Late, late, late.

The next morning Donnie stirred. The effects of the pain killers were slowly wearing off, and the pain returned to his body. Eventually coming back full force.

He woke up in a sweat, afraid to open his eyes. He didn't want to break what could possibly be the allusion of a springing mattress, soft under his abused body.

He moved his arm down to his chest hesitantly. His fingers brushed over the bandage there that seemed to be covering the marks left by Karai.

He let out a breath of relief, which ended up coming out as more of a sob. He breathed in deeply, hoping to clear any sign of tears as he moved his hand down to bunch the soft sheets in his hand.

It took a moment before the memories of earlier that morning came back, and he grimaced, wiping at his eyes. He must have seemed so weak in front of his family, and April too.

As he finally convinced himself to open his eyes he noted that only one opened wall the way. His right eyes only opening up a slit, which he assumed was due to swelling.

After observing his surroundings making 100 percent sure that he was home, he slowly, he raised himself from his bed. A sherp hissing sound escaped his mouth at the feel of his side. He moved his hand to hold it before lifting his feet onto the cold floor. He wished that whoever had dressed him had thought to put on socks, or at least his wrappings.

He let the pain in his side dull, before slowly standing. He knew it was stupid, getting up like he was, but he needed a drink and wasn't sure who was around. He also wanted to see the damage Karai had done after he had passed out from blood loss and pain.

The cut to his arm had been the worse, either that or the one on his left side, that she had continued to kick afterwards. but he had noted her face. Even the most reserved ninja were not robots, and the emotion that had shown on her face after that cut had been obvious regret. She hadn't meant to let it get out of hand like that.

Not that he was deffedning her. She could rot in hell for all he cared.

Well, not actually. But he at least wanted to get a few good hits in next time they met.

"Donnie?" Someone asked as he walked into the main room, pulling himself out of his inner dialogue. He looked up to see Leo cleaning one of the sofa cushions.

"Hey, Lee," Donnie said, not pushing for the final syllable as he winced at his voice. It sounded like a cat being strangled. He attempted to clear his voice with some difficulty.

"What are you doing up?" He asked, concern written over his face and Donnie pointed to the kitchen.

"I need a drink."

"You should be in bed." He told him, walking over with him.

"It's fine, Leo." Donnie reassured. "My legs weren't hurt, I can walk fine."

Leo nodded, not bothering to argue, as he got a glass and some water for him.

"How are you feeling?" Leo asked.

Donnie emptied the glass before answring. "Pretty good, all things considering." The drink had done wonders on his throat, and he handed it back to his eldest brother in a silent request for a refill. Leo complied without hesitation, handing it back.

Donnie took another drink before frowning. "I'm uh, I'm sorry about last night." He said, looking away.

"It's fine, Don." Leo told them. "Though, you really did a number on your side. We had to re-stitch it after you passed back out."

Donnie looked down at his side, examining the length of white bandages wrapped around his mid-section.

"Donnie, you're awake." He heard and looked up to see April smiling at him.

"April, shouldn't you be home, or at school or something?" Donnie asked, surprised at her sudden appearance. "Er, not that I'm complaining, I just-"

She cut him off. "It's only 7. I'm leaving in a couple minutes. I didn't really want to go home until I knew you were okay."

"Oh, thanks," Donnie blushed, looking away from both her and his brother.

"Donnie, maybe you should sit down." Leo told him, putting an arm around his shoulders and leading him to the couch. "You lost a lot of blood yesterday."

"Oh, yeah, right." Donnie nodded, walking along easily.

Once he was seated, Leo by his side and April on the other, he asked;

"So, how bad do I look?"

He winced at the looks that crossed their faces.

He groaned, leaning back into the couch. "I'm a mess, aren't I?"

"I want to be positive, but that's putting it nicely, Don.." She trailed off, Leo looking no better to tell the truth.

Donnie lifted a hand up to his face, gently prodding at his eyes and winching, before moving to his nose and doing the same.

"I think she broke my nose." He frowned, then rubbed along the bandage on his cheek and jaw. "This is just great."

"It's fine, Donnie. You'll heal. Before you know it." Leo told him, then April looked down at her phone.

"I've got to go to school now." She told both brothers, leaning forwards and lightly kissing Donnie on the cheek. "Get better, Donnie." He told him.

Donnie's eyes widened at the kiss, a small smile spreading on his lips.

He gently reached up to his cheek as he watched her walk to the exit.
"Oh, April, wait," He called, and she turned back around. "Can you, um, can you tell that Melody girl that I apologize?" He asked. "I would call her, but I sort of lost her number yesterday.." He frowned.

"Um, yeah, sure, what should I tell her happened?" She asked.

"I don't know, make anything up. Say I was mugged, or something.."

"Bye, April." Leo called, and she waved back.

While Leo was turned Donnie got back to his feet, clutching at his side.

"Where are you going?" Leo asked once he noticed.

"Bathroom," Donnie told him, walking up the stairs.

"Do you- Do you need help?"

"I'll manage." Donnie waved him off.

Once he got inside the first thing that caught his eye was the large mirror, or more specifically him in the large mirror.

"Oh god," He mumbled to himself, looking at the pale, scrawny human in his reflection. He was practically drained of all colour besides the dark bruises that littered his skin. The worst of them (that he could see) being his collar bone.

He then looked at the bandages that also littered his skin. There was the one on his arm, covering most of his forearm, then two bandages wrapped around either wrist, where the chains had cut them raw. Then another one was placed in the middle of his chest, where he guessed more cuts were. Then of course the one wrapped around his midsection for the cut on his side. Which he had apparently damaged last night in his fit. He vaguely remembered the blood, and scowled.

As he examined each injury the memory of how they each got there came flooding back. His skin paled even more, if that was possible and he turned away from the mirror in a hurry. He didn't want to look at the damage any more.

He left the bathroom minutes later, entering his room and finding his wrappings. He wanted, no needed, some form of normalcy and comfort, and he could at least try to find that in his usual attire.

He first did his left arm, which was difficult do to the injuries on his right, then debated on doing his right. Eventually he decided it would prove be pointless, as Sensei would probably have to change the bandages soon.

He looked down at his feet, trying to lean down to start wrapping them, before letting out a pained sound. He straightened out and tried to bring his foot onto the bed to wrap it with much of the same outcome. Dropping it back to the ground he gave a pitiful sigh.

"Donnie," he heard his brother say, and he sighed again, more annoyed this time. He held out the wrappings to his brother without bothering to look.

Leo sighed as well, taking the fabric from him and starting to wrap it around his foot, then up his leg.

"I feel like a stupid child." Donnie frowned, watching his brother's hands move around his leg.

"We all need help sometimes." Leo told him, moving to the next leg, and pulling his pant leg up. "I didn't even see this bruise." He commented, and Donnie looked at it.

"I think that's old. Bruises stick around a lot longer on this body, since the green stage doesn't blend into my skin anymore."

Leo nodded, finishing up his legs with quick and practised hands.

"So, where are Raph and Mikey?" Donnie asked, looking around the hall as they went back to the pit.

"With Sensei in the dojo. They're having some extra meditation today. Trying to channel their excessive energy into something besides being loud or being angry." Leo chuckled, as Donnie smiled. "They were both being a bit, uh, disruptive today during practice."

"You didn't join them?" Donnie asked. He quickly came to the conclusion that he had been the cause of the disruptive behaviour when his brother didn't explain further.

"I wanted to be out here in case you woke up, plus I needed to clean the couch."

"What happened to the couch?"

"You. That's where we put you last night. Do you not remember any of it?" Leo asked.

"No, not really. I only remember before I passed out, then I woke up last night and I was home."

"Oh, well you were in and out of consciousness, I guess." Leo shrugged, then his expression turned serious. "Why did Karai have you?" He asked.

Donnie winced at the question, obviously it brought poor memories, but Leo needed to know. "At first she just wanted to know where the lair was, but then she started questioning who I was, and why I was hanging around you guys."

Leo was silent for a moment before looking back at Donnie, "Did you tell her?"

"Not that I'm aware of, but I blacked out after a while." He frowned. "I think she stopped though, after I went out. I don't think I told her anything."

"No one would be angry at you if you did." Leo reassured him.

"I know." Donnie told him, lying back into the couch and turning his full attention to the television. He didn't want to talk anymore, he kind of just wanted to forget the whole thing and go back to sleep.

So he did.

Only two chapters left.

I don't make any promises about a new chapter in a week. My life has gotten a bit horrible the past bit, and it leaves little time to write. I'm trying though.

Apologies.

Kay, byyyye~