Maverick hopped into the cockpit, her Rio Goose getting in behind her and then the canopy came down as she put on her helmet with her callsign on it. She did the fancy hand signals and pulled out of her assigned spot lining up on the runway. Maverick stuck the gum to the inner part of her cheek and pushed the lever forward and turned on her engines, feeling the back blast as she took off.

"Woohooooooo!!!" Maverick exclaimed as Goose cheered also, "Alright now. Let's focus boys. Ghostrider your up."

Maverick stalled as she waited for Ghostrider and sundown then the rest of the gang followed along with Viper and Jester.

"Alright. Let's put to practice what you've learned so far." Viper said and they flew ahead of the group when Hollywood and Slider were the first to engage.

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It was three to one right now. Jester and viper versus Mav and Goose, Iceman and Flamethrower, Ghostrider an Sundown were all that was left.

"Mav! Their on your six!" Goose exclaimed looking around as Viper circled overhead them.

Maverick smirked and did her popular slingshot move, propelling Viper an Jester unknowingly in front of them.

"I've got tone!" Maverick said and pressed the button.

"Damn kid your good." Viper said.

"Now it's just us and Iceman, Mav." Goose said, "Get em Mav! Go!!"

"Let's go." Maverick said softly and she did the over under getting around Viper and Jester. She slid in behind Iceman, unknowingly too close.

"Shit!!!" Maverick exclaimed as it happened so fast she couldn't keep up, "Engine failing! We're stuck in his jet wash!!! Fuck!!!"

"Mav!!!" Goose exclaimed hands against the F A-18s Canopy, "Maverick!!"

Maverick jostled the joystick but it did nothing. It was stuck.

"The joystick is unresponsive!" Maverick exclaimed panic in her voice, "I repeat, the joystick is unresponsive."

Goose was looking around when they started to go into an uncontrollable tailspin.

"We're going into a tailspin Mav! Mav!!" Goose said as they spun over the ocean.

"Pull the ejection lines goose!! Goose!!!" Maverick said, "Watch out for the canopy!"

Goose ejected first and Maverick heard him collide with the plexiglass canopy.

"Oh no!" Maverick exclaimed as she ejected and her parachute caught her, softening the fall. The view of the green underwater flare came into view as Maverick descended after Goose. He was floating on his back and as she fell next to him, out of panic she swam over grabbing him. And Maverick ended up getting blood on her hand.

"Oh no! Goose!"

She held him close, softly crying, nearly drowning as she kept them afloat. Maverick closed her eyes for only a second and then heard the coast guards chopper overhead. She looked up and waved her right hand to get their attention. Maverick gasped excitedly as the chopper hovered going lower and then out came a man on a safety hoist being lowered down to them. The last thing Maverick heard on her headset radio was Iceman panicking because he couldn't find them. Well... there goes my career.. They know. Maverick took the man's hand and let him take her up on the safety hoist as he stayed with Goose. Once Maverick was on solid ground she collapsed.

"Easy now girl." Said a southern voice.

"You alright?" Asked a thick Boston accent.

"My Rio.... MY RIO!!" Maverick exclaimed, tears streaking down her dirty splotched face as she looked up at the man who was attempting to console her.

"Calm down ma'am." Said the thick Boston accent, "He broke his neck so we can't do anything for him."

"But he's my responsibility!!!" Maverick exclaimed sobbing as they flew away with Goose on a stokes.

"It'll be alright kid." Said the southern accent as Maverick tried to come down from the hysterics and hiccuped. She got quiet, her hand resting on the man's shoulder as she slowed her breathing down as much as she can.

"Thatta girl. Good girl. Keep that up."

"If you fly long enough kiddo it'll happen." Said the Yankee accent.

Maverick started to think of Iceman and whether or not he was still worrying about her.

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As the Coast guard helicopter landed on the carrier, the men on it started to move around. Maverick got off first once it was stable, putting the fire retardant blanket down. She whimpered seeing goose on the stokes and brushed his cheek before taking her helmet.

"Mav?!" Called A deep voice from the distance, "MAVERICK?!? Brett!!!"

Maverick turned hearing her name and she gasped seeing Iceman running to her. Iceman hugged her tightly combing his hands fingers over her hair kissing her head as his Rio looked away.

"You're alive, that's all that matters doll." He told Maverick and tilted her head to look up at him, "It's okay, your safe sweetheart."

Flamethrower raised his eyebrow looking at Iceman and Maverick as if he didn't know what was going on, but at the same time Flamethrower was actually confused. He'd never seen Kazansky show emotion like this before, especially to someone he flew with. But Maverick was different apparently.

"Your gonna be okay Mav." Flamethrower said as she stood on her own looking around and taking a deep breath.

"Maverick!" She heard Jester call and she turned around. Maverick ran and hugged Jester really quick, who was like a father to her.

"Are you ok??"

"A little." Maverick said nodding.

Maverick knew that she would have to go through court for the navy's board to prove whether or not she was at fault for the accident, even though everyone knew she wasn't at fault. Maverick could feel it in her bones, she didn't purposely crash the jet but some part of her felt like it was still somehow her fault. It would probably be a long drawn out process because she's a woman but she didn't care. If they let her still fly then she'd probably be happy. She hoped she would atleast.

"Maverick!!" Called Pete Mitchell.

Maverick turned around and she hugged him tightly.

"It's not your fault babe. He would have told you himself if he could. Your a damn good pilot and that's all that matters. We're behind you no matter what. Me and your other friends."

"Thanks Pete Mitchell." Maverick said smiling softly at Ghostrider.