There You'll Be
Chapter 6
The Angels Will Come

Both Jo and Evelyn were now four months pregnant, but Jo looked about six months, rather than four. Jo and Danny were helping Mrs. Walker move into a nursing home, because she had a terminal disease, but no one knew what it was. Afterward, Jo and Danny went to the station to Washington, to finish their jobs there, and move to Tennessee. But, the man wouldn't give Jo a ticket.

"Why can't I get on the train to Washington?" asked Jo.

"Because we don't want you to have your child on the train," said the man.

"What!? I'm four months pregnant! It's not goin' to be five months early! And I've got a job to do in Washington, whether I walk or take a train is up to you, but I'm gettin' to Washington." Danny laughed. "Oh you think it's funny do you?"

"No," said Danny.

"I didn't think so. Now you'll give me a ticket or I'll tell everyone in Washington never to ride these trains again, and they will listen to me."

"Why would they listen to a woman?" asked the man.

Jo lost her temper.

"What did you say? You did not just say that! They will listen to me! I'm a freakin' General!"

The man's face when white, she scared him.

"No you're not, ma'am. There are no women that high in the government." "Wanna bet? I was in the Air Force. Danny, what are you doin'?"

"Tryin' to keep you from killin' this man," said Danny.

"Lady, I was in World War Two, they said that the only women there were the nurses."

"I was in World War Two, also, and I kicked some Nazi and Facist butt! I was and still am in the Air Force, now you'll give me the ticket, or I'll tell the President himself never to ride these trains again. In fact I've got a meeting with him in twenty four hundred hours."

The man sighed, looking at Danny's pleading face, and giving her a ticket. Jo smiled, thanked him, picked up Harley and left.

"One for Washington," sighed Danny.

"How far away from the crazy lady?" asked the man.

"Next to her, she's my wife."

Danny smiled, paid for their tickets and went after Jo, laughing. Jo stood there, smiling she kissed Danny and they got on the train. When they were back in Washington they went straight out to dinner. When they got back to their apartment, Gooz was standing at Jo's door.

"Hey, Gooz! How are you?" said Jo.

"Hey, Doolittle was here a little while ago lookin' for you Jo. He didn't look happy," said Gooz.

"Okay, c'mon in Gooz, we can talk about it."

Jo unlocked her door and they walked in.

"Surprise!"

Jo looked around. Standing in their living room was Doolittle, Rafe, Evelyn, Danny Jr., Red, his wife, Sandra, Diana, and Gooz's wife. Most of the women in that room were expecting.

"Oh yay! A pregnant party!" said Danny, sarcastically.

Jo laughed and playfully hit him, setting Harley down to play with Danny Jr.

"We almost didn't make it. I had to threaten the man at the ticket stand. He didn't believe I was four months pregnant or that I worked here," said Jo.

"It was so funny, he asked me how far away I wanted to be from her."

"Try using your status," suggested Doolittle.

"I did, what I got was, 'No you're not, ma'am. There are no women that high in the government.' He was really makin' me mad.

"By that time I was holdin' her back," said Danny.

Everyone laughed.

"Jo, do you remember Lauren, my wife?" asked Gooz.

"Vaguely. Remember? I had to leave right after y'all said, 'I do'," said Jo.

"Wow, so you're Jo. Gooz talks about you a lot," said the blonde.

"So does Red," said a red headed woman, named Jennifer.

"Really?" asked Jo.

"They all talk about something you did in China, but they never tell us what," said Evelyn

Jo blushed.

"Do you know what they're talkin' about?" asked Lauren.

"Unfortunately. It's embarrassing, and I regret doin' it, but I had to get them out of there if I had the chance. Well, I had the chance and I took it," said Jo.

"What are you four talkin' about?" asked Diana.

"What Jo did in China, whatever that was," said Jennifer.

"Oh we never told y'all that?" said Rafe.

"Rafe! No!" said Jo, blushing.

"Aww, look you guys she's blushing. Well, Jo don't be ashamed, it was very noble of you! It takes a real man to do what you did."

"What? Wear pink?"

Everyone laughed.

"No! I'm talkin' about you seducing Japs to save our lives!"

"How?" asked Diana, appalled.

"Well she--" began Gooz.

"No! I wanna tell it," said Jo.

"Okay."

They all sat down and listened.

"Well, we were on our way to China, and we were runnin' outta fuel, so I said if we got captured by Japs, to save ammo and wait for my signal. They asked what it was, so I told them they'd know it when they saw it. At that time, I was thinkin' it up. Well, we crashed, then Danny and Gooz's plane came over head and made a few Japs back off, so we could all regroup. Well, Danny disappeared, I still didn't have a signal, and we were surrounded by Japs. Rafe and I looked for Danny before they got any closer, but we didn't have any time. We had to get behind the plane, because we were being shot at. Well, they came up and grabbed the men first. Then about four or five of them walked toward me. I did the only thing I could: make up a signal. I said, 'If you don't kill them or me, you don't have to pay me,' in Japanese. They got the message and called the rest over, with them they brought our boys. I put my hand up my back, unsnapped my bra, and pulled it out my sleeve. They were so busy staring, they didn't see my guns as I unzipped my jacket. I took the guns and began shooting at them, and they followed my lead. When the Chinese came I went back into the plane and put it back on."

Jo face was red, the women looked horrified and the men were laughing. And Danny Jr. and Harley were playing with his toy B- 15.

"Jo! I had no idea how brave you are!" said Diana, sarcastically.

"Shut up Diana. At least I'm brave enough to do what I can to help out my friends when they're in trouble, and not scream and run away."

That silenced everyone, although no one but Jo, Diana and Rafe knew what she was talking about.

"Drinks anyone?" asked Jo, standing up.

"I'll get it, Jo, sit down," said Danny.

"No, it's okay, I'll get it, so beer for everyone but me, Lauren, Jennifer, Diana, and Evelyn, right? What do you three want?"

"Milk," they said in unison.

Jo shrugged, and soon came back with six beers, four milks, a soda, and two waters.

"Jo, you shouldn't give him soda," said Evelyn.

"You don't think I should give him anything, I am his only Aunt Jo."

"You're his only aunt. Evelyn's sister doesn't like us. What was it she called us? Rednecks?" said Rafe.

Jo burst out laughing.

"What? What's so funny?"

"I thought of something to say to her. 'I ain't no stinkin' Redneck. Y'all are.' It shows all the signs of a Redneck, and to tell you the truth, we are. And I told Jo, that's why she's laughin'," said Danny.

"We may be rednecks, but we're Air Force Rednecks!" said Jo, as someone knocked on the door.

Jo got up and answered it.

"Will you keep the noise down up here? You can be heard in Tulsa!"

Evelyn stood up and walked to the door.

"Jessica?"

"Evelyn," said the stranger stiffly.

"This is my sister."

"Well, come on in and join our Air Force Redneck pregnant party!" said Jo, pulling her in.

The others laughed at Jo.

"This is my sister, Jessica," said Evelyn.

"Well, hi. This is my sister in law Evelyn, oh wait you all ready know her. Well, forgive me I'm just a redneck."

Everyone burst out laughing.

"Jo, how much alcohol have you had to day?" asked Sandra.

"None, I don't drink anymore 'cause I'm pregnant, along with Evelyn, Lauren and Jennifer. As far as we know."

Jo smiled.

"Well, at least we weren't the ones who couldn't think of a way to signal us to get those Japs," said Gooz.

Jo stuck out her tongue. Jessica looked horrified.

"So, Jessica, where are you from?" asked Jo.

"Boston," she replied.

"Then why are you here in Washington DC, in a redneck apartment building?"

"Jo, stop torturing her," said Evelyn, trying not to laugh. "Jess, this is my sister in law, Jo her husband Danny. My husband, Rafe. Their friends Gooz, and Red, and their wives Lauren and Jennifer. Jo and Rafe's cousin Diana, my friend Sandra, and the respected Colonel Doolittle."

Everyone waved as they were introduced.

"Do you really think of yourselves as Rednecks?" asked Jessica, shocked.

"Only since that's what we heard you think of us, which was about fifteen minutes ago," said Jo.

"Who's children are they? they're darling."

Jessica looked at Danny Jr. and Harley.

"He's mine. And the girl is Jo's," said Evelyn.

Danny Jr. walked over to them, and stuck out his hand.

"Hello, I'm Daniel Walker McCawley, pleased to meet you."

Jo smiled at him, then noticed Harley hiding behind the doorway.

"Danny- boy, this is your mama's sister, Jessica."

"Hello Aunt Jessica."

"Why don't you go play with you B- 15. Has your daddy taught you to fly yet?"

"Yes, but I can't fly by myself yet."

"Then I'll just show you one, maybe they'll let you in the cockpit," said Jo.

"Can't we fly it?"

"No, not yet next time you come we can, maybe. Okay?"

"Okay."

"Even better Danny- boy. Next time I'm allowed to fly the planes in Hawaii, I'll ask if I can take you up once, just me and you. Nobody else, just before ground time. How's that? The me and you Harley, we'll go up."

Danny Jr.'s face lit up like a light bulb, Harley smiled.

"Okay Aunt Jo."

He ran off plying with his plane, with his cousin tottering behind him.

Evelyn looked at her.

"What? I'm not teachin' him anything, that's Rafe's job, not mine. And you know he's been askin' me to take him up, so I will, as soon as I can."

"You're spoiling him," said Evelyn.

"It's not good for a child to be spoiled, they turn out--" began Jessica

"Like you," finished Jo, smiling sweetly.

Evelyn couldn't help herself, she laughed with the others.

"Jo, don't be so mean," scolded Evelyn.

"Why not? She doesn't even meet us and calls us Rednecks. I don't take that as an insult, but my mother and father would have."

"What, they think it's a complement? Are they that stupid?" asked Jessica, opening the door.

"Before, I was joking, now you insult my parents, my dead parents, and not even ask what I meant. I was joking, I'm sorry. And mostly, I'm sorry for Evelyn," said Jo.

"Why are you sorry for her?"

"Because she's related to you."

Jessica left. Jo went and sat down, with Evelyn. Doolittle burst out laughing and everyone stared at him.

"I would have thought that some of Danny's patience would have rubbed off on her by now, Red, I owe you ten dollars," he said, handing the money to Red.

Everyone but Jo laughed.

"It's not that funny," she said.

"What that you're impossible to live with?" asked Danny.

"Rafe lived with me, practically you, too. For twenty three years."

"Yeah, but then they went and joined the Air Force," said Red.

"Fine then, be mean to me."

Jo crossed her arms and pouted.

"Aw, now she's pouting," said Sandra.

Danny, who was trying not to laugh, came over and kissed her.

"Nice try, but I'm so impossible to live with," said Jo.

"Jo, you know I was joking."

"Were you?"

Jo stood up.

"Jo, don't be like that."

They were all trying not to laugh, all but Jo.

"I guess I'll leave the men to discuss how imperfect I am, just like my mother did. And the women to chat about babies. I'll just go fly the B- 15 with Danny- Boy, and Harley."

Jo walked into the kitchen. Harley was eating a cookie, and Danny Jr. was still drinking his soda. He yawned.

"I'm sleepy Aunt Jo," he said.

"Okay, are you done with your soda?"

"Yes."

"Okay, come with me."

He hopped off the chair, holding his toy plane, and held Jo's hand as she walked him into Harley's room. He got in the top bunk.

"Goodnight Aunt Jo."

"Night Danny- boy. Do you want your mom to tuck you in?"

He nodded. Jo smiled, ruffled his light brown hair and left the room.

"What is he doin' in there?" asked Evelyn.

"He wants you to tuck him in Evelyn. I put him in there, 'cause he said he was tired. I showed him in, and came to get you."

Evelyn smiled and hugged Jo. Jo looked bewildered, and hugged her back, and Evelyn went into the room.

"What was that all about?" asked Rafe.

Jo shrugged and sat down again.

"Are you talkin' to us now?" asked Gooz.

"I guess, if y'all are the best I can get to talk to," said Jo, smiling, then went into a daze.

"Jo! Jo?" said Red.

"She does that sometimes. We just ignored her until she came to. She never told us what she thinks about when she does that. Once, she began to cry," said Rafe.

Suddenly Jo blinked and swallowed hard.

"What's wrong?" questioned Sandra.

"Nothin'. Just- just thinkin'," said Jo, breathing deeply.

"Are you sure?" asked Lauren.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

Evelyn came up behind her and felt her forehead.

"No fever, but you're sweating," she declared.

"I'll just get a breath of fresh air."

Jo stood up, and walked out on to the balcony, closing the door behind her.

"What do you think could be wrong?" asked Jennifer.

"She never did that before the war," said Rafe.

"The war, that could be it. Was anyone here with her during the war?" asked Danny.

Rafe, Red and Gooz raised their hands.

"We were, but she got shot down. We were separated, an most of her troope died, they were killed by Nazis. She was the only one who survived," said Red.

"What about William Wallace? He came up to her and talked to her in Hawaii."

"He wasn't with her the whole time, after they crashed we came and got him and took him back to the hospital. There were a few more who lived that were in her troope, and they said that she fought like it was the last time she'd ever see day light. We found them almost dead on a battle somewhere in Poland," said Sandra.

"A week after that they found her walking into one of our camps, she collapsed right when she got there. They suspected she hadn't eaten since before that battle," said Doolittle.

"Yeah, I remember having to grab some bandages and seeing her, puttin' her hair up. I was so happy to see her alive I ran to her picked her up and swung her around. She didn't mind much," said Gooz.

"Then after that she came out of the tent and looked around for Rafe. She couldn't find him, because he had gotten separated from me and Gooz and she thought he was dead. And just as we had gotten her to eat, she stopped again. Then the next day Rafe comes in with some more guys. All the guys are cat callin' her and whistlin'. She would have killed them all if she hadn't seen Rafe. She got up and she ran to him," said Red.

"Then she jumped and I held her, she had her legs around my waist and we were both cryin', both happy to see one another. I had to carry her back to where Red and Gooz were. And even then she was still cryin', but she wouldn't tell any of us why. A bunch of men drove by and said that they had seen her a few days before, and that she was sittin' in the middle of a field rockin' back and forth. I asked her about it, and she told me truthfully that she had never been in that field, but lo and behold someone else comes along and say the same thing. We all thought she was crazy, but the doctor said that she was just fine," said Rafe.

"Then after that, she had the cot next to me and she was screamin' the entire night. Once, me, Red an' Rafe got up and asked her what was wrong and she said it was just a nightmare. We asked what it was about and she lied to us sayin' it was about weird people comin' after her as a child," said Gooz.

"Yeah, you could tell she was lyin' she paused a lot to think. I'm worried. She's never had one of those so long before."

"It was only about five minutes," said Diana.

"Yeah, but usually they're about two seconds," said Danny. Everyone looked at him. "She's had a couple while we've been married, she had quite a few when we were in France."

Jo came back inside.

"What are they about Jo?" asked Evelyn.

"What?"

"Your little dazes."

"What dazes?"

"When you have those flashes, are they dreams or memories?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Then tell me the truth, what did you dream about in camp after the war ended?" asked Rafe.

Jo sighed.

"The Nazis and the Fascists thought it amusing to kill all the men, then some of them took one of their heads and--" She broke off to take a deep breath. "-- they played a game of baseball using an arm and a head. I watched them, I couldn't tear myself away from it, I mean they were my buddies they were doin' that to. There were only eight of them left, so I got as much ammo I could without being seen and killed every single one of them, missin' their hearts and heads on purpose so I could watch them die, as they had did my friends. Then I shouted to all eight of them, in German, 'No one messes with me and lives, you Nazi bastards!' As I watched them die, I realized that I sunk to their level. Then I left, I didn't eat until I got to the camp, then a day later, I stopped eating again, because I was too worried about Rafe. So, that's what I dreamt and had flashbacks about."

"That's so sad, and disgusting," said Diana.

"Try bein' there, Diana."

Eventually, they all left, but Rafe and Evelyn stayed with Danny and Jo. They stayed in the spare bed, in Harley's room. Another few months went by and Jo and Danny were all settled in their new house in Tennessee. Danny thought it was funny to listen to Jo complain. Danny sat in his chair, and watched Jo unpack some things.

"God! I can't wait another month!"

"Jo, you have to wait two more months," said Danny, laughing.

"Well, by the look of me, it should have been born last month!"

"True, true, but the Angels will come," he said, pulling Jo into his lap.

"Shut up. I look like a balloon, and like a balloon, I just keep gettin' bigger an' bigger. And what does that mean?"

Danny laughed. Jo glared at him.

"What? What did I do?"

"You're laughing at me."

"Fine, I won't laugh at you any more. And it means that our kids will be the Angels of our lives, and they will come, eventually."

"Good."

"Okay."

He kissed her, and someone knocked at the door. Jo got up and waddled to the door, looking out the window first. There were two men, both with....

"Guns," Jo whispered.

She went back to Danny and pulled him toward the back door.

"What's wrong?"

"There are two men at the front door with guns. Let's head to Rafe's house, please?"

"Okay, Jo. What did they look like?"

They banged on the door.

"I don't know. All I saw was that they had guns, and they were holding them, about to shoot."

"Okay, come on."

Jo ran, more waddled quickly, up the stairs and grabbed Harley, and they went out the back door and into the corn field, just as the two came around the back. They got to Rafe's house and explained.

"You're paranoid," said Rafe.

"Better safe than sorry," said Jo.

"She's right, Rafe," said Evelyn, "If that happened to us, I'd do the same thing,"

"Okay. Whatever," sighed Rafe, as someone knocked on the door. "Hello?"

"Yes, were looking for Mrs. Josephine Walker," they heard one say.

"Why? What did she do?"

"Nothing, sir, absolutely nothing."

"Have I met you before?"

"No, I don't think so," the other said quickly.

Jo looked out the window, and walked behind Rafe.

"You're that jerk that tried to kill me," said Jo.

"Me, ma'am? No, that was my brother. We've come to apologize on his behalf."

"Like hell y'are. Why do you have those guns then?"

"Safety."

"Yeah right."

"It's true."

"It's not like we're gonna kill you, and you better not try to pull anything, or everyone in Washington'll hunt you down and kill you, not to mention all my buddies from the war, my brother, and my husband."

"All right."

"I still don't trust you. Give me your guns."

"No!"

"Then I can't talk to you."

They looked at each other and sighed. One took their guns and handed them to her.

"There you go."

"One moment. Evelyn, hold on to these, please. I'll be right back."

Jo stepped out from behind Rafe, and they saw her. Rafe went back in the house, but left the door open

"Well, now that we're able to talk, we'll start with introductions. I'm John Felicetti," said the tall thin one.

"And I'm Andy Felicetti. We're the brothers of the man who attacked you a few months ago. We wanted to apologize for him, because he doesn't think he did anything wrong," said the round one.

"Mostly what he did, was scare me, my brother, my cousin and my husband half to death," said Jo.

"We are very sorry, and we'd like to... ah... compensate for it," said John.

"Meaning.....?"

"Money."

"Money? Why are you paying me?"

"We're Italians we pay for everything," joked Andy.

Jo looked at them.

"It was a joke," explained John.

Jo smiled.

"I'm glad. You don't have to pay me, he didn't do any permanent harm. It's no big deal."

"No, we insist."

"Here," said Andy, handing her a large envelope.

Jo took it.

"What is this?"

"Just keep it, don't open it until later. Goodbye ma'am."

Jo got their guns back and gave them to the men. They left and Jo went back into the house, and opened the envelope. In it was about five thousand dollars.

"My God. Who were they?" asked Danny.

"Remember that guy who was following us that time?" Danny nodded. "They are his brothers. I'm goin' to take this to Washington to get it checked out. Any one want to come?"

"I will."

So Danny and Jo went to Washington to have the money checked out.

"Morning Mom," said Doolittle, upon seeing them, then he took Harley from Danny and played with her.

Jo smiled and Danny laughed. And Jo explained how they got the money and by the next day, they had found out.

"It came out of a personal account, if they gave it to you, it's yours."

"Okay. What do we do with five thousand dollars?" asked Jo.

"Fix up our plane, for one thing, and get the baby's room ready--"

"Danny, there's no way I'm having only one child this time around. I think we've got twins, at least," said Jo.

He laughed, and helped her onto the train after they had said goodbye to Doolittle.

"Then we can spoil them a bit, save most of it so they can go to college," said Jo.

A/N: Almost there; and in chapter 8, I'm gonna skip a few years. Just so you know, k? Review, please!