Chapter 6

The voices slowly became more and more understandable as he pushed his way through the sleep void. The presence of his little brother made him push harder, his eye ridges furrowed in determination. He slowly opened his eyes as he heard Splinter say something. He looked to his side and smiled slightly. "M-Mikey." His voice was scratchy and barely above a whisper.

Michelangelo immediately sat up, his eyes wild as a huge smile grew across his face. "Leo!" He shouted and wrapped his arms tightly around his brother, making Leo chuckle slightly. Mikey begun to tremble, and Leonardo was quick to comfort him. "I-I thought, you-ou would ne-never wake up!" Mikey cried as he snuggled his beak into Leo's shoulder.

"I'm o-ok." Leo rasped back. Mikey was pried back by Donatello, who, as soon as he had the chance, began checking Leo's vitals.

"You gave us quite a scare." He stated, placing a hand on Leo's shoulder. Leonardo smiled groggily up at him.

Leo's blue gaze moved to Splinter, who walked up and grabbed Leonardo's hand in his strong one. He gave a gently smile, stroking Leo's forehead with his other fuzzy paw. "I am glad you have woken up, Leonardo." He said.

Leo blinked a couple of times tiredly before his eyes grew wide and frantic. He quickly searched around the room, and when he didn't see what he was looking for, he hurried to sit up. Three pairs of strong arms immediately moved to stop him, Splinter winning at laying his son back down.

"Leo, you need to calm down and re-"

"Where's Raph?" Leo cut Donnie off as he moved his wild gaze onto Donatello, hoping for some type of answer.

"On the couch, he's fine." Donnie promised.

Leo swerved his frantic gaze to Splinter who nodded in confirmation. Leo sighed, but then eyed Donnie again, "You sure?" He questioned.

Donnie sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, "Leo, you should get some rest. You're still healing and your side-"

"Donnie," Leo warned, "What's wrong with Raph?" It wasn't a question, more of a command.

Donatello rolled his head back. "He has a high fever and a large gash on his leg. He'll be confined to the lair for a while, but he'll be fine."

Leo let out a held in breath and nodded, "What's my case then, Doc?" Donatello straightened and took a once over on Leonardo.

"You have three deep cuts in your left side and I had to pop in a dislocated shoulder, so that should be sore for a little while." He sighed and continued his mental list. "I had to give you a blood transfusion, but we managed to avoid infection, that is for now, anyways." He glanced over at Mikey who was wiping furiously at his tears.

Leo nodded, "Not that bad," He groaned and leaned further into his pillow.

"We almost lost you twice, Leo." Donnie mumbled.

Leo closed his eyes and scrunched up his beak. "K, now it's a bit worse." He took in a deep breath, "But I'll be ok," He gave Splinter's paw a quick squeeze, "I promise."

~000~

Raphael's eyes snapped open. His ears still ringing with Leonardo's painful scream. He quickly sat up and immediately regretted it when pain laced up his body. The gasp that came out was slurred as the room began to spin.

Raph grabbed his head and tucked it close to his stomach that swam with nausea. He let out a small groan.

Voices flooded at him from the lab and he looked over the couch at the lab doors. The familiar sounds of his brothers and father were faint and distant to the sick turtle. Raph blinked a couple of times before looking down at the blanket wrapped around him. He growled and threw it off. He moved slightly before noticing the IV pole that stood next to him and the wire that trailed to his arm. He pressed his lips together and narrowed his eye ridges before yanking it out of his arm. He scooted himself off of the couch and stood up, ignoring the way the room continued to spin. His breathing was raspy and slow, but he took a step anyways.

Raph chocked back a yelp and fell back onto the couch, where he stared at his leg which was neatly wrapped in thick layers of white gauze. He slowly brought it close to him and began to poke at it. He couldn't hold back the hiss that pushed its way through his teeth when he hit a tender spot. Raph glanced back over at the lab, his vision still foggy as new stubborn determination flooded into his eyes. If his family wasn't with him, they were with Leo.

He clenched his teeth and forced himself to stand up again, placing all of his weight onto his left uninjured leg. He took a couple of deep breaths and then started his painful trek towards the lab.

"What the heck are you doing!?" Raph jumped, placing weight onto his right leg. He let out a loud yelp as his legs crumbled underneath him and he found himself on the floor. He looked up and glared at April and Casey who were already rushing over to help.

"Shell," He grumbled. He watched April carefully place a large bag down on the ground- Casey throwing his against the wall- before the both hefted him up.

"Dude, you're burning up! What the-" Casey started.

"Raph!" This time it was Mikey who came running out of the lab to help, making Raph growl deep in his throat. Michelangelo swung one of Raph's arms over his shoulder, and slowly, him and Casey helped the turtle back to the couch.

"I knew that you got beat up, but I thought you guys usually just bounced back, ya know?" Casey mumbled as he helped place Raphael back onto the couch.

April hit the back of Casey's head. "They're not immortal or anything like that, Jones! They get hurt and sick just like the rest of us!" She snapped before looking back at Raphael, her eyes filled with complete worry.

Casey rubbed the back of his neck.

Mikey placed a hand on Raph's forehead and clicked his tongue, shaking his head, "You're living up to your name, Hothead."

Raph shoved him away, "Since when did you become the family doctor?!" He snapped. His face softened when he noticed the tear stains trailing down Mikey's cheeks. His heart clenched and he suddenly felt like puking.

"Where's Leo?" He quickly asked as he stood up and looked over at the lab. Mikey grabbed his shoulder and pushed him back down, then sat next to him.

"Resting," Mikey said slightly relieved. "He woke up a couple of minutes ago, said some stuff and then knocked back out." Mikey smirked. "He kept asking about you too."

Sounds of rushing feet earned everyone's attention; Donatello and Master Splinter rushed over to the couch. Donnie's hand immediately flew to Raph's forehead, and he ignored the loud growl that followed as he set worried eyes on Splinter. "He still has a high fever."

He moved his gaze towards Raph before it set on the IV drip. He narrowed his eyes and walked over, picking up the tube, "Did you just... rip this out of your arm?!" He snapped, eyes blazing at his once red masked brother.

Raph glared at the tube that hung in Donnie's hand. "It was keeping me immobile Don! Plus, how the heck was I supposed to know what you were pumping into me!"

"Immob-... Please do not tell me you tried walking around!"

"I almost made it to the lab." Raphael stated making Donnie groan.

"Bed rest, Raph, you understand?!"

Raph opened his mouth to protest, but quickly closed it when I firm paw was placed onto his shoulder. "Donatello, please check on Leonardo again." Splinter said calmly. "I would like to talk to Raphael."

Donnie quickly nodded and rushed off to his lab, quickly followed by Michelangelo and April dragging Casey along.

Raph let his shoulders slump and he leaned back into the couch. He waited for the room to stop spinning before looking at Master Splinter. Splinter rose an eyebrow and sat next to his son of the couch. "Why do you hide how you're truly feeling from you family and friends?" Splinter questioned.

"I don't need 'em worrying about me." Raph confessed, he gave a small groan when Splinter rested a paw on his feverish cheek and leaned into the cool touch.

The aged rat sighed and pulled his paw away and Raphael looked over at Splinter through the corner of his eye and watched the flash of worry that swam through his father's eyes. Raph sat up, "Not like there's anything to worry about anyways. I mean, it's just my leg right?" He pushed back into the couch. "Jus' a cut, that's all." He mumbled.

Splinter hummed and grabbed the discarded blanket on the ground. "Your brothers do fret over the simplest things, don't they?" He stated. Raph blinked as another wave of grogginess hit him. He felt himself shiver and he leaned further into the couch.

"Yeah." Was all he could say as Splinter draped the blanket over him.

"They love you, Raphael," Splinter's voice became quieter. "They cannot help it."

Raphael shook his head slowly. He moved and leaned against Splinter's shoulder, taking in his father's scent through his stuffy nose. Splinter gently wrapped his arms around Raph and smiled. "Get some rest, my son." He whispered softly.

"I'm not sick..." Raph slurred as his eyes fluttered shut.

Splinter smiled and nuzzled his son's temple. "Of course not."

Sorry for any spelling/captilization orgrammr errors hoped you enjyed this chapter I <3 each and everyone of u!