Authors Note: Please note, that when new recruits go to boot camp, very little is allowed with them. They are pr vided all essentials when they arrive, so they take nothing with them. I think that covers it.

Darry's POV

The morning air was brisk on my skin as I ran out to the truck. I threw orders into the glove box , grabbed my keys from my pocket and left them in the ignition so I didn't forget them in our hurry. We had to leave in a few minutes, preferably seconds, anyway.

I ran back into the house, grabbing a piece of toast and calling out to Soda. He was going to make us late, which would be VERY bad in this situation.

"Soda, hurry your ass up! You don't want to be late for this! Where's your paper's? Ill put them in the truck so we don't forget them. You have two minutes, max." I called out to him between bites of food. I had gotten up extra early that day to tie up any loose ends before leaving for who knew how long. I had gotten Mrs. Matthews to take the truck and watch the house for us. I wanted it to be intact when we got back from the war. She would do things to make it look lived in at least.

"Yeah, yeah, I know, Dar! Im hurrying, really. I cant find my damn papers! God, oh god." He mumbled the last part, but by that time, I was in his room, watching him frantically look through his drawers, throwing out clothes randomly.

I looked at the top of the dresser, seeing them sitting in plain view, "Soda, did you look on the top ever?" I reached out and picked them up waving them in front of his face, chiding him a bit further. "Buddy, you're loosing it, for real this time." I laughed then looked around the room, "Im sure that Mrs. Matthews will love this room." I grinned.

"She will." Soda blushed at himself.

"Well, lets get a move on then."

I walked out of the room, Soda on my heels. I went into the kitchen and unplugged all the appliances, coffee maker, toaster, etc. Then I turned out the light and walked out. We stood in the living room for a minute, taking it in before we left for who knew how long. It sounds cheesy and stupid, I know, but it felt sad to leave, not knowing how long it would be before you saw home again. It was nerve racking in a way.

We walked out the door soon after, and I pulled out my spare house key that was to go to Mrs. Matthews with the truck and was about to lock the door when I heard Soda's again panicked voice.

"Wait!"

I looked at him strangely. I had never seen him like that before. I had heard his panicked nerves voice more that morning than I had in a long time.

"I, I forgot something." He said quieter, like he was embarrassed.

"Well, go get it, I suppose. But hurry!" I called after him, as he was already in the house by then. I wondered what he had forgotten; bet decided to ask when we were finally on our way.

He was back out in a few seconds and I locked up. We hopped in the truck, on our way. I felt better then, we would make it in time unless there was a huge backup.

"Soda, what ya forget?"

He looked down, and I followed his gaze, glancing at his hands. There, in his grip was a small black and white of our old family. Parents, Pony, even the gang, posed happily. Those were the good times. Now I didn't blame him for his momentary panick. I had my own; this was the time to hold on to those cherished times, for war and nothing but it was at hand.

I sighed. I didn't want to think about that right then, but I figured there would be times when that would be the only thing to hold on to. And we both had to come back for Pony's sake. He couldn't lose another one of us.

It was a short ten minute drive to our destination; a bus station downtown. It was crowded, families streamed in, one empty handed young man with each, siblings crying and mothers cooing. I pulled the truck into the parking lot and shut it off. I was trying to find Mrs. Matthews. She was going to be there. Two-Bit was leaving that day too. They had one day a month where most the draftees left on military buses. I guess with gas prices it was cheaper in bulk. I doubted any of us would go to the same place. But who knew?

Finally I spotted Steve, Two-Bit ordinarily standing next to him, and then the plump women next to him. I smiled and we pushed through the crowds to them.

"Hey, funny ass!" Soda called, chiding him for laughing at yet another thing. I guess it was time to get all the chiding, insults, jokes and buddy-buddy stuff out of our system.

Two-Bit only laughed harder at it, and we all smirked. He was high on something, slightly drunk, or so nervous that he didn't know what else to do but laugh. I worried for a second over him getting kicked in the ass at boot camp, but let it go quickly. If anyone could deal with it, Two-Bit would live it out fine. He could save the party for the weekends. If anything, maybe he needed this; he would learn some responsibility.

"Darrel!" Mrs. Matthews smiled up to me from her small stature and reached out for a hug. I grinned and gave her a hug.

"Hi, Mrs. Matthews. Thanks for being here."

"Well, of course." She fumbled a little at fixing her dress, and shot a glance at Two-Bit. I knew she was devastated to send him away. He might not have been the most help, but he was her only son. She cleared her throat after a time, "The house. What about the house, Darrel?"

"Oh…a…" I pulled my key ring out of my jeans pocket and handed them to her, "The ice-box is cleaned out, everything unplugged, and all but water and electricity are going to be shut off by the end of the week. If you will just grab the mail and make it look like its at least lived in half the time, that would be great. You can use it if you need to. I will send you the information to take care of the billing when I know it. And that's about it." I shrugged.

She smiled warmly, "You are a great young man, Darrel. I'll make sure your house is taken care of so you can come back for these kids." She laughed as Soda pushed Two-Bit aside and Steve howled at their antics.

I shook my head. The days of playing were over. I missed mine, but I found joy in theirs. That would be gone once we split up today. War wasn't a game, and things would never be the same. It saddened me to think, but I was ready to get the charade over with.

A loud speaker took over then, and the boys sobered up. That was the last of it.

"Men! You now have Five minutes to say good bye! Do it well, this may be the only thing to get you through the next three months of grueling training. Five minutes till you report to your designated areas! FIVE minutes!"

The silence that replaced the venomous words of the man hung in the air. Then the bustle slowly started up again. This time it wasn't friendly talk and laughing though, this time it was sighing, sobbing, and serious talk of the future.

Steve pulled out a smoke and lit up, Soda sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, I stood silent, and Two-Bit broke the tension.

"So, where y'all off to then?" he asked, trying to grin.

"Benning." Steve spoke up.

"Knox." Soda stuffed his hands in his pockets.

Two-Bit looked at me, "Benning. You?" I asked.

"Knox. I guess we all have buddies then." Two-Bit grinned. It was just like him to look on the bright side of things.

"Don't expect to stay too close, Two-Bit. It'll get you on their bad side." I warned.

He shrugged, looking down at the ground.

"Well, I guess this is it." Soda stepped up and pulled Steve into a hug.

I turned to Two-Bit, "Ol' Buddy, Ol' Pal." He grinned and laughed, as he came over and patted me on the back. I squeezed his shoulder, knowing that might be the last time I saw him, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do, Two-Bit."

He chuckled, "Yeah…right. Same goes for you."

Then we said our good byes to everyone else, Steve came over and faked a punch at me while Two-Bit and Soda had their moment. Then Mrs. Matthews came in with the all fire hugs, kissing each of us on the cheek, tears running down her face, "Be good boys! Be careful and come back to me in one piece!" She cried over and over. I guess I couldn't blame her. She sobbed when she hugged her son, not wanting to let go of him when he thought it should be done.

While she hugged and sobbed over Two-Bit, I turned to Soda, knowing I had to say goodbye to him also. I really couldn't imagine life without his smile and care free attitude around to make me lighten up some. I couldn't imagine how things would be in a world without him. He was my brother, my friend, and I prayed to god he would come back unharmed, and untouched. If the war took away so much as a teaspoon of sugar from his countenance…I sighed. Things would never be the same.

"Darry…" Soda trailed off. He came over and hugged me tight. I pulled him tight and thought about the last time we hugged like that. The night after Pony left, both of us lost in our worlds from such a change.

"Soda…be careful, ya hear?" I swallowed hard, shaking him a little by the shoulders. He grinned that contagious grin of his, letting it spread onto mine.

"Yeah, so long as you do too, Dar. Pony'll be waiting for us."

I nodded, ready to punch him lightly, the way we always did, but didn't get the chance.

"Buses, NOW! You are soldiers, and you have been ordered to report to your busses! Get your asses a'movin'!" Men pushed around us and towards a vehicle that would take them to their doom. I sighed and waved goodbye, watching my brothers smile fade from my view in a crowd of colored protein strands.

No Review alerts today…next time we will cover all of them. But I am at a lack of time this week. And sorry its shorter than normal, but its an update.