Author's note: Oh my...did I just post another chapter in this as well as another fic today? It seems I'm in a typing mood! I finished this chapter last night so the procrastination was minimal. Mike's next. He should be fun . An OOC Mikey...what am I gonna do? *bangs head against desk* Hopefully I'll manage for ya! Raph was fun once I got started. I really disected his character. Since he gave me trouble at first...will Mikey be the same? Hopefully... There's one scene I just love in this chapter. You'll notice that with Raph's chapter, we're able to step back and see what Leo and Donny are doing without their knowledge. This was kind of needed for this fic. 'Specially 'cuz you now really know what Raph's thinking through all this. Sadly, my lovely Death anoligies are rarer in this chapter but they do pop up. I love those anoligies. You know what? I just love all anoligies! I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed writing!

Disclaimer: Yeah we all know the guys do not belong to me. None of the characters mentioned in this fic belong to me. Not Master Splinter sensei, or Leonardo, or Raphael, or Donatello, or Michelangelo, or April O'Neil! None, zip, zilch! :'( Though I wish they did...Maybe just Donny if I can have only one? Please? (O.O)

Well anyway...the plot is all mine! I have something to claim! It's MINE! MINE! *looks around at the strange looks given to her* Hehe...Gotta run! *Ninja vanishes*

Raphael laid back against the chair next to the cot where Donatello laid, resting off his torturous experience. It still worried him that Donatello slept so much and when he was awake, the pain in his brother's eyes was heart wrenching. Raph didn't know what was worse to watch. He wished he could do more, but even with the pain meds, it wasn't enough. They couldn't give him more and they were unwilling to give him something that would cause him to sleep longer. They needed him to wake up.

Leonardo's condition was critical. It was harder to watch him. Even while the eldest was unconscious, he was moaning and mumbling under his breath. His skin was almost scolding to the touch and he was drenched in his own sweat. Raph couldn't understand Michelangelo's capability to stand Leonardo's hot skin on his.

At least both of them had awakened after their ordeal. Raphael had to remind himself of that fact. They were alive; that's all he could hope for right now. He just hoped that would last. It would be terrible if they died now after he and Mike brought them home to safety. Though he was given time to say goodbye, it just wouldn't be right. Raphael hated that most of all.

He prayed they would make it. They had too! They couldn't leave him with sensei and Michelangelo! He would go crazy! He needed their clear head. He needed Leonardo to stop him when he would do something stupid and he needed Donatello to fall back on afterwards. Without either, what's to stop him from getting killed or losing Mikey to the same fate?

Raphael knew that in a fight, if he had Leonardo or Donatello, things would turn out all right. That's just the ways things were. Donatello may not be much of a fighter by choice, but his logic usually won out against their foes. Raphael usually kept himself in check when either Donatello of Michelangelo were among their ranks as well. Even when Leonardo was with them as well, Donatello always was his main priority as Leo had the youngest covered then.

It was rare when he worried about the elder. Leonardo was usually able to hold his own longer then the rest of them. Raphael was well aware that his brother was not invincible as proven by that one tragic night, but it was still a rare sight when he went down. The eldest was always vigilant and was usually able to hold back his enemies no matter the odds for a good period of time.

Too see him fighting for his life against an invisible enemy was hard on Raphael. This was something he couldn't protect Leonardo from. Both Donatello and Leonardo were in a war against Death's sadistic hand. Raph rarely feared Death, but when it attacked his brothers like this, he felt helpless. He wished he could fight this enemy with his bare fists. He wished he could teach Death a lesson from threatening to take his brothers away from him. He wished this with all his heart, but he knew it wouldn't help them. This was a battle his brothers had to face alone but in no way did that mean he would make it easy for Death.

That's why he was able to wait. His restlessness showed in his taping fingers and swinging leg, but he waited. It was the only way to save his brothers' life. It hurt to feel this helpless, but once Donatello woke, that helplessness would fade along with Death's veil hanging over Leonardo's soul. That's what he hoped for at least, but that thought was held back. It was dangerous thought lingering just out of reach where he hoped it would stay.

With all his conscious thought on his heavily bandaged brother, the furry hand on his shoulder was unexpected and he nearly jumped at his Sensei's presence. He turned to face his father with lost eyes and caught a mirrored look in the rat's own eyes as well as he glanced at Donatello before returning his gaze to Raph.

"Don't lose hope, my son," Master Splinter whispered softly, "Neither Donatello or Leonardo has as of yet. They are both fighting and that's all we could hope for right now."

"I know, Sensei," Raphael said as he too glanced at Donatello, "I just hate this…helplessness…so much. I wish I could do something!"

"At this point, we have done all we can," The sensei said, "With restoring Leonardo's will for survival, he has already started building his own defenses."

"So you saw that too…" Raphael said, breathing out a sigh. The image of Leonardo's eyes full of the promises of Death's saving grace filled Raphael's mind and he had to hold back the sob wrenching his gut. When he was able to focus on his father again, he saw the heavy nod of the old rat's head.

"But you and Michelangelo restored it and for that you should be grateful." He stated sagely, "That is not an easy task once Death has its hold. You have given him hope and Michelangelo gave him a reason. With this, you ensured him more time."

"What if it isn't enough?" Raphael asked. His thoughts had taken a darker path and the thought that this may be Leonardo's last few hours shook him to the core. "What if he still dies…." The last word came out shaky and he clenched his fist hoping that with the action, he could rebuild his slowly shattering wall.

Master Splinter tightened his hold on Raphael's shoulder and he borrowed his Sensei's unwavering strength until regained some of his own. "Don't lose hope." The sensei reminded his pupil, "They need your strength. Not only Leonardo and Donatello, but Michelangelo as well. Your brother's spirit has been shaken by these recent events. He needs you to help rebuild the pieces. Especially…" if they don't make it… The last was left unspoken but it was enough to show that even Master Splinter was standing on the edge of despair. But he still had hope and that gave Raphael the strength to pull himself together. The sensei was right. If he lost it now, Michelangelo would not be able to hold it together. His baby brother needed him to help keep everything from crumbling down around them. They needed to rely on each other to make it through the dark veil Death laid out for them. Without it, they all would be lost.

A low moan brought both spectators turning towards the broken Donatello. Raphael quickly reached over the distance between them and entwined the fingers of one hand with his brother's un-bandaged one as the other found his brother's forehead.

"Donny, come on bro," Raphael whispered, "I gotta question fer ya."

"Raph…?" Donatello muttered, weakly. His voice was barely audible and Raphael had to lean forward to hear it.

"Yeah," Raphael said with a half smile that resembled more of a grimace. It was painstakingly obvious that his brother was in agony. Raphael tightened the fist in Donatello's hand to offer his own strength as the other gently rubbed his brother's forehead for comfort. "I gotta question. Ya think you can help me?" The slow nod of his brother was Donatello's only response. Raphael had a feeling it was all he could manage, but he had to continue. "Leo woke up a litt'a while ago. I needja ta help me help him. Can ya do that?" Another nod in response and Raphael continued, "He was poisoned an' now he's real sick. It would be a hella lot faster if ya could tell me what ta do."

"Leo…zick?" Donatello asked as his pain-filled eyes met Raph's, "Wanna…'elp…" Raphael heard the 'but' in his brother's unfinished sentence and that scared him.

"What's wrong?" He asked, quickly.

"It…foggy," Donatello answered, his voice now also filled with sadness, "Too…mush…pain… 'll try…?" Raphael nodded in understanding. Donatello was willing to try through his pain-filled haze so Raphael told him all he had learned of Leonardo's poison-induced illness. As he was talking, he noticed Donatello's eyes narrow in forced awareness. His brother was trying. Raph could see that clearly. He just hoped it would be enough. As he concluded, Donny's eyes turned thoughtful, still holding back pain.

"'iszart…" Donatello mumbled, "Need to…slow it. Otherwiz zit…fail… Ugh…" He moaned, taking a small break from thinking to focus on getting past his past. Raphael tensed in waiting. He never thought Leonardo's heart could fail with the stress it was currently being put through. It never even crossed his mind and now his worry for his elder brother only increased.

"Donny…" Raphael said through clenched teeth. He couldn't wait for too long. Leonardo didn't have that much time. Donatello's eyes flew back to him in silent apology. He really was trying his best.

"There's a…drug…" Donatello said, "M'tryin' ta…remem'er it…name." He paused there in thought for a moment. "There's a…few… Ah…think Lanoxin best… Also call Digoxin or…digitalis… That should help."

"Thanks Don," Raphael said, "Ya can rest now." Donatello nodded in understanding as his eyes closed in relief. Raphael stood and walked to a far corner as he took out his shell cell and dialed April O'Neil's number. After it rung twice, April answered sounding as if she was slightly out of breath.

"Hey what's up?" She asked. Raphael knew she was out of the loop with the past events. There just hadn't been enough time to inform their human friend of their crisis.

"I need Lanoxin," He said, getting right to the point, "I need you to get it for me quickly."

"What's going on?" April asked.

"I need it to slow Leo's heart back to a normal pace before it he dies." He quickly explained, "He was poisoned. Just hurry, alright?" Then he snapped the cell closed before she could answer and began pacing restlessly.

"Now all we have to do is wait," Master Splinter said, sighing, from where he watched.

Author's end note: Please review. The tired author needs something to keep her motivated. Give a review to the tired author? (o.o)