Rooster saw me the morning before training, saying he promised to give the others a status update once he got back. And then I was alone once more. That was happening too much, and I cursed the fact that I wasn't able to get in a wheelchair or use some crutches to go down there and observe.

    So, I slept. At some point I couldn't sleep so I watched something on the little corner TV, a nurse having moved the remote over to where I could actually reach it.

    Overall, being immobile in a hospital was dreadful. Absolutely awful. The things used for entertainment like playing games on phones or reading were near impossible for me to do considering my limited arm usage. So this sucked.

    I started to try and drift back off to sleep when there was a knock on my door. My eyes immediately opened and I saw Rooster standing there. "Hey!" I said, instantly waking back up and pushing myself to sit up a bit.

    He came over and sat in his usual chair. By the look on his face, I could tell something major happened. "What's wrong? What happened?" I asked. "I swear if someone got hurt-"

    "No, no, nothing like that," he said, shaking his head and removing my fears. "Actually... well, I don't know if it's good or bad yet. But, Maverick was removed as Captain and grounded." I started to gasp, but Rooster held up a hand. "Then he stole a jet and flew the entire course in the less then two minutes and fifteen seconds, even hitting the target."

    My eyes were wide and jaw wide open. "No way... how'd that go over with the Admirals?" I asked next, scared Maverick would be dishonorably discharged.

    Rooster shrugged. "Pretty sure Cyclone wants him dead, but Warlock looked impressed. I think he was cheering Mav on. But as soon as Maverick said he was landing, they were both out of there. Guess we'll hear late tonight or tomorrow what's happening."

    I nodded. "What if, and call me crazy... but what if Maverick becomes the team leader?" I asked.

    Bradley paused, thinking about my words. "That's... that's not a bad idea, actually. I wouldn't be very surprised considering the only other person to be successful in training was you and, well..." His sentence trailed off, not knowing how to continue.

    I smiled and finished it for him. "I'm not exactly flight ready?" A sheepish smile and blush grew on his face. "It's fine, Rooster. I know and there's nothing I can do so it's fine. Besides, that's not the focus. The focus is who else would be on the team."

    "I hope it's not Hangman," was Bradley's immediate reply.

    I hit his arm. "Hey now, cut him some slack. With a mission like this you never know what a person will do for their team," I said. Hangman had been growing on me, especially after seeing his vulnerable side the day before. There was a part of me that possibly considered him a friend, even.

    Rooster rubbing his arm theatrically, but then relented. "Fine, you make a good point. So it very well could be him. If Maverick becomes team leader, would he really want to pick me, though?"

    That was an intense question. I sighed as I thought for a second. "I mean, I could see either side. You have to remember, Bradley, he's not just your Captain or team leader, he'd consider you his family. And that's a scary thing, voluntarily sending your family out to an extremely dangerous mission.

    "But he also knows how good of a pilot you are. Just... stop being so careful and push yourself for once. You know that's what the mission needs and I know you have that in you," I said. "Hangman was right- he flies like his life depends on it, but so do you. They're just two different kinds of flying. Maybe take a little page out of his book and light a fire under your ass."

    I laughed with the last bit, causing Bradley to laugh, too. This light mood was what I needed right now, and I was glad to be doing something other than twiddle my thumbs while I waited to get out of here.

    We fell quiet, and I thought about my request to the Admirals yesterday. "I asked if I could come on the mission, to see it through. Feel like I should, you know?" I said quietly.

    Bradley smiled. "Yeah, I do. I hope they grant it, as long as you're healthy enough to be detached from these monitors and things," he mentioned.

    "Fair point. But... I don't know if I could survive over here without knowing what was happening over there. Without knowing if everyone was okay," I said. "I mean, I've grown so close to everyone here even though it wasn't even that long... I think I'll miss it when it's all over. Hell, I'm gonna miss my job when that's over soon."

    He gave me a sad smile, but didn't argue there. We both knew the Navy wasn't going to let me fly after this. The only shot I had at remaining a pilot is if they can fix my back up, and so far that hasn't been an option.

    "I was hoping to take you out on one more date. Right before we were gonna go out to the mission," Bradley admitted. The smile on my face became sad as I looked at him. "It was gonna be great, too. I'm not gonna tell you about it though, just in case I get another chance."

    I raised an eyebrow. "Oh really?" But I was so excited to hear him say this wasn't just little thing, that this was something he wanted to continue. I did, too.

    His cheeks turned pink, and I learned Rooster was pretty shy when it came to this stuff. "Yeah yeah, I was kinda hoping we'd all be stationed here a bit longer before having to move on and that I could keep taking you on dates and stuff."

    My smile grew into a wide grin, showing my teeth, and my nose scrunched up. "Bradley, that's so sweet. I don't want to leave this behind, either. It's been pretty great," I said. It was an attempt to make him feel less embarrassed about it.

    Instead of replying with words, Rooster leaned forward an captured my lips into a kiss. It was slow and sweet like the others, but this one held hope for a future- for more.

    A throat cleared by the door and Rooster pulled away, both of our heads turning to see who it was. Phoenix stood there with Bob, both smiling at the sight before them. I just rolled my eyes and leaned back into my bed.

    "Can we help you?" I asked, dialing up the attitude since they decided to interrupt us.

    Nat just laughed and came into the room, Bob following behind. "Not you, sadly, but we were sent to collect Rooster. I'm sure he'll tell you all about it later when he comes to suck your face again," she said.

    That caused my face to bright red and the others to laugh. Rooster stood up and pressed one more kiss on my forehead. "I'll come by tomorrow, okay?" he suggested. I merely nodded, unable to form words.

    He followed the other two out of the room, but couldn't stop from giving one more embarrassing remark. "Oh, and Sunset owes you some more money for that swear jar!"

    I gasped and retaliated by throwing one of my pillows at the mustached pilot, who laughed and hurried out of the room with Natasha and Bob in tow.

    "Jerks... could've at least thrown the pillow back," I mumbled, now significantly less comfortable than before.

    For the next quiet period of time, I did my best to readjust and get into a somewhat comfortable position without my other pillow. It was almost working, to the point where I felt like I could maybe even sleep.

    "This yours?" I looked over at the doorway and saw Maverick standing there, pillow being held up.

    I rolled my eyes and sheepishly smiled. "Yep, kinda regretted throwing it the second I did," I muttered as he walked in, handing me the pillow. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

    He sat in the chair by my bed, adjusting to where he was still close, but not as close as Rooster had been. "Well, I came to give my 'get well soon' wishes. All of us plan to try and bring you a bunch of livelier things for your room, but time isn't our friend right now..."

    I smiled. "I appreciate the sentiment. And, not going to lie, I thought you'd have a lot more time after the shenanigans you pulled today," I said, bringing up what I hoped he was going to talk about.

    He hummed and leaned back in the chair. "Word travels pretty fast around here, huh?" I raised my eyebrows as if to say 'duh.' "Yeah, well, I wasn't about to let Cyclone jeopardize the lives of the team just because he doesn't want to damage some aircraft. Figured that was the best way to show how."

    "And you didn't get fired? Or dishonorably discharged? Court-martialed?" I asked, genuinely curious how he managed to escape those fates.

    "Nope, instead..." he hesitated, then continued on carefully. "I've been made team leader and I've got to pick the rest of the team."

    I smiled, somewhat unsurprised since he managed to complete the course successfully. "Congratulations, but it sounds like you've got some tough decisions to make," I said. When he didn't answer right away, I gave him a suspicious look. "Right?"

    He scratched the back of his neck. "I was actually hoping you'd give me some insights. I... this might be a bad idea to tell you this, but I was planning on naming you team leader. Now I've got to figure everything out without having all of them trying to throw their names in."

    I laughed. "Isn't that what you were supposed to be doing the whole time you were teaching us?" I asked.

    Maverick laughed, too. "Well, to be fair, I did plan on basing the other picks off of you and who you flew well with," he admitted again. "Now I feel like I'm back at square one and it's a little stressful."

    My laughed paused when I took in his words. "Why don't you just do that anyway?" I offered. He looked confused. "The people you were thinking about before. Why don't you go with them anyway? Give me the names."

    "Phoenix and Bob as one and then Payback and Fanboy as the other. I couldn't think of the wingman, though," he said.

    I nodded and thought over the names. "I think you've got some great foxtrot teams right there. As for your wingman... that's a tough question," I said. "But you know one of the obvious choices isn't going to be your favorite."

    Maverick sighed from beside me, dropping his head into his hands as he leaned forward again, elbows resting on his knees. "I know, and I think I might have to go with him anyway. It's not that Hangman isn't a great pilot, I just don't know if he's ready for this mission."

    "Keep him as a spare, though. You know he's the best backup you've got," I mentioned.  "And I think you already knew the answers to your questions, you just didn't want to admit it to yourself."

    Another sigh, followed by him lifting his head up. "Yeah, I know. I just wanted to hear someone else say it to make me realize it's the right choice."

    I nodded, and briefly wondered if his person used to be Admiral Kazansky. Rooster did say they were really good friends. But I didn't feel it right to say these things out loud. "Anything you need me to say to make you feel better?" I asked, a light smile on my face.

    He smiled, too, and shook his head. "Don't think so-"

    "Captain." We looked at the door, seeing Admiral Simpson standing there. Maverick stood at an immediate attention while I did my best to sit up straight and put my left hand to salute. "At ease, Lieutenant, Captain. I'm just here to deliver some good news. Guess it's convenient you're both here."

    "Sir?" I asked. Hope filled my chest as I hoped he was about to say what I wanted him to.

    "We've decided your request to come along on the mission was fine, and you'll be able to stay with the others in reserve to listen," he said.

    I held back my relief and nodded. "Thank you, sir. When do we leave?"

    "Tomorrow. I'm informing the hospital staff now to ensure you're good to go." He gave a curt nod, one that Maverick and I mirrored, then turned and left.

    I let out a breath and smiled, falling back into the pillows. "Thank god. Like I told Rooster, I couldn't survive staying here, not knowing what was happening until weeks later," I said.

    When I didn't get an immediate response, I looked over to Maverick and saw a smile on his face. "You and Rooster are a pretty good pair, huh?"

    My cheeks went pink and I rubbed the back of my neck. "I don't know if this is a more awkward topic because you're our superior or because you're like a father to him," I groaned.

    He laughed and gave me a careful clap on the shoulder. "I'm happy for you two. Sounds like you both needed someone." The jokes were pushed aside and I felt how honest he was being right now.

    "So far it's been pretty beneficial for us both," I said, nodding. A silence, and then, "Please don't wash Rooster out just because you're scared. Make sure you do or don't pick him because of what you need on the mission."

    Maverick nodded, my words hopefully lodging themselves deep into his thoughts. He said a quiet 'goodbye' and left.

A/n: it makes me so happy to see people enjoying this book, I was kinda worried I missed peak Top Gun Mav time, so I'm so glad to see people still reading :)