It had been a hell of a shock finding out about Rafe.

Never for a moment did Danny ever believe his best friend was going to die over in England and the telephone call he'd received from Rafe's father sent him into a tailspin. And while he was trying to deal with his own grief he had a promise to keep, he had to tell Evelyn.

He'd had to break his dinner date with Sandra that night and all he would tell her was that he had to do something for Rafe. She was a little hesitant about it because he was going to see her in full dress khakis. "I wish it fit better." He told her as she straightened his tie.

"Danny, what is it?" His worry about how he would look to Evelyn made her a little jealous as she gripped the knot.

He covered her hands with his. "I'll tell you everythin' when I get back, but Evelyn needs to hear this first."

"It's not good news is it?" She asked him because she began to understand as he picked up his dress jacket off his bunk and put it on.

"It ain't good news." Danny frowned as he buttoned up the front and then took her hand as they left the barracks.

Sandra and Martha were playing a game of gin rummy when Evelyn came home an hour later. She'd been crying and without a word to either one, ran into the bathroom. Barbara came out of the kitchen when the door slammed and she looked at her friends. "Evelyn?"

"You'd better go talk to her. She looks really upset." Martha told her and Barbara headed to the bathroom.

Danny was standing in the doorway, cap tucked under his arm when he looked at Sandra and held out his hand. She got up and walked over to him and he looked even more upset then he had earlier. She took the hand he proffered and they walked down to the beach and sat down in the sand.

It was a quiet night and the stars were out in all of their brilliance but Danny didn't notice because his world had been turned upside down. His chest had been tight since receiving the telephone call from Thomas McCawley that afternoon and his first thought at that point was how Rafe's parents were holding up. They were the two strongest people he knew and of course Thomas asked him how he was doing. "You were a brother to him, I hope you know that. Sarah and I were always sorry that we couldn't give him a little brother of his own, but as it turned out he got one anyway."

Without realizing it, tears started to roll down his cheeks. Sandra took his hand and put her head down on his shoulder, to try and comfort him in some way. "Rafe got shot down during a dogfight over the English Channel. He didn't make it."

She sat up and looked at him. "Oh, Danny. I'm so sorry."

"I never thought it would ever happen to him. I thought for sure he would fly over there for a few months, earn himself a chest full of medals and come home a bigger pain in the ass then he was before he left. He wasn't supposed to die." He said before he completely fell apart.

This was something new for Sandra. She'd never seen a grown man cry, but Danny was in a lot of pain and she couldn't help. All she could do was hold his hand.

It was several minutes before Danny could pull himself together enough to talk and he looked embarrassed. " I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I shouldn't have let that happen."

"What else were you supposed to do? You received some terrible news today about Rafe and you had to tell Evelyn. I know that couldn't have been easy."

Danny looked at her and the breeze was tossing her short hair. She wasn't like any girl he'd ever met and it amazed him that her first concern was for him. "I wish it had been me."

"I don't. Then I'd be in Evelyn's shoes and I wouldn't wish that on anyone." She flushed at her own admission.

He sat there and with only a moment's hesitation, leaned over and kissed her. He wondered if he should have done it because she suddenly let go of his hand and put her fingers to her lips. Dammit Walker, you shouldn't have done that.

"I'm sorry." He told her for a second time.

"What on earth are you apologizing for?" She still seemed a little stunned.

"I should have asked you if it was all right before I did that."

Sandra tried not to smile. "Danny, this is 1941. You don't need my permission to kiss me." And she became serious again. "Are you going to be all right?"

He took her hand. "It's Evelyn I'm worried about. She took it real hard and I don't know that she'll ever get over this."

"Evelyn is a strong girl and she'll get through it."

"I don't know Sandra. You should have seen her after I told her, she looked absolutely lost." Danny sighed.

"The same way you looked when you brought her home."

"It's different for me though. I'll never have a friend like him again, but Evelyn's lost her future."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"You're doin' it just by bein' here with me. Thank you."

"You're welcome." And she kissed his cheek.

Danny grinned. "I think it's time I get you home. Don't need things gettin' out of hand." And he stood up offering her his hand.

She took it and smiled at his bashfulness as he pulled her up. "You're probably right. Besides it's been a long day for you and I want to see how Ev is doing."

He held her hand as they walked back to the nurses bungalow. When they reached the screened in porch, they stood at the bottom of the stairs not wanting to say goodbye. "If you need to talk, please call. I don't care what time it is."

He smiled. "You might not think that if I call you in the middle of the night."

"Call me."

"I will." And he kissed her. "Thank you for listening."

"Thank you for telling me." And she went inside.

Danny stood there for a moment after she'd gone inside and now it was time to go back to the barracks and break the news to the other pilots.