You know the old story about the cat stuck in the tree and the human that had to go up and rescue the creature that was probably just being lazy and not actually stuck?
That was what Eddie felt like they were walking into. Up to. Whatever.
There's a cat, a tree, and a human. Nothing really strange in and of themselves.
Except the cat was on ground and the human was stuck in the tree, hanging upside down somehow.
Eddie stared at the scene and then glanced at Angel, who also seemed to be struck dumb by the sight.
"Carl, what the fuck?"
The young soldier stuck in the tree, hanging upside down somehow, above a collapsed ladder, flipped Angel off. "It was an accident. Obviously. Can you get me fucking down before you start laughing?"
Angel actually looked like he was considering it for a moment, but then a grin broke across his face, and he shot Eddie a conspiratory look. "Are you bleeding?"
"…." Carl seemed to know he was out of luck. "No."
"Then we're going to laugh first." And then he burst in bright peals of laughter, doubling over holding his stomach and Eddie couldn't help but laugh along with him.
"Not cool, sir."
"You must be a federal." Eddie's grin was probably a little too vicious.
Carl was quick to fire back. "Fuck you, Pubic Hair." It had been a favored slur for Republican's during the war.
"Carl!"
"But he's laughing at me, Sunshine."
"Both of you," Angel's voice turned firm as he frowned at them. "Carl, you know better. And you….
"Oh my god you don't know my name?" Eddie gasped theatrically. He couldn't help it.
"I just met you!"
"You knew me long enough to hit on me last night."
Carl cackled from upside down in the tree. "What the fuck, sir? Have some self-respect!"
"Says the guy upside down in a tree!" Angel looked chagrinned, but not actually upset. He knew Eddie was teasing him.
The cat darted over to Angel, purring loudly as it rubbed against his legs and somehow even louder when he picked it up and nuzzled it.
Something warm twisted in Eddie's chest, watching big, bad Evan Angel cuddle a tiny cat.
For fuck's sake, he knew guys that had actual nightmares about him coming for them during the war.
"Poor thing," Angel cooed. "Did that idiot scare you?"
"Oi! I was trying to help!" Carl squawked.
Eddie was getting dangerous close to forgetting his 'no relationships' rule watching a grown man comfort a cat that was definitely not in distress. Gentle, competent men had always been his weakness and Angel was definitely checking at least one of those boxes.
He yanked himself away and turned his attention to the ladder. It was laying on its side, so it probably just fell over whenever Carl did whatever he did that left him hanging upside down with an ankle stuck between two branches.
He hauled it upright and checked to make sure it was secure before he started climbing. "Why'd you call the First Officer?"
Carl flushed, but that might just be the blood rushing to his head. "Less humiliating than calling me mates."
Eddie climbed slowly just in case the ladder had been damaged during the fall. "You served with him before?"
"During the war." Carl started to look queasy, but he seemed to remember that Eddie was on the other side of the war and tried to glare at him at the same time. "He's amazing. Could always count on him. He knows how to take care of his soldiers."
"Are you trying to talk him up to me?" Eddie reached the top of the ladder and examined Carl's ankle. It was swollen and purple above the top of his boot, twisted from Carl's fall and getting stuck.
"What? No!"
"I mean I already turned him down for personal reasons, but I could change my mind." It wouldn't take much to free his ankle and there was a large branch just below Carl's chest that would catch him before he fell at the way to the ground and injured himself even more.
"NO! You stay away from him, fucking Republican!"
"I don't know, he looks pretty good down there with that cat." Eddie grabbed the two branches and pushed, separating them just enough that Carl's swollen ankle slipped free.
"He's too good for you!" Carl shrieked and then screamed as his ankle came loose and he started falling.
The think branch below caught him at the chest and the distance wasn't too much to let Carl gather enough speed or force to hit it with more than a grunt and a short scramble to grab hold.
Eddie climbed down and shifted the ladder until Carl could get his feet on it and helped him limp down until he was back on the ground, lightheaded and a bit nauseous. Eddie helped him sit and lean back against the tree.
He turned to grab his medical kit only to find it right in front of his face. "Thanks."
The cat was sprawled over Angel's shoulders, still purring like a chainsaw, as Eddie took the bag and Angel crouched next to him. "How you feeling, Carl? Need me to call somebody?"
Carl winced. "I think I'll be okay in a few."
"He needs to go to the clinic." Eddie shined a pen light in Carl's eyes, watching the pupils dilate. "How long were you upside down?"
Carl's eyes shifted from side to side. "Not very long."
Angel sighed. "Carl, why didn't you call for help immediately? You've been injured before, you know better than to wait."
"I thought I could get myself free! I figured I should at least try."
Eddie took his pulse, found it rapid but strong. "You'll probably be fine, but you should rest in the med bay for a bit. Just in case."
"Sounds good." Angel looked a little too gleeful as he taped his radio.
Carl's face fell. "Wait-"
"Nemo, you up?"
Carl whimpered.
"Here, boss. What do you need?"
All Angel said was "Carl."
A long explosion of expletives answered.
~ tbc