Miracle on New York Hills (Part 1 of New York Hills)

The Storm Tamer

Milo is tiny when he is brought into the world, one early November morning. After many hours of labour and Donnie finally getting to test his new tranquilliser gun on Casey to put a stop to the constant hurricanes, Ms Jones is left covered in sweat, tears and a bit of blood, her chest heaving. Only, the blood doesn't stop coming and Milo is handed off to his older half-sister. Despite everything, rainbows decorate the sky that day and earn little Milo the title of 'The Storm Tamer'.

The clan ignore the hidden meanings behind the name. They have more important things to deal with.

Everyone is exhausted, but nobody is more exhausted then Ms Jones. The midwife pushes most of them out of the room and begins to list herbs for Leo to grow. Casey looks at Milo with such love and adoration, like he has hung the stars, so she is given the day to watch over her new brother. As a result, Casey and Leo's duties are shared amongst the other members of the family. It's a busy day, but a good day.

It's the first time in years that Mikey has felt like a useful part of this family.

It's later that night that things seem to fall apart. Mikey can't help the surge of jealously he gets when he sees everyone cooing at Milo, even his brothers. He used to be the baby of the family, but now what does he have? He's not useful to the family on a normal day. They don't need him.

It's not the first time Mikey considers leaving, but it's the first time he prepares to.

His bag is packed and he's about to open the door when Milo begins to cry in his crib in the nursery. It's a temporary home, until Ms Jones is well enough to care for him in her room until he's old enough to move into the nursery until he receives his gift. Mikey scowls and stomps over, making the baby cry harder. He glares at the baby and growls. This catches Milo's attention as he looks right at Mikey.

He stops crying.

He starts to giggle as Mikey's scowl turns into a confused frown, reaching out. Mikey reaches a finger to him and his hand wraps around it, squeezing tightly. Mikey let's out a laugh and covers his mouth in surprise. He moves his hand as more laughter escapes and instead starts wiping at the growing wetness in the corners of his eyes.

"You've got quite a grip there, haven't you?" Mikey coos, "I guess you were just lonely. I understand," Mikey leans over and kisses the baby's knuckles, "It can get very lonely here, but don't worry! You've got me! I'll make sure you're never lonely! I'll always be in your corner."

Even when the rocks of the crib send Milo into Dreamland, Mikey stays. It's probably multiple hours, but he can't bring himself to  move his finger and leave Milo alone. He wonders absentmindedly if this was how his older brothers felt with him. He pushes away the intruding thoughts that if they did, he wouldn't be alone all the time.

Milo keeps him from leaving, because, to Milo, he's not a burden.

———

It's a risk to sneak around the house like this, but his boy needs him. The nursery door creaks and he winces. Orange mumbles in his sleep, but quickly buries his head into one of his arms even more, returning to his slumber. Splinter breathes out a sigh of relief. He approaches Orange and rests his ha-paw on the turtle's forehead, rubbing it slightly. He smiles as Orange's frown stretches into a small smile. It's not as big as Splinter remembers, but it's better than nothing.

He uses the bed next to the crib as a boost and leans over the crib Orange is resting his arm and head on. Little Milo sleeps soundly, fist still curled around Orange's finger. Splinter chuckles. He reaches in and slowly unwraps Milo's fist, replacing it with the arm of his teddy bear that Splinter recognises as one of Red's, and moves Orange off the crib. His boy was taller than him last time he saw him and his height seems even more daunting now, as Splinter puts all his limbs to work, carrying the larger turtle to his own bed, across the room. He should've done more than one pull up a year these last few years.