Double mutant Mikey (2012 AU)

Chapter 18 - Over coddling

Donnie and Raph were trying to care for Donnie's injury, but it was difficult since Donnie couldn't bare the pain, it was a long process, they had to dry the wound, clean it, sterilize some utensils, stitch the wounds, then patch it, Raph really tried to be patient but Donnie's insufferable agony was starting to tick him off, as much as he wanted to be on Donnie's side he couldn't shake off the feeling that he kind of had it coming, there were certainly better ways for him to go about it then just forcing Mikey into the lab and suck almost a week's worth of his blood for "good measure", if Mikey's condition had really worsen Donnie could just tell them about it and they could help him out, they're desperate after all, they'd do anything for Michelangelo to be alright, so why be so hard on Mikey? Donnie WAS probably just panicked and stressed out, but just because that's an explanation it does not mean it's an excuse, but Raph can't really say much right now, he can just mumble to himself and scold Donnie for not staying still and being so recklessly dumb.

Meanwhile, Leonardo took care of Mikey, he put him to bed and stroked his head as Mikey could barely speak from how disoriented he was from the tranquilizers, he was able to let out some groans and whispering sounds, his voice could only handle so much, escaping his mouth along with the heavy breaths Mikey was taking as he tried to articulate what he wanted to say, but his mouth was almost completely numb, he couldn't move his jaw or his tongue, so Mikey was stuck in that limp state, unable to move or tell his older brother how scared he was, his mind was slow and the adrenaline high still hadn't quite came down, his mind and body were agitated but he couldn't move, it felt like he was having an episode of sleep paralysis but instead of being trapped in his own mind, he was just stuck in his own body, limp and panicking while not knowing what happened and not being able to tell what was going on, is Donatello okay? Did he hurt him too much? He didn't mean it, he would never have, and why oh why couldn't he move?! He was so scared, where and who was taking him? Why are they taking him away?

He tried to make sense of the situation, he wanted to ask, he tried to scream, but almost nothing came out, nothing but whines and whimpers escaped his mouth, when Leo finally noticed Mikey might still be in distress, he handled it the best he could, he held his baby brother by the cheeks, lifting his head so he could face him, and as Leo got a good look into his baby brother's shaky eyes, he finally decide to take in the state he was in, Mikey's body was shaking, trembling, and it wasn't rocket science for Leo to understand that his baby brother was still shaken up by what had happened, and so, Leo hopped onto Mikey's bedside and held him in a comforting hug, Leo stroked, rubbed and pat Mikey's back, who was slowly seizing to quiver, Mikey felt reassured, safe, and like everything was alright, he had just about a dozen questions to ask, but just for now, he was able to sit down and relax.

And as his body started to settle down and the adrenaline finally wore off, the sedatives were able to do their magic and slowly but surely, Mikey's mind sinked into unconsciousness as he relaxed into his big brother's embrace, shrinking down to the size of a child, just a bit bigger than the 6 year old version of him in his mind, and again, Leo couldn't help but seeing his brother as that child, a helpless, scared and suffering child that couldn't help himself in that difficult situation, as much as he didn't want to see it, Leo had gotten too protective over Mikey to a point where it was probably becoming unhealthy, Leo started latching onto Mikey, treating him as if he really was a child, treating him bizarrely similar to the way he treated the mutant wasp's egg back when he was poisoned by it's mother, Leo was clingy towards Mikey, shielding him from the others, specially Donnie, and being pretty much a helicopter parent, and at that point, Mikey just didn't have the strength to complain anymore.

He didn't want to fight his brothers again, he messed everything up, it was his fault, he didn't trust himself anymore, he hurt his own brother, he somehow managed to worsen his condition, delaying his recovery and setting back all the effort he and his brothers had made, no matter what he did, he screwed something up, so instead of doing anything anymore, Mikey just decided to stay bedridden, at least if he sits still he can't make mistakes, Donnie and Raph were obviously concerned, but Leo was determined to keep Michelangelo safe, if staying in bed all day was the way Mikey felt most comfortable dealing with it, so be it, he's safe and willing to cooperate, and why move him if he doesn't want to? It's so much easier to monitor him this way, and fine, he's gonna be okay now... at least he hopes so...