I Ain't Worried 'Bout It Right Now [BXB]{HANGMANXROOSTER}

31

Rooster's POV
Two weeks later
We were given a mission last minute to teach these kids a week ago. We had to teach them more than what we knew, so they'd come home. We even broke rules with Cyclone to teach these kids to come home. We go in for a briefing with the admiral and Jake and I just sit down. We don't need to stand for this.

He's been giving us hell the past couple weeks but it was expected. Iceman has been talking to him so he remains civil I'm sure. If Jake is chill about it, I will be, and if no one starts anything with Jake then we all will be fine. Jake looks at me then looks back at the admiral. He's worried but he's tuned in and ready to go.

The admiral starts talking about the mission and when he leaves I say "let's go." We get out to the tarmac and they all line up in front of us. Jake says "get in there, do your job, and get the hell out of dodge. Clear?" They all nod and Jake says "no, I need to hear you say it." They all say "clear" and I say "and don't go pulling any bullshit of you aren't gonna make it back." They all say "clear" and Jake says "listen to yourself, you almost killed yourself last time."

I say "and you're impulsive, don't do any stupid shit." He says "I'm getting in and getting out. I don't need to piss off the admiral any more than I already have." I say "ok, ready, set, go." They all go and get ready to leave and Jake walks with me. He says "stop looking like that."

I say "looking like what?" He says "like that. Stop worrying so much." I say "Jake, it's not that simple." He quietly says "I know, we're just worrying each other." I look at him and I say "I love you" and he says "I love you too" kissing me. I squeeze his hand and we get in our planes, getting ready to go. I give my tarmac guy the signal and I take off first.

Jake says "get in, do what you need to, and get the fuck out." We get to where we need to, flying really low into where the targets are. We're all supposed to hit one and dogfight all the way home if we aren't careful enough.

I say "how are we on time?!" We get in and get out hitting all the targets so we don't have to go back in again. We get out and five jets are on our noses. I say "fuck" and Jake says "it'll be ok" us looking at them and I just drop in altitude quickly and I try to get behind them.

Jake goes over the top and gets beside me and the students do similar to us. One of the students says "I've been hit!" I say "is everything still functioning?" He says "yeah, I'll say if it isn't." I say "ok." I get behind them and I try to take one down but he does a spin move, my shot not even hitting anything.

I say "damn" and we keep going and they outsmart us, getting behind us or on their nose, and just going for it. We just race to get back to the tarmac, trying to get them off our asses. I hear a "man down, man down!" I say "who?" One of the students say "Hangman's down!"

Cyclone says "don't even think about it, Rooster. You can't do anything about it. We'll send someone out as soon as you're on the ground." I'm so speechless that my plane drops in altitude because I forgot how to fly it. I say "where did he go down?!" One of the kids say "his tracker is still on."

I look and I say "I gotta go back" and Cyclone says "you won't live, Rooster." I say "you don't care if I die, stop acting like you do." Even though the kids are ahead of me, I land in first just knowing that I'd be killing myself. I went down with Maverick way too impulsively and almost didn't make it back.

If I went down now, I'd most definitely be dead. But if Jakes gone, what do I have to lose? I just head back to the boat and get ready to get home in silence. Cyclone says "we're sending EMS out now" and that's what breaks me. I mumble "what if he's dead" and I start just hyperventilating and on the verge of tears. I feel a hand squeeze my shoulder and Pete says "it's ok, kid."

I say "no, it's not! He could be dead then I really have nothing." He says "EMS will take care of him." I say "just shut up." He says "do you want a hug?" I get up and he pulls me right in. I just sob and he mumbles "it's ok, Bradley. He'll pull through. He's tough." I mumble "he saved my fucking life, Pete. He's so good to me and I fucked it up" sobbing.

Pete says "you didn't do anything." I say "it was an easy drop and pull up. Entry level shit that's fucking muscle memory. Some preschool shit" crying into his shoulder. I say "and now he's fucking gone." Pete says "hey, you don't know that. Plane went down, he's smart and a quick thinker, he probably ejected, and is going to be fine."

I just cry and I hear Cyclone saying "let's get you all back. Good work, team. We're sending search and rescue out right now." I mumble "thanks." I need to get out. I walk out into the hallway under the landing zone on the boat and I just sit down against the wall. I twist my wedding band on my finger, trying to breathe through my husband maybe being dead.

We finally get back to base and I jog to Jakes room for the keys. I drive to the closest hospital, knowing that's where they would've brought him. I walk right into the ER as they push him right through, uniform torn up, and looking like he's been through the ringer. Bones are definitely broken, quite a bit of blood, and he is out cold. I hear a nurse say "he's out but we have a pulse! Are you family?" I say "he's my husband."