Wings of Fire: Natasha Trace

.2.

"Mach 9 day!" cheered Nikki as Mav strode into the kitchen. "Fastest man alive right here, folks!"

"Mach 9!"

"Go get 'em Captain!" she high-fived him on the way by. 

Since Ice's initial diagnoses, the cancer had fallen into a consistent, vicious cycle of better then worse, worse then better; worse then better, better then worse. Right now, things were stable, and thankfully he wasn't too sick or in too much pain. He did whatever work he had to do from home now and instead of moving out Nikki stuck around. Even if he claimed he didn't need any help, you could be sure that she was going to be there. 

On the other hand, Mav was still wild as ever (but was anyone really surprised? No) and was heading the Darkstar project. In his grief over Ice's cancer, he had thrown himself into work more than ever.  It kept him busy and flying but still with enough time to spend with his family - the most important part - and so he was happy. They all were happy.

"Pete," Ice addressed his husband as Mav shrugged on his classic leather jacket decked out in patches.  

Nikki smirked.  "Here it comes..."

"I know, I know: be careful out there." Mav smirked. 

"I was actually going to say that jacket could do with a cleaning, but yes, be careful."

"Ice, you worry too much." Mav raised himself up on his tip-toes so he could kiss the taller man's forehead.

"I have good reason to, after having been with you all this time."

Mav chuckled and waved to Nikki.  "Later Kiddo!"

"Later Dad!"

Later was right - much later in fact. Ice got a call several hours later from Admiral Chester 'Hammer' Cain that the project had been shut down, terminated. However, Mav being Mav, had gone up anyways, and had not only reached the intended Mach 9, but had pushed over Mach 10.

"That little bastard," grumbled Ice, affectionally, but angrily none the less. He always reminded his husband to be careful and what does he do: pulls off stunts like this, not only to prove a point, but also to hold up a big middle finger to everyone in the U.S. Navy. "And that damn attitude of his..."

The aircraft was destroyed - it was so Mav to go out with a bang, literally in this case - and he had ejected and ended up somewhere out of state. He had then been flown back via helicopter to base where he got a stern talking to from Admiral Cain, and a new job, thanks to Ice.

"We did it! We hit Mach 9!" Mav cheered upon returning home, only to find his husband and daughter not sharing in his excitement, and rather standing on the front step of their house in identical scowl and arms crossed over chest positions. 

"We passed Mach 10," Mav tried.

"We heard."

"We know everything."

"Admiral Cain called me."

"Yes - he reminded me how lucky I am to have you."

"Damn right," huffed Ice. 

"And what's this about this new job?"

"Well since you blew up your current job - both literally and figuratively - and since you refuse to retire, you need a new one. And since I'm a damn good Admiral and an equally damn good husband, I have, once again, single-handedly saved your career despite your best efforts, it seems, to have your ass permanently grounded."

Mav tried to lighten things up.  "You want to talk about my ass?"

"God you're a handful." Ignoring his comment, while Ice just looked unimpressed - he had two looks most commonly associated with Mav: pure affection, or purely unimpressed - Nikki wrapped him up in a hug. "We're angry, but we're just so glad you're okay. And yes, thankfully for you, despite the Navy once again wanting to permanently ground you, Dad worked his magic and got you a special position-" She looked to Ice.  "Can I tell him?"

Ice just shrugged, totally done with Mav for the moment.

Nikki grinned. "Prepare yourself Dad: you're going back to Top Gun!"

---------------------------------------

Mav was more than a little shocked, to say the least, about this news. "Well I would have preferred it if you'd discussed it with me first."

"It's a job, Pete, one you're lucky to have."

"Ice, I'm grateful as always, but I'm not an instructor, you know that."

"No, you're a wild pain in the ass, but I think you'll be particularly well suited to this mission."

"Dad can't tell me any of the details," piped up Nikki. "But I do know that it's Pentagon-level stuff."

"Yes," confirmed Ice.  "It would be perfect for your ego. And you get to keep flying, and we get to keep a close eye on you, so everyone gets what they want."

"I don't know, Tom..."

"Pete, this could be your last chance. "

"I don't know, blowing up the Darkstar seems like a good way to end a shining career."

"Pete."

"Okay, Ice, can I at least think about it?"

"Of course - but you have to decide soon. This is a time-sensitive mission."

"Of course it is."

Nikki rubbed her hands together.  "Sounds badass." 

(Sorry this chapter took so long - I was busy with my other Top Gun stories! ;)

But here we are - hopefully  it was worth the wait!

I accidently typed 'And you get to keep lying' instead of 'And you get to keep flying', which, I don't know, seems to suit Mav pretty well too! ;)

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))