Gone
Chapter 5
I don't own the Outsiders
"Hey Winston, how's the family?" my patrol partner asked, catching up to me at our squad car.
"Fine, I found Johnny on the couch again this morning. That's the third time this week and it's only Wednesday. I just hope Two-Bit wakes up soon, it seems like the only way any of this will get any better," I said, sliding into the passenger's seat.
"Are you still taking care of Penny?"
"Yeah, Soda's helping him today. All we can do now is hope. Hope and wait."
...
"Winston, Shepard, report back to the station," the cheif's voice came over our radio.
"Copy, Unit 669 heading back to the station," I said into the reciver.
"Dally, the chief wants to talk to you in his office," one of the other officers said as we entered the building.
"It's been good working with ya Dal," Shepard said, patting me on the back.
"Hardy har har," I said, leaving Shepard to go to the bull pen, making my way to the chief's office.
"You got a message. Read it and head out," he said, handing me a piece of paper folded in half.
I unfolded the paper as I left the office.
As soon as I read the message, I ran straight to my car.
He's awake
...
"I'm here to see Keith Matthews-Curtis," I said to the nurse at the desk of the ward Two-Bit was in.
"And you are?" she asked, looking at me over the rim of her glasses.
"Officer Dallas Winston, Tulsa Police Department."
"Of course Officer. Down this hall, last door on the right," she said, pointing down the hall to her left.
"Thank you," I said, speed-walking down the hall she indicated.
Two-Bit had been moved to his room, which was a good thing, considering the fact that almost the whole gang was in his room.
"Dally, I was wondering where you were!" Two-Bit yelled when I entered the room. He was sitting up in bed, holding Penny and smiling, Darry in the chair next to him.
"I was out on patrol. You know, making the city a safe place for all of ya'll," I said, giving Johnny a quick kiss as I moved to stand at the foot of Two-Bit's bed. "How are you feeling?"
"Great, they gave me the good stuff, so, no pain," Two-Bit said with a grin. "What did I miss?"
"Johnny and I have been taking care of Penny, Pony and Austin have been going to the other high school, Darry hasn't left your side, and Johnny's blind," I said, counting off on my fingers, "Oh, and the Red Sox lost the game on Monday."
"Johnny's blind?"
"Yeah, the doctor said it was caused by the debris in the air after the blast. I've gotten used to it," Johnny shrugged.
"How long have I been out?" Two-Bit asked bewildered.
"A week and a half," Pony said from his spot on the foot of the bed.
"Then I guess it's been a slow week for news," Two-Bit said.
"Acctually, Austin and I have an annoucment to make," Soda said, starting to fidigit in his seat.
"Oh, wait, I came prepared!" Pony said, lunging for his backpack and hunting through it for something. "Got it!" he exclaimed, pulling a flip camera from the bag. "Okay, go," he said, hitting the record button.
"Well...Penny's going to have a cousin soon," Soda said quickly, as if he was afraid someone would stop him. "I don't know how it happened, we were so careful," he whispered, shrinking into Austin and his chair.
Everyone was quiet for a moment. Then Two-Bit's face broke out in a huge smile. "I'm gonna be an uncle!" he exclaimed happily, "Congratulations guys!"
"So, when are you gonna get out of here?" I asked, turning from Soda to Two-Bit.
"At least another two weeks," Two-Bit pouted, "Can you bring me my homework Pone?" he asked poking at Pony, who was putting up the camera, with his toe.
"Yeah, I already have what you missed so far," Pony said, pulling out a blue folder and a bag. "The work's on the left, the notes are on the right and the DVD has the lessons. The player, charger, some pencils and a caluclator are in the bag."
Two-Bit whistled, "You thought of everything didn't ya Pony?" he said, flipping through the papers in the folder.
"I tried. It's what kept me focused. Johnny and Dally had Penny, Soda and Steve had the DX, Darry was with you, Austin had his little brother, and I had this. I worked on the home videos too," Pony said.
"What time is it anyways?" Two-Bit asked, setting the folder and bag aside.
"Um...4:30," Pony said, glancing at his watch, "School let out early today so I came to see you."
"I feel so loved," Two-Bit hummed, "So, what's the damage, people wise?"
"Nine died in the blast, 15 were critically injured, two of them died from their injuries, and 22 recieved minor injuries," I said.
"Anyone we know?" he asked.
"Cherry Valance died," Johnny said.
"That Soc that tried to kill me," Pony added.
"Houston," Austin whispered.
"And that girl you hit on at the drive-in with Cherry," I said.
"Sara's in critical," Darry said.
"And Austin broke his arm," Soda finished, "I gotta head back to the DX, I'll send Steve up here. See ya'll later," hs said, kissing Austin and leaving hte room.
"We ought to be going too," I said "Are we taking Penny?"
"That'd probably be best, so Keith and I can get some sleep," Darry said, handing Penny to Johnny.
"Do you need a ride home Pone?" I asked, flicking him on the ear.
"Cut it out Dal!" he said, swatting my hand away. "I'll get a ride home with Steve."
"We'll see ya'll tomorrow," Johnny said, following me out of the room. "Get better soon Two-Bit!"