A/N- in this story, there are about to be a few major time changes. Instead of shipping out that day, Danny and Rafe join Doolittle the next day. And it will be exactly eight months from now until the day of the Doolittle Raid. And it wasn't important before, but Betty survived the Pearl Harbor attack. You'll see! :0) And by the way, I'm not good with lemons or whatever so don't be disappointed _.
Navy Girl
Chapter Eleven
Danny walked to the hospital, his feet feeling like they were made of lead. He collapsed in the chair by Miranda's bedside, automatically taking her hand and stroking it softly. Her eyes were closed and her lips parted. She looked peaceful. Danny longed to kiss her but he knew he couldn't, not while she was sleeping. Instead, he moved his hand to her hair, absentmindedly playing with the long brown locks. Miranda turned her head towards him, opening her eyes. She stretched her arms above her head, stroking Danny's cheek. He needed a shave.
"Hey," she said. Danny smiled, but it was a sad smile.
"Hey," he replied. Miranda sighed. Things weren't the way they were supposed to be. "How are you doing?" Danny was saying.
"Fine," Miranda replied automatically. Danny nodded. Miranda eased herself off the bed and sat in Danny's lap, curling her knees up to her chest and resting her head against Danny's shoulder. He stroked her arm, gazing into her eyes. "How're we going to make it right, Danny?" she asked him, closing her eyes and thrilling at his touch.
"I don't know," he said softly. He leaned down and pulled her towards him, giving her an impassioned kiss. Miranda raked her fingers through his hair. Danny looped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, so that they were pressed together awkwardly in the small chair.
Finally they broke apart as static interrupted their kiss. Someone was turning on a radio in the other room. Miranda rested her head on Danny's shoulder, playing with his necklaces. The static grew louder and then abruptly softer, as words crackled in through the speakers. "Day…live…infamy…" was all that Miranda could pick out. She knew that it was the president talking, but she didn't make any extra effort to listen.
What more could he tell her when he hadn't even been there?
***
A week later Miranda walked out of the hospital, limping slightly. She leaned on Danny's uniformed arm. His medals glinted in the Hawaiian sun. Miranda twisted her engagement ring nervously. She didn't know why she was nervous. All she would be doing was saying goodbye to a bunch of dead people.
She took a shuddering breath. This would make it official. It would make everyone that had died really dead.
It was unreal.
Danny looked down at her lovely face and saw concern in her eyes. He patted her arm gently. "It's okay," he murmured. Miranda looked up at him, her eyebrows drawn together in a doubtful expression. The empty hangar that they were using as a memorial loomed closer. Miranda stopped in her tracks.
"What is it?"
"I just forgot," said Miranda, rooting around in her pocketbook. It swung awkwardly on her arm; she wasn't used to carrying one. "Aha!" she said, producing an envelope from the bag. "It was on my nightstand this morning."
"Miranda, can you open that later? The ceremonies are about to start."
"I know." She replied, opening the envelope. A piece of paper fell into her hand. "Orders from Colonel Johnson." Miranda read, confused. Then her eyes widened. "Danny!" she shrieked, waving the paper around. "Danny, they have a position open! On an aircraft carrier!"
Danny stood there shocked for a moment. "When do you leave?"
Miranda looked at the paper again. "Three days. They're flying me out on a helicopter." She looked up from the letter and saw Danny's face. It looked like a kaleidoscope of emotions. "Oh, Danny," she said, reaching up and kissing his cheek. "It's going to be okay, you'll see. It's going to be okay."
Danny held her to him, a tear sliding down his cheek and onto her shoulder. Miranda felt as if she had been stabbed as she buried her face in his chest. She had wanted that position on a carrier so badly but she would give it up just to be with Danny, in the harbor.
"Danny!" called a voice. Rafe was running towards them. He stumbled and stared as he realized that he had just trespassed on an intimate scene. "S-sorry," he mumbled, looking down at his shoes. "Um, Danny, this is for you. We fly out tomorrow." Danny took the paper.
"Looks like we only have one night left together, Miranda," said Danny, looking into her eyes. A flush crept into her cheeks. Her heart pounded in her chest. Danny's face mirrored her feelings.
"To the hotel, then," she said, embarrassed. Danny smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked back into Honolulu, looking to the night before them.
***
Danny lay awake later that night, holding Miranda in his arms. He had never realized how soft her skin was before. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was steady, so he knew she was asleep as he kissed her gently. He didn't care.
Ever since January, when they met, Danny had known there was something special about Miranda. Every time he saw her, the only girl in a line of male soldiers, her blue ties flapping in the wind, his heart smiled, however sad he had been before. Now he was sure that Miranda was the one for him, even surer then he was the night at the Hula House when they had first agreed to be married.
And that was pretty damn sure.
He felt Miranda's fingers touch his chest and at first he thought she had awakened, but then he realized that she was still holding onto his tag necklaces. He smiled, bending his head so that her forehead brushed his. Miranda looked so innocent asleep. You would never guess she was a sailor.
She's still a sailor, Danny's mind said, even though she works on an aircraft carrier now, that's still a boat. But Danny's heart was afraid of the change and he wished that she had never been assigned that position on the carrier. He knew he was being selfish but he couldn't help it. His heart yearned for her even now when he was holding her in his arms. Her hair brushed against his body as her head moved. She opened her eyes.
"Danny," she whispered, smiling, "is it morning already? Why are you awake?" He shrugged.
"I was just thinking," he said. Miranda could tell that he wasn't talking about happy thoughts and the smile was wiped from her face. She bit her lip. "I wish you weren't leaving," Danny said, stroking her cheek. She took his hand and held it, looking down. "I know I'm going to miss you."
"I'll write to you," she offered, knowing that it wouldn't cheer him up.
"I know," he said, his heart heavy. "But I can't imagine being so far away from you, not being like this," he said, tracing a line around her face and down her arm with his finger. Her face drew together in a sad expression. "I'm going to marry you when we come back," he said. Miranda's smile was brighter this time.
"I love you so much, Danny."
"I love you too, Miranda."
***
Danny and Miranda stood by the plane, kissing passionately and not wanting to let go of one another. They didn't care who was watching. Tears slid down Miranda's cheeks as she felt Danny's hand on the small of her back, pulling her body against his. She ran his hand down his cheek. He had not shaved this morning.
"Danny," she said helplessly as he finally pulled away. He gave her one final kiss and then picked up his bags. Miranda covered her mouth with her hands, fearing that she would scream and tear her own skin if she let them do what they wanted. She already missed Danny. A steady river ran down her cheeks as she sat down on a bench, trying to stifle her sobs. People were staring at her. She suddenly felt like a self-conscious wreck so she walked back to the Oklahoma. It would have been better if Steve had been waiting for her, offering a kind word or a mug of coffee, but Miranda didn't look for him. He had been killed in the raid.
Miranda collapsed onto the cot in her room, watching the cresting waves far out on the sea. Funny to think that she would be out there in two days on a strange boat with strange sailors.
She felt a pain in her heart. She had gotten to know the sailors on this ship and she had gained their respect, even though she was a woman. Miranda was not looking forward to repeating the process. Maybe these new sailors will be different, she thought. But from this point in her life, the future didn't look too bright.