Leo woke up the following morning with a stuffy nose, puffy eyes, and a scratchy throat. He was by himself in his bedroom, which was odd. Ever since he found his brothers and they moved in, they’re was almost always someone in his room. He got out of bed and wrapped himself in a blanket. He felt too cold and too hot at the same time, but he’d rather be warm than cold.

He slowly walked out of the room, hoping to see any one of his family in the lounge. Splinter was there talking heatedly into a phone.

“Blue? What are you doing up? You should go back to bed.”

“Where’s Mama?”

Leo was upset. More than he thought he should be, but he just wanted his mother. Splinter picked him up and carried him back into his room before tucking him into bed.

“Big Mama is dealing with matters relating to an incident yesterday. She will return as quickly as she can. Are you hungry?”

Leo shook his head.

“I won’t force you to eat yet, but will you drink some orange juice?”

Leo nodded and sat up. He drank half a  glass of the orange drink before laying back down to sleep. Splinter was in over his head. Logically, he knew Blue was technically his child, same with the other three. But he’s also not his child. He raised the other three to where they are now. The conniving, underhanded, warlord Big Mama raised this small child.

Leonardo was a genuinely kind, reasonable, and big hearted young boy. He accepted his brothers and himself as part of his family with little to no questions. He even started ninjutsu lessons with his brothers and took his brothers to be trained with weapons. Splinter knew he wasn’t a good teacher. He wholeheartedly blamed that on his Grandpa Sho, but the blue turtle was kind enough to share his own weapon training with his brothers.

He tried to avoid spending time with Leonardo, but the child always found an excuse to try and bond with him. Leonardo always tried to connect with him the same way he did with his brothers. It made Splinter feel guilty.

Leave it to Big Mama to sense his guilt and leave him in charge of him while she dealt with the horrid child in court. Splinter made his way to the kitchens. He had a baby monitor set up and one of those portal pellet thingamajigs in his pocket. Donatello had the worst immune system out of his two…three other brothers. He had a special tea and soup recipe he only made when his sons were sickly.

The soup was broth based with light seasoning and plenty of nutrients. The kitchen staff were more than willing to assist and learn the recipes when he told them Leonardo was ill.

Splinter smiled softly. Leonardo had the hotel staff as a whole wrapped around his tiny green fingers and he could see why. He was kind, sincere, honest, adorable (just like his boys), extremely stubborn, and probably the most generous child he had ever encountered. He could also be extremely terrifying when he wanted to be.

He witnessed Red try to gently refuse very expensive, custom made stuffed turtle toys that looked like Leonardo, Orange, and Purple. Leonardo gave his oldest brother a wide eyed smile that sent shivers down both their backs. “Don’t worry about the price, Raphie. Take. Them. I insist.” Poor Red was shaken up as he quickly accepted the toys. Purple and Orange weren’t aware of how expensive the gifts their brother bought them were and Leonardo never had to use that face and tone again with his boys.

Suzie helped him take the food up to Leonardo’s room. She was a sweet young woman who really cared for her baby brother. The baby monitor receiver started making noise, making both adults freeze as Splinter pulled the little device from his robe.

“Woah…Donnie what’s this thing?”

“It’s a baby monitor, Michael.”

“I thought Leo was a big kid?”

“He is. Dad probably put this here in case he woke up.”

“Guys, quiet down. Leo’s sick-sick.”

Splinter sighed relieved as he threw the pellet. He and Suzie walked through and found Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello at Leo’s bedside. Leo was awake but just barely. He was smiling at his brothers but you could tell he wasn’t all there.

“Dad!”

Splinter laughed as he gave each of his boys a small bowl of tomato and spinach soup and a grilled cheese. Poor boys were probably hungry, it was lunch-time after all.

“Boys, your brother is very sick right now. I am happy you are worried about him, but I don’t want you guys to get sick.”

“But we wanna help Leo!”

“Indoor voice Orange. If you really want to help, you three can go to Ms Maria and ask her to come down. Wolf child, will you escort them?”

Suzie nodded and lifted Donnie to sit on her left hip, Mickey on her shoulders, and held Raph’s hand as she walked them out of the room. Splinter gathered his son’s food and set them in the lounge area. He returned to Leonardo and rubbed his shell as the poor boy coughed into his arm.

“How are you feeling, blue turtle?”

“Like dookie.”

Splinter had to pinch himself to keep from laughing. Purple said the same thing the last time he got sick.

“Well, you’ll feel better after you eat. It’s no fun having an empty tummy when you are “feeling like dookie.”

Leonardo giggled and sat up with Splinter’s help.

“What type of soup is this? There’s no veggie noodles or veggies.”

“This is my own special “Invisible Hot Chicken Bone Soup.” All the yummy vegetables and chicken are invisible, but they are still there. There is also a mug of peppermint tea with honey. I will be upset if you don’t try to eat.”

Leo looked at the bowl and started drinking it. Splinter smiled at him and helped him drink the tea. Leonardo was fast asleep when Maria and the other kids showed up.

“Boys, go eat your food in the other room.”

Maria got to work and quickly came to her diagnosis.

“Leo has a bad case of the flu. I would try to keep the boys from too much interaction with him, but when they do, make sure they wear masks and to not touch him. Influenza is very contagious and I haven't given them their vaccines yet.”

“How soon can they get the shot?”

“I can do it later today. Bring them to my office after dinner. When he wakes up next, give him two baby aspirin and some citrus tea or orange juice or water. No candy, snacks, and if you’re unsure of something, give me a call. I’m only a few rooms away.”

“Thank you Mrs. Davies.”

“Don’t mention it. I’ll call Big Mama and let her know.”

“Thank you. I called her earlier to tell her Leonardo was sick. The nerve of the woman to leave when her child is sick.”

“Watch it rat. You do not get to speak of Big Mama’s parenting. The three boys in the other room may love you as their father, but you have not been acting like one. You are lazy and spend most of your time watching Lou Jitsu movies. More often than not I have seen your sons go to Big Mama for any questions or concerns they have, when they want to show off their latest artwork or invention or simply to have a parental aged figure enjoy their company and not send them away. Don’t you dare call Big Mama a terrible mother. She loves that boy more than you will ever know or believe.”

It was at that moment Splinter knew why cats and rats were natural enemies. Maria’s hackles were raised. Her sharp teeth were bared and her eyes looked like they were glowing with an anger he had never seen before. Her voice was low, presumably to keep the kids from hearing her go off on their father. 

“Is this a bad time?”

Big Mama and Abigail stood near the doorway, with a portal snapping shut behind them. Maria smoothed her fur out and gave her boss a gentle smile.

“No, I was just about to call you. Thank you, Splinter. You may leave.”

Splinter quickly left the room, avoiding eye contact with everyone around him. Maria hid her smirk by guiding the wives to their son’s bedside.

“Leonardo had a rather nasty case of the flu. They kids are in the other room and are getting their vaccines later today. Splinter had managed to get him to eat a broth soup and tea and orange juice. I know you won’t leave his side, so have him take two baby aspirin and a vitamin C tablet when he wakes up with orange juice. I’ll send somebody with the required items for Leonardo as well as some refreshments for you two. I’ll check in on the hour every hour, call me if you need anything.”

“Thank you Maria. One teeny question, was Lou causing trouble for you dear?”

“No Mum, we just had a little disagreement. It’s been resolved. I’ll take my leave.”

Maria rubbed Leonardo’s cheek lovingly before leaving the room. She gave Splinter a cold glance and left the lounge to her office. Big Mama was curious about the disagreement between Lou and Maria. Maria was typically a collected and generally pleasant woman who took nonsense from nobody. What disagreement could cause Maria such anger. Problems for another time.

“Mama?”

“Baby-shell, we’re here. How’re you feeling?”

“Like dookie. Where’d Dad go?”

Big Mama hid her smile as she rubbed his shell.

“He’s with your brothers right now. Go back to sleep okay? I won’t leave.”

“Okay.”

Abigail kissed Leo’s head and Big Mama’s cheek.

“I’m going to take care of things in the hotel and go check on my shop. You got things here?”

“We’re good. Go ahead sweet-wing.”

“Mama?”

“What is it baby?”

“Can you sleep with me?”

“Of course, scootch over baby-shell.”

Big Mama lifted Leonardo and crawled underneath him. Leo fell asleep on top of her. The soothing rubbing to his shell was too nice to not sleep. Leo’s rhythmic breathing was enough to make Big Mama doze off as well.

That’s how Splinter found them. He had to agree with the terrifying doctor. He wasn’t the best parent and he knew it. He left a small box addressed to Leo on the nightstand.

“Sleep well, my son.”

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