We're Out of Order

This is a sequel to my oneshot To be a Big Brother. I was hoping to touch on Leo's brother's reactions to the hidden birth order. Where the last story was strictly narrative this one will have more dialogue. Thanks again for reading, please comment with questions or critiques.

Chapter One

I sat staring blankly at the information glaring at me from the harsh light of my computer screen. I knew the measurements were off, but after rerunning the compositions and coming back up with the same baffling results, again, I was more than 100% sure my computations were right but I just had to make sure. I took a deep shaky breath running my hand over my face, before printing the page and shutting off the computer for the night. I would talk to my brothers and Sensei in the morning, but right now I just needed to ...digest this information.

I just don't have an explanation for this. All of Leo's readings are far below normal standards, way too much for comfort. At first the height we all had on our eldest brother was laughable, teasable, but now the jokes no longer seem funny.

I stumble to my room in a hayze, my brain trying to compute why Leo's growth is so far behind. Is he malnourished in some way? No, even though we lived in the sewers and were not accepted by society we always managed to get enough to eat. But what about when we were younger? Leo had always been selfless, always putting his needs last. I wasn't as aware when he was younger, if Leo had been skimping on food to make sure we hadn't lacked I wouldn't have noticed. I shook his head, I had no proof or ground on these theories. I needed to talk to Sensei in the morning and see if he had any insight on this issue. Whatever the cause, I was concerned. Leo was physically two years behind where he should be in many ways. Such a development gap wouldn't be as alarming if we were adults, but a development gap like this in children or in our case teens was quite alarming and I was determined to fix it. With a yawn I let sleep pull on my eyelids and drag me into its warm embrace.

Although my older brother's diet wasn't necessarily unhealthy, his grazing habits and rabbit like food had always bothered my brothers and I. This may have been part of the reason I decided to talk to my brothers about this issue, outside of leo's presence.

"Okay Genius" Raph growled once he and Mikey were inside my lab. "What was so important that you had to practically drag us in here as soon as training ended? If this is a team meeting ya might have wanted to wait a few. You know as well as I that Leo's going to be a few."

I was quite aware of my brother's perfectionist habits, Leo was very dedicated to his training and usually stayed after practice to perfect the moves we just learned. Which is exactly why I chose this time to talk to my brothers, I needed to talk to Splinter as well and probably should have gone to him first about this. But I just couldn't seem to get time with him today and I just needed to talk about this. Plus, this was a family matter, and would be handled as such.

"I know Raph," I said, taking a breath. "That's why I chose to talk to you now...I actually need to talk to you guys about Leo"

Raph raised an eyebrow at my statement,his irritation giving way to the concern. "I saw you watching him all through practice this morning. Is there something wrong with him?"

I gesture for the two of them to sit as I start going through the notes I organized in a file from last night. "You know how Leo's much smaller than us physically."

Raph chuckled at this and Mikey practically beamed.

"Yeah! He's even shorter than me!"

"Well I was running over the results from the full physicals I took from all of us last week, and heightth isn't the only thing Leo's behind in" I look up from Leo's folder to meet my brothers' eyes. "Leo's physical development is far behind"

The laugher instantly dies from Raph and Mikey's eyes, their faces growing serious.

"What do you mean D?" Mikey askes, his big blue eyes looking a little worried at my serious tone.

"What I mean Mikey is that Leo's is showing signs of a serious development gap."

"So Leo's a little short. Donnie there's nothing wrong with that." Raph shrugged

"It isn't just height Raph. Leo is behind in his bone structure, it looks like it wasn't too long ago that his thirteen year old molars came in. He's seventeen Raph! HIs hormones are off. He's way too small for his age, weight and height wise."

Throughout my little rant Mikey and Raph were getting more and more concerned. Mikey was beginning to fidget in his seat eyes wide, Raph was beginning to clench his fists.

"Will this hurt Leo?" Mikey asked.

I took a breath. "Well..it's not a good thing, and I would like to reverse it, but it shouldn't hurt Leo. But we all need to be more aware of this development gap. Leo pushes himself far enough, without taking into account that his body is nearly two years behind where it should be."

"TWO YEARS!" Raph yelled leaping to his feat. "What do you mean by two Years!?"

I took a breath. "Honestly Raph, Leo's reading looks more like they belong to a fifteen year old than a seventeen year old."

"Don, there is a huge difference between a fifteen year old and a seventeen year old".

"I know Raph" I knew there was, we had grown a lot in the last two years since they went to the surface both emotionally, mentally and physically. Our sudden growth spurts is probably what made Leo's lack more noticeable.

Raph's face grew stoic "sewer apples"

The hothead ran a hand over his face. "What should we do to fix this? How did it get this far? Two years?"

I let out a sigh. "I don't know raph. I don't know maybe malnourishment. But I can't think of a time when we have ever gone hungry, let alone a time where Leo would have been that deprived of food to get that far behind. It could just be a case of growth plates, but that wouldn't explain the hormones" I let out a sight. "Honestly Raph, I'm stumped. I can't think of any explanation to explain this."

Mikey was still glancing back and forth still at a bit of a loss. " I don't get it, Leo has always been kinda on the small side. What's so wrong about it now?"

I was about to answer Mikey's question before the truth of what he said hit me. Leo had always been small. After Raph, Mikey and I's recent growth spurts his lack of growth, had just made the gap more noticable. But the more I thought about it, it was always there.

"Hey Guys' ' Leo's voice pulled me out of my thoughts, turning I saw my blue banded brother leaning against the door-frame. Smiling kindly, in the light of recent events, he looked so much smaller. The big brother I always looked up to, who seemed invincible and unbreakable. After the farmhouse I had learned that wasn't true, and had come a far way in seeing how human my big brother really is.

"Sensei told me to come get you. He just talked to me, he's heading out for some spiritual enlightenment, he's going to be gone for a couple of days. He's heading out this evening and has a few things he wants to talk to us about first." Without waiting for an answer the blue clad turtle turned away. My mouth suddenly ran dry, Sensei had been talking for a few weeks about taking a short sabbatical. But I hadn't expected it to creep up on us so quickly. And before I got a chance to talk to him.

I let out a sigh before turning back to my brothers. "This isn't something we really need to worry too much about. I'll wait till after Senei gets back to talk to him about Leo's development it wouldn't be a bad idea to try making a few changes in the meantime."

"Like how bout his diet" Raph put in. "Guy eats like a rabbit."

I nodded my head in agreeance, "I can help with that" Mikey added happily.

I smiled , giving my baby brother a thankful nod. "I'll give you a list of foods I think we should add to Leo's diet and maybe you could start integrating them into your cooking"

"What about his trainin' fearless works too hard for his own good"

I let out a sigh, knowing that trying to make Leo cut back on his training would be next to impossible. "I don't know how much ground we can cover there Raph. But should try to get Leo to sleep more. He's practically run down to the bone, with all he does for us already."

"It ain't going to be easy with Splinter gone. You know how he is. He's practically like a second parent, even when Splinter is here. You know old mother hen Leo's just gonna get even more protective when it's just us four."

I knew this and wasn't expecting some sort of miracle, just small adjustments that would add up over the long run. "Let's just work on the small things for now Raph."

"And we'll talk to Splinter when he gets back right Donnie" Mikey smiled. I returned my brother's smile, glad for the support.

"Right Mikey"

TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT-TMNT

Breath in breath out. I closed my sapphire eyes, focusing my chi inward as I went through the kata slowly. Running through the well known motions with expert and lethal accuracy, completely in control of my mind and body. My muscles ache after hours of intense training, a habit formed after years of dedication.

I land graceful in a low crouch and sweep my right leg around as I pivot on my hands, aware of the red-clad brother sneaking up behind me. I let a knowing smile spread across my face, as I continue through the kata pretending to be oblivious to his presence. Suddenly Raph springs forward trying to use the air of surprise to wrap his arms around me and capture me in a hold. I roll to the right, and spring back onto my feat ready to engage. Finally. I think to myself with a playful smile as I turn to face my brother. Since Splinter left three days ago, things have just been...off, my brothers have been acting odd around me. And with Donnie, peppering me with random questions, and Mikey trying to stuff me full of food constantly. I could use a bit of normalcy. It's been days since me and Raph full-out spared.

"Trying to sneak up on a ninja Raph" I smirked.

The hot head returned the grin. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Leo '' he feigned innocence playfully. "I think you've been working to hard it's getting to your head"

I let out a snort. I was used to light teasing about my work habits. What can I say, i've always been one to push my limits, you'd think my brothers would be over it by now. But I must say, they really have been on me about it the last few days. Which absolutely baffles me, they usually only get on me when I push myself harder than usual or work myself to actual exhaustion. But I haven't been pushing myself any harder than normal, my late nights are not that extreme. So their light jokes, and sudden hovering are beginning to wear on me.

Before I have time to think of a comeback, raph charges attacking with his usual vigor and going for a close hand fighting strategy. I dodge the attack, my katanas blocking each blow as he continues the offence, pushing me further and further back. I smile as the deadly dance continues. I match him stride for stride falling into perfect rhythm with my brother, as we spare. Although the sound of our clashing weapons ring off the dojo walls, and each blow is dealt with spread, agility and skill that come with years of training, our fight is clearly just a brotherly spar with no real fire underneath. I return a mirroring grin, at the familiarity of the dance. I don't know how to handle hovering and babbying. The last few days have been like a slow prickling of irritation growing and growing. I had missed sparing with my red-clad brother. A dance we have danced for what feels like forever. Although I return each strike with enthusiasm and don't lag in my dodges and comebacks, the hours of personal training on top of the earlier patrols and group training has me aching body protesting with fatigue. Being the 'big brother' comes with lots of responsibility and I have long ago learned to rely on less sleep and food so I fight off the fatigue and concentrate on the duel. I doge Raph's roundhouse kick, dropping low for leg sweep. Knowing my move he front flips over me, rolling back to the offensive as soon as he lands. I backflip out of line of attack, landing on one foot dropping low as he charges before sweeping my foot out and off balancing my red clad brother, before launching upward to twist my sword with his sias and twirl the weapon out of his grip as I bring my knee up to his chest and pin him on the ground, the other hand going to restrain his hand above his head, sword above his throat.

I smile down at my brother, the adrenaline of the spar wearing off before stepping off his chest to sheath my katana. "Good match. You're definitely getting better, I didn't see that front flip coming earlier." I compliment sincerely as I reach my hand down to help him up.

"Yeah not bad yourself." He compliments with a playful grin, after a beat of silence, the grin morphs into a faint frown " But I still say your pushing yourself to hard"

I roll my eyes, as my brother takes my offered hand. I let out a startled squeal as he suddenly used my hand to swing me over his head and onto my shell. All my brothers have recently hit their growth spurts, and I often forget just how strong Raph has gotten with the extra muscle mass. Before I have a chance to recover, my bigger brother hefts me over his shoulder and heads toward the door.

"Raph" I squel anoyed and my brothers stupid height differnece on me and the fact that he caught me on unawars. "What are you doing?"

"Donnie told you to take a break two hours ago Leo. It's time to go to bed. You've barely been getting enough sleep as is, without wearing yourself out each night."

I let out a growl as I started struggling harder.

"Rapheal, put me down, right now!"

"The full name thing doesn't work on me Leo"

"What is this?" I demand. "Pick on Leo weak. First Mikey with the whole trying to kill me with the five whole food groups." Seriously, instead of just my normal light breakfast before this morning's training session before my brothers wake up. Mikey had practically stuffed me like a thanksgiving turkey with sausage, eggs, waffles and orange juice each morning for the last few days. And although I appreciated my orange clad brother's thoughtfulness; I'm beginning to think he had it out for me. The orange clad turtle kept hiding my healthy snacks that I usually snack on throughout the day lightly and instead keeps turning up randomly with platefulls of food he would demand I eat if I refuse he uses the puppy eyes on me. Those big blue eyes boring into my soul, with extreme cuteness and pleading. Who can say no to that?!

"And then Donnie with the whole supplement thing" I continued my rant. And seriously? Mikey was bad enough, and when I thought it could get no worse; Donnie insisted I start taking these vitamins with his breakfast each morning. Usually I would never argue with my genius brother about something like this, and was all for keeping the four of us healthy. But when I found out that only I had to take them, and that Mikey, Raph and himself were not taking them. I suddenly felt singled out.

Raph plopped me down on my bed. I crossed my arms defiantly. "What are you not telling me Raph? Why are you, Mikey and Donnie treating me different all of a sudden. It's not like I'm pushing myself to the point I collapse from exhaustion in the dojo. Or not eating, but the way you guys are treating me, you'd think that I am!"

My rant stopped when raph's worried green eyes turned to me. "You're just so small Leo" My heart sank. Oh so that is what this is about. My brothers get a few inches on me, and they start worrying about my health when I don't match them in height. My heart suddenly pained as I realized that the sudden babying was born out of worry. I think I preferred the jokes, and names over this.

"Oh Raph" I sat up and patted the space on the bed beside me and was happy when my brother took the offer and sat facing me. "Don't worry Otōto" I smiled, placing my hand on his shoulder. "I'm fine" I leaned down to meet his downcast eyes. "Why didn't you guys tell me this was bothering you?" I let out a light chuckle. "I didn't think it bothered you guys that I was a little short. It's not like it keeps me from whooping your but in the dojo." To my relief the comment earned a snicker from the hothead, and I saw a little tension release from his shoulders. "But if it bothers you so much" I continued more solemnly with thought. "'I'll try to eat and sleep more and even take those vitamins Donnie recommended. But I am NOT going to eat the way Mikey wants me to" I said dramatically with an eye roll. "The ways he's been force feeding me lately, I think he wants to turn me into a turtle pizza roll. I don't have an iron stomach like him, I'll explode!"

Raph laughs "yeah I don't think anyone but Mikey can eat like that." I smiled in agreement with him.

I let out a yawn suddenly realizing my growing exhaustion, but right before Raph stood to leave I grabbed his hand. "Talk to me next time, okay brother?" Don't push me away again. Raph nodded before leaving. It might have been the grogginess in my eyes, but the way his green eyes widened made me think he caught the hidden plea in my words. But such worries drifted away as my eyes drifted closed. Splinter would be home tomorrow, and all of this would resolve itself in time.