Author's note: Sorry I took so long to update! I could not think of how to continue the story, and there was homework to see to. I hope you people would like the story! I will try to end it soon, so please continue to review and give me more ideas on how to continue the story!

Chapter 5

Danny made up his mind. The moment he got off the plane, he had decided to volunteer for whatever mission Doolittle had in store for them. Rafe would probably volunteer, and so he would be there to prevent anything from happening to Rafe. The first time Rafe had volunteered for a mission, he had gone to England and "died". "I will not let the England incident happen again." Danny swore under his breath.

"Danny, we have to talk." Rafe pulled Danny aside. They had been allocated rooms to stay in for the time being, and as usual, he and Danny got to share a room.

"What? Is something wrong?" Danny asked. "You sound so serious."

Rafe took a deep breath. "Danny, you know what top secret means."

"Yeah."

"Whatever it is, it has never been done before, and it is going to be dangerous."

"I know". Danny said impatiently. "Come on, Rafe. When has missions ever been safe? We are in a war, you know."

"Alright, I will go to the point. Danny, I don't want you to go on the mission."

Danny frowned. "What are you talking about, Rafe?"

"I am saying, I don't want you to go on the mission. It's dangerous, Danny, and I don't want anything to happen to you."

"No body wants anything to happen to anyone else, Rafe, but this is a war. I told you before. If trouble wants me I'm ready for it. There is no way I am letting you go on that mission alone."

"Things are different now, Danny. Evelyn already lost the man she loved once, I just don't want to see it happen to her again."

"That is what I am trying to tell you, Rafe. She lost you once, and do you think I am going to let that happen again?"

Now it was Rafe's turn to frown. "What are you talking about, Danny?"

"Rafe, she still loves you. I was just your substitute. When you were gone, it was hard for me, and hard for her too. I helped her to move on, and she treated me as your substitute. That was how we got involved. She loved you all along."

Rafe was stunned. "I didn't mean…"

"As far as I am concerned, Rafe, you are not going anywhere without me. If you are going on that mission, then I am going too. I don't care if it is dangerous or not."

Danny stood up. "It's settled then." He said briskly, without waiting for Rafe to reply. "I'm turning in early. See you tomorrow, Rafe."

Rafe looked out of the window. The evening sun was just preparing to set. It wasn't like Danny to sleep at such an early hour. It was obvious Danny was avoiding him. Rafe sat there for a long time, unable to process what Danny had told him. Why was Danny so determined to go on the mission? How did Danny know that Evelyn still loved him? Did Evelyn say something to him?

Looking at Danny lying on the bed with his face determinedly turned to the wall, Rafe was worried about the change in events. Things are so different from the last time. Could his small delay in that conversation with Evelyn affect so many things? What is going to happen next?

As he lay in bed, Danny thought silently. Sorry, Rafe. I cannot let you go on that mission alone. I want to make sure you come back, so that I can undo some of the damage I did. I know you still love her, and she still loves you. I am going on that mission, whether you like it or not. I don't care if I died out there. This is my own choice. Good night, Rafe.

Rafe was so preoccupied with his own thoughts that he was surprised to see that night had fallen. He was feeling sleepy, so he got into bed. They were going to see Doolittle first thing in the morning. "Night, Danny." Even though Rafe knew that Danny was asleep, he felt good just saying goodnight to his friend. He felt more secure knowing that Danny was still alive and there beside him. Maybe things would get better tomorrow.

"Do you know what you have done?"

It was that funny old man again. That mysterious fuzzy dream that gave him a chance to change the future.

"What are you talking about, sir?"

"You had to delay with that conversation with the girl, and now everything is going to change. You are not in control anymore."

"What do you mean?"

The old man sighed and shook his head. "It's fated. I was silly to think that it could be changed."

Rafe was getting really confused. "What are you talking about? Who are you anyway?"

The old man looked straight at Rafe. "Don't you remember me?"