Michelangelo eyed Marcus hopefully as the doctor unhooked him from the remaining monitor. The orange-masked turtle had spent an uncomfortable night in the Lab, and he was eager to be free of the lines that had been tethering him down like a dog on a leash.

"You're really gonna turn me loose, Marc?"

"With some boundaries, Mikey," Marcus said pointedly. "You're still going to have to endure a new battery of tests, but Luke, Donny, and I need to coordinate on some things first. Until then, you've got to take it easy, no matter how you feel. Don't do anything to raise your heart-rate, and stay off your feet as much as you can."

"Are you prescribing a day of lounging and video games for me, Marc?"

The dark-haired man smiled fondly. "Sure - you've got my blessing."

"What about eating?"

"If you're hungry feel free, just don't overdo it. If you start having any trouble breathing-"

"I'll tell someone," Mike interrupted. "But I really didn't feel it coming yesterday, Marc. I remember breathing a little hard, but things get fuzzy after that. You believe me, don't you? I wouldn't ignore it."

Marcus nodded, unable to hide the troubled look in his brown eyes.

Marc's glance made Michelangelo feel self-conscious, and the turtle fidgeted uneasily on the edge of the bed. "It was kind of like taking a trip to your world, Marc. That was scary."

The man broke eye contact briefly. "It can be scary. You did well with it though. You didn't panic, and that's the important thing."

If anyone could understand what Mike had experienced the day before, it was Marcus. The man's life-long battle with asthma made him the perfect person for the turtle to question further.

"Would something like an inhaler help me?" Mike wondered.

Marc's shoulders rose slightly. "It's something we could look into, but we couldn't go the conventional route. Donny and Luke would probably have to adapt existing medication, but that's nothing they haven't done before."

"What kind of tests do you have to do?" Mike asked nervously.

Marcus shook his head. "You know you can trust us, Mike. Try not to worry about anything in the meantime, and we'll tell you more when we can get some consensus between the three of us."

Easier said than done.

Michelangelo slowly rose to his feet, and was relieved when he didn't feel dizzy. He took a couple of experimental steps, and exhaled when he found his balance. "Do you have to report in to St. Joseph's today?"

"I have a couple of consultations, and a follow-up appointment for this afternoon."

Mike made a face. "You didn't have to stay overnight, Marc."

"I wanted to though," he said lightly, and clapped Mike on the shoulder. "Take care of yourself, huh? I'll be back with April tonight, and maybe we'll bring some takeout down. Would you be up for that?"

"Like I'm gonna say no? Thanks for being here, Marc, but you don't have to rush back just on my account."

"I'll call you guys to get your orders later." The man grinned, acting like he hadn't even heard what the turtle said.

Mike smiled when his saw Raphael in the living area, and offered his fist to his brother. The red-masked turtle scowled rather than bumping it.

"C'mon, gimme some love, Raphy. It wasn't the end of the world."

"It wasn't good either, bonehead. What the shell was that? Are you gonna tell me you didn't feel anything weird before it happened?" Raphael demanded.

Mike shook his head. "I don't know what to tell you. I was fine - or I thought I was. When I sat down it was like this curtain came over me, and that was it. I don't remember anything else, not until I woke up to see Donny."

"You scared me," Raphael said accusingly, almost as if Mike had done it on purpose.

"I'm sorry," the orange-masked turtle mumbled. "Can we talk about something else?"

"Our girls are coming home early."

Michelangelo's eyes went wide. "Shell, did somebody tell them about yesterday?"

"Not yet, Mike, but you know they're gonna hear about it. You don't think you can keep your wife outta the loop, do you?"

"But they didn't cut it short 'cause of me?"

"Nah, Jen just decided she felt up to driving them back through the night."

"Where are your girls?"

"Kitchen," he answered. "Kari doesn't need to be on the surface until this afternoon. She's got some big meeting with a new Company. Her choreography is getting a lot of attention now," Raphael added proudly.

"That's awesome. She's really good, bro. She and Calley could be a two-woman show."

"They make a great team, and they're both happy." Raph finally grinned.

Michelangelo glanced around the room, then back at his brother. "Have you seen Donny around?" Mike was surprised when Raphael winced.

"He, uh...he might be upset, Mikey. I came down on him hard last night."

"Raph!"

"Look, I know, okay? I was mad and scared. I'm gonna fix it."

Michelangelo's blue eyes hardened. "He puts all kinds of pressure on himself as it is, Raph. Why the shell do you have to make it worse?"

"I said I'd fix it, didn't I? He's been in the dojo for awhile, and I was gonna go talk to him. I just don't wanna interrupt too soon."

"Do us all a favor, and go interrupt," Mike said flatly.

Raphael muttered something unintelligible under his breath as he got to his feet. "I'd better grab some insurance first."

Michelangelo was a little bewildered when Raphael went into the kitchen, but understood what his brother meant when he came out of the room with Olivia in his arms.

Nice insurance, bro, he thought with secret amusement. It's a lot harder to stay mad at you with the baby in play. Not that Donny stays mad at anybody. Geesh, I wonder what he said to him? It's probably better not to know.

Michelangelo was fingering the remote control when Karina ducked out of the kitchen, and she gave the turtle a smile.

"Nice to see you up, Mike."

Mike flashed a grin in return. "Yeah, they took off the leash for now. What do I smell you doing in there?"

"Well, I was just about to put my bread-pudding in the oven-"

"Nuh-uh!" he interjected happily. "What's the occasion?"

"You are, silly. Luke said you'd probably be hungry, so I decided to make you a treat."

"You're sooo good to me."

"It's going to have to bake for a while, so get comfortable. Do you want anything else while you're waiting?"

He shook his head.

"Then I'll get it into the oven, and I'll join you out here."

"Yeah? You don't have anything else to do? I know you've got a meeting later."

"Life isn't all work, Mikey."

The turtle gave her a thumbs-up, and settled back against the couch cushions to find a better position. He was eager to see Rebecca, but was not looking forward to his wife finding out what had happened. Mike shivered at the onset of a chill, and yanked for the blanket off the back of the couch.

Doc and Marc aren't running around in a panic. If they were scared, I'd know it. So why am I still this nervous?

Donny. It wasn't like him to avoid the "action", even if Raphael had helped pile guilt on higher.

He's nervous, and he doesn't want me to know it.

Mike shut down the thought before it could go any further, and absent-mindedly began clicking through the on-screen guide on the TV. Titles of programs flew by, but he wasn't really paying attention. He caught himself feeling more weighed down, and submitted to lying on the arm of the couch. Mike hadn't slept for more than half an hour at a time in the Lab, constantly disturbed by the equipment measuring his life signs.

I sure hope the worst of this is behind me, but something tells me it's not gonna be so easy. I wish Donny would talk to me.

Mike's head turned as he heard a soft thump on the back of the couch, and he saw Tiger arching her back in a long stretch. The turtle held out two fingers toward the feline, and smiled when she rubbed her head against his hand. Tiger hopped down and landed on his side, pawing at the blanket for a moment before choosing a spot. Her steady purr was as comforting as the warmth that radiated from her body.

"You gonna be my heater, Tiger? That works for me; just keep your claws to yourself, 'Mighty Hunter'. You don't need to show off for Raph right now."

Michelangelo felt some of the tension melting from his frame with the presence of the beloved cat, and his eyes felt heavier than before. They were starting to close when he heard Karina re-enter the room, and the turtle willfully opened them.

"You okay, Mike?"

"Uh huh, just kinda tired."

"Get some rest, hermano." She smiled at him impishly. "Your wife will have less to complain about when she gets home."

Donatello had been sitting motionless across from Leonardo on the mat for a few minutes now, but immediately opened his eyes when he heard someone at the door. He couldn't resist a chuckle when Olivia crawled into the room.

"What's this, a fugitive?"

Leonardo opened his eyes too, and stretched his arms out behind his head. "I doubt she comes alone, Don."

Sure enough, Raphael stuck his head in the door a moment later. "I come in peace."

Donatello gazed at him passively. "C'mon in, Raph."

The red-masked turtle bent down to pick up the baby, and carried Olivia over to the mat with him. Raphael plunked down beside the other two turtles, and met Donatello's eyes after a beat of hesitation.

"Don, I'm really sorry about last night. I was outta line. I was upset, so I said some stupid stuff...Not that it's an excuse."

"Raph, I know where you were coming from."

"Mikey wants to see ya, bro."

Donny nodded meekly. "It's hard to face him without answers, but I know I can't stay away either."

Leonardo looked between Donatello and Raphael. "This isn't the time for any of us to be separating. We'll face this the same way we have everything else. Are you calmer now, Donny?"

Donatello rose stiffly, not finding the looseness he'd hoped for. "I'm fine, Leo," he lied. "I figure I should check on Mike."

"Are you sure we're okay, Don?" Raphael asked.

"Sure, Raph, I'm used to you."

Leonardo laughed softly. "If you aren't used to him by now, I'd call it a lost cause."

Raphael got to his feet and offered Donatello an arm, but even after Donny embraced him lightly, he still looked sheepish.

"Let it go, Raph. Let's not waste any more time and thought on this."

The sound of the main door distracted Donatello from saying anything else, and he glanced out into the hall. He exhaled softly when he saw the girls, and trotted over to meet them. The raven-haired woman beamed at Donatello as he gathered her in his arms, and she bent in to kiss him. He ended up embracing her more tightly than he meant to, and shuddered as he tried to control emotion that had been bottled up.

Jenna's forehead creased as she peered at Donatello, concern registering in her light blue eyes.

Shell, please tell me I don't look that bad.

"Donny, what-"

He shook his head to cut her off, and Jenna let go of him. "I'll grab your things, Jen."

Donatello slung her bag over his shoulder, and he offered her a lingering glance to communicate that she should follow him. His wife took the hint and trailed the turtle back to their bedroom. Behind the safety of closed doors Jenna's fingers latched onto his arm, guiding Donny to put the bag down.

"Donny, what's wrong?"

The purple-masked turtle heaved a heavy sigh. "Mike had another issue while you were gone. He passed out yesterday, and stopped breathing for at least a couple of minutes."

Jenna's form went rigid. "Is he okay? Why didn't anyone call?"

Donatello shook his head again, and Jenna drew both arms around his neck.

"Talk to me."

"We don't know what's wrong, Jen, but it's more serious than we originally thought."

"If you don't know what it is, can you be sure of that?"

"Jen, he stopped breathing. People don't just up and quit breathing without a reason. I haven't been able to face him."

"Not since yesterday? Donny, he relies on you so much..."

"I know that, but I can't shut off the questions running through my mind. I barely slept. Then I heard Luke and Marc talking this morning, and Doc said something about doing a lung biopsy."

"And that's bad."

"It certainly isn't good."

Jenna exhaled deeply. "And you haven't talked to Mike."

"No."

"What about your brothers?"

"I can't, not yet. There's no sense in scaring them unless I have to."

"But if it's bothering you-"

"Jen, please don't say anything about it. Promise me."

The woman gave him a stern look, but then buried her head against his chest. "Aw, Donny...Are you ever going to stop trying to bear the entire weight of the world on your shoulders?"

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?" he mumbled wearily.

Jenna gave him a light shove, and he allowed her to push him down on the mattress. "You can't keep avoiding Mike."

"Agreed. I'll talk to him right now."

Jenna shook her head. "I saw him resting, Don, like you should be. Heck, I was up all night too. I could use a few winks myself."

She pulled the rubber band out of her hair, and shook out her ponytail with a secretive smile.

"Is that supposed to make me tired?" He grinned.

Jenna snuggled down beside him. "I'll behave myself. Sleep now; play later."

"Sure, now that you got my hopes up and everything."

Jenna chuckled and leaned over to kiss him again. He cupped her cheek lightly in his hand as he kissed her back.

"I'm glad you're home, Jen."

"Me too."