Donatello and Casey placed the large turtle on the bed, his skin now taught and burning from the swelling of the stings. His body and tensed and contorted from the pain.

Michelangelo and April returned with their assigned items. Splinter and Donatello immediately took the credit cards from April and began flicking the stingers out from Raphael's skin.

"Wouldn't tweezers be better?" April asked.

"No they wouldn't," Donatello answered without even looking up. "When using tweezers, you actually stand a chance of leaving part of the stinger in the skin."

"Oh."

"Ms. O'Neil," Splinter got her attention, "We need for you and Michelangelo to pour some of the water into the baking soda and make a paste for us. It will ease some of the irritation. Take the rest of the water," he continued "and soak the wash clothes in it. We will need them when we have finished removing the stingers."

April and Michelangelo did as they were instructed while Casey just watched. Leonardo came running up the stairs with a red bottle. "This was all I could find!" he blurted out and passed the bottle over to his brother Donatello.

"Thanks Leo but we're going to need more." Donatello took the bottle and threw the cap on the floor. "Raph, this is gonna taste bad but you need to drink it. It will help stop the swelling." He put the bottle to his brother's lips and tipped it back. Raphael coughed and sputtered a bit but most of liquid was swallowed.

"I'll do it," Casey interrupted. "Just write it down for me Leo so I don't get it wrong." He began digging into his friend's bag, pulling stuff out.

"What are you looking for Casey?" Leo asked while handing him a slip of paper.

"The keys to Raph's bike. It's faster than April's van and I don't want to trust it until it's fixed." Upon finding them, Casey grabbed the paper from Leonardo's hand and ran out the door. For a moment the motorcycle could be heard racing off into the distance.

"Okay, guys," Donatello looked up from what he was doing. "Splinter and I need the space so out……..please."

As everyone started to file out of the room, Donatello stopped his youngest brother. "Michelangelo, I know you don't want to but please move your stuff into the room with Leo and my stuff in here."

"But," Michelangelo began to protest.

"C'mon Mike." Leonardo put a hand on Michelangelo's shoulder. "Donnie will need to stay in here with Raph if he needs anything. Besides, is it that bad bunking with me?"

"No I guess not," Michelangelo replied as he picked up his gear and walked out, Leonardo and April in tow.

A few moments later, three of the family members were sitting at the table, drinks in hand.

"This sucks," Michelangelo sighed.

"For who?" Leonardo questioned.

"You know who he means Leonardo," April scolded.

"Sorry Mikey, I guess I'm just as worried as you," Leonardo apologized and continued drinking his tea.

"It's just that," Michelangelo thought for a moment. "He just hasn't been himself lately. He doesn't really do anything, he just sits there and stares at the TV or sleeps. I don't think he even pays attention to what he's watching"

"C'mon Mike," Leo protested. "He hasn't been that bad."

"Think about it Leo," Michelangelo started to raise his voice. "When was the last time the two of you had an argument? Or…or when was the last time he ate a full meal? He's been walking around like a freakin' zombie!" He almost spilled his soda when he slammed his glass down on the table.

"Calm down Michelangelo," April spoke softly. "We're all worried."

"April?" Leonardo looked at her.

"Mikes right Leo. Any bit of energy or drive he had is gone. The last four or five times Casey has tried to get him to go out, he won't go. He just says 'no thanks' and hangs up the phone." April sighed for a moment and absentmindedly stirred her coffee thinking back to recent events. The redhead didn't know everything that was going on, only a small portion. Raphael had only told her a brief part, not all of it. She hadn't told anyone of Raphael's secret, it wasn't hers to tell but she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep things quiet.

Michelangelo looked up as Splinter entered the room. Immediately Leonardo got up and began to fix his father a cup of tea. Splinter sat down as Leo served him.

"Thank you Leonardo," he said and began to sip at his tea. Everyone waited for a moment, wanting hear about Raphael. Master splinter looked up and smiled, "He will be fine," he said. "It looks much worse than it is, but with a day or two of rest, he should be back to normal. Donatello has him resting comfortably for the time being." He took another sip. "I suggest that we keep any activities outside to ensure he gets plenty of quiet and rest."

Michelangelo wasn't satisfied with this answer. "Sensei?"

"Yes Michelangelo?"

"What's really wrong with him? He's not been himself lately."

"That Michelangelo is something I wish that I could answer. Your brother has never been one to express himself freely so I am not sure what is going on." Splinter shook his head at no one in particular and for a moment looked lost. "I wish I knew how to help him."

Casey returned from town within the hour with a bagful of the prescribed items. "I wasn't sure which ones you wanted to I got all three of them," he told Donatello.

"All three what?"

"Well, I guess that antihistamastuff comes in a liquid, tablets, and a gel to put on the skin, so I got all three," and he handed them to the family doctor.

"Thanks Case, I appreciate it."

"No prob Donnie," he said and looked closely at his friend. "He doesn't look so good," he observed. He noticed the slight wheezing sound coming from Raphael as he breathed in and out. "Is he supposed to be making that noise?" he said concerned.

"It's okay. His throat did swell a little bit and so did the side of his mouth so yeah, he is gonna have that little noise. But," he started unpacking his bag, "as long as he's making that noise, I know he's breathing."

"April made some sandwiches for lunch. You gonna come down and eat?" he pointed to the stairs.

"I think it would be best if I stayed up here to watch him," Donatello reasoned. "Bring me something?"

"Sure, I'll be back in a minute. What do you want to drink?"

"Whatever's on hand is fine," he replied. As Casey left, Donatello settled into the chair facing his brother and watched his chest rise and fall with each breath. "What's going on in that head of yours Raph? What are you putting yourself through?