I didnt plan on posting this chapter as quick as I am LMAO. Still I already have most of this written so... woohoo? I hope you enjoy! 3

Darry POV

"Sodapop added coloring to the food again, didnt he?" I found myself asking. Johnny had a plate of green spaghetti and quietly ate it. He nodded to my question as Sodapop laughed.

"Whats wrong with green spaghetti Dar?" Sodapop asked. I ran my fingers through my hair as I rolled my eyes. I walked into the kitchen to grab some of the spaghetti, even if I was unsure about its color.

"Dont forget ta leave some for Pony," Sodapop called out.

"He aint home?" I asked. Sodapop shook his head.

"Havent seen him for a bit," Two-Bit said from the living room. I looked at Johnny, who also nodded.

He shouldve been home three hours ago.

I pushed back the thought. Mentally I reminded myself to have another conversation with Ponyboy about forgetting his curfew. Anxiety gnawed at me slightly as I left the pasta on the stove.

"Where did he go?" I asked, hoping someone could answer. My hands gravitated to the keys still in my pocket.

I'll go get him if I need to.

"He said he was goin' to the library but maybe somethin' caught his attention," Johnny spoke up. I nodded, my hands still on my keys. I sat down on the recliner my eyes going to the phone every so often. Sodapop talked to Two-Bit and Dally walked in not too long after.

"Steves at work." I heard Sodapop answer Dally. "He forgot to get the day off."

"Forgot?" Two-Bit said, some lead up to a joke that I didnt listen to. My eyes stayed on the phone, and my hands stayed on my keys. It seemed like a habit of mine since Mom and Dad died.

I need to be the first to hear it. I need to be the first to see Ponyboy.

In a blessing and a curse, the phone rang out. Everyone froze, and Two-Bit turned down the TV. I ran to the phone and picked it up.

"Hello?" I hoped it was Ponyboy.

"Darry…" My heart dropped. "It's Steve. You needa come to the hospital, right now." I froze at the emotion in Steve's voice.

"I'm on my way," I answered quickly.

Is it Pony?

"Who was it?" Sodapop asked.

"Steve," I answered, pulling on a jacket. "We needa get to the hospital, right now." Sodapops eyebrows pulled together. He nodded, quickly running to pull on his shoes.

"Did Steve say why?" Dally asked. I shook my head, something in me telling me that it was Ponyboy.

"All I know is that its serious." Dally nodded and stood up. "I'll meet ya there." I gave a short nod as Sodapop finally pulled on his shoes. We nearly ran into the truck, and I quickly sped to the hospital.

"What do you think it was?" Sodapop asked. I stayed silent. "Do ya think… it was Pony?" I breathed deeply, unable to lie to my brother. "Darry, did Steve say it was Pony?" Sodapop desperately asked.

"No, he didnt." Sodapop sighed. "But he wouldnt call if it was for himself." Sodapop slumped slightly but perked up right as we pulled into the parking lot. We got out of the truck and quickly made it into the waiting room of the hospital. Steve stood up the moment he saw us.

Why is there blood on his hands and shirt?

Steve held a clipboard his breathing unsteady as he handed it to me. I looked down at the paper, reading Ponyboy's name on top of it.

"What happened?" Sodapop asked, his voice unsteady.

"I think he got jumped," Steve said. "He came into the DX 'n-" Steve's voice faltered. "-There was a blade stickin' right outta him." Sodapop gasped, and I saw tears filling his eyes. "He passed out 'fore I got here. Doctors took him in 'round five minutes ago and havent said anything since." I stood frozen. Sodapop wiped furiously at his tears until Steve led him to a seat next to him.

A blade. A fucking blade. Someone stabbed my baby brother.

Bile rose in my throat as I sat down next to Sodapop. Steve looked away, tears brimming his eyes as well. Sodapop held onto Steve, tears quickly coming down his face. I pulled my attention to the paperwork in front of me. There was a pen attached to the clipboard, and I started to answer the questions.

Patients age: 13

Someone stabbed a thirteen-year-old.

"Darry!" A voice called out. I looked up, watching as Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally walked up to us.

"So it was the kid," Dally muttered.

"What happened?" Johnny asked instantly. His dark eyes jumped from me to Sodapop, and then to Steve. Steve looked down, and relayed what had happened.

By the end of it, Two-Bit and Dally were fuming. Johnny looked shocked, his eyes wide as he found himself a seat next to me. I finished the paperwork, and Two-Bit grabbed it. He took it to the receptionist who promised to give any news on Ponyboy.

Now, all we had to do was wait.

Sodapops POV

Ponyboys hurt. Hes been stabbed.

I still couldnt believe it, and I didnt want to believe it. Seconds ticked by but the minutes seemed to last forever. Everyone in the gang sat around in the waiting room. They all were nervous, especially Steve. I kept thinking about Steve, and how he was the only one at the DX.

If I had worked today then I would've been able to help Pony.

At least that's what I tried to convince myself. I knew deep down that it wasn't possible. I wouldve done the same thing Steve did. I looked over at Darry. His face was set in a normal stoic position. Still, I could tell that he was on the edge of tears.

Not you too Pony. Not after mom and dad.

I blinked back tears. My eyes ached as we waited. Steve kept looking up, and then back to his hands and shirt. I could tell that he was worried, and that he refused to leave the waiting room until we got news on Ponyboy. Just as I thought about that, a doctor walked over.

"Family of Ponyboy Curtis?" The doctor called out. I held my breath as Darry instantly stood up. The doctor looked at all six of us, and then to Darry. "I'm Dr.Locke, Ponyboys doctor and main physician."

"How is he?" Dally interrupted. Dr.Locke looked at him for a moment, his face in a blank state.

"He is in an unstable state. The surgery went well to stitch up his stomach, however…" Dr.Locke's voice faltered slightly. "There were some complications on the operating table. Ponyboy is in critical condition."

My heart seemed to stop.

But he's alive.

"W-when can we visit him?" I asked, my voice dry from not speaking. Dr.Locke slightly lowered his head.

Ponyboy must be in terrible condition if even the doctor seems sad.

"Tomorrow morning at the earliest. If Ponyboy is strong enough to survive the night, then his chances of recovery will increase. However…"

"There's a chance he might die tonight?" Dally said. I looked over, catching the normal glare of Dally. His fists were clenched and his eyebrows furrowed.

Dr.Locke nodded, "He's in the ICU right now. We're doing everything we can to make sure he survived. Until he is out of the critical state, he can't have visitors." I sat numbly on the chair. Darry talked to the doctor, leaving us with little to no information on Ponyboy.

Please Ponyboy, don't die.

Tears ran down my face and I wouldn't fight Darry when he pulled me up. "We needa sleep Little Buddy." Darry had reasoned. Still, I knew both of us wouldn't be able to sleep.

The others followed us back home. They were there for moral support, and because they wanted to know about Ponyboy too.

I sat down on my bed- me and Pony's bed. It seemed empty without him. I ran my hand over Ponyboys spot on the bed.

What happened to him? Why would anyone jump him? He has a smart mouth, but he wouldn't get jumped for it.

I cringed at the thought of Ponyboy arguing with someone older. Especially someone who had a blade. I shut my eyes.

I'm going to kill whoever did this.

"Sodapop?" Steve's voice cut into my thoughts. I looked up at Steve who stood in the doorway.

"Steve?" I said. Steve walked over, and sat down next to me. We stayed silent, both of us silently understanding each other.

"He's a tuff kid… he's gotta make it through," Steve stated. I nodded, lying down on the bed. Steve stared at the wall until I slightly pulled him down.

"Sleep," I said. "No use helpin' it now."

That's a lie.

Still, I wanted to help Steve. I thought back to what Darry had told me in the truck.

"We'll go right in the mornin'. For now we needa sleep, savvy?" I had cried as he spoke.

Steve laid down next to me. I hugged him, burying my face into his shoulder as I sobbed. Steve hugged me back, unspeaking as I cried myself to sleep.

Please Pony. You can't do this to me and Darry. It ain't fair.

Thank you so much for reading! Also thanks for all the reviews! I always read them and I'm so happy to be able to capture you into this fic! 33 See you on the next chapter :3