Chapter Text
“You’re done, Lieutenant Seresin. You’re dismissed.”
The words bounced around in his head as he took a long swing of his beer from where he sat on his couch. His Dad had kicked him off the mission. Granted he had started a fight in the middle of the classroom with Bradley. But he never expected his Dad, The Maverick, the cockiest and most troublesome pilot in the entire Navy, to kick him off a mission. Especially one as important as this one.
He’d just been trying to get it through his brother’s head that he needed to stop thinking about the past and stop going so damn slow. It would get Bradley killed. He hadn’t meant to cut so deep with reference to Goose, he’d been so worked up that he’d taken it too far. The thought of losing his brother terrified him.
Jake felt his eyes burn as he pictured the look on his Dad’s face when he’d been dismissed. He’d been pissed. It wasn’t often that Mav was angry with him. And worst of all, was the disappointment. He hated disappointing his parents. They were amazing people and all he wanted to do was live up that. Be someone they could be proud of. And earlier today he’d done the exact opposite of that.
He needed to talk to his Dad. Even though the idea of hearing the disappointment in his voice made him sick. He needed to tell him he was sorry. It had been a low blow to his brother. But an even lower one to Mav. He’d practically accused his Dad of killing Goose. His Da was going to murder him when he found out.
But most of all Jake wanted back on the mission. To prove that he was good enough to be in the air with him. It was the first time Jake had ever worked under his Dad. And it made him anxious and do stupid things in the air. Like leaving his wingmen behind which he’d sworn to himself to stop doing after flight school.
It had felt like he’d been punched in the stomach when his Dad dismissed him, telling him he was done. Dismissed from the mission.
Jake grabbed his phone calling his Dad. But it was hung up after the first two rings. He immediately tried again. But it went straight to voicemail before his phone vibrated with a text.
--I can’t right now, Jacob. We will talk later.--
He furiously wiped at his face as he read the message several times. Mav had used his full name and had dismissed him for a second time. His Dad was too angry to even talk to him. It made his stomach roll. His Dad never ignored him even when he was pissed. He thought about going to his house but realized he’d drunk too much to drive. He decided to give it until morning.
***
Jake was at his childhood home first thing the next morning hoping to catch his Dad before he left for work. Which was impossible seeing as it was 6am. He stood contemplating what to do when his phone vibrated.
Coyote— They called us in early, they’ve moved the mission up. They are trying to figure out who’s going on the mission–
Jake’s stomach plummeted. He really had been removed from the mission. He’d hoped his Dad had just been hasty in his words. But no, if he hadn’t even gotten the call to come in, it had gone up the ladder to Cyclone. A formal dismissal.
He felt his grip tighten on his phone. The guilt and remorse he felt was replaced with anger. His Dad had really said fuck you. Well he’d show Maverick, just what Hangman was made of.