This has been an amazing week on my end – I think I had a comment or a message every day this week! I was FLOORED. I'll respond to you as soon as I get this up, I promise.

I'm dedicating this chapter to 2 users for especially making my day when I needed it the most. So, Optimisticat and Luck-of-the-Irishmen, this one is for you!

But to everyone who has left me a comment or a kudos or a favorite or a follow, THANK YOU. Seriously. You are the BEST!

Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Worth

All did not go quite as smoothly as everyone hoped, however. For more than a week, Splinter only woke a few times a day - enough to eat and speak for some minutes with his sons - before falling into slumber again.

"Is he ever gonna be okay again?" Raph asked testily after Splinter had fallen asleep almost in the middle of yet another lunch.

"He will," Don said. "But at this rate, it's going to be months before he's anywhere back to normal."

"Slow and steady healing is okay. Rushing things isn't," Leo said.

"Hey, we're turtles! We should be all about slow and steady, right?" Mikey asked with a hopeful smile.

Raph ignored him. "Should we maybe take him home for that?"

"No." Leo shook his head. "Even if the journey between dimensions wouldn't be as dangerous now, this is where we can get the herbs that he needs. Besides, we don't really have much of a home at the moment."

Donatello glared at his brother but said nothing. It wasn't that Leo intended to make it sound like he blamed anyone for the fact that the lair was still mostly sitting in chaotic pieces, but it felt to Don like this, too, was at least partly his fault. If he'd built it faster, if he'd found a way to get things up and running sooner...if he hadn't let Splinter get poisoned…

"I'm going out," he announced, pushing to his feet and striding out the door of the inkhouse. He had to glance down at himself to make sure he was dressed appropriately; even after weeks, it still wasn't second-nature to wander around in the kimono.

"What's his problem?" Don could hear Mikey ask from behind.

"You're probably getting on his nerves," Raph snapped back.

As he walked, Donatello tried to breathe. He was just so tightly wound these days, and it made no sense! Splinter was awake and he was getting better. Mikey and Raph were back from wandering. Raph had actually punched a guard for saying something unflattering about Donatello, after which the whispers had mostly stopped - though nothing could be done for the glares and scowls that followed him even now.

But there was still something on the edge of Donatello's awareness that made him feel like he was crawling out of his very skin.

The distraction of it was probably to blame for what happened next.

Donatello actually left the castle to go down to the village, where he had intended to wander out in the fields and try to get his head on straight. However, he was dismayed to see that Honda Ryome and several of the other guards were walking through the town, too.

Probably out looking for more ninja, Don thought. But if there are any around here, they're either in disguise or not stupid enough to get caught by samurai strutting about in full armor.

He tried to ignore the glares directed at him. He tried to ignore how people - not just guards and samurai but even the villagers - stopped talking when he was in range.

But he didn't ignore Honda Ryome's bellow of rage.

"Dishonor! Thief!"

Donatello's eyes widened at the sight of the otter samurai drawing his blades against a child - a dog barely old enough to be called anything but a puppy. The young one had frozen in terror and was just starting to cry.

Donatello moved like lightning, launching himself above and across the gathering crowd and coming down with his bo in his hands, striking Honda Ryome with all his strength. The samurai, not expecting the attack from behind, went down like a ton of bricks.

"Don't touch him!" he roared.

"How dare you?" Honda Ryome climbed to his feet laboriously, favoring his left shoulder which had taken the brunt of Don's attack. "How dare you interfere? The stain on my honor must be wiped out at once by the blood of that peasant!"

"You're not getting through me to this kid," Don said, anger seething in his gut. He planted his feet between the samurai and the child.

"He stole money from my pocket. I was invoking my right of kiri-sute gomen to restore my honor."

"Well, I'm invoking my right as a reasonable turtle to ignore your whatever-that-is. You're not hurting this boy!"

Donatello ignored the shouting of people all around; he had to focus. Behind him, the puppy boy was trembling with fear, tiny hands reaching up to hold onto Donatello's belt. Before him, Honda Ryome was slowly being surrounded by other castle guards, and not one of them was looking like an ally.

But Honda stretched out an arm. "Do not approach him. I will reclaim my honor from this Kame myself!"

Don tightened his grip on his bo and waited.

"I challenge you to a duel, Kame. You will meet me in the training arena at sunset."

Don swallowed and his voice came out sounding rather like Raph's growl. "You're going to kill me instead?"

Honda shook his head. "I would, but you are kin to the young Lord. He would banish me if I slew his brother. No, we battle not to the death. But you will lie defeated before me for this insult."

Don raised his chin. "See you then."

Honda Ryome looked like he wanted to spit on the ground, but he turned instead and marched back towards the castle. All the guards followed in his wake, but many of them gave Donatello looks so dirty he thought they might actually spawn mud in midair.

When the soldiers were gone, the villagers returned to their normal activities, albeit with nervous glances. All but one, a grown dog who raced forward.

"Hiroki! Are you hurt?" The dog snatched the child from behind Donatello.

"No, father," the boy said through a few tears. "This Kame-san saved me."

Hiroki's father turned to Don and bowed with the boy in his arms. "Thank you, Kame-sama. Hiroki owes you his life."

"No problem. But can you tell me why that all happened?"

"My boy is a good boy, but mischievous. One of his older brothers taught him how to pick-pocket, and he has been practicing on everyone in the village." He paused to glare at the child. "But you will never do so again. Do I have your word?"

"Yes, father."

"Yeah, good tip. Don't steal from people who are armed and don't take well to being surprised," Don said.

"It is not that." Hiroki's father shook his head. "The samurai invoked kiri-sute gomen. It means that he had a right to strike at anyone of lower stature than himself for compromising his honor. To steal from such an important samurai would be a great loss of face."

Donatello felt sickened. "He would have killed a child for simple pick-pocketing?"

"It is his right as samurai."

Don had to swallow against a rage and pressure that made him wonder idly if this was how Raph felt all the time.

Hiroki's father bowed again. "I am sorry that you must now face the samurai in combat. My family is in your debt for the life of my son."

Don managed a nod. "Don't worry about it."

I guess I'm not getting my nice peaceful walk after all.

-==OOO==-

At sunset, Donatello appeared in the training arena, his heart quaking but not from fear of the fight. Honda Ryome was a skilled samurai, but Don had believed him that he would not be looking for a to-the-death combat, so as long as he didn't lose any limbs, he would would walk away.

Don believed it even more because he had returned to the castle and told Leo about the upcoming duel; Leo had stormed off and Don was pretty sure his brother was telling Honda that if he actually hurt Don Leo would challenge him in return - and he would not hold back.

But Don had avoided his brothers and Master Splinter and Usagi after that, finding solace in the forge even though he had mostly stayed back and stoked the fires for the metalsmiths. When he was distracted it was dangerous to work with molten steel; he had the scars to prove it from all the years of his life.

Leonardo walked out to the center of the arena, looking resplendent and thoroughly intimidating in the robes of his station, his swords worn openly at his side.

"This is a non-fatal combat to restore the honor of Honda Ryome," he said simply. "Any interference will result in banishment for the guilty party by order of the Daimyo."

That made Don feel somewhat better. Nobody's going to try to knife me in the back. Not that they could with the guys here watching out for me. But that's the whole problem, isn't it?

Because it wasn't only Honda Ryome and his brothers in attendance. The training arena was lined with nearly every samurai and warrior attached to the castle. The crowd was like a small army gathered around him.

And not a single non-turtle face in the crowd was friendly.

You can practically feel the disgust and dislike and disdain and dis...something else rolling off them, Don thought. Great. Fantastic.

He looked to his brothers at one side. Michelangelo was cheering for him unabashedly, blithely unaware or simply ignoring the hostility. Raphael, however, was glaring daggers at everyone in his vicinity.

"Hamato Donatello."

Don turned to Leo. "I'm ready."

"Honda Ryome."

Honda simply inclined his head.

"Very well. Begin!" And Leo quickly retreated to the sidelines.

Donatello readied himself, allowing the samurai to make the first move. Honda Ryome didn't disappoint, charging him with a battle yell that reverberated in the air.

Don dodged his initial attack with a silent leap and brought his bo around. But this time Honda was ready for him and parried neatly.

Donatello tried to focus on what he was doing, on watching Honda for his next move, on the battle before him. But all he could see whenever he turned his head was more contempt and scorn on every side. All he could hear was the cheering for Honda drowning out the three turtle voices in the crowd. Even if Usagi had been watching and not guarding Master Splinter, he would have been invisible in a sea of so many samurai.

Donatello felt horribly alone. Despised. Unwelcome.

When Honda Ryome caught him unawares, he almost lost his arm except that he got his block up in time to catch the full momentum of the samurai's strike on his bicep. He couldn't help the yelp of pain that escaped him, though.

And the crowd shouted in approval.

What resilience Don might have had crumbled.

A few poorly-executed moves later, Donatello found himself on the ground with a blade above his face.

"Surrender, Kame. You have failed and my honor is restored."

"Whatever," Don said, grateful that it was over. He didn't bother to get up while Leo declared Honda the victor and the samurai went to greet his cheering fans. Instead, he used the cover of the crowd to disappear, sticking to the shadows until he could get away.

But, as good as Donatello was at hiding from hateful samurai, he could not out-sneak his brother.

"Wait up, Donnie," came Leo's soft voice.

Don sighed as he turned, grateful at least that Leo had found him down one of the narrower corridors between outbuildings where they had some privacy.

"Are you hurt?" Leo asked.

"Nope."

Leo crossed the distance between them and faced him. "Donatello…"

"Look, it's fine. I lost. Is everybody happy now?" Don asked, slumping.

Leo put a hand on Don's shoulder. "Not really. I mean, Honda Ryome is satisfied anyway. And that eases the Lord's mind. But I'm not, for one. What were you thinking?"

Don's defeated posture vanished and he straightened up with fire in his eyes. "Leo, he was going to hurt a little kid! If Mikey had been there, he might have bashed Honda's face in!"

"Mikey wouldn't have dared it because Mikey's been paying attention to the rules around here!"

Don's hands tightened into fists. "Leo, think about what you're saying for a minute. Is the social structure of this world more important than the life of an innocent person?"

Leonardo was about to spit back an answer, but he caught the anger in his brother's voice and deliberately forced himself calmer. If Donatello wasn't going to be reasonable, Leo would have to be. He took a deep breath and answered in a more measured tone.

"Of course I wouldn't have wanted that boy to die. That's not right by any definition. But we're here as guests, important guests. We can't start a revolution and rewrite this entire culture just because we don't like part of it. You of all people know you can't rip out one component and expect a whole system to work."

Don scowled. "So what should I have done, Fearless?"

Leo raised an eye-ridge at the taunt that was almost exclusively used by Raphael and only then when he was annoyed. "You could have verbally asked for clarification as to what was happening. Kiri-sute gomen is only permissible in the immediate aftermath of a slight, so if you had bought yourself even a few minutes, Honda wouldn't have been able to justify it. Then the whole matter would have gone to trial." He peered at his younger brother carefully. "It's not like you to fight rather than talk your way out of a problem."

Donatello let out an aggrieved sigh. "I know. It's just...this whole world has me off-balance. I...don't feel like myself here."

"Why not?"

"Leo, I'm not a samurai!" He didn't say And neither are you aloud, but it was clearly implied. "I'm a ninja, but more importantly I'm an engineer! I'm a computer geek! This might be like paradise to you, bro, but it's like being back in the Cretaceous period except without the dinosaurs for me. At least then there weren't all these rules and people for me to offend."

Don closed his eyes and looked away from his brother. "I just don't fit here, okay?"

Leonardo was more than a little surprised, but he shook off his feelings and got an arm around his brother's shoulders. "Don...I guess I never thought about it that way. Is it really that hard for you to be comfortable here?"

Don leaned into the comfort. "Honestly? It's impossible. Everything I am is antithesis to this whole place. I'm all about innovation, invention, technology. No wonder I keep making mistakes."

"You're not antithesis to everything."

Don looked up to see a fond expression on Leo's face he hadn't seen for what felt like a long time. "No?"

"Whatever else you feel, you're not out of place with me. With us. We're your family, Donnie, no matter where we go."

Donatello's throat constricted. He couldn't decide if he was grateful for Leo's reassurance or resentful; couldn't decide if he wanted to accept the comfort or if he wanted to shout at Leo about how much he felt he was different from his family even now. Wanted to remind his brother that of all of them, only Donatello was still an outsider. Only Donatello didn't fit anymore.

So he just nodded and let his head lean back on Leo's arm.

Leonardo accepted Donatello's silence as agreement. "Okay. Well, now we've got to find a way to cheer you up. So what would you like to be doing? If you could do anything you wanted?"

That was not what Don had expected to be asked, but he had the answer ready anyway. "Given the choice, I'd like to go home. Setting up our new lair sounds really soothing right now."

Leo choked a little bit. "You'd rather go back to work?"

Don cracked a smile. "It's work to you. To me, wiring and programming are better than meditation."

Leo shook his head. "Well, if that's how you really feel, why don't you go home for a while? You can work on the lair while the rest of us stay here and keep up with our duties. Then everybody would have what they want. And it'll give you a chance to get a head-start before we come home and make a mess of your hard work again."

Donatello's gut lurched in uncertainty, but it was easily overruled by the relief flooding through the rest of him. "Really? You mean it?"

"Sure. With Raph and Mikey sticking close to the castle to help with Master Splinter, we don't need you to be here at the moment. If some time at home is what'll be best for you, I'm not going to keep you here where you're miserable."

Donatello felt his shoulders relax so much Leo actually tightened his grip as if he were afraid Don was about to fall. "That's the best idea you've had in weeks, bro," he said a little weakly.

Leonardo was concerned with just how much more like the old Donatello his brother suddenly looked - and how long it had been since he had looked that way. Apparently this has been a lot tougher on him than any of us realized. I should have sent him back long ago.

"Come on," Leo said, making a mental note to keep a better eye on Don when he returned to Usagi's world. "You'll want to say goodbye to Mike and Raph and Master Splinter and Usagi. I'll make your apologizes to the Daimyo. And in an hour you'll be back with your microchips and transistors."

Don allowed Leo to lead him away. "Sounds perfect. Thanks for understanding."

"Any time, little brother."

They found Mikey and Raph between the practice ring and the inkhouse. Neither actually made fun of Donatello for his loss, to his great surprise; Mikey even gave him a sympathetic smile.

"Don't sweat it, dude. Everybody has a bad day sometimes."

Don felt his shoulders relax even a bit more. "Thanks Mikey."

"You feelin' okay, bro?" Raph asked, frowning. "I know you can fight better than that, and I know you weren't throwin' the match, either."

"How can you be so sure?" Leo asked, honestly curious. He hadn't thought Donatello would deliberately lose, either, but he wouldn't have bet on it.

"If he was actually trying to lose, he would'a dropped his bo when Honda went for his blind side." Raph looked at Don's sore arm. "You should'a dropped it, Donnie. Now you're gonna have a lump the size of a baseball."

"Like you said," Don shrugged, "I was trying to win."

"You should have won," Mikey put in. "Raph's totally right - you're way better than that. I thought you were finally all healed and back to normal, but that wasn't normal even for you."

"You shouldn't'a let the crowd get to you, Donnie," Raph said. "You were worrying too much about them and not about the fight."

Don did not feel like dealing with yet more critique, and was preparing to sigh and ignore that, but Leonardo stepped in and redirected the conversation.

"Don's not happy, and I think we've proven that there's some people here who are making life tougher on him. It's not like this place has a whole lot to offer a computer scientist, anyway. So he's going to head back to Earth for a while to work on the lair."

"Really?" Mikey blinked. "Can you send some of my comics back through when you go?"

Don managed a small chuckle. "Sure. But if you don't make me an exact list of what you want, you're getting whatever box is on top."

"Deal!"

"That's not a bad idea," Raph said. "It has been a while since I got to ride anything but horses. Think you'd mind some company?"

That lifted Donatello's spirits considerably. "Not at all! There's a lot of vehicles to rebuild, and if you help me with it, we can do your new Shell Cycle first."

"You got it."

Leo smiled at his brothers, feeling both relieved and proud. Of course no one was upset with Donatello for not fitting in here. It wasn't really the right place for him, after all. But they were still brothers and they had each other's shells no matter what.

"How soon are you going?" Raph asked.

"As soon as I can get my stuff together and see Master Splinter," Don said. "Is that okay?"

"Works for me. I'll go see Sensei now so you can talk to him on your own after you pack."

"Thanks, Raph."

And though Donatello did feel better, his spirits at least somewhat restored, the same nameless unease that had troubled him for weeks was still growing.

-==OOO==-

"Come in, Donatello."

Don pushed through the door and shut it behind himself. He was suddenly very glad Raph had done this first.

Splinter was sitting up on his mat, leaning against a cushion. "Sit, my son."

Don crossed the floor he now knew as well as he knew the previous lairs and dropped to kneel at his father's side.

"Raphael tells me you and he will be returning home for a time."

"Yes, Sensei."

"He also told me about your duel."

Don hung his head. "I'm sorry, Master Splinter."

"What possible reason could you have to apologize, my son?"

"I...I lost. I dishonored our Clan."

"My son." Splinter's voice went clipped and cold. "Donatello."

Don looked up at the implicit command.

"I believe that returning to our home is the correct course of action." Splinter's eyes were narrowed with anger, but they melted into a more familiar expression of understanding. "If you have become so lost that you confuse your own honor for the opinion of others, a more welcoming environment may help to restore your inner balance."

Donatello's eye-ridges raised. "Master?"

Splinter shook his head. "To lose in a duel is not to lose honor, my son. I am proud that you intervened on behalf of a child, no matter the circumstances."

"I didn't…" Don took a deep breath. "I did lose the fight, but I didn't throw it."

"I would never presume you would, Donatello."

"I just...I couldn't focus on it. Every time I tried to keep my mind on fighting, I kept seeing all those faces around me and...what they think of me."

Splinter reached out and put a hand on his son's head. "What they think is wrong, my son. Your honor is unquestionable, and your heart is pure. Our current hosts are mistaken about you, and I fear that the fault is my own."

"No it isn't…"

Splinter silenced him with a look. "It was I who suggested we lower your place in our Clan in order to disguise you. However, it seems the result of this plan has been to your great detriment. I believe some time in our new lair with your work will do much to restore your confidence. I do not like to see you so unhappy, Donatello."

A lump formed in Don's throat. "I...I'm not enjoying it much, either."

"Then why did you not go sooner?" Splinter knew the answer to the question, but asking it would allow him to lead Donatello to a more important conclusion.

"Because of you," Don said. "I didn't want to leave you. Especially with Mikey running off to see Mitsu every couple of days and Leo so busy. It wouldn't have been fair."

"But remaining here has not been fair to you. I am grateful for your dedication, which also does you much honor, Donatello. I wonder, however, if we must truly be separated by the veil of dimensions."

Don blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Is not the line between one world and the next only as wide as a doorway?" Splinter asked.

"Well, yeah…"

"And have you not proven that there are many ways to pass through such a door?"

Light flooded into Donatello's eyes and he looked up with sudden enthusiasm. "The portal stick! I completely forgot about it! Sensei, you're a genius!"

Splinter smiled.

Don's words sped up as he thought aloud, happy for the first time in days. "I was thinking that if we went back we'd be dependent on Leo to open the magical doorway for us. I mean, I could learn it if I had to, but…ugh."

"I understand."

Splinter wondered if Donatello himself even knew why he shied away from using such a form of magic. He suspected not. If the realization Splinter had stumbled upon some years before had ever occurred to Donatello, he had seen no sign of it.

It was just as well. Donatello was comfortable with the powers of his own mind and his own energy. Splinter was content to leave him ignorant as to the rest.

"But I could set the portal stick to this dimension by tracking it the same way we tracked the Technodrome to Turtle Prime. I could probably even build a receiver for it that I could leave here. That way it wouldn't only be one-way. When you activate the portal stick, you can see into your target dimension, but they can't see you. If I built a receiver, it would work like a real-time video chat."

"I would request that you visit with Leonardo or myself regularly to confirm that all is well," Splinter said. "And if you have need of me, you may return as you wish."

Don smiled at him. "Thanks, Sensei. I'll do that." Then, a little shakily, "Thanks for understanding about why I need to get out of here, too."

Splinter took his hand and squeezed it. "You and your brother Raphael share a certain sort of independence that is ill-suited to some aspects of this world. I am glad you have found a solution that will relieve you both of the pressures of being here."

"And we'll just be a portal stick away. When you're feeling better, you can come visit."

Splinter nodded. "Though I admit I don't much anticipate resuming a life underground without the sun or wind."

Don huffed a laugh. "Tell me about it. Hiding is going to feel weird for a while."

"And this is the reason I am most pleased Raphael is going with you, my son. You must guard each other closely while you retrain your instincts for shadow and silence."

"We will. I promise."

"Then I bid you farewell until you create your portal receiver. Be well, Donatello." And he embraced his son.

"Take care of yourself, Sensei. I'll see you soon."

But when the door shut behind Donatello and Splinter shifted so that he could sleep once more, he felt a cold chill of apprehension.

Master Yoshi, guard over my sons while my family is split across dimensions. May they all be safe though their paths diverge, and may we all find our way back to one another again.

-==OOO==-

Donatello sighed happily. "Shell, I missed this."

Across from him, Raph looked up. "I know what ya mean. Usagi's world is great and all, but there's something to be said for being a grease monkey again."

Don smiled at him. Raph certainly looked the part with oily smudges coating his hands and streaking up his arms. He had one big smear on his plastron, too, and one under an eye and up half of his beak. Don wasn't much better; though he wore his smock to protect his front, his hands and arms all the way to the shoulder looked like he had stuck them into a vat of tar.

But between them, Raph's newest Shell Cycle was beginning to take shape.

Don glanced across to the schematics he had tacked up on the wall beside them. "Hmm. The engine-block is done, but there's still a lot of basic assembly, and the frame…"

But before he could finish, a buzzer sounded.

Raph shook his head. "That's your cue, braniac."

Don looked longingly at the bike for a moment before he sighed and clambered to his feet, rubbing the worst of the grease off of his hands onto a nearby towel. "Wiring and security are the priorities, I know, but honestly? I think I'd rather do this."

"I know you would," Raph said. "But I'll keep at it for a while. You can check my work on your next break."

"Thanks."

Donatello gave Raph's favorite project one last, regretful glance before he turned to head to another part of the new lair. On the way, he stopped at the improvised easel that held the timer and a huge piece of cardboard almost covered in writing.

At the top it read "To Do List."

Don glanced at the list, counting the items already crossed off as complete. In spite of having been in New York for only a few days, he had been able to get an enormous amount of work accomplished. Of course, this time he had two major advantages.

First, Raphael was no slouch when it came to at least the basics of mechanical work. He couldn't necessarily build a vehicle from scratch, but he could follow instructions and he could repair most practical things. While Donatello dealt with everything from rewiring the whole place to rebuilding all the equipment he typically needed, Raph handled the more mundane activities like banging heating ducts into place, building and hanging new doors, and reinforcing the stairs and railings that led to the second level. He had also spent most of a day following Donatello's map of the surrounding sewers and hanging brackets that would soon hold cameras and sensors for the security array. By taking care of the simpler tasks, Donatello was better able to focus on those things only he could accomplish.

Second, of course, was that he could work on his own schedule, only needing to compensate for Raphael's company; for once he was untroubled by the presence and frequent interruptions of the rest of the family. With that sort of luxury, Donatello had settled into a specific time-management procedure to keep him focused and productive. He'd explained it when he set up the easel with the alarm clock.

"I'm not about to run myself into the ground deliberately, but I work better to my own rhythm. For example, we both know I'm going to stay up to all hours no matter what, so I'm not going to try to force myself to get up at the crack of dawn. That's how I usually get run down."

"I ain't that big a fan of dawn either," Raph had said.

"Right. So I'm going to assume I'll get up somewhere around ten in the morning and go to bed between two and four in the morning. Also, if I cut down to just one real meal a day and graze on snacks and leftovers whenever I'm hungry the rest of the time, I'll be able to focus on work and not cooking and doing dishes."

"So long as you eat something sometimes, I ain't gonna complain. You're a grown turtle."

"I'll try to set an alarm for myself when we should think about cooking dinner so I don't work right through it. If you weren't here, I might skip dinner, too, but that wouldn't be fair to you." He'd smiled.

Raph had raised an eye-ridge at that, but hadn't argued. He had, however, privately vowed to remember to cook that one meal himself so his otherwise-brilliant brother didn't have the opportunity to forget.

"I'm going to set up a timer that will track several shifts throughout the day. Probably three hours on, one hour off, though I might extend it to four or five when I really get going."

"What for?"

"It's too easy for me to get too absorbed in a single project," Don had admitted. "If I sit down at my laptop and start setting up the base system that I'll eventually transfer onto our new mainframe, I could get caught up in programming and firewalls and the rest of my computer work and days would go by before I even remember to go hang cameras or fix the plumbing. If I have to stop at regular intervals, I'll be better able to keep everything moving forward in turns without leaving anything out."

"So what'll you do on your off hour?"

"Work on your bike, of course." Don had grinned. "Or anything else that isn't on the high priority list but makes us happy. If we get bored we can even go patrolling or do some sparring. Anything besides the work on the official list."

Raph had understood the logic to that - building in set time to goof off or focus on something fun rather than necessary to keep from burning out - but he also decided he wouldn't let his brother's shifts go longer than four hours. Even Donatello needed a break sometimes, and after four hours, Raph knew from experience Don would be so enrapt with his work he might try to skip his downtime.

"You're soundin' a little bit like Leo with trying to organize every minute of your day, bro," he'd said.

Don had given him a small smile. "I know. But trust me. Once we get into it, you'll be glad for this much structure."

And now, a few days later, Raph could see the advantages to his brother's system. Sleeping in and staying up late was second nature to them both, and without Leo demanding morning practice or Mikey bouncing around causing trouble or Splinter insisting on three proper meals with the family a day, they had raced through the first items on the To Do List with alacrity. The regular breaks from the assigned tasks kept the days moving and kept Raph from getting too frustrated with any one job. And tracking it with a timer kept both of them from getting too caught up to remember to eat or rest.

Raph didn't out-and-out admit that Don had been right, but the fact that he was still following the shift pattern without even grumbling was proof enough that he appreciated Don's system.

While Raph was still occupied with his bike, Donatello pondered the To Do List, making mental notes.

Running all the lines out to the cameras and sensors is the biggest and most time-consuming job short of actually setting up the computer system. Well, besides my lab. But my lab comes after we get the lair secured, not before. And I'll have to rebuild all our server nodes and clusters and start restoring everything, too. Only after we're secure, though.

Hmm. Kitchen's functional, most of the stuff is at least in the room where it belongs, and the power grid is holding. The plumbing works but I wouldn't want to try it with all of us living here just yet, so I'll have to do something about that. Raph got the TV brackets up - now we just need a TV to go on them.

Did I write down that I need to set up a proper ventilation system for my lab? ...Nope. Shell. Gotta add that before I try anything that might release toxic chemicals. While I'm at it, I should probably design something to vent the whole lair. Then if something happened or we got attacked by some kind of gas, I could clear the air safely.

We also don't have direct access to the river here. I really don't want to crack through the floor or something. I'll have to find a secondary location nearby and then secure a route in between.

Better make a run topside tonight. I need some cables and as many nails and screws as I can carry. Or as Raph can carry. And we'll have to make a whole separate trip at some point to stock the infirmary. Whatever I can't order online we'll have to get some other way. Right now, all we have is whatever isn't contaminated after the last lair attack. Not a shell of a lot.

Am I ever going to get this all done? Can I even remember everything that needs doing?

Donatello grabbed a marker from the easel and began adding notations to the List, mostly in very small letters in the margins as he had to write around all his previous scribbling.

"I think you need a new list," Raph said and Don turned to find him standing at his side.

"I know. This always happens." Don smiled ruefully. "There's just so much to do, and I don't want to forget any of it."

"You won't. You never do." There was staunch certainty in Raph's eyes.

Don felt some of his worry lessen. "I'm glad you think so, bro."

"I'm glad I'm right." Raph nudged him. "Now, I know it's new shift time, but it looks to me like maybe your brain's in overdrive and you could use an extra break."

Don shook his head. "Thanks, but I think I'll sleep better tonight if I use this one to start wiring the sensor net so we can go scrounging on the next shift before bed. I know I won't get all the security up tonight, but I'd feel better if I didn't have to do it all tomorrow."

Raph eyed him. "So what can I do?"

"You don't have to do anything but work on your bike right now, Raph. You've definitely earned some fun, and this part's not really that hard."

"And I already know where all the mounts are because I hung 'em for ya," Raph replied. "I bet it'll go faster stringing all those wires through the sewers if there are two of us."

Don frowned. "Sure, but this is the worst part. It's tedious, not to mention gross - if it's anything like the last two times, I'm going to have to crawl around in all the places nobody would ever want to go to keep my cords from being easily found or disrupted. I'd understand if you don't want to. You should call Casey, see if he wants to hang out."

Raph shook his head. "It ain't that I don't trust you, Donnie. But let's just say I don't like the idea of you wandering around on your own without backup."

Part of the reason Raph had left Usagi's world was as he had said - a desire to get home and reconnect with the hard edges and sweat and grime of their world. But part of it had been to keep an eye on Donatello - and not just to keep him from working too much.

More than anyone else, Raph could guess just how much stuff Don would have to scrounge from junkyards and alleyways to get the lair up and running, and Raph hadn't liked the idea of Don going out without any backup night after night. Too much could go wrong. And while the sewers were usually safer than the junkyards and rooftops where the Foot or the Purple Dragons might be waiting, after the destruction caused by the Shredder in the other dimension's Technodrome, there was a lot more activity underground than usual, from inspectors looking for damage to scroungers hoping to find leftover technology.

That won Raph a small smile from his brother. "Fair enough. Well, let's see how far we get with the supplies I have now. We might not even make it to the end of this shift before we have to go topside."

Don turned and led the way back to the nook he had claimed for his computers, which was also currently serving as his center of operations. Though the space looked to be in greater disarray than most of the rest of the lair - and given that half the lair was still piled with boxes and random furniture, that was saying something - Don knew exactly where to lay his hands on anything he might need within the chaos. It took him just a few minutes to drop a couple of odds and ends into the bag he was currently still borrowing from April, having not yet found a duffle he liked. Then he shouldered the bag, slid his bo into place, and scooped up an old milk crate trailing wires and stacked high with the tiny sensors and cameras he had found, saved, or built.

Without a word, Raph took the box from him. "Lead the way, Donnie."

-==OOO==-

An hour later, Raph was regretting his choice not to kick back for a while.

"You really weren't kidding about this being disgusting," he said, trying hard not to think about the soft wetness under his feet.

"Sorry," Don said. "But I know you don't want to trade, either."

"Nope!"

The only thing that made Raph feel better about standing knee-deep in tepid water that smelled worse than a latrine on a construction site - and very possibly contained similar material - was the fact that Don had it worse. Raph had to stand in substances better not considered holding a box up over his head, but Donatello was up in the ceiling braced between two pipes stringing cords.

The first time Don had come down from a similar perch with a centipede crawling down his shoulder and at least four spiders clinging to his head, Raph had known anything, even standing in waste, was better than that.

Donatello didn't tease his brother for his fear of bugs. Honestly, Don wasn't so fond of them, either, but he'd crawled through the pipes of the sewers too many times, putting his hands in spots that made that bug scene from the second Indiana Jones movie look positively welcoming, and had learned to deal. He wore goggles to protect his eyes, kept his mouth clamped shut whenever possible, and forced himself not to think about how many legs were crawling on him at any given point in time.

"Ha! Got it!"

Raph shifted the box and held it even higher and Don reached down to pluck a sensor from the top of the pile. This one hadn't even needed a bracket hung, so he simply had to plug it in and tie it with a few lengths of flexible metal to the correct spot. As soon as it was secure and he had it powered on, he dropped from the ceiling into a pool of light from one of the safety lanterns that partially forced back the underground darkness.

Don sighed. "Six down, lots more to go," he said, shaking his head and brushing off bugs and trying not to think about them too hard or it would make his skin crawl. He also turned off his headlamp to avoid blinding his brother.

Raph forded the trickle of unsanitary water and wiped his feet on the vaguely-drier wall. "I see what you mean about the cords." He held out the box. "Only got two left."

"Hmm." Don considered the cords and their lengths. "I think the best thing to do is to run those from one of my relays to the near points in the northwest quadrant. Then we'll be done with that whole side."

"How soon do we gotta call Leo and check in?" Raph asked.

Don glanced at the watch he wore under his left wristband. "Less than two hours. I guess that means we'll get this done and try to hit a junkyard really fast."

Raph shrugged. "We could just call them later. What's the difference?"

"If we don't call in when he's expecting us, Leo will send Mikey through to make sure we're okay. And you know what that means."

Raph's face wrinkled in distaste. "Good point. Okay. Let's hurry. I don't want Mikey anywhere near my bike, even if it's in pieces. With my luck, he'll take something apart and it'll explode the first time we try it out."

Don smiled. "Better than if Leo tried to 'help.' He and Sensei both make everything worse when they try to assist on repairs. That one toaster never stood a chance." He started walking, Raph at his elbow.

"Good thing you got me, then."

Don laughed. "Yes, it is. I entirely agree."

After a moment, Raph asked, "Did you do all this by yourself last time? Why didn't you ask for help?"

Don shrugged. "Didn't have to. The pumping station was in a pretty isolated spot with only a few nearby tunnels. We only needed a handful of sensors so it didn't take too long. But the time before, yeah. However, I built up the sensor net around that lair over time instead of all at once. This is the first time I've had to make such a project out of it."

"Huh. Well, if you ever gotta do this again, make sure you recruit Mikey. And Leo. It's definitely their turn."

Don huffed a laugh. "Sorry you got stuck with this."

"I ain't happy about it, Donnie-boy, but I ain't gonna just abandon you to do this on your own," Raph said. "Just make sure next time you get those two doofuses to take their turn."

"I will."

Raph was quiet a moment before he said, "Maybe when those two come back we should teach them how to do some of this stuff. Even just the basics, ya know? Then you wouldn't be on the hook for everything all the time."

Don raised an eye-ridge in surprise. "But I'm not. You've been a huge help so far."

"Exactly. You've got a list longer than your bo of chores that need doing to get the lair into shape, and half of 'em anybody could do with a hammer and a little knowhow. If Leo and Mike were here, they'd probably weasel out of anything harder than building shelves. Even Casey can do more than build shelves. There's no reason for you to be stuck with the rest of this crud on your own."

"If Leo were the one building doors, he'd spend days getting each one perfect the same as he did the paper screens for Master Splinter's room," Don pointed out. "And I don't want Mikey anywhere near the heating system. With his luck, he'd reroute it somehow and we'd all die of poisonous gas."

Raph chuckled. "You ain't wrong, but still don't seem fair. Just because you're our only geek doesn't mean you should have to do all your geeking by yourself. Don't master chefs have servants to do all the easy stuff like making toast so the experts can do the fancy meat?"

"Kitchen staff," Don corrected automatically. But he smiled. "Are you calling me a master geek?"

Raph grinned. "You are king of the geeks, Donnie."

"Well, then you can be my duke. We'll make Leo Heir since that's what he's good at, but you can keep all the real power."

"And Mikey's the court jester."

"Obviously."

A sudden shrill ringing brought both ninja up short, stopping and tensing for a fight reflexively before either could even realize it was a Shell Cell going off.

Raph's hands were full so Don grabbed his off his belt. "Hello?"

"Don!" April's voice came over the phone breathless and quick. "We could really use some help right about now!"

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" He gave Raph a sharp look and started to run. Raph dropped the crate and took off after him.

"We're fine for now, but it looks like we're about to have company. Lots of company. I think the entire Purple Dragons gang is out front. And guess who's leading them?"

"Hun," Donatello said, cold sinking into his stomach like a stone. "I thought he got cleaned up with the rest of the mutants after the Technodrome thing."

"So did we, but here he is. You better get over here fast. I don't think they're going to be happy just standing outside yelling for long."

Donatello was already skidding around a corner, mentally mapping the quickest way to April and Casey's home. "We'll be there in a few minutes. Stay out of the line of fire if you can."

"We'll try!"

Don slammed the phone back into his belt. "We've got to hurry."

"Hun means Purple Dragons scum," Raph growled. "Are Casey and April okay?"

"For now," Don said. He glanced at his bag. "I wasn't expecting a fight."

Raph shot him a look. "That mean you don't have all your usual tricks?"

Don managed to increase his speed while giving his brother an annoyed glare. "Of course not. It just means I don't have any extra tricks. Who do you think I am?"

Raph snorted. "You're Donatello, all right." He dropped his fingers to where his sai waited on his belt. "And who needs tricks when we've got something way better?"

"Our charming attitudes?"

"And a side of shell-kicking action!"