Toddler Tales

Disclaimer: I only own Rama.

Chapter Five: Feeling Ick

Mike woke from a sound sleep, feeling instantly alert, a sign that meant something had disturbed his slumber. As a ninja he was used to being on the alert, and at night time he could sleep through any normal noises, the familiar silent foot fall of family members, the ticking of a clock, the sound of Raph sneaking in early in the morning, or of someone leaving, or coming in from patrol. But any sound that was unfamiliar would waken him and bring with it the tense alertness, a warning as it were that some thing was not quite right.

Being a father, of a three year old toddler, also made Mike far more aware of strange noises in the night then before. He cocked his head listening for any thing out of the ordinary now. The lair itself seemed quiet, but then he heard a soft whimper, moan coming from Rama's room, which was next to his. 'She must be having a bad dream.' Mike mused to himself, sighing with relief feeling reassured by that fact. He tossed back the covers on his bed and felt the chill in the air.

It was starting to get cold again, winter was closing in, and they would have another winter of suffering the cold damp sewers. In spite of all Don arranged and rigged up to keep them warm, he could not quite rid their home of the deep chill that settled into the tunnels when the colder months set in. Mike shivered as his feet hit the cold concrete floor, "Yeah that will wake you up all right!' he admitted to himself ruefully as he headed for Rama's bedroom.

Rama was sitting up in bed, she had on a pair of pajamas that were blue with green turtles on them. Mike didn't care to let her run around naked in the cold weather for fear of her catching a chill, wearing clothes helped keep her a bit warmer, and more protected from the cold that penetrated the sewers. She had a glassy sleepy look and gazed up at him, on top of that her hair was plastered with sweat, and her brow was also wet. "Daddy" she moaned.

"Hey babe what's a matter?" Mike asked tenderly as he moved toward her bed. Though Mike had a feeling he all ready knew just from the signs, Rama had gone to bed earlier then normal, but he had put it down to her being tired, at least at that time, now he realized the truth.

The reply came quickly enough Rama's chest heaved a bit and she ended up spewing all over her bed, she sat there a frightened look coming on her face, her mouth scrunched up and she began to cry.

Mike hurried over and pulled the soiled bedding up and off the bed "Sssh, it's okay babe, just an accident," Mike soothed as he picked her up, he felt how warm she was against him, he muttered more to himself "Great looks like you've got a fever and an upset tummy."

Rama sniffled, and buried her face into Mike's neck whimpering a bit. "Daddy kuggle."

"Yeah babe!" Mike assured her stroking the soaking pajamas. He felt her body hitch again and with ninja reflexes, and self preservation kicking in, he spun her around and faced her away from him towards the all ready soiled blankets on the floor. What ever was left in her stomach came out and Rama trembled in his arms. Mike held her close whispering softly to her, "It's okay babe, it's all right. Your just sick is all but you'll get better." Mike assured her, "Your just a little sick."

"Rama ick" Rama echoed sniffing.

"That is Sick honey" Mike stressed the first letter.

Rama nodded "Rama ick" she agreed.

Mike smiled, "Hmmm, you know maybe you are right. You probably feel pretty ick" Mike smiled a little, "Come on babe let's get you cleaned up." Mike shifted her small weight, and went to a dresser he pulled out another pair of sleepers, and then he took Rama to the bathroom.

Rama clung to him like a leech as he allowed the tub to fill up, she was quiet and uncooperative in removing the pajamas that were on. " You got to be sick you aren't asking for bubbles or toys." Mike observed as he arched an eye ridge at his tiny daughter. He checked the water temperature and placed her in the cool water, for Mike hoped that the cooler temperatures would aid in bringing Rama's temperature down. All the while he washed her off, while she sat like a lump. Once done he pulled the child from the tub, wrapping her in a large fluffy towel.

Mike turned and checked the bathroom cupboard for the infant Tylenol he measured the dosage of medicine and offered it to Rama, before drying her off and redressing her in the fresh pjs. Rama sniffed and looked up at him with a dopey look, that was all too common in children who were ill. Rama pouted a bit then reached out with both arms towards him "Daddy kuggle. Rama ick."

Mike chuckled, "Good idea a nice cuddle in the rocking chair help you go back to sleep." Mike picked her up smelling the fresh scent of soap, but still feeling the heat in her body. "I don't know if I want to take your temperature" Mike mumbled, "But I guess I should know what it is." Mike turned back to the cabinet, pulling out the thermometer he sat down on the lid of the toilet and undid the top part of Rama's sleepers to place the thermometer under her arm. Rama stayed still and quiet while the numbers flashed and the thermometer beeped.

Mike scowled at the read out, it was high for such a kid, Rama normally ranged around the low seventies. This was in high nineties. "Want something to drink Rama?"

Rama shook her head "Kuggle." She repeated.

"Okay we're going for cuddle time." Mike assured her, but he still planned on filling one of her cups with some juice and trying to get her to drink it while he cuddled her. After ensuring she used the facilities Mike took her out to the living room after a quick detour to the kitchen. In moments he was sitting in the rocking chair Rama held comfortably on his lap. He held her limp body close, whispering softly to her an humming bits of music, while stroking her back, coaxing a little juice into her at random intervals.

Mike felt himself start to doze from the slow rocking of the chair,and he quickly shook his head, gazing down at Rama who was sleeping in his lap, held close, her lips moving in a sucking motion. "Poor Rama llama ding dong." Mike murmured. He stood up to pack Rama back to his room where he could at least get some shut eye. Rama woke up almost instantly.

"Daddy, Rama ick." she cried.

"I know babe." Mike assured her as he caressed her fevered cheek with a finger. He sat back down in the rocking chair, "Looks like I'm spending the rest of the night here with someone who wants to cuddle." He sighed, " Can we maybe cuddle in bed huh?" He asked hopefully.

Rama took that moment to heave up the bit if juice she had swallowed. "Ick!" She made a face at the puddle in the bottom of the garbage can Mike had managed to maneuver under her in time.

Mike gave her a look, of concern mingled with a touch of humour "My sentiments exactly Rama ding dong." He touched her brow with one hand and thought that maybe, just maybe her fever might have dropped a little, either that or it is mere wishful thinking. He mused to himself.

Rama laid her head up against his plastron, popped her thumb into her mouth and began to suck on it.

XXX

Mike shifted in the chair, his butt and tail going numb from the hours of sitting,rocking and cuddling the turtle child in his hands, the door opened and he heard the silent fall of steps, hardly noticeable to most people, "Hi Leo."

"Mike what are you doing up?" Leo replied.

"Rama woke up sick" Mike gave a faint weary smile. "She seems to sleep a little bit while we rock, but if I stop even for a little she wakes up." Mike explained, "Then she complains of being ick and wanting kuggles. Or she manages to bring up some contents that I swear she shouldn't have inside her by this point. She doesn't want to drink but I got to get her fever down." Mike complained as he palmed his face with one hand.

Leo nodded reaching out to brush his niece's face with his fingertips, "What's her temperature Mike?"

"Last I checked it was down a bit, ninety four. Still high for her." Mike replied. "She doesn't want to drink because it makes her ick, not that she puts up much of a struggle at the moment."

Leo scowled, "How about getting Don to check her out?"

"If this keeps up I won't have a choice Rama will get dehydrated" Mike pointed out, "But I didn't see the need in waking him up right away, not unless I had to."

Leo looked at his exhausted brother slumped in the rocking chair, slowly calculating the facts that Mike had allowed him to know. He strolled over to some shelves in the living room and took down a large blue vase with an Asian design on it, he tilted the vase and some change and some bills fell into his hand "I'll be right back Mike." he promised his brother.

"Don't worry I won't go anywhere. She won't let me, she feels ick. I'm starting to agree with her she is ick." Mike muttered. As he watched Leo leave he couldn't help but think Yeah some leader, takes one look at the kid and high tails it out of here.

Leo returned about ten minutes later and Mike saw a bag in his brother's hands. Leo smiled "See if this will help her." He dug into the bag pulling out a bag of fruit popsicles. "I remember Splinter giving them to us, when we were sick, it was a nice treat and we couldn't get enough of them, but if she can keep it down it will help keep her from dehydrating" Leo informed his brother kindly.

Mike stopped rocking and took the treat "Rama," he whispered.

Rama whimpered and stirred, she opened her eyes, whining a little in protest "Kuggle. Ick, Rama ick."

"Rama, look what Leo brought you. Popsicles help the ick go away" Mike vowed, hoping it was true.

Rama looked at the frozen treat and took it slurping on it, showing far more interest and eagerness in doing so. "That a girl" Mike encouraged.

Leo smiled, " I'll clean out her bucket and bring you a wet cloth."

XXXX

Leo spent the rest of the night keeping Mike company, watching Rama wake now and again, though she was sick a few more times, her fever was slowly dropping and even the bouts of illness didn't seem so bad or harsh. In the meantime they would get her to drink a bit or have a popsicle.

A few hours before morning Rama's temperature had dropped enough to no longer be considered a fever, and Mike decided to try getting to bed for an hour or two sleep, this time Rama didn't protest when he went to move her, a clear sign that she was at least sleeping a bit more soundly then before.

Leo watched them go "I won't expect you for morning lesson Mike."

"Your a hero Leo. Even if you had been expecting it, I promise you it wouldn't happen" Mike retorted.

Leo chuckled softly.

"Oh and Leo thanks, I'm sorry I thought such a terrible thing about you." Mike remarked casually.

"What terrible thing?" Leo asked as he furrowed his brow in puzzlement.

"Doesn't matter does it bro?" Mike returned.

"Get some sleep Mike" Leo replied.

XXXX

Rama stirred in the bed, opening her eyes she saw her dad sleeping beside her "Daddy." She called softly. Then in a louder more persistent voice while hitting his arm "Daddddd-Dyyyy."

Mike groggily opened his eyes "What do you want Rama?" he groaned.

"Rama ick." Rama informed him.

Mike touched her forehead and looked into her clear eyes and saw the playful smile on her face "You don't look ick to me." He grunted.

Rama nodded as she repeated, "Rama ick." She began to bounce on the bed.

"If you are looking for more popsicles you can forget it" Mike warned her, as he reached out to tickle her. "You may have been ick last night but you seem fine now." He stated.

Rama laughed "Daddy come pay Rama."

Mike flopped back onto his pillows with a sound of utter exhaustion "Fine give me some of your energy kid" he answered through a yawn, "And a few more hours sleep." He added as he closed his eyes.