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—MikeyA soft tap on the cheek made Mikey open his eyes, blinking slowly as he tried to focus. Everything appeared blurry, and a constant buzzing echoed in his head, making it difficult to concentrate.—Don't fall asleep, Mikey —Donnie warned, his tone firm but filled with concern. As he spoke, he checked the makeshift bandage wrapped around his younger brother's head once more—. It could make the injury worse. I need you to stay awake.Mikey weakly nodded, though the motion caused a sharp sting of pain, making him groan. Donnie pressed his lips together, clearly worried. Raphael and Leonardo were behind them, speaking in hushed voices but with obvious tension. However, to Mikey, their voices seemed distant, as if they were on the other side of a wall.—They hit him really hard, Donnie. We need to get him out of here now! —Raph growled, his voice barely audible to Mikey, who instinctively closed his eyes, searching for relief that never came.—And how do you suggest we do that without drawing more attention? —Leo replied, his tone restrained but filled with frustration.Donnie, momentarily ignoring his brothers, turned his attention back to Mikey and gave him another gentle tap on the cheek.—Hey, Mikey. Stay with me, okay? Breathe deeply, really slowly. Try to talk to me if you can, even if it’s just something short —he said, his gaze locked on his brother's eyes as he looked for any signs of worsening.Mikey parted his lips, barely managing to murmur:—It hurts... so much.—I know, I know, but we’re going to fix it. Just hang on a little longer —Donnie replied, trying to keep his composure.The blood slowly seeping through the bandage worried Donnie, but he tried not to alarm the others. Meanwhile, Mikey felt the pulsating pain in his head pulling him further into unconsciousness.Leonardo finally broke off his discussion with Raphael and turned to Donnie.—How bad is it?Donnie looked at him for a moment, his expression serious.—Bad. If we don’t do something soon...Leonardo nodded quickly, determination etched on his face.—Then let’s go now.Donnie turned back to Mikey, leaning in close.—Don’t worry, Mikey. We’ll get you out of here, you hear me? Just hold on a little longer.Mikey, though weakened, managed to muster a small smile as his eyes focused on his purple-clad brother, who was working frantically to stabilize him. His mind struggled to piece together the scattered fragments of the recent events.It had all started as a simple mission, or so they thought. They just had to investigate some suspicious crates stored in an abandoned warehouse. But what seemed like a routine task quickly turned into a nightmare.The place turned out to be a carefully planned trap. Before they could react, the Foot Clan surrounded them, accompanied by Rahzar and Fishface, who were leading an army of ninja androids. The enemies had been waiting for the perfect moment to strike, and they took full advantage of it with lethal precision.As soon as they entered the warehouse, they were ambushed. Though they tried to stay organized, the sheer number of enemies and the intensity of the fight began to take its toll. Amid the chaos, Rafael was facing off with a group of Foot ninjas when Rahzar, seizing a moment of distraction, lunged at him.Mikey, without thinking twice, jumped at the last second, positioning himself between Rahzar and his older brother. The impact was brutal; a strong blow to the head left him staggering before collapsing to the ground, dazed and disoriented.—Retreat! —Leonardo shouted, quickly assessing the situation and prioritizing the safety of his team.With effort, they managed to fight their way through the enemies and escape into the sewers. Rafael, visibly shaken by what had happened, carried Mikey in his arms, disregarding the others' protests. The guilt weighed heavily on his shoulders like a stone; he felt it was all his fault for not being more attentive.Now, in the relative safety of their hideout, Donnie worked tirelessly to tend to Mikey while Leonardo and Rafael argued in the background about what to do next.Mikey, although weak, couldn’t stop thinking about how they had underestimated that mission. What seemed like a simple task had been dangerously close to becoming a tragedy.A snap in front of his face brought Mikey out of his daze.—Hey, Mikey —Donnie said, his tone a mix of softness and urgency.Mikey let out a faint hum in response, barely aware. His eyes, glassy and squinting, briefly locked with his brother's before drifting back into the hazy sensation of dizziness. Donnie watched him with growing concern. Though he had brought along some tools and basic first aid supplies, he knew they weren’t enough to treat an injury like this.—We’re heading to the base —Leonardo finally declared, his voice filled with determination as his gaze settled on Mikey. His fists clenched tightly, reflecting the tension he felt.—Donnie, you’ll take care of Mikey. Rafael and I will cover the way in case anything happens —he added, turning to his brothers with authority.Donnie nodded without protest. Immediately, he helped a dazed Mikey to his feet, holding him firmly to make sure he didn’t fall again.The journey to the base was shrouded in tense silence. Donnie kept one arm around Mikey, who staggered weakly with every step. He looked at his younger brother every few seconds, making sure he stayed awake. Leonardo led the way, his eyes scanning every corner, alert for any potential threat. From time to time, he would turn his head to check on Mikey, but always quickly returned to his position of vigilance.Rafael, on the other hand, walked with his gaze fixed on Mikey, his expression a whirlwind of guilt and frustration. He wanted to say something, but couldn’t find the words.Everything seemed quiet, but that calm was abruptly shattered when three Foot ninjas emerged from the shadows in front of Leonardo, while two others appeared behind, blocking Rafael’s path.—Damn it! —Rafael growled as he drew his sais, assuming a combat stance.Leonardo had already unsheathed his katanas, his eyes fixed on the enemies before him.—Donnie, keep moving with Mikey! We’ll handle this.Donnie bit his lip, but nodded and gently pulled Mikey, urging him to take small steps toward a safe area. However, before they could get too far, one of the Foot ninjas lunged at them, forcing Donnie to push Mikey behind him.The fight erupted quickly. Rafael and Leonardo faced off fiercely with their opponents, while Donnie used his bo to keep the attacker at bay who had gone after them. Mikey, leaning against the wall, tried to stay conscious, but the dizziness and pain in his head made him vulnerable.The battle became even more dangerous when, amidst the confusion, they all found themselves at the edge of a sewer with deep, fast-flowing water. The darkness of the water made it impossible to see the bottom, and the sound of the turbulent flow added an extra level of urgency to the fight.—Watch out for the water! —Leonardo shouted, just as one of the Foot ninjas attempted to push Rafael toward the edge.In an unexpected move, another ninja charged at Donnie, who stumbled and lost his balance for a moment. It was then that Mikey, in an attempt to react, moved clumsily forward... but the dizziness betrayed him.—Mikey! —Donnie shouted, extending an arm to reach him, but it was already too late. Mikey lost his footing and fell into the water with a loud splash, getting carried away by the current.The chaos intensified. Rafael let out a roar of fury, knocking his opponent down with a heavy blow, while Leonardo shouted orders to retreat immediately and rescue his brother.Donnie, without losing a second, ran toward the edge, his eyes desperately searching for Mikey in the dark current.Rafael didn’t waste a second. As soon as he saw Mikey go under, he threw himself into the water without hesitation, leaving behind his enemies and any thought that wasn’t about saving his brother. The current was stronger than it seemed, dragging him forward with force, but Rafael pressed on, his muscles straining as his eyes searched desperately for Mikey in the dimness.Meanwhile, Mikey struggled against the weight of his own body. The injury to his head made everything feel blurry, as if reality was slowly fading away. He tried to push himself toward the surface, but the current pushed him further down. With a titanic effort, he raised a hand toward the light he saw in the distance, as if he could cling to it. His eyelids, heavy with exhaustion, began to close.Suddenly, he felt a firm pull on his arm, something anchoring him back to life. Rafael had reached him.—I’ve got you, Mikey! —Rafael grunted through clenched teeth, gripping his younger brother’s arm tightly. With a powerful kick, he began to rise, fighting against the current that seemed to want to rip Mikey from his hands.The journey to the surface felt eternal, but finally, both of them broke the water with a loud splash. Rafael, panting from the effort, swam toward the nearest shore with Mikey in his arms.Upon reaching the shore, Rafael gently laid Mikey on the wet ground. He leaned over him, his face filled with concern.—Mikey! Come on, brother, breathe! —he said, giving Mikey gentle pats on the cheek.A moment later, Mikey began coughing violently, expelling the water he had swallowed. His breathing was shaky and erratic, but he was alive. Rafael let out a sigh of relief, bowing his head as he tried to control his own nervousness.—That’s it, little one —murmured Rafael, placing a firm but comforting hand on Mikey’s shoulder. —You’re okay, I’m here.
Mikey, still dazed, lifted a hand toward Rafael, as if needing confirmation that he was really there.—Raph... —he whispered between breaths, his words weak but full of gratitude.—Shh, rest. Donnie’s going to check this out as soon as we get to the base —Rafael replied, his voice softer than usual, glancing toward the water. It seemed they were in another part of the sewer, and he pulled out his still-working phone. He would never admit it to Donnie, but thank goodness he made them water-resistant.With a trembling sigh, Rafael called the others on the phone. As soon as the first sound went through, the response came urgently.—RAFAEL!!! —Leo shouted, his voice full of concern.Before his older brother could continue, Rafael quickly interrupted him:—We’re fine! We’re out of the water. Mikey is... he’s with me. —The last part came out less firm than he intended, but the important thing was that they had survived.On the other end, there were sighs of relief. Leo took over, trying to stay calm.—Good. Donnie has your location. We’ll be there as fast as we can. Listen, Raph... try not to let Mikey fall asleep. It’ll be really bad for him if he does. Got it?—Got it —Rafael replied with a serious tone as they ended the call.He put the device away and turned to Mikey. The youngest didn’t look well at all; his normally vibrant skin was pale, and his eyes struggled to stay open. Rafael had thought Mikey was in bad shape before, but now he seemed even worse.—Hey, little one... —he said, trying not to let his voice tremble—. Are you with me? I need you to stay awake, can you do that?Mikey’s eyes slowly lifted toward his brother. He could barely stay conscious, but with a titanic effort, he whispered:—Yeah...The weak sound of that word was enough for Rafael to sigh in relief, though the worry still lingered on his face. He sat next to Mikey, placing a hand on his shoulder to give him some sense of security.—That’s it, Mikey. Stay with me, brother. I won’t leave you.Every now and then, Rafael glanced at Mikey’s head injury. Though he tried to keep his composure, his eyes betrayed him, showing the deep guilt gnawing at him. If only he had been more careful, if only he hadn’t let his guard down...—I’m sorry, Mikey... —he whispered almost inaudibly, tightening his fist slightly.With every passing second, Rafael couldn’t stop looking at him, as if by simply watching, he could keep Mikey awake.
The silence between them was broken by Mikey’s faint voice, barely audible but full of intention.—Don’t... blame yourself... it wasn’t your fault, brother...Rafael lifted his gaze, surprised by the words. Mikey’s voice was barely a whisper, but each word hit Rafael’s heart hard.—Mikey... —Rafael began to say, but his younger brother interrupted him, his eyes looking at him with an unexpected warmth despite the pain and exhaustion they reflected.—I’m glad... you’re... safe... —Mikey whispered, offering a small, weak smile that briefly lit up his face.Before Rafael could react, Mikey slumped forward, his body giving way to exhaustion and his injuries.—Mikey! —Rafael shouted, catching him before he fell to the ground. He held him tightly, his arms trembling as he carefully laid his brother across his lap.—No, no, no... Mikey, wake up! —Rafael’s voice was a torrent of desperation as he gently patted Mikey’s cheeks, trying to keep him awake—. You can’t do this to me, brother, stay with me!Fear gripped him. He could feel how fragile Mikey was in that moment, his breath barely perceptible and his body extremely weak. Rafael looked around as if searching for a solution, but they were alone in that place.—Leo and Donnie are coming... you just have to hang on a little longer, can you hear me? —Rafael murmured, his voice breaking at the end.
He gritted his teeth, his jaw tense as he carefully stroked Mikey’s head, avoiding the injury.—Come on, brother, wake up... do it for me, okay? I need you here... —Rafael’s voice kept trembling, each word full of desperation. His eyes frantically scanned Mikey, looking for any sign that he was getting better, but the response didn’t come.The sound of hurried footsteps snapped him out of his paralysis. He looked up just in time to see Leo and Donnie running toward him.
—Raph! —Leo shouted, arriving first and kneeling beside them.Donnie immediately joined, pulling out his small portable first aid kit with trembling hands.—What exactly happened? —he asked as he quickly examined Mikey.—He... was awake, but he fainted suddenly… —Rafael responded in a low, broken voice, his hands still carefully holding Mikey.Donnie pressed his lips together, trying to stay calm as he checked Mikey’s head injury. Although he had bandages and some disinfectant, he knew it wasn’t enough to treat something so delicate.—His pulse is weak, but it’s still there. The injury is more complicated than I thought, and without the equipment from the base, I can’t do much more
than stabilize him temporarily. With quick movements, Donnie applied a more secure bandage around Mikey’s head, adjusting it carefully to minimize pressure on the affected area.—How stable is he? —Leo asked, watching the scene with a furrowed brow.—Not stable enough for us to stay here. We need to get him out immediately. This is just a patch, not real treatment —Donnie replied as he closed his first aid kit with frustration.Leo nodded, standing up and looking at the path around them.—Alright. Donnie, Raph, you’re carrying him. I’ll go ahead to make sure the path is clear. We move fast, understood?Rafael nodded as he adjusted Mikey in his arms, with Donnie supporting him to make sure his younger brother was as comfortable as possible.
—Hang in there, Mikey... we’re gonna get you out of this... —Donnie murmured, trying to convince himself as much as anyone else.With one last look at his younger brother, Leo led the way, moving cautiously but quickly through the sewer corridors, each of them feeling the weight of the situation on their shoulders.When they finally arrived at the base, Splinter was there to meet them. As soon as he saw Mikey unconscious, he approached and touched Mikey’s forehead to check on the injury to his head.When they finally arrived at the base, the subway station in the sewer, the atmosphere was calm, but the tension was palpable. The flickering light barely illuminated the place, revealing the concrete walls and forgotten train tracks. It was a safe place, but at that moment, all that mattered was Mikey.Splinter was there to greet them. As soon as he saw Mikey unconscious in Rafael’s arms, his face hardened. He quickly walked toward them, his gaze fixed on his youngest son.—What happened? —he asked in a grave voice, approaching them.Rafael, panting and pale from worry, nodded slowly as he stepped aside to make space for Donnie.—Mikey... is really bad, Master. I could only administer first aid... —The desperation in his voice was evident.Donnie, who had been silent up until that point, looked at Mikey and then at Splinter, his mind racing. The head injury was severe. He didn’t have the proper equipment in his supplies, only basic first aid, but now that they had finally reached the sewers, his hopes were higher. He really hoped the things in the lab would be enough.—I need more supplies, something to treat his wounds, medications, better bandages... —Donnie said, rambling from stress and worry, his voice tense as he looked toward Splinter.Splinter observed for a moment, not taking his eyes off Mikey, then spoke calmly.—Do what you can, Donnie. I’ll support you in whatever you need.Donnie wasted no time. With quick and nervous hands, he moved Mikey into the lab, placed him on the stretcher, and began applying what he had on hand, cleaning Mikey’s wound and assessing the severity of the injury. As he worked, the silence in the room was oppressive, only broken by the sound of Donnie’s movements and Mikey’s labored breathing.—I’m so sorry, Mikey... —Donnie murmured as he wrapped an improvised bandage around Mikey’s head, hoping it would be enough. —I shouldn’t have let this happen...Seeing the distress in Donnie’s eyes, Splinter crouched beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of support.—Donatello, you did the best you could. Now focus on stabilizing him. Mikey has a great will to live. You know that.Donnie nodded slowly, though his face still showed concern. When he finished applying the bandage and medication, he looked at his older brother and then at Splinter, searching for an answer.—Did we do it right...? —he asked, almost fearful of what might come next.—It’s all we can do for now, son. The rest is up to your brother and his will.With the treatment done as best as they could, Donnie stepped back to give space as Rafael and Leonardo approached Mikey, anxiously looking at their brother.—How is he, Donnie? Did you make it? —Rafael asked, worry evident in his tone.—We did the best we could... —Donnie replied, his voice hoarse from exhaustion. —Now we have to wait.A long silence filled the lab. Mikey lay on the stretcher Donnie had placed him on after the treatment. Although his younger brother was stabilized, his appearance remained concerning. Mikey, normally full of energy and vitality, now looked pale, weak, and his breathing was quieter but irregular.Rafael couldn’t help but watch him, his heart heavy at the sight of his brother so vulnerable.Mikey had never looked like this. He was the one who always kept the mood up, the one who could make everyone laugh in the darkest moments. His energy, his happiness, was what kept the family together. And seeing him now so still, so silent, broke Rafael’s heart. The light Mikey carried with him seemed dimmed, and just thinking about it shattered Rafael inside.The hours that followed were a mix of anxiety and desperation. No one dared to leave; everyone stayed close to the stretcher, fearing that if they stepped away, something bad might happen. No one could leave Mikey alone in this state. He was the core of their family, their strength, their hope.
Then, in the midst of the heavy stillness around them, a soft, faint whisper emerged from Mikey’s lips, breaking the silence.—Why... are you all so sad...? —his voice, still somewhat broken, was recognizable, but it also carried a fragility they had never heard from him.
Rafael’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing it. His expression shifted from anguish to immediate relief. He quickly approached the stretcher, taking Mikey’s hand firmly, unable to hide the emotion in his voice.—Mikey! —he said, his voice hoarse—. You’re awake... brother, you don’t know how scared we were...Donnie, seeing Mikey react, breathed deeply, letting out a sigh of relief. However, his face still showed some concern. He approached carefully, looking at Mikey as if still not fully believing the danger had passed.—I told you everything would be okay, Mikey —Donnie murmured, although his words didn’t carry the usual calm they did. The worry was evident on his face, but his affection for Mikey was palpable.Leo, who had been silent, also approached now, placing a hand on Rafael’s shoulder. Without saying anything, he simply stood there, looking at his younger brother with a protective expression.The moment was filled with a comforting silence as all the brothers stayed close to Mikey. No one knew how, but everything seemed better now. The tension that had weighed on them for so many hours began to slowly dissipate.Mikey, still weak, looked at his brothers with a faint smile on his face, although it was hard to keep his eyes open for long. Despite the fatigue, his eyes reflected the familiarity and love only he could bring.—What would we do without you, brother? —Rafael said, his tone soft and full of affection.Mikey, with a faint smile, responded in a soft but firm voice: —I’ll always be here, guys... Don’t worry about me.The words, though simple, were enough to lift the weight that had fallen upon them. Mikey had woken up, and with him, the atmosphere once again felt filled with hope and love. They were together, as always. The family bonds, as strong and unshakable as ever, were reflected in every gesture, every glance, every unspoken word.It was in that moment, surrounded by the warmth of their unity, that they all knew that no matter what they faced, they would always have each other. Mikey was awake, and the family was safe, at least for now.