To recap on what happened on the last chapter, Donnie sparred against Raph, but the Mystics got to Donnie.
This chapter is when Leo learned more about Don, and Don tries to find his way out.
Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT, but I wished I did.
Two Days Later
'How do I escape this prison within my mind?' Don sighed for the hundredth time since he's been here. He was really starting to get aggravated at his process. But he had to come to a conclusion within the first few hours, he would need a miracle, or the Mystics themselves let go of his mind, which wasn't very likely especially since they worked for the Shredder, who had gotten him into his situation to begin with. 'I wonder how my family is dealing with this.'
Donnie sighed once again, and started wandering once again.
"How is he father? Is Donatello going to be alright?" Leo asked Master Splinter, since it was his turn to watch Don's progress, seeing as Don had and IV to keep him hydrated and fed. "I hate seeing him like this. It makes me feel completely useless as a brother and a leader."
"Now Leonardo, don't think that way. I'm sure if Donatello was awake he would tell you the complete opposite." Splinter said, facing his induced sleeping son. He hadn't left side since he had heard of the incident.
"But Sensei, Donnie always disagrees on that type of stuff. He puts on this happy, or at least I think it's happy, façade and deals with everything himself. He never puts blame on others, just himself. If he was awake, I'm sure he would have said 'I'm ok, really. It's my own fault I got into this mess, so don't worry yourself.'" Leo explained, and Master Splinter was slightly impressed at Leo's mimicking ability of Don's attitude.
"True as that may be with you guys, but if Donatello sees the situation as something too big for him to handle alone; he has always come to me for help." Splinter reasoned. "He knows that you guys are busy doing your own things, and he knows that if he bothers anyone, that no one will help him. So he comes to me."
"Is that what he honestly thinks, that we won't help him?"
"Yes…" Splinter said, changing the IV bag with a new one. "Tell me, can you honestly tell me that you haven't disregarded something that Donatello has said to you guys. Be it may be a junkyard raid, or technical help, or some peace and quiet. Should I list anything more?"
"Of course not… I- oh, I guess we all have at some points counted him out of what we were doing." Leo realised.
"Exactly, and have you guys even once tried being in his shoes, literally speaking." Splinter inquired.
"What do you mean Sensei?"
"I mean have any of you tried to any interest into what he likes to do. You and Raphael argue a lot, but always sort it out; you protect Michelangelo the most; and Raphael and Michelangelo fool around with each other. But none of you interact with Donatello. Be as it may Michelangelo will sometimes listen to Donatello on some level, but he doesn't understand much. If something breaks, its Donatello that fixes it over and over again; it's Donatello's doing that we have a security system to protect us; when someone gets hurt or sick, it's Donatello that doctors us; it's thanks to Donatello that we can live a comfortable life with stoves, oven, etc.; it's Donatello's brains that get you out of situations; it's Donatello's doing that I know what's going on when you guys come back; and many more things." Splinter turned around to see guilt on his oldest son's face, along with some other emotions that he couldn't quite tell. "In short, if we didn't have Donatello, our lives would be bleak, dangerous, and dry. Why do you think Donatello is always staying up 'til the very early in the hours of morning? It's because he wants us to be safe, and feel like he is contributing something to this family."
"I-I never realised how important and underappreciated Don really was until now." Leo sighed, regretting all the times he had broken something or asked him to do a bunch of stuff because he didn't think he was all that busy.
"I know, my son, and know you do too. Now why don't you fetch me a bucket of warm and soapy water and a cloth so I can wash his body?"
"Hai, Sensei." Leo bowed, and left to get the required items.
"Please come back to us soon my son."
"Raphie? Do you think Donnie will be alright? He's never been out for this long after these attacks." Mikey asked softly.
"I don't know Mikey, I just don't know. And I can't believe I'm going to say this, but you're right, Donnie has never been out this long, that's why I don't think this is a natural occurrence. I think something his holding him captive in his own mind." Raph said. "But if know Donnie, he'll fight for his family, even if he hates fighting."
"I hope that's the case, I don't want to lose him forever to something else. But I know he will come through, he always does." Mikey sniffled.
"Me too little bro, me too."
"I have to escape, I HAVE TO! I can't let my brothers down – I can't let my father down – I can't let MYSELF down. I will escape here if it's the last thing I do, I just hope it doesn't come down to that." Donnie said to himself. To him, he had been searching for hours for those sneaking Mystics, but every time he had gotten a clue to their whereabouts, the scenery around him changed. Sometimes it was the lair – either in ruble or whole -, or April's apartment, or a graveyard, or Japan, etc. However, nothing could deter Don off of his path to finding his way to his home, no matter the cost. To him, it was a race; every time the scenery changed, it was just another obstacle to overcome, but he will finish the race against time.
"Watch out Mystics, I'm coming."
Well here is the seventeenth chapter of 'I Can't See', hoped you enjoyed it and I will start working on the eighteenth chapter and hopefully get it uploaded by the end of the month. If not, review saying that I need to hurry. I won't hold it against you. PLEASE REVIEW!
P.S – it has been six months and two days since Don has been blind just so you know if anybody out there got confused. Or maybe a little more than that, I think I forgot to include some days.
Until then, bye.