Saving Dallas Winston//// A Dallas Winston Story

18: Family Of Y/N Curtis?

Life or death. They say you don't get to choose when you die. But what if we do? Have you ever stared death right in the face? Have you ever come face-to-face with knowing that you might never take a breath again. Have you ever wondered if your heart would ever beat again? Or did you know? Did you know that it was going to be the end? Did you think that you would never survive it again? Were you wrong? Well I know one thing. I've stared death right in the fucking face. I told it I was ready. I signed my life over to the grim reaper.

The gang all stood around. Sadness and misery over them like a blanket. Sodapop Curtis still had the stain of his twin sister's blood on his face. Dallas Winston had the love of his life's blood stained on his lips.

That's the thing about Dallas Winston. He never thought he'd find love. There was a time when he thought the only person he'd love was Johnny Cade. But when he finally found someone else to love romantically, she'd been ripped away from him. He didn't believe in love anymore. The split moment he did, was taken away from him.

"Family of Johnathan Cade?" a doctor stepped around the corner. The ears of the gang perked up.

"That's us." Darry spoke for the gang. They all stood up and crowded the doctor.

"He's okay. The surgery went well and he pulled through. He's awake and you may see him now. Room 243."

The gang practically sprinted to the room where Johnny was. When they got there, they were surprised to see him smile as soon as he noticed them. Dallas sat beside his bed.

"Hey, how are you, man?"

"I'm doin' alright. They gave me shit for the pain and it's helping a little." Johnny looked around and noticed someone was missing. "Hey, where's Y/N?"

The gang looked down in shame.

"We need to fill you in."

~Time Skip~

"Family of Y/N Curtis?"

"That's us." Darry said and the whole gang stood up once more.

"So, I have some bad news." the hearts of the gang sunk, "She made it through the surgery. The surgery was successful, but she's in a coma. I'm very sorry."

"Coma? W- what do you mean coma?" Dallas asked angrily.

"She's fighting. She doesn't want to wake up. So she isn't. The best thing you can do is talk to her. Room 208."

The gang went to room 208 and that's when they saw her. She was lying in the bed, hospital gown on, breathing tube down her throat. She had cuts and bruises on her face from the rumble. IV's were connected to her back hand and a heart monitor on her finger. There was a steady beeping sounding through the room. The room felt eerie.

Dallas grimaced seeing her lying there like that. He felt like he was losing her again. He just wanted to do it all over again. But this time, he wanted to tell her he loved her before it was too late. He wanted to kiss her sooner. He wanted to hold her once more.

If he could do it again...

Everyone started talking to her, telling her Johnny was okay. Telling her to wake up. That they miss her. That they love her. The only one who wasn't talking, was Dallas. He was just standing in the corner watching it all go down. He couldn't stand be there in the moment anymore.

~Time Skip~

Dallas Winston walked back into the hospital room. No one was there this time, just Y/N. The gang had gone home about two hours after the visit. He sat down in the chair that was next to her bed and grabbed her hand.

"Hey babe." he looked down, "You gotta wake up. You're scarin' us, we need you back. Just do it for me." when nothing happened, he continued, "Johnnys okay. He's gonna make a full recovery. Ya hear me? Johnnys alive. Which means we need you now. Come on, babe. Just come back to us. Come back to me." Dallas sighed. "I always knew you were stubborn, I just didn't think you were this stubborn." he lightly joked to try and lighten his own mood, "You can stop fighting yourself. I know what it's like, so please just, just try to wake up."

Being inside my own head all the time was a nightmare in itself. But this, was even worse. I had nothing but my thoughts. When the gang finally came around, I could hear them talking, feel them holding my hand. But I couldn't move.

When booted footsteps had entered, I was slightly scared. I feared that maybe Mark was coming to drag me to hell with him. But when Dallas' rough voice sounded in my ears, all fear ceased. I heard everything he was saying. I tried my best to yell scream and shout or even to move. I thought that maybe I didn't want to wake up. But with Dallas and everything he's telling me. Maybe I do.

"Y'know, I keep expecting you to just, get up and say something snarky to me... or maybe even kiss me. God, your lips. Something I never thought I'd miss. Something I never want to not have. If that kiss was our last then, there is no God. I better go, babe." he got up and kissed her on her forehead before sneaking out of the hospital room, as it was after hours.

I couldn't stop thinking about his words. How he missed my lips. I missed his too. Or our last moment when he said he loved me.

Johnny was alive. I couldn't believe it. It had just now registered to me that he had said that. Johnnycakes. The world doesn't deserve someone so sweet. I thought Johnny was the only thing Dallas Winston loved.

I was wrong.