Heart of a Volunteer
Chapter 3: The Funeral of Captain Rafe McCawley

Danny immediatly recognized Red and Gooz. He walked up to the two, sitting admiring Rafe's body the way they admired him on earth. "Hello Gooz, Red," Danny said as he took a seat directly behind them.

"D...D....Danny! Are you a ghost? Is he a ghost?" Red asked Gooz.

"So after hiding for twenty five miserable years, you decide to make yourself known at his funeral?" Gooz asked.

"You knew about him being alive and all?" Red asked.

"Yep, I was the one who helped him."

"Listen, Red, I woulda told you, really, but I couldn't risk it. And, Gooz, I told them about my being alive yesterday. So there."

They all became solemn as Evelyn walked up to Danny. "Can, I uh talk to you?" she asked, on the verge on tears. Danny nodded to the two men and walked onto the deck with Evelyn.

"I know why you came back," she whispered.

"To meet my son," he answered.

"My memory's gone with my old age, not my logic, Daniel Walker. It was very noble of you, or just stupid, not to come home with him...to say you were dead. I would have been yours then, Danny. It didn't matter about our son, I loved you more anyway. I don't know why you waited until Rafe died until you came to reclaim me. He wasn't an obstacle for you. I would have been your's Danny," she said as she sat on a swing and looked towards the moon. "There was always hope."

"I was scared," he admitted. "Evelyn, if the police hadn't of come that night, I would have been eating through a tube for a week in your hospital. I felt like the least I could do for him was to die. And I know that sounds so stupid, but I've always had respect for him."

"So...did you care more about his friendship than my love?" she asked.

"It's been so hard, trying to move on without you. It didn't matter how hard I tried, I never loved Betty the way I loved you. You were my everything, Evelyn. But, lying in the dirt, I felt as if Rafe never supported me, I could never have a full life with you Evelyn."

She sighed and got ready to tell Danny something she knew she would regret later. "He wanted you to be with me, Danny. The only reason he was with me when you came back is because you asked him to. In truth, he didn't even love me. Before he left, that wasn't an act. We were madly in love. But then when I saw you in a different light, you were the man of my dreams. A woman can fall in and out of love numerous times throughout her life, but she only has that feeling inside of her for one man. It was you, Danny. God, I didn't need another daring, adventerous young pilot. I had to worry about myself and eventually our children. I didn't need my husband to be an added distraction. But once again, life didn't ask me what I wanted. I love Eric, Chelsea, Jamie, don't get me wrong. But, the only reason they were born was to make us feel somewhat better about being married, to have a purpose other than Danny. I always loved you more. I still do."

Danny gulped. He took her in his arms and held her close. He could smell her familar scent, heard her light, delicate breathing. "I'm so sorry," he whispered over and over again. He gently pressed his lips on her forehead. He wiped away her tears, and they stayed outside for the rest of the night.

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There was well over 500 people at Rafe's funeral. Friends, friends of the family, former servicemen and women, mere acquittances. They all came to honor a great man. He deserved every single prayer that was said for him.

Danny listened intently to the priest, and when it was time, he walked up to deliver the eulogy. He tried to appease his nerves, to make sure he wouldn't break down in the middle of his speach.

"Rafe McCawley was the best friend I ever knew. I loved that man like a brother. Looking at your faces now, I know each and every one of you has a story about Rafe. I've talked to many girls I haven't seen since high school telling me Rafe gave them her first kiss. The men who respected Rafe like I did will tell you that he was always pushing you to be stronger, better.

Rafe fought and lived through two different wars. Cancer finally took this great man, not another's rifle. It's hard to believe that after everything we've been through, anything could make Rafe weak.

Rafe died a hero. He didn't ask to be one. But he had the heart, the spirit, and nothing could stop him. Now I'm not gonna stand up here and lie to you; I'm not gonna say Rafe was a perfect, angelic man. He wasn't. But the soul of the man, the way he made you feel when you were down, the way he lifted you. It was something I also envied for. I envied the way he could walk into a room and make it seem brighter.

In this simple town in Tennessee, we grew up two simple farm boys who got the chance to fly. We joined the Air Force to do good, and I am proud to tell you that we did bring honor to this small town. He's proud of you, Bristol.

And to his children. Eric, Jamie, Chelsea," he paused. "Danny. He's proud of all of you, too. I've only known you for a few days, but it's long enough to know that Rafe loved you and was so proud of each of you.

And Evelyn. He loved you. And it was love for you that kept him alive. I can stand here and pretend it was all about me, but I know it was you. He would risk his life for me, but you too had a special bond that was not comprable to anything any one else has together. You're my hero, Evelyn McCawley." He knew the last bit he said sounded really stupid to everyone other than himself and Evelyn. He quietly took his seat and struggled to make it through the last of the service.

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University of Tennessee dorm room
Knoxville, Tennessee

Danny entered his dorm for the first time since he met his real father about a week ago. He saw his roommate making out with his girlfriend on the sofa. He quickly mumbled an apology, before noticing it wasn't his girlfriend.

His eyes widened and he walked back into the hall. His roommate quickly followed. "That isn't your girl," Danny said. He had been raised with morals and values, not to cheat on your girlfriend.

"Don't tell Kim, please man. Please. It was a mistake. I met her downstairs and one thing led to another. Listen, I am so sorry," he pleaded with Danny.

A word his roommate had said made Danny aware of something. "What's her last name?" Danny demanded.

"Whose?"

"Kim's," Danny said.

"Uh, Walker man. Why?" he asked.

Matt didn't have time to react before Danny's fist blinded him. He fell to the ground. Danny kicked him and demanded that he get up. He backed away long enough for him to stand, then hit him again. He tried to fight back, but he was to disoriented to know where Danny even was. Danny hit him one last time, and once again he fell to the ground. "Kim Walker is my sister, you asshole," Danny said before walking down the stairs and out of the dormatory.