Fly High and Go Far

PHOENIX-Chapter Twelve: Take on Me by A-Ha

The carrier strike groups arrived home a month after it had left, coming home to families on the pier. Sam was on the flight deck in the middle with Maverick on her left and Phoenix on her right. They stood at parade rest as the carrier pulled in.
Sam looked down and instantly saw her mother standing there with the rest of the families of the higher ups. She smiled big, feeling tears drop down, wanting to hug her mother tightly. She had been home alone since Sam had left, and Sam wanted her mom.
When the carrier parked itself with the help of several tugboats, the crew was dismissed to go grab their things and leave. Sam was somewhere in the teens to get off the boat. She counted sixteenth in line with the rest of her crew behind her and Maverick in front. The crowd cheered as the aviators got off the boat with their sea bags and other packed bags in hand. Sam, upon hitting the concrete pier, ran to her mother, dropping her things instantly and hugging her mom tighter than ever.
"Oh, sweetpea," Mrs. Kazansky said, burying her face into her daughter. "Oh I have missed you. I prayed to whoever would listen that my baby girl would come home safe."
"They listened, Mom." Sam said with a big smile and tears running down her face. "I'm home now."
  Sam grabbed her bags, and her mother guided her to the car so she could go home to rest.  She turned her head, looking back at the carrier with a soft smile before seeing Phoenix standing there with her bags.  Trace made eye contact with Sam, and Sam dropped her bags, stopping her mom from continuing on.
  "Phoenix!" Sam yelled, ushering Trace to follow.  Trace did just that, not having family in the San Diego area, and caught up with Sam.  "Come home with me so you can be welcomed home properly."
  "Is that alright with your mother?" Phoenix asked gesturing to her mom.
  "Oh! Mom! Phoenix," she introduced her with a head nod.  Sam's mom laughed and walked up to Phoenix, giving her a hug.
  "It's so good to see you again, Natasha.  How long has it been since we've seen you last?" Mrs. Kazansky asked.
  "It's been since flight school, that's for sure," Phoenix chuckled.  Sam laughed too and looked at her mom. 
  "Well, I've heard much about you since you and Sammy here became friends.  I'm glad she has someone like you," Mrs. Kazansky said before continuing to the car.  "Now come on.  It's pizza night at the Kazansky house!"

  Sam sat on the couch in her pajamas with Phoenix across from her in her pajamas.  They munched on pizza slices, giggling and talking to each other as Mrs. Kazansky retired to her bedroom to read.
  "Thank you for coming to get us," Phoenix smiled at Sam.  Sam tilted her head.
  "You mean with those two fifth gens?" Sam asked, grabbing her glass of ice water.
"I haven't stopped thinking about that since we got back on the ship," Trace got quiet. Sam leaned forward and put a hand on Trace's before taking a sip of her water.
"I will make sure nothing happens to you. So long as you're my wingman," Sam reassured. Phoenix smiled to her.
"I hope the Navy knows what they have with you."

Sam and Natasha found themselves laying in bed on their sides facing each other. Sam brushed Phoenix's hair out of her face, smiling lovingly at her.
"I'm so glad you're safe," Sam whispered. Phoenix scooted closer to Sam and gave her a kiss.
"As long as you're here, I'm always safe. I trust you with all of my heart."
"I have no plans of ever leaving, Tasha," Sam kissed her girlfriend's forehead and held her close.
"I go back to Lemoore in a week. What are you going to do without me?" Phoenix muffled into Sam's chest.
"Wait for a weekend where I can come visit," Sam replied.

Phoenix and Sam went to work the following workday, giving them only a couple of days before everyone headed back to their duty station, except for Sam. They all sat at desks, doing paperwork and sitting in silence.
Phoenix sat next to Sam, their desks side by side, casually stealing glances and wishing they weren't at work. Trace slid a piece of paper over to Sam with a cheeky grin plastered on her face.
"Do you want to leave at lunchtime and go to the beach?" The note said. Sam chuckled and started scribbling on it to hand it back.
"Are you going to tackle me on the sand again?"
Phoenix looked at Sam and winked before slipping the paper into her uniform and going back to filing her papers.
"Hey, if you two are going to pass notes and giggle, I want to be invited," Rooster piped up from across the way. Sam and Phoenix both gave him the same shocked look and then looked at each other.
"Y'all wanna go to the beach after work?" Sam asked.
"You mean leave at lunch and never come back?" Payback piped up, twisting around in his desk chair.
"Yes, correct," Sam laughed.
"Lieutenant Commander says so. She's in charge," Payback said, turning back to his desk and playing on the computer, messing with the internet.
"Hey now, don't put this on me," Sam shouted.
"Nah, it's on you, Kazansky," Payback piped up with a chuckle.
"Payback isn't invited, guys," Sam laughed and went back to her work before the clock hit 11am. She slid all the papers into their files, shut off her computer, and stood up.
"Last one there buys us all a round Friday night," Phoenix yelled, practically pushing everyone out of the way to leave first. Sam followed right behind her, pushing Rooster out of the way.
"I ain't buying no one drinks. Except Bob," Sam turned around and pointed to the WSO. "I owe you one."
"Why stop at just one?" Rooster asked, trying to get Sam to fall over and to move out of the way.
"Oh shut up, Bradshaw," Sam replied, turning back around and running out of the building.