The others didn't trust Randall now, aside from Mikey, and he didn't trust them anymore. They would have to earn his trust back too.
Leo and Splinter felt bad that he got sick from the rain getting him, and were on the start to make it up to him. They began to make an herb special that would help with his cold.
When he was asleep, Don came back in to check on him. Mikey had gone to make the soup.
Randall was on his left side. Don pulled back the blanket to assess the arm that was hurt and he saw the cast had been replaced with a splint made from tree vines and sticks.
If he had done this, then perhaps it was time he could wear a brace on his hand instead. He asked April if she could get him a brace.
"Sure."
She went to the nearest pharmacy and got a brace. She hoped it would fit. Randall's hands and wrists were a little different than a human's. She got a small one.
When she got home and gave it to Don, he quietly put the brace onto Randall's wrist after he took off the splint.
Randall was so tired from having no sleep all night and the coughing and sneezing. He didn't even feel Don moving his hand about. Now he also felt his forehead and he was warm alright.
Don left to go get a cool, damp washcloth and he put it on Randall's head to drop his temperature. It was a little hard to just put it on his forehead with his fronds in the way, but he managed.
Later, Randall began tossing and turning in his sleep. He seemed to be having nightmares.
Mikey didn't stay far from him for long. "Don! Something's wrong!" He called out.
The family was down in the living room, talking when they heard Mikey call out.
They ran upstairs. Don went into the room and saw that things had gotten worse.
"Hold him still." Don said.
Randall coughed and began talking. "No! No! Leave me alone!"
"Randall, it's alright. I'm just trying to help you." Don said. "We should move him to the infirmary until his fever is under control."
Mikey and Don picked him up and took him to the infirmary while the others went ahead to prepare the bed for Randall.
When he woke up, Leo and Splinter would make sure he got the herbs they had made for him.
Don was sure that though Randall was a monster from a different dimension, he couldn't really be that different from them, as they were reptiles too.
Once he was on the bed, Don began setting up an IV for him, just to keep him hydrated. Someone would need to stay with him at all times until the worst was over. Don was sure he might have also had hyperthermia. He was also hooked up to a heart monitor too, just in case. He wasn't taking any chances.
The infirmary was kept as a sterile and cool room. Randall's body temperature was pretty hot right now.
In his dream world, the others could see that Randall was in a lot of mental pain. He kept on rolling around. Don ended up giving him a sedative to calm him down and just let him sleep.
Mikey didn't want to leave him, so he was welcome for the first watch. A cloth was once again on Randall's forehead. The sedative was supposed to keep Randall out for awhile.
Once Randall was stable, Mikey sat by him. He hated to see his friend like this.
The others all couldn't help but feel bad for what happened. And they didn't like their baby brother to be mad at them. But they got mad at him often enough.
Splinter felt bad Randall was sick, but he didn't regret not sending him away as a punishment.
…..
Hours later, Randall finally woke up. He was weak and his vision blurry. He looked around and didn't know where he was. When he saw his surroundings, he almost thought he was in a lab.
"Uh, where… am I?" He tried to move.
"Randall?" He heard a soft but firm voice.
Leo had taken over Mike's shift so he could get some rest.
Randall made out green and blue. He moaned.
"Randall, do you know who I am?" Leo asked.
"Leonardo." Randall said.
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired. Crappy."
"You have a really bad cold, and hyperthermia, Don said. Your body temperature was real high. You have a fever." Leo explained. He reached over and touched Randall's face. "It feels lower now. It must be almost gone."
The touch had gotten Randall's attention. "Where's Mike?"
"He's resting too. He didn't sleep last night because he couldn't wait to get you."
Randall wasn't awake for long. He went back to sleep. Only rest would help him get better.
Leo was sure they were past the most critical time now. His fever was close to breaking.
Raph took over next.
"You just better not keep anymore secrets like that from us again if you are staying in our family." Raph said. "I think you did need a punishment like that, but not this." He meant the sickness.
Randall didn't wake up once on Raph's watch. But he did on Don's watch.
He was still very weak, but he tried to come around some more. His vision made out Don's green color and purple mask.
"Your fever finally broke." Don said.
"I still don't feel good."
"That's normal. You'll be on bed rest for at least a few days. Leo and Splinter made you some herbs to help with recovery. Do you think you can take it?"
Randall didn't like being sick. "Yes."
Don left to get the medicine and he returned with it. It had been made into a tea that Randall had to drink.
Randall didn't particularly like the taste, but Don encouraged him to drink it down.
"What was that stuff?" Randall demanded to know.
"Lomatium. It might help to get rid of your cold faster than taking typical Tylenol." Don said. "Do you feel like eating anything?"
Randall was slightly more awake now. He was still giving Don a glare. Then he felt his stomach growl.
"Maybe a little."
"Mikey made you some soup. That's the best food right now."
Randall's coughing and sneezing had calmed down, but then he did sneeze. He hoped he would get better soon.
Don went to go warm up some soup for Randall.
Mikey was now up. "How's he doing, Don?"
"He's doing better, but he's still weak. Maybe you could take the soup up to him, since you made it for him." Don offered.
"I'd love to." Mike said.
The soup was warmed up and Mikey took some in a big bowl up to his friend.
Randall sat up more in bed when he saw Mikey had a big bowl of soup for him.
"What soup is it?"
"It's chicken and noodle soup. It helps me and my brothers when we get colds." Mikey said.
The soup was on a tray. Mikey sat it over Randall's middle.
To Randall, this was the first time anyone ever showed real concern for him when he was sick. Because this was a real family. But he was still mad at them for sending him out there. If he hadn't been out in the rain in the first place, this wouldn't have happened!
He began to eat the soup and it tasted good. He began eating the whole bowl. He must have been hungrier than he thought.
"Thanks."
"No problem. As soon as you're well, we can do things again." Mikey said. "Though, Master Splinter still might have you doing other things too. I don't know yet."
Randall looked down at his hurt hand. He saw he had a brace on it instead of the splint.
"Who did this?"
"April got a brace for you. So you wouldn't have to wear the sticks and vines. Does it fit okay?"
"It's fine."
"That's good. Well, I'm going to take this down to the kitchen. You must have been hungry."
"Guess I was." Randall said.
Mikey took the bowl and tray out of the infirmary.
Randall saw he must have been in the infirmary because it was like a hospital room. He could feel the chill in the room now. He pulled the blankets more over him. It was clear his fever was broken. He was starting to feel better.
Don later took his IV out and heart monitor off. "It was just for safety reasons. You were out of it for awhile." He said.
It was well past nine now. This had happened all in one day.
Mikey came back into the room and took the cot across from Randall. He just wanted to be near him.
Don made sure everything was fine and he left them alone for the night. "I'll see how you are in the morning. Get some rest." He said before leaving.
Randall was still drowsy. At least he could sleep all he needed to. The meds seemed to be helping him tone down on the coughing and sneezing. It didn't take him long to find sleep.
Mikey wished he could have talked about what happened out there, but it could wait for when Randall was well again.
…..
The next morning did find the two friends up early and talking.
Randall talked of swimming and taking the cast off he was so mad at being forced to endure that. He lost his contacts. He had killed fish and deer for his food. He had made tools out of sticks and rocks like how the turtles had shown him.
Mikey was impressed with Randall's ability to adapt so well out there. Randall sure didn't kid around. He knew how to take care of himself.
The story was later told to the family too. Splinter knew he could do it. He was proud of him for standing out there on his own four feet. Randall was worthy to be in the wilderness knowing survival techniques. But he too needed others looking out for him.
Randall was laid up in bed for three days. After the first 24 hours, he was allowed to go back to the guest room. He continued to get better.
When he was up on his feet again, Randall's color became more normal again. He had just been awfully pale while he was sick. He still had some of a stuffy nose, but the herbs seemed to be helping to get rid of it faster.
And now that he was well enough, April had Randall help her out with some housework too. That was another part of his punishment, but taking it easy on his injured hand. He did well.
Randall hated house cleaning, but knew it was necessary. He just did it to get it over with. He did like to be doing something. Just not exactly this chore.
He really hoped the family would learn to trust him again, but then, had they ever really trusted him? Mikey seemed to, but did the others?
…
Back in New York, the Foot had been looking for the turtles and this lizard for weeks. Nothing. But the Shredder was sure they were out there. He ordered his Foot ninjas to still keep on the lookout for them. They would catch up to them again, sooner or later.
It'll be some quite a few days before I can post again because I'm going to be moving over the weekend and waiting for new Internet hookup next week. But I hope you'll enjoy this chapter. And I hope you have been enjoying this story. But I'll still keep on checking in.