Cats and Dogs - Thanks
"I'm thankful for buttery toast!" Bridge wiggles his fingers enthusiastically to emphasize his love for the simplistic meal. Even as they sit eating a Thanksgiving feast he has a large plate of toast sitting at his place with small bits of turkey and potatoes to go with it.
"We all know that," Z rolls her eyes fondly, scooping more stuffing for herself. "Just like we know that Syd is thankful for pink, Sky is thankful for regulation manuals, Jack is thankful for vacation days and I'm thankful that I have headphones to block out all of you."
"Very funny, sis," Jack smirks at the girl across from him. "Nice job on the food, by the way."
"What do you mean?" Z frowns.
"The dinner, you cooked it," Jack receives a frown and a head shake, "Syd?"
Sky comes the closest to laughing any of them have ever really seen from him. "Syd?—please, she can't even make Bridge's toast without setting RIC on fire."
"Then who—?"
"Enjoying yourselves, rangers?" Cruger smiles lightly. "Kat wanted to make sure you could celebrate the occasion properly, so she prepared this feast and set it out."
"Aw, Kat," Syd aw's with a mouth full of potatoes. "Why isn't she here with us?"
"I tried several times to convince her to come but she insisted that she had some work to finish. She even sent Boom home to his parents for the day." Cruger shakes his head in a classic Cruger way. "I wish she would let herself have a break."
"I have an idea," Z declares. She begins picking up bowls and plates. When everyone just looks confused she gestures with her head to follow. "Come on!"
Z leads the group down the halls, arms full of food. Everyone is loaded up with plates, even Cruger, who carries the large turkey and potato plates. "We're gonna make sure Kat joins in on the Thanksgiving spirit."
"By bringing it to her," Cruger finishes. He has a fondness for Z and her truly selfless nature. She reminds him a bit of Kat. "This is a truly noble gesture, Cadet Delgado; your father would be very proud."
"Thanks, sir," Z smiles back at him with a softness to her. The doors to Kat's lab swish open and she bursts in loudly. "Kat!—get out here!"
"What?!—what's wrong?!" Kat rushes out to see B–Squad and Cruger standing in the doorway with her feast in tow. Several seconds of silence pass, save when the doors try to close but just hit Bridge in the arm, making him spill some stuffing, much to Jack's dismay. "Rangers, what is this?"
"We're bringing Thanksgiving to you, y'workaholic nutjob," Jack smiles boldly and begins setting the bowls and plates down on the consoles. "You made us all this and you weren't even going to join us? That's just poor decorum, Kat."
Kat smiles sheepishly and shrugs, "I had things to do but you guys should enjoy the holiday."
"We have plenty to be thankful for, Kat, including you, and DC," Z goads while gently guiding Kat over to the table, hands on her shoulders. "Now, sit, and enjoy yourself for once."
"I told you this would happen," Cruger says to Kat smartly.
"All right, all right, stubborn dog, you've made your point," she smiles at him as he passes her the turkey. He pours her some wine and makes sure to give her more potatoes when she takes the smallest portions he has ever seen.
"So, Kat, what are you thankful for?" he asks with his wine glass raised, not that he really intends to drink much of it.
Kat looks at Doggie with warm love, and then looks at her rangers with the same affection. For all intents and purposes they're her kids, and her family. "I am thankful for all of you, as my family."
"Aw!" Syd coos again, effect ruined once again by the food in her mouth.
"Chew and swallow, Syd," Sky scolds lightly, though even he has a warm smile on.
"To family, then, those we cherish most, those who offer us raucous comfort and love. To those we love unconditionally," Cruger turns to Kat with his raised glass and places a paw on her shoulder, squeezing it, as the only sign of affection he can offer in the moment. "To us!"
"To us!" the rangers cheer, raising their glasses. Cruger makes damn fine speeches, and they can enjoy it now that they're not drinking gutter water.
"To us," Kat joins in quieter, taking a graceful sip of wine and watching Doggie sit again. She clinks her glass to his, he frequency resonating in both their ears. She leans in and kisses his cheek, "to us, as those we love, and cherish unconditionally."
"To us," he agrees, giving her a subtle nuzzling.
So, they sit on the wheely chairs in Kat's lab, enjoying a Thanksgiving feast. The dishes sit precariously along the desks and consoles. Stories are traded and raucous laughter can be heard all around. At one point, milk shoots from Jack's nose, hitting Bridge's toast. The two present a comical incident until Kat calmly gets Jack more milk and has RIC make Bridge more toast. She misses feeling maternal, sometimes. Z enjoys her food, trading discussions with Syd and Sky. Sky has loosened up considerably, enjoying the feeling of a family event. Syd is enjoying herself, despite not being in the lap of luxury, and consistently laughs with her mouth full of food.
"Thank you," Kat lays her head on Doggie's shoulder for a moment.
"For what?" he asks.
"Just...thank you," she sighs lovingly, "and Happy Thanksgiving."
"Happy Thanksgiving, Katherine," he nuzzles back.
"Happy Thanksgiving," Jack toasts to his friends with his fresh milk.
"Happy Thanksgiving!"