A/N I'm having some trouble with my Internet (again) so it might be a while before I can get the last (yes I said last) few chapters up. Until then, enjoy.

In the days following Michelangelo's outburst to Raphael, Donatello found himself spending more and more time locked in his lab, his mind in turmoil. No matter what he did, he couldn't get his younger brother's voice out of his head. "And if Donatello and I just stand by and let you get away with it, we don't deserve to see him either," Mikey had told Raphael after the older turtle had made a truly callous remark about their brother. That had stuck with the turtle genius. For once, he thought, Michelangelo was correct. He at least did not deserve to claim Leo as his brother. Whereas Michelangelo had truly regretted and tried to make up for the wrongs he had committed towards Leo, Donatello couldn't say that he had. Yes, he had tried to apologize to his brother while Leo was unconscious, but all he had been thinking of since Leo's awakening had been himself. He was only interested in making himself feel better, in relieving his own guilt. Not once had he stopped to consider how Leo would feel.

As the days passed, Donatello couldn't help but torture himself with all the wrongs he had perpetrated against his older brother, many of which he was still doing. Largely, Donatello was not fighting for his brother like he should. It was far easier to let Raphael mouth off uncontested than to stand up for the absent Leo. After all, that was just Raphael's way of blowing off steam and alleviating his worry, and it wasn't like Leo was around to hear what he had to say. At least, that had been Donatello's way of thinking until Michelangelo had found the courage to tell Raphael off, and in so doing had won the right to actually visit Leo in the safety of his new family's den. Seeing the glow on his younger brother's face after seeing Leo had made Donatello physically ill with jealousy and self-disgust.

Donatello couldn't figure out what was wrong with himself. After all, it wasn't like he hated his brother; far from it. Like Michelangelo, he had adored Leo from the time they were little and Leo had bravely been the first to try out his new legs. So why couldn't he demonstrate his feelings openly? Why was it so hard to just say those few little words that meant so much?

Three days into Donatello's self-imposed isolation, his private little kingdom was invaded by none other than Leo's new genius brother. Donny gave his counterpart a gentle, concerned look as he made his way through the detritus of half-completed machinery and equipment.

"Hey, how's it going," he asked softly as he took a seat next to Donatello. "We haven't seen you in a while, and Michelangelo was getting concerned."

Donatello started to snap that it wasn't any of the other turtle's business, but something made him stop. After all, if there was anyone who could help him gain a better understanding of himself and his faults, it would be the double looking at him.

"Bleak thoughts," Donatello told him. "I've been trying to figure out where I went wrong in my relationship with Leo, and I can't figure it out. I mean, it's not like I hate my big brother. I love him; I know I do. But somewhere between acknowledging that and expressing it, something misfires or there's a disconnect, and what I intend to express doesn't come across. Instead, I end up ignoring my brother's needs, or I fail to defend him when he needs it. For the life of me, I can't figure out what's wrong."

Donny gave his older self a look of complete understanding. "It's hard to express yourself to your hero, isn't it," he said. "Especially when you're not sure you quite measure up next to him."

"I…?" Donatello was at a loss for words. Donny had summed it up perfectly. "How did you know," he finally squeaked out.

"I once was where you are now," Donny told him. "I saw in Leo everything I thought my father wanted from me. After all, my Leo was an amazing ninja, the ideal son, and a wonderful leader. Then there was me. I was a mediocre, in my eyes, ninja who liked to tinker with electronics. As a result, I began to withdraw from my family, but Leo saw what I was doing, and stopped me. In that wonderful, gentle way of his, he expressed how much he admired my skill with electronics. He told me I didn't have to be the ninja he was, because my talents were in something else, but that if I wanted he would work with me to improve on my fighting skills. After that, it became far easier for me to express my love and admiration for him, too, because I knew he returned it full force.

Then, when our second Leo joined us, lost and broken as he was, I was able to turn the lesson I'd learned from my Leo around and apply it to him. If it hadn't been for my first brother, I would never have known how to help Leo."

"But all my terrible behavior towards Leo," Donatello protested.

"All symptoms of the disease," Donny told him. "Consider it. When you didn't help Leo with that shoulder wound, was it because you enjoyed seeing him in pain, or because it helped you remember that he was mortal, too, and still needed you in some way? And when Raph gets nasty? I doubt you agree with what he says, but it makes Leo seem on a more even level, and thus more approachable. Does that sound about right?"

Donatello could only nod. "So what do I do," he whispered.

"Come with me," Donny told him. "You need to go see Leo and explain to him exactly what you're feeling. Then you listen, and I mean really listen, as he tells you how much he admires you. You see, Leo has so much love to give that it hurts him when he can't share it like he wishes he could. Then, when Leo is done, and after you've both cried and said that you're sorry, you move forward, remembering that you don't have to live up to Leo's level. As far as he's concerned, he has to live up to yours. From there on out it's easy, because you're both so busy lifting the other up that you don't have time for self-doubt."

"All right," Donatello said. "Let's do this, before I lose my nerve."

TMNTTMNT

Donatello was thankful that there was no one else around when he and Donny entered the small common room. Sticking close to Donny's heels, Donatello followed him into across the open space and into a spacious bedroom. Leo was sitting back on the bed, his nose buried in a book. Donatello was surprised to see it was the most recent Harry Potter book.

"Hey bro," Donny said, pulling Leo's attention from the large tome. "Look who's here to see you."

Leo looked up and, though his eyes remained slightly shadowed, smiled at Donatello. "Hi," he said, warmly.

"Well, I'll leave you two to your visit," Donny said, turning to leave. Donatello gave him a panicked look, but Donny just told him, "Remember what I told you. I've already given you the script, you just have to follow through on the performance. And trust me; you don't need an understudy around for that."

With that, he was gone, and Donatello was left alone with his older brother for the first time since in months. Sensing his younger brother's discomfort, Leo said, "Why don't you come sit down? Whatever you have to say, it will be far more comfortable for both of us if you're sitting."

Perching on the edge of the bed, Donatello cleared his throat. "I, uh, I have a couple of things I need to talk to you about," he said hoarsely. "It has to do with the way I treated you, before I mean. And, I guess, with my attitude since you woke up."

"Okay," Leo said, his eyes showing his hesitation to discuss the topic. Seeing that actually gave Donatello the courage to continue.

"The first thing I have to say is, it was never your fault," he started. "The way I treated you, or rather ignored you, and the way I let Raphael walk all over you, it was never about you; it was all about me and my fears. You see, you have always amazed me. You always seemed too good at everything, from being the perfect son, to being the superb ninja. Somewhere along the way I started comparing myself to you, and I found myself falling short. So, I began to look for ways to…even the playing field I guess you could say. I mean, if you were hurt, and needed my help, then it meant you were mortal, too. And when Raphael would say those horrible things, it made it easier to see that…that you had faults, just like me. In any case, it soon got to the point where the flaws were all I saw, and I forgot the wonderful brother behind them."

"Ah, Donatello," Leo said, drawing his younger brother into an embrace. "I wish you could see yourself the way I do. Your brilliance astounds me. How you keep all that information in your head at once, and the way you can extract exactly what we need when we need it leaves me dumbfounded. I have always admired what you do. We would not have the quality of life we enjoy without you. Not only that, but you have forced yourself to become our doctor and surgeon. You have saved our lives so many times in so many different ways. And who cares if you're not the world's best ninja; that's not where your talents lie, and that's okay. The world can do without one more super ninja; super geniuses, well, that's another story. I love you, bro. I hope you understand that."

Then, just as Donny had predicted, Donatello burst into tears. Sympathetic tears filling his own eyes, Leo just held him closer.

"I'm so sorry," Donatello told his brother through his tears. "I'm sorry I was such an ass."

"I'm sorry too," Leo told him. "I'm sorry you didn't know how much I appreciate everything you do."

"Well I do now," Donatello said. "We'll just remember from now on. And if either of us forgets, then the other one will be there to remind him."

"Sounds good, little brother," Leo said softly. "Sounds good."

TMNTTMNT

Donatello emerged a while later, feeling more at peace. He and Leo had talked their fears and feelings through for a while longer, before Leo had fallen asleep once more. Now Donatello had one more mission he needed to accomplish. Fortunately, his target was seated within easy reach on the couch.

Donny couldn't have been more surprised when his older counterpart sat down next to him and hugged him.

"Thank you" Donatello told him as he embraced the younger turtle. Donny didn't have to ask what the thanks were for; he'd been there not all that long ago.

"You're welcome," he told the older turtle. "Just don't let it slip away from you again. It'll just make both of you miserable."

"I won't," Donatello swore. "Of course, if I start slipping, I expect you to thump me over the head again."

"You got it," Donny answered with a smile. "After all, what are brothers for?"