K is for Kimmy who was shot in the head.

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"For the last time," he batted away a five fingered hand away from him. "I said I was fine, April."

"Fine Raphael?" the human huffed.

She had heard the commotion, heard the cries of his brothers. The redhead had bolted over as fast as possible, barely remembering to go to Raphael's best friend and bring him with. Her foot was putting the petal to the medal in the car the whole way, speeding like a mad bat straight out of the belly of hell. She tripped up the front steps, scraping her knees.

When she clambered in with a just as clumsy Casey Jones behind her, she ended up knocking into Leonardo who was carrying a bunch of medical supplies. Her little heart was hammering against her chest as she asked what had happened. When she found out he only had a concussion, a badly twisted ankle and a just as messed up elbow she was filled with relief. But that still didn't give her a peace of mind until he had passed the stage of staying awake for 24 hours, no one wanted to risk him going to sleep and not waking up just because of a whack to the back of the head by some stairs.

"Fine is when you've stayed up for twelve more hours Mister," she huffed, rubbing at the bridge of her nose she tried to ward away the headache that was coming on.

She sighed, feeling Michelangelo's eyes on her. As if Raph's condition wasn't bad enough; Michelangelo himself had been rather unreasonable this whole time. He had been unwilling to participate with anything she's asked, it took her a good ten minutes to talk him into taking some night time cold medicine. She had spent another two hours trying to convince him it was okay to go to sleep and that everything would be okay in the morning.

He went to his room only to come back, holding his new cat, Jack. He sat on the couch next to Raphael and tuned her out until she moved to get something for her emerald green friend. Whenever she would talk to him, Mikey was watching her, an uncharacteristic frown on his face. Now he was just full out glaring. It had proven useless to ask what was the matter. She just chalked it up to him worrying, and feeling rotten from illness all at the same time.

April excused herself from the room, mumbling something about finding some medicine for her headache.

"She could at least try to be a little nicer," Mikey snorted turning his attention back to the late night TV program.

He was nudged, "What's with you?"

"Hm?"

Innocent blue eyes turned to the red clad ninja, still glistening from the possible flu virus that was building in his system. There was no frown, no pout, no scowl, nor glare, it was his little brother before all of this, before their fight back at home, before he started to become haunted by the secrets he was unwilling to speak about.

Raphael caught himself reaching over, finger tips pressed against beak. He felt his cheeks flush as he realized he had been meaning to caress a sea-green cheek. Instead he compromised and gently flicked the youngest over the nose, "You know what I mean."

A classic Mikey grin, it was short, but it was there before it became strained and fell away. Turning back to the TV, he tried to pretend that he had not noticed the potential caress. He spoke to himself in his mind that it was not what was about to happen and that he was not disappointed that he did not get it. Not disappointed at all...

"She's worried about you too."

"I-I know... I just..." he sighed. He was just defensive. Unlike them, April was fragile and if he ended up snapping -becoming the type of crazy person that was dangerous- then he knew his family could handle him, but her...

Tiny paws pressed onto the crown of his head, moving slightly he looked up, Jack's fluffy face looking to big on his shaved body. The cat purred, kneading his front paws as his back legs perched on the back of the couch.

"You should listen to him," Raph reached for a the bag of chips that was on the coffee table, careful of his arm in the sling. "Take things easy... cheese ball."

-----------------------

Leonardo slowly blinked his eyes, it was hard to sleep. After what had happened in the past few days he was seriously thinking about talking to Splinter about just going home.

Michelangelo's personality was changing, and in a confusing way. At times he was his normal self, others he was secluded, barring all family from him. Raphael was changing a little himself, clearly for the better. He was becoming softer, more understanding. Maybe that was why he was apprehensive about all of this. He liked seeing a gentle Raph, it made his heart warm and all he wanted to do when he saw those gentle secret smiles directed towards Mikey was hug his younger brother. He was pleased that the two were creating a stronger bond between them, and he could foresee all of their bounds strengthening as well over time. He didn't want to ruin that.

Sitting up he sighed, he wasn't going to sleep any time soon, might as well go down stairs and hang out with his brother. Rubbing his face he heard his door creak.

His shoulders tensed.

He could feel someone watching him. It wasn't a familiar gaze either.

Slowly, lifting his head from his hands he peered over his fingers. Jaw clenched tight as he dared not to move.

Little eyes watching him, small hands holding the very same doll he saw blink when first coming to the house.

He didn't dare twitch, only waited for it to move. But it only watched, peering in as if waiting for permission to enter. No movement, no sound, only the blank stare of one who had lost life.

He tried not to shudder, he tried not to blink, but the odd dry dripping sound of small dropplets hitting the carpet filled the silence. The gaping wound in the head exposing more than just bone and scalp.

To Be Continued...