After the uranium mission, everyone stayed in North Island for another couple weeks. During that time, I learned the Navy concluded their investigation into my accident. They found themselves at fault, for using faulty equipment and that not a soul had messed with the plane. Because of that, and the extent of my injuries, they agreed on a pretty good compensation/payment system that I would receive up until I died.

    When I went to the hospital on land, they discovered my leg wouldn't heal properly, and because of that I wouldn't be able to walk properly. Because of that I was no longer able to be a pilot. While I was offered the chance to work in an office or an intelligence setting, I knew that would never satisfy me. So, I was honorably discharged.

    The whole squad got together in celebration when I told them. They claimed it was a good thing to celebrate, that at least I got out in a way that wasn't dishonorable, death, or boring ol' retirement.

    Bradley and I continued to see each other almost every night after we got back. I still had to be in a wheelchair, so we were limited, but we still loved every second.

    Until he got orders to go to a base in Canada for a month. Our relationship was just getting off to a good start when he was sent off. Luckily I wasn't entirely bored, having almost all of the others there to keep my company and keep me from trying to wheel myself anywhere.

    I tried it once and it didn't work very well. Hangman had to rescue my wheelchair from the sand, but not without laughing is ass off first.

    Since I ended up with a good amount of money from the Navy from my accident and the discharge, I bought a house in North Island. What else would I do? It became an even better decision when Rooster called me one night, saying the Navy wanted to make the Dagger Squad a permanent team based in, you guessed it, North Island.

    While I had to say goodbye to some of my friends like Halo, who promised to visit whenever she would and text me a lot, I got to keep seeing a lot of others. I thought I could be okay with it.

    That was a year ago. The doctors were right, my leg wasn't what it used to be, but physical therapy helped me be able to walk without help. My back hadn't been too much of an issue with the most recent doctors having put some hardware in to help keep my vertebrae stable.

    And Rooster moved in with me. That was a couple months ago, and it's been literally amazing. He's an amazing person, an even better boyfriend, and we've had so much fun. Since he's part of the Dagger Squad, he's only gone on close range missions that sometimes go out to the Pacific, but never to other countries or states.

    "Bradley! You almost ready? The ball starts in half an hour and it's a twenty minute drive!" I called. We were heading to the Naval aviators ball tonight. Halo was going to be there, having received an invite. She called me and told me how excited she was to introduce everyone to her girlfriend she met in Germany.

    "Yep, I'm coming," he called back. I heard the click of his shoes on the ground and turned to see him in his uniform. He was looking down, adjusting his uniform, then looked up and completely stopped. "You... damn, Mags, you look absolutely stunning."

    I did a little turn, showing off the entirety of my floor-length, navy blue gown. The neckline was a soft sweetheart and it had straps that draped over my shoulders to expose collarbone. "You like it?" I asked, giving him my most innocent look.

    Bradley came up and his hands were immediately on my hips. "Oh darling, I love it. I love you. God, the things you do to me," he said, dipping to connect his lips to mine.

    I pulled away quick. "Oh, Bradley my lipstick," I whined and looked in the mirror to make sure I was good, then looked at him to make sure I didn't get any on his face. "You can do whatever you want later, but we have to go to the ball first."

    He grumbled but agreed, grabbing the keys for the Bronco. As he did, I made sure to get a nice look at him in his gorgeous uniform. "I will always love that uniform," I sighed.

    Bradley laughed and then looked at me. "You're forgetting your clutch," he said simply, and I realized he was right.

    "Crap! I'll be right back!" I turned and rushed off to our room to grab the clutch I know I left on the bed.

    (What I didn't know- until later, when he told me- was that the clutch was a distraction. Bradley smirked as he pulled the square box out from his hiding place and moved it to his front pants pocket.)

    "Got it! Okay, lets go," I said once I hurried back out into the entry. "I would rather not be late to the first ball I attend on Rooster's arm."

    He smiled and kissed me one more time. "Well then let's not be late, Sunset."

- The End -

A/n: surprise! 😁