I've really enjoyed writing about Rafe and Evelyn and have appreciated all of the feedback. Thank you.

I've toyed with the idea for awhile about Rafe and Evelyn coming close to meeting before the day of the eye exam but it never occurs. This is what might have happened.

___________________________

He hated hospitals. Every time he'd had to go when he was a boy, someone had always died.

The last time he'd been to a hospital was just before he joined the Army Air Corps and his Grandpa McCawley had passed away. He'd lived a long and happy life but as he'd told his grandson, it was time for him to join Grandma McCawley. He had missed her terribly and was happy to finally be able to see her.

Lieutenant Rafe McCawley was in the hospital because of an accident. In all the times that he'd pushed Major James Doolittle to his limits with the stunts he would pull, Rafe was now in the hospital because he'd not been careful about working around his plane. He had not allowed himself the clearance he needed to stand up and had knocked himself unconscious under the wing of his P-40.

His head hurt like hell, and didn't know how he was going to face his fellow pilots when he returned to the base. Of all things to happen, to get knocked out by your own plane. He sighed and tried to lie as still as possible because that was the only way his head would stop hurting. Of course, his pride hurt like hell too. First in his flight class and he doesn't make sure he's clear of the wing before he stands up.

"You all right Rafe?"

Rafe looked to the door and saw his best friend and fellow pilot, Lieutenant Danny Walker. His cap was tucked under his arm and he was trying not to grin, but failing badly.

"How the hell do you think I feel?"

"And here I always thought I was the klutz. If anyone were goin' to knock himself out under a wing, I would have put my money on Billy or Red." And he laughed.

"I'm glad you find this so amusin'. I wouldn't be laughin' if this had happened to you."

The look Danny gave Rafe told him different. "Of course you would and you never would have let me forget it for the rest of our lives."

Rafe sighed. "You're right." And he covered his face with his hands. "I'm never goin' to live this down."

"Sure you will. It's only a matter of time before Red or Billy does somethin' that'll outdo this. You'll see."

Lieutenant Evelyn Johnson was at the admissions desk working on a chart when an Air Corps officer approached her. "Lieutenant, I'm Major James Doolittle. Where might I find Lieutenant Rafe McCawley's room?"

She looked at the room assignment chart. "Lieutenant McCawley is down the hall in 103, Major."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." And he walked away from the desk.

"Lieutenant McCawley? Wasn't he that good looking pilot who came in earlier?" Evelyn's friend Barbara asked her.

"I don't know. I must have missed all the excitement when I was inventorying supplies."

Barbara frowned at her. "You shouldn't be doing that. The new nurse, what's here name?"

"Betty."

"Yea, Betty. She was supposed to do that so you could leave early. Didn't you have a date?" Barbara grinned at her.

"He had to cancel." Evelyn sighed. "The Enterprise was sent out on last minute maneuvers."

"Ev, you have got to stop dating pilots."

"There is nothing wrong with pilots. My mother married a pilot." She said, trying not to sound defensive.

"Well then, stop dating Navy pilots."

"How about I stop dating all together, would that make you happy?"

That only made Barbara grin.

As if it couldn't get any more humiliating, Major Doolittle stood in the doorway of Rafe's hospital room. "How are you feeling son?"

"Like an idiot sir."

"That's understandable, Lieutenant. But you are not the first pilot to not watch his head and you will certainly not be the last."

"No disrespect intended sir, but is that supposed to make me feel better?" Rafe asked him.

"No. Being the exceptional pilot you are in the air does not keep you from being careless on the ground." And he smiled.

"Thank you sir."

"No thanks necessary, Lieutenant. Just do what the nurses tell you." And he turned around and left the room.

"Yes sir." Rafe answered. He looked at Danny who had not said a word during the exchange. "Well that made me feel a whole lot better."

"What did you want him to say, good job? Besides, I got a look at one of the nurses as I came in and she's real pretty. Play your cards right and she might be lookin' after you."

That got Rafe's attention. "What does she look like?"

"Long dark hair, dark eyes...Heck, I might go after her myself." He grinned at his prone friend.

"That's it Danny, kick me while I'm down."

"Ah heck Rafe, she'd never notice me. You're the one who could give Cary Grant a run for his money. I'd be lucky if I could give Jimmy Stewart a run for his. " Danny cuffed him lightly on the shoulder.

Rafe laughed and held his head as he did. "Come on Danny, that ain't so bad."

"Easy for you to say." He said with a rueful grin.

"Evelyn, I need you to go down to 103 and check on that Air Corps pilot. He's got a concussion and I put him on an I.V." The doctor told her.

"Yes, Sir." She got up, found his chart file and headed down to the room. On her way, she saw the Major she had directed to the room that she was headed come back up the hallway and he stopped her.

"Lieutenant, one of my pilots is in 103. How is he?"

Evelyn looked at his chart. "He sustained a concussion and the doctor wants to keep him overnight for observation. His pupils are slightly dilated and he can't sit up for a sustained period. That should clear up by tomorrow after he's had a chance to rest."

"Thank you, Lieutenant." And he headed toward the exit. Evelyn watched him go and suddenly realized that was the James Doolittle that pilots, Army and Navy, looked to in awe. She resumed her course toward 103 and just as she reached the door another doctor stopped her again. "Lieutenant I need you to head up to the third floor and relieve one of the nurses, she's taken sick and had to go home."

"Sir, I was told to check on a patient in here."

"I'll give that to another nurse, please go upstairs." And he held out his hand for the chart.

Evelyn handed it to him, "Yes sir." and headed to the stairs.

As she started up the first flight, Danny came out of Rafe's room and walked down the hall toward the front door. He happened to glance over toward the stairs and saw that nurse he'd told Rafe about. She had a nice figure; Rafe would appreciate that Danny knew.

He shook his head and wondered when he'd suddenly become his friend's social secretary. He knew if Rafe got a look at that nurse, he'd turn on the McCawley charm and she wouldn't stand a chance. He shook his head again and smiled as he left the hospital.