Epilogue
1 month later
Don's POV
The pain in my knee is as good as gone. The only thing left is a little bit of stiffness. The bruise had already disappeared last week. Everything is back as it was before. Well, almost everything…
Raph has become nicer, at least to me. He has stopped teasing me and he has practically left me alone since the whole affair of last month.
Too bad for Mikey, who has been his 'victim' since.
I also feel like I'm getting more appreciation then before.
Normally, when I fixed something life would move on without a single 'thank you' or even just a smile. It was nothing but a habit: someone broke something, I fixed it and we would try to hide it from master Splinter.
Now, I receive a thank you from all three of my brothers. Even when two of them haven't got anything to do with it. It's a little over the top, maybe. But I kind of like this.
I say in two weeks we will go back to 'the habit structure'.
But I won't mind anymore. Because I have learned that they do appreciate me, even when they don't always say it.
I'm no longer the 'handy man'. Mikey calls: 'Don, can you fix the TV?' I sigh. Ok, so maybe I am the handy man. But that's okay.
Because I'm more than that.
I'm also the doctor, the inventor and the one with the solutions to everything (well, at least according to Leo). But most important: I'm part of a loving family that truly cares about me and wouldn't trade me for the world.
Yesterday, something weird happened. I was working in my lab on the shellraiser. Suddenly, I hear the door of the lab opening. I turn around and see Raph standing there with a scared look on his face. I could only imagine one reason why he looked that way. 'What is broken this time?' I asked a little annoyed. He looked a little offended and answered that there was nothing broken. He just dropped in to say hi and to check on what I was doing.
I was surprised. Normally, nobody really cared about what I was making… as long as it didn't explode or started a fire. He stayed for about half an hour doing nothing but watching me work. He truly seemed interested. Which is kind of strange.
After another half an hour, he started helping me by handing me some tools when I asked for them. And another 15 minutes later, he was actually also working on the engine (after I explained what he could do).
It has never happened that he voluntarily helped me out. That whole affair must have startled him more than I thought.
When we were done, we still had a drink together and laughed a lot about everything and nothing at the same time. It had been years since we had just been laughing like this with just the two of us.
Then the truth came out. He confessed that he had been thinking (I had to bite on my tongue to not make a remark…) and that he had come to see things in a new way. 'There is only the four of us and master Splinter' Raph had said 'There won't be anybody else when we're in trouble. So we have to look out for each other. Take care of each other. Protect each other…' there had been a silence filled with so much tension. Then, he continued: 'I know you forgave me a long time ago, but I can't forgive myself. And I still want to apologise again for what happened. I should have known you better and I should have been able to predict the consequences of my actions. And I'm more sorry than I could ever express '
I looked into his eyes and I saw all that he wanted to say, but couldn't find the words to do so.
I smiled at him and gave him a hug, although I knew he didn't like it. But he took it willingly. He even hugged back. 'I know' I said into his ear while hugging. He looked me in the eyes for just one second, but that one second said more than a thousand words could have. At that moment, Mikey walked into the kitchen: 'Aww, group hug!' he yelled while running up to us and joining. Leo came short after, alarmed by Mikey's yell. When he saw his younger brothers in a big group hug, he could do nothing but join them. After a while, Leo asked: 'Why are we hugging?' Donnie and Raph looked at each other and answered together: 'Just because we're brothers'.
My name is Donatello and I am smart, a little shy and not very athletic.
But most important: I'm proud to be part of this family.
Author's note: to everyone who has been reading this story: Thank you so much for all the support!
This is my first writing online ever, so I'm kind of proud of it.
I will defenitely write another one after this :)
Suggestions are welcome!
Also, if you have got any questions, send me a message! :)
Thanks again and I hope to see you again in my other stories! :D