Chapter three:

After talking for a bit the two look to Mikey as he awakens.

"Ah. You're up." Donnie yawns and Mikey affectionately rubs his head on Donnies chest.

"You're tired too. Let's both go to bed." Mikey suggests and Raph nods.

"An excellent idea." Raph confirms and Donnie sighs knowing that this is a losing battle.

"Alright." Donnie stands up carrying a still sleepy Mikey in his arms. He walks with Raph to go to his room. He lays Mikey down then joins him.

Mikey quickly snuggling back up against Donnie and seems to start to pass out again.

Donnie isn't too far behind seeming to be comforted by the cuddles. His eyes close and as the sleepiness takes hold he falls into slumber.

Raph waits a few moments to make sure Donnie is asleep before leaving. He closes the door behind himself. He returns to Leo finding the other asleep. He sits in a chair next to Leo's bed and lets the quietness of the room surround him. He thinks over Donnies suggestions for how to help Leo move around. His gaze rests on Leo as his thoughts take another direction after only a moment. He thinks about how Leo will likely be stuck in the lair, and have to have an escort to go topside with all the enemies they have gotten over the years.

Their enemies wouldn't care that they'd be going after a blind turtle. They'd take advantage of him being an easy target, even with his years of training.

Raph lowers his eyes. As he tries to think if there'd be a way to make Leo's life better with this disability. He wants the other to be able to head out even without supervision. He wants him to be able to do so and still remain safe.

But how?

Raph quietly groans rubbing his face as he can't get any good ideas. He'll have to think for a bit longer on that. His eyes look back to Leo who is still asleep. He knows that it might not be easy though he'll do it for him. He reaches out gently placing his hand over Leo's own. He knows that they may argue but he really would do anything for the other. He hates that this had to happen when he had been planning to share his feelings. He sighs quietly at the horrible timing of it all. He knows that he can't change it so he'll just have to do his best for the other. He lays his head on the bed next to Leo deciding to stay here tonight. He isn't sure when he passes out.

...

Leo shifts his head as he awakens. He hears the soft snores of someone sleeping next to him. He reaches over carefully moving his fingers until he finds the source of the noise. He tries to be gentle, to not wake the other, to try to feel who it is. He finds the rips in the mask and knows that it is Raph. He finds the tail ends of the mask and gently plays with them. He does find comfort to not wake up alone... Even though he wishes that Raph could have slept on a bed properly. He doesn't want the other to get sore by sleeping this way. He thinks about how his family have been doing their best to help him with the big change, especially Raph. He is grateful for them being here for him while he recovers. He just can't help this feeling of having become useless to them with his new blindness. He supposes that Raph will be getting his desired leadership position. He isn't in any condition to continue being the leader anymore. He was trained so hard to become leader, taught since he was so young how to be a leader... Yet now all those years are wasted because of his injury. He pulls his hand back hearing a soft knock come to the door. He tries to turn in that direction as the door opens.

"Are you awake?" Mikey's voice comes into the room almost uncertain that he is.

Leo nods his head so he hears Mikey come in coming over to the other side of the bed than Raph.

"How are you feeling?" Mikey inquires to Leo who can't really look to him.

"I'm doing okay." Leo responds though he can feel Mikey's gaze on him. He has a feeling that the other must know that he isn't being fully honest.

Mikey lets out a breath. "You don't have to be honest if you don't want to. But you should remember that we are here for you. We don't have judgement on you even if you're not doing the best right now. You don't need to be strong for us all the time. You can reach out to us too." He clears his throat. "I brought you food. I think both Raph and Donnie will be sleeping in for a bit. They went to bed late."

Leo nods softly to this and actually feels touched by what Mikey had said. He feels something be placed on his lap that feels like a plate.

"I can help you if you want." Mikey offers to Leo. "Or you can try to learn to do it yourself. I know you'd love to do things yourself again. So you're not fully reliant on us."

Leo smiles a little at this. "Don't go yet." He tells Mikey who makes a sound as if to assure him that he's staying here. He tries to find the edge of the plate, with Mikey's gaze felt on him, and once he finds the edge of the plate he tries to find a utensil. His hand bumps against it so he grabs it. He tries to scoop up some food... Finding that he isn't sure that he got anything at all... he tries to bring up the utensil to try to eat off of it only to slightly miss his mouth hitting his cheek... He can feel that there's nothing on there so he puts his hand down with a slight sigh. "I think I need your help." He tells Mikey then feels a hand on his. He is guided to picking something up with the utensil.

"Let me help you then. Maybe with practice you'll get the hang of it." Mikey assures him gently as he helps guide the food to Leo's mouth. "One step at a time."

Leo takes a bite finding it to be mashed potatoes which taste rather good. He lets Mikey continue to help guide him in eating his food.

Mikey gently takes the fork when Leo finishes all the food on the plate. He has made Leo a brunch like breakfast of easy to eat food. "Good job. You'll get to the point of feeding yourself at some point." He takes the plate off of Leo's lap. He isn't heard walking away though. "Do you feel a little better after getting some food in you?" He inquires and Leo nods softly.

Leo does feel a little better not just from the food but from Mikey's words too. He slightly turns as Raph lets out a small groan. He waits and listens to see if the other is awake or not.

After a few moments Raph speaks. "How long have you two been up?" He still sounds like he's waking up.

"For me long enough to make breakfast and feed Leo his portion." Mikey informs Raph who makes a sound of appreciation for it.

Raph is heard moving about a little probably sitting up. He groans as he stretches, what Leo believes he's doing based on his groan, before settling down.

"Are you sore from sleeping like that?" Leo inquires feeling two sets of eyes suddenly on him.

"Nah. I'm good." Raph assures him and Leo isn't really sure if he's lying or not. "That stretch got it out. I've slept in worse spots honestly."

"Well if you're sure." Leo doesn't push it as he isn't even sure himself if Raph is lying.

"Why don't we go for a walk?" Mikey suggests and must have gotten a look from Ralph as he quickly adds to that. "We'll make sure that he isn't pushed too hard yet. I know he's still healing."

"A walk does sound nice." Leo agrees and is helped by both Mikey and Raph to get to his feet.

"Come on Leo. This way." Mikey takes the lead as Leo follows, with Raph staying right at Leo's side.