"Okay, Lieutenant, we're going to transport you in a wheelchair. It's our best option and you can't fight me on it." The nurse who I had met my first day in the hospital was tasked with being in charge of me on the carrier. He was in charge of making sure I stayed in the chair and didn't try anything stupid.

    These were good precautions to take.

    I was dressed as best as I could in my flight suit, since my tan uniform couldn't fit around my leg cast and going without pants was even less appropriate, so the flight suit won. That process was awful, considering I needed help with everything. Needing help getting dressed made me feel weak, so I tried to do some on my own. That earned a good smack on my un-broken wrist by one of the nurses.

    The nurses who helped get me into my flight suit were now here helping my new friend in getting me into my wheelchair. They were very slow and careful, ensuring they had me pretty even and weren't messing with the positions of my casted limbs.

    The wheelchair was somehow even less comfortable then the bed, and I grimaced when they set me in it. My leg was kept straight out on something attached to the chair and my arm was place carefully next to my side.

    "You all good?" the main nurse asked me. I nodded, and he got behind the chair. "Then let's get you going."

    The other nurses stayed behind, presumably so they could freshen the room up for the next unlucky pilot. As I was steered along, I realized I didn't know the name of the man driving me.

    I figured that was good enough to break the silence. "What's your name?"

    "Jace Long. Call me Jace," he answered.

    "I will, but that means you definitely can't call me Lieutenant all the time. That's going to get on my nerves very quickly and we should try to avoid doing that."

    He laughed, causing me to even crack a smile. "Sounds good. Does Magnolia work? Or do you like your callsign more?"

    I thought for a second, then said, "Sunset. Magnolia is too long and we're not friendly enough to use nicknames yet. So Sunset will work," I decided. Very few people get to call me variations of my first name. So far they are Nat and Bradley, surprisingly. I heard his use of 'Mags' the other day. I'm not complaining about it.

    In fact, I was going to bring it up and let him know I liked it.

    At the doors out, two officers were standing there and noticed us, so they opened them up. Jace gave them a nod while I smiled to show my thanks. Since we were going out into the ocean, we were meeting at the docking area. Meaning I had to be driven there in a fancy looking van. It was somewhat embarrassing but I figured it was fine.

    "Quite the vehicle we're taking," I commented as Jace unlocked the doors and got the side door closest to us opening. "Can't wait to show up in style."

    "It's better than not going," he said. I had to agree there.

    We loaded up into the van and got driving. Lucky for me, it wasn't a long drive. For all of it we sat and listened to the radio station he put on. I was even able to hum a few of the songs, which kept my mind occupied.

    Arriving, we saw the cars of the others all lined up. Rooster's Bronco was the one that caught my attention and made me smile. Cool, he was already here.

    "Hey, what's my rooming situation like?" I asked as Jace got me out of the van. By the looks of it, everyone was already on board.

    "You're going to be staying in one of the hospital rooms on board, just so you can be monitored properly."

    I huffed. "That's boring."

    "You don't get a lot of choices."

    As we went up to enter, I did my best to salute the higher ups that passed. I was lucky there weren't a lot, but there were enough that my back hurt from sitting up straight. The burns shifted weirdly every time I adjusted and my insides hurt with every shift.

    "I don't think you have to do that, with your injuries and everything," Jace whispered to me at some point.

    "Well, it feels wrong not too when the action's been ingrained in my head for years." It was one of the first things the military taught you: respecting and saluting your superiors. Even though I technically had a free pass, I wasn't going to use it.

    We got inside and I immediately saw Maverick. "Hey Mav," I greeted, smiling wide.

    He smiled back, walking up to us as if he'd been waiting for us. "Good, you made it." Guess he was. "The others are waiting to hear who's going on the mission. Was hoping you'd be there to watch it all before they get you all hooked up in your room."

    I nodded. "I'd be honored to be there, Mav. I'll stick to the back of the room, watch the reactions from there."

    Maverick nodded, then led us to the room where it was all going to happen. If our discussion the night before meant anything, then I already knew who was getting picked. We enter the spacious room, just the three of us.

    "I'll go let them know we're ready," Maverick said, then he left back out the same door. I appreciated him giving me the chance to get in here and not get in everyone's way.

    Jace and I waited in silence as everyone else came into the room. First, it was everyone I had been training with for weeks. Rooster saw me right away, a bright smile on his face. Then I looked over and saw Phoenix who also looked thrilled that I was there.

    Payback and Fanboy gave me small waves, Bob smiled, Hangman gave me a nod, and Halo gave me an air-fist bump. Basically, I was going to lose it if anyone didn't come home from this mission.

    The newfound reason for fear made the smile drop off my face. I watched as they all go into their little standing formation- the same as how we sat-and waited for Maverick and the Admirals to come in.

    I wondered if they knew Maverick was team leader yet.

    As soon as the higher ups came in, everyone stood at attention and saluted, and I tried to as best as I could. From behind me, Jace gently pushed my arm back down. "Don't hurt yourself," he mumbled, and distaste came over my face.

    "At ease," Admiral Simpson said, and everyone relaxed as best as they could with the impending news. "Your team leader, Maverick, will be choosing who goes on this mission."

    There was a shift in the air as the words came out, and I realized no one other than me knew about Maverick's position. This would be interesting.

    Maverick stood in the front, center to them all. "It has been an honor flying with you," he started. "Each one of you represents the best of the best. This is a very specific mission. My choice is a reflection of that and nothing more."

    "Choose your two Foxtrot team," Admiral Simpson said.

    "Payback and Fanboy. Phoenix and Bob." From behind, I could see how two heads relaxed and two lifted in shock, even turning towards each other in disbelief. In my mind Phoenix and Bob had no reason to be shocked. They deserved it.

    "And your wingman." Here comes the answer everyone needed, the one that had me slightly on edge for hundreds of different reasons.

    I looked over and saw Rooster's head hanging while Hangman's was up and proud. Like he expected it. I wondered if he was right when Maverick didn't respond right away.

    My eyes moved over the man in question, and I saw him glance at me before moving over to his choice. "Rooster."

    Bradley's head lifted, almost as if he didn't believe his name was just called. Hangman's dropped slightly, but not noticeably enough.

    "The rest of you will stand by on the carrier for any reserve role that's required," Admiral Bates said. "Dismissed."

    The Admirals left, leaving behind the terrified and sad pilots. "Roll me up, I want to say some things before we have to go to my prison."

    "Being monitored for health reasons isn't a prison, Sunset," Jace sighed. But he rolled me forward anyway.

    It wasn't anything loud, but I saw some congratulating the Dagger team while those chosen celebrated with each other. Even Hangman was being decent enough to shake hands.

    "Nat! Bob!" I said, not needing to speak too loud. They both turned and saw me rolling up to them. "Congratulations on being picked. You guys deserve it."

    They smiled, and Natasha leaned down to hug me. "I'm just sad we're not flying with you. I guess Maverick will have to do," she said, her attempt at a joke making me smile lightly.

    When she pulled away, Bob held out his right hand for a shake. Then he looked at mine and pulled it back. "Sorry," he muttered, but it only made me laugh. I put out my left hand in a fist and he did the same. "Fist bumps are better anyway."

    Payback and Fanboy hurried over to me, the latter instantly bringing me into a hug and ignoring Jace's protests. "I'm really sad you're not gonna be in the air with us," he said, and I could hear the sadness clear as day in his voice.

    "Aww, Fanboy, I'm not dead. Just grounded for an undefined amount of time. You don't have to be so sad," I said, my left hand rubbing circles on his back.

    He pulled away, sniffing as he did so. "I know," was all he muttered.

    Payback gave me a small salute. "We'll tell you all about when we land, okay?" I nodded.

    Now, it was time to see Rooster. He walked over to me and the others quickly left to give us some privacy. I even heard Jace take a few steps back.

    "Hey," I whispered. Rooster just smiled, but even I could see it was just for show. "Congrats, Bradley. You earned this."

    He sighed. "I just... maybe I'm not ready. Maybe Mav's making a mistake," he said.

    I gave him a sad smile and grabbed the closest hand I could. "Bradley." His eyes snapped to mine. "You deserve to be in that spot. And you are going to be amazing on this mission. Breathe tonight, take your time to get yourself hyped up. But by morning, I don't want to hear you doubting yourself anymore, okay?"

    We were quiet, our hands holding each other tightly. "Okay," he breathed out, and it was like I could see the weight being lifted off his shoulders.

    With a happier smile, I said, "Okay. Now I know you're not going to ignore me for the rest of the night. You can breathe and get ready while keeping me company. See me after dinner?"

    He nodded, and I smiled before he turned and walked off with the others.

    Tomorrow would be tense.

A/n: oh boy