For tsari who asked for Sicktember alternate prompt: Warm Soup with Kayo and Grandma.
Used instead of day 13 prompt of appendicitis.
The torrential rain and subsequent flooding had been extensive, had taken days of intense work from all the Thunderbirds, but finally, four days after the callout, they had finished. Six weary bodies piled into three Thunderbirds and flew home to hot baths and bed, too tired to even contemplate a meal.
Sally called a 12-hour shutdown at the minimum and Colonel Casey wholeheartedly agreed. If nothing serious came in then they would try to give them 24 hours, but the world was not usually kind.
They all slept, exhaustion overriding even Scott and Gordon's early bird tendences, and no one was surprised when Virgil and Alan slept the entire 12-hour allotment. At some point during the eighth hour the two military brothers surfaced and got stuck into preparing waffles and pancakes, calories to be replenished. The smell drew out Brains and John from their respective hiding places, and soon they were sitting down to breakfast.
Scott made sure that some batter was kept for the two missing Tracy's and wandered upstairs to the desk, mind already whirling about with reports to write. Gordon disappeared into the hangar, no doubt preparing to give Four a diagnostic once-over before Virgil got up and started maintenance with Brains.
John went with Scott, already talking to EOS and planning to spend one more night on Earth before heading back. So far so good on the rescue front.
Sally frowned. There was one person missing from the picture, and she wondered if Kayo had simply got up on time and disappeared to complete her security sweeps. Deciding that she probably had – it wasn't as if Kayo had regular hours to come and go just like the boys didn't – and so Sally decided today was as good a day as any to get the shopping list completed.
Four hours later found Sally back in the kitchen. Virgil, Gordon and Brains were in the hangar as expected. Scott was knee-deep in reports and John looked like he was dividing his time helping Scott and keeping an eye on the rescue front.
Still no sign of Kayo.
Sally's nose twitched. They all had their 'extra' sense – Scott with his Scooter Sense, Virgil with his Medic Sense and Gordon with his Squid sense were the ones used the most – but Sally had one too, one honed from years as a parent and grandparent.
And Sally's Grandma Sense was definitely wailing at her.
She knocked on Kayo's door gently, not wanting to disturb her but needing the reassurance that nothing was wrong. There was a squeak that Sally translated as 'come in' and she entered.
Kayo was still in bed. If that wasn't alarming enough, the girl was positively peaky-looking, and as Sally came into the room properly Kayo tried to sit up. She didn't get very far before her arms collapsed and Kayo groaned.
It looked like Kayo had been the unlucky one. Sally was convinced it was going to be either John or Alan, but all the boys had escaped with nothing. She took the Medscanner from her pocket and let it do its job then helped Kayo to sit up enough to drink some water.
It took all the energy she had, drinking the water, and Kayo was already dozing off again when Sally left. The Medscanner had shown up nothing seriously wrong, exhaustion and damp conditions had led to Kayo having a lowered immune system.
A cold. And quite a bad one.
Sally knew just the thing.
The alarm sounded just as she reached the main room, and she watched as the boys set off, leaving John behind to monitor. She smiled at him and carried on down to the kitchen.
Sally knew exactly where the item was she needed. Bottom cupboard, behind the boxes of cereals. The one food that Sally actually could cook.
Chicken soup. She could warm soup up without burning it – just. Thankfully, with no distractions from the boys she managed to not burn the soup. She poured it into a large mug and made her way to Kayo's room.
Placing the mug on the bedside table, Sally placed a hand on Kayo's forehead, and the girl turned into the touch. It was enough to stir Kayo awake, and Sally helped her to sit up once more.
Sally perched on the bed as Kayo took the mug in both hands and sipped the warm soup. She then took the mug and put her arm around the girl she considered her granddaughter and held her gently as Kayo drifted off to sleep again.