It was something that she had feared could happen again.

After Rafe had been shot down over the English Channel in 1941, it had always been in the back of her mind that he could get shot down again. It was something she had had to live with for almost four years and when the war finally ended in 1945, she thought they were in the clear.

No one had expected to go back to war five years later and Evelyn McCawley certainly never expected to receive a visit from the base chaplain and Rafe's squadron commander to tell her he'd been shot down over the Sea of Japan.

"Mrs. McCawley, your husband is alive." The officer reassured her. "We don't know what shape he's in but he's being brought back on an inbound hospital ship."

"That can't be good." Evelyn said, almost to herself. "What happened?"

"We're still not sure, ma'am. Captain Walker is being debriefed as we speak and he'll be able to tell us."

"Danny was with him?"

"Yes, ma'am. He radioed his position after your husband was hit and the Navy was able to pick him up in fairly short order."

She smiled at the commander. "Those two have been inseparable since they were boys. I'm just glad Danny was there."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Can you tell me when he'll be home?"

"Barring bad weather, the ship should be here by tomorrow afternoon. Someone from the base will contact you with the details."

"Thank you Commander."

Evelyn walked them to the front door before the chaplain turned to her. "You've taken this news very calmly Mrs. McCawley. It's my unfortunate duty to have to talk to wives and mothers and it can get quite emotional."

She smiled at him and sighed. "Before we were married, my husband flew with the Eagle Squadron and he was shot down. It was five months before I found out he was alive. This time he wasn't alone and I know he's all right."

Once they had departed, Evelyn had to make the one telephone call she wished she didn't have to. But at least she would be able to give the kids and Rafe's parents good news.

The following afternoon Evelyn waited with Danny and Sandra for the hospital ship to finish docking. They'd left the children in the capable hands of Mrs. Monahan so Evelyn wouldn't have to worry about Joey's reaction to seeing his father.

They flanked her as Navy orderlies began bringing wounded personnel off of the ship. Men wearing casts and bandages, on crutches and stretchers came down the gangplank. Evelyn was anxious to see her husband, to see how badly he was wounded. When he was finally brought down, the last ambulance pulled up to the bottom of the gangplank and he was loaded in. One of the doctors approached her, "Mrs. Rafe McCawley?"

"Yes."

"If you like, you can ride to the hospital with your husband."

She looked at Danny and Sandra. "We'll follow you in the car." Danny told her as he helped her into the back of the ambulance.

The orderly closed the door behind her as she sat across from an unconscious Rafe. To look at him, it looked like he was asleep. She felt the ambulance start to move and she looked at her husband. "What happened?" She asked him.

Danny couldn't tell her much when he'd finally talked to her because it had all happened so fast, hit and run and they were gone. He didn't know where the two jets had come from or where they went. What he did remember was Rafe's call to tell him he'd been hit and as he watched him go down, as the commander had told her, radioed their position to the airbase in Japan. He was told the Navy would send someone out to pick him up. Danny had stayed with Rafe as long as he could, but he began to run low on fuel and knew he wouldn't do his friend any good if he ended up in the water as well. So he reluctantly turned toward Japan and left Rafe alone.

Evelyn reached over and took his hand. He was so still. His breathing was shallow but it was even and the nurse in her took over as she checked his pulse and his heart rate. Both were good and she sighed as she sat back and waited to get to the hospital.

Danny and Sandra were already there waiting for them, as Rafe was transferred to a waiting gurney. He helped her out of the ambulance and they watched as Rafe was taken inside. The doctor that had ridden in the front stopped to talk to Evelyn. "We're going to get your husband settled into a room and see how well he fared on the trip. As soon as we're finished, I'll have a nurse come get you."

"Thank you doctor." She said and he followed the gurney.

Danny smiled to himself and shook his head, which did not go unnoticed by Evelyn. "What are you smiling at?"

"I was just rememberin'. You'd gone into labor with Sarah and Rafe was absolutely lost after Barbara took you inside and we were left standin' out here."

She couldn't help but smile. "What made you think of that?"

He put an arm around her shoulders. "Because you look just as lost as he did. He's goin' to be fine Evelyn. I know he is."

"I hope so Danny."

"How 'bout I buy you girls a cup of coffee while we wait?" He offered.

Evelyn nodded as they went into the hospital and headed to the cafeteria.

When they had settled at a table and began to drink their coffee, Sandra made a face. "The coffee hasn't improved." She said softly. "Still as awful as always."

They all laughed and continued to drink it.

It wasn't long before Amy Bradford came looking for Evelyn. "Mrs. McCawley? The doctor sent me to let you know the Captain is settled in his room. You can go see him now if you like."

Evelyn stood up and smiled at her. "Please call me Evelyn. You've been coming to our home with Red often enough and I think it's time that we stop being so formal."

Amy smiled back. "Evelyn."

"See, that wasn't so hard." And they laughed before she looked at Danny and Sandra, "Thank you."

"For what?" Danny asked.

"For being such good friends."

Sandra stood up and hugged her. "We're glad to be here Ev."

Evelyn followed Amy out of the cafeteria and through the maze of hallways until they reached Rafe's room. It was dim, the only light in the room was over his bed. The color in his face was coming back and that could only be good. "The doctor wanted you to know that your husband did well on the trip and the internal injuries he received were not as bad as they first thought. He's still in serious condition and the fact that he hasn't regained consciousness does have the doctor concerned. He's hoping that familiar sounds and voices will bring him around."

"Would it be all right if I brought our son to see him?"

"I think that would be a very good idea. I'll leave you alone now." And she left the room as Evelyn walked over to the side of the bed and brushed the hair back from his forehead. He'd always told her he loved it when she did that and she loved to do it.

She willed him to open his eyes and when he would not, she finally sat down and took his hand. Familiar voices Amy had said. She smiled as she began to talk to him, "Do you remember that night in New York when we went to the nightclub and you held me so close when we danced? Or taking the boat out to the Queen Mary? I think I knew then that you loved me, before you told me outside the hotel. Do you remember when I went into labor with Sarah and you were so frantic? I don't think I ever remember you being so scared. I remember our wedding night when you tried to carry me over the threshold into our house and you almost hurt yourself." She laughed softly at the memory. "You should have known better than to try and carry me when I was already six months along with Danny."

"What kind of groom would I be if I hadn't carried my bride over the threshold?" The question came so softly that Evelyn wasn't sure she'd really heard it until she saw Rafe open his eyes and smile at her.

Her heart stopped for a moment before she smiled at him. "Welcome back Captain McCawley."

"I'm glad to be back Mrs. McCawley."

"How do you feel?"

"Like I've been shot down." He joked and flashed a cocky grin at her. "How you holdin' up?"

"Better, now that you're here and awake."

"Who would have believed it could happen again?" He said and sighed.

"I'm just glad Danny was with you this time."

"So am I. And if our luck holds like it did last time, I won't get shot down again."

"Rafe McCawley, what am I going to do with you?"

"Love me."

"I do." She said as she leaned over and kissed him.