Begin Again

Six

I was finishing a restock of the bar for the night before leaving for the evening when both Jake and Brooks came in looking very solemn.

"What's wrong with you two? Get grounded?" I teased but my smile faltered when the boys didn't react. "Why are you off so early? What's wrong?"

"We need to talk to you about something," Jake replied.

Brooks and Jake had always been straight shooters with me so the fact thang they were hesitating was really beginning to worry me.

"What is it?"

"There was an accident today," Brooks said, his gaze finding mine.

"What do you mean an accident?" I questioned, my brows pulling together in concern. "Are you two okay?"

"There was a bird strike," Jake explained. "Phoenix and Bob's plane went into hydraulic failure and they couldn't control it."

"Oh my god," I whispered as my hands covered my mouth. "Are they— did they?"

"They're alive," Brooks replied. "Staying overnight in the hospital."

"Can I see him?"

"We can try," Brooks replied. "Let's go."

"Penny," I called out. "I'm headed out."

"See you tomorrow," she called from the back.

The boys and I rushed to the truck and to the naval medical center, which wasn't far from my apartment. Once inside, I was shockingly allowed to go back after Jake and Maverick had done some convincing and I followed a nurse to his room.

I knocked quietly before opening the door and saw Bob sleeping. Maverick left but I stayed in the room, quietly pulling a chair beside his bed before taking a seat. I pulled my legs underneath me and pulled out my phone before scrolling through facebook to pass the time until he woke up.

"Morgann?" I heard and looked up, seeing Bob looking at me.

"Hey, you gave me quite the scare," I said softly, putting my phone back in my pocket and leaned forward, placing my hands on the side of his bed. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay," he replied. "Better now that you're here."

"Oh stop," I muttered with a smile. "Can I get you anything?"

"No," he replied. "I'm sorry I can't help with your furniture."

"Are you kidding me? It's not a big deal. I'm more worried about you and Phoenix."

"They're keeping us as a precaution is all. We're both fine."

"What happened?"

"A bird strike," he explained. "Basically we had a collision with a flock and it messed with our engines. We ended up losing a lot of systems and we couldn't get it back under control. We didn't have a choice but to eject."

"Well that sounds terrifying," I replied with a frown. "The boys came to the bar to tell me you had been in an accident and I feared the worst."

"Nothing we haven't been trained for."

"But it's something I haven't been trained for," I teased with a small smile.

"It could've been worse. A lot of ejections end up with spinal injuries. My neck's a little sore but that's it."

"Well, it's official. You and Phoenix are the most badass people I know."

Bob chuckled and shook his head slightly.

"We'd probably be more badass if we got that jet under control."

"Better safe than sorry," I replied. "Hopefully you won't have to do that again."

"It's an occupational hazard," he teased as he he rested his hand on top of mine. "For what it's worth, I'm really am glad you're here."

"I'm glad I'm here too," I replied. "I'd hate for you to be here by yourself."

"Can I be honest with you about something?" Bob questioned.

I nodded and my heart began to race. For me, nothing good ever came from those words being spoken and I felt frozen.

"I guess I don't get it," he replied but I was horribly confused.

"Get what?"

"I look at you and I have the hardest time understanding how anybody before me looked at you and did not see see an entire hidden universe within you," he said and my jaw slightly dropped. "I'm sorry if this is too forward but I want to be able to explore that universe."

I stayed frozen as I tried to take in all that he had said to me. Nobody I had ever dated talked to me the way Bob did and I was in pure shock.

"Can you say something?" He questioned and I noticed the rise and fall of his chest speeding up. "Morg?"

"I guess I just don't know what to say," I said softly. "Nobody has ever said anything like that to me before in my entire life."

"Then they're missing out," he replied. "And I'm the lucky one."

My cheeks began to burn as Bob spoke. It became increasingly apparent to me that as fast as I was falling for him, he was falling too and it scared me.

"Are you?" I asked, my brows pulling together.

"I like you a lot and with whatever this is between us, I'd be an idiot not to pursue it."

"What are you saying?"

"Let's take a chance? Lemoore isn't far, a six hour drive at most. And I know you just got out of a really bad situation and I respect that but—..," he rambled on before I cut him off.

"Shh," I said as I moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "I think it's a chance worth taking."

I leaned down and placed a soft kiss to his lips and his hand cupped my cheek. The kiss only lasted a moment because a knock as the door opened startled us.

"I see you're feeling just fine, Lieutenant," the nurse said, suppressing a smile as she saw us as she came to check on Bob.

"Sorry," I whispered as I moved to sit on the chair once more, a smile of my own on my lips.

"Morgann," I heard in hushed tones from the door. "Visiting hours are going to be over soon. Let's get you back to your car."

I nodded before turning back to Bob.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said softly before kissing his cheek.

With a smile still on my face, I turned to leave and met Brooks and Jake at the door.

"He doing okay?" Brooks questioned.

"He's doing good," I replied as we left the hospital so that's we could head back to North Island.

"And it seems that you are too," Jake added with a nudge of his elbow.

"I am good," I replied, my smile still small on my lips. "I'm very good."

"Aren't you glad we dragged you out here?" Brooks questioned.

"Mmhmm," I replied. "I am actually. Thank you both."

"You're welcome," they replied in unison. "Jinx!"

"You're both children," I laughed. "Now make sure he comes home from this mission. Make sure you all do."