Note From the Author: Hello! Some might be familiar with a fan fiction I had awhile back, Open Fire. I just wasn't feeling it, and I'm sorry. The story just wasn't clicking and I really thought it started to suck. So, I came up with this. Same plot of Sodapop being drafted, but I took it by a different approach. I hope everyone enjoys it! Reads, reviews, follows and favorites are very welcomed!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

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"I don't see him, Dar!" Standing on my toes, my eyes scanned the crowded bus station anxiously. "Are you sure this is the right place? What if we got the times mixed up? Darry, I just don't see him!" There were uniforms everywhere, but none of them seemed to belong to our solider. Just when I felt like I was going to explode, heavy hands clamped my shoulders and brought me back down to safer grounds.

Everyone was hear, and the anxiety was enough to choke the entire room. Steve was scanning the room in a fashion very similar to mine. No one bothered to try to keep him sane though, that would only result in a fight. Two-Bit, however, had tried his best to act the very same since then. Today, I do have to give him credit for, he sobered up and looking around the bus station with caution. Everyone once in a while, one of us would point to some guy and ask if that could be him. So far, no such luck.

Darry talked to me in a low and slow voice, much like he would to a child. "Ponyboy, it's alright. He's here. Just give him a minute, alright?" My head bobbed up and down idly, still reaching up on my toes to get a better view. After two long years, everyone would be back together. Suddenly, it was feeling like it was just yesterday when everything flipped around.

"Mail call, Curtis'!" Two-Bit's voice rang through our house, screen door slamming after him. It was Saturday, so everyone was lazing around. Two was the last one to join the party, and of course he had scrounged around in our mail first. He sauntered in, passing by my spot on the couch while flipping through the envelopes.

"Looks like we've got... Bills, for a Mr. Darrel S. Curtis. More bills, junk mail, junk, car magazine, and... Something for you, Soda." Two-Bit held up the envelope, cocking his head to the side. The letter was tucked away in a pristine white envelope, crinkled slightly by Two-Bit's grip as he held it out.

Soda had bound up at this point, snatching the letter up. He hadn't so much as glanced at it, yet his face had already lit up. "It's probably another letter from Fel." He said, unable to hide away his small smirk. Felicia was Sodapop current girl. She was away on vacation and the two "lovebirds" were constantly writing each other. I didn't mind Felicia too much, she was only a year older than me and managed to make Soda even crazier than usual.

Tossing the letter down without worry, Soda gave his shoulders a shrug. "Lemme see that car magazine, Two." He said, reaching out to grab it.

"Hey, Soda... This doesn't look like any of her letters..." Steve's voice sounded strange, and he had the letter scooped up in his hand. Studying it, he only raised his gaze up to get to Soda. He looked pretty serious and I swear I felt my stomach drop. There was no way that was good news.

"What, Steve?" Soda asked, obviously uninterested. He didn't even glance up, too busy pawing through the magazine. Soon a hand yanked it from his grasp, tossed aside as Steve threw him a sharp look.

"Sodapop, I mean it. Open up the damn letter, would you?" His tone was serious and obviously not going to budge, letting my brother know he wasn't going to let up until the letter was open and read. He shoved the letter back towards my brother impatiently. Soda uttered a small groan, but took it anyway.

"You're over reacting Steve." He muttered under his breath, peeling up the flaps of the envelope neatly. Soda reached inside, fishing out the letter and lazily unfolding it. Clearing his throat like a news castor would, Soda straightened himself up and shot me a grin. I didn't return it back to him.

"Greeting: You are hereby orders for induction in the Armed Forces of the United States..." His voice grew quiet, grin slipping away. The color was completely drained away from my brother's face as his eyes scanned up and down the rest of the paper. Slowly, he shook his head back and forth repeatedly.

"Darry!" He finally yelled, looking up and over his shoulder. "Darry, come here!" I had never heard Sodapop sound so distressed before, but I couldn't even find it in myself to get up and comfort him. I was numb myself and it felt like I was watching this from someone else's point of view. There was no way this was happening. Soda had just turned eighteen two months ago, he couldn't have gotten drafted.

A steady squeeze on my shoulder's cleared out my thoughts, causing me to look back at Darry. He offered me a small, tight smile in return. I know he didn't want me to be this worried, but it had been a hard last two years for everyone. And now we were promised to pull back together again, after his arrival.

"Hey, is that him?" Two-Bit's voice broke the silence that had fallen between all of us, pointing to a cluster of uniformed men. I squinted myself, searching to see all of their faces. My stomach flipped when I saw a familiarly handsome face. There was plenty things different about him: the haunted look, his golden hair buzzed, and the layer of lean muscle that were an addition to him. But underneath that all, I saw Soda.

"Yeah, there he is." Darry confirmed with a nod, squeezing me again before dropping his grip. "You guys stay here, I'm just going to go get him. And guys, remember what I said, alright? Things haven't been easy for him." Reminding us all in a soft voice, we all nodded our heads in sync. Darry had let us know thousands of times exactly how we're supposed to handle Soda's arrive. The first rule was no yelling whatsoever. I know Two-Bit heard that one more than the rest of us. Looking at him now, I knew no one had to worry.

We all watched as Darry mad his way through the crowded station, starting towards the group. I kept Soda in my vision at all times, searching for every last change in him. The first things were obvious. He wasn't smiling, and he wasn't talking. In fact, he was stone still up until Darry reached him. Then, there was a small flicker in him as he wrapped his arms around my brother. My gaze feel to the floor as Darry brought him back to us.

Steve was the first one out of any of us to approach Soda. I guess Two-bit was as apprehensive as I was. My eyes fluttered upwards, watching as Soda and Steve locked arms together tightly. Soda has his eyes squeezed shut and was muttering things into Steve's ear. Whatever it was, I couldn't hear, but it seemed to push Steve over to the edge. That was the first, and probably last time, I'd ever seem a tear slip loose from Steve Randle. Finally letting my brother go, he put on a small smile and swatted the pearly bead away.

Two-Bit was next, casting a goofy grin, which Sodapop returned with a ghostly smile, and reached his arm out for his own hug. "Welcome home, kid." I could hear Two, voice cracking just the slightest bit. This caused Soda to smile a bit more prominently, but not how his usual smile was.

"What, no jokes?"

"I used up all my good material on those goofs." Two-Bit smiled, letting go of Soda and giving his a light pat on the back. I could tell Sodapop was still tense, but he was honestly trying. No one could blame him though, he was just back in the country for god sakes.

Next was my turn to welcome him home. Swallowing thickly, I looked from Darry, to Steve, to Two-Bit, then finally at Soda. Everyone but him looked a little wet eyed. I was nervous that I was going to break down and I just wasn't ready for that again. But before I could hesitate anymore, Soda grabbed my forearm and hauled me in.

"I got every single letter your wrote, Pone." He mumbled, almost crushing my back as he squeezed me even harder than he had been before. "I just couldn't always write back." Now, I could hear him sniffling. This had been his breaking point and mine wasn't too far behind. Before long, we were both hugging each other and letting the tears fall mercilessly down our cheeks.

Soda was the once to finally free me. Casting that ghost-like smile, he rubbed at his red rimmed eyes. Looking at everyone, his eyes scanned the station before he shuffled around a bit in his spot.

"Darry, can we go?" He asked softly, his eyes were now holding an aspect close to begging. "It's so crowded." He murmured under his breath, sucking in a tight breath and tensing up even more than he already was.

Darry nodded his head quickly, taking my shoulder again. "Yeah. Yeah, sure, Pepsi." He said, taking the lone duffel bag Soda had carried away from him and swung it on his shoulder. I gave the station one last look before being guided outside. Rubbing my eyes again, I felt a small smile tug at the corner of my lips as Darry spoke again. "Let's get you home, little buddy."

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Note From the Author: Let me know what you all think! Friendly criticism is definitely smiled upon here. I know this is kind of "been there, done that", but I like the idea. If anyone has suggestions on how to keep this original or if it's becoming too stereotypical, be sure to tell me. Thanks for reading, regardless.