TMNT

Yay! Finding out my choice! Here's the story!

Donnie's POV

I slowly crack open my eyes, only to have the light blind me. I groan, and sit up, only to have my shoulder cry out in pain. I blink a few times, to see I'm in the lair, in my room. The lair! How I missed my room! Leo! Raph! Sensei! Mikey! My family! I missed them.

I force myself up from my bed, and go to open the door, but someone beats me to it. I stand back, scared that somehow, a Kraang Droid found it's way into my home, and is after me again. Only, my fears are quickly pushed away when I see my older brother, Raphael, walking in, with a cold glass of water. He seemed to be in a different world, until he looked up and saw me standing there.

'' D-Donnie! You're awake! You won't believe how much I actually missed those brown-red eyes of yours!'', Raph drops the glass in shock, and pulls me in a hug. I wrap my arms around my older brother, shaking wildly. I missed him so much.

'' Was that some kind of nightmare?'', I ask. Please, be some kind of nightmare.

'' I'm afraid not, bro. But, don't worry about the Kraang, me and Leo made sure they're going to be busy for a long time.'', Raph says, hugging me tighter. '' I thought I'd lost ya, Don. I know I was a huge jerk to you, but you know I love you so much, right?''

'' Yeah, Raph, I know.'', I try to calm down my older brother, but he's beyond comfort. Losing both of your little brothers is terrifying. Especially since the last thing you ever did was argue with them.

'' I love you, Donnie, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry.'', he whispers. We both fall to the ground, and he cries for a moment. '' I thought I lost you. Please, don't ever do that to me again!''

'' I promise, Raph. I love you, too.'', I whisper back. We sit there for a moment, in each other's arms. I feel so protected. As long as Raph's here, I'm safe. Nothing can hurt me. And, I bet nothing will try!

'' D-Donnie!'', Leo's voice cries. I look up, and see my oldest brother, standing there in shock. He snaps out of it, and bends down, pulling me and Raph in his arms. '' Little brother... I... I missed you so much!''

'' I missed you, too. Where's Mikey?'', I ask, worried. He's going to be okay, right? Hadn't I done everything to make sure he would be safe?

'' He woke up a few minutes ago. He's in his room.'', Leo answers. I smile slightly. My little brother is safe. I've done my job.

'' Thank everything...'', I mumble. I force myself up from my older brothers' arms, must to their dismay. I look at them, and see all the misery in their eyes. '' It's alright, guys, everything's fine now. Both me and Mikey are safe. I just... have to see him.''

'' We understand, Donnie, he should be in bed.'', Leo says. I nod, and walk out of my room. I take a moment to look at my surroundings. Yes, we're in the lair. There's no way we couldn't be. We have Mikey's video games in the front room, the TV was on, and pizza boxes were everywhere. Yes, this is home. I smile, happy that Mikey was here, where he would be safe. I walk to his room, and find the door wide open. I slowly walk in, and see Master Splinter comforting Mikey, who was laying down, curled up in a small ball.

'' It is alright, my son, Donatello will be fine.'', Father whispers. Obviously, neither one of them heard me come in, that or Master Splinter did and thought it was Raph or Leo.

'' Um, Master Splinter, Mikey?'', I ask, causing both of them to shoot up and look at me. Mikey literally jumps out of bed and runs to me, and Master Splinter was shocked.

'' Donatello... you're okay!'', he cries happily, and walks over to me, and hugs me. Mikey hugs me, and has a death grip on me.

'' I missed you. We've been out for weeks.'', Mikey says. I nod.

'' There was a lot of damage, and not really anyone knows how to use my special medical equipment besides Master Splinter and Leo, so they had to do that on their own.'', I explain. I remember showing Master Splinter how to use all of my '' fancy'' medical equipment in case something were to happen to me or Leo, and I showed Leo in case something were to happen to me.

'' Leonardo did mostly all of the work. He worked very fast.'', Master Splinter tells me.

'' Of course I worked fast, Donnie told me to work fast in emergencies.'', Leo says, as him and Raph walk in. I nod. I did tell him that. Work quickly, but carefully. It could be the difference between a bother's life or death.

'' I'm glad you remember what I said, Leo.'', I smile at my older brother. We all hug each other, and stand there, in each other's arms. Raph and Leo finally manage to let go, then Splinter, but Mikey has a death grip on me.

'' I'm so glad you're okay, D. I was scared.'', Mikey tells me.

'' I know, Mikey, so was I.'', I tell him. He doesn't let go, but I don't want him to. Instead, I wrap both arms around him, and hold him. Because, as long as he's in my arms, he's safe.

Leo's POV

I don't have the heart to tell my youngest brothers they won't be able to be ninjas anymore. I won't allow it. Yes, they're safe. They're alive. And, it is going to remain that way. Because I'm going to go into full on protective mode. I won't take that chance again. They might hate me, but they'll be safe. I don't want Raph to go up there either, but with him, I have no choice. If I tell him it's too dangerous, he would sneak off to go. It's better I take him with me so I at least can be there to save him. Donnie understands all the pressure I go through, so he would listen, and convince Mikey to listen. Because, Mikey knows if he pulled a Raph and snuck out, Donnie would figure it out and follow him, even if it meant him getting seriously hurt. That happened once, and I think Mikey's too scared to try that again.

'' Leo, I need to talk to you.'', Raph says. His voice was so shaky I didn't know it was him at first. I immediately turned around, and faced him. His eyes were still blood shot red from crying. He had been crying ever since Donnie and Mikey were kidnapped. He doesn't want to admit he's been crying that long, but I heard him sobbing every time he shut his bedroom door.

I nod my head, and follow my brother to the living room. Raph hangs his head down, in shame.

'' I don't want Donnie and Mikey going back out there, Leo. It's too dangerous. I can't lose them. It was too much. You don't get it. You weren't losing all of your little brothers. You didn't fight with them like I did. You didn't yell at Donnie and told him you wish he wasn't your little brother right before all this happened. I planned on apologizing after the mission.'', I see tears form in my brother's eyes. '' What I'm sayin' is you may be willing to take this chance again, but I'm sure not.''

'' I'm not either.'', I tell him. He looks at me shocked for a moment. He actually thought I would be willing to let this happen again? '' You're right, Raph, it's too risky. We nearly lost them. And, even if they're going to hate us, we're not taking that chance ever again.''

'' What?'', we both turn around, and see Mikey standing there. '' We're not allowed to go up with you guys on missions?''

'' Mikey...'', I go, but Mikey turns away, and walks off. He's upset with us. I go to talk to him, but Raph takes my shoulder.

'' Let him cool off, bro, he'll realize this is for his own good.'', Raph insists. I nod. Maybe he does just need to cool off.

Raph's POV

I walk in my room, and shut the door. I stare at a photo of Donnie and Mikey on my wall, right beside my bed. Donnie is smiling, and Mikey is giving a goofy grin, his arm around Donnie's shoulder. I place my hand on the picture, sitting on my bed, and let the tears roll down my face. I was so close to losing them. I would of lost myself. I would of lived, for Leo, but I would of been lost in misery. Just imagining not hearing Mikey's laugh, or seeing Donnie's smile when he finishes an invention is just unbearable. The thought of losing my brothers, any of them, makes me want to lose myself. Because, at the end of the day, did I tell them how much I loved them? Or, was I being a hot head and ignoring the well being of my brothers.

I was always told an older brother had the burden of making sure his little brothers were safe and alive. I know Leo carries that burden with all of us, and he has it harder than any of us. Because I'm his little brother. I have Donnie and Mikey to protect. I made the vow I would protect them even if it cost me my own live. I promised myself I wouldn't let anything happen to them. I broke that promise. I failed my two little brothers. I failed everything I knew. Yes, they're home, they're safe, but they could of gotten killed. They were kidnapped. What would of happened if the Kraang had handed them over to the Shredder? What would of happened if me and Leo didn't get there in time? I would of lost the only thing that kept me going. The fact I had little brothers to protect. All because they're two older brothers didn't think anything would happen. We took a dangerous risk. And our brothers paid the price.

'' DONNIE!'', I suddenly hear Mikey yell, causing me to jump up from my bed. '' DONNIE'S HURT! GUYS, DONNIE IS HURT!''

Fear swooped through me, as I dart to the sound of Mikey's sobs. Though it was more than likely only a few seconds because of how fast I was going, it felt like an eternity before I reached my two beloved baby brothers. Mikey was standing over Donnie, and Donnie was on the ground, knocked out. Leo and Sensei were close behind me, I would know because Leo hit my shoulder when I froze up.

'' What happened?'', Leo asks, as I come out of my sense of shock, and help Leo get Donnie to the lab. We have to work fast.

'' I-I don't know. He told me his chest was hurting him, and then he blacked out.'', Mikey sobs. He falls to his knees. '' I... I didn't know what to do. I can't see this again!''

'' Again?'', I asked, as Leo and Sensei began to work. I was useless in this field. I didn't know how to use those fancy machines Donnie has. He only showed Leo and Sensei for emergencies only. I didn't have the patience to deal with those high tech machines. I figured I didn't need to know it, because I would never allow something to happen to Donnie. But, now, watching my older brother and father trying to save him, I wish I had. But, I can make myself useful and get Mikey out of here. No way he wants to watch this. I take his arm, and guide him out of the lair.

'' D-Donnie...'', I hear Mikey sob, as I wrap both arms around him, and take him in the living room.

'' It's alright, Donnie's going to be okay.'', I tell him. I don't know if I'm telling that to just him. I'm terrified. I force myself not to shake. Around Leo, I crack, but not Mikey. He needs someone to be strong. None of us is willing to let Mikey see us hurting. Donnie isn't willing to let anyone see him hurting. Every once in while, I crack to Leo. And Leo talks to Sensei about it. I always knew Donnie felt alone. He never told me how he was hurting. And, it hurt me. I knew he was hurting, but he forced a smile on his face and lie to us all. Mikey manages to find out a little bit of what's going on. All he knows would be Donnie was upset and he needed comfort.

'' I... I watched him die, Raph. Literally die! I can't lose him again! It was too scary.'', Mikey sobs uncontrollably on my chest. I don't know what to do. Donnie is the one that comforts Mikey. Donnie is the only one who knows exactly what to do to comfort Mikey. I wish I knew what to do. I wish Donnie was here.

'' Mikey, look at me.'', I order. He does so. '' Donnie is strong. You know that. He's going to be okay. He loves you. He won't give up knowing you're here and you need him. I bet that's how he survived. And, with Leo and Splinter at work, and the way they're working, he's going to be better soon.

'' Raph, you didn't see what the Kraang did to him. You didn't watch it! You weren't forced to watch him practically kill himself trying to protect you! He took a shot directly in the chest to save me!'', Mikey screams. I know he's feeling guilty.

'' I wouldn't be surprised. Bu, Mikey, did you ask him to do that?'', I ask.

'' Of course not!''

'' So, he made that decision on his own?'', I ask. Mikey remains quiet. He knows what I'm trying to say.

Mikey's POV

Though, I love the warm embrace of my older brother, Raph, I push him away, and run to my room. Guilt clutches up m chest, as hot tears pour down my face. I lock the door behind me, and fall to the floor, sobbing. I want Donnie. I can't watch him die again. I was so scared, not because I was left alone, helpless against the Kraang, but because I thought I truly lost Donnie. His death would of been my fault. I don't know what's going on right now. I guess his health was far worse than we thought.

The thought of losing Donnie is unbearable. More tears come, and my heart burns. I can't find the strength to get up. I lay on the floor, trying to breathe again. I want Donnie. I want to have him hold me and tell me it's going to be okay. I want my best friend. Guilt consumes me.

I'm beyond comfort. Donnie literally died to protect me. Donnie took so many beatings, only for demanding to know what was being done to me. He did everything to make sure I'd live, not caring if he lived or not. I was the only thing that mattered. He did everything to make sure his only little brother would come home alive and safe.

I know he was trying to keep me safe, but does he not realize how much that hurt? If he actually dies, it would be my fault. I would be the one everyone would blame. I wouldn't even be able to live. Without Donnie, I don't see much point on living.

'' Mikey...?'', Raph knocks on the door.

'' Go away.'', I snap. I didn't mean to be so harsh to my older brother, but I don't want to talk to anyone. I want to be alone.

'' He's going to be fine, Mikey. Just give it time.'', Raph's voice was soft, gentle, and calm. Nothing like how he usually acts. I hear footsteps, and wait until I stop hearing them to continue to cry.

What would my life be like if Donnie died? I don't think I would have the strength to continue. I would be lost in misery, but somehow would force myself to continue with life. I don't think Leo or Raph could handle losing both me and Donnie. If I didn't kill myself within a few months, I see myself crying myself to sleep, not going to my ninja training. I'd just lock myself in my room, until Raph got angry enough and busted down the door. I... I don't see me being happy and me without Donnie.

Splinter's POV

I don't know what will happen to Donatello. Tang Shen, if you are looking down on us, please, let him live. Let Donatello survive. Don't take my boy away from me. Take my life if you must, but let my boy live. I've done all I could. It's beyond my control now. It's beyond Leonardo's control. beyond Raphael's. Beyond Michelangelo's. It's all up to Donatello now. He must fight.

I hate this. I hate seeing my boys fighting for their lives like this. I hate not knowing whether nor not Donatello will be okay. I hate the fact one of my sons might die. I hate the Kraang, for causing all of this in the first place. I won't allow them to ever hurt any of my boys ever again. Mostly, I hate myself. I knew the surface would be a dangerous world for them. I knew they were not ready to fight off an alien invasion. I knew this would happen. And, still, I allowed it to happen. I am nothing but a horrible father. I failed to protect them. I failed Donatello and Michelangelo.

Michelangelo will never be the same again. Yes, he is home. Yes, he is safe. But, nothing can take back what he has seen. Nothing can take away his cries of pain. Nothing can ever help him again. If Donatello doesn't make it, I will lose all of them. Donatello was the glue to the family. Then again, none of us can lose each other. We're all we have. A family needs all of it's members.

My poor Donatello. He's fighting for his life. It's a battle I don't know if he will win. He must win. For the sake of our family. For the sake of Michelangelo. Tang Shen, I'm begging you, don't let him die. Please! Please, don't take him away from me. Don't take my son away. He's too young. He deserves to live.

I can't lose him, like I lost you, Tang Shen, to the hands of the enemy...

So, what did y'all think? I'm sorry to be keeping you waiting so long, but my internet has been off the charts. Okay, right, time to make my choice. I pick, they both live! Come see next chapter to find out when and how Donnie wakes up! It's sweet! I don't own TMNT!