The War

Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders

Time to Go

Today was the day. Sodapop, Steve, Tristan, and Maverick were going to fight in Vietnam. They all stood there talking to the people that brought them for the last time, looking at their faces. Unsure. Sad. Even a little mad. The youngest of the bunch hid it well but the older siblings showed it. Ponyboy and Rory seemed to shut down, almost afraid to say anything. It seemed like Maverick and Steve had some tuff last words for them.

"Hey kid, you'll know I'll come back." Maverick said. "And I'll make sure your idiotic brother does too."

"Don't worry, Ponyboy, I'll be sure Soda comes back too." Steve said.

She seemed to smile a bit but it fled her face. Ponyboy didn't even smile, not like he usually would. Tristan just sighed and reassured himself that she'd be okay without him around. Cody went over to him one last time and felt like everyone else. This war had affected him too, he had been working back-to-back shifts because of how many guys were in Vietnam. And he had taken the habit of blaming himself for a lot of things. Like the wall between them.

"Cody, keep an eye on her for me, will ya?" Tristan said. "She's not herself."

"She'll be okay, kid. You need to worry about you and be sure you come home." Cody replied. "That'll make the both of us happy."

He nodded and just looked at the youngest of the bunch. Neither middle siblings could see them in army fatigue fighting an invisible enemy; they were too young and innocent even with how much they had seen on the streets of Tulsa. They heard the announcement that their flight was boarding and looked at them one last time.

"Hey kid, don't get in any trouble. Or else." Steve said.

Cody and Darry had their hands on their youngest siblings' shoulders as they watched them board, like they wouldn't come back. But they knew they would, and it wouldn't be in a coffin draped in a flag.

"Darry, I'll see you around." Cody said, shaking his hand. "I think it's been a long morning."

He only nodded, looking at his silent brother.


A week later

There was a sense normalcy in Tulsa again but Cody, Jess, and Rory sat in front of the television watching the senseless violence in the jungles of Vietnam. Rory sat far, far away from them in a chair across the room, clutching her knees. It made her ill thinking that her brother was fighting in that mess. All the blood that was spilled. All the death. Cody looked at her with a concerned look, he knew too. The other night he nearly threw the t.v. out the window. She left the room, not be able to take it anymore. What she saw sometimes made her have a nightmare. She laid down on the bed, her back to the door. She made no effort to even try to sleep. She could hear Jess begging to stay but Cody seemed to reject it, saying that he had work in the morning. He came into her room soon after checking on her.

"Can't sleep?" He asked.

She turned over and shook her head.

"I know, kiddo. I miss him too." He said. "It's just going to take a while to get used to."

She just nodded, half-asleep.

"Alright. Get some sleep." He said, getting up. "Everything will be better in the morning."


A/N: I know it's a short chapter and it's not that good. But I write because I enjoy it and it's the holiday season. Anyways, Happy Holidays!