Status: Edited

// Third Person Point Of View //

"Soda, you did a good thing by bringing him here. He could have been hurt a lot worse. Bring him to the kitchen I'll patch him up," Darry said walking back into the kitchen.

Soda lead Johnny into the kitchen and held him up steady. The boy could hardly stand and it hurt to breath. He heard footsteps and someone walked into the kitchen. Johnny closed his eyes as he heard something drop to the ground. He was scared again because of the loud noise, he thought someone was gonna hit him again.

"Johnny is that you? Are you okay," a voice asked softly, placing an arm on his shoulder.

Johnny opened his eyes to see Ponyboy standing there, a concerned look on his face. Ponyboy took his hand off of Johnny's shoulder and sighed, he felt awful. Johnny nodded his head, not wanting anyone to feel bad for him, he was fine.

"Okay kid, I'm gonna have to cut this sweatshirt off. They tied it pretty tight and I can't get the knot undone," Darry said sighing.

That was Johnny's only sweatshirt that he had that actually fit him. The others were too small or had tears in them because other people put them there. Now how was he gonna keep warm at the lot, he was going to freeze to death. Johnny nodded his head again, frowning that he has to lose another article of clothing due to people. So had a grip on his shoulder, steadying him, he kept swaying.

"Johnny where are your glasses," Ponyboy asks, finally realising his missing glasses.

"I f-forgot them at home," Johnny mumbled, it was the truth.

"Don't you need them to see though," Ponyboy asks again.

"Y-yeah, but I c-can see y'all just fine, a little b-blurry but fine," he said quietly.

Darry finally finished cutting the sweatshirt off and Johnny rubbed his wrists, they were red. Soda​ went and got the first aid kit and came back, opening the box and pulling out all sorts of things. They pressed a washcloth against his forehead, a gash was there and it was a pretty good one. He winced as they bandaged his wounds and fixed him up, he was thankful for them but he didn't want them to baby him. They finished and put all of the equipment away and Jonny sighed at the feeling of being clean from blood, but that didn't help the pain in his limbs.

"Here take these, it helps with the pain," Soda says handing him two pills.

"T-thank you," he stutters, taking the pills out of his hand and taking them.

"Ponyboy, show him to your room, he's going to rest for a while," Darry says, turned​ to the stove, cooking.

"Alright Darry," Ponyboy replied, taking hold of Johnny's hand and bringing him to his room.

They reached his room and Ponyboy lead Johnny over to the bed and set him on it. Ponyboy kneeled down and slipped off Johnny's shoes and placed them next to the bed. Johnny lifted up his legs, tucking his knees into his chest. Ponyboy say at his desk chair and looked at Johnny for a moment, worry plastered on his face. Johnny stayed in that position, he didn't want to move, he was scared.

"Johnny please lay down, you'll feel a lot better if you get some sleep," Ponyboy said softly, a pout on his face.

That caused Johnny to smile slightly and untuck his knees from his chest. He layed down and pulled the blankets over him but didn't close his eyes, he didn't want to sleep. Ponyboy smiled lightly at Jonny and turned back to his homework, reading over a paper. Johnny finally closed his eyes as he felt more tired. Sleep pulled at his body and he have up fighting it, he let it and he fell asleep.

• • • •

Johnny woke up and sat up quickly, screaming his head off. He started to bawl his eyes out, they hurt him again, they hurt him again. It didn't help that he couldn't remember where he was at all. He backed up into the wall and put his hands over his head, still screaming and crying. Someone burst through the door, it was Soda and he sat on the edge of the bed, reign to calm the boy.

"Stop, stop, stop," Johnny screamed, he was so scared.

Another person busted through the door and looked at Johnny, he was scared for him. Soda stood up and moved away from the bed, letting Ponyboy sit down on the edge of it. Slowly, Ponyboy moved closer to the screaming and crying boy. Johnny didn't swat him away, he let him move towards him because, well he didn't know why exactly. Ponyboy final!Y reached Johnny and pulled him into a tight hug, whispering things into his ear.

"Hey, it's okay Johnny. It's alright I'm here, no one's going to touch you if I'm here," Ponyboy whispers.

Johnny wrapped his arms around Ponyboy's neck and buried his head into his chest, still crying but no longer screaming. Ponyboy rubbed his back softly, continuing to whisper into his ear softly. Ponyboy's brothers stood there and watched in amazement of how well their little brother was doing with calming him. Johnny's cries softened but he still had a tight grip, holding onto the boy. Johnny was shaking from fright, they were going to hurt him again, they were going to kill him this time. . .

"Johnny, it's okay. Those people aren't here to hurt you. It's only us, we won't hurt you, I promise," Ponyboy whispers softly.

Ponyboy layed down, pulling Johnny with him and held him close tightly. Johnny didn't mind, he felt relieved to have him there and helping him calm down. Ponyboy pulled Johnny impossibly closer and closed his eyes, it was late anyway. Johnny closed his eyes too, suddenly feeling so tired, his eyes felt heavy. He had stopped crying, only tears stained his cheeks, they fell asleep like that.

// Authors Note //

Here's another update. Sorry that the last one was sad but it had to happen I guess? I didn't know exactly, but I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'll see you all soon.

Till then,

~ Stay Gold