I See You.

PART TEN

                “What’s wrong?” Bradley asks, padding into the kitchen on bare feet, wearing nothing but his boxers. Ice is standing and staring at the dining table, cup of coffee clutched in one hand. It’s been a hell of a few weeks and he feels emotionally wrung out, but in a good kind of way, rather than the way grief leaves him reeling. He stayed at Mav and Ice’s last night, going through more boxes of things that Mav has kept from his parents and wondering what Karla would think of it all when she has a chance to go through it.

                “We’re going to need a new table.”

                Bradley blinks. The table looks fine to him.

                “Uh. Okay?”

                “It’s always been the three of us, but now there is Natasha and Billy, Karla and her husband and her parents, her kids. Jake, if you and him stick together. And family that Jake might to bring with him…”

                “Bring with him where?” Bradley asks, because he’s confused. It’s very early in the morning, but clearly Ice is fixated on something.

                “Christmas. Or Hannukah. Kwanzaa. Eid. There’s… there’s so much we still don’t know Bradley.”

                Bradley’s brain is circling around the idea of celebrating holidays, any holidays, all holidays, with Jake. And Jake’s family. Meeting them. Oh fuck. He’d kind of gotten used to the idea of him and Jake being together but this is something else entirely. He shakes himself, forces himself to focus on Ice.

                “Yeah, but we don’t need to know it all immediately. No one can blame us for not knowing. This time last year none of us suspected anything…”

                “If you hadn’t looked and Natasha and seen Maverick in her we would still…” he trails off and Bradley wraps his arms around him, because Ice hasn’t ever been in the habit of instigating hugs, but he’s always given the best ones, arms big and firm. Safe. “Anyway, we’re going to welcome your sister here for lunch this weekend along with your nieces and nephew. I should probably baby proof the house.”

                “I’m sure Karla would appreciate the effort, but don’t stress yourself out over it. We’re just taking everything one step at a time right?”

                “Hmm.”

                Bradley blinks again. Ice’s hums can contain multitudes, and that one definitely did.

                “What? What are you thinking?”

                “I’ve… leaked some information to some key news agencies. I have already taken my concerns to the SECNAV and was told to bide my time.”

                “That’s time for them to hide the evidence though!”

                “I’m aware. However, I believe I have everything of note. That I can get ahold of, anyway.”

                “Okay. Okay then. So, the news could break any day?”

                “Yeah. It’s going to be… a lot.”

                Bradley grimaces, because it’s been a lot already, but a media shit show and the DoD being exposed for everything they’ve done.

                “What do you think they’re going to do?”

                “Honestly? I have no idea. This is rotten to the core and I can’t imagine that there are many who won’t be impacted in some way. I know there is still a lot to come to light and it’s just a matter of waiting it out.”

                So, everyone continues as normal, however the mail arriving is now met with a little apprehension, new connections being unearthed every day. Then the news breaks three days later and Bradley had read the draft article, but seeing it in black and white, on the front page of the newspaper, accompanied with photos, statements from Ice about there being over two hundred active naval aviators affected, some photos of him with his arm around Javy Machado, who is his son and he’s definitely not imaging the slightly shell-shocked look on either of their faces, captured very clearly in all the photos because they’d come to take photos of Mav and Natasha and Billy, but then Ice had just found out that Javy was his son and of course Jake had rung him immediately.

                The accompanying photo shoot had been a little wrought with emotion because neither Ice or Javy had had any time to even talk before their photo was being taken, and now here they are, front and center. He hopes like hell Javy has had a chance to talk to his parents. Jake and Cyclone had both declined to have their faces on anything, and Bradley isn’t sharing his own story about finding Karla with any news outlet.

                Ice looks stoney faced whenever Bradley sees him, and he’s aware that Ice is demanding answers. They have had so many conversations now about the conflicting feeling of still wanting to serve and protect the country but feeling angry and conflicted with the Navy. Then associated cases come out linked to the Air Force and Coast Guard and Army and Special Forces. Ice was right, it’s rotten all the way down. By sheer dint of being the one who took responsibility for blowing it open Ice is asked to help by the DoD to head up an official investigation into all the wrongdoing, which he reluctantly accepts, despite the fact that he feels there is a conflict of interest.

                For how slow everything else has been moving, now that it’s been blown open and the public outcry has reached a fever pitch and people are demanding answers from every direction everything has sped up. There is a task force, people who were adopted and want to have their DNA checked against service personnel. It’s an absolute PR nightmare and privacy shitstorm. Families are finding new members every day and Bradley is glad he and Karla found each other and were able to get to know each other before this hit the news. Not by much, but it’s still better than nothing.

…            …            …

                Bradley goes out to meet Karla, gives her a hug and then gets introduced to her husband and three kids. Five-year-old girl, three-year-old boy and a seven-month-old girl. Even though he’d seen photos he’s still not prepared for looking at them and seeing himself in miniature. He looks at Jason, who doesn’t appear to have contributed any genetic material to his kids at all.

                “Hey man, nice to meet you. Bradley.”

                “Nice to meet you too Bradley. Would you like to hold Amber?” Bradley nods wordlessly, reaches out for his youngest niece and tries not to feel too emotional over it. This is a whole ass family that he gets to call his. Amber looks at him with wide eyes and pats at his moustache, seems fascinated with it.

                “Oh wow…” Maverick says, stopping in his tracks on the path, because while Bradley had shown him Karla’s photo he knows the resemblance to his mom is striking. “Well. There’s no mistaking that family resemblance. Holy heck.”

                Bradley barks out a laugh because he knows Mav would normally be swearing a blue streak but there are impressionable little ears around now.

                “Karla, this is my godfather. Pete Mitchell. He was our dad’s best friend. And, uh,” Bradley blinks, because his nephew has gone to Ice and is making the universal sign for up. And it’s weird as fuck for Bradley to watch as Ice bends down and scoops Justin up and settles him on his hip. “Uh, this is Tom Kazansky, my…” he pauses

                “I’m Mav’s husband,” Ice says with a small eyeroll.

                More pleasantries are exchanged and then they’re heading inside, and Mav and Ice have gone around and baby proofed as much as they can. These are his parents’ grandkids, and that thought has him emotional. He’s fairly certain Mav is feeling the same way. Seeing Ice interact with small children is heartwarming, while watching Maverick with a toddler is slightly alarming, seems to be hyping Justin up. He hopes Karla and Jason don’t mind, they don’t seem to.

                “I was at USNA with your dad. Heard all about his high school sweetheart…If he’d known about you I know I would have heard everything about you too.”

                Karla is teary eyed and Bradley is glad Jason is there to give her a hug. Sarah is looking around with wide eyes and Mav is ushering them all inside for lunch. They manage to fit the eight of them around the table, the highchair being set off to the side helps. Bradley offers to help feed Amber, not realizing he’s going to end up wearing more of it than Amber seems to eat, but he has a change of clothes upstairs. Conversation of course circles around the breaking news, although the language they use is pretty sanitized given the small ears listening.

                After lunch, after wiping himself down and changing clothes he comes back downstairs with the remaining boxes of stuff. Jason is putting Amber down for a nap in a portable crib in Mav and Ice’s room, which has them both looking a little emotional. Bradley’s got coloring books, crayons and paper, as well as blocks. He wants Karla to have as much time as she wants with both Mav and Ice, ask as many questions as she wants to. He knows Karla has explained as best she can to Sarah and Justin that he’s her little brother, and when he says as much Sarah looks at him and laughs like he told a joke and Bradley grins at her.

                “You’re not little! You’re big!”

                “You’re smart. I am big. I’m all grown up. I guess it’s better to say that your mom is my older sister like you’re Justin’s older sister.”

                Hearing his name Justin looks up from where he’s playing with the Duplo blocks that Mav had bought especially and grins at him and he’s so chilled out Bradley can’t believe he’s related to him. He’s just been taking everything in his stride and Bradley wonders if he’ll grow out of it. He keeps coloring with Sarah, occasionally building a tower with the sole goal for Justin to knock it over with delighted giggles. Jason is simply sitting on the sofa close by, leaving Karla to talk with Mav and Ice with no interruptions.

                Half an hour passes before Sarah and Justin both ask for a drink of water, which Jason instructs them they need to come and drink in the kitchen. Bradley wants to say that Mav and Ice won’t care if the kids spill a little water, but he also doesn’t know what kind of rules Jason and Karla have at home. He offers to make hot drinks for the adults, ends up making a pot of coffee and listening to Ice and Mav share stories he’s already heard multiple times about his parents. Jason goes to check on Amber and then they’re all back in the den. Justin has crawled into Jason’s lab, thumb pressed into his mouth, curled up like he wants to go to sleep and Jason’s hand is gently patting him, his own eyes slipping closed.

                “Hey, you’re welcome to go and have a nap on one of the beds upstairs,” Bradley offers, because he knows neither Mav or Ice will mind. Jason murmurs his thanks and he heads back upstairs, and Justin is already passed out asleep in his arms and Bradley turns back to Sarah who is frowning at a piece of paper.

                “Can you write your name?”

                “Sure can.”

                “I can write my own name. And mommy. And daddy. I’ve been learning my letters. And you’re my…” she frowns at him, and he realizes the word uncle is maybe one she’s not heard often enough.

                “I’m your Uncle Bradley. Yeah.”

                “Don’t forget to put Uncle there too then. That’s your name.”

                “Right,” Bradley says, and he has to try not to smile too much just in case she thinks he’s laughing at her. She’s drawing a group of people, and he can recognize himself from the very exaggerated moustache she’s given his figure.

                “See, mommy and daddy, me and Justin and Amber. Then there’s Nana and Grandad on this piece of paper. They aren’t here right now. And neither is Gran,” Sarah provides, and Bradley nods, because he knows Karla’s adoptive parents are both alive and well, but Jason’s father died when he was younger. “What happened to your mommy and daddy?”

                “Oh…” Shit. Shit shit shit. He’s not prepared for this. “Um. They both died.”

                “Oh. That’s sad.”

                Bradley huffs out a breath in surprised amusement, to have it summed up so simply.

                “Yeah. It is. But I have lots of people who love me.”

                “That’s good. Mommy says love is important.”

                “Yeah, well, your mom is very smart too. I can see where you get it from.”

                She grins at him and then slides another piece of paper over to him.

                “What do I call your dads? Can you write them?”

                “Uh…” Bradley has no idea what either Mav or Ice want to be called, but he can definitely give them names. “How about Grandpa Mav and Poppa Ice?”

                “Yeah! I’m gonna draw them some pictures…”

                “They’ll love them,” Bradley says, and he knows they will with the full certainty of his heart.

                Sarah coerces him effortlessly into doing some drawing himself, because she wants a picture from him to take to Pre-K to show her friends and her teacher. So, he tries his best and she thinks he’s great, which shouldn’t be as gratifying for his ego as it is, a five-year-old telling him he draws well, but Bradley likes that she thinks he’s impressive. Then Amber is awake and Karla disappears upstairs, coming back down with a bleary-eyed Amber, rubbing at her eyes who Karla passes to Bradley, asking him to hold her while she prepares a bottle.

                Just like before Amber seems fascinated with his moustache, trying to grab it off his face and he pulls some funny faces just to see if he can make her laugh. There’s a knock on the door and he hears it immediately open. Figures it’s likely either Phoenix or Fritz, because they’ve quickly learnt to try the door and let themselves in if it’s open. Mav still gets a little emotional about it each time one of them walks through the door without waiting for an invitation.

                “Hello? Bradshaw…?”

                “In here!” Bradley calls out, and Sarah is frowning. “It’s one of my friends. He can draw with us.”

                Jake appears in the doorway and freezes immediately when he sees Bradley. Mav and Ice come in behind him, jostling him forward a little.

                “What?” Bradley asks, looking around and moving Amber to his other side.

                “You’re holding a baby Bradshaw… where did you… oh. Is this one of your nieces?” he asks, and he’s suddenly more relaxed.

                “Yeah. Amber. And this is Sarah.”

                “Hi!” Sarah says, glancing up from the drawing she’s doing on the coffee table.

                “Uh. Nice to meet you.”

                “You’re pretty,” Sarah declares and Bradley shouldn’t be surprised at the pleased grin that appears on Jake’s face.

                “Well, uh, thank you,” Jake stumbles, and he looks a little wild-eyed, like he doesn’t know what to do when faced with kids. Because he definitely knows how good he looks. Bradley tells him often enough.

                “Here! I drew this for you Grandpa Mav! And one for you too Poppa Ice, so you don’t have to share.” The look on her face tells Bradley that sharing is obviously something of a dirty word, Mav and Ice both look blindsided and he wishes he has somehow captured the moment.

                “Thank you sweetheart. We’ll put them on the fridge so we can see both of them every day,” Ice offers, and Sarah beams up at him before going back to drawing. Then Karla is there, holding her hands out for Amber and Bradley reluctantly hands her over.

                “Karla, this is Jake, my, uh –” he looks at Jake with wide eyes, frozen with indecision.

                “Boyfriend,” Jake provides, giving Bradley a pointed look which he just eyerolls at, didn’t want to assume. They can talk about that later.

                “Wow, you sure Mav isn’t your father?”

                “What?” Bradley asks, confused, but Ice is huffing in amusement and Mav is looking embarrassed. Jake is looking more than a little uncomfortable.

                “I’m sorry, didn’t mean to drop in unannounced. Didn’t realize you might all still be here. Didn’t mean to intrude.”

                “Don’t go,” Bradley says, reaching out for him and relaxing a little when Jake steps toward him rather than away.

                “You’re always welcome here Jake, you know that.”

                “Yes sir.”

                Both Ice and Mav roll their eyes, and Karla is laughing as she follows them back toward the dining room to continue their conversation and Bradley tugs Jake closer, brings him until he's sitting on the floor beside him.

                “Come on, we’re doing drawing.”

PART ELEVEN

PART NINE

                Jake and Admiral Simpson go out for a beer and he catches Jake’s wild-eyed look and silently mouths good luck, because Jake looks like he needs it and Bradley wants to try and be comforting. At least he won’t be the only one in their relationship to have a father figure who is also a higher ranked officer. What a fucking mess. He can’t sit around doing nothing, sends Mav a message saying he’s coming around, wonders if they know that Beau Simpson is Jake’s father. Wonders if Jake has any siblings he doesn’t know about and lets out a hysterical little laugh at the thought.

                He pulls up outside, his brain and body at least getting him where he needs to be based on muscle memory, even as he seems to be unable to focus on anything. He’s already sent a message to Jake to let him know where he is, told him to let him know if he needs a ride, because he has no idea what kind of person Beau Simpson is. Ice and Mav will know though. He also needs to let them know how his conversation with Karla went, let them know that… what? His parents would have been grandparents. That knowledge is bittersweet.

                “Holy shit, I’m an uncle.”

                He hadn’t really had the time to process that before, and he stands on the porch and thinks about it, had seen a photo of some tiny humans and hadn’t really made the connection that they were related to him. He has more family. He pushes the front door open, takes his shoes off in a daze, his mind still reeling because

                “Bradley. You alright?”

                “I’m an uncle. Karla has kids…”

                “Congratulations.”

                “Better news than finding out you have kids of your own…?” Mav suggests, and then pulls a face; Bradley is pretty sure it’s because Mav loves his new-found offspring. The fact that Bradley himself might have children is terrifying and he groans.

                “You know, I never thought I’d have a pregnancy scare. But this is fucking killing me…”

                “You’re not the only one. Some of our friends are facing the potential child and grandchild combo.”

                That makes him shake his head, thinks of Jake out with Beau Simpson, wonders if there are babies out there with Jake’s genetics. What an absolutely wild thought.

                “Jake is out with Beau Simpson.”

                “Hmm. Cyclone is a good sort.” Bradley assumes that has to be his callsign.

                “Is he?” Bradley asks, but he trusts Ice’s judgement. Mav is pulling a face, which means he probably thinks Cyclone is too much of a stickler for the rules for his liking. Not that Mav doesn’t follow the rules as well, he just happens to test the flex of every single weak point of said rules. He knows some rules exist solely because Maverick exists. He lets Ice and Mav coddle him a little, lets them know of his plans to meet with Karla, the fact she’s making the 90 minute drive to come and meet him, deciding on a café for lunch, neutral ground until they get to know each other better. Then he’ll introduce her to all the extended family that knew both their parents.

…            …            …

                Bradley can’t sleep, sits on the porch swing and pushes off with a foot every time it stops moving. Jake comes and sits beside him, pulls his head to rest on his shoulder and Bradley gives in ungraciously, lets out a quiet huff of annoyance.

                “You nervous?”

                “Of course. Wouldn’t you be? Were you nervous with Admiral Simpson?”

                “You mean my biological father?” Jake asks, the emphasis a little sarcastic and Bradley gives him a charley horse for his cheek.

                “It’s… I mean. I didn’t feel there was anything to lose. Low stakes you know?”

                “I guess…” Bradley starts, because he feels like his stakes are massive. An entire extended family to get to know. He wants her to like him. To want to get to know him.

                “Different for me I guess. I’m fully grown and pretty sure Beau would give me all his family medical details if that’s all I wanted. His wife couldn’t have kids you know, so it’s…”

                “Shit.”

                “Yeah. Not like I need a fucking dad in my life. I’m twenty-three.”

                Bradley keeps his mouth shut, because he has Mav and Ice, would still have them in his life even if his dad were alive and he can’t imagine a life without their guidance and support. Jake has a step-father who he loves, who helped raise him, so maybe he doesn’t feel he needs another person. Either way he keeps quiet.

…            …            …

                He steps into the café and he’s not late, but he’s not as early as he would like either. He spies Karla, has seen her photo in the paperwork, but seeing her now, a couple of years older, hair a lighter shade, curly like his, on the phone and smiling to whoever she’s talking to, she throws back her head and laughs and Bradley is thrown back fifteen years, stares across the café at her in shock. She must sense him looking, catches his eye and is then ending the call and he’s moving toward her like she’s got an invisible line attached to his gut.

                “Hi… holy shit you look like my mom. Our mom.”

                “You must be Bradley…”

                “Yeah. Sorry. Hi. It’s nice to meet you.”

                “Likewise,” she says, and her eyes are roaming his face, no doubt taking in the similarities and noting the differences just like he is. Anyone looking at them would assume that they’re related. “Wow. The genetics sure are strong huh?”

                “Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing. Also you… your laugh is just like our mom,” Bradley offers, and it’s getting easier to say, to think, and Karla is biting her lip, looking a little teary eyed and Bradley waves his hand back at the table, meaning for them to sit and talk, already feeling that it’s going to go well. They order drinks and food, stare at each other for a brief moment and then laugh again, clearly both nervous.

                “I’ve got photos. They’re just scans and prints, but I can get proper ones done from the negatives. My godfather, our dad’s best friend… he looked after everything when our mom died,” Bradley offers, sliding over the stack of printer paper that Ice had helped him compile from photos around the house.

                “Oh wow… I do look like her don’t I?”

                “Yeah… here’s a picture of our dad.”

                “Holy shit. We’re like… clones.”

                “Not quite, but apples and tree right?”

                “Yeah. Wow. So… we have the same parents…”

                “Yep. Seven years apart though. I have… a theory.”

                “Okay. You knew them…”

                “Not… not really. I mean. Dad died when I was three. All I know about him is what mom told me. What his friends have told me…”

                “Which is still infinitely more than I know. Tell me your theory…”

                “Okay. I… I don’t know if dad ever knew about you. I asked his best friend and he had no idea. He was as shocked as me. I thought… I mean, I worked out a timeline and pieced together what might have happened.”

                “This is a hell of a sibling bonding activity,” Karla says with a grin and it reminds him so much of his mom it hurts, can’t help the nervous laugh he lets out.

                However it gives them something to talk about; Karla is a doctor, smart and funny. God, his parents would be so proud. She’s writing down the list of key dates on paper, when his mom and dad graduated high school, when his dad started USNA, and he can see she’s following his train of thought. He tells her he got some of the dates from Mav and Ice, and she’s writing down her birthdate and he does a double take.

                “Your birthday’s the eighth of August?”

                “Yes. Why?”

                “Oh… oh my god. We celebrated your birthday every year. For as long as I can remember. My mom, our mom, would make cupcakes and she’d make us sing happy birthday… but we were singing happy birthday to summer.”

                “My middle name is Summer.”

                Bradley suddenly feels like it’s difficult to breathe.

                “Oh my god…”

                “I don’t… I don’t think she ever told my dad. Our dad. Here,” Bradley says, and he’s pointing to the rough timeline he has sketched out, his mom’s last years of high school and his dad’s time in USNA overlapping. She could have hidden a pregnancy. Given the baby up for adoption. He says as much and Karla is chewing on her lip.

                “Was she the type to hide things from her loved ones?”

                Bradley lets out a broken laugh, thinks of her trying to hide her cancer diagnosis, the fact that she hadn’t wanted him to fly and has asked Mav of all people to try and stop him.

                “Yeah. Yeah she was… she tried to protect people but it… wasn’t always with the best outcome.”

                “So you think she didn’t tell our dad that they had a baby before they got married?”

                “No. I think she thought… no. I think she knew my dad would drop out of USNA and come marry her and settle in some job to support her…”

                “Oh my god… you really think he never knew?”

                “My dad… I mean, our dad. He… I didn’t know him very long before he died. But everything I’ve heard about him, something everyone tells me, is how much he loved being a dad. How much he loved my mom. Our mom. Sorry. It’s going to take a little to get used to.”

                “It’s fine. It’s going to take me a while as well. I don’t have any other siblings. And Frank’s an only child too. You’re going to be my kids’ first uncle…”

                “You want me to meet them?”

                “Oh my… oh my god yes! And I want you to meet me parents. And I want to meet your godfather, and his partner and anyone and everyone who knew our parents. I mean, I wasn’t expecting to find out I had a brother, but I’m sure as hell not letting go of you know that I know about you.”

                “Yeah, okay,” Bradley says, because he can’t say it, but he very much feels the same way.

PART EIGHT

                Bradley opens his envelope, glancing across to where Jake is opening his own and he doesn’t know why he’s so nervous. He knows his parents were together and married and he remembers both of them, even if his memories of his dad are more hazy and impressions and feelings rather than distinct things. He’s seen hundreds of photos and heard plenty of stories, but some things he’s not sure if they’re his memories, or he’s remembering being told his dad was a certain way.

                Regardless, he’s used to reading the letters now, the language they use, and he knows before even opening it that he’s going to be looking at a potential half-sibling. His dad unknowingly fathering more kids and he imagines if he’d be angry, or more sad like Ice, for missing so much, or excited like Mav, with years stretching out ahead of them.

                Except.

                “What the fuck…”

                99.9% match. Sibling.

                Full-sibling

                “Hmm?” Jake murmurs, his eyes on his own envelope contents, but his eyes flicking up to Bradley.

                “Holy shit…” Bradley breathes, his heart starting to race.

                “What? What is it?”

                “I have a…” he scrambles through the pieces of paper. “A sister. Like… my mom had a kid with my dad before me?”

                Jake’s eyes are wide, lips pursed like he doesn’t know what to say and Bradley really can’t blame him, because he has no clue either. He has a sister. His parents… Hell. He knew they were young when they got married and had him, but if he has an older sister they must have been really young.

                “She was probably put up for adoption. Is trying to find her birth parents or something…”

                “Well… that sucks for her,” Jake says with his characteristic bluntness, but it’s softened by the way his arm wraps around him, holding him tight.

                “Yeah…” Bradley says sadly, because he’s going to have to tell her that both her parents are dead. And also that he’s her brother. Fuck. She’s included contact details and photos and he turns it all over, unable to look at it right now. Needs to process the fact he has a sister.

                “What about your news?” Bradley asks, nodding his head toward the piece of paper Jake’s holding in his hand.

                “Well, it tells me my father isn’t in the database.”

                “Yet,” Bradley adds, and bites his lip at Jake’s eyeroll.

                “Yeah, whatever Bradshaw.”

                “We’ll take it to Ice and Mav. I have some more questions for them anyway…”

…            …            …

                “Um. Mav. Ice… it’s me! And, uh, Jake…”

                He gets hellos called back and he follows the voices deeper into the house, hopes that Natasha and Billy aren’t around, wants to talk to Mav and Ice alone. He finds them in the back yard, Ice weeding the flower beds and Mav… hopefully fixing the lawn mower.

                “Hey kiddo…”

                Bradley holds back the annoyed sigh, not sure if he’s scrambling for something else to feel other than scared shitless. He doesn’t want to find out that they’ve known this all along and not told him.

                “Uh. Did either of my parents ever mention that they had another kid before me?”

                Jake swears under his breath, and yeah, he supposes he could have maybe eased into it, but that would have given them a heads up that he knew. Knows. However, the way that both pairs of eyes widen and two sets of jaws drop tells Bradley all he needs to know and part of him relaxes, immensely relieved that they haven’t been keeping this from him with some misguided idea that they’d be protecting him.

                “I guess not. Well… turns out they did.”

                “How… how did you find this out?”

                Ice ushers them all inside, makes coffee and sets out food while Bradley explains that he’d sent his own sample in, just to see if maybe his dad’s sperm had been used, that he might have half-siblings out in the wild he didn’t know about. Because he wanted to know about them.

                “I wasn’t expecting to find out that I had a…”

                “Wow. That’s… have you spoken to her? Reached out?”

                “Um. No. Not yet. Just… taking some time. They’ve let her know that there’s a match, so she’s going to be expecting a call or something, it’s just, uh, I… I don’t know what to say to her.”

                “Hi is always a good start,” Ice muses, and Bradley glares at him and ignores Jake’s small sound of amusement. Mav is outright laughing. “What about you Seresin? Jake?”

                “What about me?”

                “Any results?”

                “Just a twelve-digit number, saying they’ll link me up if he ever comes looking. I’m not…” Jake shrugs then and Bradley bites his lip. “The only reason I know I’m mixed up with this is because my mom has confirmed that she, uh, took payment for agreeing to have a baby…”

                The force with which Ice slams his cup down makes it shatter and they all jump, Ice is swearing, mopping up his spilled drink with the dishtowel.

                “This… this is evil. The forethought. The planning. The… longevity,” Ice spits. “It’s already impacted hundreds of lives…” Ice mutters and Bradley remembers seeing him angry before, his rage incandescent and now it’s a thousand times worse. At least it’s aimed toward the Navy and whoever decided that this project was a good idea.

                “Ah. Longevity?”

                “Well it looks like it started in the 70s, and then… hasn’t actually stopped,” Ice states, voice tight. “Have either of you had to give sperm samples?”

                “Oh fuck…” Jake mutters, and yeah, Bradley thinks, that sums it up pretty succinctly.

                Because of course they have.

…            …            …

                He and Jake can’t seem to let go of each other, and he sits there, pressed along Jake’s side on the sofa as Jake calls his mom. He knows Jake has been filling her in, that Ice has talked to her. She has been providing information, has kept paperwork and he knows she has made Ice’s job both easier and more difficult. He runs his fingers through Jake’s hair absently as he listens to Jake explain in halting words that he might be finding more than just his birth father. That she might be a grandmother without knowing, because Jake doesn’t know.

                Bradley has to agree with Ice.

                It’s evil.

…            …            …

                He’s been putting it off long enough, well, a couple of days, but it’s… it feels like a good time to call. Sunday afternoon. Won’t interrupt a dinner. He doesn’t want to think about the fact that he might have a kid he doesn’t know about. He doesn’t need to imagine how Mav or Ice are feeling anymore, his own emotions a complete storm inside him and every time they just start to settle they get shaken up again, like he’s in a snow globe on a vibrating plate. Jake looks at him encouragingly and Bradley grimaces, because he feels like pacing rather than sitting beside Jake, doesn’t know how to deal with the nervous energy he’s experiencing. Like he can sense his nerves Jake runs his hand over Bradley’s thigh, hand firm and it feels warm. Safe. Like he isn’t alone in facing whatever the future holds.

                He’s already entered the number on his phone, even taken a photo of one the photos, entered in her name. Karla. She looks like his mom, but with their dad’s hair. Stronger nose than their mom. Looking at her he can see that they’re related. When people see them together they’re going to assume that they’re related, and he knows because Mav, Ice and Jake had all done a double take, so he’d known he hadn’t been hopefully imagining the family resemblance. He presses the call button and waits for her to pick up, tries to quell the butterflies in his stomach.

                “Hello?”

                “Uh. Is this Karla?”

                “Oh. Uh, just give me a minute. Yes… speaking. Hi.”

                “Hi. Um. My name’s Bradley. You don’t know me, but I was given your contact details by the, um, MyGene company?”

                “Yeah. They called to say there has been a match.”

                “Yeah… uh.”

                “I… I said to share all the info with anyone who was more than a 45% match. You don’t sound old enough to be one of my parents…”

                Our parents, Bradley thinks wildly, wonders if this conversation would go better or worse if he were face to face with her. Jake’s hand continues to run up and down his thigh and Bradley lets his free hand rest on Jake’s. Links their fingers together.

                “Yeah, no. I’m seven years younger than you.”

                “Oh. A little brother. Wow. I always wanted a sibling. What’s your name?”

                “Uh, Bradley Bradshaw.”

                “Wow. Did your parents hate you?”

                Bradley laughs out that, feels close to tears.

                “Um. I guess I’m… your brother.”

                “I figured as much. I wonder how many of us there are…”

                “Uh. Not… um. I need to tall you something else.”

                “Okay?”

                “I’m not just you half-brother. I’m… your full brother. Our parents are the same.”

                “What? How does that work?”

                Bradley frowns, figures she’s not exactly asking about the ins-and-outs. “Wow, they messed up and then repeated the same mistake a few years later? Damn…”

                Oh. Fuck. Well here goes nothing.

                “Uh… no. Not entirely. They got married and had me.”

                “What?”

                “Yeah. Uh. My parents are your parents…”

                “Oh… wait. I have so many questions.”

                “Yeah, I thought you might.”

…            …            …

                He feels emotionally wiped out.

                He’d spent over an hour on the phone talking with Karla, who lives just over an hour away. Close. So fucking close all this time. They’ve organized a time to meet, just the two of them. But he’s heard about her husband, her kids, her parents… a whole family that has existed without him knowing, that he would have never known had existed if he hadn’t followed his gut when looking at Natasha and thinking she was so much like Mav. Her laugh reminds him so much of his mom and he lets himself shed a few tears. He had to go through the photos and get copies made from the negatives so he can give them to her when they meet.

                He’d explained the whole fucking awful bullshit happening within the Navy and then had to ask her to keep it quiet, realizing too late that he should have kept his mouth shut. He looks to where Jake has sacked out, head thrown back and resting on the sofa, mouth open and making little snoring noises. He watches for a few seconds, gives in to the urge and leans over to press a kiss to the corner of Jake’s mouth. He doesn’t wake up, but he does make a grumpy sound, lips smacking closed as he turns his head towards Bradley and he’s so stupidly in love.

                There’s a knock on the door then, short and sharp and he startles a little before groaning quietly. It’s military precision knocking, knows it can’t be Mav or Ice, they’d have given him a heads up anyway. He pushes himself to standing, leaving Jake where he is, knows neither of them have exactly been sleeping the best with everything that is going on, although they have been having fun trying to tire each other out enough to fall asleep. He opens the door and looks at the man standing there, he recognizes him, in the way that he knows he’s an aviator, but he’s in civvies so there are no name-plates to give him a clue.

                “Bradshaw. You’re here.” He sounds unimpressed and Bradley wonders what the fuck he’s done to earn this mans ire somehow.

                “Ah. Yes sir,” Bradley starts, because that’s safe at least. Respectful. “Were you looking for…”

                “Seresin. Yes.”

                “I’m here, I’m here, was just resting my eyes…”

                Bradley looks back at Jake, who has dried drool on one side of his mouth, his hair mussed and sticking up a little, blinking blearily like he’s just woken up. Which he has. He looks back at the man standing in the doorway and does a little double take, knows without him saying why he’s here, can see it, now that he’s looking for it.

                Holy shit.

                “I’m apparently your father. My name’s Beau Simpson.”

Pairings

—🤠🐓—

Recs List 1 (Last update - 17-06-24)

Recs List 2

Recs List 3

Recs List 4 (Last update - 24-09-23)

Recs List 5 (Last update - 30-09-23)

—☃️🏍️—

Recs List 1 (Last update - 18-02-24)

Characters

Beau "Cyclone" Simpson (Last update - 21-07-25)

Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Last update - 30-05-26)

Themed

—Special Formats—

5+1 {🤠🐓} — Part I — Part II (Last update - 31-05-26) > 5+1 {☃️🏍️} (Last update - 09-03-25)

Chat, Epistolary & Social Media {🤠🐓} (Last update - 06-06-26)

—Special Events—

Christmassy "Ho-Ho-Ho" Fics {🤠🐓} (Last update - 03-02-24) > Valentine's Day {🤠🐓} (Last update - 22-02-24)

—Relationship Status—

Fake/Pretend Relationship {🤠🐓} (Last update - 30-05-26) > Marriage Fic Recs {🤠🐓} (Last update - 30-05-26) > Childhood Friends-Sweethearts {🤠🐓} (Last update - 31-05-26) > Getting Back Together (Part One & Part Two) {🤠🐓}

Kid Fic - Single Dad & Parents {🤠🐓} (Last update - 18-01-26) > Twin/(Big) Brother Bradley Bradshaw (Last update - 30-05-26) > Twin/(Big) Brother Jake Seresin (Last update - 30-05-26)

—Proud to Be—

Trans Characters {🤠🐓} (Last update - 31-05-26) > Ace Characters {🤠🐓} (Last update - 30-05-26)

—Forbidden, Spicy and Citrus Fruit—

I'm a babygirl in a daddy's world {🤠🐓} > Daddy Klnk (Last update - 18-01-26) > Sugar Daddy (Last update - 24-06-2025)

PWP {🤠🐓} > TO COME > Bosom!Hangman {🤠🐓} (Last update - 18-01-26) > The Chicken Peach & the Zenithal Cowboy {🤠🐓} (Last update - 24-1-26) > The Perched Rooster & the Brooded Texan {🤠🐓} > TO COME > Everywhere. Every-Fucking-Where. {🤠🐓} > TO COME

> Beautiful, Handsome, Pretty {🤠🐓} (Last update - 02-08-25)

—Top Gayn Canon-ish—

Post-Mission (Update Notice - 07-09-23 - I'm halfway done with the collecting of PM fics.. Wait for it, 'cause it's probably going to be several posts xD) > Post-Mission Aftermath > TO COME > Post-Mission Daggers Shenanigans > TO COME > Retelling, Backstory & cie {🤠🐓} (Last update - 01-11-24)

Navy - Not A Pilot!Bradley Bradshaw (Last update - 14-09-25) > Navy - Not A Pilot!Jake Seresin (Last update - 13-02-24) > Not Navy - Still A Flyboy At Heart {🤠🐓} (Last update - 12-10-25) > Top Gun Instructors > TO COME

The Daggers Discover Rooster's Navy Parentage, a.k.a Baby Goose and his Mavdad & Icepops > TO COME

—To Fly or Not to Fly?—

Daily Heroes {🤠🐓} (Last update - 10-02-26) > Spies & Secret Agents {🤠🐓} > Organised Crime {🤠🐓} (Last update - 30-05-26) > Vigilantes, Superheroes & Supervillains {🤠🐓} (Last update - 20-04-25)

Educational Occupations {🤠🐓} (Last update - 31-05-26) > High School & College/University {🤠🐓} (Last update - 22-10-25)

Flower & Tattoo Shops AU {🤠🐓} (Last update - 24-06-25) > Bakery & Coffee Shop AU {🤠🐓} (Last update - 01-02-26) > Chef, Bartender & Waiter {🤠🐓} (Last update - 12-10-25) > Mechanic AU {🤠🐓} (Last update - 23-07-25)

Musicians, Singers & Dancers {🤠🐓} (Last update - 30-05-26) > Music & Dancing within the Top Gun Verse {🤠🐓} (Last update - 08-06-25) > Actors & Celebrities {🤠🐓} (Last update - 26-07-25)

Royalty {🤠🐓} (Last update - 31-05-26) > Navy Prince, aka THE Nepo Baby > TO COME

Sports AU {🤠🐓} (Last update - 30-05-26)

—Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Fanfiction Tropes—

Hanahaki Disease {🤠🐓} (Last update - 25-05-26)

Mythological Creatures & Shapeshifters {🤠🐓} (Last update - 31-05-26) > Ghoost & Ethereal Beings (Last update - 31-05-26) > Wingfic

Omegaverse {🤠🐓} (Last update - 31-05-26)

Soulmates {🤠🐓} (Last update - 25-05-26)

Space AU {🤠🐓} (Last update - 25-05-26) > Time Travel/Loop & Reincarnation {🤠🐓/☃️🏍️} (Last update - 05-01-25)

—Special Tropes—

Amnesia & Memory Loss {🤠🐓} (Last update - 30-05-26)

A Rooster in Texas & Texan Jake "Hangman" Seresin (Vol.I) {🤠🐓} (Last update - 01-11-24) > Texan Jake "Hangman" Seresin (Vol. II) {🤠🐓} (Last update - 08-06-25)

Animal Companions {🤠🐓/☃️🏍️} (Last update - 09-02-25)

And They Were Roommates & Only One Bed {🤠🐓} (Last update - 01-02-26) > And They Were Neighbours {🤠🐓} > TO COME

Bodyswap, Mental Bond & Doppelgängers {🤠🐓} (Last update - 23-05-24)

—Media-based—

TV-Show & Movie-Based Fics (Last update - 30-05-26)

Pacific Rim Fusion (Last update - 15-02-26)

Requested

Iceman is Hangman's father (Last update - 19-01-25)

Special Lists

Tumblr Writers {🤠🐓} (Draft) (Last update - 07-01-24)

Reccing the Reccers' Recced Fics Lists > TO COME

PssPss...

Drop an ask if you want me to find you a lost Hangster fic! 💕

If you want a specific Hangster recs list, I'm up to the challenge as well, although I ask for patience (it takes time to search & compile). 🤗