Author's Note: I am so sorry for the long wait. Real life got in the way as it took up Glazier Blue and my time. Things have been hectic but we apologize for making you wait so long. Anyway here is the next chapter. Almost done with this story, still more fluff to come. Enjoy.

Chapter 17: Price of Freedom Part 2

"Where is Donatello? Is he alright?!" Splinter's concern was evident as the images of what had transpired now returned with a vengeance. Suddenly he could remember every detail, the defeated look on his third youngest face when his doppelganger chastised him. Over and over again Donatello tried to remain strong, defying the cruel lies and beatings from the Rat King while he chipped away at his spirit. His young, brilliant, beautiful spirit, until it was broken... and he had only broken because the Rat King had been wearing his face. But after he had been forced to venture into the Rat Kings mind looking for his salvation and the Rat Kings destruction, he didn't know outcome of his smartest son's fate. He could only hope that his remaining sons had managed to find him in time. A distorted secondary image flashed through his mind from when he possessed the smaller rat... He saw Donatello on the end of a rope! Alarmed, the rat master looked up, only to be met with a deadpan look, topped with a heart shattering silence. Had... had he been to slow leading them? Had they not made it in time? "No! My sons…is he…is Donatello-?"

"No Sensei its ok, Donnie's alive," Leo quickly delivered the good news. Still the uneasiness lingered and none of them wanted to go into any more detail. Yet, they looked more like deers in headlights. Shouldn't they all be smiling at this victory? Renewed fear swelled within the father, was Donatello alive but gravely injured? What had that monster done to him-? and why were his sons looking at him with such dread? Oh God! What had he done to him? "Where is he?" Splinter asked dreading the answer.

"He's in the other med bay," Raphael said with a little too much forced calm. Now Splinter really was starting to get worried, as the bundle of nerves in his stomach tightened. "He's still out of it, Sensei. We are not sure why."

Splinter sigh sadly, "Please release me... I would like to see him." Further to his dismay more seconds ticked by and still none of them dare move. Though unexpected, it wasn't surprising, as Splinter would be lying if he said the fear they all held in their eyes didn't hurt... But he couldn't blame them for the apprehension either. "My sons I assure you I am quite myself again. Please release me." he said with a sad smile hoping it was reassuring.

"Oh…uhh right…sorry father," Leo quickly moved to start unstrapping him. The Master couldn't fail to notice Michelangelo tensing up, and Raphael's hand graze the handle of his Sai in a guarded manner. He pretended not to notice, the bandages and bruising they all had eradicated any further explanation.

With rather a lot of cautiousness, Leo unstraps him. Finally, when his tail was undone, he was free. Quickly Leo stepped back allowing him to sit up, groaning at the stiffness, as his muscles popped when they stretched. "My walking stick…where is it?"

"It's r-right here sensei," Mikey almost tripping over the nearby table reaching for it but stopped dead in his tracks at the warning look Raph was giving him.

"Thank you," Splinter reached waiting to receive the item, and for his son's tense pause to pass. Obviously, they did not fully believe that the Rat King was truly gone. If only they knew what he had done to escape him.

This had to be addressed. He would find a way to earn back their trust, but right now his second youngest took priority. After another pause Raph seemed to relent and allowed Mikey to hand over the stick.

As the rat master rose from the bed, his legs and muscles groaned with strain from over excretion. Further proof of the physical harm he had been forced to inflict on his children. Apparently, none of them would be physically or mentally recovering from this episode any time soon. The only positive was that at least his headache was gone.

Without hesitation Splinter slowly made his way to the second med bay, his sons on his heels. For the second time he was afraid of what he would see.

Relief was not here to greet him.

Splinter's heart swelled, and his grip tightened on his stick at the sight of his clever son.

"Donatello…" he couldn't hide his shock. Quickly he moved closer to examine the bloody bruising coupled with the rope burns. These injuries were that of torture, as the burns showing that he had been bound. He instinctively wanted to hold his son, to comfort him, to try and protect him from the monsters he knew would be dominating his nightmares right now... It broke his heart to think that one of the monsters face's was his! The guilt of what he had done to punish the Rat King suddenly eased a little.

"He's breathing... But we can't wake him." Leo tone riddled with concern. "Whatever the Rat King did to him…it's like he drained him of... I don't know... all his energy, I guess."

Splinter nodded in understanding, "The Rat King was a telepath and an empath, but he could do more than just observe his chosen victims." He sneered bitterly. "Controlled by feeding off the minds of others, like how a vampire replenish by feeding off blood." He felt it was important to explain this to them. "Only rats were somehow his chosen blood bond to feed on and control..." He ran a hand over his unconscious son's brow. "Whereas a beautiful, gentle but brilliant, full mind like Donatello would be one he could feast on." He couldn't hide the anger in his voice. "Like a parasite... But only after breaking him, physically and mentally." None of them could hide a wince as they fully understood what it was their brother must have gone through. It disturbed Splinter how much he remembered about the Rat King. Linking with him through the other rats, the father knew that the Rat King memories and knowledge were now just as much a part of him as his own... He knew he would now forever be tainted by the darkness he carried.

"Is that why he hasn't woken up yet?"

Splinter nodded.

"Will he recover?" Mikey asked moving over to his other side. "He just needs to rest right, then he'll get better?"

"I hope so... But I fear his mental state will take a lot longer to recover."

"That goes for all of us," Raph added darkly. "But we should start with his arm." He pointed to his little brother's side with a growl. "He broke his arm! Donnie couldn't even defend himself... he must have been in tons of pain."

"It needs resetting Sensei," Leo said with a pleading tone.

The father nodded, "I can fix it."

He went to undo the splint while still ignoring the tensing radiating from his sons behind him. If he was still a danger, surely, he would have attacked by now?

He sighs sadly, mostly looking over the state of his son. Would Donatello ever be the same? If the condition of the arm was anything to go by, this was going to be a long road. Definitely some clean breaks as the bones were out of place and badly swollen.

"Maybe it's a good thing Donnie still out," Raph added.

"He's going to feel it when he wakes up though," Leo moves to support his brothers slightly less damaged side.

"Then we must be as swift as possible." Splinter responded as he then motioned for his sons to hold their brother down. Nodding they moved over and placed their hands down on him. Splinter then gently grasped at the olive-green arm, griping the bones and without hesitation did one quick sharp jerk, causing a nauseating cracking sound throughout the room. Suddenly there was a collective gasp that made Splinter look up. The adjustment had caused Donnie's blood shot eyes to snap open, followed by a strained gasp. If it hadn't been for his brothers holding him down, he would have jumped off the bed. One look to his face, and they could tell he wanted to scream, but there was not enough breath left in him to do so. Instead, he just choked. His eyes locked with his father. Splinter was taken aback not just how much pain was in them, but fear, that was aimed directly at him! The young turtle was too weak to pull away, but they could tell he wanted too. He didn't even have the energy to tremble, that's how weak he is, as Splinter's heart clenched with even more sorrow. He was causing his son more pain, and by the look of it, Donnie wasn't realizing he was doing this to help him.

"Forgive me, my son... please," Was all he could say before Donnie's eyes closed once again and he collapsed back in a heap in Leo arms, limp.

Splinter could feel all the eyes on him. Whether it was out of fear or pity, he didn't know. He continued working with care to finish the work, praying his son wouldn't wake up again... at least not at the moment. He couldn't even cry out, but just the look he had given him was tearing him apart. One last pop that made them all want to gag, but to their relief it was over. Aside from the swelling and bruising the limb looked straight. Leo went to put a comforting hand on his father's shoulder, but Splinter pulled away from the comforting gesture.

"Raphael would you please finish cleaning your brother, then wrap his arm again. You two help him," Splinter instructed before going to leave the room without another word.

"Yes... Sensei." An unsure Raph said anyway. The three exchanged a look before Leo went to follow him. He reached his father just as he was about to leave the room, but before he could say anything, Splinter turned to face him. The atmosphere in the room was so thick with tension.

"My sons do not speak. I do not deserve your comfort," Splinter held up a hand before Leo could protest. "But please do not fear me either. The Rat King has gone forever... I saw to that... He will never hurt us again." He reassured.

"Sensei …?" Leo for once lost on words.

"When you have finish, the three of you join me in the dojo." It was an order. Without hearing a response, Splinter then left the med bay, leaving the remaining three bewildered. A shaky breath they all unconsciously were holding seemed to break the tension in the room... but the guilt was worse than ever.

"I don't think we are handling this very well," Leo said more to himself.

"Gee ya think!?" The two looked at him as if to say, "thanks for pointing out the obvious" They knew they would have a long way to go helping Donnie, not just physically, but mentally recover. Normally it would be their Sensei taking the lead on accomplishing this... but it seemed he was in no better state, and the remaining three seemed to be dealing with way too much apprehension to help.

"No!" Leo turn to meet them with a determined look. "Look, he's still our Sensei. Teacher and father, we just need to keep reminding him and ourselves of that."

"He isn't stupid fearless. He can sense how we are all feeling. We can't just magically wish away all the tension when he's in the room!?" Raph snapped, as he frustratedly wrapped Don's arm. Eyes down cast willing his brother to wake up again. "Sensei feels bad enough. We should just say nothing. Stop reminding of what happened. Just focus on Donnie until everything gets back to... I guess, normal."

A short pause filled the room before Mikey pitched in.

"Seriously neither of what you two just said is going to help anything," Mikey interrupted coming in between the two. "Let's just say it! We know the Rat King is gone! We know it's just Sensei here now..." He pauses before saying the next part. "But we are all still scared of him! Did you see the way Donnie looked at him just then?"

"Yeah... he didn't even do anything to Donnie, and even he is scared of him," Raph said sounding confused.

"It may have all been the Rat King, but we SAW Sensei and its messed us all up!" Mikey stated matter of fact. He knew he was right when the other two couldn't meet his eye. "We are not going to fix this by denying it..." He looked at Leo. "Or ignoring it! He looked at Raph. "We need to be honest. We owe Spl- Father this!"

"I can't get used to this 'all so wises Mikey.' Its freaking me out," Raph finally looked up with a half-smile. The youngest just smirked but with a lot more sadness.

"This is going to suck! But I'm not letting the Rat King have the last laugh. We have to be honest... Can we all agree on that?"

After they had finished cleaning and wrapping Donnie up, they were relieved to see that his breathing had eased off and he seemed to be a bit more relaxed. The three reluctantly left the med bay with a promise one of them would be back soon. If they couldn't agree who, then all three, but right now they had promise to meet their father in the dojo.

Immediately they found him seated, his hands resting on his knees, eyes closed and head in a bow. Strangely they noticed his walking stick was laid out before him, something they were familiar with…only they had done it before. They made their way forward worried about disturbing him. Instead, they went to kneel as though to join him, like they normally would in class, yet the fourth absence space beside them seemed a lot bigger.

"No. Please remain standing my son's," Splinter's unexpectedness tone had the three frozen to the spot. "None of you should be sitting before me."

After a brief period of confusion Leo decided to speak up, "M-Master Splinter…what's going on?"

The response they got was even more confusing as their father move forward before kneeling down on his hands and knees, planting his head onto the ground before them. They recognized the position of ultimate submission and shame. Something they had had to do many times growing up, but never had they seen their father do it before... and it felt wrong on so many levels just witnessing it, as It left them speechless.

"My sons…I do not expect any forgiveness for the pain and suffering I inflicted upon you," Splinter finally spoke, his voice low, pained filled with guilt and sorrow. "I would never wish to hurt any of you…Or dare to raise a hand towards you or to endanger your lives... I want you to know that if I could have, I would have taken my own life first... and taken the Rat King with me." Splinter kept his eyes to the ground in submission, but his tone was absolute. "All I can ask is for your understanding that I could not stop the Rat King any sooner than what I did... and that is down to you three... The onions were a good call my son..." He commented to his youngest, making Mikey blush.

He caught a glance at the injuries the three carried. The claw marks on Leo's face, along with the hole in his hand. Mikey's dislocated shoulder... Raph's neck burning as he remembered trying to hang him, but he knew the mental scars were a lot worse and going to be carried a lot longer, and it was all his fault. He should never have let his guard down... He should never have let him in... But how could he have resisted the cries of Donatello when he was been tortured? His weakness had almost doomed them all. Yet even if he had managed to resist, Donatello would still have paid the price. Either way he had suffered the most.

Leo immediately moved forward, kneeling down to gently grab his father's arms, "Master Splinter, you have nothing to apologize for. You were being controlled."

Splinter shook his head, still refusing to look at him, "I have raised and taught you all to work as a unit...That we were always stronger together...But he made it a weakness... My caring of you all was his way in to use my body against you..." Finally Splinter looked at them, to which they saw his eyes glistening, another sight they never truly got to witness. "And he made me watch what I was doing, as though trapped in a nightmare... My actions are unforgivable…as your master…and most of all as your father."

"Your wrong Sensei. The Rat King was the one to make a mistake," Mikey found his voice, taking a step forward before sitting, as his heart breaking at the sight of him. "He used us, Donnie as a weakness to get to you, but we used it as a strength to save you and Donnie. Your teaching saved all of us. We all beat him because of you." He stated matter of fact. Both Leo and Raph nodded in agreement clearly impressed with the level of insight and... dare they say it, Maturity! No sarcasm or bad joke to follow. The words clearly made an impact on Splinter also. The sorrow from his eyes didn't vanish, but they softened.

"There is no need for forgiveness Sensei, because it wasn't you." Raph also feeling the need to say his part, came to sit beside Leo and Mikey.

"I cannot tell you what your words mean to me my son's, but you must understand all first, and why you still fear me. Why Donatello fears me," Splinter spoke with the same amount of pain. The three went to deny this, but he held up his hand. "He used my knowledge of you all to hurt you in the most intimate ways I knew and for me to be the one to deliver it, would ensure to tear us apart, and keep me for himself... No matter how much I pleaded with him..." He sighs. "Donatello... For the short moment his eyes were open, I saw nothing but fear for me. I understand why." He explained. "The Rat King used my image to torture him, physically and emotionally... All of Donatello insecurities were used against him. He believed it was me hurting him." Splinter shamefully explained to the three horrified expressions. That was an issue they knew they were going to have to deal with next, but Splinter had not finished making his point yet. "Donatello may not know or understand the truth at this time, but you three do... and yet I see just as much fear in you as he did... particularly when I was tending to your brother. That is why I cannot forgive myself. I have traumatized you all, even on a subconscious level."

"N-No Sensei that wasn't…" Leo trying to explain, but it was difficult to deny what was true. Yet, he couldn't even repress a flinch as his father suddenly went to touch the scars on his face. The furry fingers stroking the still tender flesh and making the leaf green turtle freeze in place.

"You see my son... You have no control; you are afraid of me. That is my fault and mine alone. Though the actions were not my own, a trust between us as been broken. I fear this cannot fully be mended." Splinter said with glistening eyes.

"N-No I'm not-" Leo shook his head in dismissal but cut himself off. The damage was well and truly done.

Raph again stepped in remembering what Mikey had said. They had to be honest. "You want us to be honest Sensei, yes you did put the fear of shell in us." He said firmly making the other two look away in shame. "But only because you have made us realize how stronger than us you really are." He admitted begrudgingly.

"It was a bit of a shock to realize that all this time while training us, you have actually been going easy on us," Leo too admitted, but he did with a sad smile. "But the Rat King is gone now. We can get passed this and be stronger than ever."

"What about your brother?" The father asked honestly. "You didn't see what I saw when he tormented Donatello when impersonating me. He was attacked on a spirit level. He didn't have the luxury of knowing it wasn't me hurting him. Chastising him as a failure…banishing him from our clan. Donatello has been broken, and our bond maybe fractured beyond repaired-"

Splinter was caught off guard by the sea green arm wrapped around his small figure.

"Then we will make him remember! Donnie will know that you would never intentionally harm us…I forgive you Dad, and I know Donnie will too... when he's better."

Splinter didn't look convinced, "I wouldn't blame him if he didn't."

"You say the Rat King used your knowledge of Donnie to torment him…then you know he will forgive you. Just have some faith in him."

"I second that... That sick mummy reject was always to blame…" Raph joined in on the hug. "I don't blame you at all, I never did."

Splinter couldn't find the words to reply until he could decide which emotion to settle on at his sons compassion. Relief…confusion…Guilt was still a major player. Though not fully exonerated, but at least a step in the right direction. He never thought he would hear them call him 'dad' ever again. It caught him off guard, yet he felt the three sets of arms wrapped around him…He really had taught his sons well. Finally, he returned the embrace.

"You'll always be our dad…we love you no matter what," Leo trying to keep his emotions in check.

"My boys. What did I do to be so blessed with such wonderful sons?" a small sob escaped the rat master.

"You just got lucky," Mikey at last found his sarcastic smirk of the day.

Splinter release a genuine chuckle at the sound of the two groaning, "That I did my son. That I did."

As a blissful and humble quiet settled over the family, the father could at least put aside all the trauma for a moment and enjoy the forgiveness of his clan. It made his heart ache and swell at the same time. They could forgive actions that had not been his own... But would they fear him again when they understood the actions that had been his own and killed the Rat King in the worse way possible? He would be truthful saying it was to save his sons... but he would be lying if he said it wasn't out of revenge for them either. When they spoke of how strong, 'deadly' he really was, they had no idea of how right they were. In reality his brutality could match the Rat Kings if he chose too... and he had chosen. This scared him. Their fear for him was justified, and yet they didn't really understand. If they did, would they still forgive him so easily?

No... He couldn't think about this now. He had to put his children first and focus on healing Donatello. The fracture he had suffered between them would take much more to repair than the rest of them.

A/N: Hope you like. Hope it didn't disappoint. We knew that Splinter would be holding some guilt for the trauma he inflicted on his sons. Despite him being controlled he feels responsible as his knowledge was used, plus he feels that he should have been stronger. He's relieved that three of his sons forgive him...yet Donatello will be a harder case to deal with. As he wasn't given the comfort of knowing it was a trick. He nearly died thinking he wasn't good enough and that Splinter despised him. Dealing all that will be a challenge as his mental scars run much deeper. Thank you all again for waiting and we'll try to get the next chapter up sooner. Till next time.