Cat woke up feeling awful. She was sick, that much was clear. Her skin was clammy, she was hot and cold at the same time, her body was shaking, and her head was spinning.

Cat hated being sick, even more than being called ugly. She wouldn't be able to go out on patrol or do all of the the things that she loved. When you're sick, it means that you have no choice but to be bored, because you couldn't do much of anything.

Cat wanted to cry. She was in so much pain, and when her siblings realized that she was sick, Leo would make her drink lots of water, Raph would make sure she's stuck in bed, Mari would force Cat to take a cold shower, Donnie would force pills down her throat, and Mikey would make her chicken noodle soup with some weird ingredient in it that shouldn't go in soup.

Cat prayed that her brothers and sister wouldn't notice that she was sick, even though she felt and looked it. She wanted to pretend that was fine, so that she wouldn't unleash five overprotective siblings.

Cat's throat was sore, which was the worst part. How was she supposed to talk and squeal without being in pain? And her siblings would certainly notice her talking less, right?

Cat forced herself to get up, her entire body heavy and aching. She let out a dry cough that made it sound as if she was about to throw up. She shook her head, which proved to be a mistake as that just made her head spin even more. If it was possible, Cat was even greener than normal.

Cat fell to the floor, and then with wobbly knees, forced herself back up. She put on her mask slowly and grabbed her Tessen with a shaky head. She was too sick to care if she accidentally stabbed herself with how hard her arm shook.

Her legs were shaking too. It was as if she'd never walked before.

Cat let out a small groan when she realized that she had training today. It would be so much easier to hide the fact that she was sick, if it was a lazy day.

Cat trudged to the kitchen, trying to appear as normal as possible. But she knew that she didn't. Cat could smell good and her nose wrinkled in disgust. Food did not sound appetizing at the moment. She made her way into the kitchen where Leo, Donnie, Mari, Raph and Splinter were sitting at the table, while Mikey was cooking breakfast. It seemed to have been done. Everyone already had plates, even Cat's plate was made. If she wasn't sick, it would have looked yummy, but it just made Cat want to throw up.

"Well it's about time you woke up," Raph snapped angrily and Cat winced. Yelling was not good for her sickness.

"Sorry," Cat muttered, taking a seat, staring at the plate of food in front of her.

Mari scoffed. "The hell is up with you?"

"N-nothing," Cat said, with a low voice, causing Leo and Donnie to exchange looks with each other.

Splinter gave Mari a look, probably for her use of the word 'hell.' "That is quite enough," Splinter said. "Cat didn't wake up too late. Caterina, hurry and eat your breakfast. We will be sparring shortly."

Cat gulped. "Yes, papa." She tended up. She's only ever called Splinter Papa when she's sick. Did they realize? She stared between her siblings and Splinter, who all looked a bit wary.

"Are you feeling all right?" Donnie asked.

Mikey poked Cat's cheek. "Hey, sis, why are you so quite today?"

"I'm just still tired," Cat said in reply to both of them, trying to keep her voice from shaking. God, it hurt to say that, to say anything.

"Hurry up and eat," Raph demanded.

"Yeah," Mari says, "everyone else is done."

"I'll eat it for you!" Mikey said.

"No!" the others demanded.

Leo sighed. "She needs to eat it herself."

"Okay..."

Cat began eating, but she couldn't really taste it, only feel the weird texture as she chewed and swallowed. When she was done, she felt even more nauseous. Cat excused herself to go to the bathroom, with promises to be quick, while everyone else went to the dojo.

Cat threw up the moment she was in contact with the toilet. She wiped her mouth and washed her hands, then went to the dojo. She was hoping that the training wasn't to much. Maybe she should have just come clean about being sick, but she didn't want to be babied.

Cat entered the dojo, his siblings were sitting on the ground, Splinter in front of them. Raph shot her a glare as she went to go join them, her brain turning to mush.

"There is still much to learn," Splinter said, looking between all of his children.

"Does that statement include Mikey and Cat?" Raph grumbled. "I don't think those two idiots can handle any more learning in their almond sized brain."

"Hey!" Mikey complained.

Cat hummed, wobbling back and forth. In her sick state, she couldn't comprehend that Raph was being mean.

"Raph!" Leo shot Raph a glare.

"Raphael," Splinter warned. "One should always keep expanding their minds, or one will never get strong."

"He didn't say no," Mari whispered to Raph who laughed.

Mikey sighed sadly.

Cat's head continued to spin.

"I think you're too thick headed to get anything past your skull!" Mikey said, sticking his tongue out at him.

"Good one," Cat muttered, closing her eyes.

"Uh oh..." Donnie and Mari says.

"Why you little—" Raph growled out.

"Raphael!" Splinter yelled, smashing his staff on the ground next to him, causing all of the turtles to jump. Mikey grinned at Raph, who was seething.

"My daughter are you feeling all right?"

It took a second to realize that Splinter was talking to her. She nodded and forced a smile. "Never better!"

Splinter didn't look like he believed her, so he sighed. "All right, my child, let me know if there's something wrong."

Cat nodded.

"All right," Splinter said. "Leonardo is with Marietta, Donatello is with Michelangelo, and Caterina is with Raphael."

Cat gulped. Raph did not seem in such a good mood and now she has to spar with him? Especially after Mikey had upset him even worse than he was...

She has the worst luck.

Leo, Donnie, Mari and Mikey all stood immediately and faced off against their respective opponent, pulling out their weapons. Raph yanked his sai out and glared so hard at Cat, that you would have thought that Cat was the one that had insulted him. Was Raph going to punish Cat for Mikey's comment? Probably.

"Hajime!" Splinter announced and Raph suddenly jumped toward Cat with his sai pointing at her.

He grinned. "Mikey's your bestie in the family so you're in it for it now."

Well, that's not fair.

Cat spun out of the way as Raph went to jab her with his weapon. She tried to ignore her pounding headache or gassy stomach. Get your stupid Tessen out, Cat thought to herself.

Cat fumbled, getting her Tessen out, her arms shaking. Cat didn't want Raph to mistake her shaking limbs for fear, but she also didn't want him to know that she was sick.

Raph kicked the Tessen out of Cat's hand as soon as she had it. Oh. Cat watched as the Tessen slid across the floor.

"This is not good..." Cat muttered to herself, right before Raph smashed himself into Cat. Cat went flying into the floor with a loud yelp.

"What the hell, Cat?" Raph demanded. "Get back up and fight. If this was a real fight, you'll be dead right now!"

With a small whimper, Cat tried to get up but the ground was so much better than standing up.

"If you don't get up on the count of three, I swear to god, you won't like it!"

"Raphie, leave me aloneeee."

Oh no. Why did she call him Raphie?! Raph growled.

"One!"

"No, please!" Cat whined. The last thing that she wanted was more pain.

"Two!"

"Stop, I'll get up!" Cat yelled, ignoring her throat, as she got to her feet, legs wobbling.

"Three!" Raph didn't care that Cat had stood up. He flung himself onto Cat and brought her back to the ground, all of his weight on her, crushing her. Cat tried to shove the turtle off of her, but she was too weak.

"Raph! Get off of her!" Leo demanded, stopping the spar between him and Mari. That caught the attention of Mikey and Donnie, who stopped sparring as well.

"No!"

"You're crushing her!"

"So?!"

Leo sighed in annoyance. "Raphael—"

Raph growled. "Whatever." He stormed off, leaning Cat free.

Splinter watched him go. "You are all dismissed," he decided.

Leo, Donnie and Mari all left, but Mikey noticed Cat still on the ground, so he helped her to the feet and froze when he felt her. "Cat... why is your skin so... warm and clammy?"

Oh no.

She looked at Mikey, tears threatening to spill. She was in so much pain.

"You're sick?" Mikey gasped.

"N-no..." Cat tried to lie, but she couldn't even support her own weight. She was leaning on her big brother.

Mikey frowned, which wasn't like Mikey at all. "You're such a liar, Kitcat."

Mikey hadn't called Cat Kitcat since they were kids.

"Here, climb on my back," Mikey said, bending down, as Cat practically fell onto his back and wrapped her arms around him.

Mikey walked to Cat's room, with Cat on his back. He placed her on her bed and pulled the covers over her.

"Why didn't you say you were sick, Kitcat?" Mikey asked. "I'm sure even Raph would've been nicer—"

Cat shrugged. "I-I don't know, please don't tell them I'm sick."

Mikey puffed his cheeks out. "Why?"

"Because..."

"Because?"

"Because."

Mikey blinked. "Ummmm, okayyy. Well I'm still going to make you chicken noodle soup!"

"Okie, Mikey," Cat muttered as she drifted off into sleep.

Mikey was preparing soup for his sister, not noticing that Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mari were watching him. He turned to see all of his siblings and he screamed.

"Is that chicken noodle soup?" Mari questioned.

"No?" Mikey lied terribly.

"Liar!" Raph said. "Why are you making chicken noodle soup?"

"Um..." Mikey giggled awkwardly. "I like the taste..."

Donnie put a thoughtful finger to his chin. "Hm, Cat's been acting weird. Is she sick?"

Mikey thought about lying but then decided against it. Cat won't get any better by pretending to not be sick. "Yeah, I'm making soup for her," he said.

"Why didn't she tell anyone?" Leo asked.

Mikey shrugged. "Should I add pizza to this soup?"

"No!" all of his siblings shouted.

Raph groaned. "The little brat's sick and tried to keep it a secret?"

"She's a fucking dumbass," Mari muttered.

"Yeah... but it's okay, just be nice and don't trouble her," Mikey tells them, which seemed like an out of character Mikey statement. "I'm making her soup so she should be fine."

"She needs more than soup," Donnie says. "She needs to take medicine—"

Mikey's eyes widened, "shhhh, I promised her I wouldn't tell you guys she was sick!"

"Technically Donnie figured it out," Leo pointed out. "Cat shouldn't have tried to keep it from us. That was a very stupid thing to do. What if we were on patrol? What if we were facing off against an enemy?

Mikey gulped. He knew it was over. There was no way his siblings were going to not go check on Cat after finding out she was sick.

Leo's expression had hardened into full Big Brother Leader Mode—stern, disappointed, and ready to make sure Cat never pulled something this reckless again.

Donnie was already adjusting his goggles, muttering under his breath about immune system failure and dehydration statistics.

Mari cracked her knuckles, looking like she was about to drag Cat for her stupidity.

And Raph? Raph looked furious.

"Oh, she is so dead," Raph growled, turning on his heel to stomp toward Cat's room.

Mikey yelped, stepping in front of them. "Wait, wait, WAIT—don't yell at her! She already feels awful!"

Raph scoffed. "Good."

Mikey crossed his arms. "I swear, if you go in there and scare her while she's already miserable, I'll—"

"What?" Raph challenged, raising an eyebrow.

Mikey's face scrunched up. "...I'll tell Splinter you were being mean to a sick person."

Raph froze. "...That's low."

Mikey smirked. "I know."

Leo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, we're not gonna yell at her. But we are going in there, and she is going to take care of herself whether she likes it or not."

Mikey sighed dramatically. "Fine. But be nice!"

Mari snorted. "Define 'nice.'"

Mikey gave her a look.

Mari sighed. "Ugh. Fine."

With that, the four of them made their way toward Cat's room.

Cat had just managed to drift off when she heard the door creak open.

Oh no.

Her fever-clouded brain barely had time to process before four figures loomed over her bed.

Raph crossed his arms. "You idiot."

Cat whimpered. "Go away."

"Nope," Leo said, stepping forward and placing a hand on her forehead. His frown deepened. "You're burning up. Why didn't you say anything?"

"I didn't wanna be babied..." Cat muttered, her voice hoarse.

Mari scoffed. "And yet, here you are, looking like a half-dead gremlin."

Cat shot her a weak glare. "Rude."

Mari smirked. "Accurate."

Donnie clicked his tongue, checking her pulse. "Your body temperature is way too high, Cat. You need to cool down before this fever gets worse."

Raph scowled. "And you tried to spar like this? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Cat groaned, burying her face in her pillow. "I didn't want to be babied!" she repeated.

"Well, that backfired," Leo muttered, placing a huge bottle of water on her nightstand. "Drink."

Cat eyed it warily. "It's so big..."

Raph smirked. "So's my fist. Drink it."

Cat huffed but grabbed the bottle. She took one sip before grimacing. "Ugh. It tastes weird."

Mari rolled her eyes. "It's water."

Mikey entered, carrying a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup. He beamed. "Don't worry, Kitcat! I made it with love!"

Cat's face twisted in horror. "Did you put something weird in it?"

Mikey gasped, clutching his chest. "How dare you?! I put extra noodles in it because I love you, and THIS is the thanks I get?!"

Cat blinked. "Oh. Never mind. Give me."

Mikey grinned and handed it to her. "I added a little spice, too, to clear up your sinuses!"

Cat took a sip—then immediately coughed violently as her entire face turned red.

"MIKEY, WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Donnie yelped.

"I may have added ghost pepper flakes."

"YOU MAY HAVE WHAT?!" Leo exploded.

Mari snorted. "Wait, wait—you spiced up her sick soup?!"

Mikey shrugged. "It works!"

Cat wheezed. "I—can't feel my tongue."

Leo pinched the bridge of his nose so hard it looked painful. "You are all giving me a migraine."

Raph was cackling. "Best. Soup. Ever."

Donnie sighed. "At least it'll clear her sinuses..."

For the next two days, Cat was stuck in bed while her siblings went full overprotective mode.

• Leo checked her temperature every hour.

• Donnie forced her to take medicine every few hours.

• Mari made her drink nasty herbal tea and threatened to dump it on her if she refused.

• Raph guarded her door like an angry watchdog.

• Mikey entertained her with dumb stories, cartoons, and bad jokes.

At first, Cat hated it. She whined, pouted, and protested at every turn.

But as the fever worsened, she stopped resisting.

One night, she woke up shivering, despite being wrapped in three blankets. Her body ached, and her head was pounding.

She blinked sleepily and realized someone was sitting next to her bed.

Raph.

His arms were crossed, and he looked annoyed—but his eyes softened when he saw her stir.

"...You okay?" he muttered.

Cat sniffled. "I feel like garbage."

Raph huffed. "Yeah, no shit."

Cat curled up tighter under the covers. "I hate being sick..."

Raph sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "...Yeah. I know."

He didn't say anything else, but he stayed there.

By the time Cat finally felt better, she was so done with being stuck in bed.

"I'M FREEEEEEE!" she yelled, sprinting out of her room.

Leo grabbed the back of her hoodie, yanking her back. "NO. YOU'RE STILL RESTING."

Cat groaned. "Leo, I feel fine."

Donnie arched an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Do five push-ups right now."

Cat dropped to the floor—then immediately faceplanted.

Mikey laughed so hard he almost fell over. "HA! WEAK!"

Mari smirked. "Told you you weren't ready."

Cat pouted. "I hate all of you."

Raph crossed his arms. "Well, too bad. You're stuck with us."

Leo nodded. "And next time? Tell us when you're sick. Don't try to handle it alone."

Cat sighed dramatically. "Ughhh. Fine."

Mikey grinned. "Good. Now, who wants some more of my special chicken noodle soup?"

"NO!" everyone shouted.

Mikey pouted. "Man. You guys are so ungrateful."

Cat felt amazing.

She practically bounced out of bed, stretching her arms above her head with a triumphant grin. She was 100% better—no fever, no aches, no sore throat, no chills. She was unstoppable!

Finally, she could go on patrol again, train, eat real food, and—most importantly—get revenge on her siblings for babying her.

She strode out of her room, energized, ready to gloat about her return.

But the moment she stepped into the living room...

She froze.

All five of her siblings were sprawled across the couch, the floor, and each other—looking absolutely pathetic.

Leo was hunched over with his arms crossed, shivering under a blanket like an angry grandpa.

Raph was lying flat on his stomach, groaning like he had just been mortally wounded.

Mari was curled up in a ball, head resting on a pillow, glaring at nothing in particular.

Donnie had a cold rag on his forehead, muttering incoherently about immune system failure and statistics.

And Mikey? Mikey was fully passed out, drooling onto a pillow, snoring loudly.

Cat blinked.

Then blinked again.

"...Are you kidding me?"

Leo, eyes half-lidded and miserable, looked up at her like she had personally betrayed him. "This... is your fault."

Cat gasped, offended. "MY fault?! Excuse me?!"

Raph groaned dramatically, flipping onto his back. "Ughhh... I hate you so much right now."

Cat placed a hand over her chest, feigning shock. "What?! I did nothing wrong!"

Mari let out a weak groan. "You gave us the plague, you little germ-infested gremlin."

Cat huffed. "Wow. I am so sorry that I got sick first and that you guys hovered around me like a bunch of mother hens! This is not on me."

Mikey, without opening his eyes, pointed a wobbly finger at her. "Traitor..."

Cat rolled her eyes. "Okay, you all need to calm down—"

Donnie suddenly sneezed so hard that he nearly fell off the couch.

Cat stared. "Oh. That was disgusting."

Donnie groaned. "Death is upon me..."

Leo sighed heavily, still shivering. "Cat... you have to take care of us."

Cat immediately took a step back. "Oh, noooo way. Not happening."

Mari peeked at her with half-lidded eyes. "Excuse me?"

"I just got better! I am not dealing with five overgrown, whiny ninja babies—"

Raph grabbed her wrist.

She yelped as he dragged her onto the couch.

"Welcome to hell, Cat," Raph muttered.

"Raph, let me go!"

"Nope. You're stuck with us."

Cat groaned as she begrudgingly took on the role of nursemaid.

She tucked Mari into a blanket (while getting called a gremlin in return), gave Donnie medicine (which he dramatically gagged on), and forced Leo to drink water (which he complained about the entire time).

Mikey, of course, was the worst.

"I want pizza soup."

Cat stared. "Mikey, that's disgusting."

"It's got nutrients."

"It's got death."

Mikey pouted. "You just don't understand my genius."

Cat sighed, turning to Donnie. "How much NyQuil can I give Mikey before it's illegal?"

Donnie weakly raised a finger. "More than you think."

• Leo kept barking out orders like he was still in charge, even while barely holding his head up.

• Raph refused to take medicine, claiming he could "tough it out"—only to immediately regret it when he sneezed so hard he nearly passed out.

• Mari threw a pillow at Cat every time she was told to rest.

• Mikey whined about wanting cartoons, then fell asleep two minutes later.

• Donnie had a full-on meltdown about "statistical probabilities of dying from the common cold."

By the end of the day, Cat was completely done.

She stood in the middle of the lair, arms crossed. "I hate every single one of you."

Mikey raised a weak fist. "We love you, Kitcat..."

Cat rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."

But despite her complaining... she stayed.

Because, no matter how annoying they were, they were her family.