Nora and Sydney attend the first day of training, a simple bonding exercise, that ends up in a physical brawl between the two Bradshaw siblings.

~~~~~~~~

"Come on then, big man! Hit me! HIT ME!" Nora screamed, blinded by emotional rage. Sydney gasped loudly as the Bradshaw siblings tumbled on the floor, spitting profanities at one another.

~~~~~~~~

Nora tossed back some pills as she hauled on her flight outfit in the mess room. "Still hungover?" Somebody asked. She turned with a scoff, leaning against the side with her hip. "And you aren't?" She teased. "You hold your booze better than most men, and that's saying something in the navy," The blonde waltzed in. "Uh-huh. Is that supposed to not offend me... or?" She asked with wide eyes. Jake hesitated. "I'm kidding. Loosen up. If I was easily offended, do you think I'd be in the navy?" She waved her hand. "As if,"

Jake rolled his eyes. "God, you're like Rooster." He grabbed some water. Nora slammed her glass down. "Do not compare me to him." She snapped. Jake turned with raised hands. "Jeez, relax. Sorry," He sighed. Nora huffed. "No, I'm sorry. It- it's just hard being here with him, s'all." She gave a small smile.

Jake scoffed. "I can believe it,"

~

"Whilst I'm sure you're aware you are to be taught by a captain today, he has been summoned to the commander's office today and will not be running the planned lesson. Instead, we will run through some basic tactics as a reminder and small chat on our recent deployments to break the ice," The step-in teacher began. Nora leaned over to Sydney. "Is this guy for real? An icebreaker, seriously? What are we, kids?" She muttered. Sydney smirked behind her hand. "Ma'am. What is your name?"

Nora cleared her throat. "Eleanora Hall, sir." She answered with a nod. The teacher nodded back. "Seeing as your conversation with your partner there is more important, you two can begin." He took a seat. Nora shared a look with Sydney with a sigh. "Apologies sir. What is it you would like to know, sir?" She asked.

"Let's spice it up a little, especially for you, ma'am... what medals and accolades do you have in the navy?" He asked. "Well, the pair of us, seeing as we fly together," She began. "Have 9 awards. We have an Air Medal, a Navy Commendation Medal, a Navy Achievement Medal, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, an Afghanistan Campaign Medal, A NATO Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation medal," She listed, pointing to her uniform. Somebody whistled lowly.

"And you did that all from San Diego? Or did you fly from multiple bases?" The teacher asked. "No, I flew from Houston airbase mostly. Aside from deployments and missions, obviously." She smiled. "Texas? You don't sound Texan," The teacher said. "I'm not. I'm actually from here, San Diego. My ex-husband's job moved us there after I graduated college,"

Nora felt her skin prick with the eyes of her brother: this was the information he wanted. She hadn't spoken to him since he ditched her wedding. "College? Why didn't you feed into the US navy school? Wasn't your father killed on active duty?" The teacher asked. Nora swallowed. "I believe so... but at the time, I wasn't 100% sure if I wanted to follow. After my first year of aerospace engeneering programme, I loved it and followed in my dad's footsteps, finishing college first though,"

"Nice... which college did you get into? It must be quite a CV if they took you straight from college," The teacher prodded. Nora shifted. "MIT," She answered. The teacher whistled. "Nice. Earlier you said you flew with your partner a lot, what's your call sign?"

~

Nora sighed heavily over a coffee in the mess room. "Damn, I felt like I was under interrogation," She groaned. Sydney cackled. "Yeah, didn't it,"

Nora groaned.

"And here I thought you were a quiet "forced into the navy" girl. I was wrong," A new voice said. Nora raised her eyebrows. "What gave you the impression I was quiet?" She teased. Jake shook his head. "Well, whatever problem you have with your brother needs to be sorted. He's heading this way," He warned. "We're not kids. We can stand to be in the same room as each other, you know." She took a sip of her drink.

She was wrong.

Nora wasn't even talking to Bradley: she was talking to Sydney about Mav. How was he? Is he doing ok? How's Nevada? Etc. "I miss him. It's been a while," She said. Sydney opened her mouth to speak when- "Of course, you still speak to him," Rooster spat. Nora fixed her glare on the wall. "Really? You've still got a problem with me over that? Get over yourself, you petulant child,"

~~~~

In hindsight, Sydney should've tried harder to dispel the brewing fight between the Bradshaw siblings.

But she didn't think they'd come to actual physical blows.

Sydney exclaimed loudly as Nora punched Rooster in the jaw, sending him to the ground, swearing.

The room erupted into shouts and exclamations. "Come on then, big man! Hit me! HIT ME!" Nora screamed, blinded by emotional rage. Sydney gasped loudly as the Bradshaw siblings tumbled on the floor, spitting profanities at one another. "Somebody help me separate them!" She shouted. Nobody seemed to move. "Nora! Stop!"

Rooster's lip split under her fist.

Sydney, with the help of the blonde aviator, hauled the five-foot-four pilot away from the six-foot pilot. Nat stepped in between them both, jabbing his chest until he stepped backwards.

"You're such a douchebag!" Nora screamed. "Oh fuck you! I'm glad mom and dad are dead! They'd be ASHAMED of you!" Bradley screamed back. Sydney barely had time to shout as Nora's fist swung back into his jaw, sending him to the ground. Sydney cried out when her friend threw herself at Rooster's midsection, swinging and slapping. "How!" Punch. "Dare!" Slap. "You!?" Backhand.

~

"Lieutenants Hall and Bradshaw!" Sydney gasped sharply. "Nora!" She hissed. "As much as your intervention is appreciated Lieutenant Blackwood, it is unneeded, thank you," Bates said calmly. Sydney felt her cheeks redden. "Yes, sir." She said. Nora thankfully heard her warning, as she began extracting herself from her brother. "Admiral Bates, sir." She saluted. Bradley was much slower and sloppier. "What in gods name do you think you're doing!?" He shouted. "Fighting on the mess floor! Are you children in kindergarten!?"

Nora kept her gaze even and cool as she took the yelling. Bradley clenched his jaw. "Disgraceful, the pair of you." Bates spat. "Report to my office after class. You will be punished for this," He stalked out.

Nora nodded once then faced her brother. "You," She hissed. "Are a douchebag of the highest order." She scoffed. "I'm embarrassed to be related to you,"

Sydney winced as Nora stalked out in a different direction to their admiral.