Chapter 4

The three brothers all stared at each other after Donnie broke the news that the pregnancy test had given them. After a moment of silence, Leo spoke out.

"Don, did something happen to cause Mikey to cry and run out of the lair in a hurry?"

After hearing those words, Donnie thought back on what had occurred not long ago and it was then that he had figured out why, with a guilty look beginning to appear on his face.

"I snapped at Mikey and said some horrible things such as blaming him for what happened that day when we came home from the future, all because I wanted to continue looking for father without being disturbed… What have I done!?" He said as he put a hand to his forehead and shut his eyes tightly. Raph saw red after hearing this.

"Are ya serious, Donnie!? Mike wanted ta tell ya that yer gonna be a dad and all ya did was shove him away just cos ya wanted ta carry on puttin' yer own health at risk ta find Master Splinter! You've gone too far, bro!" He said in a rage before Leo calmed him by placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Easy, Raph...Don, we all understand how you feel about finding and bringing back Master Splinter, but is it really worth risking your relationship with Mikey as well as with your friends and family for this?" Leo said to Donnie in both a concerned and caring tone before he carried on.

"Before all of this happened, you and Mikey were close and over time your relationship evolved from brothers and best friends to loving mates. A few weeks after Kane was born, Mikey explained to me about wanting to start a family with you when the time was right, and he was showing his sunny smile throughout the whole conversation with me, which made me feel really happy to see him in such high spirits about this."

By now, Donnie was almost close to crying in shock over what he was hearing, but there was more to come.

"Now, ever since the incident happened, you kept putting the blame on yourself for something that was not your fault; Viral was the main culprit in the whole thing. Also, you have not only been putting your own health at risk, but you have also been pushing us away even when we ask you if you needed any help. We all love and care about you Donnie, Mikey mostly. He needs you, and you need him…"

Finally, after absorbing what Leo just said, Donnie let his tears fall as he slowly sat on his chair. His hands covering his face to try and hide his sad and regretful look from his brothers. What was he thinking, driving his friends and family away when they only wanted to help him because they care about him?

And Mikey…?

Leo was right; Viral was the one who caused them to be separated from father once again, all because she couldn't let go of her grudge against them back then. However, she got her punishment after her energy was absorbed by the Cyber Shredder shortly after she blasted Master Splinter with the de-compiler.

Still, Mikey became the scapegoat of Viral's revenge and Donnie couldn't help but feel angry at himself for raising his voice at him and giving him the full blame for the problems that he didn't cause. Because of this, he ran away from the lair heartbroken whilst carrying their child.

"Where's Mikey? Is he…?" Don asked quietly, due to the shock, as he lifted head to meet his brothers' eyes with his own.

Leo approached him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before saying, "He ran passed us, crying his eyes out, as we were walking in through the entrance. He looked heartbroken, Don…"

"He might've gone topside by now..." Raph theorised.

"We've got to find him. He's not safe out there alone in his condition!" Donnie said in a panic and tried to get up from his chair, but Leo's hand became firm on his shoulder as if telling him to stay down before he spoke.

"Listen, Don, I doubt Mikey will want to see you right now until he has calmed down a bit, so Raph and I will go look for him. You should stay here in case he comes back on his own."

"Besides, ya haven't eaten much fa a while, so ya should grab a bite of whatever Mikey left ya fa lunch earlier before ya do anythin' else. We don't want ya collapsin' on us, Brainiac...!" Raph added whilst pointing at the table with the lunch Mikey left for him hours ago.

Donnie was anxious about this at first, but then realised that his brothers had a point; he didn't want to upset Mikey further, especially in the condition that he was in now since it could cause harm to him and the baby health-wise, and now that he thought about it, he was feeling a bit hungry. Therefore, he agreed with his brothers with a single nod and a quiet "ok" before watching them leave at lightning speed in the hopes of finding Mikey safe and well.

Shortly after they left, Donnie sighed and looked over at the food on the table not far from him; on the plate was a simple cheese sandwich with a red apple on the side and a glass of water next to the plate, which he thought was smart of Mikey since hot food wouldn't taste good when it gets cold after leaving it untouched for too long.

Donnie walked towards it and grabbed one half of the sandwich as a dozen thoughts began to run in his head on what he should say to Mikey for when he comes home.

'Oh Mikey, I'm so sorry…'

'I'll think of a way to make it up to you and to thank you for gifting us with this miracle.'

'I can't believe that we're going to be parents…'

'I will never treat you badly ever again. I promise you, my love….'

Whilst this was happening, Donnie let a single tear fall from his eyes before taking the first bite out of his sandwich.