The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

EIGHTEEN: Too Many People Needed Her

There was a loud bang.

The knife drove into her neck, not purposefully, though, if he cut her, he would've cut her to kill. He fell forward, his eyes rolling back. Something had knocked him out.

His body fell limp to the floor, the knife clattering down, covered in her blood. She had not shed a single tear.

When she mustered up the strength to open her eyes, there was Two-Bit, a thick cutting board in hand. She saw him and she saw safety. And when she saw safety, she felt her wound, the adrenaline and survival instinct dissolving.

"Maddie!" Two-Bit shouted, "Maddie come here, we've got to get you safe," Two-Bit was hardly ever serious, but his voice was stern, "Darrel! Call the police, and get the boys out of here, now!"

Her vision began to blur and darken as she lost blood, she took a step and fell into Two-Bit's arms, he picked her up swiftly and pulled the towel off the counter to press against her neck. Stepping over her unconscious father, he held Madeline away from the twins eyes, and after a quick conversation with a stunned Darry, who told him police were on the way, was out the door and driving to the hospital.

Two-Bit's mother had always let Madeline sleep over at their house whenever her parents fought or ran out on her. She would cook them dinner while they played games. And Mrs. Mathew's door had stayed open that way all through their young lives.

Madeline talked to Two-Bit about boys— mostly Darry, and Two-Bit talked to her about girls, a new one all the time. They were best friends, and then she graduated, and had accidentally drifted far away from him. And now here they were, Two-Bit driving to save Madeline's life.

He passed the cop cars flying towards the Curtis house. He glanced at the girl beside him, her blood had soaked through the towel, and he stepped harder down on the pedal.

What made the gang so special, was the fact that they all took turns taking care of each other.

Darry, who they called 'Superman' for more reason than his physique, stood strong for his little brothers even though he had just lost his parents too.

Dally had always been strong for Johnny, through all the years, and the bruises and the beatings.

Johnny held Ponyboy up for those lonely, scary days in the church, and no matter how scared he had been, he didn't show Pony.

Sodapop was Darry's strength when they waited for their baby brother, who was in great danger, out in the unknown.

Madeline had held the twins up all through their young lives, protected them and comforted them through all the things they never should've experienced by age five.

Steve stood up to mend the cracks that had formed after Johnny and Dally's death, he'd held them accountable and made sure nothing would happen to divide them again.

Ponyboy, he had been a pillar for Madeline when she lost her mother, and for Darry while he watched his girlfriend's heart shatter.

And now, Two-Bit was speeding through town, making sure his best friend wouldn't die, she couldn't, too many people needed her.

He leaped out of the car and scooped Madeline up quickly, running up the stairs to the hospital, calling for help.

"She was cut, her neck, it was cut," he scrambled to find the words, he just knew she needed help.

They laid her on a gurney and wheeled her away from him. He let out a long breath, as long as they were rushing, it meant she was alive, and if she had made it all the way here, he knew she had it in her to survive.

As soon as he couldn't see her anymore, he whipped around and dialed the Curtis house, the phone was picked up quickly, "Hello?" Two-Bit said, hurriedly, "Darry," he paused, "She's alive, ok Superman, she's ok," he listened to Darry for a minute, "Good, he doesn't deserve to die, he deserves to rot in a cell forever," Two-Bit responded to the news Darry had filled him in on.

Two-Bit asked if Darry was able to leave, or if there were still cops. Apparently, the cops were leaving, and Darry told him he would be on his way as soon as he could.

He kept his word, of course. Darry burst into the hospital running to give Two-Bit a brotherly hug, "Is she ok?" He rambled, "Tell me she's alright, can I see her, where is she?"

"We don't know much yet, but she's alive," Two-Bit told him. People always got nervous when Two-Bit was so serious, Darry included. And this was as serious as he'd ever seen his buddy.

"Thank you for being there," Darry's head hung low, "I should've been there, should've known."

"You shut up Darrel Curtis, there was no way of knowin', there wasn't nothing to hear, and you couldn't see," Two-Bit said, punching his arm a little.

Darry nodded, giving into the fact that he simply could not have known. And then they were interrupted by a nurse.

"Y'all here for a Madeline Craft?" She asked gently. They both spun around and told her yes quickly, "Are you family?" She asked.

"Yeah, uh, this is her fiancé, and I'm her brother," Two-Bit said right away, not willing to fight over letting them see her.

The young nurse nodded and introduced the doctor before walking back down the hallway, "Well boys, your girl was very fortunate. The cut was deep, and she lost a substantial amount of blood, but it didn't do much of anything besides that and tear the skin of her neck. We'll have to keep her here, make sure she stays consistent, nothing worsens, but assuming it doesn't, she should be ok to head on home after a few stitches and some good bandaging," he took a breath, "You boys jumped into action mighty well, and I'm positive it saved her life. Any longer and the blood loss would've become much more threatening."

Both boys thanked him and shook his hand firmly, "Can we see her?" Darry asked, he sounded almost boyish.

"She's still regaining consciousness, but yes, you may see her, try to avoid doing or saying anything to cause strenuous activity," the doctor told them with a smile.

"Thank you sir, thank you so much," Darry said, relieved.

"Yeah thanks doc!" Two-Bit exclaimed, his upbeat demeanor returning.

Before they went to Madeline, Darry called home to Ponyboy and Steve, Soda had still been at work when everything happened, but Darry knew Steve had called Soda the second he could. After giving them an update and extra reassurance, he hung up and walked with Two-Bit to Madeline's room.

"Hey there Maddie," Darry said, smiling at her. He was, for a moment alarmed at the sight of her neck, it was bandaged, but he could tell it wasn't pretty, but he quickly got over it when he saw her face.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Shut up Madeline," Two-Bit said, seeing that for a second, panic crossed Darry's face.

She giggled, and after an eye roll, Darry laughed too, "I didn't believe you anyways," he told her.

"Mhmm, you did for a second, just admit it."

"Whatever," he said, kissing her cheek.

After an hour or so, the other boys flooded the room, Jack and Graham holding Steve's hands, "Are you ok Maddie?" Jack asked.

"I'm feeling much better, boys."

They broke into matching smiles and celebrated. Darry whispered something to Soda and Pony,  and moved to stand by Madeline's side again.

"Listen Madeline, I want you to know, that I love you, more than I ever thought I could. You and the boys coming into our family was just what we needed, and I couldn't be happier. And everyday, I'm in awe, and so thankful that I get to wake up to you every morning, and fall asleep next to you every night.  Though, I know that now isn't the most ideal situation, but I want you to know, that I want to wake up and fall asleep next to you for the rest of our lives, so," he took a deep breath, and bent down onto one knee, pulling a small box out of his pocket, "Madeline Craft, would you do me the honor and marry me?"