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Lost

Chapter 5

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.

I remained steadfast by my little brother's side throughout the night. He did not stir and seemed at peace. Donnie came from time to time and kept Sensei and I company when he would take breaks from his research. So far he had not been able to translate the Japanese words that Katsuro had used to activate his spells. Even Splinter was unable to translate the Japanese though he did say that the words sounded familiar to him.

Late in the night the slamming of the lair door and the sounds of stomping feet leading into Raphael's bedroom let us all know that Raph had returned safely. The sound of frustrated cursing also let us know that his searches had been fruitless. April had been notified to what had happened and Mikey's status. She had emailed back saying that she would be down sometime the next day with some clothes for Michelangelo and to see how he was doing.

Mikey gave us all quite a scare when he began thrashing and moaning in the early morning hours. He felt burning hot to the touch and his pain filled cries made my heart wrench. Donnie confirmed that infection was trying to set into the break in Mikey's collarbone. Fortunately for us, Donnie always kept a ready supply of antibiotics unhand that we "borrowed" from parked, unattended ambulances. We were not proud of this deception, but made sure to only take one or two medical supply items so as not to leave the EMT short for any emergencies. Raph would always say that the supplies were our "paychecks" for all the people we have kept from harm.

After Donnie got the antibiotics and painkiller into Mikey through an IV drip, we all took turns bathing his face and upper body with cool water. Soon Mikey's temperature dropped and the danger of infection had passed for the moment. We were all ready to drop by this point, even Sensei. I sent everybody to bed, including Splinter, with the promise to wake them if Mikey showed any signs of waking.

I held Mikey's hand and leaned back in my chair to stare at the ceiling sending a small prayer to whoever would listen to please protect my brother. I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew Raphael was shaking me awake and to my surprise he had brought me a late breakfast tray. I quickly glanced at Mikey and noticed that sometime in the night he had rolled over on his good side and seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

"Don has already checked on Mikey. Says the kid's doin' fine so we just let ya sleep."

"Thank you," I said rubbing my face sleepily while eating my meal, "Tell me about your search last night."

Raph filled me in on his search and how he had come up empty handed. His gaze remained on Mikey through his whole tale.

"Did you make double sure nothing followed you back to the lair last night?" I asked.

"Yeah," Raph said while untangling Mikey's IV, "I can't believe that I didn't find nothin' out there. I wanted ta find the freak and force him ta fix this before kickin' his $$."

"Wait in line Raph," I said, "I have first dibs."

"First dibs on wha?" a sleepy voice slurred.

Raph and I quickly turned our attentions to our little brother in the bed. He was looking up at us with wide brown eyes. The eyes were Mikey's eyes. They had not changed with the transformation.

"Mikey! Your awake," I said as Raph tore out of the room to get Sensei and Donnie, "How do you feel?"

"Okay. I hurt a lot," he said, "Are you okay? Did that weird guy hurt you?"

"No. I'm fine and so are everyone else, but don't you ever do that to us again. You scared us half to death! Your lucky that the only injuries you sustained were a concussion and broken collar bone," I said gripping Mikey's good hand.

"I don't feel lucky," Mikey said wincing and glanced down at my hand gripping his and froze.

Mikey pulled his hand out of mine and stared at his five-fingered hand in shock. He then ran his hand over his new facial features and then felt his hair. He looked down at himself and then turned wide, frightened eyes on me.

"Leo, what's happened to me?" he grasped.

"Calm down my son," Sensei said as he entered the room with Donatello and Raphael.

Mikey burst into tears and held his arm out to Sensei needing reassurance, which Splinter quickly provided. Tucking Mikey against himself, Sensei soothed his youngest by rubbing his back gently and smoothing his hair. My brothers and I sat carefully on the bed, making sure not to jar Mikey's injury, to offer what comfort we could provide with our nearness.

"Tell me what happened," Mikey said turning a tear streaked face towards me, but not letting go of Sensei.

I once again repeated the full happening of the night before starting with the beginnings of the rooftop attack, to our arrival home, to his own waking. Mikey's gaze did not waver off my face.

"May I see a mirror?" Mikey asked.

"Mikey you have been through a lot already," Donatello interjected, "Maybe you should wait until you have rested some more."

"No! I want to see a mirror now. I'll get up and get one myself," Mikey threatened.

Sighing I got up and retrieved the hand mirror Sensei uses to groom himself and silently handed the mirror to Michelangelo. Mikey took a deep breath and raised the mirror to look at his new visage. His hand shook to the point that he dropped the mirror into his lap and turned to me again with large, frightened eyes.

"But Donnie can fix this right? He can turn me back into a turtle?" he said with such hope in his voice that I knew my heart was not the only one to break.

"No Mike-Mike," I said using a nickname I used to call my baby brother when he was still a toddler, "Donnie can't, but we will find Katsuro and get you back to normal. I promise."

"You're damn straight we will," Raph growled, "We'll make the #$## pay Mikey."

"Absolutely," Donnie said.

Mikey burst into tears again and clung to Sensei desperately. Our hearts ached to hear the baby of the family in such despair. We stayed with Mikey until he cried himself back to sleep still clinging to Splinter.

"I want this adversary found as soon as possible," Sensei said settling himself on the bed with Mikey, "Michelangelo must not be made to suffer anymore than he already has. All of you to bed to get a proper amount of sleep, we have much to do to vanquish this foe."

We all did as Splinter said knowing that he was not in the mood for argument. Our clan was united and together we would overcome any obstacles. Katsuro better beware.

To be continued.