I do not own the Ninja Turles.

This story is set in the TMNT (2007) universe.

Rated for 'under age drinking'. In my head the guys are around 18 in TMNT, but thats not the legal age for drinking in NY.

—-

5 am and Mikey was laying in his bed wide awake, he couldn't sleep. He just felt...uneasy. He didn't know why. Well, maybe he did. Raph and Donny had had really bad argument yesterday afternoon. Mikey had walked in during the middle of it, after his latest Cowabunga Carl gig. And it was bad. Bad enough that he hadn't even tried to intervene. He had no clue who's side he should be on. And to be honest. He was quite sick of being in the middle.

Leo's extended absence was taking its toll. Raph and Donny were never like this before. Even with how short tempered Raph had always been...he and Donny rarely argued at all, and definitely not to this magnitude. But now, especially lately. They were at each other ALL THE TIME.

They were all stressed. Leo should have been back months ago. And Master Splinter was sick. A bad flu had gone through the family; and Splinter had been hit hard. Don said he was going to be ok. He was getting better every day. But he was still in bed resting and had been for days.

Mikey was scared. He was scared for their ageing Father. He was scared that Raph and Donny were never going to be how they used to be. He was scared that Leo would never come home.

Mikey got up, giving up the idea of sleep. Maybe some mindless T.V would help his worried thoughts. But he couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. He was sure his brother's argument (arguments, they never stopped now days) was part of it, and his father being ill. But also he just felt like something was wrong.

Mikey decided to do a quick sweep of the lair before settling in to watch T.V. Leo's room was closed...as it always was now days. Raph's door was open, which meant he wasn't inside. But Mikey checked anyway and saw that it was empty. Mikey moved quietly to Don's closed door and pushed it open. He was surprised to see Donny actually asleep in his own bed. Most nights Don fell asleep slumped at his desk. Mikey backed out slowly and carefully shut the door.

Next he checked on Splinter. The old rat was sleeping too. The rest of the lair was quite. Raph wasn't anywhere. Mikey checked the dojo, the kitchen, Don's lab and even went and opened Leo's door. But Raph was no where in sight.

Now Mikey felt panic flutter in his chest. Yes, Raph was out all night most nights...but it was after 5am. It would be light soon. And Mikey just felt that something wasn't right.

Raph had stormed off after fighting with Donny. Which was more then 12 hours ago.

Mikey went back to his room and used his shell cell to dial Raph's number. Raph didn't pick up. Mikey rang again. Still no answer. Mikey briefly considered waking Don, but his brother was actually asleep, in bed. Which was a rare occurrence. Especially these days. And maybe he was over reacting. Maybe Raph just needed extra time to cool off. If he woke Don and they went looking for Raph, it would probably cause yet another argument.

Mikey decided to to go himself. Maybe he'd anger his red banded brother...but it was a risk he was willing to take. Mikey grabbed his nunchucks and used his shell cell to track Raph's. He was definitely top side.

—-

Mikey moved quickly along the sewer. He tried Raph's number again but still got no answer. Mikey picked up his pace. When his shell cell screen showed that he was close to Raph's location he exited the sewer via the nearest ladder.

He was in a dark alleyway. The little light that indicated his brothers location blinked back at him. Raph was close. Mikey heard a soft groan.

Moving quickly but carefully Mikey walked further into the alley. Raph was sprawled leaning against the alley wall with his eyes closed. He was hidden from view of the street by a dumpster.

"Raph!" Mikey exclaimed rushing to his brothers side and kneeling down to check for injuries.

Raph turned his head towards Mikey and groaned again. He didn't open his eyes.

"Raph, Raph are you okay?" Mikey asked again. Not finding any injuries on his brother's form.

"Mmm," Raph responded.

Mikey wasn't sure what had happened to his brother, until he recognised the smell. And saw the almost empty bottle.

"Are you kidding me? Raph are you drunk? Are you actually top side on your own, passed out drunk!" Mikey whispered harshly.

"Mi-Mike?" Raph replied groggily.

"Yes it's me, you're lucky it's me and not the Foot," Mikey said.

"I have a foot," Raph responded "two mafter of fact," Raph slurred.

Mikey put his head in his hands, Raph is drunk, we're top side, it's almost daylight, Mikey thought. The sky was a lot lighter then it had been a few minutes before. Mikey picked up the bottle of straight vodka. The three quarters empty bottle of vodka. Raph's not just drunk, he is hammered, Mikey thought to himself.

"Okay, we need to get home," Mikey said as he put one of Raph's arms over his shoulder and attempted to get them both onto their feet.

"Am home," Raph muttered.

"No you're not," Mikey sighed. "Stand on you're feet Raph," Mikey added when Raph began to slide down the wall again.

"Told you I had feet," Raph replied.

Mikey ignored Raph's drunken rambling and pulled him up again.

"A little help would be nice," Mikey told his brother as he moved them towards the manhole, that Mikey had used earlier. Mikey was grateful he hadn't put the cover back on.

"'Kay," Raph replied, but didn't really do anything to help Mikey move him.

Somehow Mikey managed to get them both down the ladder. But it ended with Mikey flat on his shell and his very heavy brother on top of him.

"Raph, Raph get off me," Mikey said trying to wriggle free. "Raph, you're hurting me," Mikey said.

"Wha," that seemed to rouse Raph a little, "Mikey? Mike..." Raph mumbled as he rolled of his orange clad brother.

Mikey took a second to get his breath back. He then climbed the ladder and closed the cover. Once he descended the ladder he tried to get his brother to his feet again.

"Come on, up" Mikey said as he pulled Raph.

This time Raph actually managed to get his own feet underneath him a bit.

"Wow, you really do have feet," Mikey joked, pulling Raph's arm over his shoulder again.

"Yeah, told ya, told ya," Raph replied as they began walking down the edge of the sewer.

"What were you thinking bro?" Mikey asked after a few minutes of silence.

"Just sick of it," Raph who seemed like he was slightly more coherent replied.

"Sick of what?" Mikey replied.

"Just, Donny always on my shell, and..." Raph trailed off.

"And?" Mikey prompted.

"Splinter sick, Leo...Leo's gone," Raph replied quietly.

"Raph...Leo, he'll-he'll come back. Splinter is getting better. And well. Donny's just worried. You two both need to work things out," Mikey replied.

"Can't, always mess stuff up," Raph replied sadly.

"No you don't..." Mikey started.

Raph pulled out of Mikey grasp, and slid down the wall.

"Yeah, I do. Everything's messed up. And I can't make it better," Raph replied.

Mikey felt his heart pang, Raph sounded close to tears. Mikey slid down the wall to sit next to his brother.

"I keep hurting ya's, you and Donny. And nothings right. I-I..." Raph sobbed and flung himself into Mikey chest.

Mikey was stunned momentarily, and Raph sobbed again. Mikey wrapped his arms around his brother.

"Raphie, it's okay," Mikey tried to calm the crying turtle.

Raph just cried harder, " I-I want," Raph tried to speak.

"What Raphie, tell me?" Mikey said rubbing circles on Raph's shell.

"I want Leo," Raph's body shook as he sobbed into Mikey's chest.

Mikey fought back his own tears and squeezed Raph tight, "Me too, Raphie, me too."

Mikey had no idea what else to say. So he just held his brother and let him cry.

—-

Mikey wasn't sure how long they'd sat there for. But Raph had stopped sobbing finally and was quietly dozing on his chest. Mikey didn't have the heart to wake him. But he knew he had to soon.

Mikey nearly jumped out of his skin when his shell cell rang. Raph groaned, but didn't wake up. Mikey looked at the screen to see it flashing Donny's name.

"Hey..." Mikey began.

"WHERE ARE YOU?" Came Donny's worried voice.

"I..." Mikey started.

"Are you ok? Is Raph with you? I woke up and neither of you were here, and there's no note!" Donny almost shouted.

"Don!" Mikey interrupted his worried brother. "I'm okay. I'm with Raph, I'm sorry I didn't leave a note. I didn't think I was going to be gone that long. I had to come get him..." Mikey tried to continue.

"Get him? Where are you?" Donny interrupted again.

"We're in the sewer, he's well...he's drunk and honestly I think it'd be easier to get him home with your help," Mikey replied.

"He's drunk? Seriously? He's got to be the most irresponsible..." Donny started.

"Hey," Mikey interrupted this time. "He's not doing too good," Mikey added, hoping another argument wasn't brewing.

"Mm fine," Raph who had woken up to his brother on the phone mumbled, into Mikey's chest.

Mikey patted his shell in response and continued talking to Donny, "We're not that far away from home," he told his purple wearing brother.

"I'm on my way, I'll track you," Donny replied, still sounding worried.

"Okay, thanks bro," Mikey replied and hung up the phone.

"Donny's on his way," He told Raph.

"Great, more yelling..." Raph replied drowsily.

"No. He won't if you don't Raph," Mikey replied.

"Mmm," Raph replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"Raph please," Mikey asked.

"'Kay," Raph replied, slumping even more into Mikey's side.

Mikey switch his phone to silent and typed a text message one handed.

Donny seriously...

I know he was stupid,

But please don't start in on him.

He was crying...

Mikey sent the text to Donny. He knew Raph was overly emotional due to being so drunk. But he also knew that the alcohol had let Raph feel and express his real feelings. Mikey also realised that Raph wouldn't want Donny to know that he'd been crying. But Mikey thought Don really needed to know.

Mikeys phone flashed a minute later.

I promise.

Donny texted back.

—-

Eventually Mikey heard footsteps. Living with his brothers his whole life meant Mikey easily recognised them as Don's.

Donny rounded the corner, flashlight in one hand and his bag on his shoulder.

"Hey," Mikey greeted Donny tiredly.

"You okay? Donny asked kneeling down in front of both of his brothers.

"Yeah," Mikey replied.

Donny sat the flashlight down so it provided enough light to see his brother's properly, but making sure not to shine it in their eyes.

"Raph?" Donny began touching Raph's shoulder gently, "you okay?".

"'M thirsty," Raph replied.

"Okay, I've got water, Donny replied as he and Mikey got Raph straight against the wall.

Donny pulled a bottle from his bag, took the lid off and held it to Raph's mouth. Raph took it from Donny and tried to down the whole bottle.

"Whoa," Donny said taking it from Raph's hands, "you'll make yourself sick. You need to pace yourself." Donny squeezed Raph's shoulder comfortingly. "Let's get you home," Donny said looking worriedly at Raph.

"I'm so ready to get home," Mikey said, as he and Don worked together to get Raph up between them.

Raph struggled to get his balance between his brothers, "got feet he mumbled".

"You do Raphie," Mikey replied.

Donny looked at them both quizzically.

Slowly they headed home.

—-

"He was really crying?" Donny who was sitting next to Raph's sleeping form on the bed, whispered to Mikey.

"Yeah, he...it's all getting a bit much. For all of us I think," Mikey who was laying on the bed curled around Raph's shell replied softly.

"I-I know we're fighting a lot. I just I feel like... I just want Leo to come home," Donny answered, reaching across Raph to take Mikey's hand.

"Me too," Mikey replied taking Dons hand and setting them down on Raph's side.

"I just feel like we're losing him too..." Donny said nodding towards Raph.

"Not going anywhere..." Raph mumbled into his pillow sleepily, as he curled his arm around his middle to hold onto both Mikey and Donny's hands.

Donny bit his lip, blinking back tears.

Mikey squeezed their hands, "You know Raph," Mikey began, a smile in his voice. "If you try to, I'll take your feet," Mikey giggled, smiling at Don.

"Haha very funny," Raph replied grumpily, but he was smiling too.

—

Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think.