Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT

"You okay Leo?"

"Hmm?" The blue clad turtle continued to stare down at the book in his lap, not comprehending or even acknowledging the words on the page. His mind was somewhere else, and the purple banded turtle sitting across from him could tell something was bugging his older brother.

"Leo, the Shredder has returned and is seeking revenge by planning to kill Master Splinter." Donatello said with a perfectly straight face.

"Yeah, that's fine. Just don't stay up too late, Mikey."

Don rolled his eyes before reaching over and tapping Leo's shoulder. His brother's head snapped up and he spun around.

"Earth to Leo!" Don called as his brother's gaze swept over the room, searching for danger. Leo's eyes eventually found his brother's. He was tense for a moment more before he slumped back into his chair and pinched the bridge of his beak.

"I'm sorry, Donny. Did you say something?" He sighed.

"Yeah, actually I did. I stated that the Shredder came back and was going to kill Sensei. Then you said that's fine and called me Mikey."

Leo sighed again and Don smiled. Leo smiled back. "I'm sorry Don."

"What's up, bro? You've been in la la land since you got up."

"Nothin'" He started, but Don's scrutinizing gaze made him swallow and continue. "I'm worried about Raph." He hoped that his mild statement would satisfy his knowledgeable brother's questioning.

"Why, what's wrong with him?" Don set his book and pen down on the table, turning his full attention to his older brother. Leo did the same and crossed his arms, leaning against the table. His shoulders hunched over and his head fell, his gaze drilling into the wood as he gathered his thoughts. Don was patient; he knew that, if given enough time and attention, Leo would open up about his concerns or feelings, though the latter was definitely more infrequent. Leo had done neither since his return from Central America. Don knew that Leo came to him most besides their father, finding Raphael too absorbed in his own feelings and frustrations, and Mikey too carefree for his entrusting. There had been innumerable nights before Leo's trip that Leo would come to Donatello, seeking answers and help, or just a listening ear. Don had tried his best to help, and in return, Leo had been the same for Don. When Leo had returned and never made even a hint that he wanted to speak to Donnie about anything, no recollection of stories from his trip or concerns for Don while he had been away had left Don feeling hurt and betrayed, but the chaos that had enveloped the family when Leo had been captured had sent those feelings out of his mind, and he had had the single purpose of getting his brother back. But even after that, Leo hadn't come to Don, and Don had kept his distance. He had wanted to tell Leo about the new inventions he had created while Leo had been away, or the improved alert system, and how he hated his job, but he also wanted Leo to come to him. For the two years Leo had been away, Don had kept to himself, except for the occasional outing or evening spent with Sensei or Mikey. He hadn't dared thrust his problems on Mikey or Sensei, and he never had the chance to talk to Raph. He needed Leo, but he didn't want to be the only brother groveling at Leo's feet for help as soon as he returned. Leo needed to come to him, and he hadn't, and Don's trust in his oldest brother was wavering.

"What was he like, when I was gone? When he was here?" Leo asked softly, his hazel eyes boring into Don's chocolate brown ones.

"Well, uh, he wasn't around a lot. He was usually asleep during the day when I was awake. But he would leave at night. When he would get home I was usually up, but he would just ignore me or bark down my throat when I would ask where he had been."

"So he was worse than normal." Leo said sadly.

"Yeah, most of the time. On the rare occasion that he would be home all day, after he had gotten hurt the night before, I realize now, he was very somber and withdrawn, like he was scared of us. It was frightening." Don shuddered at the memories.

"Kinda like now." Leo whispered to the table.

"What's he doing now that's upsetting you so much? Isn't it good that Raph is controlling his temper? That he's milder?" Donnie argued.

"He isn't Raph anymore, though. He…He's just not." Leo rubbed his temples in frustration.

"Leo, Raph changed when you left, and he changed when you got captured. You should have seen how angry he was at himself for letting you get taken. He must have taken out three times as many Foot as any of the rest of us that night trying to get to you. Did you just not want him to change?" Don laid a hand on his brother's forearm.

"It's not that, Don. Remember when Sensei sent me to Japan after I hurt him? And how I was being hotheaded? Like he usually is? Well, now he's being like me. He's bottling everything, all of his anger, and it's killing him. I wouldn't mind if he would beat me to a pulp every day. I just want my Raph back, not this lifeless, empty one. It's almost like he died and a robot replaced him. I hate it."

Don was quiet for a moment, and Leo could see the surprise written all over his face, though he was trying to hide it.

"Am I just crazy, Don? Maybe I went mental after being alone for so long." He trailed off. "Do you not see what's happening?"

"No, I do see some of it, but not to the degree or extremity that it seems you are seeing. I see a Raph that messed up and is trying to fix it."

"But I don't want him to become a different person just because he is scared of losing his temper and hurting me!" Leo said loudly, his frustration coming out. "I don't love this Raph, I love the old one! I don't even know this one!"

Don's face hardened and an unfamiliar knot of anger twisted in his gut, and he blurted out before thinking. "Well, you were gone for two years, Leo!" He stood up and slammed his fist on the table, and continued yelling. "People change, Leo, and you weren't here. You don't know any of us anymore." He glared at his brother, finding only slight satisfaction in the shocked expression on his face before he stormed off to his lab. He was barely able to slam the door closed before hot tears trickled down his cheeks.