*Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.

*Author's Notes: I'm back with chapter 33 of 'Slash's Revenge' and it's one of my favorite chapters in the story. Things get pretty dramatic in this one.

I want to thank you all for your continued kindness and support. I appreciate each of you more than words can say. I am just so tremendously grateful…

Okay, before I get too mushy here, we'd best get on with the chapter. I hope everyone likes it.

CJ

Chapter 33 – Breaking Point

It was painfully clear just from the way Leonardo approached them that something significant had gone down inside Donatello's room. If the scowl rutting deep lines into his face didn't indicate as much, the murderous glare fixed on Raphael certainly did. The bitter expression was no exercise in subtlety.

Sensing a fight was imminent, Master Splinter swiftly pushed himself up off the couch to insinuate himself between his two oldest boys.

"What happened, my son?" There was no doubt Master Splinter was attempting to deflect Leonardo's anger, but the effort was ultimately wasted.

"Did – Did Donnie say something?" More concerned about his brainy brother's wellbeing than Leo's sudden bad mood, Mikey remained oblivious to the mounting tension in the lair.

"Oh, he said something, all right." Leonardo's glare never left his face, despite the fact that his father's taller figure separated he and Raphael.

It hardly mattered. The hotheaded turtle didn't need to see the fury smoldering in Leonardo's eyes to know his brother was cross with him. He could hear the unspoken accusation in Leonardo's tone.

Sidestepping around Master Splinter, Raphael's guilt-ridden green eyes met Leonardo's icy-cold blue ones.

"What'd he say, Leo?" The question was spoken in a quiet, tentative voice, as though the turtle in red was afraid to know the answer. Based on Leonardo's not-so sunny disposition, Raph was pretty sure he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear.

"He said he wasn't worth saving! I wonder where he got that idea from!"

Raph opened his mouth to say something, but April beat him to the punch.

"Leo, we're all exhausted. Now's probably not the best time to have this conversation."

"Are you kidding me? Now's the perfect time to have this conversation! We've all been putting it off for far too long!"

Still not convinced, April took another stab at intervening.

"Maybe you and I should go up and get a little fresh air first, huh?" April stood up and was about to approach Leo when Raphael held out a hand, motioning for her to stop. His face perfectly portrayed the remorse he was feeling inside as he softly spoke.

"It's okay, April. He's right. Let him talk. This conversation's long overdue."

"You're damn right it is! You did this to him!"

The rare curse word from his oldest brother prompted Mikey to enter the fray. He was scared they were all going to say something they'd later regret. Perhaps they already had. "Leo, this isn't Raph's fault!"

"The shell it isn't! Do the words 'all you ever do is put everyone in danger' ring a bell, Mikey? He called Donnie a screw up and a walking disaster. Now, Donnie thinks he's worthless!"

Hearing the words 'Donnie thinks he's worthless' rendered Mikey mute for several long-drawn-out seconds, but he soon managed to find his voice again, although it wasn't as confident sounding as it had been just moments before. "I know, but this is all because of Slash. He planted those bad thoughts in Donnie's head! He's the one to blame for all this."

"Slash only added to the thoughts that were already there, Mikey, and you know it. Donnie left the lair because Raph made him feel useless. The only reason Donnie bought into all that stuff Slash said was because of how cruel his own brother was to him. He was vulnerable because of the horrible things Raph said."

Once again, Mikey was at a rare loss for words. He wasn't about to admit it out loud, but he couldn't deny there was some truth to what Leo was saying. The youngest brother could still hear all the awful things Raph had said to Donnie that night ringing in his brain…

"You're always sorry! I've had it up to here with your excuses, Donnie! What? It wasn't enough that you almost killed Spike? Now, you almost killed all of us with another one of your crazy experiments!"

He could still see the shattered expression on his genius brother's face…

"I don't want to hear it anymore! You're always screwing everything up, Donnie! How many times have you nearly killed us now? How many times, huh?"

He could still see the pure rage burning in his hotheaded brother's eyes…

"No! It's not enough! All you ever do is put everyone in danger, Donnie! You're supposed to be the smart one, but you ruin everything you touch! You're the reason Spike's gone! I lost my best friend because of you! It was all your fault! If you weren't such a walking disaster, he'd still be here!"

He could still feel his heart break at just the thought of it all…

"Let him go. Maybe he'll actually stop and think about what he's done for once."

Their lives had been turned upside-down as a result of that night…

"What I did was tell the truth! Donnie had it coming, so don't start with me, Leo! And I'm not gonna stand here and listen to you make me out to be the bad guy!"

How could they not hold Raph at least somewhat responsible for what had come to pass?

How could they not see Raph as the 'bad guy' given the circumstances?

Recognizing that Mikey was battling with some sort of inner dilemma, April decided to take yet another shot at mediating.

"Leo, you're upset. Don't do this."

"I'm upset? I know you've seen what happened to Donnie! Shouldn't you be upset, too?"

"Y – Yes. Of course I'm upset about what happened, but that – "

"Just look at him, April! He's too scared to come out of his room! He won't even eat! Are you seriously going to defend Raph here?"

"I, uh… " If April would've had a shell like her terrapin friends, she would've gladly shrunk inside of it at that very moment. Anything to keep from having to answer Leonardo's loaded question. Anything to keep from having to stare at the accusing look on his face.

Fortunately for April, Raphael could see she was struggling with her response and the warrior in red was quick to jump to her rescue, just like the brothers always did. There were times when she resented them treating her as if she was a damsel in distress, but this certainly wasn't one of those moments. This time, she was actually grateful for the save.

"Leave her out of this, Leo! It's me you're angry with." To ensure his older brother's attention stayed fixed on him, where it belonged, Raphael edged closer to the leader in blue. Less than a second later, Leonardo's glare was once again zeroed in on Raph, trying to burn holes right through him.

"Angry doesn't even begin to describe it!" The acrid words came out a cross between a snarl and a hiss, Leonardo was so disgusted. His hands were balled up into fists, shaking with fury that continued to intensify like a forest fire spreading out of control.

"Then let me have it! Come on, Leo! We both know I deserve it!" Raph held his arms out to the side and motioned for his older brother to make a move. A clear, tantalizing invitation to strike him down.

"Don't tempt me, Raph!"

Not about to idly stand by and watch his brothers duke it out, Mikey's deafening voice howled, "GUYS! CUT IT OUT!" But as loud as Mikey's voice had been, it did nothing to deter his two oldest brothers. They continued to egg each other on as though Mikey hadn't said a thing.

"Go ahead, Leo! Hit me!"

"I told you not to tempt me, Raph!" The sound of Leo's knuckles cracking seemed to echo throughout the lair, but all the turtle in blue could hear was the thrumming of his heart and Raphael's cruel words from that tragic night buzzing in his brain…

"I've had it up to here with your excuses, Donnie!"

"Do it, Leo!"

"You're always screwing everything up, Donnie!"

"You know you want to!"

"All you ever do is put everyone in danger, Donnie!"

"Shut up, Raph!"

"Why don't ya make me?!"

It was getting harder and harder for Leo to resist the enticing offer. Hard enough, his whole body had begun to quiver with what he would qualify as seismic activity. Gaping down at his tightly closed hands, Leo realized that all he had to do was swing. Something he should have done instead of letting Raph tear down Donnie like he had. Maybe if the leader would've just done something more that night, he could've stopped all this.

Leo wasn't even aware he was drawing his fist back when his father's thunderous voice bellowed out.

"BOYS! STOP THIS AT ONCE! Your anger does nothing to help your brother! You both should – "

Before Master Splinter could elaborate any further on his response, a very distraught Donatello came staggering out of his room and down the dormitory hall.

All eyes quickly fell upon the injured turtle, who swayed on his feet, using the wall for support as he hobbled in everyone else's general direction.

A bit shocked to see his intellectual son up and about, Master Splinter briefly hesitated before moving towards the ailing boy. Something the Ninjutsu master would soon regret.

"Donatello, what are you doing out of – DONATELLO!"

Though the genius turtle had tried with all his might to hold it until he reached the bathroom, he was just too weak. Before he could even make it past the hallway, he collapsed to the floor with a painfilled groan, and less than a second later, they all heard the unmistakable sound of someone retching.

Once his stomach decided to stop purging, Donatello stared down in horror at the mess he had just made on the floor. A deluge of memories came flooding back to him without mercy, and for a moment, he was there again.

He was there again…

"You puked on my damn floor! You good-for-nothing idiot!"

"It w – was an accident! I – I – I d – didn't m – mean to!"

"And what do we do to pets who have accidents?"

"N – No! P – Please!"

"Stop being such a coward! Until you can learn to behave like a good little turtle, you're gonna have to be punished for your actions. You know the rules, or are you too stupid to remember them?"

"I'm not s – stupid!"

"Are you sassing me, Donnie boy?"

"N – No."

"I guess I'm gonna have to teach you some more manners. A pet should know his place."

"P – Please, S – Slash. I'll b – be good."

"You can grovel all you want, Donnie boy. It's not gonna help you. Now, clean up your mess!"

"…"

"Well, go on."

"… N – No."

"What did you say to me?"

"You're… Y – You're j – just going to b – beat me again an – anyway."

"You're darn right I am. And since you can't seem to keep your mouth shut, let's make this a beating you won't get up from, shall we? How 'bout we start with that leg you keep griping about? I wanna hear you scream, like the weakling you are."

"NO! I – I'm sorry! I'll c – clean it up. P – Please! Please d – don't h – hurt me again! Please, no!"

"No one is going to hurt you, Donatello."

It took several long-drawn-out seconds for the words to finally register. Even longer still for the genius turtle to convince himself it wasn't Slash who had spoken them.

"F – Father?" Torn between a state of denial and a sense of hope, Donnie peered up through glossy eyes to lay his gaze upon a very concerned-looking rat.

It had been a flashback.

Just another flashback…

It wasn't real.

"Yes. I am here, my son."

The putrid smell and taste of vomit threatened to make Donatello ill once more, but he managed to hold back a gag, still half-afraid he would be punished for what he had done. The evidence of it was pooled on the floor below him for everyone to see.

"I – I'm sorry. I m – made a mess." Donatello stared down in mortified disbelief at the liquid that had just expelled from what he thought had been an empty stomach. The disgusting sight was enough to make him start shaking inside his shell, yet again, scared he was about to be punished…

"And what do we do to pets who have accidents?"

"I wanna hear you scream, like the weakling you are."

But there was no trace of anger in the voice that followed. It was compassionate and soothing.

"Do not fret, my son. We will take care of it."

Donatello shook his head from side to side, stubbornly refusing any help, despite the fact he could barely hold himself up. "No. No! I need to clean it up."

"No, Donatello. You are not well. Let us do this for you."

When Donatello continued to twist his head in obvious defiance, Master Splinter reached out and gently cupped a paw underneath the boy's chin, being careful not to startle him. The physical contact still caused Donatello to flinch, but only for a moment. Splinter then ever so slowly lifted Donatello's head up so that their gaze met. One pair of brown eyes offered undying support while the other pair shrunk with fear, but there was far more to Donatello's stare than just fear. There was something Sensei had not expected to see from his traumatized child. At least, not so soon.

Could it be, after all that had happened, Donatello could look at him with such trust?

Perhaps the old rat's own eyes were deceiving him.

"Please, my son. Let us help you."

Blinking up at Master Splinter, Donatello opened his mouth to speak, but the only thing that escaped his throat was a shuddered whimper. Soon after, the wounded teenager found himself falling forward into his father's awaiting arms. Once wrapped up in a fierce, yet tender embrace, Donatello buried his face into Master Splinter's chest and began to sob.

"D – Don't let him h – hurt me, again, f – father."

"I will protect you, my son. We all will. You need not fear."

Donatello cried louder at this, as though he couldn't hold back his emotions a second longer. In between the injured turtle's sobs and hitched breaths, the sound of April and Michelangelo crying could be heard as well. They both watched on through their own tears as Master Splinter held onto his second youngest child for dear life.

Several feet away, Leonardo and Raphael exchanged guilty glances.

They had been ready to come to blows knowing that their little brother was still trying to recover from being beaten within an inch of his life.

Could they possibly be anymore inconsiderate?

Donnie had been held prisoner and tortured by a sadistic monster for ten days straight and all the two oldest brothers could think about was who was to blame.

Could they possibly be anymore selfish?

"Raph, I, uh – "

The hotheaded turtle held up a hand to wave off his big brother's apology. His face bore a scowl, not actually intended for Leo, but rather, for himself. Seeing his genius brother trembling in Master Splinter's grasp sort of put everything into perspective.

I'm such an idiot!

"Now's not the time, Leo."

Nodding to indicate he agreed, Leonardo turned to face Sensei, who was still consoling Donatello. The poignant scene between father and son stayed this way for several minutes until Donatello's gasps for air began to grow further and further apart. Eventually, his sobbing dwindled down to occasional hiccups. It was only then that Master Splinter loosened his grip around his distraught son, but he never released his hold, afraid that Donatello might fall and hurt himself.

"Come, Donatello. Let us get you cleaned up. Leonardo and Raphael, I trust you can tidy up out here while Michelangelo and I tend to Donatello. April, would you be kind enough to supervise Leonardo and Raphael so as to make sure no further outbursts occur?" The tone of Master Splinter's voice was clearly meant to be demeaning towards his two oldest boys, but neither turtle took offense. They both realized they deserved it.

It was at this point Mikey came up beside his father and injured brother and helped Master Splinter hoist Donnie up to his feet. Michelangelo held on tightly to Donatello's shell, pulling his big brother close, both to comfort and assist him. The genius turtle was quick to drape his good arm over his baby brother's shoulder and lean into him, more than willing to let Mikey support the majority of his weight. Master Splinter was at Donatello's other side, helping to hold him up by wrapping an arm snuggly around his carapace just below Michelangelo's arm. Splinter could feel his intellectual son wobbling in his grip as the three of them started towards the bathroom, but with the added help, Donatello managed to stay upright as they gradually made their way across the lair.

"It's okay, D. I gotcha." Encouragement beamed from Michelangelo like the rays of the sun as he clung tighter to his brother's shell. Donnie was limping pretty badly and Mikey didn't want him to fall. Especially not after Master Splinter had just vowed that they would all protect the wounded turtle.

Donatello merely wheezed in response, more focused on dragging his feet along than what his baby brother was saying. Not because he didn't appreciate Mikey's kindness, but because he was afraid that he was going to trip. His limbs felt like they were made of gelatin, not to mention each step he took on his wounded leg was agony. It was taking all his strength just to perform the simple act of walking. He thanked his lucky stars that his little brother and father were there to help him, although it was rather embarrassing that he had to rely so heavily on them. In front of April, no less. He guessed it hardly mattered. She had already witnessed him fall down, puke all over the place, and bawl his eyes out. He didn't have much pride left to scrape up at this point.

Another wheeze emitted from Donatello, as Slash's words once again replayed in his pounding head...

"What do you think that little redhead would think of you now?"

"She doesn't care a thing about you, you know?"

"You think she'd ever like a freak like you?"

"Look at you! You're hideous."

Donatello glimpsed back to see April watching him leave the room, expecting to see disappointment darkening her bright, blue eyes. He instead saw concern, much like he had seen in his father's eyes just moments ago. She looked to be genuinely worried about him. There was no disappointment; not even pity.

These weren't the eyes of someone who didn't care a thing about him.

This confused Donatello more than anything. If she thought he was a hideous freak, why would she look at him that way?

Why were they all being so nice to him if they hated him?

"Your family – they don't want you back. I can't blame 'em. You're pretty much useless."

None of it made any sense.

Feeling overwhelmed by it all, Donatello leaned even further into Mikey and his father so they were practically carrying him, but they didn't seem to mind lending him their strength, nor did they let the added weight slow their momentum any. They soon disappeared from sight, leaving Leo, Raph, and April alone in the dormitory hallway.

Silence reigned supreme for a good thirty seconds or so before Leo's voice sounded out, dull and stripped of its usual confidence. His piercing blue eyes stayed locked on April as he spoke, purposely avoiding Raphael's remorseful stare. If the hotheaded ninja felt anywhere near as bad as Leonardo did right now, he had to be darn close to losing it, too. Neither brother wanted to fall apart in front of the other, nor did they want to show such an obvious sign of weakness in front of April. "Well, I guess I'll go get the mop and bucket."

Just as Leonardo was about to walk away, he felt a hand on his left shoulder holding him back. The three-fingered grip was insistent, but surprisingly calm considering the source. It was enough to stop the blue-clad turtle from moving forward, but not enough to leave any kind of mark behind.

"I got this, Leo. I'm the one who's made a mess of everything. It's time I start cleaning it up."

Raphael received no argument from Leonardo; only a swift nod of approval. The leader just hoped against hope that his temperamental brother would somehow make good on his word. Raph needed to find a way to fix this, not just for Donnie's sake, but for all their sakes.

To be continued…

*More Author's Notes: Ugh! This chapter makes me cry every time I read it. My heart is so broken right now. Poor, poor Donnie. I just want to hug him and never let go.

As always, if you want to see more of this story, please take a moment to favorite, follow, like, reblog, review and/or comment on it. I appreciate the positive feedback so very much. Special thanks to donniesgirl87, warriorprincess666, ickleronniekins, and flurryturtlefanatic for their words of encouragement today. Without them, you wouldn't be reading this chapter right now. *hugs*

I continue to pray for all your safety. Take care, everyone. Thank you lots and lots for reading.

CJ