Danny didn't know if Sandra coming to the airfield was such a good idea.

He and Rafe had been given orders to join Colonel Doolittle but they didn't know why. They had just said goodbye to Betty and Billy at a mass service at Hickam and that was when the two flyers received their orders.

Rafe and Evelyn had gone back to his bungalow so he could pack and Danny couldn't help but smile because he knew his best friend. If he turned on the McCawley charm enough, he'd say goodbye to Evelyn the way he'd wanted to before going to England.

He sat near the transport, his bags packed and nervous as hell. He had no idea what they were in for or where they were going. He just wanted to come back alive. When he glanced toward the gate, he saw Sandra walking toward him and she looked so serious.

When she reached him she didn't say anything, she just put her arms around his neck. "I know you asked me not to come but I needed to so I could give you a proper sendoff."

Danny held her close. "You could have last night if you'd wanted to." He said and laughed softly.

"Don't think that I wasn't tempted." And she tightened her hold on him before she took a deep breath and said what she'd wanted to for a long time. "I love you Danny."

He gently pulled her arms from around his neck so he could see her face and she was as red as a beet. "Tell me that again."

Her face burned as she held his gaze. "Daniel Walker, I love you."

He'd heard her right. He took a moment to let it sink in and couldn't believe his luck. Sandra really loved him and suddenly he wasn't so nervous any more. "I love you too. I have for a long time and just never had the nerve to tell you."

She put her arms around his neck again. "Then do this mission and come back to me in one piece."

"I'll do my very best Sandra, I promise." And he kissed her in a way that he never had before. It was the kiss of a man who was in love and knew the object of that love returned his feelings.

When he let her go, he saw Rafe and Evelyn coming through the gate. They were holding hands looking very happy and Danny grinned and shook his head. The McCawley charm worked again.

"Ready to go Rafe?" Danny asked him still grinning.

"Yea." Was all he said because he was looking at Evelyn.

"Then let's get goin'." He picked up his bags and after kissing Sandra one last time, turned and headed toward the transport. He didn't get too far when he realized that Rafe wasn't with him. He turned back and Rafe was still with Evelyn. "Come on Romeo, let's get this over with." He said and waited for his wingman to kiss his own girl goodbye and catch up with him.

With the boys on board Sandra and Evelyn headed toward the gate. Some of the other boys were late and ran toward the waiting transport. Gooz nodded to them as he ran past and Red was not far behind. The two stragglers had reached the stairs before Gooz yelled, "Fusco, get your butt over here!"

"I'm coming!" He yelled back as he ran past the girls to the transport and handed Red his bags.

Sandra could see he was saying something to Red, who didn't seem too happy about it. They were looking toward Sandra and Evelyn. It looked as though Red was telling him to hurry as he boarded and Anthony came back to Sandra.

He took her hands in his. "I couldn't leave without saying I'm sorry."

She was a little confused. "Sorry about what?"

"I was such a jerk to you that night in New York." He told her.

"Anthony, that was a year ago."

"I know, but it's always bothered me. My mother calls it my stubborn Italian pride and I'll admit that it got bruised that night." He admitted.

"You just took me by surprise that's all. I wasn't expecting to have anyone talk to me." Sandra explained.

"I just want to say I think that Danny is a very lucky guy."

Sandra could feel tears gather at the back of her eyes and Anthony sighed and put his arms around her.

"Please don't cry Sandra. I didn't mean to make you cry." And he held her for a moment before he let her go.

"Just be careful and come back to us." She said and kissed his cheek.

He smiled at her. "What I wouldn't have given for that."

She put her arms around his neck and whispered. "Watch yourself Anthony and please watch after Danny for me."

"Will do." And he kissed her cheek before he turned and ran full speed toward the transport. Danny, Rafe, Red and Gooz were all crowded in the doorway waiting and yelling at him good naturedly to hurry. No sooner had he gotten on board that the stairs were pulled up and the door was closed.

Sandra and Evelyn stood at the gate and watched as the transport revved its engines, turned and rolled toward the runway. They held the others hand as the plane took off, lifted into the clear sky and then Sandra started to cry. Evelyn put her arms around her because she understood how she was feeling. "Come on Sandra, let's go home."

The pilots found their seats and strapped themselves in as the plane turned and began to roll down the runway. Danny hated traveling by transport because he was not in control of the plane. He would much rather have flown his P-40, but the fact that they were flying this way told him it was going to be a long trip.

Once they were airborne, he undid his safety strap and walked back to where Anthony was sitting. "Everythin' all right Anthony?"

He seemed a little agitated as he looked up at Danny. "Just making my peace with things."

Danny sat down next to him. "You make it sound like you're not comin' back."

Anthony sighed. "Danny we've been assigned to Doolittle, which can only mean it's something really big and probably dangerous."

Danny looked at his friend. "Is that why you needed to talk to Sandra?" His tone was without accusation.

"I've always felt like such an idiot for treating her the way I did that night. I needed to clear the air about that before we left and I told her I was sorry."

"You're a good guy Anthony." Danny told him as he clapped him on the shoulder and stood up to go back to his seat.

Rafe looked over at him in curiosity. "Everythin' okay Danny?"

He nodded. "Everythin's fine Rafe."

"So are you goin' to tell me what was goin' on with you and Sandra?" He asked.

Danny looked at him and grinned as he flushed. "She loves me Rafe."

Rafe grinned back. "Well hell Danny." Was all he said to him and laughed.

Whatever Fate had in store for the pilots they would find out soon enough, but Danny was in love and she loved him back and that was what he held on to during the long flight to their uncertain future.