For You, I’d Do Anything
Summary: On her way home from the base after a hard day in the air, Dragon gets into a car crash that leads her to be rushed to the local hospital with a persistent head wound and many more injuries, Tom races against everything to make sure he can be there for her through this life-changing disaster. When Tom calms down enough, he makes a call to the couples’ best friends and found family, the Kerner’s.
Thomas ‘Iceman’ Kazansky x Rachael ‘Dragon’ Kazansky {OC} ( @dragon-kazansky )
Ron ‘Slider’ Kerner x Jade ‘Whiskey’ Kerner {OC} ( @mrsjaderogers )
Rick ‘Hollywood’ Neven x Baylie ‘Duckie’ Pruitt {OC} ( @bayisdying )
Leonard ‘Wolfman’ Wolfe x Amanda ‘Cricket’ Pruitt {OC}
📫(This is a one shot from Whiskey Bottles & Wildflowers series and Duckie & Cricket are mentioned once for a brief moment)📫
A/N📋: dividers by @firefly-graphics , cover by me ( @callmemana ).
A/N📋: make sure to checkout these amazing & talented women! They write fantastic Top Gun/ Top Gun Maverick fanfics! Check out this fic from @bayisdying on who’s Bradley’s fav 1896 pilot! Also Goose LIVES bc I want him too, so suck it.
🚨warning: inaccurate medical terms/jargon, blood, and seizing. (I got my info from Grey’s Anatomy so I’m sorry if it’s incorrect! Season 1 ep. 1 if your curious) and Navy inaccuracy!
When Tom got the initial call from the San Diego Hospital, he panicked. Had something happened to Rachael? Was she hurt? How hurt? His voice wavered as he pressed the green button, “Hell…Hello?” “Hello, is this Thomas Kazansky?”
“This is he. May I ask what this is about?” “I am very sorry to have to tell you this, Mr. Kazansky, but your wife has been in an accident. If you could please come to the hospital as soon as possible that’d be great.” “Of…of course. I’ll be there soon!”
Tom had at least broken ten traffic violations as he drove as fast as he could to the hospital. Once there, he tapped on the front desk, impatient and nervous about what is exactly Rachael’s condition. The nurse smiled, knowing he was scared, “Hello Sir, how can I help you today?”
“Um… ah… my wife, she was in a car accident earlier tonight and I’m here to see h…her.” “And the patient’s name?” “Rachael Kazansky.” He blurted, worry in his voice. “Ah, yes. She’s in room 81422. If she’s not in there, she’s either getting an X-ray or scan done, but your more than welcome to wait in the room while she’s gone.” “Thank you,” Tom uttered under his breath as he ran passed the desk and to the elevators.
In…out…in…out. Tom had so many visions of how badly she’d been hurt, but shook his head, he couldn’t think about that anymore. He clumsily reached for his phone in his pocket, found his number and pressed the call button. It only ran twice before he heard the other man’s voice on the other line, “Hey Ice! What’s up man? You never call this late?”
Tom tried to keep the tremble out of his voice, “It’s…it’s Rachael, Ron. She was in a car accident and she’s in the hospital. Your like family to us, so…” “WHAT? We’re on our way now, you know we’ll always be here for you Tom,” before the line dropped, he could hear Ron tell Jade the news.
He spun the phone in his hand and tightened his grip, taking his frustration out on it. How could he not be there for her? He knew it was impossible for this to be his fault, but put the blame on himself anyway.
Tom sat in the waiting room, head in hands as Ron & Jade rushed through the doors, startling the other occupants. “Where is she? Have you seen her yet? Did they have to take her to surgery?” Tom opened his arms, knowing that Jade would want to hug him. “I know her room number, I just can’t make myself walk in and see her all bruised and beaten.”
Jade smacked the back of Tom’s bleached blond head, “Grow a pair! She’s in there scared to death, waiting for her husband to calm her down and comfort her! Tom, I say this with love. You know I do, but seriously, go be with your wife!” Tom nodded, a little ashamed about his behavior. This isn’t about him, it’s about Rachael, his amazingly strong and confident wife.
He knocked softly on the open door, trying not to startle Rachael as she slept. “Hey Baby, how are you feeling?” Rachael gave a half-asses loopy smile, “I feel like I was hit by a bus.” “Plea…please don’t joke about that. You had me so afraid and nervous when I got the call about you being in a car crash.”
“Tom, babe, I’m fine. The only thing that’s badly hurt is my car. I just got some scraps and bruises, a broken leg, and maybe a concussion. That’s still waiting to be analyzed sense they carted me straight to the X-ray for the leg.” “I’m just glad your ok. I called Ron & Jade too, they’re in the waiting room. Want me to send them in?”
Rachael made grabby hands at her husband, wanting a hug and to be close as possible. “When the truck hit me, I swear I saw my life flash across my eyes. It happened so fast, I was so scared that I’d never see you again.” She whimpered.
“Shh, you’re ok. I’ll always be there for you Rach. I have no choice, remember our vows?” Rachael sniffled a little before a small laugh escaped her, “For better or for worst, through sickness or through health. I’ll always be by your side.”
“Exactly. Do you wanna see Ron & Jade yet?” “Yeah, Jade’s probably throwing a tantrum about not seeing me right now.” “She’s an adult, she wouldn’t.” “If she’s not able to see her chaotic best friend that’s hurt and in the hospital, she would and we both know it.” “Yeah, ok. I’ll go get them. I’ll be right back gorgeous.” He missed her forehead tenderly, before leaving the room.
As Tom entered the waiting room, he saw Ron & Jade holding hands and talking in quiet voices. “Hey, she’s ok. A little busted up, but she’s alive. Rach wants to see you both.” Jade pushed both men out of the way and b-lined it to Rachael’s room.
“Oh my god Rach! You’re ok! I was so worried for you! Tom, that shithead, didn’t tell us anything but that you were in a car accident!” Jade started to cry at the thought of her best friend, the other half of the chaos crew, was hurt. “Oh Jade, don’t cry! I’m ok, really!” “I know, I know! It’s just hard to hear!”
The two women hugged, attached to each other like glue as the men waited right outside the door. “You know that Jade and I are here for you guys right?” “Yea, of course. Rachael and I would be there for you guys too. We’re a family, Ron, thats what they do.”
“Have you called the others? The rest of the squadron would want to know, they care about you guys too.” Tom nodded, “I will tomorrow morning. It’s too late, they need to sleep, I also don’t want to overwhelm Rach with more visitors.”
“Understandable. They can be a lot.” A noise from one of the machines Rachael was connected to grabbed the attention of the nurses nearby, making them rush over.
Jade’s voice sounded above the yelling and beeping, “Help! Please help! I…I don’t know what’s happening!” “Ma’am, please, step aside so we can help her!” That grabbed the men’s attention at the scream of Jade and booked it to the room.
Nurses and doctors crowded the small space and pushed Tom, and their friends out, before the nurses helped the doctors. “Eyes not responding, push 10 milligrams of Diazepam I.M. And get her tested, order a MRI too!” “Anything specific?” “No, all of the test, now!” “Yes sir!” “Right away!”
They wheeled her away to another floor, her friends huddled together and tears running down their faces. Jade grabbed Tom’s hand and squeezed before being pulled back into Ron’s arms. “She’ll be alright, she has to be. She was smiling and talking be…before she started seizing,” muttered Jade.
It’s hours later before the scans and test come back, the doctor on her case comes over to them, “It seems as if she’s got an acute brain bleed. She’ll need surgery, and a few weeks of rest afterwards. I’ll see you after.” The doctor bid goodbye and walked off to what they assumed the operating floor to scrub in.
It’s even more time spent in the waiting room, eating cheap vending machine snacks, horribly burnt coffee from the cafeteria, and tears burning their eyes.
Tom and the couple had to call into base and let them know what had happened to Rachael and they had a family emergency and needed a few days off, which the Commanding Officer easily granted.
As the night slowly turned into daytime, Ron made calls to the squadron members to let them know about Rachael’s condition and comforted his wife and best friend. It was hard on all of them, they all formed a tight bond over the weeks of Top Gun.
Once Rachael was put in an Post-Operation room on another floor, and the anesthesia wore off, the others were able to see her. Tom sat on a nearby chair, which he drug up to the side of her bed so he could hold her hand.
Ron stayed back, and rested on the farthest wall, Jade sat on the other side of her best friend’s bed in another very uncomfortable seat she found in the hall that she carried in.
Tom felt a squeeze to his hand, he lifted up his head and saw Rachael’s dazed eyes looking around, “What the hell? Why do you have sad faces, I told you I was fine.” “Rach! Oh my god, baby! I was so worried!” Tom shouted as he kissed her hand and then her forehead softly.
Jade gingerly hugged Rachael as tight as she dared, careful not to hurt her best friend more. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to wipe them away before Rachael could see. No such luck, “Jade, I said I was fine. See! No worst for wear!”
“You just had surgery! You can’t say that!” “I would have never guessed that I was just out of surgery. I couldn’t tell by my headache, or new room.” “Please don’t use sarcasm in a time like this.” “Sarcasm is how I cope. I’m in pain and it brings me serotonin.”
Soft laughter could be heard from around the group, it would be Dragon who can make them laugh in a time like this. “So, I’m guessing that the others know too and plan on visiting soon?”
Tom missed her hand again before starting, “Yeah, round six or seven. Goose said that Bradley wants to see his favorite pilot.” “Aw, and I wanna see my lil man too! I miss him, I have seen him in so long!”
“Two days isn’t that long.” “To you maybe, but for me? It’s an eternity,” Rachael pouted. The men rolled their eyes lovingly as Jade laughed.
Six-thirty on the dot, there was a small knock on the door before a blonde woman holding a small human came in, “Auntie Dragon!” Yelled the boy as Carole looked sheepish, “Sorry, he heard this morning that Rachael was hurt and couldn’t stop begging to see you. Goose wanted to wait until later for us to visit so you could recuperate.”
“Oh it’s fine! I’m always happy to see my favorite future pilot!” Bradley was let down from his mother’s arms before running as fast as his four-year-old legs would let him to his Uncle Ice, who picked him up and sat him down on Dragon’s bed as she scooted over to make room.
“I’m glad to hear that your ok, you had us all worried when Tom called earlier and said you needed brain surgery.” “I’d say, nothing got done in the air today, all worried sick about your health. Mav was so outta his head, he almost took a nose dive more than once!” Announced Goose as he entered the room, backed by most of the squad.
“Oh, so he’s more dangerous than usual when people he cares about is hurt?” “I am dangerous, Ice.” Smirked Mav as the others laughed at the memory. “Yeah, yeah.” “How’s the best of the best doin?” “Pretty good, I got my lil buddy to help keep my mind off of the pain.” “When do you come back?”
“Um, I’m not sure. I didn’t even know I had brain surgery until afterwards.” “Nice shaved head, by the way.” Smiled Hollywood, with his arm wrapped around Duckie, his girlfriend. “Thanks, I think it looks badass.” “It definitely does,” stated Cricket, Leonard’s girlfriend and Duckie’s sister.
“Hi girlies! I haven’t seen you in a hot minute! Hugs are in order!” Said Rachael as she leaned up and waited with open arms as the two midwestern sisters made their way to the bed.
The girls smiled and gently hugged her back. “Before you take our girls away, can we get hugs too?” Dragon pretended to think before smirking and opening her arms again. Each of the men took turns getting a tight and loving hug from Rachael.
The others stayed and socialized until it was lights out for the floor and said their goodbyes before leaving. Unfortunately, this included Ron and Jade too. It started out as one of the worst days of Tom’s life, but it ended better than he expected.
“When we get home, could you stop by Wendy’s? I am craving fast food after being forced to eat this disgusting hospital food.” Tom laughed, loud and hard, before kissing the crown of her head, “For you, I’d do anything love.”
Forever 🏷️ list: @bayisdying @mrsjaderogers @dragon-kazansky @gracespicybradshaw @switchbladedreamz @sweetlittlegingy
