I do not own The Outsiders!

It was the next day at 7 at night. Dallys' condition has been getting
better so he got moved to recovery.

Ponyboy jerked away at the sound of a groan. He looked beside him to
see Dally moving restlessly in his bed.

Ponyboy sat up and shook Two-Bit awake who had also fallen asleep
aswell. Two-Bit looked around groggily until Dallys eyes fluttered and
he groaned something again.

His eyes lit up. "Dally...Dally...com'on man! Wakey, wakey...
..DALLY!"

Dally jerked awake and looked around warily. "Where the...oh
god...Johnny..." he moaned.

"It's okay Dals we're here." Two-Bit said reassurally.

Dally tried to focus his eyes on Two-Bit but everything was foggy. He
giggled innocently. "You look like a blob!" he laughed, wagging hi s
finger at Two-Bit drunkly.

Two-Bit and Ponyboy shared a worried glance. "It's probably the
drugs..."

. . .

Jake drove his car into the parking lot and searched for a parking
space. It was the early morning of his day off.

He had been at this hospital two days ago, but he remembered it like
it was happened seconds ago.

He wondered how Dally was, or if he was even still alive. He couldn't
believe the kid tried to kill himself. The whole incident with Dally
was messing with his mind.

Yesterday at work they picked up some drunk kid who was screaming
Elvis songs all along town. They picked him up for public disturbance,
but when Jake looked at him, he wondered what his life was like, if
anyone loved or missed him. He was starting to look at the deliquits
and criminals as humans and it was ruining his job.

As he walked into the hospital and asked the person at the desk about
Dallas she had said he was doing well and was in room 217, recovery.

As Jake got to his room and pushed the door open slowly, he wondered
why he was even here. It's not like Dally or any of his friends would
even want him there. It's not like Dally ever meant anything to him.
But he knew he wouldn't be able to rest until he saw him, so he went in.

Dally was on the bed resting. Thankfully the blanket was pulled over
his chest this time so he didn't have to look at his broken body.
The respitory mask was not on his face anymore so he could see his
mouth, nose and the bruise on his cheek still.

Ponyboy was sitting in the chair next to him beside Two-Bit, both
sleeping peacefully.

Okay you saw him time to go...

Just as he was turning to leave a nurse walked in busily and woke
Ponyboy.

Ponyboy looked around groggily and saw Jake standing by the door
looking kind of flustered while the nurse was busy talking to him.

"Oh good, you must be Dallas' gaurdian." She slightly narrowed her
eyes at him, probably trying to figure out how he managed to raise a
kid that turned out like Dally, Pony laughed dryly to himself.

"I'm Debra one of his nurses. He's getting better exceedly well. He
should be ready to come home in a few days, but make sure he has
lots of rest and doesn't overwork himself. He should come back a
few weeks after to remove those stiches. We'll get you a prescription
for some pain killers to help him deal with the pain. I'll grab you another
chair so you can stay. Give me a second." she said without taking a breath
than hurrying off before Jake could get one word in. He looked down
defeated.

"Guess your staying longer than you thought, huh?" Two-Bit laughed at
him. His attitude had returned back to normal since they were told
that Dally would be fine.

Ponyboy looked over at him. Guess he was awake too.

"Umm yeah I guess." Jake murmured. As he sunk down into the chair the
nurse brought him.

As soon as the nurse left the room Jake let out a breath he had been
holding. He tried to be as quiet a he could because he didn't want to
disrupt the peace.

He relaxed a little and shut his eyes, slowly drifting asleep.

. . .

Jake moaned when he felt a sharp jab hit his ribs. He looked up to
see Two-Bit looking at him.

"It's 5 o'clock. Figured I should wake you up, in case, yah know, you
had to go get some doughnuts or something."

Jake laughed sarcastically as he rubbed sleep from his eyes. He felt
a pressed feeling in his adomen and excused himself to the bathroom.

Two-Bit watched as Jake left the room. Finally someone who appreciates
my humour he laughed to himself. Than he noticed Dally stirring under
the sheets.

"Hey Pony! I think he's waking up!"

Pony moaned and yawned, than looked at Dally. Sure enough, Dally was
slowly waking up.

"Hey," Two-Bit coaxed quietly.

"Mmmmhhhmm...Hi Two-Bit" Dally murmed, opening his eyes and
looking at Two-Bit. He looked around the room. "Where the hell am?"

Pony glanced at Two-bit worried. "The hospital Dal..." he said slowly.

Dallas rolled his eyes. "No shit. But why? Was I drunk or something?"
Two-Bits eyes clouded over, why couldn't he remember? "The cops shot
you Dal.."

Dally felt his eyes open wide but he tried to look calm. "What? Why?
Did I slash their tires or something?...Why aren't you looking
at me...Guys this ain't funny...Two-Bit if this is your idea of
a joke I'm gonna kill you...Pony...?" he looked at them desperatly.
He tried to look relaxed but found himself panicking. What happened?

"Don't you remember Dal?" Pony moaned and his eyes brimming to the
edges with unfallen tears.

Dallas looked at them blank. He searched his mind for something that
could have happened. "Guys...Is Sodapop alright?" When he got no
answer he guessed again. "Darry?"

Ponyboy looked at him eye to eye now. "Johnny's dead Dal. You tried to
kill yourself. You tried to kill yourself 'cause Johnny died."

Dally shook his head and laughed a little but all he got were blank
stares. It couldn't be possible...could it?

Suddenly he remembered everything, Johnny killing the soc, the church,
the fire...no. No. NO. NO! No it can't be!

Two-Bit saw Dally. eyes widen a bit and he's eyes glazed over.
"Dal...?" No response.

He felt his heart quicken. "Dal..." he grabbed Dallas' arm a little.

Suddenly Dallas was screaming.

"NOOOO! HE'S NOT DEAD! JOHNNY CANT BE DEAD!" he started
thrashing around.

Two-Bit saw Ponyboy stand up and run to the hall, but he couldn't take
his eyes off the one that had been unbreakable, untouchable, break.
The guy who got him out of tough situations and got him to the Curtis'
when he was too drunk to even walk. The guy who scared all the socs,
and greasers. The guy who would never back down from a fight, no
matter the odds. The guy who took the heat back when he broke the
windows at school.

He felt someone drag him out of the room. The door slammed shut
infront of him.

. . .

Jake was walking slowly out of the bathroom when he heard the
screaming. He picked up his pace and jogged quickly back to the room.
He was greeted by a wide eyed Two-Bit and a worried Ponyboy.

"What happened?" Jake asked glancing at the closed door, fearing the
worse.

Two-Bit ran a hand through his hair and paced around. "I dunno man.
He just didn't remember. He didn't fucking remember about Johnny. But
when we told him he freaked out. How could he not remember?" He
lowered his voice and said more to himself than anyone else "He
didn't remember. How couldn't he remember. He didn't..."

Ponyboy felt his eyes rim with tears. No he scolded himself again.
You ain't fuckin' crying again!

He needed to get out of there. "I'll phone the gang." he muttered than
darted down the hall.

As he hung up the phone and walked slowly back to Dallys room he tried
to keep his cool. He'd phoned Sodapop who said he'll be there as fast
as he could with everyone else.

When he finally got to the room Jake was outside waiting. "They said
we should go back to the waiting room." he said glumly, knowing it
just more awkard silence, and time to worry.

. . .

Ponyboy looked at the opening doors and saw the rest of the gang come
in.

They've been waiting for about twenty minutes and multiple security
officer had ran by towards Dally's room. The yelling had stopped about
ten minutes ago, but they still wouldn't let them back in.

As Darry, Steve and Sodapop walked into the waiting room, Two-Bit
explained what happened, Sodapop concentrated on Jake's face.

He wondered why he was even still here. It's not like he cared about
Dallas, or any of them for the matter. Maybe the fuzz sent him to
question Dally. Or maybe he was keeping up appearances because he was
susposed to be Dally's 'legal' gaurdian.

Ponyboy thought about Johnny, and how much he wished to talk to him.
Why'd you leave me buddy? He thought sadly.

Darry looked up as a nurse walked in and looked at them. "Well you can
see Dallas if you want now, it's susposed to be two at a time but..."
Darry studied her in wonder of her pause and relized she was the same
nurse they'd ignored a few days ago.

He nodded in thanks and led the gang down towards Dallas' room.

When he got there he pushed the door opened and led everyone inside.
Dally was in the bed still, but his arms were strapped to the bed
now. His face was as cold and impassive as ever but it now had little
saddness in it, like a vase with a crack in it, letting a little drop
of water out. His eyes looked like the ocean on a windless day, going
on forever and looking lost. He looked dead.

Dally rolled his head to look at everyone who came in the room. He
was surprised a cop came in too, probably the guy who saved him, he
thought angrily. He tried to keep the anger in him but it faded
quickly, who cares? He'll just kill hinself later, he deserved it.

"Why'd you save me?" Dally asked quietly and emotionless. "Why
couldn't you just let me go..."

Jake opened he's mouth to reply, but didn't make any sound. How could
he reply to that?

"SHUT UP YOU SELFISH SON OF A BITCH!" Everyone looked at Ponyboy
shocked, but Ponyboy didn't notice. He was to busy glaring at Dally,
his face red. "FUCK YOU! YOU FUCKING BITCH! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!
WHY WOULD YOU JUST LEAVE US! WE ALREADY LOST ENOUGH! YOU SELFISH BITCH! I HATE YOU!" He was sobbing by the end of it.

"Pony..." Darry said softly.

"Just leave me alone." Ponyboy started walking to the door, his head
low. Not even Sodapop tried to stop him.

"Ponyboy...I'm sorry.." Dally tried but Pony kept walking.

"I'll stay."

Everyone looked at Dallas who just mumbled something. They gave him a
confused look.

He looked up to meet their stares and said, louder this time "I said
I'll fuckin' stay."

Ponyboy stopped and looked up to Dally, "Promise?"

Dallas looked at ponyboy and his eyes, that looked so lost and
desperate, like Johnnys did.

He thought for a minute, than looked up and said in a steady tone,
"Promise."

. . .

Another fixed up chap, jeez I cannot believe how bad I was :0
My grammer sucked!

So if this is your first time reading the story, reviews are extremly
appreciated!