Everyday Life

Break Down

Johnny was sitting on the couch that night when the door opened. He didn't bother looking. It would be one of the gang, he knew it. But it wasn't. "Malissa!" He heard Pony call out. He turned his head quickly. He yelled her name right when she collapsed.

"Malissa!" He ran to her. He barely caught her in time. Darry came over and tried to grab her. "Stop it! Leave her alone!" Johnny was loosing it. He's been worried sick about his sister, and now back and laying unconscious in his arms.

"Johnny, I'm just going to move her over to the couch. All right? I'm not going to hurt her." Johnny looked back down at his sister.

"Okay," He murmured. Before Darry moved her he took a good look at her. He touched her arm. She was freezing and didn't have on a coat. She had bags under her eyes and she had gotten skinnier from the lack of food and the long walk. Johnny seen the concern in his face. "Darry..." He mumbled.

Darry looked at Johnny and seen the worry in his eyes. He let out a sigh. "I think she needs to go to the hospital." When he said that Johnny's eyes widened. Surely she's not that bad, right? Johnny didn't want to think of her sister having to be in the hospital. He just got her back and he didn't want her to be taken away again.

"No! She can't! She just got back!" Tears we're streaming down Johnny's cheeks at the thought of it. "Please, I can't loose her again!" He cried.

"Johnny," Dally crouched down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. "They will help her. It will be all right, Johnnykid."

"No! I won't let you! She's staying with me!" Johnny was angry. He would anything to keep his sister safe. Safe with him. He tightened his grip around his sister, not wanting anyone to touch her.

"Johnny, please-" Ponyboy tried to reason with him but got cut off.

"No!" Johnny screamed. "No! No! No! She's not leaving me again!" His voice cracked as he began to cry again. Then Johnny was pulled to his feet. Ponyboy pulled him in hug as he cried.

Darry took his chance and picked Malissa up in his arms. He just about had her out the door when Johnny noticed. Ponyboy had to grab his arm before he could get to them. Dally grabbed his other arm, pulling him back as he thrashed in their grip.

"Keep him here while we get her to the car. Two-Bit you drive Johnny and the rest of the gang to the hospital. It might be best for him." He gestured toward Johnny who was still trying to get loose.

Finally, Darry made it to the car and drove off with Soda and Steve with him. They let Johnny go and he ran out onto the porch. He let out a sigh. He knew he was acting crazy. But he couldn't help it. Even if Malissa is older, seeing her so helpless like that...Johnny couldn't take it. He just lost it, and now he has to get back to his sister. "Come on," He said as he walked out to Two-Bit's car. He could have said more. He could have screamed even more but it would have done no good.

No one said anything during the car ride there, not until Johnny spoke. "I-I'm sorry I acted that way...I'm just so worried about her...and she just got back! I-I-"

"It's all right, Johnnycake," Pony said, placing a hand on his shoulder. Johnny smiled at him. Ponyboy was always there to help him when he needed it. So was the rest of the gang. They tried to help him when Malissa left, but he kept pushing them away. He wasn't going to push them away now. He probably needed them more now then ever.

When they got to the hospital Johnny was the first out of the car and in the hospital. He ran up to Darry. "Where is she? Have you heard anything? Is she okay?"

"Woah, slow done there, Johnny." He placed his hands on Johnny's shoulders. "I just got here a few minutes ago. The doctors took her back to a room and said they would be back soon to tell us how she is."

Johnny nodded repeatedly. That's all he could do. With a sigh, we went and sat down in a chair. He pulled his knees up to his chest and sat there. Waiting. Like he did for the weeks she was gone. Those horrible, horrible weeks that seemed never ending.

After about 15 minutes a nurse came out to them. "Are you here for Malissa Cade?" She asked. Darry stood up and so did Johnny.

"Yes we are," Darry said. Johnny was in no state to talk. He was a nervous wreck from the nights events.

The nurse smiled at them before looking back down at her clipboard. "Well, she is all right for the most part. She has lost some weight, she hasn't been eating. When was the last time you seen her eat something? Anything?"

"We don't know. We haven't seen her in the past few weeks. She just came to our house and passed out," Darry told her.

"Hmm...anything else?" She asked. Darry twiddled his thumbs. He didn't know whether to tell the truth or not. He didn't want to risk getting them getting taken away from there home. Finally he sighed and told the nurse everything. He figured it might help some.

The nurse wrote some things down on the clipboard before speaking again. "Okay, so she is also dehydrated. She is still asleep right now. Other than that, she seems fine. We will tell you if we find anything else."

"Are we allowed to see her?" Johnny finally spoke up.

"Yeah. Go right ahead. It's room 117," She smiled before walking off.

Johnny walked ahead of the guys. He stopped before going into her room. He turned to them and said. "Uh...can I go in first? By myself? Please."

"Sure," Dally said, patting his shoulder. They all went back to the waiting room as Johnny entered the room. He stared at his sister before walking over to her bedside. She was lying with a bunch of cords as machines stuck to her.

Johnny grabbed one of her hands and held it. "Glory, you really scared me, Mal," He said even though he knew he couldn't hear her. "I missed you a lot, sis," A tear trickled down his cheek and a small chuckle escaped his lips. "Golly I sure did miss you." He ran a hand through his hair as more tears fell. "Please don't leave me again."

A/N this chapter made me sad. Writing Johnny, making him act the way he did, it made sad. I broke him and can't stand to see him that way. I can't stand to see any of the boys that way :(