Darry watched as Ponyboy's face clouded in confusion. The memory loss was like fog wrapping itself around him.

He looked up at his older brother for help. For once Darry's eyes weren't ice. But his grip on Pony's shoulder tightened, "Hey, don't worry about it. You'll get there, Pony. Your memory will come back. Just focus on getting better and we'll figure out the rest out later."

Pony's lips formed a tight line. "I remember it being an important book," he told Darry, thrusting his chin forward, "Something that made me think."

As Pony tried to piece together more fragments, Darry decided to take a different approach. "Maybe it would help if you tried to take a break from remembering for now," he suggested, "It will come back to you – maybe when you least expect it.

"Or I can read it to you like I said I would," he added, "Maybe that'll jog something."

Pony liked that idea.


The next day, Soda was the one to send Pony off to his physical therapy appointment with Claire and Darry was back from work just in time for their kid brother's return. Darry and Soda were sitting near the bed, joking around when a sound at the door caught their attention and they turned to see Pony in his wheelchair, with Claire behind him.

"Hey Pony, look who's here!" she announced cheerfully, "Both of your brothers."

Pony had told her downstairs that Soda was waiting for him, but Darry was probably still at work.

A smile spread across Pony's face, "Darry, I didn't know you'd be back already," he said.

"Looks like I got here just in time," Darry said, studying his little brother. He knew darn well that Pony was usually brought back by a hospital worker, not the physical therapist herself. So naturally, some worry crept into his mind.

"Good to have you back, Pone," Soda said with an infectious grin, as he patted the empty space on the bed next to him.

Pony rolled his eyes, "You guys act like I've been gone for years!" he teased.

A nurse suddenly came up and put something next to Claire. Darry and Soda couldn't really see what it was.

Claire spoke up, "Alright, boys, I brought Pony up today because I wanted to update you on his progress and also because we have a surprise for you. Pony, you ready?" she asked excitedly.

Claire pulled around an aluminum walker with four legs and rubber tips at the bottom.

"Yeah," Pony replied, trying to hide the uncertainty in his voice.

Darry got up out of his chair, his eyes fixed on his little brother and ready to help if needed.

Claire helped Ponyboy stand up from the wheelchair, offering a steadying hand. Taking a deep breath, Pony gripped the handles of the walker that was at his waist, and placed one foot in front of the other. Each step was a struggle, and he had to concentrate on maintaining his balance on wobbly legs. The steps felt awkward and uncoordinated, but he had done it before in the room with the help of his brothers. His legs felt shaky, but he pushed through, remembering what Claire had told him during their earlier therapy session.

As he moved forward painfully slow, he looked up to see his brothers' faces light up, their eyes brimming with pride. The astonished looks were undeniable.

"Wow, Pony, you're doing great!" Soda cheered as his brother made his way to the bed. The excitement was evident in his voice.

Claire kept her hands close, ready to catch Pony if he faltered, but she was also cheering him on. Pony's determination was clear, but he also had to fight through the fatigue. More than halfway through, his legs trembled and he had to pause, but he wasn't going to give up.

Eventually he walked straight up to Sodapop, who grabbed him, pushing the walker to the side. Without a moment's hesitation, he wrapped his arms around his brother with glee, pulling him into a warm embrace. Pony was relieved, and the feeling of Soda's arms around him gave him a surge of strength. It was a heartwarming moment to watch.

"You did it, Pone! We knew you could," Soda said happily.

Darry's heart swelled with pride. He tried to hide his emotions, as he always did, but the beaming smile was impossible to contain.

"You did it!" he echoed Soda from the other side of the bed and Pony, still in Soda's embrace, stretched out his arm and grabbed Darry's hand, squeezing his fingers in triumph and gratitude.

He was happy, but physically drained. Soda helped ease his brother down on the edge of the hospital bed as Claire came up and Darry came around.

"Ponyboy, you're a natural!" Claire praised, leaning forward and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"See, that wasn't so hard was it?" she beamed.

"Harder than it looks," Pony exhaled, offering a weak smile.

"You've come really far, little buddy," Darry said wistfully, remembering that just a few days earlier his kid brother had been teetering between life and death.

"We've been practicing," Claire said with a wink, "It's all part of the plan. You guys can come down to the physical therapy area and watch sometime," she said,knowing it would give Pony a tremendous boost to have the presence of his brothers there during a session.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Soda said smoothly.

Pony's eyes shined like a triumphant soldier who had just completed the most grueling boot camp.

"How are you now, Ponyboy?" Claire asked, snapping him out of his daze. He took a deep breath and turned his attention back to his physical therapist

"I feel alright," he said. In reality, he still felt weak and tired, but the rush was still there. .

"Good!" she exclaimed, "Well, you rest up.. I'm gonna go update the doctors. You've made incredible progress today and I know you'll keep pushing forward," she encouraged.

Pony nodded and Claire left.

"Well I'll be darned," Soda said in a mix of surprise and joy. "What other secrets are you keeping from us, Pone?" his eyes sparkled as he teased his little brother.

Darry beamed with pride, "I'll tell ya, I'm real glad I came back in time," he said.


Darry struggled to stay awake in the uncomfortable plastic chair he was sitting in at the side of Pony's hospital bed. Meanwhile, Soda sat cross-legged on Pony's on the bed, across from his worn-out brother, cracking jokes and attempting to entice him with what looked like Jell-O from dinner, when Ron entered the room.

"Hey guys," he said warmly, "How are you?" Soda turned around and Darry sat up straighter, trying to wake himself up.

It was close to 6pm and doctors' rounds were usually in the morning but Ron was clad in his lab coat, which indicated that he was either finishing his shift or conducting his own rounds.

"Pony, I saw Claire. She tells me you're making really great progress. You walked a lot today, huh?"

"I don't know about a lot but —"

"Aw c'mon! He walked all the way from the door to the bed without help," Soda beamed at the doctor with pride.

"I had a walker —" Pony said, downplaying the achievement.

"Give yourself a little credit, kid," Darry chimed in, also proud, "It's something."

Ron nodded, with a smile. "It does sound like that," he agreed, "Good to hear." He looked over at the oldest Curtis. "Darry, can I have a word with you in my office?"

"Uh yeah," Darry said, shaking off his drowsiness and getting out of the chair.

"Free coffee," he added with a wink, when he saw the worried looks on the boys' faces, "We just need to discuss a few things," Ron added, trying to appease their concern.

"Is it like more paperwork or something like that?" Soda asked, eyeing Pony's troubled gaze.

"Something like that," Ron replied.

"Sure, let's talk," Darry said.

Soda looked back and saw that Pony was still anxious. He put a hand on his shoulder, "Hey Pony, don't stress. I'm sure it's just regular doctor stuff," he joked, "Right, Doc?" He looked to Ron for reassurance.

Ron nodded, appreciating Soda's effort to ease his brother's tension. "Exactly, Soda. Darry will come back and update you guys anyway."

"Sure thing," Soda answered and Darry followed Ron out the door.

Pony looked at his brother. "You don't think I should be worried, right, Soda?"

Soda cocked an eyebrow. "Worried, why? You're getting better, ain't ya?"

"I don't know – doctors just make me nervous," Pony said, feeling anxious.

"Yeah, but Ron is more than a doctor. He's a friend now. He wouldn't lie to us. He's helped us a lot. He was really helpful in answering our questions while you were in surgery – and he updated us when your heart rate was going down – " Soda stopped and swallowed hard. He had said too much and he didn't want to make Pony even more worried.

Ponyboy frowned, looking uneasy. "Yeah, what all happened to me?" he asked.

Soda didn't exactly want to relive the whole thing but he wanted to keep Pony occupied so he wouldn't think about what Ron was telling Darry. Plus, it wasn't right to keep his brother in the dark even though he wished he could shield him from all the scary stuff out there in the world.

"You wanna hear all the gory details?" Soda teased, "I mean, it's some top-secret brain surgery stuff, you know?"

"Hilarious, Soda," Pony said in amusement, "You're so hilarious."

Soda grabbed Pony's arm instead of punching it like he usually did. His eyes softened with affection as he looked at his baby brother, on his way back to health.

"It was scary," Soda began, "It was really scary. I don't know if I want to relive it. But if you want to know the story…"


Darry and Ron made a quick stop in the faculty kitchen, by the nurse's station, to grab fresh coffee from the pot. One of the nurses had just brewed a new batch for the doctors and nurses on the floor and it was better than the usual coffee Darry had to make himself in the kitchen reserved for patients' families.

"So Ponyboy seems to be doing a lot better," Ron started.

"I think so," Darry added, "He has those headaches – but he's definitely not as sick as he was in the beginning. You tell me," he grinned.

"No, definitely not," Ron returned the smile.

"Should I be worried?" Darry asked as they walked to Ron's office, coffee cups in hand.

"Not particularly," Ron said matter-of-factly as they entered his office and he pulled out Pony's file. He told Darry to take a seat as he sat behind the desk.

"Any other unusual things you've noticed lately?" Ron asked. Darry proceeded to tell him the situation that occurred yesterday with The Fountainhead, where Pony had forgotten what happened in a book he had read not that long ago.

"The Fountainhead," Ron scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I think I was forced to read that book in high school," he said, trying to ease the tension, "Don't ask me what it was about," he joked, "Pony already read it? That's some noggin' he got there."

"Yeah, some noggin' I'd like to protect," Darry replied, his mouth forming a tight line.

"We will," Ron replied, surprisingly confident. "So," he started, "By all accounts Ponyboy is healing nicely. I know that he has headaches and back aches sometimes, but his vitals are getting back to normal. He's more mobile than he was even two days ago – and he's eating right? I think Soda's making sure of that."

"Yes, definitely making sure," Darry replied, with a smile.

"I know you're a friend now, Darry," Ron said, getting serious, "But I'm going to speak to you frankly, as a doctor to a guardian," he said confidently.

Darry nodded, the smile slipping from his face, "Sure, give it to me straight, Ron," he replied.

"As far as I can see, the worst is behind us and Ponyboy should be discharged soon," Ron explained, maintaining his reassuring tone, "But bacterial meningitis is really a serious life-threatening condition and sometimes it can be hard to know if the entire infection is gone."

Darry swallowed hard, knowing something not so good was coming.

"I know you guys have been at the hospital for a while now and it's not easy with the medical bills and work and going about your lives but we want to be absolutely 100% sure that Pony is ready to go home before we send him," he said, looking at Darry hard. "He went into septic shock – it's been serious," Darry nodded, "He will likely need to continue his treatment from home, including oral antibiotics and physical therapy. The primary objective is to make sure he won't require any further antibiotics and that his post-surgery scar is healing, which will allow him to continue the recovery without intravenous methods."

"Right," Darry responded, "I get it. So what do we have to do to get him out of here?"

"We're going to have to do a whole round of tests to make sure the infection is gone or at the very least producing numbers low enough that it's not going to affect him. Unfortunately, one of those tests is a second lumbar puncture."

Darry's jaw clenched as he listened to Ron's explanation. Unfortunately, the only way to be able to check for signs of continuing infection and inflammation – and that it was leaving his brother's body – was to take more samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the spinal canal. It wasn't supposed to hurt, but it was invasive. It could also cause more after effects like painful headaches and backaches hours or days later. And unlike the first time, where Pony wasn't really cognizant of what was going on, he would be of sound mind and body, which meant that it could be distressing.

But it was the only way, Ron said. It would be dangerous to release Ponyboy too soon.

Darry felt anger and frustration well up inside him. It wasn't directed at Ron, but at the unfairness of the situation. He couldn't help but feel guilty for putting Pony through another unpleasant experience, even if it was for his health.

"Another spinal tap…"Darry muttered, his voice tinged with irritation. "I hate the idea. He's been through so much already," Ron nodded in agreement, "But we have to make sure he's on the mend right?" he spit out, shaking his head in disbelief.

Ron understood, recognizing the conflict in Darry's emotions. "I get how tough this is for you, Darrel. It's never easy to see a loved one go through a challenging medical procedure, especially after everything Ponyboy has been through. And you're not even his parent –"

"Yea, but I am the guardian," Darry finished for him immediately.

"This second lumbar puncture is crucial to ensure he is recovering the way he is supposed to," Ron said, "We need to know."

Darry took a deep breath, trying to steady the upheaval he felt, "I know, I know. It's just hard. We're doing our best to keep up with everything and be there for him –" the words came tumbling out, "But with all the medical bills piling up and my two jobs not being enough, I can't help but worry about how we'll manage it all. We want him home, but we also want him to be out of the danger zone."

"It's understandable to feel overwhelmed," Ron empathized, "Medical expenses are challenging but right now, let's focus on Pony's health. Our priority is to ensure he gets the care he needs without compromising his recovery. We'll explore available options and resources to help with the bills later. The hospital will help.

Help how? Darry thought. With a payment plan? Dividing those bills in half wouldn't do much if there was no money to pay them with.

"Yeah, I know they got good people," Darry replied, "But bills don't disappear with just good intentions, you know?"

Ron smiled awkwardly.

Darry clenched his fists, trying to keep his emotions in check. "I hate that we're in this position. Pony's been through enough already."

"You're doing a great job taking care of your brother," Ron said reassuringly, "I want you to know that we'll do everything we can to make this process as comfortable as possible for Ponyboy. We'll administer the tests with care and preci–"

"Tests?" Darry gaped.

Ron stopped short, then continued, "Yes, we're going to have to do a few tests," he explained, "The lumbar puncture is the most vital one because we need to do thorough cultures of those CSF samples to make sure the infection is going away and Pony is healing as he should. But we also need a complete blood count, some regular neurological assessments, and possibly a chest x-ray. The bacterial meningitis strain he has is caused by the same bacteria that causes pneumonia so we'll need to check for respiratory complications."

"How long is this all going to take?" Darry asked.

Ron paused, as he contemplated the question. "I'm gonna see if we can get it done in two days. The lumbar puncture will be first because it takes the longest for the results to come back. I also don't want Ponyboy to be overwhelmed by test after test. He needs to rest, especially after the lumbar puncture.I can't promise anything – but if all goes well and Ponyboy's infection is under control, we'll be able to send him home with the necessary medications to continue his recovery before the end of the week."

"Will we get to be in the room with him during the lumbar puncture?" he asked, knowing Ponyboy could use the support.

"I'll see to it that we make that happen," Ron replied affirmatively.

Darry sighed. That's all he wanted. But then he grimaced thinking about what came next. "Lucky me. Now I get to go back and break the happy news to Pony and Soda. That'll be fun," he quipped.


"Alright, I'll tell ya," Soda, sitting on the edge of the bed next to his brother, "Just promise you won't get down about it, alright?" Soda said with a playful grin, knowing full well he was the dramatic one. He was just trying to lighten the mood.

Ponyboy chuckled weakly, wincing slightly at the soreness in his back, "Hey, I'm not a kid anymore, you know. I can handle it."

"Sure you can," Soda nodded, his smile fading a bit as he remembered the events.

"You remember the ER?" Soda asked, "There was a doctor and a bunch of nurses and Ron came…"

Ponyboy scrunched his face trying to remember – it was like fog wrapping around his head.

"I remember parts of it," Pony said, "It was all a blur. I'd wake up and there would be faces looking down at me and then I'd close my eyes and I'd feel — somethin' sharp like a needle — and I'd wake up and new people would be there. My face was hot – like I had stuck it in an oven or somethin' – and my head was killing me – like someone hammerin' into my skull. And the light cut into my brain. It only got better when I saw you were there," Pony looked at his brother gratefully, "And Darry. He looked really scared."

"We were all really scared," Soda admitted.

"I remember you guys made me lay on my side and told me to keep my eyes on you and held me real still. And someone rubbed something cold on my back and there was some kind of pressure…"

"Yeah, that was the spinal tap," Soda said, "I'm glad it didn't hurt."

"I was out of it. I don't really remember,"

"Better that way,"

"I don't really remember much after that," Pony said and Soda's face darkened.

"You started having seizures," Soda told him seriously.

Ponyboy gaped at him.

"Remember how you told me once about that nightmare you had where you're falling and you can't do anything about it?" Soda continued, stone-faced, "Watching you have those seizures was like that nightmare coming to life. It was like your own body was against you – like you were trapped in something you couldn't control," he explained, "And then they told us you needed to have brain surgery, there was too much fluid buildup in your head. Man, it was like a punch in the gut."

He went on, "They took you up to surgery on a whole different floor and Darry and I went up there to wait. Steve was there too," he added,"It felt like I heard every tick of that damn clock. Darry sat by himself. He couldn't talk…he couldn't say a word."

Pony's forehead creased, worry etching lines on his face, "You guys didn't have to hang around the whole time, did you?"

Soda let out a dark laugh, "Pony! You were in surgery! What, you think we were just gonna bail? Steve made me go outside to blow off some steam," Soda told him, "But I was going crazy with worry. I'd sit, stand, walk back and forth, have a cigarette – anything to keep me from losin' my mind. Ron tried to give us some answers, but he didn't know everything. And then the doctors finally step out and I swear, that moment stretched out forever. They said you made it through surgery."

Soda's tone got lower, remembering the difficult situation. His eyes were fixed on his kid brother. "They had to go ahead and drill a hole in your skull, to drain some fluid and get the pressure off your brain. You were hangin' in there. Stable. But they couldn't promise anything, you know?"

He paused, giving Pony a reassuring nod. "You're a fighter, though. Always have been."

Ponyboy swallowed hard, his eyes locked onto Soda's, "Couldn't guarantee anything?" he asked.

Soda sighed, his grip on Pony's arm tightening ever so slightly, "They said there might be complications, that you might not be the same. Darry and I, we didn't know what to do. We felt so damn helpless."

Ponyboy didn't know what to say – how to make Soda feel better. So he took Soda's arm and draped it around his own shoulders.

His voice caught in his throat for a moment. He could feel the weight of Soda's words. With a soft and determined look, he finally spoke, "Soda, I may not remember everything, but I remember you and Darry being there. And I'm here now, ain't I?"

There was a pause, the air heavy with unspoken emotions. But then a subtle but unmistakable warmth for his brother flickered in Soda's eyes.

And then, determined to lighten the heavy atmosphere, Soda's lips curled into a bittersweet smirk, "I'm not even finished yet," he told Pony.

"They gave you a breathing tube," he continued, "You woke up finally. Two-Bit came. You found out they had to shave one side of your head," Soda smiled again, remembering how annoyed he was at Two-Bit for something so dumb. He'd shave Pony's entire head everyday for a year if it meant he could protect him from any more suffering.

"And then there were more complications. Your fever was high. The infection made your body start to shut down. They said you had sepsis. Your blood pressure dropped and you went into septic shock. Your skin was gray, your lips were blue. I told you that already, Pone. That's what I remember the most," Soda said, trembling a little and feeling the goosebumps on his arms. He didn't want to revisit the moment.

"And even when you started to improve – well, I – I panicked. I couldn't breathe. I had to bolt."

"What does that mean?" Pony asked, looking scared, "You told me before that you panicked…I didn't know it was that bad – "

Soda cut in, "I had to get outta there before I turned into a real headcase. You know like jumped off the highest heart was racing. I was real worried about you. It was like my brain hit the panic button. They coulda admitted me to the psych ward," Soda took in Pony's wide eyes, and realized he was making Pony anxious, "I didn't go far, Pone. Just outside the door. Thank god Two-Bit and Darry helped me snap out of it. It was a real panic attack – a meltdown. Ever had a panic attack before, Pone? It's like everything goes black around the edges,"

"Soda…" Pony said, coming closer and hugging his brother under his arms and around his chest. He felt guilty and responsible.

"It's ok, Pony," Soda said, giving him a sad smile, "You're here now, right? You beat this. You're gettin' outta here soon right? That's all I care about…"

"I damn well hope so!" Pony responded, surprising himself with the language.

"That's my boy!" Soda exclaimed.


Before he left, Darry signed a few consent forms – Pony was a minor after all – and then Ron asked if Darry would prefer to tell Pony the news alone. He didn't. He knew it would be good for Ron to be there to answer any questions – for Pony and for Soda.

By the time they got back to Pony's room, Pony was slouched against the pillows looking like he was going to fall asleep, but Soda was basically pacing the room. He wasn't worried or anything – just starting to get antsy. Soda could never sit still for too long, unless of course he was waiting for his sick brother to come back to the land of the living.

Ponyboy's drowsy gaze flickered towards Ron and Darry and he immediately appeared more alert. "Hey," he muttered, his voice soft but curious.

Soda's pacing immediately slowed down. His restless energy seemed to subside as he immediately took up his place next to Pony's bed.

Darry pulled up a chair while Ron moved to the other side, but stood back, not wanting Pony to feel overwhelmed. "Hey buddy, how you holdin' up?" he asked, his eyes searching for signs.

"You haven't been gone that long, Dar," Pony said, shifting slightly to push himself into a more upright position against the pillows. "Tired," he admitted with a faint chuckle, though his eyes never left Darry's face. He knew immediately that there was something important they had to tell him, and he hoped it meant he was in the clear and ready to get sprung from the joint.

Soda finally settled into his own chair, his fingers tapping restlessly on his knee. He shot a quick glance at Ron, silently urging him to start explaining. Ron cleared his throat, his gaze warm and steady as he looked at his patient. "Pony, there's something we need to talk to you about."

Pony's heart skipped a beat, the air in the room suddenly heavy. "Unless you're ready to sign me outta here, not sure I wanna hear it," he quipped, and the room tittered with uncomfortable laughter.

Pony exchanged a quick glance with Darry, who didn't look so confident, and suddenly realized it wasn't good news.

"You're on your way to getting out of here," Ron began and stopped when Pony's lips dipped into a frown. "But in order to make sure the infection is really going away, we're gonna have to run some tests."

"Tests? What kinda tests?" Soda immediately jumped out, heated by the news.

"A blood test and a chest X-ray," Ron began, "And possibly an EEG, though I'm not sure it will come to that," he said.

"EEG? What's that?" Pony asked.

"An electroencephalogram is a way to assess neurological conditions," Ron said, letting some of his doctor speak come out, "It requires electrode placement for studying brain activity. It's painless –" he caught Pony's somewhat horrified look and immediately came back to himself

"Like I said, it's unlikely we'll have to do that. We haven't noticed any substantial neurological impairment," he continued, diving right into the next subject matter, "But we are going to have to do another lumbar puncture."

Pony suddenly felt uneasy, like a block of ice had settled in his stomach.

"Another –" his face drained of color, "That's the test where I lay on my – the needle in my b–"

"Yes," Ron admitted, "That's the one. Unfortunately, it's the only way to know for sure that –"

"You can't be serious," Pony interrupted suddenly, shaking his head, "No." His wild gaze darted between his brothers and Ron, feeling once again that no one was on his side.


Just a bit of history that you probably weren't asking for. The CT scan, which is the method used nowadays to check someone with bacterial meningitis, was not around in the 1960s. After doing some research, I learned that the best way the hospital would have given Ponyboy the all clear back then was to do another spinal tap. Yes, things are so much better now. I could have glossed over this scene, but experiencing a lumbar puncture while fully aware is so much different from where he was when he was first brought in, even though it doesn't hurt, you'll all get to see that next. Keep reading – and thank you for all the reviews, favorites, and follows! – Simona