Ok-the last chapter didn't really have a point. Just wanted to show what was happening back home at home.
We will get to PB soon…do you worry my pretties. Haha.
Well…here is another chapter. Hope you enjoy and thanks for the reviews….leave me some more…
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Darry POV
The ringing of the phone woke me up. I groaned, rolling over to glance at the time. 8:30. Soda wouldn't get it so that left me. Hurriedly I stumbled out of bed, ran into the living room and grabbed the phone up.
"Hello?" I asked, trying to stifle a yawn.
A voice cleared its throat over the phone and then gruffly asked, "Is Darrel Curtis available?"
Shit. Conversations that start off like this never are good.
"This is he."
"Darrel, this is Sergeant Caplan…your brother's-Ponyboy's- commanding officer…we spoke last June…"
"I remember you," I said, a lump forming in my throat. I looked around for a chair. I had a feeling I would need one.
Caplan cleared his throat again, saying roughly, "I am calling to inform you that your brother has gone MIA." A pause. "Missing in Action."
"I know what it means." Weakly, I slipped into the chair, covering my eyes with a hand.
"I thought I should be the one to tell you. We've been looking for him for a week-"
The hand fell from my eyes. I gripped the phone tighter. "A week? He's been missing for a week and I am just now finding out about it?" I was nearly shouting. "Do you know where he is? What the hell happened?"
"We've been doing everything in our power to find him," Caplan tried to explain, sounding confused at what had happened. "It was during an ambush…he tried to help a squad leader and during the commotion…disappeared. I think the Charlie's took him."
I shut my eyes.
He continued. "Since then we've all been looking for him. I didn't want to call you, worry you for nothing in case we found him, but we haven't…" he trailed off.
I sat stunned. Bleakly I said, "Tell me you'll find him."
"I will. Lord knows I'm not going to lose another kid," he mumbled to himself. Then he remembered he was still on the phone with me. "I'll keep you posted. I hope we can send him home to you." He hung up, his grim promise filling the air.
Slamming the phone down, I sat breathing heavily. Fears and regrets washed over me.
I never said goodbye to him
I never said I loved him
I was too hard on him
I-
"Darry?" Sodapop asked. I jumped, knocking the phone off its cradle. He had woken up and had been standing in front of me unseen for who knows how long. He stared at me, his brown eyes puzzled.
"Soda!" I exclaimed, then trying to calm down said, "don't scare me like that." I laughed uneasily.
He frowned. "Something's wrong."
Dammit. Obviously a jumpy Darry gave it all away.
"Sit down Soda."
"No." He started to shake. Soda's face was pale, thinking the worst.
His fear pushed mine away. Reaching out, I grabbed his wrist, holding it firmly in my grip. I wasn't taking any chances. I knew he'd run when I told him.
"Darry-" his began, his voice breaking.
"Listen to me, Sodapop. I just got a call from the Army. Pony has been missing in action for about a week now. They're trying to find him."
He blinked and shook his head. "A week? Why…"
"I know. I asked them the same question."
It was too much for him; he struggled in my grip. Then Soda's face crumpled. "That's why we haven't gotten any letters," he nearly sobbed. I pulled him down into the chair across from me and helplessly watched him cry.
He quieted and sniffled. "You can let go now Darry," he half-laughed, half-choked. "I'm not gonna go any where." I looked down, realizing I had still been holding his wrist.
"You ok?" I asked.
He shrugged. "As ok as I can be. You?"
Instead of answering I grabbed him by the shoulders, hugging him. When we broke apart, we saw Two-Bit and Steve standing in the living room, looking at us with worry.
I sighed, "C'mere," and got ready to break the news to a few more people.
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Another quick update will be coming soon….!
