All's Fair in Love and War... Yeah Right
Chapter 2
Off to See the-- What Wizard? We're Seein' the Japs in China!
A few days later, we were in Doolittle's office, Rafe and Danny were nervous, but I didn't show any fear. He came in and scolded us a bit, promoted us to Captain, and gave us the decision to go on a secret mission. The idea of a secret mission intrigued me. Later Rafe decided that he didn't want Danny or me to go.
"Jo, but what if something happens to me? Ma and pa still have you, the Walker's only have Danny, and you two need each other."
"Rafe. I'm goin', and you can't stop me. I want to be with you and Danny, you left me behind once, you won't do it again."
Rafe had been practically on his knees pleading for me and Danny to stay. I had all ready made up my mind to go. One evening, I was walking along the beach and Danny caught up to me.
"Jo, has Rafe talked to you yet?"
"Yes. And he's obviously all ready convinced you or else you wouldn't be coming to me."
"That's not true. I was wondering what you're gonna do."
"It's up to you, but it wouldn't be the same without you."
"What?"
"You're not asking what I'm doing, you all ready know. You're asking me what you should do. It's up to you, but it wouldn't be the same without you."
"Okay."
Then he left. After a while, I went back to get some sleep. I found Danny lying on his bed, and Rafe sitting on my bed. Just to trick him, I put a photo of me and Bobby at the fair under my pillow, but I made sure it was sticking out a bit for Rafe. He was looking at a photo, but it wasn't the one of me and Bobby, that one was next to him.
"Who gave you this?"
"What?"
He handed me the photograph Mr. Walker had given me.
"Mister Walker gave that to me for my last birthday."
"And what's with you and Bobby Jones?"
I smiled and blushed, well I turned away to make it look like I was blushing. Danny laughed.
"She hasn't told you?"
"What?"
"She broke our vow."
The rest of the men gathered around, they wouldn't miss this.
"What vow?"
"Well, I'll explain. You remember I wrote that he called on me, it was right before you went to England. Well, he took me to the swimmin' hole at sunset. It was so romantic--"
"What did he do?"
I had to sound dramatic.
"Oh Rafe! I'm sorry I just couldn't help it. I mean he asked me and I did!"
"My God! You didn't have any children from it, did you?"
"Not yet, he asked me THE question."
"Oh God you're marrying Bobby Jones?"
"Hell no. I told him that I had to take care of Ma and Pa and that I couldn't break our vow of approval before marriage, and then I told him that he was only my friend, and that if we stayed that way, I'd tell him more things than if we were married."
"What he say?"
"He said that then he couldn't--"
I broke off, I was laughing too hard. I had been sitting on the bed, next to Rafe, then I fell off. I fell off the bed! I was laughing so hard. The men burst out laughing. But me, I just laid on the laughed.
"What did he say?"
"He said if he was only my friend he couldn't--" I broke off in another fit of laughter, my voice rose and I ended up shouting the last part. "He couldn't sleep with me! Then I left him standin' there!"
"I'm so relived that you said no. I don't want to be related to him."
"Captain McCawley! If you're not marrying a farm boy from back home, then all of us are wondering who you are thinking about marrying," said Doolittle standing next to my head.
"What's the pool up to?"
"Six hundred," said Gooz.
"I'm not thinkin' about marrying anyone yet. But when I do, I'll let you know."
"I was right! Pay up!" yelled Gooz.
I laughed and stood up. No one had his money so they all gave him war bonds. The next day we were to begin training. The entire time Gooz and Rafe kept teasing me.
"Hello, blondie!" Gooz would yell.
"If you want a blonde, go home!"
"You're a blonde," said Rafe.
"Only in my hair color."
Then I'd walk away. On the way to China one night at dinner, Gooz stood up on the table.
"Jo! Will you make me the luckiest man in the world?"
"I'm not sleeping with you Gooz."
Rafe picked me up and put me on the table next to Gooz.
"Then marry me!"
"Not on your life."
The men 'oo'ed.
"She sure told you Gooz!" said Red.
"She won't say she'll marry me, so she can say yes in private!"
I had jumped down, but he jumped down behind me and grabbed me around the waist.
"Gooz, let go of me."
"Not until you go into the room with me."
"I'll kick your butt if you don't let go of me."
I was growing impatient and no Danny to save me. He always leaves right when he finishes.
"Yeah right, you won't do anything to me."
"I know you're joking Gooz, so I'll go easy on you."
I slapped his hands which had started to go south of my waist, then I grabbed his shirt and flipped him over my head. Everyone clapped.
"What a woman!"
"I told you to stop, will you listen to me from now on?"
"Are you sure you're name isn't Diana Prince AKA Wonder Woman?" asked Red.
"You never know."
Then I left them all staring at me as I went to find Danny, the only one who respected me. I found him looking at the ocean. I went and stood next to him.
"What's going on in there?" he asked.
"Gooz is making a fool out of himself. And you're never there to save me from it."
"You?"
"Yeah, Gooz is asking me to marry him or sleep with him, he doesn't care which. Tonight I kicked his butt. His hands were moving a little lower than my waist, I slapped his hands and flipped him over my shoulder. Now they all think I'm the real Wonder Woman."
He laughed, I loved to make him laugh. I loved his laugh, I loved his eyes when he laughed, I loved-- him.
"Sorry I wasn't in there to save you."
"It's okay, I was joking about that. I can obviously take care of myself."
"Joking about needing me, or joking about Gooz?"
"About needing you for that. I still need you so I can make someone laugh, and to cheer me up when I'm upset. Isn't the sunset beautiful?"
"Yes, why do you think I come out here?"
"I don't know."
"It's starting to get cold, let's go inside."
"Okay, as long as you don't leave me anywhere with Gooz and Rafe."
He laughed again.
"Okay."
We went to our room and Gooz and Rafe were getting undressed, all they had on were their underwear. They both quickly grabbed something to hide themselves. I rolled my eyes.
"Jo! Get out! We're trying to get dressed!" said Rafe.
"Maybe she wants to see me naked," said Gooz.
I made a gagging noise.
"Please you two don't have anything worth seein'."
Danny laughed, so did Doolittle.
"I was coming to see if McCawley had killed anyone yet, looks like all's right," he said leaving.
"Hey Wonder Woman!" said Red poking his head in.
"What Red?"
"I've bet ten bucks that Gooz doesn't survive messing with you."
"Well, I'm not going to kill him. I want to see my parents again. Sorry Red."
We heard whooping from down the hall. I laughed and took off my jacket, put my pajamas on and got in bed. The next day, we 'decorated' the missiles for the Japs. I couldn't think of anything to say, that someone else hadn't already put, so I improvised. I sat in some paint, then on a missile then wrote 'Kiss this Japs!'. That made the men laugh.
"Jo! That's funny!" Gooz said, looking at it.
"I don't. I don't like it, Jo," said Rafe.
"Guess what?" I said to him.
"What?" he sighed.
"I don't care! I like it and that's all that matters."
Danny raised his eyebrows at me and laughed. He hugged me from behind, then pinched my cheek.
"Wook at ow wittwe webel," he said in a baby voice.
"What?" Rafe, Gooz Red and I said at the same time.
"I said: Look at our little rebel."
"Ooooooooooooh."
He laughed.
"Jo?" called Gooz.
"What now?"
"Will you marry me?"
"No."
"Will you sleep with me?"
"How many times do I have to tell you Hell No!"
Everyone but Gooz laughed. A few mornings later Danny woke me up. I got dressed and followed him to the side of the carrier.
"What's up?" I wondered, sitting next to him
"I need to talk to you," he said.
"Okay, go ahead."
"I don't love Evelyn."
"Good. I don't like her."
Danny laughed.
"Close your eyes. I'm goin' to give you somethin' and I want you to keep it."
"Okay."
I closed her eyes, hoping Rafe and Gooz wouldn't come up from behind me and pretend like they were going to push me in, or do something else to me. He put something small in my hand.
"Okay, open them. That's for substituting you with Evelyn."
I opened my eyes and looked at the ring, it glittered in the rising sun light.
"Danny- I- does this- I mean- wow. Does this mean you never loved her, you just thought you did?"
"Yes, it means that I loved you, but went with her instead."
He kissed me on my cheek. I was so happy. The horn sounded for everyone to wake up. I slipped the ring on my finger and Danny and I went to breakfast.
"Where were you two?" asked Rafe.
"We went for a walk, Danny needed my advice on something," I answered.
Danny and I silently agreed not to tell Rafe just yet. After breakfast was done, I found myself climbing into a plane sitting behind Rafe's seat, on our way to China. And for some reason, I felt as if I'd done something horrible and was about to be punished for it. Maybe I wasn't destined to go, but my strong will, or maybe Rafe or Danny was supposed to stay with Evelyn, she IS about to have a baby in about seven months. That didn't mean that I liked her. I still hated her. I didn't know but I felt as though something was about to happen. We finally reached Japan and they were all screaming and tossing the missiles down, I threw down the ones we had, next to me, but I wasn't screaming. Everything was going so fast. Then we were just on the coast of China, and Rafe moved me up to his spot, I couldn't understand him, but I knew what I had to do. I told the others, that were left, not to fire until I give the signal., and that we must do it together. I landed us, putting my worry to the back of my mind and focusing on what my signal would be. We turned to see Danny coming up, then he started to shoot, we hadn't seen the Japs behind us. Then he crashed. My punishment was about to start. I ran as fast as I could over to their crashed plane. Rafe was right behind me. From that moment on it was all slow motion. Rafe and I searched for Danny or his body, at with that thought I became really worried, we couldn't find him. Well, I wanted a thought to put Danny out of my mind, well, who says wishes don't come true? Here come the Japs, I thought of a signal/ diversion. I'm a woman, they're men, this'll be easy, a lot like how I'm acting. Japs held us all at gun point. There was a scream and gunfire. My heart dropped. About five Japanese men crowded around me, all pointing their guns at me. Good, here come the rest of them. I began my signal. I reached to my back, they were about to shoot when I talked to them in Japanese.
"You know, if you don't kill them, or me, you don't have to pay me."
I smiled as sweetly as I could, and pulled my bra out of my sleeve. Rafe looked absolutely horrified, as I am his sister.
"Not yet," I said, in English, unzipping my jacket, revealing my guns. Then in Japanese I said "Drop your guns or you will die, we have you surrounded.
Japs dropped their guns, except one, who shot at Rafe, but missed, and I killed him. Then there was shouting, but it wasn't in Japanese, it was the Chinese. Then I ran into the plane to get re- dressed. When I came out the men were all staring at me.
"Who taught you that?" asked Rafe.
"I learned it by myself, thank you very much. I had to find some way to do it without you or Danny seeing, as I knew you two sat outside my window, trying to scare me."
"I said, 'You know, if you don't kill them, or me, you don't have to pay me.' Ma didn't teach me that, she would have killed me, so no one's allowed to tell my mother what I just told y'all."
Then I blacked out. The next day I woke up in a Chinese hotel, or base or something, I couldn't tell which. Then I remembered what had happened, and what I had said to Danny, 'It wouldn't be the same without you.' That statement would haunt me to my grave, it's my fault Danny's dead, I practically pulled the trigger, it's my fault. I couldn't help it, I began to cry. Well, just my luck in walks Rafe, Gooz, Red, and Doolittle. I had to quickly try to wipe my face, but too late, they saw me. Rafe sits on my bed, hugs me, and rocks back and forth.
"I- i -i -it's m-m-my fault," I cried.
Rafe pushed my back, and looked at me.
"What's your fault?"
"Danny--"
I began to cry harder.
"How was that your fault? We couldn't find him after we crashed. Jo you had nothing to do with it," said Gooz.
"Y- Y- Yes I did. He asked me whether he should come or not, and I guilted him into it. I told him it wouldn't be the same without him."
I was now crying uncontrollably.
"Jo, I'm goin' to get the nurse," said Rafe, standing and leaving me there.
Red and Gooz looked at me.
"Jo, you didn't cry this hard when we thought Rafe was dead," Red said softly.
Gooz, and Red sat on the end of my bed.
"Well, Rafe didn't propose to me the morning before he died, now did he?"
"What? Does Rafe know?" asked Gooz, his eyes wide.
"No, I can't bring myself to tell him. He'll figure it out, he's not stupid. Don't tell him, please."
"Okay, Jo, we won't."
The Rafe and a nurse came in she had a shot with her. My eyes grew wide.
"What is she doin' with that thing? She better be doin' a trick, 'cause that thing ain't gettin' anywhere near me."
She came over to me and stuck it in my arm, then I passed out. When I awoke I was on a plane, and in my Military attire. I had on my usual uniform, and I was sitting next to Rafe who had obviously been crying. At the moment he was sleeping.
"I'm proud of you Captain, but tell me, what did you say to them to not shoot you?" asked Doolittle, on the plane home.
"I said, 'You know, if you don't kill them, or me, you don't have to pay me.' Ma didn't teach me that, she would have killed me, so no one's allowed to tell my mother what I just told y'all," said Jo.
They all nodded, and I took off my jacket, it was hot in the plane. Soon, the plane landed, and I was the first one off. I noticed Evelyn and she walked up to me.
"I know that you know I'm pregnant, and I've decided that I'm marrying Danny because of it. Okay? No hard feelings?" she said
"Evelyn- I don't know- I'm sorry-"
I tried to tell her, but I couldn't I just started to cry again. Rafe hugged Evelyn.
"Evelyn, Danny didn't survive. We searched every where for him or his body," said Rafe.
How was I going to tell them? What was I going to say?
"Jo! Here, you left your jacket on the plane," said Red, running over and handing it to me.
"Thank you, Red," I said, reaching out to get it, forgetting about the ring.
Rafe noticed it on my hand.
"Jo, what's that?" he asked.
"What's what?"
"On your hand. Danny told me that was for Evelyn."
I looked at my hand.
"He told me he realized he was substituting me with Evelyn and that he thought of me often when he was with her. And he said that he was happy, because now he knew that you two would be happy, and so would he. That's the only thing he ever wanted was for you two to be happy." I felt as though I would cry again. "Please, excuse me."
I walked over to a bench and sat down to cry.
"Jo!"
I looked up. Great, just my luck, here's Ma and Pa with the Walkers.
"Oh, Lord. What's wrong is it Rafe? Is he okay?" asked Pa.
"I'm fine, Pa," said Rafe.
"Josephine McCawley, what is on your hand?" asked Ma.
I cried even harder.
"Sore subject, Ma. Danny gave her that. We couldn't find him after we landed in China. Ma, Pa, Mr. Walker, Mrs. Walker, I'd like y'all to meet Evelyn," said Rafe, changing the subject.
They were all introduced and Doolittle walked over.
"Captains McCawley?" he said.
I stood up and saluted him.
"At ease. The President would like to speak with you."
President Roosevelt came up to us.
"Why hello, Miss McCawley. How are you? It's been a while, I'm glad to see your brother is all right, and where is Captain Walker?" I had to bite my lip just to keep from crying again. "Oh, I'm sorry. Well, you two have been promoted to General. This'll get quite confusing if you two keep moving up in positions together."
By now Mrs. Walker, Ma, and Evelyn were crying and I was trying not to. A few weeks later, I was called into Doolittle's office, with Rafe, Gooz and Red, we sat outside his office and waited, wondering what we did this time.
Chapter 2
Off to See the-- What Wizard? We're Seein' the Japs in China!
A few days later, we were in Doolittle's office, Rafe and Danny were nervous, but I didn't show any fear. He came in and scolded us a bit, promoted us to Captain, and gave us the decision to go on a secret mission. The idea of a secret mission intrigued me. Later Rafe decided that he didn't want Danny or me to go.
"Jo, but what if something happens to me? Ma and pa still have you, the Walker's only have Danny, and you two need each other."
"Rafe. I'm goin', and you can't stop me. I want to be with you and Danny, you left me behind once, you won't do it again."
Rafe had been practically on his knees pleading for me and Danny to stay. I had all ready made up my mind to go. One evening, I was walking along the beach and Danny caught up to me.
"Jo, has Rafe talked to you yet?"
"Yes. And he's obviously all ready convinced you or else you wouldn't be coming to me."
"That's not true. I was wondering what you're gonna do."
"It's up to you, but it wouldn't be the same without you."
"What?"
"You're not asking what I'm doing, you all ready know. You're asking me what you should do. It's up to you, but it wouldn't be the same without you."
"Okay."
Then he left. After a while, I went back to get some sleep. I found Danny lying on his bed, and Rafe sitting on my bed. Just to trick him, I put a photo of me and Bobby at the fair under my pillow, but I made sure it was sticking out a bit for Rafe. He was looking at a photo, but it wasn't the one of me and Bobby, that one was next to him.
"Who gave you this?"
"What?"
He handed me the photograph Mr. Walker had given me.
"Mister Walker gave that to me for my last birthday."
"And what's with you and Bobby Jones?"
I smiled and blushed, well I turned away to make it look like I was blushing. Danny laughed.
"She hasn't told you?"
"What?"
"She broke our vow."
The rest of the men gathered around, they wouldn't miss this.
"What vow?"
"Well, I'll explain. You remember I wrote that he called on me, it was right before you went to England. Well, he took me to the swimmin' hole at sunset. It was so romantic--"
"What did he do?"
I had to sound dramatic.
"Oh Rafe! I'm sorry I just couldn't help it. I mean he asked me and I did!"
"My God! You didn't have any children from it, did you?"
"Not yet, he asked me THE question."
"Oh God you're marrying Bobby Jones?"
"Hell no. I told him that I had to take care of Ma and Pa and that I couldn't break our vow of approval before marriage, and then I told him that he was only my friend, and that if we stayed that way, I'd tell him more things than if we were married."
"What he say?"
"He said that then he couldn't--"
I broke off, I was laughing too hard. I had been sitting on the bed, next to Rafe, then I fell off. I fell off the bed! I was laughing so hard. The men burst out laughing. But me, I just laid on the laughed.
"What did he say?"
"He said if he was only my friend he couldn't--" I broke off in another fit of laughter, my voice rose and I ended up shouting the last part. "He couldn't sleep with me! Then I left him standin' there!"
"I'm so relived that you said no. I don't want to be related to him."
"Captain McCawley! If you're not marrying a farm boy from back home, then all of us are wondering who you are thinking about marrying," said Doolittle standing next to my head.
"What's the pool up to?"
"Six hundred," said Gooz.
"I'm not thinkin' about marrying anyone yet. But when I do, I'll let you know."
"I was right! Pay up!" yelled Gooz.
I laughed and stood up. No one had his money so they all gave him war bonds. The next day we were to begin training. The entire time Gooz and Rafe kept teasing me.
"Hello, blondie!" Gooz would yell.
"If you want a blonde, go home!"
"You're a blonde," said Rafe.
"Only in my hair color."
Then I'd walk away. On the way to China one night at dinner, Gooz stood up on the table.
"Jo! Will you make me the luckiest man in the world?"
"I'm not sleeping with you Gooz."
Rafe picked me up and put me on the table next to Gooz.
"Then marry me!"
"Not on your life."
The men 'oo'ed.
"She sure told you Gooz!" said Red.
"She won't say she'll marry me, so she can say yes in private!"
I had jumped down, but he jumped down behind me and grabbed me around the waist.
"Gooz, let go of me."
"Not until you go into the room with me."
"I'll kick your butt if you don't let go of me."
I was growing impatient and no Danny to save me. He always leaves right when he finishes.
"Yeah right, you won't do anything to me."
"I know you're joking Gooz, so I'll go easy on you."
I slapped his hands which had started to go south of my waist, then I grabbed his shirt and flipped him over my head. Everyone clapped.
"What a woman!"
"I told you to stop, will you listen to me from now on?"
"Are you sure you're name isn't Diana Prince AKA Wonder Woman?" asked Red.
"You never know."
Then I left them all staring at me as I went to find Danny, the only one who respected me. I found him looking at the ocean. I went and stood next to him.
"What's going on in there?" he asked.
"Gooz is making a fool out of himself. And you're never there to save me from it."
"You?"
"Yeah, Gooz is asking me to marry him or sleep with him, he doesn't care which. Tonight I kicked his butt. His hands were moving a little lower than my waist, I slapped his hands and flipped him over my shoulder. Now they all think I'm the real Wonder Woman."
He laughed, I loved to make him laugh. I loved his laugh, I loved his eyes when he laughed, I loved-- him.
"Sorry I wasn't in there to save you."
"It's okay, I was joking about that. I can obviously take care of myself."
"Joking about needing me, or joking about Gooz?"
"About needing you for that. I still need you so I can make someone laugh, and to cheer me up when I'm upset. Isn't the sunset beautiful?"
"Yes, why do you think I come out here?"
"I don't know."
"It's starting to get cold, let's go inside."
"Okay, as long as you don't leave me anywhere with Gooz and Rafe."
He laughed again.
"Okay."
We went to our room and Gooz and Rafe were getting undressed, all they had on were their underwear. They both quickly grabbed something to hide themselves. I rolled my eyes.
"Jo! Get out! We're trying to get dressed!" said Rafe.
"Maybe she wants to see me naked," said Gooz.
I made a gagging noise.
"Please you two don't have anything worth seein'."
Danny laughed, so did Doolittle.
"I was coming to see if McCawley had killed anyone yet, looks like all's right," he said leaving.
"Hey Wonder Woman!" said Red poking his head in.
"What Red?"
"I've bet ten bucks that Gooz doesn't survive messing with you."
"Well, I'm not going to kill him. I want to see my parents again. Sorry Red."
We heard whooping from down the hall. I laughed and took off my jacket, put my pajamas on and got in bed. The next day, we 'decorated' the missiles for the Japs. I couldn't think of anything to say, that someone else hadn't already put, so I improvised. I sat in some paint, then on a missile then wrote 'Kiss this Japs!'. That made the men laugh.
"Jo! That's funny!" Gooz said, looking at it.
"I don't. I don't like it, Jo," said Rafe.
"Guess what?" I said to him.
"What?" he sighed.
"I don't care! I like it and that's all that matters."
Danny raised his eyebrows at me and laughed. He hugged me from behind, then pinched my cheek.
"Wook at ow wittwe webel," he said in a baby voice.
"What?" Rafe, Gooz Red and I said at the same time.
"I said: Look at our little rebel."
"Ooooooooooooh."
He laughed.
"Jo?" called Gooz.
"What now?"
"Will you marry me?"
"No."
"Will you sleep with me?"
"How many times do I have to tell you Hell No!"
Everyone but Gooz laughed. A few mornings later Danny woke me up. I got dressed and followed him to the side of the carrier.
"What's up?" I wondered, sitting next to him
"I need to talk to you," he said.
"Okay, go ahead."
"I don't love Evelyn."
"Good. I don't like her."
Danny laughed.
"Close your eyes. I'm goin' to give you somethin' and I want you to keep it."
"Okay."
I closed her eyes, hoping Rafe and Gooz wouldn't come up from behind me and pretend like they were going to push me in, or do something else to me. He put something small in my hand.
"Okay, open them. That's for substituting you with Evelyn."
I opened my eyes and looked at the ring, it glittered in the rising sun light.
"Danny- I- does this- I mean- wow. Does this mean you never loved her, you just thought you did?"
"Yes, it means that I loved you, but went with her instead."
He kissed me on my cheek. I was so happy. The horn sounded for everyone to wake up. I slipped the ring on my finger and Danny and I went to breakfast.
"Where were you two?" asked Rafe.
"We went for a walk, Danny needed my advice on something," I answered.
Danny and I silently agreed not to tell Rafe just yet. After breakfast was done, I found myself climbing into a plane sitting behind Rafe's seat, on our way to China. And for some reason, I felt as if I'd done something horrible and was about to be punished for it. Maybe I wasn't destined to go, but my strong will, or maybe Rafe or Danny was supposed to stay with Evelyn, she IS about to have a baby in about seven months. That didn't mean that I liked her. I still hated her. I didn't know but I felt as though something was about to happen. We finally reached Japan and they were all screaming and tossing the missiles down, I threw down the ones we had, next to me, but I wasn't screaming. Everything was going so fast. Then we were just on the coast of China, and Rafe moved me up to his spot, I couldn't understand him, but I knew what I had to do. I told the others, that were left, not to fire until I give the signal., and that we must do it together. I landed us, putting my worry to the back of my mind and focusing on what my signal would be. We turned to see Danny coming up, then he started to shoot, we hadn't seen the Japs behind us. Then he crashed. My punishment was about to start. I ran as fast as I could over to their crashed plane. Rafe was right behind me. From that moment on it was all slow motion. Rafe and I searched for Danny or his body, at with that thought I became really worried, we couldn't find him. Well, I wanted a thought to put Danny out of my mind, well, who says wishes don't come true? Here come the Japs, I thought of a signal/ diversion. I'm a woman, they're men, this'll be easy, a lot like how I'm acting. Japs held us all at gun point. There was a scream and gunfire. My heart dropped. About five Japanese men crowded around me, all pointing their guns at me. Good, here come the rest of them. I began my signal. I reached to my back, they were about to shoot when I talked to them in Japanese.
"You know, if you don't kill them, or me, you don't have to pay me."
I smiled as sweetly as I could, and pulled my bra out of my sleeve. Rafe looked absolutely horrified, as I am his sister.
"Not yet," I said, in English, unzipping my jacket, revealing my guns. Then in Japanese I said "Drop your guns or you will die, we have you surrounded.
Japs dropped their guns, except one, who shot at Rafe, but missed, and I killed him. Then there was shouting, but it wasn't in Japanese, it was the Chinese. Then I ran into the plane to get re- dressed. When I came out the men were all staring at me.
"Who taught you that?" asked Rafe.
"I learned it by myself, thank you very much. I had to find some way to do it without you or Danny seeing, as I knew you two sat outside my window, trying to scare me."
"I said, 'You know, if you don't kill them, or me, you don't have to pay me.' Ma didn't teach me that, she would have killed me, so no one's allowed to tell my mother what I just told y'all."
Then I blacked out. The next day I woke up in a Chinese hotel, or base or something, I couldn't tell which. Then I remembered what had happened, and what I had said to Danny, 'It wouldn't be the same without you.' That statement would haunt me to my grave, it's my fault Danny's dead, I practically pulled the trigger, it's my fault. I couldn't help it, I began to cry. Well, just my luck in walks Rafe, Gooz, Red, and Doolittle. I had to quickly try to wipe my face, but too late, they saw me. Rafe sits on my bed, hugs me, and rocks back and forth.
"I- i -i -it's m-m-my fault," I cried.
Rafe pushed my back, and looked at me.
"What's your fault?"
"Danny--"
I began to cry harder.
"How was that your fault? We couldn't find him after we crashed. Jo you had nothing to do with it," said Gooz.
"Y- Y- Yes I did. He asked me whether he should come or not, and I guilted him into it. I told him it wouldn't be the same without him."
I was now crying uncontrollably.
"Jo, I'm goin' to get the nurse," said Rafe, standing and leaving me there.
Red and Gooz looked at me.
"Jo, you didn't cry this hard when we thought Rafe was dead," Red said softly.
Gooz, and Red sat on the end of my bed.
"Well, Rafe didn't propose to me the morning before he died, now did he?"
"What? Does Rafe know?" asked Gooz, his eyes wide.
"No, I can't bring myself to tell him. He'll figure it out, he's not stupid. Don't tell him, please."
"Okay, Jo, we won't."
The Rafe and a nurse came in she had a shot with her. My eyes grew wide.
"What is she doin' with that thing? She better be doin' a trick, 'cause that thing ain't gettin' anywhere near me."
She came over to me and stuck it in my arm, then I passed out. When I awoke I was on a plane, and in my Military attire. I had on my usual uniform, and I was sitting next to Rafe who had obviously been crying. At the moment he was sleeping.
"I'm proud of you Captain, but tell me, what did you say to them to not shoot you?" asked Doolittle, on the plane home.
"I said, 'You know, if you don't kill them, or me, you don't have to pay me.' Ma didn't teach me that, she would have killed me, so no one's allowed to tell my mother what I just told y'all," said Jo.
They all nodded, and I took off my jacket, it was hot in the plane. Soon, the plane landed, and I was the first one off. I noticed Evelyn and she walked up to me.
"I know that you know I'm pregnant, and I've decided that I'm marrying Danny because of it. Okay? No hard feelings?" she said
"Evelyn- I don't know- I'm sorry-"
I tried to tell her, but I couldn't I just started to cry again. Rafe hugged Evelyn.
"Evelyn, Danny didn't survive. We searched every where for him or his body," said Rafe.
How was I going to tell them? What was I going to say?
"Jo! Here, you left your jacket on the plane," said Red, running over and handing it to me.
"Thank you, Red," I said, reaching out to get it, forgetting about the ring.
Rafe noticed it on my hand.
"Jo, what's that?" he asked.
"What's what?"
"On your hand. Danny told me that was for Evelyn."
I looked at my hand.
"He told me he realized he was substituting me with Evelyn and that he thought of me often when he was with her. And he said that he was happy, because now he knew that you two would be happy, and so would he. That's the only thing he ever wanted was for you two to be happy." I felt as though I would cry again. "Please, excuse me."
I walked over to a bench and sat down to cry.
"Jo!"
I looked up. Great, just my luck, here's Ma and Pa with the Walkers.
"Oh, Lord. What's wrong is it Rafe? Is he okay?" asked Pa.
"I'm fine, Pa," said Rafe.
"Josephine McCawley, what is on your hand?" asked Ma.
I cried even harder.
"Sore subject, Ma. Danny gave her that. We couldn't find him after we landed in China. Ma, Pa, Mr. Walker, Mrs. Walker, I'd like y'all to meet Evelyn," said Rafe, changing the subject.
They were all introduced and Doolittle walked over.
"Captains McCawley?" he said.
I stood up and saluted him.
"At ease. The President would like to speak with you."
President Roosevelt came up to us.
"Why hello, Miss McCawley. How are you? It's been a while, I'm glad to see your brother is all right, and where is Captain Walker?" I had to bite my lip just to keep from crying again. "Oh, I'm sorry. Well, you two have been promoted to General. This'll get quite confusing if you two keep moving up in positions together."
By now Mrs. Walker, Ma, and Evelyn were crying and I was trying not to. A few weeks later, I was called into Doolittle's office, with Rafe, Gooz and Red, we sat outside his office and waited, wondering what we did this time.