"It was Timothy." Don spat out in cold, clipped tones. "Not Mutagen Man. Timothy!"
"Don, wait! What's wrong?" Leo asked, holding his hands up in a belated gesture of peace.
"Who told you?" Don snarled. HIs hands balling up into fists. His whole frame was so tense that he vibrated. "Who told you about Timothy, you heartless b-"
"Don! Calm down!"
"I will not calm down! Get out! Get out now before I throw you out!"
Normally, the idea of Don tossing anyone out, other than Mikey, of his lab would have been pretty funny to Leo. This time, however, it was not funny at all, not with Don's expression being the most crazed, serial killer expression he ever seen in his life. It topped Raph's psycho expression, and Leo never thought he would see that. So, this time, Leo turned tail and ran. the door slammed forcefully behind him a mere half second later.
Leo gasped for breath, the display of sudden, unprovoked emotion stealing his breath more than the sprint. But Leo found that the conflict of the moment was not over for him. Mikey was staring at him from the top of the stairs in wide-eyed shock.
"What is it, Mikey?" Leo asked at last, after deciding that being stared at that way was not really that much fun.
"What? Oh, right. Splinter sent me to see what was holding you and Don-San up." Mike said, rapidly giving his message, his wide eyes somehow gotten wider. "Leo? What did you say to him? Today?"
"NOthing! I-we talked a bit, and I asked him where Mu..er, Timothy was. And he started yelling at me. That's all!"
"YOu asked Don about Timothy?" Mikey yelped, waving his arms about in a way that seemed very exaggerated to Leo. Now what? "You asked about Timothy today! Why the heck would you asked Donny about Timothy today?! Don't you know what day it is today?"
"Friday." Leo sighed and rubbed his forehead wearily, deciding that today was not going to be a very good day for him. "last time I checked, it was friday."
"Wrong! It's July fourteenth!"
"Friday, July 14th. Okay, I'll bite why is.."
"We don't even bother Don on July fourteenth! We don't upset him! Why did you have to go talk to him on Jul Fourteenth? Why would you ask him about Timothy on July 14th?"
"Because I had to go get him for training?" Leo answered as patiently as he could, when Mikey gave him a second to speak up. Leo suspected he had to take a breath or something. Mikey's words came out so fast and furious that he was sure he was not breathing for that whole rant.
That answer seemed to take some of the steam out of Mikey's tirade. "Oh. Good reason. Well, you shouldn't have lingered. Just saying. Shouldn't be asking questions and stuff."
"Mikey! What is going on? What is the big deal about today? I have no idea what's going on!"
"You do...oh, right. YOu were gone.""" Mikey chuckled nervously, as Raph stomped up the stairs to join them. He looked peeved. Good, someone else mad at him.
"What's the hold up already? Don't make me start kicking shell or nuthing." He ground out, glaring.
Mikey sighed. "He asked Donnie about Timothy." Mikey said, jerking a thumb in Leo's direction.
"So?" Raph started, then he paused, and a thoughtful expression crossed his face. "Is it the day I think it is?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, crud." The hothead grumbled, facepalming.
"Tell me about it."
"No, tell me about it. I have no idea what everyone's problem is?"
Both brothers turned their gaze to Leo. The both of them stared at each other. Raph had a rare nervous expression on his face. Mikey just continued to look panicky and out of breath. Leo was starting to wonder if his baby brother was hyperventilating or something. Finally Mikey shook his head. There is no way I'm riding that crazy train." He stated emphatically.
"What, you'll make me tell?"
Why not? Your way more used to Don being made at you than me!"
"Don't mean I want him to go all ape-shit on me. I might end up hurting the nerd."
"Well, I won't tell if you don't."
"We are right outside his lab Mikey!" Raph snapped in annoyance, facepalming again.
"I forgot, okay?!" Mikey snapped back, as his voice raised again.
"Idiot."
"I am not an idiot!"
"Then don't act like an idiot."
"I am not acting like an idiot! You are acting like an idiot!"
"Can't you even come up with your own insults?"
"Enough!"
The two turned to face Leo again, who was glaring back at them. "I had it. I'm leaving so that maybe you two can calm down a bit."
Leo turned to go, but felt something grab him around the waist before he could take a single step. He looked down to see his baby brother clinging to him in a tight, vise-like grab. He was, Leo realized just then, surprisingly strong. "Mikey?"
Tears were starting to stream down Mikey's face. His grip somehow tightened even more. Leo was starting to have trouble breathing. His eyes pleaded franticly, as his voice babbled out. "Don't go! Don't go, Leo! I'll be good. I'll be so good, you won't even know me! I'll never yell at you again. I won't call Raph an idiot, even if I'm thinking it and he's seriously acting like one! I'll clean every...every other day! I'll cook all your favorite dishes! I'll...I'll stop playing games...for a while anyway. I...I'll be the best little brother on the whole wide earth! Don't go!"