Author's Note: Prompt suggested by StormblazerP51
M is for Messed Up
Cabbie took longer to show up than Blade expected…but that was probably for the best. The helicopter needed some time to cool off from his encounter with the Superintendent and it wouldn't have been fair take out his frustration on the C-119, even if the plane did deserve a proper chewing out. But when saw the tired, pained look in the old plane's eyes, Blade couldn't help but wonder if he had messed up.
"Sorry, about my tardiness." Cabbie apologized as he closed the hanger door behind him, then he faced Blade at full attention obviously prepared to get his aft chewed to ribbons.
Blade simply looked him up and down, then let out a sigh. Pulling out two mugs he filled them with coffee from his personal pot. Nudging one of the mugs towards the plane, the helicopter took a long sip. Pausing he looked levelly at Cabbie. Out of anyone on base the jump plane was the closest thing that the Chief had to a peer. In fact, Cabbie had been offered the position of chief several times in the past but had always declined it. When Blade had asked the old bird why, he had simply stated that he had ordered too many men to their deaths in the past and that he wasn't in any shape to take that type of responsibility on again. Yet, when slag really hit the fan, every member of the team knew to trust when Cabbie gave an order because he some how always managed to keep a cool head when things heated up…which made his actions earlier that day so surprising.
"So…what is your side of the story?" The words slipped out of Blade's mouth without him realizing that he had spoken them allowed.
"I don't have any excuse for what I did earlier today. I overflew my…"
"That wasn't what I asked." Blade took another long sip coffee.
"I…" Cabbie paused, and the tension practically bled out of his frame. "I let my temper get the best of me. It was unprofessional, but I couldn't help but bite back a bit."
"Why?"
"Cad had Patch backed into a corner and was giving her a tongue lashing when I landed. Sir." Cabbie refused to meet the other aircraft's eyes. "Maru, couldn't peel him off her bumper and I knew that you were at least 20 minutes out, so I told Dipper to divert to Anchor Lake for a while, and took charge of the situation on the ground."
"You baited him." A piece in the puzzle clicked in place Blade's head. "You baited Spinner so that he would focus all of his energy on you so that Patch go slip away into the main hanger."
Cabbie bounced an affirmative. "It wasn't professional, but at the time I couldn't think of anything else to do…Patch was in tears, and we both know that when Cad starts into an employee like that the only thing that will stop him is to distract him with a more interesting target."
Blade stared at his Jump plane for a few long rotor beats, then he shook himself in disbelief. "You know you are an idiot."
"I know." The plane's words were little more than a whisper. "And I am willing to take any disciplinary action that you see fit."
"You are not getting disciplined." The helicopter snorted.
"But…" Cabbie's eyes flicked up to meet Blades.
"Cad brings out the worst in all of us, but mistakes are there to be learned from." Blade used the moment to pivot the conversation. "How is Patch doing?"
"This afternoon rattled her, but Dynamite is with her know and I suspect the two are having a good girl talk." As Cabbie spoke, the last piece of the puzzle snapped into place and Blade understood why the plane had shown up so late in the day. He had been standing guard over Patch until Dynamite and her Smokejumpers had returned from the field. The realization made him feel that much more guilty for not recognizing what Cabbie had been up to early. But there was nothing to be done now…
"Good. Well, I have a number of reports to finish and I probably shouldn't keep you too late. Why don't you stop by Maru and see if you convince him to sneak you a couple of cans of high grade while you are at it."
"Chief?"
"If anyone could drive you to drink it is Cad, and it is best to get it out of your system." Then Blade put on his best Cheshire grin. "Just don't let the Smokejumpers now. I trust that you will barely get yourself buzzed, but I wouldn't put it past the ground pounders to do something really stupid while smashed if they got the chance."
"Understood." Cabbie replied as he made his way out of the hangar door. "Don't stay up too late."
"I will do my best." Blade replied after a moment, but his hanger door was already shut. Leaving the helicopter to reflect on the events of the day. Mistakes had been made today, but luckily he had a team that was willing to put up with him even when he royally messed up.
