Raph kicked the punching bag and muttered to himself. He kicked it again. Donnie walked out of Mikey's room and into the living room. Raph glanced at him and returned to punching the bag. Leo stood up from the couch. "How is he," he asked. Donnie shrugged. "He's okay but not great. The good thing is that he can still see. The scratch just narrowly avoided both of his eyes. He's lucky that's for sure," Donnie answered. "Anything we can do," Leo asked. "Maybe, I don't know. I gave him some pain killers so he should be fine for now. We'll have to help him around because he won't be able to see past the gauze on his face."
Donnie rubbed his neck and said "I guess I better give Splinter Mikey's status." Raphael stabbed the punching bag with his sai. He turned towards his brothers. "Listen, I need to ask you guys some stuff," he said. "Hurry up and say it." "Well actually I got a lot of questions," Raph said, "Like what's with all of the mystery lately. Like what do you mean Mikey might die if Cori died or that he isn't the only one who's 'scared for his life?'"
Leo and Donnie looked at each other but said nothing. Raph caught the look and shouted "Unbelievable! You told Donnie but not me? Did it ever occur to you that I'm his brother too?" "Listen Raph, it's nothing personal but we didn't tell you because… well you're not really the um…" "Emotional one," Donnie said. "I don't know whether that was an insult or not but I'm gonna take it as an insult." "No Raph you got it all wrong. It's just that, I don't know, I guess you don't really look like the caring guy," Leo said. "I care about a lot of things," Raph argued. "No, it's just. Okay if you really want to know…"
Leo looked at Donnie real quick then said "Mikey didn't want me to tell you." "What didn't he want me to know then," Raph said frustrated. "Okay you want to know the truth," Leo said, "The truth is because he was afraid that you'd tease him… Because he was having nightmares. Bad ones." "So, everyone has nightmares," Raph said. "Raph," Donnie said, "Mikey has chronic nightmares. He at least has two per week. And maybe nightmares wouldn't bug you so much Raph, but Mikey is more fragile. I don't think he could take it. And if Cori died, it could trigger more nightmares which the only cure he might think of is death. And it may sound crazy to you but that's just how he thinks." Raphael slumped down on the floor and held his head with his hands.
"Raphael it really isn't that—" "Did you tell Splinter," Raph said. "Well no, not yet anyways," Leonardo said, "I mean, I would but it took a while for Mikey to let me tell Donnie." "Don't you think Splinter should know about Mikey's health," Raph asked. "What is the matter with Michelangelo's health," Splinter said as he approached the three. Raph looked up at Splinter with huge eyes. "I shouldn't have teased him so much. It's all my fault he's like this. I should've been there for him but I wasn't. And now he's having nightmares and… and… God, why didn't I see it before," Raphael whimpered. "Why didn't you tell me before that Michelangelo was having nightmares," Splinter asked Leonardo. "Well, Mikey didn't want anyone really to know. I probably should have told. Sorry," Leo rep
lied. Splinter nodded and turned to Raphael. "Raphael, why do you think that this was all your fault?" "Well, it's just; I was so protective over Leo and Cori today that I wasn't even paying attention to Donnie and Mikey." He wiped his face and continued to say "I should've been there for both of them and Mikey would probably be okay." Splinter crouched down to Raphael and clutched his shoulder. "Not being able to protect him is not your fault Raphael. The other day when I said you should be there for your brothers, I did not mean that you should hover over them and protect them. I meant that you should support them and encourage them, and back them up when times get hard. Not protecting them from all harm."
"Um, I don't think I missed anything but… did I miss something," Donnie asked. Splinter sighed as he stood up. "The other day, when Raphael was having a 'bad day,' I talked to him about it. It was a nightmare about his brothers and Cori. He did not know what to think of it so he seeked guidance from me. I told him that he must help his brothers first before acting on love." "So you do love Cori," Leo said with a little smirk. "It's not that bad. It's not like Donnie," Raphael said. "Hey!"
"My sons, now is not the time to fight with each other. Now is the time to rest and hope for the best for Michelangelo. You've had a long day, and it is time for rest. Now go before you start any more arguments." Splinter held out his hand to help Raph up but Raph ignored it and got up on his own. The three of them trudged to their rooms. Raph wanted to stay up, but sleep soon took over. Whether he liked it or not.