A crowd had gathered in the father's waiting room to sit with Rafe.
Evelyn had finally gone into active labor and Barbara had tried to keep him updated. She was doing as well as could be expected and everything was going fine. Other than that, she really didn't have much to tell him.
It helped Rafe to have Danny with him, because he was able to keep his mind off what was happening with his wife by keeping his son distracted. And the boy wanted to walk, so Rafe stood behind him as he toddled around the small room.
Red and Gooz had come over from the barracks after Danny had called them about Evelyn. Martha had come over with Sandra, who was now sitting with Danny and Rafe couldn't help but notice how they sat quietly and held hands. He saw how she leaned over to say something to him and he nodded. Danny was still being so tight lipped about what was happening between the two of them that Rafe had no idea how his best friend really felt about her.
But he never pushed for answers because he understood why Danny wanted to keep it to himself. Evelyn had told him that when Danny and Sandra were ready they'd let everyone in on what was going on with them, just as she and Rafe had done.
Danny had gotten tired of walking and sat down in the middle of the floor. Rafe picked him up and carried him back to where he'd been sitting and waiting and sat down. He settled Danny in his lap and the boy put his head back on Rafe's chest and promptly fell asleep. Rafe for his part looked around at the friends who had gathered to wait with him and felt such gratitude to them especially when there was nothing for them to do. "If ya'll want to get something to eat, go ahead. Barbara said Evelyn was still in labor and it'll probably take a while longer."
"We can stay here Rafe." Red told him.
"I 'preciate that Red, but I feel bad about everyone bein' here and just waitin'."
"Red, I think Rafe here is telling us very nicely to bug out." Gooz said.
"Rafe, do you want us to leave?" Red asked him.
He sighed. "Not for good, just a while. I haven't had a lot of time with my birthday boy here."
"If you need us for anything, we'll be outside."
"Thanks Red." And everyone filed out, except for Rafe's best friend who came and sat down next to him.
"You want me to stay?"
"You've been here since I called you this afternoon so take Sandra for a walk and get some fresh air. Danny's asleep now and I may try and sleep too."
Danny looked at Rafe with his disheveled hair, half days growth of beard and red rimmed eyes. He looked exhausted but if he were to tell him that, Rafe would say that Evelyn was more exhausted. "Do you at least want me to take Danny?"
"No, he can stay with me. I don't want him wakin' up and not know where I am."
"Okay Rafe. We won't be long."
"Take your time." And before Danny had left the waiting room Rafe had fallen asleep with his sleeping son in his lap.
Barbara gently shaking his shoulder interrupted his respite. "Rafe, wake up."
He opened his eyes and sighed. "Evelyn?" Was all he said.
"She's fine." Barbara reassured him. "And when I left it looked like the newest McCawley was about to make an entrance into the world."
He stretched and tried not to wake Danny. "What time is it?"
She looked at her watch. "It's about twelve thirty."
"Evelyn was worried that Danny might have to share his birthday with his new brother or sister. She'll be happy to know they won't."
Barbara grinned at him. "Honey, she'll be glad to get this kid of yours born."
"Is she really all right?"
Barbara sat down next to him and her usual arch tone was not there. "Rafe, she's having a baby and it's the most natural thing in the world. She's strong and healthy and having been a nurse, she knows what to expect. She's doing fine and the baby is fine. There have been no complications and if your lucky you'll be a father again by the time I get back to the delivery room. Don't worry about her, she's been through this before."
He nodded. "I know she's been through this before, but I haven't."
It seemed to dawn on her what he was saying. "You're feeling guilty because you weren't here when she had Danny." She said it so matter of factly and Rafe nodded again. "She understood why you weren't here and knew it was out of your hands. She also knew that if you could have moved heaven and earth to be here you would have done that too. You have to stop beating yourself up over that."
"You're right. But it's not as easy as it sounds."
"I know."
"When Evelyn needed me the most I couldn't be here. I know she understands why and I know it was out of my hands, but I should have been here just the same."
How could she answer that? "The important thing to remember is that you wanted to be here and Ev knows that. You also need to remember that you've been here for her and Danny ever since and you are here now."
That seemed to settle something in him because the furrow that had developed between his eyebrows had disappeared and he smiled for the first time since Evelyn had told him her contractions were twenty minutes apart.
"Go back to sleep. When that kid finally gets here, you'll be the second to know." She stood up and headed to the waiting room door.
"The second?"
Barbara grinned at him and her saucy attitude had returned. "After all that hard work, I think it's only fair that Ev is the first to know." And she left.
Rafe grinned to himself and looked down at his sleeping son. Barbara was right. He may have missed the birth of his first child, but he'd not missed the important things. He was there for his first Christmas, though how he'd managed to get home in time he still wondered about. He was there the first time he'd said Daddy, though it came out more like Daa.
It didn't really matter because Rafe knew what the boy had been trying to say.
He was there the first time he'd crawled and the first time he sat up with out Evelyn helping him. She always swore that Danny waited until Rafe would come home before he'd reach another milestone in his growing. He even seemed to wait before he cut his first tooth, just so his father could be there.
So when it really came down to it, what Rafe had missed was important but he'd not missed anything else. With that realization he was able to close his eyes and rest.
He had no idea what time it was when he was shaken very gently again and he heard, "Captain McCawley." His eyes were open and he expected to see Barbara standing there but instead saw General Doolittle. When he tried to get up, the General shook his head. "At ease, son. I was at Hickam when the call came in about your wife. Any news yet?"
"No sir, nothin' yet."
"Your son has really grown since the last time I saw him."
"Like a weed sir." Rafe grinned. "By the time we get him into pants that fit, he's outgrowin' his shoes."
General Doolittle smiled. "Mrs. Doolittle and I went through that with our children too. I don't think they stopped outgrowing anything until they were in high school."
Rafe sighed. "High school sir?"
"I'm afraid so son. But if Mrs. McCawley has another boy, you won't have to worry too much about clothing him."
"And if she has a girl?"
"Well then, you've got problems." And he smiled. "In the end though, it doesn't really matter. As long as you love your kids and do the very best you can for them, that's the important thing."
"That I can do sir."
At that point the pilots and nurses had come back and Danny, Red and Gooz snapped a smart salute to their former commander who answered them with one of his own. They chatted for a few moments before the General asked Rafe to contact him when the new baby came. "I'll be here until tomorrow afternoon." And he gave Rafe a phone number where he could be reached.
"Thank you sir. I'll do that." And the General was gone.
Rafe was appreciative of his visit especially because the hour was so late and that's what he had always respected about him. Caring enough about his men, whether they were still under his command or not, to check on their welfare or the welfare of their families.
No sooner had General Doolittle left the waiting room than Barbara came in. It quieted down as everyone waited to hear the news. "Captain McCawley, come with me please." She said with a smile.
"The baby?"
"Just come with me." Was all she would say.
Danny was still asleep and Rafe suspected he would sleep through the rest of the night. It was then he finally asked his son's godfather to look after him. "You bet. Give Evelyn our love."
Rafe had gotten up as quietly as he could and handed his son over to his namesake. "I will." And he followed Barbara out the door. "How is she?"
"She's really tired, but she insisted on seeing you before she went to sleep."
"How's the baby?"
"You'll see for yourself." And she led him down to the maternity ward. They walked past a row of beds that had curtains drawn around them when Barbara stopped at the last bed in the row. "She's there." She told him quietly and left him standing there.
Rafe stepped around the curtain and saw Evelyn lying there. Her eyes were closed and she looked absolutely exhausted. He couldn't even begin to imagine what she'd been through and was thankful she's come through it all right. He gently brushed back a loose lock of her hair and her skin felt cool and damp. It was then Evelyn opened her eyes. She smiled and patted the edge of the bed, wanting him to sit. He looked a little dubious at her request but she whispered, "It's all right, you can sit down." And he did so with great care.
"How are you feelin'?" He felt stupid for asking because she probably felt terrible.
She smiled. "I feel better now that you're here. Is Danny okay?"
"Danny is sound asleep, which is what you should be." He admonished her gently.
"I'll sleep, I promise. I just wanted to see you and tell you how much I love you. I didn't get a chance to tell you that before Barbara brought me in and it was something I wanted you to know."
"I love you too Evelyn, with all my heart." And he leaned over and kissed her.
The partition was slowly drawn back and Barbara was there with a small bundle in her arms. She handed the bundle to Rafe who was not used to holding such a small baby. "I'll be back in a few minutes." And she closed the curtain behind her.
Evelyn lay there and tears started to come. Rafe had missed the birth of their firstborn, but had not missed this. She was grateful he'd been home and hoped this new child would grow up in a world that was not at war.
Rafe for his part was trying to comprehend that they were no longer three, but now four. And looking at the new life he held, he knew he'd get used to it without realizing it.