Chapter 36: A New Challenge

Donatello giggled as he reached forward and grabbed Leo's bandana. He held the bright blue material tight and only laughed when his brother tried to get it from his grip. Leo's soft pleas fell on deaf ears as Donnie only laughed louder and Karai snickered on the opposite end of the couch. Leo sent a glare at the girl as he attempted to escape Donnie's hold. Karai only laughed in response.

"Geez, are you stuck, Leo?"

"Very funny, Raph," Leo tilted his head to glare at his brother. "Come on and help."

"Aren't you going to say hi, Leo?" April asked as she bounced into sight.

"Hi, April. Want to help me out?" Leo asked giving her a smile.

April smiled and reached for Donnie, gently removing his little fingers and pulling him into her arms. Donnie's laughs ceased as he looked up at the new face, studying her. April gave him a gentle smile. Donnie giggled and gave her a smile in return. "Awwwww, aren't you the cutest thing ever!"

"Man, girls and babies, what's up with that?" Casey asked, joining Raph's side as April cooed to Donnie who lit up with her words.

"Well, this is Donnie we're talking about," Raph started. "He makes a cute kid."

"I think the world is ending!" Casey gasped, clutching his chest. "Raph's admitting something is cute!"

Raph glared at Casey. "This is my little brother we're talking about. I'd be careful if I were you." Casey rolled his eyes and joined April, looking down at the little baby Donnie.

"Alright," Casey breathed, reaching over to give the tiny turtle a tickle. "He is kinda cute."

"Of course he is!" April declared, cuddling him close. Donnie laughed happily grabbing onto Casey's fingers. "I take it he's feeling better than before?"

Leo nodded. "Yeah. I guess it's just something we're going to have to watch out for."

"Poor Donnie," April cooed bringing him closer to her face to nuzzle against him. "How's he been doing otherwise?"

"Donnie's been adjusting just fine," Leo answered. "Although, Rockwell will be coming over tomorrow to give Donnie his next shot."

"How old will he be?" Casey asked.

"About four."

"He's gonna be a handful," Casey admitted. "I remember when my little sister was that age."

"What was she like?" Mikey asked, curiously.

Casey shrugged. "She wanted in everything, to know everybody, and got in so much trouble. Good luck to you guys."

Leo rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks guys. Real funny."

Donnie squeaked and threw out his fists, letting out a giant yawn. He blink his brown eyes up at April before slowly closing them. Karai reached over and gently took Donnie from the girl's arms to cradle him close. "I think he's ready for bed. He's got a big day ahead of him."

"We'll be in shortly to say good night," Leo spoke gently. Karai nodded and walked away from the group, heading to the dojo.

"We should be heading back as well," April admitted, watching the two leave. "We have school in the morning."

"Why do you have to be a party pooper, Red?" Casey whined but slowly moved toward the exit. "We'll see ya later guys."

"See ya, Casey," Raph waved as he followed Mikey over to the dojo.

"We'll let you know when you can visit again," Leo smiled as he led the two over to the turnstiles.

"Thanks, Leo," April reached out and touched the oldest turtle's shoulder. "Don't worry so much. Everything will be fine."

Leo sighed as he watched the two leave the lair. He ran a hand over his face. He was glad everything was fine and that Donnie wasn't going to die but it was extremely difficult with Donnie being a kid. "Stay strong, Leo. It will be over soon."

"Leonardo, don't you want to say good night?" Splinter asked, poking his head into the living room.

Leo smiled and walked over to the dojo. "Yeah, yeah. Of course I want to say good night." Leo followed his father into the dojo and disappeared into his father's room. Karai still cuddled Donnie close to her chest while Raph and Mikey stood close by. Karai looked up at his entrance and gave a soft smile. "Can I have him?" Karai nodded and gave Donnie over to Leo. "Hey, little brother. You have a good night, alright?"

"Come on. Finish up. Donnie's tired," Raph growled.

Leo shook his head and nuzzled Donnie's head. "Good night, Donnie."

Raph reached over and took Donnie out of Leo's arms. "Good night, Donnie. We'll see you in the morning."

Mikey walked right over, took Donnie out of Raph's arms, and tickled the little turtle and gave a kiss on his forehead. "Sweet dreams, Donnie." Donnie yawned and struck out on Mikey's chest.

"Good night, Donnie," Karai spoke softly pulling Donnie back into her arms. "Sleep well."

"Give me your brother, Karai," Splinter gently said. Karai nodded and handed Donnie over to their father. "Rockwell will be here in the morning. You should get some rest. Tomorrow will be a busy one. Good night, my children."

"Good night, Father."

"Good night, Sensei."

"Night."

"Good night!"

Splinter turned away from his retreating children and tucked Donatello into the crib. Donnie gave one last yawn and closed his eyes, his breathing evening out. Splinter smiled as he covered the little turtle with a soft purple blanket and placed the teddy bear in the corner of the crib.

"My little son," Splinter whispered, running a finger along the cheek. "It was nice to have my little son back again but I can't wait until you are fully returned to me. Sleep well, my son."

Splinter held Donatello to his chest, letting his son play with the edge of his robe. Doctor Rockwell would be arriving any moment and Splinter had sent his children out on a run while the next shot would be given. To be completely honest, he wanted some time alone with his son. Splinter wasn't entirely sure how Donatello would act once the shot would be given.

"Master Splinter? Are you here?" Rockwell's voice rang through the lair.

Splinter walked out of the dojo to see Rockwell entering the lair, a tube of purple liquid in his hands. Donatello giggled and reached out to Rockwell. "It looks like someone is excited to see you."

"I'm glad to see him too," Rockwell smiled, reaching out to tickle the little turtle. Donnie giggled and grabbed one of his long fingers. "Are you ready, Master Splinter?"

"Is he ready for it?" Splinter asked, gently releasing Donatello's grip.

Rockwell nodded. "He's stable and ready to receive the next shot. Are you ready?"

"Yeah. As great as it's been having my baby, I'm ready," Splinter stated. "Where should we go?"

"We could go to the dojo, if you'd like."

Splinter nodded and they walked into the dojo. Splinter knelt on the ground with Rockwell, the needle in his hand. Splinter gave his son one last cuddle before laying him on the ground. Rockwell took a tiny arm and stretched it out. Donnie let out a little whimper and the needle sunk into his arm. Donnie's eyes welled up and tears rolled down his cheeks as cries lifted into the air.

Splinter and Rockwell pulled their hands back as Donatello's cries only seemed to increase as his body grew. The limbs lengthened as did his body. The cries finally subsided as a four year old Donatello lay on the ground.

Donatello blinked up at them and sat up, staring at Splinter first before turning to Rockwell. The large brown eyes narrowed in suspension before turning back to Splinter. "Otousan, dare ga kono hitodesu?"

Splinter blinked before placing a hand on Donatello's back to keep him upright. "Kore wa watashi no yujin, Rockwell-san."

"Can he speak English?" Rockwell asked, watching Donatello as he stared at Rockwell suspiciously.

"I didn't start teaching my sons English until they were around five," Splinter answered.

"Otousan," Donatello softly spoke, reaching out to grab Splinter's knee. "Watashi no keiteishimaidearu baai?"

"Watashi no musuko, karera wa sugu ni modorimasu," Splinter answered. "Anata wa dono yō ni kanjite iru, watashi no musuko?"

Donatello blinked in confusion before answering softly, "Daijōbudesu, Otousan."

"Suguremashita," Splinter smiled, patting Donatello on the head. The little turtle smiled and held his arms open for a hug. Splinter quickly gathered his boy in his arms. "Thank you, Rockwell. I really appreciate the work you've been putting into the cure for Donatello."

"There is no need to thank me," Rockwell said. "Donatello, it is nice seeing you." Donatello blinked in confusion and looked up at Splinter for guidance.

"To iu anata ni kansha, Donatello," Splinter spoke softly.

"Arigatō, Rockwell-sama," Donatello nearly whispered, trying to disappear into his father's side.

Splinter smiled gently. "He says thank you. I'm sorry, Doctor Rockwell, Donatello is a little shy."

"I understand," Rockwell reassured, standing up to leave. "Your boys didn't have any other contact than you and each other until they were fifteen. It's understandable that he is a bit shy."

"But I do wonder, how much memory does he have?" Splinter asked, pulling his boy into his lap. Donatello squeaked at being moved and buried himself in his father's robes. "He asked about his brothers and sister. He never asked about a sister in his youth."

"That's the thing," Rockwell tried to explain. "I had to create some kind of suppressant to block certain memories. If I used the cure as is, he would have all his memories up to this point. Imagine how confused he would be if his three brothers were years ahead of him." Splinter nodded in understanding. "The serum I came up with basically blocks his original memories and allows him to recognize people. His brain has created an artificial link and his mind created almost false memories to make sure he won't be confused."

"Is it reversible?" Splinter asked, worried about his son in his arms. He wished Rockwell had told him about the addition before it was used on Donatello. Splinter hated being in the dark about his sons.

"Of course," Rockwell reassured. "I wasn't going to use anything to harm Donatello." Splinter released his breath, knowing his son was going to be okay. "Well, I'm going to leave you two. I bet you want some father-son bonding time."

"Thank you, again."

"There is no need to thank me, Master Splinter." Rockwell left before Splinter could get anything out. A little shifting on his lap brought his attention to the son on him. Donatello was looking curiously at the door before turning his big, brown eyes up at him. Splinter's breath caught. How could he have forgotten how melting those brown eyes were? Donatello's puppy eyes, rarely used, were even greater at making brothers do whatever he wanted.

*Note: When it is just the family, they are speaking Japanese to each other.*

"Otousan, will that man be coming back? He's strange," Donatello asked.

Splinter laughed, holding Donatello tightly. "Doctor Rockwell will be back in a week or so. Are you sure you're feeling alright, my son?"

"I'm fine, Otousan," Donatello huffed in annoyance. "Are you okay? Your eyes are kind of sparkly."

"I'm just happy, my son," Splinter smiled, gathering his son in his arms. After so long, it was so nice to just hear Donatello speak. Splinter held Donatello tighter, ignoring how his son stiffened slightly before relaxing. His bright boy, he was going to be alright.

Author's Note: Donnie's back to normal, kinda. A few notes, the Japanese I'm using is from Google. Special thanks to Fever To Write, Bipper Cipher 3, Andraia452, Pilyartquitect, and Juanita27 for the wonderful reviews!

Translations: Father, who is this person?

This is my friend, Rockwell

Father. Where are my brothers and sister?

My son, they will return shortly. How are you feeling, my son?

I'm fine, Father.

Excellent

Say thank you, Donatello.

Thank you