Raph and Don walked into the lair. "I'll go check up on Leo; you go report to Master Splinter." Don said, moving towards the stairs. Raph waved at him dismissively. "Yeah, whatever, ya' wimp," Raph chuckled, moving over towards the screen doors to Master Splinter's room. Don stuck his tongue out at Raph and opened the door to Leo's room.
Leo was asleep on his futon, chest rising and falling slowly. Don smiled warmly, he'd never seen his brother so at ease. Leo's eyes slowly fluttered open, as if he'd sensed Don. Leo smiled at Don. "How was the run?" He asked. Don shrugged. "A little weird… Raph, Mikey, and I gotta' tell you the full extent of it. I'm sure you'd find it pretty interesting." Don said with a yawn. Leo sat up and his arms shook slightly.
A cry of pain and misery tore through the lair. Leo and Don darted out of the room and followed the path of the scream to Master Splinter's room. Raph was kneeling on the floor, cradling Master Splinter's limp body close. Tears streamed from his eyes and he shook as he held his father.
Leo's eyes went wide and his mouth opened and closed soundlessly. Don stared in shock. "No… No… No…" Don breathed, tears sprang to his eyes. Leo knelt next to Raph, taking him into a comforting embrace. Leo noticed something in Master Splinter's hand and plucked a syringe from his hand.
"Guys…" He began, his eyes grew wet. The other two turned to regard the item in Leo's hand. "No… He would've never done it…" Don whispered, immediately seeing what the syringe implied. Raph shook his head wildly. "No! He wouldn't just leave us!" He cried out.
Leo slowly closed his eyes. He was impressed by his ability to hide his true emotions. He was grinning on the inside while he had forced tears from his eyes. Leo wanted to grin, but he kept his saddened face.
Leo held Raph closer, his arms jerked suddenly. Leo fell onto his shell in a full-scale seizure, twitching and thrashing. "Leo!" The two brothers cried.
~.~.~.~.~
Shredder sat in the corner of an alley, he stared numbly at his hands… his five-fingered hands. He sat there as a light drizzle began. Another migraine struck his head, the worst one so far. He groaned and clutched his skull in both hands, pain shot through his head. He gasped in air and bit his lower lip to stop himself from screaming in pain.
He slowly staggered onto his feet, still clutching his skull. He breathed in pained gasps, finally crying out and dropping onto his knees in a puddle.
Then the pain stopped. His hands dropped to his sides and he stared at his masked face, reflected in the puddle. He realized how truly alone he was.
~.~.~.~.~
Mikey stepped into the lair with a big grin, holding up a stack of boxes with one hand. "Ooooh dear bros! I've got pizza!" He called, grinning wide as he dropped the boxes on the kitchen table. He tore one open and quickly ate a slice with one bite.
Raph shuffled into the kitchen, looking haggard and worn. He patted Mikey on the shoulder. "Whoa, dude… you look better than usual. Have you been using that "handsome" crème?" Mikey asked, grinning mischievously. Raph sighed sadly.
"Mikey… it's Master Splinter…"
Mikey immediately froze. He stared at Raph. "Is he…" Mikey began. Raph nodded. Mikey shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. "No… Raphie… He can't…" Mikey sobbed as he ran forward and buried his face into Raph's plastron, hugging the older turtle tightly.
Raph gently patted Mikey's shell and hugged him back. "It's okay Mikey… he's not in pain anymore… C'mon, let's go with Don." Raph said as he led Mikey towards Don's lab.
"Where's Leo?" Mikey sniffed. Raph stiffened. "Leo had another seizure, the worst one so far… He's kinda out of it right now…" Raph replied, continuing towards Don's lab. Mikey ran forward. He burst into Don's lab to see the brainy turtle sitting on a chair, looking very tired.
Mikey glanced at Leo; the eldest was on Don's lab table, breathing heavily. "Mikey… Raph told you…" Don asked quietly. Mikey nodded slowly and turned back to Leo. "Is he okay?" Mikey asked. Raph leaned on the doorway to the lab. Don nodded. "Yeah, but… I can't discern why his… episodes… are continuing. I've checked and rechecked… there's nothing there. His brainwaves seem a little off, but other than that there's nothing…" Don said, cradling his head in his hands while bracing his elbows on his thighs.
Mikey closed his eyes and opened them slowly. "Where's Master Splinter?" He asked quietly. Don looked down at his feet. Raph turned away, hiding tears. "…He's… on the bed… his room." Don managed to say. Mikey nodded and shuffled past Raph, he came up to Master Splinter's room. He stood outside the screen as if waiting for his father to sense his presence.
Mikey breathed in slowly and pushed the screen open. He stepped in and glanced around the room, staring at the different objects that Master Splinter had cherished so deeply. Mikey turned to the figure lying on the bed. He sniffed and bit back a sob as he approached the still form of his father. Mikey dropped onto his knees and buried his face into his father's chest, crying. He cried, wishing that Master Splinter would wipe away his tears, but knowing that would not happen.