Soda-

My heart pounded as I took shaky steps towards Darry's room. Jenny had called us last night and said she was staying the night with Darry. So this morning Pony and I had breakfast then headed over here. My head pounded with a thousand different thoughts running through my head. I was angry, scared and nervous.

Am I just supposed to forgive him? Will I be able to sit in the same room with him? Can I look into his blue eyes and stand to look at him? He lied to me, he betrayed me, but he cares and loves me. I couldn't help but wonder how I would handle seeing him again. How can he look so much like Dad but be so different. Dad wouldn't have lied to me like that. Fear of guns or not, Dad wouldn't have do that.

Dad would have patted me on the shoulder and said, "So it will be alright. You're a man now. I trust that you can handle yourself. You're not a little boy any more." Darry's message said this (Or at least to me.), "You're still a boy. You don't have enough balls to be a soldier. So as your big brother I'll go in your place." It made me furious to think that he went in my place.

With a clenched jaw and fists balled at my side, I took a step into his room. I couldn't look at him, his blue icy eyes melted into mine. The anger rising as it boiled my heart, i swear steam must have been coming out of my ears. I took a step towards my older brother and my eyes locked with his. He stood on his own two feet look stronger and hugged Pony. I took that step towards him and angrily stood close. I wanted to run from this room, escape the sight of my older brother.

He walked towards me dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and a light jacket. The bandage wrapped gently around his head where the wound was. He reached his arms to embrace me and I took a step back. I stared deep into his eyes to see pain, sorrow and hurt. He placed his hand on my shoulder and I simply pushed his action away. I couldn't move as the devil in me took over.

I punched him square in the nose. His nose bled and the crimson stained his white shirt. He held his nose in surprised and locked eyes with me. The anger raised up in him and he stood his jaw clenched tightly. His hands balled into fists hanging limply at his side. My rage grew just looking at him. I wanted so badly for him just to hit me back.

"Hit me if you think you're man enough.", Darry growls

I swung a punch at my older brother. He bent backward and felt my knuckles swish past his nose. I paused, listening for movement. The whisper of a footstep to my left. Darry turned, lashed out blindly, felt his fist connect with my muscled flesh, Darry heard a soft "Oomph."

I turned at the sound of running feet. A body ran into me as I stood there. I hit t the wall with a thundering crash and an "Oomph". Darry held me tight, my back held to the wall, all his strength and rage focused on me. He growled violently , I coward slight to avoid his gaze. His knee connected to my gut, I winched slightly as as blows hit. His eyes meet mine, our eyes locking and feelings rushing to the surface. The guilt, pain, anger and hurt evident in our eyes. His eyes an icy cold blue deadlier and deadlier with each passing moment.

"You don't seem to give a damn that I went through hell for you.", Darry says coldly

"Damn you.", I screamed at him

I pushed my way through his tight embrace slightly, still pinned down by his arms. I was able to put a bit of face between us and I kneed him in the family jewels. He whined at the pain. He nearly fell over from the pain of my knee to his sensitive bits. He tightly his grip on my and closed the distance between us. We hadn't t fought physically since we were boys. Grown men fighting like little boys.

I was limp as a rag doll,my chest hurting and my head spinning. It was a miracle I was still on my feet. I was able to escape his hold and through a blow. The blow meet his mouth and he bit his lip causing his lips to bled. The crimson stained his shirt and mine, we fought on unto we could no longer. Our eyes locking, our pants heard and our bodies aching.

She helped Darry to stop the bleeding and cleaned him up. Pony held me tight in embrace as my body shook with anger and my knees threaten to buckle underneath me. I sobbed into my younger brother's shirt and allowed myself to me lost.I could feel the bruises that could follow the painful blows I received. My chest aching, my head spinning and my body bruised. My knuckles were heavily bruised and everything ached.

Darry had a busted lip, bloody nose and bruising. I had bruising as well and a bump on my head where I hit my head when I was slammed against the way. Pony held me rocking us gently. My breathing raggedy and I found it hard to catch my breath as my ribs were sore. I calmed down in the safe warm embrace of my brother's.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. I'm very busy between speech season, parley pro team, school, youth group and other various things in my life. So here's the next chapter, I'll update either tomorrow or Saturday. It might be late if I post it on Friday, I have practice and I'm working. I have a little boy I'm babysitting. Heads up, next will be insane for scheduling but We'll make it work. I hope you have a great Valentines' Day.

Free As A Bird 98