Donatello sat in the barn at his desk thinking hard, he felt so confused lately... he knew he couldn't go back and talk to Raph because he would just get teased. And Mikey just wouldn't understand the situation, but he had seen several different times since April declared him 'her mutant' after the events of the Big Foot encounter.

He walked out of the barn after hearing his brothers start practice, he saw Leo standing off to the side while Raph and Mikey spared. Raph had seen how upset his younger brother had been and didnt push him to practice today.

Raph watched as his younger brother went over to Leo, he dodged Mikey's kick and gave his youngest brother a kick of his own and swept his legs out from under him.

Donnie approached Leo and asked.

"Leo can I talk to you?"

Leo held his crutch close to his body as he said.

"Sure, where do you want to go?"

Donnie knew Leo shouldn't go far with that bad leg, so he just told him.

"Lets just go to the big rock behind the barn."

That was Donnie's private thinking place the others knew when he was there it was best to leave him alone.

Leo sat on the rock while Donnie sat on the grass with his shell up against the rock beside Leo.

"What's bothering you Donnie?"

Donnie looked down at the grass then looked up at the blue sky.

"Why is this so complicated?"

Leo frowned and asked.

"What is?"

After Casey and Donnie had called a truce after the incident over the mutant car it seemed that April was flirting with Donnie, but at the same time flirting with Casey as well.

"She flirts with me... but then flirts with Casey? I don't understand? She told me I was her mutant? But what is Casey to her?"

Leo remembered that day, he and Raph had talked after seeing April kiss Donnie in the front yard.

"Donnie, April cares about you..."

"But as what? Is Raph right? That I am nothing but a... freak, to her? A hideous mutant freak with no feelings?"

Leo could see the hurt in his brother's eyes as he listened to him poor his heart out, he knew this feeling all too well when Karai was messing with his heart strings...

"Donnie, your not a freak... have you tried to talk to April? Tell her how you feel?"

Donnie chuckled at that and said.

"I tried during the invasion when we were waiting for Raph, Casey and you to come back... but she just tightened the wrapping on my arm painfully and pretty much told me to shut up."

Leo couldn't help but feel bad for his little brother and leaned over to put a hand on his shoulder.

"Donnie, did you ever try and talk to her again? Remember that during the invasion a lot was going on, she probably just didnt wanna talk about it when the world was ending right out side the window."

Donnie felt his heart drop when he remembered back in New York Master Splinter was still missing...

"I even talked to Master Splinter once about it... he tried to teach me to enjoy falling down."

Leo frowned at that, he knew that Splinter had wanted to talk to his brother in privet but didnt know why.

Donnie continued.

"He told me I couldn't force her to like me... that I had to basically learn that falling in love was much like falling down... even if you fall you have to get right back up."

Donnie looked at the back side of the barn and just stared at the wood for the longest time, Leo slid off the rock and sat next to his younger brother.

"Don, I know this is hard... but maybe... maybe she is just trying to decide if she likes you or Casey more."

Donnie turned to his oldest brother and said.

"But she met me first! I was the one that rescued her from the helicopter when her and her dad were kidnapped! You three were there sure but I was the one on a rescue mission..."

Leo knew this was hard on him but he said anyway.

"Do you know what Splinter told me a long time ago about the way I felt about Karai?"

Donnie was studying the grass and shook his head no.

"He told me that love hurts, he told me that his wife could have chosen any man... even Shredder but choose him instead... Karai is Splinter's daughter... I know I cant be with her... not when she is basically family... but you have a chance to win April... Don't become like Shredder and fight for love for the wrong reason... if Casey wins April don't seek vengeance, just remember that it may not work out. I am not saying Raph is right but I am not saying he is wrong either. He has been your coach through all of this for the last year and a half... one of these days he may know what it is like to find love and never be able to do anything about it."

Donnie felt hot tears well up in his eyes, he looked over at his brother and said softly.

"Your saying that I don't have a chance with her?"

Leo knew his brother was sensitive.

"No, I am not saying that, its just... Donnie... bare in mind we are different, if she chooses you she has to give up a lot... she would have to give up going to college, having children, having a career, living in a house or apartment. She could always go to college online, or maybe even have a job, but what would her address be? The sewer? And what if she wants to have children? Are we even fertile? Are we even compatible with the human world on that level? These are the questions you need to ask your self Don. What is in her best interest?"

Donatello was silent for a long time before he sighed and stood up, looking down at his big brother he said.

"Thanks for the talk."

Leo took his offered hand as Donnie helped him to stand, smiling at his little brother he said.

"Any time, just remember I am always here."

With that the two went back to the yard and Leo did his daily exercise with his brothers to heal the wounds that seemed to still plague him.


A/N: This chapter goes out to mistystar123, thanks for being such a loyal reader!