He suggested more than once that weekend that she take it easy and let room service bring them their meals.

Sandra loved Danny for his concern but for this one weekend she didn't want him to worry. She wanted to go for walks on the beach and have dinner in the dining room and make love with her husband while she was still able. But even that was something that had begun to happen less and less because he was concerned that maybe that was part of the problem.

Early Sunday morning as she lay in the quiet of their room Sandra listened to the even breathing of Danny as he slept next to her. It wasn't for the first time that she counted herself so lucky to be married to him and in spite of the problems that she'd experienced to be carrying his child. And she would never tell him how she worried about that child and what impact these problems might have on him or her.

She began to worry even more when she felt what could only be called a contraction. That was something that she'd never felt before and Sandra knew it was too early for her to be going into labor. She couldn't help but think about Ev and how devastated she'd been when she'd miscarried her third child and Sandra tried not to panic with the thought that she and Danny might very well experience the same loss.

The contraction subsided and she relaxed. But not too much because she knew that if what she'd just felt was indeed a contraction, there were going to be more on the way.

Sandra didn't know exactly what she should do. She didn't want to wake Danny up to tell him she thought she was going into labor to have it not be the case, or to not wake him until she'd realized that she had.

He took the decision out of her hands when she heard his sleepy voice. "Whatever it is, it ain't good is it?"

She looked at him and his eyes were barely open. "What are you talking about?"

"I've been watchin' you for the last few minutes and you don't look so good."

Sandra tried to make light of the situation. "It's early in the morning and I haven't had my shower yet."

Danny didn't bite and sat up next to her. "That ain't what I mean Sandra and you damn well know it. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing worth worrying about." Was all she would tell him.

"Like hell! What ain't you tellin' me?" He asked and she could hear the panic in his voice.

She didn't have a chance to say anything else because another contraction came and it was stronger than the first. "I think we need to get to the hospital Danny, this shouldn't be happening yet."

"What the hell's happenin'?

She looked at him and tried to remain as calm as possible. "It seems as though I'm having contractions and you know as well as I do that it's too soon. So I would feel a lot better if we could get to the hospital and make sure everything is all right." And she threw back the blankets and sat up.

"I'll call the hospital and tell them we're comin'." Danny nodded and got out of bed and headed to the telephone.

While he did that, Sandra dressed before she sat back down on the bed. Another contraction came and she thought about Ev again and really understood for the first time how scared she must have been. She felt the side of the bed dip as Danny sat down next to her and took her hand. She looked at him and put her head on his shoulder. "I'm scared."

"I know you are honey, so am I. I called the hospital and they're callin' the doctor and he'll meet us there." He told her before he stood up and held out his hand to her.

Sandra took it and it was then that she started to cry. "I had another contraction."

"Let's get to the hospital and find out what's happenin' with that little one of ours." He said softly as he squeezed her hand and walked with her out of the room.

When they reached the hospital, true to his word, Sandra's doctor was there to meet them. She was put in a wheel chair and held onto Danny's hand. "Everythin' will be all right honey, you'll see." He tried to reassure her as he bent over to kiss her before she was wheeled away.

Danny watched her go and he suddenly understood what Rafe must have gone through when Evelyn had lost their baby. He was afraid Sandra was going to lose this one and he didn't know what he would do if that happened. He'd never been so scared in his whole life, not even when his daddy would come home after he'd gone on a bender. The life of his child might be in danger and there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it. He wished to hell that Rafe was still there, but Red was.

He approached the desk and asked the nurse on duty if he could use the telephone.

"Is it a local call?" She asked him.

"Yes, ma'am. It's just over to Wheeler."

She seemed to sense his anxiety and smiled. "Just dial nine for an outside line."

Danny smiled back at her. "Thank you ma'am." He said as he picked up the receiver and dialed the number for Red's quarters.

"Hello?" The familiar voice answered the telephone.

"Red, it's Danny." And he suddenly felt a knot in his stomach.

There was a laugh on the other end. "Aren't you supposed to be on your second honeymoon? What the heck are you calling me for?"

"I'm, that is, Sandra and I are at the hospital. She's havin' contractions."

There was no answer on the other end for a moment. "I'm no doctor Danny, but isn't it too early for that?"

He sighed and could feel hot tears gather in the back of his eyes. "Too damn early Red."

"Is there anything I can do?" Red asked him.

"Would you call Rafe for me and tell him what's happened? Tell him we're at Pearl Naval and that there ain't been any word yet." He took a deep breath and tried to stop the shaking that had started.

"Sure thing. As soon as I call, I'll be down."

"Thanks Red, I sure appreciate that."

"We have to look out for each other Danny because you and Sandra and I are the only one's left here."

"That's true."

"Everything's going to be all right Danny, you'll see." He repeated what Danny had told Sandra.

"I sure hope so Red." He answered as he put the receiver back in the cradle and stood at the counter.

"Captain Walker, why don't you go down to the father's waiting room. Someone will come find you when we have some news."

Danny nodded. "I have a friend comin' soon. Would you tell him where I am?"

"Certainly Captain." She assured him before he walked away and headed down to the waiting room.