Chapter 2

"B-but I saw him! He was standing right here! I saw him! Don't you believe me?" A look of sadness flashed through Leo's eyes. "Mikey, I'm sorry. I just… I can't…" A dark figure's drifting through the woods at Casey's grandma's house. Mikey's the only one to notice it and he has a growing feeling it wants something… and it won't leave until it has it… (2K3 TMNT)

There was no way he could keep this up.

The last thirty minutes of his life had been nothing more than a blur of pain and distant voices. Don had broken away from him a while ago to cover the back so now Splinter was the only one holding his uncooperating body upright. Leo was drifting about ten feet in front of them, taking signals from Raph who was scouting the tunnels ahead for Foot ninja.

"Michelangelo. Please stay awake." Splinter's voice drifted into his ears, all echoey and stuff. His brain felt like painful mush from the difficulty of piecing together sentences. "My son I need you to stay awake!"

Mikey managed to push his heavy eyelids open. He realized quickly that he was putting too much weight on his Master. They had slowed down steadily to a stop and Splinter grunted, trying to stay standing under his weight. Mikey managed to straighten a bit to ease off his Sensei, but before they could try to move on Mikey had turned to muffle a heavy cough into his arm. Splinter was there, rubbed circles into his back in an attempt at comforting him. Mikey panted shallowly when he was finished, feeling beads of perspiration roll down the side of his face, making his skin slick.

"It's not much further, my son." Splinter said encouragingly. Mikey felt him fiddling with the collar of his coat as if he was straightening it. Strange enough, even though he knew his body was hot under the coat, he was freezing.

"I don't know if I can do it, Sensei. " Mikey managed to croak out. He tilted away gently and smothered one stray cough into his sleeve. Nausea was like an angry sea in his stomach, unpleasant and unpredictable, the roiling matching perfectly with the drum beats of pain pounding mercilessly in his head. Sharp pinpricks hit his lungs he panted icy air in and warm breath out. Mikey swallowed hard against his dry, sore throat. "Leo's going too fast."

Splinter gave Mikey a worried glance over and realized how the paleness of his youngest son's skin contrasted with the deeply colored rings under his eyes. Sweat beaded on his face and his eyes fluttered with the struggle to keep them open. Splinter could feel Michelangelo trembling as his son tried to take as much of the weight off him as possible. Most of all, what Splinter found so discouraging was the negative attitude his most optimistic son was beginning to reveal.

"Leonardo!" Splinter called ahead to his eldest son. Leo was further ahead than usual since Splinter and Mikey had slowed down.

Leo spun around to look at them, alertness in his eyes. "Yes, Sensei?"

"You are going too fast." Splinter said swiftly. He shifted Mikey's weight slightly to get more balance. "Your brother is struggling to keep up. Slow down."

Leo visibly frowned, glancing toward his ill brother but nodded. "Yes, Sensei." He turned around again to send another signal to Raph.

"Thanks, Master Splinter," Mikey mumbled softly into his Sensei's ear as they began to move forward again.

"You are doing very well Michelangelo." Splinter whispered nodding. Mikey felt Splinter pull him upward again and Mikey realized he was slipping again. "Your brother is very worried and I believe he is only trying to get you to Ms.O'Neil's as quickly as possible."

"Yeah…" Mikey said absently. His head was swimming but Splinter's voice was soothing to hear. He felt his heart pounding in his head like a bass drum, quickening in a shaky panic. Something was wrong, he FELT wrong. It wasn't just a normal sick wrong either. Something extremely off-kilter was going on with his body.

"Michelangelo?" Splinter's voice echoed and vibrated in his brain softly. He felt himself putting more weight on his Sensei as a lightheaded feeling came over him.

The edges of his vision blurred together getting smudges of black in here or there. A weakness grew in his knees before a rush of wind was in his face and a scary sense of falling. As he fell, steady but thin arms grabbed him and pulled him upright.

"Michelangelo!" Fabric rustled noisily and hands pushed and pulled on him. The lights dimmed and black framed his vision, the darkness gradually growing inward. Splinter's yelling voice became a soft whisper in his ringing ears."Donatello! Leonardo! Help me with your brother!"

His thread-thin grip on reality fell into a pit of sucking darkness.

"Mi…ak…up!"

"C…on Mikey…lk…o…us."

Broken fragments of language played in a slow legato as the background noise of an annoying ring vibrated in his ears. His body felt heavy like a limp sack of potatoes and he couldn't control it. Even though he wanted to move he couldn't.

"Mikey! Don…wrong with…"

"I need…wake…"

Mikey realized the longer he sat there the closer the voices seemed to get. He could make a few words out of the muffled voices now and the ringing was beginning to fade. His body didn't really feel heavy now, it felt almost too light like it was floating and he was merely watching from another perspective.

Suddenly, lights were in his eyes, blinding him with their brightness and making him jump.

"Mikey? Can you hear me? You passed out. Mikey?"

"Uhh…"

Mikey tried to form words but his mouth felt like whenever he had a cavity and Donnie used novocaine on him. It was useless and almost numb.

He was aware that his stomach was roiling angrily at him. Tossing and turning like a sleepless night, or like one of those roller coasters on Coney Island he had never ridden on in his life, and probably never would, but had heard plenty of stories about.

As the fuzziness began to fade around him, he made out three faces surrounding him.

Mikey realized he was sitting down on the walkway which they had been walking on. Don kelt next to him, holding him in a sitting position and Splinter stood behind him, a furry hand resting gently on Mikey's shoulder. Leo stood in the background a few feet away.

"Wha'?"

"Shh…" Don told him. His words were slow and steady."You passed out Mikey. Do you understand?"

Mikey let his tired, unfocusing eyes stare listlessly into Don's. "Hmm…"

Don pressed a hand to his face. Mikey's skin felt cool but underneath Don knew the fire of fever still burned. The sweat covering Mikey's skin cooled him enough for now but Don knew it wouldn't last long. "He's clammy."

Mikey looked up at Don, confusion heavy in his dazed expression. The blank look on his face gave away the fact that he was completely out of it. His head lolled softly into Don's hand.``M'nota clam. M'a turtle."

Don chuckled slightly though Mikey wondered what was so funny. "I know Mikey."

"Good," Mikey told him in an odd stern tone. His eyes were fluttering like delicate butterfly wings. "Can I sleep?"

"When we get to April's," Don told him. "Do you think you can stand?"

"Do I have to?" Mikey moaned, closing his eyes.

"At some point, yes," Don told him. "Give me your arm."

Reluctantly, the appendage was handed over and Don casually swung it over his shoulders.

It couldn't have even been ten minutes after that when Mikey began to feel really strange and uncomfortable.

It was sort of like he was floating. His mind and body felt separate like it did when he managed to succeed in meditation. He could hear the voices of his family clearly but he couldn't make out what they were saying exactly.

His Sensei's voice spoke to him nonstop, telling him to keep going and probably giving him some heroic speech or story that was meant to keep him moving but only made him want to sleep. Mikey was way too focused on keeping his stomach inside his body to pay attention to Splinter's motivation.

As one quite nasty roll of his stomach almost stopped him in his tracks, Mikey struggled to keep his attention on his Master's voice.

It was distant and far away from his feverish thoughts. Forgetting his upset stomach was impossible as the undulating of his insides intensified. He had to stop before he got sick all over the place.

"Sensei…" Mikey slowed down and broke away from Splinter and Don. "M'gonna…"

Splinter knew what he was saying and took Mikey's arm. "Kneel down."

Mikey panted as he knelt down onto the edge of the stone walkway that they were walking on and looked down into the river of sewage not a foot below them. His stomach turned and flipped angrily. The outline of his vision began to blur as he felt his breathing become shallow. Master Splinter's hands were pulling his scarf off gently to get it out of the way. Different hands were on his shoulders, holding him steady as he swayed.

"Deep breaths Mikey." The hands were Don's. "We're right here."

Not even seconds after Splinter had taken his scarf off did Mikey lean forward and retch loudly into the sewage below. He felt Don gripping him tightly, pulling him back so he wouldn't fall into the rancid river. Thankfully, not much was in his stomach but it still hurt and disgusted him. Feverish tears spilled from his eyes with each heave.

Splinter was patting him gently on the back, whispering gentle words. "It is alright Michelangelo, it is alright."

"Dad…" Mikey managed to moan out before he leaned forward again and let out another loud gag.

"I'm here, my son. All will be well." Splinter looked down at Mikey. Soon, his eyes drifted up and ahead to see Leonardo receiving another signal from Raphael. They were ready to move on.

Don saw the signal too and shook his head vigorously. "There is no way he's moving right now Sensei."

"Leonardo, tell Raphael to stop." Splinter stood and broke away from Mikey's shuddering form, speaking up loudly before Leo could send the "okay" signal to Raphael. Leo turned to look at him, so caught up in trying to get them safely through the tunnels he was oblivious that Mikey was getting sick. "Michelangelo is having some… issues … and I do not believe he will be able to move on for a while."

Leo frowned. Splinter saw something in his eyes like frustration, or maybe it was fear."Sensei, we need to keep moving."

"No. Not until your brother is ready." Splinter commanded sternly. "Do you not understand he is ill?"

Leo sighed and lowered his head. "Yes Sensei, I'm just…"

"I know this is tough on your spirit and you are worried. We all are. I am proud you are taking the burden of leading us through the tunnels but you must also take care of your brother as well." Splinter said. "He is far from well."

Leo bowed his head. "Yes, Sensei."

Splinter watched as Leo turned and signaled Raph to stop.

Mikey spat generously when he was finished with his…ordeal. Afterward, he leaned back into Don and whimpered. Raph would totally be telling him how much of a wimp he was being right now but Mikey was too sick to care. Don kneeled down next to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Mikey buried his head in Don's shoulder and shuddered violently in his embrace. Giving up, he went limp against him, letting Don support him.

"M'freezing." Mikey slurred feverishly into his brother's shoulder. His voice barely reached a whisper.

"I know Mikey, I know," Don said softly. He shifted slightly and Mikey felt his hat being pushed up so Don could feel his forehead. Mikey almost flinched away from Don's hand as he pressed it to his forehead. His hand felt like ice.

He heard Don inhale sharply. "He's burning up. I'm guessing his fever's hit 103 degrees by now. It's imperative that we get to April's as soon as possible, and I mean now."

"It's about a block away from here," Leo said from the front. Don turned his head to see Leo's eyes staring at Mikey with uneasiness.

They sat for a moment in silence, listening to Mikey's raspy breathing and his stifled moans. There were tear tracks on his face and fresh tears were still pouring out of his eyes.

"Don? "

"Yeah." Don looked down at Mikey prepared to move if Mikey needed to get sick again.

"I wanna go home."

The words Mikey whispered were soft and rueful, like a painful lament. Don felt his heart twist and he almost wanted to turn around and go back, though he knew it was too dangerous. He heard a sharp inhale come from Leo and turned sideways to look at him.

Leo had a pained expression on his face full of guilt and worry. He took a few steps toward them carefully.

"Don take lead. Master Splinter, cover us." Leo commanded with determination. He knelt next to Mikey, and pressed a hand to his feverish forehead. Don carefully moved away from Mikey as Leo took hold of their younger brother.

"I'm carrying him."

April sat quietly at her kitchen table drinking coffee and listening intently for any sign that they arrived. It had been almost an hour since Don called and she was getting worried something had happened to them. Don had told her Mikey was sick and it would probably take longer to get to her building but she didn't think they would take this long.

April glanced at her phone, her fingers itching to call Casey and tell him that they didn't show up at her place.

She waited a few minutes before she heard a rap at her door. April held her breath thinking she was just being paranoid until another more urgent rap sounded.

April jumped out of her chair and practically sprinted through the kitchen and into the living room. Running over to the door, she didn't even ask who it was before unlocking it and flinging the door open.

Raph stood in the doorway, a tense anxiety set deep in his stature. He had Don right behind him, looking just as tired and high strung as Raph. Both of them had their heads turned and their eyes focusing downstairs with worry. April could hear a slight commotion down the stairs.

"Guys?" April asked softly, wondering faintly why it was taking so long for the others to get up to the stairs from the shop. Why were they even coming up through the shop? Normally, they would come up the fire escape to her dining room window to avoid the risk of being seen going through the side door of the building. It wasn't often they came to the front door.

Raph turned to face her, creases of worry clearly visible on his face. "They're comin', just havin' some problems with gettin' Mike up here. His fever's gettin' to him."

"Is he alright?" April asked urgently as she gestured for them to come in.

"Leo's got him," Raph mumbled as he walked in, not exactly answering the question. "Splinter's behind 'em."

"Do you have the bedroom set up?" Don asked quickly as April ushered them out of the doorway and to the couch.

April nodded.

"Guys!"

The word was strained with effort and when April looked back to the doorway Leo was standing there with Mikey passed out on his shell, riding on his back, piggyback style. Splinter stood behind them and gently closed the door. A brief moment of silence passed but not for long. Before April knew it, Raph and Don were on their feet again and soon they were all surrounding Leo and Mikey in a tight misshapen circle.

Leo stepped into the room more fully, panting and sweating, a fire burning in his eyes full of adrenaline and fear. His arms bulged under Mikey's weight as he held his brother up on his shell. Mikey had his arms wrapped loosely around Leo's neck. He had his cheek on Leo's shoulder as he rested his head and his eyes were tightly shut.

"What happened to him?" April exclaimed, horror filling her at the sight of Mikey's still form. She stepped closer and brought her hand to Mikey's face, laying her hand across Mikey's cheek. The heat coming from him was almost scary.

April brought her hand away gently, as she stared at the usually outlandish, free-spirited turtle that was so, so still."You guys didn't make it sound like he was this sick."

"He's gotten worse, a lot worse," Leo muttered sullenly. He shifted uncomfortably under his brother's straining weight. "Really quickly too. I had to carry him for the last block."

A quiet moan broke through their conversation and silence took over as if the room was holding its breath.

April laid her hand placidly on Mikey's shoulder as he shifted subtly. "Mikey?"

Mikey opened his tired eyes slowly, and April gazed into their empty stare. His eyes were dazed with fever and April wondered if Mikey even knew she was there.

He stared at her for a second, blinking lazily as if deciding if he was dreaming before clearing his throat. "Hi, April."

Mikey's voice was so quiet and hoarse that April could barely hear him.

April smiled bitterly and rubbed his cheek with her thumb comfortingly, wiping away wet tears that were drying on his face. "Hey, Mikey."

"Do you have the bedroom setup, April?" Leo asked urgently. He adjusted Mikey carefully on his shell.

"Yeah." April broke out of her semi-trance and pointed down the hallway. She felt somewhat guilty for having Leo stand there. Having 180 pounds of younger brother on his back had to be uncomfortable in the least. "Guest bedroom."

Leo nodded and left the room as quickly as he could with April following behind quickly.

Leo set Mikey down on the bed, holding him upright in a seated position as he began to tug off the gloves on Mikey's hands. Mikey sat motionlessly, his head forward and resting on his plastron in a semi-sleep as Leo jerked him around. "April, can you help me get the clothes off him?"

April nodded and entered the room quietly. She knelt down by Mikey's feet to untie the boots.

"You guys really made him bundle up didn't you?" April asked casually as Leo threw the gloves onto the wood floor.

"Sick turtle and cold turtle isn't a good combination."

Hearing the new voice, April looked up to see Don peeking in. He shifted nervously, glancing over slightly at their still brother."Where's your thermometer, April? I accidentally forgot ours at the lair."

"Bathroom medicine cabinet. Top shelf." She said quickly.

Don nodded and ran off.

Soon the clothes were off and in an unorganized, chaotic pile on the floor. Don had come back with the thermometer and was watching it carefully as April and Leo tucked Mikey into the bed, layering blankets on his shivering form. The only noise in the room could be heard from Mikey as he moaned painfully.

Raph came walking in seconds after Don stuck the thermometer in his mouth, holding a bowl of water. Splinter stood behind him with a folded-up washcloth that April recognized was from her bathroom.

Carefully, Raph set the bowl of water on the bedside table and Splinter came over and dipped the washcloth in it and began dabbing the face of his youngest with the damp cloth.

"Master Splinter thought it might help with his fever," Raph said quietly.

"When you boys were younger and were sick it seemed to help considerably with your comfort." Splinter said softly.

Leo bowed his head to his Sensei. "Thank you, Master Splinter."

Splinter bowed his head back then turned back to his youngest son.

When the thermometer beeped Don reached over and plucked it from Mikey's mouth.

"102.6" Don read with a sigh. "At least it's not above 103. We need to keep an eye on his temperature to make sure it stays that way."

Now that the commotion had died down some, the only sounds in the room were the occasional splash of water droplets as the washcloth was being wrung out into the bowl and the clicks of Mikey's teeth as they chattered violently.

The growing quiet was too unbearable for April.

Leo seemed to think that too.

"I'll sit with him for a bit with Master Splinter," Leo spoke up quietly. "Why don't you guys go do something?"

"Leo we wa-" Don began.

"I'll go put in a movie." April cut in. "We can make some popcorn."

"That's great April," Leo spoke up from his place next to Mikey. He had pulled up a chair next to the one he got for Master Splinter a little earlier. Splinter was wiping sweat from Mikey's face with the damp washcloth.

"But-" Don began.

"Donatello, do as your brother says." Splinter spoke up sternly. He didn't even turn to look at them. "Go. Michelangelo is safe now."

About an hour into one of the mindless movies April had laying around, April couldn't hold it back any longer. The question picked at her brain like an annoying itch that wouldn't go away. Finally, she spoke up.

"Why is Leo being so…protective… of Mikey?" April asked softly."He hasn't left the room since you guys got here."

"I dunno." Raph responded from the opposite side of the couch. He looked relaxed though he still seemed wide awake. "Think he feels kinda guilty."

"Why though?" April asked.

"Mikey told Leo he wasn't feeling well two days ago before morning practice," Don spoke up. He was sitting on the floor between Raph and April, his legs splayed out in front of him. "To tell the truth, he was looking a little pale at breakfast and he had been acting a little off since the night before. He was kind of quiet. Leo didn't listen to him though. He thought Mikey was faking it. Of course, it was obvious he wasn't when Mikey blew chunks all over the dojo floor later." Don shuddered. "I'm going to have nightmares about that for the rest of my life. It was so gross."

"Not as gross as cleaning it up." Raph said, crossing his arms. "How do ya think I felt?"

Don grimaced and closed his eyes. "Didn't know you cleaned it up Raph. Thanks."

Raph waved it off. "Na, you an' Leo were helping Mike. Someone had ta do it."

"After that Leo's been worrying obsessively over Mikey even though it hasn't been too serious besides his fever getting a little high. The most I'm worried about is dehydration since he can't keep anything down." Don said. He sighed. "It's just a little frustrating that we had to move out while Mikey's down with the flu. I guess we should have left a few days ago as Leo suggested."

"Pure turtle luck the numb-skull got sick at a time like this," Raph growled.

"It is pretty inconvenient." Don agreed. He turned to April. "We don't even know why the Foot is down there. I know because of us but…why now? Another thing is they don't even seem to be looking that hard. They're just running through the sewers. Something is really fishy about it."

By the end of the movie, Donnie had drifted up onto the couch and had fallen asleep. Don had tipped sideways and his head was resting on Raph's shoulder, as he snuggled up to Raph as much as possible with a content smile ghosting his face. Raph had an arm wrapped around Don tightly holding Donnie as close as possible. April almost melted at the scene.

"Younger siblings are the best aren't they?" April spoke out loud, quiet enough not to wake Don.

Raph looked up at her then glanced down at Don. He shrugged gently.

April smiled. "They can be a hassle sometimes too. When we were really young, my little sister Robyn used to climb into bed with me every night and snuggle up to me like a little angel. Then the next day she'd spill grape soda on my coloring books like the little devil she is."

April thought she saw Raph smile faintly. "Donnie ain't too much trouble. Only when Mike drags him inta one of his prankin' sprees. Don's just annoyin' sometimes. Ain't like Mikey annoying but when he starts babblin' techno-speak I wish he had an off button."

April smiled and nodded at him. "I know. I've had that feeling a few times too."

"Guess I should go take watch for Leo," Raph said softly after a few moments. He shifted, trying to get Don off without waking him.

Except he did. April heard Don groan softly then watched as his eyes drifted open. He yawned gently. "S'morning yet?"

"Far from it egghead," Raph told him in a warm tone. "Let me get up. I don't need ya droolin' on me all night."

Donnie moved and rubbed his eyes. "Leo still with Mikey?"

"Yep," Raph replied, getting up. "Now lay down and get some sleep bro. We're leaving at five in the mornin', so get a few hours in."

"Right," Don said dreamily as he stretched out on the couch, his legs ending up partway on April's lap, and let his eyes blink slowly until they shut again.

Raph stayed until Don's eyes shut completely then left the room.

A quiet stillness had infected the guest bedroom of April's home. A certain peace had come with it and as Raph looked into the room to see Mikey sleeping soundly in what had seemed like forever, he knew the worst of the night was over. Leo seemed to have fallen asleep as well, his head hanging as he sat in the sturdy wooden chair to the left of Splinter. Splinter himself was awake, staring steadily at Mikey's prone form.

"You have come to see Michelangelo Raphael?" Splinter asked without even turning to see who it was.

"Uhh…" Raph cleared his throat. "That's parta it, I guess. Really came ta tell Leo to get some sleep."

Splinter nodded. "Leonardo does seem tired." Splinter glanced at Leo, who remained motionless. Splinter shook his head and stood. "In fact, I will retire for the night as well. Good night Raphael." Splinter bowed stiffly to his son as he began walking to the door. Raph bowed back politely as Splinter left.

Raph carefully tip-toed over to the bed, moving skillfully around Splinter's abandoned chair. With a rare tenderness only seen once in a blue moon by his brothers, Raph reached his hand up and felt Mikey's forehead.

Definitely cooler than earlier though he could still feel the fever. It seemed steady now.

Raph brought his hand away and turned to look at his only older brother. Leo had his chin tucked gently on his chest, resting on his plastron. Sighing, Raph reached out and nudged Leo gently.

Leo's eyes flew open and his head snapped up, almost like he'd been faking sleep the entire time. He stared at Raph for a second, blinking. He lifted his hands to his eyes and rubbed them. "Raph?"

"Go get some sleep, Leo," Raph said. "I'll watch him for now."

"But-"

"Go Leo." Raph told him gruffly. "I got it covered. Mike ain't gonna be much trouble now. You're exhausted. Carryin' Mike's heavy butt had ta be tirin'"

Running a hand down his face, Leo nodded. "I guess your right about one thing. I am pretty tired."

"April can find ya some blankets," Raph told him. "Try ta get some sleep. Casey's pickin' us up at five tomorrow so we can get outta the city before the rush."

Leo nodded and stood from his seat. Raph sat down in the seat Splinter was using. "Night Raph."

"Night Leo."

Raph heard Leo's footsteps head to the door then stop abruptly just as they were about to leave the room. The room went still as silence took over briefly. Then came Leo's fatigued tone. "Raph?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks."

"Phase two complete." Unbeknownst to the creatures inside, a light pair of eyes had followed them into April's building. The shadow stood on the roof of the building directly next to April's, staring down into the lit-up windows below her. She couldn't see any of the turtles but knew they were in there.

"Creatures are not currently visible. The perimeter is surrounded. If they exit the building, they will be seen." She whispered into her mic.

"Good. Keep me posted on any new details." There was a short pause. "I have a question for you agent."

"Yes sir?"

"Karai has sent some of her…soldiers for a better word, to my facilities. What are they here for exactly? I am finding them rather… unneeded."

"Karai will be sent some of her ninja over to supervise your work." She whispered. "She wishes to know exactly what you will be doing to the creatures."

"Ah, you make it sound like your mistress doesn't trust me." She knew the man on the other side of the line was smiling. That arrogant man thought he ruled the world.

"Karai is not my mistress." She replied coolly. "Yet, she trusts me, unlike you."

"Do tell me then," the voice had an icy angry sharpness underlying the calm placid tone. "Where does your allegiance belong to then Miss X? Surprisingly, I hardly know anything about you."

"I am not your soldier!" Anger flared up in her. "Nor am I Karai's. My life and "allegiance " as you say is mine to keep track of. My information does not belong to you."

"Hmm … that's what makes me wonder if I should trust you." The voice was slick and pointed like a snake's tongue, sniffing for a slip-up, putting pressure on her.

"Hiring a mercenary is not the same as volunteering for the military or in Karai's case, a ninja clan." She explained shortly. "I have sold my time to you, not my life."

An angry growl came over the line. "Just get the job done."

With a sharp click, the line went dead.