A/N: These little one-shots take place before and after my other story Six Days in Enemy-Territory. If y'all ever get confused if I write anything differently then how the movie played out, go check out my other story and you'll understand. :) Little warning here, there is a panic attack if you even think or have had past experiences with panic attacks, please be careful reading this, because I dont want to trigger you. Hope this helps!
Robert "Bob" Flyod wasn't always the shy troverted person nobody knows. In fact, he was quite the opposite. He was outgoing, extroverted, funny, and a lot of people knew him. That was, until those people turned him.
His parents died when Bob was three years old. After that, he was sent to live with his grandparents. Long story short, they died. At seven years old, he was sent to an orphanage. Guardian after guardian, house after house: no one seemed to want Bob. They complained that he talked too much, he was annoying, and he was too weird. (A nerd) so eventually, little Robert learned to keep his mouth shut. He learned to control his feelings and not let anything show. He learned how to fend for himself, how to be invisible. He learned how to become like the invisible person, that he actually changed into that person.
But it didn't stay that way. When he joined the Academy for Navy pilots, he made a few friends. He started showing his younger self. And his friends appreciated that. They would go put together, have a few drinks, (Bob was the sober one, always driving them home) and just plain having fun. Until, one day, he was walking home after dark and...well...some guys attacked him. Physically and verbally. His friends were there and they did nothing. They actually joined in.
When Robert escaped them, battered and bruised, he suffered from a lot of panic attacks. And along with the panic attacks came severe anxiety. Still, he went back to the Academy every day. He just covered his face in a mask of determination. He shied away from his 'friends' and people in general. Although sometimes they'd start following him around, trying to hurt him. He went home with a few broken bones more than once. He never to therapy. He wasn't trying to act hero or anything, it was just because his anxiety became worse and worse and worse.
Then he met the Daggers. They were great! Well, Hangman was a little rude at times, but Bob knew how to handle it. Phoenix, he noticed tried involving him in more conversations. That felt great. He became part of the team! And when Rooster lifted him on his shoulders after he got a touchdown, he finally felt peace.
Unfortunately, when Maverick and Rooster were shot down during their mission, he got a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. He couldn't sleep, he couldnt eat; nothing. He was able to recover though. Eventually. Still, he never told anyone about anything.
Bob was driving back to base housing. They'd just gotten off the carrier. Maverick and Rooster were still pretty beat up from their little fiasco, so they were being taken to the hospital. Bob could finally get home, take a nice warm shower and sleep in his own bed. He had missed his dog, a Siberian-husky with bright blue eyes and a welcoming bark. Eirwen.* No one knew he had a service dog. That's okay, he didn't need others to be in his life at all times.
Bob parked into the small driveway and walked up the small sidewalk to his front door. He pulled out his keys and was about to open the door when he heard someone walking up the street. It was eleven thirty at night, who on earth could be walking at this hour? Fear gripped his heart. Shoot, he was about to have a panic attack . He knew it. He had to get inside. Bob quickly opened the door and rushed inside, turning around and locking it again.
His breathing was quick and shallow. Fear wrapped its cold hands around his heart and mind. He couldn't escape the darkness, the fear, the anxiety. He was back in the dark streets with men crowding him. He had to escape. He had to go. He was going to get hurt again. He had to...
Something warm and wet licked his face. There was a soft whine, and a body brushed up against his. Eirwen. Bob had curled up into a ball on the floor. Eirwen was there. She knew what was going on. She had to help her master through it. This was what she was trained for. Eirwen curled herself up against her master, her body warmth radiating onto Bob. He was still breathing hard; his heartrate was above normal, and he was shaking like a leaf in a storm.
Bob put his arm around Eirwen's middle and pulled her closer into a hug. He could get through this. He could. "Thank you, Eirwen." He murmured softly, still a little shaky. "Thank you..."
Further Notes: *Eirwen is a name that means snow or ice. I thought that was a little creative, gove me a little credit y'all. Hehe. I'd love to see your reviews or thoughts on this, so dont hesitate to strike up a conversation! Have a good day/afternoon/night! :)