Leonardo stopped at the entrance to the lair. He didn't want to do this but, Michelangelo was too emotional and Raphael was too angry. They weren't about to ask their friends to do it. That left Leo to break the news to their father. Taking a deep breath, Leo stepped into the lair. He saw Splinter walking into the living area and tried to keep his emotions in check. Even though he looked calm and collected on the outside, on the inside, he was a wreck. He was still lost in his own head when he heard his father call his name.
"Leonardo?" The look on Splinter's face almost made Leo crack.
"My son, is something wrong? Where are your brothers?" For a second, Leo forgot how to speak. He turned to his father, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat.
"They're…at Leatherhead's place." Leo could feel his voice shaking. He wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to keep from breaking down.
"Leonardo, what is wrong?"
"Father, there's been…an accident." Leo dropped to his knees.
"What kind of accident? Are your brothers alright?" Leo had to bite his lip as he tried to keep himself from having a complete meltdown.
"Mikey and Raph are okay."
"And Donatello?" Leo had to look away. Splinter placed a hand on his oldest son's chin. He turned Leo's head to face him.
"Donnie's…"
"What, my son? Tell me, what has happened to your brother?" Fear gripped Splinter as he felt his heart beat faster.
"He's alive but…"
"Take me to him."
"Father, I should warn you. He doesn't look good."
"I do not care. I wish to see Donatello, now."
"Yes, Father."
The two were silent as they walked towards Leatherhead's home. Splinter was wrought with worry for his third-born son. As they got closer to the home of the mutant alligator, Leonardo came to a sudden stop.
"Leonardo?" Leo looked at the ground.
"We…we had to restrain him."
"For what purpose?"
"So that he wouldn't hurt anybody."
"My son, what has happened to your brother?"
"Donnie was scratched by one of the mutants we've been fighting. He…he got infected by whatever's causing the outbreak and he…"
"He what?" Leonardo couldn't hold back the tears anymore. Splinter's gaze softened as he motioned for his oldest son to kneel.
"Leonardo, it will be alright. Whatever has happened to your brother, we will fix it." Splinter wiped away Leo's tears with his thumb.
"We left him alone, Father. If we hadn't left him, maybe…" Leo started to cry again. His father wrapped his arms around his son, the tears soaking his robe.
"SSHH. This was not the fault of you or your brothers. This was the fault of the man who created this outbreak."
"The virus, or whatever it is, turned Donnie into…" Leo's words were muffled by his father's robe.
"Whatever it takes, Leonardo, we will get through this." Leo sniffled, embarrassed that his father had seen him crying like a child. Leo used the back of his hand to wipe away what remained of his tears and stood up.
"You need to see him, Father."
"Then let us go."
Even after Leonardo's warning, Splinter had not expected the sight before him. Raphael, April, Casey and Leatherhead were standing around a glass cage. Michelangelo was kneeling in front of it. Inside the cage, growling and banging on the glass, was a large, mutated creature. While he didn't look like his genius son, Splinter knew the creature was Donatello. He folded his ears back and stepped up to the cage. Stifling his emotions, he placed his hand on the glass and looked up at the turtle.
"My son."
"I can sympathize. I know what it's like to be a monster." Splinter knew that Leatherhead meant no harm but, the words cut the rat deeper than any blade. This was no monster. This was his son. He felt Raphael's hand on his shoulder.
"Poor Donnie." Splinter heard the sorrow in his second oldest son's voice. Still, the rat never took his eyes from the cage. From behind him, he heard the voice of his youngest son.
"What are we gonna do, Leo?"
"We are going to cure your brother. That is what we are going to do." As if reading his father's thoughts, Leonardo spoke with more conviction and determination than Splinter had ever recalled hearing from his oldest son.
"Do? This is Donatello. This is our brother." Leo joined his father and placed his hand on the glass and clenched his free hand into a fist.
"We're going to hunt down a cure for him. No matter what it takes. No matter what it takes." Splinter could hear the anger and determination in his oldest son's voice. But he could also hear the sob he was trying to choke back as he said the last sentence.
"Yes, my son. No matter what it takes, we will find a cure." Splinter had to hold back his own tears. Later, in privacy, he would cry for his most gentle son. But for now, all his sons needed his strength if they were to help Donatello.