Family is Forever

Down with the Sickness: Part 4

Aria's POV:

I'm ok with being quarantined since it gives Donnie and me some time alone with one another. However, with the fever, Donnie's a bit hysterical at being left out of something. As the purple mist releases into the room, he leans against the plastic wall, banging his fists against it with a crazed look.

Donnie: "Oh, you're gonna get squat from Splinter without Donnie, not without ol' Donnie!  I'm the brains behind this operation!"

I don a tired smile, the fever close to its end. That means it's almost time for the second stage. I wrap my arms around Donnie from behind.

Me: "Yes, you are, baby. Now, can we please cuddle each other to sleep to end this flu?"

I start to drift off before Donnie turns to me with a sleepy smile as he nods. I keep my left arm around him and lead him to his bed. As he collapses onto it, he's dead asleep when his head hits the pillow. I smile as I turn to Mikey & Raph.

Me: "I'll take care of him, guys. You deal with Dad. The next stage is Fan Fiction."

They both nod as I turn to crawl into bed to lay next to Donnie. As I drift off to sleep, I feel his arms wrap around me, a quick kiss placed on my forehead. I sigh as I mutter one last thing before I fall into a deep sleep.

Me: "Sweet dreams, Genius."

{Time skip}

After a nice, relaxing nap, Donnie & I awake to match one another's gaze. We both smile as we walk over to the plastic wall. To our surprise, Mikey's sick now, too. But that means Raph's the last man standing. I trust our leader with my life and more, but he tends to freeze up in moments that involve big-time decisions.

Mikey: "We're done. Raph is totally gonna blow this. He has no idea what to ask for, which means-Getting hot. It's like I'm on the sun here."

Mikey hops around as the orange mist sprays him while Raph chuckles confidently from the center of the lair's ground floor.

Raph: "I'm not gonna blow this."

Leo: "Raphael, I love you, my brother, but you do tend to fail in big moments.  Pishposh.  But that's what makes you, you.  Now bring it in, buddy.  I'm gonna hug you till a smile comes out."

Leo hugs himself with a smile. Ok, someone's still on a 'Cuddle Cakes' high.

Raph: "Enough!  Raph's got this, 'cause in big-time moments, leaders make big-time shots, and I'm big-time!"

Donnie presses himself up against the plastic with an emphatic smile.

Donnie: "He must say yes. Make him say yes."

Ok, so maybe the fever's still vaguely present for some of us. I chuckle as I rub his shoulder.

Me: "Easy there, Handsome."

Leo: "Don't forget, we only get to ask for one thing, my little Raph-a-doodle."

Raph: "I know exactly what I'm asking for!"

Good thing too, because it's time for Stage Seven: 'Must Say Yes'! Raph approaches Splinter with a determined look while Splinter looks like he could use a little sleep himself.

Raph: "Master Splinter, I know you'll say yes to whatever I ask for.  I want you to give-"

Leo: "Raph-a-doodle a hug!"

Leo slices his sword through the plastic sheeting of his room's entryway and leaps towards Raph and Splinter landing between them.

Leo: "Everybody loves hugs!"

Raph looks to Leo and Splinter with a panicked look as he tries to backtrack from what Leo said.

Raph: "What? No! Anything but that!"

Splinter laughs as he runs toward Raph.

Splinter: "Come here!"

He then leaps onto Raph, knocking him over with a tight hug & kiss on the cheek. Raph lets out a sneeze, now looking as sick as Splinter once was. Splinter sits up on Raph's plastron with an excited smile as he claps his hands.

Splinter: "Ooh, flu! Papa wants a new bike!"

I giggle at the sudden turn of events. Well, now that's over with, excuse me while I take care of a certain purple-clad brainiac. Until next time, cowabunga dudes & dudettes!

End of Episode Seven