Penny
Chapter 1: Morning Before

The faint thud from his second oldest’s room pulled him from his meditation. Sighing, he stood, his body procrastinating at the movement. He was growing older every year and he knew that he would soon not be able to do what he liked to do. He picked up his walking stick and walked out of his room, aiming for Donatello’s lab.

The conversation reached his eats and he smiled weakly at the two middle children talking. He stopped beside the door, catching the last of what Raphael was saying.

“…and I hit my head on the floor hard enough to start bleeding. Mind fixing that hammock?”

He smiled at hearing Donatello chuckle. “Sure, but you first, Raph.”

He listened carefully, noting the sound of Donatello’s chair scrapping against the floor and the gentle clatter of tools on a metal tray. There was silence for a while before something clattered on the metal tray. His old, well trained ears picked up the faint chuckle that left Raphael.

“Guess that hammock has it out to get me. It’s not the first time it’s broken.”

Donatello chuckled and Splinter smiled, entering the room.

“Hey, at least it wasn’t serious.” Splinter met Donatello’s expert gaze as the purple clad turtle tuned to face him. “Mornin, Sensei.”

“Good morning, Donatello,” Splinter said, bowing his head in greeting. “Good morning, Raphael.”

The second oldest nodded his head in greeting to him, Splinter’s expert eyes catching that Raphael didn’t look exactly right. Donatello’s eyes met Splinter’s again and Donatello quickly turned to Raphael in time to catch the wobbling turtle.

“Raph! Raph, stay with me bro,” Donatello said, holding the passing out turtle upright. “Master Splinter, get Leo.”

Splinter turned and exited the room a few steps before bellowing, “Leonardo! Your brother needs your assistance!”

The oldest was past him in an instant and Splinter didn’t turn around to know what was going on.

“Where?” Leonardo asked, the sound of his gentle footfall placing him already at Raphael’s other side.

“The bed,” Donatello stated plainly and Splinter listened as the shuffle moved to the bed. “Watch his head.”

Splinter sighed, sensing the youngest in the shadows. “Michelangelo, what is wrong?”

“Is Raph OK?” the orange clad turtle asked, Splinter easily picking up on Michelangelo’s worry and nerves.

“Master Splinter.”

Splinter turned to see Donatello leaning on the doorframe, as if he had ran to the door. Splinter was fully aware that Michelangelo was shifting nervously, knowing the youngest was scared.

“Do you mind getting some rags and cool water?” Splinter nodded as Donatello’s attention quickly turned to Michelangelo. “Mikey, I need your help.”

Splinter turned and headed to the kitchen. He was worried about Raphael but he knew that if he did what Donatello asked, Raphael was in the most capable hands. Splinter pulled a bowl out of a cupboard and filled it with cool water from the tap. He pulled three washcloths from one of the drawers and laid them over his arm before picking up the bowl and walking back to the lab. Michelangelo was standing outside the door, white as a sheet, and barely noticed Splinter walking past him through the door.

Splinter braced himself against the chaos in the room as Donatello quickly took the bowl and cloths from Splinter. Leonardo was by Raphael, Leonardo’s shaking hand gripping Raphael’s tightly as the older turtle kept a steadying hand on the unconscious turtle’s shoulder. Donatello placed a cool cloth on Raphael’s forehead before turning to Splinter.

“Master Splinter, I need you to go to April’s and give her this,” the smart turtle said simply, writing something down. “Can you wait till she gives you something in return? It may take a while before she can give you the items but I want you to stay there till then. Please?”

Splinter nodded, taking the note. He folded it in half and stuck it into a pocket of his kimono. He looked at Raphael before looking at Leonardo as he left. He closed the door behind him and turned to his youngest.

“Michelangelo, would you like to come to Ms. O’Neal’s with me? Fresh air may do you some good.”

The youngest nodded, still pale with fear. Splinter led the way out of the Lair towards April’s and Michelangelo stayed on Splinter’s tail. The whole way there, Splinter kept an eye on the youngest and saw his condition wasn’t getting better. A few roofs from April’s apartment, Splinter stopped, the faint wind playing with the loose ends of his kimono.

Turning to Michelangelo, he asked, “Michelangelo, what is bothering you?”

Michelangelo shifted and Splinter watched as the turtle thought about it. “I…It just that…Raph isn’t going to…die, is he?”

Splinter sighed, understanding Michelangelo’s fear. “I would hope not, my son. But to make sure Raphael doesn’t die, we must get to Ms. O’Neal’s.”

“Hai, Sensei.”

Splinter gently tapped on April’s window before entering. The redhead looked up from the book she was reading at the table, a spoon full of cereal halfway to her mouth. She stood up, saying as she hugged each of them, “Master Splinter! Mikey! What are you doing here? Is everything OK?”

“Raph…kinda got hurt,” Mikey mumbled, fidgeting.

“Donatello needs these things,” Splinter stated before April could say anything. Her eyes widened slightly before she looked at Splinter. Splinter plainly stated, “He understands if time is needed to obtain these items.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” April said, a weary smile on her face. “You didn’t read this?”

Splinter frowned and shook his head. “I felt I had no need to read what was needed.”

April nodded slowly before shrugging and walking into the bathroom. Michelangelo hovered near the window, still as pale as can be. Splinter walked over to the worried turtle and placed a hand on the turtle’s arm. “There is more on your mind, Michelangelo.”

“What if…what if we’re too late? What if…he doesn’t…get better? He doesn’t make it or is seriously damaged?”

“My son, these are all worries of possibilities that may or may not happen,” Splinter said calmly. “Raphael will be fine. Donatello knows what he is doing.”

Michelangelo nodded, rubbing his arm. April walked back into the room, handing Splinter a bag. “Here’s everything. I happened to have all that he needed.”

“Thank you, Ms. O’Neal,” Splinter said, bowing. Michelangelo also bowed but said nothing, still pale. “We will be on our way now.”

“Let me know how Raph is when you get back,” April said, following them to the window.

“OK,” Michelangelo said, halfheartedly.

Splinter quickly climbed to the roof and waited for Michelangelo. Michelangelo was on the roof in seconds and the pair was soon on their way to the Lair. Once in the sewers, Splinter took a walking pace, Michelangelo still behind him, slightly to the left. Splinter felt how tense Michelangelo still was and sighed.

“Michelangelo,” Splinter said, stopping. “What is on your mind, my son?”

Michelangelo shifted, clearly uncomfortable in what Master Splinter was asking. “I…I don’t know, Master Splinter. I…It’s nothing. I’m just a little…scared, that’s all. Ya know how I can get.”

Splinter knew Michelangelo wasn’t telling him everything but he dropped, planning to come back to it later. They entered the Lair 10 minutes later and Splinter made his way to Donatello’s lab while Michelangelo made a b-line to his room. Splinter sighed, shaking his head as he entered the room.

“Donatello,” Splinter said, the purple clad turtle looking up from what he was doing at Raphael’s side. “I have the items you asked for.”

“Thanks, Master Splinter,” Donatello breathed, gently taking the bag from Splinter.

“Where is Leonardo?”

Don placed the bag on the counter. “He’s said he was going to go catch you two at April’s. You didn’t cross paths?”

“I’ll go find him,” a hoarse voice said and Donatello and Splinter looked at a now awake Raphael. “I’ve been needing ta talk ta him anyways.”

“Raph, lay back down,” Donatello ordered, pressing on the red clad turtle’s shoulder.

Raphael just pushed the hand away, glaring at him. “I’m fine.”

“Raphael,” Splinter snapped. “Listen to your brother.”

Raphael rolled his eyes. “Hai, Sensei.”

Splinter nodded and left the room, hearing Donatello and Raphael bicker in whispers. Sighing, the old rat entered his room and sat down to meditate.