The Most Certain of Uncertainties
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 brother—his only little brother—was sometimes so tedious. Stubborn to a fault. Might even rival his own tenacity.
If not, definitely Raph’s. 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 Leo’s 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.
“Don-nie,” 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 into—this 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.
“Work.” his response came out much shorter than he intended. “Alone.”
If Mikey was offended, he didn’t show it, “You’ve been doing work all day, Donnie! All work and no play—“
“Is what I have to do right now. Unless you want to patrol the sewers looking for intruders in the dark.”
“Hey! I’m a ninja! I thrive in the dark!”
Without taking his eyes from the computer screen and somehow maintaining the constant rhythm of key clicks, Donnie retorted. “You sleep with a nightlight.”
Hand to his chest as if wounded, Mikey gasped. “I do not! I’ll have you know the Silver Sentry Vigil Stick is a protector against monsters! Of the worst kind! And we have no shortage of those.”
Donnie rolled his eyes. “There’s no monsters around here right now—“
Any other day, he might argue but his brother had him there so he went quiet.
Mikey stopped, frowned and truly studied his brother. “Donnie…” He leaned over, so close he was sure Donnie felt his breath in his skin. “Are you hangry?”
A deep hiss through his teeth. “No, Mikey. I’m not ‘hangry.’ I may be coming down with a serious case of ‘little brother blues’ though! Will you please leave me alone?”
The wounded look was real that time. “Can I help?”
“No! No help, no more questions, just leave me to work in peace, please!”
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. “Mikey…” 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. “I’m not staying…but you are hangry. Because you haven’t eaten all day. So…peace offering, bro.” He pushed a plate and glass onto the table. “Even 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 Donnie’s 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 couldn’t 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 Donnie’s willpower to keep it there. Focus. Breathe in, breathe out. Steady…
His little brother’s forehead suddenly pressed against his and Mikey stared him right in the eyes. Concern and a dab of fear lingered there.
“You’re burning up.” It was a statement, not a question.
Pulling away, Donnie shook his head. “I’m fine.”
“Are not! You’re hot! And in a fun way!”
He didn’t have the energy to roll his eyes. “Mikey, if you’ve been prowling around topside no wonder I—“
“Then it’s the lights and machinery in here.”
“Seriously? Now you’re being ridiculous. You’re sick, Donnie.” He put a hand to his brother’s shoulder. “Go to bed…”
“Who serves as our resident medic here?” 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! “Do you think I don’t recognize sickness when I see it, Mikey?”
His younger brother wasn’t buying it. “Don’t need to be a medic to know you’ve got a fever.”
“I don’t. Now, please leave me alone so I can finish this—“
“No way! Not until you go to bed.”
“Mikey! I said it’s fine—“
“Doesn’t count! You can’t diagnose yourself! Even the soap opera medical shows know that!”
“Then Big Brother privilege. I say it’s fine!”
At his core, even Donnie knew he was starting to sound ridiculous. But he needed…had 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 Mikey’s head. The loopholes. The twisting of words.
“Fine.” The youngest turtle stepped away from the computer desk, “That’s how you wanna play it?”
“Mikey…” he was so tired…
“RAPH! LEO! DONNIE’S SICK AND WON’T STOP WORKING!”
Before the Lair had even stopped vibrating from Mikey’s shrill screech, Leo was down from the top level and Raph wasn’t far behind.
Mikey gave his genius brother a snarky smile. “Big brother privilege meet even bigger big brother privilege.”
“What’s going on?” Leo entered, command immediately in his voice.
Mikey pointed, as if Donnie had stolen a favorite toy and been caught in the act, “He’s got a fever, won’t go to bed, and is being a shell for brains.”
“Ain’t that your role, Mikey?” Raph made his own entrance and got a good look at his brothers, especially the one seated at the computer. “Shell, Donnie you look terrible.”
Leo’s hands were on the purple banded turtle’s face before he could issue protest, “Mikey’s right though, you do have a fever.”
“The hell you are.” Raph leaned over the desk. “I can smell you sweatin’ from across the room.”
Leo straightened, “Go rest, Donnie. Your work will save.”
Leo and Raph exchanged glances. The oldest gave a nod and took a step back. They’d all dealt with workaholic Donnie before.
Raph pulled genius turtle to his feet and flung him over his shoulder in the same move. “And it ain’t gonna go nowhere. But you are.”
Donnie heaved a huge sigh, considered fighting, but ultimately decided it wasn’t 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 enough…welcomed.
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 brother’s 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.
“Here.” Leo laid a wet cloth over his brother’s forehead and Donnie didn’t bother to suppress the shudder of relief. “See? Not sick, my tail.”
“Shut up…” came the cranky response but Donnie didn’t open his eyes.
“Killing yourself in work doesn’t help, my brother.” Mikey mused. “Doesn’t make the fever go away if you ignore it, either.”
“Fine…” a low moan of defeat. “I relent. You win.”
“Damn right.” Raph tossed the blanket over his brother then knelt to straighten it. “Sleep, heal. Work’ll be there when you’re better.”
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 didn’t need much persuasion for sleep. His body had been headed that direction, with or without his consent.
But all the same, Donnie murmured, “You’re all a bunch of cheaters.”
“Big and little brother privilege, now rest.”
