Page 42 of Koa's Little Girl
She ran her fingers over the buttons, trying to process which one worked. Finally, she heard the whir of the motor as the lock released. Her daddy opened the door and stepped close. He pressed a hand to her forehead and shook his head.
“You are burning up, Flame. Why didn’t you tell me you were this ill? I would have picked you up.”
“I just need some sleep,” she mumbled and struggled to get out of the seat.
“Let me help you, baby.” Koa quickly unfastened her seatbelt to free her.
Giana melted into his arms as he picked her up. Resting her heavy head on his shoulder, she closed her eyes. Trusting Koa to take care of her was so easy. She had vague impressions of being carried into the house and settled on top of their bed. Curling onto her side around her stuffies, Giana crashed into sleep.
CHAPTER 14
“Zale?” Koa spoke quietly into his phone. He could hear Pippa talking in the background.
“Koa? Is everything okay?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt your free time. Could you come check on Giana?”
“I’m okay,” Giana croaked.
Her rough and weak voice wouldn’t have carried through to the medic. Koa leveled a hard look on her and she relaxed back on the covers. She hadn’t struggled at all when he’d taken her temperature. That told him everything. His little girl was sick.
Zale’s voice refocused him. “I’ll be right over. Give me an idea of what we’re dealing with so I can bring some medicine in case she needs it.”
“Sore throat, fever, exhaustion,” Koa listed his concerns.
“Got it. A lot of strep throat is going around. I’ll bring a test. Give me ten minutes and I’ll be there,” Zale promised.
“Thank you, Zale. I’ll owe you,” Koa told him, grateful for his help. Zale had patched him up a dozen times on missions. He trusted the skilled medic with his own life. Zale would take care of Giana.
“I don’t want to see a doctor,” Giana grumbled in her hoarse voice.
“Good. You’ll get to see Zale. Drink some juice, Flame. We need to keep you hydrated.”
“I’m tired of drinking,” she said.
Koa watched her lips thin as she pressed her lips together tightly. “Sick little girls who misbehave can still earn consequences.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. Koa steeled himself to not react to her cuteness. He held the sippy glass to her lips. “Drink, Giana. You’ll feel better.”
After snorting her disapproval, Giana relented and drank the mixture from the cup. “Mmm,” she hummed in enjoyment.
“I thought you’d like that,” Koa said. “You can trust me, little girl.”
She nodded and handed the cup back. “Tired, Daddy. I’m going back to sleep.”
“Rest, little girl.”
A few minutes later, Koa ran quietly through the house to open the door for Zale who carried a box of supplies. “Hey, Zale. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Let’s go see that little girl of yours,” Zale suggested.
“She’s in bed.” Koa led the way to their room. “Giana? Zale is here.”
“No shots,” she said, before coughing.
“That’s a nasty cough, Giana. Would you like me to see if I can help you?” Zale asked.
“I don’t want to make Pippa angry. She’s my friend,” Giana whispered.
