Chapter Text
It legitimately started out as an innocently pleasant day.
Penny had invited Maverick and what members of his found family who were available over for a summer barbeque. The slight catch to it was that it was also inventory/repair weekend and it was the easiest way to have extra hands for help.
Maverick paused from his minor construction work to take in everything. There were sounds of multiple conversations, thuds from heavy boxes being set down, tinkling of glassware, various tools being used, and the faint strains of music from the jukebox. Members of his found family from both generations were here: Ice and Slider, Hondo, Rooster, Hangman, Coyote, and Phoenix and Bob. Amelia had been there briefly but after doing a few easier tasks for her mom, had been excused to go hang with her friends.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Pete returned to the task at hand. Down below, Hondo held the ladder steady as he stood on the very top rung, unscrewing some lumber that had rotted.
"Be careful up there, Mav." the other man warned, watching him lean out past what was probably recommended. "Do you want to trade spots? I've got longer arms than you."
"I've...got it." Mav grunted, pulling the wood towards him. "Besides, I know you're not a fan of heights." Handing the wood down, he caught his friend's nod of relieved agreement. Reaching back out for the final piece, he felt his ribs pull, still recovering from his recent injuries. A cursory glance around the bar told him no one was paying him any mind, which (when it came to matters of his health) he preferred. He'd quickly grown tired of resting after they'd returned home from the mission but the combination of his older brother's admonishing looks coupled with his son's puppy dog eyes made him take it easy longer than he normally would.
In fact, today marked the first weekend that he had finally been allowed to leave the house and do productive things (he'd still done some tasks around the house but his minders didn't have to know that).
"You take it easy today, you hear me?" Slider warned before they entered the bar. "Take breaks and don't overdo it. It's not just you working today, you've got plenty of younger people here to help."
Mav raised a brow and replied sassily "Is that what you tell yourself every day in the mirror?"
Slider smacked him over the head, not hard enough to hurt, but enough that Mav protested.
"Enough you two," Ice called as he strode past them, ever the voice of reason. "You're supposed to be setting an example here."
They all entered and after the initial greetings and small talk, they'd been given a list of tasks to be done and groups broke out to divide and conquer. For the better part of the morning, everything went quickly and efficiently. As it got closer to noon, things began to slow as the temperature rose with the sun. Having been on a ladder for the majority of the time, Maverick had forgotten his promise to hydrate and take it easy. Sure, he was still tender if he moved wrong, but it had been just so great being out and surrounded by his family and friends again.
He just had this last board to grab and then he'd take a break. Wiping the sweat from his eyes with his shirt sleeve, he dragged the heavy wood towards him. Handing the final board down to Hondo, he sighed in relief. He had felt a little dizzy for the past few minutes and he was glad that he had reached a good stopping place. The complaints from his ribs doubled that sentiment; he was due for another dose of painkillers. Taking one more fortifying breath he looked around the bar before making the climb down the ladder.
Only to freeze, heart in throat, as he spotted a ghost.
Goose. Goose was here with blood on his forehead, and he was lying prone on a nearby bench. Was he breathing? Maverick needed to help him.
Scrambling down the rungs, his foot caught and he fell ungracefully the rest of the way. Pain flared through his body but he didn't care. He had to help, had to fix the mistake he'd made. Through his panic, he heard voices.
"Holy shit!"
"-did he fall?"
"What's wrong?"
"Take it easy."
"Give him space. Come on, back up."
"Mav?"
Maverick felt like he'd floated away from his body and was watching the scene unfold from third person. He both saw and felt his body crawl towards his brother who had sat up in astonishment. He was both taking in too much and not enough air as he gasped his former RIO's name.
Hands were supporting him (holding him back?) so he fought to reach Goose's side. He couldn't save him back then-was this a chance to do so now or would he be forever haunted by his mistakes both asleep and awake?
He snapped back into his body in time to reach a shaky hand up to the blood on the other man's forehead. "'m so sorry." he breathed before his eyes rolled back and he knew no more.