It has been another whole two months since Donatello has woke up from his coma. But non the less it was once again the start of another normal day for Kirby O'Neil, as he made his early rounds into the sewer to check on Donatello's healing progress before heading back up top for work. Ever since Mr. O'Neil's returned home after the Kraang's first attempt at invasion he's been working for a newly developed company called the Earth Protection Program. They specialize in everything from making new medications and disease control, to new weaponry and deafens systems for global invasion protection from other worldly beings. Kirby works in the new medicines department but the whole place is one big enormous complex. Its seventy stories high and one of the biggest and tallest buildings in NYC.
"Hi girls" Kirby waved as he saw his daughter and Karai sitting on the couch in the lair as he entered through the turnstiles. "How's Donatello doing today?"
"He woke up screaming with another night terror at around three this morning and April couldn't get him to go back down so Master Splinter has been helping him run through training drills and physical therapy with Leo since then" Karai answered.
"Okay, is his arm getting any better yet?"
"He can still move it but no where near as good as he could before all this" April said with a sad sigh.
"Well that's to be expected hun" Kirby replied with a smile, "I'm sure Donatello will be just fine in the end, but these kinds of things take time. We can't expect him to jump right back up on his feet all at once. I'm going to go take a look at him. Besides, I have some news I think he'll like."
With that Kirby started his short walk to the dojo with a determined smile on his face. He just knew Donnie would get better soon, he just had too, right? This just had to work.
Master Splinter was sitting in a crisscross position on the dojo floor, under the big tree, in a meditation stance while Donnie was out on the training floor in front of him in a fighting stance. Knees bent, arms locked, eyes focused, palms pushed together in intense determination to get it right this time. Leo was standing not far behind Donnie ready to catch him if his mussels went out on him again.
"Okay my son, lets try that again. One more please."
Donnie breathed deeply and then let it fly, one hard kick right after the other. One stance, next stance, third stance, forth, he went through his stances one right after the other, forcing his body to re-memorize every move of his once flawless cota. Come on Donnie he thought to himself, I cant keep doing this... please straighten and swing arm... uhhh why dose it have to feel so numb still...
"Huh Yahh" Donnie yelled out as he swung his bad arm out to strike one more time. But that's when the pain struck him once more. " Uhhhh " he fell to his knees and held his still hurt arm close to his chest.
"AHHHHHH WHY CAN'T I JUST GET THIS RIGHT ALREADY" Donnie yelled with his face down on the floor.
"Donnie!" Leo said in panic as he kneeled down next to his brother and put both hands on his brothers carapace to rub soothing circles. "It's okay bro, you can't expect your arm to get better right away. Things like this take time. If it means anything to you I think you're doing a great job, I mean come on dude when you woke up two months ago the pain in your arm was so awful that you couldn't even lift it up. I think this means you're making great progress."
Donnie brought his good hand up to his hurt shoulder and began to rub it a little as he sat back up to his knees on the dojo floor to look at his older brother and Sensei. But when he saw the comforting smiles on their faces it only made him look back to the dojo floor in defeat.
"You just don't understand Leo. Yes, I know it's improving, and yes I know I should be happy that I can still move my shoulder at all even, but I just don't feel like myself anymore... I am tired all the time! And this isn't like when I used to stay awake for days working on projects and eventually fall asleep at my desk, NO I CAN'T SLEEP! The night terrors keep coming, whether I'm trying to sleep or trying to meditate. Hear lately it's like I can't get away from my own mind.
Donnie then looked up from the floor again to see his brother and Sensei staring at him this time with much sadness and worry in their eyes. "I just want to feel like myself again. I can't eat, I can't sleep, and I can't fight like I used to. Father, if I'm not a ninja anymore, then what am I?" Donnie asked sadly while looking at his wrapped up wrist where the burnt Foot insignia still left a permanent ghostly reminder of the monster that did this too him. The monster that caused him so much pain. Pain that he experienced even in his dreams.
"My son you are much more than what meets the eye. You are Hamato Donatello; mutant, human, turtle, brother, son, friend, warrior, genius, inventor, and ninja. Just one of those dose not describe you fully. I think it's time that we take a steep back from your training and instead work on what other things make you truly happy my son. It doesn't just have to be marshal arts."
"Yeah Donnie I mean after all Ninjutsu is fifty percent mental training anyway" Leo piped up. "If you keep trying to power through with an un clear mind then you'll never succeed at any form. I know when I had my leg injury that it never got any better until I took a look at myself, accepted what had happened to me and found a new goal to work forward too."
"Well I appreciate the pep talk guys but I just don't know what I would look forward too. We live in the New York sewers. So far anything that gave any of us any rushes of adrenalin, pure hippieness, or the feelings of freedom, they were all right above us on the city streets... And as much as I hate to admit it, until I'm confident that I can protect myself again out there then that's the exact place that I don't need to be. What I wouldn't give sometimes to be human, to be able to walk the streets safely without having to constantly look over my shoulder for the Shredders soldiers who are ready and waiting to chain me back up on that wall." And with that Donnie let out a long sigh. "Uhhh I don't know, it would be nice to get some fresh air away from it all sometimes. Even if it was just for a few minuets so I could finally find some peace. I guess that's all I need sometimes."
It was then that Kirby O'Neil appeared in the dojo's iterance. "Well I don't know if I could ever make you human or not Donatello but I can at least give you something that might brighten up your spirits. If you're interested in it that is?"
Both the brothers had big smiles on their faces while Leo helped Donnie to his feet and Master Splinter stood up to greet Kirby. "Well this is certainly a good surprise Mr. O'Neil, very well timed as always. My sons how about we all get out of this dojo and go sit in the pit so we can all hear Mr. O'Neil's exciting news for Donatello together?"
"Hai Sensei" both brothers said with a bow and with that everyone headed out the door towards the lairs crowded entertainment area.
"Here you go Donnie" April cooed as she handed him a cup of hot herbal tea and sat down next to him in the pit. "So what was news did dad have for you?" she asked with a hint of excitement in her voice.
By now Donnie, April, all his brothers, Karai, Cassey and their Sensei where all gathered round in the pit to hear what exciting news Kirby had that might make Don feel better. For what had seemed like months now everyone had been trying their best to cheer him up but nothing seemed to be making him feel any better. They had no idea what but something was missing and one of them just had to figure it out, and fast.
Kirby stood in the front of the room as he cleared his throat and began. "Well as all of you know I started my new job for the NYC Earth Protection Program about a year and a half ago today and so far I have been moving up relatively quickly in it. Well in our board meeting yesterday someone pitched out the idea of the NYCEPP searching for and recruiting a new young mind for our organization. They need someone who knows all the ins and outs of science. Someone who is good with all things, advanced robotics, chemical engineering, drug administration, advanced weaponry creation, and even alien technologies. They need someone with no fear. Someone whos not afraid to take risks experimenting with new things. And I'm excited to say that the board has chosen me to pick and higher that person." Kirby looked across the room to see that everyone's expressions were the same. Confused and unsettled even. So to put everyone's mind at ease he smiled warmly, looked Donnie in the eyes and said "Donatello the board has instructed me to choose you."
And just like that everyone, even Master Splinters jowls dropped clear to the floor as Donnie sat there speechless and in shock for a moment.
"How can this be?" Donnie asked out loud, more to himself then anything. "I'm so confused right now. Mr. O'Neil I'm not like you, I'm not human. How could I do a job for the NYCEPP that's made for humans? I swear I'm not trying to be mean I just don't know how that would work."
"Well" Mr. O'Neil said smiling, "You're not mean, you just not thinking outside the box yet." He then bent down in the pit to retrieve his work suit case and open it up to reveal a shinny new black laptop computer. "You see Donatello, if you except the job which I sure hope you do. You'll be doing all your work for our company on this computer. No muss, no fuss, no unwanted human contact. Everything is virtual, they only get to see what you want them to see. No more, and no less, just your monumentally sized brain."
"Wow... "Donatello breathed out with shaky hands. "But I still don't understand how did your company even know I existed or anything about me?"
That's when April spoke up from her seat over next to Don. "Yeah well that's kind of me and dads fault" she said with a shy smile. "He told me about this a few weeks ago so we may have kind of made you a resume and faked a proper birth certificate. Honestly I didn't think much of anything was going to come from it but hear we are now. I just wanted you to be happy D. Here lately you've been so sad and beat down. I wanted to see you smile again. I really think you should do this. I miss that goofy smile of yours."
She then turned around on her seat to take both his hands in hers. "So what do you think Donnie? Do you want to do it?"
Everyone in the lair leaned forward to watch Donnie's facial expression change from something so sad and confused to something of pure excitement and determination. Both something no one had seen in Donnie for a long time.. "YES I'll do it!" he yelled and just like that Raph and Leo where by his side in no time to help him up to his feet. He quickly crossed the pit to Mr. O'Neil and shook his crushes hand. "Thank you so much Sir you have no idea what a dream come true this is for me right now! I promise I won't let you down!" He then released Kirby's hand, took the laptop from him and before anyone could even think to say anything Donnie blurted out "This is so epic!" and walked as fast as his still healing body could to his lab with April right by his side.
When both Donnie and April had completely left the room and retreated to his lab, his brothers, Karai, Cassey and Splinter all looked at Kirby with big smiles on there faces. "Thank you so much Mr. O'Neil," Leo said happily as he crossed the room to shake Kirby's hand. "You really have no idea what you just did for Donnie! He's always wanted to help the world above more than anything."
"Yeah he literally has the biggest brain I've ever seen in anyone but thanks to us being mutants he never gets to use it for anyone but us," Raph said with a shake of his head and a small smirk directed in Mr. O'Neil's direction.
Kirby continued to smile at everyone as he began to explain further. "Well boys I figured that if I could get him inventing again that maybe it would help take his mind off of everything else he's been struggling with ever since the Shredder. Now don't get me wrong, I know this wont fix everything by no means. Donatello has been through more trauma and pain in the last year then anyone should ever have to go through in a million life times, but I hope maybe a really good distraction of something he enjoys will help keep his mind clear and make it easier for him to heal faster."
That's when Casey spoke up from his seat on the bean bag chair and asked, "Yeah isn't that kind of what you always say Splinter? That ninja training isn't just in the body but the mind too or something kind of like that?"
Master Splinter chuckled at that and said "Yes Casey, Something like that. Thank you again Mr. O'Neil, I know it really means a lot to my son."
"Your very welcome Splinter," he said with another smile. "The company will be sending Donatello something to do everyday from here on out, whether its writing new codes or coming up with new serums or inventions. Pretty much if Donatello thinks it up, he then sends a blue print in. Then it gets voted on, and if the comity likes it, then they send him the supplies in the mail to make it. No more building gadgets and gismos out of garbage, now he gets to work with the real deal. Unfortunately since April and I lied on all his forms he didn't have an actual mailing address so we used ours. Now whenever they send Donatello something it will arrive at our home and we'll bring it down hear to you guys."
"That's awesome!" Mikey said with excitement while jumping off the couch and pumping his fists in the air. "Donnie's the best! We're gonna get so much cool stuff!"
"Yes if it gets approved that is" Mr. O'Neil said chuckling. "But seeing that Donatello will be building weapons for the Earth Protection Force, and that most of their common enemies are also your common enemies I would expect to see a lot of your brothers ideas get passed. Makes since that whatever you guys need to fight off alien's is also what our soldiers will need to do the same thing. He'll invent for the both of you and the company will never be the wiser."
Meanwhile in the lab Donnie and April sit down at his empty work desk, open the new laptop, and turn it on. "This is so cool" Donnie breaths out quietly as the computer screen glows purple. When the computer finally boots up some words scroll across the screen. 'GET READY... THIS IS A RECORDING...'
Instantly a younger looking women appears on screen. She has long black hair, pail skin and big wide rimed glassed. On an excited impulse Donnie uses his good arm to reach for Aprils small hand beside him and take it in his own and hold it tight. But upon realizing what he just did, he turned to look at her shyly expecting to be in trouble, but instead he sees her grin at him and slide her seat closer to wrap both of her arms around his shoulder and bicep as she leaned into his side to get a better view of the computer screen. Donnie let out a comforting sigh and looked back at the screen as the lady on it began to speak.
"Welcome Donatello Hamato. My name is Janet Hemsley. I work for the New York City Earth Protection Program and if you're watching this, it means that you have accepted Dr. Kirby O'Neil's offer and have decided to join us here at the EPP. So may I be the first one to congratulate you on this incredible first step. You are now working with the best of the best."
