Hey, everyone. Sorry for the long wait on this next chapter. I've been busy with work and other things. I hope you enjoy, it's another long chapter

Chapter 12

Jax returned home early after hearing the news about Donatello. He knew Michelangelo would want to know. He found Mikey in the cellar, although that's where Jax left him that morning, so it wasn't a surprise to find the Turtle there.

"Michelangelo. I know you don't trust me, but I have to tell you something. It's important."

Mikey looked up from his place in the corner. He could tell by the look on Jax's face that the Triceraton was concerned about something.

"What?"

"It's about your brother Donatello. There was...an accident this morning."

Mikey froze, what did Jax mean by 'accident'? Jax rubbed the back of his neck before continuing, trying to figure out the best way to tell the Turtle about his older brother.

"From what I heard, your brother had lost his footing on the structure he was working on and he lost consciousness as the air was roughly knocked out of him."

Mikey gasped. Jax held his hand up to show Mikey that he shouldn't panic yet.

"Calm down and let me finish, please. Your brother was taken to the prison's hospital and the doctor is trying to get him stabilized. The doctor is not sure if he'll recover, unfortunately. But I think you should have a chance in seeing him at least. If we leave soon, we can still visit him before visiting hours are over."

"Don?!" Mikey gasped again. "T-that can't be true! Surely it's someone else?"

Jax shook his head, "I'm afraid not."

Mikey began pacing the room. "But...but...! What's going to happen to him now?!"

"I don't know," Jax told him. "All I know is that his superior officer doesn't want him back."

"Then let's go!" Mikey said as he started to run up the stairs. Jax held him back by the forearm.

"Hold on! You're reaction to this is understandable. But I must remind you that you can't walk around freely since you're still a prisoner."

Mikey looked around desperately before he could find a long rope. "What about this? Can we use this instead of the chains?"

"Yes, I think we can, if you think it will be easier on you?" Jax nodded, accepting the rope. Mikey grabbed Jax's shirt collor and the Triceraton noticed tears forming in Mikey's eyes.

"I promise, I won't run away or try to escape. I just...I...," he sniffed and hung his head. "I just want to see Donnie."

Jax smiled in understanding and put a hand on Mikey's shoulder. "I know."

Jax carefully put the rope around Mikey's body and tightened it comfortably around him. "How does that feel?"

Mikey nodded in acceptance. Jax was glad Mikey was willing to give the rope a chance since he hated seeing the chains. Jax lead him out of the basement, allowing Mikey to follow at his own pace by giving the Turtle some slack on the rope. They were both silent on the way to the hospital.

When they arrived at the hospital, Jax asked the receptionist where Donatello's room was. After he was given the directions, Jax lead his anxious Turtle to the room.

As they approached the room where Donatello was staying, Jax noticed Prog outside the door. The commander glanced up in their direction and smirked.

"Well, if it isn't Jax. I heard about you taking on that Turtle as a pet."

"It's nice to see you, too, Prog," Jax greeted with a nod, but didn't smile. Prog turned to Mikey and gestured to the room behind him.

"In there. But don't get too comfortable. We're watching you."

Mikey gulped as Jax rolled his eyes and began untying the rope from around him. "Ignore him. Go see your brothers. We'll be out here if you need us."

Mikey was let into the room and he saw Raph beside the bed, holding Donnie's hand. Mikey could tell his tough brother Raph had been crying. The hot-head looked up at Mikey in shock.

"Mikey...you...you're alive?!"

The two did not waste any time and ran to each other, hugging tightly. "Oh, Mikey! I'm so glad to see you!"

"Me too, Raph," Mikey agreed. He noticed Raph's body was covered in bandages. "Are you okay?! What happened?!"

Raph shook his head. "It doesn't matter now. I'm just glad to see you."

After a moment Mikey turned to the bed to see their unconscious brother. "Is Donnie...?"

Raph sighed and shook his head. "He's been like that since before I got here. Doc says Don's not responding to anything. He...he doesn't have a lot of hope for him."

Mikey went to the bed and squeezed Don's hand. "Hey, Don. It's me, Mikey. Your brother, remember?" he didn't expect Don to respond back. He held Don's hand close to his face as tears began to fall.

"Please be okay, Donnie..."

Outside the room Jax and Prog noticed Erkon arrive shortly after. The commander was followed by Leonardo, who wore an unemotional expression. Jax thought it was a bit odd, it was almost as if the Turtle didn't care that his brother was hurt.

"If you two are here, then I assume the other Turtles are too?" he then turned to Leonardo and gestured to the room. "Your brothers are in there. Say whatever you wish to say to one another."

Leonardo nodded before entering the room.

"Leo!" Raph and Mikey yelled as they hugged their older brother. Leo stood quietly and stared at them in confusion.

"Hey, Donnie!" Mikey sniffled with a smile as he lead Leo over to the sick Turtle. "Leo's here too. We're together now."

Leo stared at the unconscious Turtle on the hospital bed in front of them. The purple masked brother was covered in wires that were monitoring his heart rate and vital signs. He was also wearing an oxygen mask. Seeing this strange Turtle made Leo feel a variety of emotions: anger, confusion, sadness, and relief.

"He's okay...?" he thought to himself. A single tear feel from his eye, but he didn't understand why. He couldn't remember why he was here exactly, nor did he know why he knew the other Turtles.

"Yo, Leo," Raph said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Why so quiet? Say something to him."

"Uh...," Leo stammered, shaking his head from his confused thoughts. "Hi, Don. It's Leonardo." He somehow felt the need to touch the Turtle. He settled for rubbing Don's foot. "I'm here now."

"My...brothers?" Don thought to himself. He was certain he heard their voices, but he couldn't be sure. He wanted to call out to them, but his lungs still stung like fire as he tried to breathe.

"What happened to me again? Where am I now? Am I dead? No, I don't think so." In his mind's eye, he could see his brothers standing beside him, smiling and laughing. But wherever they were now, he could only hear sadness in their voices. "There must be something wrong. Should I be sad too?"

"Come on, Don," he heard Mikey. "You can't give up now! We're together again. Isn't that what's important?"

"Mikey? Where are we?" he tried to ask. But he couldn't form the words. His throat hurt. He tried moving his arm, but could only feel his finger twitch in response. "Why can't I speak to them?"

"Hey!" came Raph's voice. "I think I saw Don move a little. He can hear us!"

"Raph, please!" Don wanted to tell him. "Your voice is so loud! And why wouldn't I be able to hear you?"

He felt someone grab his hand. It must have been Raph because the same brother started talking again. "Hey, Don. It's me. Open your eyes or something."

"No, I don't think I can," Don told him in is mind. "It hurts to breathe. It hurts to move. I don't know where we are, or if I'm alive or dead. Maybe I should just...sleep."

"No!" came Leo's sharp voice, followed by a gentle squeeze on Don's foot. "Don't leave us, Donnie. I know it hurts, but I believe you can pull through this. You have to try."

"Leo?" Donnie struggled to focus on their voices. "I...I'm scared."

"Come on, bro," Raph begged him gently as Don felt the younger Turtle touch his shoulder. "We still need you, Brainiac. We ain't gonna let you go so easily."

"They're right," Don told himself in his mind. "As far as I know, I'm still alive somewhere. I may not know where I am or remember what happened to me, but that doesn't mean I should give up! If my brothers believe in me, then I have to believe in them too. I have to wake up...somehow."

Outside the room, Prog snorted with a growl as he shook his head. "I don't like it! What if they're planning on escaping in there?"

"I really doubt that's on their mind right now," Jax frowned. "They're brother is sick. I'm sure you would be worried too if you had a love one who was suffering."

Prog leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. "I still would like to know what's going on."

"Jax is right," Erkon told him. Jax was confused and surprised that his older brother agreed with him.

"You agree with me? I thought you were all 'Aliens have no feelings like us' kind of attitude."

"Don't get me wrong, little brother," Erkon smirked. "I still don't like those Turtles. But I'm not worried that they may be able to escape, even if they wanted to. They wouldn't get far and they wouldn't leave each other behind. Leonardo won't let them leave, either."

Jax frowned in hearing this. "Oh yeah? Then explain to me what you did do to Leonardo."

Prog could see where this conversation was going and quickly left the area. "I think I'll go grab a cup of coffee."

Erkon waited for Prog to leave them before answering Jax. "I told you, he's my business, not yours."

"There was a cold look in his eyes," Jax said, remembering when Erkon and Leo arrived a few minutes earlier. "He seemed lost and unsure."

"Mind your own business, Jax," Erkon warned with a snort, glaring down at the younger Triceraton. "Besides, you never even seen or met him before now. How could you possibly have any idea on who he is or was before?"

"I...I don't," Jax told him truthfully. "Something just didn't seem...right."

"You just worry about that little pipsqueak Turtle of yours."

"You don't know him!" Jax growled defensively. "He's so much more than you think! He was devastated when he heard about the purple one!"

"I'm sure he was," Erkon smirked mockingly. It was as if Michelangelo's feelings were a fantasy to him! It made Jax sick to his stomach.

"You're unbelievable!"

Erkon's smirk disappeared. "If you want to have a few words, Jax, go ahead! But I don't think it would be appropriate to start something here at the hospital. We could get kicked out." He sneer returned. "After all, you wouldn't want to separate those brothers when they've only just been reunited for a few minutes, would you?"

Jax's glare deepened. He was really starting to get annoyed with the commander.

Before Jax could say another word, the bedroom door behind them opened and out stepped Leonardo. He saluted Erkon.

"Sir, I'd like to report that Donatello has made a response to our voices. I think the doctor should be called here to examine him again."

"Sir?" came Mikey's voice as he too stuck out his head from the room. "Why did you call him 'sir'?"

Erkon smiled proudly and nodded. "Thank you, Leonardo. I'll send for the doctor at once."

As Erkon left, Mikey turned to his oldest brother in confusion. "Leo? Are you feeling okay?"

Leo did not answer him and stood at attention in front of the door, his back facing Mikey as if he were standing guard.

"Hello? Leo? I'm talking to you." Mikey said, waving a hand in front of his brother's face to try and get his attention. Leo turned to Mikey slightly.

"You should prepare yourself for departure. Visiting hours are nearly over."

"Come on, Leo. Why are you acting so formal?"

Jax decided to let his anger and annoyance of Erkon melt away as he put a hand on Mikey's shoulder. "Your brother is right, Michelangelo. It is getting late. Let's wait to hear what the doctor has to say before it's time to go home for the night. Okay?"

Mikey nodded, but gave Leo one last confused look before going back into the room.

A minute later the doctor arrived and began examining Donatello again. Prog had also returned from his coffee break to hear about Donatello's condition, but it was mostly to keep an eye on Raphael.

The doctor looked over the monitors.

"Well, his vitals have somewhat improved. His pulse is still low, however."

"Uh...he moved his finger as we spoke to him," Raph told him as he indicated to Don's right hand. "I think he heard us. That's a good sign, isn't it?"

"Not necessarily," the doctor shook his head as he put on his stethoscope. "It doesn't guarantee that he'll wake up. Only that he heard you and was responding to the sound of your voices."

He placed the resonator on Don's chest to hear the Turtle's heartbeat. "He does sound like he is breathing easier."

Raph and Mikey smiled with relief, but the doctor sighed as he put up the stethoscope. "It's a good sign, but it's still too early to know if he'll ever regain consciousness. You three being here I believed has helped him somewhat, but there's no way of knowing if he'll survive the night."

"What happens if he does?" Jax asked.

"Then I'll continue to provide treatment," the doctor explained. "The only thing that can be done for now is to wait."

"And what happens if he doesn't recover?" Mikey wanted to know.

"Then the only thing I'll be able to do for him is to let him pass peacefully by giving him a drug."

"It won't come to that!" Mikey said. "He'll wake up!"

"You mean you hope he will," the doctor specified Mikey's words. "But his lungs are inflamed and it's a struggle for him to take a single breath."

He began writing his report of Don's condition on a notepad. "There is something I can do. I can provide him a medication that could ease the inflation in his lungs. It may ease his pain, but there is no guarantee that it will make him recover completely."

Raph turned to Leo, noticing how silent his older brother was. "What do you say, Leo? You've been pretty quiet."

Leo said nothing, which surprised Raph.

"If it isn't too much to ask," Jax asked, stepping up beside Mikey. "If the Turtle does survive the night, could I provide therapeutic care to him? I think it will help him if his brother Michelangelo were here with him during the exercises."

Mikey managed a small smile in hearing this. It would mean a lot if he could see Don more often.

"If his condition does show improvement, then I don't see why not," the doctor agreed. "I'll leave you my contact number and call you if anything changes."

"In that case," Erkon spoke. "I do believe it is time for me to leave. Nothing is going to change by waiting here all night." He turned to Leonardo. "Come, Leonardo. It is time for us to leave. Say goodbye to your brothers."

Leo bowed before following Erkon out the room. "I wish you all well, my brothers. We shall meet again soon."

Raph and Mikey exchanged confused glances. Leo had been acting weird all night.

"We should leave as well," Prog said as he turned to the door. "Come, Raphael."

Raph gave Mikey a final hug. He held Don's hand and leaned in close to whisper in the other Turtle's ear. "I'm not giving up on you. I know how much you love proving others wrong, Don. So do it again. Let everyone know that you still have some fight left in you." No one could hear what he had told his unconscious brother, but Raph knew Don heard him and that was all that really mattered.

"Raphael!" Prog's harsh voice called into the room. "I said come!"

Raph didn't roll his eyes or drag his feet when Prog called him. Mikey was surprised. Raph doesn't obey orders from anyone so easily.

Jax let Mikey stay as long as he needed and left Mikey alone in the room with Don. But after a few minutes, the doctor returned and was insistent that they leave due to visiting hours now being over.

Mikey stayed by the bed, holding firmly on to Don's hand as if letting his brother know that he was still close by. Jax reentered the room and placed a hand on the orange masked Turtle.

"It's time to go. Doctor's orders."

Mikey knew it was getting late, but he didn't want to leave Don.

"It will be alright," Jax assured him. "Your brother is in the best place possible for him right now. He'll be safer here. Besides, we can come back as soon as we know anything new."

Mikey nodded in understanding and gave Don's hand a nuzzle. He wanted to hug Don instead, but knew it wouldn't be best considering his brother's weak lungs.

"Goodnight, Don. I'll see you soon."