Chapter 17: A Solution

Michelangelo watched Donatello and Raphael resting in the other room. Donnie was sleeping on the floor with Raph resting on his shell. There had to be a way for this to be fixed.

"Maybe I should visit Leatherhead," Mikey mused to himself.

"Mikey! You're a genius!"

"Donnie!" Mikey cried out in happiness. He turned, expecting Donnie's gap-toothed grin, only to see Leo smiling at him.

Leo gave a sad smile before saying, "I'm sorry but, you just gave me an idea, Mikey. Rockwell!"

"Rockwell?" Raph asked, propping himself up, looking over at his brothers.

Leo rolled his eyes, "You know, Donnie isn't the only genius we know. Rockwell could help!"

Raph's eyes lit up as he exclaimed, "We have to get him over here!"

"Do you think Donnie will be okay?" Mikey asked in a small voice. He remembered too well his brother's reactions to his own family who had hurt him. He didn't have a very good past with any of the Mutanimals, except for maybe Pigeon Pete.

Leo waved off the question, pulling out his Tphone, "I'm sure everything will be fine." Leo walked off to another part of the lair, hoping to get ahold of one of the Mutanimals. Mikey walked over to his remaining brothers, joining them in the living room.

Raph huffed before asking, "Do you really think he'll be okay?" They both looked down at the large turtle on the floor. Donnie had not been disturbed from his sleep during his brother's outburst and was still resting peacefully. He didn't respond to surprises very well anymore and Mikey was worried about what he'd do when the Mutanimals showed up.

"I don't know….." Mikey mumbled, rubbing Donnie's head.

Raphael paced in front of their entrance, waiting for the Mutanimals. Master Splinter had agreed to have the Mutanimals come because the hope of having Donatello cured was too great. Leonardo sat with Karai in the kitchen, catching up while Michelangelo sat with Donnie, having a staring contest.

Mikey stared into his older brother's brown eyes, silently enjoying the fact that they weren't red anymore. He could tell Donnie was getting frustrated with the lack of communication and that everyone had to guess what he wanted. For someone as bright as Donatello to be forced into a body which was extremely limited, Mikey knew that had to be torture.

Donnie blinked.

"Ha! Gotcha D! I win!" Mikey shouted. Donnie grumbled and huffed, what looked like a smirk was on his face. No matter what form, Mikey was still Donnie's little brother. "How about we head to the dojo and wrestle some?" Donnie tilted his head, throwing the thought around his mind, before nodding slowly. Mikey frowned before replacing it with a smile as Donnie slowly got to his feet. He may be dense sometimes but Mikey had figured out that Donnie wasn't completely cured. He had trouble putting thoughts or answers together. Leo and Raph hadn't completely noticed yet his problem and Mikey was determined to help as best he could.

The two slowly began their way to the dojo, ignoring their brothers, in favor of playtime. They didn't hear the sounds of people entering the lair until it was too late.

Donnie froze in his steps as new scents filled his nostrils. They flared up, catching them, and trying to pin them to what he already knew. As he sniffed the air, he couldn't hear the voices echoing through the lair, only the smell of four new people in his home. Three out of the four sent off red flags in his mind, causing his vision to go red.

Donnie fought as sensation he had only felt once before take over his mind. His mind was growing small, thought became harder to do, and something took over, smothering all intellect.

"Donnie? What's wrong?" Donnie turned his head, looking over at the small turtle.

"Donnie? What's wrong?" Mikey asked as Donnie stopped in his steps, sniffing the air. The large turtle turned his head at his brother. Mikey gasped as the glowing red eyes stared back at him. "No….. Donnie. Come on, bro. Stop this. You know you're safe." The large turtle grumbled, taking a step toward Mikey, letting the offered hand lay on his head.

"Yo! Mikey! Donnie! The Mutanimals are here!" Raph called from the other side of the room.

At the voice, Donnie looked over at the large group gathered in the room. His nostrils flared as he let out a roar. The large turtle nearly reared up on his back legs trying to get away from the group. Mikey quickly put himself in between Donnie and the others, recognizing fear in those burning red eyes.

"What is that thing?!" Slash yelled, jumping back at the sight of the large turtle.

Raph leaped forward, trying to get to Donnie. "It's alright, Don. You're okay."

Donatello's eyes narrowed as he nearly screamed at the sight of Raph getting closer. The growling increased as he bared his teeth at the approaching turtle.

"Donatello! What is the meaning of this?"

"That's Donatello?"

"Donnie? It's me, Raph."

Raph took another step forward to his growling brother, holding his hands open, showing he meant no harm. Donnie narrowed his eyes, his growling increasing as he backed away.

"Raphael! Get away! You'll only make it worse!" Leo yelled, reaching for his brother to pull him back. Karai changed into her snake form and moved over to Mikey and Donnie. Gently, she coaxed Donnie out of the living room, making sure to put herself between the scared turtle and the group. Mikey and Karai managed, after a few minutes, to get Donnie into the dojo. The growls had turned into whimpers and could be heard from the other room.

"That was Donatello?" Rockwell asked, watching the area where the three had disappeared.

"Yes, it is," Splinter said, walking into the room, pausing for a moment to listen to his son's cries in the other room.

"I thought he was captured by the Shredder?" Slash asked. "How could that be….?"

Leo nodded. "He was. We didn't rescue him soon enough. The Shredder got impatient and…. He….."

"He dumped him in mutagen," Raph bluntly said, his fists clenching in anger.

Silence greeted Raph's words as the Mutanimals looked at each other. Rockwell was the first to speak. "What happened to him?"

"He lost his mind," Karai put in, reentering the room.

Rockwell backpedaled. "What do you mean? Tell me everything." Karai motioned for the monkey mutant to follow her over to the table where they could talk without causing stress to Donatello.

"The mutagen caused his natural instincts to overpower his mind," Karai began, speaking to Rockwell, Slash, and Leatherhead who had gather to hear her talk. "When that happens, he isn't able to recognize anyone around him. He can only distinguish between those who have hurt him and those who haven't."

"We have found out that when he feels safe and secure, he regains control," Splinter inputted.

"But we're friends," Leatherhead said. "Why would he not feel safe?"

"It's because you have all attack us in the past," Leo answered. "He reacts the same way with us." The lost look had returned to Leo's blue eyes as he looked at the dojo.

"What do we do?" Raph asked.

"We let Donatello calm down. We let him know he is safe. Then, Dr. Rockwell can take a look at him," Master Splinter explained.

Author's Note: Special thanks to Mac Cheese, Sara, Sonic155, .52, Pilyartquitect, awesome5689, Turtle Lover101, and BipperCipher3 for the reviews. I'm so happy how well this has been going. Thanks to all those who have reviewed, favorited, followed, and have just read it. Thanks