Damaged Goods

Chapter 7

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Donatello released his father from the binding hug, he was glad that the rat was home, but he didn't want that question to be asked just yet, how was he supposed to explain what had happened to Mikey, what had happened to the family in the two days that Splinter was gone.

The purple-banded turtle fell back to the floor, the confusion on his face only made Splinter more concerned. Sensei studied the area; his eyes fell upon Michaelangelo, his youngest son, gasping he studied the injuries, busted lip, black eye, lacerations, contusions,

"Were you ambushed?" Splinter asked leaning on his wooden walking stick, his attention diverted away from Michaelangelo to Donatello,

"Sort of", Donatello said unsure of what to say,

"My son?" Splinter asked noticing that Donatello looked uncomfortable; the turtle was fidgeting trying to work out what to say.

"Sensei, there was an incident, we were fighting the Shredder and Karai… Mikey was messing around… I took a hit, it wasn't major… the guys blamed Mikey", Donatello whispered. He thought for a second before turning to properly look at the rat, "Mikey doesn't blame them, he keeps saying it was his fault and that he had deserved it", the purple banded turtle turned to look at his fallen brother, "He's really taken it hard, the guys really hurt him", Donatello stopped speaking, he'd run out of things to say, it wasn't his story to tell, it was Mikeys and that was only if his younger brother ever decided to tell.

Splinter was desperately trying to digest the information, he was finding it hard to believe that his sons could destroy the family over a simple thing; he was also finding it hard to believe that Leonardo and Raphael were capable of doing so much damage.

He understood that they argued as siblings would, but they had never caused anything serious before. He wasn't completely oblivious to the change in Leonardo's attitude, ever since Karai had come into the picture, Leonardo had become a little more reckless, his brothers hadn't noticed it as it was a very subtle change, it seemed to only flair up in dire times, but Splinter had noticed. He had meditated on an answer to the situation and had decided that as it was only subtle and didn't endanger the family he wouldn't bring it up, but he hadn't realised how wrong he was. If only he had decided differently, then maybe Michaelangelo wouldn't be laying, injured, on the sofa in the middle of the layer.

The rat settled on the floor, he crossed his legs and looked ready to go into meditation, but Splinter didn't, he was still allowing his mind to tick into overtime. Donatello remained quiet, he knew that this situation required tentative steps, and time.

Michaelangelo stirred in his sleep, the two occupants held their breaths, they didn't want Mikey to wake up, he needed his rest, Donatello soothed his brother, gently making sure that the turtle was comfortable, this seemed to help as Mikey drifted off into a deeper slumber.

"Sensei, what are we going to do?" Donatello asked after an hour's silence,

"I need to speak to your brothers, where are they?" Splinter asked, Sensei wasn't normally one to show his emotions, but a hint of anger was lacing his voice, it made Donatello flinch, it took a lot to cheese Sensei off and obviously they'd succeeded,

"They're topside, they left to give Mikey some space", he whispered. Splinter sighed, he was still trying to work the story out, and he needed all sides before he could come to a final conclusion.

Another hour passed with the two of them staying near Mikey, Donatello keeping a constant observation, Splinter wanting to protect his son. Mikey started stirring again, but no amount of comforting was going to send the normally orange clad turtle back to sleep, his one good eye opened slowly, he was unsure of where he was. Realisation struck when he remembered that he was on the sofa, he turned his head slowly looking around and trying to work out who was here. Splinter looked directly at his injured son,

"My son, how are you feeling?" he asked concern lacing his question,

"Ugh…" he got as a reply, the groan was filled with pain and caused Donatello some concern, Mikey noticed the frown on his brothers face,

"Mikey?" Donatello asked

"I'm fine", Mikey whispered, "My knee hurts a little bit", the turtle whispered trying to divert the attention away from himself. Mikey pulled the blanket tighter around him feeling a little chill, he didn't want any questions about what had happened, he didn't want to talk about it.

"Do you want any painkillers?" Don asked watching the turtle for reactions,

"No, can I go back to my room yet?" Mikey asked impatiently,

"Mikey you trashed it, I saw when I went to go and get your blanket, I couldn't send you back up there". Indeed Donatello had seen the damage, he had struggled to get in through the door of the room, the room tended to reflect the owners personality, it was often messy but with that hint of charm that only Michaelangelo could possess, but this, this was a down right disaster area, the purple clad turtle kept looking around for where the bomb had hit.

"My son, your brother has given me an explanation of what has happened, but I would like to know more", Splinter said finally breaking his moment's silence, Mikeys good eye opened wide, he looked panic stricken,

"It wasn't their fault", he began trying to sit up, he wanted out, he wanted away from the questions, his breathing quickened, he felt trapped, Donatello tried restraining him to stop him from injuring himself even more,

"Mikey calm down", his brother said, Mikey still struggled, and he had to get away,

"I'm the one to blame, it was my fault, now leave me alone", he shouted thrashing out. Donatello kept his brother still,

"My son, calm down", Splinter said helping his son restrain his other son,

"But you want to blame them, I'm to blame it's my fault", Mikey said frightened eyes looking at his father,

"Ok my son", Splinter whispered,

"If I hadn't messed around, Donatello wouldn't have got hurt", Mikey whispered, he seemed to start a slow nodding, almost as if he was rocking gently, Splinter pulled his son into a hug of comfort, Donatello sat on the edge of the sofa, he looked at Splinter trying to read the emotions on his masters face. All he could read was concern and distress.

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to be continued….