We followed the nurse to a small, stark white painted room; that matched the rest of the clinic. The only colour being some medical posters, and a full length skeleton poster with labelling beside each bone, indicating the name of that joint - pinned up on the walls.

The nurse indicated for me to sit up on the examination table. She performed a regular check up, then told us to wait for the doctor.

Soda took a step forward, so he was standing directly in front of me - taking in my features. I'm sure my face looked as pale as I felt, and as scared - I felt like I was gonna start bawling any second, either that or throw up.

He gently placed a hand under my chin, and looked me in the eyes. "Baby, It's ok... just relax. I'm not going anywhere, but you are gonna make yourself sick if you keep stressing like this."

I couldn't relax though... I was too nervous to relax.

The door opened, and a middle aged man walked in wearing a pair of dress slacks, a blue button up shirt, with a long white coat - that almost looked like a long suit jacket - over his shirt. His black hair, carefully combed to the side, with a slight balding to the front. He held a clipboard in his hand.

"Hi, I'm Dr Rogers. What can I do for you boys today?"

Soda moved to the side of me, before he spoke. He knew I wouldn't talk.

"My brother," Soda threw me a glance. "stood on a nail, it went through his left heel, a friend of ours cleaned it. He also fell on his wrist, and his knee."

The doctor wrote something down on his clipboard, then came over to me.

"Ok... lets take a look at your foot first, shall we. Just pop it up on the bed for me."

I turned side ways, and placed my foot up onto the bed, then grabbed a hold of Soda's hand. The doctor placed a plastic sheeting under my foot, then removed the bandage. He inspected the damage for a moment.

"Hmm..." his eyebrows frowned, as he studied the wound, "it appears to have been punctured with another sharp object... a knife maybe?"

He looked at Soda, for an answer.

"Umm, yeah... the wound wasn't bleeding much to flush it, my buddy used his pocket knife to help it bleed more. He also cleaned it with alcohol."

I don't know if the doctor looked more, shocked... or concerned. His eyebrows rose substantially, it was almost comical.

"Well... I gotta hand it to you, your one brave kid," he cleared his throat, "Ok, well I am still going to soak it in salt water, just to make sure it is thoroughly cleaned, and I'll also fix you up with a Tetanus shot today."

I swallowed hard, and tightened my hold on Soda's hand.

The doctor left to grab the salt water, returning minutes later. He placed the low edged rectangular container on the plastic sheet, and gently placed my foot in it. I gasped, and whined, "Oww..." as the wound touched the salted water, then tried pulling back.

"It will only hurt for a second, then the pain will go," the doctor reassured, placing my foot back in the water, I winced deeply. The pain and sting certainly striked hard, but like he said it subsided after a few seconds.

"Ok... while that's doing it's job, let's check your wrist."

He asked me to move my fingers around, like Soda and Steve had done. Then felt around it in different spots, checking for swelling and tenderness. He wrapped it in a bandage, to reduce the swelling, and said I had to rest it, and try not to use that hand for a while. Then he checked the bruise on my knee, he said it would be tender for a few days, but will be fine.

"Ok, I'll be back in a minute." He said, exiting the room.

I glanced up at Soda, biting my lip.

"You ok, honey?" he asked, concerned. I shook my head no.

Soda sighed, and slid up onto the table next to me, sliding his arm around behind my back and leaning me into him. I placed my head on his shoulder.

"It's alright. It'll be over before you know it," his soft tone, trying to reassure me.

I lifted my head, as the door opened. The doctor walked back in, carrying a small tray in his right hand. He placed it on his office desk.

"Ok, let's see how this foots going," he said, coming back over to the bed.

He removed my foot from the water, inspecting it. "Ok, that looks good." He dried it off with a clean cloth, then rubbed some more antibacterial cream over the wound, and wrapped in it a new bandage.

"Ok, let's get this shot done, then your good to go," he walked back over to the desk and picked the injection up out of the tray, then made his way back to the bed. I could feel myself start to panic, as I looked wide eyed at the large syringe, with the long sharp point.

The doctor stopped at the bed beside me, on my left side. He proceeded to open the alcohol wipe, and swiped it on my upper arm. But as he brought the needle towards me I backed away, covering my arm with my hand.

"It's ok, I'll do it real quick. You won't even feel it."

"No!"

Then he creased his eyebrows, leaving fine lines along his forehead. "You'll be fine, if you can handle a blade in your foot, this is nothing compared. All you'll feel is a small pinch."

I shook my head, "No!" I repeated.

"Kiddo, it's alright." Soda soothed, "Here, hold my hand," he said, holding his right hand out, in hopes I'd remove my hand away from my arm, and hold his hand instead. I shook my head no.

"Come on kid, let's get this over with," the doctor said, his voice wasn't rough, but he sounded like he was getting slightly impatient, then brought the needle towards me again. I leaned into Soda more, trying to get as far away from that needle as I could, then Soda placed his hand on mine, and gently pried my hand away from my arm.

"No, Soda!"

"Shh..." he soothed, "just relax."

"No!" I screamed, as the doctor came towards me. I tried to fight Soda's hold on me, but it was no use, he held me in a strong grip. I thought my heart was gonna jump out of my chest it was beating that hard, my breathing became fast, so fast I couldn't slow it down. It was getting really shallow and quick, before I knew it I was full on hyperventilating.

"Pony!" Soda said, realising I was struggling to breath. In one smooth motion, he pulled me against his chest and held me tightly. "It's alright, Ponyboy. I'm here... just breathe okay...?" Soda said trying to soothe me, whilst softly stroking my back. "Slow, deep breaths kiddo... It's ok, Soda's here..."

I weakly grasped my fingers to my brothers shirt, holding a loose fist around the fabric as my panicking was taking on the next level. I held on to him like a lifeline - afraid of what might happen if I let go - as tears formed behind my eyelids, as I squeezed them tightly closed.

Soda hugged me tighter, as he gently rocked me back and forth. "Pony... just listen to my voice, okay?" He pressed my gripping hand against his chest. "Breathe like me, Pony... you can do it... just breathe like me..."

I cleared my mind from every other thought and tried focusing on Soda's reassuring words, letting him put my mind at ease. I began taking deep breaths following his instructions and soon my breathing was beginning to slow some.

I noticed the doctor watching me with scrunched eyebrows. He hadn't interfered, probably thought he'd see if Soda could calm me first, then step in if he had to.

"You really had me scared there for a minute, kiddo... don't ever do that to me again," Soda whispered, sounding on the verge of tears. He pulled me into his chest, as he continued to stroke my back.

"I-i'm sorry, Soda." I said, softly.

"It's ok, baby... it's ok. But, you really need to relax, it's gonna hurt more if your all tensed up like that." He said, softly, but kept a firmness to his tone.

The doctor placed his hand to my arm, holding it with some firmness - so I don't move it, I'm sure. I began to tremble, and my eyes formed tears in them that had yet to fall.

Soda held me tighter, and grabbed my hand. "Just relax... take a deep breath, and count back from ten, baby." He whispered, giving my hand a comforting squeeze.

I held his hand tightly and closed my eyes, as I counted from ten in my head. The needle pierced through the skin in my arm, making me cry out, and the tears that had been waiting in my eyes rolled down my cheeks.

"It's all done, kiddo... it's over now," Soda gently massaged my arm where I had the shot put in, to help circulate the medicine, and reduce the pain.

I dried the tears from my face, on the hem of Soda's shirt. But didn't move from my position.

"Alright, all done. When you get home you can put some ice on that arm, it'll help with any redness or swelling," the doctor said, then paused before saying, "I'm going to prescribe you with some antibiotics, you take one pill twice a day till the packs finished. Alright, I think your good to go," the doctor finished.

Soda helped me off the table.

"Thanks." Soda smiled.

"You boys take care."

We exited the clinic, with me leaning on Soda for support. He unlocked Steve's car, helping me in, then placed his hand to the top of the car door.

"Kiddo, I just gotta run to the chemist."

I answered him with a nod.

"Ok, I'll be back in a minute." He closed the door, then took off towards the chemist.

I sat silently as I waited for Soda.

A few minutes later, he returned with a white paper bag in one hand. He opened his door, climbing in. Then glanced over at me, placing his hand to my knee, lightly rubbing it with his thumb.

"Hey kiddo, you ok?"

I nodded, as I moved my eyes toward my lap. But truth was - I wasn't, and I was sure that Soda already knew.

Soda sighed, hesitating... like he wanted to say something more. But instead gave my knee a light pat, before starting the car.

...

Bella Lilac