HARD DECK
a top gun: maverick fanfiction

CHAPTER TWO: MEET THE DOCTOR

Everyone seemed to think that Bradley Bradshaw had something to prove.

And maybe he did.

So what if he did?

Getting his papers pulled at the academy had set him back four years, and ever since then, he'd been making up for lost time. He had to work harder, fly faster, and do just about everything better than everyone else.

So he did.

But it still never felt like he was good enough.

When people saw him, when they saw his name, they all thought the same thing: Nick Bradshaw.

He barely remembered his father, but everyone else seemed to.

Maybe that was why TOPGUN was so important to him. If he could complete the training and get selected for the mission, then he could do what his father hadn't.

Things would come full circle. And maybe, just maybe, Bradley would finally learn to let go.

Though he wasn't so sure how easy it would be to let go, seeing that his father's old flying partner and best friend, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, was going to be training Bradley and the other pilots. Maverick's presence was like having a physical reminder of Nick's death hanging around.

The eager TOPGUN recruits sat in an empty classroom, waiting to be summoned for their health assessments.

The door opened, and in walked Vice Admiral Beau Simpson, or as the pilots knew him, Cyclone. He was flanked by his usual entourage, Rear Admiral "Warlock" Bates and another man who remained unknown to Bradley.

"Before we start any more training today, we'll be going through your health assessments. None of you are hitting the sky before being cleared by Dr. Hackett." Cyclone turned to the door, his hand raised in a gesturing manner. "I present to you Dr. Summer Hackett. Dr. Hackett and her team will be responsible for your health and wellness during your time here."

A dark haired woman entered the classroom, dressed in a lab coat and a pair of forest green scrubs. She smiled and nodded at the recruits, and that was when Bradley realized that he recognized her.

The woman from the bar.

Hangman had tried to make a move on her, and not only had she turned him down, she'd turned the whole group down before anyone else even took a shot at flirting with her. Even Bradley had to admit, she was gorgeous. Hangman always got the pretty girls, so he was surprised when the woman at the bar had turned him down.

He now understood why. She was their goddamn doctor.

"Fuck," Hangman muttered from behind Bradley, and the rest of the pilots began to stir as well.

Phoenix let out a snort, having watched her monkey-brained male compatriots embarrass themselves in front of the doctor the night before.

Dr. Summer Hackett watched the pilots with a smug grin as they all exchanged an embarrassed glance. Bradley stared back with a grin, finding amusement in the situation. At least he hadn't made too much of a fool of himself in front of her.

"If something isn't feeling right, you go to Dr. Hackett," Cyclone said. "We absolutely cannot have any health-related distractions when four of you fly the mission in three weeks. I need you all in tip top shape. Any concern, however small, you bring to Dr. Hackett and her team." Cyclone studied the group carefully, sensing their uneasiness, though he didn't know why. "If your privates are itchy because you've been spending too much time with the local gals, you tell her. If you have a weird rash on your ass that just won't go away, you tell her. If you haven't shit for a week, or if you've been shitting your brains out for a week, you tell her."

"My office is located off of the infirmary," Dr. Hackett said. "Please come to me with any concerns, and my team and I will address them." She paused, as if waiting for one of the pilots to say something. They remained silent, all still embarrassed. "Okay. Well, let's move on to the health assessments. Gentlemen, I have some male members of my team outside ready to perform the assessments. Lieutenants Trace and Bassett, please come with me."

The two female pilots followed Dr. Hackett out of the room, leaving the men to themselves. As soon as the vice admiral and his team were gone, Hangman let out a loud groan. "Are you kidding me? She's our doctor? Our hot doctor?"

"Why, is that a problem, Hangman?" Payback called out. "Seems like something you'd be into. Unless ... you've got an embarrassing problem you don't want her to know about."

Hangman scoffed. "If I've got any problems, she'll want to know about 'em."

Bradley laughed and rolled his eyes, drawing the other man's attention.

"What, Rooster? You don't think she's into me?" Hangman asked.

"Based on the way she roasted your ass last night, I'd say the odds are not in your favor," Bradley replied.

"Based on what she said last night," Bob interrupted. "I'd say the odds are not in any of our favors."

"You think you're smart, Bradshaw, but even if you weren't Navy she'd reject your sorry ass," Hangman said.

Bradley snorted. "Maybe so. But, I'm not the one trying to fuck the doctor."

"Only because you know you have no chance," Hangman replied. "A woman as hot as her? She's so out of your league."

"Yeah, let's see how hot you think she is when she asks you to turn and cough," Fanboy said with a laugh.

Just as Hangman was undoubtedly about to release another ignorant remark, the door opened, revealing one of Dr. Hackett's nurses. He cleared his throat and looked down at his clipboard before saying, "Lieutenant Bradshaw? You're up first."

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ author's note ✫・゜・。.
this is a short chapter, but i didn't have anything else i really wanted to add, so here you go — the big reveal! summer is their doctor!

let me know what you think!

xx,
madi