Disclaimer:/ I do not own Pearl Harbor! Simply the O/C characters.

Note: This might be historically inaccurate.

Thank you so much for the review and story follows! It truly inspires me to continue this story.

This Means War

The car pulled up at our driveway. Danny and I took a few minutes to let the events of today sink in. After a deep breath I stepped out of the car and went inside the house, Danny soon followed.

"I-uhm. I'm going to go wash up." I pointed upstairs. "You should too." I suggested and he agreed.

Going up to my room I closed the door behind me and slowly headed to the bathroom. My house had two bathrooms, one in the master bedroom and the other in the hallway. I took off the slippers feeling the cool touch of the linoleum floor. Removing the apron drenched in dry blood, slipping off my once light blue dress, I slowly got in the tub. Soaking my body getting rid of all the blood stained on my skin. Scrubbing my skin to its raw core, feeling my skin feel very sensitive. For every rough scrub a flashback of earlier today would cross my mind. Once I finished bathing I slipped into a silk nightgown and headed out.

"I uhm-do ya' have any clean clothes I can sleep in?" Danny sheepishly asked. He was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. Droplets running down from his hair onto his perfectly chiseled body.
"Uh yeah...yeah..." It was like as if my mind and body were on autopilot, I can't really remember much some memories are a blur.

Years later Danny would recall what happened next, he told me I froze and that he did what he thought would help...he embraced me. He told me I began to cry hysterically and pound my fist onto his chest and kept yelling why did this happen to us! Danny said he simply replied I don't know and held me tighter. After that my mind gets clearer and I remember what happened that night. I remember looking into his eyes, into those perfect pair of brown eyes and letting my feelings show.

"My biggest fear of was never seeing you again." I confessed.
"That was my fear too." Danny cupped my face. "Nothing in this world will ever make me stop loving you." He said. "I'm sorry I hurt you...because I hurt myself along the way." His lips quivered. Danny's and Evelyn's mistake were caused by feelings of mourning and confusion, 'course it doesn't excuse what they did. Maybe it was stupid of me but I don't regret that night or any another night after that.
"I lied, Danny. I lied to you." I whispered. "I never stopped loving you." If I was going to forgive him, I promised myself to never mention his mistakes because our love was louder than anger and resentment.

Danny ran his thumb on my lips and softly kissed me. His love was my favorite kind of drug that I couldn't get enough of. Our kisses escalated, it was like a fire that blazed intensely in the pit of our stomachs. His strong hands lifted me off the ground, wrapping my legs around his waist he gently placed me down on the bed. I could feel my body melt at his touch, in one swift move he removed my nightgown and the towel around his waist. Before he kissed me again Danny looked down at me and traced circles on my body making my cheeks flush with flatter. I giggled and caressed his god-like muscles.

"My ring?" I stared at my wedding band dangling from his silver army dog tags.

Despite being blindsided by divorce papers, Danny still wore his wedding ring. I slowly and gently pulled him down by the chain onto my lips. Danny took this as acceptance and made love to me ever so loving and passionately. This time it felt different, he was loud and with every thrust he groaned. Holding onto the headboard he moaned I love you, Nora. Until we were left breathless, gasping for air and content. For a moment we had forgotten about the horror that terrorized Pearl Harbor. He removed my ring from the chain and took hold of my hand.

"Will you marry me, Nora James-Walker?" He asked with a cute smile on his face, showing off that adorable gap between his teeth.
"I'm already married to you, silly." I giggled.
"Let's have a real wedding this time." He whispered. "In Tennessee with all our close friends and family joining us. What do you say?" He added.
"Yes." I kissed him and my husband slipped my wedding band back on my finger.

The following morning we woke up early to either volunteer our time to help with the damage or in my case work in the hospital. Danny and Rafe were helping those who were still trapped inside the ships in the harbor. My girls were working at the hospital as well.

"How are you doing Nora?" Sandra smiling asked.
"I'm hanging in there." I replied with a deep sigh.
"When are you going to tell him?" She asked as I simply shrugged. "Don't over work yourself, alright?" Sandra smiled as I nodded and headed to my station.

A few hours went by, sitting at my desk writing down names of survivors, wounded, deceased and missing, whiling listening to the radio broadcast news on Pearl Harbor. I was sure by now my mom knew exactly what happened here in town yesterday, just imagining the anguish she's feeling gave me this anxious feeling in my heart. Not knowing whether your child is alive or dead, must be a nasty feeling for a mother. Deeply sighing I put my hands together and bowed my head, there were so many names being written down just for the deceased alone. Stumbling across Barbara's name I simply froze, my hand trembled. Feeling a gentle grip on my shoulder I reached up to to it and held it. The radio was about to broadcast President Roosevelt's speech regarding the attack on Pearl Harbor.

"Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States Of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by Naval and Air Forces of the Empire of Japan. It is obvious that planning the attack began many weeks ago, during the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American military forces, I regret to tell you that over three thousand American lives have been lost. No matter how long it may take us to over come this pre-meditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. Because of this unprovoked, dastardly attack by Japan, I ask that the congress declare a state of War." Everyone in the hospital clapped and cheered. America had hope for vengeance and honoring those who were grotesquely killed.

"Oh Danny." I whispered. "War." I shook my head, burying my face in my hands. Danny's arms enveloped me.
"It's gonna be okay, Nora." Danny whispered back. I knew exactly what was to happen and my husband knew it too.

This day felt never ending, I remember Evelyn and I working together filing charts in alphabetical order as well as taking blood donations. Sandra, Martha and Betty helped clean up the hospital to prevent infection-causing bacteria. Danny and Rafe walked in holding boxes of food, Evelyn and I were standing around a small desk still organizing.
"How far are you?" Evelyn whispered.
"Two-" I was about to reply,
"Look." She gave the two men a nod in their direction.
"What?-" I looked up and Danny waved the box of food in the air. "Hey." I greeted him with a smile. "What are you guys doing here?" I nicely asked.
"Lunch." Rafe was always so full of life.
"Figured ya' might be hungry." Danny grinned. The food smelled so delicious! Not to mention I was starving, I peeked through the box and my mouth watered.
"I brought you somethin' to eat too, Evelyn." Rafe handed the box to Evelyn. Those toe still needed to mend their relationship or whatever it is they got going on.
"Thank you." Evelyn smiled. Taking a lunch break the four of us went outside and sat under a tree, to eat.
"Oh! here." Danny reached into his back pocket. "I found it." He handed me a floral hat...my floral hat.
"Oh my goodness I never thought I'd see it again. Thank you!" I took the hat in my hand and placed it on my lap. It was amazing how he recognized the hat my mother had given be years ago, after all those late night talks he and I had in the past. It was the hat that I wore that Sunday morning, we got attacked.
"How are things here?" Rafe asked, taking a bite from his food.
"Tragic." Evelyn deeply sighed.
"We don't have a lot of room. All the burned victims are still all out by the trees." I added, taking a bite of my all-time favorite turkey sandwich.
"Are they gonna put tents up or something? Ya' know, to keep 'em warm?" My husband asked and I gave him the I don't know shrug.
"It's pretty rough in the Harbor." Rafe was crestfallen. Hell we were all doing our best to keep our composure and be professional. There was a moment of silence.
"I see you two are back on." Rafe nodded at my ring. Danny and I grinned causing a bit of laughter within the four of us.
"As if nothing happened." I smiled at Danny.

After lunch was over Danny and Rafe left again, back in the hospital the girls and I reunited for a short time. However it was clear as water that one of us was missing, Barbara's passing was still hard to accept. We still felt as if she was going to walk in and make some sarcastic comment or just smile. We missed her. As darkness ascended on the city everyone still had their guard up, no one knew if another attack was to come. But if it did we were now prepared. Evelyn and I didn't leave each other's sight we were going to remain a team...and friends, have each others backs for whatever was to come.

"Betty and us came up with a great idea!" Sandra beamed.
"Really? Let's hear it?" Evelyn replied with the same entheusiasm.
"Well we figured we should make some food for the men in uniform along with those not in uniform, who've been volunteering. I heard some of those people haven't left since yesterday. It seems only fair to give back." Betty was a true kindred spirit.
"That's a wonderful idea." Evelyn replied.
"You can borrow my kitchen." We all giggled.

A couple of hours went by and the girls came back accompanied by Red and Tony, who helped them bring tables in their car. I stepped outside and the view was heartwarming. People helping people. Backgrounds, color of skin, men, women, that didn't matter because at this point we were all united. A smile grew on my face when I saw Danny help set up tents for the burned victims, Rafe joined him and brought extra blankets for them. Danny was and will always be my hero. I helped the girls set up the tables with food, occasionally munching on the delights they cooked.

"Can I help you ma'am?" I asked a woman who seemed lost.
"Yes. I'm looking for my son." She answered. "He was off duty yesterday. Do you know if he's here?" She added.
"I'm not suppose to release names until I'm told to do so. But go ahead and tell me your son's name, maybe I've seen him around here?" I politely replied.
"His name is Noah Barkly." She said. "Here's a picture of him." The woman pulled out a picture from her purse.
"What's your name ma'am?" I took the picture in my hand and glanced at it.
"Linda. Linda Barkly." The woman answered.

Oh my God.

"Did he happen to have a tattoo of a bird?" I asked Linda. The man in the picture seemed really familiar.
"Yes, with my name on it." Linda's lip quivered.

Turns out I did know, Noah.

"I'm sorry." My eyes watered. "I'm so sorry." I whispered and Linda hugged me, my tone of voice said it all. Noah was the young man on fire who died in my arms, when coming out of the church early morning December 7th.

The devastation of the lives lost just kept getting worse, it was out of my hands but I wanted to save everyone who stepped into the hospital yesterday. Later Danny walked up to my post and grabbed a sandwich.

"You okay?" He calmly asked me.
"Yeah." I lied. "No-not really." I confessed.
"Come on let's go home. It's been a long day." Danny was so kind to take me home so we could talk.

Arriving home I brewed some tea and toasted some bread to go with it. I couldn't forget Linda's mournful reaction when finding out about her son.

"What's wrong?" Danny hugged me from behind then stood in front of me.
"Yesterday when we got bombed I was at church and I ran out to go to the hospital. A young man was on fire and...he died. He died in my arms, Danny. He needed help and I couldn't save him." I broke down to tears. "Noah. His name was Noah. His mother came looking for him...I couldn't tell her I couldn't save her son." My hands trembled. "Noah was in so much pain and I couldn't help him." I sobbed. Danny pulled me in close to his strong muscular chest.
"Nora you did everything you could. You held him and didn't leave him to die alone. You helped save so many other lives. Don't be so hard on yourself, we were all caught off guard. You say I'm your hero, well dammit Nora you're mine. Your my hero." Danny held me tightly. Our bond had grown so deep we now understood on another at a deeper level. My love for Danny grew deeper with time.