Ok all: I know it's been SO long and I do apologize. I really wanted to get this chapter right…and I obsessed over it…so with much ado…

And also…I am actually going to be moving on Monday…a 30 hour drive awaits me…so needless to say I am not looking forward to it and I probably won't be able to update for two weeks or so until I get settled. But the good news is that I already have the next two chapters drafted…so hopefully they'll come fast!

Wish me luck!

Enjoy and please leave reviews!! 

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Twenty-twenty-twenty four hours to go I wanna be sedated

Nothin' to do no where to go-o-oh I wanna be sedated

Just get me to the airport put me on a plane

Hurry hurry hurry before I go insane

I can't control my fingers I can't control my brain

Oh no oh oh oh oh

-The Ramones

XXXX

Ponyboy's POV

"Whatcha doin' kiddo?"

Startled, the glasses I had been carrying slipped in my hands. Juggling them quickly I managed to save them before they crashed to the kitchen floor. "Glory! Sodapop, you scared me to death!"

Amused, my brother eyed me. "Might jumpy ain't we?"

"Sorry," I mumbled, "but what are you doing home? I thought you had work tonight."

Soda swung his DX cap off and plopped it on my head. "You thought wrong. Today's Tuesday. I get off at 4, remember?"

"No, I didn't." I shut my eyes briefly, knowing that lately my mind had been a million miles away. Then I snapped them open with unease. "Soda, what time does Darry get home?"

Giving me an odd look, he replied, "Five. Why do you want us out of the house so bad?"

Crap. And I thought I had it all planned out.

Before I could say anything Soda's eyes widened and his face broke out into a teasing smile. "Ponyboy Curtis. Do you have a date?"

I groaned, suddenly wishing I did. I never would have thought that having my brothers meet a new girlfriend would be a lot easier than having them meet Sergeant Caplan. Once again, my two different lives were crossing paths. It had successfully happened once with Shep and Crock but I doubted it this time.

Caplan was the one who basically told Darry to go take a flying leap; he was keeping me in the Army. So based on that, I had a pretty good idea Caplan wasn't too popular with Darry.

And with Soda...well it would just remind him of Vietnam. And the time that I was gone.

Sighing, I stared with resignation at a grinning Soda, waiting for the smile to fade. "No." I rubbed the back of my head. "You remember my old sergeant…well I ran into him a few weeks ago…he's living here now…and he's coming over tonight…" I trailed off uneasily, waiting for Soda's reaction.

The smile stayed plastered on his face, although I could see his jaw stiffen, the smile a bit more forced. "Huh. Small world," was all he said.

"Soda…if you want we could do it another night…" I offered lamely.

"No, no, no," he said. "I'll need to be here to play ref between him and Darry." Then he shot me a real grin. It had taken a minute, but as always, he understood.

"Wait, you don't think it's going to be that bad do you?" I called out after him as he went into his room to change. He merely laughed at me. I frowned, wondering if Soda was jerking me around or being serious.

The doorbell rang just as I was imagining the disastrous night that could lie ahead. "Shit," I said, rushing to the door. Before I could get to it, the door swung open and Two-Bit and Steve sauntered in, Caplan behind them, looking amused. Two-Bit carried a pack of beer, Steve a grubby piece of mechanical equipment.

"Curtis," he told me, "I seem to have stumbled into your friends."

Two-Bit and Steve stared at me curiously, awaiting introductions. Man, I hated these.

"This is…William Caplan…my Sergeant in the army. He's teaching a few college courses here."

The seemed at a loss until Two-Bit cleared his throat. "Keith Matthews," he said seriously, extending his right hand, which Caplan pumped heartily.

I gaped at Two-Bit's unusual display of normality. Steve, choking back a laugh, followed Two-Bit's example. "Steve," he said briskly, shaking hands with Caplan.

"What'd I miss?" Soda asked, coming out from his bedroom barefoot.

"Sarge, this is my brother Sodapop." They stared at each other, until Caplan's eyes crinkled as he smiled at my brother.

"Nice to meet the real Sodapop," Caplan said.

Soda nodded. "Thank you," he said softly. Instantly, the room quieted. We all got the hidden meaning behind Soda's words.

Caplan, as smooth as always, merely said, "Not a problem." Then he glanced at the case of beer Two-Bit was carrying. "You gonna drink all those yourself?"

XXXX

An hour or so later, we were all into our second beer, lounging around the living room.

I had breathed a sigh of relief that Caplan had not chosen to sit in Darry's recliner. Now that would have definitely been an awkward moment.

Instead, Two-Bit now occupied it, Caplan and me on the couch, Soda and Steve sprawled out on the ground. Steve and Soda were trying to multi-task; fooling around with an engine they had disassembled earlier at work.

It was odd seeing Caplan out of his element, relaxing with us. Yet, to me he was still a figure of authority. His brown hair was graying slightly, but he was as trim as ever. He was wearing blue jeans and a button up shirt with the cuffs rolled up. I kept seeing him in his uniform…I wondered if he thought the same about me.

Caplan looked at me with interest. "Tell me something, Curtis. Do you still run as fast as you used to?"

"Yes, sir. I won the state track meet last year."

Two-Bit and Steve raised their eyebrows. "Sir? Sir?" Two-Bit guffawed, his serious pretense gone now that he had some alcohol in his system. "Listen to you. Hey Steve, check out Mr. Manner's over here."

I rolled my eyes and Steve did as well. "Oh man. Living with this guy is really taking it's toll on me," he joked."

"Take a lesson, Two-Bit," Soda laughed. Already, I could tell he liked Caplan. Everyone did.

Caplan chuckled lightly. "You sure could run," he mused. Soda glanced at me briefly and then ducked his head, busying himself with the engine.

"Yeah, I sure came in handy when it came time to run ammo across Gook territory," I said sarcastically.

Two-Bit spoke up. "At least the Socs were good for something Ponyboy. They kept you on your toes. Gave you some experience."

How true that was…

Caplan, tapped his cane against the floor, deep in thought. I watched Soda's eyes flicker to it, to his leg and then back to me. Caplan saw it too. "Don't mind the leg," he said to Soda. "I just got in the way of some shrapnel."

Steve covered for his embarrassed best friend. "How long were you over there for?"

"About five years…give or take. Although it feels a helluva lot longer than-"

We barely heard Darry come in, but the slamming of the front door jolted all of us. Quickly, I scanned his face, praying to god that Dana hadn't sent him home in a pissy mood.

"Did I miss the party?" he asked.

"No, there's still time. Jump in," Soda offered.

Darry's eyes fell upon Caplan, who smoothly stood up, hand resting on his cane.

"Hello Darrel," Caplan said easily.

Despite only meeting once, Darry recognized Caplan. His eyes grew dark and he made no attempt to offer a hand. "What are you doing here?"

Then I was up and off the couch. Sometimes I still forgot that I was 17 and now actually had a say in the house. "Darry," I interjected firmly, "Relax."

Darry spoke to me but his eyes were still on Caplan. "How'd you two run into each other?"

I knew Darry's fear then…shoot it was the same as mine: the past rearing its ugly head.

"I'm taking one of his courses in the fall."

Gritting his jaw, Darry nodded slowly. "Ok. Ok." He took a quick look at me and then turned back to Caplan. "Well, I'm sure I'll see you around," he said flatly.

And I knew that was all he could say right now, all he could to do keep his temper in check. But I was still annoyed. I mean, Christ make an effort, Darry, I wanted to whine.

"Good to see you Darrel," Caplan said.

"Sorry," I mumbled to Caplan as he made way to leave.

He waved me off. "I'm sure you and I both expected this. Don't worry about it. Keep in touch, Curtis." He slapped my shoulder gruffly and left the house.

"I think that went well," I told the tongue-tied room, before glaring at Darry. Soda rolled onto his back and pretended to pray.

Sighing, Darry shook his head. "Pony…just…don't…" Then Darry looked pointedly at Two-Bit who was in his chair. "Move," he grumbled.

Two-Bit jumped out of the chair; his arms out like an usher. "Your grace," he said as Darry took his seat.

Soda, breaking the staring contest Darry and I were having, asked, "Pone, come help me with these bottles, willya?"

I grabbed a few up but Darry had one last question to ask me as I was leaving the room. "So, Pony. What exactly is the course you're taking?"

Stopping in my tracks, I turned around and faced him. "The History of War," I told him evenly.

XXXX

Ok…pardon any typos…I wrote this kinda late and fast…I wanted to get one final chapter out before I take a few weeks hiatus.

Enjoy, please leave reviews, mumblings, incantations, and things like that! ;)