Sleep has never been something that came easily to Mikey or his family. Splinter either sleeps through the nights and days or he wakes every few minutes and checks on his children, often accidentally waking them up, if they happen to be sleeping. Donnie can hyperfixate on a project for days at a time, forgetting necessities like food and water and, worst of all, personal hygiene. That leaves Mikey delivering meals and making sure some level of self care is maintained. He understands, because when you have a project, you just can't sleep, not until it's done. That's not the only reason Mikey struggles with sleep at times. His body often ends the day with too much energy he has no idea what to do with, no matter how much he runs and jumps and razzmatazzes.

It's exhausting, but it's never exhausting enough.

Except tonight, after a long patrol that ended with their third fight of the night (a fight against the damned pig Mikey still can't help but admire that always left him wishing for a bruiser like the Big Guy to hang around), Mikey was bruised and sore and felt the exhaustion in his very bones. Sleep was upon him before his head was even on the pillow.

And when Mikey's asleep, he doesn't wake up, not easily, only when there's a threat or-

Crying.

Mikey sits up slowly in the hammock, scanning the room. He doesn't want to startle them, but it's too squeaky to be Donnie and too hiccupy to be Dad-

Oh.

Mikey heart aches. Last time he heard these cries he was-

Crack.

He is okay and it doesn't matter. Mikey climbs out of the hammock slowly, almost falling in the process (hammocks are not made to get out of slowly). Leo's eyes snap towards Mikey as he freezes, one leg tangled in blankets in the hammock, hands on the ground, holding his body up from falling.

"Hi," Mikey raises a hand to wave and falls face first onto his floor, "Ow."

A hiss fills the room.

"Oh. I fucked up, huh?"

The hiss turns into a snarl and Mikey risks a glance up. Leo's no longer curled up in the corner, now crouched, body lowered and ready to sprint or attack, fight or flight. Not what Mikey wanted, but he can do this. Leo came to him for help this time. Mikey is not going to fail him.

Mikey doesn't move from where he lies on the ground. He watches Leo, keeping a smile on his face as he talks. He doesn't talk about anything worthwhile, not really, just meaningless Surface gossip that probably goes over Leo's head.

But it works.

He's halfway through his story about how Donnie tried to help April with this first 'friend' date of hers, only for the Foot to beat Donnie up and then the Foot got beaten up by April and her 'friend' that turned out to be a Yokai, only for the Foot to steal the Yokai's boots which turned out to be part of the Dark Armour- the Krystal Yistal or something.

It's a long story and Mikey still doesn't believe April no matter how much she insists she and Sunita are just 'friends'. A little brother just knows these things.

And Mikey notices something in Leo shift.

His eyes almost seem to spark in the light as he blinks at Mikey, tension in his shoulders dissipating just enough for his limbs to return to their full length.

Despite being the same size as Mikey, Leo still feels so small, too small.

"It's okay," Mikey reminds him, "We can take as long as you need."

It's slow, but as Mikey returns to telling Leo his whole life story, Leo's body loses its tension and he sits on the back of his legs, watching Mikey with rapt attention. Mikey knows Leo does not understand most of the words coming out of his mouth, but Mikey's chirps and words are helping. Leo's eyes are on Mikey's lips, watching the way they move as he speaks.

Mikey can't hold back the smile that spreads across his face as, finally, Leo chirps and chitters out a question.

Leo's aware. That's good.

Mikey chirps back, the sound quiet and relieved, tired, but Leo just churrs and smiles at Mikey. It's weak, but it's there.

"Stay here," Mikey starts to make his way to his feet, but Leo whines, still not moving, "Hey! Hey, it's okay. I won't leave your line of sight, okay? You'll still be able to see me. I just want to get something to help you, okay?"

The whine quiets, but it's still present. Mikey leans over his hammock and drags over the item in his hands. He tosses it the best he can in between the two turtles.

"For Leo," Mikey smiles, "Go on."

Leo is cautious. Leo, who never hesitates when it comes to Mikey and Donnie, who trusts their judgement completely, who didn't hesitate this much when it was the skateboard, slowly works his way under the weighted blanket. He's been shook up by whatever happened.

A nightmare? But why would he come here?

A coo as Leo melts into the blanket tears Mikey away from his thoughts. The pure bliss in his eyes- Mikey's glad Leo came to him.

"You can keep it," Mikey grins, chewing on his lip as Leo's head tilts at him, "Gift. For Leo."

Mikey snorts at the way Leo's eyes brighten and he wiggles under the weight of the cocoon he's created. A giant worm, except Donnie probably would be okay with this one. When they were tots, Mikey loved befriending everything, including the creepy crawlies and squishy worms. Donnie is fine with the bugs, finds them fascinating, but they hate worms and similar textures. Yet, Donnie always said hello to Mikey's new friends, despite how grossed out they were. Mikey still likes to make friends with everything, he just doesn't introduce them all to Donnie. He doesn't want to make Donnie uncomfortable because of his actions. Donnie doesn't deserve that.

Donnie's the best. Mikey should tell them that more.

Mikey snorts again, laughing at the way Leo keeps twisting in the embrace of the blanket. The trapped turtle glances up at Mikey and chitters.

"Oh," Mikey's heart melts at the little space in the blanket just big enough for a box turtle like himself to fit, "Oh, Leo."

Mikey grabs his nearby phone off the charger and turns off the light, preparing to use the flashlight to navigate.

Except there's a warm glow, like that nightlight Donnie made for Mikey as a child.

"Huh."

Mikey's never noticed before how Leo's body always seems to glow faintly. He's probably one of those species that are bioloome- byelumi- that glows naturally. Maybe that's why Leo always seems to run warmer than Mikey and Donnie? Either that or he's sick. Maybe Mikey should give him a checkup soon. Actually, Mikey and Donnie haven't had one for a while and Dad for even longer.

Mikey adds that to his mental to do list.

He deposits his phone back in its rightful spot and clambers into the blanket cocoon. It's cosy and the light is nice, comforting, a reminder of what Mikey has gained, despite so little changing.

Mikey is still Mikey.

And feeling Leo wrapped up tight and already starting to be consumed by sleep, judging from the near constant yawning, shuffling and rubbing of his eyes, Mikey feels good. He should call April in the morning, get her to buy more weighted blankets. Two more, one with a unicorn

Mikey tries not to squeak as Leo passes out, head against his plastron.

It's like when Donnie used to come spend their nights with Mikey, offering a protection Mikey hopes he can replicate for Leo.

After all, no one is better at making Mikey feel safe than his older sibling.