"Just wait here, Raph. I'm going for more bandages" Don said leaving the lab for more medical supplies.
Raph's wounds hand been cleaned and stitched; the large cut on his chest was bleeding the most so the genius turtle needed more bandages to cover it. Leo sat beside his red masked brother in the bed's lab; besides Don… Mikey was the second in the family who would never EVER react like that while he had an argument with Raph, in fact, Mikey hardly ever argued with Raph! His little brother's behavior was getting weirder and weirder. The blue masked ninja tried to think what could be troubling Mikey's mind. A Brooklyn accented voice made him snap of his thoughts.
"Where's Mikey?" Raph asked.
"His room, I guess" Leo said.
"No Leo, that's not Mikey. I said where is our Mikey… not that… monstrosity that calls himself Michelangelo" Raph said.
"Raph… Mikey or Michelangelo… he's still our brother!"
"Not anymore fer me. Though I have to admit… he's a better fighter now" Raph teased.
"Yeah, right. A fighter without honor who uses weapons against bare hands! What would Splinter say?" Leo replied.
"Speaking of him… when is he coming home?" Raph asked.
"He just called saying he'll be here in three days… enough time to solve this mess" Leo said.
"Ya think we can solve it?"
"Well… maybe the kitchen is not the best place to talk to him for now" Leo chuckled.
"I'm back!" Don entered into the lab with the supplies.
"Was he still locked in his room?" Leo asked.
"Yeah… nothing but silence… that's scary even for Mikey" Don said as he bandaged Raph's chest.
"Maybe he's asleep… again" Leo said not believing his words.
"After that fight? I'm not so sure he's asleep" Raph snorted.
"Guys… I was thinking… remember the day we lectured him for that prank? I think we were… extra harsh with him" Don said as he finished bandaging Raph's wounds.
"He ain't a baby, Don! Besides he deserved it" Raph replied.
"I don't know… maybe Don is right. Every time Mikey gets lectured for Splinter he doesn't snap of it so easily unless one of us talks to him" Leo commented.
"In this case… we all lectured him and…" Don continued.
"We still acted like jerks the day after… aww shell… now I get it" Raph slapped his forehead.
"I think he's depressed and I mean DEPRESSED" Leo said.
"Well, in that case… I could help. I've read something on internet and I guess I could talk to Mikey" Don suggested.
"Good luck with that. I don't think he's gonna let you in" Raph said remembering Mikey never opened the door when one them called him.
"I can wait until he needs something. After all… he needs his videogames and comics to live" Don chuckled. But he was way wrong. Maybe Mikey couldn't live without his beloved games and comics… but this wasn't Mikey anymore.
The next day, later in the night, the orange masked turtle was making some changes on his room. The posters of his favorite skaters were gone, his bookshelf was empty and his action figures were all packed with his favorite skateboard and videogames. Mikey waited until the area outside his room was clear to leave downstairs.
"Hmm… seems like the others were out" Mikey thought as he went downstairs with a big box in his hands.
"Mik… er… Michelangelo! Good to see you" Don greeted him as he made his way to the lab.
"Gosh… if he's here… then, the others are here too!" Mikey said to himself.
"Relax bro… the others are not here" Don calmed Mikey as he noticed his worried face.
"What are you doing here? Why you're not with your brothers?" Mikey asked bitterly.
"First of all, they're your brothers too. And second… I have some projects to finish now I have some peace and quiet" Don said and entered into the lab.
"Hmmm… I see. Can you… help me with something?" Mikey asked as he followed Don.
"Sure!"
"Get rid of this stuff" Mikey said handing him the box.
"Uh… ok" Don said. The box was heavy and Don's curiosity made him opened it. He was shocked at his discovery: all Mikey's favorite comic books, games and other stuff were packed in that heavy box.
"Wait a sec… Mik… Michelangelo? This is…" Don asked but Mikey interrupted him.
"Old stuff, just that" Mikey answered.
"But… your comics, your skateboard… your games?" Don insisted.
"Old… stuff" Mikey repeated in a serious voice.
"That's it. We have to talk" Don said placing the box in the lab's floor.
"I have nothing to talk, Donatello" Mikey said avoiding his brother's gaze.
"Mikey, please" Don insisted using an extra calmed voice.
"Michelangelo, if you don't mind" Mikey replied crossing arms.
"Ok… Michelangelo… I know something is bothering you and I just want to help" Don said
"Always wanting to be the goody, huh?" Mikey said sarcastically narrowing eyes.
"What?" Don asked in confusion.
"You always think you know everything but you don't, Donatello. You don't know everything; you're not the supreme genius you think you are!" Mikey said raising his voice level as he talked.
"Mik…" Don stepped closer to Mikey.
"Stop calling me like that!" Mikey yelled at him.
"Calm down! I just want to talk" Don insisted. Mikey lost his patience and sent a fist to his brother's face. Luckily, Don caught it in time.
"Stop it, you…!" Don said angrily but then…
"M-Mikey? Are those… cuts?" Don asked in shock noticing the still fresh blood lines on Mikey's wrist.
The purple masked ninja didn't expect what it came after that: he found himself dodging punches and kicks from his youngest sibling.
"Mikey, stop it!" Don said panting and dodging the incoming hits and kicks.
In a matter of seconds, Mikey managed to push Don, making his head to hit the wall which left him half conscious. The genius turtle laid now in the floor moaning from the pain of his bruises and with little blood coming from his mouth. Mikey stared at the scene for moment before running upstairs and locking himself on his room.
"Michelangelo's journal: I don't know what's going on with me; I almost kicked Donnie to death! And just because he… he discovered the cuts in my wrist… well, almost. But that's not the point! Gosh, what's wrong with me! I know I'm angry at them but that doesn't mean I wanna hurt them… leave alone the fact that I'm the one who's hurting them! Poor Donnie; he just wanted to talk to me and I… and I…" Mikey couldn't finish writing the entry. He tossed the journal on his bed before breaking into tears. After that, he pulled out his kunai and made a deep cut on his wrist like he always did.
Some hours later, Leo and Raph returned to the lair. The streets were kinda clear that night so they didn't get much action except for a couple of thugs doing robbery in a little store.
"I'll tell ya… this was da worst patrol night I've had in mah whole life!" Raph said stretching his arms.
"Hey! Not my problem the criminals took some vacations. Besides, you took care of those thugs all on your own!" Leo replied.
"Still, I didn't have enough" Raph said.
"You never have enough, Raph" Leo chuckled.
"Cut it with the sarcasm, Fearless" Raph said giving a warning glare to Leo.
"Oh… someone can't take the truth" Leo teased.
"Usually, I would have an answer fer that. But I'm a good mood so I'll let ya think ya win" Raph chuckled
"Har-di-har. Now why don't you use that good mood of yours and make us something to eat! I'm hungry" Leo said making his way to the kitchen.
"Tuna sandwiches?" Raph asked.
"Hmmm… ok" Both turtles entered to the kitchen. There was Don, holding an ice pack against the left side of his mouth.
"Whoa! What happened to ya? The toaster exploded on yer face?" Raph asked mockingly.
"I'm not in the mood, Raph" Don answered.
"Then what happened?" Leo asked in concern.
"His condition is worse than I thought" Don said sadly.
"You mean… Mikey… Mikey did this to you?" Raph asked in disbelief. Don nodded.
"And there's more. I swear I saw cuts on his wrist… deep ones" Don added.
"He's cutting himself?" Leo asked in shock. He couldn't believe what he was hearing; his baby brother… mutilating himself?
"Apparently yes. Since when? I can't tell exactly" Don said.
"That's it. Splinter is coming tomorrow and we haven't made any progress with him!" Leo said rubbing his temples in exasperation.
"What do ya suggest then?" Raph asked.
"I'll talk to him… even if that means I have to slice the door to get in" Leo stated. But no one, not even Leo, would be prepared for the next day.
And heeeere's an update! ^^ Whew! Finally! Reviews please?