Author's Note: This took a bit longer, as I realized there were some fixer-upper opportunities here. I hope you enjoy, and thanks so much for your comments on the last chapter!

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Chapter Twenty-One: Hey Brother

Donatello, who was mostly hidden behind Raphael now, had forced himself to sit up, a shaky hand reaching out, eyes widening. His voice was pitched high with panic.

"Guys, stop! It's okay! Karai rescued me! I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for h..."

"Lower your weapons." Splinter had appeared in the doorway to the dojo, his raised chin and blazing eyes matching his tone. The room went quiet.

No one moved immediately except for Mikey, who did as he was told. Raphael responded more slowly, lowering his sai as he and Karai both carefully straightened, watching each other closely.

Then the sound of a turnstile moving cut through the tense atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention to the main entrance. Leonardo stood there, eyes locked onto Donatello. April stood a few feet behind him. Leo's hand remained on the turnstile. He seemed frozen there, mouth slightly open. Even from across the room, Donatello could feel the intensity of his stare, sensing that something was wrong.

Worry settled in his stomach. Had something else happened while he was gone...?

"Donnie...you're back." Donatello looked away from Leo, breaking the strange moment. Michelangelo was starting at him too, eyes glittering with unshed tears. Mikey leaped over the couch and ran forward, passing right by Raphael and Karai, to stand directly in front of Donatello.

He repeated himself, voice loud yet choked with shocked joy. "Donnie, you're back!"

"Y-yeah Mikey..." Donatello's face fell into a gentle, lopsided smile. Mikey didn't say anything for a moment, but as they stared at each other, Donnie couldn't stop the tears pricking at the edges of his own eyes. Mikey's expression was...wrong. He should be happy, and he was...but there was so much hurt there, like something terrible had happened. Sure, he had a few cuts and bruises, but why...?

"Mikey..." With a trembling lower lip and a bobbing Adam's apple, Donnie opened his arms to his brother, desperate to comfort him.

When Mikey stepped in close and leaned down into a gentle hug, Donnie squeezed as tight as he was able, through the sore muscles and cuts. He laughed a little, the sound brittle to his ears, face stretched into a too-tight smile, determined to hold the tears back.

"Donnie..." Raphael's arms came around him from the side, and for once the hug was tender, as Raph rested a cheek on the back of Donnie's head. Donnie brought a hand up, gently gripping Raphael's shoulder. Of course his brothers had been worried, and maybe he looked worse than he realized right now...but...but he had to show them he was all right, he had to show them it was okay now...

I'm home...

Donnie squeezed his eyes tightly closed as he fought against the urge to sob, a gentle gasp of shock and relief escaping through clenched teeth.

After a little while, Donatello could sense someone in front of him, watching, and opened his eyes again. It was Leonardo. He stood only a few feet in front of him, cheeks wet with tears, his face twisted into a grimace of agony. As Donatello stared up at him, he was only peripherally aware of Mikey pulling back from their hug.

Leo's appearance had sent a physical wave of shock jolting through Donatello. Leonardo's entire frame radiated shock and hurt, and as Donnie watched with wide eyes, he fell to his knees. A sound, something wordless and guttural, worked its way from his throat, as Leonardo moved like a drunk person, his motions clumsy and weak. He fell further forward, bowing his head over Donatello's uninjured leg. He tears disintegrated into huge, heaving sobs, jolting Leo's entire body.

Donatello stared down at the back of Leonardo's head, a knot of terror in his gut. Leo had lost control. Donnie had never seen him like this, never imagined he could get like this...

Donnie rested a trembling hand on the back of Leo's head. Almost immediately, Leonardo reached up clumsily to grip Donnie's hand between both of his own, holding it like a person in prayer, his head still bowed to Donnie's knee.

"D-Donn-niee..." Leo sounded broken. His voice disintegrated back into agonized sobs.

Donnie shook his head, befuddled and agonized, and couldn't stop himself from trying to speak, to say something, even though he had to force the words through a throat that burned.

"Leo...I'm s-safe. I'm b-back..." Donnie's voice cracked, and that was all he could manage, tears streaming down his face. Leonardo shook his head at Donnie's words, unable to speak, head still bowed.

Raphael silently moved forward, tears in his own eyes, and put a hand on the back of Leo's shell.

"H-he thought you were dead, Donnie..."

Donnie looked up at Raphael, shaking his head in bewilderment, as he continued to silently cry. Raphael swallowed, visibly pulling himself together.

"W-we ran into Fishface..."

Donatello couldn't stop the reaction, every muscle tensing slightly at the name, fear flashing briefly in his eyes. Donatello dropped his eyes, very aware that Raphael had seen the change. He watched Leo, trembling lips drawn into a thin line, and waited for Raphael to continue.

When he did, Raphael's voice held an edge of anger. "The creep was looking for you at the lab that blew up last night, j-just like us. He was...he was convinced you died," his voice broke, but he pushed forward, "i-in the explosion, since we were still looking for you, a-and...so much time passed since it happened." Raphael's worried eyes returned to Leonardo, voice laced with pain. "I told Leo not to listen..."

Donnie eyes widened. Oh...no...

Guilt pooled in his stomach, as he stared down at Leo. It made so much sense, and Leonardo - of course it would have been Leo who put things together, and he'd draw the most logical conclusion, no matter who offered it to him...

Leo...!

Donnie didn't know what to say, panic rising as he realized how much hurt he'd caused, breath hitching in his throat. Why? Why didn't he tell them he was back? He didn't need to do that stupid test! Why had he avoided them? It could've waited, it didn't...it didn't even matter, and now, how could he explain...

"It was because of me." Karai's voice interjected, only a tiny tremble giving away that she wasn't entirely calm. Donatello's eyes went to her, and he was trapped, terrified. She met his gaze for a moment, but he couldn't guess what she might say.

She raised her chin, face and voice confident, as she explained. "After I helped him escape, Donatello knocked me out and brought me here. He wanted to prove to me that...," she broke off for just an instant, but immediately started again, tone still smooth, "the truth about my past."

Karai pursed her lips and raised an eyebrow, pointing to Donatello's leg. "But he seriously overtaxed himself with that wounded leg, so instead of proving anything to me, he passed out in his lab after tying me up. I actually woke up early this morning, but I couldn't free myself or alert anyone." She shrugged. "And that's how we spent last night and all day. I'm pretty sure he would've told you guys he was back sooner- if he wasn't passed out. Pretty ironic, right?"

Karai's voice, maybe as much as her words, helped to calm Leo to the point that he managed to sit up, turning to look at her.

She raised an eyebrow and smiled down at Leonardo, crossing her arms, voice playful and upbeat. "You have one stubborn brother, Leo." Her eyes flicked to Donatello's, unreadable, for just an instant, before returning to him.

Leo stared up at her, and ran the back of one shaky hand across his face, sniffling, as he worked to gain further control over his emotions. He offered a wobbly smile in return, tears still streaming down his cheeks.

When he managed a weak reply, he sounded about half his age. "Y-yeah."

Donatello watched her, too, secretly relieved, and amazed. She had calmed Leo down. And she explained everything away so simply! He needed to...he had to thank her later. Profusely.

Raphael interjected, eyes narrowed. "So, you rescued Donatello before you knew you were related to Master Splinter? Just...decided to forget that whole revenge thing?"

Karai uncrossed her arms, caught off guard. She hadn't thought about how to explain her motivations.

Raphael's eyes narrowed further. "Last time we met, you were trying to kill Ap..."

Leonardo and Michelangelo spoke simultaneously, cutting him off.

"Raph, lay off..."

"Dude, she brought Donnie back to us!"

Donnie quietly spoke into the empty space that followed, voice firm, eyes on Karai. "I trust her."

Raphael crossed his arms. "Of course you would, she res..."

Splinter, who had come to stand silently by Karai, quietly but firmly interrupted.

"Miwa indeed brought your brother back to us, and she is now well aware of the Shredder's deception. She will be living with us as family, which will require adjustments from everyone here. I expect you all will work hard to make her feel comfortable."

Karai glanced to Splinter, not quite meeting his eyes. His tone was firm, but calm.

Miwa.

Had he named her that? Or had it been her...her mother, Tang Shen...

Karai looked down, trying to shake off a light headed spell. She blinked, vision blurring slightly for just a moment, and swayed where she stood.

Splinter placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, voice gentle. "I think the time for reunions is nearly over for tonight." He glanced over to April, who stood quietly near the edge of the sofa. "April, would it be all right if Miwa uses your room?"

April nodded, caught off guard. "O-of course, Sensei." She hardly wanted to admit to having mixed feelings about Karai using the room.

As Splinter ushered Karai toward the bedrooms, they all nodded their respects, even Raphael. Soon, only the brothers and April remained.

Donatello filled the silence, staring at Leo, tone full of remorse. "Leo, I'm so sorry you thought..." Donatello dropped off, face crumpling, as Leo turned to face him from where he now sat on the ground by Donnie's feet.

"It wasn't your fault, Donnie." Leonardo stared up at him, an echo of the pain from earlier still in his eyes. "I'm just happy you're alive." He reached a hand out, and Donnie clasped it. Leo moved forward to give him a hug, and as they embraced, Donnie tried to ignore the tiny voice yelling that yes, it really was his fault...he'd been so hell bent on proving to Karai that they were related. He'd been selfish and crazy...

Donnie closed his eyes, sighing into Leo's shoulder, grateful that his brother was more himself again. He owed Leo big time.

As Leo pulled back, a familiar voice spoke, right by Donatello's ear.

"Donnie...I'm so happy you're back."

Donnie's eyes snapped open. April had crouched down by his chair, her face only inches from his own, tears in her eyes. Her sudden closeness jolted him out of the safe emotional space he'd just found. When she reached around his neck, leaning into a careful hug, Donnie stared at the far wall with wide eyes and tried not to flinch, waiting for it to be over. Her arms felt like a trap, choking him.

April did pull back after a moment, returning to her crouched position only inches away. Unlike his brothers, she took time to study his face, taking in each wound with distressed, caring eyes, tears running down her cheeks freely.

"Oh, Donnie..." April reached up to trace the edge of a bruise on his right cheek, biting her lip as she did, brows drawn into a pained frown. Donnie held carefully still, on edge from the careful scrutiny. Then April's thumb ghosted over a tiny puncture wound, left from the taser prongs Jan had used...

Donnie gasped, reeling back, shocked as his mind leaped to that memory. His heart raced, hands turning clammy, eyes glazed with panic.

April gasped too, her hand jolting back. She closed it into a fist and hugged it to her chest, eyes wide and apologetic. "I'm so sorry...!"

Words wouldn't come. Donatello stared down at himself, at the dark sweatshirt covering his plastron, his face heating up. The space felt too close, everyone was too nearby. His mind was muddy and panicked, and still words couldn't be found, as the feeling of being trapped only grew. Humiliation choked him, and a gentle rushing sound from the blood pumping through his head became audible, as he just wished he would sink through the ground and disappear, because he could feel everyone's eyes still on him...

Stop looking at me, please stop looking...!

The others were moving around him now, talking, but their words came through a tunnel, scattered and jumbled. Leo was saying something to April insistently, telling her it was late, how she should go home and get some sleep, and Raph was talking to Mikey, voice raised with worry...

Donnie couldn't bring himself to look up, to tell them he was okay. The whole thing felt like one of those nightmares where he couldn't move, and no matter how fast he ran he was trapped in the same place, unable to make a sound, and he couldn't breathe...

Then Mikey was next to him, a hand on his shoulder, gently speaking into his ear. Donnie slowly tuned in, drawn to the soothing tone.

"...s okay, bro. You're home. You're safe. Just relax...try to take some deep breaths with me, Donnie. Breathe...hhaaahhh. It's gonna be okay. You're safe..."

It helped. Donatello found himself focusing just on Mikey, face turning toward his little brother, away from the ugly sweatshirt he'd found in the Foot soldier's car. Gradually, the noise in his ears receded, the world coming back into focus, until finally he was left looking into Michelangelo's gentle blue eyes.

"There you are..." Mikey's hand tightened on Donnie's shoulder, a soft smile on his face.

Donnie blinked a few times, feeling like someone who had emerged from a dream, and looked around. Raphael was standing nearby, fists clenched by his sides, eyes narrowed and afraid. Leo and April stood further away, halfway toward the turnstiles, but they both faced him, neither moving, both watching him.

Donnie looked back at Mikey, catching the tail end of a shared look between him and Raph, and he realized he'd scared them just now. Scared all of them.

Michelangelo gave him another bright, soothing smile. It radiated love, and healing. Donnie stared back at him, humiliated.

Donatello spoke, voice thin and forlorn. "I-I'm just tired, Mikey." He glanced around, not quite looking at the others, eyes returning to Mikey, to safety. "Everybody. I'm just...just tired." He was pleading, wishing they would understand.

"Dude, of course you're tired! We totally get that. You just spent two weeks with Rad-Brad and Shredder's cronies! I'd be, like, ready to sleep for a week!" Mikey rolled his eyes as if to say how obvious being tired was, grinning, his voice bright and happy, still full of love. "Bro, you deserve some Z's. You wanna head to your room, Donnie?"

Donatello nodded slightly, eyes dropping down. He was tired. He just needed sleep. "Yeah, that would be...good."

Raphael leaped forward, as Mikey started to pull Donatello's arm around his shoulder, reaching down to take his other arm. Raphael's movements were nervous, and overly attentive. Donnie found himself focusing back on Mikey again, on his soothing, relaxed brother.

"Dude, just say if anything hurts, okay? We can't tell much through the, um..." Mikey's voice wavered for just an instant, the calm being replaced by something uncertain, something just as worried as Raphael. Mikey almost immediately fell back into his rhythm, voice happy again. "...that funky shirt you're wearing."

Donnie felt his face heat up, and nodded. "I-I will."

As they helped him out of the pit, Donnie could feel Leo and April still watching him. As Raphael and Mikey helped him toward his bedroom, they passed Splinter's silent presence too.

Donatello didn't look up.

Tomorrow. He'd be back to his old self tomorrow. Then he'd apologize for the freak out, and they'd see he was okay.

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AN: Donnie: "I'm okay!" *grins as he falls over sideways*. Sure you are Donnie, sure you are. Thanks for reading, and I'd love to hear your comments!