Blondie- A Jake 'Hangman' Seresin fanfiction

Chapter 10

Short of perhaps Jasper, Jake's family were all very friendly. Carol had practically legally adopted Georgie by that evening, Ben was very interested to hear about her family's history with the navy, and Sofia bombarded her with questions about growing up in California and how many different beaches she'd been to. By the time they were getting into their taxi to go back to the airport the following morning, Carol was imploring, "come back and visit us soon, alright? And keep in touch. You know we like to hear about what you're up to."

"Bye, mom," Jake grinned, hugging her and then his dad.

Carol then wrapped her arms around Georgie, whispering, "look after my son for me, alright? I worry about him, flying about in those deathtraps."

"I promise he'll be back safe and whole for thanksgiving," Georgie smiled.

"Okay. And if you aren't busy with your family, you're welcome as well. My door is always open."

"Thank you. I loved meeting you." She climbed into the taxi and they began their journey back to California.

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"And how are you this morning, Georgiana?"

"I'm alright, thank you Lainey."

Lainey broke the formal pose she'd been stood in and leaned forward slightly. "Just alright?"

Georgie shrugged. "I'm slightly more panic than disco, but I'm getting there."

Just then, Phoenix appeared at Lainey's shoulder. "Hey, Blondie, I need to talk to you," she said, holding out her hands towards Georgie.

Georgie got up from her seat and Phoenix led her towards the very back of the hanger they were in, away from the rest of the squadron.

"What's up, Nat?"

"Listen. No matter what else happens this week, we have one mission: get Lainey and Coyote to admit their feelings for each other. Are you up for a game of cupid?"

"Am I ever," Georgie grinned, and Phoenix high fived her. "How are you and Rooster, by the way?"

"Really good," she sighed. "I feel like a teenage girl. We spent all day at the beach on Saturday, just us. He told me he loves me."

"That's so cute, I could cry! Looks like we'd better go and sit down- here comes Mav."

They made their way back over to the desks at the front of the hangar, Georgie sliding into her usual seat next to Lainey, behind Jake and Coyote.

"What are you two up to?" Lainey hissed suspiciously.

"Nothing!" Georgie insisted, and before Lainey could grill her further, the order came from the front of the room: "Attention on deck!"

They all stood, and Maverick began. "You may sit. As you're aware, today we will begin preparation for this squadron's first mission. To give you more details, may I present Admiral Ed Haines, callsign Hurricane. Admiral."

Georgie turned in her seat to see none other than her own father making his way to the front.

"Good morning. First of all, I must inform you that Admiral Bates has taken a temporary medical leave, so I have been reassigned as your flag officer."

"I'm not surprised," Lainey whispered, "poor guy was too stressed. After you crashed he nearly had a heart attack."

"Now, as you're aware, tensions with the East have been rising lately, and command has ordered a reconnaissance mission to an enemy air base. You will ship out on the USS Ronald Reagan on Wednesday. The mission objective will be to take photographs of the base for military use, preferably without detection; if you are detected, preferably without being shot down."

"Wow, Gi, you never mentioned what a comedian your dad is," Lainey whispered, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Preferably without being shot down. Hilarious."

"You will receive more details on the mission once you are onboard the carrier. Today you will be training with the cutting-edge photography equipment developed by the navy; the three top pilots will fly the mission. Maverick?"

"As per the mission, you will be practising in groups of three. Payback and Fanboy, Coyote, and Rooster, you're up first. Dismissed."

"Dad!" Georgie grinned, approaching the admiral.

"Hey, kid." He side-hugged her, smiling.

Georgie hadn't been very close with her dad as a child- he'd been all over the country on active duty whilst she'd lived in Sacramento with her mother and sister. They'd only really formed a bond once she'd grown up and enlisted in the navy herself, but between that and the death of her mother when she was twenty, they now had a very close relationship.

"Crashed any more planes recently?"

"You know I haven't, you'd have had to fill out the paperwork."

"Good point. Ah- hiya, Jake."

"It's good to see you, admiral," Jake smiled, shaking his hand.

"I have to go and read through some strategy reports, but I expect both of you round at mine for dinner tonight, alright? I'll send you the address."

"What time?" Georgie called out as he began to walk away.

"Make it six-thirty," was the reply.

"Alright then," Georgie laughed, shaking her head. "Come on, let's go and see how the others are getting on in practise."

"Ten dollars on Coyote."

"I think it's a group exercise, Jake."

He shrugged. "Ten dollars on Coyote."

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"Are you coming to the Hard Deck tonight, Hangman? Penny's throwing a party for Mav's birthday," Coyote asked over the noise coming from the radio. Maverick had put Georgie, Lainey, Phoenix, and Bob in the same group, and the girls were getting very invested in the exercise, with poor Bob reduced to trying to get a word in edgeways.

"I can't, we're going for dinner with the admiral."

"Dinner with the admiral?" Rooster laughed. "Lucky you."

"Actually, yes, lucky me because he's actually a very good cook."

"I just can't believe he actually likes you," Coyote shrugged. "You're not the kind of guy that fathers particularly like. Especially admirals."

"He's a big believer in letting Georgie make her own mistakes. That's what he told me the first time we met."

Rooster looked at him incredulously. "You didn't even respond with 'have you met me, I'm awesome, everybody loves me'. I'm impressed."

Jake's reply was hidden by the noise from the radio, which was still increasing.

"Mars, break right, let Phoenix have the angle," Georgie was ordering.

"Blondie, she is not breaking right," Phoenix pointed out. "Mars, if you don't break right, I will tell you-know-who about you-know-what."

"Let's not resort to blackmail," Georgie pleaded.

"The shot is yours, Phoenix."

"Is it just me, or did she just threaten to talk to Voldemort?" Rooster pointed out.

"I dunno, they've always got some sort of drama going on. I saw Nat and Georgie whispering in a corner together earlier," Jake recalled.

"Maybe I should just bite the bullet and ask Mars out," mused Coyote.

"The worst she can say is no, mate," Rooster assured him.

Jake laughed. "This is Mars we are talking about. I've lost count of the number of times she's threatened to cut off one of my body parts."

"Fair point," Rooster agreed.