Chapter 19

Steve and Pony

"Hey doc! How is he?" Steve said just walking into the critical unit.

"Hello Steve, he is doing better today. His vitals are good and have been all night. Maybe today will be the day." Steve smiled knowing better than to get his hopes up. Pony had been out for nearly two weeks and they had almost lost him 4 times. Fortunately for him and their daughter Pony seemed to want to live.

"Hey Pony Serenity is doing absolutely amazing. Darry and Soda have been a god sent." Steve said putting the little bundle in his arms in a cradle that the hospital had put in Pony's room for Steve's visits. "She is so beautiful I wish you could see her."

Steve took Pony's hand and kissed it. He let a few tears go while looking at Pony and then set his head down on the bed. He was having a hard time dealing with this whole situation. Every time he got his hopes up Pony would take a hit. He wished he could switch places with his fiancé, and there was nothing he could do for the boy. His beautiful child was whimpering and would more in likely never get to know the man that carried him. Steve wished life would go back to the way it was as much as he loved his daughter he wished this had never happened. That thought made him cry harder because he felt guilty for it. He let go of Pony's hand and got his baby from the cradle.

"Hey beautiful, no crying now. You have to be daddy's strong girl." He said slightly rocking the baby back and forth. "Serenity both your daddies love you so much."

"Yes we do." Came the crackled response. Steve's head whipped up at the noise.

"Pony?" The only response he got was a smile. "Hold on baby, I'm gonna go get the nurse." Steve said running into the hallway yelling for a nurse. Two nurses came running when they heard him.

"What happened, Steve?" The first nurse asked.

"He's awake." Steve said as they walked in. The other nurse left immediately to find the doctor as the other went to check on Pony. Steve walked back over to the cradle and placed Serenity in the bed and walked back over to Pony's bed.

"How is he?" Steve asked. The nurse smiled.

"He is doing just fine." He nodded and the nurse moved as the doctor came in.

"How are ya doing Pony?" He asked bending over to look into Pony's eyes.

"Tired" Pony said.

"Yea that's bound to happen. It should wear off in time…" The doctor continued to look Pony over, "Well as I can see your doing pretty good. It's good to finally see you awake, Ponyboy." The doctor said then turned and left the room along with the nurses. All knowing that Steve needed some alone time with the now awake boy.

"Steve, come here." Steve stepped closer to the bed and leaned down to kiss Pony's head.

"God, I missed you. I thought I had lost you." Pony smiled at the boy.

"You did there for a minute. I love you, Steve." Steve kissed Pony's lips softly.

"I love you too. Would you like to meet your daughter?" Steve asked. Pony nodded and Steve went to get Serenity. He lowered the little girl so that Pony could see his daughter without allowing too much pressure on the other man.

"She is absolutely beautiful." Pony said. "Yes, that she is and to think she is ours." Pony laughed and then started coughing. "Easy babe"

"I'm fine Steve just tired." Steve nodded "I'll let you get some sleep I have to call your house anyways." Pony nodded and closed his eyes.

Just as Steve made it too the doorway, "Oh Steve, you would have been just fine doing this by yourself, you doubt yourself too much." Steve looked on incredulously. He couldn't believe the doctor had been right. People in comas could hear everything another said to them. Steve just nodded and smiled.

"I'm happier I don't have to." Steve said to Pony and then walked out of the room. He used the phone at the nurses' station to call the Curtis house.

*Curtis house*

Everyone was piled in to the Curtis house hanging out. Dally and Two-Bit were lounging on the floor under a blanket, Soda and Curly had taken refuge on the couch and Johnny and Darry were in his chair. No one wanted to move when the phone rang all too consumed with the movie that was on so they let the phone ring. When the phone rang for the second time Darry deemed it important enough to move Johnny and answer it. Johnny whined but said nothing when Darry plopped him down in the chair alone to answer.

"Hello" Darry said as he answered the phone. "Oh hey Steve how is Pony?" Darry listened intensely for a minute.

"He's WHAT?" Darry exclaimed. The entire gang turned to look at the oldest brother. Soda's eyes filled with fear for his younger brother. Curly seeing this pulled Soda closer into him trying to reassure him that everything would be alright.

"Yeah I'll get everyone there no problem. See ya in a bit Steve." Darry said hanging up the phone. He turned and looked at the gang who all were waiting for him to elaborate on the conversation he had just had.

"He's awake!" Darry yelled. Soda jumped up and hugged his brother and immediately started for his shoes.

"That's awesome, now let's go see him." Soda had one shoe on when Darry laughed.

"Calm down Soda. We can take our time, he is sleeping so all of us have time to get ready and get there." Darry smiled and went to get his jacket.

"Darry I don't care I want to go see him now." Darry nodded at his brother's impatience knowing that he was just as anxious. Steve had talked all the guys into giving it the day off from going to see Pony. He knew that they all needed time with the significant and everyone had been so stressed out because of Pony. Johnny had been faster than Soda after hearing that Ponyboy was awake. He was just coming out of the kitchen with Darry's jacket and was dressed to leave.

"All right everyone, are we ready to leave? How are we going to do this?" Darry asked suddenly realizing that there wasn't enough room in his truck.

"We can take your truck and my car." Two-Bit said. Darry nodded and everyone moved out the door Soda, Johnny and Two-Bit running for the vehicles while Curly, Darry and Dally moved slightly slower. Darry was trying to calm his nerves and felt a little guilty for not being there when his little brother had woken up. Johnny jumped up into the truck as did Soda. Curly, Two-Bit and Dally got in his car and they all made their way to the hospital.

"Darry it will be fine, he's awake that's all that matters." Johnny said easily reading his boyfriend's face. Darry smiled at Johnny and nodded.

"Soda stop jumping around you're shaking the truck." Darry said laughing.

"Can't help it I'm excited." Soda said smiling. A few minutes later they pulled into the hospital and before Darry had a chance to put the truck in park Soda was out and heading for the door. He stopped and yelled for everyone to hurry up.

All the boys made it up to the critical unit just as Steve walked out of the room with Serenity.

"Hey guys. They are going to move him to a bigger room so just give it a minute." Darry and Soda were anxious but nodded. They took their seats until the nurse came down and said they could see him now.

"Hey Pone!" Soda said bouncing his way over to his little brother.

"Hi Soda" Came the cracked response. Soda bent down and hugged his little brother tight then moved to let Darry in.

"Hey Darry" Pony said as tears of relief finally spilled over in Darry's eyes.

"Hey Pony; I'm glad you're ok. You had me scared for a minute. You keep scaring me like this and were gonna have to have a talk about heart attacks." Darry said smiling.

"Quit hogging him Darry." Two-Bit said as he pushed past the older greaser. "Hi Ponyboy"

"Hi Two-Bit" Pony said laughing slightly. "Hey Johnny, how ya been?" Pony said looking over Two-Bit's shoulder. The other boy shrugged his shoulder and hugged the younger greaser. Everyone else stated their hi's and gave hugs but left the room after about a half an hour to give the brother's time to see each other. Everyone could tell that this was the start of everything getting back to normal or at least that's what they thought.

Okay sorry this took so long. I really want to know if everyone wants me to continue this so I need reviews. I hope you guys like the chapter and please review. I hoping that this will be an every weekend thing that I get a post up on all my stories but please don't hold me too that. School is very demanding and as I'm on trimester's finals are coming up here in Feb so be patient.