Back To You | B. Bradshaw

02.00

To say Poppy was pissed was an understatement.

After she confirmed that her old man was back in Miramar and teaching the aviators for this detachment. Storming out of the base, She was ready to hit him. 

She drove her Kawasaki to the quarters where her dad would stay for the duration. 

Banging her hand on the wooden door, she called out for him. 

"Dad, Hey Dad! Get your ass out of there."

After a couple of minutes of hitting the door, her hand reddening from the abuse. She realizes that he wasn't present and there is only one other place he would be.

"Hard Deck."

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After the debrief, Pete Mitchell was not feeling this assignment. 

He half expected himself to be the one in the jet for this mission and not outside it. Taking another sip of beer, he feels the impending stress and grief on his shoulders as he remembers the list of students he will have to teach. 

Bradley Bradshaw, Call sign Rooster. The son of his dead best friend, his supposed godson. He snorts a little at the call sign as it's a bird, just like his old man. He takes another swing of beer as he remembers their last conversation, about 17 years ago. It didn't end well at all. 

Shaking his head he glances to the side to see an aviator duo playing darts. He recognizes their faces from the files. He lets a soft chuckle as he watches them banter over their bet, switching from darts to pool. 

His smile fades as he reminisces his time with Goose, his best friend, and RIO. Who died in the training exercise. He closes his eyes for a moment. He opens it and inhales deeply before taking another swing of his beer.

He lets out a deep sigh before feeling his phone vibrate in his hands. Opening it, he sees his old-time rival and friend, Ice, messaging him. 

'That didn't go well.'

He scoffs at his words before turning away from the bar and leaning on it on his side, then replying to it.

'The kid's not ready for this mission.'

'No one is.'

'That's why you are here.'

Shaking his head in disbelief at his words before replying.

'You could have warned me?'

'Would you have come?'

Pete hesitates and wonders at Ice's words. Would he have come back?

"Oh, you got to be kidding me."

Breaking from his train of thought, He heard someone on his left. Turning his head to the side, his eyes widen in bewilderment as he sees a familiar face.

"Pete."

"Penny?"His on and off flame stands before him, beautiful as ever.

"What are you doing here?"

"I should ask you the same thing." Penny scoffs as she sets down the tray of glasses on the side. 

"Ah, it's a long story," Pete replied before scratching his head in embarrassment.