Sorry for the long wait, I had stuff to do. Maybe this will make up for it, but not likely XD and for those who were wondering, yes I do use spell check before uploading chapters. It just doesn't always pick up all my many mistakes. I also proof read but, clearly, that doesn't seem to help either. CURSE YOU A.D.D!
Later that night, Donnie's crying had turned into silent sobs, and he refused to lift his head from Leo's chest. Splinter had left to inform Mikey and Raph about what had happened, but Leo and Donnie stayed positioned on the floor. Donnie still had a tight grip on Leo's mid-section, as Leo was still rubbing the back of Donnie's head.
"L-Leo?" Donnie whispered in a shaky voice.
"What is it, Donnie?" Leo said, trying his best to keep his voice steady and calm.
"Leo…I'm scared…" Don whimpered.
Leo felt a stone drop in his stomach. He looked down at his little brother still snuggled in his chest. His eyes were shut tightly as if he was still crying, even though his tears had run dry long before. Leo pulled Donnie a little closer.
"It's alright Donnie boy," That was a nickname for Donnie that hadn't been used since they were little. "It's okay to be scared sometimes…" Leo swallowed. "…I should know…"
Donnie shifted himself to look up at his brother and raised an eye brow. "What do you mean?"
Leo didn't look at Donnie this time, instead he looked forward. "I get scared sometimes too…"
Donnie placed his head back on Leo's chest and smiled. "I find that hard to believe…"
Leo smiled too, but his smile disappeared when the silence focused on Don's heavy raspy breathing.
"Are you gonna be sick again?"
Donnie shook his head.
"Can you stand up?"
"Maybe…" Donnie pulled away from his brother and attempted to get on his feet, but that would prove to be easier said than done. Donnie's legs began to wobble so Leo threw one on Donnie's arms over his shoulder.
"Thanks…" Donnie said with a weak smile.
Leo walked his brother back to his resting place on the couch and laid him down where Don immediately closed his eyes. Raph, Mikey and Splinter looked on with worry. Mikey came over to stand next to Leo and Donnie.
"Man…" He started. "He looks terrible!"
"I can still hear you Mikey…" Donnie groaned.
"Oops…sorry Don…" Mikey grinned awkwardly.
Donnie couldn't find the energy to answer, so he merely sighed.
Raph stood on the far side of the room with his arms crossed. Sick brother or not, he didn't need the others thinking he was going. Yet, you could see the concern in his eyes. If everyone wasn't crowding Donnie, maybe it would be different.
Leo lifted Don's head slightly and placed a pillow underneath. After he put the wash cloth that had fallen on the floor back on Don's forehead, he took a moment to examine Donatello. He was struggling to keep his eyes open, and his face was beginning to turn as white as the pillow his head was resting on. Leo knelt down next to the couch and placed his hand on Don's forehead, using all his strength to not immediately pulling it away due to the heat emitting from it. Don smiled slightly and looked up at his older brother placing his hand on his. Leo smiled too, but it was a sad smile.
Mikey knelt next to Leo. "Leo?" Mikey whispered so Don couldn't hear (not that he was really listening anyway) "what are we gonna do?"
Leo looked over to Mikey. He had his famous puppy dog eyes and for once wasn't using them to get something. Leo hesitated before answering.
"I…I don't know Mikey…"
Mikey looked down at the floor, disappointed. Leo placed a reassuring hand on Mikey's should.
"It's okay, Mikey." Leo forced Mikey to look up at him. "Donnie is going to be fine."
"Promise?" Mikey sniffed.
Leo smiled and nodded. "Promise."
Mikey smiled too. Splinter walked over to his sons.
"My sons, I believe that it would be best if you all went to bed early tonight. It's imperative you all remain in good health."
All three turtles nodded as Leo and Mikey rose off the floor. As they made their way to their rooms, Raphael was stopped by Splinter.
"Raphael, before you go, would you mind getting your brother some blankets?" He said with a small smirk.
"But-"Before Raph could continue to protest, Splinter gave him a deadly glare. Raphael lowered his head. "Hai, Sensei…"
"I thought so." Splinter smiled making his way to his room.
Raph sighed and turned to his brother who appeared to be asleep. He grabbed a few blankets off the end of the couch and knelt down next to his brother. He made sure no one was looking and tucked in his brother, who continued to shiver. As he stood up to leave but he jumped when he felt a hand grab his wrist. He looked down at his little brother who had a tight grip on him.
"Raph…?" Don's voice was hoarse and quiet.
"What?"
"Could you…stay for a while…?"
Raph's eyes widened. "Uh…sure Donnie, scoot over."
Raph looked again to see if anyone was looking before lifting Don's torso and sitting down placing Donnie's head on his thigh.
"Tell anybody about this and your dead." Raph grumbled.
Don grinned. "I won't…"
"Hmm…" Raph hummed as he placed his head back to stare at the ceiling.
"Who won the remote…?" Don asked.
Raph chuckled. "Me, of course. Mikey was close though, until Splinter came in."
"Hmm…" Donnie smiled but then let out a huge yawn, causing Raph to chuckled again.
"Tired?"
"Mm-hmm…" Don hummed with another yawn. "a little bit…"
"I don't see how, you sleep 99% of the day." Raph said with smirk.
"Sorry to be a burden…"
Raph froze. He looked down to his younger brother on his leg. His pale face showed no expression but his eyes said enough. He could barley keep them open and they almost appeared lifeless.
Raph sighed. "You're not a burden, Donnie, don't talk like that…"
Donnie smiled and finally closed his eyes. "Thanks, Raph…" With that, Don drifted off to sleep.
"Don? Donnie? Aw, crud…" Raph leaned his head back again and groaned.
"Nice to see you taking interest in your brother." A voice said from across the room.
Raph's head shot up as he saw his sensei stand a few feet away from him.
"I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't do that…" Raph said placing his head back
Splinter smiled and raised an eye brow. "I want you to know I appreciate you caring for your brother."
Raph rolled his eyes. "Don't get used to it…"
"I wasn't planning on it." Splinter replied.
Raph chuckled and continued to stare up at the ceiling. He thought for a couple seconds before speaking up.
"Hey, Sensei?" He asks without lifting his head.
"Yes?"
Raph hesitated thinking over his question on last time before finally speaking again. "Do ya think Donnie's gonna be alright?
Splinter smiled warmly. "Do not worry, my son, Donatello is much stronger than he appears."
Raph simply shrugged. "Whatever you say, Sensei…"
Splinter smiled again and shook his head slightly. He turned around to walk to his room until he heard his son's voice over his shoulder.
"Sensei?"
Splinter looked over his shoulder. "Yes?"
"Could you…um…not tell the other to about this?"
Splinter grinned and rolled his eyes.
"Yes, Raphael. Your secret is safe with me." He raised an eye brow. "But I can't say the same for Donatello."
Raph watched his Sensei walk out of the room and then down to his brother. He was sleeping peacefully while using Raph's leg as a pillow. Raph cracked a smile and placed his head back and closed his eyes. For a while, he listened to the uneven pattern of Don's breathing. He opened his eyes only to find them incredibly heavy. He let a yawn and debated whether to get up or not.
On one hand he could go to his room and avoid the mocking he was sure to get from his brothers the next morning, but on the other hand he could simply let Don continue to sleep on his leg and sleep on the uncomfortable couch in an even more uncomfortable sitting position. With another yawn he closed his eyes and let his sleepiness make that decision for him.