Disclaimer: see chapter one
Leonardo stood in the doorway of Splinter's room, watching Donatello as he checked their father's vitals. Splinter coughed violently. His breathing was laboured and raspy. Donatello gently rubbed Splinter's back as he continued to cough. He looked up at his eldest brother, worry shining in his brown eyes. Leonardo knew what Donatello wanted to say: Splinter wasn't well. He hadn't been for some time. This was a time when Splinter needed his sons the most; to pull together and be strong. So, what had gotten under Raphael's shell to make him so defiant?
Leonardo shouldn't have been surprised at his brother's outburst earlier. But, of all the times to disrespect Splinter's wishes, Raphael chose now to do so. Leonardo was both angry and hurt that his red masked brother didn't think he was capable of leading the family. He had been leading their small band ever since they were fifteen and they had done alright. Stopping an alien invasion, driving out a criminal ninja clan from their city and helping the authorities keep petty crime down to a minimum.
Sure, Leonardo had been inexperienced in the ways of being a leader. He made mistakes, sure, but he always learned from them. He grew to be confidant in himself as both a leader and a brother. He thought he had finally gotten back into Raphael's good books.
Guess I was wrong, Leonardo thought sadly.
Donatello helped Splinter to lie down and covered him up in a warm blanket. "I'll be back to check on you, sensei," he spoke softly.
Splinter merely sighed tiredly and closed his eyes, drifting off to sleep. Donatello got up and headed out of the room. Leonardo followed, closing the door behind him. Donatello walked over to the tree and looked up into the branches; his eyes sad. Leonardo came to stand next to him.
"I never understood this tree," Donatello stated dully. "It's a scientific impossibility. I mean, how many trees do you know that can survive in the sewers?"
Leonardo looked up at the tree. "I always thought it was a nice representation of us," he replied. "If you think about it, we're scientific impossibilities, too."
Donatello thought about it for a moment. "Fair enough," he said quietly.
Leonardo sighed, not wanting to ask his next question; but he needed to know. "How bad is he, Donnie?"
"Hard to say without the proper medical equipment," Donatello replied. "But, my best guess?" He paused for effect. "Very bad. I don't think he has very long."
"Estimate?" Leonardo asked.
Donatello shrugged. "Few months, at best," he answered solemnly. "All we can do is make him comfortable."
Leonardo looked away, fearful that his brother would see the panic on his face. His heart began to race, pounding against his ribs as though it was trying to escape the confines of his chest.
"Excuse me," he whispered as he made his way out of the dojo.
Leonardo hurried out into the main area of the lair. He wrapped his arms around himself and fought back burning, blinding tears.
"Sensei must be bad if you're almost crying," came the sound of his hot-headed brother's voice.
Leonardo looked up, just noticing Raphael sitting on the couch. A wrestling match was on, but the sound had been muted. It was hard to determine the look in Raphael's eyes. It was a mixture of sadness, anger and resentfulness. Leonardo wiped his eyes and regained his composure.
"So the Great and Powerful Leonardo is mortal, after all," Raphael stated, turning back to the TV. "Who would have ever guessed?"
"Back off, Raph," Leonardo said.
"Why should I?" Raphael asked.
"Sensei's sick. Now's not the time for petty jealousy," Leonardo told him.
Raphael barked a laugh. "Jealousy?" he repeated, looking back at his brother. "You think I'm jealous? Of whom? You?" He scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself, Sword Boy."
"If it's not jealousy, then what has crawled up your shell?" Leonardo asked.
Raphael turned the TV off and stood up, turning to face his brother. "You're so smart. You tell me. After all, you're the head of the family, now. You need to know what everyone's feeling at all times."
"What is your deal, Raphael?" Leonardo yelled, his voice echoing through the lair.
All sound seemed to die down as Blue and Red glared at each other. Donatello and Michelangelo poked their heads out of their hiding places in the kitchen and dojo.
"What unspeakable sin have I committed to earn your resentfulness?" Leonardo asked, his voice lowering in volume.
"There's not enough hours in the day to name them all," Raphael replied, seething.
"So, that's it, then. We're right back to where we were when we were fifteen," Leonardo said. "You were like this for weeks after Splinter appointed me leader."
"Because you were so high and mighty about it," Raphael told him. "True warrior's spirit? As if."
Leonardo felt his face burn with embarrassment. "So, I wasn't the most humble at the time. Sue me. I was only fifteen, Raph. Any of us would have lorded it over the others."
"So, you're going to lord this new promotion over us, now. Is that what you're saying?" Raphael asked, crossing his arms.
"What? No!" Leonardo said, insulted. "I have matured, Raph. Unlike you."
"Oh, didn't you know? Every family has a problem child, Leonardo. I just happen to be that one. Get used to it!" Raphael yelled.
"Problem child, nothing," Leonardo stated. "You're full on impossible. Sometimes I wonder if we're even blood brothers."
"Yeah? Well, I've often wished you were never even born!" Raphael all but screamed.
A look of pure, raw hurt shattered Leonardo's angry expression as his brother stormed off to his room. Was that how deep Raphael's hatred ran? The lair rang with the sound of a door slamming shut; making Leonardo flinch. He vaguely registered his other brothers moving towards him; but he was too numb to acknowledge them.
"Leo?" Donatello asked, uncertainly.
Leonardo slowly made his way over to the Pit and sat down on the couch, leaning over with his arms on his knees. What had he done to earn Raphael's hatred? Was he really that bad of a brother? It grew harder and harder to breathe, and soon Leonardo found himself gasping for air. His throat began to close and his eyes burned as tears started to flow. Leonardo folded into himself, wrapping his arms across his chest as his body began to shake with uncontrollable sobs.
This wasn't petty sibling rivalry; at least, not anymore. What had he heard Slash tell Raphael? Too many unresolved issues? Though, they had worked out their issues...years ago. Everything was as it should be. So, why was he curled into a ball crying like he had just lost his entire family?
Gentle arms wrapped around his trembling body and he was pulled into a hug. Michelangelo rubbed Leonardo's back, silently soothing him. Donatello sat down on the other side of his blue masked sibling; also remaining silent. The two younger brothers shared a look before Donatello glanced in the direction of Raphael's room. The turtle in red had gone down a dark path. And, Donatello feared that it was a path that would inevitably lead to his own destruction, and the destruction of their once happy home.
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