I want to break my laptop. I had been working on the latest chapter for an entire week so it would be long, I went to work on it today and it was GONE. I've decided that because my laptop is yet again messed up- thanks mom- I'm going to upload whenever I get a chance. This means that chapters won't be really long like I was hoping...Sorry guys. I don't plan on leaving this story though! However, in my time away, I've been reading on how to write better stories, so tell me what you guys think about this chapter please. c: Do you like it better than the older ones? Do you like how long it is? Just give me your opinions please!

The rain poured down on the rooftop, hitting the ground with loud splats, and running down the drainage pipes, into the usually busy streets of the city. The red clad turtle found it rather amusing that whenever it rained it was like humans were extinct, they all acted as if the rain was some sort of killer. Pushing himself off of the crumbling brick wall he had been leaning against he shuffled over to the ledge of the building, peeking down at the streets below. No one was around, not a single person. Growling in frustration he led himself back to the crumbling wall and sighed, sliding back down the wall, his shell making a scratching noise as he dragged it against the wall. Raphael had been hanging on the rooftop for a good two hours now, he had gotten into a heated arguement with Leo and needed some fresh air, but no one was out for him to take his anger out on, all the pity crooks, and PDs had taken refuge from the freezing rain the hotheaded turtle was currently sitting in. By now his anger and frustration had drained away with the rain, and he involuntarily shivered, as goosebumps began to cover his arms and legs.

"Hey bro."

His head snapped up when he heard his youngest brother's voice, and his eyes locked onto green and orange, "What're ya doin' up here?" He asked gruffly, casting his eyes down at the roottop again.

"It's been raining for two hours." Raphael didn't respond as Michelangelo sat next to him, instead he leaned back against the brick wall like he had been before.

"So?"

This time Mikey didn't respond, he just shrugged. The red masked turtle sighed softly, kowing what his little brother wanted was for him to go back home. As he cast a glance at Mikey he realized unlike himself, his brother had come prepared for the cold with his trenchcoat, and Raph couldn't help but wonder how he managed to jump from roof top to rooftop in it. He hated the coats, they restricted his movement and felt too tight around his body.

He was suddenly pulled from his thoughts as he felt a hand on his shoulder. Jerking his head up and over to his little brother's worried face, "Your cold Raphie. C'mon let's go back to the lair."

The red clad turtle almost shot his brother down, but decided against it when his body shook yet again as a coldness ran through his veins. Sighing softly he shrugged his shoulder before giving his brother a nod and pushing himself off the brick, Mikey seemed relieved when he got up and Raphael couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. His brothers worried too much, he knew he couldn't blame them though. His health was slowly beginning to deteriorate. His usually strong immune system was beginning to fail him, and his brothers didn't know what to do about it. Donnie had been trying to find medical answers for his sudden immune failure, but his search was coming up blank, not even Splinter knew what it could be, Raphael's spirit and energy were stronger than ever.

Another shiver racked his body as he jumped from building to building, his teeth had started chattering and goosebumps covered his body as he followed after his younger brother, there was a burning in his lungs and legs that meant he was growing tired, however Raphael ignored the tight burning sensation and kept moving, his body had other plans though, and before Raphael knew what was happened, he was on his knees, practically hacking his lungs out.

"Raphie!"

A growl escaped his lips as the orange masked turtle placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to help Raphael up when his coughing stopped. He hated the way his brothers automatically came rushing to his side like this, he was fine. It was just a cough, shoving his brother's hand away he stood up, ignoring the way his muscles whined at the sudden movement. "I don't need yer help!" He spat, Mikey flinched and put his hands up in defense,

"Okay dude."

He felt bad for snapping at Michelangelo like that, but lately his brothers had been practically suffocating him with attention and concern, not only was it annoying but it scared him even more. His body was going against him, and no one knew why, and having his brothers act as if every cough or sneeze was his last day alive bothered him. He wasn't weak, and he didn't need their help taking care of himself. It was like they though of him as an idiot. He saw the way they watched him in the lair, the way they talked about him when he thought they couldn't hear, those would usually end up interrupted by him. As they walked through the sewers, Mikey would look back on Raphael every few minutes and it was beginning to piss the red masked turtle off.

Know wonder his temper had been so short lately, it was hard to keep calm when you're brothers would check on you every five to ten minutes, huffing quietly as Mikey glanced back at him, Raph smacked him in the back in the head, smirking when his brother let out a yelp and rubbed his head, "What was that for?"

"Ya tell me." He grumbled, shoving past his younger brother, and into the lair, gaining the attention of everyone as he stormed up to his room, slamming his door behind him and letting out a irratated sigh before trudging over to his hammock and flopping down in it. He was tired, annoyed, and cold. Pulling the thin brown blanket from his floor he threw it over himself and glared at the ceiling.

Downstairs Splinter sat with his three sons, his ears pressed flat against his head at Raphael's rude enterance. His son was slowly losing himself in this sickness that suddenly hung over his head. Not only had Raphael's immune system begin to stop, but so did his control, everyday the ninjutsu master saw his son's control weaken, and it wasn't that strong to begin with. His thoughts quickly drifted away when Donatello's voice filled the thick silence in the lair.

"What happened?" His voice was filled with concern and curiosity.

"I dunno bro. He just got mad."

Leo suddenly looked at him, and Master Splinter looked back, his oldest son was worried just as much as him, he had seen his brother's already short temper getting shorter, like a fuse to a bomb. "Well is he okay?" Leo asked, and Splinter looked back at Mikey. They had sent the youngest out to get Raphael, Michelangelo seemed to be Raphael's soft spot, even though it didn't always seem like it the orange clad turtled knew how to persuade Raphael better than the rest of them.

"Seemed to be his normal self to me.." Mikey mumbled rubbing the back of his head and pouting, suddenly his eyes were wide, "But he did start coughing really bad when we were coming back!"

"He was probably out in the cold rain too long..." Donnie sighed, "I'll go check on him."

"Perhaps we should let Raphael rest for now." When his sons gave him curious but strange looks the rat pressed on, "Raphael needs time to himself my sons...This sudden change is still new to your brother. He needs time to accept it, without us acting as if he is a bomb waiting to go off."

The three turtles were quiet for a moment, before Leo nodded and bowed, "Yes sensei." He said, Donatello and Michelangelo nodding in agreement before accepting their father's choice.

"Very good my sons." Splinter said before heading towards his own room to meditate on Raphael's condition some more, the clacking sound of his wooden stick following him.

Donatello didn't want to admit it, yet he had to. Raphael's condition had him stumped, he was healthy- or at least was healthy up until about four weeks ago. Raphael had never really been prone to sickness, even when everyone else in the lair would pass a bug along, Raphael always somehow avoided yet. So when he out of the blue got sick one day, it had been strange. It had been even stranger a week later, when he got sick yet again. Whatever it was...it was endangering his brother, and he couldn't figure out what this disease was.

Pouring what was probably his sixth cup of coffee that day Donnie looked over to Leo who cleaning his swords, every once in awhile looking up at Raphael's closed door. The door hadn't opened since Raphael had first got here, six hours ago. Mikey was already in bed and Leo like himself, had stayed up due to Raphael. While Leonardo cleaned was swords, Donnie dragged himself into the the middle of the lair, dropping down on the couch. (Somehow managing to not spill his coffee.) "How's the research going?" Leo asked, not once taking his eyes off his shining swords.

The purple masked turtle let out a sigh and looked down into the steaming cup of coffee as if it held the answers to his current problems. "I'm stumped Leo." He said after a moment of silence, "He doesn't have any diseases, I've tested blood, given him exams, I've done everything, but I just can't figure it out!" By the end of the sentence the bo weilding ninja's voice had started to rise, causing Leo to look of at him.

"It's okay Donnie. You'll figure it out bro, you always do." As the blue masked turtle encourage his brother he placed a hand on his shoulder and a small smile spread across Don's face.

"You're right Leo. It's just...If I can't figure this out Raph could-" He stopped talking, casting his eyes down to the concrete floor beneath him.

"I know Donnie, I'm worried too."

Donatello didn't respond this time, and the lair was filled with silence. It was a comforting silence, but at the same time it was a worrisome one. Any other night this silence would contain the sounds of skin against leather as Raphael wore out his punching bag, or the clattering of weights as his brother worked out in the dojo, however tonight the lair was silent. Suddenly the somewhat comforting silence became tense and Donnie wasn't the only one who felt the sudden change in the atmosphere as Leo sheathed his swords and got up from where he kneeled. Donnie put his coffee on the table infront of the couch and followed his older brother up the stairs, a tight knot in his stomach when Leo knocked on their red masked brothers door, and all the only noise they heard was a dreadful silence.

Tell me what you think about the new chapter my dears~~