fanfic_name = Shooting Stars

chapter = Chapter VII

author = Cicero_Phelps and KnightsTemplar

Rating = AP15

Type = Action

fanfic = Chapter VII

 

Rick’s eyes continued to follow Lisa, and for a reason he knew, but didn’t want to admit, he knew why he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Even as they stood there next to one another, he would look over and steal glances of her. It made him smile, it took him back to when he was younger, and thinking he could get away with quick looks.

 

After everyone got into the limo, he stood there and let her get in first. She smiled, he smiled back at her, and climbed into the limo, which by now had become a tad crowded.

 

Rick sat down next to Lisa and smiled at his friends who all seemed to be having either the same thoughts, or in the case of one, even worse thoughts.

 

There was a silence that seemed to be unbreakable, until someone said something, Rick didn’t remember who, it might’ve been Alan, or Rodney, but someone said something and the conversations started. Rick didn’t notice, all he was paying attention to was Lisa, because it seemed to be the only thing he could focus on.

 

The ride, for Rick, was uneventful, as he enjoyed and savored the nearness of Lisa, something he hadn’t felt since he had started going out with Anna.

 

He grimaced at the thought of her name; it still meant something to him, not a good thing so much anymore, but something that had changed his perspective of himself, and everything he had been through. He had at one point wondered if it had been something he had done, and it made him feel inferior.

 

It hurt Rick to think about Anna, and things that even remotely had anything to do with her, and he pushed the emotions back, deeper into his mind, determined to ignore them.

 

He smiled, and told himself he’d enjoy the fact that he was with friends, and pretty women, and better yet, they had all survived their first taste of combat; it was something Rick was not surprised at, but knew they were lucky about anyway.

 

He knew everyone here was superbly trained, but the odds of all of them getting out of combat alive, it was shocking, but again, not terribly surprising.

 

But, lost in Rick-Land, he had failed to notice that the limo had stopped, and that everyone was beginning to exit the limo, but Lisa had stayed by his side for a moment, seemingly waiting for him to move so they could exit the limo together.

 

He made a move to get out, but Lisa stopped him. She looked at him, her face radiant, and her smile gorgeous. Rick took it all in, and loved it all.

 

She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and smiled at him again, “Thank you for everything,” she told him before she crossed over him and got out of the limo.

 

Rick stayed put, afraid that if he moved, he’d wake up in his room, but a hand reached in and was pulling on his shirt, “Come on Rick,” Lisa told him, “hurry up, everyone is waiting.”

 

Rick smiled to himself smugly, ‘Nope, not a dream,’ he thought to himself.

 

He got out and observed the place; it was a blend of a club and a Japanese Steakhouse, the place where the man who cooks for you also puts on a show for you. He smiled, he liked those places, but this one even swankier than any he had ever seen, and thankfully, ever had to pay for.

 

This brought Rick back, and he thought about Lisa’s father. Donald Hayes was his name. He remembered hearing some things from Roy about the man, and what his father and Donald’s past. It made Rick a little nervous to know that Lisa’s father may already not like him, before he even had a chance to make him not like him.

 

‘If he’s not going to like me, at least let me be the reason, not Pops,’ Rick thought.

 

He offered Lisa his arm and she took it graciously, and smiled at him and Rick felt a tingle run up his spine.

 

Despite the fact that Lisa was very pretty, and he was attracted to her, he was afraid that perhaps he would find himself not wanting her if he ever did get her.

 

It bothered him that this could even be a possibility, and he wouldn’t ever want to do that to someone else, but at the same time, he felt he owed it to himself to at least give it a chance.

 

They walked into the restaurant and looked around, taking a moment to let their eyes adjust to the light inside the restaurant. Lisa walked up to the hostess stand, and Rick followed.

 

Lisa smiled at the woman at the stand and told her name. The woman looked down the list, and stopped at a name and looked up to Lisa and asked them all to follow her.

 

The party followed the woman, and they walked into the restaurant, past the dance floor, which Rick noticed several members of the female variety in the party eye with eager anticipation. Rick cut his look to Max, the only member of the group who was without a date, and saw Max give a wry smile. Being the single man got him out of having to dance with anyone.

 

The lady stopped and gestured towards what appeared to be a private room, with the cooking surface that was obviously meant for the chef, and several more empty chairs.

 

------------------------------

 

Roy saw Claudia enter with the group, and went over to take her arm, then escorted her back to the table with a smile. Donald, meanwhile, watched as the group of young people walked towards his table, and he surveyed the women, silently thankful that Lisa was at least a marginally good judge of friends.

 

His expression went sour when he thought about Lisa’s last boyfriend, and inwardly shuddered at Lisa’s seeming lack of ability to at least judge men in the same way as she judged her friends.

 

Then his eyes fell on the man what was at Lisa’s side, and he immediately tensed up. The man was the spitting image of one of his long ago friends from the Vietnam Era. He felt a wave of nostalgia creep up as he thought about the man that he once considered a brother, who he now regarded as nothing more then an acquaintance.

 

The young man had to be the son of one Pops Hunter, because there was no doubt about the face, the eyes, and whole person in general, it was definitely Pops son.

 

Donald remembered the last time he talked to Pops, and it occurred to him that was way back in 1973, back when Vietnam was all but lost, and so it seemed their friendship too.

 

They had fought the last time they had talked, and it had been because of the death of one of their mutual good friends. Donald blamed Pops, and Pops told him something about it being just the way that it happened for pilots, but Donald had been steadfast in his refusal to believe that, to believe that when someone died because of the mistake of someone else, that it was the way of things.

 

That had been it, that had been the last time they had exchanged words, and the last Donald heard, Pops had gone back to Oklahoma, and had a family, and the most visible part of his family was standing before him, close, too close, to his daughter.

 

He reminded himself that despite the saying, the apple can fall some ways from the tree, and he tried to tell himself that he would give the young man a chance, though he knew that he would be more judgmental of him anyway because his daughter had taken a shining to him.

 

He stood up and introduced himself, the first two who introduced themselves he barely remembered their names, Rooney and Al or something like it. The next two he remembered a bit more because one of them have no date, Max was his name, and he had blue hair. The next one was Ben, and he was memorable because he gave Donald’s hand a hard squeeze.

 

But the man that he was most interested with was the man before him, Pops’ boy, and when he took Donald’s hand, he could read the young man’s eyes and saw that he knew who he was before Donald knew who he was. Donald smiled slyly, advantage to Hunter, he told himself.

 

Everyone sat down, but Donald never took his eyes off the young man seated next to his daughter, and he knew that he would be keeping an eye on them all night; not that he didn’t trust her, he didn’t trust him.

 

The conversation began; Donald asked them about the Akagi mission, knowing this was a safe and neutral beginning before he began to delve into each of them. They all discussed their view of the fighting, and through the conversation, he learned that Rick had been the squadron commander.

 

‘Well, they have that in common,’ Donald told himself.

 

But it couldn’t all be bad, there was no way this young man could be like the Pops he knew: roguish, insubordinate, obstinate, and overall just difficult. But as the conversation progressed, he could read more and more of Pops in Rick, and he was getting more and more worried for his daughter.

 

Donald nodded as Rodney, not Rooney, finished telling about how the Sooner’s chased away a squadron of enemy fighters and saved the Akagi.

 

He averted his gaze to Rick, and looked at Rick, he wanted to know how Pops was doing but he was afraid to come out and ask it. The whole idea of talking about Pops after holding the grudge for so long made Donald a little uneasy.

 

But he summoned all his courage and looked at Rick.

 

“So, Rick, how’s Mitchell doing these days?” Donald asked, using Pops real name, something few people did.

 

Rick fixed Donald with a piercing gaze, which made Donald squirm in his seat, something he was unaccustomed too. Despite the intense look that he was getting from the young man, he held his gaze.

 

The tension was cut when the chef arrived with a flourish, and everyone looked at him and smiled, except Rick and Donald, who were locked in a staring match. Rick finally blinked, and gave Donald a rueful look.

 

“Pops died a long time ago, he had asked that you come to his funeral, but you didn’t,” Rick said before he turned his attention away from Donald and to the chef and smiled a wide grin to the man.

 

Donald spied his daughter’s hand move to Rick’s as she gave it a slight squeeze. Just then a fire burst on the large grilling surface and it elicited a chorus of “oh’s” and “ah’s”.

 

He didn’t notice, his gaze was still on Rick, as he looked at the young man through the flames, and the fire that was burning barely two feet away was as hot and controlled as the one that burned in him. He had no idea that Pops had died, and if he had known, he would have certainly gone to the old coots funeral, because deep down, he was still a friend, and no matter what happened, he would have helped Pops anyway he could when it came down to it.

 

He felt a twinge of remorse, and knew that he would never have the chance to ever make his peace with Pops; that’d have to wait until he met him in heaven.

 

Donald tore his gaze away from the young man, and forced himself to concentrate on the display of quick hands and catlike agility that was in front of him, telling himself that there was nothing he could do about Pops, the man he had regarded as one of his best friends in one of America’s most trying times.

 

The man clanged and banged the metal spatulas around, flipping cracked egg shells into bowls, cracking more eggs on the metal spatula, flicking food around, flames roaring up and making a general show of eating. Apparently this man’s mom never told him it was bad to play with your food.

 

After he finally finished playing with everyone’s food, he served it in a fast and quick manner that was not lost on the patrons at the table. They all applauded and the man gave a quick bow and backed away from the group.

 

Donald smiled as he ate his fried rice and shrimp, listening now to the conversations going on all around him, not wanting to interject for fear or having a similar reaction with them that he did with Rick.

 

He didn’t dislike the young man, but was naturally wary of any man that was trying to take his daughter. Not that he was one of those overbearing fathers….well he was, but he’d never admit it to anyone, himself included.

 

He smiled as he watched Roy and Claudia talk, knowing that the two of them hadn’t seen one another for quite some time. It made him happy to know that he had done something to make another person happy.

 

His gaze shifted to Rick, he was about to apologize when a song started playing, and everyone who was coupled up looked to their respective date and got up and went to the dance floor, leaving Donald with the blue haired fellow, Max.

 

Donald looked to Max who wore a cool expression. Donald smiled.

 

‘This is a man who is as cool as the other side of the pillow, he’ll be a great pilot,’ Donald thought.

 

“So, Max, how do you like being a pilot,” Donald asked.

 

------------------------------

 

Rick and Lisa made it out to the dance floor and looked at one another. Rick felt a warm sense of comfort wash over him. He hadn’t felt this way for a long time, even when he was with Anna, he never felt so secure and happy.

 

Rick pulled Lisa close and felt their bodies press together in a way that excited Rick in away that was more than sexual. It was more of a universal yearning, like she was something that would complete him in more that just a carnal lusty way.

 

He desired her in more than just a “want to sex you up” way.

 

Rick listened to the song for a second, and recognized it quickly.

 

A quick tug brought her closer, and Rick moved his face to the side of hers and felt her cheek on his. He smiled, and began to the whisper the words of the song into her ear.

 

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing

Watch you smile while you are sleeping

While you're far away and dreaming

I could spend my life in this sweet surrender

I could stay lost in this moment forever

Well, every moment spent with you

Is a moment I treasure

 

Lisa felt warmth in her face, and realized that she was blushing. Rick was singing the song into her ear softly, and it was having an affect on her, one quite unintended.

 

I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, baby

And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you, baby

And I don't wanna miss a thing

 

Rick felt so very cliché and corny, but he didn’t really feel like stopping himself.

 

Lying close to you

Feeling your heart beating

And I'm wondering what you're dreaming

Wondering if it's me you're seeing

Then I kiss your eyes and

thank God we're together

I just wanna stay with you

In this moment forever, forever and ever

 

Lisa didn’t know if Rick was trying to tell her something without saying it, but Lisa was enamored by the fact that a man was singing to her.

 

I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

 

Rick and Lisa held close to one another, swirling and moving slowly, oblivious to world, and the onlookers.

 

I don't wanna miss one smile

I don't wanna miss one kiss

and I just wanna be with you

Right here with you, just like this

I just wanna hold you close

I Feel your heart so close to mine

And we'll stay here in this moment

For all the rest of time Yeah

Yeah Yeah YEAHHHH!!

 

Anna looked on as she watched two move about, feeling a deep stab of jealousy. She wanted her man back, and this stupid woman was doing her best to take him from her.

 

I Don't wanna close my eyes

I Don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

 

The song was winding down, and Rick felt an undeniable connection and urge to be with Lisa, something that despite his best attempts had manifested itself.

 

I don't wanna close my eyes

I don't wanna fall asleep

'Cause I'd miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

'Cause even when I dream of you

The sweetest dream would never do

I'd still miss you, babe

And I don't wanna miss a thing

Don't wanna close my eyes

I Don't wanna fall asleep, yeah

And I don't wanna miss a thing

 

Rick finished the song and pulled back and look and saw a look of desire in Lisa’s emerald eyes and smiled. She wanted him as bad as he wanted her, even if both of them wouldn’t admit it.

 

They shared one more smile, and as they made their way back to their table, Rick felt a slender, soft hand grab his arm, and when he turned around, he saw the one person he didn’t want to see.

 

There was Anna, bleary eyed, and tottering.

 

“Rick, you can’t be with this hussy, you’re mine,” she said, words slurring badly.

 

Rick pulled his arm free, and gave her a fiercely indignant look, “Anna, it is over, please, leave me alone,” Rick said as he walked away.

 

Anna watched as they walked away, now more determined to get Rick back, just not tonight as she felt the bile rise in her throat and the urge to throw up came swarming over her.

 

Rick and Lisa took their seats again, smiling to everyone.

 

Donald looked at Rick, and was determined to make his peace with Pops son, have no ill feelings between them. He wouldn’t make the same mistake with another Hunter.

 

“Rick, I’m sorry about Mitchell, I had no idea that he had died. If I had, I would have been there for sure, despite our falling out, Mitch was still one of my closest friends.”

 

Donald watched Rick’s face as he digested the information, and smiled and nodded at him.

 

Donald gave a smile, satisfied that things where better than they had been earlier.

 

“Now, who wants dessert?” Donald asked as the table responded with an overwhelming

 

“ME!”

 

Donald smiled; these were brave young people, all of them having earned his respect. And tonight he’d show them how much an old man appreciated it.

 

AN: Enjoy, folks; the romantics in us are finally showing up and the story gets a lot more interesting from here on in.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = Lightsaber01ATHotmail.com