Soda moaned loudly as Steve's truck hit a bump in the road and the truck shook making his head bounce up and down. He was in so much pain he though he might just pass out. Boy, he sure wouldn't mind passing out right about now. "Sorry buddy." Steve said, looking over at his friend in concern. He was speeding back to the Curtis house as quick as he could. Soda leaned back as far as the passenger seat would allow him, clutching his stomach and his head. There was a fair amount of blood leaking down onto Steve's seats and Soda wasn't even sure where or how many places it was coming from.
"I want Darry." Soda groaned out, wincing in pain. Darry would fix everything just like he always did. He wished Darry'd been there when those boys came in. Man, there was never a time he wanted to see him more than then.
"We're going to get Darry right now, man. Hang on. We're almost there." When they finally reached the house Steve threw open the door and jumped straight over the gate around their small front yard. "Darry!" he yelled, running up the steps and bounding through the door. "DARRY!"
"What?" Darry and Pony looked up from the couch startled.
"Sodapop. He's beat bad." Steve exclaimed. Darry was out the door in a second followed by Pony. They reached Steve's car in seconds.
"Little buddy?" Darry asked. Soda's face was twisted in discomfort. He looked up to see his big brother and immediately began to sob, his tears mixing with his bloodied face. Darry held him gently and rubbed his trembling back. "Oh Soda." Darry had never seen him so bad before. "Steve, what happened to him?" Darry demanded. If Soda wasn't still holding onto his arm he may have tackled him.
"He just went to the bathroom and then came out like that. I have no idea!" Steve yelled, panicky. His adrenaline was still pumping due to his initial shock at the site of his friend.
Ponyboy bit his fingernails nervously. He couldn't believe how bad Soda looked. Darry was brought back to the problem at hand as Soda called his name. "It's okay Pepsi-Cola. Can you stand for me?" He knew he couldn't carry him in. His shoulder was much better but he was afraid it might give out and he'd drop him.
Soda responded by easing himself out of the truck. Darry wrapped an arm around him and helped him into the house slowly where he laid him down on the couch.
"Ponyboy, go get the first aid kit, a warm wash cloth and an ice pack." Darry instructed and Pony obeyed quickly. Darry put a hankercheif to Soda's bloodied nose. "Hold it there for me buddy."
"I hurt Darry." Soda quivered.
"Where's it the worst?" Darry asked, growing deeply concerned. Soda never told him willingly if he wasn't well. He would hide it from him as long as possible so Darry wouldn't fuss but now he was coming right out and saying it.
"Hurts everywhere." Soda was bawling still and Darry stroked his head gently.
"You want some aspirin Soda?" Ponyboy asked. Soda nodded and Pony ran to get it.
"What happened little buddy. Who did this to you?"
"Three guys… socs… never seen um before… just grabbed me in the men's room." Soda grunted out. Darry lifted Soda's shirt up gently to see his battered stomach. Steve grimaced from behind Darry. Darry cleaned him up considerably and threw away his bloody shirt. He knew he had to take him to the hospital though. If his ribs weren't broken they were at the very least bruised to be sure and he needed stitches on his bottom lip. His nose was broken and he had such a big bump on th back of his head that Darry was afraid he might have a concussion. The mention of a hospital only made Soda cry harder but Darry new he had to insist upon it.
"Is he gonna be all-right?" Pony asked Darry softly, concern in his green eyes. Soda wasn't one to cry over getting jumped by the socs. He was always tough in fights. Sure he could be a real bawl baby sometimes when it came to Sandy or something but Pony'd never known him to get so worked up over his injuries. It only made him worry more for his brother. It had to be pretty bad if he was crying the way he ways.
"He's gonna be fine. He just needs a few things done. We'll get him all patched up and good as new, okay?" Darry put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. Pony nodded quietly. "Go to bed, you've got school in the morning and don't you worry."
"I'm not going to bed when Soda's so sick. I'm coming with you to the ER." Pony insisted. Darry was about to respond but Soda beat him to it.
"Let him come, Dar. Please?" Soda asked.
Darry met Soda's pained eyes and he nodded reluctantly. "All-right. If it makes you feel better."
It wasn't until three in the morning that they got home. Soda was more than excstatic that it was over. They'd poked, prodded, examined, and bandaged every bit of him until Darry was finally satisfied that they'd convered every last scratch. Soda and Ponyboy went straight to bed. Darry however couldn't sleep. He found himself sitting in his brothers' room for at least a good hour. He couldn't bring himself to leave them alone even though his room was just down the hall. When Soda woke up the next afternoon the house was empty. Darry was at work and Pony at school. There was a little note on the bedside table from Darry.
Soda,
You call me if something's wrong and you need me home. I already called your boss and told him what happened and he won't be expecting you in for the next few days. Take ONE painkiller every three hours. They're on the kitchen counter. Leftover pancakes are in the ice-box. I'll be home during my lunch break to check on you. Get some rest.
-Darry
Soda lifted himself out of bed, carefully. His bandaged ribs protested the movement as did his head. He groaned and walked out to the kitchen. He couldn't wait to get his hands on those painkillers.
Darry's mind wandered as he busily restocked the shelves. He hoped Soda was all-right by himself. Ponyboy had been even quieter than usual that morning and Darry worried that last night had him shaken up. He could hardly blame him though. Seeing Soda so messed up wasn't easy. Darry counted in his head how many times they'd been at the hospital in just these last few weeks. It was ridiculous the way someone was always sick or hurt. It seemed like every time he turned around some stupid soc would mess up someone he loved. He was so sick of it he could scream. Soda had four broken ribs. His lip was swollen and sore and the markings on his face would take time to heal along with the big goose egg on the back of his head. The kid had bruises covering every inch of him. Darry felt a lump in his throat as he remembered Johnny and Dallas. This town had taken them from him. This town had taken everything from all of them. He wondered if eventually it would kill them all off, one after the other, soc after soc, disaster after disaster. If it didn't kill them physically it very well might kill their spirit and all hope for any kind of a future. Soda'd been in such a state last night and Darry knew those socs had scared him just as much as hurt him. Realization sunk in and he felt his stomach clench. It wouldn't ever end would it? No matter what he did he couldn't protect his brothers from the reality of it. Darry paused in his work and rubbed the back of his neck, deep thought overcoming him. He said a silent prayer for guidance and nodded his head firmly. Last night had been the last straw. He'd made a decision.
