*I don't own The Outsiders.

(Leslie's POV)

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For the first month I jumped every time I heard a loud sound. Dumb bombs, guided bombs, fuel air explosives, and others could all be heard in the distance. Growing up with my Dad most my life, he'd told me about war. He was a general in World War II, brought home due to injury. He spent most of his service in the Japanese Volcano Islands, more specifically Iwo Jima.

I spent most of my childhood listening to tales about his days in war. Memories he claimed you want to forget but never will, memories you cherish, and memories of pain and fear. Father certainly wasn't one for fairy tales, but I listened.

As the United States announced the draft for Vietnam, my heart soar to my throat. I don't want any of my friends here. I was in an army base, one of the safe places and I am still scared stiff. I can't imagine seeing Darry, Soda, Steve, Two-Bit, Johnny, Pony, or even Dallas in this hell hole, dogging fire.

I shuddered at the mental images.

I don't care how tough they are, I'll do anything to protect them.

For weeks now I've watched wounded men wheel in and out. I've helped with surgeries, helping with things only doctors should be allowed to do. I came as nurse, but I was going to leave with the knowledge and experience of a doctor.

Men came in crying, maimed. Every cry ripped through me; I hated seeing people in pain. I've made it a personal goal to help those who are in pain, that's why I'm here. That and to please my militaristic Father. I'd do anything to make him proud.

I worked mechanically from lack of sleep. Cleaning wounds here, re-bandaging, cleaning soiled sheets, murmuring comforting words where they're needed, throwing sheets over the bodies that need to be flown home for a proper funeral. The good and bad come together, I'm not perfect and I can't save everyone.

The soldiers who are injured are almost lucky. They get to go home, maybe just for the time it takes for them to heal, but they're going home. Those who are injured severely but make it through will be discharged. Sometimes I wonder if they feel it's worth the pain.

If I were a soldier, I think it would be. I think it would be worth nearly dying to go home and stay there with the people I care about. I see soldiers come in here, injured, due to the fact they're high. Heroin, or diacetyl morphine, seems to be popular among the soldiers. They wouldn't have tried it unless it guaranteed somewhat of an escape from the horrors around them.

I couldn't blame them for turning to drugs, especially after all I've heard and witnessed. I've taken care of numerous men who are going through withdrawal from the drug, not pretty. Another horrendous thing to add onto the list.

I stumbled to my room, which I share with a few other nurses who work here. I don't think I've gotten an entire eight hours sleep since I left Tulsa. My heart twinged, I wondered how it was going there.

I've been meaning to call but I never find the time. The phones are always going down, so I never know when they even work. I miss everyone so much. I was homesick. I thought the year in Texas would help me get use to being away. If anything, I regret going to Texas to my Mom's. I wish I stayed with the gang.

Knowing Darry, he's probably watching the news everyday. Watching some of the footage they put on there. He was upset when I left for 'Nam, I knew he would be. He spent weeks trying to convince me to just nurse at a hospital instead of going to nurse in the war.

I find myself wondering if he was right. No, no he wasn't. I needed to do this, for my country and my Dad and for all those I knew I could help. This was real action and a part of me absolutely loved it, another part wanted to run and cry for a safe warm bed where I wouldn't hear the distant sounds of fighting and men moaning.

XXX

I woke up with a jolt when I heard the loud boom of a bomb going off. A bomb that shook the entire base. I knew with a sinking feeling that something was wrong. The enemy was here and was attacking us.

I'd prepared myself for something like this. There was no use in me telling myself it wouldn't happen, I always knew there was a possibility. Underneath my bunk, I yanked out the black leather bag that I had filled with food, blankets, bandages, medications, and other supplies I might need it if I had to get out of here.

Yelling at the other girls to stop screaming, I told them to follow me. Before I even left Tulsa, I had memorized a map of the area I would be in. Every time I moved, I found a map and memorized that. I did this in case I ever needed to run and had to find the next base.

The lights went out and I heard screams and gunfire too close for comfort. A bullet hole appeared through the wall across from me. I swallowed, thinking about my Father's cool and calm exterior, hoping he passed that down to me. With that, I gathered some of the others who were close and left.

It was pitch black as I made my way into the hall. I felt vibrations under my feet from explosions, the sounds were deafening, yet I could still hear the dying moans of soldiers from both sides. I'd cry about that later, now I needed to get us the hell out of here.

A hard jolt rocketed us to the floor, a wall crumbled on us. I screamed as one pierced the soft flesh of my calf. Scared to look, I shot a glance at my leg. A small piece of metal stuck out. I wasn't even out of the base and already had an injury, I tugged the metal. It slid out, slick with my blood. My scream echoed in my ears along with my heartbeat thudding. The other girls were all crying. Mary was having a panic attack by the looks of it.

I grabbed her by the shoulder and shouted over the noise of battle, "Get a hold of yourself, we can panic later! Do you understand me?!"

She nodded, tears falling on my arms. I helped a couple girls to get to their feet. We tripped over rubble in the dark, moving slow but steadily. I lead them, we gathered a few soldiers form the infirmary, adding numbers to out group. Safety in numbers? Hopefully.

Outside, clouds of smoke filled the night sky. The humid jungle air making me perspire more than I did in the collapsing ruins of the army base I'd spent the last three months of my life at. Dead and wounded bodies dotted the jungle floor as far as I could see. Small fires surrounding us.

I knew which way it was to the next base. I signaled for the others to follow me and explained where we were going. It was a far walk to the next base. The pain in my leg making it difficult, the bandaging I had brought with me was barely enough for all of us. I could feel blood drizzling down my leg.

I prayed I'd be able to make it to the base. The others had an idea of where to go, but I knew exactly. I was tired and aching, I felt weaker than I had ever before. I kept going, I couldn't abandon them now.

We were all shifting turns carrying Mary, who had broken her wrist. Between the break and panic attack, she was basically going into shock. I'd given her the small amount of food I had and most of the water. I had enough for one or two people to make it to the next base, not the dozen of us, one of them being in shock.

I could still smell the fumes from the explosives. The sounds of men crying out, thankfully, was left behind us long ago.

"Can't we stop?" One of the nurses, whose name I never got, asked, almost begged.

"No," I told her curly. "Most of us are injured, we have limited supplies, and we're in the middle of a jungle that's being used for war. The longer we stay out here with no weapons or anything, the less likely it is we'll all make it back. We're going to keep going until we get there." To soften my harsh words, I placed my hand on her shoulder, "We're all tired and I know you're in pain, but you gotta keep going," I murmured softly, then louder I said, "That goes for everyone. I don't want to leave anyone behind, but I will in order to help others."

No one said anything on the contrary. I don't know how, but they all accepted me as they're leader for now. I was surprise one of the men didn't want to take control, they were use to this kind stuff right?

We continued to shamble through the forest, my thoughts drifted to Tulsa once again.

Please let me make it home.

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Pardon typos. Continue?