Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT

Thank you everyone for reading this far, as some of you realize I am a huge fan of turtlecest so just a warning this fanfic might not be for you. Pairings are: LeoxRaph and DonxMikey

This was probably not one of my best chapters, I had to look at this in every angle as possible, and I had no idea how to start this one after the first one. But I assure you it will get better from here. Please don't forget to review!

Chapter 2 – A Silent Battle

It was a whimper. Normally, Leo would have realized what the noise was right away, but he had to think as he tried to picture Raphael whimpering – the whimper seemed to not fit him. Getting up from his chair Leo made his way towards the couch, passing Mikey who happen to be curled up on the left side of it - sleeping. The TV was on low to the point anyone that was watching would only hear muffled sounds. The reason for this was Raphael had been moved to the couch.

Leo kneeled down on the ground so he was eye level with the sleeping turtle. It had been three days since Raphael had passed out, during that time he hadn't gain consciousness. Donnie had been doing some tests but so far the turtle was stumped on what was happening – to Leo that was troubling.

Golden brown eyes studied his sick brother before him; Raphael's face was pale, his bandanna was removed and instead a cloth sat just above his eyes. Grabbing the cloth Leo went to wet it in the bucket beside him – the water was still cold which meant Donnie had been in here briefly before disappearing in his lab again.

A whimper had escaped Raph's lips again. It was not loud, which was why Leo at first was unsure of the noise. It was soft, gentle, and very faint. It scared Leo; Raph will yell, he will laugh, he will sneer, he will grunt…but he would never whimper.

Taking his hand to his brother's forehead Leo had almost jumped back in surprise, Raph was burning up. But it was not the type of fever that Leo had learned to detect for being the protective brother he was…no it was higher, it was warmer, and it was dangerous. It was no wonder Raph was whimpering.

"Mikey!" Leo yelled.

Mikey had yelped in surprise having to be awoken so suddenly from his sleep, "huh? Leo? What's up?" Leo handed him the cloth.

"Try to cool down Raph, I'll get Donnie!"

Mikey watched as his older brother ran off in such a panic, he walked up and place the cloth back on Raph's forehead. Unsure what else he could do to help cool Raph down.

Blue-eyes had begun studying his brother. Mikey was not sure on what to think of this rare moment of seeing Raphael so delicate. To Mikey he had looked up to Raphael, how he appeared so tough, so strong, and how nothing waver him. But this was a slap of reality. Mikey had grown up thinking Raphael was invincible. Sure, he may had realized that wasn't the case but Mikey had always admire his brother's strength and spirit. Raph would never give up, he would fight with so much passion and determination that Mikey found he secretly admired his older brother higher than any comic book hero. "Raphie…" Mikey whispered as he laid his head beside him, "please wake up."

Leo had pushed through Donnie's door to his second room, which was deemed the lab. Don had so much things cluttered around that when Leo came back he decided to give Don the spare room. So Don had created "the lab" and had his room. There was a big fight over this but it turned out to pay off in the end.

"Donnie!" Leo yelled. His brother was on the computer, staring at the screen with a frown on his face.

"What is it Leo?" Don asked dark circles had started to develop under his eyes. Leo knew they were all worried but Don had taken the most beating out of them all – after all as the 'Doctor' of his family Don believed he should know what was wrong with Raph.

"Raph's burning up!"

He was burning. He was on fire. He tried to open his mouth to scream in pain but his throat was so dry he couldn't. There was nothing but darkness, he couldn't see, he couldn't yell, he couldn't move…there was just the pain. The pain was complete utter agony; it was nothing he ever felt before. It felt as if his very being was being shred into pieces. Raph was growing tired as he continued to fight….he just wanted it to all end.

Donnie frowned as he watched Raph tossing and turning. He looked down at the thermometer in his hand, it was high. Too high, so high Don wondered if Raph would last any longer.

"Leo," Don said his voice taking a tone that pretty much stated for the next while he was going to be in charge, "run the bath and make sure it is just cold water. Mikey grab all the ice we have in the freezer." As his brothers ran off in a panic Don looked down at Raph.

Master Splinter had sensed it the moment it begun to happen, he walked into the room seeing Don trying to pick up Raphael. "No my son," Splinter stated simply placing a gentle guiding hand on Don's arm.

"But Master Splinter, you don't understand Raphael is burning up, he needs an ice bath before it's too late," Don tried to explain his voice losing some of his usual calm, his voice was shaking now and Don was starting to shake also.

Splinter gave Don an encouraging smile, "trust me my son." When Splinter saw the weak nod from Donatello he walked up and placed a hand on Raphael's forehead, "this is more severe than I thought."

"Master?" Leo asked as he walked into the room about to tell Don about the bath.

"Ah, just who we need," Master Splinter stated.

Don and Leo looked at each other not understanding what their father meant.

"Are you that concern over your brother that you did not notice Leonardo?" There was a bit of disappointment in Splinter's voice, "close your eyes and concentrate Leonardo and you will see the truth."

Leo gave Don an expression that stated, I have no clue what is happening. But as Leo always did he listened and trusted his Master's judgement. Closing his eyes Leo cleared his mind of all other thoughts, except for one. He kept thinking of Raphael, how he looked so weak, how his spirit was weaken….that was it!

Concentrating on Raphael's usual presence Leo could feel what it was that Master Splinter was hinting at. When it came to meditation Leo had quickly learned how to detect his brother's different presences. Each one was so unique from the other it was almost interesting.

Mikey's aura is always so energetic. It was never hard for Leo to tell where Mikey was in the lair – his aura was bright, vibrant and flowing.

Donnie was much different than Mikey. His aura was gentle, inviting, calming…when it came to Don, Leo always felt at peace with him around.

Raph's was in a completely different group then the others. His aura was always so carefully guarded, always a mystery. There was only one time when Raph let his guard down around Leo – Leo wished he didn't, his aura for that brief second was so mix up with emotions Leo didn't know up from down.

Because Raphael had carefully guarded his aura, Leo found he could feel Raph's presence as a foreboding type, almost like a hard brick wall that Leo so desperately wanted to know what was on the other side.

Now…that wall was no longer there….

That once flowing aura with jumbled emotions was like a weak stream – fading.

Fear, loneliness, shame and anger - Leo could feel the emotions shimmering from Raphael as if he was feeling them himself.

However, Leo understood. This was no sickness; this was a battle within Raphael himself. But the question was what was he fighting?

Opening his eyes Leo gave his Master a questioning look, "I understand Master Splinter but what is it that he is fighting…"

"That is something I am afraid I cannot explain yet," Master Splinter had answered.

He knew. Don's eyes widen as he glare at his father, how can he not tell us?! Anger welled up inside Donnie but he had always been the more peaceful one of his brothers. Looking back at Raph tossing on the couch something snap inside Donatello, "how can you just stand there like that?! If you know what is wrong Master do something!" Donnie screamed.

Mikey had came in carrying ice packs when Don had begun screaming, dropping the bags on the ground he looked at his older brother and then to his father. Donnie loomed over Master Splinter; Mikey had never thought Donnie could ever look so devastating.

Turning his innocent blues to Leo's browns, Mikey received an answer through the form of a shrug. Leo was not sure what was happening either.

"My sons I know this may be confusing but you must trust me. Raphael is fighting a battle on his own, a battle he has been struggling with for years," Splinter's voice was calm and comforting but Leo notice how his father's shoulders were slumped. Leo knew his father wished he could do more.

"Can't we just wake him up at least?" Mikey asked, it was painful for him feeling so useless. Eyes moved to watch the struggling turtle on the couch, fighting some battle that Master Splinter knew about, "what if he is being possessed or something?!"

Mikey's eyes widen as he found his over active imagination starting to come up with worst case scenarios, "or maybe he is going to become a mutant like Donnie! Or what if an alien baby is growing inside him! Or what if he is not really Raphie but a different Raphie pretending to be sick and when we sleep he is going to…AH!!!" Mikey screamed and started shaking Leo, "Leo we got to do something!"

Grabbing Mikey's hands and pushing him gently away, "calm down Mikey, I am sure none of that is going to happen."

"You don't know what is wrong with him right?! What if I am right and you'll be sorry when an alien baby tries to suck your brain!"

"Okay, no more late night Alien movies for you Mikey," Donnie stated placing a hand on his younger brother's shoulder. "Master Splinter seems to know what is wrong with Raphael."

"That is right Michelangelo; I assure you it is not what you listed." Mikey seemed to calm at the reassuring voice of his father.

Donnie took Mikey's hand, "come on I need some help preparing Raph's meal, and we need to have a talk about your over-active imagination."

Mikey turned to give Leo a look that seemed to say, help me. But when Leo stood arms cross showing he was not going to interfere Mikey sighed and let Donnie pull him away.

With Mikey gone, Leo turned to his father to see Master Splinter kneeling in front of Raphael using the cloth to whip away the sweat and grim off of his younger brother's face. Taking a place beside Master Splinter he studied Raph silently.

There was something else he had detected with Raph's presence. Something he couldn't place. His aura felt different….shaking his head, Leo was sure when Master Splinter tells them everything it would begin to make sense.

"He has always been stubborn Leonardo," Splinter said with a sad tone in his voice, "instead of hiding he should have came to me about this. It might be too late."

Leo's eyes widen at that, "but you said!"

"Only to calm your brothers, you are the oldest and I feel I must tell you to prepare yourself for the worst. Normally this would not have been devastating to Raphael if he had come to me earlier, I could have helped guide him through this," fatherly brown eyes looked down at his lap. "Your brother has always been so distant from us – "

Leo placed a hand on Splinter's shoulder, "please Father. Please tell me what I can do to help…"

A sigh escaped Splinter's lips as he turned to tell Leo there was nothing he could do. Then Splinter had remembered when they were young how Raphael would follow Leonardo, the way Raphael would look up to his older brother. Splinter would catch him silently spying on Leonardo training with a look of hope, admiration, and unconditioned love on his face, "talk to him Leonardo, your voice may help bring him hope."

He was losing. Raphael sat holding his knees to his chest, the darkness felt so lonely. He could feel tears dripping onto his hands as the burning pain only intensified, eating away at his body and soul. Destroying whatever hope he had left. He was fading; he realized this as Raph stared at his disappearing hand. Clutching his knees closer to his chest he closed his eyes shut, he did not care anymore if he disappeared entirely…he just wanted this pain to stop…

"Raphael…" Raph lifted his head. That voice could it be… "I am not sure if you can hear me, but we are here for you."

It was! It was Leo's voice. Raph open his mouth to say something but he still couldn't speak.

"Please, whatever battle you're fighting, never give up. You can never lose remember Raph, remember when you said that to me."

Raph unwrapped his arms from his knees, his hand was becoming solid again. 'Like hell I'll lose!' Raph thought to himself as he stood up, his legs shaking, 'I'll still have let to punch that smirk off your face Leo'

The darkness was fading and Raph looked around him as the pain was beginning to subside.

"I need you Raph, we all need you," Leo sounded desperate.

Raphael realized why the darkness was fading he was surrounded by fire, everywhere he looked there was fire. He felt panic as he tried to move away from the dangerous flame. "You're not alone."

Those words made Raph realized he wasn't, he looked through the flame. Reaching out Raph touch the flame to realize his hand was not burning. 'I see,' Raph muttered and smiled, 'thank you Leo.' He walked forward as he was no longer afraid of the burning flames.

Instead the flames felt inviting and warm, as if they were casting away the darkest corners of his heart….

Leo looked at Master Splinter; Raphael had stopped tossing and turning. Then something amazing had happened. There was a sudden burst of energy emitting from Raph that Leo gasp in surprise, he had to blink his eyes a few times and try to tone down his well trained senses to be able to see properly again.

Master Splinter stood up after tucking Raphael in, "it seems Raphael has won his battle."

"Master…what was that?" Leo asked his own mind unable to comprehend what he had felt a few minutes ago.

"Acceptance." With that one simple word Master Splinter walked towards his room, "make sure no one disturbs me Leonardo, I have much meditation ahead of me."

Leonardo watched his father disappear through the door, moving closer to Raph he placed his hand on his brother's forehead. The fever was gone. Eyes stared down and Leo blinked his eyes. Raphael was smiling, "Leo…" he muttered in his sleep and curled up on the couch cuddling his blanket close.

A smile fluttered on Leo's face as he stared down at his younger brother.

"Leo!" Mikey sang while walking in trying to balance a hot bowl of soup, Leo glared at Mikey. "Oh yeah…" he lowered his voice.

Donnie walked in looking very annoyed at Mikey and blinked as his eyes notice Raphael, "he's better? Just like that?"

"Yeah," Leo stated and smiled, "just like that Donnie."

Mikey had placed the soup down and hugged Donnie, "yay! Raphie is better!" Donnie had a look of shock on his face; no one could just instantly recover from a fever that hot!

Leo had to silently agree with his brother's expression, searching brown eyes landed on the closed door of his Master's room. Whatever had happened Master Splinter knew. He knew what Raphael was hiding from them. He knew why his brother had ended up fighting for his life. Leo had a sinking feeling that this was just the beginning of something much bigger than him and his family. Secretly, Leo hoped he was ready to face whatever it was Master Splinter was preparing to tell them.

I hope you all enjoyed this, I am a bit disappointed in this chapter but I hope things will start to flow much more nicely, sorry about this everyone. Please review I love any feedback possible.