Shattered Mind - Part 4 – (Month 1 / Day 2)

Month 1 / Day 2

Sitting on the couch watching TV with Mikey, April tried to keep Donnie's nerves calm by rubbing his arms, with Raph and Leo going at it again, the two brothers fighting was taking its toll on Donnie, even though she only has been there for two days, she wanted to help the situation between the brothers.

Obvious they had issues between each other on any given day, but that said the way they fought and on the topics they brooded over, seemed to be more of an excuse for the real reason they were at each others throats.

Raph was the instigator, he was frustrated, upset, but mostly he felt useless when it came to Donnie's condition.

Although the red clad turtle hid behind his aggression, it was plain as day to her, she been racking her brain on how she could be of some assistance or find a solution to ease the tension in Raph for Donnie's sake.

The biggest issue that been making Raph to go off the handle so easy, was the fact that Donnie actually didn't trust Raph, not just around him, but with April herself.

Every time Raph got a foot near her Donnie got defensive, she knew all to well why, it was for the way Raph treated April in her bedroom a couple days back, that display of violence made Donnie wary of him, and very protective of her.

Donnie didn't show these emotions or responded to Leo or Mikey in this manner, which in turn only fed the fire in Raph more.

(What can I do, there has got to be a way for Donnie to start trusting Raph. Telling him to trust hasn't worked, Raph has to do something to gain Donnie's trust again… the question is what?)

Sitting back April closed her eyes as she let her body sink into the coach, thinking of every possible angle that could bring her to some kind of conclusion.

(What can I do…)

Deep within her thoughts she became aware of an arm going around her, then a head laid down on her shoulder, then another head on the other shoulder.

"Mikey you just can't resist can you," April opened her eyes looking at both Donnie and Mikey that each taken a shoulder to rest upon.

With a grin Mikey chuckled, "Donnie makes it look comfortable so I had to try. Besides it seems like Donnie doesn't mind, right bro."

Donnie didn't, he seemed quite content, then it hit her, she knew what she needed to do to help Raph and make Donnie trust him again.

"Mikey you're a genius," April kissed him on the head making the orange clad turtle smile ear to ear.

"I don't know why you think I am, but I'm not complaining!"

Donnie looked at them like he was studying them; turning around April gave him a kiss as well, with that he laid his head back down.

"Mikey can you do me a favour? I need you to go talk to Raph for me."

"Me…why not Leo?" Mikey seemed a bit uneasy on the request.

April smiled sweetly, "Because if I asked Leo to do it, Raph will not listen to him and start fighting, will you help me please it's for Donnie."

Wary about the request and shifting his feet, Mikey sighed as he gave in, April got up and indicated for Mikey to come with her, but told Donnie to stay put, she didn't want him to over hear her plan as she told Mikey what instructions he needed to relay back to Raph.

Understanding and agreeing it might work, Mikey left for Raph's room, which at the moment Raph returned to after his fight with Leo.

Returning to the couch April offered Donnie her hand, "Donnie why don't we go and have your bath."

Taking it, Donnie followed her to the door to the bathroom, inside were stalls, and to April right was another door that led to an open concept shower with a huge stone bath tub on the far side.

Mikey told her that Donnie was the one the constructed the bathroom, including making the bath tub out of slabs of rock he collected.

It was beautiful with browns and sparkling black and white veins running through the stone, she admired the craftsmanship and many times told Donnie what a great job he did on it.

Getting the bath ready, Donnie slowly went in with her help letting his body sink, he seemed to enjoy baths, which was no surprise for he was a turtle and April always made sure the water was just right.

"Ok Donnie lets see, where should we start?" as she picked up the scrub brush for his shell a knock came from the door, standing there was Raph.

"April, Donnie, I was wondering if you needed some help," Raph said nervously he was trying to keep his temper down, it wasn't easy for him, especially at that moment for just the sight of him, Donnie tensed up, April could see the hurt in Raph's eyes.

"Well at the moment I don't need any," April said sweetly.

Raph shifted his feet biting his lower lip, "Is it ok with you and Donnie that I just sit by, for I have nothing else to do… Leo and Mikey went out on a patrol saying it was best I stay home and help you if I can…," Raph didn't make any eye contact as he continued to stare at the floor.

Looking at Donnie, April watched him, he was tensing right up glaring at Raph, putting on a smile to show Donnie she wasn't upset or worried at Raph presence, April turned her head towards Raph, "If you want I don't mind, I can promise it's going to be boring though."

Raph shrugged, still uneasy, April could see the poor turtle holding everything back, his frustration, his anger and his sadness of the way Donnie was acting, "It's doesn't matter to me, like I said I have nothing to do… except cleaning the kitchen…"

April roared, taking both Donnie and Raph by surprise, "So that is it, you think if you slack off in here so you can avoid kitchen duty, for what? Let me guess, your hoping you can somehow con Mikey to do it or… me?" she smiled wildly, giggling more.

Donnie looked at her, eyeing her with blanks stares, Raph anger started to show then quickly he sighed to take control of it again, "Well not you, more Mikey, its his punishment for breaking my weight set."

Raising an eyebrow April couldn't imagine what Mikey could have done to his weight set to break it, "Do I want to know?"

With a thud, Raph sat a bit aways from the bath, he didn't want to get to close to April due the fact Donnie was watching him, but to April realization Donnie started loosen up a bit, his eyes started to soften just a notch.

"Put it this way you don't want to know… it's Mikey that is enough said," Raph chuckled, which put a smile on April's face, for the first time she has ever seen Raph laugh or smile, it was nice, comforting, he should do that more often for he had a amazing smile.

Going for Donnie's shell, April started to clean it, "April what are you doing?"

"I'm cleaning Donnie's shell, what does it look like?" not taking her eyes way, April continued cleaning Donnie's shell, suddenly Raph's hand was on the brush, looking up she could see in his eyes he wanted to help her.

"Sure you're cleaning it…," he smirked, in the corner of both of their eyes they both watched Donnie's response, he seemed ok so far.

"Oh and you think you can do better?" April let go of the brush letting Raph have it, she sat back crossing her arms.

"Pffft of course I can I am the one with a shell here," Raph boasted.

"Oh and that is why I don't know how to clean his shell right," April kidded with a chuckle, keeping their little argument in a lighter mood, making sure Donnie was aware they were joking around not really fighting.

"Ok sister watch this," pausing Raph looked nervous again, as his hands shook, was he afraid if he did attempt to clean Donnie's shell, Donnie might get upset with him.

April wasn't sure how much more Raph could take the rejections from Donnie, as she hoped crossing her fingers that he would be fine for Raph's sake.

(Please say this will work…)

Finally getting the courage up, Raph took a stroke to Donnie's shell with the brush, waiting Raph didn't know if he should continue or not, as he looked at April for guidance.

She just sat there she didn't want to say anything, Raph had to make the first move, not her and she hope he will choose the right words.

"So…Donnie is it ok if I continue washing your shell? I mean, ok April doesn't do that bad of a job, but I can at least give her some pointers… and…," Raph was drowning in his words as fear was in his eyes and a hint of frustration over the fact that Donnie didn't respond to him.

(I should help him now before this goes south.)

With a sweet smile on her face, April picked up a cloth, "Well if Raph is washing your shell why don't I start on your arms Donnie."

Carefully taking Donnie's arm he made no mind as she started to clean it, taking that as sign for once Raph understood Donnie.

Although Donnie didn't talk, in his own way showed signs of finally accepting Raph, not just being around him, but giving Raph in one sense the permission to be around April.

(I think Raph finally gets it, it's the gestures and the body movements that Donnie makes, is how you can tell what he wants, hates, like and so on. I think Raph was so used to the way Donnie was before, he never considered how damaged his brother was and the type of treatment he needed to get better. Raph wanted so much to treat Donnie as he use too, never realizing Donnie didn't understand or comprehend or even remember the brotherly relationship they used to have. I'm happy this is working out. It's a start.)

Both continued getting Donnie clean, as Raph and April joked around keeping things positive, even at one moment Raph decided to tell stories when he and Donnie where young, April enjoyed them and she could tell Donnie did as well.

The atmosphere around Raph changed, it was lighter, he was starting to understand Donnie more and more, and he was finally accepting April as well.

When the bath was done, Raph helped Donnie out of the tub, Raph seemed happy that Donnie didn't mind him touching him.

Trying not to show that she had noticed, April caught a couple times tears running down Raph's face that he covered up right away, Raph being Raph, he was trying to act like the tough guy.

Fully dried they went back to the living room, which by this time Mikey and Leo were back from their patrol, now seated on the coach watching some TV before bed.

"Donnie why don't you go sit beside Mikey, I need to talk to Raph, is that ok?" April insisted to Donnie hoping he trusted Raph enough to the point he would allow Raph around her with out any supervision.

Donnie didn't responded like normal, he just walked away sitting beside Mikey, who in turn was smiling giving Donnie a hug then started to tell his tale of his patrol that night and how it went, with Leo adding things or telling Mikey not to over exaggerate.

"Thanks April," Raph started as he watched his brothers.

"No need to thank me Raph, it was you that turned the tide… I know I am just a stranger to you, and I can see that you and your brothers haven't had much luck with humans, but that doesn't mean we are all bad."

"I know… it's just not easy…," Raph rubbed his arm.

"I guess not, and this situation with your brother on top of it all doesn't help much. I realize how hard it was for you back there to cover your frustration, anger and fear; it's never easy to deal with a love one that is going through what Donnie is at the moment."

"Tell me about it… I thought I was going to blow it; I was so scared to come into that bathroom… I thought if I messed this up he would never forgive me."

"I know, but I also know that you wouldn't have blown it, that's why I asked Mikey to talk to you."

Turning his focus towards April, Raph was a bit confused, "Why do you say that, not that I have shown anything but aggression towards you and frustration towards Donnie."

She smiled at him, "Yes but you use that to hide your true feelings. Raph I don't need to know you to see what I can see."

Crossing his arms he lifted his brow, "And what would that be?"

Leaning towards him she smiled warmly at him, "Simple you're a good brother, you're caring and your heart is bigger then you're so called anger. You would sacrifice what your brothers think of you; just to make sure they are safe and happy, even if it makes you miserable. I know you want them to understand you and they do, for all they want is you to smile too and be happy. It's ok if you lose your temper at times, everyone does, and today you have shown you can take control of it, not letting it control you. You have to give yourself more credit Raph, they love you just as much as you love them, regardless of your differences, and yes I am talking about you and Leo for instance."

With that she walked away, in the corner of her eyes she could see tears again in his eyes, then Raph smiled with a huff shaking his head, as he too decided to join his family in the conversation at the couch.