Hey! Again I'm very sorry for not uploading in time. I guess my head is still recovering, since it's kinda hard to focus on a chapter. I can only write little pieces before I lose my concentration and I'm completely empty. It sucks...

Anyway, I've got a new chapter for you guys. Some of you wanted more Donnie, phAnt0mgh0st7018 wanted a Donnie who's neglecting himself and me-tmnt wanted more coffee rehab. Hereby I present you a new chapter on Donnie's coffee addiction (see chapters 9 and 14). Although the story is not my best, I hope you guys like it.

Have fun!

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Coffee Inconsistency

"Argh! Screw this!"

A little surprised Raph looked up from his position on the couch when he heard yet another frustrated yell coming from the lab. The moment he wanted to grab the remote to turn up the sound of the television, when he heard a loud crash and a grunt of pain. Quickly he stood up and walked in a fast pace to the lab. "Yo, Donnie! Yer okay?" he asked as he wanted to throw open the door. Instead the door opened in front of him, revealing a heated Donatello. For a second they looked at each other rather surprised.

"Eh - Yer okay, Don?" Raph asked again as he looked his sibling over. He noticed his brainy brother was way too pale for his liking and coupled with the dark bags under his eyes and the tensed shoulders, it set off the alarm bells in Raph's mind. Before he could even say something he was pushed out of the way. "I'm fine," was the curt answer, as Don marched past him. In a reflex Raph grabbed him by the arm and turned him so that Don was facing him again. "Seriously, Don. What's up with ya?"

Don tried to jerk his arm back, but his brother's grip was too firm. "I said I was fine," he said coldly as he grabbed Raph's hand, trying to pry open his hold. "Let go!"

Raph raised his eye ridges by the tone his brother was using. He recognised it - it was a voice he himself used a lot. But it was so un-Donnie-like, that it actually shocked him a little. So instead of releasing his hold, he didn't budge. "Ya look awful. Care ta tell me what's tha deal is with ya?" he asked, not caring for Don's desperate attempts at freeing himself. Don gave him a glare as he tried to pull free. "The deal is that you're annoying and you've gotta let go!" he said through clenched teeth by the effort it took. He gave it one more try, before giving a frustrated growl. "For crying out loud - Raph!" he called out. "Seriously, let go before I do something I regret."

Not the slightest scared for the threat, Raph looked him in the eyes. "I think yer already doin' that, since yer not actin' like yerself. What's up?"

Looking back with a scowl, Don was silent for a couple of seconds. "Just tired, okay." He gave his arm a jerk. "Now would you please let go?" he asked a little bit more gentle, although his expression didn't change.

"Tired, huh?" Raph asked, nodding as he thought it over. "And whatcha gonna do about that?" he asked, although he could guess the answer.

"Getting coffee. Now would you mind…?" he asked, pointing at his wrist where Raph held him. Unimpressed Raph ignored the gesture. "I think a bed -"

Don gave a frustrated sigh. "Screw you guys and your beds. Coffee works fine. Can't you just leave me alone?" he called out. He balled his fist in his brother's grip and twisted his wrist, feeling Raph's hold slacken. In one movement he jerked his arm back and took a few steps back before his brother could get another hold of him. Instead Raph just stood there, a disappointed look on his face. He shook his head. "Yer a smart guy, Donnie. Why don't ya use that brain o'yours fer good purpose? Like takin' care of yerself?" he asked. A little bit surprised by the calm tone Raph used, Don hesitated. He rather have his brother to yell at him so he could yell back. Now he actually felt kind of guilty. He quickly shook it off and pointed with a warning finger to his older brother. "Just -," he paused and quickly averted his eyes, before looking back. "Just leave me alone." Without waiting for a response he turned on his heels and walked away. Seeing his brother disappear through the door to the kitchen, Raph gave an exasperated sigh.

"He's not doing well, isn't he?" a voice suddenly spoke from the corner of the room. Raph shook his head as he looked at his older brother. "Nope. He's not," he concluded. "Ya think he could take care of himself a little bit betta since he's always on our shells buggin' us about nutrition an' stuff, but this is ridiculous."

Leo took a few steps forward and leaned against the armrest of the couch. "I'm worried about him," he said as he folded his arms in front of his chest. "No one told him he is drinking decaf for a month now?"

Raph shrugged. "I didn't."

"Me neither. I my guess Mikey didn't told him either."

Raph gave a grunt. "Why can't he act like a normal person?"

"Who? Mike?" Leo asked a little surprised, not following the conversation. Raph gave him a scowl. "No, idiot. Donnie." Then his face got a little softer. "Mike's a whole different story."

Leo gave a small grin, but got earnest again. "Mikey aside, we've got to do something about Don. Because this is indeed getting ridiculous."

"Well, whaddaya suggest, Fearless? An intervention?" Raph said mockingly, leaning with his shoulder against the doorpost of the lab. Leo gave a doubting shrug. "We could… Although our last intervention didn't go as planned. The pantry still smells like fire," he said, thinking back they tried an intervention for Raph. Long story short - It didn't work out.

"Ya really think Don's gonna listen ta us all offa sudden? Come on, we've said it a million times -"

"And we will say it a million times more if that's necessary," Leo interrupted him. He winced when there was a sound of something breaking coming out from the kitchen. "For crying out loud!" the frustrated voice of Don followed.

The two brothers in the living room looked at each other, a worried look on their faces.

"Or you know… We need to do something drastic, because this is getting out of hand," Leo concluded, listening to the small vexing sounds their younger brother made in the kitchen.

"There's only one drastic way I know," Raph responded as Leo nodded. Almost in sync they moved and walked towards one of the small hallways of the lair. In front of Mikey's bedroom they halted and Raph knocked on the door. "Yo, Mike. Yer in there?"

It was quiet for a second, until they heard their brother talk. "Yeah… Why?" They heard the suspicion in his voice. Using this as an invitation, Raph threw open the door, despite Leo's gestures not to. "You don't just open a bedroom door," he hissed as Raph stepped in, ignoring him. A little surprised Mikey looked up from his position on the bed, his comic book on his pillow already forgotten by the look of his two oldest brothers. "Hey, bros. What's up?" He turned his torso to grab Klunk who was dozing off on top of his shell. Stroking the kitten's fur affectionately, he put him on the bed as he sat up himself. He looked up to his brothers curiously. Leo stepped forward and grabbed Mikey's desk chair. Sitting down, he gave a sigh. "We have a problem and we don't know how to solve it without a major outburst," he said point-blanc. Mikey raised an eye ridge, not knowing what to do with the cryptic sentence. Raph gave a chuckle by the look of Mikey's face. "It's Don," he explained to him. "He ain't him right now. Tha idiot looks like crap, acts like crap an' is total crap atta moment."

Leo scowled by the use of Raph's words, but decided to ignore it. "He is completely neglecting himself and we're worried. We want to help him, but we all know that normal talking or arguing doesn't matter, because he doesn't listen when it's considering himself. At all. At this moment he is just plain ignoring us or gets angry when we say something, coming up with a dozen counterarguments."

"He's a jerk," Raph added. Now Leo shot him a look. "No, he isn't. He's just… troubled, I guess."

"Well, he's actin' like a jerk towards us. How many times did we tell him ta take care of himself a bit? A gazillion times! And did he listen ta us? No way! He's a total jerk!" Raph fell out. Mikey gave a snort. "Jerkatello," he joked, although he also hoped to avert the argument that was blooming to another subject. It worked though, because both his brothers gave him an exasperated look.

"Oh, come on. That was pretty good," Mikey exclaimed. "But eh…" He looked at his brothers. "I think it's kinda my fault. I changed his coffee, making him behave like this. He's just continuing like always, because he doesn't know."

"Quit it, numbskull. This ain't yer fault. Don is tha one who can't take care of himself and listen ta his body properly," Raph cut in, his annoyed expression intensifying.

"True," Leo added. "The decaffeination was a good idea. The problem is to deal with it, and Don clearly can't. We need to reach him before he can't take it anymore."

Mikey gave a small nod. "Alright. So what can I do?"

Leo and Raph exchanged a look, before Leo looked back at Mikey again. "We were actually hoping you knew something we could do, since our ways don't work. Maybe something drastic."

Mikey scratched his cheek. "I suppose I could try to annoy some sense into him..."

Raph jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. "Boy Genius is in tha kitchen right now. No computer or projects, so no distractions. If ya wanna bug him, now is yer chance."

Leo shook his head thoughtfully. "Talking doesn't work."

"Mikey ain't talkin', right?" Raph smirked, as Mikey gave a grin back. "Nope, I whine, annoy and guilt-trip you guys so I get my way." He stood up from his bed. "Alright, give me a couple of minutes. Be right back."

Seeing his brother leaving his room, Leo heaved a sigh. "It's not gonna work, I tell you. He's too stubborn. Shell, he also ignores Splinter."

Raph gave a shrug. "It hasta work. Tha moron can't go on like this," he said simply. "Otherwise I'm gonna beat him up and make sure he gets his rest."

"I've already told you, you cannot do that. In no circumstance we raise our fists at our brothers. Unless it's training."

"Make me," Raph answered defiantly. "Cuz if Mikey can't handle him, I'll make the next move. And I won't be talkin'."

It was quiet for a couple of minutes, since neither of them wanted to argue. Their first concern was their brother. Suddenly the door of the room opened and Mikey came in, a mix of irritation and despair on his face. "Well, that was a total bust," he said before anyone could speak up. Raph already got to his feet to right his previous words to Leo, until Mikey's expression changed. "But if he want to play like this, I'll be happy to join his game," he continued with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Both Leo and Raph got a grin on their faces.

"What's your plan? And what can we do?" Leo asked, getting up from the chair. Mikey shook his head. "I'll let you guys know. I just need to get some stuff topside." Securing his nunchucks in his belt, he turned around again. "Watch Klunk for me. Be back in an hour!" Not waiting for any replies, he took off. Again silence followed.

"Should we be worried?" Leo asked carefully. Raph gave it a thought. "Probably."

0

The next day and a few hours later

Suppressing a yawn, Raph put his hand in his neck and rubbed the tender spot. "So, when are you executing that big plan 'o yours?" he asked, as he looked at Mikey who was standing in front of the fridge. Not looking up, Mikey continued to take some items to set up the lunch table. "What plan?"

"Well, duh. Tha Don-plan."

Turning around with his hands full, Mikey closed the fridge with his foot. "Dude, it's already in motion. And it's actually working fast." He walked towards the table and stalled out the food. Raph gave him a surprised look. "Seriously? When did ya do that?"

"This morning," Mikey said matter-of-factly. Turning around again, he walked to the stove. Carefully he lifted up the lid of one of the frying pans that were on. With a satisfied smile he put it down again. Before Raph could ask anything more, Mikey went to the kitchen door. "Lunch is ready!" he yelled, knowing his other brothers and sensei would be there within a minute. Indeed, after a few seconds Leo appeared from the dojo, a smile on his face by the look of Mikey who was still standing in the doorframe. "It smells good, bro!" he complimented the chef. Mikey gave him a broad smile. "I know right! Nothing better than a fully stuffed omelette on a lazy Sunday."

"If you don't do anything soon, yer omelettes will be ome-let's-throw-it-away-cuz-it's-burned," Raph said with a nod to the stove. Quickly Mikey shot a look over his shoulder, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. "Dude, I know perfectly how to cook. And I don't burn stuff. That's your thing to do," he said, but walked back to the stove anyway.

With a grin Leo walked in. "Splinter said he would eat later since he wanted to finish up his meditation session."

"No problem. I'll save him some," Mikey answered as he took one of the skillets to bring it to the table. At that moment Don rushed in. "Dude, this smells exquisite! I'm so hungry. You can't imagine," he said with big happy eyes by the look of the perfect omelettes. Sliding the food on the plate, Mikey gave him a grin. "Well, there's plenty. So dig in."

"Sweet!" Don exclaimed and sat down, waiting patiently for Mikey to give him his share. As this was happening, Leo and Raph exchanged a look.

'What in tha world did Mikey do ta Don? Yesterday he had tha worst case of PMS an' now he's cheery as shell.'

'I have no clue, but apparently it's working.'

"Leo-bro, mushrooms or bell peppers?" Mikey interrupted their thought-conversation, as he hold up two plates. Leo looked at him. "I'll take the peppers, please," he answered, since he knew Mikey liked the mushrooms more. With a smile the the plate was put in front of him. "Here you go."

"Merci," Leo thanked him in semi-faulty French. Mikey gave a chuckle. "De rien," he said back as he sat down. "Well… Bon appetit, bros!"

"It should be 'mes frères'," Don corrected him as he took a bite of his tomato and cheese omelette. "This is great, Mike," he said, munching away as he tapped his knife absent-mindedly on the edge of his plate. Raph noticed. "Yo, Einstein. Stop that."

Realising what he was doing, Don gave an innocent grin. "Oops, sorry." Quickly he cut of another piece of his food and stuffed his mouth, looking his brother straight in the eye. Shaking his head, Raph looked away to his plate again and cut his own bacon covered omelette in four. In one bite he devoured a quarter. "Man, I love Sunday lunches."

Mikey looked proudly over the table. "I just love food, and I love to share good food," he concluded with a wink. Suddenly he felt the table move slightly. "Earthquake!" he joked, noticing someone was getting restless legs. Raph hit him upside the head before turning to Don. "Could ya please stop fidgetin''? Yer gettin' on ma nerves!" he called out. Quickly Don froze. "I'm sorry, but I just can't sit still," he said honestly as he stopped moving his leg. Immediately his fingers started drumming on the table as he took another bite.

"I swear, Donnie. I'll -"

"Raph!" Leo warned, feeling the need to interfere. 'Don't you dare. He's finally doing well. Don't ruin it.'

'It's freakin' annoyin'.'

'Deal with it.'

"So, how are you actually feeling, Donnie?" Leo asked, blocking Raph out. Twirling his knife between his fingers, Don finished his last bite and gave a nod. "Actually pretty good. And that's great, because I have a lot of unfinished business to take care of." He put down the knife and turned to Mikey. "It was great, bro. Thanks. You mind if I go?" he asked in a rapid pace, already half-raised. Mikey gave a shrug. "As long as you take it easy, bro."

"Will do!" With that he ran off.

Immediately Leo and Raph turned to Mikey. "What did you -?" Leo began, but quickly shut up as Don ran back into the kitchen. "Forgot my plate!" he announced, taking his dish and put it in the sink. "Bye!"

Silently the three watched their brother leaving the kitchen again. A second later Leo turned back to Mikey again. "So what d-"

"Oh! Have you guys seen Quilliam?" Don asked as he put his head around the doorpost. His eyes scanned his brothers who gave him a strange look. "Wait! Never mind. I already know! Thanks!" He vanished again. A second later he appeared again. "Mike, did you fed him yet?"

"Eh…" A little stupefied by his brother's uncharacterized way of acting, Mikey recollected himself. "Yeah, this morning together with Klunk."

"Okay! Oh, and Raph, have you used my hex keys?" Before Raph could answer, Don continued, "If so, could you put them back? I need to do some tweaking on the Battle Shell. Thanks!"

Raph gave him a look as he saw Don's head disappear again. "Tha Battle Shell? I could do that if ya -" he started, but he was already too late. "Jeez, what's gotten inta him?" he asked as he had made sure Don wouldn't come back again.

"The chaos is strong with this one," Mikey joked, finishing his own plate. Leo sighed. "Spill it, Mikey. What did you do?"

Innocently, Mikey gave a shrug. "Well, I just replaced his coffee again."

Raph looked at the door as if Don was still there. "So this is tha effect of normal coffee after a month of caffeine free?"

Mikey hesitated. "Not really…" he said slowly, looking at his brothers. "I replaced the regular beans with the strongest Colombian coffee beans there are. And again he doesn't know, so he's drinking double espressos instead of his normal cups."

"Espresso? Mikey, what were you thinking? We finally had him almost caffeine free, and now this?" Leo fell out. Mikey gave him a scowl. "Dude, you asked for my help! Drastic help to be exact. So here you go."

"But this…"

"Well, than maybe we had to go with your plan," the youngest cut in. "Oh wait.. You didn't have one."

Raph chuckled, always liking it when Mikey tried to argue with Leo. "At least he's doin' betta," he pitched in. "But ya really think this is tha best solution?"

Mikey shook his head. "Not this way, no..."

"Then why did you do it?" Leo asked, close to getting frustrated. Mikey gave him a look. "But after he got his shot of caffeine in the morning, I have replaced the coffee to regular coffee and later today I'll switch it to decaf. So little by little things will be back the way before, but with actual results," he continued, ignoring Leo's comment. "At least… That's what the book said."

It was quiet for a minute, until Raph spoke up. "Ya read a book?" he asked unbelievably. Mikey stuck out his tongue. "Har-har, bro. But yeah, I've searched for a book on detoxification in the library last night." He felt Leo look at him judgemental. "Yeah, I broke in. Sue me," he said before his brother could say anything. "Anyway, I've found this book with a twelve-step program specialized on caffeine."

Raph hold up his hand. "Wait, wait. Lemme get this straight." He leaned forward. "So ya found a book. In tha library. And you actually read it? In one night?" he asked with a semi-unconvinced grin on his face. "An' then ya did somethin' with it?"

"Raph, quit it," Leo said big-brother-style. He turned back to Mikey. "Okay, sound good. And now he's at the first step. What's next?"

Mikey rubbed his neck. "Well, I thought it was a little slow. Knowing Donnie he can take a lot, so I combined some steps." He gave a grin. "He's now at step eight."

Leo facepalmed, as Raph almost spit out his juice. "Dude.. Yer unbelievable."

"I don't think it's ethically correct to skip so many steps, Mikey," Leo said with a frown on his face. Mikey shook his head to object. "Don't jump to conclusions! I've actually analysed Donnie based on his lifestyle, physical and mental health, appearance, demography and some other stuff and the chart said he could skip something. So dude.. Totally medically correct."

"I said ethically," Leo corrected him. "But if you actually did some research I guess it's okay."

"Research.. Yeah right," Raph commented mockingly. "Tha last research he did was what pizza topping went best with figs."

Mikey pointed his finger at him. "And did I let you guys down?" he asked. Raph gave it a thought, thinking back when Mikey had baked a pizza with figs, rosemary and parmesan, topped off with avocado and baby arugula. It was pretty good for an experiment thought. "Well.. It was okay."

"So this will be okay too," Mikey concluded. He leaned back in his chair. "Don't worry, bros. It's totally under control." Giving his brothers an affirmative look, he stood up. "Really. I've got this." With that he walked to the door. "Good luck with the dishes!"

Seeing their brother walk away, both Leo and Raph looked at each other. "Should we be worried?" Leo asked carefully. Raph nodded. "Probably."

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That's it! Like I'd said, not the best. But I really hope you liked it anyways. Please let me know what you thought! :D