AAAA OKAY OKAY YALL SOOOO I HAVE THE LAST CHAPTER OF THIS FIC DONE! Soooo technically I'll just be posting this fic everyday until the last chapter! I have a whole message at the end of it and all that yucky stuff lmao. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER!!!

The doctor left Steve in the garden. The cold air nipped at Steve, reminding him that he had been out longer than he intended. Part of him didn't want to go back inside. He didn't want to face the fact that the youngest Curtis was fighting for his life. Just with that thought, he found himself reaching for another cigarette.

As Steve lit the cigarette, he heard the distant sound of a train horn. He cringed at the sound, a sick nauseous feeling rising in his stomach. With that, he put his cigarette down, left nearly unsmoked. Even though he hated it, he knew that he wanted to be there for Sodapop, he convinced himself. Just be there for Sodapop, dont think about the kid, Steve told himself as he got up.

When he walked into the hospital room, it was just like when he had left. Sodapop was still in his spot, holding Ponyboy's hand. The sight still hurt Steve no matter how much he saw it…

"Hey Steve," Sodapop greeted. His eyes stayed trained on Ponyboy as if he was going to wake up randomly and start talking. I'd hope so, Steve thought as he sat down next to Sodapop. But, low and behold, Ponyboy's eyes stayed shut, as his breathing stayed robotic.

Johnny and Dally came in not too long after. Steve noticed how Johnny seemed to be sadder, while Dally looked to be struggling to keep his emotions in check. It isn't supposed to be like this, Steve thought, glory… it should never be like this.

Once again they sat in silence, other than for the sounds the machines would make. Dally looked at the time before getting up. Johnny followed, a concerned look in his eyes. "I gotta go down to Bucks, tell 'im I can't ride tonight," Dally said. Sodapop shook his head, his eyes still trained on the youngest member of the gang.

"Go Dallas, it'd be better than being held up here," Sodapop said. His voice broke on the last word, but, they could all see what he meant. Steve nodded slightly, looking at Johnny. "Ya can go too, Johnny. I'm sure Ponyboy won't mind," Steve added.

After a moment, Johnny nodded and left with Dally. Once again, Steve and Sodapop sat in silence. Steve didn't dare to tell Sodapop about what the doctor had said about Ponyboy. "He's a fighter," the words rang out in Steve's mind. What if the doctor was wrong? What would the gang do?

What would Sodapop do?

~

If Ponyboy could explain what he felt, all he'd be able to say is- pain. He could feel an ache in his head, like a small scratch. At first, after the crash, he'd wanted to itch it. However, he found it weird that he couldn't move his arm.

Then he found it weird how he couldn't move anything. At first, he panicked, thinking that he was dead. His head swam with the thoughts, telling him that he was dead. If I was dead, he thought, then where are Mom and Dad?

His breathing got caught in his chest and suddenly it was like he couldn't breathe. Where was his parents? But just as he felt like he truly was going to die, he felt his breathing return to normal. Spikes of pain still shot up in his body, but he could distinctly feel as a tube entered his nose.

He wanted to sneeze but found that he couldn't. The world was black as if he was sleeping- but- something told him that he wasn't. Actually, he noticed, everyone told him that he wasn't sleeping. Instead, they told him to be strong, with some more encouraging words.

He could hear them, Ponyboy noticed. But- he also noticed that he couldn't answer them back. If he tried, he would feel worse and worse. Almost as if he had a fever…

He tried to answer them back with hand squeezes. He found that it was hard, but one of the easiest things for him to do. Even if it did take half of his energy. When it did, he found it easier to go back to sleep, or at least, the weird limbo he was in.

At times he would listen to the outside but found that it was just beeping. Am I in the hospital? Ponyboy asked himself. When it was clear that he was, he held onto the hope that his parents were there too. After what felt like hours of just beeping, he would start to think about everything. It was easier than listening for anyone to start talking to him, even if it meant that he would miss some words said to him.

Mom is probably waiting for me, Ponyboy thought. Dad too. But, something seemed to tell him that they weren't. At least, not for a long time. The thought hurt Ponyboy for a moment, why wouldn't they want their son? Unless-

"Think the kids dreaming 'bout smokin'?" Ponyboy listened, being able to get out of his thoughts. No, he thought, I ain't even dreaming right now. "Ya know I thought he would be dreamin' 'bout a sunset or somethin' like that." It was Sodapops voice this time. Even Ponyboy laughed to himself for a moment. A sunset would be better than this limbo.

"Maybe he's dreamin' 'bout that one movie or somethin'." Dally? Ponyboy thought his eyebrows trying to furrow a bit. His mind was hazy and all he could tell was a small memory of who was talking. Yet, he couldn't paint a face on them. But he especially couldn't paint a face on the movie that Dallas was talking about.

"Gone With the Wind?" Johnny's voice said. Ponyboy smiled a bit, feeling as if there was something on his face stopping him from doing so. Were they right there with him? Were all of them? He strained his ears for Darry, but couldn't hear him.

Then he was lost in his thoughts again, the only thing bringing him back was Steves voice. "Kid… they told us to keep talking to you. Glory, I hope you can't hear me, especially with what I'm gonna say." Ponyboy thought to laugh but found that it didn't make any sound. He could hear them, but, he wasn't sure if he wanted to listen to Steve.

"You gotta keep on living kid. You're gonna hate it, I know, but, damn it! Ya even got Two-Bit all messed up. Sodapop never leaves this place all because ya can't open your eyes!" A pang of guilt hit Ponyboy, had Sodapop stayed with him? Why didn't he stay with mom and dad? Wouldn't that be easier?

"I don't hate you kid, but if you do all this and don't wake up…" Ponyboy listened, thinking about Steve. He didn't hate him? But- that felt impossible to Ponyboy. All their bickering must've had a reason- right?

"I'm useless right now kid… if you don't wake up, I'm not sure if Soda will take it. If the gang with be able to take it- if I can take it." Unsure of what else to do, Ponyboy tightened his hand around Steve's. It was meant to be a comforting gesture, especially because of how Ponyboy wasn't able to speak. Ponyboy's grip faltered and he felt as if his consciousness was slipping but, Steve kept talking.

"C'mon kid… you're tough, you got this." Steve chucked, tears running down his face as he wiped them away. "If you die on us we ain't gonna forgive ya." Using the rest of his energy, Ponyboy tightened his fingers.

"Kid? You gonna wake up?" Steve's voice sounded shocked but excited. Ponyboy wanted to retort, to show Steve that he was okay.

But once again, Ponyboy felt as if he was sleeping.

THANK YOU FOR READING!!!

I hope you enjoyed!!! Some of these final chapters might be a bit off and I think it's because I got out of a writing slump. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if my whole writing style changed tbh. Still, thank you for reading! And y'all please I'll try to finish my other fic (The Calm Before the Storm) 4-5k words per chapter is starting to sound like a bad idea ,).