A Little Change (Tmnt 2012)

Chapter 3

Donnie carried Mikey back into the kitchen, bouncing him slightly. Raph noticed them and rushed over, taking Mikey from Donnie.

Raph held Mikey close to him and smiled down at him. Mikey tried to avoid looking at Raph, still struggling with embarrassment. Raph frowned, thinking Mikey's red face and reluctance were due to pain.

What's wrong, Mikey? Raph asked, concerned. I'm not a baby! Mikey whined.

Raph's face was suddenly really worried. Mikey got hopeful for a minute, thinking Raph could understand him, but it was soon crushed when Raph asked Donnie if he knew what was wrong with Mikey.

He seemed fine to me. He whined a bit while I was changing him and tried to get out of my arms, but I just thought he wanted to play or something. Donnie said with a shrug. Something is wrong with Mikey? Leo asked. Raph nodded. Yes. I think he's in pain. Raph said. Mikey scrunched up his face. I'm fine, Raph. Mikey said but was once again ignored.

Bring him to me. Leo said. Mikey couldn't help but pout slightly as he was passed into one of his brothers arms for the hundredth time that morning. Mikey squirmed. Put me down, Leo! Mikey whined. I'm not a baby! He whined.

Leo frowned. I think Raph's right, Mikey is squirming quite a bit, and the whining doesn't make me think things are right either. Leo said. You don't think he's getting sick, do you? Donnie asked. Leo frowned. I hope not.

I wonder. Has Mikey used his diaper yet this morning? Leo asked Donnie. No. He hasn't. Donnie said. I know what the problem is. Our itty bitty baby is having potty troubles. Leo said, slipping into a baby voice during the last sentence. What?! No, I'm not! I'm not a baby! I don't use diapers! Mikey shouted, but it seemed like the others didn't understand him.

Mikey had seemed to notice that they could only hear the tone of his words. They couldn't seem to understand his actual words, and Mikey couldn't understand why.

He's uncomfortable. He's getting angry. Leo pointed out. Here, Raph put him in the highchair. Leo said, and Mikey was yet again passed to one of his brothers. Highchair?! Mikey yelled. You guys, stop! I'm not a baby! Mikey yelled and struggled to escape Raph's hold.

Mikey kicked and hit but couldn't do anything as Raph was the strongest and always had been.

Ouch! Raph said with a wince when Mikey put all his force into a kick. Mikey sure is strong for his age. I can't wait until he's old enough to start training as a ninja! He might be better than me! Raph said, smiling proudly down at Mikey as he set him in the highchair.

Leo shook his head. He shouldn't be kicking you. Leo said. Give him a break, Leo. He's in pain. You know our little angel wouldn't ever do that on purpose. Raph said, smiling at Mikey. Leo sighed. I know. I'm just worried about him, is all. Leo said.

Mikey frowned. He didn't mean to upset Leo or hurt Raph. Mikey bit his lip as a wave of sadness washed over him. Mikey was finally making his brothers happy, and he had gone and ruined it. Mikey felt tears sliding down his face. Donnie seemed to notice and rushed over.

Donnie picked up Mikey and tried to make him feel better, which only made Mikey feel worse. His brothers were all together and happy. They were paying attention to him, and he had been making them worry and hurting them.

Mikey burst into tears and started hiccuping he sobbed so hard. Oh, Mikey. You're gonna be okay, bud. We're gonna take away your pain, baby, I promise. Donnie said, trying to make Mikey feel better.

Donnie cuddled Mikey close, and Mikey's sobs died down. Donnie wiped Mikey's tears and smiled at him. It's okay, Mikey. Your big brothers are here to make it better. Donnie said. Mikey clutched onto Donnie and whimpered when Donnie tried to put him down. Donnie smiled. Okay, bud, you can stay with me. Donnie said.

Leo had finished making breakfast by the time Mikey calmed down. Donnie rocked Mikey in his arms, and Mikey was too tired to protest.

It had been a rough morning. Mikey was confused, scared, happy, and worried. He had tired himself out already.

Leo put three plates of adult food on the table and then made a bottle of warm milk. Leo slipped a laxative into the bottle of warm milk before sealing it and shaking it up.

Leo, Raph, and Donnie were all under the impression that Mikey was a three month old baby. They couldn't see anything wrong with the way they were handling him because of that. They were also under the impression that Mikey's outbursts were due to the fact that he was having stomach troubles, not that he was upset because they thought he was a baby.

Leo smiled, knowing the laxative would fix Mikey's supposed stomach troubles. Leo handed the bottle to Donnie. Donnie smiled and fixed Mikey in his arms so that he could feed him easier.

Mikey was almost half asleep, finding comfort that his brothers seemed happy and finding Donnie's rocking soothing. Donnie gently pressed the bottle to Mikey's lips. Mikey didn't react, so Donnie gently pushed the bottle into his mouth.

Mikey's eyes shot open at the foreign feeling object. Mikey's eyes widened in fear as he noticed Donnie was trying to feed him a bottle. Mikey started trying to squirm, but Donnie held him tighter, stopping his movement and hushed him. It's okay, Mikey. Drink this, and I'll let you sleep, okay? Donnie said in a baby voice.

Mikey tried to spit the bottle out, but Donnie's hand kept it firmly in place.

Leo, Mikey's acting like he's not hungry. Donnie said. He is, Donnie. It's just that his stomach problems are making him feel full. He won't want to eat, but you have to get him to drink every last drop. Leo said. Donnie nodded, determined. Come on, Mikey, just drink the yummy bottle. Donnie said. It's so good. You love your warm milk. Donnie added.

Mikey grimaced and wanted to protest but couldn't because his mouth was stuffed with the bottle. Mikey's mouth was becoming dry and making him want to swallow. Mikey tried to fight it, but when Donnie tipped the bottle upwards, some of the contents leaked into Mikey's mouth. Mikey couldn't help but swallow to get rid of the taste, but when he did more milk came from the bottle. Mikey couldn't seem to pull away and was forced to swallow as more and more milk flowed into his mouth. Donnie seemed to relax as Mikey started drinking from the bottle. Mikey hated the feeling and was sure tears were falling from his eyes.

Donnie hushed him and wiped away his tears as Mikey finished the bottle. Donnie thought the tears were because of the pain. He was unaware Mikey was crying because he was being treated like a baby.

Donnie took the bottle away and bounced a crying Mikey in his arms. Now, what? Donnie asked. Put him in the highchair and come have breakfast. The laxative in the bottle should kick in soon and make his stomach problems go away. Leo said.

Mikey's eyes widened in fear and shock. Mikey knew what laxatives did and started panicking. Why would you put laxatives in something you forced me to drink?! Mikey yelled. I told you it wasn't stomach problems! Mikey added. His brothers didn't seem to understand him, and Mikey started freaking out as Donnie put him in the highchair. Donnie put him in it and locked the tray in before sitting down to have breakfast. Mikey couldn't reach the latch to unhook the tray. He was stuck in the highchair.

He could only watch his brothers talk and eat breakfast while he was stuck in the highchair. Today was not Mikey's day.

Mikey could only hope his brothers would realize he wasn't a baby sooner or later.