It had been almost 10 hours since Mikey's fear had come into the light. For all the pain the orange banded turtle's declaration had brought, it had accomplished one thing:

Mikey Slept.

Since he had made it home, Mikey had only slept in exhausted spurts or a drug induced coma. Now he slept soundly curled up with Klunk and the first comic book he had actually read. He had been asleep for almost 7 hours. Most of the house were walking on egg shells to keep it that way.

Raphael had ventured away from Mikey to go into the Dojo. He didn't have enough strength yet to really do much of anything, but the simple familiarity of his training corner, and the touch of his sais, made it a comfort.

Leo and April stayed in their makeshift hospital room ready to wash away the demons should Mikey awaken suddenly. Donnie had followed Splinter down stairs after Mikey had fallen asleep. He had seemed to need to be near his Sensei. He hid it alright at first, or so he thought. Sitting on the den while Splinter watched his soaps. Suddenly wanting some tea when Splinter went into the kitchen.

So here they where.

Splinter stood at the stove tinkering away at a small snack in the making, while waiting on the kettle to steam. Donnie made a show of snooping thru the fridge. Though he couldn't keep from looking over at the kettle. This was dangerous. He was to close to it. Splinter was short and if it steamed, he might be burnt.

Yes, He knew how stupid he sounded. Splinter could more than take care of himself, but…ever since Bishop, he couldn't get the imagine of his father lifeless body beneath his panicked hands out of his mind.

He could see the small beads of froth forming at the mouth of the kettle. It wouldn't be long now. The soft gurgles of bubbling water signaled the boil.

Splinter take it off the stove…

It was to close.

Finally Donnie could stop himself no longer. He lurched forward. Shouldering a startled Splinter to the side. Lifting to old kettle from the stove with a bare hand. He yelped as the searing hot metal singed his hand. Out of reflex he dropped the kettle, only to be caught an inch from the floor on the crook of Splinter's walking stick. He quickly returned the kettle to a cool burner and had already begun examining Donnie's hand, by the time Donnie realized he had dropped it.

A startled Donnie was gently pushed into a chair while Splinter began to dig through the already opened first aid kit.

"Master Splinter, I'm sorry. I-"

What could he say? He felt like an idiot but in that same respect he was terrified to let him out of his sight.

At first Splinter did not respond as he continued to tend to the wound. Once finished and satisfied, that all that could be done , had been done, he looked at Donnine. Who at once dropped his graze when his father looked up and stopped his rambling.

"My Son."

Donnie didn't look up, he was embarrassed. What had he been thinking? A warm had gently touched his cheek. Despite his 'I'm a big bad tough Ninja' facade he found himself leaning against that touch.

Warm, not cold…alive.

"My Son, I am safe. Your brother's are safe. You…are safe."

Donnine focused on that steady warmth..

"And I will see that it stays that way." Came the old Rat's strong words.

Silence stretched between them before a shamed Donnie quietly muttered.

"but you can't."

Splinter paused. No anger in his eyes, only a quiet pain. Inwardly he felt the pain of a father who had failed his children. Having by one form or another allowed this to happen. Naturally he assumed that was the situation his son was touching on.

"I am sorry, My Son. That I was not able to find you sooner."

Donnie was off in his mind and it took a moment for those words to reregister. He looked up sharply. Covering his master's hand with his own.

"No, Sensei. That isn't at all what I meant. You have done so much for us. You kept us safe. When we were in there thoughts of you kept us sane. I just meant…"

…

Splinter let his thumb gently coax out the remainder of the sentence, as it slid softly along Donnie's exposed cheek bones.

Donnie took a deep breath, steeling himself.

"You will die."

Another breath.

" I won't be able to save you… I tried."

He met his father's eyes, expecting all the disapproval in the world.

" I swear I tried!"

All he found in those dark brown eyes, which had watched him grow, were tears.

Silent and simple he found himself in his father's arms. A soft Japanese's tune hummed in his ear. A song of comfort he had grown up by. Amid the soft tune of childhood memories he heard something else. As he clung to his father like a scared child, steady and strong he heard it.

His father's heartbeat.