November One-Shots

When Words Fail

Prompt: "Broken Voice/Unable to Speak"

Fandom: Top Gun (1986)

Word Count: 1716

Warnings: Mentions of a car accident/ Panic attack symptoms 

Synopsis: Iceman gets the one call he never wanted to receive. As he sits helpless for the second time in his life, his voice finally fails him, but Maverick doesn't need words to know what his wingman is feeling.  

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When Words Fail 

"I'm going to get us some more coffee," Slider said as he sat up and gripped Iceman's shoulder before nodding and heading back down the long, white hospital corridor.

Ice barely nodded as he kept his eyes fixed on the plain Styrofoam cup in his hands. It was still full of coffee, though it was far from hot anymore. Ice knew his RIO was just trying to keep his hands and feet busy by offering to get them more. Doing anything to not have to think about where they were, or how long they'd been waiting. He set the cup down on the seat beside him and looked at the brown wooden doors on the other end of the hall. EMERGENCY was written in big red letters across the top. Doctors and nurses had come in and out for the past four hours, but none carried news about his daughter.

"Ice.." a quiet voice nearly made him jump as he turned around.

Maverick was standing beside him, his brown hair was windblown and his cheeks bright red, he smelled faintly of sweat and jet fuel and his bomber jacket was hanging off one shoulder. It looked like he was trying to control his breathing, his chest rising and falling in quick succession, like he'd run all the way from base.

"I came as soon as I could. We had hops all day and Merlin wanted to run..." he paused and took off his aviators. Revealing a pair of very worried, very tired eyes. "What happened?"

Ice opened his mouth to say something but, no words came out. It felt like his throat was closing up and too many emotions were vying for control of his head. He closed his mouth and shook his head. Clenching his jaw to keep from crying again he hung his head and stared at the floor. Maverick sat down beside him and lifted a hand like he might touch him but thought better of it and put it back down with a labored sigh.

"She's going to be okay...just tell me what happened," Maverick said again. Tilting his face to try and catch Ice's eyes.

"I shouldn't have..." Ice's voice broke as he tried to speak. He swallowed down the lump in his throat as he pulled his head up to look into Maverick's eyes. "I should've said no...I," he stopped again pressing his lips together to keep the sob out.

"This isn't your fault Ice. Don't do that to yourself," Maverick placed his hand on Ice's shoulder squeezing gently.

"She wanted to go to Admiral Cain's office herself...said she'd be quick. There and—and back without a..." Ice looked up sniffling. "A drunk driver ran a red light...she never.... God Mav she's just a kid...I—I can't lose..." red hot tears finally dripped down his face as he dropped his head back down, landing in his open palms. "She's all I have...my little girl. I—I was—I was supposed to keep her safe. That's my job...my one..." he shook his head as more tears started falling.

He reached up with his palm to wipe them away. He was Iceman. Calm, cool and collected. Ice cold, no mistakes. He wasn't supposed to break down crying in an empty waiting room. That wouldn't help his only child. Wouldn't make her wake up, or walk, it would only make her feel worse. Maverick squeezed his shoulder again, pulling his attention back to him.