A minute passed in silence, before a rumble suddenly met their ears and Michelangelo grinned. "I'm starving! We should celebrate; Donny's gonna be okay!"

Raphael and Leonardo looked at each other. Just because Donny had woken didn't mean that his life was out of danger…but neither of them had the heart to burst the youngest turtle's bubble.

"Who wants breakfast?" Mikey looked at the nearest clock. "Uh…late lunch! Early dinner?" Without waiting for an answer, he darted out the door.

Raphael watched him go, before he sighed and removed the wet towel on Donatello's forehead, laying his hand in place. Does he seem hotter? He wondered. He dropped the towel into the bowl of water, before wringing it out and replacing it.

"It's a good sign that he woke already," Leo said, in a cheery tone to try raising Raphael's spirits. "I mean, it could've taken days."

Raphael nodded, reaching forward to check under Donatello's bandage.

"Donny's strong," Leo continued.

"Not as strong as us," Raphael countered. He suddenly sighed again and scrubbed a hand across his face.

Leonardo knew what he was thinking. "Look, Raph, I know that he's not as much a fighter as we are, but that doesn't mean he's any less skilled. Donny is still a Ninja."

"Yeah, but you know why he chose the bo as his weapon, Leo," said Raphael. "When Donny fights, he fights to defend. He doesn't use a sword or a sai to gut people. He uses a freakin' stick just to put them outta commission!"

Leo frowned and opened his mouth, but Raphael continued.

"I'm not sayin' he's a wuss or a coward or anythin' like that, I know someone could crack a person's skull with a bo. I'm sayin' that he doesn't wanna risk killin' anyone if it can be helped, so he wields it in the least-damagin' way." He shook his head. "What I'm tryin' to say is that he's a peacemaker…he thinks first! He has a conscience that…that I wish I had."

Leo was surprised to hear such words from Raphael. He said nothing, not wanting to interrupt.

"I mean, I have a conscience," said Raph. "But, like…I shoot first and ask questions later. And then I don't really feel bad for the people if they deserve it." He sighed again. "I guess I need to realize that not every person I ki— fight, really does deserve it."

Leonardo noticed him stumble over the word 'kill', but still remained quiet.

"Like Donny," Raph said. "He doesn't deserve this."

Leo almost agreed, but he didn't want to make Raph feel more guilty.

"Do ya remember, Leo?" Raphael continued. "Remember when we were little? Donny was always the one who got sick. He was always the smallest. I remember Splinter wonderin' if he was the youngest."

Leonardo did remember. "Yeah."

"He's still the smallest," said Raphael. "The lightest."

Leo nodded.

"I used to get so scared when Donny got sick," he revealed. "I remember it so well…if Donny sneezed, I'd feel my stomach clench. For some reason, I always thought he was gonna die."

Leonardo frowned. "Did you? Seriously? We all get sick at times, Raph."

Raphael nodded. "Of course, but Donny was always worse, especially in the winter."

Leonardo thought back. Raph's words brought back memories that had lay dormant for so long, and with surprise, he remembered a time where all three of them huddled outside Splinter's door while the rat nursed their sick brother. Donatello had come down with what was obviously pneumonia, and they'd all thought he would die.

Raphael nodded again. "You remember. Even that time this past winter, when Donny had that bad cold, I found myself gettin' nervous."

Leonardo looked up at him, his eyeridges raised. "You brought soup to him in his lab. I never forgot that because it seemed so unlike you to—" he cut off his words with a wince.

"To care?" said Raphael.

"That's not what I meant," Leo quickly said. "I mean, it was just a cold…"

Raphael nodded his head. "I know what ya mean. He was sicker than he let us know, though. It was easy for him to fool us since he's always in his lab so much."

Leonardo looked down at Donatello, knowing what Raphael said was true.

Raphael reached over to feel Donny's forehead again.

"That's why you're so worried about his fever," said Leonardo.

Raphael nodded. "I've come to the conclusion that his immune system isn't as good as ours. Didja ever wonder how all four of us mutated like, perfectly? Ever wonder why somethin' didn't go wrong with at least one of us? Maybe he's the one who didn't come out one hundred percent."

Leonardo looked at Raphael again. "I had no idea that you worried about Donny so much. This is news to me."

Raphael shrugged, now looking embarrassed, as if he'd said more than he'd meant to. "When you're a kid, things stick with ya. I was always afraid of him gettin' sick, so as we grew, I tried to keep my eyes on him." He suddenly smiled. "Do ya remember the time…"

"Ew!" said Michelangelo. "That's gross!"

The four young turtles were investigating the sewers; in direct disobedience to Splinter, who had gone topside to scavenge for food.

"Hehehe," said Raphael. "I think it's funny."

The four turtles were looking at a pile of sleeping rats…very dirty rats.

"Hey, that's what Master Splinter used to be," said Donny, walking closer.

Raphael grabbed his arm. "Stay away from them, Donny! They're full of germs!"

Donny hadn't expected to be grabbed, and he lost his balance…landing on his rear with a 'splash'.

"Ew!" Mikey said again. "You're sitting in sewer goo!"

"Donny!" Raphael shouted. He quickly grabbed his brother and yanked him to his feet, running back towards the lair.

Leonardo and Michelangelo shot each other puzzled looks, before following.

Donatello was bewildered, as he tried to keep up with his larger brother. "Raphie…?"

Raphael didn't answer, running towards the door of the lair, which he could see up ahead. Once inside, he pulled Donatello into the bathroom and all but threw him into the tub…

"I was so afraid that he was gonna get sick and die, and it'd be my fault. Top that off with Splinter possibly findin' out that we'd been outside the lair, and it added up to a very scared 'Raphie'," Raphael said. "I dunno when I became so reckless…I mean, I was never really afraid for myself, but after the fear I felt when we were younger, how did I get so…so… blasé?"

If Leonardo had eyebrows, they would've shot up to the sky.

Raphael chuckled. "Everyone thinks I dunno any fancy words."

They were both silent for a minute, before hearing a sound near the door. Michelangelo came in holding a tray of sandwiches and various other munchies.

"Here we go, dudes!" he said. Placing the tray on the end of Donny's bed, he looked at Raphael for a few seconds before glancing at Leonardo.

He heard what Raph was saying, Leonardo thought, realizing that the other turtle must've been standing outside the door, waiting for Raphael to finish before he came in. Neither of them had ever heard Raphael share his feelings so deeply.

A sandwich suddenly appeared in front of Raphael's face, and he took it absentmindedly.

"Better eat it before the potato chips get soggy," Mikey said.

At that, Raphael looked at the sandwich, and opened the roll to find that Mikey had made it exactly how he liked it: lots of salami, American cheese, and potato chips. He couldn't help but smile slightly. His stomach growled despite himself, and he took a bite…only to almost choke on it when he looked at their injured brother.

Donatello wasn't breathing.

TBC
Bwahahahaha! ;)
Reviews, please! Pretty please? ;)