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Their erstwhile leader is currently in the med bay, probably fine but Bob can't help but silently be a little worried. No one has been allowed to see Mav since he staggered out the F-14 with Rooster, trading handshakes and backslaps one moment and fainting right there in front of them a moment later.
Bob hadn't gotten to him quickly enough, but Payback and Fanboy had, catching Mav as he went down, stopping his head cracking against the carrier as he went down. Hondo was there as well, stepping up and helping support all 5'7 of Mav's dead weight as the medical crew sprang into action.
Bob will forever remember watching their leader be wheeled away, looking so small and helpless compared to how they've seen him before. But he didn't feel for anyone more than Rooster, who was immediately pushed into debriefing alongside Hangman.
The difference being Jake came out 10 minutes later, looking ruffled but alright, even if he is now sitting in the corner and not talking to anyone.
It's been an hour and they still haven't seen Bradley. Bob has never known an immediate post mission brief take this long. Usually they roll through it as quickly as possible, necessary details so you can go get a shower, some food and breathe a sigh of relief before the inquisition squad comes in.
But for some reason Bradley's is different. Mind that's probably because he came back in a random plane that definitely wasn't his, sat in the wrong seat.
Seemingly everyone has their own theories though, spoken quietly and in the more vulnerable moments of waiting. Nat refuses to speculate, simply stating that it must be important, but the shadow of a worried expression belies her true feelings, even if no one apart from Bob can tell it's actually there.
Fanboy is busy spinning himself up into a frenzy about everything, meaning unhinged nonsense passes through his lips with an energy that makes Bob feel exhausted simply from being around him.
"Oh no!" Fanboy jumps and everyone snaps their heads up, only for him to utter, "I forgot to throw my milk out before we shipped off, do you think it'll be alright?"
Bob sighs internally, while Payback has no such grace, sighing heavily and almost rolling his eyes – not that Fanboy notices.
"Considering that milk had been in the fridge a week already and was already starting to smell funny then no, it won't be alright, Mickey. Now please, let us all have some peace, some of us are exhausted."
Fanboy quietens down, only to pipe up again five minutes later. The difference being this time he speaks softer and everyone mostly ignores him when it becomes apparent this is a pattern, his odd way of self soothing or something, Bob thinks.
Bob looks around at all of them for a moment, quietly observing as he usually does – his best skill, according to most of his commanding officers over the years, and also the reason why he can't usually hold down a pilot, not always ready to speak from the rooftops and push his way in. Labelled, 'quiet' or 'not up to the job' by more than one brash, wannabe hotshot over the years while being told they could learn a lot from him.
He watches, as Nat bites her lip, Jake looking almost sullen if you didn't know that was his worried face, watches Ruben distracting Mickey, partly to distract himself as well.
He watches it all silently, aware of Javy's shallow breathing over to his left, waits for him to speak and isn't at all surprised when everyone else jumps slightly, startled as he starts, seemingly halfway through the thought already in his head.
"I bet Rooster has just gone back to his rack like a normal person, he'll be along as soon as they let Mav's next of kin see him I'm sure." However the conviction of his words isn't matched by the tone, uncertain and wavering, wanting it to be true instead of actually believing it.
Bob wisely doesn't say what else is on his –and he's sure everyone elses minds – that Bradley has somehow slipped in and is grieving next to his bedside, as Mav lays, fighting for his life.
All they know is Mav's next of kin is on the carrier, and will, of course,- be the first person allowed to see him when the time comes.
Bradley is the obvious choice, and while Mav and Hondo are close, no one believes that Hondo would be his next of kin. For starters, everyone knows that Mav and Bradley are practically related, that Mav raised Bradley for a good few years before fucking it up. Knowledge they're all privy to after Bradley and Jake's blow up in training a couple weeks ago.
Bob prepares to sit here for a while longer, unsure how much more time it'll be before Bradley appears or they get cleared to see Mav.
He could have been sat there ten minutes or two hours, he really can't tell, all the goings on blending into one, Jake stays silent while Javy seems to chat his ear off about pretty much anything he can think of it seems. Nat chats to Javy when he isn't trying to drag Jake out of his one man misery pit.
Mickey keeps going, "Oh oh!" every five seconds but everyone ignores him now, everyone that is apart from Reuben, who is currently sitting opposite him, playing an overly complicated game of half footsie, half toe stomping.
Everyone else isn't part of the mission group, and therefore not allowed in the med bay yet – and technically neither are they but no one has tried to kick them out so far, so they keep sitting there, occupying space.
Bob has just let his eyes flutter closed for a moment, when Mickey speaks again.
"Oh oh! Guys, Brad is here!"
Bob cracks an eye, not ready to fully give up on his nap idea until he knows it's not a sure thing. Unfortunately for his body which has been awake far longer than is really sensible, there is Bradley, giving them all a weary smile as he approaches.
"Hey guys," he scrubs a hand over his face, looking far older than his years. But then having flown back in a stolen, Soviet F-14 will do that to a person Bob supposes.
As will being called as next of kin for his aging mission leader, less than an hour after having to do a net landing in a piece of shit F14 with said mission leader.
"Bradley," Nat exclaims, relief evident as she sags in her seat, "What have they said to you about Mav? They won't let us know anything, we've had to wait for you."
Bradley frowns, "They haven't told me anything? Why would they?"
"Because you're his next of kin?" Mickey pipes up but already Bob knows they've gotten it wrong, very very wrong if Bradley's expression is anything to go by.
"Um I'm not his next of kin? Why would I be? We haven't spoken in literal years."
Bob knew it was all too simple, it all laid out like a deceptively easy puzzle, like a Rubix cube. Everyone thinks they can solve it, yet in reality no one can.
Bradley almost has an amused smile on his face though, so he obviously knows something, something that it becomes very apparent he isn't going to share with the rest of them.
Javy asks innocuously, "Why did they tell us his next of kin was on the carrier then? How can they be wrong about that?"
"You do realise there are other people on this carrier than just us right Coyote? Quite a lot of other people." Bradley stares mildly at him, seemingly asking if he's actually stupid.
"So?? Why does that matter?" Javy still seems perplexed as to why it changes things.
Bob wants to put his head in his hands and laugh, or cry, he's not entirely sure which one. either way he wonders how on earth some of these people managed to graduate college, let alone become the best of the best aviators the navy could offer.
In the end it's Nat who speaks first.
"Javy, you do realise that Mav's next of kin is probably just someone else on the carrier right? There are literally hundreds of people on here." She rolls her eyes, "Hell, it's probably another random admiral bachelor he knows from his time in Top Gun or something."
Bradley makes (or probably more accurately lets out) a sound half between a snort and a cough, causing Mickey to lean over and give him a slap on the back, somehow making matters ten times worse.
Bradley sputters frantically, waving Mickey off as he stays bent over, looking ready to try and cough his guts up again.
For Bob it confirms that he is indeed as smart as he thinks he is sometimes. Not to brag or anything but he's pretty sure he's on the money with this one.
And just like that, COMPACFLT Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazansky appears down the corridor.
While everyone else was looking at Nick Bradshaw in the Top Gun class photo, Bob was cataloguing who else was there, trying not to let his eyes go too wide at the amount of absolute legends, all in one class together. Of course none other than the best of the best, Tom "Iceman" Kazansky.
Everyone apart from Bob and Bradley freezes, probably terrified that he's come to tell them all to get back to where they should be and out of a restricted corridor that they shouldn't really be in at all.
But when they see the admiral, with a small smile on his face and literally fucking whistling as he strolls along, very non regulation jacket slung over his arm, looking like he's out for a nice stroll in the park, not like they somehow managed to pull off the suicide mission of the decade.
"Hello everyone," the Iceman rumbles, shushing them and making a waving down motion with his free hand when they try to stand, "Trust me, you don't need to stand, I'm here on purely social business."
Everyone slumps down slowly, trying not to look too relived by his words, lest he take them back or realises that they're not actually meant to be there at all.
Javy opens his mouth to speak, only to be stopped by Jake, with a hand on his arm and, "Javy no."
It's the first time Jake has spoken since they first landed, breaking out of his comatose state (and privately Bob thinks he's having a silent panic attack but who is he to say).
Javy wisely listens to Jake, closing his mouth and promptly shutting up.
It's Reuben who notices the jacket first, or he's the first to comment on it at least. Bob watches, his eyes tracking it, taking note and calculating while the admiral makes conversation, waiting until there's a break in the conversation to mention it. And Bob does have to give him credit, he genuinely sounds like he's unsure what's happening.
"That's nice of you, sir,"
"Nice? Why am I being nice?" The Iceman looks every part of his nickname in the moment, cold stare penetrating Reuben's words as he shrinks back imperceptibly. Bob likens it to a deer caught in the headlights.
"Um, because you're bringing Captain Mitchell his jacket?" Reuben is very obviously shitting himself and Bob can't help but to laugh slightly along with everyone else at just how terrified he looks.
"Hmmm," Admiral Kazansky observes him for a moment, "Something like that kid."
Then before he can say any more, a nurse pops his head through the door, "You can come through when you're ready, Admiral."
The Iceman makes to go through the door, before quickly spinning back to look at them, "Well? Are you kids coming or not?"
Personally Bob doesn't think any of them are really kids anymore but who is he to argue with the COMPACFLT?
Somewhat surprised they all scramble to their feet, ending up following the most important guy in the pacific like ducklings to see their leader.
When they all appear the nurse seems slightly overwhelmed, shifting nervously as he tries to figure out what to do with all of them. In the end he just motions for the Admiral to go behind the curtain promising the daggers that they can go and see him, two at a time, once Admiral Kazansky is finished.
The Admiral – or 'Ice' as Bob heard Bradley calling him when they were passing through the door to the infirmary, quietly talking – either way he has no such qualms pushing back the curtains and not bothering to close them behind him. instead he fixes Mav with an immediate glare, looking even scarier than when he was staring Reuben down.
"Honestly what the hell were you thinking? You had a simple task, not to get into trouble for one full day and how did that go?"
Yup, Bob is 99% sure he's completely on the money, he knows it doesn't happen very often but sometimes people actually have a best friend who's practically family in the Navy, it was the same for his Uncle Harold, him and his best friend Mathew were each others next of kin and emergency contacts, especially when his mother stopped talking to Harold for joining the Navy instead of the Army, and then later Bob's dad when he joined Harold instead of going Army.
Ice gives Mav a look that speaks volumes, volumes that if it was anywhere else Bob would say they looked like a long suffering couple, frustrated but oddly fond, and when Mav looks up at Ice he seems to melt into his gaze, small smile firmly in place as he sits on the edge of his hospital bed, his right arm in a sling.
The same hospital bed that Bob has suddenly realised Mav should probably be in – properly in, not just sat on the side, legs hanging off the end where the cast around his ankle rests. Ice has evidently just noticed the same thing, stepping back and taking stock of the man in front of him.
"What on earth have you done to yourself? And why the hell didn't you go to medical as soon as you landed?"
Mav shrugs as best he can, sheepish grin on his face, "It wasn't that bad, plus I didn't want to disrupt the kids celebrations."
Ice scrubs a hand over his face, letting out a big sigh and raising his eyes heavenward, shaking his head as he refocuses on Mav.
"Pete Maverick Mitchell, you are a class A idiot, I thought I said no more scaring me and doing stupid shit?"
Bob would be focusing on the fact that the COMPACFLT has just sworn and called what their CO does 'stupid shit', apart from the fact that the same man is currently draping Mav's jacket over his shoulders, then placing his hands on either side of Mav's head and leaning in, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead?
Wait what?
Bob is truly baffled, as is everyone else judging by the sounds coming from the rest of the daggers.
Apart from Bradley that is, who sounds oddly sentimental as he chats to himself, "Awww I'd hoped, but I'm glad they finally sorted their shit out."
"Ughhh?"
Bob makes a noise of confusion, halfway between a groan and a hum, before getting back control of his words and asking the all important question.
"You knew about this???"
"Uh yeah? Uncle Mav and Uncle Ice were on again, off again all of my childhood?" Bradley looks confused at why this could be such a big deal, while Ice shouts over, evidently listening to the general disbelief of all the daggers speaking at once, but only bothering to reply to Bradley.
"I'll have you know we've been on for the past twenty years you little shit!"
Bradley just shrugs, apparently having no fear of being called a little shit by the most important guy in the pacific.
Meanwhile pandemonium is occurring with everyone else, but Bob won't even try to figure out what they're saying, instead he's happy to let the chaos unfold around him, shaking his head as he finally lets himself laugh, partly with disbelief that he hadn't figured it out before.
He really needs to work on his gaydar. And now he thinks about it, maybe his grandmother's feud was never Army VS Navy, yet more blatant homophobia.
Bob thinks he should really call his father.
~~~~~
Mav is excited, he's also just a tiny bit terrified, after all having twelve fully grown adults who still act like children half the time, yet are trusted with million dollar jets and somehow some actually have leadership roles. Well that's scarier than having all the Navy bosses round for dinner.
He's not entirely sure how this happened, himself and Ice, this high up in the Navy, (well he always knew Ice would end up here but he didn't seem himself as a career guy) married, out, not fucking it up, alive, having a relationship with his godson – maybe he needs to pinch himself.
He does.
It fucking hurts.
"Ahhh."
Ice peers round the corner from where he's situated in the kitchen, preparing his famous blintzes.
"Are you alright?" He asks, coming to stand in the doorway, taking no chances that Mav might try and hobble his way into the kitchen. Creating a massive safety hazard and also a hazard to any food in there.
Mav winces, "Yeah I'm fine, just pinched myself."
He'd reasoned that he didn't think he'd be able to eat the volume needed to feed twelve aviators but Ice had disagreed, reckoning that he'd still be able to make a significant dent. Ice is definitely right but Mav won't tell him that, lest the fact go to his head, not like he's the one with an overly large ego or anything.
Ice shakes his head fondly, feigning exasperation, "And why exactly are you pinching yourself?"
Mav feels slightly stupid, after all he's been living most of this life for years now, but still, sometimes he still can't believe it's real. So maybe he feels a bit stupid, but after all, he's talking to his husband – the man he tells everything to.
"Just checking all this life is real," he grins, trying for a trademark cocky grin and is instead met with a soft smile in return from Ice, telling him that his expression obviously didn't quite hit the spot, and actually it didn't need to.
He smiles back softly and that's where Ice delivers the blow, "Well why didn't you say? There are much better ways to check you're alive than pinching yourself, did you forget how to take a pulse? We're Navy men for god sake Pete. And you do have one arm not in a sling, I'm sure you could figure it out."
"Ooooh burn! The Admiral has game!"
Mav winces, and there are the kids, specifically the voice of Jake Seresin, unashamed and unconcerned that they're all in said Admiral's house, acting exactly how lower ranks shouldn't act around their superiors.
"You know in my day we had respect for our elders, none of this chirping us. It's a good thing I'm feeling in a hospitable mood." Mav smiles, not really meaning any empty threats but enjoying the interaction anyway.
"Yeah right, I've heard the stories, you were way worse than anything we've ever done," Bradley speaks up now, catching Mav between denying it all and being a model example, and bragging to look cool only for Ice to feign telling him off for being a bad influence and just giving the kids ammunition for tricks to get up to.
"Well maybe from time to time, but I was always respectful when going to my superiors houses," Mav doesn't outright lie, just stretches the truth a bit.
"Like when you spent all your time going over to Admiral Benjamin's house to try and seduce Penny? Badly I must add." Ice's disembodied voice carries from the kitchen, and Mav really really loves his husband right? Right?
Sure he loves Ice, but he also spots the glint in Jake's eyes, and quickly averts.
In the end he changes the subject, a thought occurring to him, "How did you get in anyway? Why didn't you knock and wait like normal people? Like it tells you to do on my office door?"
"Uh respectfully Sir, we'd been waiting for ten minutes so in the end we just came in." Bob sounds sweet as hell here, Mav would almost be fooled by it, but he knows him better now, knows them all better. So he knows that in fact, even if Bob wasn't the one who actually turned the handle he was definitely the one suggesting it to start with.
"In our defence you have terrible security, I'd really lock your front door if I were you," Callie pipes up and Mav can't exactly fault that logic, damn Callie and her eternally sensible suggestions.
"She does have a point," Ice pipes up again, this time not a disembodied voice but right behind him, waving a hello to the kids.
"Hey guys, nice to meet you all again."
Callie looks dumbstruck, reminding Mav that half the Daggers haven't actually met Ice before, and meeting Ice is very different to seeing Admiral Kazansky, for one there are usually less kiss the cook aprons in professional settings.
Mav gestures behind him, "Oh yeah some of you haven't met before, Ice meet the Daggers, Daggers meet Ice."
Ice affects a little wave, probably just because he can, and because when he's not on Admiral duties he enjoys winding people up, even if it's just as simple as winding people up with his mannerisms.
It elicits the desired response, all the daggers – bar Bradley who had to put up with a far more stupid version of Ice in his youth – look slightly scared and like they might still be told off at any moment if they say or do the wrong thing.
And with that comes Mav's job, making sure everyone knows they should be far more worried about him than Ice.
But all in good time, he doesn't want to reveal his hand to soon…
~~~~~
The opportunity presents itself as if by magic a couple of hours later, everyone is still cautious of Ice, despite the fact he's been nothing but nice to everyone – and now Mav thinks of it, that's probably why they're all still suspicious of him – but everyone is completely comfortable with Mav, far far too trusting, the poor fuckers.
Even Bradley has relaxed, letting his guard down as he sprawls in an armchair that Mav has always thought of as his, having moved from Carole's house when he came to live with Mav for those few months, and then staying permanently once he left. Ice rolling his eyes but saying nothing as Mav dragged it from posting to posting, base to base where he could and taking up valuable storage space when he couldn't. Before eventually it ended up in Ice's garage, Ice had offered, reasoning that Mav could rent a unit 30 dollars a week cheaper if Ice just kept hold of the damn chair.
Mav had hemmed and hawed, thinking far too hard about it before accepting, going down and sitting in the chair whenever he came back from from his postings, before Ice simply moved it into the house, citing needing more space in his garage.
Not that Ice had ever actually used his garage for the intended purpose, well until Mav came along that is – because apparently what Ice needed the space for was so Mav could fit his bikes and all the equipment needed to maintain said bikes.
Mav sighs softly, relaxing back into his chair, enjoying his moment of reminiscing.
Bob is unsurprisingly the first to catch Mav's subtle sigh, honing in – in the same way he does when working, part of what makes him one of the best at his job. Mav has learnt Bob notices everything, just sometimes he chooses not to comment, like right now, where he absolutely notices, but instead of commenting Mav can almost see him mentally tucking his actions away, to collect and use later if needed.
Mav grins to himself, this time not letting Bob see his expression, as he plots his next move.
When the moment comes it's a beautiful sight, or at least Mav thinks it is.
Mickey asks, innocuously, "Hey Mav, where's the restroom please?"
Mav doesn't let himself smile but he wants to, "Why do you want to know that, Mr Garcia?"
"Um," Mickey is already on his backfoot and Mav is having far too much fun, while studiously not catching Ice's eye from across the room, where he'll no doubt be staring daggers at Mav.
"Did you want to use the facilities? Oh I'm sorry the bathroom is only open to lieutenant commanders and above."
"Um, oh. Okay then."
Mickey sounds so small and dejected that Mav almost feels bad, but then he remembers some of the tricks played on him when he was a lieutenant and decides it really isn't that bad.
"Uh, what do… what do you expect us to do instead then?" The young pilot asks with such determination and Mav has to try his hardest to keep a straight face as he gestures with his left arm, right one still firmly in the sling.
"There's a whole big world out there kiddo."
"Oh."
Mickey starts to stand up and Mav finally looks over at Ice, where he's rolling his eyes and shaking his head fondly at him.
"He's pulling your leg Mickey, let me show you where the bathroom is." Ice speaks, voice fond and mock exasperated, Mav can practically hear him rolling his eyes.
"Uh what? But why?" Mickey sounds so confused and Mav is once again reminded that he's fucking good at his job and has spent the best part of his life watching and reading people.
"Because he's a little fucker when he wants to be, that's why," Ice replies, with derision coating his words.
"I must say, that was very impressive," Bob speaks, and if Mav preens a tiny bit well no one needs to actually know that.
"Thank you, just what his ego needs," Ice speaks again just as Bradley also pipes up.
"Great, now he'll be insufferable."
Mav is proud of himself, another day successfully (mildly) terrorising his daggers and in turn building excellent team bonds, after all, Mav isn't really part of the team, he's just their teacher, just there to show them how to stretch their wings.
~~~~~
He's preparing for bed that night while Ice completes his 12 step, 20 minute skincare routine, when Ice questions him from the ensuite.
Mav is expecting an interrogation, or at least if not an interrogation then some questioning words. In short he's expecting Navy brain Admiral Kazansky, not at home Ice Mitchell-Kazansky.
So when he simply asks, "So today seemed to go okay, how are you doing?" Mav is slightly dumbstruck, saying as much to Ice.
"What no big questions? No telling me I shouldn't be playing stupid games?"
Ice looks up into the mirror, meeting Mav's gaze behind him, smiling indulgently at his husband.
"Nah, you know how it works with those kids, they need to learn to lighten up a bit poor sods, it was probably good for him."
"Good point," Mav shrugs, before grinning, "It was funny wasn't."
Ice grins back, "It was hilarious. Poor kid, he looked completely terrified for a moment there."
Mav lets himself flop down on the bed before he calls through to Ice again, "I do think the day went well though. They're sweet kids aren't they?"
Ice snorts and even though he can't see him Mav can picture exactly the expression he'll have on his face. Rolling his eyes and huffing slightly, pretending to be long suffering, all with an amused expression on his face.
"You mean our 12 new adoptees have settled in well? And your inquisition is going well? I suppose so yes."
Mav smiles to himself, what the hell did he do to deserve this man, his Ice.
Ice pokes his head round the doorframe, "I know that silence, don't start getting sappy on me Mitchell."
"Why ever not?" Mav grins, aggressively batting his eyelashes at Ice.
"Because that's my job," Ice intones, emerging from the bathroom now, making his way over to the bed, eyes soft as he reaches Mav. Grinning furiously, crawling up the bed to meet him, taking Mav's head in his hands and reaching forward to kiss his forehead, in a mirror of the day he came to see Mav on the carrier straight after the mission, just this time they have less of an audience.
~~~~~
Two weeks after finishing the mission and a week after going over to Ice and Mav’s house, Bob calls his dad.
Ring ring
Bob lets out a breath he didn't realise he was holding as it picks up.
"Hey Bobby, you doing alright?"
And god Bob loves his dad, how he always checks on him, how he's still Bobby, pancake Sundays when he's home, the fact he's always there if Bob needs him.
"Yeah Dad, I'm good."
"Okay son, well as nice as it is to talk to you, tell me, why are you calling?"
He huffs a laugh, adding it to his mental list of why he loves his dad; he sees straight through him, and half the time, calls his bullshit before Bob even realises it's happening.
He laughs, before sobering up, taking a deep breath.
"Dad, why did you stop talking to grandma?"
His dad hums, "Do you want the long answer or the shorter answer? Because I can do both ."
Bob considers his options, "Short answer."
"Ah," his dad sounds amused, "It's only shorter not short."
"It all started with Harold, or I suppose Harold's best friend,"
"Mathew," Bob interjects
"Yes Matty, anyway he wanted to join the Navy, and well Harold wasn't going to go Army and leave him, especially as, well the rumours about the Navy are mostly that. But every so often they hold a small amount of truth, and Harold and Matty were that small percentage of truth."
"You mean they were together?" Bob asks dryly, trying to keep the amusement out of his voice.
"Oh er well yes, exactly." His dad sounds slightly taken aback with Bob's directness but he figures better to get it out there.
"So Harold and Matty were together, not something they broadcasted at all."
"Naturally," Bob replies.
"Well yes, but they did get found out by Grandma, and Grandma refused to have anything to do with Harold after that."
"Figures, but why did you go Navy as well?" This is the part Bob couldn't work out and he thinks the longer bit of the story probably."
Sure enough his dad laughs, "Well son, that's where the story starts."
Bob smiles into the phone, settling himself in for the rest of the story.