"So, Colleen, how much longer until the big day?" Melanie teased as they sterilized the instruments.

     "Eight long days," she laughed. "We finally got the official okay from the Army for the 29^th."

     "It took you two long enough to make the plunge," Ruth added with a grin. "We all thought you’d get hitched before you left London."

     "All good things come to those that wait, you know," Colleen answered.

     "But better things come to those who hurry it along," Vivian chided with a knowing smile on her lips.

     "I only hope we’re as happy as you and Rick seem to be, Viv."

     "I’m sure you will be. Daniel loves you very much."

     "And I him," Colleen said with a broad grin. "Is Rick coming down with Daniel this weekend?"

     "As far as I know," Vivian shrugged. "He said they’re getting stingy with passes now. I think something’s going to happen soon. You can almost taste it in the air."

     "Did you hear all those bombers take off this morning?" Melanie asked. "I thought they’d never end."

     "Well, the sooner they do something to end this war, the better," Colleen replied.

     "Amen," the other three echoed.

     Colleen noticed Vivian stop in mid air as she loaded the sterilizer. "What’s wrong, Viv? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

     A dark shadow passed over her friend’s face and Colleen saw a shudder pass through her body. "I don’t know. I just got this weird feeling, like someone walked over my grave." She rubbed her arms, then wrapped them around her waist.

     Colleen glanced at the clock. "It’s nearly two o’clock. Why don’t you go take a break? We’ll finish up here."

     "Okay. Let me know if you need help, though."

     "We will. Now get," Colleen told her, adding a little push to get her out the door.

     Several hours passed as the nurses restocked shelves and checked on the few patients they had. The day turned cloudy with a threat of rain and a chill hung in the air. Shadows danced along the walls as the breeze tugged at the tree branches outside the window. Colleen saw Vivian leaning against the wall, staring up into the darkening sky. She knew exactly what her friend felt. On days like this, when the weather could be as fickle as a London society matron, they worried about the safety of the pilots they’d grown to love.

     "Lieutenant Vaughn?" a young male voice asked.

     "Yes?" She turned and saw a private, no more than nineteen years old, standing at attention in front of her. He snapped his right arm up to his forehead and she returned the salute.

     "There’s a Captain Ryan outside to see you, ma’am."

     Daniel? What was he doing here, she wondered. "Thank you, Private."

     She walked over and stood next to Vivian. "Viv? Can you keep an eye on things here? I’ll be right back."

     "Sure, hon. No problem."

     "Thanks." Colleen wasn’t sure why she didn’t tell Vivian Daniel was here. Some inner instinct told her it would be better if she didn’t. Dread suddenly found a home in the pit of her stomach as she exited the ward to meet Daniel. It strengthened two fold when she saw him standing there, his officer’s cap twisting around in his hands.

     "Daniel?" Her mouth went dry as she gazed into his eyes and saw them glitter with moisture.

     "Hi, Colleen. Where’s Vivian?"

     "Vivian? She’s in—" Suddenly it hit her why he was here. "Rick?" she asked hoarsely, barely able to speak the word around the lump in her throat.

     Daniel nodded once and the ground tilted under Colleen as the implication of that single nod settled in her stomach. The pain and grief etched on Daniel’s face was almost too much for her to bear. "Dear, God," she whispered.

     She cleared her throat several times, then waved down a passing medic. "Private, have you seen Lieutenant Devereux?"

     "Yes, ma’am. She’s in the supply room."

     "Could you ask her to come here, please?"

     "Yes, ma’am," he replied and headed back into the hospital.

     "I’ll have Mel watch the ward while we tell Vivian," she explained.

     Daniel only nodded and Colleen gently laid her hand on his forearm. This wasn’t easy for either of them. A few minutes later, Melanie walked out, a puzzled look on her face when she spied Daniel.

     "Hello, Daniel. What are you doing here?" she asked with a tentative smile.

     "Mel," Colleen interrupted before Daniel had to answer, "We need you to do us a favor."

     "Sure, honey. Anything."

     Colleen asked Melanie to watch the soldiers so they could talk to Vivian and she saw the look of understanding and pain in the woman’s eyes. With a silent inclination of her head, Melanie entered the building.

     The creaking of the door sounded loud in the sudden quiet. Even the birds seemed to stop chirping as Vivian walked towards Colleen. Her footsteps thundered in Colleen’s ears as she trod across the damp grass and dirt. The noise of her own heartbeat echoed through her head as it accelerated its pulse.

     "Daniel," Vivian smiled. "Why are you here? Is Rick with you?" She turned her head back and forth, searching for a sign of her husband.

     "Vivian," Daniel started, his voice husky and grief-stricken, "I…Rick—"

     Colleen saw the realization impact Vivian. Her face turned to stone and her eyes widened then closed as if to shut out the pain. Her body trembled violently and her knees buckled from beneath her. She crumpled to the ground.

     "NO!" she wailed. "No!"

     Colleen heard the cries of the banshee as Vivian rocked back and forth, sobbing Rick’s name. Anguish became a physical entity and closed in around them. She ran to her friend and cradled her in her arms, knowing nothing could soothe the heartache Vivian felt at the loss of her husband. Raising her head, she glanced at Daniel, standing stiff as tears rolled down his cheeks.

     "Go get Mel," she whispered. "Have her send for Dr. Mitchell."

     He nodded and silently entered the hospital. Colleen held Vivian’s shaking body and brushed back her friend’s hair in a gesture of comfort. Tears streamed down her own face as she gulped in huge breaths of air. She cried for Rick. She cried for Vivian. But most of all, she cried for herself. The delicate string of life could be cut at Fate’s whim, snipped suddenly before life could be lived. They all forgot that in their chase for love and happiness, and now, Fate demanded its fee.

     They slowly got Vivian to her feet and guided her inside to a bed. The doctor gave her a sedative so she could rest. Colleen took Daniel to a small office and handed him a shot of whiskey. His hands quaked as he tipped back his head and threw the liquor into his mouth. He needed to tell her what happened, but she wasn’t sure if he would. She stood there in silence next to him, her hand on his shoulder, and waited for him to share his grief.

     He took a deep breath, then leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and rested his head in his hands. "We were escorting a formation of bombers on their way back to England," he whispered. "The Luftwaffe was everywhere it seemed. They wouldn’t attack us, the cowards. They hit the Big Friends, over and over. It was like watching a massacre in slow motion.

     "One finally sustained too much damage and lagged behind the group. Those bastards didn’t have a chance. The Nazis pounced on them. First three, then four. All taking turns at the fledgling plane." He paused and ran his hands through his hair, stopping at the nape of his neck. Colleen saw his knuckles turn white at the pressure he applied to the muscles.

     "I was on my way to try and buy them enough time to make it to the Channel, but then Nate called out a ME-109 on my six. So Rick went in." He swallowed several times and blinked back the tears. His voice turned hoarse and Colleen strained to hear him.

     "He fought them off the bomber, only to have them turn to him. He didn’t have a chance. I saw smoke trail from his engine and screamed at him to get the hell out of there. I was on my way to help, but took a hit in my left wing and side. My oil pressure dropped and I had to back off.

     "I told him to bail. Why didn’t that son-of-a-bitch listen to me?" he ground out through clenched teeth. He jumped out of the chair and walked over to the window. "I’ll tell you why. Because all he thought about was protecting that bomber crew, hell or high water. That’s what we’re up there to do. So he gave his life for the lives of ten strangers…ten brothers of the sky."

     He grew silent and Colleen let him stare out the window. When she thought he would say no more, he spoke in a quiet whisper, his words soft and full of pain. "He called for her, you know. He knew he wouldn’t make it. I heard it in his voice as he told me to get my butt back to England. I looked down and wagged my wings to him in farewell. I heard him whisper over the radio, ‘I love you, Viv,’ a second before his Mustang became a fireball."

     Daniel bowed his head and silent sobs racked his shoulders. She felt his grief, shared his heartache over losing a friend, a brother in spirit. Colleen placed her hand on his shoulder, but he shook it off. Hurt pierced her heart at his rebuff. Suddenly, a sharp and clear picture formed in her mind. It was Daniel as his own plane was shot down.

     She sucked in a deep breath and tried to hold back the fear that gripped her heart. It was the same image she had the night before Sam was killed. Her body quaked and her mouth went dry as she fought for air. A queasy feeling settled in the pit of her stomach and her knees were no longer able to support her. In her heart, she knew the picture she saw was a premonition of things to come. Images flooded her mind of the pain and sorrow that would follow. Not again, she prayed. Please, not again. She knew she couldn’t stop the future, no matter how hard she prayed. Nor could she stop the pain in its aftermath. But she could lessen its effect.

     With tears streaming down her face, she reached down and pulled the diamond ring from her finger. She squeezed it tight in her palm and closed her eyes against the agony her decision would bring to the man she loved.

     "Daniel?"

     He slowly turned and faced her. She held out her hand and uncurled her fingers. In the cradle of her palm lay the engagement ring he gave her. His head jerked up and she saw the confusion in his eyes. It nearly killed her to form the words she knew she must speak. The tears rolled down her cheek as she tried to breathe around the lump in her throat.

     She gently placed the ring in his hand and closed his fingers around it. "I’m sorry, Daniel, but I can’t marry you," she whispered as her soul shattered into a million tiny pieces. The look of betrayal and pain on his handsome face was too much for her to bear. Quickly, she spun around and ran out of the room.