DISCLAIMER: This fan fiction story is based on characters and situations created by Randall Wallace. Any other characters or situations are sole property of the author, Lindsay Leigh. Thanks, and any comments please e-mail me.

Chapter 1
Protection

"Don't do it, Danny. Don't go on this mission. You've got nothing to prove." Rafe pleaded with his best friend on the beach of Florida.

Danny was surprised. He had never seen Rafe beg before. Never. "You've been trying to protect me since we were kids."

Rafe wanted to give up. He wanted to forget about it, and let his friend do this, but something inside him would not let him. "You can't leave Evelyn behind. Not like I did. Believe me, it'll be the biggest mistake of your life."

"Why are you so intent on not letting me do this?" Danny asked

Rafe's thoughts were, for once in his life, jumbled. Part of him wanted to give up and let him go, the other wanted to knock him unconscious and drag him back to Hawaii. While his mind was in a frenzy, four people came up behind him. Danny acknowledged them with a wave of his hand, but did not say anything. He had never seen Rafe so frustrated and hurt.

Rafe did not see the men standing behind him, and finally said, "Evelyn's pregnant."

Danny coughed as if coughing could remove the words just said. "What? How did you-"

"She told me when I was packing at the hotel at Pearl, just before we left for the states." He noticed the confusion on Danny's face was not leaving. "I was angry, at both of you. I think she just wanted to tell me something she couldn't tell you until you came back."

Danny was shocked, more than shocked, he was stunned, so stunned that the words he wanted to say would not come out. It was as if his tongue had been frozen.

Colonel Doolittle, Red, Anthony, and Goose were all standing behind Rafe, and, feeling extremely awkward, began to walk away. Danny stood up, and halted them. "Colonel Doolittle, I can't go on this mission."

Rafe turned suddenly. He had no idea those men were there. Colonel Doolittle nodded his head, "I understand, Captain. I will find someone to replace you."

Danny thanked the Colonel, and left the five men to pack. "I didn't know anyone else was here." Rafe explained.

"Don't worry, son. Had I not heard this, I probably wouldn't have let him leave. Walker's a good kid, and you're a good friend." He then walked back to the base to find a replacement for Danny.

Evelyn had been working around the clock at the hospital with her friends, Barbara, Sandra, and Fiona, a nurse hired after Betty's death. There were so many people to help. Evelyn spent most of her time trying to worry about their health and safety, besides Rafe's and Danny's. Mostly because she was actually all the sick soldiers could depend on. Most couldn't even write their own letters, unlike Rafe and Danny who could choose.

No one had suspected her pregnancy, as of yet. There was too much work to be done. Fiona, Evelyn's new roommate, had often inquired about her health since Evelyn had just began morning sickness, but it took place more than in the morning. Evelyn had just told Fiona that she was fine, it was probably just the heat, and left it at that. She had no wish to make a relationship with any one else, besides the sadly missed Betty.

Barbara had been torn up after Billy's death, but didn't let it stop her from doing her work. Sandra tried to keep up with everyone. She was disappointed in herself for not keeping a more steady mind when the tragedy occurred, but she made up for it in her many hours of work. She worked more hours than any of the nurses.

Evelyn, Barbara, and Sandra had grown much closer since December Seventh. All of them had lost somebody, not just Betty, but other friends they had made. Barbara missed Billy, Sandra missed Joe, and Evelyn, though she never said it out loud, missed Rafe. For she knew, and her friends knew too, that Rafe and Evelyn would never be able to compensate for the months they lost, and the man in between them, named Danny.

One night, when all the girls were off work, including Sandra, they decided to have a nice quiet evening at their quarters.. Fiona was very interested in what the girls had been through during the attack, and before. Barbara told her of Billy, Sandra spoke of Joe, they all remembered Betty, but when Fiona asked Evelyn what she went through. Evelyn couldn't hold back the tears. Barbara and Sandra tried to comfort her, but she would not, and could not, be comforted now.

The girls spoke words of understanding, saying, "It's all right, Ev," and "I know what you're going through." That last phrase caught Evelyn by surprise, and she jumped away from them.

"No you don't!" She said, "I would rather live my life alone than have to face both men, and tell them who I love more." She slumped into a chair behind her. She spoke the next words quietly, as if she was afraid to say it, but knew she had to in order to be comforted herself. "I love Rafe."

Barbara and Sandra were about to speak, but Evelyn wasn't finished yet, "But I'm going to marry Danny."

Both girls were shocked at this, "Don't feel an obligation to make Danny happy. It's all about your happiness."

"You're right." Evelyn said, standing, and placing her hand on her belly. "My happiness is important, but I think I'll be happy knowing that I kept my honor."

"What are you talking about, Ev?" Barbara asked.

She gestured to her stomach once again, "I'd like you to meet Danny's child."

Index | End of Innocence