Finally got this chapter done. Every time I thought it was ready, I'd re-read it and change one little detail, then I'd have to change almost all of the chapter to make it make sense or work.
Hope you guys enjoy.
Michelangelo
It took three days for Don's fever to break.
For those agonizingly long days, we sat and watched him battle the fever that racked his body. Once his fever got so high, he seizing. April said it happened because his temperature got too high, for too long.
I don't think I would have ever left his side if Master Splinter had not made me. He gently reminded me that my two older brothers wished, and perhaps needed, to sit with Don as well. His fever finally broke the morning of the third day and the next afternoon we moved him to his room.
We had all hoped that maybe being in familiar surroundings would bring around and help to get him to realize that he was indeed home. But I soon realized it was late in the evening and other than the occasional whimper or groan, Donnie had not uttered a sound.
I had missed him so much. That wordless support I'd taken for granted. When Don had disappeared it was like he'd taken the floor with him; suddenly, there'd been nothing to stand on, nothing there to catch me when I fell.
For two years the nightmares had haunted me. My mind created all sorts of horrible things about what had happened to Don or where he was. They only got worse after Raph's little mind melding or whatever that had been three months after Donnie disappeared. Now I as I sat beside him, I realized my nightmares didn't compete with what he had actually endured.
I slowly traced over the largest scar on his plastron, it looked like a short capital 'I'; as I did, I realized that someone had opened his chest. Some monster had cut open my brother, had gone into his chest. The fury began to slowly make its way through my body, spreading almost like the blood through my veins.
Never in my life had I felt like this, but I pushed it away. There would be a time and a place to unleash it; until then I would locked it away.
My gaze slowly traveled over Don. I studied each mark, every bruise, and every cut. My eyes began to tingle at the number of them, but it was the damage that wasn't showing that made the tears finally fall; free and fast.
It was what those monsters had done to make him believe that even though he was safe and with us again, he believed he still remained in that horrible place.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and without looking to see who it was; I buried my face against their plastron and wrapped my arms around their shell. I sobbed long and hard. I didn't think it was possible for me to have any more tears left after all I had already shed.
Who ever was holding onto to me, never said a word as I sobbed; they just held me close.
Some time passed before I finally was able to get some control back over my emotions. Slowly, I pulled away, rubbing a hand over my eyes, in an attempt to wipe away the tears.
"Better?" a gruff voice asked as an emerald colored hand pushed a handful of Kleenex into my hand.
A small nod was the only reply I gave before I turned away slightly to blow my nose. As I did, Raph settled on the bed next to me and placed a hand on Donnie's brow. I had to smile a little at how Raph was acting like Don always did when one of us was sick.
"Fevers down" he mumbled, bringing a small smile to my face. With a heavy sigh, he leaned back in his chair, both his hands coming up and scrubbing over his face.
"Raph-"
Hearing the bedding beside me shuffle slightly, we both turned towards Donnie. His previously relaxed face was now grimacing in pain and his mouth opened slightly, in what I figured must be a silent cry.
"Donnie? Donnie, can you hear me bro?" Raph tried as he lightly shook Don's arm, "Open your damn eyes Donatello."
That seemed to get a better response. His head shifted from side to side every once in awhile as he started coming more too. After what seemed like forever, his bleary eyes finally opened a crack and he took a deep, shuddering breath.
Donatello
I couldn't focus - couldn't center my mind. I feel like I was adrift; like I was swimming through a fog. I was aware, barely, vaguely, of someone sitting near me - next to me?
Voices, murmuring in the background; a name I think I recognize, and then… were they addressing me?
"-your damn eyes Donatello."
It took a great effort to open my eyes; they felt like lead. And they didn't appear to be working too good… I couldn't make out more than blurs. More murmurs… but they didn't make sense to my fractured mind…
The dark green blur was moving closer, and something… something was touching my hand now.
My eyes slid close again for a moment as I tried to gather my strength. It took so much just to get them open again, but this time the blurs were a little more defined. The blur was sitting… yeah, it was sitting next to me.
I shifted slightly and instantly regretted it. Pain erupted through my whole body; I couldn't stop the cry that slipped out if I wanted to.
Raphael
"Don? Can you hear me Don-san?" I asked tentatively. Don's forehead wrinkled into a frown, and his eyes, already narrowed to slits, flickered from side to side. I reached over and grabbed his unbandaged hand, squeezing it tightly. It was still clammy, but not so cold anymore. My other hand rested on his brow.
His eyes slid shut again.
"Get Leo and Sensei," I told Mike without turning my attention from Don.
He was out the door in flash, yelling for them.
Don's eyes slide open again a few moments later,
"Donnie?"
He shifted slightly and then was crying out. His whole body tensed as his eyes slammed shut thanks to the pain currently radiating through his body. We had been unable to give him some more of Sensei organic painkillers because he didn't know when he would wake.
"Raphael"
"He's awake or waking up… the numbing cream where… is it… and the painkillers…where are the damn painkillers!"
Splinter placed a paw in my shoulder and I closed my eyes taking a calming breath, "He's in pain Sensei. Where did you put the numbing cream and painkillers."
"Leonardo is retrieving them from my room."
I nodded slowly as I stood and allowed him to take my spot from beside Donnie,
"Perhaps you should call Ms. O'Neil, my son. Bring her up to date on your brother's condition and have her bring down the supplies she to agreed to get."
As hard as it was I tore my gaze away from where I had locked it on Donnie, after I moved, and I uncertainly looked at my father, not wanting to leave my brother; for the simple fear that he wouldn't be here when I came back.
Splinter's eyes locked with mine and he gave me a small smile,
"Go Raphael. I will remain with your brother."
He motioned me away with a small gesture, before turning back to Donnie.
My fists were clenched as I walked out the room. Wanting nothing more than to turn around and stay beside my hurting brother, but I did as my father told.
She answered on the first ring.
Donatello
I tried to keep as still as possible when I realized that moment made the pain even worse. Especially when I tried to move my right hand.
The dark green blur was gone, replaced with a grayish blur…that seemed really familiar.
I had closed my eyes again shortly after the darker blur moved.
As I opened them again, my sight was marginally better. Everything that was a few feet away were no longer blurs…and the gray blur… was…was…
It couldn't be.
My eyes closed once again and I shut my mind down as I turned inward to try and remember and sort fact from fiction.
Memories slowly began running through my mind as I became more and more aware of where I was.
The cold cell that had become my personal hell. The pain in my arm after the last session.
Amber eyes and a familiar face in that hell.
Brothers standing over me.
The pain that speared my heart at the realization that I was hallucinating again about my brothers finding.
Fire coursing through my body. Unable to understand what was happening.
Voices. Familiar voices.
Cooling touches. Gentle caresses.
Feeling safe after the fire left.
Before my heart and mind had battled over the situation I was in. My heart said 'Home', my mind said 'Trap'…
But now…
Did I dare risk the possibility that this was real? That it was my father that sat next to me, speaking gentle words? That it had been my brothers standing over me? That it was Raph that found me and not some dream?
I realized that I would have to chance it and although the pain if this wasn't real would be great…I had to do it.
I opened my eyes and allowed their words to breach my wall.
"-home, my son. You are home."
Alright, Ch 13 is half way written and I hope you fuys enjoyed this chapter. R&R please
