Aftermath

"What's your name?" One of the EMTs asked me as we were driven to the hospital.

"I'm Elizabeth Shel...Curtis. Elizabeth Curtis..." I was afriad that if I gave my real name my parents would be called. Also if I had the same last name as Pony then maybe they would think I was his sister.

He nodded and wrote it down. "You feeling short of breath."

"No. It feels more like a tickle in the back of my throat."

"How does your arm feel?"

"It's not that bad."

"We'll have a nurse look at it when we get there just to be on the safe side."

I nodded and we contiuned for about another fifteen minutes of driving in silence.

As we approached the hospital, my arm started burning worse. I think it may have been burned worse than I thought.

"You okay kid?" Dally looked up at me and then coughed.

"Yeah...it just hurts a little." I didn't meet his eyes. "And I'm not a kid..." I said the last words under my breath, but I think he heard them.

The EMT helped us down. Dally keeped telling them he could walk, but they made him stay on the stretcher. I could see he had more burns. I also knew he inhaled more smoke than me or Pony. I went to go sit next to Pony and a nurse stopped me.

"I need to look at your burn." I was too exhausted to argue. I walked behind her into another room.

She pulled up my sleeve and winced. "You got burned pretty badly."

I didn't say anything. I just watched as she medicated the burn and bandged it up.

When she was done she patted my shoulder. "I heard what you kids did. You were brave to save those kids."

"My friend got really hurt."

She looked at me with sympathy. "The dark haird boy?"

I nodded. "He didn't leave till all the kids were out."

"Poor boy. He is hurt badly. His back is broken and his burns are bad."

I looked at the ground in shock. "His back was broken..." I didn't want to believe it.

She patted me again. "I'm sorry sweetheart. The doctors will do everything they can."

"Is there an Elizabeth Curtis back here?" Another nurse asked as she came into the room.

"She is here." The nurse that had been working on me got up and turned to the other woman. "Is her family here?"

The nurse at the door nodded. "Her older brothers are here. They are out in the lobby with Ponyboy Curtis."

I got up and started for the door. The nurse that had helped me followed me.

When I saw the brothers hugging I broke down. Pony looked rough and tired. Soda and Darry looked so relieved. Soda looked up and saw me.

"Lizzie." He sighed in relief and ran over to me pulling me into his arms. I cried on his shoulder. Darry was right behind him pulling me in when Soda let go. I was so happy to be safe again. I was so happy to have my family there.

"Be careful of her arm." The nurse told them gently.

"Lizzie are you okay?" Soda looked at the bandage.

"She is burn pretty badly. It's a second degree burn."

Darry sighed. "Does she need to stay here?"

The nurse shook her head. "I don't think so. She needs to put burn cream on it three times a day and keep it bandaged. I'll send you home the supplies and the burn cream. If it gets worse, she should come back. We don't want it to get infected."

She turned to leave us so she could get the supplies.

"Pony are you okay?" I turned to look at him. "Did you get burned?"

"I'm okay. My lungs hurt some and the EMT told me that it would for a few days. I didn't get burned though. My leather jacket protected me I think. Have you heard anything about Johnny?"

"They won't let us see Johnny ...they said they want to stabilize him first." Soda told us.

"He is hurt bad." I told them without looking at them. I couldn't bear to see saddness or even fear in there eyes. "The nurse said...his back is broken... She told me that the doctors would do everything they could..."

Dally loved Johnny like a little brother. He won't take this well.

"Darry I know you are probably mad at Dally, but can I go see how he is doing?"

He clenched his jaw but spoke softly. "You can see him quickly. I want to get you two home so you both can rest."

I nodded. "I'll be fast."

I turned and walked toward the nursing station.

"Excuse me? Which room is Dallas Winston in?"

A pretty blonde nurse looked up from her computer. She looked me over before asking. "Are you family?"

"Yes ma'am." I nodded. "He is my older brother." It felt wrong to lie, but I needed to talk to him.

She nodded. "He is just down the hall. Room 118."

"Thank you." I walked away quickly before she could ask anymore questions.

When I walked into the room, Dally was looking out the window. It almost looked like he was day dreaming.

"Dally?" He looked up at me.

"I thought you would be home by now." He said. Then he saw my arm. "You okay." He pointed at it. "I thought you said it didn't hurt that bad."

"It didn't...It started hurting worse and the nurse said it needs treatment three times a day...it's not that bad."

"You call me tough but you try to hide behind your walls too..." He looked at his lap. I guess he was right, but before I could comment he asked, "Is Pony okay?"

"Yeah..his lungs hurt, but he just needs to rest a few days I think..."

He didn't look up. "How is Johnny..."

My heart lurched forward. I didn't want to tell him..."His...his back is broken...and his burns are bad."

I put my hand on top of his on the bed.

He didn't move for a few minutes. He didn't say anything either.

"Dally did you hear me."

"Yeah...I heard you." He took my hand. "You need to go home Lizzie. Get some rest."

"Dally...the doctors are working on him..."

"Have you seen him."

"They won't let us yet..."

"Bastards!" He shouted and dropped my hand. "I'm going to kill those Socs"

"Dally you can't mean that...look what fighting has done...we can't keep fighting each other."

"I won't lay down and watch him die." He looked up at me with steal in his eyes. "Those Socs did this, and they will pay."

"Dally a Soc already paid with his life..."

He didn't say anything. I knew that didn't change his mind. He was set on a fight.

"I can't stop you Dallas Winston. I don't think anyone can...Just know I care about you...I want better for you..."

I turned to walk away. He took my hand and I looked down at him. "I care about you to Lizzie." He let go of my hand and looked away from me. "But I have to stop them...for Johnny..."

Soda was at the door then. "Darry wants to get you guys home."

I looked at Dally and he didn't look back. I sighed and walked out with Soda.

"He okay?"

"No."

I didn't give details, and Soda didn't ask for them. Dallas was a stubburn asshole sometimes. I was angry to. I lost a brother in this damn fight. But fighting more would just make it worse. How many kids will have to die before he sees that.

We met Darry outside and got into the truck. I was ready to be home. It's the only place I felt safe. Pony was asleep by the time we got home. I could tell he hadn't been able to sleep while he was away. Darry and Soda werent' being hard on us. I knew they would want to talk about everything sooner or later but tonight we were all just glad we were home.