Saving Private Whitman
(AKA, Dick Whitman pays it forward)
Blurb: Lieutenant Donald F. Draper resolves to help young Dick Whitman have a better life. AU. Dick Whitman, Lt. Donald F. Draper, Anna Draper, Adam Whitman, Betty Hofstadt, Roger Sterling, Pete Campbell, Freddy Rumsen, Joan Holloway, Peggy Olson. *I OWN NOTHING. MATTHEW WEINER AND LIONSGATE OWN EVERYTHING.
Chapter 2
California, 1952
Corporal Dick Whitman had never been more grateful to step off a plane than he was when he landed in California. He smiled broadly when he spied his former commanding officer standing with a blonde woman among the crowd of well wishers.
"So, you made it back in one piece! Not always an easy feat. Welcome home Corporal!" Don said happily as he hugged his old friend.
"Thank you Lt. Draper! Thank you for taking me in! You don't know what this means to me!" Dick said sincerely.
Don shrugged off Dick's effusive gratitude. "There will be no more of that. And I'm a civilian now, so please call me Don. Come on, I want you to meet my wife. Anna, this is Corporal Richard Whitman, the young man I've been telling you about all these years."
Anna smiled warmly. "Pleased to meet you Corporal. I've heard so much about you."
Dick smiled and shook the woman's hand. "The pleasure is all mine Ma'am. And please, call me Dick."
Dick had filled-out quite a bit since the last time Don had seen him, and he had grown into a very handsome man. Dick cut an impressive figure in his dress uniform and Don noticed with amusement that several of the young ladies in the crowd were staring unabashedly at him. Gone was the scrawny kid he first met two years earlier, and in his place was a well built man who had seen more of the evils of the world than anyone should have at such a young age.
Dick had exchanged letters with his former commanding officer during his time in Korea but he was unaware that the Drapers' modest house was near the beach. Dick was overjoyed because apart from flying over it, he had never really seen the ocean. Dick took a few days off for rest and relaxation and he went to the beach and swam in the ocean. He didn't feel comfortable doing nothing while his hosts went about their usual routines...Anna was a piano teacher and Don was a structural engineer, so he was ready to begin working for Don fairly quickly.
Dick worked tirelessly from nine to five and returned home and enjoyed the company of Anna and Don. Dick especially enjoyed getting to know Don's wife Anna. Dick opened up quite a bit to her, revealing more about himself to her than he ever had to anyone before. Dick admitted to Anna that he had never felt loved by his father or step-mother. He also told her that he had every intention of helping his half-brother Adam get away from home as soon as it was possible. Anna in turn confessed her insecurities to Dick...how she felt that she had let Don down by not being able to bare him any children and carry on the Draper name. Dick assured her that wasn't true and told her about how fondly her husband had spoken of her when they were overseas.
Dick had a tremendous amount of respect for Don and his wife and he aspired to have a life similar to theirs some day. The Drapers had a wonderful marriage. Don and Anna had a true partnership, and that was the kind of marriage that Dick wanted. He also desired to one day have a family and eventually own his own home. All of these ideas had previously felt unrealistic, but because of the generosity of the Drapers, they now felt within his grasp.
One day after living with the Drapers for a few months, Don asked Dick if he had ever thought about what he would like to do for a career.
"I don't know sir...why do you ask?" Dick asked.
"Well, I've been watching you Whitman, and you're not like the other men who work for me."
Dick was alarmed. "Oh, how so?"
Don chuckled. "Relax Dick, it's nothing to worry about. You're a smart kid and you've got a good head on your shoulders. I think with a little more education you could really make something of yourself. How much schooling do you have if you don't mind me asking?"
Dick was ashamed. "I didn't finish high school."
Don nodded in understanding. "I have a suggestion for you. You should go to night school and get your high school equivalency, and then you can get a better idea of what you are good at and what you would like to pursue as a career. You don't want to spend the rest of your life digging holes do you?"
Dick chuckled, "No, I guess not. But how would I pay for it? Where would I live?"
"You can continue to live here and work for me for as long as you want. Anna loves having you here. For so long it's been just the two of us and she was so lonely when I was oversees. I know she thinks of you as the little brother she never had. Anyway, just think about it. I know that you can do something special, kid."
Dick was touched by Don's generosity. He couldn't believe that the Drapers thought so much of him. He had never experienced such unconditional love and support before.
Dick took Don's advice and enrolled in night school classes. He completed the necessary coursework for his high school equivalency and in the process discovered that he had a real talent for writing. Dick continued to work for a Don during the day and he began taking writing classes at the local community college at night. He also took the opportunity to take some art classes, some additional math and business classes and he also learned to type. Dick knew that he would be eternally grateful to the Drapers for giving him the opportunity to get an education and have a better life. He didn't want to think about what he would be doing if if he had returned home to the brothel in Pennsylvania.
After about a year and a half, Dick knew that it was time for him to move out and try to make it on his own. He thanked the Drapers for their hospitality and promised to stay in touch. The Drapers were the first real positive adult influences that he had ever had. They were two of the most selfless people he had ever met and he knew that he would spend the rest of his life trying to find a way to repay them for their generosity.