No Use |TMNT

Chapter 4

"Leo!"

"Erg... Raph...!" The hoarse cry of desperation rang through his throat like sandpaper as he entered the lair.

"Help― I need help!" He cried before he felt the tremble of his strength collapsing, his knees dropping to the cold surfaced floor.

The sound of rush footsteps came to his aid. A bittersweet sensation of relief coursed through him. They all came in less than a minute, and Mikey hadn't realized they've been in the common area chatting.

"Mikey!"

"Donnie!"

"My sons!"

He felt the heavyweight of his brother's body slide from his arms. A firm hand took a hold of his arm and pulled him up.

"What happened?" Leo asked as more of a concerned demand rather than a question, "How did you―?"

"I found him on the streets, he's bleeding a lot. Guys, we need to go help him!" He shouted, slightly shaking from being outside of the cold for too long. Leo placed a hand over his youngest brother's shoulder and in turn, heard the sprinting of his father and brother, rushing towards the lab for any medical supplies they could gather.

"Donnie doesn't look so good." Mikey added, following Leo as he tugged his arm to the bathroom. He watched as Leo turned the water on, making sure it was warm and good enough for use.

"You don't look so good either―" Leo answered back as he helped him take off his gear. His younger brother was being taken care of. Splinter knows what to do― he always does― and Raph is there to help him.

Donnie will be fine...

"But Donnie's different! He looks like he was beaten for days! He's so skinny and bleeding and hurt. I didn't even think twice before grabbing him! I could've hurt him ― shell, he's bleeding everywhere!" Mikey broke out in a cry as Leo, almost forcefully, drove him to the tub. Mikey hesitated with the offer, his only thoughts of his older brother's safety currently in his mind, but entered nonetheless. Leo gave him a look of assurance, but he was lost inside.

"Donnie's going to make it through, Mikey. Our brother is strong." Leo told him, concealing his worry with a faint smile. His lips were barely tugged, and as much as Mikey wanted to believe him, there was something wrong.

"Leo, you don't understand-!"

"I'm trying to, Mikey. I'm worried about our brother too, but panicking isn't going to help. Master Splinter and Raph is aiding Donnie as we speak." Leo told him delicately, grabbing a sponge as he began to scrub his brother's shell. He struggled to scrub the large amount of Donatello's blood tainted on Mikey. "They'll know what to do, I promise." He added as he poured warm water on his sibling's body. Mike shivered, but did not protest. As the bath ended, he turned off the stream of running water so only a dripping of droplets was left.

Mikey grabbed a towel and carefully tiptoed his way out of the tub. He stood stubbornly as he dried himself.

"Leo..." Mikey murmured, his eyes filled with solemn grief. He was going to cry; the adrenaline was dying off and it left him in a puddle of apprehensive.

"We're going to help him." Leo said, but his voice was thick with lies. He didn't even know what condition Donnie was in. Leo opened the door, wanting to leave to hide his emotions and he turned to his heels, nearly leaving the youngest to pamper.

"Wait, Leo, before you go I have to tell you something―"

Leonardo turned; a raised eye dabbled with concern. "What is it, Mikey?" Leonardo asked softly.

Michelangelo only stood, dwindling with his water dripped feet, and tracing the line of water droplets slowly falling on the ground. His head lowered, tone dull with tints of an injecting chill, as he whispered.

"It's gone..."

Leo's eyes were glazed with worry, mouth agape as he managed to stutter. "W-What's gone, Mikey?"

Mikey's eyes watered, and he used his towel to wipe the tears. Mikey suddenly looked so lost, and Leo's worry grew.

"Mikey." Leo hissed, anger toppling over his worry.

"Donnie..." Mikey managed to sputter, eyes lost. His hands tighten on the grasp of his towel. "His mind."