A/N: No matter what happens, brothers stick together.
Chapter 14 -Brothers-
"Splinter's been gone an awful long time." Donatello's voice quavered, but Leonardo didn't open his eyes. He was sitting, his legs crossed, with his elbows on his knees, with his eyes closed.
"He said to wait here," said Leonardo firmly.
"Leo, it's gettin' late. He's been gone the whole day," said Raphael.
"He said to wait here," Leonardo insisted, finally opening his eyes. "We already disobeyed him once. We can't do it again."
"What're we gonna do? Just wait 'til he comes back?"
"We have to, Raph."
"Well, I'm getting' hungry. Who's gonna fix us somethin' to eat?"
Leonardo sighed. "I will. What do we have?"
"I dunno. I dunno how to cook. What're ya gonna make, Leo?"
"Can we get a pizza?" asked Donatello hopefully.
"No, Don. We don't have any money. And Sensei isn't here to go get it. We can't go topside, remember?"
"Oh. Ok."
"What're we gonna eat, Leo?"
"I don't know, Raph. Why don't you go in the kitchen and see what there is to make?"
"Ok."
"Hey, there's peanut butter…"
"We had peanut butter for lunch."
"Oh, yeah… How about soup?"
"I'm sick of soup."
"Umm well there's some noodles. We could cook 'em. Anybody know how to cook?"
"No." Donatello shook his head.
"I don't think we should use the stove, Raph." Leonardo looked at his brother, worried.
"It's not hard, Leo," said Raphael.
Leonardo crossed his arms. "I don't think it's a good idea, Raphael."
"Ok, ok, don't get yer shell in a knot. How about some jello? And we got apples, we can cut 'em up. And I'll mix tuna. Think we can handle that much cookin', Leo?"
"I thought you didn't know how to make tuna, Raph."
"I know how, I just didn't want to," said Raphael.
Leonardo rolled his eyes. "Ok, that sounds ok, Raph. I'll get the can-opener."
Twenty minutes later, they had a rather gooey bowl of tuna-salad. Donatello cut up the apples because Leonardo couldn't hold a knife in his bandaged hand and Raphael was busy with mixing the tuna. Leonardo set the table, carefully laying out four settings.
Raphael glanced at the table, and shot his brother a look, his eye-ridges rising.
"Whoops," muttered Leonardo. He quickly whisked the extra plate and cup off the table before Donatello noticed his mistake.
I'm so used to us all being here on the nights Sensei goes out scavenging, he thought. But we've got to keep it together for Donny. Sensei will be back soon, and he'll bring Mikey home. I know he will. That's why he's taking so long, he's looking for Mikey. He won't come home without him. I hope they're home soon.
The three brothers sat quietly, eating their meal. When they'd finished, Leonardo cleared the table, stacking the dishes neatly in the sink.
"What're we gonna do now?" asked Raphael.
"I guess we should go to bed," said Leonardo.
"I'm scared, Leo. I want Sensei." Donatello looked up at his brother with dark eyes.
"I know, Don, but Splinter will be here in the morning when we get up."
"I don't wanna go to bed," whined Donatello.
"Listen, why don't we watch a movie," suggested Leonardo. "We'll have a movie night. That way, when Sensei and Mikey come home, we'll hear them come in, ok?"
"…Ok." Raphael agreed reluctantly.
"Ok."
"I wanna watch The Three Ninjas," said Raphael. Leonardo saw the stricken look on Donatello's face.
"How about The Land Before Time," suggested Leonardo.
"That's for hatchlings," snapped Raphael, scowling.
"Ok, how about Aladdin, then?" Leonardo shot Raph a sharp glance, flicking his eyes toward their younger brother. Raphael's amber eyes widened in understanding.
"Oh, uh, yeah. Aladdin. You like the genie, right Don?"
"He's funny I guess," said Donatello. "I'll make the popcorn."
Three little ninjas settled down in front of the television in a nest of blankets and pillows, with a bowl of microwave popcorn in front of them.
Oh I come from a land, from a faraway place
Where the caravan camels roam
Where it's flat and immense
And the heat is intense
It's barbaric, but hey, it's home…
"Leo?" Raphael leaned close to his brother and whispered so that Donatello wouldn't hear. Don's eyes were glued to the screen, where an odd little man was riding a camel through a swirling sand-storm.
"Yeah, Raph?"
"What if Splinter 'n Mikey don't come back?"
"They'll be back, Raph."
"What if they don't?" Donatello's attention wavered from the screen. He stared at Leonardo.
"Don't worry, Donny. I'll take care of us. And Raph, too." Leonardo met his red-banded brother's eyes. "We're gonna take care of you, ok? That's what brothers do. We take care of each other."
"Ok, Leo." Donatello snuggled down into the blankets.
Raphael shook his head. "Hatchling," he muttered. But he laid a protective hand on his little brother's shell. Leonardo put his hand next to Raph's, and the three of them settled in to watch the movie.
***
Splinter stirred in the darkness. His head ached, and he felt as if he'd been sleeping on a pile of rocks.
Am I still so ill? I was feeling better. Perhaps Leonardo will prepare me another cup of tea…
He sat up with a groan, and rubbed his hand over his aching head. He winced as his furred fingers found a tender knot.
He blinked, disoriented in the dim light. It appears to be nearing dawn… Where on earth am I? And what is that odd smell? He noticed a small red light, blinking with regular flashes, on a pipe running along the ceiling.
He leaned forward, intending to stand, but the world whirled and darkened before his eyes. Splinter fell back, unconscious before he hit the ground.
***
Raphael woke first. He sat up, stretching. He grinned when he saw Donatello laying on his plastron, his thumb tucked into his mouth. He leaned over, and poked Leonardo awake.
"Leo. Leo, get up. It's mornin'. Come on, wake up. Maybe Splinter's back."
"Huh? Oh, yeah." Leonardo sat up, rubbing his eyes. "Is Mikey home?"
"I dunno, Leo. I just woke up. Should we wake up Sleepin' Beauty, here?"
"Not yet, Raph. Let's check and see if Splinter's home first. Why don't you check Mikey's room, I'll see if Splinter's in his bed."
"Ok."
Raphael hurried to his little brother's room, and flung the door open, hoping to see an orange-masked turtle curled in a familiar heap on the bed. His cry of disappointment rang through the den, waking Donatello.
Donatello sat up, groaning. "Whatcha yellin' about, Raph?"
Leonardo came out of Splinter's room, looking grayish under his green.
"They're not back," he said.
"What? You said they'd be back, Leo," said Donatello. His chin wobbled.
"Leo, we gotta go look for 'em." Raphael stood with his arms crossed over his plastron, his chin set in a stubborn expression.
Leonardo nodded. "You're right, Raph. We've waited long enough. Splinter should've been back by now. We've got to look for them."
Donatello looked from one to the other. "Let's go." he said, standing up. The three turtles headed out into the tunnels once again.