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In the morning, she noticed Mikey's temperature had risen by six degrees. Is was possible he had already suffered brain damage.

She couldn't keep him on the drugs any longer. It was too risky.

So, biting her lip, she summoned the rest of the family.

Three sets of eyes sparked as she told them, "Look. It's killing him. I have to take him off the drugs."

Leo started, saying, "I thought they were saving him."

Shaking her head, frustrated, she replied, "They're also helping to destroy his body."

Master Splinter stepped forward, and told his sons, "It may be for the best. Michelangelo needs a time for his own body to combat the infection."

He looked at her, brown eyes pleading, before stepping through the doorway into the infirmary.

She sighed, resting her head on her hands. It hurt.

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Mikey opened his eyes for the first time in over 72 hours. They hurt. His entire body hurt.

"Wh-What happened?" He croaked.

Raph jumped nearly three feet in the air when he heard him speak.

Rushing to his little brother's bedside, he took his hand in his own.

"Mikey! You're awake!" Green eyes flashed in stark relief, a contrast to the tenseness of his body.

"W-Well.." Mikey coughed. "Yeah."

Raph kicked himself. He'd forgotten the water.

Reaching over on the bedside table and pouring him a glass, he handed it to Mikey.

Baby blue eyes smiled weakly up at him. Even exhausted, they sparkled. They gave Raph hope that things would be normal again.

"Th-Thanks." Mikey whispered, coughing hard.

Raph took the glass out of his hand, and, picking Mikey up, carefully tapped him on the back to clear the water from his airways.

Mikey's eyes went wide. Raph hadn't done that since they were kids and Mikey had gotten hurt. Then he smiled, and snuggled weakly into his older brother's arms.

It was Raph's turn to smile. Mikey was behaving just like he had when they were kids, snuggling as close s possible. Maybe it was some sort of instinct he had, or maybe it was just for comfort. He didn't know, and didn't really care. All he knew was that his baby brother was finally awake, and on the mend.

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Leo and Donnie found them like that in the morning.

After choosing the short straw, Donnie was pushed forward.

He took his bo staff out and carefully reached out with it.

Don't apply pressure, don't apply pressu-

The blade came leaping out, centimeters from Raph's face.

Donnie shouted in alarm while Leo snickered.

Donnie took up the staff and whacked Leo on the head with it.

"Ow!"

"SHHHH! You know how he gets. Don't wake him up by yelling-that'll make him even crankier!" Donnie whispered loudly.

Raph peeked out of one eye. They were arguing, completely unaware he was awake.

Looking down at Mikey, whose eyes had cracked open sleepily, he winked, and disappeared.

He reappeared five seconds later in the middle of Leo and Don, saying simply, "Boo."

They screamed, Leo jumping into Donnie's arms, Donnie collapsing under the weight.

Sitting on top of them, he stretched out. Except for the wiggling and squirming, they made a pretty decent couch.

"Raph!" Leo yelled.

"Leo!" Raph mocked, making Leo's face turn an alarming shade of red.

"SHH!" Donnie shouted.

They all fell silent at the sound of laughter ringing across the walls around them.

Mikey was sitting up a little in bed, clutching his stomach as he giggled.

"Oh-oh man, Raphie! That-That was THE best thing EVER!" He snickered.

His older brothers immediately came to his bedside.

Mikey paid them no attention, laughing hysterically. He only stopped when his chest started seizing up.

"Ow." He whispered.

Instantly, he was barraged with an array of questions.

"Where does it hurt?" This from Leo, whose relief had turned into full-blown worry.

"What's wrong, Mikey?" Donnie pushed Leo aside, prepared to give him a full examination.

Raph pushed both of them aside, simply asking Mikey, "You okay, man?"

Mikey nodded, then attempted a grin. It fell short of normal wattage, but it was a Mikey signature nonetheless.

"Just-" He coughed "Just laughed too hard."

Donnie listened to his heart beat and his breathing. "He's right. He's ok. Well," He added hastily, seeing the looks Leo and Raph were giving him, "As ok as this situation allow."

Leo and Raph relaxed a bit.

When they looked back to the bed, all three almost let out a collective, 'awwwww.'

Mikey was snuggling up to his pillow, trying desperately to not fall asleep, but eyelids fluttering shut anyway. He yawned, and covered his mouth with his fist, just as he had done ten years before.

"D-Don't wanna sleep." He murmured.

"I know, little brother. But sleep. You'll feel better when you wake up." Raph promised, settling Mikey deeper into the nest of sheets and covers. Assembling a sort of swaddling around Mikey, he promised one more thing.

"We'll be here when you wake up."

i know it's really short, but I figure you guys would want an update rather than no update. So, here it is! Tell me whatcha think, would you? Leave a review in the box below. Even a guest review is great (with many thanks to my guest reviewer. You are great! I'd tell you if you had a PM, but I'm telling you here. I really appreciate it.)! To all my reviewers, you guys are the best! To all of my readers, thanks for reading! It's really cool that I have people from all over the world reading this! If you guys also have any ideas for the story-what you'd like to see, tell me in a comment! I'm already incorporating some ideas people have told me about.

With love!

~EmberAmberFirdaus~