Windrix Hall - 33

Fandom: The Outsiders
Pairing: Johnny/Sodapop
Genre: Romance, Drama
Rating: NC-17 (overall)
Disclaimer: Characters belong to S.E. Hinton
Authors: Zayhad & M3535


Chapter 33 – “There Are those brown Eyes I Love”

Sodapop slowly opened his eyes and looked around the room. At first he didn't know where he was, but then he realized he was home in his own bed. His eyes landed on a small teen sleeping in a chair next to the bed. 

"J… Johnny?" he said in a weak, raspy voice. 

Johnny opened his eyes slowly and jumped to his feet when realizing he had been sleeping. "You're awake! How are you feeling? Can I get you anything?"

Johnny had tried to stay awake so he could keep an eye on Sodapop. He realized that it was morning and that he must have been sleeping at least a couple of hours. Darry had agreed on letting him stay home with Soda that day but had forced Ponyboy to go to school.

"I'm thirsty..."

"I'll get you some water," Johnny said and hurried off to the kitchen.

Soda drank half the glass and felt a little better. He still felt strange, though, and was confused about what had happened and what was going on. 

"You look tired," he said, watching Johnny. "Why were you sleeping in a chair?"

I hadn’t planned on sleeping," Johnny said and leaned his head back against the wall. "You’ve been really sick the past two days."

"T-two days?" Yes, he was sick, he could feel that he had a fever and his chest hurt, but two days? "But I... I just..." He searched his brain for the last clear memory. The stables. Coming home soaked. Oh, of course.

Johnny nodded. "Yeah. You had a 105 degree fever..." He leaned forward and rested his forehead against Soda’s, looking him in the eye. "I’ve been so worried. I was holding you and trying to keep you warm the first night but you just kept shaking."

"You worry too much," said Soda, trying to smile. "I'm sure you helped make me better." He looked out the window. It was light, so it had to be day. "What time is it?"

"It’s... ten in the morning," Johnny said, checking his watch again. "I stayed home to look after you." 

Soda was so tired his eyes drifted shut. "You missed school for me..."

"Don't worry. I’ve done a bit of homework."

o0o0o0o0o0o

Darry and Ponyboy came home right after school and were happy to see that Soda was doing better. Hoping that they could get him to eat a bit, Darry went into the kitchen but quickly came back.

"Pony, that soup Steve brought yesterday doesn't look too good anymore. Go down and ask Mrs. Harris for something else, will ya?"

"Yeah, alright," said Pony and got up. 

o0o0o0o0o0o

Ponyboy found Mrs. Harris in the middle of preparing dinner.

"Hello, sugar. Did you boys forget to shop again?"

"No -" Pony stopped. Didn't she know? He had assumed that Steve had told her, but obviously he hadn't. "It's Soda. He's sick. I was sent down to get some food he might be able to eat. He's starting to get better now, so maybe he can eat a bit. We've barely been able to make him drink the last couple of days.

"Oh, dear," Mrs. Harris said, clapping a hand to her cheek. "Well, I don't have anything suitable made, but…" She went to one of the large fridges, picked out some different ingredients and put them in a bag. Then she gave out some instructions to the kitchen personnel and fetched her coat. "Let's go," she said to Pony. 

"You… you're gonna make it at our place?" asked Pony, surprised. 

She just ushered him out the door and they walked across the courtyard to the apartment building. 

"I don't know if he even wants to eat," Pony warned. "He's been real sick. The second doctor nearly sent him to the hospital."

"Well, the rest of you need to eat as well," she said. "I'll take care of Sodapop a bit so you get some rest and do homework and all that, like a good boy." 

Darry was surprised to see Mrs. Harris. "Mrs. Harris?" He suddenly felt bad about the house being such a mess.

"Now, you two just go on with your business," she ordered, taking off her coat. "I bet you got work to do. I will make dinner."

She headed straight for the kitchen and started looking for cooking utensils.

"You boys should do the dishes more often."

Ponyboy went into Soda’s bedroom to do homework there. Half an hour later Mrs. Harris came in with two bowls of pea soup.

She sat down on the bed and shook Sodapop gently. "Wake up, sugar pie. There’s food for you."

Soda mumbled something and moved a bit. People kept shaking him but it was hard to wake properly. 

Mrs. Harris caressed his cheek with the backside of her hand, trying to wake him. 

Soda slowly forced his eyelids open and saw there was a woman sitting with him. It took several seconds for him to place her. 

"M-Mrs. Harris?" he asked, wondering if perhaps he wasn't really awake. 

"Well, there are those brown eyes I love," she said in a motherly voice. "I made you some soup, so you better eat up and get better, you hear?" She looked at Ponyboy and asked him to make sure his brother ate something. "Well, I’ll go clean up this messy house so you can all relax a bit."

Ponyboy helped Soda sit up, propping his head up on a couple of pillows. When he held a spoonful of soup up to his mouth Sodapop turned his face away. 

"No... don't want any."

"It's real good, Soda," said Pony, feeling his own stomach rumble at the good smell. "Mrs. Harris made it. “You know she ain't gonna let you get away with not eating, so you might as well do it voluntarily. She'll pour it down your throat otherwise..."

Soda finally allowed Pony to scoop a few spoonful into his mouth. It probably was good soup, but Soda couldn't see the appeal in any food right now.

o0o0o0o0o0o

A little later Johnny came into Soda’s room with a glass of juice.

"Hey," he said as he entered and sat down on the bed beside Soda. "I brought you some juice. Since you didn't eat anything..."

"I did eat..." said Soda and gave Johnny a little smile. “Where did you go? I missed you.”

"Two spoonfuls ain't much food," Johnny smiled and placed the glass on the nightstand. "I went to Pony's room to get some sleep while he looked after you." Johnny leaned over and placed a kiss on Soda's forehead.

"Come lie with me," Soda begged. 

"O-okay," Johnny agreed and crawled into bed. They lay facing each other and Johnny brushed Soda's bangs away from his face. 

"Hold me," Soda whined, aware that he might sound a bit pathetic, but if you can't be pathetic when you're sick then when can you?

Johnny let his arms slip around him and pulled him close. Content in Johnny’s arms, Soda closed his eyes and dozed off. 

o0o0o0o0o0o

Soda woke next morning to find Johnny sleeping next to him. He felt better than he had in days. He still had a bit of a fever but he could think clearly. 

"Johnny?"

"Mmm..."

"Johnny," said Soda again, giving him a nudge. 

Johnny's eyes shot open. "I… I'm sorry, I must’ve dozed off," he said and sat up. "Are you okay?"

Soda smiled softly. "We were sleeping. Of course you dozed off. Ain't you supposed to be in school?"

"Nah... Not until you're better. I got a few days off as long as I do my homework." He took his glasses off the nightstand and put them on. 

"Well I ain't complaining. I always enjoy having you in my bed."

Johnny sent him a grin. "I see you're getting back to your old self again."

"I'm hungry."

"I think, Mrs. Harris left some food in the fridge for you," Johnny said and got up. "I'll be right back."

Johnny came back with the soup and Soda managed to eat half a bowl.

"Thank you, Johnny,” said Soda, smiling warmly at him. “For staying with me. You've been here all the time, haven't you?"

"Yeah. We’ve all been so worried."

"Who's looking after the horses?" Soda asked, suddenly remembering them.

"It’s been taken care of. Lauren called the stables."

"Ok. But I need to get back to work soon. I musta missed days!"

"Soda," Johnny started, fiddling with a loose thread on Sodapop’s blanket. "I don't think Darry and Pony want you to go back to work… And neither do I…"

"Ah, come on," said Soda, waving him off. "Everybody gets sick once in a while. It's no big deal."

Johnny's head dropped again. Didn't Soda understand how sick he had been? Didn't he care how worried they had been? How worried Johnny had been?

Sodapop smiled and reached out to touch Johnny’s cheek.

"You're sweet to worry so much, but I'll be fine. I'm sorry I don't have more time for you. It's just really important that we make as much money we can, with the baby coming. And I don't want the result to be that we can't afford to send Pony to College."

I know..." Johnny said in a low voice, trying to keep it steady. He felt pushed away. He had to admit that, although feeling guilty about it.

"But I love you," said Soda, sensing his sadness, and leaned forward to give Johnny a kiss. "Don't you ever doubt that. You don't come second. It ain't like that."

"I... I know…" Johnny said, feeling tears well up in his eyes, and he blinked furiously trying to hold them back. "I just miss you sometimes..."

"Don't cry," said Soda, wrapping his arms around Johnny, pulling him back into bed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to neglect you. You don't deserve that. I'll try... I'll find more time for you."

"No. No it ain’t your fault," Johnny said, resting his head against Sodapop’s shoulder. "I don't want you to stress more because of me."

"It'll be okay," said Soda and kissed Johnny’s hair. "Let's sleep a bit more..."

Johnny nodded and made himself comfortable under the covers. He felt a little better after a few minutes and suddenly sniggered, "You need a shower..."

Soda chuckled, half-asleep. "Yeah, I bet I smell horrible."

"Not bad enough to scare me away."

o0o0o0o0o0o

Soda insisted on eating dinner at the table that evening. He wasn't feeling great and he still had a fever, but staying in bed was already starting to get boring. Sodapop had never been good at being sick. There wasn't a lot you could do when lying in bed. Reading wasn't really Soda's thing, except for the occasional comic book, and watching TV quickly got old.

Darry studied Sodapop during dinner and decided he would probably be okay on his own the next day. 

"You boys are going to school tomorrow," he announced, looking at Pony and Johnny. "Soda is better, so no point in missing more classes."

Soda was a little disappointed. It was going to be horribly boring all on his own but he didn't want the others to miss any more school. It was important for them both to do well.

"It's fine, Johnny, “he said. “I feel a lot better. And after another night of cuddling with you I know I'll be even better." 

Johnny blushed and looked down at his plate. "I… I'm glad I can help," he mumbled.

Darry turned his attention to his youngest brother. "So - when are you gonna bring Cathy over?"

Both Johnny’s and Soda’s heads snapped up.

"You told him?" asked Sodapop. 

Ponyboy nodded. 

Soda beamed at Darry. "That's great!"

"I dunno," said Pony, answering Darry's question. "I can ask her."

"Okay. Just let me know when," Darry said and took a second helping.

Pony was relieved and happy, of course, that Darry was taking it so well, but he wasn't exactly looking forward to taking her home to "meet the family". It was going to be so awkward. 

Sodapop was starting to feel worse. He was tired and a little dizzy, and knew he should be getting back to bed. He just didn't want to miss anything, so he tried to hide it. 

"Well, I better clean up,” said Darry and got to his feet. “You boys do your homework before bed," he continued, eying Johnny and Ponyboy.

"You can do it here in the living room," said Soda, "I'll keep you company."

"Hmm… fine... But if you feel worse, you get your butt to bed!" Darry ordered and left with the dirty plates for the kitchen.

Johnny kissed Soda's cheek and got up. "I'll go get my books."

Ponyboy sighed and put his science books on the table. Doing homework with Soda watching? Yeah, that was going to be efficient.

"Watcha doing?" Soda asked, looking at the charts and book.

"It's about nuclear power."

"Gah. Sounds boring."

"It is," Johnny said and handed Soda a book. "Why don't you read this for us and tell us about it," he said with a grin.

Sodapop’s face looked so funny that neither Pony nor Johnny could help laughing.

It wasn't long before Soda put his head on the table, just to rest it a bit. He still didn't want to go to bed. Even if Pony and Johnny's homework was boring it was still kind of nice just listening to them talking back and forth. 

Finally, two hours later, all the homework was done.

"Jesus,” Johnny breathed, leaning back in the chair. “I think they’re trying to kill us with all this info."

Sodapop had fallen asleep a good while ago, his head still on the table. Ponyboy suddenly realized it. 

"Hey, Soda," he said, shaking him gently. "You should get back to bed."

"...'m sleeping..."

Johnny watched Soda and sighed. Then he gave Ponyboy a wink and stood up. "I guess I'll go to bed alone then," he said loudly and yawned.

"No, I'll come," said Soda, raising his head. "Don't want you to be lonely."

"I’ll see you tomorrow, Pony," Johnny said and helped Sodapop up.

After they had brushed their teeth both went back to Soda's room. Soda fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. 

Johnny laid down and cuddled up to Soda “I love you...” he whispered before drifting off.

oOooOo

To be continued...