Helpless

---

they lost focus and had a consensual workplace relationship

---

A Meeting by Wendell Berry

In a dream I meet

my dead friend. He has,

I know, gone long and far,

and yet he is the same

for the dead are changeless.

They grow no older.

It is I who have changed,

grown strange to what I was.

Yet I, the changed one,

ask: 'How you been?'

He grins and looks at me.

'I been eating peaches

off some mighty fine trees.'

---

Sitting in front of a cake with 40 birthday candles on it, it's probably one of the weirdest experiences of Bradley's life. Not because he didn't think he was going to get forty, but because there were so many people around him singing and hugging him, passing him presents and taking photos of the event that it baffled him a little. Uncle Tom and Uncle Pete are there too, and that's another reason why his eyes are a little wet; he spent so much time being angry with them, and now they're here, on the other side of the table, drinking beers and laughing with the rest of the squad. At forty, Uncle Tom had been raising Bradley since 1988. He was married to Mav, and their little family was all they had to celebrate, and most of the men he called, calls, uncle were around the world. They are still around the world, but their presents and their birthday videos are there, and they will be around, in person, at least once a week. They, his uncles and his squadron, are his family now, and they're enough to not fit on his two hands when he counts them all. He makes Bradley's heart beat a little faster, and all he feels is happiness.

When he blows the candles, he wishes for another thousand birthdays like this.

(He falls asleep, drunk and exhausted, hugging Jake in the middle of the other twelve people, and Logan is hugging him. He knows his head and back won't thank him in the morning, but he's safe, and the blankets around him make it all warm and cozy. Bradley couldn't ask for a better birthday.)

---

“And nearly a quarter century after Top Gun, when Kilmer and Tom Cruise, by chance, attended the same Los Angeles Lakers game in 2009, they found themselves together again, shown split-screen on the Jumbotron, while Kenny Loggins’s “Danger Zone” played over the speakers.”

---

can anyone remember that post about how children write the best poems & it had an article attached showing the differences between little kids' poetry & preteens?? im desperate to find it again

---

(Phoenix, as Hangman and Rooster's surrogate, has just given birth)

Rooster(holding their newborn): Oh my God, he's beautiful. Thank you so much.

Phoenix: I'm really happy for you guys.

Hangman: How do you feel?

Poenix: I'm tired.

Doctor: Well, you don't have that much time to relax. The other one will be along in a minute.

(all three at them freeze and stare at the doctor in shock)

Hangman: I...I'm sorry, WHO should be along in a WHAT NOW?!

Doctor: The next baby should be along in a minute.

Rooster: We only ordered one!

Doctor: You know it's twins, right?

Hangman: Oh, yeah! These are the faces of two people in the know!

---

A Soft Hello

Carole and Slider are getting along well, bonding over their shared love of Goose. But when he wakes up, how will Goose react to Slider's love?

Words: 5257

Takes place after Almost Perfect.

Nighttime was inching in over the horizon. Not too close, it was summer in California so the sun was still burning orange and yellow across the sky. Clouds lay low, covered by the tall buildings of San Diego.

She missed being able to see the whole sky. Her childhood had been a strange mix of suburbia and country life. If ever she wanted to see the sunset, she could see the entire ombre just outside her window.

But here, in a stuffy hospital room outside San Diego, the sky's colours were dampened. They almost hurt her eyes with how bright they were. Her life had become a series of dark rooms. Hospital, family housing, hospital, family housing. A cruel cycle that she was almost beginning to love.

She was just proud of herself for going home. She had to, for Bradley. Had to eat so he would, shower so he would. Because to him this was still a holiday, kind of, so they visited the park and went out for lunch from time to time despite how much she wished to stay by Goose's side.

She pretended not to be falling apart and tried not to fall asleep. She supposed it was good for her not to be stuck in this room. Goose would scorn her for sitting there staring at his unmoving body. 

But he was in a coma, he couldn't speak to her, or comfort her, or hold her when she couldn't sleep. So she could do what she liked, thank you very much.

Her eyes were drooping now but she knew she wouldn't fall asleep. Tonight, her mind was focusing on his recovery. The doctors wouldn't be able to tell how bad the injury was but after more scans and surgery they were a bit more certain.

He'd fractured his C7 and C8 vertebrae, at the bottom of his neck, near his shoulder blades. This fracture had damaged part of his spinal cord, part being the opulent word. Because some nerves weren't damaged, it meant he could recover, but to what extent they wouldn't know until he woke up. Or if. 

They weren't exactly sure. Although, there was more hope now he could breathe by himself. They'd removed the tube from his mouth a few days ago. It meant she could kiss him now, at least.

Bradley was with Mav tonight. She'd needed some alone time with Goose after so long of visiting with Bradley or Mav or Slider. 

She’d been getting closer to Slider. It was nice to hear him talk about Goose because he knew him before he became Goose, yet was also getting used to him again now, in whatever form that was.

Away from the pressures of the Navy, he relaxed. There was a softness to him. Despite the rage and muscles and glistening sweat, he was gentle too. Or at least he was with her. 

He brought her coffee, drove her to the hospital even though he had to get to Top Gun, made Bradley laugh and held him on his shoulders. She’d fallen asleep in his car a few times too, and always woken up back at home too.

It was nice to be cared for like that. Not that Mav wasn't caring for her. He was dealing with his fear and grief right now. When he cared for her, it was to comfort himself as much as her. They found contentment in each other's sorrow.

That's why having Slider around was helpful, in a different way. He was suffering too, he’d been in the air with Goose when the accident happened, and they both knew of his feelings for him. But because he hadn't been around him for a while, wasn't quite in their little family yet, he was slightly more separated from the whirlwind her life had become.

But she needed to be alone with Goose on nights like tonight. The nights when her dreams felt too real and he was so close. Close enough to touch but she'd wake up so lonely because he wasn't there to fulfill all the thoughts she had in her head. 

He was just lying there, she thought, looking at him again. She was getting sick of it. Sick of this greyish-blue room, sick of the beeping and clicking.

She wanted him to open those wonderful eyes of his, open them and smile to her. She wanted him to rip out those tubes and run to her, give her a soft hello and a hard kiss as he swung her in his arms.

But away from that fantasy, he was still lying there in a coma. And she won't sleep tonight despite the fatigue she felt in her bones, because all she'll see is him lying there, away from her, cold.

All she wanted to do most nights was curl up by his side and fall asleep. She knew she wasn't meant to due to all the wires and tubes coming out of him, but sometimes the nurses would let her, for a little while. At least the nice ones did.

Most nights she could resist, yet tonight she was just too damn tired.  

She got up the scratchy plastic chair and shuffled over to him. This room made her skin come out in goosebumps. She always made sure to take an extra cardigan with her, just in case.

Tracing the dry, smooth skin on his arm, she moved away some of the tubes and stretched the bedsheets out. It wasn't very comfortable but it would serve her good, for now.

Just as she went to curl up by his side, one of the nurses walked in.

"Carole, good evening," Nurse Carrow said. "You going for a nap?"

She hummed, "I was thinking of it."

"Well, I will say that Nurse Withers is on her break now, got a good half hour before she finds and scolds you," she said. "Will twenty minutes do it?"

She blinked slowly and looked at her. They both had bags under their eyes but Nurse Carrow was a lot more put together. Dreadlocks in a bun behind her head, dark skin fresh and youthful. Nothing like the heavy, wishy washy figure Carole felt she was becoming.

"Thank you,"

"Anytime," she said and closed the door.

Carole slipped off her shoes and rubbed her eyes. Twenty minutes would be better than another sleepless night, or restless one wishing for a dreamless sleep.

He wasn't warm like he usually was. He didn't reach out and pull her along his body, let her use him like a cuddly toy or a comfort blanket. But here, by his side, she felt more normal than she had in a while.

~~~

Sunday mornings felt particularly weird now Goose was in hospital. She always expected to be woken up by him getting ready for church. But every time that drop of disappointment came when she remembered he wouldn't be getting ready for church. He wasn't going anywhere.

Bradley slurped his milk from the bottom of his bowl of cereal, multicoloured from his lucky charms, and it broke her from her trance. She hadn't slept much after her nap last night. 

But Mav being next door helped her an ungodly amount. If she ever fell asleep, it was on his shoulder in the depths of night. 

He was here now, too. He was practically living in their family housing with her and Bradley. She found him curled up on their sofa with a scowl on his face most nights.

A knock on the door woke her up from her thoughts again. She knew who that was. A sparkle of joy rose and pierced the cloud of fear and sadness she was encompassed in. 

"Come in," she called. 

Slider walked through the door with the same hesitant smile he always did. He wore a muscle t-shirt, accentuating his biceps in a way that almost made her blush, white shorts that made his tanned legs glow, and white high tops. There was a glisten of sweat on his skin, from exercise or the heat she didn't know.

"Morning," he said. "I brought coffee."

He looked at the takeaway cups in his hand, "Well, tea for you."

Hurring over, she grabbed the cup and took a sip despite the heat. She needed some kind of caffeine. She’d never liked coffee, too bitter no matter how much milk or sugar she added.

"Thank you" she said through the steam.

Mav raised an eyebrow, "Slider?"

"We're visiting Goose," Carole said.

"I know you are, just didn't know Slider was coming along,"

Slider shrugged and revealed his other hand from behind the door, "I bought pastries too."

Her eyes sparkled. Some kind of warmth rose from her gut as she considered the fact that Slider not only took the time to get her a drink she liked, but also considered if she'd eaten or not. 

"You know her husband is just in a coma, right? She's not back on the market just yet," Mav said, coming to her aid like the little brother he was to her.

"On the market?" She exclaimed. "What am I? A shoe?"

Bradley giggled from the breakfast table. She didn't even need to tell him to get his things ready, he ran to his bedroom of his own accord. Although he came back with most of his toys, a colouring book, his goose and three pairs of socks rather than his shoes like she wanted.

After rolling her eyes, she helped him choose two toys, leave his socks behind and clutch his goose tightly by the neck as she put on his shoes. She hurried over to Mav after throwing some things together and gave him a peck on the cheek and ruffled his hair.

"I'll be back about lunchtime, probably,"

He nodded. The initial fun of Slider arriving wore off as they settled back into the morose atmosphere they were living in.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" She asked.

"I'll visit him later," he whispered. "I'm going for breakfast with Ice later."

She chuckled, "Again?"

"Yeah, I-" he blushed and looked at his hands. "We actually get along quite well."

Slider barked out a laugh, "It's nice to know all my encouragement hasn't gone amiss."

They both turned to him, eyebrows raised. Mav opened and closed his mouth. Carole could see the cogs turning in his head.

"Your encouragement?" He repeated.

"Yeah, all I hear is 'Mav this' and 'Mav that', I had to do something about it or I think I'd go insane, "

Mav closed his mouth with a click. He gulped. Carole ruffled his hair again and said goodbye as she picked up Bradley and left the house.

~~~

The hospital was just as quiet as it was yesterday. Goose was in the critical care ward which reeked of the smell of people close to death. The nurses had soft smiles, the doctors rushed around silently and beeps thrummed almost in time.

Bradley ran into the room and settled on the bed. He dropped his bag somewhere on the glossy floor and brought his toy goose up to his face.

"Hi, Daddy," he said. "I got Mr Goose with me, he says hello."

Carole smiled as he made the goose's beak touch Goose's lips. He went on to babble about everything that had happened since he last saw him. His hair was ruffled again and sticking up all over the place even though she'd tried to smooth it down already, just like her's.

She collapsed into the same chair as last night. Her body sank like this room sank her mood. She sipped the dregs of her tea and sighed, she really missed him.

Slider settled next to her. The smile was gone from his face too.

"I'm almost sick of being here," she said. "I'm sick of sitting in this drab room everyday, sick of being so worried,"

"I just want to go home-" she started but Slider finished her sentence.

"But it won't be home without him? Right?" 

She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. He was so strong, not only physically but emotionally too. 

Tall and strong and tanned. She began to blush. Those thoughts had been coming more and more often recently. 

And part of her was scared that maybe she was getting bored of Goose or this time in hospital had pushed her away from him. But thinking of her worry for him and the panic she felt in her chest when she thought of him dying told her otherwise.

But thinking critically, she realised her thoughts of Slider had Goose in there too. If they were kissing, she wanted to kiss Goose too, she wanted hugs from both of them, wanted to be surrounded by the love and security that having two tall, strong men would bring.

Slider pulled her closer onto his shoulder, his arm embracing her as she felt her face pull down in a frown.

"Did you sleep last night?" He whispered. 

She shook her head, "Had a nap here before I left."

"It can't be healthy, getting this little sleep,"

"I know, I can't help it, just worry so much," She looked at Goose and swore she saw his head twitch, but put it down to being close to three days without a full night's sleep. "He's like my big teddy bear."

Slider gaze her a sleezy smile, "Maybe you need another one."

She giggled to herself. She had had to hide the images of her sandwiched between the two, but now they were resurfacing from where she'd safely stored them away.

Closing her eyes for a moment, she almost gave into the exhaustion. Slider rubbed her shoulder and held her tighter as she let out a long sigh.

Bradley's feet pattered across the floor as he raced over to them. With a slight heave, he crawled onto Slider's lap. Carole opened her eyes and watched him play with his toy goose. He bounced it along Slider's arm, making soft honking noises as Slider put his other arm around his middle to make sure he didn't fall off his lap.

"You three look cosy," a croaky voice broke the silence. 

Carole and Slider looked at each other, then at Bradley. Neither had spoke. They looked at the door, no one was there.

"Over here?"

She looked at the bed and almost didn't believe her eyes. 

Goose was awake.

Gently, she got up, taking tentative steps toward his bed. Tears pricked in her eyes. One fell down her cheek.

"Nick?" She whispered. "Are you actually awake?"

He smiled and she couldn't hold anything in anymore. She threw herself over him. He lent his head on her's as she peppered him with wet kisses

"I'm here, honey, I'm here," His voice was croaky from weeks without speaking.

She raised her head and stroked his cheeks. His skin was dry. She avoided the tubes coming out of his nose as she squished him. Her thumb rubbed the rough bandages on his head.

In the background, Bradley shot up from his seat on Slider's lap. He still had his goose in hand and lept up onto the bed, hitting Goose's body with an oomph.

"Daddy! You woke up!" He exclaimed.

"I did, chick,"

"D'ya like my stories?"

"I did," Goose smiled. "And I'm glad to see Mr Goose is alright."

Bradley beamed and held up the goose in question, "Did you hear that Mr Goose? Daddy's happy to see you!"

Goose chuckled and lay a kiss on the worn toy's head. Looking over his shoulder, he met Slider's eyes. His smile grew and spread.

"And Slider-" Goose said breathlessly. "It's good to see you."

A red flush grew over his face, "It's good to see you too."

They kept their gazes on each other. Carole jumped off the bed and swooped Bradley off with her.

"I think I'll give Mav a call, he was going for breakfast with Ice, wasn't he?" She said, looking at Slider.

Slider shook himself awake and looked at her, "Yeah, he should still be in."

"Mav and Ice going for coffee?" Goose said.

"Oh god, you've missed their endless pining for each other," he exclaimed, his head collapsing in his hands. "All I hear is how cute Mav is and how much Ice wants to hold his hand-"

Then he added, "Honest to god, I don't want to hear about how cute Mav’s butt is anymore."

"Don't worry, I heard a lot in that coma, I tried to make myself wake up just to make him shut up."

Slider's eyes widened. Carole smiled at him, a glow on her cheeks that made his stomach fill with butterflies. The way the light from the hall shone around her head like a halo made her platinum blonde hair shine. God, he thought, she was pretty.

She hopped up from the bed and picked up Bradley. He wiggled in her arms, whining as she took him away from Goose.

"Come on, we're calling Uncle Mav," she told him, giving Slider and Goose side eyes as she left for the hall. "I'll leave you two to talk amongst yourselves."

Slider flushed red and squinted at her. Sure, he'd been preparing how he'd confess his love to Goose since she'd found out. But he would’ve liked more than a five minute warning. Although, Goose had just woken up.

"So, Slider, you and Carole seem close," Goose said.

"Oh, yeah, there's a good reason for that."

He gave him a brief smile and gestured at him with his head, "Come over here, I'm not mad, it's nice that she had someone looking after her."

He settled on the bed and fought the urge to take his hand. Seeing him closer made that ache he felt in his chest grow. There were bags under his eyes. His skin stretched pale across his face.

"Look, I'll be honest with you so you can kick me out," he rubbed his hands. "I think I'm falling in love with you."

He cocked his head, "Well, not think, I know because you almost died and I was heartbroken that I never got to get closer to you or tell you I love you, and then Carole found out and helped."

He didn't look at Goose, couldn’t, it was too much. The words came out even though he knew he should stop. He had to get him to understand.

"And I just realised how much I liked having you around in high school, and how you wear the shit out of any naval uniform or Hawaiian shirt, how you're so gentle without being condescending or too soft," he sighed and looked down. "I just really like you, and I'm not expecting you to feel the same way but-"

"Slider, Slider, stop,"

Goose's eyes were soft. He seemed to be wanting to raise his hand, maybe touch his back or hand. But they had yet to hear from the doctors, and he realised in this moment that Goose had a lot of recovery to go, because he couldn't move his hands.

"I heard you when I was in the coma, like I said earlier," he said with genuine softness in his voice. "And I don't hate you."

Slider breathed a sigh of relief and saw Goose flush red. This soft moment made the long nights holding Carole as she lightly sobbed almost worth it. 

And that was another thing too, he was growing feelings for her too. He'd noticed her the first night they met, when she practically drank him under the table while still remaining that sparkle in her eye. 

"You don't?" 

"No." Goose smiled. "Actually, kind of the opposite."

"Opposite?"

"I think, in retrospect, I've been falling for you too,"

They both smiled at each other.

"Carole was right, then,"

"She usually is,"

The cold room had now turned warm. Slider traced his hand across Goose's body. Felt the callouses in his hand, the hair on his arms. There were freckles on his neck, dulled from over a week out of the sun. 

"I guess I'll learn that," Slider eventually said.

Goose shot him a confused look. He still, however, looked amazing, despite the chopped hair, bandages on his head and drab hospital clothing.

Slider hid his face. Would Goose want him to be with Carole? Or, probably the more important question, would Carole want him? What if he'd read the signs wrong and she just wanted friendship? He guessed he'd have to take the risk.

"Learn that?"

"Yeah, that's the thing, spending so much time with Carole, pining over you, it's got me falling for her too," he said.

Goose blinked at him for a moment. He hadn't reacted badly, or well, he hadn't reacted at all. Maybe that was a good thing?

"I don't blame you to be honest," he finally said, his eyes going misty. "There's a reason I married her, she's so-"

"Understanding? Adorable? Glowing?"

Goose laughed and nodded. The blush returned to his face as his eyes sparkled.

"Yeah, I think you've got it,"

Slider smiled smally, "So you're not mad about that either?"

"No," he said. "You should really have more faith in us, Slider."

Goose scrunched his face in a blink of pain. Slider placed his hand on his shoulder and met his eyes. He stroked his forehead.

"I should call the doctor," he said.

Goose nodded stiffly, "I think Carole will." He then added. "You should tell her, she'll get it more than you think."

He closed his eyes and bit his lip. He thought of how her hair framed her face, the quiet laugh she'd let out or how peaceful she looked when she slept in his car.

"Please," Goose pleaded. "For me? It might go better than you think."

With a sigh, Slider nodded. And just in this moment, Carole reentered the room, giving them both a smug smile as she sat on the other side of the bed.

"So-" she raised her eyebrows. "You two have talked, then?"

They both hummed, barely looking away from each other.

"Did it go well?" She asked.

Slider chuckled. He took Goose's hand in his and lay a kiss on his knuckles, not breaking eye contact.

"Yes, I think it did,"

Goose honestly giggled, "We'll have to arrange something, when I'm a bit more mobile."

"Hm, never been to Texas," he said. "That is where you Bradshaws reside, isn't it?"

"You're welcome to visit anytime," Carole said. 

She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. Bradley whined from his place on the floor and she picked him up. He smiled as he sat on her lap. 

Slider could see Goose's joy at seeing his family. He understood why, his heart skipped a beat seeing how happy Carole looked holding her son.

"Well, I'll have to see how much time I get off now I'm going to be an instructor at TOPGUN," Slider said.

Goose's face froze with shock then melted into a smile, "So you and Ice won then?"

The passage of time suddenly hit him. It had been three weeks since the accident. Goose had not only missed the rest of their time at TOPGUN, but the mission afterwards.

"You missed a lot, there was a mission after graduation, Mav and Ice get along now-"

"Too well," Carole added. "I think all we've both been hearing from Mav and Ice is about the other."

Slider chuckled and nodded at her. Goose rolled his eyes with a smile as Slider continued.

"Mav’s also going to be an instructor, so god help the next round of Aviators who get taught by us,"

"Mav’s staying here in Miramar?" Goose said.

His face had dropped slightly. A sad glean was in his eye. He deflated against the thin hospital mattress.

"Yeah, I think he wants to try out something new that still keeps him in the air," Slider said, then grabbed Goose's shoulder to reassure him. "But there's a new class every twelve weeks, right? So you'll probably see him in between classes if he can visit!"

"You too." He added. "You can visit too."

That warm rush flooded through him, made his head go dizzy and the urge to smile almost uncontrollable. Today will probably be the best day of his life. Because Goose wanted him. The only thing that would make it better would be Carole reciprocating too.

"Of course I will, sweetcheeks,"

A red flush coloured Goose's cheeks and his blue eyes flashed with gold. 

"No one's ever called me that before," he stammered.

Slider's glee shallowed. Had he overstepped the mark?

Goose evidently noticed because he added, "I like it, it's just new, makes me feel gooey."

"Gooey!" Bradley shouted.

They all laughed. Bradley wiggled under their attention as Carole pinched his cheek.

"Well, we're near two naval air bases so you could always get transfered," Carole said.

Slider pondered this. Thought of finishing his shift and driving home to them, kissing them both on the lips, hearing Goose's honking laugh and seeing how Carole's eyes scrunched when she giggled. The knots in his stomach eased, that's what they were, relaxation, calm and knowing it would all work out in the end.

"We'll figure something out," he settled on, saying all his thoughts out loud would be too much.

He lent over to kiss Goose's forehead when the door opened with a slam. All their heads snapped to see who it was but his loud cry told them.

"You're awake!" Maverick yelled.

He ran into the room, almost pushing Slider off the bed as Iceman cooly followed behind him. They embraced, Mav lightly sobbing and laughing in his shoulder. Slider took a step back and knew the moment was over.

~~~

Night had fallen over Miramar as Carole juggled with her keys. Slider held onto Bradley, sound asleep in his shoulder. 

It had been a full day for all of them, let alone for a four year old. Once Mav arrived, the doctor appeared soon after with less than good news. If he got it correct, he broke two vertebrae in his neck and had no feeling in his legs, fingers and even some parts of his arms. 

They'd made a recovery plan. Once Goose was well enough to leave bed, because they still needed to monitor his brain to see if there was residual damage, they'd transfer him to a rehabilitation hospital in Texas to work on walking again, although that wasn't certain to happen.

Carole opened the door and Bradley shook himself awake. He toddled in with the promise of a bedtime story, rubbing his eyes. She went in to follow him but Slider stopped her.

He thought of what Goose had said. Have faith in them, tell her about his feelings, she'll get it more than he thought.

"Carole, I have to tell you something,"

She turned to him with her face all honest and open to listening and he almost lost his willpower. Because if he got it wrong then he'd hurt her and he didn't want that.

"I've already told Goose about my feelings for him, and we both know that that went well, but there's something else that I told him, and he approves," he realised how that sounded. "Not that you belong to him, you're your own person but I thought you'd like to know I'm not hurting Goose."

She rubbed his arm and smiled, "Slider, just spit it out."

He sighed, tried to calm the swirling fear in his stomach. The kind of fear he never felt.

"I'm falling for you, too."

Her hand stopped on his arm. Her eyes widened and mouth opened slightly agape.

"Wha-"

"You're just so funny and understanding and resilient and kind, you know how to comfort people in a way I haven't been comforted in years, I love your smell, your fashion sense is so bright like you and your smile makes me feel gooey,"

He continued despite her growing shock, "And of course I fell for Goose first, I am still falling for him too, but then I met you and everything got so much better."

He clenched his hands and huffed. Looking at his feet, the rush of fear subsided to annoyance. He'd managed to get his feelings across to Goose, why was it so much harder to tell her?

"Look, can I just do something? I can't get the words out and I just want to show you how I feel,"

She blinked at him. Her eyes were sparkling, blue twinkles like the ocean. Rosy red sat on her cheeks under the porch light. Bags under her eyes didn't take away how magnificent she looked.

Dropping her hands to her sides, she nodded with a look of determined wonder. When their eyes met, electricity jolted through his body.

"Yes," she whispered. "I trust you."

He nodded and stepped forward. Running his hands up her arms, he felt the smooth material of her shirt, he thought it may be one of Goose's. Her skin was soft as he caressed her jaw and stroked her cheek.

He held her head in his hands, shuffled closer and watched her close her eyes. His own shut as they lent into a gentle kiss.

Everything inside him glittered. The same joy he felt when Goose said he shared his feelings. So many ideas of the future flooded his mind.

He wanted this, only this. Only wanted to stop if it meant kissing Goose. He never wanted this feeling to end, wanted to roll in it and wrap himself up in its blanket. She was wonderful, magical, he'd seen their love and wanted in. If he could show them how he felt, let these feelings out, he’d be the happiest guy in the world.

They pulled apart. A grin grew on Slider's face that he couldn't stop.

Carole gave him a ditzy smile that stretched across her face slowly. She let out a soft giggle and ran her thumb over her lips.

"You're good at that," she breathed. "Very good."

"So you liked it?"

She nodded.

"And you like me?" He tilted his head to the side.

Approaching him, she held his hand in hers and smiled, "Yes, I do."

He let out a breath and joined her in smiling. He squeezed her hand and lay his forehead against hers.

"You've helped me so much, with Goose in hospital," she said. "And now we all know about each other's feelings, we can get started, hey?"

He nodded, thought the conversation was over but Carole surprised him. She lay a kiss on his cheek.

Yet, Bradley called from the dark depths of the house and they realised where they were again, how late the hour was and their responsibilities. They sighed and pulled away. She turned to go to the house. Her hand laying on the door, she faced him again

"See you in the morning, Ron," she said and winked at him.

The door closed with a click but Slider couldn't move. That five minutes was the best of his life. Had they really happened or was it all a dream from the side of Goose's bed? He pinched himself but found that he was still standing outside the TOPGUN family housing. 

With a heave, he returned to his car, fighting the urge to dance back to his barracks. And their faces lingered on his mind. That was definitely the best day of his life so far.

I've been writing this for a while, had the image of Slider kissing Carole in my head too. This relationship to me is just a Carole sandwich, her being looked after by two tall strong men who love her so much. Thanks for reading!

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AKA tom kazansky and his family of idiot flyboys

a lil photo detail from a fic thing that may or may not see the light of day any time soon (king of writing 20k words then deleting it) but i like the scene itself enough to make at least this small part permanent :P

think ill draw out more as a tactic to get myself to not delete the thing

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I will not be taking arguments about this. 

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