Disclaimer: TMNT not mine
ahhh last chapter! so sad...sniff...of course there will also be an epilogue but I probably won't post it until tonight or tomorrow. I hope you've been enjoying the story! I know it's been weird and very sad for leo/don (err I actually have an alternate chapter where it ends happier for them but I resisted changing the entire story...even if they're my favorite!) but anyway, hopefully by the epilogue my goals for this story will have been achieved! Read and enjoy!
Warning: There is character death in this chapter! But you kind of knew that was coming... :(
It wasn't that Donatello hadn't wanted to visit more. He had known of Splinter's declining health and he had missed his brothers terribly. Part of Donatello wanted to return home for good, forget about the life he had created on his own and go back to tinkering in his workshop with the sound of his family in the lair the only noise disturbing him. But Don had hesitated in his eagerness to return because of one thing. Leonardo. Don hated the idea of seeing Leo had moved on. Not that he was pining of course. In fact, they hadn't had a serious conversation in a long time. Yet part of him always still hoped they'd find a way back to each other. He supposed first loves were always remembered fondly but Don had thought Leo would be his first and last.
Don shook his head, dismissing his nerves at seeing Leo as he entered the lair, happy to hear the familiar click as the lock opened on the door. He had hurried home as fast as he could after receiving Mike's call. Putting everything on hold, it had taken Don two days to arrive and he just hoped he wasn't too late.
The lair was quiet as Don entered. He knew it was early in the morning but he had hoped that maybe his brothers would be up and—
The sound of clanging plates in the kitchen caught Don's attention. Don quickly walked to the kitchen, pausing in the doorway at the sight that greeted him. There was Raphael with his back to him as he washed dishes in the sink. He didn't look much different, maybe a bit bulkier than Don remembered but besides that his red banded brother was a familiar sight.
"Since when do you wash dishes?"
Don tossed his bag into a nearby chair, laughing as Raph jumped, turning around quickly and ignoring the water that dripped from his hands onto the floor.
"Donnie!"
"OOF!"
Before Don could reply he was trapped in a massive hug from his brother. Raph released him, his wet hands squeezing Don's arms as he looked at him.
"I didn't think you'd be gettin' in so early!" Raph cried, moving over to the counter and grabbing a towel to wipe his hands.
"Well, I cut some corners here and there," Don grinned, "when did you get here?"
Raph tossed Don the towel, which he caught effortlessly and wiped off the wet remains from Raph's hands.
"Yesterday afternoon. Mike just sounded so final on the phone…" Raph sighed, "it's been tough being back, Donnie. Splinter…he's real bad. And Leo's an exhausted mess. He's still recovering from having to take care of Splinter on his own for awhile. I think it really took a lot out of him watching Sensei get worse. But now that Mikey's back…"
Raph paused. He eyed Don thoughtfully.
"When's the last time you spoke to them, Donnie?" Don shrugged, avoiding Raph's questioning eyes.
"Before Mikey called? I spoke with Mike a few days after he left. I was too busy to give Leo a call…"
Raph frowned.
"You look thin," he stated bluntly. Don smiled.
"And you look bigger than I remember."
Silence stretched between them before finally Raph chuckled.
"Well, if ya don't wanna talk about it ya don't have to."
"Where's everyone else?"
Raph turned, beginning to put the plates and utensils away.
"Splinter's in his room. We just finished having breakfast. I volunteered to stay with him last night. I think Leo's been doing it every night since Mikey left which ya know means he hasn't gotten any sleep. I was just going to wake him and Mikey actually and force them to eat something."
"I'll do it," Don said happily, "Maybe it'll be a welcoming surprise for them to wake up to."
Raph paused, a dish hovered in the air for a moment before Raph unfroze, moving to place the dish in the cupboard. Don watched Raph carefully.
"Should I not wake them?"
"Nah go ahead, braniac, they'll be glad to see ya," Raph replied, throwing a grin over his shoulder at Don, "they're in Leo's room. You know Mikey, when he's upset he can't sleep alone."
Don nodded. Still a bit confused by his brother's behavior, Don wandered to his room where he chucked his bag onto his dusty bed. Eyeing his room thoughtfully, Don headed towards Leo's. As Don neared he heard shuffling inside. He opened the door slowly, wanting to surprise his brothers but as he peered inside he froze. Leo was standing, tying on his mask. He looked exhausted in the dim candlelight just like Raph had said. Don bit his lower lip, trying to muster the courage to speak. As he continued to watch his brother, Leo reached over to a spot on the floor and picked up Mikey's mask. Don frowned. Why was it on the floor? Leo walked over to the bed and Don lost sight of him. Don moved over to the other side of the door, opening it a bit more and saw Mikey stretching out on the bed yawning.
"And you used to hate sleepovers," Mike teased sleepily. Leo chuckled, dangling Mikey's mask above his little brother.
"Come on, Mike, we should check on Splinter and Raph."
Leo let go of the mask and Mike caught the fluttering material. He tied it on as Leo moved around the room collecting his gear.
"Donnie should be coming today too," Mike said brightly. Don watched Leo, waiting for a reaction but he just nodded blankly.
"Yea, so we should get moving."
Mike sighed.
"Sometimes I wish we could just stay in here forever and forget about everything that's going on out there…"
Leo turned at this, giving Mike a loving smile.
"I know what you mean."
He moved swiftly to the bed, placing a hand on Mike's shoulder.
"Come on, Mikey."
Then Leo was leaning down and gently pressing his beak to Mikey's. Don's eyes widened. He quickly stepped away from the door in shock, a stab of jealousy bringing him back to his senses. Leo and…Mikey?
Don knocked loudly on the door, throwing it open.
"Rise and shine!" he chimed loudly. Mikey was already out of bed, putting on his gear and Leo was standing away from him arms crossed and waiting. They both looked up at Don in surprise and then Don was lost in another massive hug.
"Donnie!" Mike cried, "you're home!" Don laughed hugging Mike back and trying to forget about what he had just seen. He glanced at Leo, who stood staring at Don with a contemplative expression. Don met his eyes a moment before Leo looked away.
"Yea, it's good to be back," Don muttered.
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Over the next few days Don tried to forget what he had witnessed. He realized it must have been what made Raph pause when Don volunteered to wake his brothers up. The idea that Mikey and Leo might have confided in Raph but not him made Don a little angry. He knew he was mad for all the wrong reasons but it didn't make things easier. He needed a place to direct his rage over other things as well, mainly Splinter's failing health. He had told his brothers bluntly the other night that Splinter had a few days left at most and that there was nothing they could do except try to make him more comfortable.
It was Don's turn to stay with Splinter when his Sensei's erratic breathing caught his attention. Don quietly closed the book he had been reading and moved to his father's bedside.
"Master Splinter," he began only to be stopped by Splinter grabbing his arm. His grip was unusually strong and for a minute Don thought maybe he could recover after all. But his spirits fell when Splinter's eyes locked with his.
"Get your brothers, my son."
The words were spoken softly, but there was such determination behind them that Don quickly jumped to his feet yelling for his brothers and knocking loudly on their doors. Within two minutes the four of them were kneeling by their Sensei's bed staring at him with desperate eyes.
"Why such fear?" Splinter's voice was low and they all leaned forward to hear him, "have I not taught you that death is a necessary part of life?"
None of them spoke. Mike's lower lip was quivering, Raph's hands were clenched tightly at his sides and in one of his rare moments, Don couldn't find the right words. It was Leo who cleared his throat and willed himself to speak.
"You taught us well, Father," he whispered. Splinter smiled weakly.
"The bonds of love never die, my sons. We will always be a family, no matter the distance that separates us. Or the plane of existence."
Mikey let out a soft sob and Splinter turned his gaze to him.
"There will be a time for tears and a time for mourning but then you must go on with your lives. I am proud of all of you and what you have accomplished. I am honored to have been able to see you all come into your own. I have made many mistakes in regards to the four of you," he held up a shaking hand to quiet their protests, "but I see now that you will succeed no matter what."
He paused, catching his breath.
"There is one mistake however, I must correct before my end." Four pairs of watery eyes watched and waited.
"Love, my sons, only makes you stronger. I was wrong to think it could hurt our family."
His eyes slid from Mikey to Leo, resting on his eldest son.
"You have my blessing to follow your feelings. It is not often one finds the love they need in life to be happy."
Raph wiped a wayward tear from his cheek, the corner of his mouth turning up slightly as he glanced at Mikey. Mikey's eyes were wide and streaming as he watched Splinter. Leo's eyes were watery but no tears escaped his composed face. Don sniffed, following Splinter's gaze. He saw Mikey's hand shoot out and grip Leo's. Don quickly looked away as Leo squeezed back.
The conversation was as close to a goodbye as the family dared. They sat together like that, Splinter talking ideally to them as his focus shifted here and there and they quietly replied to him. Eventually Splinter became quiet and they all crowded around his bed, hands gripping his and gently stroking his forehead. They stayed like that until Splinter was gone.\
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The four brothers took their time dealing with their father's death. Preparing him for a proper goodbye the next day and then staying together in the lair. Besides Leo and Mikey being inseparable they all remained a bit withdrawn from each other, unsure of what to do now that Splinter was gone. Were Don and Raph supposed to return to their lives outside the lair? Were Leo and Mikey going to remain behind? If they left, when would any of them return home?
These questions remained unspoken until finally one day Raph appeared at breakfast, his bag packed, and announced he'd be hitting the road again. It wasn't a surprise to either Leo or Mikey when that night Don proclaimed that he should get back to work. Things had been awkward between Don and the pair once they had realized Don had figured out they were together. Though he was tolerant of being around Mikey, Don still acted distant around Leo. Though Mike tried to comfort his upset older brother and reassure him that things would return to normal eventually, Leo wasn't so sure. The next day Don filled two bags with equipment from his workshop and then was gone.
It only took a few days alone in the lair for Leo and Mike to realize they couldn't remain there either. It was too quiet and it didn't seem right without Splinter around anymore.
One night Leo lay quietly on his back in bed, Mikey snuggling close beside him.
"Whatcha thinking?" Mike asked drowsily. Leo frowned in thought.
"I'm supposed to be in charge of the family now," he began slowly, "and even though I know it's for the best that everyone goes off on their own, I can't help but think I'm failing Splinter somehow."
Mike shifted, blinking up at his brother.
"Splinter never expected you to keep us all locked up in here like teenagers, Leo," he assured him, "if you kept Raph and Don here, if we stayed here forever…it would be the wrong decision."
Leo nodded.
"So what next?"
Mike was silent a moment before a slow smile crept over his face.
"Let's go find ourselves together," he said softly. Leo's face softened and he chuckled.
"We'll have to make sure everything's locked up and that the others know we're not here anymore and--" he stopped. Mike was giving him an exaggerated look of annoyance and Leo smiled.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to jump into leader mode."
Leo shifted so that they were facing each other, gently resting his forehead against Mikey's.
"I hear Japan's nice this time of year…"
Mike's eyes sparkled as his smile grew.
"Let's go check it out."