Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Please Speak Mikey

Chapter 5

Well, Donnie was not expecting this when he woke up tired and cranky in the morning. Closing his eyes to gain moisture due to the strain of keeping them open, the purple-clad turtle gently rubbed his forehead to relieve an oncoming headache. As he stood up, his limbs cramped with pins and needles from his stationary position. His head worsened from the bright light gleaming out of the PC; Donnie was startled to see it was 1:20 am.

"Has it really been that long?" He muttered.

He sighed walking awkwardly towards a chair that was facing the figure on the bed. The body was wrapped in a protective white blanket, the only vital clue being the slow rise of a chest, indicating the patient was still alive. He reached inside and held the clammy hand, taking notice of the needle embedded for an IV drip. Looking up at the plastic bag satisfied with the amount of water still left. The turtle's grip was firm hoping for a reaction, but no response. Leaning back against the chair Donnie stared up at the ceiling.

"How could we have let this get this far?" He thought as his mind transported back to the start of the day, at the horrifying memories of his baby brother.

"MIKEY!" They shouted in unison as their littlest brother crumbled, Raphael catching him before he hit the floor. The red-clad turtle gasped in horror at the blood, splattering onto his hands and plastron. "Mikey?" Raph repeated in complete shock, but there was no response. From that point, Raph just seems to slip into a world of his own. He didn't seem to understand Leo's worried questions next to him, or Donnie in front checking Mikey's pulse and mumbling something about the lab and a strange word Haemoptysis, whatever the heck that meant. All he saw was his baby brother and a lot of blood... It was only when Splinter appeared and carefully lifted Michelangelo out of his arms did he seemed to snap out of his panic-stricken trance.

As he watched Mikey's head limply fall back into Splinter's chest his fingers had started to tremble. Leo quickly grabbed Raph when he started swaying. Raph was about to object to him being separated from Mikey until he realized that there was actually nothing he could do to help. "Leonardo, take care of your brother while we tend to Michelangelo." Splinter and Donnie quickly hurry out of the dojo and across the living room into Donatello's lab.

As the rat master laid his son on the table, he was surprised but relieved to see his orange-clad turtle fluttering his eyes open. He caught the glazed and disorientated look as he connected in his line of sight. "Michelangelo?" he said softly. A smile spread across his lips as recognition planted in the clouded blue orbs.

"Sensei, hurts" he whispered in a strained voice.

"I know my son but don't worry, you are safe. We are all here for you, everything will be alright soon. Rest now my child" The rat nuzzled Mikey's head in comfort and affection before he lightly pushed on a point on Mikey's neck. It was like pressing an off switch as the pain from Mikey's face disappeared and he seemed to go rigid.

Meanwhile, Don was silently thanking Rockwell for all the new medical equipment. Coincidently he seemed to have almost everything he needed....? That was fortunate. It was only then that it occurred to Don why now the psychic mutant monkey had all but insisted that he take these extra medical supplies only a few weeks ago. Oh my gosh! Had he known what was going to happen?

But then Donnie almost dropped his supplies as he heard his little brother whisper. He had spoken! Mikey actually said a word! He should have walked back towards him faster, now he felt disheartened that Mikey had closed his eyelids again falling back into the darkness before he could say anything comforting to him. Still, he was relieved that Mikey's voice was not completely shut down. Donnie then frowned listening to the harsh breathing as he wiped away the blood with a cloth. He shivered almost choking, fully registering that this was his only baby brother and if his diagnosis was right, he could lose him today, and he hadn't even gotten to speak to him.