The Most Certain of Uncertainties
2003 âYouâre Burning Upâ
Donnie rubbed his eyes, cursing the headache that had taken hold of his brain and refused to let go. Granted, the late hours he was keeping couldn't be helping. But the needs of safety didn't care.
And, unfortunately, little brothers did.
He loved his brother. He really, truly did. Was he eccentric and odd? Well, sure but they were mutant turtles. The normal train left the station a while ago.
But his brotherâhis only little brotherâwas sometimes so tedious. Stubborn to a fault. Might even rival his own tenacity.
If not, definitely Raphâs. On a bad day, Leo. Very few things could break a stubborn Leo but Donnie had seen the master do it.
Good thing too because Leoâs body would have probably given out if he kept at it too much longer.
But this was a different situation entirely!
The outbreak of mutants in the sewers had been the last time he'd felt like this and he knew for a fact there was no mutation swelling in his blood this time.
But the storm that tore through the city last night had caused even his security systems to fail. Given their lives, not property, were at stake, Donnie thought a little obsession was warranted.
Despite the cold in his bones. Despite the pounding headache. Despite the fact even his insomnia was asking for sleep.
In short, he did not have the patience for his youngest brother right now.
âDon-nie,â That sing-song tone that normally had him shake his head with a smile about what thing he wanted to do but shouldn't that Mikey was about to talk him intoâthis time, it was grating. His already sensitive head grew about ten times heavier and whatever troll was content to hack away at his skull like a maniac suddenly got a second wind.
âWork.â his response came out much shorter than he intended. âAlone.â
If Mikey was offended, he didnât show it, âYouâve been doing work all day, Donnie! All work and no playââ
âIs what I have to do right now. Unless you want to patrol the sewers looking for intruders in the dark.â
âHey! Iâm a ninja! I thrive in the dark!â
Without taking his eyes from the computer screen and somehow maintaining the constant rhythm of key clicks, Donnie retorted. âYou sleep with a nightlight.â
Hand to his chest as if wounded, Mikey gasped. âI do not! Iâll have you know the Silver Sentry Vigil Stick is a protector against monsters! Of the worst kind! And we have no shortage of those.â
Donnie rolled his eyes. âThereâs no monsters around here right nowââ
âSee, itâs working!â
Any other day, he might argue but his brother had him there so he went quiet.
Mikey stopped, frowned and truly studied his brother. âDonnieâŠâ He leaned over, so close he was sure Donnie felt his breath in his skin. âAre you hangry?â
A deep hiss through his teeth. âNo, Mikey. Iâm not âhangry.â I may be coming down with a serious case of âlittle brother bluesâ though! Will you please leave me alone?â
The wounded look was real that time. âCan I help?â
âNo! No help, no more questions, just leave me to work in peace, please!â
Head down, Mikey retreated out of the lab, looking very much like a beaten puppy.
Donnie groaned out loud. Under normal circumstances, he likely would have given his brother something to do. He was actually a pretty good assistant when Donnie had the patience to explain expectations. But the patience meter was running on empty right now.
All the same, he felt bad as his brother slipped out of the room. âMikeyâŠâ he went to call after him but the youngest turtle was already gone.
Great. Nothing better than working with aches, pains, a headache and now a nice dose of guilt for good measure. Perfect.
Finish this, he coached himself. Finish this then you can relax and rest and eat and make it up to Mikey later.
Swallowed by his computer screen, Donnie typed. He calculated. He miscalculated, cursed, and calculated again. Fixing physical wires was so much easier than fixing a program on the fritz.
Time lost all meaning until the light clatter of a plate next to him made him turn.
Mikey gave him a sheepish smile. âIâm not stayingâŠbut you are hangry. Because you havenât eaten all day. SoâŠpeace offering, bro.â He pushed a plate and glass onto the table. âEven made it portable so you could still work.
A toasted chicken salad sandwich, complete with the grapes and almonds Donnie loved, with a glass of iced coffee. Nothing fancy but absolutely one of Donnieâs favorite meals, especially when he was working.
And no one made chicken salad like Mikey.
But his stomach turned at the smell.
The thought of it was amazing. He could pretty much hear the crunch of the bread already. His brain said yes but his stomach said no.
All the same, he couldnât find it in his heart to snub the offer. So, begrudgingly, he turned and took a bite.
His mouth turned dry and his stomach immediately protested the very idea of introducing anything.
Donnie took a large gulp of the coffee to wash it down.
Down it went but harsh, scratching. It hit like a stone and it took all Donnieâs willpower to keep it there. Focus. Breathe in, breathe out. SteadyâŠ
His little brotherâs forehead suddenly pressed against his and Mikey stared him right in the eyes. Concern and a dab of fear lingered there.
âYouâre burning up.â It was a statement, not a question.
Pulling away, Donnie shook his head. âIâm fine.â
âAre not! Youâre hot! And in a fun way!â
He didnât have the energy to roll his eyes. âMikey, if youâve been prowling around topside no wonder Iââ
âBeen in my room, bro.â
âThen itâs the lights and machinery in here.â
âSeriously? Now youâre being ridiculous. Youâre sick, Donnie.â He put a hand to his brotherâs shoulder. âGo to bedâŠâ
âWho serves as our resident medic here?â A bit harsh maybe but the last thing Donnie wanted was distraction, delay, especially when he was so close. A few more hours was all he needed! âDo you think I donât recognize sickness when I see it, Mikey?â
His younger brother wasnât buying it. âDonât need to be a medic to know youâve got a fever.â
âI donât. Now, please leave me alone so I can finish thisââ
âNo way! Not until you go to bed.â
âMikey! I said itâs fineââ
âAnd I say itâs not!â
âDoesnât count! You canât diagnose yourself! Even the soap opera medical shows know that!â
âThen Big Brother privilege. I say itâs fine!â
At his core, even Donnie knew he was starting to sound ridiculous. But he neededâŠhad to finish this. All he wanted was a few more hours!
If he had to abuse his big brother title to get it, so be it!
But a moment after those words left his lips, Donnie regretted them.
Because he saw the wheels turning in Mikeyâs head. The loopholes. The twisting of words.
âFine.â The youngest turtle stepped away from the computer desk, âThatâs how you wanna play it?â
âMikeyâŠâ he was so tiredâŠ
âRAPH! LEO! DONNIEâS SICK AND WONâT STOP WORKING!â
Before the Lair had even stopped vibrating from Mikeyâs shrill screech, Leo was down from the top level and Raph wasnât far behind.
Mikey gave his genius brother a snarky smile. âBig brother privilege meet even bigger big brother privilege.â
âWhatâs going on?â Leo entered, command immediately in his voice.
Mikey pointed, as if Donnie had stolen a favorite toy and been caught in the act, âHeâs got a fever, wonât go to bed, and is being a shell for brains.â
âAinât that your role, Mikey?â Raph made his own entrance and got a good look at his brothers, especially the one seated at the computer. âShell, Donnie you look terrible.â
Leoâs hands were on the purple banded turtleâs face before he could issue protest, âMikeyâs right though, you do have a fever.â
âThe hell you are.â Raph leaned over the desk. âI can smell you sweatinâ from across the room.â
Leo straightened, âGo rest, Donnie. Your work will save.â
âBut Iâm so closeââ
Leo and Raph exchanged glances. The oldest gave a nod and took a step back. Theyâd all dealt with workaholic Donnie before.
Raph pulled genius turtle to his feet and flung him over his shoulder in the same move. âAnd it ainât gonna go nowhere. But you are.â
Donnie heaved a huge sigh, considered fighting, but ultimately decided it wasnât worth the effort. Raph would knock him out if he had to and his legs were already wobbly. Being suddenly thrust into a semi horizontal position was oddly enoughâŠwelcomed.
As they left his lab behind, it was like his body decided to announce all at once how utterly spent it was. As if all the strength had been sucked out of his cells. He laid still against his brotherâs shell
He was kind of glad for the lift.
Apparently working for hours on end did a number on your fuel reserves. By the time Raph dropped him in his own bed, exhaustion was doing its thing.
âHere.â Leo laid a wet cloth over his brotherâs forehead and Donnie didnât bother to suppress the shudder of relief. âSee? Not sick, my tail.â
âShut upâŠâ came the cranky response but Donnie didnât open his eyes.
âKilling yourself in work doesnât help, my brother.â Mikey mused. âDoesnât make the fever go away if you ignore it, either.â
âFineâŠâ a low moan of defeat. âI relent. You win.â
âDamn right.â Raph tossed the blanket over his brother then knelt to straighten it. âSleep, heal. Workâll be there when youâre better.â
Donnie wanted to fret over the lost time, over the unfairness of it all.
But Raph was dimming the lights. Mikey was putting on that soft music Donnie loved. And Leo was working the pressure points on his head and neck.
He didnât need much persuasion for sleep. His body had been headed that direction, with or without his consent.
But all the same, Donnie murmured, âYouâre all a bunch of cheaters.â
âBig and little brother privilege, now rest.â