First illness
Disclaimer: Still don't own anything!
A/N: I fixed the errors in this chapter as well.
It has been two years since the turtles had started walking, Splinter smiled proudly at them as they now ran and played about the lair. Now being nearly four years old he began their training, Leonardo showed much promise as he caught on fast to everything Splinter taught them. After morning practice the young turtles went about their playtime, Raphael and Leonardo played quietly with a puzzle of a litter of kittens while Donatello and Michelangelo played catch with a ball that Splinter found.
Splinter sat in his chair reading when he could hear light coughing coming from behind him, turning he saw Leonardo cover his mouth.
He said "my son, are you alright?"
Leonardo looked over at his father and said "yes daddy, I'm OK."
Splinter frowned and went back to reading, Raphael looked at his brother and asked "are you sure your OK?"
looking at his brother he said "I am fine Raphie, lets finish this picture." frowning they continued working on their puzzle, after another twenty minutes went by Leonardo started coughing again this time he drew the attention of his entire family.
Splinter rushed to his side when his son wouldn't stop coughing, "Leonardo! My son." picking the small toddler up he could feel his son struggling to catch his breath as the coughing grew harder.
After nearly a minute it subsided and Splinter said "are you alright?"
Leonardo told him in a weak voice "i don't feel so good... my chest hurts..." Splinter put his hand on Leonardo's plastron and could feel rattling in his chest, he stood with his son and went to his room with him. Placing his son on his bed Splinter went to his medical box, he had raided an old hospital that had shut down a while back and found some things that were useful.
He found a stethoscope, putting the earpieces in place he listened to his son's breathing. It was shallow and he could hear fluid building up, "my son, you are very ill, why did you not tell me you were sick?"
Shrugging Leonardo told him "i don't know." shaking his head Splinter took his son and felt his head, a temperature. He knew something was wrong with his child but he didn't know what, when Splinter was human he knew a little about medicines and healing but not much. Leonardo began to cough again, Splinter held him close to his chest as the coughing wracked through out the small boy's body.
It pained him to see his child so uncomfortable, tears streamed down Leonardo's face as the coughing continued. After nearly a minute this time it subsided, Splinter took Leonardo to the child's room and laid him down in the bed. Leonardo took his large hand in his and said "daddy... don't leave..."
Splinter looked down at him and said "my son, I must go retrieve some medicine to help you." Leonardo nodded as his father let go of his hand, his brothers were in the doorway looking inside "OK Leo?" was what Michelangelo asked, Leonardo looked at his youngest brother and told him "no, I don't feel good." "why?"
"I just don't Mikey."
"but, why?"
Raph smacked him upside the head and said "stop it Mikey! He feels bad leave him alone."
Donnie walked up to his oldest brother and felt his head, "wow Leo your hot!"
"yea and my chest hurts too..."
Donnie looked at the stethoscope and then to Leo, "did Splinter use this to listen to you?" when Leonardo nodded Donatello picked up the stethoscope and put it up to his ears and then put the round part on Leo's plastron and listened. "wow, Leo... I bet you got something in there?" Leo took the stethoscope away from him and said "no kidding..." and once again he started coughing again, Raphael left the room and went to the kitchen "Master Splinter? Can I have a cup of water?"
Splinter was making an herbal tea for Leonardo that would help him, looking into his eldest son's eyes he saw pure concern for his younger brother. "yes my son." he filled a cup half way and handed it to Raphael, the small child looked into it and said "there's not enough?" with a knowing smile Splinter told his son "i know you wont walk slowly with a full cup my son."
"yes I will! I promise."
Splinter took the cup again and filled it the rest of the way, he watched as Raphael walked slowly out of the room with the cup in hand. "at least he is trying..." Raphael got to his brother's room seeing Leo laying there sick made him sad, walking up beside the bed he told his brother "here, drink this."
Leo sat up and gratefully took a drink of cool water, he tried to drink slowly but he started to cough again. Splinter walked in just then and said "oh Leonardo, my little one, here, this tea should help you feel better and sleep."
Leonardo accepted the tea and took a small drink, it tasted nasty but he knew he should drink it. After it was gone Leonardo laid back down, Splinter turned to his other three turtles "boys, would you please go to the living room, your brother needs to rest."
Mikey stood there in place and said "but I wanna stay with my broder!"
"no Michelangelo, I do not wish for you to catch this too."
Raphael told him "i don't wanna go either Master Splinter."
Donatello was the only other turtle not to defy Splinter's wishes, but he rather said "Sensei, can... can I stay and help you take care of him?" Splinter knew Donatello meant well but if he were to let him stay then the other two would want to stay as well. Smiling gently at his son he said "i am sorry Donatello, maybe when he is a little better, now will the three of you please go to the other room."
They all looked down and began to walk out of the room, Leonardo felt his eye lids drop as he watched his brothers leave the room.
As the days went on Leonardo was slowly getting better, the other turtles had fun helping to care for Leonardo. Michelangelo would entertain him with jokes, Raphael would keep him company and Donatello brought him books. Splinter noticed how well his young boys got along, but as soon as their ninja training picked up he wondered if they would remain getting along or if they would begin to fight each other?
A/N: sorry for the short chapter, the next chapter will have two firsts rolled into one!
Thank you mistystar123 for the ideas for the 4th chapter! If any one else has any great ideas let me know! :)
