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Lost

Chapter 4

"He'll be fine Leo. Try ta relax."

Relax? How could I? If not seriously injured, Mikey would heal in time, but how do we get him back to his regular form. This was not something that was going to be easy to accomplish. How will the "I love being a turtle!" Mikey going to handle this?

We waited for what felt like hours. My eyes stayed focused on Sensei's bedroom door urging the occupants within to hurry. What were we going to do if Mikey's injuries proved fatal? What if he needed more medical care than Donnie and Sensei could provide? Shaking my head in shock, I realized that we could now get April to take Mikey to the hospital since he was human. However, how would the doctors handle a patient that thinks he should be a giant turtle? As if things were not complicated enough as it is.

Finally, the door opened and Donnie stepped out of the room. I braced myself for the worst and quickly rose to my feet and studied my younger brothers face eager to hear his news. Raph also stood and once again beat me to the punch.

"Out with it Donnie."

"Hush Raphael," I said and then turned to Donatello, "How is Michelangelo?"

"Better than I thought he would be," Donnie said with relief in his voice, "He has no critical injuries though he is in a mild state of shock. He does have a broken collarbone which Sensei and I have already set and a mild concussion that will keep him out for a while, but besides that he will be fine. We are lucky that the roof Katsuro choose for his attack was covered with sand. The sand must have cushioned Mikey's impact from the fall."

"Thank God," I said shakily sitting back down on the sofa with relief.

"So's the kid is goin' ta be fine?" Raph confirmed.

"Yes. I gave Mikey some herbs that will take away any pain so he is resting comfortably right now. Sensei is watching over him," Donatello said.

"Well what are we waitin' for? Let's go!" Raph said heading towards the door.

"What? Let's go where?" I said confused rising again from the sofa.

"Let's go find Katsuro! He is weakened enough that we can beat the $#$ out of him and force him to change Mikey back."

"We can't just leave now Raphael. Mikey is in no condition to defend himself if Katsuro has somehow found the whereabouts of the lair. Would you leave Mikey defenseless?" I demanded.

"Dammit Leo! We can leave Donnie behind to go find the pervert. I am not staying here waiting for him to come to us!"

"What you are suggesting, while ringing with some truths, has quite a few flaws Raph," Donnie interjected.

"How so?" Raphael demanded.

"The city is too vast for us to locate Katsuro immediately. The chance of success is just about null. And if you do locate Katsuro, how do you suggest 'forcing' him to change Mikey back when he could just disappear on you again? Also, what make you think I wouldn't want to be there to confront the monster that hurt our baby brother? Let me do some research on the Japanese words we heard Katsuro use. I may be able to stumble upon the answer to our problems."

"Well ya do that Donnie while Leo twiddles his thumbs," Raph sneered, "I'm goin' topside to search."

"No you are not," I said, "We already have one brother down, we do not need a second."

"Bite me," Raph said and in a blink was out the door.

Sighing, I sat back down on the sofa and placed my aching head in my hands. I do not think that I will ever understand Raph's tempers. We are stronger in numbers than alone. When will he ever understand that? I was startled back to reality by Donnie's hand on my shoulder.

"He'll be okay after he blows off some steam Leo. Sensei wants to see you," he said, "Go check on Mikey. I'll be in my lab starting the research. I'll also email April to let her know what has happened. She will need to bring some clothes for Mikey."

Sighing once again, I nodded an affirmative at my brother and walked towards what felt like my doom. Sensei would want a report on tonight's happenings. How would he take it when he learns that Mikey's condition is my entire fault? Quietly I entered the bedroom and bowed towards my Sensei. He nodded towards me as he sat beside Mikey's bedside stroking Mikey's good hand. I sat on the other side of the bed and gazed at my baby brother. He was so pale and small lying there. Rage burned through me until I was able to center myself.

"Leonardo tell me what happened tonight. Who has hurt our family so?" Splinter calmly requested.

I repeated the full happening of the night starting with the beginnings of the rooftop attack to our arrival home. In shame I bowed my head.

"I have brought dishonor upon our family Sensei."

"How so my son?" Splinter questioned gently.

"If I had not attracted Katsuro's attention then he would not have attacked. I failed at remaining unnoticed and was not fast enough to avoid capture. If I had not been captured, Mikey would not have jumped in-between Katsuro and myself. This is all my fault."

"Come here my son," Splinter said patting the cushion beside him.

Rising, I moved around the bed and sat instead at Sensei's feet with my head bowed. Sensei forced me to look in his eyes with a gentle hand under my chin.

"Do you remember the Japanese saying 'Fuku sui bon ni kaerazu?'"

"Yes," I said, "'Overturned water does not return to the tray,' in other words, what is done is done."

"Very good Leonardo. Katsuro was able to follow you without detection through magic. This was not your fault. You also cannot tell me you did not do everything in your power to protect your brothers and yourself. Saru mo ki kara ochiru."

"Even monkeys fall from trees?" I said confused.

"Yes my son. Even experts can make mistakes or misjudgments. You could not have known that this Katsuro had these abilities. You also could not have expected Michelangelo's love for you to be so strong that he would willfully endanger himself to save you in such a way. You did your best and for that I am proud of you. You will need to be strong to help your brother. He will need us all when he awakens."

I couldn't help the tears that spilled from my eyes. Sensei did not feel dishonored by my actions and I felt a little of the pressure on my shoulders abate. I hugged Splinter and sat back down beside Mikey's bedside. I would watch over Mikey myself until he awoke. Then I will find Katsuro and he would pay for the dishonor brought on my family, to this I swear.

To be continued.

Review please. My guilty pleasure is rearing her ugly little head again.