-1Back in the cell

Sleep had finally claimed the two conscious turtles in the small, dark hole that had been there home for…days?

It certainly felt like it. Only once had someone gained access to their cell for a purpose other than to claim or return a brother. They never even noticed. It wasn't until Raph stood to pace that he nearly tripped over a luke-warm bottle of water.

No telling how long it had been there.

Neither Leo or Raph drank and both were to tired to try and argue with the other until they drank.

Mikey was being cradled by Leo much like Raph had been. With each others help they had managed to get a few precious sips of water into their baby brother who had yet to awaken.

That had been hours ago. Now they could only try and guess how long Donnie had been missing. The closest they could come was a terrifying eighteen hours.

Exhaustion and fear took their toll and despite their best efforts eventually both brothers fell asleep. Leo was still cradling Mikey while Raph sat to Leo's right, touching just enough to be certain they were both still there.

And so they slept

Their sleep was shattered by a scream.

Before Leo could fully shake the fog that had settled over his mind he was jerked fully into consciousness by an elbow to his jaw, in Mikey's feeble attempt to escape him.

Mikey scrambled away as quickly as his injuries would allow. The darkness seemed to only make it easier to notice the unevenness of each breath escaping the youngest. A loud crack echoed around their enclosure as Mikey's shell struck stone and he cried out.

"Mikey, Take it easy. Your with us" Raph spoke urgently giving his older brother a chance to get his jaw working.

"Mikey, you're safe." Leo's tone was a forced calm.

There was a long moment of silence where only the heart breaking sound of broken nails on a wall could be heard. As Mikey struggled to climb out of the place he now found himself.

After a few moments even that noise stopped and silence fell between them.

For a terrifying moment Leo worried they had taken his brother again.

Then from the silence a crying Mikey whimpered softly.

"Raph?…Leo?"

Leo felt the closest thing he had to a smile since this hell had begun.

"Yeah Mikey, we're here"

Silence

Then in a tone of heart wrenching rage Mikey screamed:

"WHERE WERE YOU?!"

Both red and blue banded brothers flinched as Mikey's tirade continued.

"I SCREAMED FOR YOU!

YOU LEFT ME!

WHERE WERE YOU?

I NEEDED YOU!

HOW COULD YOU JUST LEAVE ME LIKE THAT!?"

Leo bowed his head vaguely aware that Raph was moving away from him and toward Mikey. His heart stung. His baby brother was doing little more then voicing the same damnations on him that he had been giving himself.

"I SCREAMED FOR YOU!"

Mikey swung in their general direction. Raph was close enough and captured his fist a steel grip. Mikey's shouts of rage turned into a strangled scream of pain when he tried to swing his other arm.

A wave of pain crashed down upon him. Every injury that fear and anger had been concealing flashed to light in bright neon's and Mikey crumbled forward, against Raph, only able to whimper.

Leo moved in finally. His hand falling softly on the shoulder of his youngest brother.

"Easy Michelangelo. It was just a dream. We have you…your safe"

Leo hated himself, he knew it wasn't 'just a dream'. One look or even one touch in a blind prison and he knew it was not just a dream. He was beaten, blooded, his legs were swollen he wasn't even sure that they weren't broken. Not to mention he was lacking an arm.

Raph moved him carefully so that he sat back against the wall. He moved away to find the water bottle only to feel his wrist being snared and held with a vise grip by Mikey.

"Don't Leave!"

Mikey breathed in urgency, despite his pain.

"Easy Bro, I'm just getting something." Raph assured him.

He was used to Mikey being an annoying tag along but this was something different. He could feel Leo pull Mikey's hand off his wrist. By the grunt from Leo it hadn't been an easy task. As soon as Leo had Mikey's hand off Raph's wrist he quickly took his hand moving beside Mikey while Raph went to find what he needed.

Raph hesitated his eyes watching the darkness that held his brother, both figuratively and literally. He still couldn't fathom their care free brother so terrified. Mikey had never liked being alone and even now he would occasionally crash in Raph's room when he was out. Some grinning excuse that was never really needed. Mikey had his own room and often slept there, but it was not uncommon to find him with one of his other brothers or even napping on the mat behind his sensei. No one questioned it. That was just Mikey.

He could still hear Leo talking to him and Mikey whimpering if he moved just the slightest.

What had those bastards done to him?

After a few blind grabs Raph located the water bottle and passed it to Leo's free hand

"Drink this Mikey. Only a little. We don't know when we'll get more." Leo's tones were soft.

So far Mikey hadn't taken a full awareness to his injuries or the lack of Donnie. He had no intention of bringing either to Mikey's focus.

Hope was all they had. He wouldn't take Mikey's from him so soon.

Raph gently tugged the water away from Mikey after several gulps.

"Go slow Mike." He cautioned.

There was a pause before Mikey spoke, his voice still not his own but some what closer then it had been.

"You guys need some too." Mikey informed Raph.

Leo's eyes turned to where Raph was hidden by darkness. He could hear Raph tip the bottle back but never heard him swallow.

Alright Little brother, least we're on the same page.

Raph passed Leo the bottle. Dispute the cotton mouth that coated his throat and tongue he mimicked his brother. Leo tilted the water up using his tongue to block any water from escaping. He lowered the bottle and secured the cap. Making sure to make a swallowing noise for merit.

The silence fell between them, Mikey's steel grip on his hand relaxed, and he could feel Mikey lean completely on Raph, so that his head fell on his shoulder.

Another several minutes, they both had to be sure.

Raph spoke first. "He's asleep"

Leo nodded in the darkness tilting his head and making sure the deepener breathing had not changed and there was no eves dropping going on before responding.

"Yes."

A long moment stretched again both picked their own spot in the darkness to stare at.

"Leo?" Raph spoke softly.

"Yes." Leo's voice sounded pained.

"We have to get them out of here." The desperation was not missed and Leo closed his eyes. It was a bold move and any other time he was certain the move would be rejected. For now however, he tired. He reached across Mikey and found Raphs hand on instinct. He waited for his brother to pull away. He didn't.

"We'll get them out."

Was all Leo said, and despite the fact they had Mikey back, he was finding it harder and harder to believe.

-.-.-.--.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

End

TBC

Thanks for reading!

Feed the hungry writer

Thanks to all who have reviewed