Heart of Steel: B. Bradshaw

Twenty One- She's Back

"Are you sure?"

Steely stopped in her tracks as she heard two familiar voices just ahead of her in the corridor. She instantly recognized Maverick as he began to speak.

"Yes, she isn't ready to get back in a plane. You should have seen her the other day sir I couldn't even get her up off the floor."

Oh. He was talking about her. She didn't intend on staying and listening but now she couldn't help herself. Steely knew this would make her late to training but who could pass up an opportunity to spy.

"If that's what you think i'll call her into my office and speak to her about continuing the mission," Cyclone spoke. Oh great now Cyclone doesn't think she's capable of continuing the mission.

"I think it's best if she's pulled off," Steely's chest tightened as Maverick clearly showed his feelings on the subject.

Steely couldn't allow herself to stand there and listen any longer. She needed to leave now.

Moving quickly through the building Steely made her way towards the training room. She peaked her head inside the door upon arrival to see the room full, everyone waiting for Maverick.

Scanning her head around in search of Omaha she was pleased to see him sitting at the back of the room, his back facing towards the door.

She quickly and quietly dropped to her knees and crawled towards his seat doing her best to avoid attention.

"-one of them yes." Neil was in a conversation as Steely approached him still crawling. She grabbed his knee causing him to launch of his seat. A loud yelp escaped his lips before he looked down to see what touched him.

"Shut the fuck up!" Steely's eyes were wide with swirling fear as everyone turned their heads towards Omaha. She snapped her finger up to her lips compelling him to be silent.

"I need your help now. Don't let anyone see me."

"Are you fucking crazy?" Neil asked, his voice a rushed whisper. "Why are you crawling around the floor like a New York city street rat?"

"Did you just call me a rat?"

The two locked into a silent staring contest. Before Neil gave in and bent down to get closer to her. He always lost staring contests the blinky little shit.

"Okay fine."

"Yes! I need you to distract everyone so I can leave the room then follow behind me. I'll explain everything once we are out of here," Neil blew a big sigh out of his tightly pulled lips. He nodded to her and stood up to cause a distraction.

Steely's knees and hands have never worked as fast as they did speeding out of that room. Before she knew it the sound of Neil's footsteps followed her as she hurried down the hall.

"Steely what are we doing?" they turned a few corners before reaching the door they needed to get to the tarmac.

"I overheard Maverick tell Cyclone that i'm not fit to fly the mission so I need your help to prove that I can."

"Seriously? of course what can I do to help?" he stood tall in front of her. His eyes shone with the eagerness to help. Steely smiled up at him, she really missed spending time with him.

"Strap on your helmet fly boy it's time to show them how it's done."

•••••••••••

"Sunshine to range control. Entering point alpha."

Steely's voice boomed through the room capturing everyone's attention. They all watched in fascination as Steely's plane started to display on the screen.

"Uhm Sunshine? this is range control, green range confirmed. I don't see an event scheduled for you," Another voice spoke right back.

"Well, Im going anyways. Setting time to target two minutes and 15 seconds."

The room of pilots erupted into confused chatter. Maverick watched completely stunned as the timer on Steely's plane was set to two minutes and 15.

"Mav? 2:15, that's impossible!" Bradley called from his seat. His eyebrows knit tightly in confusion. This is the first time he's heard Steely's voice in days.

"Final attack point. Sunshine and Omaha inbound."

Everyone whipped around towards Omahas seat. Quickly finding it empty. "I didn't even see him leave!" Bob spoke up right before that beeping of the timer started signally Steely's movement.

••••••••

It had been a week since Steely last flew. She was so nervous that she would forget how to fly but the skill was branded so deeply into her bones she could never shake it that quickly.

The twists and turns of the plane felt so natural. She didn't even realize how much she missed it until the pressure from the air weighed so heavily on her chest she forgot everything but the plane around her.

"Tell me something Omaha," her voice was loud in her ears as they began approaching the first step in the course.

"Everything's good. Laser is ready. Fly your heart out little sun, im right behind you."

"Getting sappy on me now are you?" Her lips twisted in a wicked smile. They were fast approaching the first target.

The laser was perfect on its mark. Steely held her breath for one, two, three then she pressed down on the button. "Bombs away!"

Her breath pinched tight in her lungs as she waited for a word from Omaha. Seconds later his cheering filled the small space which gave her the conformation she needed to breathe. She hit the target right on the money. Bullseye.

Now came the hard part. Steely wrapped both hands around the control stick and yanked up as hard as she could. "Hang on tight O." The pressure building was clawing at her consciousness but she battled hard all the way to the top of the mountain and over.

"You did it Steel. You did it!"

"Hey Maverick. That one was for you."

Steely could practically feel that proudness radiating off of Omaha. She even let herself feel proud of what she did. The trip back to the base was quick. Neil was chatting her ears off and she responded here and there. Steely couldn't bring herself to take her hand off the dog tag clasped around her neck.

Ice would have been proud of her.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Hi everyone I know this must be so annoying but there is something I just wanted to talk about. I'm not liking the direction this story is going and i'm having a hard time finding the motivation to finish. I hate to ask this but if you guys are enjoying how it's progressing and want me to continue please leave a comment so that I know people want to read more.

-Joyfully, mad :-)