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The patrol had barely lasted twenty minutes before Leonardo said they should head back.
That alone was odd.
Even stranger was that he didn't argue when Raphael started complaining all the way back to the lair. Nor did he respond to Michelangelo's comments about how they'd barely been out. He didn't even correct Donatello when he suggested that he was probably just tired from overtraining.
Leo simply walked ahead of them, slower than usual, his shoulders tense and one hand discreetly resting on his stomach.
When they entered the lair, Splinter looked up from his teacup almost immediately.
"You're back early."
"Ask your star pupil," Raph grumbled, crossing his arms. "He canceled the patrol."
Splinter barely frowned. His eyes fell on Leonardo, who avoided looking at him.
That was strange too.
"Leonardo."
"I'm fine, sensei," he murmured automatically.
The answer came out too quickly. Too weakly.
Splinter approached without another word. Leo tried to stand up straight, but as soon as the older rat placed a paw on his forehead, the master's calm expression changed completely.
Fever.
High.
Very high.
Leonardo closed his eyes for barely a second when he felt the cool hand on his skin, and that was enough for the other three to stop looking annoyed.
Because he didn't protest.
He didn't pull the paw away.
He didn't even try to insist.
And Leonardo always insisted.
"Oh, no..." Mikey muttered.
Splinter placed a paw on his eldest son's shoulder, gently guiding him toward the bedrooms.
"Come with me."
Leo nodded weakly. His steps grew clumsier as they moved away from the lair entrance, and for a moment he leaned slightly toward his father, exhausted.
Raph watched this with an uncomfortable grimace.
"Okay... yeah, that's bad."
Donnie sighed, carefully guarding his bō.
"We should have noticed it sooner."
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Splinter arranged blankets over Leonardo with almost automatic calm, though worry was still visible in his tired eyes.
Leo could barely keep them open.
"I'm sorry," he murmured hoarsely. "I messed up the patrol."
Splinter watched him for a few seconds before placing a paw on his head.
"My son... a patrol can be repeated. Your well-being cannot."
The comment was enough for Leonardo to finally stop trying to stay strong. He snuggled deeper under the blankets, exhausted and feverish, while Splinter remained by his side, silently watching over him.