A/n Greeting boys and girls I'm back! And I have a great new chapter for you all to enjoy! Here it is and the usual thanks are in order for the reviews/alerts

Ch 19 A Glimmer of Hope

As Donatello and Karai wee walking back to Michelangelo's room Karai turned towards her purple masked brother. "How's Mikey doing?" the dark headed girl asked.

"Better," was Donatello's response. "In fact he woke up. It was very brief and then he was out again."

"Well at least that's something," Karai said with a relieved sigh.

"Yeah," Donatello said with a sigh of his own. "I just wish Leo would have listened to me. I'm really worried about him. The way he's actin is so unlike him. Its kind of scary really." Karai nodded in understanding. Just then they head Michelangelo's door open and Splinter emerged, helping Raphael walk.

"Donnie," Raphael said. "How's Leo?"

"Not good," Donatello informed his red masked brother. "He's so worked up that he's screaming at everyone. I didn't even get a chance to tell him about Mikey before he screamed at us to get out."

"Well Donnie maybe if you told him about Mikey then he would have calmed down," Raphael said, the anger creeping into his voice. "Did you ever think of that?"

"Raph I didn't want him to have a full on breakdown," Donatello said, the anger also creeping into his voice. "He was so worked up that I couldn't even get a word in."

"I'm goin' in there," Raphael declared as he tried to pull away from Splinter.

"Raphael," Splinter said, gently pulling his red masked son back. "I do not think that would be wise."

"Sensei I need to..." Raphael began. But Splinter put a calming hand on Raphael's shoulder.

"I will check on Leonardo," the wise old rat said. "You need rest."

"Sensei I don't..." Raphael began.

"C'mon Raph I'll help you get settled," Donatello said, taking his slightly older brother from Splinter. Without another word the purple masked turtle was gone with Raphael with him.

"I'll go sit with Mikey," Karai offered.

"April is with him," Splinter informed his daughter. "You should rest my child."

"Father I can't rest," Karai declared, putting a little force into her voice. "Not when the Shredder is still out there causing more pain and suffering."

"Now is not the time for vengeance my child," Splinter said.

"I know that Father," Karai said with a sigh as she rubbed her face. "Maybe you're right. I should get some sleep. I didn't realize how tired I really was until just now." With that Karai gave Splinter a hug and went to get some much needed sleep. As Splinter watched his daughter leaver he smiled slightly. Then he went to Leonardo's room and tapped on the door.

"Go away," came Leonardo's muffled voice.

"It is me Leonardo," Splinter said. "May I come in?"

"I guess so," came Leonardo's still muffled voice. Splinter opened the room door and walked in, shutting the door behind him.

"Leonardo," Splinter began, sitting on the bed next to his oldest son's still covered form. "Are you alright my son?"

"I'm fine Sensei," Leonardo said, unable to keep his voice from shaking.

"My son," Splinter said, putting his hand on Leonardo's head. "I have known you your entire life. I know you are not fine. Please talk to me."

"There's not much to say," Leonardo said, peaking over the edge of the cover and looking at Splinter. Leonardo's eyes were red and swollen and his cheeks were wet with tears.

"Oh my son," Splinter said softly, wiping away the tears from Leonardo's cheek and pulling his oldest boy close. "There is much to talk about." Leonardo grabbed Splinter's kimono and held tight as the tears continued to flow.

"Its all my fault Sensei," Leonardo sobbed. "Its all my fault Mikey got hurt."

"Leonardo that is not true," Splinter said, shocked that his oldest son was saying these things.

"Yes it is," Leonardo sobbed, still holding Splinter tight. "Mikey wanted so bad to protect me that he wasn't thinking clearly and went into the Shredder's lair without backup. So yeah it is my fault that Mikey's dying."

"Michelangelo is not dying Leonardo," Splinter informed his oldest son. Leonardo stopped crying and looked up at Splinter with wide blue eyes.

"He...he's not?" he sniffled, wiping his eyes.

"No my son," Splinter said. "He was awake when Donatello came to your room."

"He's awake?" Leonardo asked, getting to his feet.

"He was awake," Splinter said. "But that did not last for long."

"Can I see him?" Leonardo asked. "Maybe he'll be awake when I go in there."

"I think that would be a wonderful idea," Splinter said as he too got to his feet. With that the father and son headed to Michelangelo's room, both of them hoping he'd be awake.

TMNTTMNTTMNT

Leonardo and Splinter entered Michelangelo's room where April was sitting beside his bed. When the red head saw the father and son she stood and gave them both hugs and silently exited the room. Leonardo stared at his unconsious brother for a few seconds before he slowly sank down on the chair. Splinter went behind his oldest son and put his hand on his shoulder.

"Would you like me to leave you alone with Michelangelo?" Splinter asked. Leonardo said nothing but his shook his head no as he took Michelangelo's hand.

"Oh Mikey," Leonardo said, his voice so soft that Splinter barely heard him. "I'm so sorry little brother. I'm sorry that this happened to you because of me. I..I never wanted this to happen." By now Leonardo's voice broke and he lowered his head as the tears came. Splinter rubbed Leonardo's shell, comforting his the best he could. Leonardo cried for a few minutes then stopped when he felt Michelangelo move. "Mikey?" Leonardo sniffled, wiping his eyes and raising his head. "Mikey can you hear me?" Michelangelo moved slightly and let out a slight groan. "Mikey can you open your eyes for me?" Leonardo asked. "Please Mikey if you can hear me I need you to open your eyes." Michelangelo let out another groan before he slowly opened his eyes. Leonardo let out a relived chuckle and clutched Michelangelo's hand. "Hey Mikey!" the oldest turtle cried out, a huge smile on his face. "Boy have we been worried about you." Michelangelo looked at Leonardo and opened his mouth to speak.

"You will not be able to speak Michelangelo," Splinter said gently. Michelangelo blinked at Splinter a few times, wrinkling his brow in confusion. Then he raised his hand and felt the trach that was in his neck.

"Yeah your neck got pretty sliced up from Shredder's blades," Leonardo explained. "Do you remember what happened?" Michelangelo blinked and wrinkled his brown once again. Then he nodded his head. Leonardo was about to say more when the door opened and Donatello walked in.

"Hey guys," the purple masked turtle said with a smile. "I was just..." The he noticed Michelangelo was awake. "Mikey!" Donatello cried out, running over to his younger brother's bed and grabbing his hand. When he did this he accidently knocked Leonardo out of the way.

"Hey," the oldest turtle pretested, a little annoyed at being knocked out of the way.

"Mikey how are you feeling?" Donatello asked, having not heard Leonardo's protest. Michelangelo stared at his directly older brother and opened his mouth. But he quickly shut it when he remembered that he couldn't speak. So instead he held up his hand and made a so-so motion. Then he tapped the tube. "I can't take the tube out Mikey," Donatello said. "Not yet anyway." Michelangelo nodded in understanding as his eyes closed once again. "He's going to be alright," Donatello said, patting Leonardo's shell.

"Yeah," Leonardo said softly. "I know he will be. 'Cause I'm going to make damn sure of it." Without another word Leonardo got to his feet and left the room. Donatello and Splinter exchanged looks of concern as the followed Leonardo out of the room.

"Leo where are you going?!" Donatello called out as Leonardo headed for the lair door.

"To right a wrong," Leonardo responded as he exited the lair, slamming the door behind him and leaving his concerned father and brother on the other side.

A/N I'm leaving you all with yet another cliffie. Don't you all just love that? lol. But I do hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Review please and thank you.