After the funeral had ended, no one really knew what to do. Condolences were given, tears were shed, and still it felt wrong to be saying goodbye.
Standing by herself by the gravestone for Admiral Kazansky, Oakley takes in a breath.
"I never actually got to thank you, sir. When you were here, um, you probably wouldn't have remembered. It was my first day, and I was walking around, in your words, like a clueless puppy looking for the locker room. You took time out of your day and walked me there. And then you told me, to never let anyone tell me that I can't be here or I don't belong." Oakley stutters out as she hears footsteps behind her.
"Thank you for showing me I belong, sir. Rest easy, sir. You deserve it."
"Are you okay?" She hears Pete's voice.
"Uh oh. Yeah I'm okay sir." She turns to face him, adjusting her suit.
"Are you okay sir?" Oakley watches as Maverick looks at the gravestone and then to the other corner of the cemetery.
"I don't like being here. I have been here too many times, and yet this is the second time I have been here for someone I loved and was happy that they were my family. So I guess in some respects I am okay. But in others, I don't think I will be okay for the rest of my life." Oakley stares in shock, she wasn't expecting her instructor to just start talking to her.
"I appreciate you asking, Lieutenant."
"No problem sir." Looking over his shoulder, Oakley sees Bradley looking around, presumably for her.
"Well, um sir I'll let you be now."
"Ah yes Lieutenant." He nods as she walks past him, making her way to Bradley.
"Hey, what were you talking to Mav about?"
"Just about the admiral."
"Oh. We were thinking to head over to the Hard Deck, drink away the pain. What do you say?"
"Sure brad, that sounds good."
"Are you sure? Are you okay?" Bradley takes her hand in his, lifting her chin with his other hand. Smiling, Oakley reassures him that she's okay.
When the young pilots get to the Hard Deck, it isn't bursting with chatter and music, in fact it is the opposite, slow music coming from the jukebox and quiet conversations fill the bar.
After getting the drinks, the bar goes quiet, no one really knows what to say or do. It almost feels disrespectful.
Bradley turns to Oakley, saying he'll be right back when he makes his way to the bar, climbing onto the seat to step onto the bar.
"Excuse me, could I have everyone's attention?" Turning to look at Bradley, everyone waits for him to continue.
"I didn't know the admiral, I knew of him. Iceman was a force to be reckoned with. I just wanted to say that, I am grateful for him because I don't think I would have chosen this life without him. And I know that's kinda weird to say but it's true. We are all here because of Admiral Kazansky and I would have never met the people I call family today. So I purpose a toast to him, to Tom. Thank you for setting the precedent for all of us. There will never be another flyer, person, or admiral like you." Downing his beer, everyone claps as Bradley hops off the bar.
"What made you wanna do that?" Oakley asks as Bradley comes over.
"I had to say something, he flew with dad. I had to thank him for keeping him safe for as long as he could."
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"Captain Mitchell is no longer your instructor." Woah, that's a way to start today's training. "And as of today, there are new mission parameters. Time to target is now four minutes." Turning to Bradley, Oakley widens her eyes.
"You'll be entering the valley level at reduced speed. Not to exceed 420 knots."
"Sir, won't we be giving their planes time to intercept?" Oakley asks, still lost on what's going on.
"Well, lieutenant, you have a fighting chance against enemy aircraft. What are the odds of surviving a head-on collision with a mountain? You'll be attacking the target from a higher altitude, level with the north wall. Gonna be a little harder to keep your lase on target, but you will avoid the high-g climb out."
"We'll be sitting ducks for enemy missiles." Fanboy comments, Oakley agrees nodding. Suddenly the monitor signaling that someone is on the course starts beeping.
"Maverick to range control. Entering point Alpha. Confirm green range."
"Uh, Maverick, range control, uh, green range is confirmed. But I don't see an event scheduled for you sir."
"Well, I'm going anyway."
"Nice." Oakley and Phoenix say at the same time.
"Setting time to target. Two minutes, 15 seconds."
"Two fifteen? That's impossible." Coyote asks, dumbfounded.
"Final attack point. Maverick's inbound."
Watching as the plane moves through the course with ease, every pilot leans forward in their seats. Yet again, Maverick has them on the edge of their seats.
"Popping in three, two, one."
After a few moments, the bombs hit.
"Bulls-eye!" Bob jumps up.
Still processing, they sit in silence as Cyclone storms out, probably to meet Maverick on the tarmac.
"What just happened?" Hangman asks.
"Maverick showed us that we can fly that thing. And how to come home." Oakley speaks up.
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"I know you said you wanted time. And I respect that, I do. But I need to talk to you about what happened. We are going into a mission where it is not guaranteed that we come home. So I need to make peace. Can I make peace?" Jake comes into the room.
"Yes." Oakley says, Natasha takes that as her cue and quietly exits the room.
"First of all, I am sorry. I am sorry for what I said and even more so, I am sorry for what I did. How I hurt you." Looking at Oakley, he feels so crushed because the wounds he inflicted are still there.
"Life hasn't been easy lately and I took it out on you and Bradshaw. I didn't mean to take it out on you. My mom had passed away the day before I came back to North Island. And my emotions haven't been good. But i needed to apologize for my actions. And I hope you can forgive me one day."
"Jake, thank you for the apology. I am so sorry to hear about your mom. That's not fair. Come here." Pulling Jake into a hug, he breaks down and cries into her shoulder.
"It will take me a bit to forgive the actions, but I forgive the words and I am willing to take it one day at a time."
"Thank you. Thank you. You have no idea how much it means to me to be able to talk to you."
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Authors note:
Talk to your friends people. It may be scary and you might not want to do it because of the fear that you might lose them. But once you talk, you are on the same page and you see where your friends stand. You might lose them, sure, but wouldn't you rather a friend who wants to be friends with you or one who doesn't and doesn't say anything?
Talk to people.
It helps.
Trust me.