AN-I'M BACK! YAY! *Dances around* Please don't kill me for taking so long, I've had my reasons which I'm not going to bore you with.

Disclaimer- As normal, I own nothing other than Freya and the general idea.

Happy Reading.

Chapter 11: They were all safe now.

"They started after Mum and Dad died, straight after. They appeared every night, as you know, but, you thought they were only for a constant month, they never ended for a year. I'm sorry I lied, I- I didn't mean to, it's just that, they're right ya know? Mum and Dad, they're right, it's all my fault, everything's my fault and I'm so so so sorry for that, I didn't mean to kill them, I really didn't , I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to kill you two either, I…" His voice cracked as tears began pouring down his face as the voices snickered in the back of his mind, they were always there, and they always will be.

"Oh Pony, it's not your fault little colt, I promise, me and Soda aren't dead , we promise that we'll always be here, I promise" Darry moved closer to the white bed and sat on the edge, putting his arm around Pony's small shoulder and began softly brushing the younger boys hair with his fingers.

"I-I know you're not physically dead Darry, but I- I stopped you from doing what you wanted, stopped you going to college and all, I know you hate looking after me, you've never liked it, I know and that's okay because I don't like me either." Pony's voice cracked as he sniffed.

"No, don't be so silly Pone, we adore you and couldn't love anyone more, I didn't even love Sandy more than you, and you're my baby brother who is here so we can protect you, everyone in the gang." Sodapop moved the blue washed chair closer to the bed, "you're ours to keep."

Ponyboy shook his head rather fiercely, "Darry, Soda, you don't understand, Mum and Dad, they said that you hate me and that you wished I was never born! I stopped you from getting what you wanted from life, football, college, I made Soda become a drop out and get a job he hates and- and sooner than letter…I'll kill you all and I don't know how! They won't tell me! I don't understand why! They-they say, they always say that I don't care about anyone…not even Johnny Cake…Darry, are they right?" Pony was full front on crying now, his eyes were red and puffy, his breaths were short and painful, his skin was pale and clammy and his nose was running.

Darry had tears down his rough face, honestly everyone was crying, no one could understand why Pony would think that they hated him, that he was to blame for his parents deaths, Pony couldn't kill nobody even if they let him.

Ponyboy was a little brother to everyone, no one could ever blame him for the Curtis's parents death, there was no way the young child at the time could've stopped the crash, Pony was too young, he still is. When the Curtis's parents died the whole gang came to the funeral, they all stayed with Darry for a whole month to help with Pony and Soda who were still trying to get over their death, Soda was young too, only just a teen, Pony a child and it wasn't fair on Darry to just suddenly look after the youngest all on his own, straight after his parents died too. The gang stayed in Soda's room, after he started sharing with Pony on the first night of the accident, they didn't mind being cramped into the room, well, they weren't really cramped, the placed the sofa in the bedroom too so that only two had to sleep on the floor. Johnny and Two bit both shared the bed while Dally had the sofa, Steve slept on the floor, sometimes on the sofa when Dally was in the cooler. The point was, they all cared enough for the brothers to give up their normal routine life and honestly, they loved it, spending so much time with the brothers made their life better.

Johnny Cade was sitting on the corner chair in the room, his knees were up to his chin and his tanned skin had tear tracks down his cheeks. Dallas Winston was sat next to Johnny, he had his legs slumped as normal yet his hand was in his hair as if he was frustrated. Scooting closer to Johnny, in fear the boy would breakdown any moment, Dally placed his arm around Johnny's shoulders to comfort him but Johnny moved sharply away and stood up, his chair squeaking in the process.

"Johnny? You okay kid?" Darry looked up from holding a crying Ponyboy close to his chest.

"I'm fine! Why does everyone think that I'M the one who's unstable and breaking down, I'm not! Ponyboy is! Not me! This is most probably a reason why he's having these dreams, you guys THINK you're paying enough attention to him but I'm sorry to say it but you're not. None of you are, not even Sodapop is anymore, and I never thought that would happen. Ever since I got jumped, which was ages ago now, everyone's been so focused on me it's like Pony's frailness has been forgotten, I'm the only one who seems to care, BEFORE this happened you all treated him like he could look after himself, yeah I know Darry, you give him rules and limits but you don't make sure he's okay do you? He's been slowly getting further away from this world and none of you notice, every day when I'm at the Curtis's house everyone is either in silence or talking about revenge on the Soc's, I'm the one that Pony confides in now and there's a dang lot of problems with the kid, either REALISE he's still the kid of the gang who needs most mental care or he'll just fall away." With that Johnny walked over to the bed, kissed Pony's forehead and ruffled his hair gently. "I'm sorry Pone, it had to be said, I'm sorry." He turned to the door and slipped out the room, 6 pair of eyes staring at him as he left.

Dally stood up from his chair and stormed over to the door, swinging it open and stepped outside, just to be pushed back in by a disappointed looking Freya. "Dallas Winston, did you not listen to a WORD Johnny Cake just said? Sit your dang ass back in that chair before I make you." Shutting the door with a small 'click' Freya leaned against the metal framing and sighed. "Guys, Johnny just spoke at least 10 times as much as he normally does, please don't say you ignored what was said, he was right, you guys aren't noticing how much Pony is slipping away due to his nightmares."

A small voice spoke, muffled by a shirt, "Freya, don't, I think they get it."

Freya nodded and smiled slightly, "Okay Pony, want to continue or…" She smiled wider," do you want to go home?"

At the word home everyone in the room perked up a little. Shifting in the bed Pony sat up and nodded, "home. Johnny told them the rest, I just want to go home."

Walking over to the machines, Freya disconnected all the wires connected to Pony and carefully took them away so Pony was now free to do as he pleased. "I'll bring in a change of clothes and Johnny Cake okay sweetie?" Freya smiled and bent down to hug Pony who was still crying a little. "Cheer up little colt, everything will be okay now." Before closing the door, Freya poked her head back around the door, "can all of you, other than Soda and Darry leave for a little? I'm sure they have a lot to talk about." Everyone nodded and filed out with Dally closing the door rather gently for him.

After a few seconds of silent Darry spoke up. "Pony…I'm sorry. I didn't know you felt that way, I didn't know the dreams were that bad, if I knew I would've helped, I hope you know that little colt, I love you a lot and I would never ever stop caring about you, I love that you were born, you and Soda , and the gang , are the best things to ever happen to me , I will never want you out of my life.

"He's right Pone," this was the first time Soda had spoken through the whole conversation, "I promise you that we didn't know and that if we did, we all would do whatever we can to help. We will help now, we'll make sure your nightmares go, we'll make sure you'll be okay again." Sodapop sniffed back tears and pulled Pony close to his chest and hid his face in his little brother head.

A soft knock sounded at that the door as Johnny's slightly blushed skin from earlier appeared in the room, his hands holding some folded clothes, "I- Freya said these were yours Pony, she said that once you've changed you can come home." Johnny's previous, strong and confident voice had changed to quite and shaky. He nodded and closed the door again and after stepping outside back into the corridor.

Picking up the clothes , Darry placed them on Ponys lap who had now gotten out of the bed and was sat on the edge, his feet placed flat on the floor ready to stand.

"Once you've changed we'll head home, want anything on the way there?" Darry inquired after walking towards the door. Pony replied with a shake of his head and a smile as he picked up his clothes, with the reply Darry and Soda left the room and stood by Johnny outside the door.

After changing and making sure there was nothing in the room Pony walked outside and laughed , "Come on you guys, you all look so down, can we go home now?"

The gangs heads snapped up when they head Pony's voice , it was surprisingly strong and confident for something like what just happened, the gang let out small laughs as they stood up from their seats and all hugged Pony tightly, everything would be back to normal and everyone knew that, they were all safe now.

AN- I know Johnny is a little OCC but that;s what I'll picture him to do if he suddenly snaps. AND THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER. I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOO Sorry if it's , rushed, doesn't seem to make sense or if there is spelling/grammar mistakes. This chapter is my longest by far as there was over 1600 words , It's gone past midnight and I'm tired. I've started my A Levels so I've had NO Chance to update and I'm so sorry about that , I've got a new laptop so all those reading my other stories should expect updates soon. Thank you all to those who reviewed, favourited and followed, a huge thanks to those who stuck around until the end no matter where you joined the story, thank you so much. If there is and OCC or anything like that its because the person who I leant my book too refuses to give it back…long story, but anyway , I haven't been able to check my normal way. Well anyway, that's the end to this story, a bit rushed I know but I really couldn't put it off any longer as I felt mean and it isn't fair on you guys.

Xion000 out.