Compromise-Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw-

Chapter Fourteen

I woke in a cold sweat, panting heavily. The room we slept in was starting to brighten from the sun rising outside. I glanced around, noticing everyone else sleeping. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my panicked heart. Once I was calm, I carefully climbed down from the top bunk, to not disturb Fish, who slept in the bunk under me. I grabbed my duffel bag, making my escape, when I heard Hex quietly clear his throat. I paused, turning to look at him. He sat up with a tired expression.

"Why are you up so early?" He whispered with concern. I crouched down, getting closer to him so we could talk more quietly. "It was the nightmare again wasn't it? Didn't you take a sleeping pill?"

"I did take a sleeping pill, but they only last so long. I'll be fine, just go back to sleep." I said in a hushed voice. I could see his hesitance, but his own tiredness won the battle.

"Fine, but come get me if you need anything." He whispered, I nodded, before standing up and leaving our room. I closed the door behind me, knowing a lot of the ground crew would be starting their day and I didn't want my team being disrupted.

I walked down the metal hall until I found the women's bathrooms, where industrial showers were. They didn't give any privacy, but a shower is what I needed. So I stripped down and stepped into some hot water, washing the dream away.

It had been its usual array of messiness about the night Daniel died. However, Rooster replaced him. I had been having that nightmare with Bradley in Crane's place periodically since the first one. Every time it felt just as real as if it actually happened. I always woke in a cold sweat panicking, despite the fact I knew immediately it wasn't real. Hell, half the time I knew it wasn't real during the dream, but I could never snap myself out of it. The dream went through, until he died and I panicked even more realizing I failed once again.

Part of me thought it was odd I hadn't gotten more used to it. Four years of the same nightmare, I should have been waking up less phased by it. That unfortunately wasn't the case. It was so frustrating that one moment in my life would shape so much of it. Now because of that incident, I was nervous to even think about flying with someone I cared about.

My mind turned back to the shower, as I wet my hair, letting the water wash over me in a warm embrace. I rid myself of the dream, knowing quite well that I'd likely have another one in a couple days. But I couldn't focus on that. We had an important mission and I needed to be ready.

Once I was ready to leave the safety of the shower, I dried off and got dressed into my green jumpsuit that would be under my flight suit. After quickly taking my duffel bag back to my bunks, I went to the mess hall, with damp hair still down. I avoided the clammer of ground crew people, as they rushed through the halls preparing our jets and talking amongst themselves about their duties. In the mess hall, I sat down with some food, but just stared at it, not really that hungry.

"You look like you need a run." It was Rooster that spoke, as he sat across from me with his own food. He looked tired, with bags under his eyes and a small frown. I sighed, but nodded, agreeing with him.

"I do." I said. He nodded slowly, before taking his plastic fork and poking at the food on his tray.

"Why does everything they serve here always look kind of grey?" He asked, glancing back up at me. I felt myself smile softly, as I glanced down at my own food, realizing what he meant.

"That's an excellent question." I replied. "You should definitely ask the chef."

"Oh no, I'm okay. I like my food without spit." We both chuckled quietly, amused. "Are you okay though?" He added after we calmed down. I met his gaze, seeing the concern. And for a moment I forgot we had just spent three months apart, and that he had somehow moved on.