Carrie's POV
As Evelyn and I sit down at the small kitchen table in our quaint nurse housing, Evelyn does not take her eyes off me, nor my new inconvenient wheelchair. I pour us each a glass of whiskey and look up to catch her still staring at me.
"What is it?"
"Nothing. I'm just glad you're okay." She mumbled as she picked up her whiskey and took a small sip. I let out a loud sigh before I downed my own in one go. I went to reach for the bottle to get myself a refill, but Evelyn moves it from my reach.
"Carrie, are you alright? You've barely said a word."
"Yeah. I'm fine. I survived. I'm sittin' here drinkin' whiskey while a lot of people didn't even stand a chance. So, yeah, I'm fine." I mumbled. I could feel a lump start to form in the back of my throat as I held out my hand for the bottle. Evelyn just gave me another worried, somber look before she reluctantly handed over the bottle. This time, I didn't even bother pouring the whiskey into my glass and just drank from the bottle. As I pulled it away from my lips, I could feel the tears beginning to well up as I remembered the traumatic events from the past few days. Before Evelyn could say another word, I pushed away from the table and turned my wheelchair, and proceeded out of the room.
Danny's POV
Shit. That's the only word I can think of. How in the hell am I supposed to tell Carrie that Rafe and I are being shipped off for a revenge mission against the Japs? She's already been through so much. How can I even look her in the eyes? Rafe and I have arrived at the nursing house, preparing to tell our girls we're leavin' them. As we walk up to the door, Evelyn walks out to greet us.
"Where's Carrie?" Rafe asks after givin' Evelyn a quick peck on her lips.
"She's in her room, but she locked the door. I've been trying to get her to let me in, but she's ignoring me." She sighs. Rafe and I looked at each other before I walked into the house.
"Carrie?" I yelled. Nothin'. "Sweetheart, where are ya?" I called again. There was still no reply, but I could hear soft sobs coming from one of the rooms down the hall past the kitchen. When I reached the door, I could hear her sobs much clearer. My heart felt like it was breaking just listening to her cryin'.
"Carrie. Open the door. Please." I pleaded softly. Her cryin' died down a little bit as I heard her turn the lock on the door. I gently pushed it open and saw my Carrie sitting on the floor with a bottle of whiskey in her hand. Her wheelchair was turned over on the other side of the room. It looks like she tried to walk on her own. I sat down beside her and took the bottle from her hand while I pulled her into my side. She didn't say a word as I just held her. I wish I could take her pain away. I wish I was there on that beach when she needed me. I just wish that she wasn't in pain.
Carrie's POV
I don't know how long Danny and I sat on the floor holding each other, but it dulled my pain better than any bottle of whiskey could.
"You know I love you, right?" Danny whispered into my ear. I simply nodded in response.
"And I love you, too," I mumbled back. This was the first time all day that I wasn't in complete despair. Sure, the pain was still there from both the loss of the child that had been growing inside me and the continual ache of my still healin' wounds; but at least I still had Danny. My Danny. I slowly pushed myself upright to where I was able to properly face him. I looked into his tired brown eyes that always managed to fill me with nostalgia from our days on the farm in Tennessee. However, this time when I looked into his eyes, I could see that there was something he wasn't telling me. Or rather, somethin' he hadn't told me.
"Danny, what is it?" I asked, fearing the worst. What if someone else had died? What if there was news of another attack coming our way? What if Danny lied and can't deal with this turmoil and has decided to leave me after all?
"Well, Rafe and I have been chosen for a specific mission for Doolittle. We have both been promoted to Captain." He explained. My eyes widened in surprise. Then my lips formed into a smile of pride for my two lifelong best friends.
"That is amazing news! You are both heroes! Why aren't you more happy and excited about this? Forget about my problems, we should celebrate!" I say cheerfully, wrapping my arms around him in glee.
"No, Carrie. You don't understand. This mission isn't an easy one. Doolittle says it's a suicide mission of sorts. We are supposed to fly over to Japan and drop bombs. I'm not even supposed to be tellin' you this because it's classified. He said many of us won't make it back alive." He rambled. My face suddenly dropped. No. No, no, no, no. This cannot be happening. I cannot lose Danny.
"When do you leave for this so-called, suicide mission?" I asked in a whisper. His eyes dropped to the floor and his shoulders slouched like a child who was getting chastised about bad behavior.
"We leave for the aircraft carrier tonight to start our training," Danny said in a small voice. I simply nodded my head before I reached across him for the bottle of whiskey. I then took a swig and stared across the room with a drunken gaze and tears in my eyes.
