Author's Note: Hello there, some of you may be surprised to see a sequel for this story here. Well I've been thinking and after a request I decided to do more one shots of Splinter comforting his sons individually. I hope I did good with this one, most of my creativity was used in the first story. So I hope it's good, enjoy.
Chapter 1: An Accident
Master Splinter sat back in his chair in the TV area, his program had gone on commercial and he waited for it to come back. He turned down the volume so he could think for a sec. The whole lair was silent as no one else but the old rat were the only occupant. His sons were out on patrol, and that gave him the opportunity of watching his stories without any interruption. But yet he wouldn't mind some company, which he'd became accustomed to recently.
Things had changed between his second youngest, Donatello, nothing bad but quite the opposite. Ever since that one outing he and Donny had the two made it a habit to do a few father and son things a couple times out of the week. They usually read together, went on walks, and heck Don would even sit down with his father for some TV together. One of the most surprising thing was that Splinter offered his son a private training session and surprisingly the purple clad turtle agreed to it.
From what the rat could tell when children went into their teen years they were always drift away from their parent. Yet he and Don seemed closer in that aspect, and the aged rat admitted that he liked spending time with his children even at their age.
It was then his show came back on that he turned up the volume. Right when it was about to get to the part he had been waiting for both ears twitched as the front door open and rapid footsteps followed.
"Raph get Leo into the med bay now!" Donatello's voice order.
"Already on it," the emerald green turtle responded, which was shadowed by grunts of pain from Leo.
Concern instantly filled Splinter as he got up and turned to see what was going on. Both eyes widen as he saw his second oldest, Raphael, supporting his oldest son, Leonardo. The thing that shocked him most was that and arrow stuck out of Leo's left arm and blood drizzling down the limb.
"My sons!" Splinter called out as he rushed to their side. "What happened?"
"Ambush," Raph responded to his sensei, stopping for a sec to explain. "Fearless here decided to take one Mikey."
"It's…nothing…" Leo responded weakly in pain.
"Donny said you're losing blood, how is that fine?" Raph then continued to the med bay.
Splinter then turned to his youngest sons, watching Donatello's hands on Michelangelo's Shoulders, "Mikey calm down."
"It's my fault…" the orange clad turtle responded, with fright in his voice. "It was my fault…"
"No one is blaming you, I need you to stay focused," Don tried to calm his brother.
Just then Splinter walked to the two, "My sons, what happened?"
Mikey looked like he was about to burst into tears, "It was my fault…I was goofing off…and Leo got hurt because of me."
"No one is blaming you," Don had to say again before facing his father. "We decided to take a break on a rooftop and Mikey decided to play around. Leo told him to stop and stay focused, but it continued. Apparently Foot ninja were around because Leo then sensed something and got hit with an arrow."
"If it wasn't for me Leo wouldn't have gotten hurt!" Mikey cried out as he paced, holding his head.
"Anyway we managed to fight them off long enough to get to a manhole," Donny then looked and saw Mikey still pacing and mumbling incoherent things. "Mikey you have to calm down!"
"Donatello, attend to Leonardo, I will calm Michelangelo down," Splinter spoke.
"Yes, sensei," the olive green turtle spoke as he turned and ran to the med bay.
Now it was just him and his youngest son right now, turning the aged rat saw Mikey continuing to pace, muttering incoherent words. "Michelangelo…" he spoke, trying to catch his attention. But that didn't work since his son continued to pace. "Michelangelo!"
Hearing his father's raised voice the sea green turtle stopped his actions and turned to look at the rat, "Uh…sorry sensei."
"Please my son, you have to calm down."
"But how can I!" he responded, the same panic returning. "It was all my fault, how can I calm down!"
Splinter opened his mouth to respond but then a cry of pain sounded from the med bay Mikey looked in that direction and ran over to it, followed by Splinter. Once they entered they saw Raph holding Leo down and Don's hand wrapped around the arrow. The leaf green turtle's eyes were squeezed shut as pain radiated through his arm.
"Stop, stop!" Leo cried out as his plead was answered.
"Leo, I really think I should give you something to dull the pain," Don said.
"What's going on?" Splinter asked, him and Mikey curious as to what's happening now.
The purple clad turtle turned to his father and explained what's going on. "Unfortunately I have to push the arrow out, if I pull it out then it's only going to further widen the entry wound. But Leo doesn't want anything to numb the pain."
"I can…do alright without it," Leo's teeth grit as another wave of pain washed over him. It was known Leo didn't like to be drugged, even simple painkillers. He rather preferred herbal remedies instead and would only accept drugs if it was a very last resort. Apparently this wasn't one of those times.
"No you can't, you are in too much pain, plus the adrenaline wore off so all the backed up pain is in full force."
"I don't…need drugs," Leo protested.
"Come on Leo, just do this once alright," Raph backed Don up on this.
Splinter saw the exchanged between his sons and could only frown. Looking to the side he saw Mikey had a look of guilt on his face. Obviously seeing his older brother in pain is making the guilt from earlier worse. He thought he should intervene and quicken things up before his youngest son started to feel even worse. Moving forward without being notice he reached and gripped the arrow. Thankfully he knew a trick to remove the arrow without making the wound bigger.
Leo cried out as the arrow is moved to the right and then pulled out just like that. Don and Raph were stunned at what happened, it was so quick and unexpected. Splinter then put the bloodied arrow in Donny's hand, "Donatello, please patch up your brother. Then the rest of you get some rest."
"Uh…yes sensei, and thank you," Don said as he placed the arrow on a piece of cloth and grabbed a roll of bandages and peroxide.
Seeing as part of his work Done Splinter turned and saw his youngest son walking out of the med bay. He then walked after him, now the other part of his work is about to begin. "Michelangelo," He softly called out.
The orange clad turtle straightened out as his named was called, turning around he looked at his master, "Uh yes sensei?" He's a bit nervous now, what could his father want?
"Come with me," was all he said. Turning around he then walked towards his room, full knowing his son is following behind.
Nothing had been said as Splinter struck a match and lit up a couple of dark green candles in his room. Currently he and Mikey were sitting down, a talk was I the works and the sea green turtle waited for his father to speak.
Splinter lit the candles and blew out the match before placing it on the sitting table he had. He continued to not speak for a bit, letting the incense of the candles to circulate a bit. These candles were uses to help calm one's self, both emotionally and spiritually. The old rat knew his son needed some calming and hopped this helped a bit.
"How are you feeling my son?" Splinter finally spoke up, keeping the atmosphere a calm one.
Mikey didn't respond as he stared at the rug his father had, not sure how to respond. A lot of emotions were running through his mind as he searched for something to say. He wanted to say he's fine but the words that came out of his mouth surprised him. "Am I a screw up?"
That response caught Splinter off guard, causing him to raise an eye. What could his son be thinking that would warrant such a question? "What do you mean?"
"It's like what I asked…Am I a screw up?"
"Please explain yourself my son," Splinter wanted to hear more of what his youngest child wanted to say, to get a good feel of what he's thinking.
"It's just," he finally looked up into his father's eyes, a lone tear falling from his eye. "Do I mess things up? Because like earlier I was goofing off, and Leo got hurt because of that. I mean Leo would have been able to sense that arrow coming, he would have been able to either catch, block, or even been able to dodge the arrow."
"Yes, he would have," Splinter agreed.
"But since I was playing around, I distracted him and he got hurt…and it's all my fault. It just makes me wonder…why do I even act like that if all I am going to do is get someone hurt," A couple more tears fell as he talked, the pain of what he did really stacking up.
"Shh…please calm yourself Michelangelo," Splinter reached over and placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
Mikey started to breath a bit heavily as some sobs made their way in, looking down at the rug once more. "I'm a distraction to everyone else…what if it could have been worse?"
"But it wasn't," Splinter started to speak, needed to ease his son's guilt. "It was lucky nothing serious happened."
"But it could of," Mikey responded softly. "Maybe I should stop goofing around and be serious…That way no one can get hurt."
Splinter's ears flattened at hearing this, shocked at what his youngest was even suggesting. Of course he would have wanted this, but only when it came to training, but being what he is now is all part of his personality. And that was something he didn't want his son to be robbed of.
"Michelangelo, as much as you feel that's the best thing to do, it is not."
The orange clad turtle's head shot up as he heard what his father said, shocked at the response he got. How could Splinter say that? Especially after he got one of his brothers killed because of the attitude he had. "But…sensei why?"
"Believe me on this my son, Leonardo could have sensed the arrow coming dispute what distractions were present."
"But…he got hurt because of me," Mikey tried to defend his reasons, but against his father that would prove to be a failed battle.
"Your brother, made a choice, apparently he could have dodged the arrow, but tell me something. What would the arrow have hit if he had decided to dodge?"
Mikey then started to think back to earlier that night, back when he started goofing out on the rooftop. Leo was standing in front of him basically telling him to stay focused. He then remembered seeing a surprised look on his older brother's face as he turned and held his ground before crying out in pain. If Leo had ducked then the arrow would have…Both of Mikey's eyes widened at this.
"It would have hit me…" he responded in shock.
"From what I managed to gather, yet it would have," Splinter nodded. "Leonardo might have not had enough time to grab the arrow, so he did the one thing he knew he could do."
"He took the shot for me," Mikey responded in a low voice. This blew his mind as now more guilt sat in. He basically made his brother take a hit for him that could have killed Leo. "But…it was still my fault."
"Your brother did what he knew what was best…he showed enough brotherly concern in order to take pain for you."
"Still it was because I was acting like the way I did was the reason why it happened. It still doesn't make me feel better that it was the cause of it. Maybe I should drop the way I act so it doesn't happen again."
"Let me tell you something my son," Splinter took in a breath, the incense becoming more noticeable. "I don't not wish for you to change who you are."
"What?" Mikey's eyes widen as he heard what his father said. "But…why I-"
Splinter raised his hand, signaling for his child to be silent, "Your carefree and uplifting attitude is who you are, and shouldn't be changed for anything. You have a special outlook on life, one of which that makes you special and different' like the rest of your brothers."
"What do you mean by that?" Mikey asked, now curious as to where this is going.
"Leonardo is skilled and hardworking, you are laid back and talented. Raphael is angry and hides his emotions, you are happy and express how you are feeling. Donatello is quiet and smart, but yet you are flamboyant and unique. All these make up who you are and you shouldn't change that."
"But…if I don't I could get someone else hurt again," Mikey tried to defend again, but his responses only getting weaker.
"That is the life of a ninja, danger is always there, it is not how one acts but what happens around one's area."
The sea green turtle remained quiet as he continued to stare at the rug, not sure how to respond to this. The way he acted got someone hurt, and he wanted to do the one thing that could change that but his sensei is telling him not to. "But…Leo is…"
Splinter knew what his son was going to say, but reassured him, "Your brother will not be mad, as long as you are safe he will continue to take more shots that are intended for you over and over again. That is who he is. You're joking attitude and nature is one that is a delight to have. The lair wouldn't be the same without that personality of yours."
Ok now that started to make the sea green turtle feel a bit better, but the feeling was still there. It was nice to hear this but it didn't fully convince him.
"And besides my son," Splinter put both hands on his child's shoulder, which prompt Mikey to look up into his father's warm smile. "I would miss the Michelangelo I have come to love everyday if you were to change."
Mikey was shocked what was just said, how could his father miss the goofy, jokester he was? This couldn't be true, but yet as he looked into his sensei's eyes he saw only truth. His lower lip quivered as some more tears fell. What his father said was true, and he really didn't want him to change the way he acted. Wrapping his arms around the rat Mikey hugged his father, small sobs escaping him.
"Thank you…father…"
Splinter returned the hug, softly rubbing his son's shell as he comforted his youngest child. "You are welcome my son."
The embrace was held for a few minutes before they released one another. They both gave a smile just as Mikey yawned a bit, hand going up to rub his eye.
"You are tired Michelangelo?" Splinter asked with a smile. That was another effect of the candles that were lit. If one weren't used to the scent they would start to feel drowsy.
He nodded, "Yes…maybe going to bed would be best."
"Yes…I agree," Splinter responded with a nod.
"But…I don't feel like walking upstairs," he embarrassedly admitted.
Splinter thought of this for a moment, he could get Donny or Raph to help his brother but he didn't want to bother them. They had been talking for a while so they might be in their rooms asleep. A thought came to his mind as he smiled. Standing up he gently helped his son to his feet, "Come Michelangelo."
The sea green turtle gave a confused look as he was helped to his feet and guided a few feet in. Mikey saw they were approaching Splinter's bed and gave a confused look until the aged rat gently settled his youngest son down.
Mikey smiled at what was happening, he wasn't embarrassed at this. In fact he actually was hoping this would happen. True he was tired and didn't feel like walking up the stairs, and right now he wanted to be with his father for a bit longer.
Splinter left his son for a second as he moved to blow out the candles, dimming the room. He then returned to his child's side and laid down next to him, pulling the blanket over the two. On his plastron Mikey gave his father a smile as he closed his eyes, "Thank you father."
"You are welcome my son," Splinter rubbed circles on Mikey's shell. "Sleep now my son."
Mikey gave a tired yawn as he buried his head into the pillow and let sleep take him. Splinter held a smile on his face as he stayed awake a bit longer till he joined his child a few minutes later. Mikey felt a lot better now. He knew that Leo would be fine and wouldn't be mad at him. But more importantly he felt much better that his father didn't want him to change.
A/N: Hope you liked. I tried and hope this was good. I'm not good with writing the other turtles so I hope I did well. Now this isn't a one shot, but you can think that. I have at least one more chapter planned. Till I update, later.