Chapter 8

She steps out onto the platform warily, glancing at the row of fighter jets along the flight line. She sighs, gripping the handrail, as the wind tunnels into the hangar, twisting her hair in its haste. It's been many years since Amelia has heard the roar of military aircraft engines, since she's seen the dance of refracted light in the exhaust of afterburners. And, as hard as she's tried to put this life behind her, she can't deny that the location brings about feelings that aren't all that unpleasant. The smell of burnt kerosene in the air is nostalgic; the display of silver specks glinting in the canopy of blue above the Pacific Ocean, drifting in and out of the clouds, is a sight to behold.

She's not sure why she's come. To reminisce? To say goodbye? To see him one more time? Whatever the reason, she regrets her decision wholeheartedly. The flood of emotions nearly paralyzes her – more so even than when she'd seen him the previous day.

Yesterday, she had not been prepared. Today, the mere anticipation of seeing Maverick enervates her.

She glances down at her phone, checking to see if he's messaged her since the last time she looked not ten minutes ago. There are no new messages since the night before.

Amelia looks over at the group of aviators gathered around the radio at the center of the hangar, listening to their fellow pilots over the comm. She takes a few steps in their direction and, recognizing Maverick's voice among the transmissions, feels slightly better about him not writing to her that morning. She supposes that he shouldn't be texting and flying.

Her daughter is sitting farther back at a desk, her face buried in a textbook. She is astoundingly unaware of her surroundings. Specifically, of the two men glancing over at her from time to time. Amelia smiles inwardly, admiring her daughter's ability to immerse herself in her work so completely that she is oblivious to everything else.

As she nears the cluster of officers gathered around the radio, she does a double take upon taking in the appearance of one of Sydney's admirers. Her heart does a somersault and she brings a hand over her chest in shock. The young man gazing at Sydney looks just like Goose.

Amelia stops in her tracks, staring at him. He glances up at her with raised eyebrows, apparently puzzled that she's taken an interest in him.

"Hello," he says. "Are you looking for someone?"

She swallows uncomfortably, blinking at him in wonder. Her hand travels up to her mouth as she lets out a small gasp and her eyes well up with tears.

"Ma'am, are you okay?" he asks, separating from the group to approach her. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Sydney looks up as he steps around her desk to get to Amelia.

"Mom?" she says in confusion.

The man glances between Sydney and Amelia in surprise. In the background, Amelia hears Maverick's cheerful voice over the intercom, "Guns, guns, guns."

"Goddamn it!" Another voice peaks on the radio.

"What are you doing here?" Sydney asks as the rest of the pilots look over to observe their interaction.

Amelia tries not to stare at the man who resembles Goose, but her eyes keep reverting to his face. "Your father asked me to come," she says, finally looking away.

Sydney narrows her eyes. "So?"

Amelia lets out a sigh. "Well, you've decided to stay so I need to discuss your living arrangements with him," she says.

"I'm an adult, mom," Sydney replies. "You don't need to arrange anything for me."

The man standing before Amelia sticks his hands into his pockets. "You're lucky, Sydney," he says. "Having people looking out for you. Even if one of them is Maverick."

Amelia looks back at him but he's already retreating to the table with the radio. "Bradley?" she says quietly.

He glances at her again, as do the rest of the officers in behind. He nods with a grim expression.

Amelia closes her eyes. "You," she begins, but Bradley cuts her off.

"I know," he says. He appears tense and, after shooting an impatient glance at Sydney, he turns his back to Amelia and concentrates his attention on the radio.

Amelia glances over at Sydney, who is giving her a knowing look. Sydney shakes her head and Amelia gathers that Bradley's colleagues are not aware of his past.

Suddenly, a loud boom resonates through the hangar. Amelia's heart drops as she whips her head around to look out at the airfield.

"What was that?" Sydney asks, rising from her seat as several aviators run out toward the tarmac.

The transmissions coming over the radio are chaotic and keep cutting out.

"Bird strike! Bird strike!" A female voice crackles over the radio. "We've got left engine flame out! Starting emergency procedures!"

"That's Phoenix!" Bradley says hoarsely. He starts for the strip at a run.

Sydney is watching her mother anxiously and Amelia takes her by the hand, squeezing it tightly.

Maverick's voice comes on the radio. "Phoenix, level out," he says, his voice taut but steady.

"Shutting off fuel to left engine, extinguishing fire!" Phoenix yells. "Trying to restart it!"

"Leave it, you can make a controlled landing with one engine!" Maverick shouts.

"I can't!" she yells back desperately.

"Your angle of attack is too high, Phoenix. You're going to stall," Maverick says forcefully.

They could hear a medley of alarms over the radio amidst Bob's frantic yelling. "Hydraulics failure! We're losing altitude!"

"Phoenix, throttle up right engine. Opposite rudder to offset power," Maverick replies evenly, and Amelia marvels at his composure despite the intensity of the situation. "You've got this, Phoenix," he says.

Most of the officers have, by this point, exited the hangar to watch the compromised aircraft tailspin overhead as it accelerates toward the ground. Only two remain at the radio, staring intently at the receiver.

"Hangman?" Sydney says quietly.

One of the men looks up at Sydney with a grave look.

"Why aren't they ejecting?" she asks anxiously.

Hangman gives his head a slight shake. "That's a $60 million dollar government vehicle," he says.

Sydney furrows her brows.

Amelia glances between her and Hangman, then clarifies for Sydney, "Otherwise known as a shit-ton of paperwork if they were to lose the jet."

Hangman nods, pursing his lips and looking back at the radio just as Bob's voice vibrates the speaker. "Right engine failure! Repeat: right engine is out!"

Amelia closes her eyes with a sigh.

"Fuck," Hangman says in unison with Maverick's transmission.

"Extinguishing right engine!" Phoenix cries.

"How extensive is the damage?" Maverick asks. "Can you restart the right?"

"It's not working!" Phoenix yells.

Sydney's grip tightens around Amelia's hand. Hangman brings a fist to his mouth, breathing steadily over his knuckles. Amelia's legs feel like jelly, but she continues to stand in place, holding her daughter's hand firmly in her grasp.

"Phoenix, time's up," Maverick says.

"I'm trying to restart it!"

"Bob, Phoenix, eject! Eject!" Maverick yells.

...

Maverick storms into the hangar, his face drawn. Most of the officers give him a wide berth, but Bradley nearly flies into him as he crosses his path. Maverick doesn't flinch, so Bradley matches his speed, going backwards.

"Are they okay?" Bradley asks, nearly running to keep up with Maverick.

"They punched out," Maverick responds levelly.

Bradley shakes his head. "That's not what I asked."

Maverick slows his pace, glaring at Bradley. "Well, that's all I know," he says wearily.

With an exaggerated shake of the head, Bradley steps out of Maverick's way. When he does, Maverick sees Amelia, standing near the radio, holding Sydney's hand. Sydney promptly releases Amelia's fingers.

Maverick's march slows as he approaches Amelia. "You came," he says incredulously, staring at her.

Amelia just nods.

"I, uh," he says, wavering before her. "I can't stay," he continues.

Amelia resumes her nodding. "I know," she replies.

Maverick glances up to see Cyclone and Warlock walking in from the back. Cyclone is giving him a stern look but Maverick's gaze drifts back to Amelia's face. "Will you wait?"

Amelia stares at him, shocked that he even has to ask. "Of course," she responds.

Maverick's face remains unchanged, but he brings his hand up to brush lightly over her waist as he starts to walk away. The touch makes her light-headed, his fingers leaving a trail of mayhem along the nerve endings in her skin, as though the stroke had been electrically charged. She swallows uneasily, the commotion in her gut leaving her unsteady as she watches him depart together with Cyclone and Warlock.

Of course, she will wait for him. She will always wait for him.

...

A/N: I promise, Rooster's POV is coming soon! Thank you so very much for the reviews and follows, they seriously make my day!