Title: American Victory

Author: Stacee Phelps

Disclaimer: 'Pearl Harbor' does not belong to me and I am not getting paid for writing this. Any and all characters belong to Randall Wallace and Touchstone Pictures.

Author's Note: A couple of years ago, I had actually written a 'Pearl Harbor' fic detailing how Danny felt as he died. See, he is my favorite. But since then, I've gotten to see Rafe's side of things and it just struck me watching the movie again how much he really would have lost and or felt at Danny's death. He was essentially the big brother in the relationship and obviously the protector. And then Danny died for him?

Sorry, I had to write it. But, as I did, I thought of at least two other people's perspectives as well, so this will not be the only chapter.

So, please just read and review!

PH

Clouds passed the window, the sun shining through them to fill the cabin of the plane. Silence reigned, even in the midst of their victory in Japan. For even though the mission had succeeded in every way imaginable, it was very hard for seasoned survivors to celebrate while fallen comrades laid in their coffins only feet away. The Doolittle raid would be looked upon as the beginning of American victory for World War II, but those who had come out of China alive knew something different.

Rafe McCawley sat motionless in his seat, turned back towards the back of the plane. Four pinewood coffins sat lined up, within holding the bodies of the brave who had lost their lives in the tactical strike. His blue eyes remained locked on one, his gaze unmoving, his stare unblinking. Within that specific coffin laid the body of his best friend. A person that he had never failed to think of as his little brother, and a man that despite everything that had happened with the woman they both loved, sacrificed his life for Rafe.

Danny Walker had paid the ultimate price to not only keep his country safe but also to guarantee that the person he loved most would not die. He had already gone through that torture and when he had actually been given the chance to protect Rafe, he had literally leapt at the chance.

Completely unthinkingly, Danny had tackled the Japanese soldier that was about to kill his best friend, unknowingly ensuring his own death.

Choking back the tears that threatened once more, Rafe had to close his eyes against the emotions that swelled through him. Before this, he had not thought of how Danny must have felt when receiving word that he had died in England. Now, it was likened to a sledgehammer hitting every molecule of his heart. Losing the one person that had always been there, through thick and thin and was possibly the only one on the entire planet who knew Rafe better then he knew himself, was the greatest tragedy he had ever known.

And once more, the words that he had spat at Danny the night he had returned from the dead rushed through his mind. Only now, months after the actual fight between them, did he recall the hurt and anguish in Danny's voice as he repeated Rafe's accusation. 'Call me a lousy friend!'

Unable to fight back a sob, Rafe dropped his chin to his chest to try and rein in his emotions. He knew that the others had lost friends as well, but he also knew that they were looking on him with pity. Every one of them recognized how close Danny Walker and Rafe McCawley were, Oh, Good Lord, had been and none were faulting the other man for his grief. Especially taking into consideration that Danny had taken two bullets for the older man.

He couldn't stop it. His face scrunching up with the effort of masking his sobs, Rafe bent over until his head was practically between his legs. His last few moments with his friend wouldn't stop replaying through his head! Every pained gasp, every agonized sob… Remembering his own agony at realizing that Danny wasn't going to survive this.

Danny cracking jokes at the last minute 'Do me a favor… Have someone else write my name on the tombstone?' Damn it! Rafe had been desperately trying to reassure the injured man, but Danny had turned it all around on him. He was the oldest; he had always looked out for his friend! No matter what the other needed, Rafe had struggled to provide it. And nothing beat the feeling as when he managed to come through and Danny looked up at him with something akin to hero-worship in his eyes… Rafe could do no wrong in Danny Walker's book.

After everything, the only memories Rafe could bring to mind were tarnished by Danny's last moments. Closing his eyes even tighter, he could easily and vividly recall every thing he saw, felt, heard, touched, and every realization.

From recognizing at once that Danny was hurt bad, to hearing the other confirm it, to him needing to give Danny something to hold on to. Rafe had hoped that knowing that he was going to be having a child with Evelyn, the woman Danny loved, would enable him to fight. But it had been a losing battle the moment the bullets hit.

People, war veterans mostly, spoke about how they would have phantom pains in their arms or legs after an appendage had been amputated, but Rafe had never truly believed them. Never believed until now.

He could still feel Danny's fingers grasping his flight jacket, the material twisted in his fingers. Rafe could still feel his chin against Danny's forehead as the man drew his last breath. At that instant, that moment in time, as he drew his last breath, it seemed as if he took Rafe's right along with him.

He had pleaded and he had begged. But Danny had still gone.

It felt like something had been torn away from him, something he was never going to get back.

PH

Sorry it's so short, but there were just these emotions I HAD to get out.

But, thanks for reading!