In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 27

Soda's POV

I hurry into the bathroom to see a heart-wrenching sight. Darry looks so miserable. He's sweating and shivering on his knees and getting sick. When he finishes, Pony comes in with his water. "Thanks, Pone," I say taking the water.

I grab Darry's arm and realize how warm and clammy it is and help Darry up onto his feet. "Can you swish your mouth out with this, Darry?" I ask.

Darry looks embarassed at getting sick and nods. He shakily holds the glass up to his lips and spits back into the sick. "Do you need help getting back to your room?" I offer.

Darry shakes his head no and takes a step, but then after just one step he grunts and hunches over and holds himself steady by the counter. Not a moment later, he's back in front of the toilet getting sick all over again. "Oh, Darry," Pony sighs. I rub Darry's shoulders until he's done. Darry reaches over and flushes the toilet. He slowly sits down with his back against the bathtub and his eyes closed.

"Are you ready to go back now, Darry?" I ask softly.

"Not yet," Darry answers even softer, "I need a minute."

Ponyboy looks at me surprised that Darry didn't immediately get up. I give him a reassuring glance. After two minutes pass I tell Darry, "Come on, you'll be more comfortable in your own bed."

Darry nods painfully and tries to get up himself, but he's shaking so hard I grab one arm and Pony grabs the other to keep him steady. Darry is leaning most of his weight on me and says he's dizzy. "I'm sorry, baby. Why don't you actually just lie down on the couch?"

He doesn't answer because he's almost asleep, so me and Pony lead him over to the couch. We hand him to Steve and Two-Bit who are by the couch and they lay him down. Darry starts shivering almost immediately so I run to mine and Pony's room and grab the big comforter off of it and lay it on top of him. "Do you need anything else, Darry?" I ask.

"Don't yell, Soda," Darry begs quietly with his eyes still shut.

I bend down next to him and explain, "I wasn't yelling, Darry. Does your head hurt?"

"Yeah."

I look back at Two, Pony, and Steve with big eyes. Darry just admitted something hurt the first time I asked. I don't think that's ever happened before. I turn around toward the boys and see they have the same bewildered expressions. "Could one of you get a damp washcloth?" I ask trying to sound like I know what to do.

Two-Bit ran off and came back with one. I take it and apply it lightly to his forehead. Darry's hurt expression began to relax. Once he falls asleep, I leave the washcloth balancing on the right side of his head (he was laying on his side) and I sit down at the table where the guys were. "I'm not sure what to do," I admit. I'm a little shaken up honestly now, since Darry got sick twice and just seems so out of it.

I look up from the table at Steve and he says, "I think the soup fairy's coming back."