Self Discovery Chapter 4
by Mandy

Author's notes: Hi all! It's been awhile since the last time I posted a chapter to this story. Okay, try, a few years. *bows down hoping for forgiveness*. Gomen nasai minne-san! Sessha (this unworthy one) will try to get writing on this fic more, it's just that sessha had such a horrible writers block. I'm a terrible writer and there are a lot of things this fic is lacking. Like for instance: well written fight scenes. *puts her head down in shame* Action scenes are not something sessha is good at writing. I prefer writing interactions between characters. I appreciate all of the reviews (I know I don't have as big an audience as others but I'll take what little readers I can get). It's really helped me along in wanting to continue writing this fic so I really do appreciate it. Domo arigato gazumasu!. I also have to mention that not being a medical expert, I may get some things wrong so just pretend that I'm all knowing and it's the truth in this fic. I am a biology major but it's a secondary major and I'm not a medical student so I've tried my best here in describing things. Just so people know, this is a cross between the movie/mirage universe, a little influence from the new show and of course my imaginary universe. Anyway, on to the chapter, I hope everybody enjoys it!

Before we proceed with the next chapter, I'm sure you all probably have forgotten what has happened so far and probably don't want to go back and read it again. So now I present you with a little omake theatre. Otanoshimini! (Please enjoy)

Prologue:

Raph: Yeah, I got cancer. Hey, wait! what kind of way is that to start a fic? It's pretty obvious by just reading the description!
Mandy: Yeah, I know. I'm just weird. I thought maybe the Raph fans would like it if you would personally talk to them because I know how much you hate being that serious and straight forward.
Raph: Whatever!!
Mandy: See what I mean. :)
Raph: *brooding*
Mandy: Hey it could be worse, I could be pestering you about your sais. (see my poem: Raph's Girls)
Raph: Right.

Chapter 1-3
(streets)

Raph: Hi gang, want to beat me up?
Gang: Yeah, okay. *makes a nice little round circle around Raph* Knives are fun, especially stabbing people.
Raph: Ow, it's not nice to pick on a sick turtle.

(lair)

Leo: Raph is in trouble!
Don and Mike: You always say that!
Willy Wonka: Hey stop worrying about Raph and watch me give spoiled brats what they deserve.
Mike: I want candy! *whines*
Don: Please get me out of this fic! I can't stand the torture anymore.
Leo: There's a cat in a tree, I must hurry off. *Leo runs off*
Don: Does Leo's sixth sense about danger ever bother you?
Mike: Nah. Leave me alone, I'm in denial.

(sesami street)

Raph: *laying on the ground unconscious* I want some sprite.

(lair)

Splinter: Hi, I get to make an appearance in this fic.
Don: *runs around chasing Leo with a spork* Come on, it's fun! Everybody's doing it. Don't you want to get your blood taken and put in Raph's body!
Leo: Is that spork even sterile?
Don: Well sure it is, I only used it to eat ramen then dig a grave for Raph.
Leo: Oh, okay. Is this gonna hurt?
Don: Like hell it will. *jabs Leo with the spork*
Raph: *is dreaming about being in a porn film and getting discected by a hot scientist and then he looks in the mirror and it shatters from Raph's looks*
Washing machine: *grumbles* Can't these turtles ever have normally soiled towels. Bleh, I hate blood stained towels.
Raph: *wakes up and mumbles* Stupid mirror, what do you know.
Raph fans: Yeah!! what do you know, you stupid mirror. Raph is just the hottest piece of...
Mandy: *censors the last twenty pages of that rant for her own sanity*
Leo: *blood gushes out of his arm* Isn't that bad?
Don: Nah. Raph can't lose blood, but you can.

Time has passed (days, weeks, months??? who knows...):

Leo: *sitting there with blood gushing out of his arm* I'm worried about Raph.
Mike: Leo, do you have to do that at the table?
Leo: Sorry. *leaves*
Mike: Thank God, I'm so sick of him sitting down then worrying over Raph, it's so annoying.

(lab)

Don: *stabs Raph with a spork* okay, you're all done now. Go out and blow some steam off. See you in chapter 5.
Leo: *takes his worrying to Don's lab.
Don: Uh oh...
Leo: What are you hiding Don?
Don: Gah, Leo you scared me. Nothing..nothing at all.
Leo: You're hiding something.
Don: Okay, ummm, I don't know how to say this but ummm...Raph is 77.63333% clown.
Raph: *walks in with a white painted face, wig, red nose, and wearing a polka dot outfit* Whoops, I forgot my spray bottle.
Leo: *faints from the shock, not the blood loss*

*all the characters take a bow*
That's it for the omake theatre for now. Now it's on to the real stuff. Stayed tuned for chapter 5 for the next installment.


"Well Don?" Leo asked like a parent trying to get an answer out of a child.

"Well, what?" Don wished Leo would leave him alone. He hated this stern, bigger brother side of Leo. It was annoying.

"You know what I mean. Look Don, if you know something about Raph...about why he's been acting so strangely, you should tell me."

Don looked down at his hands. "I don't know anything Leo" Don softly answered.

"Fine. Be that way." Leo sighed and walked off feeling defeated, something rare for him to experience. Don let out a sigh of relief. Leo's been nothing but a pain in the butt lately. I can't believe he gave up that easily.

He got out a tattered up book that some college kid probably threw out and turned it to a page about Leukemia. He wanted to learn all that could be known and be certain if his theory was correct. For once he hoped that he was wrong.

Some of the symptoms in the book seemed to fit Raphael such as his tiredness and the length of time it was taking Raph to heal from his injuries but he wouldn't know for sure until the blood was tested. The results he was looking for and hoping not to find was the white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and platlets.

Using a pippette that he had stolen from a hospital, he extracted a small sample and transferred it onto a slide. Using another slide, he moved the blood across the slide in what is called "feathering" to make a smear. After smearing a few slides with Raph's blood and his own blood, Don got out a couple of stains, which he used to stain the sample and did what is called a Wright stain (stains the granules found in some types of white blood cells) in order for the cells to be visible under the microscope. His test wasn't a very good one but from the equipment that he had available; it was the best that could be done. He could only get a hold of easy to steal, small equipment. He wished that he had the equipment that's available in hospitals, ones available to humans. This was the life for a mutant. Spending most of his life cowering in the sewers, only to come to surface for food and supplies. He hated to steal from people and he hated creeping around in the night. He wished to be human and live life freely like so many people took for granted. It just wasn't fair that just because he looked different, he could never be accepted in society. He was forever trapped in this dark, musty sewer for life, which felt like eternity. He dreaded the thought that Raphael could have cancer because it would be a hopeless case. And why? Because they are forever enclosed here in their own little world to not only die alone but for the species to die as well. Maybe it was just as well. Don wouldn't wish this torture upon anybody.

After finishing the preparation of the slides, Don examined each of them under a microscope. He compared what he was looking at to the pictures in a college lab book. After identifying what each type of white blood cell looked like, the red blood cells, and the platelets, he was able to get a rough idea of how abundant each cell type was. The site that he saw after comparing his blood to Raph's scared him. First of all there were a lot more white blood cells which indicated that there was something wrong. Second of all, the number of red blood cells and platlets were less and harder to find than in his sample. He looked through several several slides to make certain that his observations were correct. He placed his hands over his eyes and took a slow deep breathe. He tried to figure out what this all meant. Maybe he just had a bad sample from Raph. Plus this sort of testing was not reliable at all. He couldn't be really sure what was going on. Despite Don's objections, he still felt uneasy. Even though he could be sure, he knew that Raph had cancer. It was the only explanation he could come up with that fit the puzzle pieces together. Now the question was: "Where do we go from here?"


Mike sat on the floor teasing Klunk with a string. The gray tabby chased after it with a glint of mischief in his wide eyes. Klunk heard someone approach and looked up at the doorway, ignoring the string. Leo appeared and just stood there, arms crossed. It looked as if he were staring at Mike and Klunk.

"You should see him play with his catnip mouse." Mike joked. Leo just stood there staring, not at Mike, but somewhere in his own world. Mike got up and waved his hand in front of Leo's face.

"Hello?? Earth to Leo? Fearless leader?" Leo seemed to come out of his reverie and mumbled something about Don then grunted a "hello" to Mike. Then he turned around and left the room.

"Ummm…okay..bye Raph..I mean Leo. Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed…sheesh." Mike looked down at Klunk who rubbed up against him. Mike petted the purring kitty.

"Well at least some of us are in a good mood." Mike said to Klunk. Mike decided to stand up.

"Well I suppose I could go give you a treat since you're such a good kitty." Mike walked into the kitchen; Klunk followed.

Mike looked into the cabinet and found a can of tuna. He opened it with the can opener and squeezed out the juice into a bowl for Klunk. Klunk meowed loudly, begging for the yummy treat. Mike placed the bowl on the floor for the kitty, whom began drinking the juice and purring.

"I guess I should make some lunch too even though some turtles have been bad." Mike told the cat as he got some mayonnaise out of the fridge.


Don sat at his computer, nervously working on some code, trying to keep his mind off of Raph. It wasn't working. "What should I do? How am I going to tell Raph? What if I'm wrong? Duh! If I'm wrong then there is nothing to worry about. Gah, but how can I be sure? Perhaps I should take a trip to the library. Geez, I already feel paranoid and now I want to actually venture out into the human world? Hmm…well perhaps it'll be easier for me to hide myself from people there and Leo. He knows something is up which doesn't make this any easier for me. I need time to figure things out and without Leo looking over my shoulder. He certainly doesn't give me much space to think."
Don sat back and stopped typing. He noticed how messed up it was. Writing code was usually something he could do in his sleep. He bit on his finger and tried to concentrate on correcting all his mistakes, hands quivering.


"Hey Don, it's lunch time now." Mike said in the doorway. Don didn't answer. He was too deep in thought to notice Mike there.


"Yo? You there? Don?" Don jumped in surprise and looked up at Mike.


"Huh?" was all Don could say.


"I said lunch is ready. You okay?"


"Yeah, yeah…I'm fine." Don stuttered back then followed Mike into the kitchen. Leo was already sitting at the table, waiting for everybody else.


"I made tuna sandwiches for lunch. Too bad Raph isn't around to enjoy any. Probably out playing with his bike." Don cringed at the mention of Raph.


"Speaking of Raph…" Leo began as he stared directly at Don, "Why did you need to do a blood test on Raph this morning and what for?"


Mike noticed how nervous Don got and that nobody was eating anything. He decided he should help his bro, Donnie, out it bit since Leo can be a little annoying at time.


"Ack Leo…do you have to talk about blood at the table? Besides isn't that Raph's business? Give the genius a break and let him eat his lunch." Don gave Mike a thankful look. Then the three brothers ate together in silence. Don wondered if this was what it would be like if Raph really does go, just sitting uncomfortably with his remaining two brothers. It was weird to see Mike stand up to Leo, that was Raph's job.


Don got up to leave, after finishing his sandwich and left as fast as he could before Leo said anything else to him. Things just seemed to be getting worse. Now Leo was probably more suspicious than before and Mike probably noticed something was up.


Leo had left right after Don had run off. Mike was left to clean up which he didn't really mind. It gave him a chance to figure out things in his head. He wanted to know why Leo was so edgy and distant and why Don was so nervous especially around Leo. Klunk rubbed up against Mike's leg, as if comforting him. Mike knelt down to pet Klunk.


"You're such a good kitty. That's what I can do to help, I can help comfort. Leo doesn't seem to want to be found but maybe I can find out what's wrong with Don." Klunk meowed in response as if agreeing with Mike then ran off friskly to attack a dustbunny under the kitchen table. Mike slowly lifted himself up again and made his way to Don's lab.


He peeked into the room to see Don leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling, and twirling a pencil in his hand.


"Hey, Donnie, what's up?" Mike asked softly. Don stopped twirling the pencil.


"Nothing." Don answered back in barely a whisper. He didn't even look at Mike.


"Hmmm...I never knew the ceiling could be so interesting." Mike commented.


"Hmmm." was all Don could said, sounding distracted. Mike didn't know what else to say to Don. Don looked like he was somewhere else. Finally, Don moved his gaze from the ceiling to Mike.


"I don't know what to do, Mikey." Don looked away from his brother and looked down at his hands. Don looked so distraught.


"What do you mean?" Mike asked.


"I know there's something wrong but I don't know what to do about it. Leo senses it too."


"Is that why Leo's been so moody lately and why you two don't seem to be getting along?"


"Well..." Don leaned back in his chair and looked at the ceiling as in deep thought again. "You see, Leo knows something is wrong but he feels helpless. Leo takes it upon himself to look after us like a big brother, which I have to admit is a little too overbearing for me. He knows that I know something about it. He wants to know so that he can protect us. Right now though, it's not helping things. I'm not ready to tell him or anybody yet. I just need some time to think. I know Leo's mad at me because he sees me as getting in the way of doing what he thinks as his duty. That's why there's so much tension between us right now."


"Does this have anything to do with Raph?"


Don looked down at his hands then looked up at Mike. "Yes, it does have to do with Raph. I also want to talk to Raph before I talk to anybody else, that is if I can find the courage to do so. It's not an easy thing to tell somebody and I don't think Raph will take it well."


"I see. Well, if you want to talk or a shoulder to lean on then let me know Don. You shouldn't go through this alone." Don gave Mike a small smile and nodded.


"Thanks, Mike." Mike smiled back at Don.


"Oh, I almost forgot! I'll be right back." Mike went back into the kitchen to grab something. Don sat there just shaking his head. I don't know what I would do without you Mikey. Mike reentered the lab with a huge grin on his face.


"I have something to give you." Mike grabbed Don's hand and slapped the back of it. Don turned his hand so he was facing it to see what Mike had done. It was a little, yellow smiley face sticker. Don gave Mike a puzzled look which made Mikey grin even more.


"There now you'll always have a part of me with you whereever you go. Whenever you look at this sticker, you know that I'm there to support you." Don looked down at the sticker and smiled. He sighed and decided it was time to go.


"Mike, you certainly are the weird one." Don paused in thought then threw some books in a bag. Mike watched Don packing, wondering where he was off to. Don slung that bag over his shoulder then walked past Mike. Don stopped and turned around.


"What kind of drugs are you on, anyway?" Don asked.


"The sweet kind, and no you can't have any" Don turned around on his way to his room.


"You know, on second though I don't even want to know." Mike smiled. Don was back to his old self again. He followed Don to his room and watch him pull out some big clothing out of the closet.


"So, where are you off to?" Don dressed then slung the bag over his shoulder again.


"I'm going to the library in hopes of finding out more information. I'll be back later." Don walked towards the door then turned around. "Oh, I know I said this before but thanks, Mikey. I know I wasn't very informative but you really did help me out." Mike watched Don leave and heard a familiar meow by his foot. Mike knelt down and pet the kitty.


"Thanks, Klunk. Your advice worked. Things seem to be a bit better now." Little did Mike know, it was only the calm before the storm.


And that's it for chapter 4! I know, it was a bit short but I got a little stuck near the end and besides, I thought maybe you people would like a chapter sooner than later. I'll try really hard to get chapters out faster and not worry so much about perfection. Let's face it, with my writing skills, perfection will never be reached. I apologize to all you Raph fans, there was no Raph in this chapter but don't worry, he'll be back in chapter 5. If you want, you can review and let me know what you think and if you have any questions or suggestions.

Sayonara!