DATE-MAY-31-2019

LOCATION-FORT GRAYS AIR BASE

LIVING QUARTERS

"Come on where in the world did I put that thing." I sat mumbling to myself as I dug through my flight gear. We were told that today was a free day and I planned on taking full advantage of it just as soon as I could find my music player.

"What you looking for your sanity?" I hear someone say from the doorway to my room.

Turning to look I saw Iona leaning against the door-frame smirking. " Nah it be a plus though."

"So what are you looking for then?"

"My music player."

"And it would be with your flight suit?"

"Of course where I go it goes."

As I said that a look of realization crosses her face. "So that's why you're so quiet and never complain about long flights."

"Yes ma'am that be why." I reply with a wink and a quick shout of joy after pulling the device out of my flight suit pockets.

"Smart and don't start with that sir stuff with me i'm a lieutenant just as you are." she said with a playful glare.

Looking away to hide my smile I replied "Yeah but i'm only a second lieutenant while your a first."

"You don't even call Captain Jester sir." Brownie countered throwing her hands up

In frustration,

"Well yeah he asked me not to."

"I will push you off the control tower."

"Nah your life would be boring without me, but anyways what did you need?"

"What can't I just stop and say hi to a friend?"

"Iona it's our first free day since this war started and it's not even nine you would normally be still asleep, so what do you need?"

"Fine I need to talk to you." She said looking at the floor.

"Well talk away."

"In private,"

I don't know why that worried me so much but it did. "Oh….. well there's my hanger i suppose."

"Won't it be full of ground crew?"

"Nah they'll focus on the planes they can save that poor eagles done." I said standing up and making my way to the door.

"Yeah that will work."

Now normally the walk from my room to my hangers not that long of a walk, but when the person your walking with is acting unusually shy and is avoiding eye contact it makes things awkward which leads to a long ass walk.

Upon entering the hanger I took a long look at my falcon and shook my head at its sorry state and patted it on the wingtip. "Good job girl got me home." Walking over to some crates I sat down and gestured for Iona to do the same.

"So what did you need to talk to me about?"

She sat there for a moment fidgeting before she answered. "I wanted to say thank you for yesterday."

"You ain't gotta say nothing Iona its fine."

"No its not!" she shot back standing up.

"You had no weapons was already hit and was missing an engine, you should have left that's what any sane person would have done."

"Well i'm clearly not sane."

"That's not the point why did you stay especially for me of all people."

Now that question threw me for a loop. "What do you mean especially for you I would never leave anyone behind that goes double for you."

"Why though is what I want to know I mean all I've ever done is treat you badly."

"Iona no you haven't."

She just shook her head sadly and said."Nick when we were kids you would listen to all my problems no complaint no nothing and how did I repay you, Id say some sarcastic thing, insult you or just push you away."

Pulling a trick out of Clowns book I just shrugged and said "So?"

"All I've ever done is push you away when you try to helpful your my best friend and I just keep keeping you at a distance all because…." she said looking at the floor.

Whatever she said at the end I didn't catch. "What was that last part Iona?"

Raising her head and with something I couldn't quite make out in her eyes 'she started speaking in a subdued voice I hadn't heard from her. "But sincerely thank you and not just for the save you also helped me learn we never know if we'll come back, so on that note.

As soon as she finished she grabbed me and pulled me into a deep kiss. When we stopped for air I was dazed when she grinned even more and pulled me up and said. "So lets live a little shall we."

Walking into the mess hall later that day i'm sure I had a stupid grin on my face, as I moved toward the line for food I changed the song on my Music player and grabbed a tray and loaded it. As I looked for a place to sit I saw Clown sitting near the exit and decided to sit with I sat down he looked up and gave me a strange look which I raised my brow at and took a bite of my burger.

"So you and Iona eh." he said while I was mid bite causing me to choke.

"What?"

"Well you see me and you needed to talk about your situation with your bird but you weren't in your room, so I figured you'd be in your hanger and well ...yeah." he says getting embarrassed slightly there at the end.

"Oh well um surprise?"

Chuckling he replied "Don't worry too much, it's a little more relaxed around here about rules and regs about dating."

"Oh thank god."

"Yeah just don't let this get in the way of your flying, but like I said we need to talk about your aircraft or lack of one.

"Ok whats up." I asked in between bites of food.

"Well as you can tell your birds pretty well done for so you need a new one, but all that's left in reserve is an old F-14D so that means no AI for a WSO."

Putting my burger down I finished for him "And no one wants to give up their WSO so i'll be waiting till they send us a new plane or a WSO over."

"Well normally I'd say your right on the money but as fate would have it we have a pilot trained as a WSO who needs a craft as well."

"Really and they would just work with me just like that?"

"Yup."

"Who are they then,"

"Well it's Brownie so first thing tomorrow you two will be getting in sync for our next flight, and trust me from the rumors going around it's gonna be a big operation so be ready."

As he left, I couldn't imagine how true true his words were and where this next sortie would lead.