It had been a nice, calm day in Griffin Rock. Nothing, and no one needed rescuing, and it was giving the Burns family and their Cybertronian partners some much needed time off.
They were all currently in the bunker, that rested underneath the firehouse, enjoying the free time. Chief Charlie Burns and his three eldest children: Kade, Graham, and Dani, laughed and watched as the youngest of their family, Cody, tried to play tag with Blades.
Heatwave, Boulder, and Chase sat with the elder burns family members, and also smiled, as they watched the youngest of their team play with the young human.
The small boy laughed loudly, as he ducked in between the bot's feet, avoiding his playful grab. "You can't catch me Blades!" Cody teased, as he once again avoided the bot's attempt to tag him.
"That's because I've been going easy on you!" The helicopter bot exclaimed, as he made a fast grab at the human. The boy once again avoided the attempt, but tripped over his own feet in all the excitement; sending him hard to the floor.
"Oww." The child muttered, just a little shaken from his fall. However, this didn't stop his sister from running to the boy's side.
"CODY!" Dani shouted, as she jogged over to her baby brother and helped him off the floor. "Are you okay?" She asked, concern evident in her voice.
"Yeah, I'm fine!" He replied enthusiastically, brushing himself off as he stood. "Let's go again!" He cried, looking up to Blades, who was kneeling beside the pair of humans.
"I don't think so squirt." Kade called out, as he and Graham walked over to their younger siblings. "It's time for bed."
"Awwww." Cody whined, slouching in disappointment.
"I know Cody." Graham said, as he began steering his little brother towards the elevator, that would take them to the residential part of the firehouse. "But you guys can always play again tomorrow."
"But *yawn* I'm not even tired." The boy protested, stopping to rub his eyes sleepily.
"Sure you're not." Kade replied, as he looked down at his brother with a caring gaze. The fireman smiled as he picked up the boy, who offered no protest, and walked into the elevator.
Dani and Graham walked back over to their father, and the other Rescue Bots; smirks on their faces, as they watched the elevator leave the bunker.
"Chief Burns, I have a question." Chase said sudddenly.
"Ask away." Charlie Burns replied to his partner.
"Why are you, Kade, Graham, and Dani so protective over young Cody?" The bot asked, catching the humans off guard. "I have seen the way that other humans treat their young, but you four seem to be cautious with him." He explained. "Like when he tripped earlier. Even though Dani was the only human to go to his aid, I felt all of your stress levels rise."
"I've noticed that too." Heatwave added.
"I've seen that as well." Boulder said.
"Me too." Blades added.
The Chief sighed, and closed his eyes. "It's because a few years ago, we got very close to loosing him."
"What!" Blades exclaimed, horrified at the thought.
"What happened?" Boulder asked gently, sensing that this was a hard topic for the family.
"It's a hard thing to talk about." Charlie replied, his voice thick with emotion.
"You do not have to tell us if you do not wish to." Chase quickly said, seeing the effect that this was having on his partner.
"No, no." Graham spoke up, taking his glasses off and wiping his eyes. "You guys would have learned about it sooner of later. It's just a painful thing to remember."
The Chief cleared his voice before he started speaking. "It was several years ago; Cody had just turned 5 years old..."
Flashback...
A young boy, with a head of messy blond hair, ran across the ground level of the firehouse as he was chased by his eldest sibling.
"Get back here you little squirt!" Kade called playfully to his baby brother, as the little rugrat ran around his firetruck.
"Can' ca'ch me!" The child exclaimed happily, running around the front fender of the truck as fast as his little legs would carry him. "I da Fwash!"
The fireman smiled as he ran a little faster, and scooped the child up into his arms. "Oh yeah!" He challenged, pulling up the boy's shirt, and blowing on his belly.
"Ahhhahahaha!" The child giggled as his brother continued to blow on his belly. " 'top! 'top!"
"You think you're so tough now that you're 5." The red head laughed, as he put the boy's shirt down and held him on his hip.
"Yeah!" The child cheered, puffing out his chest. "I tuff wike you!"
"Kade! Cody! Time for dinner!" The two looked up, and saw their brother Graham, standing in the elevator that would take them up to the living area of the firehouse.
"We're coming." Kade called, walking over to his younger brother.
"Wat's dinner?" Young Cody asked, looking at his brown haired brother expectantly.
"We're having broccoli, carrots, salad..." Graham began, as the elevator motors whirled to life.
"Eww!" The child exclaimed, sticking his tongue out.
"But I think Dad was making you a plain hotdog and maccaroni." The engineer added, smiling as Cody's eyes lit up at the sound of his favorite two foods.
Kade let the wriggling child down, as the elevator doors opened, and the smell of food wafted in. "Mmmm." The fireman commented, as he and his brother walked into the hall that lead to the kitchen. "Smells like roast beef."
"Yup." Graham smiled, as he watched their father pick up Cody as he ran into the kitchen.
Charlie Burns smiled at his youngest child, and walked over to the table; placing the squirming child into his booster seat, as his two eldest sons came in.
" 'otdog and macawoni!" Cody exclaimed, looking up to his father expectantly.
"Yes Cody." The Chief smiled, patting the young child's head. He turned around to grab the boy's dinner, but stopped when he saw his daughter standing there; a small plate in hand. "Thanks Dani." Charlie said, taking the plate from her, and setting it in front of his young son.
The family sat down to eat, but Dani noticed something off with her little brother. He would normally tear into his favorite meal, but he'd only taken a few bites to far.
"Hey buddy, what's wrong?" She cooed, earning her father's attention. "I thought you loved hotdogs and macaroni."
"Tummy hu'ts." Cody frowned, as he pushed the pieces of cooked meat around his plate.
The Chief immediately put his hand on the child's forehead, and frowned a little. "Hmm, a little warm." He muttered, feeling the boy's cheeks as well.
"Come on Cody, let's get you a bath and get you to bed." Charlie said, standing from his seat and picking up his youngest child. "You'll feel better tomorrow."
Later that night...
Kade was heading back to bed, after getting a little midnight snack, when he heard whimpering coming form his baby brother's room.
He knew that the boy had been prone to nightmares, ever since their mom passed away two years ago.
The red-headed fireman walked into his little sibling's room. He saw Cody, but the little boy was curled up into a ball, facing the opposite way from him.
Kade quickly closed the distance between him and his little brother, and knelt by his bed and whispered softly. "Hey squirt, what's wrong?" He managed to turn the boy over, and saw that he was holding his stomach area.
"Kade." Cody whimpered, tears now coursing down his little face. "My tummy hu'ts."
"Can you point where?" The fireman asked softly, a sinking feeling building in his gut. He watched, as Cody moved a shaking hand, and pointed to the lower right part of his belly; near his belly button.
"Oh no!" Kade breathed, laying a hand on the boy's head. "Don't worry Cody, you're going to be okay. DAD! DAD!"
Charlie Burns suddenly raced into the room, hair disheveled as he wore an old Police Academy t-shirt and boxers. The police Chief shook the sleep from his eyes, and then focused on his two sons. "What's wrong?" He demanded, as he knelt beside his youngest son with Kade.
"Dad, Cody didn't eat much, he had a low-grade fever, and he says that he has a lot of pain coming from his lower right side." The fireman explained, seeing the horrified look on his father's face.
"We have to get him to the hospital, now!" The Chief said flatly, trying to keep calm. Kade nodded, and gathered his brother into his arms as Charlie knocked on Graham and Dani's doors quickly.
"Graham, Dani, get up now!" He called in his business tone, as he quickly headed back to his room and grabbed a pair of shorts and slipped on a pair of flip flops.
"What is it dad?" Graham asked sleepily from his doorway, wondering what they were all doing up at this ungodly hour of the night if there wasn't an emergency. Dani emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes as well; when their dad came out of his room.
"We're taking Cody to the emergency room." He explained quickly. "Throw on some shoes, and get down to the squad car." The man turned back to his red-headed son and looked at the whimpering bundle in his arms.
"Don't worry Cody, everything's going to be ok." The Chief muttered hopefully, running a hand through the boy's fine blond hair before looking back as Graham and Dani quickly emerged from their rooms.
"Alright, lets go." Charlie called out, as they all rushed into the elevator.