Thanks to Justice237 for reviewing.

Minnie still has the biggest part of any syoc character does. But from next chapter on or so I'll try and get in more of those characters so more of you can read about yours too.

Minnie's cold really went from nothing to all at once. She had seemed fine during tea and soon after I noticed she was ill and I put her in bed she seemed feverish and was obviously frightened of something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"And there." Mike had found a nasal spray and I helped her get it so she would be able to breathe through the night. "This is nice, but you're only supposed to use it at night. During the day your body can fight the infection on its own."

"But what if I get really ill during the night? What if I get a pneumonia, or something else, really bad?"

Minnie looked so tired her eyelids she could have fallen closed. But she was too busy asking questions to fall asleep even when I pulled up her quilt over her.

"When people die from a pneumonia it's because they're sick and cold. You're an eight-year-old, healthy girl. You probably wouldn't get a pneumonia and if you still do you wouldn't die from it. Only get a really bad cold."

"But what if I still get really ill."

"If you get so ill you need the hospital Mike or May- Li or Duke will take you to the hospital and then they will make you better. But you will absolutely not get so ill by it you can die. It's just a common cold and you'll feel better in no time."

"But what if Sofia gets it? She is ill, right? Her heart is?"

I sighed, Minnie was right in this one and I didn't know the answer. And I was quite happy when I heard Mike behind me. I was tired too and wanted to go to bed, but Minnie was keeping me from going to bed with all her question.

"She is, and yes. It's her heart. When she came here she did have a pneumonia that went too far before she got help and that could have ended badly. But still, if she gets a cold and we can make sure she doesn't get more ill in time. She won't get really ill you and then she will be just fine and for you to play with. Now go to bed…" He grabbed the lamb from the nightstand and laid it by her hand. "…So that Lamby and Kenny and little Boo can go to bed too."

"Oh puh- lease. Little Boo wakes up when I stop moving and then he keeps me up all night with his twisting and turning and kicking all night."

Minnie frowned, but I sent her one glance, then another one to Mike before I left the room and went downstairs, craving for marmalade for the tenth time in two days.

"There is something with Minnie." I said when I saw in the corner of my eye that Mike came into the kitchen behind me. "Like, she actually believes she will die from a regular cold."

I knew the question was wrong before it had slipped my mouth.

"What was her life like before she came here?"

"I'm not supposed to discuss any body else's backstories with you Ken. Just the same as I'm not supposed to share your backstory with anybody else."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. I know you can't share that with me…" Mike gave a nod. "Sorry, the question just slipped out before I could think of it. Anyway, goodnight."

"Night."

That night it wasn't just little Boo's kicking and tumbling that kept me awake.

At last when I fell asleep it was past midnight. And when I woke up Minnie sat, in her pyjamas by the table and had her lunch. Duke had arrived for his shift and was sighing about her asking every single question there was.

"Several times. She woke up Mike by five and since then she's asked to have her temperature taken about every five minutes, it stays at 38, 7 so high but not too high. But it's like every cough or every snivel scares her. And, no matter how mean it might seem to say it. Mike was quite relieved when he left the house and Minnie couldn't come to him with more questions… But no. That's not nice. Let's just hope this bug doesn't spread."

I nodded slightly, there was that problem with bugs that spread. And this must still be better than a stomach flu…

"Well, I need orange marmalade so I could talk to her."

Duke gave a nod, he then lifted his hand and wiped his forehead as if he was sweaty.

"I think I might be catching something… It will show, if I get sick I'll have to call Mike to come in again…"

Duke kept talking to himself while walking up the stairs, I couldn't help but shake my head at him but forgot all about it when I saw Minnie, having pulled up her whole body in a sweater and stirring with a spoon in a bowl of soup. Sitting by the table and looking as alone and little as anyone ever could.

"Hey. Minnie." I got my marmalade and then sat down next to her, she was still only stirring in her soup without taking one single sip. "Talk to me, what's going on?" Minnie shrugged but didn't look at me. "Duke told me about what you've been doing. And why is it so important that you know exactly what is going on?"

"I don't know."

Minnie's voice sounded hoarse from the cold but hearing the squeaky, light tone speaking of someone that was definitely more afraid and insecure than she was showing herself.

"Really? Because it seems to me you do. You know, you're my best friend. And you can always talk about everything with your best friends." I stroke her shoulder. "I promise I won't leave. Even if you did something bad you can tell me."

Tee coughed and pulled her cardigan closer around her, without any other intentions I felt her forehead. And as I thought she felt warmer than what she should have been.

"Bed, young lady. Now."

"Yes mum!" She told me and rolled her eyes. "Geez." Duke just came from the other side. "Kenny's a worse mum than all of you together. But by the way…" Tee turned to me but had to cough before she asked and I knew exactly what question was coming. "Shouldn't you stay away? Couldn't a cold get worse because… well, you know."

Oh yes, I knew.

"I'm pregnant, not made of glass. And I'll be fine. Google is my best friend and I'd only have stayed away if I thought this could turn out badly for me or Boo. Now go to bed or I will carry you to bed."

I could just pretend that I wasn't able to lean down enough to pick her up and held perfectly enough with one person forward of me. Tee looked down on me, she probably understood. Then she turned and closed the door to her room after her.

"You handled that quite well." Duke sounded tired, put one hand to his hip and wiped the forehead with his other. His head obviously hot and sweaty from fever. "I've called Mike and he's on his way. May- Li starts her shift later. Are you feeling alright Kenny?"

"I'm fine Duke. Now." I grabbed his shoulder and gently pushed him away. "Schoo. Go home, or to the empty bedroom. Just don't stay here so everybody else catch your cold… Well, everyone at this whole house already caught it if they're ever going to get it. But still, you get what I mean. Go!"

Duke sent me a glare but it was like his eyes rolled in that way as if he was about to faint. And to be honest, I took a step from the side- I wasn't going to guess how much Duke weighed but I did not want it falling all on me at once.

"Well then."

There wasn't much for me to do, with the rest of the kids back from school but everyone spending their time in their rooms, afraid of catching the bug going around and hungry for lunch.

"Maybe…" When Mike came a few minutes later I had already figured. "…It would be the best for everyone if we just ordered pizzas for everyone and they can all say what they want and we can just give everyone plates and drinks and they can all eat in their rooms."

"It did not end well the last time we ate someone eat in their room."

"I know. But maybe today and this spreading bug calls for an exception."

Mike nodded slightly, he hadn't even come in so he still had his jacket on. He threw his bag to hang on his arm instead of the shoulder and then nodded slightly.

"I think that sounds good actually. I'll go around and…" He picked up a notebook and a pencil from his desk. First you Kenny, what would you like on your pizza and what drink?"

"Chicken, pineapple, banana and curry." I had expected the raised eyebrow from Mike. "It's good. And Fanta."

Mike quickly scrabbled down my wishes for food and went away mumbling about banana on pizza. It was not like I hadn't heard it before so I shouted at him I'd ask Minnie.

Even though it turned out a bit hard when I found Minnie asleep, wrapped in her colorful blanket, hugging Lamby and snoring slightly.

"I think Minnie said some time she does like the same as I do." I found Mike again. "And she does like Sprite. I could ask some of the kids what they would want?" Mike shook his head. "It would probably go faster that way."

"I want to check on them all. And besides, you look like your feet and back are killing you. Go sit down or I'll make you."

I sent Mike a grateful look. But still I wasn't able to keep still for long and by the time I was downstairs again Mike just hung up from having talked to the pizza restaurant.

"Which ones have caught the bug, I'm guessing you know since you just went around all of their rooms? Is there anyone asleep except for Minnie?"

"Minnie, Mo and Duke are asleep. The ones having caught it are Minnie, Mo, Tee, Duke and…" Mike looked at me with a sigh. "…Kim."

"Well…" I gave another sigh. "She must be great fun when she's ill… But then she's not a lot of fun when she's healthy either." Mike looking at me jokingly. "What? You know I'm right and you know what she keeps doing. Are there just stuffed noses and sore throats or is there anyone who's got anything worse?"

"Kim said her stomach was a bit weird. But well… she's old enough to know when to have to the bathroom and as well as everyone else she has a trash can in her room. But tell me if you see her somewhere, okay? If she started throwing up we might want to keep her away from the rest of the kids."

Mike fell silent for a few moments while taking out plates and cutlery from the cupboards and drawers. I put a small note by each and every one and took the list Mike had made to show which plate and drink was for whom.

"I'm sorry Kenny." Mike said suddenly, I looked up in confusion. "I know I'm not supposed to put this pressure on you or stress you out but with everyone ill and make sure everyone are fed and make sure everyone's okay. And then you ended up taking care of Minnie since you share a room and…"

"Mike." I interrupted him. "It's okay. I hadn't even noticed. And now you did I can promise you that it's perfectly fine. Do you know how many illnesses I've been through at Sunshine? And tons of them being worse than just colds like this one?"

"Yeah, but then you weren't in the… state… that you are now."

"Mike!" I had to force down the tone of actual annoyance. "I'm fine. And so is my immune system. And if I still get ill it's not going to be any worse for me than for anyone else and it won't hurt Boo. Now, will you stop fussing."

I didn't get an answer before there was a ring on the doorbell. And in the way he looked at me I just knew Mike was going to say something.

Yeah sure, he was going to say something. Half an hour later I'd be back to being the good one and he'd know I did exactly what he told me to.

I shook the thoughts of- it wasn't that I never got appreciation. But it was kind of tiring always trying to please everyone and doing good.

I shook my head again. I had come here because I wanted to be anywhere but where I had to take care of everyone.

I actually didn't have to here. But I ended up doing so anyway and at last fell exhaustedly into bed before ten.

I woke up what felt like seconds later by hearing sniveling and sobbing from the other side of the room, I looked to the clock and saw that three hours had passed by but it was still in the middle of the night.

But still, there was that crying.

I would have liked to just go back to sleep…

"Minnie? What's up?"

There were a couple of seconds and me turning the bedside lamp on to find her sitting up on the bed with her quilt still over her legs.

"I had an accident." Tears were rolling down Minnie's cheeks. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to."

I froze for a couple of seconds, then realized what she meant.

"That's okay Minnie." I got up from my bed and carefully pulling off her quilt, revealing big, wet stains on her pants, sheets and on the quilt. "It does happen sometimes."

It did, I had for sure done it quite a few times the last few months. But this wasn't the time to talk about that and I quickly brainstormed to figure what to do. Then, before I had asked Minnie about what to do she continued herself.

"This cold makes me so dizzy. I was afraid if I would fall. Are colds really meant to make you so dizzy?"

"The temperature might. Now, can you get cleaned yourself or do you want me to help?"

"I need your help."

Minnie's voice sounded so squeaky and hoarse it squeezed my heart. I would have done anything to take these things from her and take it myself.

"Then I'll go and tell May- Li and she can change the sheets."

"No." Before I had the time to even stand up Minnie grabbed my arm and tried to pull me back. "Don't tell her. She'll just be angry and then I might be in trouble. Then she might make me even more sick."

I frowned, make her sicker?

"Minnie?" I rubbed my hand over her shirt again. "No one will be mad at you, I promise. But I can't both help you and change the sheets. And I don't think it's nice for you to stand in those stained clothes and after getting cleaned up it's going to be cold if you have to."

Minnie nodded and I saw in her eyes that she had heard and understood.

"Are you still dizzy?"

"No." She sniveled. "Not anymore."

"Can you go get a towel and new underwear and pyjamas pants and then I can come to the bathroom?"

Minnie nodded and her bare feet touching the mat she looked just smaller than ever. I heard her opening a drawer in the chest of drawers in between our beds but still sniveling and sobbing when I went to knock on the staff bedroom's door.

"May-Li?" At last I opened the door and went in, then shook May- Li's shoulder and she finally rubbed her eyes. "Minnie wet the bed. I'm going to help her clean up, she asked me to. But can you change the sheets?"

"No problem."

I went to the bathroom where Minnie was standing by herself and pulling her top down to cover herself.

"It's okay." I turned the shower on running and sat down on the toilet lid, there was space to sit on the edge of the tub but I didn't want to invade on her private space and she was already sniveling with tears drying on her cheeks while I took a small towel and helped her clean on the insides of her thighs. "Now. I'll just hold the water on running here and then you'll have to wash your private parts yourself. Can you do that?"

Minnie nodded sadly, I turned the shower head towards her and could only see in the corner of my eye how she moved when I looked away. I wasn't a creep!

"Almost finished." She suddenly told me. "Tha…"

She was interrupted when we both heard slamming open, then footsteps coming closer and closer until…

We must have forgotten to lock the door. Because all of a sudden Kim was in the doorway. I looked at her and away from Minnie, then noticed how she held a hand to her mouth and looked even paler than what she usually was.

"Do you need the toilet to sit on or can you move so I won't have to barf on the floor?"

I hurried onto my feet, in the stressed move accidentally showering all of Minnie instead of just her legs and private parts. Then I couldn't quite help but watch as Kim sat on her knees by the bowl and soon started coughing and heaving.

I took the nearest towel and handed it to Minnie. Then sat down on the edge of the tub and rubbed Kim's back, feeling her back muscles tense under my hand already before I'd started move it in circles.

"It's okay." I tried soothingly when she coughed and heaved one more time and I rubbed my hands in circles over her back. "It's okay Kim, just try to breathe…"

Leaning against the bowl Kim could finally take a moment to breathe, I didn't move though and continued stupidly enough when she tried to shake me off.

"Get your filthy hands off me."

Eurgh! I hate throwing up. Maybe that's why I write it so much though haha.

I don't know if everyone gets dizzy from having a temperature. It happens to me but I think it's got to do with my Epilepsy.

The episode this chapter is inspired by in a chapter of the series one of Tracy Beaker, it's series one episode 11 "Illness spreads" and it's on Youtube if you want to see it- including the clip when Duke falls right onto one of the kids.

Random fact

There might be a little bit much about Kenny teaching Minnie on how to use nasal spray and only using it at night. Well, that might come from personal experience haha. I have bottles of nasal spray lying everywhere and my mum found some and now I'm only supposed to use it at night and I can't freaking breathe!

Please review, this story is so close to 100 reviews.