Chapter5 - The Search

The world spun around him.

Leo blinked once, twice… trying to get his eyes to focus again. Finally, he regained control of his breathing, and his eyes refocused.

Looking up, he saw Mike, an arm outstretched towards him, and April, a hand up at her mouth. Both looked scared.

Turning his head a bit, he saw Raphael, arms folded, watching him, an almost concerned look on his face. Leo gritted his teeth. This… wasn't normal.

Taking another minute, Leo looked down, still holding onto the chair. His mind swam. Where could Don have gone?!

"We have to go." Raph's voice broke into his thoughts, jarring him back to reality. He looked up again. This time, the room wasn't spinning.

Leo nodded, "Yes." He agreed. Raph looked surprised for the smallest of moments, but then his face set determinedly. He nodded also.

"We're splitting up." Leo said, his voice stronger again. "Raph, you take the sewers. Go west" He said, pointing to his brother, who scowled slightly at the demand.

"Mikey, I need you to head east. I'm hitting the surface."

"I want to help." April said softly, all traces of the laughter from just a few minutes ago, gone.

Leo nodded. "Stay here, April, please." He said, his voice softening. "In case he comes back."

April nodded, seemingly on the brink of tears again.

"Alright." Leo said, looking at his brothers. "Let's go."

Raph trudged through the sewers, his hands in fists at his side.

With every corner, he hoped to find his brother… But it was silent… and he'd had no luck. He'd walked so far…

He might never find him now. He stopped, kicking at a rock and stubbing his toe in the process.

He hopped around on one foot, cursing to himself. He shook his foot, trying to get rid of some of the pain. Suddenly, his mind flashed back to an event, only a few months ago, that now seemed like a lifetime

away…

"You shouldn't do that, you know."

Raph growled softly at his brother. Don turned from him, a smile forming on his face.

"I can do whatever I damn well please." Raph said.

Don nodded, "True." He said. "But, most of the time, you and I end up here." He gestured to the room they used for medical purposes.

"Aww, what, Donnie... You don't like our 'midnight meetings'?"

"Not when they come at two am, Raph." Don laughed lightly.

Raph grinned as Don continued to patch up his arm and leg. He'd gotten into another scrape on the surface, and had, as usual, taken on more than he should have. He watched Don work, silently, until he was done, and they both went to bed.

Raph shook his head. Don never complained about those times. Not much, at least. He laughed softly at that. It was probably the most time they spent with each other, sadly, one on one. A new resolve grew in him. He would find his brother. He had to. They had too much time to make up for.

This time… he was gonna take care of Don.

time… he was gonna take care of

His strength given a second wind, he picked up the pace again, resuming his search.

Mikey walked quickly down the tunnel, peeking his head in each corner he could before moving on. He wrapped his arms around himself. A frown creased his brow. His worry peaked with each tunnel he passed, and was empty. He was all for Donnie getting to go out and do things for himself… but he, himself, still wasn't ready.

He had been so frightened after what had happened, so shaken up… that he still…

He shook his head, fighting away the tears that threatened to come. He couldn't think of that, now. He had to search. If Don wanted to stay hidden… he would. He was still ninja.

A small noise made him suddenly turn his head. Probably a mouse… or water. He thought wryly. He stretched back his shoulders and sighed. Might as well check it out.

He walked into the small area cautiously. It was habit. He walked through the small passageway, being as quiet as he could until… he hit the end. It was a dead end.

Sighing, he turned around, his shoulders sagging. He'd so hoped… He shook his head.

"I w-woulda… ca-caught you… you kn-know."

Mike's head shot up, and his eyes flew to the voice he'd so longed to hear.

"Donnie?!"

He didn't know how he'd missed him. There, in a small alcove, was his brother.

"Donnie… where.." He began, then stopped. "Are you okay?"

Don shrugged nonchalantly at his brother's question.

Mike walked to a small ledge in the wall and sat down on it. He crossed his arms.

"We were worried about you, you know."

Don sighed. "I'm a bi-big boy, Mmmike." He said. "I can go for a… a w-walk if I w-want to."

"I know that, bro. But, you know, we were wo-…"

"Don't be." Don cut in. "W-what's the wo-… the baddest that can happen?"

Mike sighed, then. "I don't wanna think about that, Donnie." He said softly.

"Can't be m-much w-worse." Don muttered under his breath. Mike caught it, though, and winced. He honestly, for once, was lost for words.

Leo sped through the city, his heart racing as he ran. He'd checked farther into the city than he thought his brother could get to in the time that had elapsed. Is feet were guiding him, as if on auto-pilot, to a spot that made the breath leave his lungs. Surely, surely, Don wouldn't go there.

Leo slowed to a walk… His foot touched the sidewalk and a sudden chill ran through his body. It was suddenly hard to breathe.

Peering into the darkness of the alley, he felt something… Fear. He was afraid.

It was in this alley that his brother was almost lost to them. He bowed his head for a moment, breathing deeply.

A sudden ringing made him jump, then, and he reached for his cell.

"Hello?" He said, hope coursing through his veins.

"Leo?" Mike's voice was strangely quiet on the other end.

"Is he…?" Leo began, almost not wanting to know the answer. He held his breath, bracing for the news.

"Come home, Leo." Mike said. "He's home."

It seemed like forever, until Leo began walking to the familiar sewers. He was almost home when there was a sudden movement to his side, and he was suddenly grabbed by the shoulders and shoved against the wall.

Raph's face was suddenly in front of him, their faces almost touching.

Leo shrunk back a bit, watching his brother breath. Raph was breathing heavily, as if fighting to stay in control. Suddenly, he pulled back his arm, and swung.

Leo flinched despite himself, and felt the thud as Raph's hand came into contact with the wall beside him.

Raph stood, breathing heavily, his hand at his side now. Leo noticed the blood dripping to the floor, running from the cuts in his hand. He knew it would be bruised tomorrow, if not broken.

"Leo…" Raph began. "You…" He said, then cut off.

Leo watched as Raphael took a step back, releasing his shoulder. Leo rubbed it, feeling where a bruise would form.

"I don't get it." Raph began. "I really don't. I don't know what your problem is, but you better knock it off… before I knock off you."

He began walking away, back to the lair, when he turned back suddenly.

"Leo… you don't know what you do to him." He said simply, then turned around, walking back to the house.

Leo looked down, closing his eyes for a moment, before walking slowly to the lair.

He walked through the doorway, to see Mike and April sitting on the couch.

"Where is he?" He croaked out, in a voice almost unrecognizable as his own. Mike pointed to Don's bedroom, and Leo headed over that way. A lump grew steadily larger inside him. He reached the door, knocking twice, and awaited the answer.

"H-hello?"

"It's me, Donnie." Leo said, and paused. He could hear an audible sigh from his brother as he waited.

"Come in." Don said, finally.

Leo opened the door, then stopped. His brother sat on his bed., looking for all the world like a… lost child. He never looked like that before, even as a child.

He looked down. "I'm sorry, Don." He said.

"For w-what?"

"For what happened to you. I should've been there. It… it's all my fault. I'm sorry."

It was silent for a moment before Don spoke again.

"It's… n-not always about y-you, Leo."

Leo started at that. "What?"

"This… for once… w-was not about… about you." Don continued. "It… it was me." He looked up. "Now." He said. "Are y-you sorry that it ha-happened? Or th-that y-you may have messed up?."

Leo felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. He curled over, trying to suck some breath back into his lungs. He closed his eyes, trying to keep the composure he slowly felt slipping away.

"Donnie…" He said, and his voice cracked. A million thoughts ran through his head then. But only one truly stood out. He was right. Don was right, as usual, seeing what no one else did, even now.

He moved over to sit on the bed next to his brother. "Don…" He began again. He looked down to the bedspread.

He grabbed Don's wrist, and when Don looked up, their eyes met. "I'm so sorry." Leo whispered, his eyes brimming with tears, unshed since the whole ordeal had begun.

"I'm sorry that it happened… I'm sorry… I'm sorry it was you, and not me." He stopped. "It should have been me. You don't deserve this."

"Yo-you're doing it again, Leo."

"Then what can I say?!" Leo exploded. "I don't know what to say… I don't know what to do… I can't…" He stopped, lowering his voice to a near whisper. "I can't make this one better."

"I di-didn't ask you to, Leo." Don said, then sighed sadly.

"I wish… I could. With everything I have." Leo said, and felt as a tear escaped his eye, sliding down his cheek.

Don put a hand over Leo's, stopping him. Leo looked up to see Don staring at him, with eyes that still shone with the intelligence and heart that they always had. Don watched him for a moment before speaking. "All I w-want… is my brother."

With that, the floodgates spilled over, and Leo was lost to his tears. He felt arms go around him, embracing him. He turned, letting his tears overtake him, finally.

"I'm… st-still me, Leo." Don said softly.

Leo pulled back a bit at that, and looked at his brother. Don had a small smile on his face.

"That's all you'll ever need to be, Donnie."

Author's Notes - Another update! Hehe, you guys have been so incredibly patient with me, I thank you.

I have to give special, many, many thinks to Krow. For, if not for him, this chapter would still be unfinished. Thank you.

One more thing. I have to tell you, that I have never been more touched than with some of the reviews I have received for this story. Some things have literally moved me to tears. I thank you all… I have been blessed with this story, and the kind support that I have received. I really have. Thank you all again.