Always Wanted A Second Chance

Chapter 7

Darry and Soda were on each side of the hospital bed.

Darry was holding Ponyboy's right hand and was pressing it to his forehead, leaning on it like it was his last connection to Ponyboy.

Soda had his left hand, clutched tightly between his hands, pressing it to his lips, whispering promises, prayers, and petty attempts at joking, all in an effort for Pony to wake up.

Steve was next to Soda, his leg jumping up and down anxiously, rubbing the bridge of his nose and shifting every few minutes uncomfortably.

Two-Bit was sitting on a chair against the wall, biting his nails nervously to the point of bleeding.

Dally had stepped outside after attempting to smoke in the hospital room and being kicked out by Darry. Johnny had went with him.

Two-Bit groaned before standing up. "Darry...I really think you should go home and change...or at least let me go get you a change of clothes."

Darry wasn't really sure what was wrong with what he was wearing until he looked down. His heart dropped and he tried to swallow the lump in his throat.

His clothes were still stained with Ponyboy's blood.

Darry nodded. "Please." He managed to choke out.

Two-Bit nodded and patted Steve's shoulder. "Come with me. We'll see if we can pick up some food for everyone." Two-Bit gave Steve a pointed glare, hoping he'd get the message.

Steve heard it loud and clear.

Steve nodded and left with Two-Bit, slightly surprised that Two-Bit was being so thoughtful.

When the door shut and they left, Soda broke down.

He placed his head against Pony's hand and began sobbing.

Darry looked up in shock at the loud sound and reached his unoccupied hand across the bed to hold Soda's hand.

Soda groaned and squeezed Darry's hand. 'What are we gonna do, Dar? What can we do? I just want my baby brother to wake up."

Darry shook his head, squeezing Soda's hand.

"I don't know Sodapop. I really don't know."

The three brothers sat together. One unconscious, one breaking, and one desperately begging for answers.

They all stayed connected. All of them holding each other's hands.

OoO

Dally slammed his fist against the hospital wall. "Goddammit!" He yelled angrily. Johnny watched from a distance. "Dally, it wasn't your fault."

"Why'd the kid push me out of the way? I don't understand! The kid has never ever shown any interest of liking me or respecting me and all of a sudden he risks his life for me?"

Dally shook angrily as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

Johnny shook his head. He'd been trying to hold back his emotions this whole time, and he couldn't do it anymore. He leaned on the wall and slid down it, putting his head in his hands.

Dally watched Johnny. "Hey, Johnny-Cakes. It's okay. I'm sorry...I didn't mean to-to freak out on you."

Dally sat down next down Johnny and threw his arm over Johnny's shoulder. "It's gonna be okay."

OoO

Two-Bit and Steve sat in silence while driving back to the Curtis' household. They had already picked up enough food for everyone, Two-Bit paying, and ignoring Steve's offer to help. Neither said a word, for there was nothing to say.

One of their own was hurt, and they were furious, and worried and didn't know what to do.

They were helpless.

And that is the worst feeling for a greaser.

OoO

Darry was filling up his third cup of coffee. He usually took it black, but for some reason it tasted more bitter than usual so he added more sugar to sweeten the taste.

He was turning the corner back to Pony's room when he heard yelling. It took less than a second for Darry to realize that was Soda yelling and Darry began running. There was nurse yelling at Soda. She was short and fat, with short blonde hair wrapped in a pristine bun. "I don't care who told you what, sir! You can't be here visiting hours are over!"

Soda was furious. "I don't give a fuck! I'm staying here with my brother!"

Darry couldn't deal with this right down. He couldn't. Before he could do anything, Doctor Pure came raging between the two of them.

"Hey!" She yelled angrily. She put a hand on Soda's chest and shoved him hard. "Calm down." She said sternly.

Then she looked at the nurse. "Francis. They are here with my permission. I'll take any bad rap for it in the morning. Until then you back off." She said fiercely.

The nurse- Francis scowled and scoffed saying, "It's your funeral." before walking away.

Pure let out a breath and slouched slightly before muttering a small, "Bitch." under her breath.

She turned to look at Soda. "I'm sorry about that. You okay?"

Soda nodded. "Thanks." He breathed out. Darry took that chance to approach them. "What happened?" He asked Soda.

Soda clenched his fists. "Nurse Bitch over there told us that we had to leave. I said hell no and she got angry and started threatening to close us off visiting hours until Ponyboy's being discharged.."

Pure sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose in irritation.. "Okay, ignore her. She's so uptight about everything. I really am sorry about that."

Darry unclenched his fists before a loud beeping came from Pony's room.

Pure blanched before she shoved Soda out of the way. "Move!" She yelled before running into Pony's room. The brothers followed.

Ponyboy was on the hospital bed shaking while the heart monitor next to him was shrieking.

Pure quickly ran to his side and tried to hold him down before climbing into his lap and forcing him still. More nurses came running into the room, forcing the rest of the them out.

Soda put a hand over his mouth and sobbed while Darry held him, not knowing what to do and praying to God he would be okay.

The next few minutes were torturous for both of them, as Soda sobbed around Darry's chest and Darry clutched to Soda and tried to focus on breathing.

Pure came out a of the room. "He's okay." She said before Soda could ask, allowing a breath of relief to come from the both of them out.

Pure ran a hand through her already out of control hair. "It was a seizure. Not too intense but we'll definitely have to run some more tests on him. You can go in and see him now." she finished before rubbing her eyes and grabbing a clipboard and walking away. Darry couldn't help but notice how exhausted she looked.

Soda was already in the room when Darry entered. He was leaned over Ponyboy and looked afraid and vulnerable and sad and it broke Soda's heart. Soda grabbed Ponyboy face and looked him squarely in his closed eyes. "Ponyboy Curtis I swear to God, if you don't open your eyes right this moment, I will never buy you another Pepsi for the rest of your life."

Darry groaned and put his hands on his hips. "Soda if you don't knock it off-"

Soda gasped as Ponyboy's eyes opened.