Author's Note: OH. MY. GOSH. FIRST, I want to thank everyone who has read, favorited/followed and reviewed this story! Because of all the feedback I got- TA DA! This (LONGER!) chapter finally came out! This was totally unplanned, since I have finals coming up I thought my inspiration would be lacking. BUT- I'm being honest here!- I stayed up till' 3AM last night, and now late tonight just so I can finish this! I'm still at the beginning here but, DON'T WORRY!, the story in the description box will make it's way over here! I did have a whole other section at the end I was gonna add, but I'll just save that for the next chapter! THANK YOU GUYS SO SO SO SO MUCH! Again, finals coming up and I'm pretty sure I won't be updating until those are out of my way! But, until then, ENJOY!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN TMNT OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN IT!

...

A Turtle and his Sisyphus

…..….

Chapter 2

"Maybe I'm crazy...Maybe I'm the only one. Maybe I'm just out of touch, maybe I've just had enough..."

...

Never has the youngest ever felt so still in his life. His never-ending stomach finally reached bottom pit, echoing his entire body to the core. His mind continued rewinding the moments, hearing the words over and over again. Is he really as bad as his brothers say he is?

He felt like he was staring at the door for hours. Waiting for Leonardo to open the door, embrace him, and confess how wrong he was about his accusations of his brother. But, just as Michelangelo predicted, the door remained shut.

"Yo."

Mikey jumped at the different voice, turning his head he forced a smile. "Oh! H-Hey, Raph! Thought you were sleeping or something-."

"Is fearless in there?" Raphael asked bluntly, ignoring Michelangelo's stuttering. Mikey noticed Raph's sudden change of voice as he made his way toward Leo's door. Raph looks a bit stressed…What's on his shell? "What are yer doin' here anyway?"

"Uh…" Mikey nervously chuckled as he began to step away from the door. "Uh…I just talked to Leo." Raphael noticed Mikey's wince at the mention of Leo's name, but before he could question his little brother, he quickly changed topics.

"I-Isn't it patrol time? Who's on shift tonight?"

"Beats me. Thought you and Donnie are supposed to be goin'."

"We were but Don insisted on staying with Master Splinter. And, uh, Leo's doing meditations right now so I think it's you and me tonight, Raphie!"

"No, I'll go. You ready, Raph?" Leonardo opened his door, his swords sitting rightfully behind his shell. He gave a nod to Raphael, his eyes still to his youngest. "Stay with Don."

"But, Leo, you went the last three times with all of us!" Mikey whined, determined not to let his big bro win this battle too. "I didn't get to go for days! I need some topside time too!"

"You go topside all the time to get pizza, Mikey. That's plenty of time up there." Leonardo stated, making his way toward the tunnels.

Raphael shifted uncomfortably at the noticeable tension between his oldest and youngest brothers. It was strange to him see Leo and Mikey taking attitudes to each other. Hmph. Usually it's me getting old fearless' sass. What did the shell-brain do now?

"I need some action too!" Mikey argued, following Leo's tail. "Well, I'm just gonna come anywa-."

"Michelangelo." Leonardo hissed, abruptly turning to his brother. Leo sighed as he looked at Raphael then to Michelangelo. "I said you are staying with Donatello. You will go on patrol with us when I think it's appropriate."

"Appropriate?!" Mikey echoed, his voice raising an octave. "What am I ten again? You let me go topside for pizza but you won't let me fight with you guys?" Turning to Raph, Mikey desperately pleaded, "Raph, come on, I should be able to go right?"

"I already spoke to you about this." Leonardo stepped in front of Raphael, cutting his brother off. "Go train for a little while, check on Donnie, you're needed here. Raph, let's go." Leo began heading toward the tunnels, his own thoughts racing across his mind.

He always had a different kind of connection with his youngest. Whenever he would get annoyed with Raph, he would verbally argue. With Don, he would let his genius brother get his air. But with Mikey, heck, Mikey is so laid back he usually laughs off anything he says. Leo paced himself out toward the sewers, hoping the colder air shift would help clear his head.

"Yo, fearless." Raphael called, jogging his way to Leo's side. "Pretty harsh on the bone-head, huh? What's the deal?"

"It has nothing to do you with you."

"Geez, sorry I asked." Rolling his eyes, he sarcastically let out a chuckle. Before he could shove his brother playfully, Leo was already running down the tunnels. Sheez. I really need to spike his tea someday…

/././././././././././././././

No, no, no! This can't be right! I have to run more tests and-

"D-Don?" Mikey carefully poked his head between the doorway, fighting the powerful urge to cry he forced a cough and slowly let himself in. "How are you doing, Donnie?"

Don feverishly rushed through his desk. T-This can't be right, I-I have to double check this- why would he lie to us? Is he…? Almost forgetting his brother's presence, he said, "Huh? I'm busy right now, Mike. I'm sorry but if you want, if Sensei isn't sleeping, you could talk to him? He likes having company."

Scrambling through his pile of papers, he desperately searched for the test results. Sure, maybe he was over doing it. B-But I can't be wrong this time. What if he's a lot sicker than he's letting on? Sensei wouldn't lie to me would he-? Wait…Mikey!

Spinging his chair around, he looked for his brother. But there was no one standing at the doorway. Hm, oh well. Guess I'll catch him later.

/././././././././././././././././

This was foreign to him; why didn't he think of this before? Shell, why didn't he think? This wasn't his thing. Laying in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, fighting the urge to scream at the top of his lungs.

What would his brothers do?

Leo. He'd meditate for sure; supposedly it calms both the mind and the spirit. Maybe that's why he's so level-headed- MOST of the time anyway…

Don. He'd just tinker away until his brain turns to a puddle, drink coffee, then continue working again.

Raph. He'd beat the ever-living out of his punching bag until all his frustrations were gone. For years, Mikey wondered why Raph didn't like to talk about his problems- now coming to think of it, none of his brothers discussed their feelings.

Leo meditates. Raph punches. Don fixes.

When was the last time his brothers coincided in him? He knew that when Leo was feeling pretty down, he'd go to Splinter and (though he'll never admit it) even Raph. Don usually blows off steam to Leo, and every now and then Raph. Raph yells his irritations out to Leo and once he's calm, has a laugh with Donnie.

Whenever he felt down, all his brothers were there to comfort him. Leo would be almost like that "motherly" figure, Raph would be blunt but considerate (Not like he'd admit to that either!), and Donnie would help him figure out why he was sad in the first place.

When did his brothers ever go to him for comfort? Lots of thoughts came into mind at once: he's the youngest, maybe it's cause they thought he'd just make fun of them, maybe they thought he wouldn't understand, maybe they didn't trust him…

Each thought passing in his mind squeezed his heart so tight that he could feel almost feel the physical pain of the emotion. At first, Mikey didn't realize the flow of tears that escaped his baby blue eyes. Great, now I'm blubbering like a baby. Like a baby…

He couldn't stop. The tears continued to flow uncontrollably, his breathing turned ragged, he pulled his pillow over his head. Begging that no one would come in the room, he continued to sob into his sheets. Weak. That's all I am. Leo's stressed out of his mind, Donnie looks like he's gonna have a meltdown, Raph is more uptight than usual, Splinter is really sick, and what am I doing? How am I helping? When did I ever help…?

Memories of past fights, past clashes with the Purple Dragons, their last fight with Karai that seemed like years ago…

He helped then- of course he did.

Right?

Suddenly, a gentle knock echoed into Michelangelo's room. The turtle, shot his head up and stared at the door. Oh shell, can't let anyone see me like this. Clasping his hand over his mouth, he quickly threw the covers over him and placed the pillow back on his head. He shut his eyes tightly, fighting back the urge to sob once again. Come on, think I'm sleeping just go…

He heard his door slowly creak open and a pair of footsteps come closer and closer to him. Finally a voice matched the footsteps, both light and quick. "Mikey, I'm ordering pizza for April to pick up. Do you want your usual or…?"

Keep quiet dude, doesn't he get the hint I'm not sleeping?! Staying as still as possible, a few seconds passed by as he heard his brother walk closer to him, shaking his arm.

"Mike. I know you're not sleeping. Don't try to trick me."

"M' tryin' to…" Mikey moaned weakly, desperately hoping he wouldn't choke on a sob. "M' not hungry."

"Michelangelo Hamato not hungry?" Donatello chuckled, patting his younger brother's head. "Okay, now something's wrong. Are you upset cause I snapped at you in my lab?"

"No." Mikey felt Donnie sit on the edge of his bed. Greeaaaat the one time you decide to take a break from working. "D-Don't you have a coffee to make or something…?"

"Ha," Don snickered, giving his brother a gentle shove. "Just so you know, it's being made as we speak!"

"Yay." Mikey replied weakly, still chocking on a sob. He shoved the pillow deeper into his face and faked a cough.

"Now, enough changing subjects, Mikey. Wha-." Both turtles jumped at the sound of Don's shell cell going off. Mikey heard Don snap his phone open and answer, "Leo? Everything okay?...Do you want me and Mikey to-?...Oh…Well, yeah, I gave Sensei medication that will make him drowsy for-…A-Are you sure, Leo? I mean I don't mind staying-….Do you and Raph need anything?...Where are you two?...Okay, I'm on my way."

"Leo?" Mikey asked, still remaining still in his bed. He felt Donatello rise up from his bed and begin to pace toward the doorway.

"Yeah, he and Raph found a old Foot warehouse and need me to hack into the the security system. We shouldn't take long." Donatello hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Uhm…Sensei should be up in a little while. I need you to get up and stay with him. If his condition changes in any way, be sure to write it down. If it's anything huge send me a text or call me, okay?"

"Hm…'kay." Mikey clenched the pillow underneath him tighter as Don's footsteps grew quieter and quieter when finally he heard a door close behind him…

Figures Leo wouldn't ask me to go…

/././././././././././././././

High above the rooftop, Leonardo and Raphael stood over the edge as they observed the warehouse building. Cold air blew widely as small flakes of snow began to fall. Both brothers shared a shiver, was it supposed to snow?

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Raph smirked as he took a few steps back to make the leap for the building.

"Wait-!" Leo grabbed his arm and pointed down to the doorway. "See that, Raph? That's one of those security locks in every Foot Base. We need to get in as unnoticed as we can…I better call Don."

Flipping his shell cell he dialed Donnie's number, waiting a few minutes then spoke, "Hey, Don…Yes, Raph and I are fine. We found what looks to be a small Foot base. And, of course, there's one of those locks that you so love to pick. We can use you down here-…No, Mikey needs to stay with Splinter…Will Splinter be okay?...Good…Donnie, you're the only one who can do this. Mikey can handle watching Sensei for an hour….Splinter can't be left alone…No, we don't need anything. Just you….Raph and I are at the docks, on top of the old toy factory…See you soon."

"Great, just great." Raph grumbled as he began fiddling his sais. "Why do we have to wait around for Donnie anyway? If the place looks as empty, let's just smash a window and get in!"

"That keypad looked rather new and functioning. This is a chance for us to, silently finally see what the Foot have been doing for months."

"Hmph…I'm gettin' sick of bashin' Purple Dragons anyway."

"Leo! Raph!" Donatello leaped from the building behind them and jogged his way to his older brothers. Catching his breath he gave a quick wave, "Sorry I took a while, I had to pack and few things and set the security code. Are there Foot inside?"

"Not that we can tell, but I wouldn't be surprised. Probably no more than a dozen."

"Security cameras around the area?"

"No, all in the clear."

"Hm…a high tech lock code, but no pretty cameras to go with it?" Donnie question out loud to himself. "I mean…I've picked many locks of theirs before. If something was so juicy in there, wouldn't they take every measure possible to be sure we wouldn't get in?"

Raphael's irritation began to rise as he kicked the nearest stonewall. "Who cares?! Let's just get in' there!"

"Hold a sec, Raph!" Leo hissed, then turned to face his second youngest. "You have a point, but it's worth checking out. Let's move out." Sweeping down off the building, Leo couldn't help but feel a sense of danger nearby…

/./././././././././././././././

Forcing himself up out of his bed, he slowly made his way into Master Splinter's room. He hasn't seen his father since he fell ill. That made him feel pretty crappy, after all whenever he was sick or hurt, Sensei sat beside him during the day.

Hesitantly he knocked on the door and slowly opened it, "S-Sensei?" Mikey whispered loudly, hoping he didn't wake his father. "S-Sensei?"

"Yes, my son?" Sitting up in his bed, as if he was expecting Donatello to check up on him, a small smile lighted his face. "Oh! Michelangelo, how are you my son? You do not look well."

Don't cry. Don't be selfish. Sensei's really sick, you're checkin in on him, not blubbing about your feelings.

"I didn't get much sleep, I'm all good."

"Michelangelo, you cannot lie to your own father. I can feel much distress in your spirit, what is wrong?"

No, I can't just pour out to him. I need to focus on him, I got to focus on Sensei. Taking a seat next to Splinter, he grabbed Donnie's notepad and forced a smile. "Just tired! Well, while Donnie is gone, I'll be your nurse! How are you feeling, Sensei? Donnie said that you'd be sleeping until he'd come back…"

"Where is Donatello?" Sensei asked quickly, looking tenser then before.

"U-Uh…Leo and Raph went for their patrol and called Donnie in for something. Donnie said they wouldn't be long-."

"Hm…And why are you not with your brothers, my son?"

"Uhm…well you can't exactly be left alone! A-And…They needed Donnie, so, I stayed here." Mikey pleaded that his father would be able to buy his story. After all, someone did have to watch Sensei and Donnie is the best to pick locks. But, the sense of betrayal still stung his heart. Forcing a cough to break the silence, he smiled, "So, as I was saying, how are you feeling?"

"Much, much better. Donatello's medicine is helping me recover greatly. I am very thankful for him, for all of you."

Mikey smiled as he gave his signature grin and thumbs up, "And us for you, Sensei! You hungry? I can make you anything you'd like-!"

"Actually, my son, I wanted to talk about you…" A wrinkled grin stretched across his face. "I may be getting older, and I may be under the weather, but I can still sense when something is troubling my sons; especially you, Michelangelo."

Chuckling under his breath, he slowly raised his head up. "I'm that obvious?"

"Hm. Every since you were very small, you held to me the most. Unlike your brothers, you showed no shame in expressing your feelings. Especially to me when you were young." Mikey jumped at the warm hand touching his shoulder. Looking up at his father, he continued, "Michelangelo. Having as many feelings as you do is not a weakness. Having the ability to read people and their emotions is good, something that many do not have. But, you must express yourself too, my son. Especially to your brothers. I sense much tension between you four."

"Y-Yeah…" Mikey trembled, his eyes back to narrowing the floor. "Leo and I got into a fight. But, I mean, he's right. I…" NO! NO! This isn't about you! You need to be jotting down Sensei's changes! You need to be asking him how he feels! Offer tissues! "OH! I was supposed to take your temperature! Donnie will kill me! A-And you weren't supposed to be up for a while, I'll have to tell em' that too…"

"My son," Splinter began. But his sentence was cut off as Michelangelo shoved the thermometer in his mouth.

"NO TALKING, SENSEI!" Mikey announced in his best impression of Donatello's authority voice. He sat up straight and continued his charade, "Hm…Let's see…No fever so far, woke up earlier than supposed to, how is your appetite?"

At least seeing him smile is worth it…

/././././././././././././././

"Almost done there, Donnie?"

"Yeah, braniac, not like we got all the time in the world."

"I'm working as fast as I can! You two try hacking into a 2000 LockPock with an upgraded mega-hard drive with- DONE!" Smiling in victory, the door made a loud snapping sound. Gently pushing the door open, he waved his brothers behind him. "Come on!"

Leonardo stepped in front of Donatello and began leading his brothers down the narrow hallway. Darkness engulfed the whole warehouse. Leo squinted his eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness around him. "Don," he whispered, "got a light?"

"Yep!" A small light shined down the hallway.

"Don, stay behind me. Raph cover the rear. Remember, we may not be alone." Slowing making his way forward. The hallway didn't last for long until Leo slowly turned the doorknob that lead to the next room.

"Looks like no one has been here for months…" Donnie mumbled, shining the light on some of the equipment. "Looks like just a regular lab to me. You sure this is Foot, Leo?"

"Yes." Leo hissed, rummaging through some of the paperwork. "Raph and I saw someone com in ourselves. Keep searching, and stick together…"

Leonardo stepped lightly as he maneuvered his way around the desks. Each desk had their own sets of piles of papers. "Seems like just plain old paperwork…"

"Think this could've been a distraction? Trap?" Raphael carefully shuffled around the lab, eyeing every corner he could.

"I-It would make sense…Lead us away from the Lair, but why?" Donatello questioned carefully, watching his oldest brother continue to rummage through papers. "I set the alarm systems for the lair on my phone as well, just in case it goes off we'll know. But I should probably call Mikey, give him a heads up."

"Yeah," Leo breathed, lowering his head in defeat. How could he be so careless? He should have known it was going to be a trap. He should have known better than to put his family at risk. He should have known better than to leave Mikey alone with Splinter. "I'll call him."

/./././././././././././././././

"Michelangelo, I don't think it's a wise idea to-."

"Aw, but Klunk loves you, Sensei! And you two need to bond more!" Placing the, now bigger, kitten on Splinter's lap, Mikey smiled as he pet Klunk's ear. "You try!"

Hesitantly, Splinter pet behind Klunk's other ear. The kitten purred as he rubbed against Splinter's paw.

Mikey smiled from ear to ear as he jumped up and down in his seat. "AW! Look, Sensei, he does love you! He just loves attention!"

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Red lights flashed throughout the lair accompanied by a loud wailing noise. Splinter sat up in his bed as Michelangelo rushed over to Donnie's computer. "N-No worries, Sensei! It's probably just sewer rats again!" Opening up the security system software, Mikey quickly scanned the security cameras surrounding the lair. "I don't see anything…It could be-."

RING. RING. RING

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

RING. RING. RING.

"Ah! Too many noises!" Mikey flipped open his shell-cell and pressed it against his ear as his eyes continued to scan the cameras. "Kinda busy at the moment! Can you call back later?"

"Mikey!" Donnie cried on the other line. "What's going on?! Is Sensei okay?! We're on our way back now, keep the doors locked!"

"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya, Don! I got this!" Mikey's eyes widened as he saw about a dozen Foot soldiers breaking into the main door. "Oh shell…"

I got to do something! The others aren't gonna make it back in time. And Master Splinter! He can't do anything in his state. I gotta make sure he's safe! They must know he's here…

"Michelangelo! You must go, find your brothers, leave me here-!"

"No!" Mikey shouted, not realizing how panicked he sounded. His thoughts were racing so fast in his mind, he couldn't think straight. Gotta do something, Gotta do something-!

"Mikey?! Mike! Michelangelo! What's going on? Where is Sensei?"

Mikey scanned his eyes quickly around Don's lab. There's got to be a way to protect Sensei…Think Mikey, think! WAIT-! I GOT IT! Mikey smiled quickly at the memory. Donnie got so sick and tired of him walking in on his experiments, he made an automatic lock door than can only be unlocked on the inside. That's it! Now where is that control…?!

"My son, what are you doing?!"

"Mikey! Damn it, answer me!"

"S-Sorry, Don!" Flipping his shell-cell shut and putting back in his belt, he rushed toward the doorway and punched the red button on the keypad. Looking up to Master Splinter, he put on his best smile, "Don't worry, Sensei! You'll be safe! I'll take care of this!" Pushing the lock button, he shut the door closed behind him. He could hear Splinter's weaken cry echo through the room, making Mikey's heart rip in half. "I-I'm sorry, Sensei. But this time, I'm gonna protect you."

I'm gonna show them-! I'm not a liability!

Pulling out his nunchucks, he rushed himself toward the front of the lair. He could feel his heart pounding. Think, Mikey, think! Got to lead them out of here somehow! H-How did they even find the lair here?! I got to get them out of-!

The door busted open as a dozen Foot ninja came running in. Mikey bit his lip as he snickered to the ninja, "HEY! The party ain't here, dudes! You want the real deal?! Follow me!" Swinging his nunchucks at the first few around him, he ran back out into the sewers. Hearing the footsteps echo behind him, he turned his head, counting the Foot members. Yes! Got all of them on my tail! Now…lead them off somewhere!

Footsteps echoed loudly behind him as Mikey pushed himself to run faster. Why are they even here in the first place?! And why aren't they attacking?! The footsteps began grow lower and lower until Mikey only heard his own splashing against the sewer water. Catching his breath, he looked behind him and found them all standing together in one line.

Smiling, he gripped his stance and in between breaths, chuckled, "Done chasing? Want an actual fight?!"

The foot remained still, eerily still for Mikey's liking. Why weren't they going after him? Was this just a distraction to get Splinter? No, he's safe. There's no way! I-I saw!

Suddenly, the dozen made a leap toward Michelangelo, their weapons bare and aimed right for the youngest turtle. "Oh, shit!" Taking a few steps back, he gained as much adrenaline as he could before leaping in attack.

Swinging his 'chucks, he managed to hit about four of them unconscious. Mikey shrieked as he felt a sai slash down his right arm, accompanied by a kick in his gut sending him flying face first into the sewer water. Jumping onto his feet, he suddenly found himself pinned back against the water. "Get off!" Kicking the Foot straight in the gut, the sound of a metal plate echoed in the sewers. "W-What the hell?!"

The Foot grasped Mikey's arm tightly as he took out his sword and pierced it through his shoulder. Crying out in pain, Mikey gripped the sword's blade as he tried to remove it from his shoulder.

Before he could scream any louder, the Foot squeezed this throat tightly. A unemotional, almost robotic, voice demanded, "Where. Is. Leonardo?"

"N-No!" He frantically tried to release himself from the Foot's hard, cold, grip.

"Come. Others. Coming." The Foot clenching Mikey quickly pulled out his sword and rushed out along with the others. Leaving the youngest left in tremendous pain and confusion.

W-What just happened? Why were they talking so weird…And when I kicked that Foot, he was hard as a rock! Maybe they aren't Foot- AGH! Putting pressure on his shoulder, he struggled to stand. "G-Gotta head back to the lair…Got to make sure Sensei is okay…" Dragging his numb body down the sewer tunnels, he fought the urge to collapse. For what seemed like ages, Mikey found his exhausted body complying with his preservation to push through to the lair. Voices echoed down the tunnels as he got closer and closer to the entrance…

"Maser Splinter! S-Sensei! Answer me!"

"Great thinkin', Don! Making a lock that can only unlock on the inside, what were yer thinkin'?!"

"Don, there has to be a way for you to get access in there!"

"G-Guys shut up! I'm trying! I didn't intend for this to happen! I-I don't know how Sensei managed to lock himself in there! I didn't tell anybody about the lock!"

"Master Splinter! Mikey! Open the door!"

They think I'm with Splinter?...WAIT- HE'S STUCK IN THERE?! Struggling through the entrance, Mikey gasped at the sight in front of him. The whole living room was wrecked, everything turned upside down, as if someone was desperately searching for something specific. I-I was sure that they all followed me…

"Leo, what If Sensei's really hurt in there! T-T-This is all my fault, I should have prepared for this, I-It was just a test run I didn't think this could-!" The door made a low click noise as Donnie smiled and quickly opened the door, "S-SENSEI!"

Splinter was sleeping soundly in his bed, or so it seemed. But to the doctor of the house, something just seemed out of place. Donnie rushed to his father's side along with Leo and Raph and began checking his father. "He must have fainted, his pulse is normal but he does seem a bit feverish."

"How did Sensei manage to get up and lock the door? And where's Mikey?" Raph asked, searching the lab for the youngest.

"You and Raph look for him, I'll-."

"Sorry 'm late…" Mikey smirked slightly before collapsing on his knees.

"Mikey!" The brothers cried as they rushed to their youngest. Donnie was the first to notice the amount of blood flowing down his brother's arm and the gaping hole in his shoulder. "Raph, clear my desk! Leo, I'm gonna need either you or Raph's blood in a bit! Mikey's loosing a lot!"

Ever since his mutation months ago, Donnie knew that mixing his blood with any of his brothers could get them sick, and he didn't need another sick family member in the house. Lifting his brother onto the desk, he used his mask to stop the blood flow from his shoulder. "Mikey, you're gonna be okay. But you got to tell me what happened-."

"Master Splinter is critically sick, how could you just leave him alone?!" Leo's holler made even Raph jump at the sudden rashness that sprang from Leo's tone. Standing next to his youngest, Leo continued his interrogation, "What were you thinking- locking him in here all by himself! You should have stayed in here with him and waited for us to come back! How could you be so reckless?!"

"I was trying to protect him!" Sitting up, Mikey ignored Donnie's pleas to lay down. Getting face to face with his oldest, Mikey couldn't fight the flow of tears that escaped his eyes. "I-I-I was just trying to protect him! I knew he'd be safe in here-!"

"And going out there, alone, putting yourself at risk is protecting him?!" Leo howled back. "What if they got in here?! You could have gotten yourself killed and put Sensei in danger!"

Raphael stood beside his oldest brother awkwardly. Never has Leo been this reprimanding on Mikey, usually he's on Mikey's end. Feeling for his youngest, he hesitantly place his hand on his shoulder. "Leo, chill."

"I-I was just trying to protect him!" Mikey screamed louder, sobbing in between his breaths. "I-I thought he'd be safe! H-He said he was fine! I-I was just protecting him! I-I'm sorry, Leo! I tried…!"

"That's enough!" Donnie shouted, stepping between his brothers. "Mikey, I need you to calm down you're increasing your blood pressure and straining yourself. Leo, I need you to leave. I need to work in peace-." Before he could finish his sentence, Leo rushed out of the room, heading for the dojo he slammed the doors shut.

Mikey fought the urge to cry anymore as he lowered his head to his knees and continued to cry. Raphael looked up at Donatello helplessly, not sure what either of them should do about the situation.

"It's going to be okay, Mikey." Donnie rubbed the back of Mikey's shell as he simultaneously tried to patch up his youngest. "Sh, I'm here, it's going to be okay…Raph, go check on Leo. I got Mikey and Splinter."

Mikey continued to sob until the sedative Donnie gave him made him pass out. Conflicting emotions bottling up inside him ever so tightly…wondering if any of his brothers would understand...

/./././././././././././