Chapter Text
A week later
It was the day Ice had been dreaming of and dreading ever since Maverick had been emitted to the hospital. The day Maverick got to go home to their home in Miramar. Ice stood out by the nurse's station to finish filling out Maverick’s discharge papers, while Rooster sat with Maverick. After a couple of moments of signing papers, Rooster pushed a grinning Maverick into the hallway and next to Ice. Maverick was wheelchair-bound until his leg completely healed and even probably after that. He was extremely weak from being stuck in a hospital bed for almost a month and on top of that, his whole back situation. So walking was not even on the horizon yet for Maverick.
“Ready to go home, I see?” Ice teased, Maverick huffed in annoyance but still had a shit-eating grin on his face. “Let me finish signing this and then I think we are ready to go. Bradly was kind enough to pick up your medication and bring it to the house.” Ice said without looking up from the form he was signing. “Bradly, you really don’t have to stay with us. I am not that difficult to look after.” Maverick said. Bradly huffed out a laugh, “Sure Dad, and I’m only staying till Uncle Slider comes in a couple of days to also babysit you.” Oh, that’s right. Maverick completely forgot Ice’s old wingman was coming into town later that week, his wife, (name here), was to join him the following week.
“Great. My worst nightmare is coming true. Not only is Ice going to be breathing down my neck for the next month, but Slider and (wife name here) too.” Maverick groaned and covered his face with his hands. “Oh you big baby, you’ll be fine.” Ice said, dramatically slamming a pen down to signal he was done with the paperwork. “Let’s get out of here!” Maverick said, basically cheering with happiness to leave this wretched building.
.oOo.
When they go to Ice’s car, Rooster had to lift Maverick and set him in the passenger seat. Ice jumped into the driver's seat and Rooster sat in the back. “It’s ok, Mav. Don’t be embarrassed about someone helping you.” Ice said, he glanced over in Maverick's direction, who was covering his face with his hands. “I-I know it’s just hard…” Maverick mumbled. Ice looked over sympathetically, he grabbed one of Maverick’s hands and squeezed comfortingly.
“I love you, Mav. Nothing is going to change that.” Ice said, bringing their joined hands to his lips and kissing Maverick’s hand. Maverick squeezed their hands, giving Ice a small but genuine smile. Rooster cleared his throat making the two older men remember Rooster was still in the back. “Sorry, Rooster. But you will stay with us for a week so get used to it!” Maverick teased.
“Thank god Uncle Sli will be there so I won’t be alone with your grossness.” Rooster teased. Maverick snorted, “Oh, he is so much worse than us two, just you wait, Roo.” Maverick leaned his head back against the headrest. The rest of the drive was in a comfortable silence. You could hear the tapping of Ice’s finger’s against the steering wheel or Rooster humming a song from the back of the car. But the noise in Maverick’s head was all but deafening. Thoughts of, “You’ll never fly again,” or “God, the Navy won’t even miss you. They probably wanted you to die in that crash,” flew through his mind. He tried to distract himself by watching the houses go by but that only made the thoughts louder. Maverick audibly groaned and buried his face in his hands.
“Pete?” Ice questioned, he glanced over at his husband, noticing how his body started to shutter. Taking a moment, Ice said, “We’re almost there, hunny. Just hold on for a couple more minutes,”. It took another 3 minutes for Ice to arrive home, park the car, and round the car to open Maverick’s door. “Hey, it’s ok.” Ice wrapped his arms as gently and carefully around Maverick as he could. He gently started rocking himself from foot to foot, pulling Maverick along with the motion. Ice repeated sweet nothings into Mav’s ear, kissing his temple in between. “It’s ok, Pete. We’re home, safe and sound.” He encouraged, “Let's get inside and to bed, sounds good?” Ice didn’t wait for an answer before he delicately lifted Maverick out of the car and into the wheelchair Rooster already had set up nearby.
.oOo.
With the help of Rooster and Ice, but mostly Rooster, they got Maverick changed into comfy clothes and settled into Ice’s and his bed. Rooster left soon after to find something to eat while Ice settled himself next to Maverick. He interlocked their hands and rubbed Maverick’s knuckles, comfortingly. Maverick tiredly looked over, smiling weakly. “You know, we’ll be ok. I’ll be ok…” Maverick said, staring intently at his husband. “I know,” Ice kissed Maverick on the lips. It wasn’t intense, quick, and simple, but one that said 1,000 words.
“God, I love you,” Maverick mumbled after the two leaned apart.
“I love you, too, idiot.” Ice said with a bright, contagious, smile making Maverick’s face spread into a giant smile.
Everything would be ok, right?