I'm sorry for the long wait....I struggled with an ending- kind of lost sight of my original purpose...but this is better than nothing at all.

As badly as Donatello tried to concentrate on the screen in front of him, he found himself letting out a small grunt of frustration as the words seemed to blur and the sentences ran together. If anything, he assumed that his impromptu nap would have left him feeling more refreshed, but that clearly wasn't the case.

'And how embarrassing too.' he couldn't help but think. 'I'm lucky Mikey didn't try drawing on my face with a permanent marker or something.'

He frowned, shaking his head at the computer screen- it was starting to give him a headache. He pushed his chair over to the right, bringing his attention to the various appliances he was intending to fix, and picking up a screw driver.

As he looked down, he winced- his neck stiff and sore from its awkward position during his nap. He didn't even think he'd been asleep very long, but the desk wasn't quite so comfortably level with his seat; not a big deal really, considering it was made for working and not napping.

'Way to go, genius.' he quipped, rubbing the back of his neck some before focusing again on his task.

Some unscrewing, a little tweaking, and a few crossed wires later and he was glad to find that he was still capable of accomplishing something. Of course he had paused several times to either rub his tired eyes, or attempt to massage his neck, but still. It was fixed. It hadn't even taken him that long.

Glancing up he caught sight of Mikey's gameboy and frowned. His brother had been adamant about him fixing it the day before, but earlier he had acted like it didn't even matter. It was seriously strange- in fact, his entire encounter with Mikey was strange. He had really thought something was seriously wrong for a moment, Mikey had just seemed so….lost. Maybe not quite lost but….bothered?

But Mikey would have told him if something was wrong, right?

He shook his head for what felt like the hundredth time, trying to focus- his thoughts were really jumbled. It wasn't like him…and there was still so much that needed done- so many thing he hadn't even realized he'd put off doing. And the pipes- that was a major concern. It was so cold this winter, he worried they would freeze and leave them without any water. He needed to be prepared for that.

And all the other things that needed fixing….He sighed, leaning back in his seat for a moment.

'I could go for a cup of coffee right now.' he thought, blinking slowly. 'Maybe even two.'

He felt his eyes droop, listening to the quite hum of his computer and feeling himself sag more and more into his seat.

'I'll just…rest my eyes…for a few..minutes."

He drifted off, eyes closing.....but just as he felt himself start to give in to sleep, the door to the lab was suddenly pushed open and-

"TA DA!"Donnie jerked awake, sending himself falling out of his chair with a startled scream and landing painfully on the floor.

"Oh, man- you okay, Don?!"

He groaned as he pushed himself into a sitting position.

"Fantastic," Donatello mutter, looking up just as Mikey's hand grabbed his arm and helped pull him to his feet. He accepted his brother help, but frowned slightly once he was standing.

"Mikey." He sighed, having very little patience this time around for his brother intrusion. "Don't you have anything else to do? I told you I'd hang out with you when I finish, but that's not going to happen if you keep interrupting me."

"Sorry about that Don- If I knew you were sleeping I-"

"I wasn't sleeping." he protested, sounding too defensive for his own liking, and feeling a sudden pang of guilt when he noticed Mikey's surprised expression.

He sighed.

"Sorry, Mikey." Donnie gave his brother an apologetic look, making sure to soften his voice. "I'm not trying to be bite your head off or anything. I guess I'm a little stressed."

Mikey's grin was quickly back in place and he easily shrugged off the apology.

"Dude, it's okay-I'm mean it's not okay that you're stressed, but it's okay if you're being mean." His eyes widened momentarily at his own words before he shook his head. "No wait! Not mean. 'Cause you weren't mean- not really anyway, I just think-"

"I get it." Donnie quickly said, putting a stop to his brother ramblings. "Just try and knock next time, alright?"

Mikey grinned sheepishly, "Sorry, bro- My hands were kinda full."

Don raised an eye ridge in question, but soon spotted the tray that had been hastily placed on his tool stand. He blinked in confusion and surprise.

"You brought me lunch?"

"Correction dude; I brought you dinner." Mikey stated before frowning slightly. "Do you even realize what time it is, bro?"

"Um…" Don blinked, resisting the urge to sneak a peak at the clock on his computer, and smiling weakly instead. "I'm guessing well past lunch time, huh?"

Mikey gave him a 'duh' kind of look and Donnie chuckled slightly, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked down.

"Guess I got a little carried away."

"No, kiddin'." Mikey replied. "Did you at least have something for breakfast?"

"Does two cups of coffee and a doughnut count?" He asked sheepishly, fully expecting his brother to make some kind of joke about fat cops- or something equally as ridiculous. to his surprise, Mikey just stared at him for a moment before shaking his head, smiling again although there was a certain sadness in his eyes.

"Well you're in luck, Dude," he announced, turning to grab the tray. "Cause I've got a nice big bowl of Michelangelo's famous homemade chicken noodle soup!"

Donetello could only blink as his brother cleared off a space on his desk to the sit the tray, noticing also the sliced grilled cheese sandwich, crackers, and tall glass of milk.

"Mikey what-"

He was cut off as Mikey placed a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back down into his seat, surprised at how little effort it took for his brother to do.

"Okay bro, here's how it's gonna go down," Mikey began, folding his arms across his chest in an attempt to look stern despite his ever present smile- fully aware of his brothers questioning gaze. "You're gonna sit there and eat until everything on that tray is gone, and then you're gonna go straight to bed and sleep, and not step a foot in the lab for at least a week or so. Got it?"

If Donnie was confused before, he was even more so now. He frowned, annoyed and more than a little exasperated by the situation.

"What is this all about, Mikey?" Donnie demanded to know. "You've been acting weird all day- First you don't even care if I fix your game, then you want me to hang out with you, now you bring me lunch and you're…what? Grounding me?"

"Somebody's gotta do it." Mikey stated, sounding less cheerful. "It's not like you're gonna give yourself a break."

His brother only frowned even deeper, looking at him with a thoroughly confused expression, and Mikey had to think that he must be even more tired than he thought, if his brother still didn't get what he was trying to say.

"I mean, seriously, do we even need half this stuff?" He asked, trying to make his point known as he gestured to some of the broken appliances on Donnies desk. "Whens the last time any of us have even used the blender?"

"That's because it's been broken and-"

"And we've gotten along just fine without it." Mikey stated. "You don't need to work yourself to death over it, bro. It's not worth it.""

Donnie blinked in sudden realization and then sighed.

"Is that what this is about?" he asked. "Mikey, I'm fine. There's no reason for you to be worried."

"Oh? So you always pass out in front of your computer for no reason?" He asked, eye ridge raised.

Donnie almost replied with a defensive 'Sometimes', but realized quickly that that wouldn't help his case at all.

"I've just been busy." he replied, his annoyance apparent, especially since he felt like he was repeating himself. "This is the first time in a while that we've actually had some time to ourselves, and I'm taking advantage of it."

"Dude, You're totally wasting it." Mikey replied, sounding put out by his brothers response.

Donnie just frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

"We finally get a break and all you do is work?" Mikey replied, looking at his brother as if he were crazy. "That doesn't sound like much of a vacation, bro."

"Not everyone likes to spend their time watching mindless cartoons, Mikey." Don replied, his shoulders tense.

"Whoa, down boy," Mikey replied with a jokingly nervous look. "I'm just saying that at least when I get tired I can turn the TV off…right? Or remember to eat when I'm hungry?"

Some of the fight seemed to leave Don then, but he still frowned and shook his head.

"Mikey-"

"Okay, how about this?" Mikey said. "If you can answer one question for me, and be honest, then I'll go."

His intelligent brother gave him a wary look, not trusting the simplicity of such a deal, but at this point Donnie would do almost anything to get Mikey off his case.

"Deal."

"Okay then," Mikey said, folding his arms again. "When was the last time you did anything at all for yourself?"

Donnie blinked, not expecting his brothers question, but then smiled confident.

"This morning, when I fixed the lairs sercur-"

"EEERRR! Wrong answer!" Mikey announced, much to his brothers annoyance and confusion.

"What are you talking about? How can that be a wrong answer?"

"I didn't ask what you've done for the family." he explained. "I said 'yourself'."

"But that includes me-" Don started to protest, but Mikey shook his head.

"Doesn't count, bro. I meant just you." he asserted. "When was the last time you did anything just for you?"

Don frowned lightly, eyes cast down in deep thought…trying to recall the last time he'd done something for himself and yet…

'I….I don't know'

He blinked, surprised and slightly upset with the answer he'd come up with. When was the last time he'd made something instead of just fixing it? Or took something apart just to find out how it worked? Or even gotten a full nights sleep?

As he thought a moment, another question came unbidden to his mind

When was the last time someone had done something for him?

Instantly his eyes turned to the tray of food on his desk. Homemade Chicken noodle soup- one of his favorities, although Mikey complained that it was a pain to make. Yet he had. He had made it…for him.

And how did he show his gratitude? By trying to get Mikey to leave? Not even saying a thank you?

Donnie sighed, suddenly even more aware of how drained he felt.

"You okay, Don?"

Mikey's concerned voice prompted a weary laugh from his brother, who stood suddenly and faced him.

"Mikey…"

"Yeah, bro?"

Mikey blinked in surprise when his brother suddenly wrapped his arms around him, but never one to waste a hug, he quickly returned it.

"Thanks, bro."

Dons voice was quiet yet strong, his words spoken with fierce gratitude, and when he pulled back he was smiling.

Mikey grinned.

"Hey, no problem." he replied, although not entirely sure what exactly he was being thanked for. "But if you don't hurry up, that soups gonna get cold. You gotta be straving, right?"

Before Don could verbally respond his stomach gave a loud rumble.

"The stomach has spoken!" mikey announced, to which Don chuckled sheepishly.

Mikey helped guide his brother into his chair, and gestured to toward the tray of food.

"Dig in, bro."

"Are you going to watch me the whole time?" Don asked, reaching for the spoon.

"Hey- a chefs gotta know his works appreciated, right?"

Don rolled his eyes with a good natured smiled and took his fist bite of soup- just the right temperature despite all the stalling. Mikey grinned when he saw his brother eyes widen and he began eating the soup with much more eagerness, letting out small 'mmm' noises as he clearly enjoyed the meal.

A noise outside of the room quickly deverted his attenion and he blinked.

"I'll be right back, Don." he said, excusing himself. "Make sure you finish it all, dude- and then it's bed time."

Don just gave him a backwards wave as he continued to devour his food.

Mikey chuckled as he left, making his way toward the main room but pausing at what he saw.

Leo and Raph, both looking damp and cold, but considerably less tense. Mikey recalled faintly having heard Leo leave to check on the red banded turtle, but wasn't aware of how much time had passed since then.

Raph smirked as the two walked in, nudging Leo who seemed to be pouting and smiling at the same time.

"Who'd of thunk it," Raph said, his tone teasing. "Ole fearless leader defeated by a little snow."

Leo scoffed. "That was more than a little snow, Raph- and I wasn't defeated."

"Yeah right." Raph smirked. "Put a katanna in yer hands and yer practically unbeatable, put a snowball in yer hand and ya can hardly even land a hit."

Leo crossed his arms, a light smirk of his own. "I recall landing more than just a few good hits Raph."

"The cold must be messin' with yer memory, bro."

Leo rolled his eyes. "Says the turtles who wasn't wearing any warm clothes."

Mikey blinked at their…playful?…banter.

"Ya know, you'll be lucky if you don't get sick." Leo frowned slightly. "We should probably have gotten back sooner."

Mikey cringed as Leo slipped back into his big brother/leader role, but to his surprise Raph shrugged it off.

Although somewhat disappointed at having missed out on an obviously epic snowball fight, Mikey really couldn't imagine having spent his evening in any better way. And they call him immature, ha.

"Well, what do we have here?" he said, gaining his two brothers attentions as he came into the room. "A couple of turtle-cicles."

Raph rolled his eyes, and Leo smiled slightly.

"Very funny, Mikey." Raph replied.

"Yeah, I know." he grinned, pretending to not notice his brother's sarcasm.

Raph palmed his face and shook his head.

"SO…you guys want some soup?" he asked. "Plenty left over."

"You made soup?" Leo asked, vaguely surprised.

"Yep. Chicken Noodle -and not from a can."

"Thought you hated makin' that stuff." Raph commented. "Not that I'm complainin'- I'm starvin'."

"It was for Don- but I did get a little carried away."

Leo frowned lightly. "Don? Is he okay? I haven't seen much of him lately."

"Huh…yer right." Raph replied, as if suddenly realizing himself. "He still workin on somethin'?"

"he's taking a break." Mikey assured them, not going into any further detail.

"That's good." leo replied. "He gets a little too carried away with his projects sometimes- it's not good for him."

"That's Don for ya," Raph rolled his eyes, "Don't know when to quit- kinda like another brother of mine."

"Funny," Leo smirked, crossing his arms. "I was thinking the same thing."

Mikey smiled as his two older brothers made their way toward the kitchen, before turning to go check back with Don.

He wasn't that suprised to find his brother had already finished the meal in the short time he'd been gone, and was now dozing lightly on his desk. Mikey rolled his eyes as he gentle woke his brother, helping him to his feet, and guiding him toward his room. His brother stumbled some, mumbled a bunch of nonsense in his half asleep daze, and practically tried to drag him down onto the bed and use him as an oversized pillow. But hey....what are brothers for, right?