Wild Storm

A.N. Last chapter I tried a few times to work in Lisa and nothing I tried fit right, so I opted for her to have to cover the fact the Captain was involved then having Naruto cheer her up at the end. The amount of chapters I will be putting out a day to one a day with maybe one day skipped. There is two reasons for this 1: I have been on vacation which is why I have been able to pump out the last 13 chapters that quickly and my vacation is over now and have to work again, 2: There is another story I have in my head I am itching to put down , with my attention issues I have to have a second focus or it will drive me insane … er .

Chapter 14:

Things that come between

Naruto had lead his squadron into the battle with the enemies, he was sick of these guys they were relentless and very annoying. Pulling up after hitting another pod with his lightning gun ripping it apart before the inevitable explosion. Sending orders to his squad after finishing up in this area to regroup. While he was joining up with Skull squadron he was listening over the com to the argument between Lisa and Rick he know while Rick was his friend the two of them didn't like each other in the least. Lisa was a sweet kind woman but when on the bridge she was all business making Rick think she was nothing more then a sourpuss. Flying below the pilot in question to get a good look at the damage he shook his head.

"Mystic one to control I am afraid Cmd Hayes that I have to side with Rick on this I can see the damage and he would be nothing more then a liability quick enough."

As soon as Roy agreed ordering Rick's squad back to the SDF-1 Naruto sighed he could basically hearing Lisa seethe at the two of them for taking Rick's side over her's in the argument. He knew she would probably be angry at him but could not risk the pilot's life by just agreeing with her because they were together.

He had just set Anzu down and climbed down entering the hallway to his office, he caught a sight he was not hoping to see a red faced Lisa standing at the squad room door.

"Lieutenant Commander a word his you would?"

Looking around the hallway no one was even around and she used his rank, he felt a little sick he knew she was pissed at him. Closing his eyes hoping he could make her see reason in this matter, Naruto had been in situations like this long enough it wasn't the order that pissed her off it was he was willing to side with someone other then her. He also realized before the Miss Macross pageant that she was a little lacking in the self esteem department, and with her boyfriend siding against her it hurt her.

"Sure Commander, in my office then?"

Following him in to the office as he held the door open for her shutting it when the two where in he made his way behind his desk looking up at her as he sat down and waited for her to explode on him, he didn't wait long.

"How dare you, how dare you humiliate me like that by contradicting my orders on open com. You made me look like a fool, should have known you would choose you buddy like that, men are all the same!"

"It was never about that ma'am, never once was it to humiliate you Roy and I as veteran pilots saw that he was right we were not willing to risk the life of a pilot even one to stupid to realize the danger he was in."

She snarled at his calm tone her anger riddled mind he was now being condescending. Naruto saw the rage in her eyes no answer would have one in that response other then giving in and saying he was wrong, but doing so could get someone hurt she had to know that she had to listen to people with experience in some areas or it would cost a life and destroy her inside.

"Very well Lieutenant Commander I guess that it, I will be taking my key back then since you obviously are just out to humiliate me."

Sighing trying to keep his face neutral while he hurt inside he pulled a spare copy of a key to her quarters back she had given him and placed it in her out stretched hand.

"This is foolish I choose no one other then the life of a pilot, I was not playing favorites."

"Bullshit, I had listened to the pilot he said he would be fine so you undermined my authority."

With out another word she stormed out of his office leaving a straight faced Naruto behind. To protect himself as he had done so many times before he slipped on a mask a mask to hide his pain, but unlike his old happy idiot mask this was cold and hard.

It had been a week since that day Lisa had been driving the bridge crew up a wall, while Naruto barely spoke this his mend other then giving his orders and asking debriefing questions. When his shifts where over he would head to his quarters and lock himself in, all but the last day of that week. While the enemy was firing off warning shots and destroying the radar antenna one of the stray beams stuck on of the wings of Anzu, the super metal it was made of wasn't distroyed but it took serious damage that interfered with his flying capabilities.

On the bridge the captain was starting to get a little annoyed with his XO's attitude as of late. His bridge crew had gone to being reluctant to even report for duty thinking the brig would be more operable then dealing his their Commander.

"Cmd Hayes, I want you to personally report to Cmd Fokker and having him issue a pilot to take you out in the Cat's Eye. I want you to send back signals to serve as our eyes out there."

"But Sir .."

"That is an order Commander!"

His tone was one that said that there was no if and or buts this order. Silently the rest of the bridge even her best friend cheered a little at the thought of her being out of their hair a little while. While the rest of the crew was worried about when she does return Claudia came up with an idea, she quickly did what both the captain and her friend forgot was an option in their anger and called Roy's office to set her plan into action.

Standing in a flight suit and not his normal gold one Naruto went over the preflight check on the Cat's Eye. When Lisa walked in glaring at him as she too stood in a flight suit.

"What are you doing here!"

She had to flinch a little at the cold emotionless mono toned voices that answered her. She since he appeared had never seen him so closed off, she had heard rumors of him shutting out the world but took them as that seeing him like this hurt her a little. She still wouldn't give up her attitude toward him right now she felt betrayed by what he did that day.

"I am to pilot the Cat's Eye, that is my order ma'am."

He finished his check never looking at her once before climbing into the pilot's seat and sealing the canopy.

"This is Cat's Eye recon to control all systems check, permission requested to take off."

"Granted, safe trip Cat's eye."

With out a word of thanks to the control he pulled the craft onto the launch pad and opened the throttle launching them forward and into the stars. Little sis either of them expect just where this trip would take them.

To be Continued!