Seated in a beanbag in the TV room, Mikey tapped his fingers as he frowned down at the floor with his arms crossed. He'd have been pacing, but something was telling him not to. He almost felt as if doing so would be bad luck, as if he was jinxing it somehow. He knew that was unreasonable, but he didn't want to take the chance. He glanced up at the other family members sitting around the room, each looking as tense as him.

Splinter was in his usual chair, but the screen was as silent as him. April was sitting on the arm, her hand on his shoulder. Raph was continually tapping his index fingers together, glancing toward the dojo every so often. Donnie seemed indifferent to everything around him, his eyes glued to his phone, but Mikey was close enough to see the tension in his body, how tight he was gripping the phone. The box turtle wanted to reach out and comfort his genius brother, but he could tell Donnie wouldn't welcome it. Casey was seated cross-legged on the floor near Raph; his eyes were closed, and Mikey could see his rhythmic breathing. He was probably doing a breathing exercise that future Leo taught him to soothe his nerves.

Letting out a sigh, Mikey returned his gaze to the floor. Absentmindedly, he found himself rubbing his arms. The scars weren't visible anymore, but Mikey knew they were still there… he remembered how they lit up as they were rushing Leo home. Frustration made his body tense as angry thoughts buzzed in his mind like bees.

Why did he have this endless well of mystic power if he couldn't even use it? Why wasn't he stronger? Why didn't he already know enough? Why couldn't he help his brother, his family? His teeth gritted as he narrowed his eyes, glaring harder at the spot on the floor as if it was the source of all this. As if he could make it all stop if he just scared it enough.

A gentle pat on his head made Mikey jump, though the size of the hand immediately told him who it was. He looked up to see Raph looking down at him, his eyes full of concern despite his amused smile.

"Don't think the floor's gonna be intimidated by Dr. Delicate Touch, big man."

The box turtle felt his face heat a little, and he couldn't resist a sheepish smile.

"Heh, yeah. Sorry."

Raph moved to sit beside Mikey, settling on the floor with a soft grunt.

"No worries, Mikey." He let out a sigh. "We've all had t' do somethin' to keep ourselves sane these days."

Mikey looked more closely at his oldest brother; not for the first time, the thought came to him that the snapper looked so tired lately. His 'Raph Chasm', as Leo had affectionately dubbed it, was more noticeable than ever. Though the burden of leadership had mainly shifted to another, Mikey knew that Raph would never lose his determination to protect his family, and the guilt he always felt when he couldn't.

And Leo… Mikey wasn't sure what to think about his blue banded brother. They had all been through a lot, but of all of them Leo had given so much. And even now, he didn't want to show that the Krang invasion had left him so deeply scarred, in more ways than one. And he was still very much the brother Mikey had grown up knowing and admiring. But even so, the youngest turtle could tell he wasn't the same. In most ways his appointment to leader seemed to have improved so much about him, and Mikey couldn't deny that he somehow seemed more at peace with himself, happier even.

But still, something else had changed too. There seemed to be more of a weight to him, as if the new responsibility was a physical burden. And there was something in his eyes… something each of the others knew was fear. No longer simply fear of losing someone he loved, but fear that it might be on his watch. And along with that, there was a new determination, to protect.

A slight, sad smile came to Mikey's face at that thought. Though Leo still believed he wasn't anything like Raph, or more appropriately not enough like Raph, the two were more alike than either of them might think… and in all the ways that counted.

The sound of approaching footsteps filtered into the quiet, and Mikey was immediately on his feet, vaguely aware of everyone else shooting up with him. Himari stepped into the room, and her one response to seeing them all up was a blink. But what had Mikey's anxiety rising was the look on her face. It wasn't exactly sad, which was a small comfort, but it was solemn, and that scared the youngest turtle nearly just as much.

"I have examined Leonardo's leg," she said calmly. "And we both have discussed the possible options from this point."

Mikey opened his mouth, but before he could say anything Donnie beat him to it.

"And those options are what?" he asked, his voice sharp with impatience. Though Mikey saw Raph frown, neither he nor Splinter said anything to chastise the softshell. And even Himari clearly already understood Donnie's difficult affiliation with emotion, as she only gave the genius a gentle, sympathetic look that made even him visibly thaw.

"First of all, I wish to emphasize that the outlook is far from hopeless. However, the bone was all but shattered, and the healing has not been as, well, ideal as would be liked."

Mikey felt his heart sink, and his voice came out hoarse and quiet.

"It… it's not gonna heal all the way?"

Himari directed her calm, soothing look at him then.

"I cannot lie, it is a possibility." She quickly went on, clearly seeing the devastation on his face. "But certainly not definitive. The treatment and rehabilitation process will be complex and require a good deal of effort for him and you all, but there is a chance it can heal completely and without major complications."

Mikey's hope lifted at that, and Casey spoke with the words he wanted to say.

"Then we'll do it, whatever needs to happen."

Mikey and the others all nodded, echoing the sentiment. The box turtle had suspected this wouldn't be as simple as a clean bill, even if he had hoped a little for it. But that was okay. They were Hamato, and he was a badass mystic warrior. Well, mystic warrior in training, but that was beside the point. He'd ripped apart the fabric of reality for Leo, and he'd do it again in a minute if he had to. After that, a vigorous PT regimen sounded like a cakewalk.

Of course, Mikey knew Leo probably wouldn't see it that way. And that thought was confirmed when the sound of said turtle's wheelchair reached his ears, clearly approaching at a slower pace. Then Leo appeared, and Mikey felt his throat tighten. The slider wasn't even looking up but gazing at the ground. Stopping in the doorway, he looked up at them and his expression…. Mikey had only ever seen him so crestfallen in the hard days after the invasion, and when they lost Gram Gram.

His heart aching with sympathy, Mikey stepped forward and gave him a gentle smile.

"Don't worry, okay, Leo?" he said. "We're all here and in this. It's gonna be okay."

His brother's dispirited eyes moved to him, but though the shadows lifted a little they didn't leave. And Leo didn't smile.

"Thanks, Mikey," he said quietly. "But no… it's not."

With that, the slider turned the wheelchair and headed in the direction of his room.

Mikey blinked, processing what just happened. He hadn't expected his brother to take this well, granted, but…

No.

Mikey shook his head, banishing the doubt and scolding himself for entertaining it. Doubt wasn't what Leo needed, and there was no reason to have it anyway. He moved forward, intending to follow his brother and give him an encouraging 'Dr. Feelings' lecture. That hadn't failed yet.

But his determined thought was interrupted by a large hand on his shoulder. Surprised, Mikey looked up to meet the calm, gentle eyes of his oldest brother. Apparently reading his confused expression, Raph gave him a smile.

"Raph ain't trying t' stop ya, big man. Leo's gonna need a lot a' Dr. Feelings for a while till we get through this. But mind givin' me a minute first?"

Looking at Raph's calm and encouraging expression, Mikey's confusion dissolved, and he nodded. The eldest turtle gave a nod of his own and gave Mikey's shoulder one more pat before heading out of the living area, his steps brisk and sure.

Pizza Supreme knew Raph didn't know everything, but he knew enough for the youngest turtle to trust him on this. He knew what Leo needed now, and Mikey was willing to wait his turn. He'd do whatever he had to. They were getting Leo through this together, whether he was willing to believe it or not. Mikey wouldn't let himself believe otherwise.