"Can we see him?", I asks
"Sure, room 103. He needs his rest but I think he needs his brothers more", Doctor Smith says
I shake the doctor's hand before helping Pony to his feet. The poor kid was shaking and he could barely stand up. He reminded me on the night he passed out when Dally died.
I was scared out of my mind and so was Darry.
We nearly lost him and we didn't. I need Darry to be alright.I didn't want to lose another brother. We lost two of our brothers already. I don't think my heart could take another break. It already has empty spots were five of the people I loved were.
I saw Two-Bit in the hall with Steve at his side. I told them to sit in the waiting room. I would update them after I saw my brother. They nodded and took a seat.
I found the room and I found my older brother. He was so pale and a bandage was wrapped around his went in and out of his body. A heart monitor on Darry's pale chest and i heard the steady sound of his heart beat. The noise was calming just annoying. I pulled a seat up next to Darry.
Pony did the same. It hurt to see Darry like this.
I grasped his hand and played with his hair. I swallowed the lump in my thought and tears were in my eyes. I broke down and it felt good.
Pony came and sat next to me. I just cried for my brother as I sat next to him. I had never see Darry in this kind of state.
"Soda?", a voice broke the surface
"Darry?", I said more as a statement then a question
"Why can't I feel my legs?", Darry questioned nervously
"ummm", I say
"Why can't I feel my legs? Soda! Why can't I feel my legs?", Darry asks as his voice grows hoarse
"You were in a bad car accident. The doctor says your spinal cord is inflamed and swollen. I am sorry Darry but you may not walk again", I say gently
"I might not walk again then I can't roof. Then I will…", Darry says as his voice breaks
For the first time Darry let his feelings show. Every superman has his krypton, and after all Darry is an every day regular kind of superman.( Darry seems a little oc but i don't think Darry is as hard as Pony said he was. I like to think of him with a soft side and losing the boys is his krypton)
Sobs racked his body as he cried. Soda just runs his fingers in Darry's hair gently. He spoke softly to his brother to calm him. Darry relaxed and calmed down.
"Darry, what were you gonna say?" Pony asks speaking up
"I will lose you guys if I can't work", Darry gets out
"Darry don't worry about I can work full time and get extra shifts or an second job", I say
"I can't put that burden on you", Darry says softly
"Don't you worry about that. It's my job now to take care of you and pone. Don't fight with me because you won't win. You just focus on getting better", Soda says with courage
"Alright little brother", Darry says softly
"How about you sleep?" Soda suggests
Darry didn't fight as he closed his eyes. Soda watches his older brother with care and concern. Slowly Darry's steady and relaxed breathing turns to soft snores. Darry falls asleep against the pillow the hospital bed.
Soda walks out of the room not saying a word. Pony doesn't ask questions but instead follows. Soda walks stiffly to the waiting room with Pony following.
"How is he?" Two-bit asks
"Shaken up and confused but otherwise fine", Soda answers calmly
"How badly is Darry injured?" Steve asks
"He has buries, a broken leg and inflamed spinal cord. He may not walk again", Soda says unable to sallow the lump building up in his throat
"What are you guys going to do?" Steve asks
"Hold on and be strong for Darry. We can get through this no matter the outcome", Soda says with new found courage and strength
Pony was not convinced that Soda had this under control. This side of Soda is not one he hasn't seen nor does he want to. He wishes that everything would go back to the way it was. When Darry was fine and in control as well as Soda being normal old Soda.
He missed his brothers
They were different; Soda was the strong one this time and Darry the confused pained Pony to know be hide those brown eyes hide pain and stress he couldn't begin to understand.
Soda was fighting an internal battle. His mind was cloud with thousands of thoughts. Demons don't go away without facing right now facing them wasn't an option. Sodas hide his confusion in his eyes but Pony knew something was going on in his mind.
Two-bit and Steve sat there. There was a silent understanding that the boys need to be alone with their brother right now. Silencing took over and no words were said. They all seemed lost in thought. Each had his own thoughts and was unable to say anything.
Soda said his goodnight and return to Darry's room. Pony once again followed behind. Soda saw no point in sending Pony home to sleep nor to school in the morning. He would be unable to focus on his work.
"Let's get some sleep", Soda says
"Alright", Pony says
Pony climbs onto the cot sit up by a nurse. He rested his head on the pillow and pulled the blanket up. Pony was too tired to fight sleep and feel asleep.
Soda was satisfied with the gentle snores from his brothers. He was glad they were able to sleep. Both needed their rest but Soda was unable to sleep.
Soda pulled up a chair to Darry's bed. He gently played with Darry's hair. He watched his older brother sleep. He had noticed when Darry sleeps he looks younger like the nineteen year old Darry planning to go to college. The stress seemed off of his shoulders when he slept.
Soda hated to feel the pain that flashed in those blue eyes of his brother earlier. "Why did it have to be Darry? The person we need the most right now.", Soda thought
Soda feared the state might take them away from his brother. How Soda hated that , the state always poking their nose in business that ins' t theirs to know. But for know the family was still together and Soda had to hold him together. More now than ever before did both his brothers need him.
Soda soon fell asleep in the uncomfortable hospital chair.