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Chapter Text

When Jake Seresin hears that the Navy is putting the Dagger Squadron on a scientific mission, he almost laughs out loud because it makes absolutely no sense. But then Vice Admiral Beau exposes every aspect of the mission and Jake can't stop thinking that Kate Carter —brilliant doctor in meteorology and ex turned friend— would absolutely kill for a chance to work on this. 

“We are still going through the process of interviewing civilians to find the best person for the job. As soon as they will be able to transfer to the carrier, you will all be deployed for a total of six months.” Groans echo through the room, because no one likes to be stuck on a carrier for that long, but the Admiral keeps going: “The goal is to research ways the US Army could be useful in handling ongoing natural disasters such as tornadoes. Tornadoes are responsible for a lot of deaths and destruction all over the country and we have hopes that we could now try to reduce their impact by intervening at the source.” 

Lost in thought, Jake doesn’t really pay attention to the rest of the presentation but as soon as they are dismissed, he texts Kate, finding a link to the job offer that he forwards to her as well. Her answer is almost immediate : “As if.” Jake smirks and presses the phone icon on his light up screen, refusing to let such a golden opportunity pass her by. 

“Seresin.” she says as she picks up the call. 

“Sapulpa.”

“Do you really think the Navy would be interested in the profile of a young doctor who barely has results to show after a year of research on her own?”

“Well, first, you ain’t on your own, let me remind you that my name is on that paper you published and second, you worked as an Operations Officer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That sounds pretty serious.” 

A silence stretches on the line, interrupted by Kate: “That sounds insane, Jake.” 

“It’s the chance of a lifetime, Kate.”

She hums and he can picture her chewing at her bottom lip, thinking long and hard. “Okay. I will send my application, but don’t hold your hopes up, big guy.” 

“Keep me updated.” Jake’s smile is as real as they get when he hangs up and Javy immediately clocks him. “Who got you smiling like that ? It’s weird, please don’t do it again.” 

“Fuck you” laughs Jake, following his best friend towards the barracks. “It was Kate, I told her about the whole tornado mission they are about to send us on.”

“Oh… Kate, huh ?” Javy looks at him sideways, intrigued. 

“We’re still just friends, don’t look at me like that.” 

“Look man, I’m just really confused because she is the most amazing girl you’ve ever dated. So what I can’t understand is how you managed to fumble so hard and yet you two decided to stay friends ? Doesn’t make sense.”

Jake looks away “We weren’t in love, man. That’s all.” 

“Love can grow in an established relationship.” answers Javy immediately, eyebrows furrowed. 

“Drop it, Machado. We’re happy just being friends.”

Javy holds his hands up in submission, shaking his head in disbelief. Finally arriving at the barracks, they make their way in and cross paths with Bradley who is on his way to a run around the base. The sight of him is enough to make Jake swallow hard, the tension in his back slowly returning. 

“Don’t trip over yourself, Bradshaw. It would be too bad to damage that face of yours even more than it already is.” shouts Phoenix from down the corridor, her water bottle halfway to her smirking mouth. 

“Some of us aren't walking disasters, you're aware of that, right Trace ?” is Bradley’s answer as he grins at her over his shoulder.

The door closes after him and Jake lets out a breath, blinking against the weird feeling in the pit of his stomach that is only getting worse since they had been back from their Navy ordered leave after the Uranium Mission. Scratching the back of his neck, Jake pushes through the temporary daze that has taken over him and makes his way to the shared kitchen where Bob is cooking tacos. 

“Man, that smells amazing!” says Jake before adding: “Want me to do the dishes while you finish up ?”

“Yeah, that would be great, thanks.” mutters Bob, frowning at his cookbook, clearly not pleased. “People need to stop putting coriander everywhere. It’s a curse.” 

Jake chuckles under his breath “Preach, brother.”

“You guys just have fried tastebuds.” interjects Reuben, disapproval written all over his face. After that, the whole squadron erupts in shouts and arguments about spices and herbs, Bob trying his hardest to just finish his recipe while being crowded by very invested friends. 

***

Kate and Jake keep texting each other as days pass them by, and when Kate finally makes it to base for her interview, Jake is waiting for her at the VCC, making sure her visitor ID is in order. 

“Sapulpa!” he salutes when she steps out of the taxi that had brought her all the way to the gate. 

“Hi !” says Kate, taking a good look around, eyes wide as she tugs on her jacket, trying to get a hold on her nerves. "That's pretty impressive.”

“Wait until we're on the carrier. It's even more impressive.” Jake says with a wink.

“Hold your horses cowboy, I'm not even halfway through the selection process.”

“Carter, I can feel it, you're finally going to get a taste of that pilot lifestyle you were so curious about.” answers Jake with a smirk.

Kate shakes her head, not bothering to hide her smile as she clips her Navy issued  ID on her jacket. “Well, lead the way Seresin, I don't have all day.”

“So bossy.” mutters Jake as Kate bumps into his shoulder playfully, the two of them making their way toward the offices.

Jake is called back to training as soon as Kate is taken down the hall for her interview so he trusts the officers in charge to take care of his friend while he joins his squadron in the simulation room.

“Where were you ?” whispers Javy when Jake finally sits in the seat next to him.

“I was making sure Kate didn’t get lost on the way.” Jake answers, not seeing the look Bradley throws his way when he overhears the name. 

A frown pulls at his eyebrows as he tries to figure out why the name is so familiar, finally placing his finger on the exact memory of when he heard the name. It was during one of Jake’s stories about his summer love, back when he went back to storm chasing during the season. Jake, still focused on the presentation in front of him, doesn’t see Bradley's face fall, his eyes turning distant as he twirls his pen around his fingers, shoulders caving in. But Phoenix does see it, and she stays silent for once, not wanting to go through the whole ordeal of Bradley denying his own feelings again. Instead, she wonders why Jake's ex is on base and how much it's going to screw the fragile balance between the idiots that are Rooster and Hangman. 

***

That night Phoenix and Rooster arrive at the Hard Deck together, hair tussled by the wind as they spend the whole drive there singing at the top of their lungs with the car's windows open. Looking at them from across the bar, Jake can't help the small smile that spreads slowly across his lips, his whole body relaxing instinctively at the sight of his wingman. Bradley being unguarded and spontaneous is so rare that he drinks in the sight, committing the moment to memory, savoring the sound of his laugh. 

“So, I suppose that's Rooster.” says Kate, bringing her glass bottle to her lips, taking a sip of her lemonade, not even bothering to hide her teasing smile. “I'm surprised no one has commented on the way you look at him yet. Because it's sickening, Jake.”

“Shut up” mumbles Jake as he takes a long swallow of his beer. “It's not that noticeable."

Kate laughs, her face clearly stating how she feels about that statement. 

“Well, Bagman, who do we got here? New girlfriend?” asks Payback as he joins them with Fanboy, Rooster and Phoenix. They get seated at their usual booth as they wait for the rest of the squadron who slowly fills in. Jake waits for Javy and Bob to be seated before he answers. 

“No, this is Kate Carter, she is a doctor in meteorology and applied for the civilian job on the new mission.”

“Wait, you're THE Kate Carter ? Famous Tornado Wrangler?” asks Payback, excited as a kid on Christmas day. 

“Tornado Tamer.” corrects Kate, throwing a glare at Jake. “I wasn't on Jake's team at first.”

Barely listening, Phoenix doesn’t take her eyes off Kate as she tries to figure out how the hell Seresin managed to lose her, whereas Bradley can't take his eyes off Jake, trying his hardest not to scream at the new piece of information. “So, you want to join the band?” he asks Kate, voice a little colder than usual. 

“Well, that’s up to the higher-ups now, but yeah. That would help me and them a great lot, actually.”

Bradley hums softly in understanding, his fingers tight around the bottle in front of him.

“What Bradshaw means by that, is we would be very lucky to have you.” says Jake, throwing a weird look at Bradley, shaking his head in silent interrogation, to which Rooster answers by standing up and mumbling under his breath that he has to go to the bathroom.

Kate looks at Jake expectantly, signaling for him to follow Bradley who clearly goes out of the bar and not to the bathroom. Fascinated by the drama unfolding, Phoenix throws a delighted look at Bob, who as usual, doesn’t pay attention, his head so high in the cloud that he can probably tell Kate how the winds are up there without even flying.

“So you and Jake….” says Payback, wiggling his eyebrows.

Kate laughs, shaking her head negatively. “Very good friends, that’s all.”

Everyone around the table nods in silence, trying to figure out the missing pieces of this whole situation but the person they really want to press for answers is Jake. 

“Who is down for a game of darts while we wait for the two drama queens?” asks Coyote, looking at Kate with an interrogative look.

“Yeah, sure !” They all get up and head towards the board, Phoenix getting the darts from Penny who looks over at them with a silent warning in her eyes. The Daggers smile sheepishly at that and give her thumbs up, laughter spreading around, making Kate feel as if there is a story there. 

As the rest of the group settles in their game, Jake catches up to Bradley and calls after him as soon as they are out of the bar: “Hey Bradshaw !”

Bradley stops in his tracks and grimaces before turning to face Jake. “Yeah ?”

“You're acting weird, what’s up with you ?”

Bradley closes his eyes a second and scrunches his nose. “Nothing, I'm sorry. I'm just a bit out of it.”

Jake raises an eyebrow, clearly not impressed by Bradley’s lie. “Why don't you try it with a bit of honesty this time?” he says, arms crossed across his chest.

Bradley meets his eyes and they look at each other in silence for a heartbeat too long. “I'm just tired.” he repeats, and it doesn’t feel like a lie, because it isn’t. He is exhausted, deep in his bones, from the constant battle he is having with himself, a battle to keep his feelings in a box, to keep his hands from reaching out to Jake every second they spend close to each other. Tired to have to lie through his teeth when Jake asks how is doing. Exhausted to have to pretend he wants to be friends with him. 

“Well now that you point it out, you look like shit, Rooster.” says Jake softly, head slightly tilted. 

“Gee thanks, Seresin.” says Bradley, annoyed. 

“Why are you being cold to Kate ?” asks Jake instead of continuing on their compliments streak.

“I'm not! I've said two words to her, Seresin, no need to jump at my throat to defend your girlfriend. I'm not out to get her, you know.”

“Not my girlfriend.” groans Jake, eyes pleading. “Just give her a chance, okay ? She is really good at what she does.”

Bradley looks attentively at Jake, his heart breaking a little at the effort Jake is making for her. “I know, you told us.”

“So, can you just trust me when I tell you that there isn’t a person more fit for the job?” Jake asks in a gentle voice that weakens Bradley's defenses. And Bradley trusts Jake with his life, with good reason. He also knows Kate is smart and very capable or else she wouldn't even be here. Therefore, he wants to be kind to her, wants to welcome her as best as he can, but his treacherous heart makes it so hard to be rational when it comes to dealing with Jake Seresin. But as he can't refuse the other man anything, he nods in agreement, ignoring the pit that seems to open under his feet and swallowing him whole at the thought of seeing Jake fall for Kate again. 

The two pilots look at each other, Jake opening his mouth to ask something else before changing his mind and smiling politely at Bradley, before he turns on his heels and makes his way back in.

***

They have to fly four candidates for a test run before it's Kate's turn. This time Phoenix is the one doing the actual flying and the rest of the Daggers place bets on how long it will take Kate to throw up. Bradley and Jake don't participate in the playful camaraderie, both for different reasons. 

“You’re feeling okay ?” asks Jake as he makes sure Kate is well equipped to climb in Phoenix's backseat. 

“Yeah, I'm good. Bob gave me a few pointers on what to expect from Phoenix, but I guess we'll see once we’re up there.” 

“Alright Carter, it's just me and you now.” says Phoenix as she makes her way towards the ladder, saluting the mechanics around her jet. She winks at Kate who blushes under her helmet. “Hangman, I swear I will make sure she comes back down in one piece. I know how to handle valuable cargo.” 

Jake laughs at his squadmate's shameless flirting and takes one final look at Kate before stepping away.  The Navy's security protocols are extensive and he knows Kate has received enough information to hold her own, but he really hopes for her to get the job and that's enough to rattle his nerves. 

“She's in good hands.” says Bradley softly when Jake comes to stand beside him and he presses his shoulder against Jake's in support. Jake leans in, grateful as the warmth of Bradley radiates even through both their jumpsuits.

The test flight is impressive and seeing Phoenix go through it flawlessly is a spectacle in itself, one that all the Daggers witness with awe in their eyes. When it finally comes to an end, Payback and Coyote are talking with Bob, trying to know if Kate is still conscious and if she has already thrown up her breakfast, but the two women refuse to acknowledge their questions on the radio.

When they finally land, Kate takes off her helmet as the canopy opens and she flashes Jake a grin that doesn't hide the amount of trouble they're about to be in.

“Oh boy…” he whispers, smiling at himself. He knows Kate well enough to realise she hasn't got enough of flying to last her a lifetime. Adrenaline junkies recognize their own in the wild.

Officers immediately ask Phoenix for a debrief, taking notes as she smiles and talks enthusiastically, hands showing the manoeuvres in the air.

“I've never seen Phoenix that happy flying with anyone but Bob.” Bradley says, a small smile on his lips. 

“Do I have to worry about my seat?” mutters Bob when Phoenix finally comes up, a mischievous spark in her eyes. 

“Never, Bob.” is everything she says, looking silently at Bradley as if to say "Holy shit, did you just see this?” 

Bradley laughs and nods. 

“Aviators !” calls Admiral Beau from here stands, near Kate whose cheeks are red and eyes sparkling.

They all come to attention and listen closely. “Kate Carter will be your assigned civilian for this mission. Details will follow as soon as we figure out when she can join you.” 

The Daggers whoop in unison, high fiving each other as soon as the Admiral dismissed them. Jake comes to hug Kate who can’t seem to stop smiling at the wide expanse of possibilities that await her.

Chapter Text

Despite the sense of urgency they picked on during the briefing, the Daggers are given a few days before boarding the carrier, the weather being too good and stable to do any immediate research. As soon as the info passes through their ranks, they decide to spend a whole day at the beach, including Kate in their plans without her having to even ask. Of course, once they are there and that ice cold beer is flowing, they can't stay inactive for more than a few hours and it doesn’t come as a surprise when Coyote asks for a game of dogfight football. The sun is making the sand hot and they take turns jumping in the water to refresh themselves before starting the game. 

“What even is this?” asks Kate, worry etched on her face as she whispers to Bob. 

“I wish I could explain it simply to you, but my best advice is actually to pretend you know what you’re doing and try your best not to lose.”

“That’s not an explanation, Bob !” she answers, panic rising in her voice as she wipes her hands on her shorts. 

“Don’t worry, Sweetheart. I’ll make sure we don’t lose.” says Phoenix with a dangerous grin that sends shivers down Kate’s spine as she straightens herself, a fierce look in her eyes. 

“Deal.” The two women nod at each other and as soon as the game starts, Kate is moving. She is following Phoenix shouts as well as she can, trying to drown out the rest of the team. It takes her a few tries to get there but surely, Kate gains control over the ball and the play. When she comes up against Bradley, she can see how he tries to downplay his skills, but as he realizes how quickly Kate has picked up the rules and tactics, he tries to go against her at full strength. They battle for a while but Kate manages to slip his defense, being quicker on her feet than he expected. 

When she lands a point her team erupts in chaos, and she catches Bradley’s eyes across the field, a spark of admiration shining in the chocolate expanse of them. She smiles sheepishly at him while shrugging like it's actually nothing and he shakes his head, laughing. 

“Told you she was tough.” says Phoenix, pushing her sunglasses up her nose as she stands near Bradley, a satisfied smile on her lips. 

Bradley looks at Jake for a second, his stomach in a knot at the thought of him and Kate dating, because the more he gets to know her, the more he understands what drew Jake in. “She is. You two make a really good team.” 

“Nah, my team is with Bob, I couldn’t ever replace him. But Kate ? She’s more girlfriend material.”

Bradley almost chokes on his own saliva. He coughs and asks in a strangled voice: “What?” 

“Oh yeah, baby. As soon as this mission is over, you losers are done for.”

Bradley looks at her best friend with incredulity. “What about Jake ?” he hears himself ask, hating the way his throat feels constricted around the name. As the Daggers grew closer in the months following their first mission together, they started using each other's first name on a daily basis but still, Jake's still feels too sacred for Bradley to say out loud. After years of hiding his real feelings behind anger and endless fights, acting friendly around his wingman strangely resembles treason.

“You know Lover Boy, you should really learn to shoot your shots before it’s too late. Jake won’t be waiting forever. But anyways, he told me there is absolutely nothing between them and that he would be happy to see her find someone good enough.”

Bradley tilts his head, trying to wrap his head around what Phoenix had just said. “Jake isn’t waiting. At least not for me.”

“Sure, keep telling yourself that. You two have been making heart eyes at each other for months and it’s getting annoying. I'm almost starting to regret how you two behaved before Hangman saved your life. At least then we had some real action.”

“We have not been-”

“Rooster, Phoenix! You two done gossiping like old ladies ?” shouts Coyote, clearly losing patience at the lack of actual playing. 

“Coming!” screams Phoenix, throwing one last look at her best friend before she starts jogging towards Kate who flashes her a winning smile. 

As they make their way towards the Hard Deck for a well deserved drink and fries, Maverick is on the terrasse, a beer bottle in his hand as he watches the Daggers walk up the beach. 

“Hey troublemakers.” he says, a smile on his lips as Bradley comes to shake his hand, going instead for a quick hug. 

“Hey, Mav.” 

“Who’s the new kid ?” Mav asks, looking at Kate intently. 

“Kate Carter, Sir. I’m a civilian, I’m here for Tornado research.” She extends her hand, trying her best not to cower under the studying stare. Kate doesn’t know much about the Navy, but even she can recognize the admiration and respect that transpire here. She understands that Maverick is their leader of sorts, the one they turn to for validation and support. She also knows that she can’t mess this up if she wants a place among them. 

“Good game out there, Carter. No mercy for your enemies, I like that, makes me think of someone else I know.” Mav looks over at Phoenix who salutes him with a playful grin. 

“Trying my best, Sir.” Kate blushes at the compliment as she stands a little straighter. Maverick takes a long look at her, gears turning behind his eyes. The rest of the Daggers hold their breath, waiting for the final verdict, and what comes out of Maverick’s mouth is even better than what they expected. “You’ve got a callsign for this mission, Carter ?” 

“No, Sir.”

“Well, Kate “Valkyrie” Carter has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

Phoenix’ smile burns brighter than the sun when the words register and she turns to Bradley to punch his shoulder playfully. “Attagirl.” says Jake, his arm coming to rest on Kate’s shoulders as he presses her against him, pride shining bright in his eyes.

They all walk in the bar after that, Bradley staying behind to talk to his godfather. 

“You already knew who she was, didn’t you?” he asks with a smirk, Maverick shrugging innocently. “Yeah, but I didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. Impressive portfolio if you ask me. You couldn’t have found a better teammate.”

“So Seresin says.”

Maverick looks at Bradley, narrowing his eyes. “You’re jealous ?”

“Don’t start with this again, Mav.”

“Bradley, you can’t get frustrated at Kate for taking the shot you’re too scared to even think about. Let go of the past and start believing that you actually deserve to be happy.” 

Bradley’s jaw ticks at that, his eyes evading Maverick’s. “Don’t.” he mutters under his breath, heart constricted in his ribcage. 

Maverick’s eyes soften as he takes a good look at his godson and he nods, clasping his hand on Bradley’s shoulder. “Okay, I’m sorry. Let’s join the others for a well deserved beer okay. My treat.”

Bradley smiles at that and they make their way in, Maverick signaling Penny to serve another round to the Daggers who sit loudly in their usual corner, Kate sandwiched between Bob and Javy. 

***

When she discovers the quarters they are sharing on the carrier, Kate smiles knowingly. This feels pretty much like sharing a van with the tornado tamers back in the day. Nostalgia pulls at her heart as she slowly makes her way towards the bunk beds,  and knowing that the rest of the Daggers probably have their usual routine arrangements, she waits for them to settle before she picks a top bed above Bob who smiles when he sees her drop her bag in the locker beside the bed. 

“You’ll fit right in.” he says with a nod, and the quiet praise in his eyes soothes any remaining nerves that Kate felt as she received her keycard this morning. 

The Daggers find their mark around the room, Javy and Reuben already fighting about lost socks and space management. From the corner of her eye Kate sees Phoenix and Bradley talk quickly and under their breath, trying to avoid any snooping in from their squadron. 

“Bradley has some sleeping issues.” says Jake when he follows Kate’s eyes. “PTSD and all of that. Phoenix and him have fallen into a bit of a routine now on how to deal with it.” 

“Nightmares?” Kate asks as she puts a sweater on the shelf, used to the concept, as Jake knows first hand.

“Yeah and night terrors too. It can be a wild ride to sleep in the same room as him but it has gotten better with time.” 

Kate hums in acknowledgment, her eyes coming to rest on Phoenix's silhouette. Noticing, Jake crosses his arms on his chest and says with a smirk: “You know, living on a carrier can be pretty intense. Some pilots end up in each other's beds to deal with the tension rising.” 

“Yeah ? Ever ended up in Bradley’s bed? Because that tension could be eased for the benefit of all your squadron.” answers Kate, refusing to play Jake’s game. He laughs loudly, and shakes his head. “No Sapulpa, never did. But not for the lack of actual trying.” It’s Kate’s turn to laugh. “You two are such disasters. I heard that before you actually saved him and Maverick, Bradley was leaning more into the whole “killing you” rather than “kissing you” side of things.” 

“Yeah well, beware not to follow in our footsteps.”

“I’ve had enough of mixing work and pleasure to last me a lifetime. I’m done.” 

“If you say so.” whispers Jake when Phoenix turns her head as if sensing the attention on her. Her eyes catch Kate’s and she doesn’t look away, capturing the scientist's attention in a heartbeat. Her smile is genuine and soft, so unusual that Jake almost thinks he imagined it. But then Phoenix’s eyes snap at him and she slowly raises her middle finger, her smile turning saccharine and he chuckles, understanding the message 5 by 5.

***

The routine of the carrier is well oiled, and the Daggers quickly fall into it, Kate following around, asking questions, some that can be answered, some that are above her security clearance. When that happens, Bob always answers with a very serious tone “I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you” and Phoenix rolls her eyes before answering in an elusive manner, giving just enough room for Kate’s curiosity to be satisfied. 

In the first week she is shown a small office with a desk, two monitors and a very big whiteboard where she can project images and simulations. Of course, when news of that arrangement makes its way to the Dagger, they insist on hosting a movie night in Kate’s office. 

“Won’t we get in trouble ?” asks Kate, turning towards Jake, who is responsible for bringing snacks. 

“Not that much. They don’t care as long as we don’t break anything.” 

Kate frowns at that, clearly not convinced. “Footloose or Mission Impossible ?” asks Fanboy while the rest of them are pushing around furniture, trying to get comfortable. 

“Mission Impossible, for the love of God.” groans Phoenix, taking a seat near Kate, handing her a bag of candies. Kate smiles in gratitude and picks one.

“Yes please !” adds Bradley without a second of hesitation, “If I have to listen to Payback sing that song for one more day in my headset, I will actually crash into the runway.” 

“Bet’s on, Rooster!” says Reuben with a smirk before he gets flipped off by Bradley. 

Everyone agrees on Mission Impossible — because most of them don’t really care, as long as they get to spend a chill evening together — they settle around the room, their backs against the wall as they pass around snacks and whispers. Halfway through the movie Kate can tell that Phoenix is growing restless. And sure enough, she turns slightly towards Kate and asks in a whisper, her breath tickling Kate’s neck as she gets closer: “How is the Navy life treating you so far Kate ?”

“Not that bad, I must say. My first week has been pretty overwhelming, trying to figure out all the details of that mission and what is expected of me. But I’ve got great support.” 

Phoenix nods at that. “Jake is really protective of you, it’s a new look for him.”

“Yeah, I’m very lucky, he’s a good friend.”

“How come you two ended on such good terms ?” 

“We realized we weren’t in love. Pretty simple actually.” says Kate, a soft smile on her lips as she looks over to Bradley and Jake who are sitting next to each other, their shoulders touching as they bend over to whisper comments.

“No way. You knew about Bradley before coming here ?” asks Phoenix in disbelief, her eyes wide. 

“What ? No, I-” Kate mumbles, stressed out at the idea of betraying Jake’s trust so easily. 

“Oh, don’t worry, it’s not a secret since that Uranium Mission we went on together. But to know that Jake has been pining for that long, is pretty hilarious.”

Kate lets out a long breath and closes her eyes, relief washing over her. “Yeah, he has been through it.” she adds with a little smile. 

“Well, in any case, I’m glad we got to meet you thanks to his sorry ass.” Phoenix says, her eyes going from Kate’s eyes to her lips for just a heartbeat. The air between the two women feels electric as they stay looking at each other in the dark, and heat creeps up Kate’s ears as she forces herself to look back at the screen, heart hammering in her chest in a way that doesn’t resemble safety at all. 

“I think Phoenix has a crush on Kate.” whispers Jake in Bradley’s ear. They have been exchanging little comments for a while now, as if the rest of the Daggers don’t exist. “Yeah ? What makes you think that ? Her constant flirting or the way she looks at her as if she is the most dangerous and exciting person to have ever walked the Earth ?” asks Bradley mockingly. 

Jake’s laugh is warm and it rumbles out of his chest like thunder, making the hair on Bradley’s arms stand. “Yeah, subtlety isn’t her thing.”

“At least she gets after what she wants, good for her.” 

Jake hears how loaded Bradley’s words are and frowns slightly, heart in his throat as he manages to get the words out before they die on his tongue: “And what about what you want, Bradshaw ?” 

“You know exactly what I want.” breathes out Bradley, a strain on his voice. 

The stakes are just getting higher and Jake can’t seem to breathe properly anymore. He looks furtively at his squadron who doesn’t seem to pay attention to them and asks: “Why don’t you go after it then?” 

Bradley swallows, eyes leaving the screen to come and lock with Jake’s. There is a softness in them that punches the air out of Jake’s lungs and as Bradley licks his lips, not shying away from the intensity of Jake’s look, he answers: “Maybe I’m scared to disappoint." Their faces are inches away and there is nothing Jake wants more than to close the distance between them and kiss his wingman, to ease the worry in his eyes and make him feel how worthy this thing between them is. But this isn’t the right time and the right place and it tears at his heart in a devastating way. Bradley’s brown eyes turn pleading when he sees the hunger in Jake’s and all he can do is reach for his hand, his fingers covering Jake’s twitching ones. A shaky breath comes out of Jake’s tight lips as he closes his eyes and turns away, his fingers intertwinning with Bradley’s to squeeze them. They finish the movie like that, shoulders pressed together and heart threatening to break out of their ribcages. 

As they clean up after themselves, putting Kate’s office back in shape, Jake catches Bradley’s wrist and tugs him outside, walking towards the nearest bathroom in silence, urgency clear in his steps. Bradley, a bit dazed and sleepy, follows without asking questions, blinking away the exhaustion as he slowly becomes more alert. So much so that when the bathroom door closes after him and Jake pushes him against it, he is ready and welcomes him with a hard and hungry kiss, eyes closing as soon as they make contact. 

“So tired of waiting for you, Bradshaw.” mutters Jake against his bruised lips, letting a sigh escape his mouth. Bradley doesn’t answer, too busy trying to figure out where to put his hand so that he can hold Jake closer and tighter. His fingers dig into Jake’s t-shirt, gripping the fabric to hide how shaky he is, adrenaline running high in his veins. Jake’s hands are in Bradley’s curls, on his neck, at his hip, and there is nothing as glorious as the way he tries to get a hold of his wingman while he makes up for all that lost time. When they both have to come up for air they look at each other with red cheeks and smiles too big for their face. Bradley chuckles at the disheveled state of Jake and tugs at the front of his t-shirt to get closer to him, kissing him again, slow and unworried, savoring the simple gesture for what it is: a victory. Jake’s smug smile only widens at that and when they break apart again, he raises an eyebrow. “You really made me work for it, Bradshaw.” 

“Makes for a better story.” 

Jake huffs at that, pushing away Bradley’s stray curls. “Yeah well, I’m glad we're finally going to figure it out.” Bradley smiles sheepishly and stands up a little straighter, his brown eyes searching Jake’s. “So what now Seresin ?”

“Are you asking what we are, Bradshaw? Cause if you are dumb enough to think I spent all that time pining for you only to fumble the part where I date the actual fuck out of you, you are dead wrong.” says Jake, incredulity written all over his face. Bradley breaks up in laughter, softening at the sight of Jake’s vulnerability. “Okay.”

“Okay ? I wait for years to finally make you my boyfriend and all I get is okay ? Unbelievable.” answers Jake, kissing Bradley again, and again, giddy with excitement at the simple fact that he can. They hear their teammates in the hall, making their way to the barracks and Bradley’s cheeks warm again at the idea that they will have to join them and act like nothing happened. He hides his face in the crook of Jake’s neck, smiling. 

“Well, let’s go, Lover Boy. Or else they will start rumors we won’t hear the end of.” Jake says as he opens the door and makes his way towards the Daggers, followed closely by Bradley who can’t bring himself to wipe that smile off his face. 

Chapter Text

On days when the Daggers’ schedule is packed with flight and physical training, Kate has to go through the motions or her own training. Ejection procedures, parachute manipulations, water survival training, first aid basics, she doesn’t have time to get bored. Not used to the high intensity of working in the Navy, she ends up exhausted and worn out, not able to do more at the end of the day than stand on her own two feet and drag herself to her bed. On those days, she waits for the Daggers in the sleeping quarters,  passing out before they can even get a word out of her. At first they try to wake her up to go eat, but they soon give up, seeing how little sleep she catches. So instead they form a habit around Kate’s schedule. She comes back from training, naps for a few hours and then the Daggers bring a plate of whatever the mass hall served when she was resting to her office where she stays up working for most of the night. Often it’s Phoenix who knocks on the door and settles near Kate at the desk, eyes trying to make sense of the complex simulations and data shown on the screens. Phoenix doesn’t talk much because she can see that Kate is like Bradley when he reads, they both like the space to think without interruption. So she just sits there and makes sure that Kate eats, keeping her company as she does. The Daggers are discovering a whole new lifestyle as they get to know the scientist. They observe her weird sleep patterns, her tendency to forget to eat when she is absorbed by any task, her habit of stopping midsentence when her brain catches on one of her previously unresolved problems. Jake is used to it and barely seems to notice anymore, which is why they all quickly ease into the new dynamic of having a civilian in their ranks. But still, it’s weird to see someone who works on a different clock than the Navy one. 

“Water.” says Jake as he passes her a bottle on the landing pad one evening, Kate’s eyes screwed to her tablet screen. He notices with amusement that she is wearing one of Coyote’s Navy caps, his old Squadron patch on it. It warms his heart that the rest of the Daggers are trying their best to make Kate feel like she belongs.  

“Humidity and pressure levels are good. Maybe tomorrow we’ll finally get one.” mutters Kate as she takes the bottle, sparing a smile for Jake who reads the data from above her shoulder. 

“Hell yes.” he laughs softly. “I can’t wait.” 

“I’m gonna notify your CO, so that we can start planning our first outing.” announces Kate, giddy with excitement. 

“Our CO, huh ? Look at you using Navy slang like it’s nothing. You’ve already spent too much time with us.”

Kate shakes her head in amusement and makes her way towards the stairs to go down a few levels, finding her way towards the office of her boss. When she makes her way out, the hallways are almost empty as only the night shift is still awake. She makes her way to the sleeping quarters and slips in as quietly as she can, not wanting to disturb any of her friends. Lighting up her small flashlight to avoid tripping on shoes and random clothes, she notices with a smile that Jake’s and Bradley’s  beds are empty. Again. Thinking to herself that maybe the two idiots figured some things out, she climbs in her bed and pictures the storm they are likely to encounter on the next day and it brings a soft smile to her lips as she falls asleep.

Just as she predicted it, the next morning is a foggy and windy one. When they make their way to breakfast, the Daggers orbit around Kate who cannot seem to bother lifting her eyes from the constant flow of data she is receiving from all the instruments the Navy has on board. She is like a kid on Christmas morning, which means the other squadron members have to push her out of harm’s way, guide her around groups that cross their way and force her to stop when doors close in front of her. 

“We have to go, Jake, look at this.” she says, passing the tablet to Jake who hums in excitement. Bradley, walking beside him smiles at the scene because he never saw Jake so invested and passionate about anything else than flying. He’s about to make a joke about it when his phone buzzes in his pocket, an internal notification flashing on the screen, “Briefing in 15.” he shares with the others. As the Daggers hear the info, they quicken their pace, not wanting to start the day on empty stomachs. The walk to the briefing room is a short one and Kate makes her way towards the front of the room, plugging in her tablet, waiting for the team to settle. Jake can read how nervous she is just by looking at the tension in her shoulders and the way she keeps looking to her right to Phoenix who gives her a discreet thumbs-up. 

“Okay, today you are going to try and shoot flares of a condensed sodium polyacrylate solution into the core of a storm.” Kate points at the screen with her finger, looking at the pilots expectantly. “I won’t pretend to know what it’s like to fly in such conditions but the closer you are, the better the time reaction we can hope for.” 

“Pilots for this run are Hangman and Payback. Fanboy will be responsible for data collecting and making sure we actually get something out of this experiment.” orders Admiral Beau. “Remember that you will be pulling against winds of around 90 to 100 mph, maybe more. Turbulence and hail are to be expected. Look for any sign of structural damage and make sure you don’t get into unnecessary trouble.” 

Bradley looks at Jake with an eyebrow raised, emphasizing Beau’s point. Jake’s look softens and he nods once, making a silent promise to his wingman. Freshly dismissed, Jake, Payback and Fanboy make their way to the launch pad, the rest of the Daggers staying in the briefing room when they will be able to follow communications and Kate’s sensors that have been installed on each of their jets. 

“That sounds pretty scary.” mutters Bob, looking at the wind map which shows a storm developing in real time. 

“You say scary, I say exciting.” answers Phoenix, awe in her eyes. “We’re not the same.” 

Kate chuckles and startles slightly when Jake’s voice comes in from the speaker. 

“Control this is Hangman, ready for takeoff.”

“Hangman, here is Control. You’re cleared for takeoff. Winds are three zero zero at seven, visibility is less than 3 miles.”

“Copy that.”

After that Kate waits expectantly for Payback to go through the same motions, not really sure of how this is going to play out. Looks are exchanged between the Daggers but no one seems to be more anxious than usual so she relaxes in her chair and keeps tabs on the oncoming data. 

“Head North-West” mutters Kate as she checks the map. 

“You have to talk in the headset, or else they won’t hear you.” Bradley instructs, handing her a pair of headphones with a microphone. 

“Oh shit, sorry.” Kate blushes and puts it on, Bradley smiling at her, kindness shining bright in his brown eyes. The contrast with the Bradley she encountered at the Hard Deck weeks ago is so stark, it almost feels as if she is facing another person all together. Filing that information for later inspection, Kate repeats her previous remark, receiving a crisp “Copy that, Valkyrie.” in her ears which sends a shiver of pride down her spine. 

“What happens if they get too close ?” asks Phoenix, eyebrows furrowed. 

“Considering the power of the engines on your jets, that risk is minimal but it would be to get sucked inside the core of the storm, getting pushed up until they can extract themselves. That would compromise the integrity of the jets.” says Kate, chewing on her bottom lip. 

Phoenix nods and looks at Bob who has his arms crossed against his chest, not meeting the eyes of his front seat pilot when he says “Stop looking so excited Nat, it goes against every human instinct to fly into danger like this.” 

“You’re no fun, Bob.” groans Phoenix, the remark not dimming her smile for one bit. 

“Okay, you should get ready to shoot the flares. Fanboy, is your radar ready ?” asks Kate, cutting the conversation short. 

“Prepped and ready. You should be receiving feedback.” 

Kate looks at her screen and answers “All good. Jake, huh, Hangman, fire.”

A silence hangs in the room, Admiral Beau’s voice coming in from the control tower. “Hangman, you have permission to fire.” 

“Copy that.” 

Kate blinks a few times, the words settling on the radio, cheeks red as she realizes what she has just done. Ordering a fighter pilot to fire ? Overstepping an Admiral ? With wide eyes, she turns towards Phoenix and Coyote who are bent over in laughter, their wheezing breaths barely audible as they shed tears of pure merriment. 

“She doesn’t know !” exclaims Bob, trying to shush his friends, barely containing his own laugh. 

“Did I just- Oh shit, this is bad.” Kate says, feeling a pit in her stomach slowly swallow her. 

“It’s okay. You don’t know these kinds of things. But yeah, civilians don’t give orders.” Bradley says with a grin, clearly amused by the situation. 

Kate is so distracted by the incident that she doesn’t see Jake’s plane get too close, winds slowly swallowing him into the storm. 

“Hangman, turn around, you are gaining altitude too fast !” shouts Fanboy, an unmistakable edge in his voice. Suddenly everyone around Kate stops laughing and a silence stretches on the radio. She looks at her screen and sees Jake’s plane get too close, finally releasing the flares. Holding her breath, Kate counts the long seconds that pass before the sodium polyacrylate mixture finally absorbs the moisture, making it drop significantly. She sees Jake finally be able to get out of the turbulence and sucking winds and take his position back at Payback’s wing. Everyone shifts uncomfortably in their seat as Admiral Beau orders the two pilots back to the carrier, disapproval clear in his voice. 

“That’s gonna hurt.” mutters Coyote under his breath. Kate looks over at Bradley whose two hands are gripping the armrests of his chair, his face closed while his eyes betray how furious he is. Grimacing slightly, the scientist looks back at her screen, trying to hide her smile when she analyses the data she just received from the sensors on Jake’s plane. She knows why his team was worried, but she can also recognize that when Jake takes risks, they are for a reason. 

When Jake comes out of Admiral Beau’s office, his ears are still ringing from all the frustrated debrief he just had to sit through. Being in his cockpit, hearing the furious winds and hail that battered his canopy, Jake didn’t have to think. He felt it. The tug and push of the turbulence were overwhelming for a second but then suddenly he knew what he had to do. Sadly, his CO isn't on the same page as he states that Jake has “disobeyed” direct orders to “not engage in unnecessary dangerous manoeuvres”. Making his way to the changing room in a rather grumpy mood, Jake gets intercepted by Fanboy and Payback who are talking to the rest of the Daggers –except Kate who must still be behind her screen. The first thing Jake registers is Bradley who glares at him mercilessly, posture tense and straight as he breaks away from the group, taking determined steps in Jake's direction.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Bradley snaps, his brown eyes stormy and angry. 

“Hey I-”

“No, I don’t think so. You shut up for once in your life and let me talk. You knew better than anyone how dangerous these winds could be. And you agreed to stay out of trouble. So why the fuck did you have to go and play hero, again ?” A silence stretches between them, heavy with unspoken truths.

“Can I talk now ?” asks Jake after a beat, with a smirk that is so provocative he is surprised Bradley doesn’t punch him on the spot. “I didn’t play the hero. I did my job and exceeded expectations, maybe you should try it sometimes.”

Bradley’s eyes flash with something dangerous and surely enough, Jake draws in, like a moth to the flame. “Don’t you dare die on me stupidly, Seresin.” Bradley says through gritted teeth. 

“I wouldn’t dare.” answers Jake, getting closer still. They stare at each other for a long second, Bradley vibrating with barely contained frustration and anger that Jake knows to actually be terror at the idea of something bad happening. Not thinking twice about it, he reaches out and pulls his wingman into a warm hug, one of his hands coming to rest at the base of his neck as Bradley presses his face against his skin, inhaling the familiar scent of jet fuel and lemon. He feels Bradley's muscles relax as he soothes the fear out him by kissing his temple. 

“What the fuck ?” Jake overhears the murmur of a question that slipped through the open mouth of Payback who stands with the rest of the Daggers, all speechless at the sight. As he realizes what has just happened, he feels Bradley speak against his skin: “Well, shit.” 

The both of them laugh nervously and step back, Bradley’s ears redder than ever before. “Well, you idiots should start paying up. I won that bet AT LEAST !” shouts Phoenix, jubilation written all over her face. 

Jake smirk is so smug and radiates so much pride that it eases a bit of Bradley’s discomfort as they look at their friends and seem too dazed to say anything, before Bob smiles and gives Phoenix a 10 dollar bill. “Took you long enough.”

“FOR HOW LONG ?” finally yells Fanboy, eyes wide. “The Uranium Mission?” 

“Nah. 4 weeks ago actually.” answers Jake with a megawatt smile that overshine the sun itself.

“Bastard. You should have told us.” Coyote says, his own smile betraying how he really feels about the whole ordeal. The whole group starts asking questions, some that Bradley wishes he could unhear, as they make their way to the changing room so that Jake, Payback and Fanboy can shower. In front of the door, Natasha stops Jake and gives him a long hard look. “Don’t mess this up, Seresin because both of you could use a good thing in your lives.” 

Jake is too stunned to say anything in return so he just nods and gets in, his disastrous debrief long forgotten. 

Chapter Text

After dinner, Phoenix brings a plate to Kate who is still absorbed by the results of today’s outing. With an amused smile, Natasha brings a chair to sit beside the scientist,feet propped up on the corner of the desk. “Guess what?” 

“Bob finally stopped getting frustrated at Fanboy’s theory that we are in a simulation ?” Kate guesses, her eyes flickering towards Nat.

“Worse.” 

“Worse ?” asks Kate in an exaggerated strangled voice as she picks the fork and starts wolfing down her food. 

“You’re such a menace Kate, it’s appalling.” Phoenix comments with a laugh, taking her phone out to snap a picture of her eating. Surely enough, a second later, Kate’s phone buzzes with a group chat notification. She glares at Phoenix while masticating. Phoenix smirks and continues: “Yeah, as I was saying. Worse. Would you believe it if I told you that Rooster and Hangman are dating ?” Nat asks with a dramatic emphasis on the word. 

Kate keeps eating, her eyes coming up to Phoenix’s face. “Yeah ?” she asks, waiting for the piece of information that got Nat so excited. Phoenix blinks and says slowly: “You knew ? I can’t believe you knew and didn’t say a word ! You traitor !” 

“I thought everyone had noticed that they basically hung together every evening for the past weeks.” Kate laughs while shaking her head. “But wait, how do you know, then ?” she points her fork at Nat who pretends to be hurt by the lack of sharing on Kate’s end. 

“They hugged in front of us ? And I'm talking like a full on boyfriendy hug. One second Rooster was screaming at Hangman and the next they were practically kissing” she grimaces. “I’m scarred for life.”

“You aren’t.”
“Yeah, true. But still !” The two women chuckle softly and when she is done eating, Kate pushes the plate away from her. “Thanks again for the food.” 

“Wouldn’t want our smartest member to pass out because she forgot to eat.”

“Oh, I’m the smartest one ?” asks Kate with a smirk. 

“Don’t go fishing for compliments, you’re not ready for my expert level of complimenting.”

Kate raises an eyebrow at that, not at all convinced, but Phoenix just smiles, slow and deliberate, her eyes charged with something that Kate cannot place but makes her feel tingly all over. 

“Are you done for tonight ?” finally asks Phoenix. “Care for a walk around the launchpad ?” 

“Already missing that plane of yours ?” mocks Kate gently. 

“More like missing you because you’re always holed up in this office.” responds Nat without a beat of hesitation as she stands up and hands a crewneck to Kate. “It’s a bit chilly.”

Kate swallows with difficulty,feeling weirdly seen by her friend. She nods and smiles shyly, heat creeping up her cheeks and ears as she stands. She puts on the crewneck and takes a second to analyse the smell that suddenly envelopes her. Jet fuel being a constant when you’re around fighter pilots, she quickly finds the underlying smell of cinnamon that marks the garment as Phoenix’s. The thought makes Kate blush even more furiously. The two women make their way out, dropping Kate’s empty plate on a tray along the way. 

As they walk, conversation flows easily between them, the topic jumping back from personal anecdotes to Navy related ones. Natasha takes time to tell the story of the Uranium Mission to Kate who suddenly gets a better understanding of Bradley’s and Jake’s dynamic, after months of just hearing Jake’s side of things. 

“So, basically Jake saved Bradley’s and Maverick’s lives ? That’s a loaded way to start a relationship.” Kate says with a huff. 

“Tell me about it. Maverick went in thinking he had nothing to lose and it made him ready to sacrifice himself. The martyr complex is something that runs in the family apparently. But then Jake saving them also allowed Bradley and Maverick to work on their own relationship, for the better.” Phoenix adds, signaling Kate to turn right. 

They arrive at a vantage point where the wind is whipping around, unrestricted by any other prominent structure of the carrier. Kate’s breath is taken away by the strength of the gushes, and as she grips the railing she lets a smile stretch on her face. Nat observes the way the scientist slowly relaxes, muscles easing into a more natural posture than the one she held since they left the office. Kate Carter is still a mystery to her, but there is at least one thing Nat knows for sure and it’s that Kate is made for the outdoors. 

“Being on a carrier is hard. I miss the freedom of just getting out.” she hears Kate say as if hearing her thoughts. “And it’s only been a month.” Phoenix nods and looks at the barely discernable waves below before answering: “You are doing great. The first time I had to stay stuck with my squadron on a carrier, I crashed out the second week.”

“Punched someone ?” asks Kate, jokingly. 

“He deserved it.” is everything Phoenix says and it sends Kate into a fit of laughter. Nat looks at her, a proud grin on her lips, the sound of Kate’s laugh easing her into a quiet sense of peace. “I’m sure he did.” Kate finally lets out, shoulders still agitated by small chuckles.

Talking for a while, the two women finally decide to go to bed when the cold and humidity manage to get to them. They make their way to the barracks and slip in quietly, Jake and Bradley already back and tucked in for the night. 

***

Surprisingly the first nightmare that wakes everyone doesn’t come from Bradley, but Kate. 

She wakes with a scream that tears at her throat, cheeks wet with tears and a pounding heart. Drenched in sweat, she sits in her bed, fighting to get a shaky breath out, someone turning the light on, a groan coming from another bed at the sudden luminosity. Kate is trying to get her bearings when someone climbs in her bed, and suddenly Jake is facing her, worry clear in his sleepy eyes. 

“Hey, Sapulpa. You okay ?”

Kate is unconsciously rubbing at her scar, her pyjama shorts leaving the skin exposed. Jake’s fingers stop her hand halfway. “You’re okay.” he whispers. 

Kate looks at him with fresh tears in her eyes as her bottom lip trembles uncontrollably. “Sorry.” she says in a shaky voice that breaks Jake’s heart in a million pieces. “Don’t be. Want me to stay with you ?” 

Kate shakes her head no, not wanting to force her friend to leave his own boyfriend hanging. She looks down and surely enough, Phoenix is already looking at her, looking fierce as ever despite the bed head and sleepy eyes. A silent question passes between them and Kate’s nod is all it takes for Phoenix to grab her pillow and blanket. 

“You okay, Valkyrie ?” asks Coyote in a sleepy voice, rough and barely articulated. 

Kate swallows and dry her cheeks determinedly. “Yeah. Sorry for that.” 

“You're fine, girl.” he answers. And there is that. No pressing questions, no anger at waking them. Kate’s heart warms at that, despite knowing that if they settle back so easily it’s because they are already used to it. The thought is enough to send a shiver down her spine. 

“You’re gonna be okay ?” asks Jake, hand resting between her shoulderblades.

“Yes. Thank you.” She offers him a tired smile and looks down at her thigh, covering it with her blanket. Her hands are shaking but she finally can breathe more controllably, and that is victory enough in her books. 

Soon enough Jake is replaced by Nat who takes a long look at Kate and nods silently, easing beside her, setting her pillow right.  “If you snore I can’t promise you won’t end up sleeping in the hall, Carter.” 

Kate chuckles weakly, her throat still rough from the screaming but still grateful at the attempt of humour. “Fair enough.” She quickly grabs her water bottle and takes a long sip before someone turns the light off again and the Daggers ease back into sleep. 

The next morning is a difficult one, as they tend to be after her nightmares. But Kate pushes through with gritted teeth, the Daggers looking at her with unconcealed worry. Their worry shows in the way Reuben shares his protein bar, Bradley takes two water bottles on the way to the gym, handing her one without saying anything, or even in the way they come up in her office at the end of the day with a deck of cards, settling on the floor for a game while she finishes up. 

“Why do you keep coming into my very small and uncomfortable office ?” she asks on the way to the mass hall.

“It’s quieter than the common areas of the carrier where we usually hang out.” answers Bob who had taken a book to read while the others played. 

 “Plus it smells nicer.” adds Javy with a grimace. 

Phoenix jokes about Javy being the one who smells and the whole group loudly make their way to their usual table. Kate doesn’t believe their reasoning for one second, but it feels nice to just be included when she can so she doesn’t say anything and just enjoys the feeling of having more brothers than she ever could have hoped for. 

***

“Pilots for this will be Phoenix and Rooster. But as discussed with Doctor Carter,it would be beneficial for her to go in Phoenix’s backseat instead of Bob.” announces Admiral Beau during the briefing, Dagegers nodding in understanding. 

The mission is entering the second half of its second month and even if good progress is made, Kate wants more. She and Bob talked at length about this and came to the same conclusion. “I will let Doctor Carter explain the details of this, hoping that knowing the risks will stop some of you from doing something stupid.” A spark of frustration ignites in the Admiral’s eyes when he looks over at Jake who is playing with a toothpick, all smug and proud. Sensing the danger of the situation, Kate rises on her feet and makes her way toward the board, slowly explaining the different parts of the storm they will fly through and what she hopes to do once they are there. She then goes on to present the new mixture developed by engineers of the Navy who are working under her supervision. Despite the technical aspects being boring and complicated to grasp, she can see that most of the Daggers are listening and try their best to understand. 

“Any questions ?” she asks at the end. 

Admiral Beau waits for a beat and as no one raises their hand, he dismisses them and gets out of the room while the Daggers slowly get up and moving. 

“Scared yet, Sapulpa ?” asks Jake when they make their way to the changing room.

“Not even a little.” says Kate with a grin, eyes bright with excitement. 

Once she is in her flightsuit, harness on, Jake inspects all the details, and then Bob and before another one of them can make sure she is ready, Kate raises a hand and announces that “No more mother henning will be tolerated.” which sends Phoenix barking with laughter as they approach the jets. 

Easing herself in the backseat, Kate looks around with attention, making sure that everything is exactly as she studied for days in her office, refusing to come on a mission anything but highly prepared. Bob quizzed her a hundred times about multiple scenarios, easing her anxiety with preparation. She is ready but yet still feels like an imposter being in a fighter jet with one of the most talented pilots in America. 

“Valkyrie, do you read me ?” asks Phoenix in the headset.

“Loud and clear. You ?” 

“Perfect.” Nat switches canals “Control this is Phoenix. Ready for Takeoff.” 

Kate lets the conversation fade to the background of her mind, already making sure her instruments are ready. 

“Bob, are you receiving data ?” she asks when Phoenix stops talking and Bradley goes through the motions of takeoff checkups. 

“Looking good.” answers Bob, voice distorted by the radio. 

The first acceleration takes Kate by surprise and she has to focus on her breathing for a second to avoid seeing stars, but when it passes, she looks to the side where Bradley is flying at their wing and she can’t suppress the smile that stretches her lips. “It’s so pretty up here !” she says, Phoenix smiling at that, hearing the excitement in Kate’s voice mirror her own. 

Phoenix and Bradley follow the trajectory Kate gave them in the briefing room before their flight, the scientist correcting slightly their angle and altitude as she looks at her radar. Hail starts pounding on the canopy, the noise of it drowning anything else. As Phoenix makes a fast and steady approach, Kate’s eyes widen at the sight of the storm ahead. 

“Talk to me, Valkyrie.” comes Phoenix words in the headset, barely audible above the outside noise. 

The jet is shaking around them, winds pushing and pulling at its wings. “Lower your altitude to 4200 feet so that we can manage slightly slower winds. I think we’re putting too much pressure on the engines. Right engine’s temperature is rising.” 

“Copy that.” Phoenix answers, a slight strain in her voice as she fights against the turbulence. 

As they are getting closer to the core of the storm, suddenly the jet lurches forwards before an alarm starts blaring in the cockpit. 

“Right engine on fire !” screams Kate when she looks outside and sees heavy smoke coming out of their engine.

“Disengaging. Throttling up and extinguishing the right engine.” announces Phoenix as she climbs up again. But suddenly the winds are tugging at them and one engine isn’t enough to maintain their course.

Rooster comes in, voice tight: “I am disengaging,waiting for further instructions.”  

“Phoenix, we are drifting !” says Kate, trying to remember the lessons she has had for two months.

“Throttling up !” shouts Phoenix back, as she tries her hardest to get out of the heavy winds that swallow them up. A second alarm starts blaring, as a warning light flashes in front of Kate. “Environmental Control System failure !” Kate shouts to Phoenix, panic slowly rising, making her a bit dizzy. She can feel the pilot trying to get them out of the storm as the jet is pushed upstream. But Kate already knows what’s coming. She studied the physics of it so much that a quiet sense of acceptance washes over her. They are not getting out of this storm. The winds are too strong, their engines too weak, and if the inside pressure of the cockpit starts acting up, they will likely pass out because of decompression sickness before they get the chance to do anything. 

“Phoenix, do you hear me? You have to shoot the flares so that the storm can die down and we can punch out as soon as it does. Rooster, you should shoot yours too.” instructs Kate,forcing her voice to stay even and calm.

There is no hesitation, no questioning after Kate’s orders. Phoenix shoots her flares and hopes Rooster is doing the same as she desperately grips her jockstick. Starting to feel the effects of the pressure change in the cockpit, Phoenix blinks a few times, fighting the numbness that is slowly making its way from her fingertips to her arms. 

“Valkyrie ?” she asks, voice sluggish as her jet is being thrown around, banging her head against the canopy, her helmet absorbing most of the vibrations. Only silence answers her, Kate having already passed out in her backseat. She hears Rooster shout at her in her headset, but her mouth is too heavy to move and thinking is too difficult, so she just ignores it. 

“I’m sorry.” Phoenix mutters, before darkness claims her too.

When she comes to, Phoenix feels the cold water all around her, her oxygen mask keeping most of it out of her mouth whereas her flightsuit seems to have absorbed liters of it. Letting her muscle memory take over, she punches the ejection button, her whole body straining against the force of the whole process as water rushes all around her, bubbles pressing against her face. When she breaks the surface of the water, she disarms her mask and coughs a mouthful of water before inhaling deeply, her personal flotation device deploying,managing to keep her above the restless waves. Her whole body is so painful, especially her joints, that she considers closing her eyes to regain a bit of control before her survival training kicks off, clearing her head just enough so that she starts looking around for Kate. Luckily her own survival gear worked out perfectly and she lays on her back, floating and unconscious, as Phoenix fights against the current to grip her harness between her cold and numb fingers. The headache she felt coming only gets worse as seconds pass by, and the luminosity of the sky and water hurt her eyes so much that she wants to close them. But she can’t because she has to stay awake, has to make sure that they make it home, that Kate gets the help she needs. So she blinks against the pain,breathing slowly.

As she looks up, Phoenix can see that the sky is slightly clearer, any sign of the storm long gone. She wonders where Bradley is, if he made his way to the carrier as Admiral Beau most definitely must have ordered, or if he is above them, standing watch somehow. A sizzling sound comes out of her headset, making her grimace in pain. 

“Medivac two minutes out.”

Phoenix frowns, wondering how long she and Kate have been in the water for the medivac to be so close. Her limbs are oddly stiff, the shivers that run down her body feel like being prickled by a million needles and her mind feels awfully slow, but otherwise she is in one piece and still breathing, which is a win. Kate on the other hand, is in a terrible state and despite the freezing cold, she doesn’t seem to be able to regain consciousness. Gripping Kate’s harness as tightly as she can, Phoenix feels the burning behind her eyes get worse. Trying to focus on her own breathing and to establish a game plan, she fights against the terror and anxiety that are menacing to overcome her, the sadness of dying so far away from her friends and family too heavy to bear. She can vaguely hear the sound of an incoming helicopter, but all the sounds are so fuzzy and distorted that she can’t be sure, and the exhaustion is slowly catching up to her, weighing on her eyelids. Phoenix takes one last look at the sky and finally lets her body shut down,admitting defeat for the first time in her life, distantly hoping that her flotation device won’t give up on her.

Chapter Text

When Maverick pushes through the hospital doors, the sight that welcomes him is like a gut punch he can’t dodge. From across the hallway he can see that Phoenix is screaming, Bradley, of all people, physically restraining her. 

“Lieutenant, you can go behind these doors, you are unauthorized to go any further.”

“Come and see if I care about your stupid rules!” shouts Phoenix, face distorted by anger and fear, fighting against Bradley’s grip. 

“Do you need me to call security ?” asks an officer who walks to the nurse who stays standing in front of Phoenix, unflinching. 

Maverick grimaces at that and comes to stand near Bradley and Phoenix. He takes a good look at the both of them, cataloguing signs of everything that looks suspicious. Phoenix, who is now disengaged, can barely stand on her feet as the fight left her body at the sight of Maverick. Maverick looks at the nurse and smiles apologically. “Have you had time to examine her ?” he asks, his eyes flickering in Phoenix’s direction, assessing the big cut on the bridge of her nose that still bleeds. 

“No, she has refused to go. We took her out of the recompression chamber a few minutes ago and she has been persistent ever since.” 

“Okay.” says Maverick, gently sliding his arm around Phoenix’s torso, bearing most of her weight.”Let’s go Phoenix.” 

“She was my responsibility.” mutters Nat, tears falling down her cheeks as she starts sobbing, her whole body doubling over in pain as Maverick tries to hold her up. 

“I know. But we need to look at you, okay ? You’re not doing anyone any good by passing out.” 

Bradley steps over, letting Maverick guide Phoenix in a consultation room, another nurse following close by. When Phoenix is finally sedated and taken care of, Maverick comes out of the room, a little dazed, only to find Bradley still standing in the hallway. 

“You okay, kid ?” Mav asks, putting a hand on his godson’s shoulder. Bradley startles and looks at Mav with big empty eyes. 

“She wouldn’t stop screaming. I’ve never seen Phoenix like this, so angry and desperate.” says Bradley, exhaustion clear in his voice and in the way his shoulders slump forward. “She spent hours in the recompression chamber and still, her first thought once she got out was to make sure Kate was alright.” 

Maverick nods, sadness clear in his tired eyes. “I was asking about you. This is a lot. The water landing, the hospital.”

Bradley’s eye twitches as he looks to the floor, breathing in through his nose.”Oh you mean the fact that my best friend almost died like my father? Or the fact that one of my friends is actually fighting for her life ? What do you think, Mav ?” His words are ice cold, biting like they used to, barely registering how much damage he is inflicting. His own pain and fear are so big they feel suffocating, almost world ending.

Maverick sharply inhales, a flash of pain piercing his heart at the reminder that their relationship is still a fragile thing he’s not used to taking care of. “Okay. Do you need me to drive you to base ?” 

“No, I'm good. Jake is coming with the others.” says Bradley, shaking his head, slowly making his way towards the chairs before letting himself slump on one of them. 

“That’s good. I’m going to see what news we’ve got on Kate’s state, you stay here okay ?”

Bradley hums in acknowledgment,his brown eyes fixed on the wall, unfocused.  

The hours between the moment of the crash and the moment Jake finally pushes the doors of the hospital open actually feel like days. No words and no orders can keep Jake from rushing toward Bradley, pulling the man in a fierce hug that almost breaks his ribs. Bradley doesn’t say anything, the weight of the incident too heavy on his shoulders to even start explaining it. Because when Bradley heard that Medievac was to bring Kate and Natasha to land, he flew all the way to the base where they were headed and waited there, all alone for hours. Something about that makes Jake furious, because he knows what relationship Bradley has with hospitals. It’s a bad one. One that reminds him of his barely breathing mom, of endless treatments, of life slowly slipping through his fingers. Hospitals are a constant reminder that Bradley Bradshaw lost the fight against his mom's cancer, the most important fight of his life at the time. And even if rationally, he knows he isn’t responsible, the simple smell of antiseptic angers him too much to think straight. And that drives Jake insane because he wants to protect his wingman, turned boyfriend, probably love of his life against the pain that comes with hospitals. And he can't and that’s unfair. So Jake does what he knows best and gets a handle on the situation. He pulls out a water bottle from his hoodie's pocket and hands it to Bradley who shakes his head in refusal. Jake crouches in front of him and says softly “You've got to drink, baby.” Bradley obeys absentmindedly, his eyes always returning to the doors where Kate disappeared, hours ago.

The rest of the Daggers filter in, Jake trying to give them each a task so that Bradley doesn’t feel crowded. When Javy and Reuben are on a food quest and Mickey on a coffee run, Jake finally sits besides Bradley, taking his hand and intertwinning their fingers. That's when Bradley opens his mouth, his voice hoarse and broken:

“She screamed.” he pauses before adding "Phoenix never screams.” 

Jake swallows and nods, signaling that he is listening. 

“They were scared she would suffer from amnesia or some neurological issue because of the pressure messing with her brain. But she woke up and immediately started screaming and crying. It was awful.” 

“And Kate ?” Jake asks in a strained voice.  

“She hadn’t woken up when medivac heliported them. That's not a good sign but Maverick is looking for updates.”

Jake squeezes Bradley’s hand gently, breathing with some difficulty when he hears Kate’s panic ring in his ears. 

“She will be okay. She has to.” whispers Bradley, his eyes searching Jake's, trying to share the last of his hope and determination. That’s when Maverick comes back and the look on his face gives away nothing, the two seated pilots looking at him expectantly.

“So ?” asks Jake a bit roughly.

“Kate is in a medically induced coma to avoid any more brain damage, and Phoenix cut herself while going out of the hyperbaric chamber so they are fixing her up and she should be awake in an hour or so.”

“Any more brain damage ?” repeats Jake, eyes wide, terrified by the words.

“They don't know for sure, we will be fixed once she wakes up. So far they have brought her vitals back to normal and made sure she is hydrated and oxygenated enough.”

Jake nods and fights against the nausea that Maverick's words triggered. He tries to calm his erratic heart and to make sense of the situation, in vain. And if there is one thing Jake Seresin isn't good at, it's waiting. So he stands and paces around the waiting room, the other pilots filtering in with hands full of coffee cups, snacks and candies, helplessness making them try to fix things with food and hot beverages. They settle around the room, mostly silent, which makes Jake’s heart ache even more because it feels unnatural and uncomfortable.They are pulled from their stupor and spiraling thoughts when a nurse who comes in with a note pad, asking in a clear voice : “Anyone here for civilian Kate Carter ?” asks a nurse who comes in with a note pad. 

“Yes !” the Daggers say in unison,Maverick coming closer as they stand and crowd the nurse for information.

“She’s awake. She will be transferred to room 250 in a few minutes.”

“Can we go see her ?” asks Jake, eyes pleading. 

The nurse takes a look at all of them, assessing the damage they are capable of. “Maybe in pairs ? And not for too long, she needs to rest.”

Maverick smiles softly at the quiet acceptance. If you work long enough in the Navy, you start to recognize people who won’t accept “no” as an answer when it comes to their loved ones. Bradley’s hand naturally finds Jake's as they make their way towards the hallway, looking for room 250. But when they get in, Bradley stops dead in his tracks, throat too tight to even speak as he looks at Jake with anxiety. The sight of Kate surrounded by all the instruments making sure she won’t die is hitting a little too close to home. Jake looks at Kate and then at him and nods, kissing his temple and breathing in his familiar scent. “Why don’t you wait with Mav ?”

As Bradley backtracks, Jake comes to sit in the chair near Kate’s bed who looks at him distantly. 

“Hey Sapulpa.”

She doesn’t answer, only blinking once to acknowledge the greeting. 

“You okay ?” he then asks when taking her hand in his with infinite precaution. Kate blinks again. 

Exhaustion is clear on her face and in the way her eyelids seem too heavy to be lifted again and again. Jake sees the exact moment when she gives up and lets darkness claim her again, her body relaxing under his worried eyes. He doesn’t realize how long he stays there, her hand in his, but then a hand is on his shoulder and Maverick is saying softly to him: “Get back to base with Bradley. I will look after Phoenix and Kate white you all get some sleep.” 

Jake nods and stands, slightly swaying on his feet.”Thank you, Sir.” 

***

When she opens her eyes again, Phoenix feels warm and comfortable, which immediately strikes her as weird and unusual. Looking around her frantically, she takes in all the details of her room and realization hits her at once. 

“You okay.” says a voice on her left. A voice rich and warm that wraps around her like a blanket. Bradley. Phoenix turns her head and finds him looking at her intently, eyebrows creased. “You scared the shit out of us, Nat.” he says in a voice that threatens to break under the emotion.

Phoenix swallow, throat closing up. “Kate?” she asks, eyes burning. 

“Alive and recovering.” 

“How bad ?” 

Bradley pauses, making sure he chooses the right words to answer her. “She has been in and out of consciousness since they picked you up.” 

“How long has it been ?” 

“36 hours.”

Phoenix closes her eyes and forces a deep breath out. “Fuck.” Bradley doesn’t answer but he mirrors the sentiment. 

“Did I-” she frowns, trying to get a grip on her fleeting thoughts. “Did I scream at that poor nurse ?” 

Bradley stills in his chair, eyes widening. “Yes you did.” He answers softly. But he doesn’t say how her voice tore into his heart, the desperation so clear in it. He doesn’t say that seeing her lose control made him realize how scared she was. Because where Bradley is all warmth, sometimes simmering rage turning to a boiling explosion that burns anyone trying to reach out, Phoenix is cold. She is the soothing wind that blows on a hot day, the ice on an aching muscle. Phoenix is all about control and never raising her voice above the threatening tone she mastered years ago. Seeing her lose it, in front of so many people, felt extremely dangerous. “But Maverick talked to her. It’s all good Nat.” 

Phoenix looks over at him and takes in the unusual tension that sets his shoulder back, the way his face looks pale and drawn, and she has to look away for a second, to catch her breath at the realization that Bradley had to see a loved one in a hospital bed, again. When her breathing settles, Phoenix reaches for his hand, her fingers almost cold against his warm ones. 

“I’m sorry for scaring you.” 

Bradley’s eyes, two pools of warm golden light, find her and she smiles, feeling relief wash over as she takes in the fact that she is safe. They made it home. 

“I’m just glad you are both alive.” Bradley manages without crumbling down entirely as he gently presses Phoenix's hand. They both stay like this, basking in each other’s reassuring presence until a nurse comes in to discharge Phoenix after a series of tests to make sure she doesn’t suffer from any lingering effects of the decompression. 

As they make their way slowly toward Kate’s room, Natasha feels her throat tighten, making it harder to breathe with each step she takes. When the door opens, Kate looks over at them and surprise lights her face. 

“Phoenix.” she whispers, her hand twitching in her direction. Nat brows tremble as she fights back tears. 

“Hey, Kate.”

When she sits on the edge of the bed, Kate’s hand comes to rest on her wrist, as if checking for a pulse. Bradley stands near them, hands deep in his pockets, he exhales slowly before asking “How are you feeling ?”

“It’s a bit fuzzy and like everything is slow around me.” Kate says, and both pilots can see that she is fighting to get the words out. “They said that I could have…” She stops and blinks, frowning slightly. “Trouble. With memory and speech.” 

“How bad?” asks Phoenix, worry etched all over her face as she looks at Kate with sorry eyes. 

“They’re hopeful that in a few days I will be back to normal. They don’t want to discharge me because sleeping alone is not advised. But Mav is trying to convince them to let me go, saying I can crash at his place.”

Bradley smiles fondly at that, nodding. “Phoenix has been given a few days off to rest, I think Maverick will force her to spend as much of it at his place as possible.” he says with a huff of laughter. And surely enough, the next person to enter Kate’s room is Maverick, followed closely by Jake who immediately comes to stand in Bradley’s space. 

“Okay kids, Kate can leave if someone keeps an eye on her. So, I said that a squadron of hypervigilant navy aviators should be enough.” 

Kate rolls her eyes but Phoenix notices the small blush that spreads on her cheeks and to the tip of her ears as she hides a grateful smile. 

“Wheels up in ten, Kate, you're okay to change on your own ?” asks Mav, eyebrows slightly bunched up. 

“Yes, Sir.” she groans, getting up slowly, not managing to hide her grimace as the world tilts. 

Everyone looks at her in disbelief but when Jake takes a step forward, opening his mouth to say something, Kate interrupts him immediately, voice rough. “Please. I just need 5 minutes. I’ll meet you outside.” 

Bradley brings his hand to Jake’s arm, squeezing gently, trying to get the pilot's attention. When he turns around, he can see that Jake is sick with worry, but Bradley also understands the frustration in Kate’s voice and he gets that she needs a minute to just breathe, to figure out what her next steps are. “Come on.” Bradley whispers, taking his best friend and his boyfriend with him,forcing them out of the room while Maverick gets the car around for them to head home.