It was the morning of the mission briefing.

All returning personnel were required to be on base early to get a quick physical done before training actually began. First come, first serve for the aviators who all reported to the same nurse.

Nova Mitchell was contracted by the Navy and Top Gun specifically whenever she was needed. And fortunately, or unfortunately depending on who you ask, that is now.

Rooster was the first in, mainly because he wanted to catch up a little more with Nova.

"This is the earliest you've ever been awake and alert," is the first thing out of Nova's mouth. Bradley shoots her a look, ready to disagree before he shuts his mouth realizing she was right.

He simply shrugs before saying, "Hey, at least you're done with me sooner. Besides, I saw Phoenix get here as I was directed back here."

Nova simply smiles before going to her computer. "Ok let's get this started."

"Do you smoke?" "No."

"How often do you drink alcohol?" "Moderately"

"Are you sexually active?" Bradley sent her a look. "I have to ask. I don't want to be thinking about that." Nova shudders. "Just answer the question."

"No, not at the moment."

Nova just nods her head before asking a few more questions. After recording his answers, she has Bradley stand on the scale.

"Sit back down," she tells him after getting his height and weight. She attaches a heart monitor to his finger before grabbing her stethoscope.

"Take a few deep breaths for me," Nova instructs. She jots down the last of the information before entering it into the system.

Bradley rolls his sleeve back down. "Tell me. Am I dying?" He asks so deadpan, Nova can't help but laugh. "Oh yes, I give you 4 days to live."

The two laugh for a moment longer before Nova gets serious again. "No, seriously, you've got a full bill of health. All good to go."

Bradley nods his head and gets up to leave. "I'll see you later then. Dinner soon?"

Nova nods her head. "Of course. We've got plenty to catch up on." She gives Bradley a quick hug.

"Send Phoenix in on your way out."

He does just that, and a few moments later, Natasha opens to the door to the exam room.

"Morning Noves," she greets the nurse.

Nova returns her smiles. "Good morning Tasha. Let's get you out of here as quickly as possible. I know you'd rather be anywhere else."

"Well at least I'm with you," Natasha responds with a flirty smile. That was their friendship in a nutshell. Natasha has always flirted with Nova and while Nova isn't into her like that, she always plays along. Hell, one or two of Natasha's relationships have been set up by Nova.

Nova repeats the same questions as she did with Bradley and soon enough, Natasha is given the all good and the next aviator comes in.

On and on, all the aviators make their way in until there is only one person left. And unfortunately, the person happens to be Jake Seresin.

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Jake opens the door to the exam room but hesitates when he sees it is Nova who is doing the physical exams.

"Good morning Lieutenant. Please have a seat." Nova starts off with professional pleasantries. She knew well and good he would be the last one in this morning. So she told herself she would contact this exam with as much professionalism as possible. Try her best to keep all other emotions out of it.

"Good morning Nova," Jake responds, giving her a slight nod. While he wasn't 100% certain she would be there, after seeing her the night before however, he had his suspicions. He unknowingly made the same promise as Nova. To conduct this was more professionalism than feelings.

But this was the first time either of the two were in close quarters with the other and no one was around to act as a buffer. It was going to be a lot more challenging that they could have thought.

To cut through the awkward silence in the room, Nova begins the questions.

"Full name?" "Jacob Thomas Seresin."

"Birth date?" He answers the date.

"Step on the scale for me." Jake does so without a word. Normally he would be talking himself up with the nurse, claiming most of his weight was muscle. (He wouldn't be lying but still.) He would be turning his charm all the way up, in hopes of at least a date or night out. But this was Nova. He could barely string together a coherent thought when she was standing so close.

Nova focuses hard on the paper in front of her to get the information down. She desperately tries not to think of the cologne Jake wears and how it hasn't changed in the past two years. She also tries everything in her power to not think about the fact that he has definitely added more muscle since she last saw him.

Once everything has been recorded, she gestures to the chair. "Please take a seat." She grabs her stethoscope and heart monitor. Attaching the monitor to his finger, Nova presses the scope to his chest.

"Take a deep breath for me." Jake does as he is told. He is now the one desperately trying not to think of how close Nova is now. He does not think about her perfume and how it clings to her the same way it always has. How her baby hairs fall slightly into her face and he has to fight every urge within himself to not push them back.

He also has the extra pressure of making sure his heartbeat doesn't betray his every growing thoughts.

Nova finished up her exam but before she could stop herself, looked up. And as soon as she did, her eyes connected with Jake's. Neither of them said anything for a moment, they hardly even breathed. But Jake couldn't help it.

And just like the night before, he whispered out one word. "Nova." His breath fanned her face but even that couldn't shock her out of her stupor. Jake lifted his hand, as if to finally fix those hairs that were driving him crazy, and that snapped Nova out of it.

"Well Lieutenant, you are all cleared. No issues to be concerned about." Nova quickly turns back to her computer, trying to focus back on her work and not the man she still longs for.

"Nova please," Jake begins but she shuts him down before he can get any further. She knows what he's about to say, but she can't listen to it right now.

Jake pressed on. "Nova we need to talk about it. Please." She continues to shake her head, refusing to meet his eye. He knows he needs to get his head on straight. Without even going to this briefing yet, he knows this is a highly dangerous mission.

Jake knows for a fact, Nova will be on his mind this entire mission and he can't allow himself to be so distracted. Both for his place on the mission and those flying with him. It's a safety hazard that even he would never want to be.

"My number hasn't changed. Call or text me when you want to talk," he tells her. "Because you know we need to."

With that, he grabs his jacket and leaves the exam room, heading to the mission briefing that will be starting soon.

As soon as the door shuts, Nova all but collapses in on herself. She takes a few deep breaths and tries to keep the tears from falling.

"This is going to be harder than I thought," she whispered to herself.

Nova focused on entering the last few pieces of information before logging out of everything. After all, she only had a few moments to steel herself before she would be face to face with the man she loved with her whole heart, once again.

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Word Count: 1,336

Disclaimer: I am NOT a medical professional. I did not go to school for anything medical related. I am a design major and architect by trade.

All of this was taken from doctor visits I've had over the years, primarily for my allergies.

Now, onto the actual chapter. How did y'all like it? I tried to show the mutual pining still happening between Nova and Jake. Things may have ended semi alright between them, but they are very much the "ones that got away" and "soulmate" pair.

Please enjoy the angst between Nova and Jake, because I absolutely hate writing it when I just want my babies to be happy and in love. But alas, we need time to get there.

So until next chapter, bye guys!!!