Chapter 3:
"My son, wake up.""Master Splinter?" A groggy and confused Donatello asked. "What are you…?"
"Your brother was quite upset and insisted that I come talk to you immediately. He was very worried about your welfare."
"He… Leo? That really happened? He saw that?" Donnie was definitely awake now. "Master Splinter, I thought that was just a bad dream, what's wrong with me?"
Splinter looked down at his son curled up on his bed and was reminded of the child that Donatello had once been, so small compared to Raphael and Leonardo, and so easily injured. Donatello and Michelangelo had both eventually caught up with their brothers in size and strength putting those days far behind them, but a father always remembers, no matter how old his children are. Right now watching the turtle on the bed was like seeing the small boy again. It had been a long time since he last saw that child. He reached out and took Don's chin forcing his son to look him in the eyes.
"Donatello, I want you to listen to me, and I want you to listen carefully. I do not think that there is anything wrong with you. Quite possibly this is just something you will have to work around and eventually incorporate into your life, try thinking of it as a gift that may prove useful to yourself and your brothers, rather than a curse."
Donatello pulled his face from Splinter's gentle hand and looked away. "I don't know Master Splinter. I think I really freaked Leo out. It was just so loud, and I wasn't expecting it." Sadness and worry colored the turtle's voice.
"You did scare Leonardo, but he is still your brother and he is concerned about your well-being. He came to me because he recognized that you were in distress and that he was unable to help."
"I can't control this, Sensei. I don't want to hear… I don't hear your thoughts." Don realized, and the ever curious turtle that he was continued, "Why not?" In that moment he realized that maybe there was hope after all.
"Donatello, I have command of my mind. If my control can prevent you from hearing my thoughts then, with practice, you should be able to control your mind to block out any unwanted voices. You can manage this, my son. I have no doubt that you can do this."
"What do I have to do?" Don asked quietly. He felt like he was stuck in the dark and alone, but now Master Splinter had given him a light at the end of the tunnel.
Splinter smiled at his son. "It will take work, Donatello, but you are more than prepared for it. You must learn to control your mind. Leonardo is learning, and you can too." Splinter outlined some mental exercises for the turtle to try. "Practice alone for now. I will keep your brothers out for a few days. After that time we can let them in. You will need others around to practice effectively. While I'll allow it for now, I do not want you to hide yourself away."
"Yes, Sensei," Don agreed.
"Now, you should get some sleep." Splinter left the room quietly and allowed Donatello to rest.
A Couple Days Later
"Raph, we're not supposed to go around there yet!" Leonardo insisted of Donatello's room. "Master Splinter wants him to practice some control before we get too close."
"Leo, he's my brother and I haven't seen him conscious in a week. I'm not waiting anymore." Raphael hissed back.
"He is going to hear every single thing you think!" Leo warned, trying to dissuade his adamant brother.
"You make it sound like that should bother me. Newsflash Leo! I don't care, and I find it insulting that you would think so low of me!" In a huff Raphael tried to push past his brother.
Leonardo grabbed onto Raph's right wrist to physically restrain him from getting too close to Don's room.
"You let go of me, Leo." Raphael ordered.
"Or what? I can't let you go in there, Raph!" They were locked in a battle of wills.
It wasn't the flash of recognition he usually felt with Raphael, this was something different. He saw Raph's left hook coming in before his brother ever made a move.
Leonardo leapt away, and almost cleared Raph's reach. What would otherwise have been a direct hit became a glancing blow. All the same Leo flew across the room. When he fell to the floor he knew something wasn't right. The hit he took hurt much more than it should have. As soon as he regained his bearings he looked over at Raphael, who was on the floor as well. Raph was lying on the ground breathing heavily, as if whatever had happened had taken just about everything out of him.
"Oh Leo! I am so sorry, I don't… Leo?" Even as he watched the odd splotch on his brother faded away. It looked almost…
"Raph, what just happened?" As he tried to stand up Leonardo found that he simply didn't have the energy to do so.
"I…I don't know."
At that moment the door to Don's room burst open. He had been sleeping, but the crash outside had him at the door in moments. "Guys, I heard a crash, are you… Aah!" It was so loud, there was too much happening at once. If he thought just Leo's racing thoughts were bad, it was nothing compared to Leo and Raph's put together. Don dropped to his knees. Something louder shouted at him to get back into his room, it sounded like it might be Leo. He knew it wasn't his own idea, there were too many other things going on for him to think at all, but he wasn't sure if it was a thought or an actual shout. All he could do was obey the command he knew to be the correct thing to do. His brothers were shaken, but otherwise ok. He could talk to them later. He crawled back into his room and shut the door. As he got farther away from them the noise quieted down, but he couldn't get enough distance for it to go away entirely.
Back outside Leo and Raph were still in their places on the floor as neither had the energy to move.
"Raph, you- you… that hurt." It sounded stupid, Leo knew that, but it was all he could think of to say. He felt like his brain was stuck in neutral, the engine was racing, but the wheels weren't turning.
"You looked like you became part of the wall." Raphael said quietly.
"I what?"
"The wall, you looked… like the wall. And you moved before I even knew I was going to hit you. Leo, man, I am so sorry. I could have killed you!"
"But you didn't. That's what counts. We should probably be more careful in the future." Unable to hold his head up any longer he leaned back against the wall.
"No kidding." Raph rolled onto his back and just laid there breathing, and wondering what was going to happen now. He couldn't believe he had really swung that hard at Leo. It didn't make sense. That glancing blow shouldn't have sent Leo flying like that. And then there was this, this utter exhaustion he felt now.
Michelangelo walked into the room and cocked his head at his two brothers on the floor. There was a large dent in the wall behind Leo, and both of them looked like they had just had the stuffing beat out of them.
"What did you two do?" He asked disbelievingly.
"Long story, Mike," Raph grunted by way of explanation. "Can you help us up?"
Michelangelo took Raphael first and began the long walk to the red masked turtle's bedroom. As soon as the two were gone Donatello poked his head out of his room again.
"I thought I told you to stay in there." Leo reminded him. What are you doing out here? You shouldn't be here. I don't want you to hear this! GAH! Stop thinking!
"Come on, Leo. Mikey took Raph to his room. Yours is the other way. Let me help you! They're going to be a while."
If this is how it feels after using whatever this change is for just a moment no wonder Donnie's always tired lately. I can barely move. What is he doing? No, you get back in your room, I'll wait. "Don, it's ok, I'll wait for Mikey. You're not supposed to be out of your room." Get back in there Don. I don't want you here.
"Leo, I am going to help you to your room. Don't push me away. Please don't push me away." Donatello begged as he pulled his brother to his feet and started the slow trip to Leo's room.
I looked like the wall? What did he mean I looked like the wall? Did I change color or what? And Raph, he… I've never been so scared in my life. And I thought Don's mental stuff was terrifying. What's happening to us?
"I don't know, Leo, but I'm beginning to think it has something to do with the ooze."
What is he talking about? I didn't say… shell."
"You didn't say… I'm sorry Leo. I didn't know… I- I can't tell the difference. Let's just get you to your room and I'll leave.
Leo's mind was racing and at some level he knew that his brother could hear every bit of it. A glance at Don's face all but confirmed it, as Leo was pretty sure it wasn't just the strain of carrying him that Don was gritting his teeth against.
"I think this might be an aftereffect of our original mutation. Something we've always had in our genetic code, but didn't present itself. Especially since something's happened to you and Raph now too."
He's chattering, why is he chattering? What did he hear that I didn't want him to? I can't trust my own brother!
Leo felt himself crash down. Luckily for him, it was onto his bed. Looking around he saw Don hastily backing out the door with a shocked and hurt expression on his face.
"I… I'm sorry Leo, I'll leave you alone." With that Donatello all but ran out of Leo's room.
Moments later Leonardo heard a door slam. He flinched at the sound, knowing it was Don's door and that he had been the cause. I should have just let Raph go in there then none of this would have happened. But part Leo of knew better, this wasn't something they could hide from, but he didn't want to believe that right now.
Splinter came into Donatello's room later that evening after hearing about the incident.
"You know, my son, that Leonardo didn't mean what you heard. He was scared that is all."
"I know." Don admitted, "But he's right. Thoughts are the most personal things one can have. They are not meant to be invaded. And I can't help but invade them! I hate this!" He slammed one fist onto the floor beside him to punctuate his statement. After a deep breath he found his center again, but it didn't last long.
He's made no progress in the past week. I don't know what else to do. Am I just wasting my time with this?
"Sensei? Why are you…?"
Splinter looked surprised at Don's questioning and both knew instantly that those were thoughts Splinter hadn't meant to be heard. He hadn't meant to do it, but Splinter's guard had gone down at just the wrong time. As he watched he saw his son's already damaged confidence shatter under the strain. His momentary loss of control had been a breaking point for Donatello.
"So why do you waste your time?" The turtle asked quietly as he stood up. His eyes never left the floor.
"Donatello, you are never a 'waste of my time'. I don't want you thinking that for a moment!"
"I am a waste of your time, and you know it. Please get out. You're too loud right now." Don's voice was quiet and contained no anger, only disappointment and humiliation. With that he headed over to his bed and curled up there with his shell to the room. Dumbstruck, Splinter stood as well and left his son alone for the time being.
A/N: Dun, dun, dun. Yes, it is true, Splinter is not infallible. But before you go off on me about him give me a little time. I will explain, I promise. Well, I'll explain eventually. Let it suffice for now, that I do have my reasons.