A/N: So sorry for the long wait guys! I did not realize it has been two months since I updated! I am trying to be consistent with how the chapters are coming out. So here we have yet another father/son moment. I am a sucker for them!

Disclaimer: Don't own the turtles...

Takes place in 2003 series, shortly following Good Genes.


Donatello was not allowed to do much, ever since his family saved him from nearly dying of an infection that caused him to double mutate into a monster. He was doing light work on his computer, the bright screen stared back at him while he worked. After a while his mind began to wander, he had been having dreams as of late... dreams that he had nearly killed his family. They never told him of his actions during his infection but he wondered some times.

Looking over at the clock he saw it was going on midnight, taking his coffee cup he went to the kitchen to refill. He saw the pot was empty so he started to brew a new batch, while he was waiting he sensed he was no longer alone in the kitchen. Turning around he saw his father standing there.

"Did I wake you Sensei?"

Smiling at his son he told him gently.

"No, you did not. What has you up at such an hour?"

Donnie turned and got a cup from the cupboard and put it on the counter, he told his father with out looking at him.

"Can't sleep."

Splinter looked at his son's shell before saying.

"My son, if you are drinking so much coffee then its the caffeine that is keeping you up."

Donnie poured a cup of coffee and sat at the table, his father soon joined him. Taking a sip he asked.

"What happened when I was infected?"

Splinter could now see the worry lines on his sons face, and knew something deeper troubled his most intelligent son.

"What troubles you about it my son? We have not really spoken much about it."

Donnie looked down at his cup and was silent for a moment then looked up at his father.

"I know, and my brothers won't tell me what happened. What did I do?"

Splinter stood and got the tea kettle, getting it hot he poured a cup of tea for him self. Going back to the table he sat down and then said softly to his son.

"Remember Donatello, you were not in your right mind... you have always been gentile by nature... but, that infection changed you, you became savage... very angry... it was like you could not hear anything we said, or even understand what we would say. I think it was hardest on Michelangelo though... once he tried to give you something to eat and you attacked him... your brothers did not want to hurt you in any way since they knew you had know idea what was going on."

Donnie snapped his head up and looked at his father.

"I attacked Mikey? I didn't hurt him did I?"

Splinter gave him a slight smile and said.

"No, you did not. Scared him yes, but you did not hurt him. For a second I looked into your eyes, and I saw a spark... like you remembered who I was... but it only lasted long enough for Raphael to get Michelangelo out of harms way. I would speak to you often, I was hoping that you would listen to me or come back to us in some way. When Leatherhead told us your chances of living were slim, Leonardo who had most control over you, had the idea to turn to Bishop. To be honest, for once I did not have faith in his plan... I was scared that we would loose you for good."

Donnie for once in his life could not believe his father had said that, he took that secret and locked it away. He knew what was bothering him most.

"What would you have done if you stopped Leo?"

This was a touchy subject with his oldest brother, he tried to ask him once or twice and always got snapped at. Though it had only been a matter of weeks since the outbreak Donnie knew his family had suffered.

"My son, we would have lost you... Leatherhead told us you were dying... I knew if I stopped your brothers plan you would have surly died... I had to keep faith that you would make it. Bishop did not handle you very kindly, but he did make sure you were cured... the unfortunate thing was, the cure was in the experiment faze... an infected human was the test subject... and then he tested it on you when it worked. We had very little time to get you changed and get out. Bishop only allowed us mere minutes to get away before the entire place went up in flames."

Donnie looked back to his father and remained silent for a moment, then said softly.

"So I was a lot of trouble..."

Splinter got up and took a seat next to his second youngest son. Putting an arm around his shoulder he told him firmly.

"My son, you have never been a burden, you were not that much trouble. But I trust you have learned your lesson about not telling any one that you were sick in the first place?"

Donnie gave his father a side ways look and said with a slight grin.

"Yea, I learned not to ignore an infection. If I ever feel sick again I will tell some one."

Splinter smiled on the inside knowing his stubborn son would always and forever ignore his health.

"I am happy to hear that my son, I only hope you stay true to your word."

Donnie had no response for this, but told his father.

"I had a nightmare... that's why I could not sleep... I was doing research on my computer about flashbacks, and I came to the conclusion that my nightmare was in fact something that had happened while I was a monster."

Splinter knew it was rare to get to speak to his second youngest, and most intelligent son one on one with out interruption from the others, so if his son was opening up, he was more then willing to listen.

"What was the dream about my son?"

Donnie looked to the doorway for a moment before looking down at his now cold cup of coffee.

"That I had hurt my brothers, and I fought them. Leo had no choice but to tranquilize me. It was all jumbled."

Splinter nodded and told his son.

"Yes, what you must be remembering is from when we were at Bishop's Lab. Leonardo did tranquilize you. But that was only because Bishop had ordered his men to put you down."

Donnie looked down at his cup once more after hearing that.

"So he really didn't have a choice then did he?"

Splinter looked at his own now cold cup and said softly.

"No. He felt guilty afterwords though, he kept feeling that there was something else he could have done."

"Did I hurt Raph and Mikey?"

Splinter shook his head and told him.

"No, they were ordered to stay back."

Donnie felt tired all of a sudden, he knew this was what he needed, to talk to some one. Knowing it was rare to talk privately with his father he opened up to him. He felt the bond they had when he was very young and he was learning to fix things while being supervised.

Splinter could see his son begin to fall back to sleep, so he said to him.

"Come my son, let us get you back to bed."

Not a word was spoken as Splinter helped his son to his feet and lead him back to his room, though the boy was now 15 years old; Splinter tucked him into bed like he did so long ago. Looking down at his sleeping son he said to him.

"Sweet dreams my son, the dreams will go away with time."

Splinter turned off the bed side lamp and walked out of the room closing the door behind him. He was happy his son was well again, and healing.