Final stretch folks! Thank you for sticking with me this long. I had a much harder time working this part out. Some scenes I was able to write without too much trouble but then connecting them all... arg! Head vs keyboard moments. And then I had to rewrite a major part because I figured that Splinter of all people would be there for the turtles when they are sick and while doing that Donnie decided that Leo knew enough and slipped out of the scene for the moment (you'll see which part I'm talking about). But I made it! Whew, enjoy!
With the help of Mikey and Donnie, they unloaded the groceries from the Sewer Slider into the kitchen within minutes and, while munching on doughnuts - with coffee in Donnie's case - went about putting away the various items.
"Looks like you got a good haul for going out in the morning instead of the evening," Donnie commented as he pulled items from the bags, sorting them neatly across the table for Leo and Raph to put away. Mikey sat at the other end of the table on the other end, keeping Klunk distracted with a toy to prevent him from tangling up with the moving feet and coughing intermittently. Which was why Donnie had banned him from handling the unbagged food.
"But now I remember why we went at night," Leo pointed out. "Not only is there more, but the dry goods get all soggy overnight."
"Remember when we'd eat that stuff?" Raph asked as he took the bag of apples and placed them in the fridge.
"Bleh!" Mikey made the dramatic gesture of wiping his mouth out. "Don't remind me! I'm perfectly fine forgetting about that taste of stale and soggy bread 'n cheese. Whoa, Klunk!"
Klunk had jumped up onto the table, tail waving, and made a bee line for one of the bags, which he proceeded to claw at. Mikey snatched him before he could shred anything and cradled him, tickling him behind his ear and getting the kitten to purr. "What did you guys bring home?"
Donnie pulled the bag away and held up the two packages that were inside. "Cod fish! Sweet find, guys!"
"Oh yeah!" Mikey hugged Klunk before dropping the cat into his lap. "We're having fish tonight! What do you think, guys?"
Leo eyed his little brother. Mikey was sounding better than this morning and he didn't look feverish. But he was still coughing and Leo doubted the virus was beaten just yet. "You going to be up to it?"
"Umm..." Mikey cocked his head, thinking.
"Mikey's off cooking duty until he gets better," Donnie interjected. "No offense Mikey, but I'm not getting sick from you coughing all over the food."
Raph wrinkled his snout. "Ew, I agree."
"Yeesh, it's not like we haven't had the cold before." Mikey rolled his eyes before starting to cough. "Really, I'm feeling fine, and there's this super easy recipe with cheese too."
Leo walked over to him and patted his shoulder. "Sorry Mikey, but Don's right. If it's that simple, just write it down for me. Or, if you feel up to it, you can sit down and tell us what to do."
"Are you sure you cooking is better then me?" Mikey demanded.
"Hey, where's Splinter?" Raph interrupted suddenly, looking around as if to find him.
"He went to visit the tea shop. The one on the other side of town, so he won't be back until evening." Donnie handed Raph the watermelon to put away.
"Oh, by the way, Mikey." Leo reached into the remaining bag and dug around until he felt the package he was after, pulling it out. "April sent some cough drops with us and says to get better."
"Sweet!" Mikey took the package and took barely a second to read the label before tearing it open. "I so can use these. April's the best!"
"That reminds me. Picked up some magazine." Raph reached into the same bag and pulled out the skateboard magazine, casually dropping it on the table. "Some random publisher; looked pretty coo,l so I grabbed it."
"The 43 non-comply?" Mikey snatched it up as well. "I heard these guys take wicked pictures! Awesome. Thanks Raph!"
Taking the magazine and cough drops, Mikey darted out of the kitchen and headed for the couch. Klunk trotted after him like an orange shadow but got distracted with tackling something on the floor only he could see.
Once finished with their work in the kitchen, Leo wrangled a written dinner plan from Mikey before heading out with Don on a regular sweep of the nearby sewer tunnels. Raph meanwhile went to work on his motorcycle in the garage like he'd planned to do, keeping the door open so he had a view of the main lair.
~TMNT~
Splinter came back to a round of "welcome home" with a bag full of fragrant candles and teas. That was about the time that Mikey started feeling worse.
It was Donnie who noticed as he swung by to check diagrams on his computer and maybe run a few open ended searches. Mikey was rubbing his forehead with a knuckle, shifting restlessly on the couch and unable to focus on the magazine if the flipping back and forth was anything to go by.
Donnie changed direction to the kitchen to fetch a cold rag (before Mikey really started rubbing at his eyes) and grabbed the thermometer. Mikey took the wet rag willingly enough but fussed and whined when Donnie checked him over, for once more irritated then pleased at the attention. Mikey's more than usually fuzzy logic and purely irrational reasoning told Don just how tired and miserable he was feeling.
A little worried at how high the fever had spiked, Donnie insisted on listening to Mikey's lungs and checking the back of his throat - just in case - and no amount of whining from his younger brother was able to dissuade him. Not that Mikey didn't try. He only caved in when Don threatened to have Raph sit on him. They both knew Raph would do it.
But Mikey's lungs were clear and the fever leveled off within the normal range of a cold virus. Donnie reassured a hovering Leo and Raph, who had noticed him bring out the stethoscope, that it wasn't anything serious as long as Mikey got enough rest and kept hydrated. Raph fetched the last of the soda cans from the fridge while Donnie got two Advil for Mikey to help with the fever.
Dinner came around an hour later and while Mikey eyed the kitchen longingly, he shook his head when Leo offered to make him a plate and stayed on the couch.
"I'm not hungry." he reluctantly admitted. "Besides, my throat is hurting too much to eat."
At Splinter's suggestion, Leo had fetched a cup of yogurt and, with some big brother wheedling, got Mikey to eat it despite his whining. But Mikey flat out refused to move from the couch, curling up against the armrest with a death grip on the TV remote.
"I've been sleeping almost all day," he argued with Raph, his face scrunched up. "I'm tired of being tired and I can't fall asleep again until I stop being tired. Besides, I'm too tired to move upstairs."
Raph threw up his hands in exasperation, his patience fraying. He marched off to his own room, muttering under his breath about younger brothers. Recognizing Michelangelo's moods from experience, Splinter spoke quietly to Leo before fetching a book from his room. Encouraging Donatello, who was working in the subway car lab, to go to bed on time, Splinter took a seat on the recliner next to the couch. He didn't say a word as he opened the book and smoothed a hand across the well worn pages, but made sure to drape his tail over the side closest to the couch.
As evening grew into night, Leonardo came by with a cup of tea for him and a thermos that he set down on the coffee table within reach of Michelangelo. Splinter smiled and took the cup gratefully, inclining his head in reply to the unspoken question in his son's eye. Yes, he would be staying to make sure his youngest was taken care of. Leonardo's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly in response.
Before he left, Leonardo tucked a corner of the blanket over Michelangelo's feet and placed a hand on his forehead, despite the mumbled grumblings it produced. Satisfied that it wasn't any warmer than before, Leo gave the head an affectionate rub before he padded off for the stairs and disappeared into his own room. Splinter returned to his reading, relaxing into the chair and allowing his tail to curl one way then the other. The movement would draw him in eventually.
He was halfway through his cup of tea and finishing the second chapter of his book when Splinter finally felt a hand catch the end of his tail and tug on it. Carefully maintaining his air of ignorance, Splinter risked peeking at Michelangelo to see that Mikey had pulled the tail over the couch edge and was carefully looping it around his hand before snuggling against it. Splinter smiled and went back to reading, letting the tail tip occasionally tap against the turtle's arm.
He had to wait another forty minutes, but in the end Splinter's patience was rewarded when he heard the raspy, slightly labored breathing relax and even out into sleep. Setting his cup and book on the table, he quietly got up and moved to Michelangelo's side, cupping a hand over his head.
"Rest in peace, my son," he whispered affectionately. "I am here."
He didn't have the heart to remove his tail from Michelangelo's grip, even if he was asleep now. And so he eased the remote out of his son's now loose grip and turned the TV off. Settling himself back in the recliner, he picked up his cup to finish his tea, relishing the quietness of the lair, basking in the feel of the relaxed and whole energies from his sons upstairs and occasionally looking at his youngest and thinking about how much the turtle had grown. Marveling once again at the miracle that had quite literally fallen over him.
Setting the now empty cup back onto the table, Splinter folded his legs under him, shifting a bit to get into the most comfortable position he could find. Then he took a deep, cleansing breath and closed his eyes.
~TMNT~
He was hot! So hot. In fact he wasn't sure he'd been hotter in his entire life. He struggled to free himself from the binding heat that was somehow trapping his arms. If he could just get it off and get some cool fresh air...
...where was everyone? Why was it so dark in the lair?
"I am here, my son." A hand smoothed over his brow. "Are you awake?"
He tried to reply but it only came out as a mumble. He tugged at the material wrapped too tightly around him again, finally figuring out what it was. His blanket, duh.
The hand brushed his brow again before tugging at the blanket. He shifted, trying to help loosen any corners pinned under his shell. A harsh cough took him by surprise, stopping any movement and provoking more coughs.
The hands firmly took him by the shoulders and rolled him onto his side. The coughing eased finally to the point that he could hold it in and he panted, his lungs hungry for air. The hand changed from patting his back to calming circles.
"Easy, my son. Calm breaths, or you will start again."
Mikey peeled his eyes open and took in the gray blurry figure in front of him and croaked. "Hey dad."
"Good morning, Michelangelo."
Mikey blinked in confusion. "Morning?" He sniffed his stuffed up nose and it tickled his throat in response. He made the mistake of trying to clear his throat which set off another round of coughing. It was worse this time and he struggled to push himself up, trying to catch his breath. It was hard to coordinate his half-asleep limbs and it didn't help when he snagged the blanket under his hand and it pulled even tighter across his frame, preventing him from sitting up completely.
Splinter tried to help him, tugging at the blanket with one hand while supporting him with the other. But despite the rat's strength, Michelangelo easily outweighed his father and the couch made it hard to outright pull Mikey upright.
"Here, father."
An arm slid behind Mikey's shell and around his shoulder and lifted him enough for Splinter to finally pull away the tangled blanket. Once that was clear, another arm joined the first and pulled him upright. Mikey felt it easier to breath even as his coughing deepened.
"Raph, can you...?"
The couch dipped as someone sat down behind Mikey - protector, he automatically identified the presence - and he was eased up against the solid frame of a brother. His cough suddenly became wet sounding. A hand thumped him helpfully on the back of his shell and finally he felt the phlegm loosen.
"Here is a trash can."
He opened eyes he hadn't realized he had closed and obediently spat into the trash can in front of him, then slumped back with a whimper. Mikey blinked his eyes hard, trying to clear the grit he could feel around them as he heard them set the trash down.
"How ya feeling?"
Mikey almost startled at Raph's unexpected voice because he could have sworn it was Leo's aura he had felt just a few seconds ago. He worked his mouth for a second, testing to see if it was safe before speaking. "'m hot. Sore. Hot."
He moved his hand to wipe at his neck and scrunched up his face in disgust when it came away wet, letting out another whine of misery. Now that he realized it, he was sweaty everywhere and he was sure he felt it trickling down his plastron. "An' sweaty. Again. Bleh."
The musical sound of water droplets seemed out of place and he didn't pay it any mind until a swath of coolness covered his foot. Mikey let out a small gasp which turned into another coughing fit. As he sat up he could see Splinter sitting at the end of the coffee table, wiping down his feet with a wet cloth.
"I did not mean to startle you, my son." Splinter gently picked up his other foot and wiped it down with the cold cloth.
"It's okay," Mikey managed to croak out, his throat and cough forcing him to use short words. "Feels good. Thanks."
Raph grabbed the trash can again as Mikey managed to loosen more phlegm. When Mikey sat back Raph placed a hand on his forehead for a second. "Geez, you are sweating. Leo?"
Movement caught Mikey's eye and he looked to see Leo kneel down next to him. Blearily Mikey remembered that he had been sleeping on the couch. It seemed so obvious now. He couldn't believe he hadn't remembered right away.
"Hey, Mikey, rough way to wake up, eh?" Leo gave him a smile and held up a thermometer. "Think you can hold this in your mouth for me?"
He blinked at the blurred thermometer for a moment - wasn't it enough that he was hot? - before dipping his chin in a short nod. His bros always took care of him, he didn't have to think too hard. "M'kay."
He opened his mouth and Leo slipped it in, holding it in place as he admonished, "Now remember, don't bite it."
"Awts 'af," Mikey grumbled around the thermometer, trying hard not to bit down on the plastic.
Somehow Raph deciphered his warped words and let out a chuckle, flicking a finger against Mikey's shell with a hollow thunk. "Sure, and it ain't your teeth marks in Splinter's first set of calligraphy brushes."
Splinter let out a hum of agreement as he re-moistened the cloth. Mikey could hear the warm humor in the rat's voice and rolled his eyes. As far as he was concerned, since he couldn't remember doing such a thing, he wasn't at fault. If Splinter didn't keep them around, no one else would remember either.
The thermometer beeped and Leo pulled it out. He let out a thoughtful hum. "His temperature is running a little high..."
"Bad high?" Raph demanded, hand going up to Mikey's forehead again. Mikey couldn't help but lean into the hand, which felt significantly cooler than his head did at the moment.
"No, no, it's in the range of our normal fevers still." Leo stretched to show Splinter the thermometer reading, just in case. Splinter put the cloth down and took the instrument, nodding in agreement so Leo continued, "But it is high and, if it keeps up, he's definitely going to get uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable now, Leo," Mikey managed to get out before coughing weakly. Raph took his hand away from his head and massaged a shoulder.
"I know, Mikey." Leo reached out and patted his arm.
"Let me check something." Splinter slid along the edge of the coffee table until he could reach Mikey's hand. Picking it up, Splinter pinched the skin on the back of his hand, frowning at the results. "You are dehydrated already."
Leo ducked his head to catch Mikey's eyes. "Hey, you think you could drink some water? Tea?"
Mikey closed his eyes and shook his head both times. Just thinking about drinking made him swallow and wince in reflex. He felt Leo pat his arm one more time before pulling away as Splinter's spoke up again.
"We should get some liquid into him or else it'll only get worse."
"I'll go see what we have in the fridge. Be right back."
"Okay."
Mikey shifted as Raph answered Leo, trying to find a position that didn't seem to make his back and shoulders ache. But the movement seemed to remind his lungs that they weren't feeling so good and another round of coughing made him sit up again, coughing loudly. It didn't stop until he'd loosen up some more phlegm and Raph helpfully held the trash can as he spat into it again.
Exhausted and aching all over Mikey, slumped back against Raph, letting his eyes fall shut.
"Raph," he whined. "I'm hot."
"Just hang in there."
"This ranks to the deep sewers."
"I know. But you're a tough little turtle."
Mikey shook his head but didn't bother arguing. It hurt too much and he just wanted it all to go away so he reached around and grabbed Raph's hand and held it tight as he gritted his teeth against the throbbing in his throat. Raph grumbled under his breath, shifted and tugged at the hand but didn't yank it away.
"Here, my son. This should help while we wait."
A moment later the wet cloth was draped over the top of his head. Mikey sighed in relief and loosened his grip on Raph's hand as some of his tense muscles relaxed.
"Thanks, dad." he said hoarsely.
A furred hand patted one his his hands gently, the simple touch somehow soothing.
"Hey, Mikey, open your eyes."
With a groan and much difficulty, Mikey pried his eyes open and saw that Leo was back. In one hand he held a bottle of clear liquid while the other was cupped and obviously carrying something. Mikey couldn't be bothered to figure out what.
"Here's some seltzer water and I've got you two Advil to help with the fever."
Mikey blinked, having to think for a second before realizing that Leo wasn't talking about regular water but the bubbling kind. That certainly sounded nicer then plain old water and he knew from previous experience that it went down more easily. "M'kay."
He released his hold on Raph in order to hold out a hand and Leo carefully tipped the Advil into his palm. Once he managed to get them into his mouth, Leo broke the seal on the bottle lid before putting it in his hand.
He gratefully took a swig. The seltzer water went down easily enough, although he should have known it would have been one without much flavor in it. It almost tasted bitter and it still hurt to swallow but it was bearable. The bubbles made his nose twitch and before he knew it he was sneezing.
The tissue box was shoved into his face and he grabbed a handful to sneeze into again before he wiped his face and plastron with another handful. As he finished up the trash can appeared in front of him and he dutifully dropped the wadded tissues into it. Slumping back against Raph, he took another careful sip from the bottle, which he'd managed to keep a hold of, sighing in relief at the cooling effect it had on his throat. "Sorry, Raph. Thanks Leo."
"Don't mention it." Leo told him, setting the can down.
Splinter set the tissue box back onto the table. "How does another bath sound?"
Mikey hesitated. It sounded good but... "What time is it?"
Raph gave him a gentle shove. "Doesn't matter, knucklehead. You're getting a bath."
Mikey hesitated only a second longer before nodding in agreement. "Okay, yeah. That sounds good."
"Alright." Leo used the couch to push himself up. "I'll go get the water started. Try to get him to finish up the bottle, Raph."
"It's too early for you to order me around," Raph grumbled at Leo's retreating shell, but he looked pointedly at Mikey none the less. Mikey just rolled his eyes and took another sip.
It wasn't too hard for Mikey to keep drinking. Despite the taste, something he normally wouldn't torture himself with, the carbon was the only thing making it possible to swallow and after a couple sips he realized how thirsty he felt.
He barely managed to finish the seltzer water before Leo came back to announce that the bath was ready. Raph took the empty bottle as Splinter got to his feet and helped Mikey sit up. Once free of Mikey's weight, Raph wasted no time getting off the couch and stretched quickly before helping Splinter haul a feverish Mikey off the couch.
Mikey stumbled to his feet, his head suddenly pounding, and the bath didn't seem so worth it anymore. Groaning, he turned and buried his head into Splinter's shoulder, relishing the soft material and mumbled into it, "Ow."
Splinter had to shift to take the extra weight but he didn't mind. He patted Mikey's shell. "It will pass, Michelangelo. Give it some time, then let me know when you are ready."
Mikey nodded and waited for the initial pounding in his head to calm down. Once it did, he pushed off Splinter's shoulder and, rubbing his forehead in irritation, started off for the bathroom.
Splinter tried to follow him, but he could only manage a heavy, painful hobble. He leaned on his walking stick, hand going to his thigh and pressing down on rock tense muscles. Obviously they hadn't appreciated the night spent on the recliner, or sitting on the hard surface of the table.
Before he could take another step a hand fell on his shoulder and he looked up to see Raphael give him a small smile, signaling with his other hand the okay - stay sign. Splinter dipped his head in appreciating and understanding, staying where he was while Raph took two long strides to catch up to Mikey and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Come on slowpoke, before I decide it's faster to carry you."
"I can walk by myself," Mikey grumbled, shrugging. "I'm not that sick yet."
"Father?" Splinter looked up to see Leonardo looking at him with concern. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, just my leg," Splinter reassured him as he began kneading his thigh with his knuckles. "But... would you fetch me the jar of tiger balm?
Mikey didn't really remember the walk. It wasn't that interesting to walk from one domestic location to another, and his head had been pounding. He became more aware when he entered the bathroom and the warm humid air forced another wet coughing fit. He spat the phlegm out in the sink before making a bee line for the filled tub and managed to get in without falling.
Within minutes the water started to relax his muscles and it felt as if some of the fever was fading away. But that could have been the Advil finally kicking it. Not that it really mattered; better was better. He sighed in relief, folding his arms on the tub edge and resting his chin on them.
Someone dragged a chair and sat down heavily. Mikey cracked his eyes open - when had he closed them? - to see a hand reach for the long handled scrub brush.
"I'm a big turtle, Splinter," he mumbled, making a grab for the brush and completely missing.
"A big turtle who's sick." The deep chuckled certainly wasn't Splinter. Mikey twisted around and stared at the green figure sitting next to the bathtub. It took him a whole three seconds to remember and fit the pieces together.
"Oh," he finally managed to say, though he wasn't all that surprised. Confused though, yes.
First he had thought it was Leo when it was Raph and now it was Raph, not Splinter. He was certain it was Splinter who had helped him when he was on the couch and Splinter who he'd been leaning on... but maybe that was just a muddled half dream? He shook his head and started coughing again, leaning over to spit in the trash can when he was done, then splashed some water on his face to wipe his runny nose. "Hi Raph."
Raph looked amused for some reason. "Hi Mike."
Leo leaned into the room, bracing himself against the door frame. "Everything going good in here?"
"Yup." Raph tugged on Mikey's shoulder and he obliged, twisting around to rest his plastron against the tub side and letting his arms dangle out. He smiled tiredly up at Leo. "Hi Leo."
"Hi, Mikey." The corner of Leo's mouth tugged upward. "Feeling better?"
"Ummm... yeah?" Mikey blinked as he thought hard, coughing wetly again. Was he? His head certainly wasn't as hazy as it had been before. He was still feeling warm, but no longer unbearably hot. His energy was still gone, though, and he felt wrung out. He revised his answer. "Maybe. I think."
The corner of Leo's mouth twitched again. "Glad to hear it. Raph, I'll get some tea and food set up for you."
"Okay."
Leo disappeared from the doorway. Mikey closed his eyes as Raph started brushing down his shell, then jerked them open as a finger flicked his sore snout. "Ow, Raph."
"No falling asleep," Raph told him sternly, waving the finger in his face. "We're not going to be that long and I ain't carrying you out of here."
"I wasn't going to fall asleep," Mikey mumbled, wiping his nose again and washing it off in the water, then pressing the wet hand against his face gently. It felt good. "Head feels too stuffy and... tight."
"Headache?"
Mikey gave a small shake. "No, just not normal."
"Give it time." Raph set the brush down and started pouring water over Mikey's shell using the nearby plastic container. He did it a couple of times to wash off any lingering soap, then set the container down as Mikey started coughing.
Mikey spent what felt like the next five minutes coughing and spitting up thick phlegm, washing his face in between bouts. When his lungs finally settled down Raph handed him a washcloth. "Here, wash your face and neck then we'll get you out."
"Do I need to do behind my ears too?" Mikey croaked as he took the cloth and dipped it.
Raph rolled his eyes. "You are feeling better."
"Sorta," Mikey corrected. "Don't know how long it'll last."
To his surprise though, when he finished washing down, he felt much better. Even his head and nose felt clearer and despite all the coughing his throat didn't feel constricted. Best of all, he no longer had that sticky sweaty feeling clinging to his skin.
When he said he was ready, Raph ignored his protests and helped him out of the tub so he didn't chance a tumble. He immediately sat down on the wooden stool Raph had been using, tired from the small effort of getting out. Raph threw a towel over his head before disappearing out the doorway.
Mikey took his time drying off, moving slowly from lack of energy. Plus, he soon discovered, despite his head feeling better, his thoughts were scattered and it was harder then usual to keep focused on one task. Finally pronouncing himself dry enough, he stood up and tossed the towel over the stool before ambling out into the kitchen where he found Raph pouring tea.
"Sit," Raph ordered without looking up, gesturing to the table. Shrugging his shoulders, and having nothing else planned, Mikey slid into the nearest chair and rested his head against the table. It felt wonderfully cool.
A clatter of ceramics pulled him out of his doze. He lifted his head to find a cup of tea and a plate with a small piece of cheese baked fish from dinner in front of him. Raph slid into the chair opposite and rested his cheek on a fist. Mikey eyed the fish.
"I'm not that hungry."
"Just eat what you can."
Mikey blinked and finally realized that Raph had that sleepy-grumpy look on him. How late - or early - was it? Pulling the tea cup closer, he squinted at the clock on the wall. "What time is that... four?"
"Five, five thirty." Raph corrected. "In the morning."
"Huh." Mikey frowned into his tea, taking a hesitant sip and sputtered at the spicy taste. Yup, his favorite ginger tea - not. It was no surprise that Leo was up, and Mikey was partially convinced Splinter never slept. Or at least not when they were around. But he knew Raph didn't make it a habit to wake up this early. "Sorry if I woke you up."
Raph glared at him. "Mikey. Remember our talk?"
He shrugged his shoulders and took another sip. "Yeah, I know but... stinks."
Raph just grunted and shook his head. "Forget it. You know I never do anything unless I want to. Besides, I'm going back to bed after this. What about you, you feeling sleepy?"
Mikey nodded as he took a nibble of fish. He felt like he hadn't gotten all that much sleep to begin with and his eyes still had that papery tiredness about them.
The fish, slathered in melted cheese, actually tasted good and after all the hacking and spitting he had done in the bathroom, he found it surprisingly easy to swallow. Before he knew it, he was licking his fork clean.
Raph snorted in amusement. "Wasn't hungry, he tells me."
"I wasn't!" Mikey looked at his cleared off plate. He could have sworn he hadn't been hungry. "But maybe my stomach had different ideas. I don't know. I haven't had time to talk to it yet."
Raph laughed and scrubbed his face as he stood up, scooping up Mikey's empty dishes. "Whatever. Come on, I'm ready to crash."
Mikey heaved himself out of the chair and made his way over to the stairs, the sounds of Raph washes the plate and cup following after him. He was halfway up when Raph scrambled up the nearby pillar, beating Mikey to the second floor.
"Man, Mikey," Raph teased as Mikey finally made it up the stairs. "Go any slower and I'll fall asleep waiting for you."
"Haha, enjoy it while it lasts. Soon I'll be making circles around you." Mikey glared at Raph then reached out to snatch at Raph's bandana as Raph turned away.
"Just not yet." Raph ducked out of reach, smirking as he darted into the bedroom. Mikey followed, grumbling under his breath. "Showoff."
Raph stopped by his equipment shelves to take off his pads and belts while Mikey, who hadn't bothered with any of his gear since he got sick, simply flopped into the space under Raph's hammock and curled up.
Sleep was tugging at him and his eyes were drifting close when he felt a blanket settle over him, and it was only then that he realized that he was actually starting to feel a little cool. He grabbed the blanket and snuggled under it.
"Thanks, Raph."
Raph tagged him in the arm before crawling into his hammock.
~TMNT~
When Michelangelo drifted awake he already knew that it was some time past morning. It was just the feel of the energy of the lair.
He blinked his eyes open, snuggled into his blanket and took the time to listen and look around. Sound drifted into the room from someone playing the TV. It sounded like a wrestling show, so it had to be Raph.
Carefully he took a breath. When that didn't irritate anything he took a deeper one, letting his ribcage flex. He grinned with glee as he breathed the breath back out. The back of his throat still felt raw and his ribs were a bit sore but there was no insane urge to cough his lungs out.
"Yes!" He sat up, pumped a fist and made another discovery. The ache in his joints was gone. And, more importantly, he wasn't feeling lightheaded.
Unable to contain himself, he bounded out from beneath the hammock and skipped over to the doorway, where he spotted Donnie coming out of his room, arms full of assorted tools and... something. Mikey wasn't sure what, and since none of them looked like volatile chemicals or hazardous machinery, he didn't care.
"Hi Donnie!" he yelled, tackling his brother front on, wrapping his arms around him.
"Ack, whoa!" Donnie yelped in surprise, dropping several items onto the floor where they bounced around. "Mikey! What was that for?"
"Just because!" Mikey grinned widely as he released Donnie. Then, because he could see the beginning of irritation in Donnie's eyes, he bent down and snatched at the items on the floor.
"I take it you're feeling better?" Donnie asked as Mikey tried to get the ball of wire to settle on the pile without tumbling back off. How did Donnie get it all to stay put in the first place?
"Yup! No fever, no cough." Mikey finally just jammed the wire bundle into the gap between a box of metal screws and some hosing. "And now I'm starving!"
"Don't push yourself, Mikey!" Donnie's voice called after him as he bounded away. "Or else you'll get a relapse!"
His next victim appeared as Mikey came down the stairs.
"Leo!"
Leo dodged to the side, avoiding Mikey's air tackle from above by scant inches. Mikey was forced to change his landing - which Leo was supposed to of softened - into a tuck and roll.
Leo put down the book he had been flipping through and raised an eye ridge. "Nice landing, Mikey. If you really want to practice on your ninja skills though-"
"Oh, save it." Despite the miss, Mikey couldn't help but laugh as he scrambled to his feet. It took a lot to catch Leo by surprise and Mikey had been a tad noisy on the stairs. "Besides, there are more important things, like food!"
"Splinter made French toast this morning. I'm pretty sure he saved some in the oven," Leo told him, reaching out to feel his forehead. "You're sounding much better... and no fever. How are you feeling?"
Mikey grinned and snatched at Leo's arm before he could pull completely away and gave him a side hug. "It's so awesome to be better!"
Releasing Leo, Mikey started for the kitchen but paused when the sounds from the TV caught his attention. He could see Raph sitting in the couch, twirling a sai in one hand as he was in the habit of doing.
Give me a cold hand, will he? Mikey grinned and rubbed his hands together, looking around before he started sneaking up to the couch. Leo had gone back to flipping through his book and the TV sounds covered up his approach.
"Yo!" He glomped onto his brother, wrapping his arms around his neck, then purposely dropped to his knees and made himself as heavy as possible so Raph couldn't flip him.
Raph gave a satisfying yelp, fumbled with his twirling sai before managing to regain control of it, at which point he started growling. "Mikey!"
"How'd you guess?" Mikey faked shocked surprise.
Raph shoved his sai into his belt and started trying to get a good grip on Mikey's arms. "Who else would be this annoying? Now get off!"
"Aww, you just say that cause you love me," Mikey teased, releasing one hand when Raph pinched at the skin between his finger and thumb. He retaliated by giving Raph a noogie, then yelped when Raph grabbed the wrist and gave a strong yank.
Mikey almost went over the couch back, sacrificing his hold on Raph to plant his other hand on the couch and halt his movement at the last minute. He pulled back on his arm, kicking a foot against the couch to try and counter Raph's strength, wiggling his hand. "Raphieee!"
Raph managed to twist around and stood up on his knees. Mikey squeaked as he had to really grapple in earnest to prevent Raph from pulling him up and off balance.
The couch wobbled, then tipped backwards with a crash. Mikey and Raph didn't pay it any mind, as they were both busy rolling on their shells, trying to gain the upper hand.
"Ahem."
They froze in mid-action - Mikey's hand full of Raph's red bandana and Raph tugging on Mikey's cheek - at the deliberate throat clearing. They looked up to see Splinter eying them.
Mikey blinked, taking in the couch laying on its back, cushions tumbled all about, then did the only thing he knew had a chance of getting him out of any type of practice for the day. He turned on his brightest smile - it helped that he really was very happy to see Splinter - and chirped. "Hi Splinter!"
Splinter's whiskers twitched, but Mikey couldn't tell if that was good or not. "Good afternoon, Michelangelo. I take it you are well rested?"
"Well," Mikey drew out the one word as he thought hard. If he said yes there was a chance that Splinter would decide he was energetic enough for a small practice session and Mikey chaffed at the idea of having to spend any amount of time on work. It was his first day of being better!
"Oh, I'm sure he's rested plenty!" Raph interjected, releasing Mikey's cheek in favor of smacking him on the back of the head. Mikey had to let go of the bandana tails. "You certainly have enough energy to cause a rukus."
"I'm just so happy to be better!" Mikey had to state truthfully. "And you were so big on sharing yesterday."
"Yeah? Well, I think I like Donnie's version of sharing." Raph raised his fist and Mikey grinned, ready to move and pounce.
The clink of wood on brick recaptured their attention. Splinter folded both hands over his walking stick. "Hmmm, I see. Very well; Raphael, please set the couch back up and empty the trash can there. Michelangelo, since you seem free from your illness, half an hour of stretches and two complete basic katas."
"Awww, man!" Mikey made a face on principle but knew that it was more than fair. Stretches and basic katas - Splinter was allowing him to choose which ones, he noticed - were the equivalent of homework duty and didn't require that much effort. "But... French toast!"
"Will stay warm in the oven," Splinter said firmly, though not unkindly, before moving away.
He turned to Raph, ready to let him know that it was all Raph's fault that his breakfast was going to be delayed by a whole half hour. But before he could, Raph sat up and started coughing into his fist.
"No, no, no!" he cried, scrambling away from his brother and pointing an accusing finger at him. "You are not allowed to get sick! If you get sick, you'll mutate that virus and then I'll get sick. Again!"
"Geez, give it a break." Raph coughed one last time as he glared at Mikey. "I'm fine. Now get out of my shell and do your stretches."
Mikey rolled his eyes but started doing his stretches right where he was as Raph set up the couch. And later, if anyone saw Mikey bring a cup of ginger tea and set it in front of Raph, they didn't say anything.
Except for Raph, that is. Mikey forgot to tell him that it wasn't coffee.
I do have some other story ideas floating in my head that I'm hoping to work on. I don't like posting until it is all finished and ready for editing though, so depending on what I pick it can take anywhere from a month to (eep) 3 months to hammer out the work of art.
