Chapter Text
One thing was for certain; Mikey was concussed. Everything was too much and he was pretty sure he’d hurl if he moved a single horrifying inch from where he lay on his side in the middle of the street. Dimly, he sensed Leo arriving at his side by the way the air glowed blue, singing gently with his energy as he teleported to his side with a skid.
“Mikey!”
He winced, whined, curled his fingers into the rubble and swore. Leo lowered his voice.
“Mikey… hey, Miguel, are you okay?”
He was not okay, and if he could tell his stupid idiot brother — who was the medic, come on — that it was so obvious he wasn’t, he would’ve. But he couldn’t get out more than an irritated, choked clicking sound from his throat. He could sass his older brother later, when the world didn’t feel like it was tilting violently and —
Oh nope, he was gonna puke.
Leo seemed to know this though because his hands were suddenly holding him up by his sides as he emptied his stomach onto the street. Eugh. Disgusting.
They ended up sitting against a half destroyed building, out of sight of the literally huge triceratops alien guys or whatever, and Leo held up a hand in front of them. “How many fingers am I holding up, Big Man?”
Mikey could barely keep his eyes open so he took a quick glance and slammed his eyes shut again. “Four.”
Leo scoffed lightheartedly, but Mikey could feel the worried tension in his body where he’s still holding him upright. “We only have three fingers.”
“Trying… to keep you on… your toes… oooooh—”
Leo helped him out as he managed, somehow, to throw up more. It isn’t much but his stomach is clenching hard and he whines over how shitty he feels. Suddenly, Leo is pulling something from the pouch along his belt, and it rattles a little. He’s saying something like “stay here” before placing the tiny item into Mikey’s palm and portaling away.
He returned not even thirty seconds later and Mikey still hadn’t figured out what was in his hand. He’s just trying not to tip over or cry or both. There’s the telltale sharp snap of a plastic bottle being opened and then Leo is squatting in front of him.
“Okay Mike, gotta take these meds, then I’ll take you home.”
“But… the dinosaur people…”
Leo chuckled. “April and the others can handle it this time, I think.”
“But what if…” He trailed off with a groan.
“Nope, you’re benched, little brother. That’s a nasty concussion, so I need to take care of you, pronto. And don’t say I’m babying you; I would’ve done the same for anyone else and you know it.”
He’s right, which Mikey hated. Leo had a habit of being right in a lot of instances, but he was horribly unsubtle about it. Still, Mikey popped the pills into his mouth and let Leo help him hold the water bottle so he could swallow them. The chill of the water was almost too much and he only had a couple sips before he pushed it away from his mouth.
Then, Leo scooped Mikey up gently, shifting him into a one-armed hold, and using his free hand to open a portal. They step through and then Mikey is being deposited gently onto a squishy mattress on their new med bay bed.
“Don’t move, okay?” Leo instructed. “I’m gonna go make sure the others are filled in and then I’ll be back.”
Mikey could only nod. Sleep called for him like a lullaby and he could feel consciousness slipping away like the pull of a tide. He’s almost positive he heard Leo say something else to him, then shout, but he can’t be sure.
He embraced the dark with open arms.
——
A deep, constant rumbling woke him up, a large warm arm draped across his stomach and nearly smothering him with its width. Raph. Oh thank god, he was here, which meant the others must be too.
And oh man his head really aches.
Raph shifted under him and whispered, “Mikey. You awake?”
“Yeah.” He rasped.
“I’m calling the others.”
Mikey just nodded and let Raph cover the sides of his head with gentle pressure before calling out for the rest of the family. Fine by him, really; this was nothing compared to earlier.
Donnie made it to the med bay first, followed quickly by their dad, Leo, and Draxum. Huh. If Barry was here, it must’ve been bad. Leo gently pushed past everyone and Raph moved his hands and arm a bit to give him better access.
“Hey Big Man, you scared me back there.” Leo whispered, his fingers gently checking him over and pressing at different points on his head. Mikey noticed then that he had a bandage on the back curve of his head as Leo’s hand floated over it.
Donnie stepped up beside Leo and ran scans over him with his mystic-tech visor, the vibrant purple drawing a curve over his eyes. “How are you feeling?”
He appreciated that they were all keeping their voices low, but he was feeling a little crowded. Suddenly he didn’t want anyone touching him or near him, and with a quiet hiss, he retracted his arms, legs, and half of his head, closing his eyes. He could feel how his brothers all looked between each other before there was the gentle tone of Splinter and Draxum speaking to one another in the corner.
Leo gently brushed his thumb over the curve of Mikey’s beak before retracting his hand entirely. “Rest, little brother. But I’m waking you up in an hour to check in. Don’t box up.”
Mikey whined in protest, but Raph tucked him back into his arms in a way that was immediately soothing. He wondered if Raph used to do this a lot for him when they were little. “Listen to Leo, Mikey. We gotta make sure you’re okay and that there isn’t more damage. Okay?”
He just nodded and pressed his forehead gently into Raph’s arm. Donnie and Leo stepped away, but not without the former reaching out a hand and gently patting the part of his head that was still exposed.
True sleep didn’t come for him, but he did snooze a little, drifting in and out of reality, clinging to the rumble Raph continued to emit from deep within his chest. He wondered if that was the alien species or the distant roar of the subway. He asked Raph in mumbled, slurred speech what happened only to be told that it was the third time he’d asked, and Raph’s body grew tense with worry. Mikey maybe even chuckled at a joke Donnie was telling him, only for Raph to make a slight snort of amusement and he realized he’d been half-asleep, slipping into a dream where things were a bit less painful.
Suddenly, those same steady, cool fingers are on his face again, a long blue piece of fabric tickling the side of Mikey’s neck. He’s saying something and Mikey can barely open his eyes. Something-something meds, and he nodded, and Leo’s hands left his skin. He doesn’t think he’s ever been concussed this badly.
The room is wholly dark this time, and all unnecessary sounds have been turned off. He doesn’t know how much time passed between the last moment and this one, but Raph has changed positions, Mikey still tucked securely into his side. Enough time that Leo and Donnie were also there, posted along Raph’s shell and side, eyes closed as they slept. Splinter was in his chair – which they must’ve moved in here for his comfort – and was also asleep.
He lay there in the dark, soaking in the warmth of his family, and was overwhelmingly grateful for having them as his safety net. He was alive and he’d heal from this and that was what mattered to him. That’s all that mattered.