The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

NINETEEN: He'd Never Felt So Happy in a Hospital Room

He flipped open the box, revealing a gorgeous ring, with a diamond better than Madeline had ever dreamt of, and held her hand tighter, "Stay in bed, though, Maddie, can't have you moving around too much," he winked and looked at her, "I'm going to love you forever Maddie, so what do you say?"

"Yes," she said, her voice cracking a little.

Everyone burst into shouts and hugs, being extra gentle with Madeline. The twins hopped onto the end of her bed, "How come your crying Maddie? Darry said we could all be happy," Graham asked.

"I'm very happy, and sometimes people cry when they're very happy," she explained gently, cupping the boys' faces in her hands.

"Well good, because Sodapop told us, there's always cake at marryings!" Jack said excitedly.

"Come on, let's go see what we can get to celebrate the happy couple!" Two-Bit called, ushering everybody out the door. He shut it behind him, shooting them a cheeky wink just before it clicked shut.

Darry smiled at her, "So, whaddya think? Can you put up with me for forever?"

Madeline pretended to think for a minute, "As long as you agree to always cook, I think I can manage."

"Is that all you think of me? Your chef?" Darry said, with fake hurt.

"My forever chef," Madeline nodded confidently.

"Being your forever anything sounds good to me," Darry told her, the smile never leaving his face.

"What about being my forever, I don't know, toilet cleaner? Butler? Ooh, ooh— chauffeur?"

"Oh would you just shut up and give me a kiss?" Darry sighed, pretending to be exasperated before lifting her chin to kiss her lovingly.

"So, when should we get married?" Madeline grinned as silly wedding things popped into her mind, "Can Two-Bit be our flower girl? I would say ring bearer, but I think he might lose the rings. Oh man, I sure hope that Steve doesn't wear white on my big day. That would be just like him," as Maddie rambled on, Darry grinned at her, taking in every joke and quip, and loving every second of it. He had never felt so happy in a hospital room.

A knock came after they held hands and kissed and talked for a little while, Sodapop poked his head in, "Everybody decent?"

Darry rolled his eyes, "Alright, alright, let the wolves in!"

Everybody once again, flooded the hospital room. They had balloons and flowers and a big teddy bear, "Happy engagement, ya crazy kids," Steve said, handing them the balloons.

"Get well soon?" Madeline asked, giggling.

"Well, they don't have too many options for engagements down in the gift shop," Sodapop explained.

"But hey, if you're marryin' Superman over here, the message still applies," Steve chuckled.

Darry smacked him upside the head quickly and casually, and everyone laughed, they talked about the wedding for a while. The twins wouldn't stop talking about the cake. Sodapop wanted to make sure he got a nice suit, Steve just cared that the suit didn't make him look 'socy'. Two-Bit, was hell-bent on making certain they had a proper ceremony. He rambled on about the logistics and importance of having a nice, formal celebration, which was strange, coming from the guy who wore Mickey Mouse shirts, and probably had his underwear labeled by his mother.

They all slept in the hospital room last night, the nurses didn't mind, but she made them promise to be quiet, which they were, at least in comparison to their norm.

Ponyboy fell asleep in the armchair with the twins on his lap. Darry laid down next to Madeline in the bed. Soda, Steve and Two-Bit wrestled it out to see who got the end of the bed, but fell asleep leaned against the wall before they decided.

"One big happy family," Darry said softly.

"Let's spend forever like this," Madeline replied.

"You got it honey," Darry told her, kissing the side of her head. They both drifted off to sleep happily.

The doctor came in the next morning, and everyone sat up and rubbed their eyes, "Got some good news for us, doc?" Steve asked, still a little sleepy.

"That I do!" The doctor smiled brightly, "Though this doesn't look like the sort of anti-strenuous behavior I was thinking of, it seems to work for you Ms. Madeline. Seeing as you're consistent and able, we're gonna check you out today," they all hollered excitedly, "But," the doctor said loudly, to be heard over their rowdiness, "I would like you to stay on bed rest for a couple more days, not moving too much if you don't need to," he checked over her chart, "We've got some pain pills for ya here, and, oh, yes, you should have someone around at all times, just in case something unexpected comes up."

She nodded, and smiled at Darry, "Think you can handle babysitting duties?"

"Well, I sure as hell ain't leavin' ya with Two-Bit," he chuckled.

She signed out and collected her things, Darry carried her out to the truck, holding tightly onto the instructions for changing the bandage that the doctor had given him.

The drive home was steady and calm. Their day was looking to be just the same. Darry would take her home, lay her down on the couch, getting her as many pillows and blankets as she could possibly want. He'd cook a nice dinner and let everyone eat it in the living room with Madeline.

But when they got home, a very different story was present. Nobody had thought about the fact that they'd all been in such a frenzy, that blood still covered the floors, the cutting board Two-Bit had hit Madeline's father with was lying there. The knife that had been to Madeline's throat still sat on the floor, and it almost seemed to still be falling.

Darry quickly carried Maddie away from the scene, and ordered Soda to block the twins from seeing it. They shuffled the twins in and promised them a full sleepover if they'd cooperate.

Walking back into the kitchen, Darry's eyes welled with tears. He couldn't help but feel sorry for not being able to protect her. Ponyboy walked in next, and wordlessly grabbed a rag and started scrubbing at the floor, letting his older brother stand frozen for a minute.

"You're a good brother Dar, and you're gonna be a damn good husband," Ponyboy told him, "and a good dad one day too, the way you've raised all of us."

A couple of tears rolled down Darry's face and he smiled at his little brother, "I'm real proud of you Ponyboy, you're gonna go real far little buddy," he said.

Author's Note: Hope you're enjoying this, things seem to be calm in the Curtis world for now...Should I wrap everything up, or tell more of Madeline's story?