Hey everyone. Hope you've had a good couple weeks. Life has been hectic for me lately as always. But I took a couple days off work for some much needed down time and during that down time have worked on the story trying to get a few chapters out. I have managed to get a couple chapters written so I will be posting the next one next weekend since weekdays are always so busy for me. But anyway I hope that you all have a great week and thank you again for those who take the time to review. I'll be back next week to post the next chapter.

Chapter 17

"Easy! Easy! Don't jostle him! Right there, just put him down."

Raphael gently lay his baby brother down on the cot, and stepped back as Donatello hurried forward to examine him. He watched as Donatello lifted Mikey's eyelids, checking his pupil reaction, and then feeling his pulse while everyone watched anxiously. Dinner forgotten completely.

Raphael hadn't seen what had happened; he'd been picking up Akemi so they could head down for dinner when he heard someone screaming, Melinda, and then Donatello yelling Michelangelo's name as something had made a horrible crashing noise. Running out with Akemi Raphael had gotten there just in time to see Donatello hurrying over to their limp brother who was lying at the bottom of the stairs, unconscious. Startled Raphael had hurried down with Akemi. Elizabeth had been hurrying out of the kitchen, Leonardo and Splinter joining them seconds later.

What the shell had happened that would make Mikey fall down the stairs?

After much consideration and a quick examination Donatello had declared it safe to move Mikey to the infirmary for further tests. Raphael had calmly handed Akemi to Elizabeth and had taken on the task of carrying their youngest brother to the infirmary where Don had better tools to help him. His brother had been so still and limp in his grip it had truly frightened him.

"Don?"

"He didn't re-break his arm," Don said sounding relieved. All of them were relieved by that. "It doesn't look like he's broken anything else either." Don said as he kept examining his brother. "Some bumps and bruises, but nothing too serious. Might've hit his head again."

Raphael couldn't suppress the groan at that. What happened to someone who already had amnesia when they hit their head a second time?

"What will that do if he did, Don?" Leo asked, voicing the question Raphael had been too afraid to ask himself.

"I don't know, Leo… we'll just have to wait until he wakes up to know for sure." Don sighed, rubbing his forehead. He sighed sitting down in his chair.

"You want me to bring you something to eat, Don?" Elizabeth asked, finally remembering the hot meal that had been waiting for them.

Donatello shook his head. "Thanks, Elizabeth, but I can't eat."

"You sure, Donny?" Elizabeth frowned at him.

He nodded. "Yeah, not really hungry anyway."

Elizabeth didn't argue. Raphael knew that Elizabeth had known Donatello long enough now, that she knew better than to push him. Donatello was in "doctor" mode, and until he snapped out of it food and sleep were the last things he'd think about. Right now he was totally focused on Mikey. From the look on his brother's face, Raph knew that Don had a lot on his mind now and wouldn't appreciate everyone being crowded into the too small room with him. He put an arm around Elizabeth.

"Well I've been smellin' dat roast fer hours now. T'ink I'm gonna 'ave some."

Elizabeth looked up at him and smiled, she knew he was trying to subtly hint for everyone else to leave the infirmary.

And she noticed that it worked, for everyone but Melinda, who seemed determined to stay.

It was the first time Elizabeth really sized up this girl, taking her in. Everything from the designer top she was wearing to her casted leg. She shifted her weight on the crutches and then took a seat, not exactly right next to the bed, but still close enough that she could keep Michelangelo in sight.

"You want me to bring you a dish, Melinda?"

"Um… no… no thanks. Not hungry." Melinda said frowning.

Elizabeth sighed. "Let me know if you change your mind."

"Yeah, I'll do that."

As Raphael gently steered Elizabeth out, with Leo and Splinter following, Elizabeth knew that Melinda hadn't been 100% honest with her, but at this point did it even matter?

Michelangelo didn't stir until lunch time the next day, Donatello was gently checking his pulse once again when Michelangelo stirred under his fingers, groaning a little, eyelids fluttering. Donatello started a bit in surprise, but quickly composed himself, leaning over his brother touching him, letting Mikey know he was there.

"Michelangelo? Mikey, can you hear me?"

Michelangelo groaned, frowning, lines of pain forming across the top of his mask. His hand twitched as if he wanted to touch it, but found his arm too heavy to lift.

"Mikey?"

Michelangelo groaned again. And fought to pull his eyelids open. Don watched, one hand on Mikey's plastron, the other clamped onto his arm, he didn't even notice his own fingers were going gray with stress.

It took him a minute but Michelangelo finally managed to pull his eyelids open. He rolled his head a little so he could see Donatello clearly.

"Donny… you're hurting my arm… "

"Oh… " Don automatically released his grip, letting the blood flow resume in his brother's arm. Michelangelo's fingers flexed, as they adjusted to the return of blood flow.

"Mikey, how you feeling?" Don asked anxiously, hovering.

Mikey frowned lifting a hand to touch his head gingerly. "Think I hit my head… gotta a headache… "

"I'm sure you do after the fall you took," Don said gently feeling Mikey's head for a bump. Pausing when Mikey hissed. "Sorry… "

"It's ok, Donny… " Mikey sighed in relief as Don removed his hand.

"You remember what happened?" Don asked, watching him anxiously.

Michelangelo frowned, thinking hard for a minute as if trying to register what he could've missed. And why Don would be asking.

It took him a few minutes before the picture began to come back to him. Telling Raph excitedly about the comic convention, Raph had been on his way over to the couch to join Elizabeth for some well-deserved down time. From the looks of it, a movie night. Raph hadn't shown the least amount of interest in the comic convention that had gotten him so worked up, but that was Raph. But at least he knew where Mikey was going. Putting on the last touches of his Turtle Titan disguise Michelangelo had left the lair.

He remembered getting to the comic convention, and having an awesome time looking at all the comics and seeing everyone dressed up as their favorite super heroes. But he couldn't remember leaving, or getting home.

"Mikey?" Don asked, clearly concerned now by Michelangelo's silence, his chocolate brown eyes were watching him anxiously.

"How'd I get home?"

Clearly this was the wrong answer because Donatello's face furrowed in confusion. "Mikey, you've been home a few weeks now. You haven't left the lair since we brought you back."

"Back?" It was Michelangelo's turn to frown. Had his brothers come and picked him up from the convention? Why did he feel as if he'd missed something big.

Donatello seemed to be studying him carefully, considering something. "Mikey, what's the last thing you do remember?"

"Comic book convention… and wishing I'd asked Raph if he could lend me some green cause I didn't have enough money to get all the comic books I wanted."

Don's eyes widened in surprise. This obviously hadn't been the answer he'd expected.

"And before that?"

"Donny, what's wrong with you?" Michelangelo frowned.

"Just answer the question, Mikey."

"Elizabeth had made dinner… lamb with scalloped potatoes and buttermilk biscuits. Akemi threw her cup against the wall and Raph cleaned it up while Elizabeth took care of Akemi. Splinter got a headache halfway through the ice cream and pie and Leo said he was going to go meditate and you were… "

To Michelangelo's shock Don hugged him. What in the world had gotten into Donny anyway?

"Don… are you… "

"Mikey!" Don pulled back grinning at his brother. "Mike… you're back… you remember us!"

Michelangelo felt his eyes widen, and then narrow in concern. "Of course I remember you, Donny. You're my brother. We're family."

"But, Mike, you haven't remember any of us for the last few weeks."

"What? I just went to the convention last… "

"Mikey, no… that was three weeks ago. Mikey, you were attacked on your way home. Ambushed by the Foot. You hit your head and had no idea who you were or who any of us were… "

"Don, that's… don't be… I would never… " Mikey felt himself fighting the disbelief but from the look on his brother's face he could tell that Donatello wasn't joking. He blinked looking at Donatello. "But you guys are my family. How could I forget you?"

"Guys! GUYS!"

Elizabeth paused, her arms covered suds from the lunch dishes she had been washing, the sleeves of her long sleeved sunny yellow shirt had been rolled up past her elbows. Akemi, who had happily been banging pots and pans together to keep herself occupied while Elizabeth worked had even paused as Donatello had come rushing out of the infirmary, eyes wide with excitement.

Raphael had paused too, on his way to the dojo to get in some afternoon sparing with Leonardo, looking at his brother as if he'd lost his mind. And from the wild look on Donatello's face, Elizabeth hadn't been so sure that he hadn't.

"He's awake… and he remembers! He remembers us!" Donatello was almost breathless in his excitement. He was grinning widely, bouncing excitedly on the balls of his feet.

"Really?" Elizabeth felt hope stirring within her chest.

Don nodded again, his grin widening if that were possible.

That was all the reassurance and invitation they needed to go see the youngest turtle in the infirmary. Don had gone off to Splinter's room to give him the news as well. Scooping up Akemi from the floor Elizabeth had carried her in to see her Uncle Mikey.

Only one person didn't move. Melinda. She sat there on the couch, watching the others hurry in to see their brother. A few minutes later the aged rat was making his way to the infirmary as well. Melinda was surprised however when she felt the couch shift next to her as Donatello sat down.

"How's the leg?"

"It's fine. Cast is itchy."

"It'll still have to be on for at least three more weeks," Don said, trying to make polite conversation, but Melinda had the feeling he was leading up to something.

"Bet you're happy… now that Michelangelo remembers you guys aren't you?" Melinda saw no point in beating around the bush. She knew where this conversation had to be leading.

Donatello nodded a smile pulling up the corners of his mouth. "It's really a big relief, it was hard having someone you grew up with and that you've lived with for so long not have any idea who you are."

"I can imagine." Melinda said quietly, though she had never experienced the experience for herself, she was sure she would feel the same way if it had been Christine who had had no idea who she was and after weeks had finally gotten her memories back. It had to be the most incredible feeling of release and tension. Knowing that things were going to go back to normal. But she knew that Donatello hadn't just stopped here to make polite conversation with her.

"He doesn't remember me though does he?" Melinda asked her voice soft, surprising even herself with the disappointed tone she could hear in it.

Donatello's smile faded and he looked at her, his chocolate brown eyes pleading with her to understand. "Melinda, the last thing Mikey remembers is being at the comic convention. He doesn't remember being ambushed or being in your apartment, or anything of the last couple weeks. I'm not surprised with the head injury he had. Or the bump he has on his head now. But having you here… when he has no idea who you are… "

He trailed off and Melinda realized what he was trying to tell her. Trying to explain who she was to Michelangelo, why she was here… it would be difficult to try and explain.

"You… you want me to leave?"

"We have a couple of friends you can stay with. They'll make sure you are safe, Melinda. Help you get out of the city, away from the Foot clan and somewhere that you can make a new start. You have family somewhere? Someone you can stay with?"

The thought of having to leave, of having to go to her sister's dude ranch and be put to work with the horses and being a constant third wheel in her sister's life was not at all appealing. But Melinda understood what Donatello was trying to say.

Having her here would lead to awkward questions and confusion on Michelangelo's part. He didn't know who she was, he didn't know that she'd saved his life, he didn't know that she'd risked her own in helping him. He didn't know that she'd been taken and beaten by the Foot clan. He didn't know that his brothers had fought to get her out and bring her back to the safety of the lair. He didn't know that he'd spent so much time on the couch with her, watching movies and TV shows. He had no idea that she had moved in with his family, and had gotten rather attached to being here. Here it was safe, and she had gotten rather attached to the orange banded turtle.

The thought of never seeing him again sent a pang through her. She was a bit surprised by this but she hadn't made many friends when she'd come to New York. And now she was going to lose one of the closest ones she had. She swallowed hard and nodded.

"I'll just… I'll just go pack up my things then."

"I'm sorry, Melinda, I truly am."

"It's not your fault, Donatello. I never meant to cause trouble. And I certainly don't want to start now."

"He's really enjoyed having you here, Melinda. And you've been great for him. It's just… " Don trailed off a bit awkwardly looking at his hands.

"It's changed now," Melinda finished for him.

"I really am sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry about. Your family has all been great, and much more hospitable than I could've ever asked for. I can't thank you enough for all your family has done." Melinda reached for her crutches but Donatello was already holding them, handing them to her.

"You want me to call April? Ask her to… "

"No, I appreciate that. I really do. But I can make it on my own." Taking the crutches from him Melinda slowly made her way to the guest room. Hearing the relieved and happy voices coming from the infirmary as she passed. She felt Donatello's eyes on her, so she didn't stop. She slipped quietly into the guest room and began to pack up her things.

Yes the family had been great, and for a while she'd felt like she was a part of the family, but Michelangelo getting his memories back and her not being a part of them proved something to her. This was an amazing family. But she wasn't part of it. And it was time to move on and let them be a family together, without her.