The Storm Hawks decided that Tanner should stay on the Condor for a while, at least until he was back on his feet properly and well again.
"You know, it feels like I've seen Tanner somewhere before…I just don't know where…." Aerrow said to Piper, as they stood in front of the Condor's large window.
"You think?" The Navigator replied. The leader nodded in response. "He looks a bit like you Aerrow." She continued.
"Does he?" Aerrow turned around to face Piper properly, and seemed startled by the fact she thought he and Tanner resembled one another. Piper giggled.
"Maybe he's your Dad or something-" Piper stopped suddenly, realising what she had just said. "Aerrow I didn't mean that I-"
"No, it's ok Piper." Aerrow looked distant after that, and became rather quiet. "I sorta wish he was though…"
"Oh Aerrow…" Piper moved closer to Aerrow and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back, fighting to hold back tears he had held for so long.
"I miss my father. I think. I didn't really know him. I don't know who he is, apart from the fact people tell me he is dead."
"Well, you never know, maybe he's alive out there somewhere."
Aerrow sighed. "Maybe."
He hung his head and just thought for a while. Piper moved closer to Aerrow again and held his hand. He made no move to wriggle out from her grasp; he turned to her and smiled as best he could, then squeezed her hand and looked away again. They stood like that for a while, then Aerrow checked no one was looking and gave Piper a Junko-sized hug.
"Piper I just want to say thank you. You're such a great friend and-"
Piper looked at Aerrow, slightly startled by the sudden hug, then her eyes widened.
"And?" She said, curious.
"…And…I…I-" Aerrow said, stammering, obviously having trouble saying what he wanted.
"Uhm, excuse me?" Tanner said, seeming to appear from nowhere. Aerrow and Piper quickly moved away from one another.
"Oh, er, yes?" Piper said, trying to cover up the fact she had just been hugging her leader.
"Do you have a radio I could perhaps use to contact my home Terra?"
"Oh of course," Aerrow said, also looking rather shifty. "It's just through there." And Aerrow pointed.
"Thank you." Tanner said, and walked off.
"So what were you gonna say Aerrow?" Piper said, her orange eyes twinkling in the ray of sunlight beaming through the large window.
"Oh. Nothing…" And Aerrow turned and walked away to his room, leaving Piper alone to wonder at what Aerrow might have said, and to hope that it was what she so longed him to say…