A/N: Thank you for the concern, AvaleeDarling. Despite all magnanimous and utterly futile attempts on my life, I am NOT dead. Haha thanks to EVERYONE who is still hoping this story will be finished, because today is your lucky day! It will be finished! And my goal is before the New Year, so stay tuned, because there will be very frequent updates from now until Christmas. With all of the love in the world, artychick.

Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT

Michelangelo was rarely a patient person. He was energetic and always had to be doing something. And to him, sitting in his older brother's lab waiting for another older brother to wake up so he could find out what was going on with his oldest brother didn't count. And yet, he had been sitting here for nearly three hours, and he was pretty sure half of his brain had simply melted due to lack of stimulation.

A knock at the door brought the youngest turtle out of his insane musings on the easiest way to paint the ceiling. He turned in his swivel chair just as he only present and conscious brother walked in, carrying a tray of warm broth and cold pizza. Mikey rubbed the bridge in between his eyes as Donnie sat, setting the tray on his cluttered desk.

"What time is it?" He quietly croaked.

Donnie sighed and seemed to sink farther back into his worn chair. "Almost six. Leo isn't back yet. I called April and apparently Casey was out and isn't back yet, either."

"Great, now Leo's in a funk and acting like Raph used to." Mikey paused. "Seriously, can't they just, like, smack each other, apologize, and get over it?"

"It's not that simple Mikey. Maybe it used to be, but I don't think it's going to be like that anymore."

"Why not, bro?"

"Look at how much all of us have changed in the past two years. We've all learned to live and function without each other. To Raph, it's easier this way. He doesn't have to take care of anyone else. Look at how distant he is from everyone now. When was the last time he touched you?" Donnie asked sadly.

"Dude, what does that have to do with anything? Just cuz he doesn't touch me or smack me anytime I mess with him doesn't mean anything." Mikey said defensively.

"Believe it or not, it does. Due to our human genes, physical touch was and is still a big part of our relationships. Raph has totally withdrawn into his figurative shell. I didn't see it before. I thought he was just becoming more mellow. But Leo did. He knew what was happening to Raph, because he did the same thing right before he hurt Sensei and went to Japan."

"So Raph is angry at himself, he's just pulling a Leo and not showing it?"

"Exactly. And it's driving him insane. I'm sure he is depressed and all kinds of other psychological issues are going on, but right now we need him to recover physically, and find Leo. Then we can figure out what upset him so much."

Mikey nodded and Donnie motioned to the food. "You need to eat." He said as he stood. A soft rumble alerted them to Leo's return. "I'll go talk to him. Stay with Raph."

"Ain't going nowhere, bro." He said as he grabbed a slice of the cold pizza and turned to look at their fallen brother.

Raph lay on the all-too-familiar bed that seemed like it was occupied more than it wasn't. Mikey rolled closer, the cool cement floor scrubbing across his callused feet, and the small space heater near the door radiating warmth over the dark turtle and himself. Raph's mask was on the table next to the bed, along with the now cool broth that Donnie had brought in and a glass of water. Mikey reached out, and let the red tails trail over his leg as he thumbed the worn silk.

"We need you back, Raphie. You can't leave us." He whispered.

"Mikey," a gruff whisper from the bed made Mikey start and spin around, the mask falling to the floor.

"Raph! What do you need? Are you okay?" Mikey said hurriedly.

Raph closed his eyes in pain and sighed in annoyance. "Talk quiet, first. My head hurts like hell."

"Oh, sorry." Mikey whispered. Raph looked around the room, and struggled to fully wake up. Mikey thought he looked almost frail and drained in the bed, and he bit his lip nervously.

Raph finally took notice of his brother's lack of comfort. "Wass wrong? What happened?"

Mikey looked to the ground, and kicked a dust bunny back under the bed. "Sensei told Leo that you were gonna leave and Leo got mad cuz he feels like you're betraying him and then we went out and you got hurt and we brought you back here and then Sensei and Leo were at it and Leo left. He just got back." Mikey mumbled.

Raph looked surprised. "How did you know? I didn't tell nobody 'cept Splinter."

Mikey looked up and grinned sheepishly at him.

"Mikey, how da hell didja find out?"

Mikey looked contemplative then pulled a puppy face. "I have my ways." He said mischievously.

"Yeah well," Raph started, then grimaced in pain. Mikey reached for him, but a strong hand pushed him away. Mikey waited patiently until Raph's breathing became less labored, and he slouched in exhaustion.

"Did Donnie give you any medicine I gotta take?" Raph had noticed the lack of an IV inserted in his arm, and figured things must not be as bad as he had thought. But his head felt ready to explode, and black dots danced at the corner of his vision when he moved too fast.

"Uh, I bet he put it in your broth. Ya feel up to eating?"

A soft grumble that vibrated Raph's plastron answered the question. Mikey hopped up as Raph pressed the button on the bedrail that moved the top half of the bed until he was in a comfortable sitting position. Mikey gently handed the bowl full of liquid to Raph, then resumed his perch next to the bed. After Raph took a few cautious spoonfulls, Mikey began to fidget.

"What is it, Mike?" He said gruffly, not taking his concentration or eyes from his food. His hands shook slightly, but he managed to feed himself.

"Are you really gonna leave, Raph?" Mikey said quietly.

Raph slowly finished the broth, pretending to not have heard Mikey. But the younger turtle knew better and waited for the darker turtle to answer. Raph handed to bowl to Mikey and brushed his mouth with the back of his hand. Mikey stood to take the dish to the kitchen, but Raph grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the chair.

"Mikey,"

"You can't leave, Raph. I don't care how crazy you think you are. We need you. Who is gonna help Donnie fix the battleshell? Who's gonna keep Leo from becoming a puffed up brat? Who's gonna be the hothead that Casey play vigilante with? Who's gonna kick my butt at video games? Huh, Raph? You are! You are a piece of this team. Look at how broken we all were when Leo left! He had no choice! You did! And by leaving, you'll be destroying this team, this family! Is that really what you want on your conscious every day of the rest of your life? Huh?" Mikey was nearly screaming, tears running into a silk barrier, staining his mask with shadows.

Raph looked at his feet in shame. "I can't stay here, Mike. I can't risk hurting you guys anymore." He barely whispered.

"So you're really gonna leave us? The only damn people on the face of this effing world that give a crap about you? You're just gonna walk out on us when we need you?" Mikey had a stern scowl on his lips and his eyes glared down at his stubborn older brother.

Raph took a deep breath and looked up to the sea green face. "I don't know, Mikey."

Mikey's mouth opened and closed, he shut his eyes, and his hands balled into fists. Moments later he opened his eyes and stared at Raph, an angry fire burning in the blue irises. "That's not good enough." Mikey said dangerously, and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him, and leaving a humiliated and confused brother behind him.