Soap Opera - Blog Posts
Rise Turtles & Soap Operas
If the turtles are bored, they’ll watch a soap opera.
Donnie would critique and laugh at the logic of the plot.
Leo wouldn’t care at first, but somehow gets invested in one character.
Raph would get upset when the bad guys win, and cry during a sad moment.
Mikey would root for his favorite good characters, and have his eyes covers during sex scenes by his brothers.
Their favorites would be Days of Our Lives and Young & the Restless.
72 Hours (Home and Away Fanfic)
A/N: I tried to make all the right Maori translations and customs, really don't mean to offend. I do NOT own Home and Away, just borrowing! Also some sickness in this part, be warned,
Chapter 2 – Falling In
By late-morning, Tane was three classes and nearly 2 bottles of water down, he should be feeling strong and energised, right?
“Well done guys, see you same time next week.”
A chorus of thanks, whooping and agreement answered as they filtered away.
“Great class, Tane.” Roo waved.
“Thanks.”
Alone, he dropped to his haunches, briefly submitting to the bone-melting fatigue as the hot and cold sweats lapped over him, making him almost nauseatingly dizzy; the activity had certainly aggravated his cough, how he’d hidden the symptoms from the class he had no idea.
Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t quite 100%; through bleary eyes he checked his watch; his lunch hour was coming up and the house would be empty, so he’d be able to rest up a bit and no-one would be any the wiser; as he straightened up he toppled slightly.
“Hey, you okay there?”
He felt someone touch his arm, realising it was Talia, from the recent class.
“Yeah.” He flashed one of his (he hoped) dazzling smiles.
“I’d say take your own advice; stay hydrated and don’t overdo it, you sure you’re okay?”
“No worries, thanks.”
In the Surf Club Nikau was just coming in to sign off for lunch when John hurried over.
“Hey Nik, you seen your uncle today?”
“I saw them both this morning.”
“He seemed pretty crook when I saw him, hope he’s okay.”
“Ari?”
“No, Tane.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Saw him outside earlier doing one of those ‘hot-to-trot’ workout classes, claimed he was fine but had one heck of a cough on him, looked more like he should’ve been in bed.”
Nikau looked perplexed, deciding to text Tane.
The journey home seemed to prove more difficult than he’d thought, the fever and nausea taking charge more than once, with his breathing getting harder too but eventually he found himself collapsing on the couch...
“Bella, I miss you too, hang out later maybe?” Nikau smiled at the positive response as he let himself in. “See you then, love you.”
A soft, almost growling, chitter caught his attention; Tane was curled tightly in a ball on the couch, still in his hoodie, shivering violently.
“Uncle?!” He felt the scalding forehead. “Hey, you all right?”
“C-cold, freezing.” He sneezed pitifully into the crook of his arm, trying to burrow further into the hoodie to get warm.
“I’m gonna call Ari, you’re gonna be okay.”
“Don’t.”
“Kia ora?” Ari’s brow furrowed at his nephew’s voice. “Nik, where are you?”
“At home, Uncle Tane’s collapsed; I don’t know what to do, Uncle, he’s really burning up.”
At that second, Tane erupted in a coughing fit, the heavy metallic whoop made Ari’s gut coil fearfully.
“I’m on my way, try and get a cold compress on him.”
“Will do.” Nikau disconnected the call then tried to help his uncle. “Breathe, Uncle, take a breath.”
Tane dragged air into his burning lungs, panting as his vision swirled and tripled, everything practically down to his toenails tingling painfully as Nik comforted him.
“Who was that?” Mia asked, but seeing the look on her husband’s face she knew immediately. “Tane?”
“Nikau; Tane’s at home, he’s in a bad way.”
“Go, call me if anything changes.” Ari kissed her cheek before dashing off.
“You all right now?”
“Yep, fine.” He cleared his throat, carefully rubbing his stiff neck. “What are you doing here anyways, I thought you were on patrol?”
“Lunch break; lucky I came home, eh?”
Tane raised his eyebrows in a ‘Really?’ fashion; he flinched as Nik draped a tepid facecloth across the back of his neck before handing him an uncapped bottle of water.
“Thanks.” He started to try to take a long drink, soothing his bruised throat but he started shivering again, almost knocking his teeth out as it started to spill.
“Take it easy.”
“Don’t f-fuss me, boy.” He tried to put up a front but he was struggling; his head felt like it was exploding, stomach rolling as his ears sang.
“Steady, Uncle.” Nikau steadied his hand so he was able to sip some water. “You should be in bed.”
He growled. “You’re worse than Ari.”
“Did someone call my name?” Ari came through the front door.
Tane rolled his eyes. “Cavalry’s here I see, not that it’s needed.”
“Nik did the right thing.” He regarded the unhealthy flush to Tane’s skin, the slick of hair practically super-glued to his forehead and the fact that his chest was heaving. “The only place you should be is resting in bed.”
“Are you two ganging up on me or something?” He tried to flash one of his devil-may-care smiles but it looked like more of a grimace. “I’m fine, it’s just a sniffle; I’ll be right.” As if to disprove the point, he coughed and sneezed practically simultaneously.
“Sure,” Nikau drawled. “And John’s auditioning for Australia’s Next Top Model next week.”
The image made Ari and Nikau chuckle as Tane blew his nose heavily.
“You’re sick.” Nikau continued softly. “Let us take care of you.”
“He’s right.”Ari looked him in the eye. “I know how bad your ‘sniffles’ can get.” He added under his breath.
Sudden defiance sparked in Tane’s eyes. “Just leave it; I should be getting back to the gym.” He stood swiftly, vision swimming as he pinched the bridge of his nose; suddenly everything skewed sideways, his strength deserting him.
“Tane!” “Uncle!” The boys caught him in a split-second, his breath coming in heavy gasps.
“It’s okay, we’ve got you.” Ari murmured close to his ear.
“’m fine..jusst..s-stood up...too...f..” He slurred exhaustedly, teeth chattering as he started to cough again.
“Now, will you let us take care of you?” Nikau implored worriedly. “Please, Uncle.”
Tane gave an almost whimpering moan.
“I think that’s a ‘yes’.” Ari gripped Tane a little tighter. “Come on, let’s get you to bed, we’ll see you right.”
“Is he gonna be okay?” Nikau asked worriedly as Ari pulled the door to slightly.
“Yeah; listen why don’t you call Bella, go stay with her for a couple of nights?”
The young man’s brow furrowed. “I thought you said he was going to be okay; it’s just a cold, right?”
Ari sighed. “It is, but he’s been through a lot lately and sometimes this kind of thing can get a bit hairy with him.” He smiled crookedly, trying to lighten the mood as he squeezed his nephew’s shoulder. “Besides, we can’t have Summer Bay’s best lifesaver getting sick, can we?”
Nikau rolled his eyes, pretending to cringe. “I’ll let Chloe know, I think she’s staying with Ryder tonight, doing business stuff or something.”
“Thanks.”
Mia arrived home that evening, dropping her bag and keys on the counter; she noticed how quiet the house was.
“Ari? Nikau?” She called carefully.
“In here.” Ari’s reply came from Tane’s room.
The place was like a sauna, a familiar scent hanging in the air of the special inhalations; Ari was at the bedside, gently laying a cool facecloth across Tane’s forehead. Mia gasped softly; the change in Tane from this morning was startling; he was visibly shaking now, skin sweat-soaked and barely conscious.
“Hey.” She murmured.
“Hi.” Ari came and held her, kissing her cheek. “How was work?”
Mia waved her hand, brushing away such mundane talk. “Fine, usual stuff. How’s the patient?”
“Fine, stop fussing.” Tane slurred croakily, one glassy eye barely focussed on her.
“The picture of health (!)” She drawled wryly.
“You be..” He started coughing violently, scrabbling to get further upright to try to catch his breath, spluttering and wheezing as Ari sprung to his aid; Mia grimaced empathetically, despite all his bravado, if Tane felt even remotely as bad as he sounded, no wonder Ari was so concerned.
“Kia mate...” Tane moaned softly, his head and neck stretching forward.
“Mia!” Ari clicked his fingers rapidly.
She’d seen it too, pushing the yellow basin under Tane’s chin as he started being sick.
“It’s all right, Tane.” She rubbed his back. “It’s all right; take it easy, shhhh.”
Ari couldn’t help smiling slightly, remembering how she’d used the same soothing croon with Chloe when she was sick as a little one.
“Sorry.” Tane sniffed softly.
“Don’t worry about it, occupational hazard.”
“For a gym owner?” He squinted, raising an eyebrow.
“Being a mum; but sometimes a gym owner.” She was glad her attempt at humour brought a ghostly smile.
Bella looked up at her boyfriend; he looked a million miles away.
“Hey.” She gently stroked his face, turning it to face her. “He’ll be okay; you know that Ari or Mia will call if anything changes.”
“I know; it’s just...” He sighed heavily. “I always thought he was indestructible, even after seeing what Anne did to him...it seemed so much more than a cold.”
“Nik, he’ll be fine, trust me.”
Nikau smiled weakly, kissing the top of her head; despite her assurances, something wasn’t sitting right; secretly, Bella knew it too, she’d bet they’d be heading back within the hour one way or another.
“Anything else I can do, make you a cuppa or anything?”
“No thanks.” His eyes never left Tane, who was growling feverishly; his temperature had crept up a fair chalk in the last little while.
“If you change your mind, just give me a shout.”
Mia looked on, her face a picture of worried sympathy; Ari looked completely exhausted and scared witless...and, according to him, this was just the beginning.
72 Hours Part 1 (Home and Away Fanfic)
A/N: I tried to make all the right Maori translations and customs, really don't mean to offend.
Intro: The Difficulties of Brotherhood
Everyone thinks Tane Parata is indestructible, sometimes, he even believes it himself!
Ari has always been protective of his family, especially his younger brother, some would say a little too much.
However, when a simple sniffle threatens to bring Tane to his knees, Ari must face bad old memories to pull him through.
Chapter 1 – A Storm Brewing
The explosive cough woke him faster than any alarm, making his eyes and nose stream incessantly, the fit seeming to last an eternity. He could hear a bit of wheeze but that was normal after you’d just coughed up half a lung, right?
Tane lay back for a moment, waiting for the dizziness to settle as he pulled the blanket over himself again, he’d spent the night chilled to the bone despite weather reports of sticky nights ahead as temperatures rose.
“Whakatara.” He groaned softly, gently kneading at his stinging temples.
It had started with a sneeze here and there a couple of days ago, then came the aches and feverishness with a bit of fatigue but he put that down to the fact that he’d been working extra shifts in the gym, trying to help Ari and Mia recoup the losses they’d suffered given the recent setbacks; they needed all the help they could get. It was a little bug, he just needed to keep working...however, if Ari even had an inkling he had felt remotely crook or heard this cough he’d have him tied to the bed for days, he was such a worrier.
So he’d had a tendency for a high fever and the occasional chest infection when he was a kid, that was years ago; much as Ari didn’t treat him that way, he was all grown up now!
“Come on, Parata.” He coached himself; he was stronger than this, as he got everything together to prepare for the day ahead.
He caught sight of himself as he stepped into the shower; over-moist eyes ringed by lurid red-pink lids hooded by tiredness and a generally slightly dull-greyish pallor...hopefully the shower would refresh him enough not to arouse suspicion, not that he was actually sick sick; it wouldn’t be like before.
Breakfast at Casa Parata was always a hive of activity so sneaking out shouldn’t be too difficult...the smell of the morning meal almost had him hightailing it back to the bathroom, another new non-symptom; he took deep, steadying breaths trying to centre himself; he’d throw this thing off in no time, it was nothing he couldn’t handle. Avoiding Ari might not be so easy; he zipped his hoodie up tight, trying to keep the chill off.
“Morning.”
“Hey.” Ari greeted him first.
“Morning.” Mia chimed in. “You literally just missed Nikau.”
“I’ll catch him later.” He grabbed his keys. “I’m gonna head to the gym, set up early.”
“Oh, okay.” Mia was surprised. “You sure you don’t want breakfast first?”
“Er, no thanks.”
Ari’s eyebrows practically hit his hairline. “Hoi, you sick or something, bro? I’ve never known you turn down a feed.”
“I’ll pick something up later.” He coughed softly, hoping Ari hadn’t heard as he headed for the door.
“Hey.” He caught up with him. Damn, no dice.
“Later.” He tried to shy away as Ari put the back of his hand to his forehead.
“Kei te ahi koe!” (You’re on fire.) He breathed. “You sure you should be working?”
“Ari, I’m not a kid anymore; it’s nothing.”
“Tane.”
“Just leave it!” He snapped.
Ari sighed heavily; Mia came cuddling up to him. “Ouch.”
“Can you keep an eye on him today?”
“He’s a grown man, Ari.”
“Please?” She saw the worry in his eyes.
“Sure, I’ll try.” Now she realised, not that he’d ever told her much.
“I knew something was wrong last night, the only time he’s restless is if he’s sick.”
It was true, Tane wasn’t a light sleeper per se, well, prior to his stalker ordeal, anyways, even though he seemed to survive on very little at the best of times... that and Ari had heard him coughing, which practically shook the wall near enough every hour.
“You think he’s heading for a rough time?”
“Yeah, the fever’s come on already. He sounds bad, Mia.”
“Mm, you’re just going to have to be ready to catch him.” She kissed his arm. “I’ll be right there too.”
Ari hoped he was overreacting...but experience said otherwise.
As Tane arrived he saw Mac struggling with boxes from an early delivery.
“I’ve got it.” He jogged over, ignoring the hot sharp pain across his lungs and sinuses and helped transfer them.
“You’re a life saver!” She flicked a wayward hair behind her ear. “Several of my staff have called in sick with this flu that’s been going around and the agency cover hasn’t arrived yet.”
Two journeys up and down the stairs meant most of the delivery was now ready to be unpacked.
Setting the last box down his breath caught suddenly; he clamped his mouth shut in an attempt to subdue the cough, though it still sounded pretty rough.
“Whoa, you sure you’re okay?” Mac arched her eyebrows, seeing the sweat spring to his forehead. “You’re not coming down with it are you?”
“Me?” There was the merest hint of breathlessness as he scoffed. “Nah, no way.”
“Thanks for your help.”
Tane winked.
“Sorry, I’m here!” Ryder came haring down the stairs.
“Ryder!”
Tane smiled wryly, poor kid, he’d hate to be in his shoes right now!
“Thanks.” Tane picked up the Vit -C booster juice, anything to help...if he took it slowly he’d be able to keep it down, skipping breakfast had clearly not been a bad idea.
“Tane!” The irritatingly gossipy chirrup of John Palmer felt like a drill through Tane’s skull; who else would he run into this morning?! “I’m surprised to see you this early; is everything all right with Mia?”
“Thanks for that vote of confidence, John.”
“Oh no, no, I didn’t mean it like that, just not used to seeing you here first that’s all, I mean...” Whether it was the foggy head or just plain ol’ civility, he decided to throw the guy a bone to save himself digging himself further into a hole!
“Just pitching in.”
“Early bird catches the worm, eh?”
“Something like that.” Tane made a quick getaway.
“Hmm.” John knew something wasn’t quite right.
“Try not to worry.” Mia knew it would fall on deaf ears but she hated seeing Ari so anxious.
“Easier said than done...he thinks he’s indestructible.”
“He is, he’s your brother, after all.”
Ari smiled, his heart spilling over, he truly was the luckiest man alive to have her; he gently kissed her.
“Aww guys.” Chloe smiled. “I hate to break up the love-fest but.” She showed her watch.
“She’s right, you don’t want to be late.” Mia caught his meaning.
“See you later.”
Chloe noticed how subdued her mother was.
“Is everything okay?” She ventured. “You and Ari seemed pretty intense before.”
“We’re fine.” Mia reassured her. “Ari’s just a bit worried about Tane.”
“Is he okay?”
“Yeah, he’s just being stubborn about something that’s all.”
“Tane?” Chloe laughed. “Never.”
Soon the gym was set; in record time too, the busyness had revived Tane, just as he thought. Next was the circuit outside for the morning class; as he loped around the corner to the storeroom he felt the lead weight slam into his chest again.
Falling into the wall slightly, he pulled the collar from his hoodie from his throat with one hand, the other palm pressed hard against his chest to subdue the pain as he arched his head back trying to catch his breath; it felt like the panic attack he’d suffered a little while back, only about 50 times worse. He felt weak as spots appeared in front of his eyes; he remembered Nikau’s mantra that day and tried to slow his breathing.
Almost as quickly as the fit started, it was over, a shiver going through him as he sneezed twice; he winced, blowing his sore nose carefully, it felt as if it’d been dipped in chilli powder. Tane shook himself suddenly; he wouldn’t give in, it was just a moment, that’s all...well, it would be when he could see straight again!
As he set up outside, his phone beeped with a text from Flick:
Hey Handsome,
Ready for a morning workout, Flick style?
x
Normally such a text would start certain stirrings instantly but not today; he would hardly be an attractive prospect if he had a repeat performance of just now, besides his head felt like it was filled with concrete ...rain-checking for a headache, oh the irony!
No can do, classes.
Lunch?
T.
Her response was almost instant and sparked him just a little.
Only if you’re on the menu!
x
Well...it would be another way to burn off this little fever quickly!