[Open]

[i_speak_softly]

Characters: Donatello and OPEN
Date: April 27, and some number of following days, depending how this goes
Location: All over the city, but starting at ME-3B and hopefully ending at WA-3B
Situation: Leo ordered Don to get off the networks, so the brainy Turtle sets out to find his brother the old-fashioned way.
Warnings/Rating: Probably nothing exciting.

It takes Don the rest of the night to pick over the components of his console, put them back together again, and boot the machine in his best approximation of safe mode. This still doesn't solve any of the issues - unsurprising, since Mike Weston had told him the problem was in the network - and he checks his messages as carefully as possible.

Leo has left him a cryptic instruction. Not daring to reply, he memorizes it, then shuts down the machine and hits the street.

Where the water meets the steel. A shipyard? Don heads toward the edge of the city, where one is likely to be, but inquiries direct him westward towards the Water Sector.

As he walks, Don wonders if the sector border is what Leo meant. But the border is a long one - it took Don an hour to get across the city by car, and he can tell he hadn't crossed nearly all of it - and he doesn't know which side of the line his brother is on.

Or wait! What if Leo meant a weapons forge? Submerging a steel blade in water is a critical step in the sword-making process, and that's just the kind of thing Leo would think of when giving coded orders on short notice. But a place like that would most likely be in the Fire Sector, and that's really a long way… Maybe he can hitch a ride?

Comments

[duelkatana]

Leo tracks the shadow on his periphery as it slips out of the kitchen in the direction of the bathroom. Uh-oh. He doesn't turn to look, but attempts to catch Mike's gaze, flicking his eyes back towards the doorway in a silent request to go make sure Raph is okay.

"Mike and Raph work at a dojo in the city," he says in response to Don. His eyes skirting away, hesitates before adding, "I have a... contact who tips me off to jobs now and then."

Of course, then Don comes at him with a vial of yellow... gunk. Yellow. Leo subconsciously grips for his tea, pulling it closer. "I'm good for now," he reiterates, sitting up straight.

Please don't make him.

[michaeljangelo]

Mike gives a slight nod of understanding towards Leo before setting off to collect a few items to bring to Raph down the hall. There'll be that mug of tea he ignored, the sandwich he seemed to appreciate from afar, and a rather large container of fresh water. Quietly he slips from the room with the cobbled together care package.

[meanandgreen]

The bathroom door is closed and locked. Inside, Raph's sitting on the floor in front of the toilet with his eyes closed, wondering if it's safe to get up yet. At least it feels good to get that crap out of his system. That is the one upside to puking, he guesses. Though now his head is pounding twice as bad as before.

Guess you win some, you lose some. All he can hope is nobody heard him. He's totally planning on playing everything off as nothing. Don just got here, and he doesn't want anyone to make a fuss over nothing.

[i_speak_softly]

"You're not," Don says. "It -" And then he realizes Mike has escaped too. "Hey!"

Shooting Leo a look of betrayal - just one of his charming passive-aggressive tactics - he goes to look for the missing Turtles, vial in hand. Mike and Raph might have time to clean up the evidence before he finds them, though.

[duelkatana]

Leo manages not to sigh when Don vanishes after Mike and Raph, leaving him alone in the kitchen. He's pretty sure Raph had left so discretely to avoid the whole house trampling after him, but there's no stopping Mediczilla when he senses someone trying to escape from his care. His mind goes back to the yellow-tinted concoction in his brother's hands.

... couldn't hurt to try.

Getting to his feet, Leo unsteadily makes it to the threshold of the kitchen, eyes tracking Don's shell. They stay there as he climbs onto the sofa near the bathroom, giving a low groan that breaks off into a few coughs. He'll just keep tabs on them from here for a while to make sure Raph isn't dying.... and then maybe make his own break for it.

[michaeljangelo]

All Mike wanted to do was stand by the door so as to offer Raph the things he needed when he needed them.

And then everything changed when Donatello attacked...with indignant kindness.

It's clear from Mike's expression that he's not expecting his cousin's arrival. His eyes go wide with panic, and he looks quickly from the encroaching Don to the closed bathroom door and back again. A Peace Treaty with Raph is a tenuous thing, and Mike kind of expected Don to know that.
His Don knows this.

Actually...it's probably more accurate to say that his Don just gives Raph a wide berth on general principal, which has more to do with his own piece of mind, and less to do with anything Raph prefers. But...that's not really the point here.

The point here is that as bearing down on both he and Raph, and if Mike is going to have any say in the matter...Raph isn't going to be forced into anything until he's ready...or it's absolutely necessary.

Mike works quickly, putting the plate, water, and tea down on the usual spot for such things on the floor by the door, and then turns to advance on Don. Before the other turtle can even open his mouth, Mike's hand is up and covering it as he pushes the other turtle further down the hall towards the living room...and where Leo is apparently sitting.

Convenient!

"SHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

[meanandgreen]

The noise from out in the hall grates on him like sandpaper. Don's shrieking like an idiot, footsteps, the sound of movement just outside the door...

Why would he even expect to get any p--

He retches again, this time only bringing up a tiny trickle of bile.

This sucks. This really freakin' sucks. The throwing up he can handle, but everyone fawning over him he can't. Not when Don just got here and he's already trying to shove medicine down his throat.

Leaning his elbows on the toilet seat with a groan, he tries to wipe the sweat off his face. He's gotta start cleaning himself up soon, otherwise he's sure Donnie's gonna try to bust down the door.

At least he remembered to lock it.

[i_speak_softly]

Don is heading towards the bathroom, and then suddenly he's headed the other way, backwards, his short and sick but very strong cousin propelling him along by the snout.

And then Mike is shushing him. The whole thing is really kind of embarrassing.

Don is getting the idea now that this isn't just about Raph hating medicine - something is wrong. And Don wants to know what it is.

"Mmf?"

[duelkatana]

Whoops, he's been spotted. So much for that plan. Leo can't help but raise an eye ridge as he watches his cousin fearlessly lead Don around by the beak as though shepherding a talkative kid. Not often anyone's tried that on him - and especially not the Mikey they know.

"Easy, you two," Leo says steadily, motioning them over to the living area. His eyes dart to the bathroom, which he notices is still shut. He sighs thinly, the air wheezing in his lungs. "Don, just start with me for now. Raph will be back in a few minutes."

The hits he'll take.

[michaeljangelo]

Mike is more than happy to remain standing between Don and the bathroom, but then he hears that sickening wheeze come from Leo's lungs. His stern expression shifts to something closer to pained concern.

"Sorry," he says sheepishly to Don as he removes his hand from his cousin's mouth, and steps to the side to return to the turtle some of his lost personal space.

"Will that...will that help?" he jerks his head in the direction of the medicine that Don had just whipped up. Nothing Mike tried had worked, but he's heard nothing but amazing things about Raph and Leo's Don.

[meanandgreen]

The sounds of activity on the other side of the bathroom door grow quieter as everyone moves into the living room. Sighing, Raph sags against the toilet and closes his eyes for just a second longer.

But he can't stay there. The longer he takes, the more worried everyone's gonna get about him, and the less chance he has to play everything off. So he has to haul his sorry ass out of there in the next few minutes.

It's a slow process, and he's more than a little unsteady on his feet, but he manages to drag himself to the sink. In the mirror, he looks like shit. Pale, covered in sweat and dirt from running all over the Water Sector. A run he definitely wasn't ready for. But it doesn't matter. So long as Donnie's home and safe, he really doesn't care.

Shakily, he manages to rinse his mouth out and flush the mess, splashing cold water on his face in a weak attempt to make himself look more presentable.

Turning the water off, he stops to listen for any sign of family lurking around outside. The walls in the suite are thin, so he can hear almost everything they're saying from down the hall, and the talk of that yellow junk Don concocted makes him never want to come out at all.

[i_speak_softly]

"It should," Don says, though to be honest he's not extremely confident about that. It's not like he's had any time to study the illness he's trying to cure. "It will reduce the -- It will help you breathe."

Leo asked for the medicine, but Mike is closer - if not quite as close as a moment ago - so Don offers the vial to him first. "Just take a little."

[duelkatana]

If Don wants Mike to be his first test subject, he'll hear no objections from Leo. Instead he sits back a little, his gaze flitting from the bathroom door to his cousin and back again.

He settles on the door, but keeps an ear focused on Michaelangelo for his reaction. It's not that he doesn't trust Don... entirely the opposite. But they've all had a bit of trouble with their stomachs these last few days, and he's a little doubtful that the yellow liquid is going to be very palatable.

[michaeljangelo]

A lifetime of training isn't enough to keep the disgust from creeping onto his face. Heck, from the looks of what's in that vial ten lifetimes wouldn't be enough, and this is coming from the guy who almost always won the game: Will Mikey Eat It?

His eyes drift from looking at the vial, to this new cousin's face, and eventually over towards Leo. There's a rancid flavor working its way into his mouth and he hasn't even come near the medicine yet. He swallows hard in an effort to clear his palate.

"Okay," he says quietly, reaching for vial. Once in hand, he forces a wide, bright smile which only serves to make him look manically deranged.

"Should I be expecting to grow? Or shrink?" he asks, but before anyone can answer he takes a swig and...

Well, if the face he made before was one of uncertain disgust, at least this is one of certainty.

[meanandgreen]

It's about then Raph comes shuffling out of the bathroom, seeing the offerings left for him on the floor like it's some kind of shrine. Mike had a habit of doing that, and it really shouldn't surprise him every time. But it does. The subtle way he takes care of them, without any production and very little expectations in return, will always be baffling after growing up with a Mikey that's so adamant about being the center of everyone's constant attention.

With his head still swimming and pounding thunderously at the sides of his skull, it takes Raph a little extra time to gather everything up with still-shaking hands before heading down the hallway.

On the way to the kitchen he passes by the spectacle unfolding in the living room: Don with his makeshift medicine, and Mike pulling a face that tells everything. He gives it hardly a second look, like if he stared too long he'd be guaranteed to share the same fate, instead of having what measly chance of avoiding swallowing that putrid stuff he does now.

But that fight can wait. After clearing out his system, that sandwich doesn't exactly look appetizing. For now, it's headed for the icebox. Then his butt is headed for the couch, where he doesn't plan on moving for a long, long time.

[i_speak_softly]

Don's face falls a little at that reaction - he really didn't think his concoction was going to be that bad. He takes the vial back and offers it to Leo, hoping his brother will still be willing to take some.

Raph is collapsing onto the other end of the couch when Don turns around, and he gives his other brother a worried look. Did Raph really run himself into such a state for him, when he wasn't even in any danger?

Or - was he in danger? He has the sense there's a lot going on in this city that his family hasn't told him about yet, and their misguided protectiveness is beginning to make his stomach as unsettled as everyone else's.

[duelkatana]

Well, Mike didn't run to join Raph in the bathroom right out of the gate, so Leo figures it can't be that bad. He silently accepts the proffered vial and takes a swig before he can change his mind.

He coughs once as it goes down and can't suppress a wince, but it's not the worst thing in the world. Sure, his eyes water a little as he hands the vial back to his brother... but he's had worse.

"Thanks Donnie," he rasps sincerely. His gaze slides over when Raph plops onto the other end of the couch, studying him for a moment. Then he leans his head back against the couch, eyes clenching shut as he finally begins losing the battle against his headache. "Good to have you around to save our shells again."

[michaeljangelo]

The taste! Oh how it lingers on the tongue! So much so that no amount of lip smacking or dragging his tongue on the roof of his mouth will rectify it. It is, in short, not a great thing.

Still pulling a face, Mike heads towards the kitchen.

"Who wants a refill?"

Mike has finally found something he dislikes more than tea.

[meanandgreen]

The minute his butt hits the couch, he knows he's not moving any time soon. Much as he hates feeling like a ten ton sack of crud after overexerting himself, Don's here, everyone's on the mend, and life just ain't as bad as it could be.

Taking slow sips from his water glass, he smiles crookedly at Mike's antics, chiming in an "I'm good." even as the words burn the back of his throat.

His teacup's still full and balanced on the arm of the couch. For now, water's all he needs, and if Donnie thinks he's gonna force that putrid stuff on him, he's got another thing coming.

[i_speak_softly]

Don doesn't offer Raph the vial. He has a suspicion about what just happened in the bathroom, and there's no point forcing medicine on him if he won't be able to keep it down.

"You guys should get some rest," he says quietly. "I'll take care of things here."

[duelkatana]

"No thanks," he says automatically, one hand lifting to wave off his cousin's offer. He stays put for a few seconds, testing the bitter flavor coating his throat. It tastes awful. But as Master Splinter would say, paraphrased... that just means it's working.

When Don speaks, though, Leo lifts his head to squint at his brother. "You should take it easy too," he suggests gently. "Eat something and catch up on sleep."

[michaeljangelo]

It's almost as if Mike heard Leo mention Don should eat something, because when he returns from the kitchen he has that sandwich again. It's on the tea tray next to a large carafe of cold water, a small bag of what could possibly be Saltine-esque crackers, and his cup of tea.

The tray is quietly placed on the coffee table, before Mike picks up his tea, and then unceremoniously flops down on to the floor in front of the squashy living room chair, where he leans back on the solid part of the arm support.

[meanandgreen]

Somehow, Raph dodged a bullet with the medicine, but you won't see him complaining. Instead, he's content to drain the rest of his water glass, putting the empty cup on the coffee table before he nestles himself more comfortably in his seat. Which means throwing one arm over the back of the couch and sprawling out until he's crowding Leo a little. Bumping knees and shoulders in a way that feels good. Reassuring. And it soothes away a little of the sting of homesickness that comes with seeing Don again after so long.

He's gonna get all the rest he needs right here, surrounded by his almost-family. It only feels right.

"How long were you out there?" He asks tiredly. "I mean, before you found out we were here."

[i_speak_softly]

"I will," Don promises. "As soon as I get things figured out."

Which, as far as he's concerned, constitutes a normal bedtime. He'll eat something right now, though. The sandwich is quickly identified as the vegetarian one, but Don doesn't care anymore. He inhales it without comment.

As far as Raph's question...

"Um. A few days until I found Leo on the consoles. A few more until I found you all in person."

[duelkatana]

Raph shoving his way into Leo's personal space seems to send a jolt through his system, a bucket of water poured over him. He's tired, but it's a good tired - the kind you feel after going for a long run. He blinks down at Mike, then over at Don, and feels the warmth from Raph pressing into his side, and it all seems... complete. As though he's just now woken up from a long, long sleep.

It takes him a moment to process Don's answer, but once he has, he nods faintly in response. That doesn't surprise him. "What Sector did they assign you?"