𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍, bradley bradshaw

chapter twenty seven

Warlock stood tall at the front of the room, "Your target is a clear and present threat, a secret uranium enrichment that has the wrong state control." He pressed his lips in a thin line, the screen behind him changing to show GPS visuals of the site. "There's an underground bunker, tucked between these two mountains. The route is heavily defended by surface to air missiles; backed up by fifth generation fighters." She felt Phoenix squeeze her hand once more, that anxious feeling she always gets before missions rising up one more.

"Once your F-18 strike team crosses the border, tomahawk missiles from the USS Atlantic Gulf will be launching a synchronized strike on the enemy's airfield here." With the intensity of Warlock's voice, the stern looks from the Admiral's and Maverick, her mind was no longer on the man behind her, or the feelings she almost confessed. No, no; it was on completing this mission and coming home safely.

"This will knockout their runway," yet, those damn fingers of his, trailing ever so delicately along the curve of her ass. He probably didn't even mean to, but it still made her heart rate accelerate even more, making her inhale sharply, Phoenix gripping her hand even tighter. "But you'll have to contend with any planes already in the air. The moment those tomahawks hit the enemy will know you're coming." Admiral Bates pressed his lips in a thin line, swallowing harshly. "Your time to target will be two minutes and thirty seconds. Any longer than that, you will be exposed to the aircraft those tomahawks ceased."

Dakota felt sweat drip down the side of her face, beads of it accumulating on her nose. She was still confused about the fact that she was chosen as Dagger five. Dagger five? Maverick had said nothing about there being a fifth jet in the mission outline; and even so, why her? Why did he choose her to spring this upon.

Admiral Simpson walked in front of Warlock, his hands on his hips and his eyes darted between the people grouped up around him. "We've decided to add a fifth aircraft to the mission," his gaze focused on Dakota, as she felt the knot in her stomach tighten due to her nerves. "Lieutenant Jones will be flying, and based on her stats what we've deemed to be an 'in action lookout',"

Phoenix tighten her fingers, pulling her closer. She felt Rooster tense behind her, his large frame stepping completely behind her and placing his left hand on her hip, pads of his fingers pressing into the spot above her hip bones, a way of him trying to calm her, but mostly him, just relishing in the fact that she's still there. "This is what you all have been training for, come home safely. Dismissed."

-

She would never verbally admit to anyone that she was nervous, no never. But, considering the fact that her chest was rising up and down with each deep and labored breath she took, and her eyebrows furrowed as she tried desperately to see the one person she wanted to reassure herself was still alive at this moment, she figured it wouldn't be too hard for people to guess she was a nervous wreck.

"Mav!" Her voice came out airy, as she felt the dim nervous cascade through her brain. He walked passed her, his fingers curling around the rim of his helmet as he walked eagerly to his jet. "Maverick!" She yelled hoarsely once more, which made him turn around abruptly and face the girl, a loving smile on his lips as he walked towards her.

Dakota looked up at him through her squinted eyes, trying to shield from the harsh sunlight. He looked at her expectantly, which only made her smile, it growing larger to match his with each passing second. "Dagger five?"

He licked his lips, as he looked around the bustling of people around them. He shrugged, "I love you too much to not do this with you," Maverick pursed his lips, his grin returning. "Figured you're badass enough to keep a lookout in air." And despite her nervousness, her pounding pulse, her sweat beading on her nose, her heart swelled at his words. "For your last mission?" "For my last mission."

She felt the dim stinging of tears behind her eyes, making her let out an airy laugh and break her gaze from his, "I can't cry again Mav." He laughed, stepping closer and wrapping his arms around her neck, making her encircle hers around his torso. The two of them embraced, occasionally squeezing the other to make sure they were still there. "Just don't die on me," she pulled back, her eyebrows furrowed as she went to speak, "Please."

Dakota saw the hurt, the plead, the love in his eyes as he looked at her. The father she never had. She nodded, sending him a reassuring smile. They pulled away, him pressing his lips against her forehead before he turned his back to her. "Mav!" She yelled again, making him stop in his place just a few feet in front of where she stood.

He raised his eyebrows in acknowledgement, a ghost of a grin playing at his lips. "He said he loved me." And from just saying it, made her heart flutter, her head fuzzy, making her feel like a school girl. His teeth glinted in the sunlight at her words, as he laughed to himself, before turning around once more and head towards his jet.

She in all honesty couldn't believe where she was at this point. It seemed as if yesterday she was in the Hard Deck, splitting a beer with Phoenix and listening to her and Hangman bicker, all of them trying to rack their brains about the special detachment as she was trying oh so hard not to just make out with Bradley. And now, here she was; getting ready to take off for the mission, the man she loved finally uttering the words that she had been doubting herself the privilege of believing. It honestly made her hope, just wonder, that maybe her mom was somewhere, watching her, and hopefully knowing that she's doing all of this, just for her.

Payback, Fanboy, Bob, and Phoenix had already wished her their good luck's, all of the embracing each other too tightly, scared to let go. She was trying not to say good luck to Rooster, just knowing herself well enough to know that it's going to end up in a shit show.

That is until he came running up to her, stopping her in the process as she saluted the guard next to the ladder of her jet. "Dakota!" He walked up to her, his face full of determination yet his lips quirking at just the sight of her. They stood face to face, neither of them wanting to say a word, the air around them being full of buzzing people enough for them to know the weight of the situation they're about the face.

She took a few steps closer to her large frame before wrapping her arms around his neck, standing up on her toes as his hand cradled her back soothingly. And god did she wish she didn't smell the comforting scent of his mahogany cologne, the feeling of his flight suit rough against her red cheeks, his hands tracing lazy shapes into her back, calming her nerves slowly, as she felt him rest his chin on her shoulder, pulling her body closer to his.

Dakota just couldn't face the fact that she needed to let him go, that he needed to head off towards his own jet and be Maverick's wingman. It made her heart clench at the thought of him possibly getting hurt during this mission, or worse, not even coming back.

He pulled away, placing soft kissed on her face as his hands left her back and camp up the cradle her jaw, the rough material of his gloved rubbing against her cheek. His lips finally met hers, and she audibly sighed at the feeling. She tried so hard to pour ever ounce of love she ever felt for him into the kiss, her fingers wrapping around the collar of his flight suit and pulling him impossibly closer.

She let out a soft whimper as she pulled away, leaning her forehead on his, their breath intermingling, holding back sobs, knowing that this could very well be the last time that she sees him, feels him, kisses him. The warm feeling of his lips no longer being on hers leaving her cold, yet pulling her mind back to reality.

And yet, despite her heart screaming at her not to, she unwrapped her fingers from around his collar, and took a couple steps back.

"I'll see you when we get back Bradshaw." Her voice faltered from its normally smooth tone, but nonetheless a playful smile tugged at the corner of her lips, trying to fight back the screaming voice telling her to just tell him how she feels, knowing damn well he feels the same.

"Promise me, honey?" He spoke, his face showing a full grin on his tanned features, making her heart swell.

"I promise."