Chapter 9

I woke up the next morning in my bed in Mikey's arms. We had fallen asleep comforting each other. For a brief moment, I felt all warm and happy inside. Seeing Mikey asleep was one of the cutest things I would probably ever see. But that warm feeling faded as I remembered that Donnie might have memory loss.

I grabbed my T-phone, that Donnie had made me along time ago, off of my side table. The time read, 6:13am. I sighed. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't sleep in. But I don't know how I even got to sleep last night at that fact.

*buzz

The screen of my phone lite up and it said that I had a text from Lily. I unlocked my phone and the text read...

You up yet?

Yes. Why I you up so early?

Couldn't sleep. You know, to many thoughts going on in my head.

Same problem. Guess what?

What?

Donnie's awake.

REALLY? HOW LONG WAS HE UP FOR?

He woke just last night. But...

BUT WHAT!?

He might have memory loss. We're not sure yet.

I'll be right over, bringing John, conversation NOT OVER YET!

I smiled at the screen. Lily was always so dramatic when it came to texting. She was never afraid to use caps. Also, Lily isn't very patient. She wouldn't let me explain through text messages about what happened with Donnie last night. It had to be done it person. Plus she was going to wake up John too. And all of this made me smile. It felt nice to smile again. I hadn't done it in a long time.

I scooted out of bed. Being extra careful not to wake up Mikey. The poor guy needed his sleep. I walked out of my room and headed for the living room. When I got there, Leo was sitting on the couch. His eyes were red and he had dark circles under them.

" Leo?" I was puzzled. Why was he up so early?, " What are you doing up?"

Leo looked up at me. He had been staring at the floor, deep in his own thoughts.

" I could ask you the same question." Leo countered. There was no humour in his voice like there would have been.

" Did you even go to sleep last night?" I sat down beside and looked at him with concern.

" No not really. Couldn't sleep..." Leo was about to continue his sentence but I knew exactly what he was going to say.

" To many thoughts going on in your head?" I wondered if he had the same problem that both Lily and I had.

" Yeah. Plus someone had to keep an eye on Karai." Leo explained himself.

I glanced over at Karai as Leo was speaking. She was sound asleep in her giant glass tube.

" Have you checked on Donnie yet?" I wondered and converted my attention back to him.

" No. Not yet." Leo looked back down at the ground.

" Is Splinter sleeping in his room?" I questioned. Wondering if Splinter was already with Donnie.

" No. He's sleeping in the training room." Leo explained.

" Did you sleep on the couch?" I asked.

" Yeah."

" Why didn't you sleep in your room?" I wondered.

" I dunno." Leo shrugged.

At first I wondered why he didn't just sleep in Donnie's room then. But then I realized that Leo probably wouldn't want to. In fact no of us would want to. For some reason, it felt...wrong.

" Lily and John are on their way over. They want to know what happened with Donnie." I explained to Leo. I couldn't handle any silences right now. Silences meant time for my mind to think. And I don't like the thoughts that it has.

" There already up?" Leo sounded surprised. He knew that Lily likes to wake up early. But never this early. And John usually likes to sleep in till after lunch. And since it's still Christmas vacation, John was going to hate Lily for waking him up.

I opened my mouth to speak but Lily's voice boomed down the sewers and into the lair.

" We're here!" She shouted as she dragged a half asleep John into the lair and plopped down on the couch.

" Lily. Now can you tell me why we're hear so early?" John grumbled.

" You didn't explain to him?" I asked Lily. I couldn't believe that she had dragged John into the sewers and not even told him what was going on.

" I was in a rush. Didn't have time." Lily defended herself and stuck her hands up in a I surrender position.

" Donnie's awake." I looked at John as I told him. He went from almost falling asleep on the floor to fully wake in seconds.

" Is he okay?!" John shouted a little louder then necessary.

" That's what we need to find out." I explained to my friends kinda shyly.

" Oh." John went from loud to quiet to curious as he asked, " Who's that chic?" And he pointed to the sound asleep Karai.

" That's Karai. We captured her. It's a long story." Leo answered for me.

" When can we go see Donnie?" Lily was not ready to give up on the Donnie conversation.

" I don't know." I told them, " We should probably wait until everyone is up."

Lily didn't hesitate to jump up off the couch and rushed for everyone's room. Moments later, she came back with a grumpy Raph and a sleepy eyed Mikey. And this time, Lily was explaining to them what her and John was doing here.

" Shouldn't we see if Donnie's awake first?" Mikey suggested as a big yawn escaped from his mouth.

" Then come on! Let's see if hes awake." Lily ran off to the training room. We all shrugged and followed her. This wasn't exactly the way I imagined how we would see Donnie for the first day, but at least it's something right?

We walked into the training hollow and Splinter sat right up. He didn't asked questions as we approached his room.

Each step I was taking, every step getting closer and closer, I was getting more nervous. I was rarely nervous to talk to Donnie. Except, this wasn't Donnie. This wasn't the Donnie I know and love. That Donnie lying in Splinter's bed isn't my Donnie.

When we came to Splinter's room. Before I entered I stopped dead in the track. My feet gave up on me and wouldn't move, they wouldn't take another step. This caused Leo to bump into me.

" Taylor? You okay?" He didn't sound mad or frustrated at all. When something was wrong, with any of us, Leo always knew. And this time, something was wrong.

" I-I can't go in there." I didn't hesitate to tell Leo. I know that out of anybody, he would understand the most.

" Why not?" Now standing beside me and he put a hand on my shoulder.

" I can't face him. What if he really doesn't remember me? I-I don't think I could-" I started to explain myself but I got cut off.

" It's okay." Leo stopped me before I could finish my sentence. It was hurting me to admit it out loud, and Leo must of heard the pain in my voice. So I was thankful that he stopped me, " You can wait out here if you want. Come in when your ready."

I nodded my head. To afraid that if I spoke, I would burst into tears. And then Leo would stay and comfort me and he might miss his chance to see Donnie. So I would have to fight this one alone. But then again, Donnie has to fight this battle alone. I mean we'll be there for him and all. But we can't help him heal. And here I am. I'm not in there comforting him because I'm afraid? I was being selfish. I was going to go in.

But before I could take even just one step, the door to Splinter's room opened and I seen Mikey standing in the doorway, fresh tears in his eyes.

" We need you to come in." Mikey choked up as the tears began to fall.

I immediately walked in with Mikey. I seen all of them standing around Donnie. When I joined their circle, I seen all of their eyes filled with tears. Even Splinter was crying. I looked at Donnie, he was still staring up at the ceiling. Not making any eye contact, not acknowledging that we're here. Just lost in thoughts.

" We all tried talking to him. But he won't talk back. We thought you might want to give it a try." Leo explained, choking on his own words.

I hesitated for a bit. But then I remembered my little selfish speech that I had with myself and decided to try. But I couldn't do it with all these people around. Plus maybe that's why Donnie won't talk. Maybe he's too nervous.

" Okay. I'll tried. But -uh- do you think I could do it alone?"

" Of course." Splinter answered. Even when he's crying, he still sounded like the Sensei he's suppose to be.

I felt a little bad for kicking them out. And they were all a little hurt that Donnie wouldn't talk to them. But I had to do this alone. I knelt down beside Donnie, like I always did when I talked to him. And so I began.

" Hey Donnie." And as I began I seen Donnie's eyes go a little wide and then back to normal. He shifted his eyes towards me and when he met my gaze, he quickly turned away, " I know that you probably don't remember me, and that it's a little weird that I'm talking to you. But I-uh-we just want to help you. But we can't help you if you don't talk to us. So do you think could at least say something, anything?" I pleaded him.

Nothing happened.

" Come on Donnie. I know your still in there. Just come out. It'll be okay. Just let me in." I chose my wise words of comfort carefully. Just saying the wrong thing could ruin this whole thing. But when I spoke, I wasn't speaking to the memory loss Donnie. I was speaking to my Donnie, the Donnie that remembered me. I knew he was still in there somewhere. I just had to find him.

It took a few moments but Donnie turned his head to face me. The hurt and worry in his brown eyes shook my system. This made the tears in my eyes come down my face.

" What happened to me?" Donnie's voice was horsed and crackly. It was obvious that it hurt him to talk.

" I don't think that's the right place to begin. Do you mind, if I start?" I wondered. I didn't want to push Donnie past his limit, I at least got him to talk,but to actually help him, I would have to ask the right questions.

Donnie nodded his head. But when he did he closed his eyes tightly. I seen hot tears stream down his face. I don't think this family ever cried so much.

" How far back do you remember?" I asked him the ideal question. The one that would start this journey and be repeated all through out.

Donnie breathed in a sharp breath and the exhaled as he was preparing to speak.

" The last thing I remember is April. She was walking away. Saying that she was leaving and then...then.." Donnie let out a tiny scream, like remembering was one of the most painful things he ever experience. And for all I know, it could be.

" Then what?" I urged. I was on a roll and wasn't about to stop. I had to do this for Donnie, the old Donnie that I know is still inside.

" That's it. That's all I remember." Donnie told me sadly.

" Oh. So you really don't know who I am, do you?" I looked down at the ground. I knew Donnie wouldn't remember much, but to remember this little?

" No. I don't. Sorry." He apologized.

" Well my name is Taylor. Just so you know." I told him. After that, it fell into a deep silence.

" Now, can you tell me, what happened?" I was surprised that Donnie kept going. But one thing I couldn't understand. He didn't talk to his family, so why did he talk to me? He doesn't even remember me.

" Now is not the time. We're gonna do this little by little. Baby steps." I made up the first reason I could think of. I didn't want to tell him the real reason why.

" Okay." Donnie obviously didn't feel like talking anymore. So I decided to leave.

" Before I go." I continued, " Can I ask you one more thing?"

" Sure."

" Why me? Why not talk to one of your family members? You don't even remember me, so why talk to me and not them?" I asked the question that had been in my head this entire time.

" I can't face them," Donnie began, " I disappointed them, I should have been stronger. I don't even know how I got like this."

" There something else." I told him, a point of fact, I knew there was something else, there had to be. Just the tone he was using, I could tell.

"Well because I-uh-your voice. It sounds so familiar. I don't know-remember, where I heard it before but it sounds like someone I could just talk to about anything. Not worrying about any judgement. You just sound like someone I would have talked to about anything." Donnie's explanation made me smile.

" Thanks." I said and I walked out of the room and I seen all of them waiting. They had been in the other room the entire time.

" We heard everything." Leo began.

" You were very brave." Splinter finished Leo's statement.

" Yeah." I looked down at the ground. I didn't want to let them see me cry. I mean I know they seen me cry before, but this time was...different. I felt Lily come over and comfort me.

" So, he lost his memory." Leo didn't asked a question. He said it like a point of fact.

" So what are we going to do about it?" Mikey wondered.

" Everything we can." Splinter explained to his youngest son, " We will do our research, we will read books about it. We will try everything that we can to help Donatello."

" Yeah. That brainiac is bound to have a book or two on memory loss in his library." Raph was the one who tried to lighten the mood. Which was rare for him.

" So it's settled then. We should split up into two teams." Leo began, " Taylor, John, and myself will go to Donnie's lab to try to find something. Raph, Lily, Mikey, you guys do the research on the web."

We all agreed at set off to our little stations. We decided to start right away. The sooner we start, the sooner we'll finish.

Splinter was going to stay in the training room, to see if Donnie needed anything.

So Leo, John, and I headed off for Donnie's lab. When we entered we went straight over to his ginormous book shelf. It's filled with books. All non-fiction. Donnie had a second one, that was filled with fiction books. I've never seen so many books in my life. And he sorts it all in alphabetical order.

" M, m, m." I said to myself. Trying to find a memory loss book in the m-section, " Aha!" I found a memory loss book.

" Guys I found one!" I shouted to everyone. Leo and John came running over to me. We searched through the book frantically. Trying to find somewhat useful information. We searched and searched through that book, we searched for a few hours actually. That was until we found something.

" There are three types of memory loss." I began to read the text out loud, balancing the book on my arm and flipping the pages with my good hand. " Temporary loss, Minor loss, and Extreme loss." I continued to read, " Temporary loss is when you lose your memory but usually regain it overnight. Minor loss is when you lose your memory but you can revive it by looking at familiar things. Such as pictures or locations. Extreme loss when you lose your memory completely and barely remember who you are."

" So my guess would be that Donnie has minor loss." John shared his opinion. Leo and I both agreed

" Should we go tell the others?" I wondered. Leo nodded his head an lead the way out. We found Lily, Mikey and Raph gathered around Donnie's laptop, staring at the screen intensely and sitting on the couch.

" Find anything?" John called out. They all turned to face us.

" Nothing we didn't already know." Lily replied flatly, " You guys have any luck?"

" Yes actually. We found out that Donnie might have minor memory loss." I explained.

" What's that?" Mikey questioned.

" It's when you remember some stuff about your life but not all of it. You can revive your memory by looking at familiar things, such as picture and locations." I quoted the book. And tried explain it so Mikey would understand.

" So, that's all we have to do? Show him some pictures?" Raph asked. He said it like it was going to be simply.

" It's not that easy. It's a possibility that it could work. But uh, minor loss could turn into extreme loss. You know, permanent." I continued to explain. I didn't mean to crush anyone's hope. But to get your hopes to high can be dangerous, it really hurts if you get them crushed. I should know.

" Do we even have any pictures?" Mikey realized this before anyone else could.

" I don't think so. We only took pictures as kids, never recently." Leo sounded so disappointed. For a moment, just one moment, there was some hope. But now, it was gone. But I didn't want to let it die, not that quickly.

" The T-phones have cameras right? We could just recreate scenes and take pictures of them. It might not work as effectively as the real thing would, but it's worth a shot right?" I wanted to spark up their hope again. I felt bad for crushing it. So all we needed was a spark of hope. Because then that spark might turn into a flame. I just had to make sure that flame would always keep burning, that it wouldn't blow out.

" Why don't we just take Donnie to the places?" Mikey wondered. We all knew why we couldn't, but I guess Mikey didn't catch on.

" I don't think Donnie is in any condition to be moving." I explained to Mikey. A little annoyed with him, but I also found it kinda cute.

" Oh yeah right. Good point." Mikey congratulated me.

" Let's get started then!" Raph jumped up from his seat.

" Shouldn't we wait till tomorrow?" Leo suggested. It was still early, like only 8 o'clock (pm), but we were all tired.

" What! Why?" Raph questioned and almost shouted.

" Because, we should check with Donnie if he actually wants to do this. And I'm pretty sure he's asleep right now. We should let him rest. Wait till morning." Leo had a hint of frustration in his voice. Leo doesn't usually have a bad temper, he was just really tired. I don't think any of us got a wink of sleep last night.

" I agree with Leo. I'm beat." Mikey extended his arms high in the air as he let out a yawn.

" But-" Raph began but stopped when Lily put a hand on his shoulder.

" Raph." Lily whispered, " Let it go." She said in a kind and gentle way. Not in a mean and forceful way. Lily always knew how to get Raph to calm down.

" Well, I'm gonna head off before my parents start to freak." John announced.

" I think I'm gonna go too. Buy guys!" Lily headed off with John.

" Shall we go to bed?" Mikey asked through another yawn.

" Perhaps a good night rest is in order." Leo advised.

And with those last words, we all went to bed.

The next morning, I was the first one up. It was 8:39 on a Thursday, and usually everyone was up by 6:30-7:00, so everyone slept in. I came into the living room and Leo was fast asleep on the couch. I didn't want to wake him up so I quietly sneaked my way into the kitchen and got myself a bowl of corn flakes.

I walked back into the living room to see if anyone had woken up during the short 3 minutes of me getting cereal. And sure enough, someone was up, Karai.

" What-ya eating?" She whispered to me. It was nice that she was whispering, not wanting to wake Leo up either.

" Corn flakes." I whispered back, through a mouth full of my food.

" When do I get to eat?" She asked back rather stuck up.

" For a prisoner, your awfully demanding." I joked. Karai had barely said a word all day yesterday. So I thought she could use a laugh. But Karai was not amused, " I'll go get you some cereal." I told her and walked back to the kitchen.

I returned with a second bowl of corn flakes. I had to leave mine in the kitchen because my other hand was pretty much useless.

I slide the bowl in the little opening in the cage. Donnie had designed it for such an occasion. The little opening only worked one way, so nothing could get out. Karai picked up the bowl and began to eat.

" Your welcome" I said sarcastically to her as I went back to the kitchen to get my bowl of cereal. When I returned I sat in front of Karai's cage. Sensing that our conversation was not over.

" So what happened to scrawny?" Karai asked then ate a spoon full of corn flakes.

I knew that by scrawny, she meant Donnie.

" First of all Donnie is not scrawny." I defended the turtle I love, " He's just tall and...skinny. And second, I don't know if I should tell you."

" Why not? Don't you trust me." Karai spoke in a challenging way.

" Let's just say your not on my good side." I responded flatly.

" You'd think a person would be more grateful to their rescuer."

" How did you rescue me?" I questioned. Now I was really confused.

" I was the one you released you in the torture chamber." Karai spoke like she was pointing out the obvious.

" Yeah right." I doubted her. If there's one thing I know about Karai is that she loves to play tricks.

" Okay. What about the window. I was the one who opened that too." Karai was not ready to give up.

" Uh..." I was a bit stunned. Only the turtles and myself and the silver flash knew about the window. Which apparently, Karai was my silver flash.

" Your welcome." Karai mocked me from earlier.

" Haha. Funny." I responded flatly once again. If this was a joke, it wasn't funny, " But why would you save me?"

" Just because I'm Shredder's daughter, doesn't mean I agree with everything he does."

" Sure." I huffed back, I still didn't believe Karai.

My head turned and I jumped when I heard Donnie let out a sharp scream. It was loud enough that I could hear it from the living room. But surprisingly, it didn't wake up Leo. I rushed to Splinter's room to check on Donnie, thus ending my conversation with Karai, but believe me, that conversation isn't over. I didn't bother to say goodbye to Karai and I left my cereal on the floor.

I ran in Splinter's room and rushed to Donnie's side. He was laying down holding his left arm.

" Donnie what's wrong?!" I shouted.

" N-nothing." Donnie stammered out. But it was clear that he was trying not to worry me. It didn't work.

" It's obviously not nothing Donnie. Your holding your arm in pain. What happened?" I asked more calmly now.

" I was trying to get up. And I put to much pressure on my arm, then I fell on it." Donnie explained through grunts of pain and gritted teeth.

" Why did you try to get up?" I wasn't disappointed in him, I just wondered why he would do that. I was more worried then anything.

" I-uh-I was hungry." Donnie told me shyly. I only realized now how small Donnie looked. I've never noticed this before. But when Donnie got shy, he would kinda raise his shoulders up to his neck and that made him look small and scared.

" You know you just could of called me and I would have brought you food." I was wondering why Donnie would attempt to get up by himself.

" Yeah but I didn't know if anyone was up." Donnie defended himself.

" Still. You have a split head, broken leg, and a upper left arm that pretty much has no skin left on it. I'm sorry but what made you think that you could do it by yourself?" I asked him compassionately.

" I thought maybe since I don't know what happened, it would all just be a bad dream." Donnie didn't hesitate to tell me. And that just proves that the old Donnie is still in there...somewhere.

" Believe me, I wished a thousand times that this was all just a bad dream. But unfortunately, it's not." I paused. There was a sad atmosphere in the air. I wanted to clean it up, " I'll go make you some breakfast. How does toast sound?"

" Good." His voice cracked. Donnie was still in a lot of pain.

A few moments later I returned to Donnie with some plain toast, only topped with butter.

" Here." I sat down on the edge of the bed with the plate of toast. I picked up one of the pieces.

" What are you doing?" Donnie wondered.

" I'm feeding you some toast." I pointed out.

" Why can't I feed myself?"

" Can you move your left arm?" I wondered. But I already knew the answer.

" No but-" Donnie began but got cut off.

" Can you move your right arm?" I asked. Again already knowing the answer.

" I can." Donnie responded proudly. This was the most expression I've heard Donnie used since the night with Shredder.

" Does it hurt when you move it." I continued on why I was going to feed him.

" Well yeah but-" Donnie got cut of once again.

" If you keep moving, you'll never get better. So therefor I'm going to feed you." I finished up my theory, " Now open."

Donnie knew that he wasn't going to win this fight. So he opened up and took a bit of toast. As he was eating, Donnie started up the conversation.

" So, do I get to know what happened today?" Donnie asked and took another bit of toast.

" Well sorta. We discovered that you have minor memory loss. And it's up to you if you want to try the...solution to it." I searched for the right words to say.

" What's the solution to it?" Donnie wondered. His voice had a hint of hope in it. But he didn't smile. Now that I think of it. I couldn't remember the last time Donnie smiled. His eyes had a dull and depressing look in them. I can't remember the last time I seen a hopeful shine in them either.

" We show you some pictures and familiar locations and stuff that was really important in your life time. Or at least the time that you've forgotten." I explained, " But it's up to you if you want to."

" Why wouldn't I want to?" Donnie questioned.

" Because, some of your memories, they aren't the happiest." I shut my eyes tightly at the thought of what Donnie had been through. It was tough enough to live through it once, but now Donnie had to live through it twice. The thought of it was haunting.

" Oh." Donnie looked down and then back up, " I still want to do it anyway." Donnie decided but he had no idea what he was getting himself into. And that made me sad.

" Did you want anymore toast?" I wondered. Desperate to change the subject.

"No." Donnie sounded sad.

" Okay." I accepted his decision, even if he only ate half of the toast, " But I'll be back with a glass of water." I told him and brought the rest of the toast back to the kitchen. I got a glass of water and returned to Splinter's room.

But before I entered, I heard wheezing sounds come from inside. I wondered what was going on so I entered, but I forgot to knock.

" Donnie?" I looked over to where Donnie was laying and he was vomiting. I rush to his side and I felt his forehead, he was sweating, " Oh Donnie, your burning up." Now Donnie had a bunch of injuries and a fever.

Donnie only responded by vomiting some more. It was only little spurts. He would cough and then vomit. Except that there was blood in this vomit, bloody vomit.

I set the glass of water on the night stand and then went to get some paper towel, and a bucket.

I ran into the living and Leo was watching TV. It's been an hour since I woke up.

" Hey Taylor." Leo said casually, but when I ignored him and just kept running he knew something was up, " Taylor what' s wrong?"

" It's Donnie. He's throwing up." I explained quickly and grabbed the role of paper towel and then searched frantically for a bucket.

" Like, really badly?" Leo questioned.

" Um, well kinda. He's not throwing up a lot but there is a little bit of blood." I explained quickly once again and then I found a bucket and started running back to Donnie.

" Do you need help?" Leo offered.

" No I'm good!" I shouted back. Normally I would have took Leo's feelings into mind but I was in such a rush I didn't have time.

" I'm back!" I cried out and headed for Donnie's side. He was laying on his side but he looked up and me. His eyes showed fear and pain. It was digging deep inside me, begging me to help him.

Donnie coughed and threw up again. It must of hurt him deeply every time he coughed because he would clenched his side and close his eyes tightly, revealing the black and blue caused by black eyes. I hated seeing him like this. So I had to work fast.

" Don't worry Donnie. I'm hear, just let it out." I comforted him and placed the bucket right where Donnie was leaning over. Then I took some paper towel and wiped up what was on the floor, the bed, and his face. I was surprised how much Donnie was throwing up considering he only ate half of a piece of toast.

More and more came out of Donnie's mouth. And every time he would scream. Donnie was in so much pain and between the vomiting and screaming, he rarely had time to breath. But when he did manage to breath, his breaths were short, sharp, and painful. Was there ever a moment when Donnie wasn't in pain? Right now, it didn't seem like it. Finally, Donnie got more then five seconds to breath. He sat up and looked at me. His eyes were full of pain and I've never seen them so hurt. Those brown eyes that always gave me pleasure to look at, but they looked black right now. Plus his chin was stained red.

Donnie began to whimper then he lean forwards and leaped into my arms and began to sob. The moving hurt so bad that it just made him sob harder. I hugged him back, with one arm.

" Make it stop." Donnie whispered in my ear like a small child would to his mother to make the pain go away. It had only been, really two full days since Donnie had woken up, and all ready he couldn't handle it.

" I wish I could, I really do. And if there's anything I can do, anything at all, I'll do it." What I had just said was 100% true. I would do anything to help Donnie. And if I could, I would switch places with him. Sometimes I wish it was me instead of Donnie. So he wouldn't be in pain and so I would forget, forget our fight, forget what he called me. And sometimes it felt better to forget.

" Hey is everything okay in here?" Leo's voice came from behind me. I could tell that he had just walked through the doorway and stopped dead when he saw Donnie and I both sobbing and the bucket fully of bloody vomit.

" Are um ah..." Leo was at lost for words as I heard his voice start to shake.

Neither one of us bothered to look up at him because we both knew that in a few seconds, Leo would be joining our sob fest. And that's just what he did. He joined in our group hug and began to sob with us.

" I'm sorry Donnie." Leo apologized. Even though Donnie never talked to him yet, he would talk to Donnie, " I should have been there for you. But I wasn't, this entire time, I've never once have I come to visit you. Never once I have talked to you. I'm sorry. And Donnie, there's no possible way that I would ever be disappointed with you" Leo spilled out his heart. And from the way he said it, from the way he cried, I could tell that Leo wanted to get this off his chest before it was too late.

Leo's apology just made Donnie cry harder, which made Leo cry harder, which made me cry harder. Donnie buried his face into my shoulder and tried to calm himself down. His breaths were so sharp now it sounded like that gasp you take when you first get shot with a bullet.

After 30 minutes of pure sobbing, we broke up our group hug and just kinda glanced around at each other. Neither one of us saying a word. Because our eyes spoke it all. Leo had painful, apologetic, worried look. Donnie had a painful, hurtful look in his eyes but there was a third emotion and that was forgiveness, he forgave Leo. And my eyes? Only one who was looking at them could tell.

A few moments of silence past. You could have heard a pin drop. And this silence was just what we needed. After a good cry, silence was loud enough for all of us. Well, it was quiet until Donnie sounded like he was choking, then he leaned over and threw up...again.

Donnie laid his head down after minutes of vomiting. He was breathing heavily, well more like panting. Donnie was exhausted, he was tired of vomiting, tired of being hurt, tired of life. And for all those reasons, that's why he closed his eyes and instantly fell asleep. Leo tilted his head towards the door, signalling that we should leave. I took his hint a followed him out. But before I closed the door, I looked back and the worn out, sleeping Donnie. And even though he practically just met me two days ago, for some reason, our connection felt stronger then ever.

Okay guys, so I know I promised this chapter this morning...but obviously that didn't happen. But at least I posted it today right? And it's some-what long, so I'm pretty happy with that. Anyway, please review and tell me what you think! Thanks :)