Chapter 38: The Toaster

Raphael blinked at the counter in confusion. The toaster was missing. He knew it wasn't broken because Leo was forbidden from touching it and Master Splinter had done an excellent job keeping their electronics from completely blowing up in their faces. So, the toaster shouldn't have grown legs overnight and walked away from the counter. Raph turned slightly and yelled, "Yo! Where is the toaster?"

"The toaster?" Michelangelo asked, walking into the kitchen. "It's on the counter."

"No, it's not."

Mikey blinked in confusion before walking up to the counter. His head tilted as he stared at the spot where the toaster had been. "Huh. You're right. LEO! WHERE'S THE TOASTER?"

"Hey! I haven't touched that thing!" Leonardo shouted from the living room. "And stop yelling! You'll wake up Donnie!" Leo walked over to the kitchen to see the missing toaster. "Where is the toaster?"

"That's why I'm asking," Raph rolled his eyes. "Who used it last?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe Sensei," Leo tried to answer. "But we're going to have to be careful. Donnie's room is right by his and we don't want to wake him up."

"Donnie's already awake." The three boys turned to see Karai watching them with a smile on her face.

"He is?"

Karai shook her head and walked over to the counter. "Yeah, he was playing over in the dojo. Where's the toaster?"

"Whatever. I'm gonna see if Donnie wants to get some breakfast," Raph growled and spun on his heel, heading to the dojo, leaving his bickering siblings to wonder about the missing toaster.

It was only day one with the now four year old Donnie. When Donnie was restored to the new age, he had spent almost the entire day asleep. Rockwell had assured them it was alright and it was just Donnie's system getting used to the cure. Today was going to be their first day to find out exactly how much trouble Donnie could get into.

"Otouto?" Raph called out, opening the door to the dojo wider and walking in.

"Oniichan! Good morning!" Donnie's small voice called from the base of the tree.

"Hey, Donnie. Do you want breakfast? I'm sure Mikey can whip something up but the toaster is missing so…." Raph's voice trailed off as he stared down at the floor where his little brother was sitting.

On the floor, staring innocently up at him with large brown eyes, was Donnie holding a coil from the heating element in one hand and a piece of the casting in another. The toaster laid on the ground around him, in pieces. The only reason Raph even knew it was a toaster was because of the amount of time he had seen it in pieces in Donnie's lab.

"Donnie?"

"Hai, Oniichan?"

"Is that the toaster?"

"Hai. I wanted to know how it works."

"Did you figure that out?"

"Almost!"

"Did you hurt yourself at all?"

"No."

"Good."

Raph ran a hand over his face. Donnie had somehow gotten the toaster from the kitchen, brought it into the dojo, and had completely dismantled it without anyone finding out about it. He wasn't sure whether to be mad about the toaster or proud about the ninja stealth. Raph walked forward, deciding he was just going to be a good big brother.

"You know, that's pretty cool that you figured that out, Otouto," Raph praised, loving the wide smile that spread on Donnie's face. "How about we go get some breakfast?" Donnie nodded and held his arms up, the eager look on his face on the thought of being picked up. Raph smiled and knew that Donnie would have no problem getting what he wanted from anyone. He reached down and scoped Donnie into his arms. "Let's go see what Mikey has made."

"Okay!" Donnie automatically wrapped his arms around Raph's neck as the two left the dojo. Mikey and Leo were still arguing about the lost toaster while Karai sat next to newly joined Splinter, who shook his head at the two.

Karai turned and smiled, waving. "Good morning, Otouto."

"Good morning, Oneesan!" Donnie called out happily, returning the wave as Raph sat him down on his lap. They didn't have any chairs they needed for Donnie's size so he needed to sit on a lap for each meal.

"I found the toaster," Raph said, helping Donnie begin to eat the pile of eggs Mikey placed on the table.

Mikey lite up. "Really? Where is it?"

"In the dojo."

"Why is it there?" Leo asked, sitting down with the rest of the family.

"Donnie got it," Raph asked, helping to steady Donnie's hand.

Splinter immediately snickered and looked over at his little son. "Donatello, did you take the toaster?"

Donnie blinked up and then immediately looked back at his food. "Maybe."

"Donatello."

"Hai, Otousan. Am I in trouble?" Donnie looked up at the words, his big brown eyes filling with tears at the thought.

"Did you take it apart?"

"Hai." The voice was so small and sad. Donnie looked so sweet, innocent, and that his world was going to end.

Splinter gave a little smile and placed a hand on his child's head. "You're not in trouble, Donatello. Next time, make sure you ask before taking something apart. Alright?"

Donnie's face immediately lite up with a large smile. "Yes, Otousan!" Donnie looked back at his plate and attempted to eat once again with Raph's guiding hand.

"I think we need to discuss Donatello's care," Splinter announced, switching to English so Donnie wouldn't understand. "As you can tell, he is going to need almost constant supervision."

"Yeah, we don't need another broken appliance besides the toaster," Leo muttered.

"My words precisely. We will all take turns watching over Donatello and entertaining him. Raphael, since you have him already, you will be first," Splinter smiled.

"Wait! What! But, Sensei!" Raph tried to argue.

"You will do fine, Raphael."

"But what if I hurt him?"

Splinter blinked at the small voice of his usually angry son. Raph's green eyes were wide with worry, concern, and fear all directed at hurting his younger brother. Raphael was always tough and sometimes hard on his brothers but this time was different, he was so much bigger than the little turtle sitting on his lap. Raphael feared his own actions toward Donatello.

Splinter placed a hand on Raphael's shoulder. "My son, the fact that you are so worried proves to me you will not harm your brother. I'm sure Donatello would be happy to spend the day with you."

Raph sighed, taking in his father's words. He bent down slightly and nudged the small turtle. "Hey, Otouto, what do you say about spending the day with me?"

Donnie's eyes brightened as he smiled up at Raph. "I'd love that, Oniichan!"

"Are you finished?" Raph asked, ignoring the way Mikey was smiling over at him. He had no time to think about his pride. He needed to be a big brother. Donnie nodded, pushing the half full plate away. "Are you sure?" Another nod. "I don't think so. You need to eat to grow big."

"Not hungry anymore."

"Donatello, you must eat five more bites before you are allowed to leave the table," Splinter spoke up, sipping his tea.

"Hai, Otousan." A pout and Donnie reached over, finishing the five bites under Splinter's and Raph's watchful eyes. "May I be excused, Otousan?"

"Hai. Have fun with Raphael," Splinter answered.

Donnie cheered and squirmed a bit in Raph's grasp, silently asking to be put down. Raph did so and followed the little turtle as he shot across the lair. He ignored the snickers coming from the table and followed Donatello closely, trying to figure out what they were going to do. He couldn't really remember what they did when they were that age.

"Oniichan?" A little hand wrapped around his fingers.

"Hai, Otouto?"

Raph looked down to see Donnie looking up with wide brown eyes, the plea already in them. "Can we play with blocks?"

"Sure thing. Let me get them," Raph answered, taking the little hand in his to a small closet in the lair. Splinter was indeed a pack rat and kept everything, just in case. Raph pulled a couple boxes down to get to the stuff in the back. Raph dug through until he pulled out a worn box. He flipped the lid to see a bunch of their toys from when they were kids. "Here we go! Found it!"

Raph hefted the box on his shoulder and turned around to see one of the boxes pulled aside, opened, and Donnie digging through it. As Raph was about to ask what Donnie had found, the little turtle cried out in pain as tears sprang in his eyes and his hands whipped out of the box. Pounding feet could be heard running over as Raph dropped the box, scoping up his brother. There was a thin slice along the palm of the hand which bleed sluggishly. Tears were running down his cheeks as Donnie buried his face in Raph's shoulder.

"What happened?" Splinter shouted, placing a hand on the crying boy's shoulder.

"I turned my back for two seconds and Donnie got his hand cut on something," Raph answered, trying to calm him down.

Mikey knelt down by the box and opened it up. "It's Donnie's scrap metal."

"Poor little guy," Karai cooed.

"Leonardo, will you go get the first aid kit?" Splinter asked.

"Hai, Sensei."

"Are you okay, Otouto?" Raph asked, as Donnie's cries subsided.

Donnie blinked up at Raph, his eyes bright with unshed tears. "I'm okay. It hurts a little."

"Here's the first aid kit," Leo said, handing the white case over to his father.

"Thank you, my son. Donatello, can I see your hand?" Splinter asked quietly. Donnie nodded and held out his hand. Splinter inspected the slice and cleaned it up before placing a small bandage over it. He leaned down and placed a kiss on the cut, earning a watery smile. "There. All better. My son, you need to be careful, alright? Don't go looking through boxes without one of your siblings or myself with you. Can you do that for me?"

"Hai, Otousan," Donnie spoke quietly, tucking himself closer to Raph. "Can we play with the blocks now?"

"Sure, Donnie," Raph answered, standing up while Leo grabbed the box of toys.

Author's Note: Donnie's such a trouble maker. Special thanks to Fever To Write, Aoifetello, Pilyartquitect, Rhodesincolumbus, CuriousHeather, YellowOnix, Andraia452, tmntobession, and Tuskafel for the wonderful reviews! You guys are all awesome!