Darry and Pony drove for a while more and then Darry pulled up to a fast food place and ordered. He didn't mind stopping because he needed to get himself a big cup of black coffee or he thought he'd fall asleep for sure. They were almost done with the order when. "and a double bacon cheeseburger, a large coke, and large order or fries" a voice said from the back of the car. Pony and Darry turned around to the backseat startled. "Miss me?" Soda asked, poking his head out from underneath the seat.

"What in the world are you doing back there?!" Darry asked shocked. Soda shrugged. "I wanted to come. I prolly would've made it known that I was here sooner but I fell asleep on the way." Ponyboy started laughing like crazy. He was actually very happy to see Sodapop.

"Get out from under there and put a seatbelt on." Darry ordered and then drove forward to pay for the food. "I told you to stay home and go to bed." He said pulling back out onto the road, handing out the food.

"I didn't wanna." Soda replied with a mouth full of cheeseburger.

"I didn't ask you if you wanted to or not. I told you to." Darry said half angry and half frustrated.

"But I did sleep Darry. Just not in my bed."

"You're in trouble, Sodapop." Darry looked at him through the mirror. Soda stuck out his lower lip. Darry sighed, exasperated but then he smiled. "How did you manage to sneak into the truck, anyways."

"Well, I got on the phone with Ponyboy and then you left and I finished talking to him. But then you came back in to get something and this idea sprung on me. So I told you I was going to bed, walked into my room, went out the window, and climbed into the back of the truck before you returned." Soda finished and smiled, proud of himself.

Darry fought back a smile and fixed Soda with a stern gaze through the mirror. Soda only grinned wider. Darry sighed. "It is almost impossible to get mad at you, Sodapop."

"I know." Soda said. "Hey Pon." Pony looked back at him and smiled. "Hi Sodapop." "You ok kid? You told me you got licked. I see what you mean now." Soda said studying his little brothers face. "Yeah, I'm ok." Pony said.

"Ok, family reunion over." Darry said. "Get some sleep. Both of you." Soda made sure Darry wasn't looking at him through the mirror and stuck his tongue out at him. Ponyboy giggled slightly. "Sleep." Darry said, very aware of what his brothers were up to.

Bye the time they got home it was seven thirty a.m. Darry wanted to fall down and sleep for a week but Pony was all scratched up and he needed to look at him. Darry helped him inside. Pony plopped down on the couch and Sodapop in an arm chair. Darry lifted the youngest Curtis up to a sitting position. "Owe, my head hurts." He opened his eyes slightly. "Owe!" Ponyboy said again as Darry started cleaning his cuts. "Leave me alone!" He tried to pull away.

"Ponyboy, you're gonna let me look you over. Hold still. This is gonna sting for a little bit." Ponyboy squealed as Darry rubbed a cold wet cloth over a cut on his face.

"Why do you gotta put alcohol on it?" He whined.

"So it don't get infected." Darry said. "If it gets infected it'll hurt even more." Darry handed Ponyboy some ice. "Put this on your eye, before it swells." Ponyboy did and then tried to stand up without much success. "Hold on. You aint done yet." Darry said gently forcing him back down.

"Were else did you get hurt?" Darry asked.

"They kicked me in the head and in the stomach a few times, on my side."

"They kicked you in the head?" Darry repeated, very concerned. Soda opened his eyes and listened more intently.

Ponyboy nodded. "My stomach too, or on the sides. I don't know. I hurt everywhere. Can I just go to bed now?"

"Lemme, see." Darry said. Ponyboy groaned and lifted up his shirt and Darry studied a few major bruises on the right side were his rib cage was. "You're going to the hospital buddy. I think you might have some broken ribs and I want them to check you over and make sure you don't have a concussion."

"I don't wanna go the hospital." Ponyboy whined again. "I hate hospitals and I'm tired. It's morning and school starts in an hour."

"You're not going to school anyways. Not on one hour of sleep. It'll be ok." Darry reassured him. "I just want them to look you over."

Pony sighed and mumbled, "Fine."

"You need to tell me everything that happened while we drive to the hospital. You still haven't explained." Darry sighed.

After Darry had gotten every last detail out of him, Ponyboy fell asleep on the way to the hospital and he was awoken again when they arrived. He moaned and got out, following his brothers in. "Why can't I just have a few hours of sleep without being disturbed?" He mumbled to himself as he walked down the hospital hall, staring at his feet. He scrunched his nose up at the smell of the hospital hallways. He hated hospitals. They brought back horrible memories. He especially hated this hospital. It was the same one Johnny died in. the same one Dally broke down in. Ponyboy pushed the thoughts away as best he could and looked around. He stayed in a daze but came out of it when Soda spoke. He then noticed that he was in the lobby sitting beside Sodapop, and Darry was up at the desk filling out papers.

"You ok, Pon?" Soda asked.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure." Ponyboy said as he studied his surroundings. Darry came back and sat down. "Can I just see the doc and get this over with? I wanna go home." Pony said.

"Well, we need to wait because they have to take care of everybody in critical condition first. Just relax, we might be here a little while."

Pony groaned and leaned his head up against the wall. "This is boring."

"Stop whining. You sound like you're five years old." Darry said annoyed.

Ponyboy glared at him. "Well, you wouldn't be very happy if you got beaten up by a bunch of Socs, driven to Oklahoma City, put in an alley way, woke up later in the freezing cold, then slept at a gas station for nearly three hours." Ponyboy said angrily and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I know you had a rough night. It's your fault though and whining aint gonna help the situation. So just sit there and be quiet. You're giving me a headache."

Ponyboy turned away and let a few tears out. Darry has no sympathy. Ponyboy thought as he continued to cry. He was aching everywhere and he could barely keep his eyes open. He wanted to lie down and sleep for days. This night had gone on to long.

Darry looked over at his youngest brother when he heard muffled cries. "What's wrong?" He asked, his tone soft and gentle. "Nothin, I'm fine." Pony mumbled. "You aint fine. You don't just cry over nothing." Darry said. "Forget it." I'm fine. "C'mon baby. What's the matter?" Darry placed a hand on Pony's shoulder but he just shrugged it off. "Leave me alone." Ponyboy said, grumpy. Darry sat back in his seat and studied his brother for a second. He had at least one bruise on every area of his body. His clothing was ripped partially and covered with dry blood. Darry sighed deeply. How could I let that happen to him? He asked himself, silently.

After about an hour or two the doctor saw them. It didn't look like Ponyboy had a concussion but he'd have to be woken up every two hours just to make sure. It turned out that he did have three broken ribs. At long last, after all papers were filled out they left the hospital and headed home. It was obvious that none of them could go anywhere in their exhausted state. "Go to sleep." Darry said as they walked in the door. They did, gladly. A very tired Darry also retreated to his bedroom. He still had trouble sleeping though as he worried about Ponyboy. In a few minutes he drifted off into a deep, relaxing sleep.