Chapter 1
The train sped along the tracks, the wheels clacking as it went. Danny Walker sat next to the window watching the country side passing by. His best friend Rafe McCawley and his girlfriend Evelyn Johnson sat across from him. Both still asleep. He smiled sweetly at the pair. They had been through so much over the past couple of months, they deserved to be together.
Danny had been injured during the Doolittle Raid. He had been shot four times and had also had a piece of metal stuck in his neck. The Japanese had converged on Rafe's plane after it had crashed. Danny flew his plane overhead and shot a few of them before he too crashed. He saved Rafe's life and in turn, Rafe had saved his. Rafe carried Danny until the Chinese found them.
Once Danny was able to be moved, they flew back to Hawaii. From there Danny stayed in the hospital until he was fully healed. It was then when the full extent of what had happened hit him. His mind went back to the good men and friends that they had lost since the whole thing began. During the attack on Pearl they had lost Billy, Joe, and Betty. Then in Japan they lost Anthony.
Danny was exhausted. He hadn't had a decent night of sleep in a long time. He was plagued by nightmares of the horrible events of December 7th and the events after. The dead faces of his friends would flash through his mind along with the faces of the men that he tried to help rescue from the battleships. Dreams of the planes sweeping across the harbor, shooting down anything and everything in their paths. Explosions, fire, and smoke everywhere. Oil from the sinking battleships covering the living and fallen men in the water. Danny could still smell the smothering smoke from that day.
He, Rafe, and Evelyn were going to Tennessee. They would be returning to the house that him and Rafe had grown up in. Rafe's mother and father had died a few years ago and the only person living his the house now was Rafe's sister Rachael, who was also Danny's second best friend.
His mind went to Rachael. The last time he had seen her was when they left for training. She had drove them to the train station. It was a heart felt departure when she hugged them both and told them goodbye. She made both of them promise that if they got caught up in the war that they wouldn't do anything stupid or try to be heroes. Which is exactly what happened anyway. And she hadn't been too happy about it either.
A train whistle brought Danny back from his memories. The train began to slow and a train depot came into view.
"Rafe. Wake up. We're here.", Danny said happily when he realized where they were.
The train came to a complete stop and Rafe sat up sleepily, waking Evelyn while doing so.
"Its about time. I thought that train ride would never end.", Rafe said stretching.
"It wasn't that bad Rafe. Just a little long.", Evelyn replied as she gathered her coat and purse from beside her.
"Well I won't be going on another train ride like that for a while.", Rafe said chuckling.
"Lets go love birds, lets not keep our ride waiting.", Danny said as he walked out of the cabin.
The three travelers stepped off the train into the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Danny searched through the crowd, looking for that face that he remembered from years ago.
"Do you see her yet Danny?", Rafe asked as he too looked around him, keeping Evelyn close to his side.
That's when Danny saw her. Her long brown curls and emerald green eyes. She smiled at him and he smiled at her. It was good to be home.
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