Disclaimer: Whoops, forgot this last time. I own nothing. I get paid nothing. Please don't sue.

A/N: I also want to take this moment to once again thank Midnight Heir for all the help with the new mutations. Without her invaluable input this would have been a very different and far less interesting, IMO, story.

Chapter - 4

Raphael was horrified. He hadn't intended to hurt Leonardo, but if his brother had not moved like that Leo would probably be dead now, and it would have been all his fault. Raph didn't want to hurt Leo, but he hadn't been able to control his rage and that scared him more than anything. That blow just had too much power behind it. He had enough trouble controlling his temper as just a normal mutant turtle, as if there were such a thing. This new aspect of himself was just too dangerous and he worried about what he might do to his brothers. Raphael was terrified.

Michelangelo and Leonardo were the only turtles who had come into the lair proper for the past several days. Donatello couldn't handle being around more that one person at a time and Raphael had hidden himself away since he had attacked Leo. Michelangelo and Splinter had shown no signs of changes and wondered what, if anything, was in store for them while Leonardo preferred to pretend that his change had never occurred. He trained as though nothing happened and occasionally gone so far as to complain about Don and Raph hiding away.

Splinter had ventured into Donatello's room only to give him meals and the turtle had not welcomed his presence in the slightest, ignoring both the rat and the food. Often when Splinter came in the next time, the previous meal was there waiting to be taken away untouched. Raphael would talk to Splinter and eat his food, but he would not come out of his room. Leo's slight hostility toward his reclusive brothers would be picked up on instantly whenever he ventured into either room and he was promptly booted out.

Michelangelo was about the only one who could go where he pleased. He had taken it upon himself to convince Donatello to eat. He only accomplished his goal some of the time, but his success rate was far higher than anyone else's. Mikey couldn't stand to see his family like this: Leo was always angry, Raph seemed uncertain, Donnie was beyond depressed and Master Splinter was at a loss as to how to help any of them. The world that Mikey once knew had been smashed into little pieces, and he felt obligated to try and pick them up. Maybe it would never be like it was, but perhaps they could at least be a family again.

"I know you're standing out there, Mikey, so either come in or go away."

Mikey shook his head. I'm never going to get used to that! Aw, who am I kidding? Splinter does it all the time. He opened the door to his brother's room.

"Hey, Donnie, I brought you some sushi. Master Splinter made it."

"I know, and I don't want it." Don never turned around. He stayed in his spot on his bed with his back to the room.

I am so sick of you hiding in here and never even turning around to look at me.

"I didn't ask you to come in here. You did that on your own."

You're just doing this to try and get me to leave you alone. Sorry, dear brother, not going to work this time, for I am more stubborn than you realize! You haven't eaten lately and I know you like Splinter's sushi so don't bother trying to deny it. Donatello had taken to making statements about Mike's thoughts in an attempt to get the other turtle out of there, but Mikey would have none of it. He just played it like a game, a game that he was getting pretty good at.

"I know you're stubborn and that you're not leaving until I eat something. And I don't need to read your mind to know that. You've been like this forever."

Finally a smile, I can hear it you know! Now roll over so we can talk like real people.

Donatello finally obeyed and even sat up on the bed allowing his brother a spot next to him. Michelangelo forced a plate into his hands before taking the open space.

During these visits Mike always insisted on talking to his brother. It wasn't right for Don only to hear people thinking all day. When Donnie was amenable to it Mikey even got slightly on his brother's case for responding to thoughts. The orange masked turtle knew the difference between days that Don would take it and days he wouldn't. As long as he treated it like a game his brother would play, but when it became serious Don closed off and that was all Mike would get.

Master Splinter didn't get it. Mikey didn't get it. Leo could get it if he tried, but the problem there was that he didn't want to get it. There was one brother, Raphael realized, who just might get it. His change was different, but maybe Donatello could help. The trouble was Raphael's acute awareness that Don was having a horrible time with his thing too.

Raph stared at the ceiling. Leonardo and Splinter had each made grave errors in dealing with his newly telepathic brother, and Mikey treated everything like it was a game in order to get near him. Raphael thought back to Leo and Splinter's mistakes. Leo didn't trust Don with his inner monologue and Splinter thought that Don's attempts to control the telepathy were hopeless, a rogue thought to be sure, but it had happened nonetheless.

Leo did have a point, one's thoughts were not meant to be heard, but considering his own mind Raphael found something interesting. He trusted his brother implicitly, if any of them could be trusted with his thoughts it was certainly Donatello. His concern now was what he might do to his brother. It was a risk, but maybe, just maybe, it was worth taking. Maybe they could pull each other out of their respective shells, for lack of a better phrase. He glanced at the clock, 2:38 AM, it was early, or late depending on how you look at it, but he was pretty sure that Donnie wouldn't be sleeping at this time anyway. He had heard his brother moving around the lair at all hours of the night. Raph threw off his covers and walked to his brother's room. One deep breath and he knocked on the door.

With as quickly as Don had that door open, he must have been standing on the other side just waiting for Raphael to knock.

"Raph, are you sure?"

"No." Please don't take it the wrong way. I'm afraid I might hurt you.

"I trust you, you won't hurt me. I won't let you. What about me?"

Raphael didn't even have to think about his answer, it was already waiting. "I trust you, and I hope that we can beat these things together." Don just looked at him for several long moments. Please say yes Don, there's no one else I can turn to.

"Splinter already gave up on me, Raph."

"I haven't. I won't, as long as you don't give up on me. I can't do this alone, Donnie. Splinter didn't think you could repair that old refrigerator when we were kids either, but you did." Raphael was practically begging his brother.

"You really don't think before you speak do you." Donnie had a crooked smile on his face.

Raphael just shook his head. Don wasn't talking about his plan; Don was talking about his tendency to go off half-cocked.

"At this point, Raph, I am ready to try anything. What you propose now might just be the best idea you ever had."

"Or the worst," Raphael suggested. Oh please don't let me hurt him! Donatello was concentrating on something and Raphael had no idea what. What is he doing?

"Darn. Oh well. You won't, Raph. This might work…" Don started to drift. Raph may have offered up a plan that might work, and a small ray of hope that had once been obscured reappeared.

Oh, there he goes into thoughtful mode.

Don was surprised by the offhand thought. "I can't believe you have a name for that!"

"What, thoughtful mode? I can't believe you didn't know we call it that. We've all said it to your face. How did you miss out on it for this long?" Raphael was laughing now, something he hadn't done in a long time. "You zone out and we have to call you back. Then you always have some weird little idea cooked up. You must have always been in 'thoughtful mode' when we said it. When you go there you're dead to the world, bro." He was getting a funny look from his brother, but that look was at least slightly amused. "Aw, come on Donnie, it's a good thing!"

Finally, the purple masked turtle laughed too.

"So what do you say, Donnie, We gonna try this?" Raph was hopeful; he had never needed anyone as much as he needed Don right now.

"I see no reason why not. It is certainly worth a try."

Raphael released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. He said yes! Donnie, I could kiss you! "Tomorrow after everyone else is asleep, in the dojo?"

"Uh, please don't." Even without hearing Raph's thoughts at the moment Don knew that he had just thoroughly embarrassed his brother, and he felt a little bad about it. "But the time and place sound good." Don agreed with a smile.

Man, it's good to see you happy again.

"You too, Raph, you too,"

Raphael smiled and shut the door behind him. Splinter had given Raph some calming exercises to try and he had every intention of doing so. He would work on his own during the day and meet with Donnie tomorrow night, and he knew that his brother would be doing the same. Maybe with a little luck and a whole lot of work they could beat this thing.