An Abrupt Change of Direction

Side Effects

Jake didn't care about his role in the upcoming mission. He cared about making sure the medics were taking good care of Maddy. The second they were excused, he started to head toward the infirmary.

"Hangman," Phoenix called out to him. Jake instantly stopped and turned around.

"What?" He asked, slightly clearing his throat.

"You okay?" She asked before starting, "I know you were hoping to be Maverick's wingman and. . ."

"I don't care," he cut her off. He sighed when he saw the look on her face.

"She really has changed you," she said with a small chuckle.

"Who?" He asked.

"Maddy," Phoenix said like it should have been obvious. "Before you started spending time with Maddy, you were a jackass."

"Gee, thanks," Jake scoffed.

"Before," she annunciated. Her smile softened as she continued, "You're not as big of a selfish asshole anymore. You've grown up to a half-decent person."

"Alright," he cut her off. "I'm well aware of what you all think of me."

"Thought," she corrected. "What we thought of you. Look, I know you hate it when we say this, but that accident was good for you. It gave you the slap in the face that you needed to stop being such a dick."

"What about Maddy?" He asked mostly to himself. "Was it good for her?"

"Not in the same way," Phoenix said quickly. "According to Mav, Maddy wasn't planning on getting back in a plane after her flight. She only came back because of Maverick."

"I caused her to be paralyzed," he annunciated.

"And she has never held that against you," she said instantly. She laughed with a small smirk on her face as she added, "Trust me, Seresin. If Maddy blamed you or hated you, she never would have let you get close to her. Especially not close enough for the two of you to develop feelings."

"Develop. . ." He stuttered. "I didn't develop. . ."

"Yes, you did," she said firmly. Her smirk fell as she said, "Don't do this, Seresin."

"Do what?" He asked, avoiding her eyes.

"Don't ignore those feelings," she said. "The only person you're hurting by doing that is Maddy."

"I'm hurting her?" He asked, his voice slightly breaking.

"Yeah, Jake," she sighed. "You are."

"How does my ignoring those feelings. . . that I don't have. . . hurt Maddy?"

"You're not going to want to hear this," she sighed, "but ever since the accident, Maddy hasn't seen herself the same way."

"I don't understand," Jake said slowly.

"It's harder for Maddy to believe that someone will fall for her now that she's in a wheelchair."

That hit Jake a lot harder than expected.

"So if you do have feelings for her," Phoenix continued knowingly, "then do her the favor and tell her. That way she won't think it was something she'd never have."

She patted him on the shoulder before walking away. As his thoughts swarmed around his head, one kept repeating.

"It's harder for Maddy to believe that someone will fall for her now that she's in a wheelchair."

"I've hurt her enough," Jake whispered to himself. He wiped his suddenly clammy hands on his jumpsuit and quickly jogged to the infirmary.

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