-1The Life of Leonard
Part VI

Raph refused to let anyone come to watch Leo that night or early morning. Leaving the remaining three to gather in the den following what ever sleep that they had managed to obtain.

Mikey refused to touch the journal after giving it to Master Splinter. Mikey was always a better cook when he was upset or guilty. This breakfast was no different: Eggs, bacon, toast and bagels.

Not that anyone had much of an appetite but Donnie and Splinter made an effort to clean their plated if only for Mikey's sake.

Splinter had begun meditating after breakfast and checking on Leo.

Donnie sat down on the sofa and opened the journal…

Leaving Mikey to be the one to brace the fierce Raph and supply him with food.

The door remained slightly ajar as per Master Splinter's direction. The room looked pretty much the same as it had when he had left it the night before to get Master Splinter some tea before finding the journal.

The candle had fizzled into nothing but a misshapened pool of wax leaving the room dark save what ever light stretched in from the hallway.

Mikey dared his first look at the bed. Leo still slept, his eyes closed and wrist still bound in that stark white gauze. At first Mikey didn't see the 2nd oldest. He walked in further to investigate and his toe bumped into the bell in a ball toy he had gotten Klunk.

So much for stealth.

The bed creaked softly and his eyes jumped to Leo. No such luck, he was as still as ever.

"Take a picture, It'll last longer" Came Raph's gruff tones, making his presence known.

He was sitting on the far side of Leo's bed, his shell against the head board. By the thick sound of his tones it was likely he had nodded off.

"Breakfast?" Mikey offered holding up the tray like a peace offering.

Raph raised an eyebrow and was about to state he was not hungry but his stomach growled in protest.

"Yeah, Yeah. Alright, fork it over."

Raph took the tray and stayed where he was sitting as he began to eat. Leaving Mikey to nervously flit around the bed trying to look everywhere else but at his eldest brother. After a few awkward moments he asked Raph.

"How's he doing?"

"He'll be alright"

Though Raph wasn't sure one way or the other, he did what the secret weapon did best. Protected his family in what ever sense was needed.

Mikey opted to sit down beside the bed on the floor.

"You need to read that journal, its some pretty gnarly stuff."

Raph shook his head.

"No thanks."

"Master Splinter wants us to read it."

"Then Later."

Mikey knew the tone to back off and just nodded.

They sat in silence for a long time, both thinking the same thing. Why did it take this to get them to share the same space?

The door opened all the way and all eyes turned toward the door.

Donnie looked like he was ready to hit something as he hovered in the doorway.

"Good, Glad your awake."

Both Mikey and Raph looked to each other and then to Leo.

Who's eyes were open, but not wholly focusing on his purpled banded brother in the door.

"Got a question for you" Donnie was saying.

"What the fuck is this!?"

Before anyone could shake the shock of hearing Donnine cuss or the elation that Leo was awake Donnie had drew back his arm. Sending the leather bound journal at Leo as hard as he could.

Tears slid down Donnie's face. As he turned on his heel to leave before the book had barely left his fingers.

Only Raph's arm coming out to block Leo's face from the attack kept the journal from hitting the leader of their group.

"Donnie!" Mikey shouted and took off after his older brother.

Raph turned back to Leo, only to see him meet his eyes before those eyes rolled back in his head and she fell back into unconsciousness.

"Oh no Leo, Don't you do this to me.." Raph muttered shaking his shoulder probably harder than he should have.

"Leo…"

END

TBC

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