Chapter Seven - Finale
January 1966
Danny Jr. hadn't been this nervous since his first bombing mission. He had received some training from Rafe, but still, there was always that little grain of doubt. All their lives depend on my every command, he realised, glancing around at the chatting pilots working on their planes. As usual, Henry would be his co-pilot. The only thing he liked about this entire affair was that if he came out of it alive, his father was sure to be terribly proud of him. And so would Stephanie, and Rafe and his mother. All people he cared about the most.
Taking a deep breath, Danny Jr. climbed into his plane. Henry came in a moment later. He showed none of Danny Jr.'s apprehension. In fact, he seemed happy. "Well, Danny, are you ready?" he asked jovially. "We'll all be lookin' up to you, so don't get us killed." He laughed, but Danny Jr. just got more nervous. He forced a smile, and looked out on the runway. He saw the familiar flag flash once. That was his cue.
As pilot in charge, he got to go first. He didn't know if that was good or bad. He started up the plane, and ran down the runway in a procedure he knew like the back of his hand. This is just the easy part, he reminded himself, then started to laugh a little. That was exactly what he'd said to himself on his first time.
All the planes were in the air before long, and heading to North Vietnam in a now familiar route. Danny Jr. flicked on his microphone, and started speaking. "Okay, folks, we've done this many times, so don't panic just because Uncl — uh, McCawley ain't here, alright?"
"Wouldn't dream of it, Danny," came Tyler's excited voice over the headphones. "There's a city to be bombed and we're gonna do it like we always have."
There were cheers of agreement crackling in from the other pilots. The static was making Danny Jr. confused. He remembered how Rafe had always used to take roll call after takeoff. "Okay, I hear you!" he shouted. The noises died away. "Gotta make sure you all are here — count off. One."
"Two!" he heard Tyler say cheerfully.
"Three."
The rest of the pilots counted off dutifully in order. Danny Jr. heaved a sigh of relief. "Alright, full speed ahead to North Vietnam then. You know the drill."
He turned off the microphone. Henry, next to him, patted him on his shoulder. "You're doing great, Danny."
He looked over and smiled. He didn't have to force it anymore.
***
They were over North Vietnam. It was evening, just like their first ever raid.
Danny Jr. spoke again. "Okay, pilots, you know how it goes. Bomb'em and head for South Vietnam. Ready?"
"Ready!" came the other pilots in unison.
Danny Jr. nodded at Henry, who had his finger on the button. "Bombs away!"
"One away!" Henry shouted as he released their bomb.
Danny Jr. looked out of the window with mixed feelings. The other bombs were dropping in order, just like it was planned. He felt glad that he'd carried out this operation without a hitch so far. But there was also sadness at seeing yet another senseless air raid on North Vietnam. He knew that if there was one most important thing he'd learnt from this war, it would have to be the importance of peace.
The planes were heading neatly to South Vietnam, so far managing to dodge the fire directed at them. "So far so good," Danny Jr. told the others. "Count off. O —"
He was interrupted by a huge blasting sound from behind. Henry's head snapped back. Danny Jr. forced himself to keep his eyes ahead of him. "What happened?" he asked wildly.
"Someone's been hit! The plane's lurching crazily! It's crashing!" Henry cried. "It looks like — oh no — Danny, count off again! Now!"
"One," said Danny Jr. obediently, then he waited.
There was deathly silence. Danny Jr. felt a sinking feeling creep over his heart.
"One," he said again, softly, refusing to believe. "Number Two? Are you there?"
Silence again. Danny Jr. felt as white and pale as Henry looked. "Tyler," he whispered.
He tried to collect himself. "Men, you go on to South Vietnam. I'll see to Tyler. Move! Now!" He turned to Henry. "Where did he go down?"
Henry was looking down below him. "Y-You're almost there," he croaked out. "Oh God, Danny, if anything happens to him — "
"Nothing will. I know nothing will," said Danny Jr. firmly. He spotted some wreckage below him. Without even asking Henry if that was it, he guided the plane down.
***
Danny had been waiting again at the South Vietnam air base. He'd gotten used to waiting there every time Danny Jr. went on an air raid, but this time things were slightly different. His son was leading the raid. I'm so proud of him, he thought again.
But the minute the first plane came in, he knew something was wrong. The pilot who got out of the plane wasn't Danny Jr. And he was looking very worried. The following pilots weren't much more reassuring. After landing, they all ran straight for the headquarters. Danny spotted a few of them heading off in the direction of the hospital. Long years of experience told him immediately what that meant. Somebody's crashed. But it wasn't Danny Jr., or he would have felt it. Still, he had to go. He phased out, and reappeared where he had felt Danny Jr.'s presence. Then he froze, stunned.
Before him was the wreck of a plane, and another plane was nearby. Danny Jr.'s friend Henry was carrying someone away from the wreckage. Danny Jr. himself was bent over a motionless body, looking stricken. He headed over there, and slipped into visibility. Henry was distracted at the moment. "Need help, Danny?" he asked gently.
Danny Jr. looked up. "Daddy!" he cried. "It's Tyler. He's — he's losing blood."
Danny looked down at Tyler. He was paler than normal, and as Danny Jr. said he was bleeding a lot. "We have to get him away," he said softly. He eased Tyler's body into Danny Jr.'s arms. As they lifted him, they found the source of the bleeding. Embedded at the side of his back was a sharp looking piece of shrapnel. Danny dove for it, and gently pulled it out. He nodded at Danny Jr. "He ought to be alright now. Go on."
Danny Jr. hesitated. "Daddy, I — "
Danny shook his head and smiled. "You're welcome. I don't think you could've removed that with your flesh hands. Now go! You don't want your friend to die, do you?" He paused. "Oh, and Danny?"
"Yes?" said Danny Jr. He was already starting to turn back.
"Stephanie's a fine girl." He winked.
Danny Jr. finally smiled back. "Thanks," he said, before running towards Henry.
Danny watched for a while, invisible again, as Danny Jr., now less panicky, helped load Tyler and his co-pilot into the hospital helicopter that had just arrived. He nodded to himself. His son had done him proud after all — not least by coming back for his friend. He had done no less for Rafe himself. "Well done, Danny," he congratulated silently.
***
Stephanie paced up and down anxiously. She'd taken a day off work just to see if Danny Jr. was all right. She had been so sure he would, but now she was feeling doubtful. What if something's happened to him? she asked herself nervously, then dashed the thought from her mind before she could think about it any more. No. Danny's a wonderful pilot. He'll be fine.
She sat down, then got up again. Keeping still had never been her strong suit. But even the most wonderful pilots can have accidents...look what happened to Danny's father. If anything bad had happened to Danny Jr., she didn't know what she would do. Probably leave Hawaii, and let all the memories of their short but happy reunion bury themselves in the past...the movies, the dinners, the walks that they'd managed to squeeze in in between his training.
Her pessimistic thoughts were brought to a halt by the sound of an approaching plane. Stephanie watched with bated breath as the plane loomed larger, drew closer, and finally ground to a halt. The door opened, and the stairs descended. A familiar figure emerged, to much cheering. Stephanie smiled, and tears of relief began to well in her eyes. It was Danny Jr.
He saw her and waved, grinning. She ran towards him. "You're okay!" she laughed. "I've been worried sick!"
He laughed too. "I'm fine," he said. "You needn't have worried."
Stephanie looked at her feet, suddenly embarrassed. "I couldn't help it," she mumbled. "It is your first time as commander."
Danny Jr. paused for a moment, then he did something he'd never done before. He hugged her lightly for a few seconds. Then he broke the embrace. "I gotta go see Uncle Rafe now," he said, and smiled. "See you around."
"Bye!" Stephanie shouted after Danny Jr.'s retreating figure. Then she smiled too.
***
July 21, 1969
It was midnight, which meant that Danny Jr.'s twenty-seventh birthday would be over in a second.
He was, for once, not at the beach. He had chosen today to retreat to the airplane hangar. It was nearly as therapeutic as the beach, and nearer too to his dormitory.
Danny Jr. was doing something he did every birthday whether or not he liked it — he was missing his father. Today, though, the urge was especially strong to speak to him again. A month or so ago a new development in the war had occurred — one that Danny Jr. felt much better about. He climbed onto the wing of a plane and sat down. "Daddy, I need you," he said softly.
He didn't have long to wait. In a matter of seconds, Danny materialised next to him. "Happy birthday, Danny," he said.
Danny Jr. smiled. "Thank you."
There was silence for a while. Danny looked around him. "This feels just like the good old days," he said. "When you were younger, and we sat like this on Rafe's plane and talked."
Danny Jr. nodded. "That's why I chose this spot. Have you heard the news, Daddy?"
"About Vietnamization?" Danny asked.
"Yeah...Vietnamization. They're withdrawing troops." His smile grew wider. "The war is ending."
"You didn't call me here just to tell me that." It was a statement, not a question.
Danny Jr. shook his head. "No. I didn't. I guess I just wanted to...talk. But I'm glad the war is ending...even though you were right, I did learn things from being in it I'd never have learnt from quitting. I think I grew stronger out of everything...especially Tyler's crash."
"He's healed well, hasn't he?"
Danny Jr. nodded. "Flying just like he did before. You'd never know the difference, except that now he's that much more careful."
"How've you been? I mean, besides the war?"
Danny Jr. smiled sheepishly. "You were right about Stephanie."
Danny nodded. "Thought so."
"Life's been great. But things just aren't the same since Uncle Rafe retired."
"He is fifty-two, you know," Danny reminded.
"I know, and I know he deserves a break now, but that doesn't make it easier for us to take. The new guy, Connell, is okay though." Danny Jr. paused for thought. "I think I made the right decision all those years back, to stay on. It's been more than worth it."
"Flying always was your thing," Danny agreed. "I'm proud of you, Captain Walker."
Danny Jr. leaned over and hugged his father. "I'm proud of you too, Daddy."
Danny held the embrace for a few more seconds. "I'll be here for you, Danny. Remember that. I gotta go." Then he faded out.
Danny Jr. smiled after him, and hopped off the wing of the plane and headed home. It would be a new day tomorrow.
***
Author's Note: It's finished now! Finally! That was long. I'm sorry I've been late in updating. School just started again here where I live, and this is my O-Level year. For those who don't know, O-Levels are basically very major exams. You can imagine how much pressure and work I'm being bombarded with. Anyway, I hoped you liked this. Remember to review! They're the reason I write! ~HuntressMinerva