Sometimes, Bob finds this amusing, being able to sneak up on Jake, but tonight his voice is too hollow, his expression likely flat and grim. It's just a guess, between the darkness of the room and his glasses left behind on the night stand, Bob can't see Jake's expression well enough to be sure.

"Uh," Bob shakes his head. He didn't expect Jake to turn the question around on him; he's not sure what to do with the question. "No, I've always been a light sleeper." A lie. A bad one. Maybe he isn't one to sleep through screeching alarms and asshole roommates, but he can fall asleep just about anywhere no matter the time of day.

And then he's not thinking about sleep or lying - just Jake and his strong arms; missing him and feelings Bob can't, won't, name. Feelings are irrelevant in this little arrangement they set. Mutual satisfaction, that's all.

" PROMISE ME SOMETHING, ma petite, " he peers over his spectacles, squinting slightly at the ribbon he's tying in her hair. there's a note of sardonic playfulness in his tone, " promise me you'll stay young & pretty & won't grow up & have eyes & hands that don't work. "

new town, new opportunities, new shops. he and hester had just landed in this quaint little village with the intention to restock his supplies, even if he could barely afford to do so. most of his gold went to refueling his balloon, and what little remains would have to be for medicine and spices.

the sun is low in the sky, and he figures shops will be closing soon. by sheer luck, he spots an herbologist's shop and, figuring he could kill a few birds with one stone, he strolls in.

It had seemed like everything was going to work out, Coyote pulled out of G-Lock and both her and Bob had managed to not even go into G-Lock, sure they had failed the training run but she was sure that they’d get it before mission. She was ready to get down onto the ground and see Rooster’s go for the mission and then she said those fateful words, “That was close.”

As if tempting luck they got hit by a birdstrike. Natasha tried everything that she could to keep their plane alive. That was why navy jets had two engines, in case one went down, she’d been taught that in flight school. Then their other engine went out and they were on their own. with no engines available she still tried to salvage the plane maybe be able to control it to glide and make an emergency landing, until both her an Maverick realized that it was a fruitless effort and they needed to bail from the aircraft. Bob went first, a perfect release from the aircraft, then came Phoenix’s turn to eject unfortunately for her it wasn’t as perfect as the plane was quickly starting to spiral out of control and she shot out at an angle. Luckily not enough to hit the mountain but enough to freak her out and cause her parachute to not deploy immediately. As she was still in the air she saw the explosion and then came the rough landing which knocked her out. Next thing she knew she was in an hospital bed and hurting all over her body. 

Jake had known he was beyond screwed even before he had finished his sentence really, he was by no means ignorant of the fact. And still he managed to hit send not once, but several more times. One had to hand it to him; no matter what he did he certainly was an overachiever of rank. To leave well enough alone wasn’t his strong suit, as he had managed to prove more than necessary over the past 24 hours.

Grounded.

That was just fantastic. Was he surprised? No not really, he would have done the same ha he been in a position similar to Cyclone while witnessing a lieutenant do what he did. It was fair, even if he truly didn’t like it. But then again, he was by no means supposed to like it. That was the whole point of punishments after all.

Taking the words to heart he at least had enough sense to pack up his things to get off of base. No use sticking around when told to go home. So there he was, on his merry way to leave, backpack over his shoulder and all with brisk steps heading for the tiny yellow car that was parked between to rather big pickup trucks ( it made for a hilarious picture truly ), when he heard his name being called. Recognizing the voice was the sole reason he didn’t turn around.

The waves rocked the carrier back and forth as they plowed their way through the ocean. Natasha loved being out at sea, then again the carriers were significantly different than a destroyer or other ship that the Navy had in the fleet, they were their own self contained city basically. She wasn’t alone on the ship to make new friends, she had some of her friends from the mission and before hand. The Navy had decided to keep Bob with her as her WSO, then there was Coyote and Hangman, and how could she forget Rooster. As Natasha leaned over the railing looking out to the sea she heard someone approach her from behind before coming up next to her revealing it was Rooster.