Okay so a very quick update on a lot of chapters before I go back studying till I fall asleep. I'll try to have two chapters done of Poison of Vengeance because of the long wait but at least this is the first.

To cup-mikey-gertha: this isn't the chapter you've been hoping for sorry. But the next one will so be patient ;)

Chapter 5: paralized

It's been a full week already. A week of Donatello working himself to death. A week of Leonardo trying to hold on. A week of me not having seen my youngest and second-eldest sons. I worry for every single one of them and try to reach my lost sons as well as my ill one by meditation.

Leonardo has not reacted to anything I tried and according to Donatello this is caused by the mysterious coma he is in. He hasn't responded to physical touches and his reflexes are off as well. My genius son has told me that the only reason his older brother is still alive is because of the machines and our constant care. But despite that Leonardo is sinking into a deeper sleep every day and his brother worries he might not wake up if he does not come up with a cure anytime soon.

He is working on this medicine day and night and when he does not do that or takes care of Leonardo, he works on his computer to find his missing brothers. I try to help my son out in every way I can but my knowledge is not sufficient enough. It hurts me to know that I cannot assist my sons now that they need me more than ever.

It hurts Donatello also that he cannot lay down his work and go find Michelangelo and Raphael. We know they must be in trouble or they would have made it home already. We both know that. I have been topside every night, trying to look for any clue that could help me to find my boys. I have found nothing and now Donatello is working on his computer to hack into the databases of our enemies. The last place we know we could look.

I am here know with Leonardo, making sure the monitors around him do not change and keeping replacing backs with fluids and nutrients when they are empty. I dip some water on his cracked lips to keep them hydrated and sigh. Two days ago there was a slight movement coming from Leonardo when he felt the cold water touch his face. Today there is again nothing. Not even the slightest twitch.

When I have made sure that my eldest son is alright, I leave the infirmary to see how much progress Donatello has made. The teen is sleeping on his desk, head on his curled up arms. I smile despite myself and cover my child with a blanket. There is a deep frown on my son's tired face and another sigh escapes my lips.

Two sons are nowhere to be found and I do not know their current state of health or if they are even still alive. Another one has been in a mysterious coma for a week and might as well be dead. My last child is working himself to exhaustion to try and help his brothers in need, not knowing if he can even manage such a thing. And me, their father, the one who should take care of them, is utterly powerless to do anything than help.

"Please Raphael, Michelangelo. Be alright"

TMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNT

I think the bleeding has finally stopped. Mikey is lying on the cold, wet floor, being reduced to a whimpering mess. His face is dangerously pale and his breaths are uneven. I carefully bring my hands from the wound which causes another hiss from my baby brother. I few droplets of blood still come out of the wound but it's much less than before.

I grab the disinfectant and the piece of cloth lying next to it. I find a needle and thread attached to the bottle of alcohol and wince. He was prepared. He knew what he was going to do. He knew I wasn't going to give in this easily.

"Hey Mikey," I speak up, placing a hand on my brother's sweaty forehead. He nods in acknowledgement but doesn't say anything. His eyes are full of tears and his whole expression tells me how much pain he is in right know.

"I'm gonna use a needle and thread alright? I know it ain't gonna be comfortable but it has to be done."

Another nod and a slight smile. "Glad you do it. Then at least I'll have a wicked scar."

I know he tries to relieve the tension but it isn't really working for me. God, how I wish Donnie was here right now. I ain't no doctor and for good reasons too. But I don't have a choice because Mikey's bleeding out on me. And things will only get worse if he gets an infection on top of everything.

I slide behind my younger brother and sit him up against me. I ignore the small whimpers of pain and set to work with a shaky hand. Every time the thread slices through his skin, Mike shivers and I need to stop so the wound will close nicely. When I'm done and rub the alcohol onto the newly stitched wound, I'm kinda proud of my handy-work.

After wrapping my brother's shoulder up I sit him up against the wall at the back of our cell. I don't want him anywhere near the bars. I stand up and that's when Mikey lifts his head up to look at me. My eyes start burning but it's nowhere as bad as my chest. Painful heartthrobs pound against my ribs and release the dread inside my head.

The cut. The mark. It isn't deep but I wonder if it will completely heal. There will always be a scar to remind me of what I did to him. What I should have prevented if I was just strong enough, or clever enough. If I just had been a good brother.

Apparently Mikey notices something because he turns his head away and picks up the bottle of alcohol. He rubs some on the cut on his cheek and then throws the thing to the far corner of our cell. It only makes me more sick to know that I couldn't even take care of the cut. I did it to him and can't even face the consequences.

I walk away to fetch or food and water. I give some to my younger brother but see him already dousing off.

"Hey, hey. Don't go to sleep yet," I say as gently as I can and tap his cheek. He blinks a few times and looks at me as if I've grown another head. "You need to eat first."

He mumbles something I probably don't want to hear anyway and closes his eyes again. I rouse him again though and manage to get him to eat some of the bread and to take a few sips of water. I know he can't have a lot right away or he'll throw up, so when I'm content he's had enough I lay him down on my lap. Careful so he's not lying on his right shoulder, I let him sleep. I pat right cheek a few times, not letting my fingers even getting near the other one.

I can't stand what I've done there. I can't stand it. I don't care Mikey asked me to do it, that it was to help him out of even more misery. I did it voluntarily and no way I can ever repay that to my youngest brother. The only thing I can do is to bring him to his two other brothers and his father. Keeping him safe from me.

Poor guys. And there you go! The reason why Leo and Don aren't there yet. I already put two turtles in a lot of danger and misery so I thought why don't give the rest of the family something to deal with as well. Maybe I should kill one of the brothers. Maybe… Muhahahaha .