God, it was so cold. The uncontrollable shaking of his body caused pain to shoot through Danny unmercifully. He could barely see his best friend as darkness clouded his vision, and he felt his life draining away. He wanted to let go, to relax and be free of the torturous pain. There was no way he could make it. He'd saved Rafe's life; that ought to count for something, right? The throbbing pain in his neck where something--metal, perhaps, was wedged caused him to hear the sound of his blood as it pumped through his system. But he was shutting down. He had to tell Rafe to make sure Evelyn knew he loved her with his dying breath. But then, dimly, he heard Rafe's voice.

"You're going to be a father."

What? Danny tried to focus on Rafe's face. His body was numb, his senses dulling, but he could see the tears running down the other man's cheeks; could hear the pleading in his voice as he held Danny close.

Danny tried to get his mind to think. He was so cold, and his brain was numbed from the trauma. What the hell had happened? The crash; the Japanese patrol aiming their guns Rafe's way. Yeah, I remember, Danny thought through the fog in his mind.

He blinked, and looked around, unable to make out the dim figures behind Rafe. Japs? No. They wouldn't be crying. These were his friends. All gathered around him to say goodbye. All of them; he'd become close to them, they were all a family. But Rafe was like a brother. And now, unless Danny's ears were deceiving him, Rafe was telling him he was going to be a daddy?

The image of Evelyn fluttered through his mind. Her beautiful face, her dark hair against his cheek as she held him close, her warm lips beneath his as they made love in the hanger, on the beach. Her last words before Doolittle's Raiders left on their mission: "I love you, Danny". Evelyn was carrying their child. "Evelyn," Danny managed to whisper, and Rafe grinned, nodding his head in encouragement.

"Yes, you can't leave Danny. You can't leave us. I wasn't supposed to tell you; she asked me not to. But if it will help you hang on, then I'll tell you." Rafe said, trying to smile, trying not to hope.

A sob escaped Danny's chest, sending fresh pain shooting through his lungs, his heart and diaphragm. God, it hurt to even try to breathe. But something grabbed hold. Something inside him, stronger than anything he'd ever felt before, flooded his heart and mind, somehow renewing his strength. Somehow giving him that boost he needed to stay alive, in spite of his injuries. Grabbing onto Rafe's jacket, and using every ounce of strength he could muster, Danny raised himself up until his face was within inches of Rafe's.

"I've got to get back to her, Rafe. I've got to see her again," he whispered, and Rafe nodded.

"I know, I know, Danny. You just hang on, we'll get you out of here, do you hear me?" He asked, and Danny whimpered in acknowledgment.

God, it hurt. It was nearly unbearable. But the thought of being a father, of raising a child with Evelyn, being with her forever, somehow sustained him. Danny's vision was clearing. He saw Gooz and Red hurrying toward them with medical kits from the wrecked planes. How they found them in all the mess, Danny didn't know or care. He was going to see Evelyn again. He was going to come home to her if it took everything in his power to stay alive. He was tired, and closed his eyes for a minute.

In his mind, he saw himself and Evelyn, standing together, a dark-haired baby nestled in Evelyn's arms. Danny put his arm around her, touched her face with the back of his hand, and then reached down and placed his finger in their baby's hand. It's tiny fist curled around his finger, and they laughed together, Evelyn's smile as big as ever.

"Danny! Danny, listen to me!" Rafe's voice was raw, jerking him from his dream.

"Stay awake. Try to stay awake. We're getting you fixed up best we can, but you have to stay with us, you understand?" Rafe asked, determination etching his features.

Danny nodded, and grinned lopsidedly.

"You don't have to yell, Rafe. I'm a father." he said, and Rafe nodded.

"Yes, you are, Danny. And you're going to have a hell of a story to tell that kid, you know it?" He said, and Danny grinned again.

He was going to make it. He remembered how Rafe had told him that thinking of Evelyn had kept him alive in the frigid waters of the Atlantic when he was flying for the RAF. Now, thinking of Evelyn was keeping Danny alive.

"Rafe," Danny whispered, and his friend looked up from dressing his wounds.

"If I don't make it, if you misread the map on the way home or something," he said, and Rafe frowned.

Was the kid going out of his mind? He had a right to, as badly hurt as he was. Rafe could see a small sparkle in Danny's eyes.

"I don't think that will happen, Danny." Rafe said, and Danny shook his head.

"You're going to be my kid's godparent, so one of us better make it back." he said, a small smile on his lips.