This chapter ended up taking an unexpected direction. And it also ended up being much longer than I had anticipated – something that unfolded through conversations with the lovely Ellvia22. Thank you for your insight!

Hope you enjoy! - S

It was December, but you'd never know it. The tension in the room was as thick as Tulsa humidity in mid-July.

Pony's eyes flashed. "You can't be serious," he interrupted, shaking his head, "No." He looked at Darry and then back at Ron. His voice cracked, the fear and frustration he'd been holding back boiling over.

"Pony – " Darry ran a hand through his hair, unsure of what to say. "We've got to make sure you're alright. I already signed off on it. I know it's not easy –" His face was still a careful mask, but Darry's hand reached out – a gesture meant to comfort, but it felt like a stake grounding Pony to his reality.

Ponyboy jerked away from Darry's touch, his chest heaving.

"You just went ahead and signed off and didn't even bother to check if I was ok with it?" he said between ragged breaths, "You ain't the one who's gotta go through with it…" the frustration was palpable. "You don't get it, Darry! You don't know what it's like!" Pony's eyes darted wildly, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and fear, his fingers clenched tight in the bedsheets.

Soda stood up and moved to Pony's side, putting a comforting hand on his back. "Pony…hey," he said in that calming tone he always had. He was worried too, but it was more important in that moment to make his little brother feel better. He glanced at Darry, then back at Pony, "Darry didn't do it to hurt you, Pone. He did it because it's the right thing –"

"The doctors on your case recommended this course of action," Ron chimed in, "I relayed the information to Darry," he continued, his voice composed but compassionate, "I realize now I should have involved you in the discussion as well, Ponyboy – but Darry is your guardian and he has legal responsibility…"

"So I don't get a say," he said, crossing his arms in a huff, "I get it. I won't get a say until I'm 18."

He looked at Darry coldly. Meanwhile, Darry had that helpless, pleading look in his eyes.

"Pony, I know it's a lot to take in," Ron said, "We're not doing this to hurt you. In fact, we'd avoid it if we didn't think it was absolutely necessary. We're doing it to make sure the infection is going away."

"This is just one of the things that has to be done to get there," he added, "Then you can go on bugging your brothers like you've never been sick a day in your life," he joked. Pony's lips twitched but he didn't smile.

"I'm going to schedule the tests over the next two days," Ron continued, "Usually they take a few days to get through, but we want to get you outta here, right Ponyboy?" He gave his patient a wink, "We'll start with the lumbar puncture."

"We can be there in the room with him, right?" Soda asked Ron as he stole a glance at Pony. Pony lips formed a tight line. He didn't speak.

"Yes," Ron said, "We'll get it done tomorrow morning so that Pony can rest most of the day. It won't hurt," he made sure to add quickly, "but you'll have to lie down for a few hours afterwards so you don't get a headache," he said, "It'll be over before you know it."

As the weight of the moment settled over the room, Ron looked down at his watch, suddenly realizing it was later than he thought and he had to be somewhere. He glanced up at Pony, his expression apologetic. "Listen, I have to go check on some other patients before my shift is over. Like I said, the procedure will be tomorrow. I'll send someone with more information when I know more. And remember, Pony, you can ask me anything, anytime. I'll leave my home number with Darry. No question is too small or insignificant," he said and he meant it.

"Thanks Ron," Darry said, getting up and shaking the hand of the man who was now more like a friend than a doctor. Soda wrapped an arm around Pony's shoulders. With a final reassuring look, Ron hurried out of the room.

There was a heavy silence as Pony's shoulders slumped, his defiance yielding slightly to reluctant acceptance. He buried his face in his hands, his voice muffled but audible, "I..I don't want to go through this again." The room felt small, suffocating, like storm clouds hung in the air, waiting to unload.

Darry cleared his throat, his gaze meeting Ponyboy's tired eyes, "Listen, kid," he began, his voice earnest but steady, "I know this ain't easy for you. I get that I should have talked to you first. I messed up there, and I'm sorry. But I want you to know that I signed off because it's what the doctors say is best for you. I just want you to get better. You know that," he said with those imploring eyes.

Pony slowly lowered his hands from his face, his eyes haunted with a mix of weariness and irritation. He looked like he was going to cry, but he was angry. He shook his head, his voice breaking but tinged with a hardened edge, like he wanted to challenge his big brother.

"And you just decided it was ok without asking me first?" Pony asked in a mix of hurt and anger.

Darry, too, felt his own anger simmering below the surface. Why couldn't his brother understand that he wanted what was best for him? He clenched his jaw, his voice taking on a sharper tone.

"I don't need your permission to make decisions about your well-being. I'm your guardian and I'll do what I need to to keep you safe," he said, "This isn't up for discussion."

Pony's eyes narrowed, his voice sharp with resentment. "Safe? You think you know what I need to be safe? You haven't been through what I have! You don't know what it's like –"

"Pony," Soda spoke up softly, "We've been here the whole time. We've seen what you've been going through…"

It's not the same, Pony thought. But he wouldn't yell at Soda.

Darry's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as well, " I don't claim to know what it's been like for you, but I won't let you risk your own health just to avoid a lumbar puncture the doctors believe should be mandatory," he said, "Life isn't fair. Sometimes you need to trust that I'm doing what's right for you, even if you can't see it at the moment."

Ponyboy's fists clenched at his sides, his voice trembling, "You're making choices for me, Darry, without even considering what I want. I'm not a kid anymore!"

Darry's gaze held firm, his voice stern. "You may not be a kid anymore, but you're not always right either." He pointed a finger at Pony's chest to make his point, "It's my responsibility to make sure you're taken care of, whether you like it or not. And right now, this is what needs to be done."

"Darry…" Soda began, "Can't you see he's…"

"No Soda, this is important," Darry interrupted, his patience wearing thin, "He needs to understand. Pony, I'm not about to let you throw your health away over some stubbornness."

Ponyboy's anger flared, his voice rising as his eyes watered and he fought back tears. It almost broke Darry. Almost.

"I'm not a child, Darry!" Pony shouted, "I can make my own decisions, even if you don't believe it."

Darry's own restraint snapped. "You think I enjoy making these choices? I'm doing what is best and you need to trust me on that."

Ponyboy's expression hardened. He threw his hands up in the air and rolled his eyes, the resolve mingling with a bitter realization. And before he could stop himself, he shouted, "Fine, Darry. If you're dead set on me doing a lumbar puncture, I'll do it. But I don't want you to be in the room while it's going on. I'll do the procedure alone!"

The room fell silent with the weight of Ponyboy's words heavy in the air. Soda wanted to ask if that meant Pony didn't want him there either but he didn't say anything. Darry's jaw dropped in astonishment before he clamped it shut in a tight, resolute line. The hurt was evident in his eyes.

"Fine," he said after a few minutes, his voice soft and low and his anger giving way to resignation and concern, "If that's what you want," he said, "I don't have to be there."

He got up tentatively, hoping Pony would change his mind. But seeing the determination and anger in his face, he knew his brother wouldn't budge. Darry took a step back. When Pony crossed his arms, he knew it was a lost cause and with a heavy exhale, he turned and headed out the door.


You can't roof in the snow, just like you can't roof in the rain. The flakes had been letting up, and Darry's plan that day was to consult his boss, Charlie, about any roofs needing fixing after the blizzard. But now,, the unexpected fallout with his brother was consuming his thoughts. While he wasn't surprised by Pony's stubbornness. He had hoped the kid would relent – a lumbar puncture was the best course, after all. He regretted not being more understanding of the kid. Initially planning to be with Pony during the procedure, he now wondered if going to work would be the best solution to keep him distracted from thoughts of his baby brother facing a scary medical process.

He really should have been more understanding. But it was easy for him to get angry with all the stress that had been coming their way lately. It felt all too similar to that moment when he had hit Ponyboy that night he had fallen asleep in the lot and come home at 2am. Granted, Ponyboy was being a brat and there was a part of him that wanted to slap him silly this time, too. But of course, that would never happen again.

The other calls were supposed to be to the hardware store to pick up a few extra hours and to update Two-Bit and Steve on the upcoming hospital tests. Ironically, his head was spinning so bad from what had just happened in the hospital room, that he almost ran right into his pal Two-Bit Matthews.

"Hey," he said, the words trailing off his lips in a tired breath.

"Hey," Two-Bit responded, his easy grin fading slightly as he sensed tension in Darry's tone. His eyes narrowed as he tried to figure out what was up. He cocked an eyebrow.

"Everything ok, or are we fixin' to break out the heavy artillery?" his pal quipped.

Darry swallowed hard, making Two-Bit take a step closer. "Seriously, man, spill the beans. What's rufflin' your feathers?"

Two-Bit might have been known for his wise cracks but he had a knack for sensing trouble in the air, especially when it came to the gang. He was like a watchdog, always ready to sound the alarm when things were amiss.

Darry sighed and cupped his hand to his forehead. He could feel a headache coming on. "Pony and I just had a big blowout. A bad one. We were doing so well, too," Darry confessed, knowing he could tell his friend.

"How bad?" Two-Bit asked.

"Bad," Darry responded, "Ron told Pony they'll be able to release him soon –"

"That's good news, ain't it?" Two-Bit asked.

"They have to run a few tests first. Make sure the infection is out of his system. Or at least going down. One of those tests is a lumbar puncture." Lines furrowed as Darry rubbed his forehead.

Two-Bit's eyes widened, "Like a spinal tap?"

Darry nodded grimly, "Yea, like a spinal tap."

Two-Bit winced, "I thought he had one of those already. I remember the doctor saying something about it, like they did it when he first came in."

"Yea, they did. They had to do it to diagnose him with bacterial meningitis."

"So that's bad then," Two-Bit said scratching his head, "That they have to do it again?"

"Not exactly," Darry explained, "Ron told me it was like standard procedure. Like they have to do it to make sure the infection is going away – to make it safe for him to go home."

"Well, if it's standard procedure – ain't nothin' to worry about then, right?"

"Two-Bit – I had to give approval, bein' his guardian and all. I had to be the one to make the decision on whether to go through with it again. But when Pony found out I agreed without talkin' to him first, he went off. And he's got a right to be mad. I should have consulted with him before makin' that call. I'm not the one getting a needle in my back. I mean Ron says it don't hurt, but – what do I know? I'm not the one going through it. Last time Pony wasn't all there and he barely remembers what it was like and maybe that's a good thing. This time he's gonna be fully awake,"

Darry was rambling and he knew it.

"Aw, i'm sorry, Darry. Man, you know Pony's a tough kid. He'll be ok," even though he didn't fully believe it himself, Two-Bit had to say something to make his friend feel better. Darry was usually the one tougher than him. With his head on straight, "Hopefully it won't hurt a lick. You get to be in the room with him, right?"

Darry's shoulders seemed to sag with that statement. "You don't?" Two-Bit asked in disbelief.

"He told me not to come. He was so mad at me for not making the decision himself that he told me not to come to the procedure," Darry, for once, looked totally lost. "Thing is, they can't just skip it. They gotta ensure the infection's clearing up. But I thought I would get to be there. To support him."

"Stubborn kid," Two-Bit's eyes softened as he looked at Darry with understanding, "You know Pony's got that stubborn streak a mile wide. Wonder where he gets that from?" he joked, arching his eyebrow.

"My dad," Darry answered before he even realized what he was saying.

"He's gotta find his own way to handle things sometimes," Two-Bit said with a small grin, "He's gone through a lot. It's just him being Pony, you know? But hey, deep down he knows you care. He'll come 'round."

Darry shrugged, not sure if he should believe him. "This time it's different," he said dejectedly.

"Soda gonna be there?" Two-Bit asked.

"Yeah," Darry sighed, "I think so. If he's not working. Hopefully he can switch with someone. He has to – someone has to be there with him, even if I'm not."

He paused for a moment and Two-Bit knew immediately that there was no way Darry wouldn't be in the hospital, even if he wasn't in the room during the procedure.

"There's no way I can be in the room if he don't want me," Darry said aloud, as if he was reading Two-Bit's mind, "He can't move while they're doing it or something bad will happen and I can't risk that – "

Two-Bit nodded. He put his hand on Darry's shoulder. "Pony might be steamed right now, but he loves you. You know that," he said, "He'll come to his senses."

Darry let out a heavy sigh.

"When's it all happening?" Two-Bit asked.

"Tomorrow morning," Darry said, "I was gonna tell you that maybe – maybe it's a good idea for you and Steve to stay away for a bit tomorrow. You know, give Pony some space. Let him rest up just for a little while. He's already got a bone to pick with me. The doctor says he'll have to stay lying down for at least three hours afterwards because sitting up could cause some kind of spinal headache or something."

"I reckon he's probably scared out of his wits," Two-Bit replied. "Sure, I'll stay away – if that's what you want." Two-Bit answered smoothly, "You sure he won't need good ol' Two-Bit around to keep him company? Make him laugh? I make a real good nurse," he joked.

"Maybe later in the day. In the morning, I think he just wants Sodapop," Darry said.

"And you," Two-Bit said, "Don't forget that."

"I'll come later in the day," Two-Bit added, "I'll bring one of those milkshakes he keeps going on and on about," he rolled his eyes in mock seriousness.

Darry's expression softened, his worry momentarily shifting to a bittersweet smile. "He's tough, you know? He's scared but I know he'll do it."

Two-Bit grinned, "You did right, Dar. Kid's lucky to have you as a big brother."

Darry's shoulders relaxed, just a bit. "Thanks, Two-Bit. Means a lot."


Ponyboy sat on the hospital bed, his body slightly hunched over as he leaned against the pillows propped against the wall. He wanted to lay down but he was so angry that his body couldn't relax.

His hands were still clenched into tight fists at his sides and going white from the pressure. His lips were pressed in a tight line, jaw set, like he was trying to keep his emotions away, but Soda could see that they were slightly trembling, like he was going to unload any second.

"Pony," Sodapop called out as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed, his expression a mix of concern and empathy. He took the clenched fist on Pony's right side and pried his fingers open, holding Pony's hand in his own and squeezing it gently.

"You doin' ok, kiddo?" Soda asked. Pony sighed, his eyes beginning to well up as he looked up at his brother.

"Everything got so messed up," he replied.

Soda nodded in understanding. "I know it did. But you gotta remember, Darry's just lookin' out for you. We can fix it."

Ponyboy shrugged, the frustration obvious. "It's like – he don't even care about what I want."

Soda placed a hand on Pony's shoulder. "It's not like that. He does care, Pony. He's just tryin' to make sure you're healthy. Sometimes big brothers gotta make tough calls, even if we don't like 'em.

"I get that," Pony replied, "But he didn't even ask me how I felt about it. He just made the decision."

There was a pause and Soda's voice softened, "How exactly do you feel?" he asked gently, knowing the answer.

An unexpected tear rolled down Pony's cheek. "I'm scared," he responded.

Soda rubbed his right shoulder in one of his circles. "I know you are. But I'll be there with you. And Darry, too. You just say the word and he'd run here so fast it would make you head spin,"

Pony grinned.

Soda sighed, his voice gentle, "I know it's tough when it feels like your choices are being taken away. But you gotta see it from his perspective. Darry's been holdin' things together since Mom and Dad died. He's just trying to keep our family goin' strong."

Pony's shoulders slumped. "I know, Soda. I just wish he'd treat me like I'm not a kid anymore. I can handle making decisions, too. Especially when it's about my own body."

Soda gave a small smile, his eyes warm, "You're growin' up fast, Pony and Darry knows that. But he's still your big brother and sometimes he's gonna act like it. It don't mean he don't care about what you want."

Pony looked down at his hands again, "I'm scared, Soda," he said again, "Scared it's going to hurt. Just cause I did it once before don't mean nothin'," he said.

Soda scooted closer, wrapping an arm around Pony's shoulders in a hug. "It's ok to be scared. You're facin' something tough, but you're strong. And like I said, you're not alone. We can be in the room with you."

"Darry don't want to be in the room with me," Pony repeated, almost like an insolent child.

"What did I just tell you?" Soda quipped. "Come on, Pony, it'll be over before you know it. And I ain't leavin', he joked, "Guess you're stuck with me."

Pony really did love Soda more than anyone else in the world. He glanced at his brother, a mix of gratitude and uncertainty in his eyes. "You really think I can do this?" he asked.

"I know you can. And when it's over you're gonna be goin home – one step closer to gettin' back to normal."

Pony offered a faint smile, his shoulders relaxing even more. "Thanks, Soda."

Soda smoothed his hair affectionately, careful of the staples. "Anytime, honey. Just remember, you're tougher than you think. Now lay down so you can rest up."

He was still thinking of Darry when Soda maneuvered the bed and helped settle him into a more comfortable position. He couldn't help but wonder where his brother had gone as he closed his eyes. Still, Pony quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.


Some 5 minutes after Pony had fallen asleep, Two-Bit crept into the room.

"Hey Two-Bit," Soda said quietly, happy to see his friend. Two-Bit handed him a sandwich and a chocolate milk he had bought from the cafeteria.

"You see Darry on your way in?" Soda asked.

"Yeah, I saw him," Two-Bit said matter-of-factly.

"Where'd he go?" Soda asked.

"He went to make some calls. I don't know what he's doing after. He ain't doin' so hot."

"Yeah I know," Soda replied, "The two of 'em really got into it. He tell you what happened?"

"Yep," Two-Bit replied, sinking into a chair and casually propping his feet up on the metal bedrail of Pony's hospital bed. If Darry had been around, he might've knocked him senseless, but Soda didn't care, long as Pony didn't wake up.

Two-Bit slurped from his own drink. "You know, Sodapop, these fights happen sometimes. It's like sparks flyin' like a coupla greasers rubbin' each other the wrong way. Ain't nothin new under the sun," He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Darry's always been lookin' out for Pony. Hell, all of us have. But Pony's gettin' older. He's always sayin' he don't want to be treated like a kid."

"Yea, and this time, Darry should have talked to him first. I don't think Pony would have said no. But he should have been involved in the decision-making," Soda explained.

"They're both a coupla stubborn bulls lockin' horns," Two-Bit remarked with a knowing grin.

"Pony's just scared," Soda said, "And now he made it worse, tellin' Darry he shouldn't be there tomorrow."

"You know Darry," Two-Bit said knowingly, "He'll be there, anyway."

"I hope you're right, "Soda sighed.


Darry ended up calling the owners of the hardware store, who had been pretty understanding of his situation up until that point, especially because "he was such a polite and responsible young man, who did good work." They told him if he wanted to come in for a few hours the next day later in the afternoon, they'd be happy to have him, but if not, then he could do a double shift the following day.

Darry didn't call Charlie, but he knew he would in the next couple of days and that there would probably be a lot of work. (There always was after a severe weather situation.)

He also called Steve, who was at work at the DX. In a surprise but not unexpected move, Steve offered to switch shifts with Soda so Soda could come in in the afternoon instead of the morning tomorrow. And then taking it one step further, he told Darry that he would tell their boss that he'd also take Soda's afternoon shift so Soda could stay at the hospital. Darry was genuinely touched and told Steve to stay over at their place again and that he was welcome to anything that was still edible in the fridge.

After Steve, he didn't know what to do with himself, but he fished around in his pockets for some change and came across the rumpled piece of paper that Ron had scribbled his home number on.

It was probably silly but he decided to call him. There was something he wanted to ask.

Ron picked up the phone after a few rings.

"'Lo?" he answered out of the breath, like he had been running to catch the receiver..

"Hey Ron, it's Darry,"

"Oh. Hey Darry," there was a pause, "How are you? Everything ok?"

"Yeah," Darry answered, "Sorry if I'm bothering you outside of work. Just had to ask you something."

"Nah, you're not bothering me. I gave you my number, didn't I? I just walked in the door, actually. How's Ponyboy?"

"Well, he's pretty darn mad at me. But what else is new?" Darry sighed heavily, "Actually, that's why I'm calling. He asked me not to be in the room tomorrow during the lumbar puncture. I get it. He's mad at me and he doesn't want me there," he explained, sounding hurt, "But I need to know. What about you?"

Before Ron could answer, he continued, "It's not that I don't trust the doctor that's going to do the procedure. And Soda's gonna be there, too. But – I don't know – truthfully, I would just feel better knowing you were there, too. I trust you," he insisted.

"Sure Darry," Ron responded, "I was supposed to be there, anyway,"

"Oh yeah? Oh well good," Darry finished, breathing a sigh of relief.

"But are you sure you don't want to come anyway? I think Pony would be relieved to have you in the room, even if he doesn't say so."

"I'll be nearby," Darry answered, "But I don't want to be in the room if Pony doesnt' want me there. I don't want to make things worse."

"I highly doubt that will be the case," Ron replied, "Look Darry, you did the right thing. Ponyboy might not realize it now, but he will."

"Yeah, right," Darry sighed, sounding more like the 20-year old kid he was and less like a mature adult, "He's so angry at me. I guess we should have talked to him first, huh?"

"Yeah, I guess that was partly my fault, too," Ron replied. "Look, you're his big brother, Darry," Ron said, "You care about him – and he knows that. You're both navigating a tough situation and emotions are running high. Give him some space, but also let him know you're there when he's ready."

Darry let out a sigh, feeling conflicted, "We used to fight all the time and now things have been better between us. I don't want to complicate matters further, you know? I don't want to push him away. Having you and Soda there is enough for me if it means things will go smoothly."

"Sure," Ron answered, "I'll be there for the procedure, like I'm supposed to be. But if you change your mind and decide to come, I don't think it would hurt. Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. And Pony might not be in a place to ask for your presence right now – but deep down, he might need it."

"Yeah, maybe," Darry replied, still hesitant. "Thanks, Ron. I appreciate your advice. And thanks for showing up for us.I feel better knowing you're on our side."


The next morning, Ponyboy felt jittery.

That was the only way he could describe it. Soda had slept soundly on a separate pull-out bed near his brother, but Pony had tossed and turned all night. Darry was nowhere to be found.

He had kept his word and not shown up the rest of the night.

Ponyboy lay there in the dim light filtering through the window and stared at the ceiling tiles. His mind was a whirlwind and the anxiety was only growing stronger as the hour passed. He couldn't help but wonder where Darry was, even though he had told his older brother not to be around.

Despite the anger that had fueled his decision, a part of him had hoped that Darry might show up anyway – that he would defy Pony's wishes and offer his support. But as the room gradually brightened, Pony's restlessness increased. His hands fidgeted with the edge of the thin hospital blanket. He glanced at the clock. A nurse came in to take his blood pressure and temperature. Soda continued to sleep. Where was Darry? Why hadn't he shown up yet? The conflicted part of Pony felt a pang of disappointment, but another part of him but the other part of him continued to wish his brother would come.

Soon Soda stirred awake, blinking sleepily as he lifted his head and gazed over at his brother. Ponyboy was frowning.

"Hey there, kiddo. You sleep ok?" he asked, sitting up and stretching. "You got that spinal tap soon, right?"

How could he forget? Pony thought sarcastically. He was scared and anxious and in a bad mood.

"Not really," Pony answered honestly. He paused before figuring out what he wanted to ask, "Hey Soda, you seen Darry – maybe after I went to sleep?

Soda shook his head, suddenly understanding what this was about, "No, sorry Pone, I went to sleep right after you did. I haven't seen Darry all night."

Soda got up and wiped the drowsiness out of his eyes before he went over to his brother. "You feelin' ok, today, Pone?" Soda asked in concern.

"Yeah," Pony replied, but he looked away hurriedly and wouldn't look Soda in the eyes. Truth was, he felt like he was gonna bawl.

Soda tried to catch his gaze, "I can see things are still eatin' at ya. Am I right? Spill it, kid."

Pony didn't know what to say or if he should say it, but he couldn't hold back when Soda put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Easy, Ponyboy."

There were hot tears in his eyes threatening to fall and he brushed at them impatiently.

"I'm just a little spooked is all. I just want this to be over," he said. Soda nodded.

Pony closed his mouth like he was afraid to talk more or get overly emotional. But Soda persisted, knowing Ponyboy wanted to say more.

"What else?"

"Where's Darry?" Pony asked again, "I know I told him not to come but —" he didn't know what he wanted to say, "I didn't think he would listen. Darry never listens to me." He tried to smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"He probably went home. Or maybe he's at work. You want me to see if I can find him? I'll make some calls…"

More tears came and this time he couldn't stop them. He swiped at them and brushed them off with the back of his hand.

Soda leaned forward and spoke to him softly, like he always did. "Hey…hey Pone. Don't cry. Ain't no shame in feelin' a little spooked," he continued, "I know you and Darry butt heads sometimes, but that don't mean he don't care. He's probably at home pullin' his hair out right now."

"Like I said, I can go out and see if I can find him," Soda added.

"No," Pony said abruptly. He shuddered and shook his head, "You'll leave and they'll call me to do the lumbar puncture and no one will be here with me…"

Soda pulled him into a hug, trying to rub his back in those circles that always calmed him down. "You're not alone, honey. You got me here and I ain't going anywhere. I ain't Darry but… you'll be alright."

Pony's breathing began to slow, his anger giving way to heavy resignation. His gaze dropped to his lap. "I just..want to go home," he admitted, his voice tinged with fatigue. He swiped at those tears again so they would go away, "I'm tired of feelin' like crap all the time."

"We'll get through this, Pone," Soda said, acting more confident than he felt. "Just like we always do."

A nurse's entrance interrupted them and Pony quit crying.

"Hi Ponyboy," the nurse said. She introduced herself as Cheryl. "Everything ok, sweetheart?" she asked, seeing he looked a little sad.

"Yeah, I'm ok," Pony answered.

"Ok," she said, looking up at the IV pole, which he wasn't connected to at the moment. "You're scheduled for a lumbar puncture this morning," she informed them.

"Yeah, is it still happening?" Soda interjected.

"Yes," she said, "Dr. Reed wanted me to come and update you about it. The procedure will take place on this floor, in a private room. Someone will come and take you there. You won't even need to get out of bed, they'll just roll you right on in."

"You won't get a breakfast tray this morning," she continued, "The doctor doesn't want you eating before the procedure. If you want, I can bring you some water. We also want to set you up with an IV for about 20 minutes to get some fluids in. I can do that now."

"I need to go to the bathroom first," Pony said, and Soda helped him get out of bed so he could go.

"Is there anything else we can do before the procedure?" Soda asked the nurse, feeling the sense of responsibility he didn't care for. That was Darry's job.

"Just get him to relax," The nurse told him kindly, "He doesn't look very calm."

"Yeah, well, he's a little worried," he told her honestly.

"He shouldn't be. Lumbar punctures tend not to hurt," she told him.

"And he's had one before," Soda pointed out, "He just doesn't really remember it."

"Ah yes, that makes sense," she replied, "Bacterial meningitis."

When Pony came back out, he still looked a bit haunted. The nurse set him up with the IV in his arm and told Soda to press the call button when the bags were empty. A hospital worker would be in, in about 40 minutes to take him to the private room.

Twenty minutes passed and there was no sign of Darry. Ron hadn't been in, either, which was surprising to Soda because he thought he remembered the doctor telling him he would be there. Soda wondered if he should call him or at least call Two-Bit or Steve to see if they knew anything about Darry.

But he couldn't leave his brother, who looked like he was shaking worse than before.

As the minutes ticked by, unspoken questions lingered in the air. Soda wondered if Pony would bring up Darry again – if the concern was gnawing at him, too. He glanced over at his brother, who seemed lost in his thoughts, his fingers fidgeting slightly. Soda's own apprehension deepened, torn between wanting to support Pony and his growing curiosity about Darry's whereabouts.

He wished he could make things better, offer reassurances that would calm his brother's nerves. But all he could do was wait and hope that somehow they would find a way to fix this situation. In the meantime, they had a lumbar puncture to get through.

Pony shifted on the bed, his gaze fixed on the IV pole. The quiet in the room seemed to amplify the thoughts swirling in his brain. Finally, he couldn't hold back any longer and the words spilled out like a cracked dam releasing pent-up water.

"Soda…do you think Darry's really not coming?" Pony asked, his voice timid and with regret.

Soda's heart ached for his poor brother. He was angry with Darry and frustrated at the circumstances. He took a deep breath before responding, choosing his words carefully. "Pone, you know how stubborn Darry can be, right? I think he's trying to give you some space, even if it hurts him. He's probably worried he'll make things worse."

Pony sighed, feeling incredibly guilty. "I didn't really mean for him to stay away. I don't know why I said that," he said, the tears threatening to spill again, "I just…wanted him to respect my decision."

Soda reached out and gave Pony's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I get it, kiddo. And I think Darry does too. He's doing just that. Just giving you some time to sort through things and he'll be back afterwards. You know he cares about you, right? Everything he's done for you so far…"

"He sure ain't showing it now," Pony looked down at his hands.

"Sometimes showing it means taking a step back, even when all you want is for him to be right there," Soda responded.

"I wish he was here," Pony said. But then he looked up at Soda, who looked so concerned about his well-being that it made him feel better. He managed a small smile, "I'm glad you are, at least," he told his brother.

Soda's eyes softened, "Yea, me too," he replied in relief.

Eventually, the hospital workers came to push him to another room. Soda flanked him on one side, making sure to take Pony's hand for support as he was rolled down the hall to the private room.

When they brought him in, Ron was waiting there, inspecting a tray of instruments. And then Pony's heart skipped a beat. After the hospital workers positioned the bed and left, he had to sit up, his eyes widening as he saw the familiar face.

His older brother looked tired, with dark circles under his eyes and a weary expression. But there was something else. They looked worried – soft. And they weren't cold.

Pony's voice quivered, "Darry?" he questioned.

Darry's gaze locked on his little brother. "Hey, kid," he replied.

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