Nora and Sydney make their way to the Hard Deck for the second time in six months. Nora refuses to talk to her brother and meets the gang while Sydney tries to reunite the stubborn Bradshaw siblings.

~~~~~~~~

"What the hell, Syd!? You know we aren't speaking!" Nora hissed. Sydney rolled her eyes. "Whatever the hell mission this is matters more than your stupid sibling spat, and you know it. Suck it up,"

~~~~~~~~

Sydney took a sip of her whiskey, watching her friend intently. She had, yet, to acknowledge her older brother in the corner. She suspected she'd avoid it as long as possible. Sydney moved her gaze to the moustached brother of her closest friend. He seemed to be in a battle of wits with a blonde pilot, whose smirk never seemed to leave. The blonde laughed as Bradley messed up a shot. "Told ya, you either got it or don't." He chuckled. Brad stuck his finger up as he handed the cue over to a guy wearing glasses. The blonde made a face at his beer before saying something to the group.

Nora puffed angrily. "I'm gonna grab another, d'ya want one?" Sydney twisted her wrist to check the time. "Sure, I'll take a quick one,"

Nora scowled in the direction of her brother again before walking off to the bar. Sydney swirled the amber liquid around her glass as she thought. "Do my eyes deceive me, or is that Sydney Mitchell?"

She turned with a grin. "Eyo pornstache!" She winked. He rolled his eyes as he pulled her in for a side hug. "How're you, man? It's been ages!" She threw the rest of her whiskey back with a small exhale. "I've been good, been stationed in Alaska until a few weeks ago. How about you?" She suddenly caught Nora's eye from across the way, wincing at the angry expression etched on her face.

"Yeah, I've been good. We recently came back from Texas a few days ago. Still waiting on our stuff to get shipped over though," She smiled. "Oh yeah... how's James?" Bradley asked nonchalantly. Sydney raised an eyebrow. "She ain't told ya?" Bradley followed her eye line with a quiet scoff. "Nora don't tell me anything anymore," Sydney sighed as she rubbed her eyes. "Her and James divorced. He moved back to London a few weeks ago,"

Bradley winced, inhaling sharply through his teeth. "She ok? They were together, for what, four years?" Sydney blinked. "Dude, they were married for six years," She said. Bradley winced. "She hates me then," He nodded to the bar where Nora continued glaring. Sydney sighed. "I think she's just upset... and doesn't know how to convey emotions like a normal human," She stood up. "Lemme just grab my drink quick."

She excused herself from Bradley, walking over to her best friend. "What the hell, Syd!? You know we aren't speaking!" Nora hissed. Sydney rolled her eyes. "Whatever the hell mission this is matters more than your stupid sibling spat, and you know it. Suck it up," She looked around the room. "Go play pool with the others. I'll finish this and we'll go, yeah?" Nora followed her gaze to the pool table, relaxing slightly. "Fine." She downed her vodka and ordered another. "Don't be ages though. We need to shop for a proper bed tomorrow,"

Sydney mimicked her with a smile. "Go on. Show 'em how good Thelma is at pool,"

~

"Thank you very much, darlin'," Nora sighed, gesturing to the air. "That was actually mine, blondie, but ok," She grumbled. "Blondie?" He laughed. Nora raised an eyebrow. "Right. Well, enjoy. I'll get my next one on you, Jake, was it?" She smirked. He eyed her up and down, shooting the vodka. "Yep," She walked away shaking her head. A few moments later, she returned with another shot of vodka. She rested against a jukebox with her hip, smirking as the blonde guy argued with another woman. "That's Phoenix," She turned. "I'm Bob," Nora shook his hand. "They're always arguing, them two,"

Nora chuckled. "What name belongs to you then?" She took a small sip of her vodka. "Eleanora. But Nora's fine," She gestured with her glass. "Blondie over there's Sydney. She's my RIO and WSO," Bob smiled. "I'm Nat's WSO," He pointed. She smiled as Nat prodded Jake's chest aggressively. "So, where about's you from?" Bob asked, walking over to join Nat as she stewed in silence. "Me? Born and raised here in Miramar until I was 17. Then I moved to Cambridge to MIT-"

"You got into the MIT aerospace engineering program?" Nora nodded. "Yep," She answered the guy who didn't seem to leave Jake's side. "For four years, where I met my ex-husband." She took another sip. "His job moved us to Texas, and that's where we stayed until a few months ago. Now I'm here," She smiled. Bob whistled lowly. "Another Texan? I thought I recognised the twang," Nora twisted her head to blink at the blonde. "Yeah?" She asked. "We lived there for six years," She shrugged. "He's back in London now,"

"YOU BITCH!"

Nora turned with a shocked face. "Sydney! What the hell!?" She shouted. Sydney stormed past, embracing Nat tightly. Nora raised an eyebrow. She shook her head. "Oh my god! Louise!" Nora cleared her throat. "Um, Syd? Wanna give me context?" Sydney appeared to not hear her. Nora shook her head again, twirling the clear liquid around in her glass. "I'm setting up a game, wanna play?" She turned. "Sure," She shrugged.

A few games later, and many vodkas later, Nora seemed to be gaining the upper hand on the blonde aviator.

Nora downed the rest of her (7th) vodka, winking as the blonde narrowed his eyes. "I bet you..." She began, slurring. "A shot that you can't beat me at pool," She grinned, slightly buzzing. "Don't you think you've had enough shots tonight?" He asked, leaning on the pool stick. Nora narrowed her eyes, pointing sloppily. "You... are NOT my father," She swallowed. "He is dead," She blinked. Jake nodded slowly. "Right..."

Nora huffed. "Wadda'you want if you win..." She slurred. "If I win?" He asked with a cocky grin. Nora tilted her head. "Fine, I'll choose... whatever you want, cus it ain't gonna happen," She grinned. Jake eyed her up and down. Nora met his gaze. "Fine," He licked his lips. "Ladies first," He handed her the pool cue.

Nora, having practised before, sunk most of the balls straight away. Phoenix and Bob whooped. "Go, Nora!" She leaned against the table, passing the cue over. Jake gazed down, being 9 inches taller, as he took the pool cue. "Thank you darlin'," He crooned in that goddamn accent that sent her wild every time. For a while, despite being English, James developed a Texan twang to his English words. It definitely made for good sex that night.

Jake stood in front and leaned down, forcing Nora to bend backwards. She didn't flinch. She followed his eyes unwaveringly as he stood directly in front, her chest against his stomach. She looked up through her eyelashes, smirking slightly. He swallowed as he brought his arm back to shoot the ball. "Uncomfortable, Jake?" She whispered. Jake's hand came to rest on the table next to her hip. "Never," He whispered back. The balls clattered against the wooden railing. "Can we keep this PG please?" Phoenix interrupted. Nora looked away with a small puff of air. "I'm gonna be hungover anyway and I'd rather not throw up before then,"

~

"Incoming call: can't read my, can't read my, No, he can't read my poker face..."
"Incoming call: can't read my, can't read my, No, he can't read my poker face..."

Nora groaned as she opened her eyes. "Hello?" She mumbled into the phone. "Nora?" She blinked against the bright lights. "Me?" The voice sighed softly. "Just wanted to make sure you got home ok," Nora frowned. "Who is this?" She asked. "It's Bob. You were blackout drunk last night after pool with Hangman. Just wanted to make sure you didn't die on the way home," She sighed. "Kinda wishing I was dead." He chuckled. "Well, you enjoy your hangover. See you on the field tomorrow,"

She blinked in confusion at the phone. With a shake of her head, she grabbed the pills at the side of her bed. "God, I feel awful," She mumbled. As she sat up, she realised abruptly she wasn't in her's and Sydney's home. "Um... where the hell am I?" She asked, scootching up the bed. "Don't panic, you're in my house,"

Nora glared at the doorway.

"Fuck off Bradley," She spat. He gave a single nod. "Meds working yet?" She grumbled. "Why am I here?" She asked. "Why am I not at my own home?" Bradley leaned against the doorway. "Coyote and Nat dropped you off at 2 am. Rudely interrupting my sleep, might I add." Nora swung her legs out of the bed, knuckling her eyes. "Why them? Where's Syd?" She asked. "Went home long before you. Said she'd be happy to take the bed for a change. And they were the only ones able to drive or at least sober enough to form coherent sentences, unlike you and Hangman,"

Nora licked her lips as Bradley sighed. "Right, now you're up, I'll drive you home. Come on, grab your shit. And don't puke in my car,"