Extrinsic Savior (On Hold)

2: It's Worrying Me

*Darry's POV*

I walked in the house after a long day at work. Sodapop was watching something on the tv with Steve.

"Hey Darry, how was work?" Soda asked.

"Like any other day." I replied tiredly, "Is Pony home?"

"Not since we've been here, which has been 'bout an hour."

"Where is that boy?" I wondered, it seems like he's always wandering off anymore, which worries me.

"I think Dally and him went to see Johnny earlier." Steve replied.

"But it's past five now, I don't think they'd allow them to stay for that long."

"He'll probably show up soon." Soda stated then went back to the tv.

"Yeah probably." I sighed thinking about Johnny, I haven't seen him in a few days. Visiting hours are probably over by now and last that I checked with the condition that he was in, you couldn't visit him no more than an hour. Ponyboy should definitely be home by now, because I don't think Johnny's state could've improved that much in just a few days.

Last when I seen that kid he looked awful, I really hope he gets better soon. If not, I don't know what'll happen. Him and Pony are the best of friends, and if you lose a friend that close it could seriously mess you up. Pony's already started to drift away more and more, Johnny's got to get better; for himself and the rest of us, things just wouldn't be the same without him.

The door swung open and Ponyboy walked in speechless, he looked like a broken toy. He walked straight on by and headed to his room where he closed the door, he didn't even bother to look up at us. Dallas walked in as well and looked at me with a smug smile, something must be wrong. Steve and Soda observed everything as well.

"So you two went to see Johnny today, h-how'd it go?" Soda asked trying to hide the fact that he was nervous, I don't blame him for being so.

"He's not getting better, he just looks so miserable and sick. It kills me to see him like that, it's also breaking Pony," Dally broke the news, this is what I feared would happen.

"I'm gonna check on Pony," Soda announced as he got up.

"I guess I should get going then..." Steve headed out, hearing all of this bad news is just so hard on everybody.

"You weren't visiting that long, were you?" I questioned, there's no way they were allowed to stay that long if Johnny's as bad as they're saying.

"We weren't supposed to but one nurse allowed us," Dally explained. "He told me that Johnny has a high chance of d-dying, he's in critical condition..."

"Oh God." I mumbled, everything seems to be falling apart anymore. "Does Pony know?" This would tear him to tiny pieces.

"No."

"Good, I think we should all hold off on telling him that part. He's been worrying me an awful lot lately." I explained.

"Yeah, he's been worrying me some too." If Dally admits he's worried, that definitely can't be good. "Just the ways he's been acting, seems so strange for him."

"I'm gonna talk with him later to make sure he's alright."

Soda walked back out, "I tried talking to him but he's out. I decided not to bother waking him up because I don't think he's been sleeping much these past few days."