Ch. 1
Once the gang got out of New York, they went directly to April's family's farm house. Located far outside of town.
"This is all my fault," Donnie thought to himself. "I shouldn't be talking anymore if this is all I end up doing."
Casey pulled up to the farm house and parked in front. The three turtles carried their unconscious brother in the house and upstairs to the bathroom.
April filled up the tub with water as they placed Leo in it. Donnie didn't say a word and left the room. He didn't feel like he should be around his brothers. Going outside, he sat down on the steps of the porch.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Donnie asked, staring at the ground.
"You could turn the barn into a lab station," April suggested, coming out of the house.
"Huh?" Donnie wondered, turning his head to see her standing behind him. "Oh… hi April," he said sadly, turning back around to face the ground.
"You okay, Donnie?" April asked, sitting down next to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder in worry.
"To be honest… no. Everything is my fault. I'm to blame for Leo getting this hurt."
"Donnie… it's not your fault."
"Yes it is." Donnie stood up and walked towards the barn. Going inside, he sighed sadly as he sat down at the work bench. He couldn't take this guilt for too much longer.
Back inside the house, Mikey turned on the TV to watch some cartoons. Raph kept a watchful eye over Leo. Waiting for him to wake up.
April went back inside, feeling like she couldn't do anything to cheer her friend. She goes into the living room where Mikey found the cartoon he wanted.
"I'm worried about Donnie," April says softly.
"What?! What about being worried for Leo!?" Mikey shouted, turning around towards her. "Who cares about Donnie right now?! No one should!"
"Mikey!" April gasped. "I can't believe what just came out of your mouth. Leo's not your only brother. Yes, I'm worried about Leo but Donnie's taking it really hard."
"And he should," Casey butted into the conversation.
"Gr, I can't believe you guys," April groaned, heading upstairs. Going into her old room; which was a plain old room, nothing special. Except memories.
~time skip~
It's been two full months now and Leo was still out of it. Raph talked to Leo a while, hoping he could hear him. But Leo still didn't wake up. "This is all on Donnie," Raph thought. "But… I can't shake the feeling that it's not always his fault. I miss that guy. He hasn't been in the farm house at all. Only when we brought Leo in here. Where is he anyway?"
April walked out to the barn with some food. She stopped at the barn door. Knocking on it, saying, "Donnie? You in there? I brought you some food."
The door opened after a while as Donnie appeared peeking out. "Oh. Hi April. Has Leo woken up yet?"
"No, sorry Donnie. He hasn't, but I bet he'll wake up soon. Here," April says, handing him the plate of food.
"Thanks," Donnie smiles softly, taking the plate and closing the door. April had a sad look on her as she walks back to the house.
Inside the barn, Donnie sat down at the work bench, cluttered with papers and some tools. He sighed, placing the plate of food near the edge of the table. Where a small pile of rotted food was, still smelling horrible.
Donnie picked up a worn out pencil and started doodling on the paper. He sighed again, "I barely ate anything. I always screw up and I bet if I decided to go off in the woods for a few weeks and come back… Leo would probably yell at me. Raph wouldn't care if I never came back. Mikey would be mad. I bet that'll happen. Without a doubt but… what other choice do I have? I got to get out of this guilt trip somehow. Right sensei?" he looks out the window at the sky.
He went back to his doodles. Feeling even more depressed, plus… the pain in his heart grew even more.
The second weeks of the third month, Donnie was now fully convinced that he was to blame for every single thing. He also knew what he had to do to get out of that rut. "Time for me to go for a while," he declared as he took out all his ninja tools and put them on the workbench. Taking his bo-staff off his back; gently setting it down on the papers, he walked towards the barn doors.
But before he opened the door, someone knocked on it. Donnie opened it up to see April there again. "Donnie please come inside the farm house with me. I miss your company and… Raph misses your voice in there."
"Raph… misses my voice?" Donnie asked with a blank stare. "I'll be honest, I'm laughing on the inside. I find that hard to believe. Raph usually hates my voice."
"Donnie, Casey even misses hanging around you. Even if it's to fight over me."
"Again, I'm laughing on the inside. Casey hates it when I'm around."
"Damn. I was sure those would work," April thought. "Would you come in the house… for me?" she asked out loud.
"Hm?" Donnie blinked. He took a little while to respond. "As much as I'd like to… I can't. I know what I have to do to push passed the guilt I'm still feeling. And I have to do this on my own. I'm really sorry, April."
April could tell that Donnie made up his mind. She couldn't change his mind at all. "I understand. But Donnie… please don't beat yourself up any more than you already have." She left, back to the house with a happy yet sad look on her face.
Donnie sighed sadly, deciding to stay a week longer. But once that week was over… he disappeared into the woods with only his ninja skills as defense.
In the house, Raph flinched and looked up at the tub once he heard a voice. He gasped once he saw his big brother's eyes opened. "Leo!" Raph shouts excitedly.