(Soda's POV)

"He's still fighting, Soda. He's still here."

Darry's words were comforting, but I would have felt a whole lot better if my baby brother would just wake up. Two weeks in a coma should be enough time for someone to heal, right?

A few minutes later, Dr. Wilson came into the room, just like he did almost every day when Darry and I were there. "Hello gentlemen, nice to see you again," Dr. Wilson said in a voice that I'm sure was supposed to sound happy, but something about his expression made it seem like he was trying too hard to be optimistic.

"Hello Dr. Wilson," Darry said politely, while I just nodded my greeting. I was too tired and worried to talk to strangers more than I had to, even though Dr. Wilson was barely a stranger anymore with how many times I've seen him. "Any update for us?"

The doctor's smile disappeared, and I knew I was right about him not actually being in a positive mood, which only meant things weren't looking good.

"I'm sorry, but nothing has changed in regards to your brother's condition," Dr. Wilson said. "Unfortunately, the longer he is in a coma without progressing in the right direction, his prognosis gets worse."

I'm not as smart as my brothers, but even I knew what the doctor meant even without him saying the exact words. "So you don't think Pony's gonna make it?" I finally said after a few seconds of silence. Once the words were out in the universe, I got even more worried and angry. "You're tellin' us that you think he's gonna… that he doesn't have much time left?"

"We haven't seen much progress from Ponyboy," Dr. Wilson said calmly, like I wasn't about to start yelling at him. "I just want to prepare you-"

"Prepare us for what?" I spat.

"Cool it, Soda," Darry said harshly, even though I saw the same fear in his eyes as he scolded me.

"Son, I know it's hard to hear, but I want you to mentally prepared yourself for the worst," Dr. Wilson finally said. His eyes looked like he really was apologetic, but I was still angry with him for what he was saying.

I realized I was shaking my head at him. "No. No, that ain't gonna happen." My body was trembling as I tried my hardest to not believe what the doctor was saying.

"Pony's a fighter," Darry said confidently. He was looking at me when he said it, then he looked back at Dr. Wilson. Even though he was talking and acting tough, I could see the tears and fear in his eyes. His emotions were threatening to take over. "Let's talk in the hall."

Dr. Wilson nodded, and Darry followed the doctor into the hallway, probably to talk about important things without me, and I was alone with my comatose little brother.

I silently sat next to Ponyboy, holding his hand like my life depended on it. I heard voices from the hall, Darry's likely being the louder one. What are they talking about? More reasons why the doctor doesn't think that Pony'll make it? I looked down at my baby brother's closed eyes. What would I do if Pony was… gone?

"I really wish you'd open your eyes honey," I said, trying not to choke of my sobs.

Moments later, Darry came back into the room, eyes red and watery, but no tears falling on his cheeks. He sat on the other side of Pony's bed and put his hand on the side of Pony's face, his thumb stroking the new scar on Pony's face.

"You keep fighting, little buddy." Darry said quietly. "You hear?"

We sat in silence for a short while before I gathered the courage to speak. "What did he say, Dar?"

Darry closed his eyes and shook his head. He didn't want to tell me, and I wasn't sure I wanted to hear it, but I couldn't let him deal with the burden alone.

"Come on, Darry." I pleaded. "Don't hold it in. Tell me."

Darry finally looked at me, tears starting to fall. "He wanted to know what our plans were if the worst happens… wanted to know if we wanted someone to give Pony his last rites."

I remained silent, but my eyes were asking the question for me. What did you say?

Darry looked back at Pony and moved a strand of his hair. "I told him our brother's tough and he'd pull through."

I nodded, hoping that Darry was right, but I couldn't force anymore words out of my mouth.

Darry and I sat silently for a while before things started changing. When I was looking at Pony's eyelids, I thought I saw movement, but then I quickly decided I was so tired that I was hallucinating. However, it must've really happened because Darry spoke up right away.

"Did you see that, Soda?" Darry asked in an excited whisper. "His eyes were moving like he's dreaming."

So it was real? My heart was pounding in my chest. Could Ponyboy really be waking up?

After a moment, my heart dropped into my stomach. What if he's having another seizure? Glory, I can't see another one… I just can't.

I continued to hold Pony's hand as I spoke to him, hoping he was finally waking up rather than seizing. "Pony? Can you hear me?"

Again, his eyes moved behind his eyelids. He heard me!

"Pone, wake up kiddo," Darry begged as he ruffled Pony's hair.

His eyes started fluttering, and after an eternity, I watched Pony's grey-green eyes open.


(Ponyboy's POV)

I blinked a couple times, and the features of my brothers' faces became clearer. They both looked exhausted, and their watery, red-rimmed eyes immediately made me concerned. What happened to them?

"Pony?" Soda asked tentatively. He gave my hand a light squeeze, as if to make sure I was really there and he wasn't dreaming. I can relate to that.

I was about to respond, but my throat was dry, and there was something strange covering my mouth and nose. I raised my free hand to move the device, but Darry grabbed my hand and covered it with his large, calloused hands.

"Listen kiddo, you have to leave that on," Darry said slowly and carefully. "You're in the hospital. You're hurt, and that's helping you breathe."

Being hurt made sense with all the aching my body was doing. I blinked slowly and nodded, hoping he knew that I understood.

Soda sniffled, then he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around me. He was crying so hard, he was shaking. "It's so good to see you awake, Pony."

I felt weak, but I managed to gingerly put my arms around him. As Soda cried into my chest, I looked at Darry, who was still smiling with watery eyes.

"How are you feeling kiddo?" Darry asked as he cupped the back of my neck with his strong hand.

His question and concern seemed oddly familiar, and it took me a few seconds to register in my mind that I had to respond to him. "Tired. Sore."

Soda tightened his grip around me, making me wince. Darry must've noticed because he put his hand on Soda's shoulder. "Come on, little buddy, you have to let Ponyboy breathe." I heard Soda take a breath before he slowly peeled away from me.

He rubbed his eyes and cheeks, probably trying to hide his tears, and when he stopped, Soda looked at me. "Gosh Pony, I… I'm so glad you're awake."

"Me too," I said simply. That earned a chuckle from both of my brothers.

With whatever was left of my strength, I tried to sit up in the hospital bed, but I wasn't strong enough. Lucky for me, my brothers were more than capable of helping me. A minute later, I was in a position somewhere between sitting and lying down and I was able to look at my surroundings. I was hooked up to a bunch of machines and the light coming through the window told me it was daytime, which didn't make sense. What time is it? Why are Darry and Soda not at work?

"You okay, Pone?" Darry asked tentatively.

I looked at him, noticing the lines on his skin and the bags under his eyes looked worse from the different angle. "Don't you have work?"

Darry looked at me like I had lost my mind, which to be fair, was a possibility. I don't know what's going on. Maybe they told me they had today off… but what day is today?

"We wanted to be here with you," Soda said, diverting my attention from Darry. I knew Soda so well that I could tell he was trying to hide something. He wasn't the best at hiding things.

"What's goin' on?" I asked.

My brothers exchanged a look, then Darry leaned closer and put his hand on my shoulder, calming me down. I didn't realize I was breathing heavy until then. "What do you remember, kiddo?"

I felt my brows furrow as I tried to think. What happened to make me feel so lousy? Then I remembered. Curly, the Socs, getting the tar beaten out of me. But I thought I got better. I was already in the hospital, wasn't I? The guys all showed up, and I was getting better, so what happened? My brothers stayed quiet while my mind was racing, and I was glad. I needed silence to figure out what I was missing. Ed… something happened with that Soc. Curly took money, and Ed was looking for it. He came into the room, and he had that blade-

"Ponyboy," Soda's voice broke through, making me blink and focus on him. "Breathe, honey. We're right here. You're safe."

Apparently I had been hyperventilating, but Soda's reminder helped me regain my composure. "That Soc… wanted money. Came with a blade."

Soda nodded, his eyes looking sad. "That's right. Darry and I went to take care of the Socs that put you in here, and that Ed guy came in here."

I moved my fingers to my neck, still feeling the ghost of the blade cutting through my skin. "Yeah… I remember."

"Look Pone," Darry started, forcing my attention to return to him. He looked real upset. "I'm sorry, kiddo. When that Soc was in here and I saw him pinning you down with that knife, I pummeled him right away. I should've checked on you first."

I was confused why he was apologizing. "It's fine, Dar. Ain't like you hurt me."

Darry shook his head, tears falling from his eyes again. "No Pone, it's not fine. I should've… if I would've…" he trailed off before taking a breath to steady himself. "You were in rough shape, and I dealt with the Soc instead of taking care of you."

I remembered the low, angry voice yelling at the Soc that pinned me to the bed before he was pulled off of me, and I suddenly realized it was Darry would had saved me before I passed out. "You did, Darry… you got him away from me."

Darry shook his head, and his tears kept falling. It was unsettling seeing my big brother cry. Darry never cried, not even when our parents died, so I knew something was really upsetting him, and I couldn't help but think it was my fault.

"If I would've… if he would've…" again, Darry was at a loss of words. He looked me over, like he was checking for injuries. "Gosh Ponyboy, you scared me to death."

I gave him a look. I scared you? You're never scared… you're Darry! "Why?"

Darry and Soda exchanged a look, then Darry spoke calmly. "You've been in a coma for two weeks, Pone."

It felt like time froze. I must've heard that wrong. I couldn't have slept for more than ten hours, tops! "What? No, that can't…" I trailed off, but my head kept shaking from side to side.

"It's true, Pony," Soda said, drawing my attention to him once again. He suddenly seemed paler than before. "That Soc did a number on ya. You had another seizure and they ran you outta the room for emergency surgery. You haven't woken up since."

It was a lot of information all at once, especially after waking up from what I assumed was one night's rest, but was apparently two weeks of unconsciousness.

I must've been frozen for a long time, because Soda squeezed my hand and rubbed his hand up and down my arm in a comforting fashion. "Honey? You alright?"

"Yeah, I uh… I just wasn't expecting that," I responded.

Darry ruffled my hair and gave me a small grin. "I know that's a lot of information, Pone. But you're awake now, and that's all that matters."

I tried to smile at him, but the anxiety I was feeling, along with the mask covering half of my face, prevented it. Two weeks. I've been in a coma for two weeks! I knew my brothers were talking to me, but I couldn't hear what they were saying over the internal monologue going through my head. What's been going on while I was out? Have my brothers been stressed and exhausted the entire time? And what happened with that Soc? Is he gonna keep coming after me?

"Ponyboy," Soda's voice cut through my thoughts. "Calm down, baby. Everything's going to be alright."

I blinked a few times and tried to slow my breathing. Once my breathing and heartrate returned to normal, I dared to voice my concerns. "What about that Soc? Is he gonna come back?"

"He's taken care of," Darry said calmly. His expression was unreadable, and that made me nervous. "He won't be coming after you. If he does, or any of his friends, they'll regret it."

I felt my eyes widen. "Darry, you didn't… what does that mean?"

Soda gave me a wild grin, and it didn't make my nerves go away at all. "Darry was told by a certain hood that the Soc was taken care of. We both believe our friend, and we're not askin' any more questions."

It didn't take a genius to know Soda was talking about Tim Shepard. Not many other greasers had the kind of power to "take care" of someone and make us not want to know more than that. I just nodded, taking a cue from my brothers and not asking any more questions. If they think Ed won't be a problem, and Tim Shepard was involved, I believe them.

For the next couple hours, I dozed off and on, the doctor came in to discuss my injuries, and my brothers never left my side. I knew they were elated that I was awake and seemingly coherent during conversations, and my doctor seemed excited by my condition as well.

I had fallen asleep again after Dr. Wilson left, but I was woken up by a loud, boisterous voice. "He woke up?!"

"Hush up, Two-Bit." Steve said. "Can't you tell he's sleeping?"

"Not anymore," I muttered, before I opened my eyes. It was darker in the room, but my view wasn't as obstructed as before since the oxygen mask was replaced with a smaller tube under my nose, so I could see the guys just fine. They both looked surprised and happy.

"Glory, kid. It's about time," Two-Bit said, not at all quieter than before. He quickly moved in front of Darry so he could stand right next to me. "You've had us worried, Sleeping Beauty."

"Sorry," I offered, although I wasn't sure how sorry I was for something I had no control over. Then again, I shouldn't have gotten in the car with Curly Shepard in the first place.

"Nah, don't be sorry, Ponyboy. Just don't do it again, alright?" Two-Bit suggested.

I chuckled a bit, making my ribcage ache. "I'll do my best."

As Two-Bit laughed at that, Steve put his hand on my shoulder and looked at me carefully. "You doin' alright?"

It still felt strange to have Steve care about me and my wellbeing, but we had gotten closer since Johnny and Dally died, so it wasn't as strange as it would've been if he asked me that a year or two before. "Yeah, I'm okay."

He squeezed my shoulder, then retracted his hand. "Good, because I can't keep working Soda's shifts so he can just watch you sleep. I need a day off once in a while, you dig?"

I could practically feel Darry and Two-Bit give Steve glares, and even Soda didn't look happy about Steve's comment, but he and I had an understanding, so I couldn't help but laugh. "Sorry to inconvenience you, Steve."

Steve smirked at that. "You're alright, kid."

For rest of the night, the guys all hung out in my hospital room, taking turns talking with me, glancing at me with a concerned expression, and my brothers nodded off for a few minutes at a time before waking up and asking how I was doing. I knew they must've been short on sleep during the duration of my hospital stay, but they didn't say anything about it, and I knew they wouldn't want me to either. Eventually, my eyelids got heavy again and I couldn't force myself to keep them open anymore. I felt a hand on my head, running fingers through my hair.

"Get some sleep, Ponyboy."

I didn't even argue with whoever said that to me. I just nodded slightly and fell asleep.


Thank you to all who have read so far! As usual, this story ended up longer than expected (whoops) but there is just one chapter left!