Author's note: Wow, thanks for all the reviews! I am glad there are people out there who like the story.

As a tribute to all those who have read my story, I am going to make this chapter an extra long one! Hope you like it enough to give me more reviews! Thanks for all the reviews so far, but I seem to have an insatiable thirst for reviews. I really don't mind if the reviews keep coming in. Really. :P

This chapter is dedicated to all the lovers of the movie Pearl Harbor, as well as to all my readers. Enjoy!

Chapter 15

Outside Rafe's ward, Danny hesitated, suddenly unsure of what he was going to say when he faced his best friend again. What do people usually say to someone who was just shot? What could I talk about? It was only then that Danny realized, with a pang of regret and guilt, that his friendship with Rafe was no longer what it used to be, despite their efforts to rebuild it. After they quarrelled over Evelyn, things had not quite been the same. No matter how much he tried to convince himself that they were still best friends as before, there still existed a barrier of sorts when it came to this sort of one-to-one talks.

Once, there was nothing he couldn't talk about with Rafe, and he never felt awkward, or at a loss for topics to talk about. There were even times when Rafe complained that he talked too much. But now, Danny was unsure of how he was going to face Rafe again. After doing his best to avoid talking to Rafe before the mission, it was not as if he could just walk in and ask Rafe what he thought of the weather.

Gathering up as much courage as he could, Danny opened the door and stepped in, closing the door softly behind him. He looked around and recognized the figure in the bed at the far right corner of the room. It seemed as if Rafe was still asleep. Danny approached Rafe's bed, pulled up a chair and settled himself down in it.

Worried, he checked Rafe's wounds, but other than the bandages, he could not see anything else that indicated Rafe had been hurt. That was a good sign, wasn't it? At least Rafe wasn't groaning in pain. That put his heart at ease somewhat.

Danny checked his watch. He still had quite a lot of free time, so to speak, before having to meet up with the general in his office. Since Rafe was asleep, he should not disturb him. It had been some time since any of them had much sleep, come to think of it, ever since they went on the mission.

It seemed like such a long time ago when he had said goodbye to Evelyn…frustrated with himself, Danny shook his head to clear his mind. He had promised himself not to think of her anymore. He couldn't now…not when Rafe had almost died for him.

"Hey Danny, your father said hi."

Danny took some time to register what had just happened. He blinked. "My father said what? Oh, you are awake!" His face broke into a broad smile, and Rafe smiled back weakly. "Yeah, it sure took you long enough to realise that."

"How are you feeling? Does it hurt? Do you need anything?"

"Just some water, thanks."

"No problem." Danny reached for the pitcher of water beside Rafe's bed, and poured him a glass of water. Helping Rafe to sit up, he passed the water over to Rafe.

After drinking some water, Rafe put the glass on the bedside table. "Did you hear what I said just now?"

"Sure, you said my father…" Danny stopped, and he looked at Rafe in concern. "Does your head hurt?"

"Not really, why?" Rafe frowned slightly.

"It's okay, I'll go fetch the doctor. It's just a concussion. No need to panic." Danny got up to leave.

Rafe almost laughed. He can still make jokes in this sort of situation. His reaction was almost comical, but when Rafe saw that Danny was indeed intended on leaving and getting the doctor, he hurriedly grabbed his arm and pulled him back down on the chair. "No, you are sitting down right here. No doctor. I do NOT have a concussion. I'm serious here."

"I'm serious too, Rafe. Do you know what you are talking about? My father died more than ten years ago, and here you are saying he said hi? Are you sure you don't need a doctor?"

"Yes, I'm sure." Rafe tried to sound stern. "Oh, come on, we have to talk. Seriously." It's about time I tell him what happened.

Danny thought Rafe was going to talk about Evelyn. About her being pregnant. He fixed his eyes guiltily on the floor, and said, "There's no need. I heard everything."

Rafe stared blankly at him. "You heard? Whoever did you hear it from?" What was he talking about? How could anyone else know about what had happened, except him…and Danny's father of course. Unless Danny's father gave Danny a dream too, and told him everything. Ah yes, that must be it.

Danny started, and his guilt increased tenfold. Rafe had probably forgotten what he said on the field, and he had to be such a big-mouthed idiot to remind him. Before he could reply, he heard Rafe say, "Both of you had a talk, didn't you?"

It didn't occur to the two of them that they were crossing wires. Rafe thought Danny was talking about his father, while Danny thought Rafe was talking about Evelyn.

"Not yet, but don't worry about it Rafe. It is my fault and I will think of some way to make things better." Danny promised.

Rafe's brows creased in confusion. "No, wait. If you two hadn't talked yet, how did you know about what had happened?"

Danny blushed a bright guilty red. "I sort of…overheard."

Now things were getting out of hand. Rafe frowned. How could Danny overhear what he was saying to Danny's father?

Finally, Rafe realised that they were talking about two entirely different things. "Who are you talking about?"

Looking up from his spot on the floor, Danny asked, "Weren't you talking about Evelyn?"

So that was what he was talking about…Rafe almost smiled, but the mention of Evelyn reminded him of something that had slipped his mind. Well, it wouldn't hurt to talk about Danny's father later. After all, there is something I want to find out… "What did you overhear?"

If only I didn't bring up the subject…there is no escaping it now. I know what Rafe could be like when he wants to know something…Danny sighed inwardly. Bracing himself for an indignant outburst from Rafe about him invading on his privacy, Danny started to explain as best as he could. "I didn't mean to, Rafe, really. I was…walking back to our room to finish packing, and then, I happened to pass by the petrol station…and I heard everything"

Danny couldn't continue. His own words brought back an image of the scene that day. He remembered the look on Evelyn and Rafe's faces. Their pained expressions when they realised what went wrong with their relationship was not that Evelyn did not love Rafe anymore, but it was because of him. The two of them had to sacrifice their love because Evelyn felt duty-bound to him. He could see vividly in his own mind the tears that had been on Rafe's face, and on Evelyn's as well. He had been the cause of their unhappiness.

Stunned, Rafe's mind raced. He never saw Danny nearby…how could Danny have heard…no wonder Danny had acted so strangly on the plane. Ever since then, he had sensed that Danny was trying to make him go back to Evelyn, but he didn't understand why. So that was what Danny was trying to do, insisting on going on the mission…avoiding any mention of Evelyn…he had been trying to repair what he perceived as the damage he had done.

Rafe was the first one to break the long silence. "Danny, things are not what they seem…"he tried to make Danny feel better. Danny had never been good at hiding his emotions. Or at least Rafe had always been able to see through his mask, and now Rafe could see clearly that Danny was feeling guilty and blaming himself for Rafe's failed relationship with Evelyn.

Danny gave Rafe a tight smile. "It's okay, Rafe. This is between Evelyn and me, and I will come up with something to make things right." His voice caught in his throat at the thought of having to confront Evelyn…and say goodbye to her forever. And their child…Danny already had an idea of how he was going to resolve the situation, but that would mean giving up his child and his love…Danny blinked hard to prevent tears from welling up, and he hurriedly turned his head away, taking deep breaths to repress his emotions.

It hurt Rafe to see his best friend trying so hard to hide his guilt and hurt. He wanted to tell Danny that it was all right, that he could stay with Evelyn and have a proper family with her. He wanted to assure Danny that he didn't mind things not working out between him and Evelyn…but somehow he couldn't find the words for it.

Seeking for a way to end the awkward silence that had fallen between them, Rafe cleared his throat, and changed the topic. "I wasn't talking about Evelyn, Danny. I was talking about your father."

Danny turned back to look at his friend. "You weren't talking about Evelyn?" Rafe shook his head. "I know you are going to think that I am crazy, but I think that your father would have wanted you to know what he did for you." And Rafe started to tell Danny how everything started, and watched with some amusement as Danny's mouth went slack in surprise, eyes widening at the thought of Rafe travelling back through time to bring him back. With his father's help.

"You can't be serious!" Danny protested. "My father died many years ago! And how on earth can you travel back in time to change things that had happened?"

"I have no idea." Rafe confessed. "I only managed with your father's help." His face softened. "He wanted to make up to you, Danny. He said that he did not treat you well enough when he had the chance to, and this was his way of saying that…he's sorry. He really loved you very much, Danny."

Rafe's words seem hard to believe, but despite himself, Danny found himself wanting to believe that what Rafe said was true. Crazy as it may be, it was a logical explanation as to why Rafe had been so strongly opposed to him coming on the mission…There was a small part in Danny's heart that wanted very much to believe that his father loved him after all. Ever since he fought in the First World War, Danny's father had changed entirely, and often beat Danny up when he got himself drunk or lost money in a bet. Danny had never experienced what it was like to have a father who loved him and cared for him. But now, if what Rafe said was true…

"He wished you good luck, and told you to take care of yourself."

That was what kept replaying in Danny mind, even after saying goodbye to Rafe, after attending the meeting that the general called for, where they discussed how to get word back to America about the success of the raid, and how to make arrangements for transport back home. That night, Danny lay long awake even after his friends had fallen asleep. There was limited space on the camp, and so the pilots had to share one room. He tried for some time to fall asleep but to no avail. He wished you good luck…He really loved you very much. An echo of Rafe's voice kept repeating at the back of Danny's mind.

Closing his eyes to try and block out the voice, Danny found himself back in Tennessee, his home. Among the golden wheat waving merrily in the wind, he saw his father coming towards him slowly. It was almost like he was small again. This scene was familiar to him. His father had probably just discovered that he had run off to play with Rafe, and had come to take Danny back to work on the farm. A sense of dread that Danny had not felt ever since his father died came back and settled at the bottom of his stomach, rooting him to the spot.

He watched helplessly as his father came nearer, knowing that he was going to get a good beating. When his father reached him, Danny stared the ground, bracing himself for what was coming. To his surprise however, his father embraced him warmly, something that Danny had never seen before. His eyes widened, but he didn't dare to move, and so they remained that way for quite some time before Danny's father let go.

Holding his son back at arm's length, he looked at Danny and smiled. "I have missed you, son." The genuine happiness and love that shone from his father's eyes left Danny at a loss for words. He was beginning to doubt his own sanity, when his father said, "I thought it would be better to explain it myself. I know I have not been a good father to you, Danny, but I just wanted you to know…that I didn't mean to hurt you. You meant the world to me, but I didn't give you what you deserved. I wanted to let you have another chance to lead the life you were meant for, Danny, a proper and happy life that I was unable to give."

"So…what Rafe said was true?"

His father smiled a small, sad smile. "I have to go…goodbye my son. I'm sorry…I really loved you." Hugging Danny tight one last time, he whispered, "I will miss you so much…take care."

Danny reached out to grab his father's hand, to tell him not to leave, to say everything that he wanted to say, but his father was gone, and Danny was back in the room. He could still feel his father's presence…somehow Danny was sure it was not a dream.

The weak rays of the rising sun shone through the window. Danny's cheek glistened with fallen tears that he was not even aware of.

"I love you too, Daddy. Thank you." I missed you too.