Disclaimer...I neither own nor make any money – profit or otherwise from The Outsiders. The characters are hers, and I thank her for the ideas that have come from her works.

A Painful Recovery

Chapter 1

Crunch

I was never, ever gonna forgive myself for this. I didn't even know how to look him in the eyes and tell him it was my fault. If I had done what he's always telling me I should do, I wouldn't have this agony, this miserable shredding of my own soul to live through. It should be me on that gurney, not him. Yeah, he pissed me off tonight, but he shouldn't have to suffer like this. What he did was a stupid mistake made by an otherwise smart 14 year old kid. What I did was plain idiotic. I might lose him. He might already be dead. They took him away already, his ambulance already en route to the hospital.

The rain had been coming down in droves since noon, and I was still at work, eager to be leaving. Boss man, however, had different ideas. We were doing indoor carpentry work on this house that was due for closing in 2 weeks, and all the indoor work had to be completed by tomorrow. The whole crew was here, and all you could hear were the ping ping pinging of hammers all over the place. Out the windows, though, mud puddles were everywhere. I hoped my truck wouldn't get stuck in this slop, I had parked on the dirt when I got here this morning when everything was dry, but now I was doubtful about it. My tires were losing their tread and needing replacing, but there were other things I needed first.

My electric bill, phone bill, and the mortgage needed to be paid. Of course, everyone seems to get hungry when they step foot in my house, so I have to buy groceries too. I wished those folks not related by blood would realize I'm the one required to feed my younger siblings, it's not just a hobby I dabble in.

Finally, just as the 5 PM bell were ringing (as if we actually had one), we could go. As I expected, I was stuck in the damn mud.

"Carl! Hey Carl! … Can you help?" I pointed at my truck and he just shook his head, disbelieving my luck.

"Curtis, I swear! Park in the street tomorrow, okay? Let me get my rope."

He pulled me out. He's a good guy, that Carl. Gives me hell sometimes but I usually deserve it when I get it.

My lights were on all over the house – again - when I pulled up. Damn it! I told them yesterday about this! I could just see the meter going round and round in my head. Higher and higher goes the bill.

"Hey Darry!" Soda greeted me. I flicked off a few switches as I took off my boots.

"Hey Soda." I mumbled back. I went in to start stripping the days grime off me, when Soda appeared in my doorway. "What?" I asked.

"Uh, Darry, you forget Ponyboy?"

"What about Ponyboy? Ain't he here?"

"No, you told him he could go ..."

".... to the Library after school. Shit, I forgot." I pulled my shirt back on and reached for my keys as I headed back toward the living room.

"You want me to go? I don't mind?"

"No, Soda, I'll get him. Just have dinner ready, okay?"

"Sure, Dar."

Night had fallen by now. That and the relentless torrents of rain weren't helping the poor visibility out my windshield. I made it to the library and pulled up to the curb, waiting.

Five minutes later, I realized he still wasn't in the truck. I pulled the keys, killing the engine. I would have to go in there. He was probably curled up in a corner, reading, oblivious to the time as usual.

"Hey, Martha, my brother around?" Martha was the librarian. She kept her eye on Ponyboy for me, even though Pony didn't know this.

"He left out of here a good 15 minutes ago, Darry. Sorry."

"Thanks." Great, now I'd have to go find him. He was probably walking in this mess. I knew it was my fault, I was supposed to pick him up and forgot. My mistake, but common sense should have told him to stay put and call home for a ride. Or call Two-Bit, or even Steve. Anyone would have given him a ride if he had asked. But this is Ponyboy, and common sense is one thing my youngest brother usually lacks.

I pulled the truck back out and started searching the streets. He'd take the shortest way home, I knew that. This rain would trump his fear of being jumped, and on a night like this he would be the only one walking the streets. Even the whores aren't this desperate for a dollar.

Finally I saw a familiar figure with an even more familiar backpack ahead of me. I honked the horn as I pulled up next to him. He got in, soaked from head to toe.

"Why the hell didn't you wait at the library?"

"Sorry, Darry, figured you were busy and I could get home before you came out." Rain was dripping from his drenched hair into his eyes and ears. He needed a haircut, but I knew he wouldn't get one.

"Ponyboy, I swear! You don't think. You're soaking wet, and your books are probably ruined too. I'm gonna have to pay for the damages. That's money we ain't got."

"Darry, really I..."

"Stop it kiddo, you need to start..."

"WATCH OUT!"

I didn't see the delivery truck coming. It hit me T-Bone style on Pony's side of the truck, hitting him full on. One of us ran a stop sign, but I didn't know which. I just remember feeling a sickening crunch as metal hit metal, glass shattering everywhere, the smell of battery acid as it hit the hot engine and a scream piercing my eardrums just as I was knocked unconscious.

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