Work Text:
Name: Hailey Mitchell. Parents Unknown. Date of birth estimated 10/12/1985. Height 5’6 Weight 150. Eye Color Blue, The questions keep going on and on. Here you were at 17 about to enlist and sign your life away.
Hailey knew from a young age that the navy would be the best place for her to go. She had always envied the freedom and talent one had to have for flying. Old man Slider that lived down the road from the group home that she grew up in always intrigued her and would always have cookies, candy and stories for the kids to listen to.
So here she is staring up at the recruiter. “Little lady, do your parents know you're here about to sign your life away?” You reply. “No sir. They are either dead, strung out or didn’t care enough to keep their own kid.” He looks at you with a surprised look. “Do you have the consent from then? If you're under 18 you will have to have that signed before we can get you set up for basic and the health screen that comes along with it.” “Sir, yes sir. Here is the form from your Foster Home and the state”. Thinking back it hadn’t been all that difficult to get anyone to agree to send you away. You had a reputation for being a bit of a trouble maker and it seemed like everyone could agree that this might be your saving grace.
The officer looks a bit uncomfortable as he reads the papers that you supply him. It’s normal for pity. Most people think military service is for the clinically insane or those that have no other options. But to you it was the freedom you sought. When you were left at the door of the orphanage you had one item left with you: a set of Dog tags that Read Pete Mitchell. You had always held onto hope that this man was your father or a relative or some relation. If you were honest it was those dog tags and old man Slider that convinced you to join up.
Slider was a man who lost his leg in one of the many wars he had fought in. From what you recalled he was flying with a pilot that was not his normal man and they got hit and his leg was the casualty from that trip up. From the way he described his Ice you would have thought that they were actually brothers. Ice, his normal pilot, had apparently flown half way across the world to the hospital in Germany to apologize to him for not flying with him that day. This was what you wanted as a family and it seems like the military might be the place to get it.
After a very lengthy day you had your marching orders you would be heading out to flight training and bootcamp at the end of the month. While you wished you could leave today the Sargent had told you to take the time to get your GED so you could at least come into the Navy with pride and a basic High School education. You also thought it would give you some time to chat with old man Slider about what not to do. The Sargent had also mentioned it would give you some time to work out and hopefully increase the amount of push ups you could do. You couldn’t decide if he was joking or not.
When you reached home your Group home warden or Miss Emily as you were formally supposed to call her asked you, “Your back? Did they not want to take you either?” No Ma’am I’m headed out at the end of the month. She huffs and sits back in her chair. “Well, I guess we will have to keep you until then. We expect you to get your GED at the next testing time. Which is Next week if you forgot.” I replied ''Yes Ma’am the Sargent told me to do the same thing so no worries there. She then sighed again. “I really do wish you could have left today but I suppose we will make do. We will be having another girl join us next week. She is five years old. I expect you to share your room with her. I also expect you to keep up with your choirs… Should I assume you will be visiting Mr. Kerner soon? To tell him the good news that he finally convinced one of you urchins to join the Navy? I still do not know why you didn’t go for the Airforce, you would probably be able to fly more.” You hold the dog tags that you were left with here at home. You knew your Father was in the Navy and that was more important to you than any flight time. You just wanted the chance to live up to this man that you had built up in your head.
“Yes, Ma’am. I would love to visit Mr. Kerner (Slider). I was hoping to go right after I drop off my bag in my room.” She looked at you with her judging eyes. “Fine, be home before 10PM.” She knew how much you could get sucked into Sliders stories. He always spoke of Ice, and this pilot named Maverick that he despised and about all the fun they had competing with one another to be the Top Gun at an elite school in California. You knew you would never be sent to Top Gun. You had to either know someone, go to officer’s school or be incredible at what you do and you were just Hailey and average girl.
You walk up to the door and you hear Slider watching Jeopardy. Huh. I guess it is later than you realize. You know that Slider loves to watch his show and usually ends all stories around this time. You think that it’s just a convenient excuse to get rid of the Little kids that love to listen to his stories. You decide to pluck up the courage to knock on his door. You hear him say “Shit. and the TV is turned off. It usually takes Slider a couple mins to get to the door so you wait patiently.
He opens the door and says, “Little Birdy, what are you doing here?” He knows that Miss. Emily doesn't usually allow us out this late. “Slider, you give him a big hug.” He may not be on your paperwork but this man had been as good as a Father to you growing up. “Little Bird, you know this is my jeopardy time why are you here?” “I have some news. I did it.” I hand him my enlistment papers and I see him start to tear up and before I know it he has me in the biggest hug that I have ever had. Slider normally is reserved and calm but I can see the emotion well up in his eyes.
“Little Bird, You should have told me you were going to do this. I would have gone with you to the recruiter. This is something that should be celebrated and you should never have to have done it on your own.” You smile at Slider and say, “Sir or is it Captain now? I’m going to have to learn to do a lot more things on my own soon.” He gives you a big teary eyed smile and says, “Why don’t you come in. I think I have some ice cream in here and I can give you a rundown on what to expect at basic and some flying tips. Now mind you I never was much of a pilot but I was an impressive RIO.”
You sit down at the table and listen to Mr. Slider’s stories and can’t help but think to yourself that is going to be you one day. The time flies as you are listening and observing and all of a sudden the clock hits 9PM and you sigh. Slider I think I have to go back or Miss. Emily will come looking for me. He smiles at you and says, “Little Bird, make sure you stop by before you deploy in two weeks. I also want you to know. I’ve been thinking about offering this for a while now. I have a spare bedroom if you need somewhere to crash when you're on leave. Please consider my home your home.”
You can’t help it but cry this time. Slider has been the most consistent person in your life. The Miss Emily’s of the world come and go. They usually last a month or two at most. Slider had been there playing with the kids as they grew up and telling stories and showing love and kindness, but she was the first one to actually follow through and seek out a military career. As far as you know most kids at the home ended up on the streets or in jail after leaving but that’s a thought for another day.
“I mean it kid. The Navy is no joke and if you need someone to call and listen to you that understands and still has a leave of security clearance I’m your guy.” You smile up at him with tears in your eyes. “I’ll have to take you up on that offer. I’ll at least write and try to tell you all the stories that I can from my time at school.” Slider then wheels you to the door and gives you a hug.
Sliders POV.
As soon as Little Bird leaves the room. I’m on my phone calling Ice. “Ice. I think we may have a problem.” I had long suspected that Little Bird might be related to the idiot Maverick. So much so that I had looped Ice in on it. Him and Maverick had been in a relationship for a good 5 years at this point. It was hush, hush still but I’m Ice’s RIO. I know everything he does.
I can tell Ice is waiting for me to go on. “You know Little Bird.” I hear his sharp intake of breath. She has enlisted in the Navy. Looking to be a Pilot.” You hear him sign on the other line. Ice says, “Do we need to get the DNA test or are you asking me to intervene for her on your behalf.” I sigh. I know what Ice is asking. Do I want to make her stay here for another six months before going to the naval academy? Ice could make it happen in a heartbeat, and she was like a daughter to me or do I want to finally make that Idiot take ownership for his suspected daughter. The girl has his eyes for goodness sake.
I can tell Ice is getting impatient. I sigh again and I say. “Would you do it on my behalf? I don’t think that Little Bird or your Idiot are ready for the fall out of finding a family.” I hear Ice chuckle on the line. He says, “Consider it done Slider. I know you can’t have any kiddos of your own since…. So any kid that you get to join up from the Home you live next to I will personally consider them your kid and do what I can to help.” Ice continues on to say. “She should expect the phone call tomorrow. You can choose to tell her or not. It’s going to be called the Foster Kid Initiative. So she won’t feel called out. We have another young Lady Natasha Trace who has requested entrance but was denied. I’m intervening on her behalf as well”
I can’t help but smile. Ice has a big heart once you get to know him. “Thank you Ice. I appreciate all you are doing for her.” I can tell that Ice is tired and worried about the fact that if Little Bird is Mavericks the devastation that would come from it. There was only one woman that could be her Mother and that is Charlotte Blackwood. The woman that had destroyed Mavericks heart the first time and left Ice in a rage every time she was brought up.
“Ice, everything will be okay. If she’s going into the service and she lives up to her last name of Mitchell. Well, even Maverick himself will not be able to deny the similarities and it will come out at the right time. The Idiot is stronger than you give him credit for Ice.” I know he’s smiling on the other end of the call. “Slider, you always know just what to say to help my head get back into the game. Though I do need to go or the Idiot will start coming to look for me. I am going to let him know that I’m intervening on your Daughter's behalf. Imagine if she is Mav’s kid you both will share co-parenting duties of her.” I can’t help but laugh at that. “No, I think I’m the sole parent. I’ve been with her off and on since she was 3 years old”. Ice doesn’t say anything else I know I need to be the one to end the call. “Ice if she’s Mav’s we will work it out. Don’t lose your cool. I may not be able to fly anymore but I can still be your RIO here on the ground. “You're always going to be my RIO Slider. Have a good night my friend.”
Ice’s Point of view
Ice noticed that his phone was ringing it was that stupid Duck sound that Maverick had changed Sliders ringtone to. He supposed he should be grateful that Maverick wasted his time with his phone or He would never know when he should answer his calls. The only problem is that Maverick was currently cuddled into his side and he didn’t look too happy about Slider “stealing” his time with Ice. So, I slowly got up and left to go outside and chat with my RIO.
“Slider, How are you?” The minute he says we have a problem my heart drops. Little Bird is going to join the Navy.
I had met her once. In the very beginning when Slider had just returned from Germany’s medical base. She was a tiny little thing that had brought a pie and a card welcoming him to the neighborhood. It seems like the group home had some older kids that liked to make trouble so they thought that sending the youngest one would soften the neighbors' hearts to the kids. I remember her opening her mouth and me just knowing the second she said her name,
“Hello Mr. Sir. I’m from the home over their Miss. Sally wanted me to bring this pie over to welcome you to the neighborhood. My name is Hailey Mitchell. I’m this many she held up 5 fingers. I hear Slider say, “Wow a whole five years old! What grade are you in?” Her eyes lit up like little stars. The same way that Mav’s did when he was flying. “I’m in Kindergarten! I love it and Mrs.Jones is the best teacher ever!” I don’t remember the rest of the conversation but I know at the end of it Sliders promised to tell her some stories of his time flying if she came over tomorrow. “I would love to hear more about flying!”
As soon as she left, Slider said, “Shit do we tell Mav?” I said no. Maybe I was selfish. Maybe I just wanted him to myself. Maybe I was afraid that we would be outed by it. But I said no. It was a moment that I can’t take back. Somedays I wish that I had said yes. Having a Kid to raise with Mav. Now would be a dream come true but back then it would have been a nightmare.
“Maverick. You know I needed to answer this.” Mav. sighs and says. “I know slider lives all the way down in Texas all by himself teaching at that university. What if He needs you or us? I still don’t know why he just doesn’t move in with us and we can take care of him.” It really was somewhat sweet that Mav. cared about Slider and actually did worry about him. His answer to the situation though would lead to either Slider or Maverick dying from annoying each other to death.
“Maverick, you know Slider loves his job and that he lives near that group home with all those kids. He feels like he is trying to be a good influence on them. In fact last time we talked he mentioned one of the kiddos was considering enlisting at 17.” Maverick looks at me in shock. “Wait he is actually getting through to one of those kids? That’s great? Did he call to ask you to get her into the Naval academy?” I knew that his thoughts were on Bradley. He had just gotten into the academy three years late because of the stunt Maverick pulled. I sighed and said, “Yes, I’m going to pull some strings. We can’t only have legacies there Mav. We have to give some new blood a chance. Imagine if they wouldn’t have given Bradshaw or me the chance to fly?” Mav laughs and says, “You still would have found a way to fly. Ice I know you better than that.”
It was that moment that Mav and I settled back into our comfortable silence. While Mav dozed off I couldn’t help but think about all the paperwork this was going to create. Oh well, a problem to deal with tomorrow.