The sound of the telephone woke him and Danny was immediately aware of the fact that he was not in his bunk at Wheeler Field. He was also aware that Sandra was asleep next to him and he grinned. How many times had he dreamed about this?

He didn't want to wake her so he got up off the bed and padded out to the living room. When he picked up the receiver Rafe was on the other end and he sounded a little startled to hear Danny's voice. "Hey Danny, is Sandra there?"

"She's still sleepin' Rafe. Sarah kept her up for quite awhile."

"What about you?" He could almost see the cocky grin on his friend's face.

"Nothin' happened Rafe. We just slept."

"You're a big boy Danny. You don't need to explain anythin' to me."

"I know I don't, but I also don't want you thinkin' somethin' happened when nothin' did." Danny tried not to sound defensive.

Rafe seemed to decide not to pursue the matter. "I just wanted to tell Sandra that I'll be home in a little while. Evelyn finally went to sleep and the doctor seems to think that she'll sleep for awhile now."

Danny frowned. "Did you get any sleep?"

"No. I just held her all night while she talked. She's feelin' real guilty for what happened and there wasn't anythin' I could say to help her feel better, so I just listened."

"I'm glad you stayed with her Rafe and I'm sure she is too."

"I'm sure you are too."

"Rafe…"

"I'm only kiddin' Danny, you know that. I know how you feel about Sandra and how you feel about that."

"Thank you."

There was silence on the other end of the line and Danny began to wonder if Rafe was still there. "Danny, why don't you just marry her?" He finally said. "You love her and she loves you and it don't make sense that you aren't together."

"I know this don't make a whole lot of sense to you but we are in the middle of a war. And as much as I love her and as much as I think about marryin' her, I don't want there to be the possibility of my leavin' her a widow. And what if we were to have a baby?"

"I do understand, but what about her? Did you ever stop to think that she'd regret not havin' the time to be married to you?"

Danny nodded, even though Rafe could not see it. "I have thought about that, but it's Sandra's decision. She told me that she wanted to wait until after the war was over, knowin' that I might not come back. She don't like to think about that, but it's always there." There was another long silence and Danny sensed that Rafe wanted to say something else and didn't know how. "Just say it Rafe. I'll tell you if it's none of your business."

There was a sigh on the other end. "Have you two ever…?"

The question hung in the air and Danny didn't know how to answer. On the one hand, he and Rafe had always told each other just about everything. But on the other, this involved Sandra. He didn't know if it was his place to say anything to anyone, including his best friend. "Rafe…" He started to say.

"Never mind Danny, it's none of my business and I shouldn't have asked."

"It ain't that. But this involves Sandra and I don't feel right talkin' about this with anyone."

"Fair enough." Then he was all business. "Well, I'd better get goin', I want to check on Evelyn before I leave and make sure she's all right. I'll be home in about a half-hour."

"All right Rafe, I'll see you when you get here." After he hung up he stood with his hand still curled around the receiver when he heard Sandra's voice.

"That was Rafe?"

He turned to her and nodded. "Yea. He'll be home in a little while."

"How's Ev?"

"She was awake all night and Rafe says that she finally went to sleep. So I imagine that he's goin' to come home and do the same."

"How did he sound?" She asked him

"He sounded real tired. It's been a long night for them both."

The moment had suddenly turned awkward as they stood and faced each other in their rumpled clothes. They had spent the night together on the same bed and held each other. "What are you thinkin' about Sandra?" He looked at her.

"What do we do now?"

"What do you mean?" He wasn't sure where she was going.

"After last night, don't you think things have changed?"

"Why, because we slept on the same bed?"

"Yes, because we slept on the same bed." She repeated. "It may not have been a big deal for you, but it's something I've never allowed with anyone else." She looked hurt.

He walked over to her and took her hands. "Of course it was a big deal. I'm not the type of guy who takes somethin' like this lightly. I knew that when we stayed together last night, even though nothin' happened, it would be somethin' that we'd have to deal with because I know how you feel about these things."

He watched her as she looked down at their clasped hands. "You don't think I'm making too much of this?"

"I know how important it is to you and it's one of the big reasons why I've never pressed the matter. What ever it is you want to do or what you're ready for it's all right with me." And he let go of one of her hands to tip her chin up. "All right?"

She nodded. "I love you."

He smiled at her. "I know you do and that's why it's all right." He said to her as he pulled her to him and kissed her.

Sarah started to cry from Rafe and Evelyn's room and Sandra pulled away from him. "I'm still watching the kids until Rafe comes home." She said as she started down the hall.

"I'll check on Danny." He said and followed her until he got to Danny's room. The boy was still sound asleep and Danny stood in the doorway and watched him.

"Danny." Sandra's soft call got his attention and he walked down to find her with the baby on the bed and a clean diaper in her hand. "While I do this, could you heat up her bottle? I think she's ready to eat."

"Sure thing honey." He told her as he turned and walked down to the kitchen. He found a small pot and filled it with water before he put it on the stove. He turned up the heat as he opened the icebox to look for a bottle.

"Top shelf in the back." Danny turned and saw Rafe. "It looks like I'll be mixin' formula for a few days."

Danny found the bottle and set in on the counter before he walked over to his friend and shook his hand. "You look like hell Rafe."

"Thanks Danny." He gave him a weary grin.

"How you holdin' up?"

"All I want to do is take a hot shower and sleep for the rest of the day." He admitted. "But I'll settle for a hot shower and a nap. I don't want to leave Evelyn alone for too long."

"We can stay for as long as you need us. Sandra's off duty today and so am I." Danny told him.

"I'd appreciate that, I really would."

Danny looked past Rafe's shoulder and saw Sandra walk into the living room with Sarah in her arms. "I think this little girl wants her daddy." She smiled as she walked up to Rafe handed him the baby.

He stood there with his daughter in his arms and Danny saw a tear roll down his face. He looked at Sandra and they stood together as Rafe walked down the hall without another word.

"Is he going to be all right Danny?" She asked him as they watched him go.

"I hope so honey." And he put his arm around her for a moment before they both went into the kitchen to heat up the bottle for Sarah.