Disclaimer: Ninja Turtles are not mine but Chloe and her grandparents are. Please do not sue and no flames.
Unappreciated
Sixteen year old Donny stormed into the lab, sat down, and turned on the computer. He had just finished fixing the shower head after Raph broke it.
"Sorry to bother you, Donny, but Raph just broke the bathroom sink faucet," Leo said, appearing in the doorway.
"I'm coming," Donny said in a neutral tone and then got up and followed Leo out of the lab.
Donny headed for the bathroom and saw the faucet in the sink. He went to get the toolbox, returned to the bathroom, and repaired the sink faucet.
After leaving the bathroom, Donny headed back to his lab. He was stopped by Mikey who pulled him to the side.
"Donny, my light switch in my bedroom isn't working!" Mikey said in a panic.
"Let's take a look," Donny suggested.
Mikey and Donny headed for Mikey's room. Donny flipped the light switch and the lights turned on.
"My light switch was working the whole time," Mikey admitted.
"Why did you lie?" Donny inquired.
"I've been trying to spend time with you and you're always fixing things."
"You could asked me instead of lying about something being broken."
"Sorry, but every time I tried to you had to go fix something that broke."
"What did you want to do?"
"I wanted us to have a sleepover in my room. We can have pizza, popcorn, and soda."
"I'd actually like to do that."
Mikey threw his arms around Donny who wrapped his arms around his brother. They released each other a few minutes later.
Leo entered the dojo and was about to practice when his shell cell rang. He was surprised to see nine year old Chloe Calls' name in the Caller ID box since she usually called Donny or Mikey.
"Everything all right, Chloe?" Leo asked with concern.
"Is Donny all right?" Chloe inquired.
"Yes, why?"
"We were supposed to chat online an hour ago and he never signed on."
Leo remembered that he told Donny that Raph had broken the sink faucet. He suddenly felt bad about taking Donny away from his planned chat.
"Sorry, Chloe, that was my fault," Leo admitted. "I didn't know that you and Donny were planning to chat when Raph broke the sink faucet."
"No problem but I'm getting worried about him," Chloe admitted.
"I'll keep an eye out and fill Master Splinter in."
"I'll talk to my grandparents and see if they have any ideas."
Leo and Chloe said good night to each other and hung up. Then Leo started practicing his katas.
Chloe spotted her grandparents sitting on the sofa listening to music. She walked over to them and they immediately looked up.
"Everything all right, Chloe?" Grandma Calls asked with concern.
"I was wondering if we could talk," Chloe replied.
"Of course," Grandpa Calls agreed. Chloe sat down between her grandparents and explained the situation involving Donny.
"That sounds serious," Grandma Calls said.
"There has to be something we can do," Grandpa Calls said.
"I have an idea," Chloe said and then told her grandparents her plan which they agreed to. Then Chloe excused herself so she could call Splinter.
Leo was on his way to Splinter's room. On the way, he came across Mikey.
"Leo, if you see Raph, he is not to disturb Donny," Mikey said. "The two of us are having a sleepover in my room."
"If I see Raph, I'll tell him," Leo promised. "Right now, I need to talk to Sensei."
"Does it have anything to do with Donny?"
"Yes, it does."
"I think that Raph might be taking advantage of him."
"I would say that's possible."
Leo excused himself and then he and Mikey left in opposite directions. Once he got to Splinter's room, he knocked and then entered once Splinter told him to.
"Everything all right, Leonardo?" Splinter asked with concern.
"There's something I need to talk to you about," Leo confessed and told Splinter how he believed that Raph was taking advantage of Donny.
Raph headed for Donny's lab after breaking the washing machine. He was surprised to see that Donny wasn't in his lab.
Raph headed for Mikey's room and opened the door. He saw Donny sitting on Mikey's bed.
"You need to fix the washing machine," Raph ordered.
"Mikey and I are having a sleepover so I'll do it tomorrow," Donny said simply.
"Fix it now."
"I told you that I'll do it tomorrow after my sleepover with Mikey."
"It's not like I'm asking you to do something difficult." Raph said.
"IF YOU THINK THAT FIXING THE WASHING MACHINE IS EASY, THEN DO IT YOURSELF!" Donny exploded.
Raph stormed away without a word. Just then, Splinter appeared in the doorway.
"Donatello, would you come with me, please?" Splinter requested simply.
"Yes, Sensei," Donny replied, turning red from embarrassment as he followed Splinter.
Mikey returned to his room with pizza, popcorn and soda. He was surprised to see that Donny wasn't in his room.
Mikey headed for Donny's lab to see if he was there. He heard angry sounds coming from the dojo and decided to head over there instead.
Raph was in the dojo angrily pounding on the punching bag. Mikey walked over to him.
"Have you seen Donny?" Mikey asked.
"I heard Splinter ask Donny to come with him," Raph replied.
"Any reason why?"
"Probably because he blew up at me after I asked him to do a simple task."
"Which task was that?"
"Fixing the washing machine."
"That's not the case at all," Leo said as he entered the dojo.
Donny followed Splinter into his room and kneeled on a floor mat. Splinter made some tea and placed two cups on the floor.
"Sensei, I apologize for my outburst," Donny apologized sincerely.
"You are not in trouble, my son," Splinter said simply.
"I'm not?"
"I am actually proud of you for standing up to your brother."
"Why did you want to see me?" Donny asked.
"Leonardo came to talk to me and he was concerned about you," Splinter explained. "He believes that Raphael is taking advantage of you. I also received a call from Miss Calls stating the same thing."
"I just wish that Raph could understand that what I do might not be as easy as it looks."
"I understand that you have a gentle soul which others might take advantage of."
"How can we get Raph to understand how hard fixing items can be?"
"Do you still have your key to the farmhouse?"
"Yes, why?" Donny inquired.
"Miss Calls suggested that the two of you go there for a couple weeks so you can relax," Splinter replied.
"When would that be since Mikey and I are having a sleepover in his room tonight?"
"Miss Calls will be joining us for breakfast tomorrow morning."
"May I suggest that Raph take over my duties while I'm away?" Donny asked.
"That would be a good way for Raphael to learn how hard fixing things really is," Splinter replied.
"Is there anything else?"
"Not right now."
Donny and Splinter finished their tea, stood up and bowed to each other. Then Donny left the room.
Mikey and Donny were having a sleepover in Mikey's room. They were having pizza, popcorn and soda.
"Why did Sensei want to see you?" Mikey inquired.
"I'll let you know tomorrow morning along with the others," Donny replied.
"Everything all right?"
"I just want to enjoy our sleepover for now."
"Want to play Gin Rummy?"
"Sounds like an excellent idea."
Mikey got out the cards and he and Donny played Gin Rummy. They ate pizza and popcorn, drank soda and happily chatted as they played.
The next morning, Splinter, Chloe and the turtles were having breakfast in the entertainment area. They were having eggs, bacon, pancakes and hot chocolate.
"It is nice of you to join us for breakfast, Miss Calls," Splinter said.
"Same here and I hope you're enjoying your breakfast," Chloe said and the others nodded in agreement while happily eating their food.
When everyone was done, Chloe whispered something to Donny who nodded in agreement. Then Chloe gathered up the dishes and headed for the kitchen.
"I wanted to let everyone know that Chloe and I are taking a trip since I need a break," Donny announced. "We plan to return in a couple weeks."
"Are you out of your mind?" Raph angrily protested. "We need you here, Donny."
"There are instructions on top of my computer keyboard on what to do."
"It can't be that hard to fix things."
Donny went over to Raph and wrapped his arms around him. Instead of returning the gesture, Raph shoved Donny away and stormed off.
Donny closed his eyes and took some deep breaths feeling hurt by Raph's rejection. Just then, he was pulled into a pair of furry arms and he latched onto Splinter.
"I will talk to your brother," Splinter said. Donny responded by tightening his hold on Splinter and nodding into his shoulder.
Splinter gently pulled away away a few moments later. Donny felt a pair of arms wrap around him and returned the gesture.
"Promise me that you'll use this time to relax," Leo said, tightening his hold on Donny.
"I promise," Donny agreed and then pulled away from Leo.
Donny walked over to Mikey and the two of them wrapped their arms around each other. Donny gently rubbed his brother's shell when he felt his shoulder getting wet.
"I wish you didn't have to leave," Mikey said, his voice breaking.
"Same here but I promise to call you tonight," Donny said, tightening his hold on Mikey who did the same.
"You all right?" Mikey asked with concern when he felt his shoulder getting wet.
"Not yet but I will be," Donny replied, his voice breaking.
"If you want, I can break things so Raph can fix them."
"Actually, that might teach him that fixing items isn't as easy as he thinks."
"Consider it done," Mikey said as he and Donny pulled away from each other.
"I appreciate it," Donny said gratefully and then he and Mikey wrapped their arms around each other and squeezed tightly.
"I love you, Donny."
"I love you, too, Mikey."
Mikey and Donny released each other a few minutes later. Then Donny headed for the Zippy Shellmobile where Chloe was waiting.
To be continued...