Chapter 2
End of Innocence

All three girls were silenced. After what felt like an eternity of trying to digest the things just said, Sandra spoke, "Oh, Evelyn." Is all she said before embracing her friend.

"Rafe's the only other person that knows. So please don't tell anyone else."

"You told Rafe?" Barbara asked.

"It was the only way to make him understand. The only thing to let him know why I chose Danny over him."

The ladies accepted that answer, and talked the night away because the next day they didn't have to work until noon.

It was five o'clock in the morning, Hawaiian time. Danny had just disembarked a ship, and was nearing Evelyn's nursing quarters. He had already been to the hospital, and they pointed him there. Danny knew it was early, but he couldn't wait to see her, and he knew she would be happy to see him. He walked up the stairs to her barracks. Unintentionally letting his mind drift back to five months before. When he had come at four o'clock in the morning to return Evelyn's handkerchief.

"We were so innocent then." He thought to himself, and couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if the Japanese had not attacked. He knew that it was easier for Rafe to forgive him, because they had to fly together not only in war, but when being assigned the mission. He wondered if it would have been so easy if they didn't have the same bond in those two P-40s.

He knocked softly on the door, before letting himself in. He wanted to wake her himself. He wanted to be the first thing she saw when she opened her eyes, but someone did hear his knock. A red-head about Evelyn's age answered the door. She looked as if she had just barely awakened. Her nurses uniform was wrinkled as if she had slept in it, and her hair was mussed.

"Can I help you?" She whispered,. but inside she was thinking how devishly handsome he was, and threw him her best flirt grin.

"Hi. I'm Danny Walker. Is Evelyn awake yet?"

The girl seemed extremely troubled at the mention of Evelyn's name. "Yes, let me get her."

Danny took hold of her arm. "Can I do it?" He asked her.

She nodded, and opened the door enough for him to come in.

Fiona led him to the sitting room, where they had all slowly fallen to sleep the night before. Danny saw her quickly for she was the only thing he ever saw. She was crumpled on the sofa with her head resting comfortably on the pillow. He walked over to her, stepping over Barbara who was on the floor. He let his hand touch her head, and brush back a strand of hair. He kissed her lightly on the forehead. "Evelyn."

"Danny?" Was the reply in a faint whisper. Evelyn's eyes fluttered open, and thought she was still dreaming. When her mind finally registered that she was indeed awake she wrapped her arms about his neck, and embraced him. "What are you doing back? Where's Rafe?"

"I had a change of heart. Rafe stayed."

"Well what changed your mind?" She asked.

Danny, thinking the girls didn't know, leaned over, and whispered sweetly, almost seductively, in her ear. "I know." Is all he said.

Evelyn's grin transformed quickly into a frown, "You should have told me." Danny said. "I would have stayed."

"I told Rafe not to tell you."

"He didn't want me to make the same mistake he did." Danny replied, disappointed. He had expected a little bigger welcome home than this. "Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to Tennessee. I handed my notice to Colonel Doolittle. I'm quitting the force. I wanted to start a home with you."

His sentences were short and choppy. Evelyn noticed this. "Do I make you nervous?" She asked.

"You know you don't." Came the reply, but there was something distant in his eyes. "I just thought that you missed me."

"Oh, Danny, of course I did." Evelyn then drew him into a strong, passionate kiss. Afterward, Evelyn said, "I'll withdraw from my job today."

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