Thank you so much for the reviews and follows , it's like jet fuel in the blood :)
Hopefully the second half of this story hits the all the right HC buttons .
Without further ado :
"Finally." Announced a very stern looking Chief Medical Officer who stood in the doorway to the medical bay with his hands on his hips. Head up straight, and a no nonsense attitude literally surrounding him like a forcefield. "I've been expecting you Lieutenant Bradley Bradshaw. I was told you would be along shortly but clearly your commanding office isn't aware of what the term 'shortly' actually means." He gave a pointed look to Maverick who in turn had the good sense to lower his head. "Sorry, Doc. The Lieutenant just needed some time."
"Mmm, well that time seems to have taken it's toll. I'm Lieutenant Commander Harris, but as I assume you will anyway, just call me Doc." He said good naturedly and with a softer tone in his voice than either man thought possible. Lt Commander Harris's whole demeaner changed so quickly Rooster's brain couldn't keep up. He swayed slightly, steadied, thankfully, by Maverick's hand on his chest. The Doctor mentally noted it all. "Over here Lieutenant." Doc tapped the bed and winked invitingly as he motioned for Rooster to lay down.
"Creepy, Doc." Sighed Rooster as he accepted Maverick's help, easing him down onto the bed. As Mav lifted his feet up Rooster couldn't help the sigh of comfort escape him as his body relaxed into the mattress. He hadn't realised how tired he really was. The turmoil in his mind had over ridden all other feelings. Numbing the ache that had taken over his muscles which was now returning full force.
Doc waited for Maverick to leave.
Maverick stood firm, folded his arms and smiled.
Doc put his hands on his hips.
Maverick's smiled broadened.
Rooster's amused grin was broken suddenly by a massive yawn followed by a pained groan.
Maverick raised an eyebrow. Then the other.
Doc Harris pursed his lips, he knew very well who Maverick was. He debated standing his ground but if the rumours were true, and judging by Maverick's behaviour they were, then this was one battle he was not going to win. Maverick and Rooster were as close to father and son as you could get and he was fairly sure Maverick wasn't above pulling rank, even with a medical professional.
Doc sighed in resignation. "You're staying then?"
Maverick nodded.
Doc turned, focusing his attention on the man, barely awake, laying on the bed.
"Ok, Lieutenant Bradshaw, do you prefer Rooster?"
Rooster nodded, which took more effort than he'd like to admit.
"Ok Rooster, I know you had a crash landing and a not so smooth one so I need to do a full check. I wish you'd come in sooner but we'll let that one slide considering what you've just pulled off."
"Thank's, Doc, appreciate that."
"Don't thank me yet, we waited so long for you I sent the nice gentle medic's to the mess hall so you're stuck with me." Doc Harris's friendly smile changed as he undid the top half of Rooster's flight suit with surprisingly gentle hands, he frowned as the bruises beneath came into view. Maverick stepped forward slightly, mirroring the Doctor's frown.
Gently Doc palpated the area around Rooster's bruised ribs, making note of every time the pilot flinched. No ribs moved beneath his touch but that didn't rule out cracked bones. Next up was the penlight in the young pilots eyes to which Maverick had to grab Rooster's arm before he attempted to throw a punch at the unsuspecting Doctor.
"Headache I'm guessing?"
"Yes." Growled out Rooster as he closed his eyes against the onslaught of pain. He felt the Doc check his neck and chest for further injuries. Hands running over his head checking for cuts or knots. Tell tale signs of the concussion the pilot was obviously suffering from.
"Mmmm. You've got quite a lump on the side of your head, Lieutenant."
"Think I hit my head in the cockpit, or maybe it was the tree?" Mumbled a perplexed Rooster.
Maverick and the Doc exchanged a look but silently decided to let that one go. Doc Harris cleaned up Rooster's neck, applying a band aid to the worse of the cuts.
"Captain, as you're here you may as well help me. I need to check the Lieutenant's back and breathing, can you help me sit him up?"
"Sure, Doc." Maverick was relieved to have something to do besides stand there and worry. He slid his arm behind Rooster's neck, and with the other around his opposite shoulder pulled him slowly upright.
The result was instantaneous. Rooster barely managed a groan as his stomach did a flip and back roll and ejected everything. Everything, Rooster was certain, that he had ever eaten in his life. He was vaguely aware of Mav's hand rubbing small circles on his back, the Doc's hand on his shoulder and from somewhere there had materialised a bowl. Rooster wasn't known for his dramatics, he prided himself on being a fairly laid back kinda guy, but right now, between the screaming from his ribs and the never ending puking, he was sure he was going to die.
He reached out, searching for Maverick and felt intense relief when the older man grabbed hold of his hand, tight, wrapping strong fingers around his own. Grounding him, reassuring him. Just like he used to when a young Bradley woke screaming from a nightmare.
After what seemed an eternity, Rooster's stomach finally settled. He tentatively opened his eyes, the light had thankfully been dimmed. In that moment right there, Rooster could have kissed the Doctor.
"Better?" Asked Maverick as he handed Rooster a cup of water from out of nowhere.
"Yeah, thanks." Came the croaked reply. "Sorry."
"No need to be sorry, son. Think the Doc anticipated that reaction."
Doc Harris smiled apologetically as he leaned Rooster forward slightly to listen to his chest. Rooster flinched as the cold metal came in to contact with his skin. "Sorry, Lieutenant. We'll get you more comfortable soon I promise."
Doc eased Rooster back against the bed and stood back, addressing the younger man but eyes on Maverick. "Ok well, you've got a low grade concussion, nothing serious but I'll need to keep an eye on you for a while. Looks like you have cracked ribs. You're suffering from an adrenaline crash, your heart rate is a little too high for my liking but still within safe limits." he added quickly as concern flashed across Maverick's face. "Another reason to keep you here for a while longer just to monitor your vitals. Your temperature is a little elevated but that's probably due to the exhaustion you're currently experiencing. All in all you're pretty lucky, just like your Captain here, you both got off lightly. I'd like you to rest. I'll give you some pain relief for the headache and ribs that will hopefully help your body relax and reset so you can be debriefed later today."
"Thank's Doc." Said both pilots simultaneously.
"I'll get you a change of clothes Lieutenant so we can get you settled."
"What? Wait, Doc. I can rest in my bunk." As the words Doc said finally made their way through the fog in his brain, Rooster gave a pathetic attempt to sit up.
"No Lieutenant Bradshaw. You'll rest here where I can keep an eye on you." Doc Harris pushed Bradley back down then folded his arms, his eyes daring the young pilot to argue. Rooster looked to Maverick, who looked away, suddenly finding the ceiling above fascinating.
"Fine." Rooster resigned himself to his fate, too tired to put up any sort of argument and fairly certain if he tried to run, he'd end up faceplanting the floor in an undignified heap.
Doc smiled as he went to find a T shirt and joggers for Rooster. Maverick leaned forward, his hand on Bradley's thigh. "I'm glad you gave in there, I wasn't gonna back you up you know."
"Traitor." Mumbled Rooster as his eyes slipped shut. He opened them again as Maverick gently shook his arm.
"Time to get changed."
"Ok." Said Rooster slowly as Maverick made to help him out of the rest of his flight suit. "What are you doing, Mav?"
"Shut up, you need help so just accept it." Maverick quickly and efficiently helped Rooster change, settling the exhausted, slightly out of breath and definitely in pain younger pilot back against the pillow as the Doctor came back over to them. Rooster closed his eyes once more, this time to hide the tears that swam within the dark brown depths. Doc Harris lifted Rooster's arm, inserting an IV into his vein, taping it in place and releasing the valve to the fluids the pilot so desperately needed. He then administered the pain killer. Rooster's eyes had opened as he watched the fluid lazily make its way toward his arm. He felt the cool liquid as it travelled his vein, spreading a warmth that took him by surprise across his body.
"Captain Mitchell you're welcome to stay while Lieutenant Bradshaw rests."
"Thanks, Doc. Again." Said Maverick as he pulled across a chair and sat down, he rested his elbows on his knees and regarded his pilot. His ward. His son. He had been determined to make Goose proud by looking after those he had treasured most. Despite trying his best, the distance between himself and Bradley not only hurt deeply but caused insurmountable guilt that he had let Goose and Carole down.
Bradley drunkenly rolled his head toward Maverick and gave the older man the loopiest smile he'd ever seen.
"Pain gone?" Asked Maverick affectionately.
Rooster nodded, grinning as his eyes began to fall shut. He was about to give in to sleep when panic gripped his heart and his eyes flew open searching for Maverick.
The Captain hadn't moved. Maverick smiled and leaned forward. His hand on Rooster's chest, grounding them both. "I'm not going anywhere, Bradley. Time to sleep, Son."
Bradley nodded slowly and smiled as his eyes slid shut once more. The arms of sleep enveloping him tightly. With the feeling of Maverick, his Dad's, hand over his heart, his smile faded but didn't disappear completely as his breathing evened and his mind found itself back in the F14, high up above the clouds. This time though there was no enemy. Instead, he soared high in the cockpit, swooping and spinning, nothing between him and the heavens.
But he was not alone.
He was with Maverick.
He was with Goose.
He was home.
Fin.
Thank you for reading! Feel free to send any ideas you'd like my muse to work on she'd appreciate that :)