Wow. So it's been many many years since I used , but I've had it on my heart for a while to try and rectify that. So, hi there to anyone still curious about this story. I don't know how many people will still be reading this tale, or who would be interested in reading it who haven't been following its updates on AO3 instead of waiting around on here. But I'm going to be trying to use this account more again and I wanted to start that by finishing up this story. It's written up to Chapter 14 already, though I'll be staggering the updates a bit. And the story overall is just 16 chapters so, years and years later, I can say that the end is actually right ahead of us.

I want to thank anyone and everyone who has read this story over the years. If there is anyone still reading, I want to thank you for your endless patience. I want to thank everyone who has ever reviewed for this story, and I especially want to thank my best friend, Effar, for getting onto me for all these years to get me to complete this story finally. This is all thanks to her 3

TMNT, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, Donatello, Splinter, and LeatherHead © Mirage Studios
story © Turtlefreak121

Flicker
Chapter Eleven: An Answer

At some time during this unfolding disaster, Leo realized he had unwittingly taken point. Probably by then he was stepping out in an unfortunate impulse born into him through leadership.

The worst of the news he had fortunately been able to deliver to their father in some remote sense of privacy, but things went predictably south once Raphael and Michelangelo were thrown into the mix.

Raph was outraged.

"What do you mean it's cancer? How is this possible?" he demanded, spitting in anger.

Crossing his arms over his chest, Leo hoped he portrayed the confidence he so sorely lacked in the matter. No one would have fully understood all of the results LeatherHead went over with him besides Donny himself. And Donny…

Well, it was left to Leo to explain what he could in a way that defused his upset family as much as mutantly possible.

"According to LeatherHead, it's not just possible but increasingly likely," Leo explained. "The mutations which have made our bodies and minds what they are, that developed our identities, they're part of a process that derails our cells and DNA in drastic ways. Which was never that different from how cancer develops to begin with."

Mike looked at him slightly horrified. "What? We're just walking around, talking balls of cancer?"

"No," Leo said. "I don't think so."

"Sure sounds like that's what you're saying, Leo," Raph snapped, ready for a fight, as if the news was something to be fought at all.

"Everyone calm down, that's not what I'm saying. I'm just explaining why LeatherHead theorizes the cancer got there to begin with," Leo said. "We're apparently already susceptible to change, right? Well… Don's body has been stressed by two different kinds of mutation."

There was a thoughtful silence before Mikey visibly deflated.

"So this is because of the outbreak virus?" he asked, looking heartbroken. "But… but Don ran a dozen tests on himself! For like a whole week he kept checking himself after that. He was supposed to be good! Bug free!"

Raphael wasted no time in punching the nearest pillar. "We all saw how he acted out there, Mikey," he growled. "Shoulda known. Damn it. I'm going to killBishop when I lay my hands on him–"

They all grew silent at the sound of Master Splinter's walking stick tapping the ground. Like they were hatchlings all over again, they looked to their father.

There were wet rings in the fur around their father's eyes but no one dared to give comment.

"Donatello is no senseless beast, even in his current affliction," Master Splinter reminded them warningly. "The shadows of our past fears loom large, have greatly affected our judgment and actions as of late. That will be accepted no more. We are to move forward. And we are to remember that though these shadows are from our past, they have taken new form in our present." He then looked expectantly toward Leonardo. "Please, my son, continue to help us understand just what your brother is facing now. As best as any of us can understand it."

"Of course, Master," Leo nodded. He then looked to his brothers. "Donny is sick, not monstrous. The outbreak virus hat mutagenic properties, and those changes damaged some of his cells. LeatherHead ran lots of scans. Numerous blood tests. We did a whole checkup throughout the day to make sure there weren't more spots that were affected and we just hadn't realized it."

"And?" Raphael asked, more concerned sounding than his usual snide remark.

"So far there doesn't seem to be any spread," Leo explained. "But it's growing. And," he trailed off, realizing his own comprehension was faltering. "There's something about margins that makes him worried that it could."

"Something?" Mike asked, leaning in. "What something? You can't leave us hanging like that!"

"I'm not trying to, Mikey, believe me," Leo said. "LeatherHead understands the vast majority of what's going on, and when we go tomorrow to visit with him again, he can better explain it to all of us again."

"Why isn't he here explaining it right now?" Raph snapped. "You know what? Forget this. I'll go get answers from LH myself."

Hotheadedly as ever, Raphael began to storm toward the door when Master Splinter took his wrist.

"No, Raph," Leo said, stepping toward his brother. "LeatherHead's busy preparing stuff for tomorrow."

Raphael narrowed his eyes, but he didn't dare pull away from Master Splinter's touch. Instead he waited expectantly.

Master Splinter tilted his head then. "And what plans are there for tomorrow, my son?" he asked. "And what is it that we can do to help?"

Feeling more on the spot with Master Splinter questioning him than he had been before, Leonardo swallowed and stood back for a moment. He then steeled himself before continuing.

"Well, LeatherHead seems to think that our best option is, starting tomorrow, picking a course of action. To treat or remove or whatever we do to help Don from here we have to decide on quickly. And he wants extra hands to help do it," he explained before turning to face Raphael and Michelangelo directly. "And he thinks – and I agree – that it would be best if we had April help. She's got plenty of biology experience and will be useful reading up on the research. And we could use Casey for support, too." He hesitated before adding. "I know you just got home but… this is something best delivered in person."

"We'll do it, Leo," Mike said, seemingly satisfied given something to do. "Come on, Raph."

Raphael waited a moment before nodding and following Mike out the doors.

Relieved to have given some reprieve to his brothers, Leo let out a large breath of his own and stood for a moment.

"I shall prepare things as well, and meditate on the circumstances," Master Splinter offered. "Thank you, Leonardo. For your leadership and bravery in the face of most dire pressures."

"I'm not doing anything great or noble right now, Master Splinter," Leo corrected softly. "But I'm going to try my best all the same." He glanced toward the stairs. "I'll join you in meditation shortly, Sensei. But first… I have something else I need to do."

His father nodded gently and Leo made his way for the stairs.

Despite a lot of talk, Leo found himself pausing again and again on the stairs.

He had a feeling that whatever awaited him in Donny's room was a dozen times worse than the reactions he had just seen from the rest of his family. After a full day of testing and experimentation, long and drawn out conversations between LeatherHead and Leonardo, Donatello had barely said a word.

A part of Leo had to wonder if, with how often he seemed to just daydream through his life at that point, Donny even heard anything that had been said.

And another part of Leo, a part he had come to hate quite a bit, had to wonder how much better off his brother might have been that way.

Nothing may have been more opposite of the Donatello that Leo knew and loved than a thoughtless, passive spirit. But at the same time, perhaps that would make things easier.

If Don did understand what they had learned that day, Leo couldn't imagine just what state his brother would be in.

Finally pressing forward and making it to his brother's room, Leo took in a long breath and opened the door.

His heart dropped as he saw Donny sitting there in his room. Not at his computer, not with a book in hand, but at his bed. Don was hunched over, a hand over his mouth and a concentrated look on his face.

There was an eerie quiet to him, even with the jittering of his leg.

After a silent pause, Leo knocked on the doorframe to make his presence more known to his brother.

Almost immediately, Don looked up, wet tracks under his eyes shining.

"Leo," Don said softly.

Swallowing hard, Leo shook his head. "Oh, Donny," he sighed, walking in. "It's going to be okay–"

"Okay? Okay, Leo?" Don asked, getting to his feet.

Unsure, Leo readied himself for just about anything from his brother. But hecouldn't have prepared for the way Donatello quickly closed the space between them and threw his arms around Leo's neck, nearly choking him in a hug.

"Leo, this… This is the most wonderful! I can't even begin to…" He took a moment, let out a heavy breath, then held Leo's shoulders at arm's length. "Leo, do you understand what all of this means? Please tell me you understand what this means, because I'm probably going to forget it soon, so you'll have to remind me of the good news!"

Now completely uncertain, Leo blinked. "Good news?" he asked worriedly.

"Leo, there's a reason!" Don told him, shaking him slightly. "Can't you see? There's a reason I've been like this! I'm not broken! I'm sick! I'm not… I don't know. But there's a reason. And we can do something about it."

"We can try to," Leo corrected before he even realized what he was doing. "What I mean is… Don, you're happy to learn there's a tumor?"

"I'm happy I can move on," Don said, looking at his brother with a watery smile. "Come on, Leo, you have to be, too."

He wasn't. Leo stood there and thought of all the reasons he couldn't be the least bit happy to know there was something growing and hurting his brother's brain. But he took a breath and looked at Don, at that fleeting happiness.

"I am," he said, pulling his brother into another hug. "I am, Donny. You're happy, so I'm happy."

And he patted his brother shell and hoped the feeling could be held onto just a little longer.

For everyone's sake.