Chapter 1

The lair was silent tonight, save for the quiet tapping of fingers on a keyboard. They would stop for a moment, and the silence would continue, until the tapping started up again. It had only been two days since the not-so-successful hunt in the tunnels, and the effects of their findings were still heavy on the family. Splinter would meditate for hours on end, and for the beginning of it, Leo would join him, but now he set himself to helping Donnie with his own search.

Mikey's shoulder was healing nicely, and it didn't need bandages anymore. But the stitches were still there, plain against his skin. Donatello had a wonderful time trying to pin Michelangelo down so he could stitch up the wound, but with the bribe of pizza and a new T-Pod, he gave in. Donnie was thankful the wound hadn't gotten infected. That would've meant a lot more work and a lot more worry.

The youngest brother was doing his best to keep the spirits high. In fact, he was doing everything he could. When his water balloon attacks failed, he tried video games, movie parties, skateboard invites, and even willingly messing around at his own expense just to get a laugh.

Even though the last one had worked, Mikey went to the next level, which gave everyone a shock. He would join Leo in meditating (or tried to, considering meditation wasn't his forte. Donnie had been surprised that he had managed to get to the point where he could stay just under an hour meditating with Leo,) and sparring. He'd offer to help Donnie in his lab, trying his hardest to understand what Donnie was talking about, most often failing. But he tried. He'd started showing April his comics and action figures, teaching her all the secrets to his video games and twice now he'd made Splinter tea without being asked.

They were small things, yes, but Mikey was determined. So far, his own personal mission was a success. Everybody was holding together nicely, and because of it, Donnie was able to concentrate on working. He hadn't slept since they'd found Raph in the tunnel, and he didn't think he would be sleeping tonight. His fingers tapped furiously on the keyboard, trying to find something… anything.

So far, the only thing that could help him was the stuff he found on amnesia. Types, symptoms, cures. Donnie pulled up a site on the two different types of amnesia. He suspected what Raph had was retrograde. He was just unable to retrieve old memories. Donnie scrolled down and sighed. There wasn't really a cure for amnesia, either than trying to tell him who he really was and get him to remember. Hopefully his memory would come back on his own, but… It didn't seem likely.

Another large blow to the head might do the trick… But he really didn't want to do that. That could just cause more damage and Raph could lose his ability to form memories at all. And the way Raph's head was, he didn't want to do any more damage. Who knows what could happen. If he hit the wrong spot, Raph could-

"Donatello?"

Donnie yelped and nearly fell out of his chair at the sound of his name. He did smack his arm on the table and rubbed it, looking up to see who had interrupted him. Master Splinter walked into his room, not bothering to turn on the light. His hands, as usual, were behind his back, and a stern look was on his face.

"What are you doing up so late?"

There was no lying to Master Splinter. Donnie slowly turned his laptop so he could see the pages he had open.

"I'm trying to find stuff. Stuff to help us find Raph."

Splinter narrowed his eyes and looked over the screen, then to his son.

"When was the last time you slept?"

Just like earlier, there was no lying to Master Splinter. Not at three in the morning, anyways. Donnie rubbed the back of his neck and looked away.

"Um… two days?"

Splinter nodded. He reached forward and gently closed the laptop lid, leaving the hallway as the only light source. Donnie watched silently as his Sensei pushed the laptop back onto his desk and looked back up at his father's brown eyes as a hand was placed on his shoulder. Splinter looked both like the stern teacher and the concerned father he was.

"Donatello, I know you are worried about your brother, and I know you will find a way to bring him back. But just as much as you search, you need to sleep. You cannot keep on in this fashion. It will be easier to focus on your task ahead if you are prepared for it, and are not burdened by fatigue."

Donnie opened his mouth to protest, but instead of words, out came a yawn and Splinter gave him a look. The 'you-know-I'm-right' look. The look that told Donnie he couldn't fight against it, so he just sighed and dipped his head.

"Hai, Sensei."

Splinter straightened up, nodding towards Donnie's room. Obediently, the teenager got to his feet and reached for his laptop, but turned away from it at a stern look from his father.

"If you are on this device again tonight, you will be cleaning the lair on your own. All bedrooms included."

Donnie's eyes went wide and he scurried off to his room, his father giving him a small smile and nod before turning away himself. Splinter wasn't messing around this time. The lair, with all of the rooms included, was huge, and Mikey's room had to be the worst of it all. He wasn't gonna take the chance. Donnie closed his bedroom door and after a few minutes heard the door to Splinter's room gently close. With a small sigh, Donnie flopped down onto his bed.

To tell the truth, they were getting nowhere. They had no clues as to where Raph would have gone. They were no closer whatsoever to finding him and fixing it. Fixing all of this.

Donnie glared at the ceiling and gave himself a mental slap.

It's only been two days. Three since he left. Nothing this big ever solves itself that fast. We can do this. We just have to keep searching.

Well, the self-pep-talk helped a little. Donnie smiled a little. Yeah. They could do this. They'd taken down everything else that ran into their path. They could find this, and they would solve it. They always did.

Now he was starting to feel exactly how soft and comfy his bed was, and he noticed sleep starting to tug at him. Maybe a few hours couldn't hurt. After all, it wasn't like he had much to do otherwise. Until they found something. And they weren't gonna find anything with everybody asleep and at two a.m. No. A few hours couldn't hurt.

Donnie sat up and undid his mask, placing it on his bedside table. His lab might have been a mess, but hid bedroom was neat and ordered. It was kinda strange, but it worked. Soon, all of his gear was placed into a neat pile on the floor and Donnie crawled into bed, pulling the sheets up to his neck.

Yeah. We just need to keep searching.

Okay! I know you guys are waiting for an update, I am so sorry for not being on time, but I kinda got grounded from my laptop for a week and I can't post on my iPod. I promise it'll be up next week, and if I can get it done, you guys'll get a few chapters extra as well! So hang in there, people, it's coming!

Don't worry. I haven't forgotten. Or quit.

~Brambles