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Rooster. Rooster. Bradley.
He hears in the distance.
He feels a gentle shake.
Opening his eyes the world comes into focus.
He sees Maverick standing in the dim light of Phoenix’s hospital room.
The rhythmic beeping of her heart monitor fills the silence and he glances over to see her sleeping with a furrowed brow. Even in sleep she’s so serious. He smiles to himself and gives her soft cheek a caress with his knuckle. She’s warm. She’s alive. She’s here. She’s his.
Breathe Rooster.
As if she knows it’s him even in her deep slumber, her brow smooths out and her lips turn up in the slightest hint of a sleepy smile. His heart swells.
Turning his attention to Maverick he silently wonders if he caught his uncharacteristic public display of affection. He’s not too sure what or if he knows. They’ve never talked about his relationship with Phoenix, and when he came in to tell him about her status following the accident, he’d played things cool. Although he suspects he heard how he handled the news in real time when the communication was coming in over the comms, hence why Maverick came to find him. He was taking a moment alone to collect himself, not wanting everyone to see his emotional breakdown. Thankfully it was just him and Yale in the room when it all went down. He winces. Poor choice of words he scolds himself.
Maverick looks at Phoenix with a look of worry, and settles his bloodshot eyes on Rooster.
Rooster heard about Admiral Kazansky, Uncle Iceman technically, as he was rushing out to the hospital. He’s had interactions with him over the years, with Iceman keeping in contact with his mom and tabs on him, for Maverick he surmises. He’s sorry the Navy, his family, and the world has lost a great man. But he can’t focus on that right now. He can’t think of loss, or anything associated with his dads time in the military. His wife needs him.
“Maverick,” he says in way of greeting. His voice hoarse from his emotional turmoil and underuse while she’s been resting.
Frankly, Rooster’s a little surprised to see him, and wonders which of his big mouthed friends told him. His money is on Hangman. Dick.
“How’s she doing?” Maverick asks softly, belaying the underlying emotions of the day.
Clearing his throat again, “Thankfully she’s going to be just fine. Some cuts, bruises, and overall soreness but nothing major,” Rooster manages to get out.
Christ, he hates talking about her being hurt, even if it’s minor in the grand scheme of things. His heart and head still at war between what is and what could’ve been.
Looking over at her again to reassure himself, he hears Maverick pull up a chair next to him.
“Bradley,” he starts, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know but deep down I think I knew. If I’m being honest I probably didn’t want to see it. I can’t handle anymore emotional attachments tied to this mission.”
His confession sets Rooster back in his chair. So - he is conflicted about Rooster’s involvement. Interesting. And bloody infuriating if it ends up having any effect on the team leader selection process.
Now is not the time Rooster reminds himself. Taking a breath, he looks over at Phoenix and just simply says, “I love her.”
Glancing back over at Maverick he decides then and there to come clean.
“We were married a little over a year ago. Eloped. You can’t be surprised she didn’t want a big wedding. We’d been on and off since the Naval Academy, and I’d asked her to marry me on one of our joint leaves. A few months later we decided to just do it when our schedules aligned again. You know how difficult that can be - I just couldn’t imagine waiting any longer to make her my wife,” he shrugs almost shy.
It still sometimes throws him for a loop that someone as cool, confident, smart, talented, and beautiful as her wanted to be Mrs. Bradshaw.
“The wedding was just us…and it was perfect,” he finishes almost tenderly.
He doesn’t miss Maverick’s wince at the mention of no family. Interesting.
“Of course her parents and brothers didn’t see it that way,” he chuckles, “but we let them throw us a hell of a party afterwards. True Trace style,” he says ruefully.
Maverick sits back a bit marveling at seeing how content and peaceful Rooster is talking about his life with her. A sense of “settled” he hasn’t felt from him in a long time. He decides he likes, no loves, this relationship and the light it’s brought to overshadow Rooster’s tragic past. He silently vows to help protect it.
“We decided to keep our relationship a secret,” he sees Maverick raise his brows, “ok, I guess marriage if you want to get technical,” he adds, “in order to avoid the drama. You know how guys get and for Nat, it’s hard enough being a woman in a man’s world. Married to another pilot only invites attention, and not the kind we wanted on her. You see how hard guys like Hangman ride her for being a woman. She needs all the edge she can get,” he says with a jaw tick and fists clenching.
Maverick can’t help but smile at the protective note to his tone. Rooster’s always been different around Phoenix, and looking back he realizes little things have stood out to him. Their interactions at the Hard Deck, the shared looks across the classroom, the intensity in which they watch each other’s flights with, the private talks on the tarmac, and most recently the way she was able to calm him the fastest when he went after Hangman during the debrief the other day. Her quick reflexes had her right up in front of him and he saw how his body almost involuntarily settled with her touch. He just didn’t think marriage. Fuck. He’s really missed a lot. He swallows back that bitter emotion of regret. It won’t serve either of them at the moment.
“She’s,” emotion clogging Rooster’s words, “she’s my entire world. I’d do anything for her and today I almost lost her. When you said I’d get used to the loss of a wingman eventually, your words gutted me. I’ll never get used to that, most especially when it comes to her.”
Taking a deep breathe, he continued, “I honestly never wanted to fall for another pilot. Knowing my parents history and my own possible ill fated future every time I go up, I didn’t want to love another person who could be taken the same way my dad was. But she’s Nat. Just try not to love her,” he says with a smile. “I dare you,” he chuckles while softly taking her hand as she continued to sleep.
“She has a way of wedging herself deep inside - my head and heart never saw her coming. She was one persistent gal, never letting me get too far inside me own head or letting me shut her out during all our ups and downs. She chased and boy, when I finally woke up, did I want to be caught by the likes of her. Once I fell, I fell so damn hard,” he says leaning over and brushing his lips against her hand. He sits back up and swallows, throat clogging with emotion again, “I, I just need you to know that everything, everything I do will always be to protect her.” His intense gaze meeting Maverick’s, driving his point home and letting him know their talk before at the training facility is still fresh in his mind.
Damn. He wasn’t prepared for this. Maverick’s eyes shine with unexpected tears and he tampers back his emotions. He rubs his face. Christ. It’s been a day. Almost losing Coyote, Phoenix, and Bob today, and now the news of Ice’s death. This unexpected show of emotion and connection with Bradley is really hitting him hard.
“Although I don’t condone the secrecy, I can see where the two of you were coming from. There aren’t rules per say about this but you have to know this complicates the mission…,” Maverick trails off.
Rooster takes a deep breath and hangs his head. Exactly what they feared.
“It doesn’t change a damn thing and you know it, Sir,” they hear from the bed.
Looking over they see Phoenix awake and looking hella angry. She sets her sights on Maverick and gives him her best stare. She blindly grabs for Roosters hand and interlaces their fingers. Giving him a squeeze she gives and asks for strength.
One of her greatest fears is being looked at as less for being a woman. Rooster knows it took her a long time to learn that loving and showing love doesn’t make her weak. It certainly doesn’t make her less of a pilot, his little badass. It’s only strengthened her he likes to think. Or at least that’s what her vows had spoken to in that little chapel in Vegas. He looks away almost shyly with that memory. Her vows still make him blush and, he’ll take it to his grave, giddy. Lord have mercy he’s THAT guy. Toughen up Roost he chides himself. Hangman would have a field day if he ever found out that side of him when it comes to Nat.
Maverick takes in the dynamic and striking couple, seriously, what a match he thinks, and let’s out a slow breath.
“Listen, continue to act professional,” he starts with a real Dad like tone, not missing the eye roll from Rooster, “and we’ll continue as normal. I won’t speak of your union unless you guys want me to. I’ll take the lead from you. But if I, for a single moment, feel like your relationship will jeopardize this mission or the lives of any of my crew, I make that decision. You might not like it, but that’s the deal.”
Rooster and Phoenix look at each other and without words communicate what’s needed in the moment. Turning together they say, “Yes, Sir,” simultaneously.
Maverick can’t help but let out a little smile at that. So much for playing tough he thinks.
Rooster sees the relief and love in his wife’s eyes as they hold contact.
Slowly, Phoenix lays back and shuts her eyes, giving them the silent cue she’s done.
Maverick rises and wishes her well.
Rooster stands and leans over to kiss her cheek, telling her he’ll be right back.
Their deep connection, and once again witnessing this new tender side of Rooster, stuns Maverick. How did he miss this, he asks himself for the hundredth time.
Rooster walks Maverick out closing the door softly behind him.
He turns and they just silently stare at each other.
Not wanting to push his luck, Maverick takes that as his cue and pats Rooster on the shoulder as he turns to leave.
“Thank you,” he hears and turns to see Rooster offer a small nod. They both know who he’s thanking him for.
He’ll take it.
Offering a nod back he turns to leave, smiling to himself. You did good, Goose he offers up.
As he exits the hospital he swears he hears *No, WE did* in the wind.