"My sons," Splinter said, "I have talked with Miss O'Neil and she has agreed."
"To do what sensei?" Leo asked.
"I would like to take you three on weekend training camp. I have discovered a place that is about four hours away, it will help enhance your skills as a ninja, you must learn to survive away from home. Donatello is well versed in medical techniques, but I would like you two to learn some more advanced first aid then you know," Splinter explained, "you three never really foraged for food the way I had to when you three were young and I will teach you that as well."
"So where does April come into all this?" Raph asked.
"Her aunt is leaving Friday and returning Monday, she will watch Michelangelo when we leave. We will be leave Friday and return late on Sunday. Since it will be an extended time I thought it best he stay with her in her home."
"She can control the heat better too," Donnie chimed in, "it's winter."
"Mikey you ready to go too April's?" Leo asked.
"April! April!" Mikey said clapping his hands.
Mikey was bundled up wearing his hat, mittens, socks, sweatshirt, pants, and a coat. Donnie was wearing a simple coat and pants with cut off cloves, Leo and Raph were dressed in similar fashion.
"I hate wearing clothes," Raph complained, "they are not comfortable."
"Well it's wear the clothes or get cold and sick," Donnie said.
Raph groaned and picked up the bag of Mikey's toys and food. This time they added more toys, and a change of clothes for him. Donnie picked Mikey up and left the lair to go to April's with Leo and Raph not far behind.
On the way over to April's Mikey hid his face into Donnie's chest. "It's okay Mikey don't worry I got you," Donnie said holding Mikey tighter. They reached April's apartment and climbed up. Leo went to knock on her window to find April already standing there with the window open.
April took Mikey from Donnie's arms so he could climb in into the apartment. "April!" Mikey called out smiling.
"We are going to have so much fun this weekend! I only wish you were a little older," April stopped when he noticed Mikey staring off at the TV.
"He gets distracted easily," Raph laughed, "one time he was distracted by a piece of lint for nearly ten minutes."
"Well we need to get going," Leo said, "sensei will want us back soon so we can leave."
"April you and Mikey will be okay?" Donnie asked.
"Yeah," she said, "anything I should know?"
"Just make sure he stays warm, his body temperature should be about 63-73 degrees," Donnie said, "but you apartment feels nice," Donnie smiled.
"Mikey you will be going to these trips soon," April said bouncing Mikey.
"It will be some time before that happens," Leo laughed.
"Yeah he is pretty young," April said.
"That and the little guy is always cold," Raph said.
"Really? Why?" April asked adjusting Mikey on her hip.
"He's a turtle," Raph said.
"I know that, but you guys are fine," April said.
"Well Mikey has a harder time regulating his body temperature, he has more turtle DNA than human, we are the opposite. We may be coldblooded, but we have adapted. Mikey on the other hand is very dependent on a heat source. I hope he can out grow it," Donnie sighed, "sorry," Donnie said, "I talk too much."
"It's okay," April said, "It's something I need to know if I am watching him. Besides I remember reading it from last time," April said smiling. "Okay Mikey say bye-bye to your brothers!"
"Bye-Bye!," Mikey said.
"Bye Mikey!" they called out. Donnie then looked at April, "We will only have limited use of out t-phones, where we are has no power and we cannot travel with much. I have the alarm set up in the lair, but it's difficult going in and out of the sewers by yourself with Mikey."
"Do what you need to do," Leo said before turning out of the apartment.
April kept Mikey in his sweatshirt, pants, and socks. April took Mikey by his hands and walked him around the apartment. "Ungy" Mikey said when they walked by the kitchen.
"Okay let me get you some algae," April said walking him to the bag. April handed Mikey the bottle
"Ank," he babbled out before taking the bottle. April smiled, Mikey was starting to talk more she found it cute. April sat down on the couch and Mikey leaned against her, April put her arm around him and pulled up a blanket.
It was well past midnight when April was woken up to the sounds of Mikey coughing. "Mikey you okay?" She put her hand on his forehead, it was warm. April brought Mikey into her lap he was laying against her chest with his head on her shoulder. April kept on hand on his carapace and one on the back of his head.
Mikey started to whimper, "ucky."
"I know, you feel yucky. I don't have anything for you." April sighed. There was no way she was taking an mutant turtle out at two in the morning in New York City by herself. She would have to wait until the morning. Mikey had enough clothing to hide his light green skin.
April filled one of Mikey's bottles with some water and tried to get him to drink it. She rubbed the back of his head, "just try to sleep," she soothed. April picked him up and walked him around her apartment lightly bouncing him. Mikey took ahold of her hair and stuck it in his mouth, "I see why they sent Donnie's mask."
April laid down in her bed with Mikey on her chest. April looked at Mikey. His cheeks were red, but he felt cold, she knew he was sick. She sighed, "Mikey why did you have to get sick with your brothers four hours away?" she thought to herself.
Mikey was still sleeping when April woke up. She laid him on his plastron on the bed and surrounded him by pillows. She was going to have to take him with her, she was desperate he is sick, there was no way he was going to risk him getting sicker. There also was no way she could leave him behind. April went digging in the closet for a stroller silently thanking her aunt for saving everything.
Once Mikey woke up April tried to get him to eat a little bit before heading out. "Time to get you all bundled up," she said once he ate. April pulled his jacket on and they his hat and mittens and his little boots. The she brought out one her scarfs to cover up the lower half of the small turtle's face. Mikey tugged down the scarf, "no Mikey you need to keep it on, it's cold out and your are already sick." April made sure he was bundled well since he was cold and going out into the blustery New York winter.
April pushed the stroller into the store she was growing more nervous. She had one of her scarfs wrapped around his mouth and with his hat on you could only see the green skin around his eyes, she just hoped no one would notice. April looked down Mikey who pulled the scarf down. "No, no Mikey you need to keep it on."
"No!" Mikey cried before starting to cough.
"It's okay Mikey," she said, "here you want your turtle?" April handed Mikey his stuffed turtle. Mikey held it tight, "better now?" Mikey nodded, "okay now please keep the scarf on. Now let's get you some medicine." Mikey sneezed, "bless you."
April pushed the stroller down the aisle so she could look for some medicine for Mikey. April turned her back to Mikey. The turtle looked around, he soon found a young girl looking at him. Mikey pulled the scarf down and pointed to himself, "Mikey," he said.
The girl looked at Mikey's green skin, she pointed, and shouted, "Alien!"
April whipped around. Mikey's lower lip trembled and he started to cry. "Mikey awein?"
"Sh, sh, it's okay, you are not an alien," Aprils tried to sooth, but Mikey pulled off a glove and placed his hand in April's and cried harder. She looked around for an escape, people were starting to stare. April saw the restroom and raced to it. April went into the largest stall and locked it and took Mikey out of the stroller. She pulled him into her arms and held him tightly. "Mikey sweetie you're not an alien." April was doing her best to soothe him, he had gotten himself so worked up he was coughing harder.
Mikey took his small three fingered green hand and held it to April five fingered hand, "awein."
"No honey you aren't," April said.
"Gween," Mikey said pointing to himself, "no gween," then he started to cough again. "Mikey it's okay, calm down."
"Awein," Mikey cried again.
"Let's see," April said, "I see two pretty blues," April tickled him under his chin, "and look at that smile, and who can forget those freckles! All I see in one cute turtle," she said kissing the top of Mikey's head.
April heard a knock on the door, she jumped. "you okay sweetie?" the voice came.
"Yeah, my little...brother is sick," April responded, "I'm just trying to calm him down and then I will leave sorry."
"Alright, take your time," the voice said. April waited for the footsteps to leave.
"Let's get this mitten back on, and the scarf. Then we can get the medicine and leave and you take all this off okay?" April handed Mikey his plush turtle before she lifted him into the stroller. April left the restroom quickly grabbed a cold medicine for Mikey and went to pay. Mikey was still crying a little, in addition to his runny nose and cough. April reached the counter to pay after what seemed like forever. April paid and left the store. By the time April got to her apartment Mikey had fallen asleep.
April filled the stopper with the cold medicine and placed into Mikey's mouth and cover his beak because he wanted to spit it out, "Mikey it will make you feel better."
"Ucky!" Mikey said sticking out his tongue.
"Yeah I never liked it when I was little either," April said, "here Mikey have a cookie," April said handing him a graham cracker.
April looked at Mikey. His green cheeks were rosy red. April put her hand on Mikey's head and felt it was cold. April stood up to get a warm cloth for his head. "Feel better?"
"Yes," Mikey mumbled closing his eyes.
April wrapped her arms around the small sick turtle. Mikey coughed. April glanced up at the clock, it was only eleven in the morning. "I need to call your brothers." April dialed Donnie's number.
"Hey April," Donnie said.
April was not expecting Donnie to picked up. April started to cry.
"April!? Is Mikey okay?" Donnie's heart was racing.
"He's sick, he couching and sneezing and he is cold. I gave him some medicine."
"What is his temperature? Donnie asked, panicking.
"Sixty," April said, "I have his clothes still on and warm cloth on his head."
"What is them temperature in the apartment?" Donnie asked.
"I have it set to seventy," she said.
"Turn the heat up if you can, and since you are warm blooded keep him close to you that will help him, it will be like basking. I am going to talk to sensei so I can leave. Call me for anything!" Donnie said hanging up.
"Donatello what is wrong?" Splinter asked.
"Mikey is sick, he is cold, April is trying to keep him warm, but," Donnie sighed, "I need to go, he could go into hibernation..."
"Go," Splinter said simply.
"And I would have no clue what to do if that happened."
"Donnie, sensei said you can go," Leo said, "we will pick up around here and be right behind you, travel light so you can run faster."
"Keep us updated Donatello," Splinter said. He was nervous, it was his idea leaving Michelangelo with April and now he was sick. Splinter wanted to go with him, but he knew Donatello would be more helpful than himself.
Donnie nodded as he fit his bõ staff into it's holder on his back. Hardly looking at the markers Donnie ran through the sewers hoping to make it April's before anything serious happened. Going there they took their time, Splinter wanted to talk to his sons before training started, a four hour walk there was no where to hide. Donnie was now running he was hoping to make it to April's in half the time, or less.
April wrapped Mikey in a blanket and then climbed into her bet under her thick winter blanket holding Mikey tightly. "Don't worry Donnie will be here soon."
Two hours later April was walking around her apartment holding onto Mikey who had his head resting on her shoulder. Mikey finally fell back to sleep, when she heard rapid pounding on her window; it was Donnie standing there struggling to catch is breath. April opened the window enough for for Donnie to continue opening.
Donnie looked at his human friend, she was sweating and look completely frazzled. Donnie walked over and took is brother into his arms. April lead him to her bedroom where he laid Mikey down on the bed and took out his stethoscope and a thermometer. The thermometer Donnie had all you had to do was hold it on temple and it would give the read out. April watched Donnie check over Mikey. The younger turtle was starting to fuss when Donnie used the stethoscope, so Donnie pulled of his mask and gave it to Mikey. Donnie ran the stethoscope over Mikey's plastron. April never saw him him in full on doctor mode.
"It's a chest cold," Donnie said, "I hear some congestion in his lungs."
"Will he be okay?" April asked
"It will clear up. He is still cold," Donnie blushed, "I need to spend the night here. I don't want to take Mikey outside."
"No problem," April said, "you stay here in my room and I will sleep on the couch."
"Thanks April," Donnie said lifting Mikey up and held him to his plastron. Donnie walked into the living room.
"Ungy!" Mikey cried.
"You hungry Mikey?" Donnie smiled down at Mikey. Donnie expertly cradled Mikey in one arm while using the other to feed him. Mikey started to push the bottle away and tug at his sweatshirt.
"Tichy," Mikey complained.
"No you have to keep it on," Donnie said gently.
"NO!" Mikey cried going into a coughing fit.
"Mikey NO! Keep it on!" Donnie snapped, instantly regretting yelling at Mikey. The tears rolled down Mikey's eyes while he pulled off his sweatshirt. "Mikey please," Donnie begged. After begging not working Donnie tried to get Mikey to take his mask, nothing. "Please, I will give you a cookie?" Donnie said getting desperate to keep his brother warm.
"Donnie can I try?" April asked.
"Sure," Donnie said, "I dunno why he is being difficult."
"He's sick, that's why," April said gently then she turned to Mikey, "if you keep you put you sweatshirt back on I will give you a kiss."
Mikey pulled his sweatshirt back on and tapped his cheek. April laughed and lightly kissed Mikey's cheek. "See all better," she said.
Mikey was wrapped tightly in a blanket to keep him warm, his temperature was slowly rising. Donnie has his arms wrapped around Mikey while he sat with him and April on the couch. Mikey had been fussing so April found a movie for them to watch to keep Mikey's mind of being sick. April sat down next to Donnie and Mikey. She looked over to her turtle friends, soon they were sleeping.
Leo was the first one up to April's apartment. He was just about to knock on the window, but he stopped when he saw his two brothers and April sleeping on the couch. Mikey was sleeping in Donnie's arms and April's head was resting on Donnie's shoulder.
"I think he's all set," Leo said. turning back to go home.