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“Cmon, Johnnycakes, yer comin with me,” Dallas insisted, grabbing Johnny’s arm. The bags in Johnny’s eyes and his ungreased hair spoke for itself.
“I’m fine, Dal,” Johnny slurred, refusing to get up from the grass. Johnny never wanted to be a bother to anyone, even when Darry made it more than clear that he was always welcome in the house. That’s why the door’s practically always unlocked.
The lot was dark and cold. Dallas wouldn’t have noticed Johnny lying there if it wasn’t for the weak groan he heard. What was Johnny thinking sleeping out in the cold with no jacket?
“Cmon, man. At least let me get ya an aspirin. Can’t have ya keeling over in the lot,” Dallas crouched down to look at the half-delirious kid. Johnny’s eyes were half lidded, looking up at him with tired eyes.
“No..” Johnny’s words dragged longer and longer. He wasn’t going down without a fight. Even if he had a fever and was as weak as a puppy.
“Up ya go,” suddenly, Dallas scooped Johnny up in his arms. And god, he was warm. Dallas tried to be as gentle as he could with him, but Johnny still groaned as he went up.
“Sorry Johns, but yer as warm as a summer day and I ain’t leavin’ you here alone,” Dallas added. Johnny was heavier than he looked. Only dead weight and muscle.
The walk to the Curtis house wasn’t far. Johnny must’ve passed out, because he was as limp as a ragdoll when Dallas put him down. The hot air in the house was a shock to Johnny’s cold skin as they went in.
Ponyboy was the only one awake, sitting on a chair reading a copy of “Gone With the Wind.” The house was quiet, peaceful.
“Glory! What happened to him?” Ponyboy exclaimed.
“He’s sick. Real out of it too,” Dallas replied, patting Johnny’s shoulder as he carefully set him down on the couch.
“I’ll get Darry,” Ponyboy quickly walked off. Johnny let out a whine as he felt Dallas adjusting the pillows.
“Get comfy,” Dallas murmured.
Darry’s face contorted into something of worry when he got to the living room. Johnny’s legs were curled up to his chest and he was on his side. Darry quickly ran to Johnny, examining him.
“Jeez, what happened to him?”
“I dunno. But I found him like this in the lot. Thought he might need a place to stay.” Dallas replied.
Johnny groaned as Darry gently shook him.
“Sorry honey, but we gotta put some medicine in ya before you go to sleep,” Darry spoke as softly as he could. Johnny opened his eyes. His glazed expression was almost sad. He looked exhausted.
Darry grabbed a spare thermometer from the table next to the couch.
“103.2. Yeah, yer real sick little buddy,” Darry frowned, looking down at Johnny.
“It’s cold,” Johnny slurred, twisting and turning. Just by looking at him, it was clear that he wasn’t fully with them. Dallas’s eyes softened for a moment.
“Go to sleep, Johnnycakes,” Dallas pushed Johnny’s hair back, tucking him in with a spare blanket. Johnny sighed in contentment, settling in. The last thing he remembered before falling asleep was Dallas looking down at him.