Note: I do not own The Outsiders

Chapter 11

Heads turned as the gang made their way down the hospital corridors. Ponyboy wasn't surprised, he supposed they made a conspicuous group.

Two-Bit and Sabrina were behind him, giggling uncontrollably and pushing each other as they walked. The kid was surprisingly strong and almost succeeded in sending her brother careening through an open door.

Soda and Steve were bringing up the rear. The nurses seemed drawn to Soda - suddenly appearing in doorways or stopping what they were doing to stare - but he was oblivious. Soda smiled at everyone to be polite, but he wasn't aware of the effect he was having - Pony swore he actually heard one woman sigh. Normally, Soda would be reveling in the attention, flirting and having a great time.

Sandy, Ponyboy thought. Man, I hope I never get so caught up in a girl that I can't get over it when we break-up. His thoughts jumped to Cherry, but he immediately pushed them aside, embarrassed he'd even allowed his mind to go there. Soda was in love with Sandy. He and Cherry had one good conversation, that's it. Let's get a little perspective here, he thought to himself.

Steve was looking a little pale and kind of green. Pony figured he still hadn't recovered from his encounter with Sabrina. That made him smile, he would never forget the look on Steve's face when she started to chastise him. Ponyboy had never seen Steve Randle rendered speechless before and he wished he'd had a movie camera to capture the moment and share it with Johnny.

Steve disappeared for a moment, ducking into an open room. When he emerged, he was carrying a small vase full of carnations. Ponyboy rolled his eyes, adding stealing from sick people to the list of things that bugged him about Steve.

Ponyboy was the first around the corner and stopped when he saw a man and a woman emerge from Johnny's room. In the past couple of weeks, Pony had become familiar with nearly everyone on this floor, but he didn't recognize these two. They were both wearing suits. The man was carrying a brief case and the woman had what looked like a bunch of files clasped in her arms. Apprehension steeled over Ponyboy as he watched them make their way down the hall in the opposite direction.

Johnny was staring out the window but not really seeing anything. He was trying to process what his two visitors had told him, trying to let it sink in. He was beginning to wonder if his life was ever going to be normal again, if this mess was ever going to end.

Suddenly, the face of his father filled his vision - sweaty, flushed red with rage, distorted with hate. Johnny stomach lurched from the reek of cheap whisky that rolled off his father's breath in sickening waves. His fist was raised, poised to strike, poised to hurt. Instinctively, Johnny flinched, stealing himself for the familiar blows that were to come. Then, just as quickly as he appeared, his father vanished, replaced with the clear, sunny sky outside the window.

Johnny closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. His heart was pounding and his hands were shaking. Shit, he thought, my life has never been normal. Ain't like it could get much worse.

A noise from the hallway interrupted his thoughts and Johnny was relieved to have the distraction. He heard a familiar laugh and smiled shakily. It was hard to mistake the manic laugh of Two-Bit Mathews for anyone else.

Ponyboy was the first to enter the room. He had a bag with him. Hopefully more books, Johnny thought. He'd been plowing through the ones Pony had brought him a couple of weeks ago and was afraid he'd run out soon. The stuff the candy stripers brought around on the library cart didn't look half as interesting as the books Pony picked out.

Pony was giving him an odd look, like he was studying him. Johnny figured he could probably tell he was a little shaken-up and kind of distracted. Ponyboy was always good at picking up on things like that. But right now, Johnny just wanted to think about something else for a while, pretend nothing was wrong.

"Johnny …" Ponyboy began, but he was interrupted by Two-Bit and his sister who came bounding into the room.

"Hey, kid, long time no see," Two-Bit said and Johnny grinned. Two-Bit had been by just yesterday with Ponyboy, but Johnny always missed them the minute their visits were over.

Soda and Steve were next through the door. Johnny was a little overwhelmed at first. He was used to just one or two visitors at a time, not five, and he hadn't seen Soda or Steve since that first day they'd come by to pick up Ponyboy.

"Hiya, Johnnycake. How are ya doin'?" Soda asked.

He gave a small shrug. "Okay, I guess."

"Okay?" Ponyboy interrupted. "Johnny, you're doin' more than okay. He's starting physical therapy Monday, that's a whole week sooner than the doc had originally thought."

"It's no big deal. Just liftin' some weights and learnin' how to use a wheelchair," Johnny said quietly. He looked over at the chair sitting in the corner. Part of him was excited about the fact he was finally going to get out of bed and learn how to move around on his own. Another part of him dreaded that chair and the fact he was going to need it for the rest of his life.

Soda's voice broke into his thoughts. "Shoot, kid, that's great news. You'll be outta here before you know it."

Steve stepped forward and Johnny noticed he was holding flowers. "Here ya go, Johnny. I got you some flowers." Johnny noticed the bewildered expressions on the faces of the other guys, Two-Bit's especially.

Two-Bit reached over and pulled the card from the vase before Steve could move away from him. "Johnny, you didn't tell us you're Steve's Aunt Sally. I woulda pegged you more for a Susie than a Sally."

Everyone laughed as Steve tried to grab the card from Two-Bit's grasp.

"You actually stole flowers from poor Aunt Sally," Two-Bit shook his head in mock disappointment as he dodged him. "Ya know," he looked down at the card again, reading the name of the sender, "Tammy, I woulda expected more from you."

"Drop it, Two-Bit. Her room was full of flowers. She ain't gonna miss one vase," Steve said as he sat the flowers on the end table next to the bed.

"Thanks, man," Johnny said. He made a mental note to ask his nurse to find out who Sally was and have the flowers returned to her later.

"Your welcome," Steve replied, crossing his arms and glaring at Two-Bit.

Two-Bit's little sister, Sabrina, stepped up to the foot of his bed. She had a piece of folded, yellow construction paper in her hands.

"Hi, Little-Bit," Johnny said with a smile. Everyone took a step back. Soda actually tripped over his own feet. Johnny wasn't sure what was going on and Ponyboy was shaking his head frantically, motioning for him to stop.

"Hi, Johnny," Sabrina said sweetly and everyone visibly relaxed. "I made you a card when my brother said I could come see you today."

She handed Johnny the card which had Get Well Soon scrawled across the front of it in big, blue letters. "Wow, thanks," he said, surprised to feel a tightening in his chest. "I don't think anyone's ever made a card for me before." As soon as he said it, he realized it was true.

Sabrina blushed and looked at the floor, suddenly shy. Two-Bit covered his mouth, obviously trying not to laugh at his little sister's obvious crush, but everyone else was quiet.

Johnny's thoughts turned to the countless birthdays he spent hoping for a gift, a card, a hug - anything - from his parents. At some point in his life, he can't even pinpoint when, they just … stopped. They stopped being his parents and became something else entirely. He couldn't even think of a word for it.

After a minute or two, the silence became awkward and Soda cleared his throat.

"Well, Johnny, I'm afraid me and Steve have to get to work."

"That's okay. Thanks for stoppin' by. It was great to see you guys," Johnny said as he gave a small smile.

"It's really good seein' that your getting better," Soda said as he headed for the door. "We sure didn't know what we woulda done without you."

"Thanks, man," Johnny said, feeling a little embarrassed at the statement.

Steve was following Soda out the door. "Yeah, take it easy, kid. See you when you get home."

"Home…right." Johnny repeated quietly, more to himself than to his friends. He realized Steve was still standing there in the doorway, waiting for him to say good-bye. "See ya, Steve. Thanks again for the flowers," he added, knowing it would make Two-Bit laugh.

After they left, Pony pulled Two-Bit over to the window. They were talking quietly and Johnny couldn't hear what they were saying. Sabrina kept glancing at him from the foot of the bed and it was becoming unnerving.

A minute later, Two-Bit came over and put his hand on his sister's shoulder. "Me and the runt are gonna run and get something to eat, maybe catch a matinee. Don't worry, though, we'll be back for Pony before you get too sick of him."

"Thanks, Two-Bit," Ponyboy muttered behind him.

"But," Sabrina interrupted, "what if I don't want to go?"

"I'm the boss, remember?" She rolled her eyes. "Hey, maybe I'll even let you talk me into going to see Mary Poppins. I think the bargain theater still has it." Two-Bit said as he slowly, discreetly pushed his sister toward the door.

"Or how about The Sound of Music?" she countered. "I've been dying to see that one." They were still negotiating as they made their way down the hallway.

Ponyboy turned to Johnny, a look of concern on his face. "So, Johnny, who were those people leaving your room when we got here? What did they want?"

Johnny looked down and began to fidget with the curling edge of the card he was still holding. He shrugged. "Nothin', man."

Pony sat down in the chair next to the bed. "Come on, Johnny. I know something is wrong."

Johnny's shoulders sagged, pulling on the still-healing burns across his neck and back, but he ignored the discomfort. "Just some lawyer and a social worker."

"And …?"

"Well, the lawyer guy was appointed by the court. Ya know there's gonna be a trial, right?" Johnny hated saying it out loud. He didn't want to think about it - about maybe ending up in jail.

He'd played that night over in his head countless times and he couldn't think of anything else that he could have done differently. If he'd done nothing, Ponyboy would probably be dead. He killed someone and he would have to live with that for the rest of his life, but he also saved someone and he would hold onto that through whatever else happened to him.

Pony didn't answer, but Johnny could see he was afraid of what would happen, too.

"Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll put me in a cell next to Dal," Johnny tried to joke, but he realized it wasn't very funny.

"And the social worker?" Pony prompted.

Johnny sighed, running his hand through his ungreased hair. "Well, she's also appointed by the court 'cause my parents …" he faltered," my parents have filed with the court to give up parental rights. So I'm an orphan. Tuff, huh?" Johnny's voice caught slightly and he winced in embarrassment. He refused to cry. He would not cry over them.

He looked over at Ponyboy, who looked like he was about to do the crying for both of them.

Pony sucked in a shuddering breath. "Darry," he said suddenly, perching himself on the edge of the chair, as though he was about to lunge out of it. "We'll tell Darry. He'll know what to do."