Top Gun: Phantom| Rooster

Chapter 10.

When I woke up again, I realized that I was in a hospital.
"How are you feeling?", I heard Mavericks voice.
"I feel alright", I answered because I didn't notice any pain.
"The ejection seat got you out last minute", he informed me.
"Thank god", I said.
"You haven't suffered any injuries but they want to keep you here for the night", he explained.
I nodded.
"Is phoenix alright?", I asked.
"Yes but she's not ready for the mission. I think we should talk about this when you're out of here", he said.
I nodded.

"Where's Rooster?", I asked.
"He's waiting outside", he said.
"Do you need anything?", he looked at me.
"No, thank you", I shook my head.
"Im gonna get Rooster", he said as he left the room.

A few moments later Rooster came in.
He was pale and didn't look too well.
"You really scared me, Nicki", he said as he came closer to my bed.
"Sorry", I told him and sat back up.
"Hey Phantom, crazy stunt you did there", Bob said while he tried to enlighten us with his humor.
"Funny", I laughed sarcastically.
But I appreciated Bob for stopping by.
"You already heard the news?", Bob said as he sat down.
"Give her more time to rest", Rooster said.
"Oh sorry, of course", Bob apologized.
"No, what are the news?", I asked.
"Don't worry, get some rest. We're gonna talk about this tomorrow", Rooster explained.
"Like we had planned", he continued while he looked at Bob.
"My bad", he apologized again.
"No, no, no. You're gonna tell me what's up right now", I said as I looked at Bob.
He didn't know what to do and repeatedly looked at me and than at Rooster.

"She ain't stopping, you shouldn't have started this conversation", Maverick laughed as he came back into the room.
"You're my new partner", Bob said as he looked down.
"I took phoenix out of the mission", Maverick explained.
"You did what?", I yelled.
"Trust me I didn't want to be out there in the first place", he yelled back.
"Oh really?", I shook my head.
"She will stay on the carrier so if anything happens, she's ready to help. It's to dangerous to put her in first row when she gets into G-LOC", he explained himself.
"So your just replacing her with me", I looked at him.
"Bob is in. He needs a partner", he said.
"Phoenix is my friend!", I yelled.
"I know", Maverick told me.
"Shes fine with that. I already spoke to her", Rooster said to calm me down.
"She said that?", I asked.
"She did", Bob reassured.
"So you in?", Maverick asked.
"I don't know, I need to think about it", I said as I looked down.

"That's alright", he said as him and Bob left the room and I was alone with Rooster again.

"Most importantly, you're alright", he said as he pulled me in for a hug.
"You know that you're don't have to do this mission", he added.
"I don't know what to do. I feel like I am betraying her", I answered as I closed my eyes.
He wore a very fresh cologne.
His hug comforted me.
"I know", he said as he rest his head on mine.
I enjoyed the hug and wished that it would never stop.
But it did.
It stopped and after a while Rooster left again.
I was on my own in the hospital.
It was weird, something inside of me didn't want Rooster to leave.
He would've probably stayed if I asked him to.
I could still smell his cologne.

Why was I thinking about him this way?
Was I falling for him?
I'm glad our paths crossed again.
A week ago I would've laughed at myself for thinking that.
What a plot twist he was.