Life in Death

Chapter Two - Funeral

Rafe had never been noted for his calmness, but usually he did try to keep his cool around senior officers, especially those who had the power to sack him. Today, however, found Captain McCawley engaged in an argument with his commanding officer, General Doolittle. An argument that Rafe was determined not to lose.

"You can't be serious, McCawley!" said General Doolittle incredulously.

Rafe's face was set in stone. "I am serious, sir."

General Doolittle shook his head. "Let me get this straight. You want to take Walker's body back to Tennessee so you can bury him in your backyard. And you want to have his funeral there as well."

Rafe nodded. "Yes, sir. It's the way he would have wanted it."

"Who the hell ever buried somebody in their backyard!" said Doolittle, sounding irritated. "Can't you just give him a good, proper military funeral and bury him together with all the others?"

This is going to be tough, thought Rafe. "Sir, Danny was - is - my best friend. He and I grew up together in Tennessee. We have the happiest memories of our lives there. I know he would want to be buried at home. This place, for us, only holds memories of war and death." There. He'd made it through his planned speech without fumbling. Now, all Doolittle has to do is say yes.

General Doolittle's expression was pained, and when he spoke, his voice was soft and controlled. "McCawley," he began, "do you realise that if you have Walker's funeral in Tennessee, I'm going to lose ALL my freakin' airforce for a day while they go and attend it? Oh, no, McCawley, don't lie to me, I know how popular Walker was."

"We can have it on Sunday, then, sir," said Rafe. Well, at least he seems to accept that I want to bury Danny in Tennessee. He continued. "That's in two days. No one ever does proper work on Sunday anyway. And it'll only be a day, sir. Only one day," He smiled impudently. "Why, you can come too, sir."

General Doolittle was at least as stubborn as Rafe, but even he could see when he was defeated. He threw up his hands. "What can I say, McCawley? You leave me no choice." He nodded. "You may have Walker's funeral in Tennessee, and bury him there too."

Rafe grinned. "Thank you, sir. If that's all..." He got up to leave.

He was almost at the door when General Doolittle called him. "Oh, and, McCawley?"

He turned. "Yes, sir?"

"You forgot to give me your address."

***

Danny's exploration had led him to find a beach in Paradise. It had become his favourite haunt. It reminded him of Evelyn, and in some small part Rafe as well.

He had, more or less, come to terms with his death. He kept reminding himself that it was all okay, and that no one would really blame him for leaving them. Rafe would take good care of Evelyn and his son for him. But try as he might, he still found himself completely unable to go down and take a look at them. If the thought of them reduces me to this, he thought sadly, the sight of them would tear me apart. If that were possible.

He heard Betty's footsteps before he saw her face. She came running from behind. "Danny!" she cried. "They're holding your funeral right now! You have to go down!"

Danny scuffed his toe in the sand. "Big deal," he muttered. "It's just another military sendoff." He was trying to hide the real reason he couldn't bring himself to go. Because Evelyn and Rafe would be there.

Betty shook her head. "No, Danny. It's not a military funeral. It's a proper church affair." She smiled. "And they're holding it in Tennessee. Everybody's there."

Tennessee? Danny's head jerked back to look at Betty. "Tennessee? Are you sure?"

Betty nodded firmly. "Sure I'm sure. Rafe wrangled permission out of Doolittle. And you'll be buried in his backyard, where you both grew up." Her smile turned wry. "I hear that there was a mighty shouting match between Rafe and Doolittle."

"Oh, God," said Danny softly. Rafe had been his best friend even after he died. He knew him so well. Tennessee was exactly where he'd wanted to be buried. He gripped Betty's shoulders. "Are you sure I can go down? What happened to the night-only rule?"

"It's always suspended for funerals," said Betty. "You have to go now, Danny!"

She didn't have to say it twice. Danny was gone.

***

Danny reached his church in Tennessee just as the priest was finishing his eulogy, but he barely heard a word of it. He was too busy looking around him, taking in the sight of the crowded church. The pews were filled with officers, nurses, and people he didn't even recognise. Even General Doolittle was present. Most of them were crying.

He drifted over to the front. Evelyn was there, next to Rafe. She was crying too, but surprisingly enough, so was Rafe. Danny felt as if his breath was caught in his throat. I never thought I'd see the day Rafe McCawley cried, he thought.

Danny didn't realise just how much he'd been missing Rafe and Evelyn. Seeing them for the first time since his death, he was engulfed in a wave of conflicting emotions. There was pain and guilt at seeing them so sad, there was gratitude at seeing how they'd worked so hard to put together the best funeral for him, and most of all there was overwhelming love for them. He'd expected to feel upset, but the peace that settled over him was unprecedented.

The mourners were moving out of the church. They were headed in the general direction of Rafe's home, just adjacent to Danny's, where the burial would be held. Danny followed them.

He hadn't seen his home or Rafe's in such a long time. The sight of the familiar wooden houses brought back wonderful memories. There was the time he'd made those wings for Rafe, and he broke his leg trying to fly with them...there was the time he and Rafe had made a short flight in his dad's plane...and after that Rafe had hit his dad with a beam for beating him, and Danny had told Rafe, "You're my best friend."

And you are, Rafe, he thought fondly. He watched as his body, lying in a beautiful coffin, was laid to rest. The headstone was made of marble, and on it there were intricately carved patterns. Rafe and Evelyn had really gone all the way, trying to give him the best sendoff they could. Danny felt so...loved. The feeling gave him such joy, even in his death. He moved closer, trying to decipher the inscription on the headstone.

DANIEL WALKER
1917 - 1942
For Danny. May you fly forever.

Short and sweet, Danny thought. It was exactly Rafe's style. He'd never been one for florid poetry. But it was the most perfect epitaph he could have imagined. He lingered for a while, watching as the burial was completed, then returned to Paradise.

He was glad he'd gone.

***

Author's Note:

I hope you liked Chapter Two, because I did. Chapter Three will be the final one. I am currently considering doing either a brand new fic or a sequel to "Watching". The new fic has higher priority, but I will do the sequel first if there is overwhelming request for it in the reviews. As always, thank you for reading. Forgive any errors, and please review. ~HuntressMinerva