Dislciamer: I do not own TMNT, I make no profit off this story so on and so forth...
Sorry it took me so long to update! I was super busy, then super stressed, then had so many ideas for Growing Older and figured out how it would end that I had to work on that for awhile. But I"m back to this story so yay! Sorry this chapter is so short. I hope it's alright, I'm getting back into the angstyness so I may be a bit rusty. Please read and review and let me know what you think!!
It took Donatello longer than usual to make his way back to the lair because of his wound. He ran one hand along the sewer wall to steady himself and leaned against it when he felt the adrenaline begin to wear off and pain shoot through his leg. Eventually he was pushing the door to the lair open, closing it as quietly as possible. Hearing Mikey in the living room, Don frowned. His brother's must be taking a break from their lessons. Just my luck, Don thought as he stumbled towards his workshop. He moved stealthily, keeping an eye on the living room. Splinter was leaning over to talk to an irritated Raphael who sat on the floor with his arms crossed, a grimace plastered on his face. Mikey was sitting on the couch chatting happily to a quiet Leonardo who sat on the floor gazing at him with a look of incomprehension.
Don was almost at his workshop door when a sharp pain stabbed through his leg and he stumbled, his bag knocking against the wall with a loud clunk. Don froze, staring at the living room's occupants as all eyes turned to him.
"D'ello!" Mike's happy greeting faltered as his eyes traveled down to the blood trickling down his brother's leg. His eyes widened.
"D'ello?" Mikey asked in confusion and fright. Raph glanced at Don briefly before returning to stare at the floor in annoyance. But even Splinter's look of surprise was nothing compared to the expression forming on Leonardo's face.
"Hurt," it started as a whisper and then Leo's voice grew louder and his eyes wider. Don felt a cold chill run through him at his brother's obvious distress.
"Hurt! Hurt!" Leo cried, raising a finger to point at Donatello.
Mikey turned to pat Leo on the shoulder as Splinter took a hesitant step forward.
"My son?"
But Donatello ignored it all, quickly limping into his workshop and shutting the door. He fell into his chair, rolling it to the necessary drawers that contained the bandages and alcohol he would need to clean the gash in his leg. Don bit his lip but was unable to contain a cry as he pulled the shruiken free. Don grunted, throwing the shruiken with a clang onto his desk and began to clean his wound.
All of Don's progress with his intelligence gathering was beginning to pale in comparison to how many ways he was messing up. First letting his pride get the better of him and boasting to the Foot that he'd be paying Karai a visit, then allowing his family to see him injured. Don placed the bandage on his wound, firmly pressing it on with a sigh. The look on Leo's face had been devastating, reminding Don once more that all that remained of his big brother was his sense of protectiveness over his siblings. Seeing Don injured must have been hard for Leo. Don was pretty sure his brother didn't understand why he felt the need to protect his brother's and so Leo must have been confused not knowing why Don was hurt or why he felt like he should have protected him. Like the last time…and look where that got him, Don thought bitterly.
There was a short knock on his door before it opened. Don turned to see his Sensei hesitating in the doorway with a concerned expression.
Don rolled his chair slightly to hide the shuriken on his desk. He didn't want his Sensei to get a good look at it and see that it was from the Foot.
"My son, are you alright?"
Don nodded.
"I'm fine, Sensei, and next time wait for me to say you can enter before barging in."
Splinter frowned, pursing his lips in an attempt to contain his anger.
"Going out and picking fights is not the way to deal with your problems, Donatello. Did the Foot see you? If they learn you and your brothers survived…"
"Don't worry, Master, I have everything under control. How did my brother's lessons go?"
"They went fine, my son. Stop changing the subject."
Don gritted his teeth, twirling around to unpack his bag.
"I'd appreciate it if you could leave me to my work, Sensei. I'm not in the mood."
"I have left you alone too long--"
"I said, get out!!"
Don's voice echoed in the room as he stared at his desk. Minutes passed and finally Don heard his father leave the room.
Don began to unpack, planning to look over the information he had gathered, grab a quick bite to eat and then head early to bed when the sound of shuffling feet made Don realize Splinter had not closed the door behind him. Don cursed silently, eyes looking to the ceiling before taking a deep breath and swiveling around in his chair.
"Mikey," Don was surprised to see his little brother, instead of his father, standing anxiously in the doorway, "what's the matter?"
Mike moved forward, looking at Don's leg nervously.
"Are you ok? Y-you were bleeding and…and had a metal thing in your leg."
Don smiled reassuringly.
"Listen, Mikey, I ran into some mean guys but I handled it. It was only a scratch, I'm fine really."
Mike gave him a serious look, his eyes examining his brother behind his new gold colored mask.
" 'eo was very upset. He's ok now, I took care of him. But I wish you weren't so angry, Don. It gets you in trouble with Splinter all the time and now with this I--"
"What did you say?" Don was out of his seat and standing before Mikey could finish.
"Mike, you…you just called me Don! A-and you're talking is…is normal!" Don stuttered, forgetting all about his leg as he stared at his brother. Mike flushed, looking down at the floor.
"D'ello," he started but Don shook his head walking to his brother and gripping his brother's shoulders.
"Mikey, do you remember a time before…" Don let his sentence trail off unwilling to mention Mike's metal arm or the incident that had stolen his flesh one. Mike shrugged.
"Maybe…I mean…no, I just…"
Mike shoved his brother away bolting out the door.
"Mikey!" Don called, racing after Mikey as fast as his injury would allow him only to have the door to Leo's room closed in his face. Don sighed, letting the hope that his day would turn around fade away as he placed a hand on the closed door.
"Mike, if you ever want to talk you know I'm here," Don called through the door. He waited a moment but when no sound could be heard he turned to make his way back to his workshop.
>> >> >> >> >> >> >>
Don was drifting to sleep when a series of knocks jolted him awake. Don sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Whose there?" he called drowsily.
"It's me. Mikey," a low voice answered.
Don blinked in surprise. His brothers had never bothered him in his room before and Don was hesitant to have Mikey enter. After all, his room was a shrine to the past. But Don was too curious about Mike's memory to let that stand in the way of finding out what was going on with his brother. And maybe, just maybe, the pictures in his room would help Mikey remember.
"Come in."
Mike slipped into the room as Don turned on the light beside his bed. He waited for Mike to sit and didn't speak as his little brother sat there in silence, staring at his hands in his lap.
"Lately I've been remembering some things," he finally muttered, still not meeting Don's eyes, "little things. I remember I used to use the nunchaku hanging up in the dojo but…I don't remember how. And I remember you, me, Raphie, and 'eo doing things together…not playing with toys on the floor but...other things. And I know there was an accident, which is why I can't remember…" Mike paused, his face scrunched.
"It's just a jumble of images," Mike frowned.
Instantly Don was fully awake. He gave Mike a big smile, reaching over to squeeze his brother's flesh hand.
"Mike, that's great! Not that you're confused but that you're starting to remember! I can help you make sense of things."
Don paused as he noticed his brother's gaze sweep the room. Taking in the four masks on Don's bedside table and the collage of family photos on the walls.
"Is this us?" Mike whispered. Don's grin widened.
"Yup."
Mike ran his fingers over the pictures as he gazed at them, finally pausing on one.
"When was this?"
Don leaned over to look, chuckling at the young turtles in the picture.
"Our tenth birthday," Don replied fondly.
"And who am I?" Mike asked slowly. Don's smile faltered a moment but he pointed to the young Michelangelo in the picture, orange masked and face covered in cake.
"I used to like orange," Mike murmured, "like the mask you showed me the other day."
Mike wrinkled his beak and Don laughed softly.
"Yea, Mikey. You used to."
"Why's my face covered in cake?" Mike asked curiously. Don's grin widened.
"Oh, that's Raph's fault."
"Raphie?" Mike's confused expression only made Don laugh harder.
"Let's just say you got a little too excited about opening presents and Raph figured out a way to shut you up."
Mike smiled as he watched his usually hard brother smile at the memory.
"I don't remember," Mike said softly.
Don patted his shoulder and to Mike's surprise still looked happy.
"That's ok, Mikey. The fact that you're starting to remember anything is a good sign. I'll help you a little bit each day. We'll look at pictures and I'll tell you the stories behind them. Who knows? Maybe you can tell Splinter you want to learn how to use the nunchaku again."
Mike perked up, looking hopeful which only made Don happier.
"You think so?"
Don pulled his brother into a tight hug.
"Yea, Mikey, I think so."
They parted slowly and Mike stood, giving his brother a sheepish look.
"Mind if I still call you D'ello?"
"Not at all, Mikey," Don chuckled.
As his little brother left, Don leaned back staring up at the ceiling with a smile. It may have taken awhile, but the day had turned out to be a good one after all.
