#tnmt2012

For the thousandth time, Mikey ran his fingers along a wire protruding from the side of the device affixed to his chest. And, for the thousandth time, Donnie chastised him for touching it. "Mikey, do you want to get blown to smithereens?"

If You're Going Through Hell Chapter 12

Donnie heard a tiny noise in the still room; a sound like a hiccup. It was so quiet that it was nearly imperceptible. He turned towards it to see that Mikey was sitting up in his bed. His was face illuminated by starlight and ambient torchlight from outside. He wore a strange expression, something gentle and sad. It seemed to express a hurt, or possibly an unanswered question. Donnie blinked at Mikey, but neither of them spoke; either because they didn't want to wake their brothers or because the feeling that hung in the room couldn't be articulated.

After a moment, Donnie patted a spot next to him on his bed. Mikey slipped across the room. He lay down next to Donnie and wrapped his arms around his brother, snuggling his head deep into Donnie's neck.

If You're Going Through Hell Chapter 11

Donnie reached wordlessly for the wet bandages on Raph's side and Raph swatted his hand away without looking at him.

"It's fine," Raph bit out, surprised to hear the venom in his own voice.

Donnie harrumphed and pulled his hand back.

Raph didn't feel the same warmth for Donnie that he had felt earlier. The feeling was gone now. Or buried. He was exhausted. His side burned. The emotions of the past day--frustration, fear, anger, guilt, and worry--were all sounding off in long, sustained notes, coalescing into a screeching sound that rang in his head. He breathed against it, fighting to keep the dam from breaking.

"What happened?" Donnie asked, either ignorant of the clamor or intentionally seeking to unleash it.