The Clans

by Alex1

Michelangelo will do anything to save a sick brother- including striking a dangerous deal with a cunning enemy. But it turns out there are more shady things going on here, and the Turtles soon find themselves fighting for their own survival as they are drawn further into the crossfires of a ninja clan war. This sequel to Terms of Allegiance is complete.

6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Perhaps the extra cold weather had something to do with it, throwing off Raphael's immune system in some way, but it caught all of them off guard, how quickly he deteriorated over the next two weeks. Though he smoldered with constant, helpless rage at the betrayal by his own body, Raphael spoke not a word about any of it- the worsening fever, the bloating, the debilitating aches and chills- and neither did Leonardo, who stood vigilant but silent on the other side of the moat that Raphael was digging around himself.

Mike witnessed only one conversation between them about it, a few days after New Year's. Leo had cornered Raph over breakfast and said, "Can we at least talk about what we could do?"

"You remember your promise?"

"Yes."

"Good. 'Cause I'll talk when I feel like it. And I don't feel like it."

So their usual routine continued as if nothing was wrong, all of them playing the charade that Raphael perpetuated by doing things like showing up for training, even though he took a turn for the worse after nearly passing out. After that, if he came at all, Leo devoted the sessions to stretching and breathing exercises. The three of them wordlessly took over Raphael's chores so he could crawl into bed early each night. But by the third week, he was having a hard time even getting out of bed, and they could no longer pretend or hold back.

"You're being a proud, selfish, irrational ass, you know that, right?" Don said, wringing out a cold towel to slake his fever.

"Are you trying to prove something? Are you getting back at us for last year?" Mike implored. "Because we're sorry!"

Even after being taken aside by Splinter and told, "As your sensei, I respect your decision. But as your father, I ask you to reconsider. Let your brothers find a way to help you," Raphael remained stubbornly callous. Either, "Gimme a break. I've been through worse than this," or more circumspectly, "There's lots of people out there who could use medicine they haven't got, alright? Doesn't give 'em a free pass to steal it, or sell their kids, or bankrupt the family or something, does it?"

Or something, Mike thought.