A Ghost Playing Hangman

eleven

Chaos was the only way to describe what was going on over the radio. The mission objective had been completed, but coffin corner was proving to be tougher than anyone originally imagined. And being forced to sit in your F-18 on standby wasn't helping matters.

Trying to keep up with whose voice you heard on the radio, telling you they were still alive, was becoming a challenge. It was one yelling direction after another, making you wonder just how bad it looked in person.

But the words were clear when Rooster yelled out Maverick had been hit.

You looked over to Jake and heard him request for the two of you to be given the green light. The answer was a firm no, and in that moment, you questioned going against orders to stay when you knew your team needed you. Maverick had given so much to make sure all of you came home safely, just to be written off like his life was worth nothing.

The Navy had a cruel way of showing their priorities.

You forced your attention back to the sky ahead, willing the rest of your team to get back in one piece. Memories of your last failed mission tried to force their way to the surface. You physically shook your head to try and keep them at bay. You wouldn't be worth a dime flying with that kind of baggage.

"Guys, Rooster went back for Mav, and I think I see flames. He's not answering me." Phoenix's voice broke as she told everyone what was happening. This wasn't the way it was supposed to go. The best damn pilots in the world weren't supposed to fall so easily.

You watched as Jake hit is hand on the side of the canopy, frustrated at the possibility of losing another teammate. A person who prided themselves in only showing emotions that wouldn't make him vulnerable, was slowly losing it on the biggest stage of his career. You had hoped he would never have to experience this part of the job, knowing the scars it leaves behind.

It was going to take some time for him to move past this.

It didn't take long for the remaining members of the dagger squad to land back on the carrier. Each pilot got out of their plane slower than the last, knowing the success of this mission caused you all to lose two people that didn't deserve an ending like this.

The carrier had an eerie silence to it. The celebrations all of you had dreamed about were nowhere to be seen. A few crew members offered quiet congratulations to the daggers, but nothing more than solemn handshakes was given out.

You weren't sure what to do next. Jake needed comforting, but so did the rest of your team. Hell, you needed a few glasses of whiskey but that wasn't bound to happen as soon as you wanted. The hesitation was a blessing in disguise as you heard, "Dagger spare 1 and dagger spare 2, prepare to deploy."

You and Jake made eye contact, not knowing if this was a search and rescue mission or something worse.

"An F-14 has been spotted heading in the carrier's direction. We have reason to believe Maverick may be the pilot behind it. The two of you are to confirm contact and defend against any enemy planes. Good luck."

Hope started to build in your chest that maybe one of them had found a way out of there. You weren't sure how well a fossil of an F-14 was flying, but if anyone knew their way around it, it was Mav. It almost seemed impossible that Bradley might be alive too, forcing you to suppress any thoughts of your friend.

God, Maverick was going to be heartbroken if he lost the other Bradshaw.

You took off before Jake, giving you a decent head start at finding your teammate. While this wasn't the way you had hoped to be a part of the mission, you were glad to at least have the chance of saving someone or provide a safety net for them to make it back.

"Hey Casper, don't go disappearing on me now." Jake's statement made you chuckle. You didn't know if it was the hope of a teammate surviving or flying out with Jake, but you couldn't wipe the smile off your face.

"Not my fault you aren't flying fast enough." His laugh was music to your ears as you continued to fly in the direction of the F-14. Seconds turned into minutes before you had eyes on Mav. He was skillfully evading fire from the 5th Gen, but you knew he couldn't hold him off forever. Not in a F-14.

"I have the 5th Gen fighter in my sights. They are headed straight for the F-14. About to fire at them to hopefully change their course to us." You glanced behind you and saw Jake was still a way off, but it wouldn't take him too long to back you up in the fight.

You placed your finger on the trigger for one of your missiles and fired at the enemy plane, but nothing happened. "Fuck."

"What's going on, Ghost?" Jake's voice was calm, but you knew he was on edge.

"My missiles failed."

Jake was too far behind you and your missiles wouldn't fire. No matter how many times you pressed the button, nothing happened but an echoing click. Memories from the past flooded your mind and you knew you had to do something different this time. "I have to be better." The words came out as more of whisper, but Jake heard them loud and clear.

"Talk to me, Ghost. What's going on?" He kept his eyes glued to your plane in the distance, not wanting to blink in case he missed something. He knew how much your past affected your flying in the present, meaning you were not in the right headspace to be making decisions.

You watched as the 5th Gen leveled out and headed straight for the F-14. Glancing over to Mav, you saw a second person sitting behind him. Your breath caught as you realized Bradley made it out alive.

I have to be better. I have to be better. I have to be better.

Those words kept cycle through like a mantra, forcing you to a decision.

"I love you, Jake. Please forgive me."

And in mere seconds, Jake Seresin watched as his whole world come to a haunting end.

A/N: wow, so sorry about the wait on this chapter! Hoping to get the next one out soon!! Thank you so much for reading!!