[Ponyboy's POV]

It felt like the doctor had just been wrapping my wrist when I felt myself being moved. I must've dozed off, because I opened my eyes to Sodapop shaking my shoulder. When did he get here?

"C'mon Pony, we've gotta get ya in this wheelchair so we can take you home," Soda said. My eyes moved to the wheelchair near my bed and the nurse gripping its handles. All of my limbs felt heavy and I could barely hold my head up, so I didn't know what Soda really expected me to do.

Darry seemed to sense this and moved to my opposite side, where he and Soda began helping me out of bed and supported me as I sloppily walked to the wheelchair. My steps were uncoordinated and heavy, and I was relieved to be sitting down. I felt my head drooping down again, though the second it hit my chest I lifted it only to find that we had made it to the hospital lobby. I looked around and noticed that Darry was gone, it was just Soda and the nurse with me.

My brother seemed to sense my confusion. "Darry just went to pull his truck around, he should be back soon," he explained.

I attempted to nod my head, only to find it was easier to keep my head hanging down than to lift it back up. It wasn't until I felt the arms of my brothers helping me walk again that I looked up to see where I was going. Darry had pulled his truck around and I found myself in the center seat of the cab. The second Soda slid in next to me, though, I dropped my head once again against his shoulder.

I stayed mostly asleep during the ride home, though I did hear bits and pieces of a conversation that I couldn't fully make out.

"He asleep?"

"Yeah—the medicine—conked out."

"Work—someone—with him tomorrow—I'll ask Two-Bit."

"—wake him?"

"No, I can carry him."

I felt strong arms lifting me and bringing me into the house. I figured it must be Darry and wanted to tell him that I wasn't a baby and could walk, but I couldn't get my eyes to open or my mouth to form the words.

"He okay?" I heard someone ask, though I couldn't be sure who.

The next thing I knew I was being lowered into bed and felt my shoes being pulled off. I was about to ask who that voice had belonged to before the medicine pulled me under again, but I once again lost that battle and fell fast asleep.

— — — — — — — — — —

I was hot under my blankets when I woke, sunlight streaming into my room despite the drawn curtains. I sat confused for a few moments until yesterday's events came flooding back to me. I remembered falling at track, though after that it was a bit fuzzy. I think I got a cast? I looked down at my arm. Yeah, I guess I did.

I was about to call out for my brothers but before I could none other than Two-Bit Matthews walked into my bedroom.

His face lit up when he noticed I was awake. "Hey kid, how ya feeling?" he asked enthusiastically.

"Okay…my head and arm are a little sore but it's not too bad," I replied.

"That's good to hear, glory you about gave me a heart attack yesterday!" Two-Bit exclaimed.

"I did?"

"Oh yeah. After you wouldn't wake up when you fell they had to call an ambulance. Then when we got to the hospital they found out I wasn't family and wouldn't tell me anything. Eventually, when Darry and Soda got there and Steve took me home…I was kind of a mess," he admitted sheepishly.

"Wait, you rode with me in the ambulance? I don't even remember you being there…" I trailed off.

"Oh yeah, I was a real hero, answering all the paramedics' questions and all that. It's okay you don't remember, the concussion and medicine will do that to you," Two-Bit said.

"Medicine?"

"They drugged you up pretty good last night. Stevie and I hung out here until you got home, Darry had to carry you in. Then Sodapop told us about all the wild things you said while you were high," he laughed.

"I didn't say anything!" I protested, despite not being able to remember if I truly did or not.

"Oh yes you did. Something about asking for a pink cast, making up lies about what happened to you, etcetera. You'll have to confirm with Sodapop, he'll tell you," Two-Bit said.

"Where is Sodapop anyway? And Darry?"

"They had to work, but I figured since I stayed the night last night anyway I'd take precious time out of my day to stay here and nurse you back to health," he replied.

I chuckled at his choice of words before something dawned on me.

"You said you were kind of a mess last night…did something else happen?" I asked.

"Shoot kid, it was all you!" he joked. "It was just scary seeing you like that…I needed to calm down. But seeing you up and awake has been good," Two-Bit said sincerely.

I thought for a moment before speaking again. "Thanks for staying with me. And for answering the paramedics' questions. And for waiting until my track practice ended so you could give me a ride home in the first place," I said quietly.

"Of course Ponykid, you'll just have to refer to me as your Personal Hero from now on," Two-Bit boasted.

I chuckled at that but noticed my eyes growing heavy again. I closed them and felt the blanket being pulled up to my chest and a hand running through my hair.

"God, if you hadn't been okay I don't know what I would've—well—I'm just glad you're alright now," Two-Bit whispered, mostly to himself. It was the last thing I heard before falling fast asleep.