Chapter 31: The Cure
"I will be back tomorrow," Rockwell said as he and Splinter reentered the main room.
"Thank you, Doctor Rockwell," Splinter smiled. "I am forever grateful."
Rockwell smiled. "I only wanted to repay Donatello for the kindness he's given me. Will you be able to prepare well enough?"
"Of course. I just need to talk with my children so they know what to expect," Splinter said.
"I will be back first thing in the morning," Rockwell said.
Splinter nodded. "Thank you, again." Rockwell smiled as he and the other Mutanimals filed out. Pete's shrill questions rang through the tunnels as they left, leaving four confused teens.
"Sensei? What's going on?" Leo asked.
"Come to the dojo. We have some things to discuss," Splinter said turning back to the dojo. Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Karai all looked at each other before following their father into the dojo. Mikey kept his hold on Donnie as they filed in. No one knew what Rockwell wanted.
"Father," Karai started as they all knelt on the floor, watching him closely. Splinter walked forward, taking Donatello from Michelangelo's hands and knelt as well. "What's going on?"
"As you know, Doctor Rockwell had something to tell me today," Splinter started, stroking the shell. "He has found a cure."
"What?"
"Really?"
"No way!"
"We're going to get Donnie back?"
Splinter looked at each of his children, from Michelangelo's hope filled face to Raphael's one filled with disbelief to Leonardo's calculating one to Karai's small smile. "Rockwell told me that if the cure was administered completely, Donatello's system would shut down."
"Then why would he even bring up a cure that can killed him?" Raph growled out.
"Because it needs to be administered in stages. We will have Donatello back, but it will take time," Splinter said, pulling out a stack of five pictures. "Doctor Rockwell explained it to me. This picture." He set down the normal cell structure. "Is Donatello's cell structure currently, the normal turtle cell structure. The final picture." Pointing to the fifth picture. "Is Donatello's cell structure from the blood sample from Stockman."
"What about the other ones?" Leo asked.
"They are the different stages of the cure."
"What are the stages?" Karai asked.
"They are different ages. The first part of the cure will take him into infancy," Splinter answered.
"Wait," Raph held a hand up. "He's gonna be a baby?"
"Yes," Splinter nodded. "That is how we're not going to shock his system. He'll go through different ages. The second part, he'll be around four or five, the third will place him around 10, and the final one will bring him back to normal."
"He's really going to come back?" Mikey asked, his blue eyes wide.
"In time," Splinter said. "This is going to be a tough time for everyone. We're all going to need to help. Tomorrow morning, Doctor Rockwell will return with the first stage of the cure."
"We're really getting Donnie back," Mikey breathed, as if not believing his father's words. "Dad, really?"
Splinter smiled, placing Donatello off to the side and opening his arms. Michelangelo practically flew into the hug. "Yes, my son. This nightmare will soon be over."
Raphael laid down on his bed, holding Donatello close to his chest. He looked down at the little turtle that was once his brother tucked into his shell and look at him with those small beady eyes.
"This is gonna be so strange," Raph started, stroking the shell. "I mean, it's been nice having you here at night. Well, I mean, having you here, not really as a little turtle. That has been a little nightmare. Do you remember how you used to climb into my bed whenever you had a nightmare or just got lonely? I do. I used to get so annoyed with you, but now, sometimes I wish you still would."
"Now, I realized you were telling me how much you trusted me." Donnie calmly blinked up at Raph. "Donnie, if Rockwell's antidote works, then you're gonna be just a baby. I do have to say, I'm a little nervous. You're gonna be so small and I don't know how to deal with kids or babies or anything small what so ever. I mean, Mikey is a natural with everyone and Leo is the only one with experience with kids. I'm gonna be helpless."
Donnie only blinked at him. "Yeah, yeah. I know, right now you'd be telling I'm overthinking things but I can't help but worry. Am I gonna be a good big brother to you? Man, I hope so. Donnie, I love you. If…. If….. if you love me too, please, nibble my fingers."
Raph held his breath, tears biting at his eyes as Donatello slowly reached forward and nibbled the extended fingers.
Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Karai all sat on the couch, watching the door of the dojo for any sign of change. Rockwell had arrived the next morning, along, with a vial of bright purple liquid, the exact shade of his mask. The Doctor had let the group see the cure before disappearing into the dojo with Master Splinter and Donatello.
"Do you think it will work?" Mikey asked softly, cuddling into Leo's side. The blue banded turtle sighed and pulled his brother closer. Leo gently ran a finger along his head, hoping to sooth his baby brother.
"It has to work," Raph said, pulling his knees to his chest.
Karai nodded, her eyes fixed on the door. "If what Rockwell said is true, then it will be hard for the next few weeks. We're going to have to work together."
Leo gave a small smile. "That's what siblings do."
Splinter held the little turtle close, running a hand over the shell one last time as Rockwell prepared the needle with the purple liquid. The little turtle reached up and gently nibbled on his fingers. "Don't worry, Donatello. Everything will be fine."
"Are you ready, Master Splinter?" Splinter looked up, Rockwell was ready with the needle. Splinter nodded and set his son on the ground. "Make sure to hold his leg steady. We don't want him to tuck it back into his shell." With gentle hands, Splinter took hold of the little leg, pulling it out so Rockwell could insert the needle.
"I hope this works," Splinter whispered as he watched the needle sink into his son's leg. The purple liquid slowly lowered, disappearing into Donatello's system.
Rockwell removed the needle. "You can let go of his leg." The leg disappeared back into his shell. "Give it a moment."
The two watched in silence at the shell. Nothing happened at first. Splinter almost reached down to pick up his son when Donatello shuttered, letting out a small squeak. The little head and legs popped out of the shell as Donatello trembled and started to grow. Rockwell turned his head at the small sounds of distress and Splinter closed his eyes, both remembering the pain of the transformation. Splinter didn't open his eyes until a soft cry.
Laying on his stomach, was a tiny, mutant, turtle. Splinter's breath caught as he reached forward and gathered the small creature in his arms, so familiar yet different. The soft cries quieted at the touch and the little eyes opened. Staring up at him were wide, reddish brown eyes, ones Splinter had missed so much. The best part was the looked up with recognition. The little turtle gave a little laugh and reached up.
Splinter leaned down, letting the little hand grab at his whiskers. "Donatello…"
Rockwell gave a smile, reaching behind him to pull out a small purple blanket. "It worked." Splinter smiled and took the blanket, wrapping it around his newly returned son.
"Thank you," Splinter said. "I am forever in your debt."
Rockwell gave a small smile, standing up. "I'll let the others know this was a success. Take as much time as you need. I think there is a certain little boy who needs some bonding time with his father." Splinter gave a choked sob as Rockwell left the dojo.
Donatello gave another laugh, giggling at his father with wide eyes. Splinter gave the curious hand his fingers to hold. He thought he would never be able to hold one of his sons like this ever again. It was truly a gift and Splinter hoped it would only be temporary. As cute as Donatello was, Splinter wanted his son back, whole and himself.
Author's Note: Finally, after all this time and heartbreak, Donnie is back! Kind of. I'm almost at 200! I was too impatient to wait for another review so I figured I would post. Special thanks to Turtle Lover101, Juanita27, Fever To Write, BurnedIce0, Pilyartquitect, Sonic155, Andraia452, CuriousHeather, Bipper Cipher3, and a Guest for the reviews! To the Guest, Donnie's retromutagen basically undoes to effects of mutagen. This is shown in the 2012 series. I forget what episode exactly but that's the basic principle.