Chapter 10

Soda reached outside Pony's room, wondering if he'd changed anything: made it officially his own room and not one he used to share with him, despite it being originally Soda's bedroom.

Soda gently knocked on the door.

"Come in," Pony called out softly.

Soda rattled the door and carefully stepped in looking around to see that nothing much had changed: his side of the room was still the same with his collector cards and shirts; the only change was that it was tidier.

"Ponyboy, it's just Sodapop. Darry said that dinner's ready," Soda spoke with some hesitancy.

Pony glanced up at Soda and stood up off the bed.

"Hey are you as hungry as me?" Soda asked with a smile this time, trying to loosen up the tension.

Pony stepped through the door and Soda had waited to walk next to him but Pony kept a good distance, walking at his normal shuffling speed.

"Hey Pony wait," Soda called and gently tapped Pony's arm.

Pony stopped and looked at his brother.

"Are you okay?" Soda asked, full of concern.

Pony nodded in response.

"Yeah I'm fine Soda."

Pony turned back to walk down the hall with Soda trailing behind.

Pony could tell Soda was far behind him and it made him think.

Things are never gonna be the same. By now Soda would have raced me down the hall to the kitchen table, yet here he is hobbling way behind on crutches. Although my brother is back, he's never gonna be the same.

Pony sat down at the table and Soda arrived about five minutes later, resting his crutches against the spare chair.

"Yum Darry this looks amazing, much better than War food," Soda exclaimed and got stuck into his meatloaf, mashed potato, and vegetables.

Darry laughed at Soda's persistence.

"Slow down Soda; I've made plenty more if you want seconds."

Soda chuckled, "Thanks Dar."

Pony ate his dinner quietly and once all was finished Ponyboy took the plates to the sink and started on the dishes.

Darry went out into the living room and Soda stayed behind hoping Pony would feel like talking.

Soda leaned up against the cupboard and grabbed the dish towel and started to dry the dishes Pony was putting aside.

Pony started to feel awkward as Soda's missing leg was closest to him and he just didn't know how to deal with this.

Soda quietly waited for the right moment to talk, watching Pony attentively to see if he would jump in and start them off.

Pony started to rush with washing the dishes, wanting to get away from it all back to his room.

Pony went to put a plate in the drying rack but his eye caught Soda's missing limb and he couldn't help but startle; dropping the plate on the floor with a loud smash.

Darry rushed into the kitchen.

"What happened?" he exclaimed.

Pony just stared not answering his brother.

"Sorry Darry, I'll clean it up," Soda said, jumping to Pony's defense; just like he used to, but even though Soda wanted everything back to normal: nothing was and would ever be the same.

"No Soda its fine, go and sit on the couch," Darry instructed before leaving to grab the dust pan and brush.

Soda put down the towel, feeling hurt that he was the reason Pony had dropped the plate.

"I'm sorry Pony," Soda whispered.

Soda grabbed his crutches and went into the living room, biting his lip to stop himself from crying.

Even through all the pain and suffering he dealt with at War, nothing compared to the pain he felt from his baby brother feeling scared and saddened by him.

Darry was scrapping up the broken bits of ceramic plate while Pony stared down as him.

"What were you doing Ponyboy?" Darry questioned.

Pony shrugged, "It was an accident. I'm sorry Darry."

Darry sighed and threw the bits in the trash.

Soda watched from the couch the scene unfolding in the kitchen and hummed a gentle song to himself, one that he had learnt off one of his friends in War; a song that would always sooth him when nights were tough and tonight would be tough.

Flashback:

Soda tried to be as stoic as possible, but found it hard when the horrific pain of an exploded gunfire continued to sear through his left leg, all the way through his body.

Soda had been caught by a close range gunshot which ricocheted through his leg, leaving shrapnel and burst blood vessels; basically everything in Soda's leg was shattered and there was no chance of recovery. If Soda was to survive he needed a leg amputation.

Soda was lying on the hospital bed of the doctor's tent.

"This is going to be a struggle, so I am going to have to ask for some assistance in the restraint," the doctor asked.

Steve was in the tent beside his buddy, watching the ordeal.

"Nurse Angeline; have you got the sutures, flush and bandaging ready?" the doctor asked.

"Yes doctor; all ready to go." Angeline said as she smiled at Soda.

"You'll be alright, Buddy," Steve encouraged.

Soda was terrified at the thought of losing his leg, but he knew he had to in order to save his life and get back home to his brothers.

"Drink this young soldier," the doctor instructed, handing Soda a cup with whiskey.

Soda pulled away at the strong smell. He'd continued to live by his values and not drink while at war.

"I don't drink alcohol," Soda replied.

"It's the best anaesthetic you'll get. This local injection will numb the area a bit but will not mask the whole procedure's sensations. Soda reluctantly drank the alcohol.

"Ready: young soldier?"

Soda gave a nod; ready as he'll ever be.

"Tourniquet," the doctor requested.

Angeline handed the doctor some fabricated rope which the doctor then tied tight around Soda's thigh, just above his knee.

Soda felt the tightness in his leg and groaned.

"I'll do this as quickly as I can soldier Sodapop," the doctor assured, and grabbed the bone saw.

Soda bit his lip from crying out as the saw pierced his skin.

Steve held Soda down as he tried to fight the agonizing pain.

The doctor had finally cut through the thick muscle tissue.

Angeline wiped some sweat from Soda's forehead, as Soda was swearing out now.

"Keep strong for me soldier," the doctor encouraged and began to saw through the bone.

Soda didn't know how much more pain he could take, he just wished he was home again with Darry and Pony. To smell Darry's bacon and eggs in the morning and baked dinner on Sundays and Pony; his little brother who he loved so much, how Pony would come home and say how he beat his best time in track and how they cuddled and comforted each other at night.

Soda needed that comfort now and focused his mind on his brothers to distract his focus from the pain.

Halfway through the bone cutting, Soda began losing consciousness. He could no longer picture Darry and Pony, all he could see was fuzzy darkness and all he could hear were faint voices of three people around him.

Angeline injected Soda with some adrenaline and pain relief, helping Soda come back to consciousness and just relax as the doctor had now finished and was now suturing up the leg.

Steve had almost vomited at the sight of his best buddy having his limb removed; sure they'd seen a lot during their time at war but nothing would prepare them for a sight like this.

The doctor finally finished the dramatic procedure.

"You did good soldier," he commented; despite Soda being semi-conscious.

"Angeline, make sure soldier Sodapop is given plenty of rest and monitored closely."

"Of course," Angeline replied sweetly.

"Now come on out Soldier, you heard the doctor's orders," Angeline gestured towards Steve.

Steve didn't want to leave his buddy and his mind thought back to his promise to Ponyboy,

'Why am I even thinking about the kid now?' Steve questioned to himself, but then he remembered how important Soda was to the family and how hurt they would be if anything happened to him.

"Can't I stay with him; he's my best buddy?" Steve asked.

Angeline shook her head.

"Sorry soldier. Soldier Sodapop needs time alone right now. You can come back again tomorrow morning and I'll let you know how he is later tonight," Angeline assured.

Steve took one more look at Soda lying on the bed with his wrapped up leg before exiting the hut.

When Soda had woken up he barely remembered much of what had happened; after all he'd passed out half way through the procedure. It wasn't until he took a glance down at his missing leg, feeling a throbbing pain that he realised what had happened.

Soda saw a faint image in the corner of the hut, it was moving around gracefully and silently as possible until the image turned around to face Soda.

"Hey soldier Sodapop; how are you feeling?" Angeline asked and approached Soda's bed.

"Never better," Soda joked then winced in pain.

"Are you in any discomfort soldier?"

"Uh yeah," Soda replied.

"Well you just lay back and I'll get you something for that."

Angeline drew up some medication to alleviate Soda's discomfort and placed the needle into his uninjured thigh.

Getting a clear picture with his vision Soda took a good look at Angeline.

"You know you're really pretty; has anyone ever told you that?" Soda attempted a wide smile.

"No they haven't, but thank you Sodapop."

"Call me Soda, everyone else in my family call me that," Soda replied.

At the mention of family Soda gazed down; staring at the sheet.

"You miss your family huh?" Angeline asked.

"Yeah, my brothers I love them a lot. I just hope they're both doing okay."

Angeline smiled and rested a comforting hand on Soda's shoulder.

"I'm sure they're fine, but I bet they miss you too. Now let me take a look at your wound."

Angeline unraveled the bandages on Soda's leg, checking the stitches.

Soda took a look and immediately felt sick to his stomach seeing the purple and red swelling where his limb used to be. Angeline looked up when she heard Soda gasp.

"You okay Soda?"

"It's weird," Soda replied.

"What is?" Angeline queried and began re-bandaging Soda's leg.

"Not having my leg," Soda answered softly.

Angeline gave the young man a small smile in understanding.

"It takes soldiers some getting used to; I've seen many struggle to deal with the shock, but you're strong soldier Sodapop Curtis and I believe your family would be very proud."

A stray tear slipped from Soda's eyes as he again set his mind to his brothers.

Angeline handed Soda a glass of water.

"Here drink this; you have to keep hydrated."

Soda took the glass and took a rough sip.

"How am I going to fight like this; next time I might not make it," Soda stated.

Angeline took the glass from Soda, placing it on the nearby desk.

"With injuries like this soldiers no longer can fight."

Soda didn't quite register what Angeline was talking about and gave her a confused look.

"Sodapop when the doctor thinks you are recovered and well enough, you will be discharged from base; you are going home Soda."

Soda's eyes widened as he turned to Angeline with hope; he would get to finally see his brothers again. Soda's thoughts were short lived when he remembered about Steve.

"What about Steve; will he get to come home?"

Angeline gave a sigh and adjusted Soda's sheets and pillow.

"That I can't tell you; soldiers only usually get discharged if they are no longer capable of fighting."

Soda pushed himself up against his pillow. No way could he leave his best buddy behind; that wasn't the greaser way; it wasn't his way.

"I won't leave Steve behind," Soda announced with determination in his voice.

"Soda you may have no choice. Look why don't you rest; I have to notify the doctor and your friend Steve on how you are," Angeline instructed.

Soda slumped down and closed his eyes briefly.

"Can you get Steve to come in later; I want to see him," Soda requested.

Angeline smiled, "Sure thing."

"How you doing, buddy?" Steve asked, sitting himself beside Soda's bed.

"Like I wish this wasn't happening. Did you hear I'm getting discharged when I'm up?" Soda asked.

Steve nodded, "Yeah I heard; that's good for you though. I always said you'd go home," Steve answered somewhat dejectedly.

"I told them I won't leave without you," Soda said firmly.

Steve glanced to his friend in surprise.

"You can't be stupid Sodapop; this is your chance out of this dump!"

Steve was now a bit angered by Soda's statement. Steve wouldn't let Soda risk his life for him; he had a family, where as Steve had nothing.

"I ain't thinking stupid. You're my best buddy Steve. We've been mates since we were five years old. I won't let this war end that for us," Soda said fully determined.

Steve shook his head.

"You sure are a stubborn one Soda, but I ain't getting myself blown up or shot just to come home with you."

Soda smiled then, seeing his best buddy shine through as they used to joke before they'd came to war.

When Soda finally got discharged the doctor released documentation to allow Steve to escort Soda on the account of also being unable to fight in the war; though Steve's documents were mere forgeries, to allow the best friends to head home together.

When Steve and Soda were on the plane back to Tulsa Soda couldn't stop grinning as he looked out the window.

"We're going home Steve. We're really going home."

End flashback

Soda stared at what was around him: the worn down table, dusty old cupboards and rooms, and the cracks in the walls of the house where the paint was chipping off.

These were all memories of when he was growing up. It all seemed so long ago, as being at war had taken so much away from him, but in no means would it ever take away what was most important inside Soda's heart: his family and home, and now that was what he had once again, except this time it was going to need a lot more work to fix the damages.