Ponyboy opened his eyes to a world that seemed to be spinning. The morning light was harsh, and he felt an unfamiliar heaviness in his limbs. His head pounded as he tried to sit up, but the room tilted dangerously, making his stomach churn.

"Ugh…" he groaned, attempting to swing his legs over the side of the bed.

As soon as his feet touched the floor, his knees buckled and the dizziness intensified. He staggered, vision blurring, before collapsing in a heap on the floor.

"Pony!" Soda's voice was filled with concern as he rushed into the room, catching Ponyboy just before he hit the ground completely. "Hey, easy there, buddy."

Ponyboy felt his brother's strong arms around him, but he couldn't hold back any longer. His stomach rebelled, and he threw up on the floor. Soda grimaced but didn't let go.

"Hang on, Pony," Soda said gently, guiding him back to bed. "I got you."

Ponyboy lay back down, shivering, his skin clammy with sweat. Soda wiped his mouth with a cloth, then covered him with a blanket.

"I'll be right back," Soda promised, hurrying out of the room to get Darry.

Moments later, Darry strode in, worry etched on his face. He sat on the edge of the bed, feeling Ponyboy's forehead with the back of his hand.

"Pony, you're burning up," Darry said, grabbing the thermometer from the bedside table. He slipped it under Ponyboy's tongue and waited. When it beeped, Darry checked the reading and frowned deeply. "103.8. That's high."

Soda came back with a glass of water and some crackers. "We gotta keep him hydrated," he said, handing the glass to Darry.

Darry propped Ponyboy up, holding the glass to his lips. "Here, drink some water. Just a little."

Ponyboy sipped obediently but immediately felt his stomach rebel. He turned his head, and Darry barely managed to get the trash can in place before Ponyboy vomited again.

"It's okay, Pony," Darry soothed, wiping his brother's face with a damp cloth.

Soda sat on the other side of the bed, offering a comforting hand. "Try to eat a cracker, Ponyboy. It might help settle your stomach."

Ponyboy took a small bite but couldn't manage more than that. He lay back, exhausted and delirious. His feverish mind began to wander, and he looked at Soda with glassy eyes.

"Soda, you're real pretty," Ponyboy mumbled. "Did you know that? Like a horse…a long-legged colt."

Soda chuckled softly, squeezing Ponyboy's hand. "Thanks, Pony. That's a new one."

Ponyboy's gaze shifted to Darry. "And Darry, you're tall… tall and tall…"

Darry smiled despite his worry. "Yeah, Pony, I'm tall."

The brothers stayed with Ponyboy throughout the day, alternating between trying to get him to drink water and eat small bites of crackers. They kept a cool cloth on his forehead and stayed close by, their presence a constant comfort.

As the evening wore on, Ponyboy's fever began to break. He drifted in and out of sleep, his delirious mumblings giving way to more coherent words. Every time he woke, Soda and Darry were there, reassuring him that he was safe and cared for.

By the time night fell, Ponyboy's fever had dropped significantly. He was still weak and tired, but the worst seemed to be over. Soda and Darry exchanged relieved looks, grateful that their little brother was on the mend.

"'M gonna die here." Pony mumbled feverishly.

"You're gonna be okay, Pony," Darry whispered, tucking the blanket around him. "We'll take care of you."

And with his brothers by his side, Ponyboy knew he would be.

Ik there are a lot of Ponyboy sickfics, but they're just so fun to write. There's already a billion but we need at least 3 billion in this world :)