Pain. White hot flashes of pain. All I felt was pain crawling all over my body. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest and deflating all of the air out of my lungs. Why weren't my lungs drawing in air? I felt oxygen covering my mouth and I breathed it in graciously. At least that made me feel a little bit better.

I felt the presence of being in a bed, but I couldn't quite remember why I was there. I didn't remember going to bed last night. The last thing I could think of doing was driving to pick up Ponyboy from the movies. Oh yeah, there was bright lights and glass, then I was riding in an ambulance and I couldn't breathe anymore.

I heard Darry talking next to me. I wasn't quite sure what he was saying, but his voice was soothing. I open my eyes so I could see my brother, but I was so exhausted. They opened for a second to see fuzzy lights and shapes. Darry's voice lulled me back into a peaceful sleep.

XXXXXX

It seemed funny to me that just this morning, I was nagging Soda to do the dishes before he left for work. We had our usual breakfast of ham and eggs, and the dirty breakfast dishes piled on top of the dinner ones from last night.

"Soda, Ponyboy," I had called, "Can one of you do the dishes? What if the social worker stopped by for an unexpected visit and this is what she saw?"

"Alright Dare," Soda came out of the shower, with his hair dripping all over the carpet. "I'll do it after I get home from work."

He didn't, and I was upset then, but now that seems like such a miniscule thing to worry over. I would wash a thousand dishes by myself if that meant that my brothers were safe under my roof again. Morning seemed like a lifetime ago compared to now.

Two-Bit and Steve got up to stretch and smoke. I appreciated all the time they spent keeping vigil over Soda and Pony, but if the roles were reversed, we would do the same for them.

I took Pony's small hand in mine, and admired the size difference between us. His fingers were long and slender, like piano playing fingers. Mom had taught him how to play a few songs on her beloved piano, but now that she was gone, he rarely played. I caught him a few times plinking out a song, but when he saw me, he stopped playing and would go into his room. My hands were clunky and calloused, and definitely not refined enough to play an instrument.

I felt a movement in my hand, so slight I would have missed it if I wasn't paying attention. Was he really waking up or was it my mind playing tricks on me? No, he had to be waking up because I saw his eyelashes flutter. They fluttered a few more times before opening and revealing those grass-green eyes of his. They were fearful and full of questions, but he was unable to speak due to the ventilator down his throat.

"Ponyboy," I said, smoothing his bangs out of his face. Comforting Ponyboy was more of Soda's forte, but I would have to do my best. "You were in a car accident with Soda tonight. Do you remember any of it?"

He slowly shook his head no, and I got nervous. I hoped this memory loss wasn't a sign of any brain damage. I don't think I would be able to handle that.

"That's okay," I said, and noticed how his eyelids began to droop again. I wished he could stay up a little more so I could talk to him, but I knew that sleep was what he needed the most right now. "Get some rest. I'll be here when you wake up."

Two-Bit and Steve returned just as Ponyboy nodded off to sleep. "Did we miss anything?" Two-Bit asked. "Did a sexy nurse come by and flash you?" He joked.

"Pony woke up."

"He did? Damn," Two-Bit muttered, "I wish we were there to see him."

"He was only awake for about thirty seconds," I assured. "I'm not even sure if he recognized his surroundings."

Two-Bit opened his mouth to say something back, but his gray eyes were averted to the hall.

Standing in the doorway was a middle aged lady, dressed in a beautiful jacket and tailored skirt. He outfit was light brown, and the jacket and skirt was perfectly fitted to her petite frame. Her sandy colored hair was twisted into a tight bun at the nape of her neck, but a few strands fell delicately around her heart-shaped face. A shining string of pearls laid around her neck and the diamond on her ring finger had to be worth eight months of my paycheck. I tried to remember if I saw her anywhere, but her face didn't ring a bell.

"I'm sorry," She spoke quietly, when she saw three pairs of eyes staring at her. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Marie Johnson. If I may, I would like to have a word with the boys' mother and father please."

"I'm Darrel Curtis, the brother and legal guardian. Let's have a word in the hallway." I wasn't sure what this lady's motive was, but my curiosity was getting the best of me.

"Can I do something for you Mrs. Johnson?" I asked her once we were in the hallway.

He shifted her weight a few times and picked at her cuticles, something my Mom used to do when she was nervous. "What I'm about to say, won't be easy to hear," she started. "My son, Daniel, was driving the car that hit your brothers. He went out with his friends and drank too much. I told him to only have a few beers, but never listens. He never does." She started to cry. I hated when women cried in front of me. I was never sure if I should give them a tissue or walk away.

"What?" I demanded angrily. It took all I had not to march down to that kid's room and put him in a chokehold.

Her blue eyes went wide, and I lowered my voice a notch. I was getting some wary glances from passing nurses. I knew this scene didn't look to good. Tall, muscular man raising his voice to small well-dressed woman.

"I know, I know," Mrs. Johnson said, dabbing at her wet eyes with an embroidered kerchief. "I'm so sorry for what he did to your brothers. I'll never forgive myself for letting Daniel go out tonight. He should have known better to drink and get behind a wheel. But you have to understand Mr. Curtis, Danny is a good boy. He made a mistake tonight, a big one at that, but he didn't mean to cause any harm. You have to believe me on that. Weren't you ever a teenager and did something stupid?"

I thought back to my old football days. Sure, there was a few times that I had more than a soft drink when I went out, but I was never dumb enough to drive after I drank. My dad would pound me into next week if I did. "Never anything like that."

She sighed and pushed a stray hair off of her face. "I'm truly sorry for all the stress your family is under. I understand if you'll be taking legal action, but I really hope you won't." she said. She offered out her petite hand to me, which I shook, and she left back down the hallway with her high heels echoing off the walls.

Nothing against the Mom, but it's about time those rich kids got what was coming to them. I wished more than anything that I had money, because if I did, I would definitely be taking legal action on that boy who almost killed my brothers.

XXXXXX

A/N: Thirty-three years ago today, The Outsiders was released into theaters. How lucky were those people that they got to see it in the theaters! Happy Outsiders Day to everyone!