Chapter 16: Red

Raphael stared off at the darkened television. There was nothing on and he didn't care. Leo and Mikey had gone topside to hang out with April and Casey to keep them away from the lair. Master Splinter and Karai were in the dojo, talking and Raph didn't want to interrupt Splinter's bonding time with his long lost daughter. The only problem was he was alone. Normally, Donnie would be sitting with him on his laptop.

"Oh, Donnie….." Raph clenched his fists. He blamed himself for everything. He hadn't been there when Donnie had been captured, he hadn't been able to rescue him for a week, he hadn't been there to stop the second mutation, he had attacked him when Mikey had seen their brother in that large form, and now, Donnie was afraid of him. He never wanted any of his brothers to be afraid of him, especially, Donnie.

A snuff caught his attention as Raph looked up. At the entrance of the dojo, sat Donnie, staring at Raphael intently. The large turtle narrowed his eyes and didn't move. "I'm not going to hurt you, bro," He whispered, taking his eyes off his brother. He had figured out that it was in his best interest to ignore his brother. Leo had the right idea, let Donnie come to him.

He closed his eyes, letting the guilt seep in and fill his whole body. Donnie was the only one who could find a cure for a mutation and now, he wasn't anything more than an animal. He hated thinking his genius brother as an animal. It wasn't right. This felt like the whole Slash fiasco all over again.

Raph jumped as something nudged his hand. His eyes sprang open and looked down to see Donnie at his hand. His breath caught as his brother was finally close to him, the first time in weeks. The large red eyes gazed up at him, the flecks of brown the only indication of the original color. "Hey, Donnie."

The eyes widened slightly and his tilted his head, as if contemplating something. The large turtle grumbled and shuffled forward slightly, laying his large head in Raph's lap. Tears sprang to his eyes as Raph looked down at his immediate younger brother, finally being able to have some kind of contact. Neither of them were very touchy feely kind of guys, but ever since Donnie's capture, all Raph wanted to do was hold his brother tightly. His hands were shaking as he slowly stroked the angular head.

"I'm so sorry, Donnie," Raph began, his voice trembling as he continued to pet his brother's head. "This never should have happened. I should have been able to stop it. I should have realized it was you when we….." His hands paused as his eyes caught a scar on his arm, a scar made by his own sai. "Mikey knew. I can't believe I never saw… I'm so sorry, Don." Donnie turned his head slightly and whined at him, a pitiful sound that seemed like Donnie was agreeing with him in his anguish.

"I….. I miss you, Donnie. I really do," Raph's voice caught as tears streamed down his face. "I can't believe we may never get you back…. You told me your mind was your greatest treasure and you had it taken away from you. I'm so sorry, Donnie. I…. hope you can forgive me for all of this. Please, Donnie…. I miss you…. Please come back…. Donnie….." Raph clung to his head, burying his face on his brother's head, letting the tears of frustration and anguish that had built up over the time of Donnie's disappearance and his mutation.

A coo brought Raph up from Donnie's head. Donnie lifted his slightly, making sure to meet his brother's eyes. Raph gasped as he saw his brother's eyes. For the longest time, he thought he would never see them, but staring up at him was those big brown eyes, full of intelligence and understanding. "Donnie?" The large turtle cooed and nuzzled into his brother's chest, giving him the best hug he could with his body. Raph wrapped his arms around the head, rubbing their checks together. He pulled back for a moment and asked, "Do you…. Understand…. Me?"

The large turtle pulled away and nodded.

Raph wrapped his arms back around his brother, holding Donnie close. "You're back….. you're back…. Oh, Donnie….. you're back…" Donnie gently rubbed on Raph's chest. "Wait, you really are back? That wasn't just some fluke right?" Donatello pulled back, giving Raph, a familiar look that Donnie always gave when he thought one of his brothers was asking a stupid question. It was such a Donnie look that Raph's smile got bigger. "You are back!"

"Whose back?" Leo asked as he and Mikey walked back into the lair.

Raph shook his head, "Come on, Donnie." He jumped to his feet, pushing Donnie towards the dojo. "We should go see Splinter. Let's go!" Donnie sighed as he got on his feet and followed his eager brother into the dojo.

"Raph! What are you doing? Is Donnie following you willingly? Raph?" Mikey called out as they followed their two brothers into the dojo.

"Sensei!"

Master Splinter and Karai turned to the turtles that entered the dojo. "Raphael, what is wrong?"

Raph stopped in the middle of the floor, Donnie at his side, looking curiously up at him. "Sensei….. Father." Master Splinter perked up at the tone. "It's Donnie." Donnie took that as a cue to step forward, looking up at his father.

"Donatello?" Master Splinter breathed, reaching out to his son. "My son? Do you… do you…. Understand me?"

Donatello took another step forward, making sure to make eye contact with his father, ignoring the questioning looks from his other two brothers in the doorway and the surprised one from his sister. Slowly, Donatello nodded his head.

Splinter's breath hitched as tears welled up in his eyes. "My son." He reached forward, knelling down, to gather his son in his arms, the best he could. Donatello leaned forward, gently resting his head on his father's chest, letting the rat wrap his arms around it. He gave out a soft coo, feeling the tears hit his skin, letting his father get whatever he needed out of his system.

"Wait, Donnie… he….." Leo gasped, stepping a step into the dojo.

Raph turned away from his father and brother. "He understood me. He's back!"

Splinter pulled away from Donatello, making sure to get a good look at those brown eyes that have been missing in his life. It felt like such a long time since his son was in his life as his true self.

"D?" Mikey asked, racing over to their father. "Can you really understand us?"

Donnie tilted his head and nodded again at his little brother. He couldn't deny his baby brother anything. Mikey squealed in joy and leapt onto his brother, cuddling Donnie close.

"You're back," Leo gasped, his voice breaking as he walked into the room to join his family. He knelt down and patted the large shell. Karai walked over, smiling at the reunion. Stockman was right. With a safe environment, Donnie would come back.

"My son, can you speak? Has that returned with your mind?" Splinter asked, pulling out of the hug. Mikey dropped to the floor, watching as Donnie's eyes narrowed, as if deep in thought. Raph, Leo, and Karai all exchanged looks.

Donatello took a breath and growl. His eyes filled with worry as he let out another growl, only a bit more desperate. Each sound was louder and more desperate each time, and by the time Splinter held up his hand, it was only high pitched shirks.

"Enough, my son." Donatello's cries quiet as he grumbled in agitation. Splinter took his bright son's face in his hands. "It is alright. We will figure out where to go from here. I'm just glad to have you back, my son."

"Do you think you can stand up, Donnie?" Leo asked. Donnie pondered the question for a moment before shaking his head no.

Donnie laid down by the couch. He knew his family was extremely happy that his mind was back but he couldn't pull his thoughts together very well. Even though he was glad he was back in control, Donnie felt this was a worse fate. A genius, trapped in the body of a brute, unable to communicate with those he cared about.

He had his head in Mikey's lap, while Raph's feet were propped up on his shell. Leo and Karai were spending time with Splinter while the three of them were watching some show. Donnie narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what the story line was, but he couldn't figure it out. It was very frustrating and he didn't have the words to tell his family what was going on.

"We'll figure something out, D," Mikey mused, stroking his head. Donnie grumbled a little. Yeah, they would figure something out, because he was useless like this.

Author's Note: Another update!. Thanks to Andraia452, Pilyartquitect, NightFury999, BlueFireReturns, brenda,yapura.52, and BipperCipher3 for the wonderful reviews.