Pearl Harbor: Life After the Raid

Rafe McCawley stared at the beautiful Hawaiian sunset. Today was the day he had buried his best friend. His brother, his partner in crime and in the air. The only man he could probably trust with all his might. Probably the only man he could actually call a hero.

Rafe had lost everything in a short amount of time. First he had lost Evelyn, the only women he had ever loved and probably will always love. And now he had lost his best friend.

"Danny, you can't die. You can't die. You know why? 'Cause you're gonna be a father. You're gonna be a daddy. I wasn't supposed to tell you. You're gonna be a father." Rafe cried.

A smile formed on Danny's pained expression.

"No, you are." Danny muttered before death over took him.

Tears were running down Rafe's sad face.

Rafe wiped the lone tear drop that tailed along his rough skin. He had promised himself and Danny that he wouldn't shed anymore tears. Knowing full well Danny wouldn't have wanted that.

He looked at the sky, which was darkening by the minute and saw a flock of birds flying towards the horizon.

"Land of the free." Rafe said loyally.

"Home of the brave." Danny finished.

He looked down at the sand and saw his black oxfords by his side. He was in his elegant American uniform.It was black in memory of the men who had died on December seventh and on the raid.

Rafe knew he should be heading back to his quarters. Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle and himself were being shipped to the White House come morning to receive a medal for their actions that day. Yet he didn't want to leave the spot he was in. He didn't want to face the world that was behind him. He wanted to stand here and stare at the sun for hours. He wanted to go back in time and find a way to keep Danny from going on that mission. Maybe he would have succeeded and both Danny and Evelyn would have been happily married and happily expecting the arrival of their baby.

But he knew he couldn't have possibly said or done nothing that would have made Danny change his mind about this mission. Both Red and Gooz had told him repeatedly that it wasn't his fault. Yet he felt like it was.

I should have been the one to die. Not Danny. He had everything going for him. He was going to be a father. He was going to be a great husband to Evelyn.

Evelyn Johnson. His sweet loving Evelyn. Rafe had been avoiding her since the day he came back from the raid. After their brief hug they both shared that day he came back, he hadn't spoken to her. They saw one another at the funeral, but he avoided her then to.

That was the reason why he was standing here in the abandon beach, alone. He knew she was looking for him. Red had told him so. He didn't want to talk to her at that moment. He didn't know what to say to her.

Rafe had made a silent promise to Danny that he would take care of his son. But by doing so he would have to face Evelyn. And maybe she didn't want him to be part of her and Danny's child's life.

Rafe let out a tired sigh. He hadn't had much sleep that whole week. It was taking a toll on his health. He was thinner than he was a couple of months ago, he could say that much.

Once the last ray of sunshine was disappearing, Rafe started to walk away. He turned around one last time and sadly smiled at the darkened horizon.

Goodbye Danny. You were the best friend a man like me could ever have.