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Donatello jumped from building to building, trying to get back to his brothers' designated meeting spot before they would start to worry and search for him. Because of the lack of crime in the past months Leo had suggested that they split up as to cover more ground. Raphael was the most enthusiastic about this recent change.

"You heard from Don at all Raph? He should be here by now." Leo looked at his phone checking to see if he had any missed messages from Don explaining why he wasn't the first one there. He wiped away sweat from above his eye ridge. The sooner Don got back the sooner they could go to the lair and get out of this blasted heat.

"Maybe Raph's Batman complex has rubbed off on Don!" Michelangelo exclaimed. "What if he's found another lair and kept it a secret from us so he can move all his gadgets there! That's why he's not punctual tonight!"

Raph snorted and rolled his eyes. "That's a big word for you dingus." He shoved Michelangelo on the shoulder, making his younger brother step back a few feet.

"What is, Batman? I use that word frequently, thank you very much!" Michelangelo defiantly stepped up to Raphael so there was only a few inches between them.

"No, not Batman, punct- oh never mind!"

Leo sighed, looking on at his brothers. "It's highly unlikely that he would leave, but if he did, I can understand why."

Suddenly Don leaped onto the roof, panting. He leaned over trying to catch his breath before speaking. "Sorry I'm late… got tired, decided to rest, "He straightened up. "I must've fallen asleep." Donatello hated lying. He had been terrible at it his entire life. Good thing Sensei isn't here. He'd see through me like glass. He could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks. Luckily the others would just attribute this to the heat, not nervousness.

"Bruh! I almost died of heatstroke!" Michelangelo feigned fainting while walking over to Don.

Raphael rolled his eyes again and crossed his arms, trying to hide the fact that he too, was suffering from the heat.

Leo spoke up for the first time since Don had arrived, "Let's get going, Father will be worried if we do not return soon. Don't be late without some sort of explanation again, Don. You could've at least texted one of us." It was Leo's job to watch out for his brothers. He was well aware of the fact that he sounded like a mini Splinter nine times out of ten, but it couldn't be helped.

"Yeah, sorry about that, I will next time." Donatello rubbed the back of his neck looking down. He mentally kicked himself for not thinking of using his phone.

Michelangelo got his cue to lighten the mood. "Smoke signals are always a good option!" He was quickly slugged in the arm by Raphael.

"Wouldja just shut your ever loving mouth for once! Between you and the heat I ain't sure which is worse!" Raphael growled.

"Sarcasm man! It was only sarcasm!" Michelangelo whined rubbing his bicep.

"Move out!" Leonardo said sternly taking away the chance for Mikey and Raph to continue to bicker.

The turtles jumped over the edge of the rooftop into the night. Clouds drifted over the moon changing the appearance of New York's backstreets and alleyways. They reached ground level panting and sweating and slid open their "front door" manhole entrance. Splinter had long since retired to bed when they finally made it to the lair.

"I CALL THE SHOWER!" Mikey yelled while Raphael rushed to the kitchen and guzzled down a gallon of water. Leonardo started to gather up his shower items, an unspoken statement that he was next in line for the bathroom. Don stood in the middle of the living room and sighed. He was exhausted. Raph walked past him down to his own room where he retired without so much as using the shower. Gross. Faint warbled singing drifted out of the bathroom, Mikey's pathetic try at music. Don looked over and saw Leo sit down against the wall outside the coveted bathroom. Donatello decided that he would spend the next hour or so waiting in his lab, getting some work done. He prompted his tired legs to walk in the direction of his room.

"See anything unusual while you were out, Donnie?" Leonardo asked quizzically.

Donatello froze. Did Leo know he was lying earlier? Or was he just being casual? 'Mini Splinter is at it again' as Raph would say.

Don turned to Leo, looking him straight in the eyes. "N-no. Nothing really out of place. There was a small car burglary going on in the residential area, but I put a stop to it." He was grateful his voice didn't stutter any more than it did on a regular basis, and glad that he had something to not lie about.

"Were you seen?" Leonardo was looking right at him. Don felt like he could see right through his plastron, as if that was where the lie was hiding.

Donatello swallowed. "No, nothing more than a shadow." He stated.

Relief showed on Leonardo's face. "Alright Don, I was just making sure. I'll hold down the fort while you're in the lab, or keep it from flooding in this case." Leo leaned his head back against the wall before continuing. "I doubt Father will delay training any tomorrow, but I'll see what I can do. Try to get as much sleep as you can."

"Alright, thanks bro, I will." Don smiled slightly, relaxing from the stiff fear that had come over him. "I wouldn't be afraid to pull Mikey out of the shower if necessary."

Don walked into his lab and flipped on the light. He sat down at his desk and began to tinker with the Xbox controller that had busted earlier in the week. Then the full memory of what had transpired not an hour ago and what he had done to cover it up hit him. Don put his head in his hands. Lying was the worst. Especially lying to Leo or Sensei. Out of all his brothers Leo was the closest to him. They had always seemed to have an understanding of one another. Maybe it was because of their maturity or loyalty to Splinter. Don sighed with his head still in his hands. What was he going to do? Well, nothing for the time being. His mind was getting foggy and the crying need for sleep was getting stronger…

"Don! Don! DON! DONATELLO WAKE UP!"

His shoulder was being shaken violently by- Don looked up- Mikey, of course.

"Training in ten, brah! If you hurry there might still be some waffles left from breakfast!" Mikey rushed out the door, wide awake.

Donatello rubbed his eyes, "Kids…" He muttered. Standing up, he starched and made his way out to the kitchen. He felt stale due to the fact he hadn't taken a shower last night. Don grabbed a plate from the shelf and looked down to find that the waffle platter had been raided of all but one of its goods. Oh well. Now there was less of a chance for him to throw it up later after he had trained his butt off.

Once in the dojo torture commenced for all of the turtles, even if some of them refused to admit it. "Ten reps of each! Then repeat!" Master Splinter commanded. The sweat that had dried up on Donatello's body the night before became liquid once again as he performed 100 push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, planks, etc. again and again until training for the day was complete.

Splinter waved his tail dismissively. "You may leave now, my sons."

The four turtles dried themselves off with towels before heading separate ways. A faint gurgling that had been trying to make itself known for the past hour and a half now made itself very clear in Donatello's stomach. His eyes widened with the realization of what was about to happen. As fast as he possibly could, Don ran out of the dojo to the bathroom.

The other three looked up. Raph turned to Leo and asked; "You ever seen 'im that exited to take a shower before?"

"No, but he didn't take one last night, so maybe that explains now."

Donatello rested his head on the cool toilet seat after spilling the contents of his stomach. Is this what I get for lying? He sighed and decided to finally take that shower of his.

Thank you for the review Elyon!