Call Back {Top Gun Maverick - Completed}

17: Confession

"You have put me in a difficult position, Captain. On the one hand, you have demonstrated that this mission can be flown. Perhaps the only way it can be survived," Cyclone stated, "On the other hand, you did it by stealing a multimillion-dollar military aircraft and flying it in such a manner that it may never be airworthy again."

Warlock and Bambi glanced at each other.

"Iceman is no longer here to protect you. I have everything I need to have you court-martialed and dishonorably discharged," Cyclone continued, "So what do I do? Risk the lives of my pilots and perhaps the success of this mission or… Risk my career by appointing you team leader?"

"Sir…" Maverick started. Bambi looked at Maverick with wide eyes, shaking her head. She was trying to signal for Maverick to stop speaking.

"I think the admiral’s asking a rhetorical question, Captain," Warlock leaned in and murmured.

《~~○~~》

Hennessey and Maverick walked into the Hard Deck, they were dressed in their white uniforms. The father and daughter duo weaved through the crowd, trying to get in view of the bar. Sure enough, Penny was behind it, serving a customer.

She pointed at something on the bar, before ringing the bell. The crowd cheered, they were getting free drinks after all. Someone must've broken a rule. Hennessey looked at Maverick, a small grin on her face. This was just like the first time she had met her dad. He shook his head softly, knowing what she was implying.

Penny looked in their direction, the smile on her face fading ever so slightly. Maverick walked up to the clear spot at the bar. Hennessey pointed her head in the direction of the back deck. They both wanted to say goodbye to her in private, away from the people. Penny and Mav leaned over the bar. Pete whispered in Penny's ear, and her small smile dropped completely. Both seemed unhappy with whatever Pete had said.

Pete, Penny, and Hennessey stood at the beach, looking out at the black void of the ocean. The foam from the waves and the reflecting lights from the bar were the only visible things on the water. Pete had his arm wrapped around Penny's upper arms. Maverick watched them with a sad smile.

"No matter how many times I've seen you before you're deployed, it is still terrifying watching my baby leave," Penny stated, still staring into the ocean. Every time Hennessey had come home and had to deploy again, the mother and daughter duo always watched the waves.

"I know, Mama. It scares me too," Hennessey rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, holding her hat with one hand and her mother's hand with the other.

Penny looked at her daughter and gave her a kiss on her head before looking at Pete. Pete looked at her for a moment before he looked down. He opened his mouth to say something but closed it again, not knowing what to say. Penny moved, getting in front of Maverick.

Hennessey let go of her mother's hand, watching as her mother hugged Maverick. The couple hugged tightly, neither would openly admit it, but they were both scared of not being able to see each other once again. It was a somber moment for the recently reunited family.

Unheard over the sounds of the waves and distant crowd of the bar, were the sounds of footsteps going down the back deck of the Hard Deck. Penny turned and hugged her daughter, also scared she was going to lose her eldest daughter.

"Dad?" Someone called out softly, almost like the person was scared to call Maverick that.

"Henne," A male voice called out.

The group of three turned around, Hennessey and Penny breaking their hug. Rebecca and Mickey stood there, also dressed in their white uniforms.

"Rebecca," Maverick stated, surprised that she had called him that. Rebecca an Maverick were hugging