An Old Love Story ~ Bob Floyd

**Chapter Two**

**Chapter Two ~ Training**

"Good morning, aviators. This is your Captain speaking. Welcome to basic fighter manoeuvres." Katelyn hears Maverick's voice through the comms.

Currently flying is Katelyn in an F-18 Single with Bob and Phoenix flying as her wingman in an F-18 Duo.

"As briefed the arena today is a ten mile radius. The hard deck is five thousand feet. The exercise is dog-fighting and the rules are simple. Working as a team, you have to shoot me down. Or else." Maverick continues.

"Or else what, sir?" Katelyn smirks, knowing the answer.

"Or else I shoot back."

*~*

"Bob, any eyes on Maverick?" Katelyn asks through the comms, looking around for him.

"Nope. He's nowhere to be seen." Bob replies, sounding slightly stressed out. 

All of a sudden, Maverick flies between the two, splitting their formation.

"Found him." Katelyn chuckles into the comms. "Let's get him."

She quickly flies after him, slightly leaving Phoenix and Bob behind. Phoenix laughs.

"I guess that's why we call her Falcon. She pretty fast."

The two jets chase Maverick for a while, Katelyn trying to get locked on him, Phoenix and Bob trying to predict his moves.

"Falcon! Break right, he's coming around." Bob tells their team leader.

"Got it." Katelyn replies, breaking right as Maverick's nose comes around."

"Shit, he's locked on us." Phoenix says, sounding frustrated, "You're on your own Fal."

Katelyn groans slightly, pulling a fast manoeuvre to get locked onto Maverick. "Got you Mav. That's for killing my wingman." She chuckles, earning a sigh from Maverick.

"You focus on revenge too much for your own good. Go and land." Maverick replies, sending her the orders to land.

*~* 

"Nice one up there, Fal." Phoenix says, catching up to her, Bob close behind.

"Couldn't let Mav kill my wingman without any consequences." She chuckles in return, feeling slightly awkward.

Bob decides to join the two girls, walking next to Katelyn.
"I guess everyone was right about you being a really fast pilot. You left us in the dirt up there." He chuckles awkwardly, hoping he isn't crossing a line with her. Phoenix gets called over by another pilot and dismisses herself from the small group, leaving Bob and Katelyn alone together, once again.

"So..." Bob tries to start a conversation, "Last night was a bit of a blur." He laughs quietly.

Katelyn nods, "Yeah. I'm pretty sure we were all hammered by the end of the night."

Bob chuckles, putting his hand on the back of his neck. Silence falls between the two of them as they continue walking back towards the main building. They eventually have to part ways to go to their respective changing rooms.

"Hey Falcon..." Bob starts. Katelyn turns to look at him, humming her response.

"Some of us are meeting at the hard deck tonight to discuss today's training over some drinks. Would you like to come?" Bob asks, clearly nervous as a slight hint of his accent can be heard.

Katelyn nods. "Sure. I'll be there." She says in her usual blunt tone. However, a small smile appears on her face.

Bob smiles awkwardly before waving a small wave as they part ways. Katelyn can't help but chuckle to herself, feeling a new feeling she's never really felt before.

*~*

"And then she was like bam, whoosh, bah-wham." Katelyn listens as Coyote talks about her training from earlier in the day. She walks behind him and Hangman, listening quietly to their conversation about her.

Walking into the Hard Deck, Katelyn splits from the group for a moment to order some beers.

"Hey Penny." Katelyn smiles to her friend. Taking a seat.

"Katelyn Kazansky! How good to see you." Penny greets her loudly. Panicked, Katelyn looks around and hushes her.

"No one else here knows." She says quietly, hoping no-one else heard.

Penny nods, acknowledging what she said. "What can I get you?"

"Beers for the group. About 10?" She says, looking around, trying to count how many of them are there. Turning back to the bartender, she nods to confirm her order.

Penny wanders off to gather all the drinks as someone sits down on the stool next to her.

"I thought I'd come over to help you carry all the drinks." They say. Katelyn looks to her side.

"Hey Bob." She says, smiling slightly.

"Hey Falcon. I'm glad you came." He says in a cheerful tone, grinning ear to ear.

Penny returns with the drinks, saying hello to Bob as she does. Katelym thanks her as the two of them gather the drinks up.

They walk together towards the rest of the aviators, handing out the drinks until they're left with one each. Bob, however, gives his drink to someone else.

"Not drinking tonight?" Katelyn asks, a skeptical look on her face. Bob laughs quietly.

"After last night? Certainly not." He replies, taking a sip of his water.

"Well either way, cheers. To a successful first day of training." She chuckles softly, raising her bottle up as Bob taps his glass against it.

"And to a successful mission... Hopefully." Bob replies, a light blush on his face as he looks into the girl's eyes.

**End of Chapter Two**