When Soda and the gang came in they were quite shocked to see Darry stretched out on the couch, Pony lying on his side, both sleeping soundly. Soda quietly fixed dinner before waking them up. During the meal, Two-Bit kept up a steady stream of jokes. Later after Pony was in bed, Darry and Soda talked.

“Dare, why didn’t you tell me what he was doing to you?” Soda asked quietly.

Silence took over when Darry tried to answer several times, but his voice wouldn’t work. When he finally formed the words they were spoken with pain.

“I’m your big brother, it’s my right to protect you and that’s what I did,” he said.

“Why?” Soda managed through tears.

“So neither of you would have to stay awake all night terrified Dad would change his mind, you would never have to wonder what you did to deserve that kind of pain, never have to bite your lip until it bled to stop the cries. I did what I had to do,” he explained keeping his voice low.

“Yeah, but at what cost to you?” Soda asked.

“Soda, I would do it all again, but I don’t really want to talk about this anymore. It rips me to pieces when I think of how easily Dad could have done that….to one of you. It’s over and done with, let it go,” he said huskily.

Soda watched Darry and looked over at Pony sleeping safe and sound because of him. “Okay,” he finally agreed. Pony turned over. “Darry,” he called.

“Yeah, Ponyboy,” he answered tiredly.

“I forgot to tell you that I love you,” Pony mumbled half asleep.

“I know, I love you too Little Man,” Darry said standing up.

“Don’t leave me,” the youngest Curtis pleaded.

“I wouldn’t dream of it baby,” Darry lay on one side of the little boy while Soda pulled him close on the other. Darry rubbed his back and finally all three brothers slept.

Darry had dropped Soda off at the station on his way to work. Steve, Two-Bit and Johnny walked Pony to the grade school before going to the high school. The phone call that Darry got at Work Monday morning was out of the blue, because when Pony left the house to go to school, he was fine. Now he was sick. After telling the school nurse he was on his way and getting the rest of the day off, Darry drove to get his brother.

He parked the car and headed into the elementary to find Pony lying on the settee in the nurse’s office. He rushed in and knelt by him.

“Hey Little One, are you okay?” he asked gently noting Ponyboy’s pale, sweaty face.

Pony coughed. “I don’t feel good, I want Mama,” he wheezed out, coughing again.

“Mr. Curtis,” the nurse called him. “He’s been running a fever and threw up twice. It’s probably the flu; several other children have gone home sick also. Take him home; give him plenty of juice, soup and rest. Kids usually get over these things pretty quick. If you have any questions, you can call me,” she told him.

“Thank you, I’m sure Pony will be fine,” Darry picked up his backpack and laid an arm across Pony’s small shoulders. They walked out of the building, it was 11:30 and for a change warm.

“Want to stop by and see Soda before we head home?” Darry asked since he needed gas and 7-up anyway.

“Can we?” Pony muttered stumbling a little, but Darry’s big hand steadied him as they made their way to the parking lot. Once in the car, Pony slid over to the middle of the seat, dozing in and out as Darry fastened his seat belt. The little boy leaned against him while he drove. Pulling up at the gas station, Darry saw Steve and Two-Bit joking with Soda. After parking in the shade, he felt Pony’s head and frowned to find it overly warm. Easing Pony’s head against the seat, he got out and quietly shut the door behind him. Soda’s face lit up at the sight of his brother when he walked into the station.

“Darry, I thought you were at work,” he said.

“I left early because Pony was ill,” Darry told him.

Soda’s eyebrows shot up. “Where is he?”

“He’s in the car. I wanted to get him some 7-up and Pony wanted to see you, but he fell asleep on the way over here,” he explained.

“No, he’s not,” Two-Bit said as the child slipped through the door to Sodapop.

“Hey baby, how do you feel?” Soda asked holding the warm little body close to him. Pony rested his head against Soda’s shoulder and didn’t answer. Steve rolled his eyes and lit a cigarette.

After grabbing several cans of 7-up, Darry set them on the counter but when Soda tried to stand up, Pony refused to let go so he could.

“I need to ring these up so you can go home and rest,” he told Pony grinning at him.

“No, you come too,” Pony said sniffling.

“Soda, I’ll do it while you take the kid to the car,” Steve told him. Two-Bit ad to go back to school, but Steve started the afternoon shift. Soda stood and picked Ponyboy up, who wrapped arms and legs around him and they went to the car.

“Soda, you come home too,” Pony begged him.

“I can’t Ponyboy; you know that I have to work. I’ll be home in a few hours. Darry will be there and I’m sure that Johnny will show up,” Soda said in an attempt to keep the younger greaser calm. Pony kept crying so Soda cuddled him on his lap in the front seat.

Darry opened the trunk and set the bags inside. He stared at the scene before him then he slid into the driver’s seat as Soda lifted Pony off his lap and fastened his seat belt.

“I’ll see you later okay?” he said softly.

Pony nodded, but his sad gaze kept staring at his middle brother. “Bye Sodapop,” a tear fell from his green eyes and Pony reached for him. On instinct Soda held out his arms, but Steve yelled for him.

“I have to go honey,” he said walking away.

“Soda,” Pony cried again as Darry put the car into gear and drove off.

By the time they reached the house, Pony was sobbing. He started retching and was sick in the yard.

When he was done, Darry carried Pony into the house and took him to the bedroom before he went to put the groceries away. Dally and Johnny came on, letting the door slam behind them.

“How’s the kid?” Dally asked. “We stopped by the DX and Soda said he was sick.”

“Yeah, it’s probably the flu. I need to go check on him,” Darry tiptoed to the door and peeked in to see the little boy sleeping so he went back to the living room to talk to the other guys.

Around noon Darry fixed some soup and went in to wake his little brother.

“Pony,” he gently touched the back of his hand to the sweaty forehead. It was hot to the touch. “Ponyboy,” he called.

Pony opened his eyes and quickly shut them again.

“Pony, come on wake up. Come on,” Darry sat on the edge of the bed and helped him set up. I want you to try and eat some soup,” he said looking at the boy.

“I don’t think I can right now. My belly feels dizzy,” Pony told Darry, his small face pale.

“Do you want to come into the living room? You can rest on the couch while you drink your juice.” Darry coaxed him.

Pony shook his head and lay back down.

“Don’t go back to sleep yet, you need to take something for your fever,” Darry told him standing up.

Walking into the kitchen Darry poured orange juice in a glass and swore after looking in the cabinet.

“What’s up man?” Dally asked standing in the doorway.

“We’re out of fever medicine. Dal, would you run to the store and get some?” he asked. “I don’t want to leave Pony,” he said picking up the glass.

“Sure, come on Johnny,” Dally agreed. “We’ll be back in twenty minutes,” he said grabbing Darry’s keys and slamming the door once again. He was soon back with the requested medicine and this time the gang was with him.

Soda managed to get Ponyboy to eat a few bites of soup before he curled up on the couch beside him. Steve turned the radio on making Pony jump. Soda quickly stood and turned it down.

“Steve, Pony is trying to rest,” he admonished before sitting back down.

“Why can’t he go to his room?” Steve snapped.

“Chill out buddy, the kid doesn’t feel good,” Two-Bit told him.

“Oh well whatever. Soda, are we going to play cards or are you going to sit there all night?” Steve burst out.

Soda looked at his friend, and then Pony, the little boy was dosing now his head resting on Soda’s leg.

“We’re going to play cards. Gosh Stevie, what is wrong with you?” he asked worriedly.

“Nothing is wrong,” he said dealing the cards watching while Soda slowly stood up and placed a pillow under Pony’s head before sitting at the table.

Dally and Two-Bit joined them. Darry was cleaning up the kitchen and Johnny was watching the guys play poker. Suddenly Pony shot up coughing and ran outside where he was sick in the bushes. Soda threw his cards down and rushed to the porch. He stood by Pony rubbing his back.

“Easy honey, it will pass,” Soda murmured softly. When the heaving was over, Two-Bit handed him a glass of water to rinse his mouth out, then he leaned against his middle brother.

“Soda, man, come on already. You cancelled your date for this? That was so dumb,” Steve called from the living room. Pony’s eyes shot open and he jerked away. Green eyes searched the dimly lit area for Darry. When he found his other sibling, Pony pushed away from Soda and walked over to him on shaky legs.

“D-D-arry, I want Mama,” the child sobbed. Darry crushed the boy to him while the others looked on helplessly. Steve had even joined them.

“I know you do Little One, we all do, but you still have Soda and me. We’ll take care of you. Soda, why don’t you take Ponyboy in the house and help him wash up before he lays back down?” Darry said an angry gleam in his icy blue eyes.

Darry waited until the door closed before turning to Steve.

“What is your problem?” he asked making sure to keep his voice low.

Steve didn’t want to fight with Darry. “I don’t have a problem,” he replied.

“Keep your snide comments to yourself. I almost broke your jaw once, I won’t hesitate to do it again if I need to,” Darry told him coldly.

20 minutes later Soda came back and sat by Johnny on the floor.

“He’s finally sleeping,” then he looked at his best friend. “Steve, why do you say stuff like that? I wanted to be here take care of Pony. Sandy understood that and I hoped you would to. If you’re mad at me, leave him out of it,” Soda said evenly.

“Of course I’m not mad, but it seems like you never want to do anything unless Pony tags along,” Steve remarked, jealously twisting his handsome face. Darry got up to check on Pony. Two-Bit, Dally and Johnny went to leaving the buddies alone to talk.

“Stevie, we just lost our parents, we have to stick together and I need to help Darry keep our family together,” he explained. Staring into Soda’s chocolate, brown eyes Steve let go of his anger. When the guys returned from the bedroom, they were once again playing cards.