A/N: This one is based on a recent conversation between hubby and I because I forgot to eat.
Humming a jaunty melody to himself and a box of brand new oil paints, varnish and brushes under his arm, Virgil had been intending to grab a snack and vanish into his room with his spoils, but the sight of a wilted John slumped in one of the chairs by the large glass doors stopped him short.
The second eldest was on the island for a 'you need some gravity-time to maintain your bone density' preventative health visit. While Virgil took Tracy 2 for a quick visit to Auckland for their mail run, Grandma was off visiting Lady Penelope with Scott, Brains was away at a conference and Kayo was who knew where, John had been left in charge of the younger two by default today. Judging by his current posture it had not been an easy mission for John.
"You okay?" Virgil asked, receiving a somewhat blank glance and wordless grunt in reply.
Okay, that wasn't good.
The lack of any visible injuries led to his next suspicion, his differential diagnosis decision tree guided by years of knowing John and his habits. "... did you have lunch?" Virgil eyed the second eldest with suspicion. John was normally pale, but a pale, weak and slightly vague John was a worrying combination.
"Uh…" John blinked, visibly leafing through his memories. "I thought about it? I was kinda busy making sure the terrible twosome didn't kill each other." He made a careless gesture towards the pool where Gordon and Alan were chasing each other with water guns. "I did have breakfast though." He quickly added in his defence, seeing the lecture brewing.
"Uh huh. How much breakfast?" Virgil stood with his free hand on his hip, unimpressed. He'd heard of EOS's habit of making the kitchen unit on Five throw bagels at him when John hadn't eaten on schedule and he was half tempted to rig their unit to allow her to do the same here.
"...a banana." John admitted.
"And now it's six pm, no wonder you feel awful. You should know better by now!" Virgil sighed in exasperation, put his purchases on the nearest flat surface and went to the kitchen, getting out a loaf of bread and the fixings for a jam sandwich- a quick hit of sugar and carbs to keep John from keeling over. "You can't keep the other two alive if you've passed out from low blood sugar."
"I got distracted!" John protested, sitting at the breakfast bar at Virgil's direction. "You know how I get without adult supervision!"
"John, you are the adult supervision!" Virgil slid the finished sandwich over to him. "Eat that, I'll get dinner sorted."
"F.A.B."