A week passed and all three of the elder brothers were still on bed rest, even Raph who only had a few scars and some sore ankles.

They had not heard much about there baby brother in this span of time, it was driving them insane. It didn't help the fact that they were not only on bed rest but strict bed rest at that. They were only allowed a few hours of the day to walk around and stretch then it was back to the fluffy yet still uninviting mats.

On day four of there week Don had actually been dragged and strapped to his mat. All he had done was asked if Mikey was doing better...and...also might have tried to escape the rooms window to hide then go see Mike for himself.

That wasn't the point though, the true point was that the caretakers had meant business, the three brothers just didn't understand. As Don was getting strapped down he had yelled and kicked and even tried to punch at the people restraining him.

When the caretakers left Leo sat up and tried to calm Don as the genius turtle tried to pull at the restraints. Raph had just sat solemnly on the side line, shaking his head.

"Don! What did you do to make them have to restrain you like this?!" Leo exclaimed.

"All I did was ask about Mike!"

Raph smirked. "Oh? So that wasn't you I saw trying to sneak through the window?"

Leo gave Don a glare.

"Well...sneak is such a strong word..."

Leo sighed In exasperation. "Don as you can see there is a good reason there keeping us like this, I don't like it just as much as you do."

Raph grumbled. "What I don't get is that we are all healing up pretty well...so why are we getting treated like we're nearly dying and not being allowed up but only an hour a day?!"

Leo shook his head solemnly, "I think there keeping us down for more reasons then our injuries guys, I have a bad feeling that there's more going on with Mikey then we think and I think there keeping something from us."

Don frowned at this, now he knew how it felt to not get the full explanation about one of his brothers health. He had a bad reputation of telling his brothers tiny lies or leaving holes in diagnosis's of whoever he was currently patching up. "So what do we do?" Don questioned.

"I say we go see our brotha." Raph proclaimed as he beat his fist into his hand.

Leo thought a moment then finally came to a conclusion. "Raphs right, it's high time we figure out what the shell is going on with our little brother. Here Raph, help me with Don, once the turtles got situated and...untied...they began to plot a way to get out and away then a way to sneak back in and to there brother.

Raph had right off the bat made an impulsive suggestion. "Can't we just knock the caretakers at the door out?!"

Leo gave Raph a stare that stopped Raph from talking any further.

"So...what's the plan then Leo?" Don asked.

"I say Raph causes a distraction by throwing his sai across the room so the caretaker guards will notice then we can tell them we had no idea what had happened, while they go check that out we just sneak out the window and then wait for an opening to sneak back in. We won't be able to see Mike for a long time but hopefully we can get a glance and maybe even an explanation about what's really going on."

Raph grinned. "I like it, let's go!" With that he threw his weapon across the room with careful aim so it wouldn't hit the sleeping Daimyo. Sure enough the caretaker guards just outside the door stumbled in, one even tripped!

Raph leaned close to Leo and whispered, "hate to see what would have happened if there really was danger."

Leo quickly swiped at Raph making him retreat quickly, they then nudged Don and motioned to get to the window, the trio ran desperately and made there way stealthily out the window and to the safety's of the ground below.

Once they made the safe two story decent they hid in the heavy shrubbery that seemed to bury most of the perimeter of the massive building. Above them they heard the faint panicked ramblings of there so called guards, each of the three turtles remained silent and still as they heard Master Splinters voice enter the conversation. Each of there hearts ranged a bit with guilt as they heard him frantically asking questions, the last thing they heard of there Master went along the lines of search party in the evening.

Don gave Leo a look, practically begging to give it up and go comfort Splinter, Leo wouldn't budge though. "Alright guys lets make our way up to that balcony." Leo whispered as he pointed to the third story above them about ten feet over to where they were located.

Raph started to slowly make his way up the stone wall with the ninja hand claws Don had passed him.

Once all three of them were perched on the balcony they slowly drew the thick curtains back, they were met with a massive empty room that had a thick massive mat in the middle of it. On the mat held a small shivering figure that has what seemed like a sea of blankets around it.

Don made his way over, cautiously checking every corner of the room. Leo entered next and shut then locked the door on the far left side of the room. Raph simply stood over Mikey with Don.

Don had to peel several of layers of blankets before Mike's maskless face was even visible. He looked sick, sweat was running down his forehead getting into his closed eyes.

Raph cringed when he first caught sight of the downed turtle. "Sheesh...he looks...like he's in alot of pain..."

Don frowned and pulled out a clipboard that sat on a small desk beside Mikey. Raph and Leo snapped there head towards Don when he gasped.

"What is it Don?! What did you find?" Leo questioned.

"M-Mikey...he...Leo do you remember when Sh'Okanabo had that small dagger type sword?"

Leo nodded hesitantly.

"And Raph did you ever see him well...use the sword ethier?"

Raph nodded, a solemn look now on his face.

"Well apparently the weapon he had was coated in a sinister type of poison every time it was used on him. For the past week Mikey has been fighting the verge of death due to the massive amounts of poison that had gotten mixed in his blood stream when he got...cut into."

Raph growled. "And hey didn't even tell us...dirty ba-"

"My son's!"

All three of the turtles froze in there place, trying to be as still as possible.

"My son's I heard Raphael speaking I know your in there."

Raph face palmed and opened the door to let there Sensei in. They were meet with a VERY unamused face, behind that unamused character stood ten caretakers and the Daimyo himself!

Raph was the first out of the unspoken trance everyone seemed to be in. "Hey! Nice to see you up and moving around Daimyo!"

Daimyo smiled, "thank you Raphael...it seems you boys have gotten into some trouble...care to explain?"

Raph let Leo speak now, "well you see...I...we...Don?"

Don sighed and shot a glare at Leo. "Ok fine. We made a distraction so we could escape out the window of our recovery room then we climbed the wall to this level and then we finally got to learn just all about Mikeys condition...although it seems you have found a antidote it doesn't change the fact that you hid it all from us! He was on the verge of death about...oh...three days ago according to these charts! And he's still unstable with the poison leaving his body to slowly."

"H-hey! Take it e-easy Don!" Mike coughed out.

This definitely got all three brothers attention. "MIKEY!"

"H-how ya doing guys?"

They all laughed. "Figures that would be the first thing...I think a better question would be how are YOU doing?" Leo smiled.

Mikey grinned. "Great absolu-" Once more the turtle coughed, this time he was handed a glass of water. "Thanks..anywho! I'm great! ...Er well a little sore...and my head hurts...and it feels like it's the middle of winter in these blankets...but other then that I'm great! I was a little worse for wear for a while but the care takers found the antidote just in time for me and the Daimyo! Now, I know I heard Don shouting and I think I overheard why. The reason you bros didn't get to come see me is because I...requested you stay strictly in your rooms."

Don stepped forward. "But why Mikey? I don't understand."

Mike saw the clear hurt on his older brothers faces. "Don't get me w-wrong! I wanted t-to see you to! But...f-for a while there I didn't t-think I would...well make it...I guess I just didn't want you to see me like that."

Raph crossed his arms. "I know that ain't it Mike. We have seen you in your possible final hours, it's scary, but we have seen it before. Shell, I do recall you getting severely dehydrated one time and almost kicking the bucket from heat exhaustion while on a run and us having to get you back to the lair."

Don stepped up again. "Or the time you saved Splinter alone and didn't tell us how injured you were!"

Leo spoke now, "Or the time-"

"Fine! Y-you got me! I g-guess I just thought t-that I failed you..."

Leo and the others crowded around Mikey to give him a hug, all of them either shushing the babbling turtle or saying soothing and comforting words.

They then apologized to all the caretakers, Daimyo and Splinter, then they were left alone with there baby brother.

"I'm sorry guys."

Raph took a seat on the massive mat right in front of Mikey. "Don't cha dare say anything like that anymore! You didn't fail us in any way, shape or form! Got that?"

Mikey giggled a bit. "Got it. Thanks."

Raph gave him a thumbs up as Don and Leo also sat. "Mikey me and the guys have really been wanting to ask...why did you get so mad during the fight? Was it because it was to much or...to much bottled anger?"

Mikey eyes immediately down casted, "well...it..it was the only way guys...if I hadn't channeled the anger like I did then I would have died."

Don put a hand on Mike's shoulder. "Hey that's just fine, you did what you had to do...but...Mikey you shouldn't have that much pent up anger. We need you to understand that holding that rage in is not good. And we're ALWAYS here for you, ok?"

Mikeys eyes started to well up with tears. "Thanks dude's...you guys are the best bros a turtle could ever ask for." Mikey chanted as he hugged his brothers, they accepted the hug with whole hearts, each embracing there baby brother with joy and undeniable love.

Everything was right again, the horrid events in the past few weeks had brought the Hamato bunch even closer now. Now that each turtle was on the same page of trust, no one was left in the shadows.