A Date Which Will Live in Infamy
*December 7, 1941*
Buffy laid wrapped in Angel's arms the next morning. He looked down at her beautiful sleeping form and smiled. She shifted in his arms and laid her head on his chest. Angel drifted back off just as a plane flew over head. Buffy groaned and Angel muttered, "Why the hell's the Navy doing practice this early on a Sunday?"
Buffy muttered something and started to drift back off, burrowing under the covers. Suddenly, they heard more planes and then a loud explosion coming from the harbor. Both of them sat up and quickly got dressed before running outside to see what had happened. They watched as hundreds of planes stormed Battleship Row. Buffy and Angel watched the direction they were headed and were shocked at the sight of Battleship Row in ruins. Behind them, Fred, Willow, Cordelia, and Anya ran outside, just getting dressed, to see what was going on. Buffy and Angel watched aghast as the bombs kept pelting the ships. Doyle pulled up fast in his black convertible.
"Angel man! Come on! We need you!" Doyle yelled.
Buffy looked at Angel and then at Battleship Row. Angel looked down at her. "Buffy.."
"Go! I have to get to the hospital." Buffy said. Angel nodded and the two shared a too short kiss before he ran off. Buffy turned to the girls. "Everybody to the hospital!"
As Angel sped off with Doyle, he looked up to see more planes. "They look like Japs."
"I didn't even know the Japs were sore at us!" A guy with a camera said from the backseat.
"Doyle, just get me to a goddamn airplane!" Angel yelled. The photographer aimed his video camera at the planes flying. "Holy God."
"This is good footage. Did you see that? Holy cow!"
"I hope there's still an airfield left." Doyle said.
*Hospital*
Buffy and her friends ran towards the hospital as fast as they could go. The Japanese planes were shooting at them and dropping bombs. Buffy was terrified, but her instinct had taken over and she was now trying to make it to the hospital alive. A plane started to shoot right behind Buffy and Willow and they dived behind the fountain. There was a loud explosion and then Buffy poked her head up. Seeing that they had a small chance to keep running, Buffy grabbed Willow's hand.
"Come on! Let's go! RUN!" Buffy shouted.
*Airbase*
Doyle drove up to the airbase that was under heavy fire. Planes that had been bombed now sat in fiery ruins on the field. Angel was the first out of the car. As soon as he was out, he dove in front of it because a plane was aiming its guns at them. Angel grabbed Doyle's shirt and yanked him down next to him. A plane near the car exploded and Angel took off running, Doyle right behind him.
"Come on!" Angel yelled. As more explosions sounded, they dove behind a jeep. Angel watched as the airfield was blown to bits. "Doyle, get me to a damn plane!"
"Come on!' Doyle yelled. He grabbed Angel's shirt and drug him backwards.
*Hospital*
Buffy ran in behind a few injured people. She called out for a doctor and he motioned to her. "Get to the supply room!" Buffy yelled, running towards a door. They ran in and started to unload supplies. "Get everything out!" She, Willow, Fred, and Cordy started to load up on supplies. They ran into Ward 3 with carts full of supplies.
"We got incoming!" A doctor yelled.
An explosion rocked the hospital. Buffy screamed and grabbed onto the falling glass containers. She looked at the terrified patients. More doctors and nurses ran in.
"Cut em down!" The head doctor said. "Come on! Come on! Get em away from the windows!"
Buffy grabbed a razor and ran over to each bed, cutting the gauze holding them up. Their broken limbs crashed onto the bed, causing them to scream in pain. The doctors and nurses started to toss patients against the wall and grab onto the mattresses. They threw them over top of the downed patients and then Buffy crawled under one herself. A bomb dropped just outside of the windows and everything exploded. The place turned dark and Buffy screamed, wondering for the first time if she was going to make it out of this mess. Pushing away her fears, Buffy emerged from the mattress coughing. She headed towards the doctors who were helping to move the patients.
*Air Base*
Angel and Doyle ran towards the main building of Hickam Airfield that hadn't been hit yet. There were soldiers shooting at the planes with their machine guns. Angel and Doyle yelled for them to hold their fire as they ran into the building.
"Go! Get down now Doyle!" Angel yelled as he ducked behind a large pole. "OH! SHIT!"
Doyle ran over to the phone and dialed a number. "This is Walker! We need to get those planes fueled and loaded, right now!"
"What's goin on out there huh?" Gooz asked from under the desk.
"I think World War 2 just started."
"DOYLE! DOWN!" Angel yelled as an explosion blew the wall inward. Angel looked up to see that Doyle was on the ground. "Doyle! Doyle! Doyle, are you all right?"
"I'm all right! Come on, let's go!"
"Come on! Come on!"
"Come on Gooz! Get a move on man!"
Angel, Doyle, and Gooz ran back out onto the airfield through the gaping hole in the wall. More explosions sounded everywhere as Angel and Doyle ran for Doyle's car. "Go! Go! Come on!" Soldiers followed suit and piled into the car. "Get in! Come on!" Doyle started the car. "Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" Once they were driving, Angel looked at Doyle. "Where's this place we're going?"
"We got a small mechanic runway about 10 minutes away. Hadn't been hit yet." Doyle said.
Angel looked around as seven planes trailed the car. He knew what was coming and he screamed, "Duck! Everybody duck!" As expected, the planes shot at the car. Bullet holes were torn into the metal and glass. Angel peeked at the windshield where his head had been moments ago and saw the bullet hole. It reminded him of the first time he had seen his plane in England. "Oh God! SHIT!"
*Hospital*
Buffy was surrounded by burnt, shot, bleeding, cut, wounded people. She helped them as best she could. She called for morphine for one man and then she ran out into the hallway. "Fill up the kitchen! Fill up the kitchen! There's no room in the main room. Fill up the kitchen. Use whatever space we have!"
"Neck wound! We got a bad neck wound over here." Someone yelled. (Ironic huh?)
Buffy ran over and looked at the man. "Surgery! Move! Come on, we gotta get him to surgery. Oh! In here." They moved the man into surgery and Buffy held tightly to his hand while putting pressure to his neck. "DOCTOR!" When no one came, Buffy closed her eyes and breathed for a moment. She looked down at the man and pulled the gauze pad away. Blood spurted everywhere.
"Am I gonna die? Am I gonna die? Am I gonna die? NURSE!" the man screamed.
Buffy grimaced and put two fingers together. She closed her eyes and guided her fingers into the man's artery, plugging the wound as best she could. "Doctor get over here! My fingers are plugging his artery. Doctor, what do you need? Doctor? Focus. Look at me. What do you need?"
"Hemistich." The doctor said.
"Hemistich." Buffy pulled her fingers away and moved to get what the doctor needed. She came back and looked at the man. "All right. Look at me. You're gonna be all right. You're gonna be all right."
*Mechanic Runway*
Doyle drove up. "Wesley! We gotta go!"
"Yeah.. Mostly ready, but.." Everyone stopped and looked up as planes started to fly over head.
"Get down!"
"Shit! Take cover!" Angel yelled. They ran into the warehouse. Wesley started to shoot at the planes.
"Wesley! Get in here!" Doyle yelled.
"Hey! Sergeant! They come back around, we're gonna need more than a shot gun." Angel yelled. "You got any other weapons and ammo so we can lay out some cover fire?"
"Yeah, inside that ammo locker." Wesley said.
"Come on!"
"Let's go! Move it!"
The men started to move and gather ammo. Doyle and Angel ran back over to the doorway. "You said the planes are mostly ready but. But what?" Doyle asked.
"Well, she's down, she's broke, she's shit. I got four left. One's good to go, two need ammo, one needs fuel."
"Fall out and load up in the bunker." Angel said, slinging a cadre of bullets across his shoulder. "Go! Move!"
The men ran over to a pile of sandbags and ducked down, waiting. Doyle looked over. "Ok, Riley, Xander, you guys are gonna stay here and man the 50 caliber. Gooz, you get over to the next bunker and lay down some cover fire. All right?"
"Planes." Gooz whispered. He locked the 50 cal. "Should we fire?"
"Stay down! Stay down! No!" Angel said, putting his hand on the gun. "Stay down, hold your fire God damn it. Stay still. Nobody fire. They don't know we're here. Stay down."
"Should we fire?"
"No, no, no, no! God damn it, they don't know we're here. Just stay down. Stay still. Don't fire." Angel held tightly to his gun and watched the planes fly away.
"I don't see any ordinates." The photographer said. "I think they're goin home."
"No, they'll be back. We still got planes on the ground. All right you pilots, listen up. Get all the air speed you can comin' off the runway. Don't get on the stick till you get to the very end. When you get in the air, stay low between the buildings. You see any zero on your tail, try to wipe him off, DON'T FREEZE. All right, just keep movin'. We gotta try to break em up and separate em."
"That way we can take em out one by one." Doyle said.
"Right. B-40s can't outrun zeros. So don't try. We're just gonna have to out fly em."
"We got high level bombers! They're gonna bust this hanger wide open!" Wesley called. "Grab the 50s and let's move!"
Angel and the other men jumped out and ran for the bunkers. "Move! GO!" Angel looked up. "Zeros!" He started firing his machine gun at the planes. "Take cover! Take cover!" A barrage of bullets shot right through the parade of men. Doyle fell to the ground, shooting his gun for all he was worth. "Doyle!"
Doyle saw the photographer lying dead on the ground. He pulled him over. "Come on!"
"Leave him! He's dead!" Angel grabbed Doyle just as the plane hanger was bombed. The explosion knocked the men off their feet and sent them sprawling to the ground. "Ah shit!" Angel looked up and saw that Wesley was leading the men to the planes. He got up with Doyle by his side and they took off towards their planes. Angel slimbed in and started to gear up.
"Knock em dead!" Xander said.
"Xander, get out of here God damn it! I'm all right. Go! Go!" Angel started his plane and looked to find Doyle. "Go! Get out of the way!" He yelled at the pilot blocking him in the bunker. Joe finally moved and got out on the runway. Angel and Doyle watched in horror as the three zeros behind him shot him down and the plane exploded. Angel looked away. "Shit!" He looked over at Doyle who looked scared to death. "Doyle. You start that thing up and get in the air. Now I'm not much good without a wing man. I need you."
"I gotcha!" Doyle said back. "Let's ride!" Doyle and Angel pulled out and headed for the runway at an angle. "It's real tight Angel! It's real tight! Hey Angel! I'm not sure we got enough runway!"
"Get your airspeed up before you leave the dirt!" Angel said.
"Don't freeze! Don't freeze!" The two planes took off and headed towards the warehouses. "I don't think I'm gonna make it up over this building!"
Angel grunted and growled with excursion as he pulled on the stick. The planes flew up over the building, narrowly missing it. "We did it! I'm up!"
"We got zeros behind us Angel!"
"How many you see back there?" Angel ducked the flying bullets.
"We got five on our six."
"Take it down to the deck Doyle, now!" They flew low to the ground, but the zeros kept coming. "We gotta split em Doyle! You take left, I'll take right." They flew head on towards the tower and at the last moment, split. "Wesley, you better get some God damn guns up in that tower over there." Angel looked around. "Doyle, I got three on my six." The zero directly behind him started shooting. Angel flapped back and forth, dodging the bullets. Another gun from the ground started shooting and the plane smashed into an oil tower. "Woo!"
"I still got two behind me Angel!"
"AHHHHH!" Angel yelled as he brought the plane close to the buildings. Bullets kept flying at him. "Son of a bitch! WHOOOOA! Wesley do you hear damn it? Get some guns in that tower!"
"Angel! They're all over me! I can't get em off me!" Doyle yelled.
"Doyle, I still got three on my tail. Keep shakin' it, don't let em get a handle on you."
"I can't shake em Angel!"
"Damn it." Angel looked around him. "Doyle, let's play some chicken with these Jap suckers!"
"All right. I'm with ya! I'm coming right at ya Angel."
"Don't break till I tell you. Hold on! Not yet! Not yet!"
"Come on! Come on!"
"Go left! NOW!" Angel pushed hard left at the same time Doyle did. He zeros didn't expect it and they slammed into each other. "Woo! We got em!"
"Woo! HAHAHA!"
"Wesley, I got one on my tail. I'm gonna bring him right by you. You better be cocked and locked when I come by there!" Angel looked behind him and saw he plane go down in a huge explosion. "Woo! Good shootin' boys! Nice shot Wesley! Now let's head over to Battleship Row!"
"I'm with ya!"
Angel and Doyle flew through the smoke and headed out over the water. Angel looked over at Doyle. "Let's go do some business."
"I'm goin after em." Doyle shot at one of the zeros and the plane exploded. "Angel! I got him!"
"I'm pullin up in the clouds, Doyle. We ain't gonna let these sons of bitches get home! How do you like it when someone's shootin back at ya?" Angel chased a zero through the air. He barrel rolled and started firing. "Oh, I'm on your ass now!" The plane's wing flew off and the plane exploded. "Yeah! I got one!" Angel headed off to find more zeros or possible Doyle. He found a zero first. Angel chased after him relentlessly. "I got you, you son of a bitch!" The plane went down. Angel started to head after another, but they retreated away. "Let's go home Doyle. I got me a woman to find."
"All right Angel. Let's go."
Doyle was the first to land. He climbed out of his plane and looked over at Wesley. "Who taught you how to fly, Lieutenant?" he asked.
Doyle looked over at Angel climbing out of his plane. "He did."
Wesley nodded at Angel who nodded back.
*Hospital*
"You're not gonna die!" Buffy yelled over and over. The doctor behind her yelled for amputation. He yelled for Fred to start marking them for morphine. She brought out a pen, but it wouldn't mark.
"Buffy, you got a marker?" Fred called.
Buffy ran over to her purse. "Uh.. Um, use my lipstick. Put M for morphine."
"Buffy we need a truncate!" The doctor yelled.
"Truncate?" Buffy ran over to look for one, but didn't find one. "There's nothing left!" She looked down and took off one of her stockings.
"Buffy!"
"Here, use this."
"I need you to go outside. There's too many to help. You gotta sort em out. Only those you know can be saved bring in here."
"But I can't."
"No! Please, do it! I need you to do it! Go!"
Buffy ran outside, clutching her lipstick. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of men were swarming the place. More kept coming. All the while, Buffy prayed that none of them were Angel. She scanned the screaming and dying men to see if any were him. Thankfully, none were. Buffy looked over at the nearest doctor. "Don't let any one in without a mark."
"Get back! I told you, stand back!" The doctor started yelling.
"Keep him outside! Keep him outside!" She marked a man that was crying in pain. He was burnt so bad. She told another to wait there.
"Don't touch me you Jap!" One patient yelled. Buffy ran over to him. "Get your hands off me!"
"He's critical!" The doctor said. Buffy nodded and marked him with a C. "Get him into critical!"
"Critical! Front ward." Buffy yelled, pointing. She turned and found a young man about her age crying.
He looked at her. "How.. Bad am..I?"
"You're gonna be just fine sweetheart."
"I don't wanna die."
"No, you're not gonna die. Sweetheart, I got your hand." Buffy marked him with an F. She looked up at the man carrying him. "Give him enough morphine to make him comfortable, he's not gonna make it." The man nodded and headed away. Buffy ran over to more men. "We've got a critical! Get him up to the ward! Get the morphine's over there."
An man ran up to her carrying a girl. "I just found her. I don't think she's breathing." Buffy checked the girl's pulse. There was none. "No, she's dead. Take her." Buffy pulled the girl's hair out of her face and discovered it was Anya. Fred ran up and saw her too.
"Oh God!" Fred cried. Buffy covered her mouth, trying not to cry. "Are you sure Buffy? Did you check her one more time?"
"She's dead. Take her over there." Buffy said, shoving her emotions aside.
"You've gotta be sure before you just stick her over there."
"Fred! Go back to work, Fred."
"I don't know what to do!"
Buffy embraced Fred before she ran off to mark more men. She stopped though and just looked around. Wounded and dying men surrounded her. Most navy and military, some were just civilians. For a moment, Buffy just let the screaming take over her head because she didn't know what else to do. She had just declared her friend dead. Things were falling apart. The only thing Buffy could think at the moment was: "Is Angel ok? Is he alive and fighting off the Japs? Please let him be alive."
*Hospital Ward*
Angel and Doyle walked down the hospital hallways looking for Buffy. Angel was so worried about her. All he could think was: "Is she alive? She has to be alive. I can't live without her." He looked around at all the dying men. Some were bleeding to death and there were puddles of blood everywhere. Angel looked up and saw Buffy's blonde hair as she turned, two IV poles in her hands. She saw them walking up to her. Buffy sighed and closed her eyes, looking down and thanking God they were both alive. When she looked back up, tears in her eyes, Angel was standing in front of her.
"How can we help?" He asked, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"We need blood. Come on." Buffy led them to a secluded room. One man was laying on a bed convulsing while a preacher gave him his Last Rites. Angel and Doyle sat down and allowed Buffy to set them up. As Buffy finished taping the needle to him, Angel looked up at her. She looked into his eyes and they shared a moment. Buffy was so thankful that he was alive and with her now.
Angel nodded and started pumping his wrist, squeezing the ball in his hand. The blood flowed through the tube and into Coca-Cola bottles. It was all they had left. The priest finished his speech just before the man on the bed died. A man ran in and looked at Angel and Doyle.
"We've got men trapped everywhere in the harbor. We need help from anybody who can move." The man ran out.
Angel looked at Buffy, asking her permission with his eyes. She looked over at him as she took the needle out of Doyle's arm. "Go. Both of you. We can't leave them trapped in those boats." She took the needle out of Angel's arm. He stood and wrapped her in his arms, kissing the top of her head.
"I'll be back, I promise." Angel said.
"I know."
He kissed her on the forehead one last time and then headed out. They got on a boat and were taken to the capsized Oklahoma. Men worked frantically to free the men trapped inside. Angel and Doyle ran up and started to help pry the metal up. One man yelled for their help and the two men headed over to them.
"Get an airline in here!" Another man yelled.
Doyle looked down at the small hole and the hands sticking up through it, desperately grabbing at air. "What can we do?" Angel was the first one to respond. He grabbed onto the nearest hand and held to it tightly. The man grasped back. Doyle did the same and looked up at the other men. "Cut em out!" Suddenly, water bubbled out of the hole and the hands went limp. Angel didn't let go. He felt as if he had failed those men. They worked the rest of the night and through some of the morning before Angel couldn't take the death anymore and headed back to the hospital to be with Buffy. Doyle followed and together, the three of them listened to the president speak to Congress on the radio. (Yes, this is the entire speech. Just thought you guys would like to learn some more history. HAHA)
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire."
Buffy looked up at Angel as she held his hand. Tears fell freely down both of their faces as they embraced tightly. Everything that had happened still hung fresh in their minds. Now, Angel was going to go away again and fight. Buffy just knew it in her gut that he was going to go away again. Everything in her screamed at him, wanted to hate him for joining the military, but she couldn't hate him. She loved him too much to hate him. So, for the moment, all she could do was hold onto him and cry.
*December 7, 1941*
Buffy laid wrapped in Angel's arms the next morning. He looked down at her beautiful sleeping form and smiled. She shifted in his arms and laid her head on his chest. Angel drifted back off just as a plane flew over head. Buffy groaned and Angel muttered, "Why the hell's the Navy doing practice this early on a Sunday?"
Buffy muttered something and started to drift back off, burrowing under the covers. Suddenly, they heard more planes and then a loud explosion coming from the harbor. Both of them sat up and quickly got dressed before running outside to see what had happened. They watched as hundreds of planes stormed Battleship Row. Buffy and Angel watched the direction they were headed and were shocked at the sight of Battleship Row in ruins. Behind them, Fred, Willow, Cordelia, and Anya ran outside, just getting dressed, to see what was going on. Buffy and Angel watched aghast as the bombs kept pelting the ships. Doyle pulled up fast in his black convertible.
"Angel man! Come on! We need you!" Doyle yelled.
Buffy looked at Angel and then at Battleship Row. Angel looked down at her. "Buffy.."
"Go! I have to get to the hospital." Buffy said. Angel nodded and the two shared a too short kiss before he ran off. Buffy turned to the girls. "Everybody to the hospital!"
As Angel sped off with Doyle, he looked up to see more planes. "They look like Japs."
"I didn't even know the Japs were sore at us!" A guy with a camera said from the backseat.
"Doyle, just get me to a goddamn airplane!" Angel yelled. The photographer aimed his video camera at the planes flying. "Holy God."
"This is good footage. Did you see that? Holy cow!"
"I hope there's still an airfield left." Doyle said.
*Hospital*
Buffy and her friends ran towards the hospital as fast as they could go. The Japanese planes were shooting at them and dropping bombs. Buffy was terrified, but her instinct had taken over and she was now trying to make it to the hospital alive. A plane started to shoot right behind Buffy and Willow and they dived behind the fountain. There was a loud explosion and then Buffy poked her head up. Seeing that they had a small chance to keep running, Buffy grabbed Willow's hand.
"Come on! Let's go! RUN!" Buffy shouted.
*Airbase*
Doyle drove up to the airbase that was under heavy fire. Planes that had been bombed now sat in fiery ruins on the field. Angel was the first out of the car. As soon as he was out, he dove in front of it because a plane was aiming its guns at them. Angel grabbed Doyle's shirt and yanked him down next to him. A plane near the car exploded and Angel took off running, Doyle right behind him.
"Come on!" Angel yelled. As more explosions sounded, they dove behind a jeep. Angel watched as the airfield was blown to bits. "Doyle, get me to a damn plane!"
"Come on!' Doyle yelled. He grabbed Angel's shirt and drug him backwards.
*Hospital*
Buffy ran in behind a few injured people. She called out for a doctor and he motioned to her. "Get to the supply room!" Buffy yelled, running towards a door. They ran in and started to unload supplies. "Get everything out!" She, Willow, Fred, and Cordy started to load up on supplies. They ran into Ward 3 with carts full of supplies.
"We got incoming!" A doctor yelled.
An explosion rocked the hospital. Buffy screamed and grabbed onto the falling glass containers. She looked at the terrified patients. More doctors and nurses ran in.
"Cut em down!" The head doctor said. "Come on! Come on! Get em away from the windows!"
Buffy grabbed a razor and ran over to each bed, cutting the gauze holding them up. Their broken limbs crashed onto the bed, causing them to scream in pain. The doctors and nurses started to toss patients against the wall and grab onto the mattresses. They threw them over top of the downed patients and then Buffy crawled under one herself. A bomb dropped just outside of the windows and everything exploded. The place turned dark and Buffy screamed, wondering for the first time if she was going to make it out of this mess. Pushing away her fears, Buffy emerged from the mattress coughing. She headed towards the doctors who were helping to move the patients.
*Air Base*
Angel and Doyle ran towards the main building of Hickam Airfield that hadn't been hit yet. There were soldiers shooting at the planes with their machine guns. Angel and Doyle yelled for them to hold their fire as they ran into the building.
"Go! Get down now Doyle!" Angel yelled as he ducked behind a large pole. "OH! SHIT!"
Doyle ran over to the phone and dialed a number. "This is Walker! We need to get those planes fueled and loaded, right now!"
"What's goin on out there huh?" Gooz asked from under the desk.
"I think World War 2 just started."
"DOYLE! DOWN!" Angel yelled as an explosion blew the wall inward. Angel looked up to see that Doyle was on the ground. "Doyle! Doyle! Doyle, are you all right?"
"I'm all right! Come on, let's go!"
"Come on! Come on!"
"Come on Gooz! Get a move on man!"
Angel, Doyle, and Gooz ran back out onto the airfield through the gaping hole in the wall. More explosions sounded everywhere as Angel and Doyle ran for Doyle's car. "Go! Go! Come on!" Soldiers followed suit and piled into the car. "Get in! Come on!" Doyle started the car. "Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" Once they were driving, Angel looked at Doyle. "Where's this place we're going?"
"We got a small mechanic runway about 10 minutes away. Hadn't been hit yet." Doyle said.
Angel looked around as seven planes trailed the car. He knew what was coming and he screamed, "Duck! Everybody duck!" As expected, the planes shot at the car. Bullet holes were torn into the metal and glass. Angel peeked at the windshield where his head had been moments ago and saw the bullet hole. It reminded him of the first time he had seen his plane in England. "Oh God! SHIT!"
*Hospital*
Buffy was surrounded by burnt, shot, bleeding, cut, wounded people. She helped them as best she could. She called for morphine for one man and then she ran out into the hallway. "Fill up the kitchen! Fill up the kitchen! There's no room in the main room. Fill up the kitchen. Use whatever space we have!"
"Neck wound! We got a bad neck wound over here." Someone yelled. (Ironic huh?)
Buffy ran over and looked at the man. "Surgery! Move! Come on, we gotta get him to surgery. Oh! In here." They moved the man into surgery and Buffy held tightly to his hand while putting pressure to his neck. "DOCTOR!" When no one came, Buffy closed her eyes and breathed for a moment. She looked down at the man and pulled the gauze pad away. Blood spurted everywhere.
"Am I gonna die? Am I gonna die? Am I gonna die? NURSE!" the man screamed.
Buffy grimaced and put two fingers together. She closed her eyes and guided her fingers into the man's artery, plugging the wound as best she could. "Doctor get over here! My fingers are plugging his artery. Doctor, what do you need? Doctor? Focus. Look at me. What do you need?"
"Hemistich." The doctor said.
"Hemistich." Buffy pulled her fingers away and moved to get what the doctor needed. She came back and looked at the man. "All right. Look at me. You're gonna be all right. You're gonna be all right."
*Mechanic Runway*
Doyle drove up. "Wesley! We gotta go!"
"Yeah.. Mostly ready, but.." Everyone stopped and looked up as planes started to fly over head.
"Get down!"
"Shit! Take cover!" Angel yelled. They ran into the warehouse. Wesley started to shoot at the planes.
"Wesley! Get in here!" Doyle yelled.
"Hey! Sergeant! They come back around, we're gonna need more than a shot gun." Angel yelled. "You got any other weapons and ammo so we can lay out some cover fire?"
"Yeah, inside that ammo locker." Wesley said.
"Come on!"
"Let's go! Move it!"
The men started to move and gather ammo. Doyle and Angel ran back over to the doorway. "You said the planes are mostly ready but. But what?" Doyle asked.
"Well, she's down, she's broke, she's shit. I got four left. One's good to go, two need ammo, one needs fuel."
"Fall out and load up in the bunker." Angel said, slinging a cadre of bullets across his shoulder. "Go! Move!"
The men ran over to a pile of sandbags and ducked down, waiting. Doyle looked over. "Ok, Riley, Xander, you guys are gonna stay here and man the 50 caliber. Gooz, you get over to the next bunker and lay down some cover fire. All right?"
"Planes." Gooz whispered. He locked the 50 cal. "Should we fire?"
"Stay down! Stay down! No!" Angel said, putting his hand on the gun. "Stay down, hold your fire God damn it. Stay still. Nobody fire. They don't know we're here. Stay down."
"Should we fire?"
"No, no, no, no! God damn it, they don't know we're here. Just stay down. Stay still. Don't fire." Angel held tightly to his gun and watched the planes fly away.
"I don't see any ordinates." The photographer said. "I think they're goin home."
"No, they'll be back. We still got planes on the ground. All right you pilots, listen up. Get all the air speed you can comin' off the runway. Don't get on the stick till you get to the very end. When you get in the air, stay low between the buildings. You see any zero on your tail, try to wipe him off, DON'T FREEZE. All right, just keep movin'. We gotta try to break em up and separate em."
"That way we can take em out one by one." Doyle said.
"Right. B-40s can't outrun zeros. So don't try. We're just gonna have to out fly em."
"We got high level bombers! They're gonna bust this hanger wide open!" Wesley called. "Grab the 50s and let's move!"
Angel and the other men jumped out and ran for the bunkers. "Move! GO!" Angel looked up. "Zeros!" He started firing his machine gun at the planes. "Take cover! Take cover!" A barrage of bullets shot right through the parade of men. Doyle fell to the ground, shooting his gun for all he was worth. "Doyle!"
Doyle saw the photographer lying dead on the ground. He pulled him over. "Come on!"
"Leave him! He's dead!" Angel grabbed Doyle just as the plane hanger was bombed. The explosion knocked the men off their feet and sent them sprawling to the ground. "Ah shit!" Angel looked up and saw that Wesley was leading the men to the planes. He got up with Doyle by his side and they took off towards their planes. Angel slimbed in and started to gear up.
"Knock em dead!" Xander said.
"Xander, get out of here God damn it! I'm all right. Go! Go!" Angel started his plane and looked to find Doyle. "Go! Get out of the way!" He yelled at the pilot blocking him in the bunker. Joe finally moved and got out on the runway. Angel and Doyle watched in horror as the three zeros behind him shot him down and the plane exploded. Angel looked away. "Shit!" He looked over at Doyle who looked scared to death. "Doyle. You start that thing up and get in the air. Now I'm not much good without a wing man. I need you."
"I gotcha!" Doyle said back. "Let's ride!" Doyle and Angel pulled out and headed for the runway at an angle. "It's real tight Angel! It's real tight! Hey Angel! I'm not sure we got enough runway!"
"Get your airspeed up before you leave the dirt!" Angel said.
"Don't freeze! Don't freeze!" The two planes took off and headed towards the warehouses. "I don't think I'm gonna make it up over this building!"
Angel grunted and growled with excursion as he pulled on the stick. The planes flew up over the building, narrowly missing it. "We did it! I'm up!"
"We got zeros behind us Angel!"
"How many you see back there?" Angel ducked the flying bullets.
"We got five on our six."
"Take it down to the deck Doyle, now!" They flew low to the ground, but the zeros kept coming. "We gotta split em Doyle! You take left, I'll take right." They flew head on towards the tower and at the last moment, split. "Wesley, you better get some God damn guns up in that tower over there." Angel looked around. "Doyle, I got three on my six." The zero directly behind him started shooting. Angel flapped back and forth, dodging the bullets. Another gun from the ground started shooting and the plane smashed into an oil tower. "Woo!"
"I still got two behind me Angel!"
"AHHHHH!" Angel yelled as he brought the plane close to the buildings. Bullets kept flying at him. "Son of a bitch! WHOOOOA! Wesley do you hear damn it? Get some guns in that tower!"
"Angel! They're all over me! I can't get em off me!" Doyle yelled.
"Doyle, I still got three on my tail. Keep shakin' it, don't let em get a handle on you."
"I can't shake em Angel!"
"Damn it." Angel looked around him. "Doyle, let's play some chicken with these Jap suckers!"
"All right. I'm with ya! I'm coming right at ya Angel."
"Don't break till I tell you. Hold on! Not yet! Not yet!"
"Come on! Come on!"
"Go left! NOW!" Angel pushed hard left at the same time Doyle did. He zeros didn't expect it and they slammed into each other. "Woo! We got em!"
"Woo! HAHAHA!"
"Wesley, I got one on my tail. I'm gonna bring him right by you. You better be cocked and locked when I come by there!" Angel looked behind him and saw he plane go down in a huge explosion. "Woo! Good shootin' boys! Nice shot Wesley! Now let's head over to Battleship Row!"
"I'm with ya!"
Angel and Doyle flew through the smoke and headed out over the water. Angel looked over at Doyle. "Let's go do some business."
"I'm goin after em." Doyle shot at one of the zeros and the plane exploded. "Angel! I got him!"
"I'm pullin up in the clouds, Doyle. We ain't gonna let these sons of bitches get home! How do you like it when someone's shootin back at ya?" Angel chased a zero through the air. He barrel rolled and started firing. "Oh, I'm on your ass now!" The plane's wing flew off and the plane exploded. "Yeah! I got one!" Angel headed off to find more zeros or possible Doyle. He found a zero first. Angel chased after him relentlessly. "I got you, you son of a bitch!" The plane went down. Angel started to head after another, but they retreated away. "Let's go home Doyle. I got me a woman to find."
"All right Angel. Let's go."
Doyle was the first to land. He climbed out of his plane and looked over at Wesley. "Who taught you how to fly, Lieutenant?" he asked.
Doyle looked over at Angel climbing out of his plane. "He did."
Wesley nodded at Angel who nodded back.
*Hospital*
"You're not gonna die!" Buffy yelled over and over. The doctor behind her yelled for amputation. He yelled for Fred to start marking them for morphine. She brought out a pen, but it wouldn't mark.
"Buffy, you got a marker?" Fred called.
Buffy ran over to her purse. "Uh.. Um, use my lipstick. Put M for morphine."
"Buffy we need a truncate!" The doctor yelled.
"Truncate?" Buffy ran over to look for one, but didn't find one. "There's nothing left!" She looked down and took off one of her stockings.
"Buffy!"
"Here, use this."
"I need you to go outside. There's too many to help. You gotta sort em out. Only those you know can be saved bring in here."
"But I can't."
"No! Please, do it! I need you to do it! Go!"
Buffy ran outside, clutching her lipstick. Hundreds, maybe even thousands of men were swarming the place. More kept coming. All the while, Buffy prayed that none of them were Angel. She scanned the screaming and dying men to see if any were him. Thankfully, none were. Buffy looked over at the nearest doctor. "Don't let any one in without a mark."
"Get back! I told you, stand back!" The doctor started yelling.
"Keep him outside! Keep him outside!" She marked a man that was crying in pain. He was burnt so bad. She told another to wait there.
"Don't touch me you Jap!" One patient yelled. Buffy ran over to him. "Get your hands off me!"
"He's critical!" The doctor said. Buffy nodded and marked him with a C. "Get him into critical!"
"Critical! Front ward." Buffy yelled, pointing. She turned and found a young man about her age crying.
He looked at her. "How.. Bad am..I?"
"You're gonna be just fine sweetheart."
"I don't wanna die."
"No, you're not gonna die. Sweetheart, I got your hand." Buffy marked him with an F. She looked up at the man carrying him. "Give him enough morphine to make him comfortable, he's not gonna make it." The man nodded and headed away. Buffy ran over to more men. "We've got a critical! Get him up to the ward! Get the morphine's over there."
An man ran up to her carrying a girl. "I just found her. I don't think she's breathing." Buffy checked the girl's pulse. There was none. "No, she's dead. Take her." Buffy pulled the girl's hair out of her face and discovered it was Anya. Fred ran up and saw her too.
"Oh God!" Fred cried. Buffy covered her mouth, trying not to cry. "Are you sure Buffy? Did you check her one more time?"
"She's dead. Take her over there." Buffy said, shoving her emotions aside.
"You've gotta be sure before you just stick her over there."
"Fred! Go back to work, Fred."
"I don't know what to do!"
Buffy embraced Fred before she ran off to mark more men. She stopped though and just looked around. Wounded and dying men surrounded her. Most navy and military, some were just civilians. For a moment, Buffy just let the screaming take over her head because she didn't know what else to do. She had just declared her friend dead. Things were falling apart. The only thing Buffy could think at the moment was: "Is Angel ok? Is he alive and fighting off the Japs? Please let him be alive."
*Hospital Ward*
Angel and Doyle walked down the hospital hallways looking for Buffy. Angel was so worried about her. All he could think was: "Is she alive? She has to be alive. I can't live without her." He looked around at all the dying men. Some were bleeding to death and there were puddles of blood everywhere. Angel looked up and saw Buffy's blonde hair as she turned, two IV poles in her hands. She saw them walking up to her. Buffy sighed and closed her eyes, looking down and thanking God they were both alive. When she looked back up, tears in her eyes, Angel was standing in front of her.
"How can we help?" He asked, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"We need blood. Come on." Buffy led them to a secluded room. One man was laying on a bed convulsing while a preacher gave him his Last Rites. Angel and Doyle sat down and allowed Buffy to set them up. As Buffy finished taping the needle to him, Angel looked up at her. She looked into his eyes and they shared a moment. Buffy was so thankful that he was alive and with her now.
Angel nodded and started pumping his wrist, squeezing the ball in his hand. The blood flowed through the tube and into Coca-Cola bottles. It was all they had left. The priest finished his speech just before the man on the bed died. A man ran in and looked at Angel and Doyle.
"We've got men trapped everywhere in the harbor. We need help from anybody who can move." The man ran out.
Angel looked at Buffy, asking her permission with his eyes. She looked over at him as she took the needle out of Doyle's arm. "Go. Both of you. We can't leave them trapped in those boats." She took the needle out of Angel's arm. He stood and wrapped her in his arms, kissing the top of her head.
"I'll be back, I promise." Angel said.
"I know."
He kissed her on the forehead one last time and then headed out. They got on a boat and were taken to the capsized Oklahoma. Men worked frantically to free the men trapped inside. Angel and Doyle ran up and started to help pry the metal up. One man yelled for their help and the two men headed over to them.
"Get an airline in here!" Another man yelled.
Doyle looked down at the small hole and the hands sticking up through it, desperately grabbing at air. "What can we do?" Angel was the first one to respond. He grabbed onto the nearest hand and held to it tightly. The man grasped back. Doyle did the same and looked up at the other men. "Cut em out!" Suddenly, water bubbled out of the hole and the hands went limp. Angel didn't let go. He felt as if he had failed those men. They worked the rest of the night and through some of the morning before Angel couldn't take the death anymore and headed back to the hospital to be with Buffy. Doyle followed and together, the three of them listened to the president speak to Congress on the radio. (Yes, this is the entire speech. Just thought you guys would like to learn some more history. HAHA)
"Yesterday, December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy, the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack. It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu. Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island. Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation. As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense. Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory. I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again. Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger. With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph, so help us God. I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire."
Buffy looked up at Angel as she held his hand. Tears fell freely down both of their faces as they embraced tightly. Everything that had happened still hung fresh in their minds. Now, Angel was going to go away again and fight. Buffy just knew it in her gut that he was going to go away again. Everything in her screamed at him, wanted to hate him for joining the military, but she couldn't hate him. She loved him too much to hate him. So, for the moment, all she could do was hold onto him and cry.
