Chapter 4
Weakness

The ruthless training began the next day at roughly six in the morning. They began running laps, and then to assigning troops. Red, Second Lieutenant Riley Fisher, First Class Private John Ryan, and First Class Private Wilhelm Everett (a. k. a. Willy). Goose was Devon Berenger's co-pilot, Anthony was the bombardier, and two other men were assigned to him.

After just two weeks of training, the men had begun to bond. Almost everyone had received a nickname. Rafe's was "R-A-F'" Because he served with the RAF pilots, and knew more than any other pilot the real combat that the men soon faced. Rafe's war knowledge quickly gained him respect. He was a hero to every man at that airfield.

Captain Berenger was now being called "Berry", due to his kind and feminine attitude. The man's eyes were wise, yet there was no hair on his face, and often sounded like his voice was still changing. However, even though he wasn't the biggest or strongest man in the air squadron, he certainly had his way with the ladies. It wasn't like anything Rafe had ever seen before. Berenger acted like he didn't want them, and he treated them as equals. Which wasn't even close to the way Rafe had seen other cocky pilots treat women, like toys.

Berenger had friends, but not many, he mostly kept to himself, and didn't expect anyone to acknowledge him. Oh, but Berry was not afraid. Rafe would discover this on a training flight the next day.

"Ready for take off." Rafe told Berry. Colonel Doolittle had instructed him to run through some more practice with him on an AT (Advanced Trainer). Rafe had wondered why a full-fledged, respected pilot like Berry would need extra practice on a trainer, but, of course, did not question the Colonel.

Swiftly and gracefully the pilot lifted off. One of the most perfect take offs Rafe had ever seen. The Captain was careful, yet daring. From the moment Rafe had seen this pilot, he had felt something, and after watching him fly that day he realized that there definitely was something connecting between the two of them. Something in the blood maybe. Both loved to fly, as every pilot did, but these two men didn't only .love it they nurtured it, cared for it, and had it living in their souls. This one correlation would develop into a new friendship. A friendship Rafe had missed ever since he left Danny in January of 1941.

The night was empty, dark, cold, and still. Rafe couldn't sleep. For the first time in a long time. He and the Doolittle squadron were in San Francisco, they would be leaving, wherever they were going, in three days. For some reason, that Rafe would not yet understand, the friendship between him and Berry had somehow healed him from the pain he had suffered lasting since December Sixth, and ending on that first flight with Devon Berenger. Now they were never parted. Devon had been the second one, beside Colonel Doolittle that had taken off in the limited space they had, Rafe was the first.

From the minute their deep friendship began, Rafe had actually begun to get a full night's rest, and the images of Danny and Evelyn had no longer haunted him, until that night. For the first time since training began, his muscles ached, they ached for something unknown to him. He felt paralyzed for the first time since he discovered Danny and Evelyn's amour. For the first time his heart ached for someone he knew not of. For the first time he ached for a someone to hold him and tell him it would be all right. He was so confused. His feelings weren't right, at least he thought so. It wasn't right for a grown man to need someone to hold.

"What you writing?" Berry asked.

Rafe didn't reply, just signed the letter; Your Brother, Rafe.

"Rafe?' Berry repeated the question, still Rafe did not reply.

"What is it?' Berry inquired taking a seat on the bed, beside him. He got the same reaction. "Are you mad or something?'

Rafe kept his eyes on the letter, he had to make sure all the spelling was right. He couldn't let the last thing Danny get from him be misspelled. Rafe had decided many months ago, the day he left for Florida to meet with Colonel Doolittle, that he would never write Evelyn another letter, as long as he lived.

"Rafe?"

Rafe still did not reply, he was angry. At Berry, at everyone, but after every pilot left, except Berry, who had not yet given up on his friend, Rafe asked, as calmly as he knew how, "Will you read this over for me? I don't know if I spelled everything right."

Devon quickly scanned through the letter, and made many changes, then handed it back, "You have trouble spelling, don't you?"

"A little. My friend, a nurse, tells me I'm dyslexic." Rafe explained.

"How'd you get in the Navy?"

"She passed me." Rafe explained and added, "You won't tell-"

"No, no, of course not."

Rafe smiled happily.

"What about Charlie?" Rafe's mother suggested. Danny and Evelyn exchanged glances, both disliked the name.

"Maybe, Tate." Evelyn thought aloud.

"I don't know. Tate Daniel Walker, doesn't really click."

Evelyn tapped her pencil in thought. She then noticed a newspaper article, front page. It read:

Lt. Rafe McCawley Found in France, Alive!

On the front was a rather handsome photograph of him. "Rafe." Evelyn whispered.

"Pardon?" Danny asked.

"Rafe." Evelyn said aloud. "It's only right, Danny. After what we did to him. Just imagine if you were in his shoes. He saved both our lives."

Danny smiled, placing his hand on hers, "Rafe it is

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