A/N: Dedicated to BrownieBandit (And their adorable love for Donnie) :P Enjoy!

Entwined

Chapter 21: A Waking Dream

Donnie walked cautiously through the forest. He didn't know what direction he was going in, or where his brothers were, but it was ok. He knew somehow that they were safe, and that he was going the right way. The trees slowly took on an etheral quality, gently glowing from within. It was beautiful, and he moved through them without hesitation. He felt free in this world, confident in himself, unencumbered by doubt. Am I dreaming? Before he could decide, the trees gave way to a beautiful, glowing field. Flowers bloomed in various shades of blue and purple, glowing with a strange light as stars streaked across the moonlit sky. There was a cloaked figure seated on a log in the middle of the field, back turned to Donnie as they watched the celestial light show. He knew the figure was aware of him, waiting, watching. Slowly, he approached and sat beside them, opting to watch the sky with them instead of breaking the quiet. After a few minutes, they turned to Donnie.

"Donatello?"

Donnie's eye ridges furrowed. "Yes, that's my name. Who are you?"

"Donnie, why are you here?."

"What is this place?"

The figure hesitated, then pushed the hood. Donnie stared in shock as familiar gray eyes looked hopefully into his. "This is my world."

Donnie frowned slightly, watching a beautiful, softly glowing butterfly float gently by. "It's beautiful."

"Thanks, I guess. I found it while I was getting a grip on my clairsentient abilities. Or maybe I created it. I'm not sure, really. But it's my safe place."

"So...I'm dreaming?"

Rissy laughed. "In a sense, yes. Your body is asleep, if that's what you meant. But it's so much more than a dream realm."

"What do you mean? Rissy?"

Rissy had closed her eyes, a small frown on her face. Slowly, she opened them and looked at Donnie like she was seeing him for the first time. "You should probably go back to your own mind."

"Rissy..?"

The tall woman shook her head. "I need some time to figure something out."

Well, Donnie could certainly respect that, as much as he wanted more answers. But...

"Um, Rissy? How do I go back?"

"Just go back through the woods until you come to an arch. It will take you back."

Donnie gave Rissy one last look before standing and walking slowly back into the woods. As the forest enveloped him, he could swear he heard Rissy singing a lullaby.

"~Only a dreamer

A dreamer am I

With thoughts of tomorrow

While days pass me by~"

OoO

Rissy came awake slowly, mind reeling from her dream. The hell? Donnie, of all people? She shook her hair out and decided to think more about it after breakfast. Stretching, she popped her spine with a satisfying smile and headed for the kitchen where she could hear Reni already working. A big southern breakfast was what they needed this morning.

OoO

In the woods, Donnie was sleeping peacefully. Rissy's lullaby still haunted him, making him smile slightly as he dreamed. Slowly, he blinked awake and looked around. What a weird dream.

"~With thoughts of the future

And thoughts of the past

I've become someone

Someone at last!~"

Donnie blinked and looked around. Nope, there wasn't anyone else here. So...who was singing? And...why was there an angry red welt popping up on his wrist?

OoO

Inside the house, Rissy cursed softly and rushed to the sink. She turned the cold water on full blast, holding where the skillet had burned her under the rushing water. It gave her some relief, but she could still count on a nasty welt to pop up later. She'd been distracted, feeling a tugging on the edge of her senses. Reni turned the heat down on the pan and came over to look at Rissy's wrist.

"Hmm, it doesn't look too bad, but Donnie may still want to look at it for you. I know for sure you won't go to the doctor." Rissy scowled.

"There's no need. It's only a small burn."

"Stubborn. At least let him wrap it. He needs to feel useful. Everyone does, actually."

Rissy kept her eyes carefully on the water rushing over her abused wrist. I know, more than most.

OoO

Donnie's fingers flew over his keyboard. He'd been researching clairsentience, or empathy, for the past hour. While skeptical, he wouldn't discount the possibility. He skimmed another article.

Empaths are often misunderstood to be angry, moody people. This isn't true - in fact, many empaths take it upon themselves to help others. They can, and often will, siphon off emotions from others around them, either conciously or unconciously, to varying degrees. Donnie skimmed a little further, mildly interested in what the article had to offer. Another paragraph intrigued him further.

Often, untrained empaths will connect to people subconciously, usually through dreams. After healing them in the dream realm, there is generally no further connection. The only time this changes is when the empath finds their soul mate. The soul mate stays connected, as all of their "points" line up correctly, similar to electrical circuts. However, empaths usually only find one true soul mate in their lifetime. It's possible for the pair to share many things subconciously, even physical injuries. Donnie's eyes widened slightly, trailing to the mysterious burn before dismissing it.