Disclaimer: still do not own the turtles..."grumbles darkly"

Here is the third story of the "Offense" series. This story is in Don's POV.

Chapter 1: Brother's Keeper

In catatonic stupor, motor activity may be reduced to zero. Individuals avoid bathing and grooming, make little or no eye contact with others, may be mute and rigid, and initiate no social behaviors...

I glance up across my lab. Leo is sitting, rigid in his chair, eyes dull and practically lifeless. Even though he can walk now he tends to stay in that chair...when he moves that is...we have to tell him to do everything..."brush your teeth Leo", "Sit down", "go to sleep", "eat". He id there, but not there...

I'll never forget waking to Leo screaming and laughing...it was terrifying...then he just...stopped...shut-down...like you unplugged the computer and then expected it to still keep running...it's like his soul is gone...

Patients with catatonia may experience an extreme loss of motor ability or constant hyperactive motor activity. Catatonic patients will sometimes hold rigid poses for hours and will ignore any external stimuli. Patients with catatonic excitement can die of exhaustion if not treated. Patients may also show stereotyped, repetitive movements. They may show specific types of movement known as "waxy flexibility" in which they maintain positions after being placed in them by someone else, or gegenhalten (lit. "counterhold"), in which they resist movement in proportion to the force applied by the examiner. They may repeat meaningless phrases or speak only to repeat what the examiner says.

While catatonia is only identified as a form of schizophrenia in present psychiatric classifications, it is increasingly recognized as a syndrome with many faces. It appears as the Kahlbaum syndrome (retarded catatonia), malignant catatonia (neuroleptic malignant syndrome, toxic serotonin syndrome), and excited forms (delirious mania, catatonic excitement, oneirophrenia). It has also been recognized as grafted on to autistic spectrum disorders.

Leo must fall into the Gegenhalten state...he won't let us move him...he's lost most of his motor ability...only moves if we order him to...may die of exaustion...we have to make sure he sleeps then...we already are but...what if he wakes up when we're not there? I get up and move over to him. Leo just sits there, rigid...motionless...lifeless? Is my brother still in there?

We found out why he shut-down...Shira...Jane as my brother knew her was pregnant...with Leo's child...found out Leo's wanted kids since he was old enough to understand the concept...never thought it'd be possible...never...even when I told all of us that we were compatible to humans...he-he...he figured no one would want a...he called himself a cripled freak of nature...I can't believe Leo would think that...when Ja-Shira started courting him...he figured it was nothing at first...she was just curious...then he fell in love and...he started hoping...when she betrayed him...it-it...it made him just...stop....to himit was a confirmation of his worst fears...he couldn't face that...face the fact that he...killed his own child...

I touch Leo's cheek and then grip his chin and try to get him to look at me...he won't move...I try to look him in the eye...his gaze slides away...tears roll down my cheeks...

"Oh Leo..." I sob, hugging his rigid body, "Come back to us."

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