Chapter 12: A Little Brother's Hand

"Michelangelo! You get away from that creature at once!" Splinter ordered. Mikey ignored his father and took a few steps toward Karai and the turtle.

"Mikey!"

"Mikey! Don't you dare!"

Mikey took another step forward, reaching into his belt and pulling out his weapons. The turtle at Karai's side flinched back, actually putting her between himself and the turtle.

"No, no, it's okay," Mikey softly said, dropping the nunchukus to the ground.

"You idiot!" Raph yelled.

"A ninja never drops his weapons!" Leo shouted, drawing his swords.

Mikey took a few more steps and knelt down onto the ground, holding his hands out to the turtle. The large turtle whimpered, pushing himself further behind Karai. "It's alright. You're safe."

Splinter took a step forward, intending on pulling his son away from the mutated creature. "My son, keep away from that thing."

"Father," Karai spoke up, petting the turtle once again to calm him down. "He won't harm anyone."

Mikey held out his hands once again, waiting to gain the turtle's attention. He tilted his head, opening his mouth slightly. Mikey's eyes widened and filled with tears as his suspensions were confirmed. "Donnie?"

"Donnie?" The broken voice softly called to the turtle.

"What?" Leo and Raph cried out.

Mikey's eyes filled with tears as he reached out to the turtle. "Donnie? It's me, Mikey, your brother. You know me, bro."

The large turtle tilted his head and emerged from behind Karai, sniffing the air, as he took a step toward the smaller turtle. It was a slow process. Mikey calling out their lost brother's name to the mutant, who only sniffed, tilted his head, and took a step.

What seemed like hours, the large turtle was within reach of Mikey, but the orange banded turtle remained still. "Donnie. Please, I'm your brother. You're safe. It's okay." The turtle exhaled before putting his snout in Mikey's waiting hands. Mikey continued to murmur sweet nothings, petting the turtle's head. "You're okay, D."

"Mikey…. That's not….." Leo started before Karai interrupted him.

"It is Donatello," Karai whispered, moving over to the other turtles, letting Mikey have a moment with his lost brother.

"Karai, what happened?" Leo asked, keeping his eyes on his brother.

"We waited for you," Karai began. "Donatello was forced to make a cure for me but instead made a way for me to regain control. Stockman helped him out keep everything a secret from the Shredder but…. he grew impatient….."

Mikey peaked up at her, continuing to pet his brother. "What did he do?"

"He…. He…. He dumped him in the mutagen."

Raph's sais feel to the ground with a clang as he dropped to his knees, unable to believe what had happened. Leo tightened his hold on his swords, trying to link together the monster and his peaceful brother. Mikey continued to cuddle his brother, talking to him softly. Donnie blinked at him with those burning eyes as he touched Mikey's check with his nose and gave a small lick.

Splinter took a few steps toward the two. "My son…." Donatello caught sight of him and immediately growled, showing off the sharp teeth, and backing away. They saw the signature gap in his teeth and they knew Donatello was in front of them the whole time.

"I would stay away from him until he calms down," Karai softly said, walking to his side to calm the mutated turtle. "He remembers those who have hurt him."

"No…." Splinter looked at the side, a single wound between the shell and plastron, caused by his own blade. He had sworn to never harm his sons again and he had hurt his most gentle son. Leo and Raph both took in the turtle, noticing their own attacks on his body.

"Donnie…. I'm so sorry…." Leo spoke, dropping his swords to the ground. "Please, Donnie…. Say something."

The large turtle only growled louder at the approach of Leonardo. Karai lowered herself down to his level, gently rubbing his head, before she said, "His mind is lost. Leonardo. He cannot understand you."

Leo flinched back, "That can't be."

"Not Donnie," Raph breathed.

"Karai, tell us what you know," Splinter said, knelling down to get on his larger son's level.

Mikey scooted forward, holding out his hands once again. Donnie's growls ceased as his attention was diverted back to the orange banded turtle. It didn't take as long for Donnie to accept Mikey's touch and lean into the new comfort.

Karai sighed before starting, "When he was mutated, something happened. His animal instinct was able to completely overpower his mind, leaving him unable to communicate or even understand us."

"He doesn't understand us?" Mikey asked, keeping his eyes on Donnie.

Karai nodded, "But Stockman mentioned something to me before you came to rescue us. When he feels safe, his brain activity increases. I think the more we make him feel safe and calm, he'll be able to come back to us."

They all looked over at the mutated turtle, who cooed in delight at the attention he was being given. It hurt their hearts to see the brilliance of Donatello be reduced to a mere animal and there was nothing they could do.

"Donnie is the one we'd go to for this kind of thing," Raph finally said, admitting his fear.

"What are we going to do?" Mikey asked as Donnie rubbed his head on Mikey's check.

Splinter sighed, looking at his poor son, "We take him home. We'll figure out where to go from there. Karai, when was he mutated?"

Karai paused for a second before answered, "Yesterday."

Splinter froze, horror setting in as he breathed out, "I felt his anguish, his cry for help."

"Sensei? What are you talking about?" Leo asked.

"He called out for me. I heard Donatello cry out Father."

Author's Note: Back to daily updates! I just couldn't leave the chapter where it ended last night. Thanks to Andraia452, Pilyartquitect, BipperCipher3, and Pip for the reviews!