Insomnia
Chapter Two

Eventually the smell of food lured the other two brothers to the kitchen, and Raphael grumbled as both Leo and Mikey begged for sandwiches as well. Donnie took a small pleasure in the fact that he was able to eat in front of the others while their stomachs rumbled- at least, until he cracked under their pleading eyes and gave them each a piece of his.

They ate in comfortable silence for a few, content to focus on devouring their food as quickly as possible. Donnie tried to keep up with the half-intelligible conversation, but the sounds flowed through his mind like water through his fingers.

"Will you stop yawning?" Raphael finally said, leaning his chair back on two legs.

"I would if I could," Donnie said apologetically.

"Are you alright, Donnie?" Mikey asked anxiously. "I mean beyond the whole can't sleep thing."

"I don't know- ask me tomorrow," Donnie chuckled.

"Can I get you anything?" Mikey's wide blue eyes were impossibly wide with concern, and Donnie sighed inwardly.

"No, I'm all good here."

"Can I do anything for you?"

"No, Mikey."

"Do you want some water?" Mikey pointed at the empty glass by his arm. "Are you cold?"

Donatello tilted his head at Mikey irritably. "Please tell me I am not this annoying when I'm taking care of one of you."

"Harsh, Donnie, harsh," Mikey pouted, squeezed his shoulder gently.

"Pretty much," Raphael sniggered.

Leo glared at him before turning to Donnie. "No, Don, you're not annoying when you're seeing after us." He covered one of Donnie's hands with his own, giving him a rare, tender smile. "We're overly concerned, is all. This happened just last month; it seems to be occurring more frequently."

"Don't remind me."

"I think you work too hard," Mikey pouted, draping his head against him.

"I concur," Leo agreed.

"Me three," Raphael grumbled.

"So what do I do?" Donnie said impatiently, gesturing around the lair. "I've dropped all personal and unnecessary projects for now. When I'm working, it's something I have to get done. I'm not just playing around in there for fun."

"Then let us help," Mikey urged. "I mean, geez Donnie, we may not be able to do all the stuff you do but we're not stupid. We can do gruntwork or whatever."

Donnie leveled a stare at him. "Mikey, I don't trust you with a roll of paper towels. I wouldn't let you within ten feet of my machines unless my very life depended on it!"

"And what if I told you it did?" Leo squeezed his hand gently. "Don, you can't keep doing this to yourself. It's not terrible yet, but this could escalate into something you can't handle; something that could make you very ill."

Donnie's resistance melted at those words, and he slumped against the table wearily. "You've a point. Alright. Look, if you guys can agree to follow my instructions to the letter, I… I'll delegate some tasks."

"Thank you," Leo replied, chuckling softly when Mikey wrapped his arms around Donnie's shoulders in a hug.

"I'll be extra careful!" Mikey said excitedly. "I promise. I'll be on my bestest behavior."

"You better be," Donnie growled, then hid his face against an arm as he yawned.

"Time for bed," Raphael said firmly, pulling Donnie's half-full plate toward him and standing up. "C'mon, wonder boy, supper's over."

Donnie yawned twice more before they reached the lab, starting a chain reaction that infected them all. Mikey teased him about it as they crowded around the door; each independently reluctant to leave Donnie alone.

"Mikey will come check on you tonight," Leo said quietly. "So don't 'forget' and lock your door, hm?"

"That was an accident last time," Donnie protested. "I told you that, like, five times already." He smiled when he caught the wry slant of Leo's mock frown.

Mikey stepped forward, pulling Donnie in a tight hug. "I hope you feel better soon!"

"I will, Mikey, don't worry. I'll be fine."

Raphael patted his shoulder affectionately. "You'll be better tomorrow, Don. And then you're going to start letting us help you out. Got it?"

"Yes, yes."

"C'mon, Mike." Raphael threw an arm around his youngest brother. "I bet we can get in a few rounds of Halo 'fore we pass out."

"Dude, if those Canadian assholes are online, we so gotta kick their asses," Mikey snarled.

Raphael's reply was lost as they turned a corner and disappeared from sight. Donnie shook his head, still smiling.

"Don?"

"Hm?"

"You have to let us take care of you sometimes," Leo replied quietly.

Donnie sighed heavily. "I know, Leo. I'm sorry for worrying you. I just think I should be able to handle this workload."

"Not all by yourself."

"You do," Donnie said petulantly. "You're the leader. You handle it just fine by yourself."

"You know me so well, then?" Leo asked, arching a brow. "Then why do have tea with sensei after every morning practice? Why do I cook with Mikey? Watch sports with Raph? And have evening meditation with you?"

"I…" Donnie's eyes narrowed playfully. "You win this round."

"You bet I do." Leo gave him a triumphant smirk before pulling him into a gentle hug. "Now, get some well-deserved rest, dear brother." Leo stepped back, his hand still lingering on Donnie's wrist. "I- We love you."

Donnie leaned against the doorframe as he watched Leo turn and walk away. Leo almost never said that; he could only conclude Leo was a lot more worried than he let on.

"Love you," Donnie called.

Leo half-turned, and Donnie could see another of his affectionate smiles on his face. Two in one night? Leo must seriously be concerned.

Donatello sighed as he closed the door, checking twice to be certain it was not locked. He grabbed the prescription bottle on the way to his bed, tucked in the back corner of the lab. He set it on the tiny desk nearby, then folded back the blankets and rolled into bed. He cuddled deep into the soft sheets and downy pillow, yawning once again.

He was in the middle of thinking he'd have to sit up again to take the medicine when he fell asleep.