Leatherhead sighed and looked at Leonardo who was still in coma. It was a new year and already in the beginning of March and the days just flew by...

It was already March 16th.

Raph's birthday was March 19th.

The lair was quiet and Mikey had been doing a good job in making them all forget the track of months, only he and Splinter kept track and Mikey of course. Casey and April had all the gifts ready and other stuff that was needed for the party, Donnie had been busy with his projects but didn't know one thing:

Leo had been transferred to Leatherhead's lair.

He had been there since the week after the faint line and they all thought that he was in the Turtles infirmary, which was close to Donnie's lab. No one knew that their beloved family member wasn't there since April constantly went in there and stayed there for about 10 minuets as if she was checking Leo and then locked the door, no one was allowed to see Leo.

"He better wake up in time for the party coz he's the best give Raph could get"

The gentle crocodile looked up and found Casey standing there with a sad look on his face, Leatherhead sighed and got up to check his patient again while Casey got himself a chair to sit on and looked at Leo "I don't get it, the tumour is gone, his been in a coma for several months and still no sign that he's alive! Besides the heart monitor that freak everyone to death when it goes into a straight line" "that is a thought that has striken me as well: why doesn't he wake up? we removed all of it and he seemed fine?"

"Unless...There was more then one..." Casey said slowly and they both looked at each other and then to the turtle in the bed, before they both bolted to their feet "Where the operation gear?"

Several hours passed and they both cleaned everything but their faces had reliving look, they had found the real tumour and removed it. Now Leo was starting to have his real skin colour back and he made some sounds, meaning that he could wake up in any moment.

"Hey Leo I..." Donnie said before looking at the bed and paled, the bed was empty and there was a letter waiting on it. The purple masked ninja picked it up and sat down to read it.

Donatello

I apologize for the sudden disappearance.

I had the help of Casey and April to move your brother to my lair while you prepare for the party since I believe there might be something that I have missed in your brother's recovery. He shows no sign of waking up and there fore I moved him.

It is very close to March 19th, the date today is 16th...I believe you know what it means:

Raphael may have to spent this birthday without Leonardo after all

I truly apologize.

Leatherhead~

Donnie placed a hand on his chin and thought for a moment before the penny fell down and he ran to Splinter "Master? did you know Leatherhead took Leo to his place?" "Yes my son, and I hope that Leonardo wakes up soon...Raphael's birthday is near" Splinter sighed and signed for Donnie to kneel in front of his master Donnie did what he was told "Mind explain all this?"

"I had Michelangelo distract you all and forget the time and months until Raphael's birthday as Leatherhead and I hoped you brother would be awake by then so I had Leatherhead, Casey and April to move him to Leatherhead's lair until the 19th but...I figured you would be the one to find out my little plan" Donnie sat in confusion and then pointed at the photo on the table between them "You had MIKEY in this?!"

"Yes"

"I don't believe you!"

"Well, it seems that he has indeed kept his mission secret"

"Sensei?"

Mikey stood in the door and shut his jaw when he saw Donnie there *Oh shell* Splinter chuckled and he almost brust in a true laugh "My s-son...You truly kept this a very good secret! Your brother refuses to believe that I had you in this" Mikey beamed and closed the door while trying to control his face "Mikey, please tell me you did NOT know about this and that you were NOT part in Splinter's plan!" Donnie said and looked at Mikey and hoped he would burn holes in his brother.

"Yes and...Yes"

"WHAT?!"

"Do you believe me now Donatello?" Splinter had to place his hand over his mouth to cover his grin, Donnie's face was so priceless that even Mikey had a hard time staying serious when he had the chance But he managed to hold his laugh attack when Donnie face palmed with both his hands "What kind of genius am I?!" He shouted.

"A bad one apparently" Mikey finally lost it and fell on his shell laughing and Splinter brust as well, both had laughing tears in their but donnie kept looking at them. On the second floor however the mood was completely different...

~Raph's Room~

Behind the locked door Raph sat with his knees pulled to his chest, his forearms crossed over his knee-pads and his face buried in the forearms, his shoulders were shaking and faint sounds of weeping and sobbing could be heard. Raph was in such a broken state that not even he could calm down on his own, he knew about Splinter's plan and had played along the whole time and when he got to his room he would brake down till the point where he fall asleep and think of the past.

Leo stood in the corner of the room and felt his heart almost shatter as he went over and tucked in his little brother "I told you I wouldn't give up...And I swear I won't" He whispered before placing a kiss on Raph's forehead and removed his mask, Leo then took off his own blue mask and carefully placed it in Raph's limp hand. The said sleeping turtle looked so small and scared in his sleep and it made Leo realise that the longer he was in coma...The more Raph would have thoughts of suicide.

*I have to wake up! I can't let Raph spend this birthday without me*

~Leatherhead's Lab~

The spirit turtle returned to his body and tried to wake up from his meditation state he had been in while recovering.

Leatherhead look at the bed and thought that he was imaging things as he was sure Leo moved his right hand but when he saw no other movement he went on with his paper work when he heard the door being knocked on. He got up and went to open and was surprised to see Raph there.

"You knew all along didn't you?...Your brother is in here, but there is something you should know" LH said and lead Raph towards the bed where Leo was still lying, Raph felt his heart swell when he saw that the leaf green skin colour had returned "He's not pale any more..."

"That because the tumour you found was a decoy, the real one was still posing a threat and I had to open him up again and Casey had sharp eyes. He saw it before I did and had more steadier hands then me" Raph gasped as the air was knocked out of his lungs and LH caught him just in time and placed him on another bed and confirmed that he had given Raph a heart attack since he had breathing problems and his was getting pale.

"This is just great" LH muttered and managed to save his friend before he got his shell cell "Might as well tell Donatello that they can indeed get a heart attack and it's not a joke" It didn't take long for the turtle in question to answer and the news was surprising to him but he did understand when LH explained in detail. In the background of Donnie's end Mikey and Splinter weren't really surprised since they had guessed Raph would finally get a heart attack when it came to Leo.

Raph was looking at Leo the whole time and noticed that his hands was moving and so was his head "L-Leatherhead...I think...I think Leo is" His voice was weak but the crocodile heard him and hung up before moving to the bed and checked him, it was the last thing Raph saw before falling into a deep sleep. Leatherhead had drugged him with a does small enough to make Raph be knocked out for about 48 hours, it wasn't deadly but he hoped that his friend would rest and recover form the heart attack he just had.