Chapter Text
"Seizures..?"
"Unfortunately yes, he has developed them after the major blood loss his body went through." The doctor said as he helped Darry put Pony back onto the bed.
Soda took a stumbling step back.
"Wh-what? Tell me you're joking'"
Steve held onto his shoulders.
"This'll break him- can he even participate in track anymore?!"
"That is still being determined, Ponyboy is not yet fully healed, however for the ASz, I can prescribe a medication to help lower the chances of his seizures. Now remember, this doesn't mean they're gone, only stabilizes and reduces"
Darry swallowed hard.
"Meds? Are ya sure?"
The doctor nodded
"Yes, because he is young and the state of his injuries, I want to give him the best possible chance of a nice recovery, so the medication will be very helpful"
Darry nodded.
"Okay, yeah, we'll do that."
"I am prescribing him Keppra*, 10 milligrams, twice a day. When he is discharged, you may pick it up at the pharmacy desk in the front"
"Okay."
The doctor nodded before leaving.
Dally let out a breath he didn't know he was holding while Two-Bit shuffled his feet nervously.
"Okay, we can do this, I mean we dealt with-with Dallas and Johnny's injuries, and the therapy that Johnny needed, this ain't too hard, right?" Soda said as he ran his fingers through his shining wheat gold hair.
Hours passed and finally the medical staff managed to convince the boys to go home and get some rest.
Darrel took a day off work even though his boss suggest he take more, Soda went to work to distract himself along with Steve. Two-Bit didn't watch any Mickey Mouse or make any cake, he didn't feel like it, Johnny felt alone and lost in the empty lot without his best friend, no, his brother and Dallas went around town kicking cans and trash and with a scowl too. He didn't have the energy to chase kids or mock Socs at the moment.
Days pass and now it's been a week and a half since Pony has been hospitalized. Darrel just got off work and was washing the dishes when the phone rang. It was so loud in the silent house that Darry could've sworn dust was moved by the vibrations alone.
He ran to the phone and answered, "Y-yes? Hello?"
The voice on the other side answered,"Hello, is this Darrel Curtis Jr?"
"Yes, it is"
"Ah, your brother is being discharged today, are you available to pick him up?"
"I'll be there"
Darry didn't even give the poor receptionist time to answer as he ran out the door and got in his truck and drove to the hospital as fast as he could possibly go.
He burst through the hospital doors and ran inside and saw him. Ponyboy, there, alive and standing, standing on his own two feet.
Pony turned his head and saw his brother, and he ran. Faster than his track competitions, faster than running away from Socs and faster than he should've but he didn't care.
He ran so fast that Darry didn't even have time to process what was happening before Pony collided into his arms and Darry didn't let him go, no he hugged that boy so tight Pony would've had a broken back.
"I'm so glad, so glad you're okay" Darry said through tears as he ran his hand through Pony's hair. He didn't want to let go, not now, not ever.
"I missed you so much" Pony sobbed into Darry's shoulder, "So much"
The doctors and nurses smiled, some tearing up at this heartfelt moment between two brothers.
After a while, Darry picked up the medication Pony needed and headed home. Finally, home felt warm, no longer cold or bitter.
"The rest of the boys are coming, you doing okay Pony?" Darry asked as he looked at his baby brother on the couch who was just staring off into the distance.
"Pony?"
"Hmm?"
"Oh, you scared me, you didn't answer"
"Oh sorry, I just got...stuck."
Darry looked at Pony with concern but nodded slowly. "Okay, if you say so."
A good 30 minutes later the gang arrived.
"PONY!" They all said in unison. Darry didn't tell anyone Pony was home, he only told them to come over.
Soda started crying and hugging him while Johnny sat next to him and talked. Two-Bit went to the kitchen to make chocolate cake. Steve stood by Soda and smile as he heard Johnny and Pony talk and Dally Stayed by the door, too shocked to move.
"Why don't y'all sleep over?" Darry suggested and they all agreed.
Two-Bit finished the cake and everyone had a slice, Pony ate slowly so he could stay up longer and listen to everyone.
After everyone was done, Pony and Soda went to their room, Johnny slept on the couch, Dally on the chair and Steve and Two on the floor.
Everything was swell and sweet, Soda fell asleep with Pony in his arms and slept soundly.
Soda woke up to a violent shake.
"Pony?"
He rubbed his eyes and looked to his side. Pony was having a seizure.
"Shit. DARRY!"
Soda was scared, he didn't know what to do, all he saw was his brother in pain and shaking. He remembered what the doctor and Darry did so he brought Pony to the floor and waited for his convulsions to stop.
He was sobbing as he knelt by his brother. "DARRY!" he'd cry out, hoping to wake up his older brother.
A few thumping steps were heard before Darry opened the door to the youngest Curtis brothers and turned on the light.
"Shit, what happened?"
"I-I don't know, we were just sleeping and-and then this happened!" Soda wailed.
Pony's convulsions stopped and Darrel turned him onto his side.
"It's okay little buddy, it's okay, we're here." Darry said as he brushed Pony's hair out of his face.
Steve and Dally woke up and went into the room.
"What happened?" Steve asked as he went to go comfort Soda
Dally stayed by the door, just staring.
"He had a seizure, he's good now, I think he just needs time and comfort" Darry said.
Pony stirred before laying his body against Darry
"M'head hurts..." Pony whined.
"I know baby, I know. It's okay."
Dally's hand tightened on the doorframe.
"The next time I see Bob, I'm becoming a butcher."
"Dallas-" Darry started only to be shut down immediately.
"No Darrel, he fucked up Ponyboy, I mean honestly what the fuck did he do huh? Tell me, what on this dammed earth did Pony do to deserve this? He's worked so damn hard, he even skipped a grade for fuck's sake and this is what it gets him? He's the most kindest one we got, he's gold and Bob tainted him."
"You don't think I know that? I have to think about that every single day and night, my baby brother, my own flesh and blood who was hurt to the brink of death right under my nose. He's already been traumatized before and yet I was being stupid and didn't make Soda or Two go with him. Do you have any idea how this guilt feels? I thought he was dead Dallas, hell he was dead. His heart stopped beating a few times but he's here. He's alive and that's what is important to me right now. I don't care about Bob, right now it's Ponyboy who needs my attention, not him."
What made this entire argument worse was that neither of them were yelling. This came from the heart.
"I'm putting Pony back to bed, y'all should head back to sleep." Darry said after what felt like an eternity of silence.
Soda had stopped crying and was back in bed staring blankly at his brothers sleeping body. Steve was standing next to Soda also staring. Dally took Pony from Darry's arms and laid him onto the bed.
He crouched by Pony's side,"I promise ya kid, I won't ever let him hurt you again, okay?"
"I promise."