Hello all, in light of the upcoming summer I have given into writing a plot bunny supplied by the very talented Amonraphoenix. Hope you all enjoy! a big thank you to Amonraphoenix for beta reading this chapter as well and for the lovely idea:)

P.S for any who are chomping at the bit for the next chapter of my fic Blindsided, rest assured, I have begun work on it, so hopefully it will be completed soon:)

And now...please enjoy!

Chapter 1

Donatello groaned in the oppressive, sticky humidity of the July heat. He brushed the sweat from his brow, restraining a wince as his head pounded uncomfortably, the headache he had been suffering for the last week reminding him of its presence. He ignored his pounding head and glanced over at his brothers who were crouched beside him. Even though night had fallen, the city had been in the merciless grip of a relentless heat wave for the past week with no end in sight.

"Leo, can we go home now?" Michelangelo whined, sprawling his body out upon the rooftop as he attempted to cool himself down. "Seriously, even the bad guys are too hot to do anything," Michelangelo grumbled.

Leonardo looked over at Michelangelo in irritation, a scowl forming across his features even as sweat began to roll down his own forehead.

"I never thought I'd say this, Leo, but for once, Mikey's right," Raphael growled from where he sat, one leg dangling casually over the side of the building, the tattered brown trench coat he always wore still draped around his shoulders even in the sweltering heat.

Leonardo's scowl deepened and closed his eyes, giving a curt nod of agreement.

"Goodbye hot, sweating city, hello nice cool sewers," Michelangelo quipped happily as he leapt up, a triumphant smile upon his face.

Donatello gave a small grin at his baby brother's antics, and stuck out his hand towards Raphael.

Raphael frowned and looked over at Donatello. "Whatchya want, Donny, cause I ain't holdin' your hand," Raphael said as he stood, his trench coat moving to conceal most of his body.

"You owe me twenty bucks, Raph," Donatello answered smugly.

Raphael glared down at Donatello, his eyes suspicious. "For what?" he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"You told me that Mikey would never be right...ever. I said that Mikey would eventually be right one time or another," Donatello explained patiently as he tried to focus on his words, somehow finding the task difficult.

"So?" Raphael growled, his amber eyes narrowing as he crossed his arms over his chest, the fabric of the trench coat pulling tightly over his broad shoulders.

"So, you said that it would never happened and I said it would. Long story short, you said that you would never admit to Mikey being right, and if he was and you admitted it, you would owe me twenty bucks," Donatello explained patiently as he motioned with his hand to pay up.

Raphael's eyes narrowed even further. "That was like…ten years ago!" Raphael complained.

Donatello shrugged as Michelangelo looked torn between being amused and indignant.

"He's right, Raphie," Michelangelo stated, deciding to be amused by the bet rather than offended.

"Oh, come on!" Raphael protested, holding out his hands before moving the jacket aside slightly to shove his sais into his belt.

Leonardo stood, sheathing his swords and wiping away the trail of sweat that had run down his neck. "Donny's right," Leonardo agreed. "If you made the bet, you are honour-bound to pay it, Raphael."

Raphael glared at Leonardo heatedly. "I don't need you to go spoutin' things like that, Leo," he snarled, his anger as hot as the sweltering heat around them.

"Master Splinter left me in charge-" Leonardo began, Raphael rolling his eyes in derision.

"We know, Leo, we know," Raphael growled. "Master Splinter left you in charge when he died, blah, blah, blah. I'll pay Donny the twenty bucks if you shut your beak."

Leonardo threw a glare at Raphael; Michelangelo clapped Donatello on the back. "I know who's buying pizza tonight!" he crowed with a wide grin trying to break the uncomfortable silence that descended upon them at the mention of Master Splinter's death five years ago.

Donatello looked up at Michelangelo and returned his baby brother's smile. "Okay, Mikey," Donatello agreed. "Just…no...anchovies," Donatello warned his own voice sounding oddly distant.

Michelangelo looked down at him in concern. "You okay, Donny?"

"Yeah." Donatello acknowledged as he tried to focus his swimming vision better. "Heat is just getting to me," he replied as he stood, Michelangelo stepping back and giving him a little more room to stand.

Donatello's vision suddenly went black and he felt himself falling.

Leonardo glared at Raphael, trying to control his temper as a flash of amethyst and olive green suddenly fell forward.

His head whipped around as he watched Michelangelo desperately make a wild grab for Donatello, who had tumbled forward and over the edge of the building. He managed to grab hold of Donatello's arm, but unfortunately the weight of Donatello's limp body pulled Michelangelo forward, and unable to grab anything to halt their sudden downward plunge, the two brothers disappeared from sight.

"Donny! Mikey!" Raphael yelled in panic, leaping forward and attempting to grab Michelangelo, but he was too late, Raphael clutched at nothing but air.

Leonardo's heart leapt into his throat as both of his brother's tumbled over the edge, vanishing from his sight.

Leonardo looked over the edge of the building Michelangelo and Donatello both lying terrifyingly still on the roof of the adjoining building two stories below.

"Donny! Mikey!" Leonardo's voice rose an octave in terror and panic, fearing the worst.

Raphael was already leaping over the edge to the rooftop two stories below and Leonardo followed only moments behind.

Leonardo landed hard, but absorbed the shock, ignored the pain that shot through his body, and rushed over to where Raphael was looking Michelangelo over for injuries.

Michelangelo was groaning a little and rubbing his head as he slowly sat up with Raphael's help. Their baby brother appeared fine, but Donatello remained horrifyingly motionless.

Leonardo knelt down next to their genius brother and quickly checked his vitals. His brother's heart beat steadily beneath his fingertips and he quickly checked for any injuries that may have occurred during their fall.

Finding none, Leonardo felt relief fill him that Donatello had at least survived the fall, though what had caused his brother to fall in the first place was a mystery.

A swift intake of breath and a hiss of pain caught Leonardo's attention and he looked over his shoulder at Raphael who was frowning with worry as Michelangelo clutched at his ankle.

Donatello let out a faint moan and his eyes fluttered open, drawing Leonardo's attention back to his other brother. Milk chocolate eyes met dark chocolate and Leonardo let the trapped breath he hadn't known he had been holding out in relief.

"Donny?" he questioned softly.

Donatello let out another groan of protest as he started to sit up. Leonardo pushed him back down with a gentle hand to his brother's plastron.

"Just lay down for a second, Donny." Leonardo softly coaxed as Donatello scowled.

"I'm fine," Donatello grumbled as he pushed away Leonardo's hand which still hovered over his plastron.

"You ain't fine, Genius. You just fell off the side of a roof," Raphael growled. "Mikey here tried to stop you and you both tumbled over."

Donatello's eyes widened with shock as he sought out Michelangelo. "Are you okay, Mikey?" Donatello asked scrambling to his hands and knees, pausing for a moment before getting to his feet with Leonardo's hand for support.

"Yeah," Mikey said getting to his feet, and then falling to one knee with a hiss of pain that turned into a soft moan.

"Stay down, Knucklehead," Raphael growled at Michelangelo as Donatello knelt down beside his younger brother, his eyes full of worry.

"I think you sprained your ankle," Donatello softly informed Michelangelo as he probed his ankle. "It'll need to be elevated and iced for a little bit and then wrapped in a tensor bandage. But you'll be fine."

Michelangelo nodded, but his worried hazel gaze instead searched Donatello's intently. "Are you sure you're okay, Donny?" Michelangelo questioned anxiously.

"I'm okay." Donatello waved off their concern as he helped Raphael pull Michelangelo to his feet. "I must have got up too quickly. I might be a little dehydrated as well," he acknowledged with an unconcerned shrug, letting Raphael support Michelangelo's weight.

"Okay, well, let's get you back to the lair, and I expect you to go straight to bed, Donny," Leonardo warned. "We can take care of Mikey and I don't want you staying up for the rest of the night working on whatever project you have going on, okay?"

Donatello sighed and reluctantly nodded his head in agreement.

"Good," Leonardo acknowledged.

"Wait...does this mean that Donny's not buying pizza?" Michelangelo asked in a small voice, his hazel eyes widening imploringly. Pain filled their baby brother's eyes only adding to the pathetic puppy-dog look he was giving Leonardo.

Raphael snorted. "It's okay, Mikey. You'll still get your pizza since I'm payin' anyway," he grumbled as Michelangelo's face lit up with joy.

Their red-masked rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'll order the pizza and wait for it. Leo, you can take Mikey and Donny home."

Leonardo nodded his head in agreement of the plan, walking up to Michelangelo and placing Michelangelo's arm across his shoulders so he could support his baby brother's weight.

Donatello nodded as well and began to slowly make his way to street level and then below into the cool comfort of the sewers that led to their home.

Leonardo took one last look at Raphael and followed closely behind Donatello, whose gait was unsteady and wavering. Watching his genius brother's carapace with worry, a feeling of trepidation filled him.

Donatello stumbled home, all of his concentration fixed upon placing one foot in front of the other. His head swam uncomfortably and his stomach felt as if it was doing small side to side rolls, forcing him to try to breathe through the sudden nausea.

He swallowed uncomfortably, feeling overly hot. Even when they reached the cooler temperatures of the lair, he still felt overly warm.

Donatello could feel his oldest brother's concerned gaze upon him, following him as Donatello made his way to his bedroom, intent on resting and hopefully feeling better in the morning.

"Donny, are you sure you're okay?" his oldest brother asked with worry.

Donatello sighed. "Yeah. I may have a touch of heat exhaustion. I'm just going to go to sleep and hopefully I will feel better in the morning," he said echoing his inner thoughts as he gave his brother a goodnight wave.

"Hey, Donny!" Leonardo suddenly called out.

Donatello turned and Leonardo caught up with him, giving him a bottle of water. "Thanks," he said as he turned, walking into his room, and shutting the door shut behind him. He cracked the seal on the cap of the bottle of water and chugged back half of it before putting it on his desk.

He took a deep breath and clutched at his plastron right over his stomach; shooting pains had begun to radiate through his abdomen.

He grimaced, knowing that he should have stayed hydrated and out of the sun today. After training that morning with Leonardo, he had opted to risk a daylight run to the junkyard; figuring most of the humans would be indoors trying to stay cool.

Discovering he had been right, he had happily dug around through the junk heaps and had even found some decent replacement parts for Raphael's motorcycle, some video games for Michelangelo, and a new microwave to replace the one that Leonardo had fried yesterday morning at breakfast when he had placed a bowl of oatmeal inside with the spoon to warm it up and then walked away to go and deal with Michelangelo and Raphael who were bickering in the living room.

Donatello could acknowledge that he may have lost track of time and so he had probably been out in the sun for longer than he should have been.

He picked up the bottle of water again, took another hearty gulp before setting it back down and crawling into bed.

He closed his eyes hoping that he would feel better in the morning.

Leonardo stretched as he walked into the kitchen feeling drawn and tired.

Waking up this morning, he had hoped that perhaps today would be less hot than the days before, but it looked as if he was to be disappointed in this hope. The heat was becoming unbearable, even down in the sewers. He had only managed to get in half of his normal training routine before needing to quit. All he needed was to pass out from overexertion and have Raphael laughing his ass off at him for 'fainting'.

He opened the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water, downing the entire contents in a few hasty gulps. He peered inside and pulled out the box of leftover pizza from last night, kicked the fridge door closed, and put the pizza box down on the table.

Raphael strode into the kitchen at that moment, a scowl on his face as he snagged the piece of cold pizza Leonardo had been just about to grab. He glared at his younger brother and selected another slice, deciding that letting the rude action go being the best thing for both his temper and his sanity.

Raphael threw himself into his seat and took a bite of pizza. "I was just waitin' for you to faint in there," he said with a smirk as he took another bite of pizza. "How the hell were you even trainin'?"

Leonardo gave a shrug. "You should have been in there, Raph," he replied even though he knew he was wasting his breath.

Raphael snorted. "Yeah, right. I ain't passin' out in this heat. It's bad enough you made us all train yesterday. And besides, I was in the living room all morning entertainin' Mikey. As far as I'm concerned, I should get a freakin' medal."

Leonardo opened his mouth to make a withering reply when Michelangelo's plaintive voice echoed from the living room asking for a drink of water and something to eat, and not to forget the extra pillow for his foot and for some more ice and a blanket and maybe another pillow for his head.

Raphael's gaze shot to Leonardo daring him to continue with what he was about to say. Leonardo snapped his mouth shut and cleared his throat.

Standing, Raphael snagged a piece of pizza for Michelangelo and walked over to the cupboard, pulling out a glass and before opening the refrigerator to get their baby brother a glass of water.

"Where the hell is Donny anyway? He loves playin' nurse," Raphael grumbled as his eyes shot in the direction of the lab.

Leonardo slowly stood. "You mean he isn't up yet?"

Raphael looked over at Leonardo, placing the pitcher of water back in the fridge. "I thought he was in his lab."

Leonardo shook his head negative. "I passed his lab on the way from the dojo, it was dark and empty." Worry prickled across his skin as he looked at the clock, realizing that Donatello had been in his room for well over twelve hours.

"I'm sure he's fine," Raphael said unconvinced of his own words, placing the glass of water on the counter and following Leonardo out of the kitchen as they dashed to Donatello's bedroom.

Leonardo lightly knocked on the door before finally turning the knob and walking in when there was no reply. His heart hammered uncomfortably in his chest as he approached his brother's bed; the room dark, hot, and muggy.

Donatello lay curled on his side the blankets pulled up to his chin as he fitfully slept.

Leonardo reached out a tentative hand and touched Donatello's forehead. It burned beneath his fingertips and Leonardo felt a spike of fear rush through him. He had noticed that Donatello had felt warmer than normal the night before, but had believed that it was only because they were all hot. But the heat radiating off of his brother's skin right now was much, much worse than it had been last night.

"Donny," Leonardo shook his brother's shoulder, trying to wake him up. Donatello's eyes fluttered open, looking at Leonardo in confusion.

"Wha-?" Donatello asked before closing his eyes again.

Leonardo looked back at Raphael. "I need a thermometer," he said as Raphael nodded, a look of worry on his face.

Raphael turned and left Donatello's room. Leonardo returned his attention back to Donatello. He unsuccessfully tried to rouse his younger genius brother, unease beginning to prickle across his skin.

Raphael returned, the thermometer clutched in his hand, Michelangelo on a pair of crutches hobbling into the room after him.

"What's wrong with Donny?" Michelangelo asked his voice full of concern.

"I don't know, Mikey, but I'm pretty sure he has a fever. I tried to wake him up, but I couldn't." Leonardo swallowed roughly and took a calming breath.

"So if Donny won't wake up, how the hell are we supposed to take his temperature?" Raphael asked with a frown that suddenly vanished. "Oh, hell no! I ain't shoving this there. You can take his temperature," Raphael threw the thermometer at Leonardo who deftly caught it.

Leonardo scowled at his red masked brother. "I can take his temperature by putting the thermometer under his armpit," he replied firmly as he lifted his Donatello's arm, placing the thermometer in his brother's armpit and lowering his arm back down.

Their normal temperatures ran a little cooler than humans, so it was with great trepidation that he watched the numbers on the thermometer continue to climb, finally stopping at just below 103 degrees.

Leonardo removed the thermometer and stared at it blankly for a moment before he quickly stood, rushing over to Donatello's desk and pulling a laptop from beneath a pile of papers.

He opened the laptop and waited for it to boot up as he glanced at Raphael whose face was filled with concern. "Donny mentioned something about heat exhaustion last night, but didn't seem overly concerned about i,." Leonardo explained.

"So what, you're gonna google it?" Raphael asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Michelangelo placed his crutches against the wall and hopped over to Donatello's bed, gently lowering himself down so that he was seated on the mattress beside Donatello. He reached out and touched Donatello's forehead, his eyes flashing to Leonardo's.

"He's really hot," Michelangelo murmured as Leonardo gave a curt nod of acknowledgement.

Leonardo began typing 'heat exhaustion' into the search engine and clicked the first result that came up. His eyes rapidly scanned the signs and symptoms that were listed.

Raphael was reading over his shoulder, a frown on his face. "Not as bad a heat stroke, blah, blah, if not treated can lead to heat stroke. Symptoms include confusion, dizziness, fainting, headache, sweating, nausea, and rapid heartbeat."

Leonardo cast a quick glance at Donatello again as Raphael spoke.

"Well, Donny definitely had the dizziness thing and the fainting, but it doesn't say anything about a fever," Raphael observed.

"Thank you, Raph, I can read," Leonardo grumbled as his eyes scanned the page again, making sure he hadn't missed anything.

"Click on heat stroke, maybe he's got that instead," Raphael said, ignoring Leonardo's words and pointing at the link on the screen.

Leonardo shot his younger brother an irritated glance, but clicked on the link anyway because he knew that Raphael was right.

The first line he read about heat stroke made his heart skip a beat in fear. Heat stroke was a medical emergency, without treatment his brother could get brain damage, his organs could be damaged, or... he could die.

"It says it mostly strikes people over 50, Donny's only 28," Raphael pointed out as if this fact eliminated heat stroke as the cause of Donatello's sudden illness.

"And athletes," Leonardo offered up softly. "Dehydration, prolonged exposure to high temperatures and physical exertion all contribute to possible heat stroke."

Raphael grunted. "Says here that symptoms are a fever over 105 degrees, nausea, seizures, rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, confusion, loss of consciousness, coma, and hot, dry skin."

Leonardo shared a looked with Raphael. Donatello had enough of the symptoms that it was most likely heat stroke that he was suffering from. And they needed to move quickly as he read that any delay in seeking medical treatment could be fatal. This particular information didn't help his rapidly pounding, fear filled heart.

His eyes quickly scanned what they were supposed to do, besides call 911, which of course, wasn't an option for them. In fact, they couldn't even call April as both she and Casey were on a romantic vacation in Paris for two weeks.

"So what do we do?" Michelangelo asked, his voice shaky but determined.

"Make sure they are placed in a cool environment," Leonardo read aloud.

"There is no 'cool environment', this is as cool as it gets." Raphael growled.

Leonardo grimaced but had to agree with his brother. "Remove any unnecessary clothing."

Raphael glared as none of them wore clothing except for Raphael.

Leonardo continued to read. "We need to get his temperature down. We need ice."

Raphael nodded and ran to the door stopping short and turning around. "We don't have any ice. I used it all on Mikey's ankle this morning. I mean, I've put the ice packs back in the freezer, but they aren't frozen yet."

Leonardo closed his eyes and Michelangelo made a muffled squeak of terror. "Run a bath, a cold one." Leonardo ordered. "We'll get Donny in the tub an hope that it will be cold enough to lower his temperature without putting him into shock."

Raphael nodded and ran from the room. Leonardo heard the water in the bath down the hall turn on and a few moments later, Raphael ran back into Donatello's room.

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault," Michelangelo whimpered. "I didn't know that Donny was sick. I was just putting ice on my ankle because it was all sore and swollen."

"It ain't your fault, Mikey-" Raphael assured their baby brother.

"That's right, Mikey, you needed the ice," Leonardo affirmed.

"-it's Leo's fault," Raphael continued.

"What!" Leonardo yelped as his gaze shot to Raphael who seemed suddenly angry.

"You heard me, Leo, this is your fault. You knew it was hot. It's been stupid hot for the past week and you made Donny train with you. Me and Mikey told you to go stuff yourself, but Donny's too nice."

"I didn't say-" Michelangelo tried to interject but Raphael continued talking.

"So, yeah, Leo, this is your fault for being such a tight ass and always pushing us," Raphael snarled as he approached Leonardo getting into his face and hissing in his ear low enough so that Michelangelo couldn't hear. "So if anything happens to Donny, it's all your fault."

With this brutal pronouncement, Raphael turned and stalked from the bedroom in the direction of the bathroom.

Leonardo swallowed, his vision spotting slightly as he looked at Donatello, lying unconscious upon his bed. Raphael was right, horrifyingly right. If Donatello received brain damage, organ failure, or...died, it would be all his fault.

dun, dun, dun...hope everyone enjoyed the first chapter!