AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Thank you: Lovetoread75, River Over Stone, and mycookiegirl, for your reviews and also thank you to those reading/following.

Hope you enjoy the second chapter.

Chapter 2

"Soda, Ponyboy: time to get up!" Darry's booming voice echoed in the house as the oldest Curtis approached Pony and Soda's bedroom.

Pony let out a groan and Soda smirked down at his little brother, getting himself out of bed.

"Did you stay up later than I told you, Ponyboy?"

"Huh? No Darry," Pony mumbled.

"Well up and at 'em. Breakfast will be in ten minutes."

"Sure thing Dar; we'll be there," Soda confirmed and shrugged on his jeans.

"Come on Pone, get up," Soda shook the still half dazed teen.

"Get up kiddo, or I'm gonna tickle ya up," Soda teased, trying to forget about his dreaded letter for the time being.

Pony groaned.

Within seconds the older and stronger boy flopped back onto the bed and tickled and wrestled his younger brother.

"Soda, Soda: stop!" Pony shrieked.

Soda breathed heavily; puffed out from laughing and sat up, allowing Pony to push himself up in the bed.

Pony got dressed and followed Soda out into the dining room to where Darry had just finished cooking breakfast.

The brothers each slid into one of the chairs and hungrily polished off their breakfast.

"Alright Pone, go grab your school belongings and meet me at the truck," Darry instructed.

"How you feeling, little buddy?" Darry asked, as Soda was tugging on his shoes.

The blonde boy shrugged, "Trying to forget."

Darry slapped Soda's shoulder.

"Come on, I'll give you a lift into work."

Soda followed his brother to the truck and hopped in beside Pony.

Darry dropped Soda off at the DX.

"Bye kiddo, Darry," Soda fare-welled.

"Bye Soda," Pony smiled.

Soda shut the door of the truck and made his way into the DX, where Steve was waiting outside already.

Darry then dropped Pony off at school, telling him to keep out of trouble and made his way to his first roofing job.

"Hey Soda," Steve said in a glum tone.

"You look how I kind of feel," Soda commented.

"You'll never guess what I got in the post yesterday," Soda continued.

Steve raised his brow and stood up from leaning against the petrol bowser and dug deep into his jeans pocket.

Steve waved a letter in front of Soda.

"Not the same as this?"

Soda stared down at the letter his best friend's hand, recognizing the paper immediately.

"You got a summons too?"

Steve shrugged, "Never thought I'd have to worry about being sent to war."

"Tell me about it. I have to tell Pony tonight and I'm dreading how he's gonna take it."

"I hate to be the one to say this, but I actually feel sorry for the kid. He's just gotten his life back together and who could forget how you coped when he wasn't there for a week? Soda this is more than a week," Steve commented.

Soda let out a heavy sigh and leaned against the counter.

"I know Steve. If the War doesn't kill me, being separated from my brothers for what might be years will," Soda replied solemnly.

"This all just sucks, man. None the less we have to get back to work Buddy, even if we won't be here for much longer," Steve said with a shrug; tossing Soda a can of drink while popping open one for himself and taking a large slurp.

When Soda got home his stomach was nervously doing flip-flops as he knew the time to tell his little brother was becoming closer and closer and Darry had said they'd talk to Pony when they were both home from work.

Soda glanced at the clock, which now read four-thirty. Soda just wished that he could stop time and not have to deal with any of this.

Pony came waltzing through the door, all sweaty from having his track practice that afternoon.

"Hey ya, Soda," Pony greeted cheerfully.

"Oh hey Pony; how was track?" Soda asked, trying his hardest to keep his weak smile.

"Yeah, coach made us all do some extra laps to warm up for the big race in a few weeks time."

Soda's heart sunk; he wouldn't be here to see his little brother race and he knew it would just crush Pony's heart not having him be there.

"Soda, are you okay?" Pony asked his brother, noticing Soda's distant look.

"Yeah, Ponyboy; just thinking how proud I am of you," Soda smiled and slapped his hand on Pony's shoulder.

Pony smiled at his brother in surprise, yet he couldn't quite decipher whether something was bothering his older brother.

"I guess it's my turn to make dinner, so I better start on it now before Dar gets home," Pony stated.

"Yeah, just call me if you need any help," Soda offered in a soft tone; wanting to spend as much time with his precious brother.

After dinner Pony was watching some television while Darry and Soda were finishing up on the dishes.

"You doing okay, little buddy?" Darry asked.

Soda looked at his brother with sad eyes.

"I don't want to tell him, Dar, just look at how happy he is. This will destroy him," Soda whispered, glancing into the living room at Ponyboy.

"I know little Buddy, but it has to be done and just remember: I'm right here with you," Darry assured.

Soda gave a heavy sigh and made his way into the living room with Darry close behind.

"Turn that off, Ponyboy," Darry instructed.

Pony glanced up at his brothers with a frown.

"But I'm watching it Darry," Pony protested.

"Turn it off now, Ponyboy. Soda and I have to talk to you," Darry said more sternly.

Pony flicked off the television and stared at his older brothers; thoughts racing through his mind regarding anything he may have done to be in some kind of trouble, yet nothing came.

Soda took a seat next to Pony on the couch and kept his gaze downwards.

"What's going on? What did I do wrong?" Pony asked.

Soda took hold of Pony's hand.

"It's nothing you did, Pony. I...I have to tell you something important that you're not gonna like," Soda whispered.

"It's okay Sodapop; you're doing the right thing," Darry encouraged.

Pony darted his eyes back and forth between his brothers, feeling utterly confused.

"I knew something was going on last night and you wouldn't tell me Soda," Pony pleaded, "Is something wrong?"

Soda swallowed the lump in his throat and gazed at his little brother; noting his vulnerability and innocence.

"Pony I'm going to be going away for a while and I...I don't know how long..." Soda started.

Pony furrowed his brow.

"Where are you going Soda?" Pony asked, with such softness in his tone.

Soda squeezed Pony's hand.

"I've been summoned to go to Vietnam to fight in the War," Soda said quietly.

Pony's eyes widened: unbelieving that this could be real.

Pony glanced up at Darry and saw the sad look on his face before looking back at Soda whose face was firmly turned towards the ground.

"No..." Pony mumbled and pulled his hands out of Soda's grip.

"No Soda; it ain't true!" Pony snapped, shifting his body towards the edge of the couch.

Soda looked up at Pony and had tears in his eyes.

"Honey, I'm sorry but it is. I don't want to, but..."

"Darry, tell Soda it ain't true!" Pony yelled.

Darry silently shook his head, "I can't little man."

Pony felt his world crash down around him.

"Darry you have to stop this; you have to do something!" Pony pleaded.

"There's nothing I can do, Ponyboy. I don't like the idea of this anymore than either of you do."

Pony felt a pain in his chest as he withdrew from his brothers further; almost like they were a hot poison.

"Pony, please understand," Soda said softly, trying to calm his upset brother.

"No, you can't Soda, you just can't; what if we never see you again?!" Pony yelled, as the fears of losing his brother swarmed inside him.

"Pony, please don't say that. I'll come back..."

Soda was quickly cut off by Pony's continuing rant.

"How can you even say that? You don't know that Soda! Why are you even going?" Pony accused.

"Pony I don't want to," Soda said, feeling broken.

"Ponyboy, Soda has no choice; it's the law," Darry said firmly.

Pony turned away trying not to cry.

"It's not fair, there has to be a way," Pony mumbled.

Soda touched his shoulder.

"Pony I'm sorry."

Pony turned to face Soda but Pony's reaction was one that the Curtis brothers were not expecting.

"No you're not Sodapop! You're not sorry or you'd stop it from happening and not go!" Pony yelled, overwhelmed by the news.

He was hurting dreadfully inside and was angry that his brother was getting taken away from him.

"Ponyboy you are behaving like a child, now enough." Darry scolded but Pony was too hurt to listen.

Pony hastily stood up and glared at his older brother.

"You know what Soda; just go to war and leave, just like Mum and Dad! I don't give a damn about you Soda! I hate you!" Pony screamed, as tears slipped from his eyes.

Soda sat stunned and started to cry; he was crushed by Pony's words.

"Ponyboy how could you say that?" Soda questioned.

"I didn't choose this to happen," Soda sobbed.

Darry on the other hand was not impressed by Pony's rant, regardless of how much he was hurting, it did not give him the right to speak like that.

"Ponyboy Michael Curtis! If I ever hear words like that from you again, I will make you do extra chores for a month!" Darry roared.

"You apologize to Sodapop right now!"

Pony stared at his oldest brother in shock before turning back to face Soda who was now had his head in his hands crying hard.

Pony didn't know what to say so instead he ran off to his room, slamming the door.

Ponyboy threw himself onto his bed he usually shared with Soda and cried his heart out.

Soda was still upset by Pony's words and not wanting to upset his brother any further, went to sleep in Pony's old room.

Pony woke with a start, feeling sick to his stomach as thoughts of his argument with Soda loomed in his head.

Pony tossed back the blanket and bolted into his old room to his brother.

"Oomph! Ponyboy?" Soda gasped, sitting up in the dark room.

Pony was crying and trying to hold onto his brother.

"Soda I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said! I love you. I just don't want you to go," Pony sobbed.

Soda hugged Pony, "Come here."

Soda helped Pony in his bed and the two cuddled together.

Soda gently rubbed Pony's back.

"You know I don't want to be doing this but I have no choice, but know I love you Ponyboy, and always will. Being away at war won't change that."

Soda's comforting rubs made Pony fall asleep and soon both young greasers were in the land of dreams for one of their last night's together.

Darry went to wake up his brother's in the morning and knew Soda had slept in Pony's old room after the altercation with Ponyboy.

Darry went to their shared room first and opened the door.

"Ponyboy: time to get up."

Darry was surprised to see the bed messy and no Ponyboy in sight. Darry then went down to Pony's room and did the same, but this time when he opened the door, he saw the image of his two younger brothers sleeping peacefully together.

Darry hardened his heart for this was something he wasn't going to be seeing for quite some time.

Darry gave each of his brothers a shake.

"Sodapop, Ponyboy get up."

Soda grumbled and nuzzled his face back into his pillow.

Darry smiled. You won't be able to do that at the base little brother. Darry thought.

Pony shifted in the bed and once satisfied his brothers were on the move to get up Darry left the room.