Hey guys! I know that it's been a little bit since I've posted a new chapter, but gosh, I have been really busy lately, so I apologize for that. Always remember that I always put you guys first! Now please enjoy :)!

*I own nothing*

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Mikey4ever: By the way, I LOVE your username! Thank you so much! The next few chapters have lots of things in store :).

WARNING: Eating disorders WILL be played out and mentioned! Please do NOT read if this makes you uncomfortable or triggers you in ANY way!

TMNT

"How hot is he?" Leo whispered as he kept a careful eye on his youngest brother. His eyebrows knitted with pure concern, Mikey was tossing and turning along with occasional gasps of pain.

Donnie sighed, "Luckly not as bad as it could be, but he's still running a low-grade fever."

"And it will be gone in the morning?"

"I don't know," Donnie got up, "but most likely. Why do you ask?"

Leo shifted his focus unto his younger brother, "I was hoping to keep you guys all home tomorrow for some extra training, crime rates have been skyrocketing lately."

The genius brother frowned, "Leo…"

"If it gets out of hand, we will pull Mikey out," Leo said with a tiny hint of concern, "Trust me, I don't want my baby bro to pass out on us."

"Then why?"

"I just…I…don't know," Leo stammered.

"I get it Leo; you just want to find out what Mikey's been hiding."

The eldest brother nodded his head, biting his lip to prevent tears from falling. What was Mikey hiding? It wasn't highly unusual for the baby of the family to hide secrets, but a secret this big must be weighing heavily on him. And it crushed Leo that Mikey did it all alone.

They were brothers. They shouldn't have to deal with stuff by themselves. As the eldest brother, Leo felt a huge responsibility to heal his brothers wounds. But what if he couldn't heal this one? What if it was to big?

He walked plopped himself down on Mikeys bed, holding his younger brothers hand tenderly. For some weird reason, he just couldn't make himself let go of his brother, it was almost like Mike would disappear if he let go.

"Leo, you should stay with him tonight," Donnie whispered. He could sense his older brothers pain, and from what he was already feeling, Leo didn't need any more nightmares plaguing his dreams.

Leo gave a small smile and nodded, "I will Don." After much maneuvering, Leo snuggled next to his brother as he held him protectively. Donnie even swore he could see a smile on his younger brothers face. And as much as he wanted to also snuggle up against his brothers, he knew that Leo needed this.

Without him.

And for what it was worth, Donnie would do again. He gave one last smile and walked out of the room, feeling lighter on his feet. In another seven hours, he would see Mikey again, hopefully without a fever.

TMNT

"Mikey, buddy wake up"

Mikey groaned as light infiltrated his eyes, his headache came back in full. He turned his drowsy head to see Leo knelling down next to him.

"5 more minutes," he groaned, swatting away his brothers hand away from his face. But to no anvil did his older brother politely follow his request.

Leo sighed, "Mikey, we have to train."

"But what about school?"

"Your all going to stay home today," Leo stood up, "There's been a lot more crime lately."

Mikey groaned as he painfully lifted himself up from his warm paradise, "So what? We haven't gone on patrol in months."

"Well, that's about to change with the school year starting."

The youngest brother only sighed as he got up and walked towards the dojo. He thought that his older brother was crazy, beyond that even. Training? He even considered taking Leo to the doctors. Nobody, I mean nobody cared enough about crime to let him stay home from school.

His brothers valued education like no other. So, what was truly bothering his older brother? Surely, they hadn't found out yet, Mikey had been hiding it so well.

But what if they did?

He trembled at that thought, his brothers could never find out his secret. Thank goodness for all the baggage clothing he had acquired over the past few weeks. Trudging into the dojo, Mikey tried to keep his head up, but the exhaustion was still plaguing him. Or was it the exhaustion?

Lately, he had been struggling with basic things like standing or sitting. Fatigue was really starting to implant itself into his everyday life. Naps had become a very common thing for him, not that he would like to admit that.

At first, he had been able to go without eating, but after passing out in front of his best friend, he decided that he would allow him a single slice of an orange. The fear of passing out in front of his brothers brough mortal fear to many aspects. Plus, there wasn't to many calories in a single orange slice.

"Gather up team," Leo sternly said as he walked into the dojo. Donnie and Raph both straightened up as their martial arts unforms glued themselves to their chests. Mikey stood up as straight as he could without getting dizzy.

Leo looked at his brothers, but frowned once he laid eyes on his youngest brother, "Mikey, where is your martial arts uniform?"

Mikey looked down to see his brightly colored blue pajamas with moon symbols. His slippers still on as well.

Crap

"I um, well I…" Mikey stammered but shrunk at the glare Leo was giving him, "I…forgot."

Raph chuckled, "Not the first time that's happened."

"Yeah so funny….Raphie" Mikey grinned as he mentally gave himself a high five.

"I told you not to call me that!"

"Opps I forgot, my bad"

"No you didn't Knucklehead!"

"Sorry, did I offend you Raphie?"

"Come here you TWERP!"

"ENOUGH!" Leo declared, his face red with anger, "Both of you get back into formation now."

Raph and Mikey both got back into formation as they glared at each other with false hatred. Donnie only shook his head with disproval.

"Ok, now that we are all here, you must be wondering why I called you all here," Leo said sternly before Raph rudely interrupted him.

"Do you secretly hate us Fearless? Because waking us up at four in the morning is highway robbery!"

"Quiet Raphael, I'm in charge" Leo said calmly.

Raph only growled as he listened to his older brother. There was nothing he could do…yet. His revenge would have to be executed later.

Leo cleared his throat, "Ok team, we are going to start with 50 basic kata's."

The boys nodded as they got into the position. But there as a slight problem, every time Mikey would raise his foot or leg, his world would spin with excessive speed. He almost passed out as he flipped over. His vision was constantly blurred as his breathing consisted of unhealthy gasps of breath.

His legs felt extremely heavy as his head hung with the uttermost dread. He didn't know if he could stand any long nor do any more flips that turned his world upside down. But how could he make up once again another excuse to get out of training? He was pretty sure he had already used every excuse in the book.

That just meant he had to tough it out.

"Mikey, more passion in your katas," Leo pointed out.

More Passion?! Ok Leo, let me pass out for a quick second!

As much as Mikey didn't want to disobey his brother, he just couldn't follow his older brothers request. He could already feel his body shutting down, and with that seconds ticking by, Mikeys legs kept wobbling.

Mikey voice shook, "Leo, can I step out for a quick second? I haven't drank any water today."

His older brother only nodded with a concerned glance but didn't question any further. He turned his attention to his other brothers as Mikey wobbled to the kitchen.

In all reality, he hadn't drinked anything today. So he wasn't technically lying, there was just more to the story that he wasn't telling his brothers. Grabbing a water cup, he walked over to the fridge. But once he went to lift the cup…. he couldn't. His arm felt to weak to lift the cup.

It's fine, I didn't want any water anyway

Mikey sighed as he placed his empty water cup on the table. He couldn't do simple katas or even lift a water cup?! What would he not be able to do next?

And that initial thought scared him greatly. He never intended for these effects, but good things came with great sacrifice. Screw his hunger and thirst. He would be just fine with nothing.

Nothing had no calories or fat; it was a win.

"Mikey, can I talk to you?" Donnie asked walking into the kitchen as his little brother jumped from the sudden appearance.

No

"Sure," Mikey shrugged, leaning against the counter, "What aren't you in training?"

Donnie chuckled at his brothers oblivious nature, "Leo let us out a few hours early. But that's not what I wanted to ask you."

The younger brother tensed, his smile fading. "What is it Don?"

"Well it seems that…."

Please don't say it!

"..you haven't been….."

PLEASE don't say it!

"…eating…"

No no no no no…

"..as much as you used to, or frankly at all."

There it is…. great, just great

Mikey stammered, "Is it wrong that I don't want to eat in front of you," he snapped. But his older brother paid no attention to that. "Mikey.. I don't know what to say but it seems that you don't eat at all anymore. It worries me."

"Well stop worrying! I'm fine!"

"Are you?"

Honestly, Mikey was far from fine. But he wasn't about to admit that. He could be strong; he could control what he ate. He refused to be fat, it was skinny or nothing. His brothers would only interfere with his goal.

"Yes," Mikey replied with false confidence. He winced as he lifted his weight off the counter. The world spun with many colors as he walked over to his older brother. His unsteady legs almost threatened to slip underneath him.

Donnie only stared but didn't elaborate on it, when his little brother was ready to talk to him, Donnie would welcome him with open arms. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to talk to his older brothers about Mikeys sloppy walk or his inability to do simple movements like katas without getting dizzy.

"I'm trusting your word Mikester," Donnie sighed, still not feeling too good about his decision to leave his brother alone. But it had to be done, Mikey was growing up, he needed his own freedom. That also meant making his own decisions.

Mikey nodded his head eagerly as his head swarm with drowsiness. He walked away towards the living room, planning to watch his favorite tv show.

His older brother left him to it as he walked over to the dojo, planning to tell his older brothers everything. Every single word.

TMNT

There it is! I'm really sorry if it seems rushed at any point, my mind wouldn't let me sleep till this chapter was posted. Also, I know it seems a bit slow but next chapter is when things are going to start to escalate *evil chuckles*, stay tuned for that! I'm really excited to continuing this series :)!

Thank you so much to everyone who is currently supporting this story and my other stories, love you guys! Please R&R!