Chapter 39: Little Slip Ups
Raphael was exhausted. It was only in the middle of the afternoon and he was ready for the day to just end. After the scare with the metal, Donnie had stayed close to Raph's side for a total of ten minutes before he would slip away the moment his eyes left him. The blocks held his attention for some time but some appliance in the lair would catch Donnie's eyes and he was immediately want to see it. Raph had lost count of how many times he had to chase Donnie down because he managed to get away from him.
The only good thing was about an hour after lunch, Donatello had finally crashed and was sleeping contently on Raph's chest.
"If you want, I can take him to his bed," Leonardo softly asked, looking down from behind the couch.
Raph shook his head, adjusting his hold on the smaller turtle. "Nah. I've got him."
"I still can't believe you would lose him. It isn't hard watching a four year old," Leo muttered.
"Just you wait, Leo," Raph glared, trying to keep his voice quiet. "When it's your turn and you take your eyes off him for a second, he'll leave. You saw how he managed to get the toaster without any of us knowing. Donnie's always been really good at stealth. Now, be quiet, I'm gonna sleep some."
Leo rolled his eyes at his brothers and left Raph to his nap with their littlest brother. Raph tightened his hold on Donnie, running a hand on the little shell. Raph let his eyes slip shut, listening to Donnie's breathing, a near silent reminder that his brother was here and safe. He may not be completely back to normal but Rockwell's promise gave him so much hope. Raph just knew everything was going to be okay.
A whimper rose in the air, causing Raph's eyes to snap open. Donnie's face was scrunched up in distress as little cries escaped his lips. He buried his face in Raph's plastron, tears leaking out of his closed eyes. Raph held him close, trying to sooth his little brother. Raph ran a hand along the tiny shell, whispering softly to Donnie, trying to wake him up. With a sharp cry, Donnie woke up, his brown eyes wide and shining with tears.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey," Raph whispered, holding Donnie close. "It's okay."
"Oniichan," Donnie tearfully whimpered. His hold tightened around Raph's neck.
"Did you have a bad dream, Otouto?" Raph asked gently. Donnie nodded and buried his face in Raph's neck. "It's okay. Do you want to talk about?"
"I was… in a cage," Donnie whispered. "There was a man dressed in metal. He was scary."
Raph tightened his arms around Donnie as the little turtle cried into his shoulder. Rockwell said that Donnie wouldn't be able to remember anything, yet something was coming through. "It was just a dream, Otouto. It was just a dream." Raph held Donnie close, wishing that it really had been a dream for the little one.
"Oniichan! Oniichan! Look! Look!" Raph sighed and smiled down at his little brother and the tower of blocks on the floor.
"That's a wonderful tower, Donnie," Raph cooed, earning a bright smile from the little turtle.
Donnie smiled and tilted his head. "I'm bored with blocks."
"What would you like to do?" Raph asked. Donnie looked over at the blocks and pushed them down, the colorful blocks crashing to the ground. "That's one way to end the game."
"Dinosaurs?"
Raph smiled and patted Donnie's head. "Then let's go over and get them." Donnie shouted in glee and ran over to the box to the side of the living room, eagerly digging through the box for the toys.
"Got them!" Donnie ran back over with a few plastic dinosaurs in his arms. Raph reached over and helped him place them on the ground. "Here! You can play with this one." Rap took the offered T-Rex.
"Roar!" Raph growled, shaking the toy. Donnie smiled and grabbed the triceratops, making it run towards the T-Rex, growling back at Raph. As silly as playing with plastic toys was, Raph wouldn't trade anything for this moment with his brother. He had to admit that as a kid, he didn't want to play with Donnie. His chosen playmate was either Leo or Mikey, depending on if fighting was involved. Raph tried to keep his smile on. He realized he never paid much attention to his immediate younger brother.
"Oniichan? Raphie? Are you okay?" Donnie asked, clutching his toy tightly.
Raph jumped as a small hand touched his knee. He looked down to see big, brown eyes staring up at him. "Yeah. I'm fine, Donnie. Don't worry, Otouto. I'm just glad you're here."
Donnie cocked his head to the side. "I'm always here for you, Raphie."
Raph jumped at the voice. It was so serious and sounded like a voice he hadn't heard since Donnie's capture. Granted, there was that horrible video where Donnie was practically begging for his life. That didn't count. Raph's eyes glistened at the voice. He missed his brother so much. "I know, Donnie. Come here." Raph opened up his arms, which Donnie leaped into them, cuddling close.
"I'm sorry to break this up but it's time for bed," Splinter stated, smiling down at his two sons.
"But Otousan….."
"Sensei….."
Splinter shook his head, bending down to gather his small son. "No arguing. You need your sleep, Donatello. Don't you want to grow big like your brothers?"
Donnie looked over at Raph before reaching up at their father. "Hai."
Splinter gathered his son and placed him on his hip. Donnie reached up and wrapped his arms around Splinter's neck, holding him tight. "Say goodnight, Donatello."
"Good night, Aniki! Good night Oniichan! Good night Oneesan! Good night Niichan!" Donnie cried out, waving at his gathered siblings. Karai walked over and placed a kiss on Donnie's forehead while his brothers ran over to give the little turtle small hugs or pats on the head.
"Sweet dreams, Donnie," Mikey called as Splinter turned away from the group and into the dojo. Splinter turned toward the door right next door to his own. It was a very small room, basically a closet where Splinter had moved in a small cot and a nightstand. Splinter walked over to the bed and pushed the purple sheets back, placing Donnie on the bed.
Donnie wiggled a bit as Splinter tucked his young son in. "Otousan?"
"Yes, my son?"
Donnie looked up at his father with wide, brown eyes. "Mikey isn't really my Niichan."
Splinter froze. "What makes you say that?"
Donnie sighed, looking down at his hands. "I….. I….. I don't know. I just have this weird feeling."
"What kind of weird feeling?"
Donnie kept his gaze firmly on his hands, as if afraid of his father's words. "I know Mikey is my brother but I feel like something is wrong. I shouldn't be smaller than him. Otousan…."
Splinter leaned down and kissed the top of his head. "Don't think on this, my son. You should get some rest. You've had a long day."
"Okay. Good night, Otousan," Donnie murmured and settled down in the pillow.
"Good night, Donatello," Splinter whispered, watching his son slowly fall asleep. Donatello's breathing evened out as the small stress lines that graced his features from their talk disappeared. Laying before him was the small boy Splinter thought he would only see again in photos. Splinter ran his fingers one last time over Donatello's face before backing out of the room, leaving the door open a crack, just in case.
Splinter sighed and ran his hand over his face. Rockwell didn't mention anything about Donatello having flashbacks or strange feelings. This would have to be handled carefully. One slip up could cause all kinds of pain and confusion for his now young son.
"I'll have to contact Doctor Rockwell," Splinter whispered to himself, listening to the bickering of his other children. This was going to be an experience.
Author's Note: Man, it's been a while. Sorry about the wait. Life has gotten busier and I just haven't found anytime to really do anything. Hope you liked the new chapter and that it was worth the wait. Special thanks to Fever To Write, tmntobession, YellowOnix, Pilyartquitect, Rhodesincolumbus, CuriousHeather, Juanita27, Turtle Lover101, A Guest, Andraia452, Sonic155, and robin gibb for the wonderful reviews. Also to Kamechan98 for the PM.