Leo was the first to the door when it opened. Raph stood before him with a much calmer aura about him. Internally Leo was panicking, wondering just what Raph had done in there, what had he done to Donnie. Yet, Leo also knew he needed to constrain himself. He had to make changes because the turtle he was before only seemed to frighten Donnie. So he wanted to be a better turtle. The perfect turtle. "How is he?"

Raph was fully expecting a fight. For Leo to jump down his throat and tear him a new asshole for being reckless, stupid and letting his emotions get the better of him. He had worked out what he was gonna say well before he opened the door. Leo surprised him. "He's tired. Needs something ta help with da pain but wont ask fer it. We only got so much of it 'n he wants ta save it fer one of us." Donnie was always silent when it came to his own pain. He said he was able to manage it, having been shocked countless times, thrown across a room by his face among other things.

The leader in blue nodded. Placed his hand on Raph's shoulder and gave a warm smile. "Okay, thank you. See if Mikey can get some water for Donnie and see if Leatherhead can provide him with anything to help him with the pain." Raph was hesitant but left to do as he was bid. When the hot head left, he could see Donnie had been watching. Good. He walked in the room, leaving the door open, for now. He sat on the stool next to the bed and checked him his bandages to ensure they didn't bleed through. "How are you feeling Donnie?"

The other turtle had bit his lip as his eldest brother checked the bandages. Trying not to let the pain show too much. There was a limited supply of pain killers and morphine. It was hard to get for sure but he didn't want to waste it on himself. The others were less tolerant to excessive pain. "Like I fell..from a rooftop." He tried to laugh but it came out raspy and lead to a coughing fit.

Leo was on him in a heartbeat, helping him sit up so he could let it out easier. "Let it out little brother." He gently rubbed his shell, much like he had when they were younger, when Donnie was sicker. After a while the younger turtle calmed the coughing. By then Mikey had given him the water. He could see that he wanted to speak with Donnie. "Go on Mikey."

The blue banded turtle opened the flood gate to a million and one questions. Donnie smiled, answered each as best he could. All were pretty basic. How are you? Where had you been? Are you in pain? Did you kick some Kraang ass? How did you guys escape Shredder's men? What do you want to eat?

After about ten minutes of the Q&A session Leo came back after speaking with Leatherhead. There was little they could do for the pain given he was pregnant. They did not wish to risk the eggs as they were unsure of what would happen. To their knowledge there had not been a pregnant mutant and frankly they didn't know how it even worked given that Slash was a different species. There were too many risks right now and they needed to focus on what was best for Donnie AND the babies.

Leo thanked Leatherhead, bowed to him before going to Mikey to shoo him off. They youngest of them frowned, complained that Raph had far longer with their brother then him. "It isn't fair Leo! I wanna spend time with D too and you cant push me away!" he sat on the floor of the lab. Refusing to move.

Before the eldest had a chance, Donnie spoke up. "Leo is making…me go to sleep now. I took some…pills to help me." He gave a small smile at the fib. "Why do you…think he needed…water?" He pretended to take some pills and put them in his mouth. Leo got the hint and placed the straw in his mouth. After he drank, he gave Mikey a smile. "It's late…I will talk to you…all you want tomorrow."

"Swearsies?" Everyone knew if you swore on Swearsies with Mikey you better hold your end of the barging. Last time Raph fell through, his sais went missing for 4 days. All the places he knew to look had notes calling him a fool or idiot.

Donnie held out his pinky. When Mikey took it, he swore to him. Satified, they youngest of them bounced out of the room. "Hey LH, lets go get the cots for Casey and April. Slash can sleep on the pull out couch…" The noise was too loud.

Leo stood to close the door, meeting with Slash at the entrance. "He needs to rest…"

"And you plan to watch over him?" He snorted. Looking at the useless leader before turning to his mate. "I can do that." He took a step in only for Leo to block him. "Back off…"

"I don't want to fight you. I just want to do what is best for Donnie." He stood his ground but tried to seem standoffish. "You can see him tomorrow. It is late and I think we are all tired. Given everything that has happened I think the best thing to do is rest. I am going to take first watch given I can see how exhausted you are." There was no deny it, not even Slash could. "I want to ensure he will not need immediate help. As he told Mikey he will be sleeping."

"Leo…let him…come for a moment." Donnie sat up on his arm. As much as Leo didn't want to, he let Slash in on his brother's behest. He kept a close eye on him, he even felt Raph watching him.

Slash knelt before Donnie, nuzzling against his neck. "I smell Raphael on you…" he growled lowly. He didn't like it. That prick's scent was masking his mate's.

"We hugged." Donnie sighed. "They are my…brothers. They had…not seen me…in months…" Donnie was tense. Yet he had to keep things civil. "Rest…we can talk more…tomorrow." He was nuzzled again, a show of passiveness and care to the others.

"Fine, but if they hurt you…" he glared at them. Donnie turned him back using his free hand. "You said…you wouldn't come…here. You did…" He gave him a kind smile. "Thank you."

Slash's eyes widened. Donatello had never looked at him like that let alone thanked him. Was this all it took? Was for him to be close to his family? Gods did that look make him happy beyond words. Perhaps there was a way to win his mate over. Far more than just words and actions alone could ever do. Perhaps he should listen to him more. He himself smiled as he nuzzled his mate again. "I will be outside the door if you need me." His tail wagged as he rose to his feet. Kissing the palm of his mate's had that had turned his head earlier. He walked past Leo, smiling at him as he did. "Take care of him." He would sleep alone tonight, but he knew it was best that his mate be safe.

Leo and Raph locked eyes for a moment before they shrugged. Leo closed the door to keep the noise out, just catching a glimpse of Casey and April making their beds on the other side of the lair, Casey slipping between Slash and April to keep an eye on him no doubt.

~LRDM~

Casey watched as Leo closed the door and Slash walked toward Raph, they exchanged a few words before Raph went to his room and Slash laid on the bed facing the lab. He set his bed up between the beast and April wanting to ensure that he wouldn't hurt her in the night. After all he could see the hostility he had for her, most likey given that even he could see Donnie still had feelings for her.

He had always been a light sleeper. Casey had to be because those nights when his father came home drunk he had to ensure that he keep him from hurting his siblings. Both his little brother and sister were too young to fully understand, but he knew and he could sleep easily because his dad was currently in jail and his siblings were at his aunts. That gave him the freedom to stray over to help with Donnie if needed.

"I want to see him…I want to apologize to him…" April looked to the closed door and frowned. There was just so much that she wanted to say to him. She knew it may not be the best time for her to see him and she wasn't sure what would happen if she did see him again. She wanted more than anything to thank him. His hard work had paid off and he created retromutagen, yet in doing so he also put a huge target on his shell. How was she going to help with that?

"Chill Red, I know you will be able to talk to him soon enough. Just give him time to rest and be with his brothers. You know how much family means to them, Donnie most of all." He gave her a smile and handed her the fluffier of the two pillows. "Now I think the best thing we can do is get some rest. No doubt Donnie will be really feeling those injuries tomorrow." He gave her a reassuring smile.

~LRDM~

Leo checked on the IV drip, something Donnie had taught him when Raph had been hurt badly by the Shredder. Nothing too serious thankfully but he needed to be on an IV for a bit. To save Donnie's precious tie he showed him how to watch it and ensure it worked with the second hand equipment. After he was satisfied he pulled the blanket up on his brother and even added a pillow for his broken leg to rest on. Donnie's care came as top priority.

He had seen what happened when Donnie wasn't here. How the team began to fall apart. How their father worried constantly about his well being with the increase in fights between the brothers. Without Donnie there was no way to resolve the conflict. Without Donnie, things that broke didn't get fixed. Without Donnie…they were lost. Leo was going to ensure that Donnie was never lost again. He was the heart of the team, that was made clear by his disappearance. Hell less than an hour with Donnie and Raph went from raging bull to a kitten. They all confided in Donnie because he was the least judgmental, he was the most understanding and well…he knew each of them better then they knew themselves.

"You can…ask me." Donnie said softly. Noting how Leo just seemed to stare at the IV drip, lost in his own thoughts. Something was on his mind. That was obvious as the beak on his face.

The elder brother hated that about his second in command. How easily he could read him. He had been thinking about their last meeting. When he had kissed him and the fact that he had been foolish enough to have forced himself on his brother like that. It wasn't right of him. It was fair to expect Donnie to choose him. Even if he felt he was the obvious choice for him. In the end it was Donnie's choice.

He sat in the chair beside the bed and looked to his little brother. Leo wasn't always good with his words. Not like Donnie was or Mikey. Hell Mikey was so quick to make friends it was baffling how easy he made it look. Donnie was able to piece together what he was trying to say most of the times, even going about it to make the plans of attack look like they came from him. Making Leo seem more like the hero and competent leader. When he questioned Donnie on why he didn't take the credit for his plans his response blew him away. 'They don't look to me as a leader. They look to you. While you bear the weight of the team on your shoulders, I can think clear. You are still new to this, I'm sure you wont need my help after awhile. Believe in yourself Leo, like we believe in you.'

"Do you hate me for what happened?" He looked him in the eyes. Strong and confident, like a good leader. A perfect leader. "If I had not been so foolish to kiss you…I would have been able to help fight them off…" He looked in his brother's eyes. "I could have helped you." He felt tremendous gilt for how he had acted. Having been so selfish he had gotten himself incapacitated and Donnie ultimately had been captured.

The younger turtle reached his hand out to his elder brother. "I forgive you." Just like that he felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. He felt as if he were finally able to breathe again. He couldn't help the smile as he took his brother's hand in his own. Leo had been dreading it for months, just what he would say and how Donnie would react to what he did that night. That he had been the fool to be drugged in the first place.

"Donnie…" he rubbed his leaf green thumb against his brother's. "I don't see how you can forgive me so easily. It has been…a month or two for you?" he asked. How much time had he lost while in the other dimension? Even so, it was far fresher in his brother's mind then his own.

"The affects…of mating season…are stronger with you…and with…Spike." He said softly. "At the time…I was more afraid…of losing you…then of the kiss…" he gave a sweet smile before he closed his eyes. He wanted to rest. He needed to rest but he knew just like Raph, Leo needed him right now. "While the…timing was poor…I know you…I know you wanted…our first time…to be perfect…perhaps you…figured it romantic." How many times had Leo watched the Space Hero show, the one with the foolish captain that had kissed his love interest in the heat of battle? He often emulated what he seen on the show to his real life.

"We are young…driven by our instincts…and are the only ones…of our kind." He opened his eyes. "Mistakes are…bound to happen…feelings…will be hurt…but remember…we are brother…before all else." He looked up at his leader, seeing his brother before anything else. His eldest brother and he could see that he needed the reassurance. That Leo just wanted to keep the family safe and his strides to be perfect came at a cost of losing himself in his own perfection. "We shouldn't lie to…ourselves…and to…each other…we are the…only ones…of ourkind…"

Leo bit his lip as he turned away. Donnie didn't know. He didn't know and it was making this harder then what it had to be. Yet, was it his place to tell him? How would Donnie handle that kind of information? What was he to do now? Continue on and pretend it wasn't so? Wait for Master Splinter to find a way to tell him? Perhaps he could ease the burden upon their father? Perhaps as Eldest son and Leader it was his place to tell him the truth, but was it right as his brother and potential lover? Would Donnie even believe him?

He turned back, looking at those large reddish-brown eyes that stared at him with worry. Leo always loved those eyes. Always questioning and wondering. Large and observant. Eyes that shined endlessly whenever they were gazing at friends and family. Never shining quite as brightly as they did for April. The girl was the luckiest of them all to have Donnie's heart the way she did.

"Leo?" he questioned, looking at his eldest brother with deep worry. He had turned from him, distressed by something. They were keeping something from him. He was sure now and he needed to know just what it was. They could talk to him about anything before, what news had made it so different now? He struggled to sit up, to put himself on equal ground with Leo, so he wouldn't look down on him. His brother didn't argue his choice, only offered a hand to help him sit up. He looked his brother in the eyes, seeing the indecisiveness behind them made him uneasy. Leo was always quick to make decisions that were best for the team, even admitting when he didn't know what to do and turned to him for advice. Something was eating away at him.

Leo helped him sit up, knowing arguing would do neither of them good. He watched as his brother removed his mask, a sign they had come up with when they needed to talk and be totally honest. Leo's breath caught in his throat as the mask was lowered to his neck. Donnie looked at him, purple markings on his eyes looking like fancy eye shadow. They all had their colors, each matching the mask they wore but Donnie's was the longest of them, remnants of their species. While Raph maintained the red of their true color the others adopted their own. The color could not be removed; it was a part of their skin. It made Leo find him so beautiful, he could see a unique glow about him now, one he never noticed before.

The leader kept eye contact as he removed his own mask, dropping it to his neck and cursing the moment it blocked his view of his brother. It was rare Donnie remove his mask. When he did he was always serious. Always leaving no room for arguments. Leo was prepared for this.

Donnie observed his brother, how is face had changed to a more serious look when he dropped his mask, in turn doing the same. The blue streak on his eyes was small, almost invisible to the eye. Yet it was a beautiful aqua blue color. "Masks down…leader and his second…brothers…" Donnie used Leo for support. Looking him in the eyes as he asked. "What are…you hiding?"

Now was his decision. Should he tell Donatello or should he refuse? If he refused he knew Don would not trust him anymore, that this seriousness and removal of masks would mean nothing anymore. Leo searched his brothers eyes for any way out of it, but he could see the determination to get the truth out of him. He could hear their father's voice, recalling the teachings he had given him as the eldest son. 'You need to speak the truth, no matter how much it may hurt you or the ones you love.' He took a deep breath. "Donatello…" full name, show of seriousness. "We have much to speak of. I ask you wait until I have finished saying what needs to be said. Promise you will understand my judgment and not act rashly." He spoke nearly the exact words his father had said to them earlier in the Dojo. He needed to emulate their father. To show his strength. That he can be a good and perfect leader, as well as head of the clan.

They younger turtle tilt his head slightly. Partly concerned with the huge shift in tone. He could see their father in him. How he emulated his mannerisms and movements. Everyone knew how much Leo idolized their father. How much he desired to be just like him. It made him proud to see it. "I shall remain…silent." He was good at that. Listening and observing.

"Then let's start at the beginning…"

~LRDM~

Guest01: You are welcome for updating as much as I do. I work a full time job and write this after it. I want to thank you for the long review! You may not know this but, your reviews do help to change the story! In many ways! You like the feeling of April being guilty; I will go more into it! I will work with what all you want to better this story! Good or bad I absolutely want you to call me out on it! I work for all of you lol. I see Casey as being a lot like Raph, protective of those he loves but a little more level headed then him. You will see soon enough just what Donnie did to get Casey and April together, how much plan went into it and how it really tore him apart. Not to mention what I have planned for when April talks to Donnie. You're right, it isn't Slash's fault. Donnie is so focused on the science that he is trying to justify what happened to him. He is pushing it down trying to focus on his brothers but soon enough it will all come crashing down. I adore how Raph takes care of him, treating him as if he will shatter at any moment. Mikey was pushed away but I will have a chapter with more of Mikey and Donnie. O/O You check everyday for updates?! Oh man it makes me want to release a new chapter every day if I could! 3 AM?! Girl go to sleep! Donnie would not be proud of you! Thank you again!

FTA92: You are absolutely right! It was easily seen when he let Raph kiss him. He knows Raph needs physical reassurance.

Missbille: Raph…got carried away a bit but he knew when to calm down.

Until next time my darlings!