams and gasps. Darry's head shot up, and there was this crazed and worried look on his face; it was as if he thought I were dying or something because I had never seen him act this way at all. I aint dying, Darry, don't worry...

Darry had to adjust my pillow and blankets about a billion times before answering me. "Ponyboy- I know I'm not the best guardian in the world. And I guess there are times where I don't seem to be the best brother either. I'm still new to all of this. Being a guardian, takin' care of work, all those things. I worried about you night and day when you left the train station. I must've had about five cups of coffee each morning trying to convince myself that you were gonna be fine, only to find a bleeding and distraught Two-Bit at my doorstep to tell me that you've been kidnapped by a guy that mom used to-" Darry stopped. His voice had been getting faster and faster as he explained things. The abrupt stop confused me; that mom used to what? What does mom have to do with this? I felt my eyes wander off as I tried to fit pieces together. So far, all I got was a mishapen and abstract puzzle.

I felt so tired. I didn't want to figure out who this guy was. I didn't want to know what mom had to do with all this. I don't want any of this. I took Darry's hand in mine and squeezed it hard.

"Just rest Ponyboy," Darry whispered softly, stroking my hand. I nodded my head and tried to time my breathing to the ticking of the clock. It wasn't that long before Soda walked through the door with some Pepsi and bread. I ate it slowly as they talked to me about certain things. The Soc I shot was't majorly hurt, in fact he's home already. I had just barely missed him, and the bullet was found down the alley they backed me into. Though he says it wasn't my fault, if I hadn't fired they would've killed me(literally), his parents are going to take this to court and want me arrested. I could've choked when Darry told me the arrested part. The whole point of this is to stay with my brothers. I know I'm still in his custody but by the way Dallas described it, it did not sound like a place to be in.

"I've talked to the parents and they said they'll think things over," Darry said after a moment of silence. Soda nodded his head while stroking his chin.

"And how did they sound when you talked to them?" I asked a little frightened.

"Well I told them about what a good boy you are and all the trouble we've been through and about how high schoolers have been trying to beat you up many a time..."

"And?"

"They weren't mad. Just a little sad and paranoid about their son. They understood about our troubles and said they'd talk to their son about how the whole thing went and what happened and blah blah blah-"

"So, basically, their forgiving me?" I asked with hope.

"Well, I wouldn't be so sure, Ponyboy. The mom still seemed shaken up and the dad was still a bit hard with his words-"

"Oh," I said. I knew that this couldn't have gotten any worse for me- I may not have said that if I knew who was going to walk in through the door.