A/N: You know Barksly? This was the first chapter I wrote with him in it.

...Yeah.

I don't own 'em.

Donnie rubbed his upper arms nervously before starting to eat. He felt so uncomfortable without having anything in his arms...

Typically he had a small stuffed dog, but it had been missing when he had awoken that morning. Leo promised he would help look for it after breakfast, but it didn't do a thing for his nerves.

"Mornin', guys!" Raph greeted as he walked into the kitchen and grabbed a plate.

He seemed awfully cheerful...

"Mornin', Raph," Leo greeted without even looking at his immediate younger brother. "Hey, Barksly went missing, do you know where he is?"

"That ratty old stuffed dog? I thought the dork always had it with him."

Hmm...Didn't quite answer the question...

"Yes, well, he went missing this morning, and Don's more than a little distraught."

"Well it's high time he learned how to get around without it. We're turning ten next month, and Mikey gave up his stuffed bear years ago!"

"We all change at different rates. Donnie'll give up Barksly even he's ready, not when you are."

"Hiding him's not going to help me..." Don explained in a quiet voice, startling his brother and father. The smaller mutant hadn't spoken a word all morning other than to say that he couldn't find Barksly.

"I didn't hide it!"

"Never said you did."

Raph gaped in shock as the purple-banded turtle grinned to himself. Foiled again by the genius.

"Raphael, why would you do such a thing to your brother?" Raph chose to not answer and instead stuffed his mouth. "Raphael..."

"He needs to give it up! It's starting to get ridiculous with how attached he is to that thing!" There was a tense silence after Raph's explosion, which was broken by a meek voice.

"I'm sorry I'm so ridiculous, Raphie..." the younger turtle whispered before quickly leaving the room with Leo following him.

"Raphael, what you did was not only disrespectful, but you have greatly hurt your brother. I want you to return the dog to Donatello, then meet me in the dojo." Before Raph could even open his mouth to say anything, the ninja master had rose and left.

The young turtle gave a resigned sigh.

~ยง~

Donnie sat in his room curled up as much as he could without crawling into his shell. He ignored Leo's protests to him staying in his room, and they eventually faded, signaling that Leo had given up and left.

It wasn't that Donnie didn't love his brothers, he just felt more than a little out of place around them and needed a buffer. It just made him feel safer.

Raph was right, this was ridiculous. He knew his brothers would never hurt him (intentionally), what was he so scared of?

Despite telling himself how stupid this was, he still needed the barrier.

He was broken out of his thoughts by a loud knock.

"Leo, I told you to leave me alone!"

"It's me. Can you let me in?"

Donnie was tempted to say no, but something about the way he asked made the word die in his lips. Raph's voice wasn't as gruff as it normally was...

Curious, Donnie opened his door to see the hothead standing there with Barksly held out.

"Here's yo- Barksly," Raph offered as he handed the stuffed animal to his little brother, being sure to call it by its name to make his brother happy. "I'm sorry I took i- him."

Donnie stared at his brother with large eyes and gingerly reaching out for the toy before grabbing it and holding to his chest. Raph couldn't help but smile at the sight of Don's large grin. Sure, the dog was obviously...well-loved with the missing eye and numerous patches, but it was Donnie's, evident by the sight of an old, purple mask tied around its neck in a form of a collar.

"Th-thank you, Raphie..."

"Anytime, squirt. I shouldn't have given you such a hard time about it. We cool?"

"Twenty-six point five."

"Never change, bud..." Raph answered with a small laugh as he put an arm around the smaller turtle's shoulders. He may not have understood his brother, but he could at least accept him as he was.

A/N: The number Don said was supposed to be their body temperature...it was in an episode of "Next Mutation" (Don was talking about how his "Eye in the Sky" worked, part of which was body temp and said their body temperature to compare it to a human's). Yes, I watch that show, don't sue me...I need a nap. I hate anxiety.

Love y'all.