Chapter Text
Steve Randle was never one to panic, not when he nearly lost control during one of his drag races or when Dally nearly died. So why? Why was his heart racing and his body sweating like crazy? It’s just Ponyboy, hell he didn’t even like the kid, right? But the way Pony crumbled into his arms, the feeling of his blood seeping into his clothes filled him with a sense of panic and fear.
”Oh shit, Pony listen to me, you gotta keep those eyes open for me okay? Don’t go closing them alright? It ain’t time to sleep.” Steve rambled on as he applied pressure to Pony’s wounds.
”Fuck- Johnny, Dally, one of you call 911!”
Johnny snapped out of his trance and ran to the phone, shakily punching the numbers in. Dally ran past him, outside the DX to the Curtis house. When he got inside he ran past Darry (and a sleeping Soda) leaving Darry confused. Darry went straight to the bathroom, rummaging around it to find the first aid kid.
”Jesus Dallas, the hell you doing?” Darry said, in a stern way.
”Ponyboy is hurt. Bad.” is all Dally managed to choke out before he found the kit.
The color drained from Darry’s face. His jaw clenched and his fists tightened.
”Get in the truck” Darry said as he grabbed his keys and went to the couch to shake Sodapop awake.
”Get in the truck, Pony is hurt.”
That’s all Darry needed to say to tear the sleep away from Soda. He wasted no time throwing himself off the couch and nearly sprinting towards the front door. Darry got inside the driver’s seat while Dally was in the passenger. Soda threw himself into the back.
”Where is he?” Darry asked as he began driving away from the house.
”DX. Steve and Johnny are there with him.” Dally said through gritted teeth.
”So what the fuck happened to my baby brother?” Soda said, in a tone that was so unlike him as he glared daggers as Dally.
”He didn’t stay up long enough to say, collapsed almost immediately in Steve’s arms. All I know is that a group of Socs came in and left, the next moment Steve’s yelling at us to call 911” Dally said, his voice low.
”Goddamned Socs.” Darry muttered under his breath.
”911?! How bad was he hurt Dallas?!” Soda said, his eyes wide with fear and panic.
”…”
”Answer the question Dallas. How bad was my 14 year old baby brother hurt?” Darry said, his voice dripping with rage
“You gotta promise me that you’re not gonna freak out and get us into a car accident.”
Soda and Darry quickly glanced at each other before both of them nodded.
”He had a deep cut on his stomach as well as…”
”As what? Fucking tell me already!” Soda said.
”He was shot.”
Time seemed to stop in the car.
”…what?” Darry said in a small voice.
”He was shot and he’s bleeding bad.” Dally answered.
Darry sped up as soon as the DX entered his line of sight. No ambulance yet. Soda practically jumped out of the window and ran toward the entrance. Darry and Dally wasted no time following. On the floor of the DX lied a bleeding and barely conscious Ponyboy with a desperate Steve over him and a panicked Johnny.
Johnny was holding Pony’s hand, talking to him and trying to keep him awake for the ambulance while Steve was using his jacket to try and stop the bleeding.
Darry stared at his brother, his baby brother. The same kid who skipped a grade because he was so smart, the kid who loved to read and watch sunsets, the kid who loved movies was now lying on the floor in a puddle of his blood. Why? Was losing his parents not enough? Did the universe want to take Pony away too for laughs? Darry felt his legs shake and give out. Luckily Dally and Soda were right there to steady him.
”Why him?” Darry asked, knowing he’d receive no reply
Soda softly caressed Pony’s face
”We’re here honey, it’s okay, you’ll fell better soon alright? You just gotta stay awake okay?” He softly said as he looked into his dying brother’s eyes.
”It’s okay, it’ll be okay”