The Outsiders Fanfic: Where Does the Time Go?

Chapter 30: Awake

Disclaimer: I do not own "The Outsiders" nor do I own any of the original characters. All righs go to S.E. Hinton.

Spencer's POV-

I come into consciousness just in time to hear a snarky comment from Steve.

"I heard that," I say. I open my eyes.

"Heard what?" Steve says with a grin.

"Nevermind.. what happened?" I ask. Everyone stares at me.

"You don't remember?" asks Johnny. I sit up.

"Ah.." I wince, feeling a pain in my side. I lift up my shirt to see a white cloth drenched in blood.

"The soc's?" I say.

"Yeah.." Johnny says.

"They jumped us.. they stabbed me?" I ask, piecing everything together.

"Yeah, I didn't know until after, 'til you passed out," Johnny explains.

"How long have I been out?" I ask.

"Few hours?" Soda says.

"Have you all been here.." I'm cut off.

"The whole time? Yeah, 'course," Dally says, stepping up to the couch, "How ya doin, Spence?"

"It hurts a lot, but I'll be alright," I say. I try to sit up again, but a sharp pain shoots through me, causing my vision to blur. I lay back down.

"Woah there Spencer, just rest. You lost a lot of blood, we haven't patched ya up yet," Darry says.

"Someone should bring her to the bedroom," Soda says.

"I don't think she's feeling good enough to..." Two-Bit says.

"Oh we ain't talkin' about that! Geez!" Soda says, lightly punching Two-Bit.

I give a weak smile, "Funny."

"I got 'er," Dally says, picking me up and carrying me to the bedroom. He lays me down on the bed. "You okay Spence?" he asks.

"Yeah, I guess," I say. I don't want to worry him.

"You can tell me if you're not. If you need anything, just tell me," he says.

"Okay.. why're ya bein' so nice to me?" I ask.

"You're one of us now. You're like my lil' sis, I gotta look after ya," he says, lightly tipping up my chin.

"Thanks Dally," I say.

"Anytime Spence," he says, "I'll get Darry in to patch ya up." He brushes his hand across my cheek and gets up to leave. Moments later, Darry comes in with a series of first aid equipment.

"Hey Spencer, I'm just gonna clean your cut, okay?" He says.

"Okay," I say. He lifts my shirt and removes the white cloth, now red, soaked with blood. I cringe as he gently cleans the cut, and sews it up. I clench my fists, trying my best not to move.

"There ya go," he says.

"Thanks," I say with a light smile.

"Just rest, okay? We don't need that wound opening up," Darry says.

"I'll try," I say, knowing that I won't want to stay in bed for long. He pulls my shirt back down, pushes the hair out of my eyes, and leaves without another word. A few minutes later, Johnny enters, and sits beside me on the bed.

"Hey Spence," he says softly.

"Hi," I say, noticeably tired.

"How're ya doin?" he asks.

"I'm tired," I say, "And I think there might be somethin' wrong with my side," I say with a light laugh.

Johnny laughs, "At least ya still got your humor."

"Yep," I say.

Johnny grabs my hands, "I'm sorry this happened to ya."

"Johnny, it's okay, it wasn't your fault," I say in a hushed voice.

"But it was, you hurt yourself savin' me, if you weren't there 'ida been the hurt one. Or worse," he says.

"See but that would be bad, that's why I take full responsibility," I say.

"Why would that be bad?" he asks.

"Because," I say, thinking a moment, "I really, really like you. A whole lot," I say, repeating exactly what he told me earlier that day.

"Me too," he says, caressing my hand, "But still. You didn't know what you were gettin' yourself into."

"That's true, I didn't think that someone would ever hurt someone else, even if I was askin' for it with those comments. But they did hurt me, and I wasn't gonna let them hurt you too," I say.

"I just wish.." he says.

I cut him off, "I know," I say. I begin to doze of. The last thing I remember is Johnny lightly kissing me on the forehead, and then I drift off to sleep.