Please review! This is my first Fanfic ever!
"So your blood pressure, and temperature are both fine. Your reflexes are good. Motor control skills functioning normally. Regular pupil dilation. Heart rate lower than average, but you're young so that's to be expected. I'll also need to test…"
Nathaniel watched entertained as Donnie dashed around the lab, really jabbering to himself, but under the pretence that Nathaniel was listening to what he was saying. Mikey, who sat by the bed, had been sneaking pop-tarts into the boy's hand for nearly ten minutes now. Every time Donnie's back was turned and the boy had been secretly munching on them. Nathaniel was pretty sure he'd lost at least four in the sheets somewhere.
"Everything seems fine, but I'm going to run a blood sample on you, just to be sure. Also, then I can add your details to my medical record and check for any underlying issues. And while that's running, how about a simple, light breakfast for you – buttered toast and some weak tea."
Mikey jumped up, tousling the boy's hair.
"You hear that, buddy? You'll soon be free," Mikey sang. "Just one needle and then you're outta here."
Donnie spun around eyes wide, as if he had forgotten Mikey was there. As Mikey stood Donnie's eyes narrowed at the handful of pop-tarts he was holding, looking suspiciously from them to Nathaniel, who was picking at the sheets next to him, face innocent. Satisfied with what he saw, Donnie continued his bustling.
"Well, when the needles come out, Mikey walks out," Mikey chirruped, walking out the door and stuffing one of the remaining pop-tarts into his mouth. "I'll get started on that toast and tea."
"Don't know why you would bother," Leo murmured from the doorway where he'd been standing as Mikey left the lab, eyes flicking from the pop-tarts to Nathaniel knowingly. Mikey grinned conspiratorially and popped another in his mouth. "Don't know what you're talking about, bro," he replied, and headed for the kitchen whistling.
Leo shook his head and crossed into the infirmary, sitting on the edge of Nathaniel's bed.
"Hey, Leo," the boy grinned. Leo felt his mouth grin back of its own volition, then he sobered as he readied himself to talk to Nathaniel.
"Hey, you little rascal. Look, now that Mikey's not here, there's something we need to talk to you about, Nathaniel," Leo began, looking at the young teenager before him. Donnie paused and turned around to face the two, his face carefully blank.
"I know what you're going to talk about, Leo," Nathaniel responded, looking Leo, then Donnie, in the eye. "My back. And if I'm judging both your faces right, you have made some less-than-cheery assumptions."
Surprise flashed across Leo's face. Of all the ways he'd imagined the conversation going, that was not one of them. Even Donnie stopped sorting through the various instruments he had collected in surprise. All the articles the genius turtle had read specified that defensiveness and a denial were common attitudes in victims of child abuse. Maybe he'd been reading the wrong ones?
"Well…yes," Leo replied, seeming a little lost.
"We want to know who did that to your back," Donnie took over. "Because a bruise like that is no joke, Nathaniel. It's some serious damage and would be causing you some serious pain."
"Well, I'm gonna give you some serious pain if you don't stop waving around that needle, Donnie!" Nathaniel shot, half joking, half serious, his eyes fixed on the rather large intra-venous needle Donnie had in his hand.
Blushing slightly, Donnie dropped the handful of instruments he was holding onto the table beside him.
"Sorry!" he squeaked.
With Mikey for a brother, he was well aware of how important playing 'hide the needle' was to ensuring a calm trip to the infirmary. Apparently that game was important to Nathaniel, too.
"Nah, you're good. I just don't wanna see how big it is, you know?" the boy explained with a small smile at Donnie, before turning to his older of the two turtles. "And I know what you're going to ask me, Leo. Yes, I got these bruises happened at my home. No, he didn't do it wasn't on purpose – it was an accident. And yes, I am absolutely fine. More than fine. I'm the finest I've ever been. Are we finished, now?"
Leo and Donnie shared a look.
"Nathaniel," Leo began slowly, "who the 'he' that did this to you?"
Nathaniel drooped. "No one," he answered looking at his hands.
"Is it your father? Because someone did it," Donnie countered firmly. "And you need to know it's not okay. Seriously, Nathaniel, no one deserves to get beat around."
Leo nodded in agreement.
"You can tell us, Nathaniel. We'll figure something out with you. You never have to go back again," he explained gently.
Nathaniel growled. "Well, I was 'never going to go back again' before you guys came along, anyway. So whatever. And the bruise was an accident – it's not what you think. In fact, it was mostly my fault, anyway."
"It's not your fault, Nathaniel," Donnie disputed firmly. "You don't have to defend whoever did this to you."
"Will you just listen to me?!" Nathaniel snarled. "Its. Not. What. You. Think. The bruise was an accident! Why aren't you listening to me?!"
"Alright, alright. It was an accident," Leo consoled. "But then why are you saying you can't go home?"
Nathaniel sat back, and hugged himself.
"Because," he mumbled petulantly.
"Because why?" Leo pushed.
"Because, because! Look, will you guys just leave it! I said I'm fine, so I'm fine! That's the truth!" Nathaniel glared at the turtles, before looking down at his sheets.
After a moment or two, Nathaniel lifted his gaze and took in the worried faces of the brothers. "Look," he sighed, detangling his arms and leaning forward to grab Leo's hand, "I really am fine. You just have to believe me. And I know how this looks and what you're thinking, but you're wrong and I'm telling you nothing, so don't bother. You just need to have to know that I'm fine!" he emphasized earnestly.
Leo and Donnie shared a look, then the elder reached down and enveloped Nathaniel's hand in his own for a moment, before letting go. Rising from the bed, he gave Nathaniel a once over, feeling a wave of protective affection rush over him.
"Very well, Nathaniel," Leo acquiesced. Nathaniel sighed and met his gaze with a look of gratitude. "Donnie stills want to get that blood sample from you, though, so I'm going to go see if Mikey needs any help with breakfast and you can come down to the kitchen when everything is finished up here."
With that, the blue-banded turtle stepped from the lab and headed for the kitchen, unsurprised by the large shadow by the doorway that trailed him as he headed towards Mikey in the kitchen.
"We gotta take care of him, Leo," Raph emerged from the shadows, a fierce look on his face. "He ain't got nowhere else to go."
"I know," Leo agreed simply, jumping down to the ground floor, "but for now, I think all he needs is some breakfast, to be saved from Donnie, and some time to process things."
Raph merely grunted from above.
"Once he gets more comfortable with us, he might be more forthcoming," Leo anticipated hopefully.
"Whatever," Raph muttered, scowling darkly.
The whistling that had been in the kitchen grew louder, and Mikey appeared from the kitchen, carrying a tray of toast and a pot of tea.
"Hey, bros. I made extra. Wanna come up and eat with Nathaniel and Doctor Don?" Mikey questioned, looking to his brothers.
Leo shook his head. "No, thank you, Mikey. I've already had breakfast. I was about to come help you, actually."
Mikey looked to Raph.
"I'm good, bro."
Shrugging, the youngest turtle continued to make his way up the stairs. "Okay, then. If you guys get a craving for dried out bread and gross tea, you know where to find it," he called over his shoulder.
Approaching the threshold of Donnie's lab-come-infirmary, Mikey slowed to listen as Donnie spoke to Nathaniel.
"There we go. Not so bad, was it? I'll just run this blood sample for a few hours and then we'll see if it comes back with anything."
"Thanks, Don," Nathaniel chirruped. "So, I'm free to go now?"
"Yes, you're free to go. Mikey should have your breakfast ready any min–HEY!"
Mikey heard a dull thud and the sound of feet slapping the cool floor, eyes widening as Nathaniel burst from the infirmary and ran towards him grinning. Grabbing Mikey's arm as he ran for the stairs, ignoring the crash as Mikey dropped the plate of toast and tea, he dragged the confused turtle behind him.
"Quick, quick, quick! We're about to be found out. Run!"
Mikey looked lost for a second, then squealed in understanding, jumping to the ground floor, leaving Nathaniel shaking his fist after him.
"Why, you limp noodle! You forgot me!"
Sprinting for the stairs, Nathaniel was jerked backwards as a large, green hand latched onto his arm
"Should you be running, kid?" Raph questioned as the boy strained against him.
"Yes! He's gonna…find out…and I was just…hungryyyy," he squeezed out, as he pulled and pulled and pulled with all his might to free his arm. "Lemme go…man! He's coming!"
Raph raised an eyebrow and listened as Donnie's disbelieving voice floated from the infirmary.
"What on earth is that kid do– Are they pop-tarts?! How did he– MIKEY!"
Donnie's roar boomed out the infirmary door, eliciting another squeal from Mikey that echoed through the lair. Raph rolled his eyes, a look of understanding crossing his face.
"IT WAS RAPH'S IDEA!" Nathaniel yelled out to Donnie, cheekily poking his tongue out at the stunned red-banded brother as he finally freed himself and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. A look of horror crossed Raph's face as a murderous Donnie appeared in the doorway of his lab, storming furiously towards him shaking a handful of squashed pop-tarts at him.
Doing the sensible thing, Raph sprang to the lower floor, then bolted after the cackling boy.
"Get back here, you little…!" he began, bellowing after the hooting boy as he belted through the living room, pretending not to savour the warm sensation of affection spreading within his chest.
The Apprentice