Chapter Text
Jake watched as the parachutes floated down on the old cratered airstrip. It’d been three months since the mission. It’d been three months since Rooster and Maverick went down. Three months since they’d been listed as MIA. Presumed dead, but not declared. Jake knew somehow that that was only due to Cyclone refusing to accept that Maverick hadn’t made it. That he wouldn’t have made sure Rooster made it.
The special detachment had all gone their separate ways after their week long leave. They’d spent it together, mourning the loss of their friend and team leader. Jake himself had spent more than one night piss drunk and crying on Coyote’s shoulder. He wasn’t necessarily proud of it, but the what ifs plagued him.He’d promised himself he’d talk to Rooster after he got back. He’d promised he’d be less of an ass to him. He never got the chance. His last words to him were “You give ‘em hell” when they should have been “Come back safe.”
Before they’d shipped out they all promised to stay in touch. Fanboy had created a group chat titled “Asshole Aviators Anonymous” and there were usually at least three comments in the chat every day. Most of them checking in, sending stupid pictures on their days off. But every once and a while it was a picture of a guy wearing a Hawaiian shirt, or a bad tattoo of a Phoenix. One time Fritz had sent a picture of a blank hangman game and the chat had spent the night playing over Facetime. No matter the distance, the mission had proven how much it meant to have connection, and to appreciate those people you care about.
Phoenix and Bob were stationed out in Florida. Coyote had taken Bradley’s place in Japan, Fanboy and Payback going with him. Jake, however, had been selected to float from place to place, providing air cover when necessary. Today, for example, had him maintaining altitude and being ready to attack if there were any bandits spotted by Comanche.
In what seemed like hours, but was only about thirty minutes, the first report relayed from the Seals.
“Command we need medevac here now.” The Lieutenant Commander called. “We need one ASAP” Jake frowned and looked down at the old base. It didn’t seem to be on fire or anything, and if they still had aircraft there’d be a very different conversation.
“Seal Team 3, please repeat.” The command requested.
“We need a medevac right now. There. My God…There’s prisoners down here that need medical attention.” Jake sucked in a breath. “One’s American, tags read… Lieutenant B… Bradshaw.” Jake swore he felt his heart stop and his stomach drop to the bottom of the plane.
“Rooster.” He whispered.
“Shield 1 can you repeat?” Command asked. Jake cleared his throat, when did it get so tight?
“Rooster” He repeated. “Bradshaw was one of the MIA from the previous mission in the area. He’s been missing for three months. Is there...” He paused, unsure if he wanted to know the answer. “Is there a Captain Mitchell? Among them?” He asked. There was silence on the comms.
“Command to Seal Team 3, how many do we need to prepare for?” There was more silence on the comms. Jake figured that he was counting, seeing if Maverick was among the prisoners, but when the grown man’s voice shook Jake felt sick.
“Just one ma’am. The rest didn’t make it.”
*********
“When I give you the signal, you’re going to push this button until the needle hits 120, then you’ll need to pull the pins.” Bradley nodded and watched as Maverick climbed up the ladder. He quickly stowed it and turned to push the button when a firecracker went off. A loud crack echoed in his head and instantaneously the pain dropped him to his knees.
‘Not a firecracker then.’ He thought as he grabbed his shoulder.
“Bradley!” Maverick called, jumping out of the plane and pulling him behind the jet. “Bradley, fuck!” Looking up at his godfather Bradley felt the pain slowly start to spread from his shoulder through his whole body when Maverick put pressure on the wound, shifting the shattered bones into his muscles. Someone was screaming, and it took him a second before he realized it was himself.
“Go.” Bradley said, his voice already tiring. “Go, I can’t fly, you gotta get out of here.” Maverick shook his head.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“ Hands in the air ” a voice called and Bradley tried to lift his hand, screaming in pain again.
“ Hands in the air! ”
***
Bradley screamed as one of the enemies stopped the bleeding in his shoulder, haphazardly stitching him up with ugly uneven stitches.
***
Bradley woke to a piece of bread being thrown at his face. He managed to catch it with his good hand, and eagerly ate it all, looking at Maverick who was eating it slower. He took a handful of the bucket of clean water they’d given them and slurped it up the best he could. He’d just finished his loaf when half of one was handed to him.
“Mav” he whispered and the older pilot shook his head.
“You need to heal.” He responded.
***
Bradley’s jump when he felt someone roughly grab his dog tags. The scream when he watched Maverick get punched in the gut and dragged out of the makeshift cell. He tried to get up, but the jostling of his shoulder caused him to scream, this time in pain.
When Maverick returned his face was bloody and his already crooked nose was broken worse.
***
Bradley standing for the first time without screaming in pain, walking over to the tired Maverick trying to hand him his loaf of gross bread.
Maverick shaking his head and handing over half his loaf instead.
“You need it kid.”
“Mav.” Maverick’s smile looked broken.
“You need it.”
***
The days blurring together. The only way to differentiate them was the two loaves of bread and the changing of their water and shit bucket what Bradley guessed was every three days.
Bradley watching as the bones on his wrist became more prominent. The hollowing of Maverick’s cheeks.
***
Bradley catching Maverick as best as he could, he’d never regained full motion of his arm with a shattered collarbone, when he’d gone down.
Bradley sobbing as Maverick told him he was sorry. Bradley crying until there were no more tears to cry.
***
Bradley crying, holding Maverick’s body as loud bangs and shouts floated from the hallways. The movement of flashlights around him. Hearing English for the first time in who knows how long.
***
Bradley looking up, bloody and emaciated, seeing Navy Seals looking at him in horror.
Bradley grabbing his dog tags and holding them out, showing them he was American.
Bradley holding Maverick’s still warm body.
*********
Bradley jerked awake, heart pounding and his breathing erratic. There was an incessant beeping and something in his nose, his throat burned, and his shoulder hurt like hell. He had to be in a hospital, but how? And why? Reaching up he felt his nose, frowning at the feeling of an untrimmed beard, and a cannula shoved up his nose. He pulled at it, trying to take it out but a calloused hand gently took his and pulled it away, interlocking their fingers instead of letting go.
“Shh, hey you’re okay, you’re safe.” A familiar voice whispered. “Stay down, you’re okay, you’re safe, you’re in Landstuhl, you’re okay, we got you out.”
Maverick, he thought, but the voice didn’t match and he remembered. He remembered. He looked up at the white ceiling and winced at the bright light. Looking over Bradley let out a soft whine when he noticed that it was Hangman holding his hand. How did he even get here? How did he know? How did they even find him? Blinking a few times he furrowed his brow. Hangman looked like shit, his khakis all rumpled and his hair a mess, like he’d just gotten out of the shower, like he hadn’t slept in days. Hangman smiled softly at him, and Bradley realized that was probably one if not the first genuine smile he’d gotten from Jake, besides maybe the last time he saw him.
“Hey Roo, there’s those honey eyes.” He whispered. “Didn’t think I’d ever see them again.” Jumping a bit he let go of Bradley’s hand and grabbed a small cup of water. “I should probably push the nurse button so they know you’re awake, but your throat is probably dry as hell.” Bradley took a couple of gulps and felt the burn in his throat subside.
“How’d you get here?” He asked, his voice raspy and hoarse from disuse. Jake blushed and rubbed the back of his head.
“I may or may not have been there when they found you. I got a month’s leave after that mission and I…” He sighed. “You shouldn’t be alone after all of that.” Bradley felt tears well in his eyes and Jake gently ran a hand through Bradley’s long hair.
“Mav” he whispered and Jake nodded. Bradley could tell by the look that his fears had been confirmed. They’d been too late.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry Roo.” Bradley rubbed his eyes and took in a deep breath to keep from crying. His dad, Mom, Ice, and now Mav? He was alone in the world. A true orphan.
“Does, does Phoenix know?” He whispered. Jake smiled softly and pulled out his phone, opening the group chat and holding it so Bradley could see. There were video message after video message. Opening the first one he let out a sad smile as Fanboy’s face popped into the screen.
“Rooster! Dude! Holy shit! I’m so happy you’re okay! I’m gonna send you all the chocolate from here!” Payback came into the screen shortly after and held up a Japanese chocolate bar.
“ Dude, Chocolate in America stinks, we need more stuff like this! I’m so glad you’re okay man. We love you and will see you soon.”
Bradley laughed as he scrolled down and clicked the next one. This time Bob’s face appeared on screen.
“Hey rooster,” Bob’s sincere voice filtered through the speakers. “You don’t… I’m so glad you’re okay. I’m working on getting some leave, same with Phoenix, we’ll be there when you get home.” Sniffling Bradley opened the next one.
“ Hey man!” Coyote said. “ I’m really glad you’re back! We all really missed you, no one more than Jake but I’m super glad you’re coming home.” Bradley looked up at Hangman who ran a hand over his face, obviously trying to hide a blush. Bradley filed that away for way later when he could process it. Clicking on the final video he did let the tears fall when he saw Phoenix on the screen.
“Hey Roo, I’m so.” Her eyes watered and Bradley wiped away a tear. “You don’t know how happy I am to know you’re coming home. I can’t imagine what you’re going through, but we’re here for you. Bob Bob and I are working on getting leave and if Jake’s right we’ll be there when you get home. Okay?” Bradley nodded even through it was a video and held up the phone to Jake when it was done.
“Sorry for being a mess.” He said, trying to shrug it off. Jake sat down and texted everyone that Bradley was awake before putting his phone down.
“You just went through hell Roo, I’m pretty sure that you have every right in the world to be a little bit of a mess.” Bradley chuckled looking over at Jake.
“Who are you and what happened to Hangman?” He asked. Jake furrowed his brow and Bradley looked back up at the ceiling. “I don’t think you’ve ever been this nice to me before.” Jake sighed and looked down at his hands.
“Well, I never almost lost you before, maybe I’m just happy I got a second chance, and I’m trying to do this whole friends thing right. You can ask Coyote, I’m not even a dick anymore.” Bradley chuckled.
“What’s going to happen to me now?” He asked.
“Well,” A new voice came in. Bradley jumped and looked over at the door to see a doctor and Cyclone who had just walked in. Bradley went to move but the superior officer waved him off.
“If you try to stand you’re going to pass out.” He said looking over to Jake who nodded. He nodded back and they both turned to the doctor.
“We had to re break your clavicle as it’d been shattered with the gunshot wound, we removed a bunch of the bone and put a plate in to keep it as stable as possible. Hopefully once it’s healed you won’t be in as much pain and should gain a lot of motion back in your arm. You’re severely malnourished and underweight so we’ll need to work on a plan for that.” Cyclone looked over at him.
“Maybe a haircut and shave.” He said, squinting his eyes. “Unless you like the hobo look.” Bradley chuckled and shook his head, not mentioning how the black spots appeared in his vision.
“You’ve been granted POW status.” Cyclone said after the doctor was done. “Due to your injuries and experiences you’ve been honorably discharged. You’ll receive a Purple Heart and the POW medal, we’re working on what else we can get you, but you’re gonna be well taken care of.” Cyclone said, patting Bradley on the arm.
“They’re saying you should be able to get out of here in a couple of days, once you’ve had a little more time to recover. We can get you state side and you’ll be relaxing.” Cyclone was quiet for a minute before he looked at Jake and sighed.
“I have to talk to you about Maverick.” He whispered. Bradley sucked in a breath and Cyclone closed his eyes.
“You were his next of kin, that leaves everything to you. There will be paperwork, but we can leave that for once you’re doing a bit better.” Nodding over to the doctor and then Jake, Cyclone walked out of the room with the doctor on his heels. Bradley stared at the ceiling some more, already tired of counting the holes on them.
“I don’t have anywhere else to go.” He whispered. “What am I gonna do?” Jake took his hand, determination in his voice.
“We’ll figure it out, Roo, you’re not alone anymore.” Jake bit his lip and looked up at the ceiling. It was in that moment he knew he’d move hell for Bradley Bradshaw.