Protector
A Ninja Turtle snippet by Deana Lisi
Disclaimer: I don't own the turtles.

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If the guys knew that I still kept a journal, they'd probably laugh at me. Thank God for computers with 'hide folder' options. The subject of today's entry: Raphael.

I almost died today. But thanks to Raphael—as usual—I didn't.

Sensei has mentioned many times that the day he found us tiny turtles, we were all different sizes. Leonardo was the biggest, with Raphael a close second. Mikey and I were 'much smaller', apparently. The next day, when we'd unexpectedly grown thanks to our exposure to the mutagen, he'd wisely taken a marker and written 1, 2, 3, and 4 on our shells, according to size. Apparently, I was number 4 at first, but despite all of my brothers growing larger than me, Mikey was eventually deemed the youngest.

My point is that 'big brother' Raphael quickly placed himself over Mikey and I as our 'protector'. I'm not saying that Leo never did, but Raphael always had a fierce need to shield us and keep us safe that sometimes bordered on the obsessive. During every battle, if one of us needs help, he's always there. I'm certainly not complaining, for there were many times when I seriously did need his help.

Like today.

Today we were fighting the Purple Dragons. Time and time again, my brothers have tried to help me become more aware of attacks from behind, as that has annoyingly become my fighting weakness. After today, it appears that I still need more practice in that category…

Donatello used his bo to knock a gun away from the Purple Dragon that he fought, before kicking him in the chest and sending him flying into a fence at the end of the alley. Before he even had a chance to turn around, a kick from behind sent him face-first into a nearby building, making him drop his bo. The impact sent a flash of light before his eyes, and he was too dazed to stop the Dragon from spinning him around and grabbing him by the throat.

Donatello grabbed the man's wrists, fighting to pull them away from his neck, but the Dragon had the advantage, being much bigger and obviously stronger. The man even knew to stand back as far as possible so the turtle couldn't even kick him.

The other turtles fought their own opponents, not realizing the soundless plight of their brother.

Donatello desperately tried to suck in a breath, but barely a wheeze emitted.

The Purple Dragon laughed and squeezed tighter.

Blinking his eyes, Donatello started to panic as his heart pounded, his chest aching with the need to breathe. His vision began to turn gray.

Just as the grayness started to blacken, a loud roar suddenly sounded and the pressure suddenly disappeared from his throat.

Donatello bonelessly fell to the ground.

He was barely aware of the arms that caught him. He didn't notice the person drag him away from the battle. He didn't hear the terrified voice calling his name.

He did, however, feel the hand that not so gently slapped his cheek.

"BREATHE, Donny!"

Suddenly, he was coughing, his throat on fire. He became aware that he was lying on the ground, his upper body propped against something.

He realized that it was one of his brothers.

Raphael nervously watched as Donatello coughed and wheezed. "Keep breathin', Donny," he said, his voice shaking as he unconsciously rocked the other turtle.

When Raphael had seen the man choking the life out of his younger brother, he'd nearly had a heart attack. Donatello's body had been totally limp, his eyes glazed and unseeing. It was a scene that he was sure to see in his nightmares.

He attacked the Dragon so fast, that the man never even knew what hit him.

When he'd got Donny away from the man, Raphael was terrified to find that he wasn't breathing.

"Raph?"

The red-banded turtle looked at his injured brother again. "It's okay, Donny, I got ya. Just keep breathin', okay bro?"

Donatello closed his eyes again, having a hard time obeying. He was in terrible pain and groaned after coughing again. Other voices eventually intruded on his ears, and after feeling himself suddenly lifted off the ground, he didn't remember much after that.

Even now, as he typed, Donatello's throat felt like he had the worst case of strep. Dark bruises circled his neck, and he could hardly talk or swallow. It was a miracle that his windpipe hadn't been crushed.

Raphael watched his brother from the doorway, frowning to see him out of bed. Part of him realized that Donny's injury didn't really require bed-rest, but it had shaken him so badly to see his brother half-dead and held within that Dragon's grasp, that he wished he could keep Donny as safe as possible.

How he wished his younger brothers didn't have to fight. Ever.

His must've sighed audibly, for Donatello suddenly turned his head before wincing and swiveling the chair instead. He opened his mouth, but Raphael held up a hand.

"Don't talk," Raph said.

Donatello closed his mouth.

"Um," said Raphael, awkwardly. "You weren't in your room, so…I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Donatello smiled and nodded slightly.

"Good," Raphael said. He turned to leave.

"Thanks, Raph," he heard a soft, scratchy voice say.

Turning, Raphael smiled. "Yer welcome, brainiac."

Donatello smiled back. Turning to his computer, he continued to type.

Raphael, The Protector.

THE END