The sun seemed hotter in Saigon; an unforgiving sinister being that wanted to burn us for our sins against this beautiful country.

I could only imagine what it would be like to have to battle in this for hours on end with no break from the continuous heat and humidity. At least when I got hot I could just go into my hotel room or to the pool. It scared me to think that Two-Bit was out there somewhere with no or scarce resources...I had to find him but I had been here for 2 weeks with no word on either Two or Steve.

I walked around the market it was bustling with locals, soldiers and journalists. People were begging for money crying out and offering anything they had just to get something to feed their starving children. I gave as much as I could but there were those who you couldn't trust in case they were just faking it. Children chased me surrounding me begging for food, money...anything I had and it broke my heart to say no but what else could I do?

The little boys reminded me of Keith...my son who I missed so much and I was missing his milestones...

The aroma of freshly cooked traditional Vietnamese meals made me hungry...I walked over to one of my favourite stalls and ordered my favourite meal.

"Katerina!" I looked up to see Derik rushing towards me pushing his way through the crowd. "Kate!" he called again I stood up weary of what was happening...were the Vietcong coming? Was there a disaster?

"Derik what is it?" he took a second to gather his breath and recover himself. "There...I'm...Nui Dat." "What?" I shake my head and sit him down. "Take a breath...then tell me." I sit down across from him hoping he might have news...good news about Two-Bit and Steve.

"Chief wants us to go to a base at Nui Dat and report about the station there and the recent battle we won." A little disappointed a slouch and nod my head "Okay but why is that so important." "Because rumour is that's where Keith and Steve were before they went MIA."

I jumped up out of my chair with excitement ready to hug him. "Are you serious?" I squeal his two broad hands push me back in my chair. "Shut up will ya? Don't go drawing attention. Look we leave tomorrow at 0600...be ready." I nod because that's all I could manage to do. "Oh and Kim and I are going to Phung tonight at 6...join us?" I smile and once again nod...words seeming to escape me. He then walks off more calmly this time.

I think now would be an important time to note that when I came here Derik found me and looked after me getting me a job at the local news office as a field journalist so I could find Two and Steve.

...........................................

"And I said you are the most beautiful being I have ever met...let me go out with you so I can tell you that every day." "And I said yes." Kim grinned and kissed Derik. Their love reminded me of mine and Two-Bit's it was a bitter sweet moment. "So how did you and Two-Bit meet?" I was caught a bit off guard but gladly answered. "We met when we were kids, we basically grew up together."

"That's so sweet." She cooed and I smiled back politely not really wanting to talk about Keith or Steve or remember the son I had left behind.

I tried to focus on something else in doing so I realised how similar Kim and Derik looked. Derik had dark brown hair, high cheekbones, tanned skin, chocolate brown eyes that reminded me of Dally's and a slightly wide nose. Kim had jet black hair, tanned skin almost the same shade as Derik's, high cheekbones and chocolate brown eyes.

They started sweet talking and laughing like couples do and I suddenly felt my chest getting extremely tight, like I couldn't breathe. I was getting hot I knew I had to get out of here.

I ran out of the restaurant which was very hard to do in the dress I was wearing.

I ran to the side of the restaurant down a side alley, I threw up the contents of my stomach. I then slouched against the cold brick wall and cried silently. Trying to hold back the tears and regather myself so I could return for dinner.

"Kate?" I heard Kim's gentle voice echo through the alleyway. I looked up to see her crouching beside me. "Oh Kim...I'm...I'm...so sorry. I didn't mean to be such a..." before I could continue she wrapped her arms around me like a mother would. "Don't be...I don't know how you are doing this. If Derik went missing it would kill me." She pulls away and continues to comfort me after 5 minutes I let her take me back inside.

Before we got back inside though Derik met us out the front "It's getting to crowded in there...and besides we have to be up early tomorrow anyway." I nod and follow them back to the markets.

I was looking around watching as people hurried around in a graceful way that I could never explain. I saw a small boy lugging a sack around he appeared to be struggling. "Little boy do you need some help?" I asked he looked at be petrified and ran off before I could stop him. I frowned and crouched down to see what was in the sack. A scrambled mess of multi-coloured wires attached to a box with red beeping numbers that seemed to be counting down and was currently at 10.

"RUN!!!! EVERYBODY RUN!!!! IT'S A BOMB!!! RUN!!!" I screamed as loudly as I could. Derik and Kim stared at me in disbelief for a second whilst the locals ran about screaming and gathering children stalls and set ups being knocked over everywhere.

"RUN!" I screamed again and pushed them to run. They did Derik took Kim's hand and I ran after them but Kim broke away I spun to see why and saw a chid standing still. Kim ran after the little girl who was crying for her mother confused by the anarchy. "KIM NO!" I screamed out and ran after her Derik pulled me back by my arm. "NO! STAY HERE!" my mind was a flurry of what to do. Should I run after the girl I barely knew but was so kind to me? Or should I stay here so I can return to my baby boy?

I wanted to run after her but my feet wouldn't move and before I knew I was thrown back by an immense extremely hot force. All I heard was screams of pain before I blacked out.