Here's the next one. I hope you like it. Enjoy!

Donnie helps Leo as much as he can and every minute of it the other two are hovering over them. Raph in particular won't stay back and be quiet. He keeps asking Leo over and over how he is feeling. On any other occasion Donnie might have made fun of him, but all he really feels is sorry and a little bit annoyed that he won't stay out from under him.

Mikey is surprisingly quiet. He stays close, but he is still farther away than the other two. He watches with tightly pressed lips and fearful eyes. It's the quietest Donnie has ever seen his youngest brother. It really drives home the seriousness of the situation. As such Donnie makes sure to go over to Mikey every now and then to tell him it will be fine. Mikey only ever nods.

These brief moments also allow Raph to fuss over Leo as much as he needs to. Leo only smiles at him as his brother struggles to hide the panic he can't seem to get a handle on. He'll end up teasing Raph later, he knows it, but right now they're in the thick of their distress. It would be cruel to mock Raph's genuine concern.

Donnie stays focused much longer than he thought he could, long enough to make sure Leo won't get bad like that again, but his mind quickly drifts. The more assured he is of Leo's well being the more he aches to go back out after Alopex. The look she gave him pierces him still. The only problem is the others. After everything she's done, especially to them, the backlash will be severe.

"Here Leo," Still, he has to try. He holds out the other item he had stuck in his belt.

Leo looks blankly down at the object. He looks back up at Donnie and frowns deeply. "What is it?" As he speaks now he sounds almost like himself. There is only a slight twinge of hoarseness.

"An inhaler." Donnie shakes it. "I want you to use it if you start to get back again. And you'll probably need to carry one around with you from now on just in case." An inhaler has little on pure adrenaline, but hopefully it will never get that bad again.

Leo's frown deepens. A sharp spike of fear hits him. "Why? You can just treat me again, can't you?" He holds his breath and grips the edge of the metal table hard. He doesn't want to have to deal with this alone.

Raph's expression mirrors Leo's perfectly. "Yeah, why does he need that dingy thing when he has you?" He looks hard at Donnie.

"Don't worry Leo," He sighs. "And Raph. You should be fine now. It's just a precaution. Ok?" He waits for Leo's nod, however unconvincing it was, then continues. "Alright, now watch me." He taps the tip of the inhaler. "See this? You have to remove it first when you need it. Then you breathe out," He breathes out. "Hold it up to your mouth, push the top once, and take a slow deep breath."

Leo waits until Donnie holds the inhaler out to him again before speaking. "That's it then?"

"When you remove the inhaler, close your mouth and hold you breathe for ten seconds and then breathe out again. Oh, and also wait thirty to sixty seconds before trying it again if you need it." Donnie nods to himself. "That's it."

Leo takes the inhaler. He brings it close to him and rolls it around with his fingers as he inspects it thoroughly. "Can it really help when…" He bites his lip. A chill races across his skin.

Donnie wants to look away from the truth as much as the rest of them, but he forces composure. Without Leo there to be the pillar, someone has to be. "Trust me, it's more powerful than you think. As long as you don't get a mouthful again, you'll be fine with just this."

Leo pauses and contemplates Donnie's words for a long moment. Then slowly he nods. "Ok." He sets the inhaler down next to him. But as he starts to put his hand back in his lap, he stops. His fingers curl tighter around the device and with a bit of shame he can not bring himself to let it go. Not yet.

Donnie notices this subtlety and he smiles sadly to himself. "You'll be ok Leo." He turns away from him and realizes for the first time that Mikey and Raph are hurt too. That means he'll have to put off his escapade just a little longer. "C'mere Mikey." His looks the worst.

Mikey wordlessly goes to Donnie. He stands before him with his eyes looking down at his feet. The pain in his neck is coming back to him now in the wake of the disaster. Hopefully Donnie will fix him now too.

Donnie gets a good look at the wound. "It's not too bad." He muses. "It'll only take a minute." He guides Mikey over to where the supplies are and effortlessly patches his brother up.

"Thank you." Mikey murmurs meekly.

Donnie sighs softly. "Leo's fine Mikey." He lays a hand on his brother's shoulder. Of all the times for Mikey to react this way. "It's not going to get like that again." They could really use his sunny disposition now more than ever to alleviate the tension. "So why don't you go make Leo feel better too?"

Mikey lifts his head to look at Donnie. Slowly his old familiar smile spreads across his face. There is an edge of pain, but the light returns to his little brother. "Ok." He nods firmly and turns with a little bounce as he heads over to Leo.

Donnie lets out a heavy breath. At least that's one thing that's getting back to right. Now to get the more stubborn brother to consent to some help. "This'll be fun…" He quips to himself. He follows Mikey, but turns his eyes on Raph. "Come here, Raph."

Raph jerks to attention at the sound of his name. He quickly relaxes again as he registers the fact it is only Donnie. "Nah," He shakes his head and turns away from his brother. "It's fine. I'm fine. I just want to stay here."

Donnie shakes his head. Here we go. "I know you're worried, Raph. We all are. But that doesn't mean-"

Raph scoffs. "Worried?" He laughs, but it is mirthless and holds an obvious edge. It's nothing like his usual attitude. "No way. I just don't need help."

Donnie rolls his eyes and shoots Raph a sharp look. "Whatever Raph." He reaches out and grabs Raph's wrist. "But I'm not letting you sit there bleeding. It's just not happening." He tugs. "So move it."

"Donnie," Raph whines. It's a strange sound coming from him. "Can't you just do it here?"

Donnie smiles sadly and sighs beneath his breath. "Yeah, of course." He goes and grabs what he needs before returning to Raph. He stops as his brother's come back into view and he just stares for a moment. Raph is already fussing over Leo again, forgotten Donnie completely. And Mikey is actually laughing. It's a moment Donnie would rather let last forever.

But nothing lasts forever. So he approaches Raph and gets his attention. He treats his arm and they exchange looks – Raph's thankful and Donnie's knowing. Neither spend long on each other though. And for once Donnie is glad. It gives him the chance he needs to slip away and grab the things he needs real quick. Before he leaves.

Donnie grabs a bag and carefully lays a few items in it. He glances back over his shoulder in the direction of the other three. He bites his lip. He can't just leave. He wants to. Knows it will be the quickest and easiest. But if they notice him before he returns it will only cause more problems. But…

"Hey, Donnie!" Donnie starts as Raph's voice cuts his thoughts short. "What're you doin'?"

Donnie knows Raph can't see him from here, can't see the look of one being caught in the act. Still, that gives him little relief. His brother obviously sensed something. He had left Donnie alone the times before. Oh well. He has to tell them at least a little something about being gone anyway.

Donnie tries to hide the bag, but at the same time doesn't. He wants it to go unnoticed, but the best way for that is to let it be as obvious as possible – inconspicuous. "Actually," Donnie says slowly as he comes to a stop in front of the three of them. "I was about to go out for a minute." He fingers the bag without thinking. He needs the comfort of fiddling.

Raph is suddenly on high alert. He sits up straight and looks through narrowed eyes at Donnie. "What? Why?" He clenches his hands into fists.

Donnie shrugs. "It's nothing." He shakes his head as if trying to persuade them to do the same. "I just have to look for a few things." He hesitates, then adds, "For Leo." Liar. Bad liar.

Leo levels his gaze on Donnie. His eyes spark with more than just suspicion. There is knowing there, unlike with Raph. "You're going back after her, aren't you?" He doesn't mean to rat his brother out, but he does not want him out there alone with that monster. And there's no way Leo can watch over him. He doesn't want anywhere near that animal, not now or for a long time after.

Raph chokes on a breath. "What?" He leaps from the metal table to stand toe to toe with Donnie. "Are you serious?" He scoffs and shakes his head. "No. No way. You are not going back out there after that thing."

Donnie's well-tempered emotions let loose like a wildfire. "For the last time! She is not a thing – she's a she! A person!" Donnie shoves Raph back out of his face. "And you can't tell me what to do! Heck," He snorts and a wicked grin curves his lips. "You couldn't even stop me right now if you tried."

Raph bristles. His good arm goes to his sai. "Just watch me." He doesn't want to hurt Donnie, won't do it actually, but he certainly isn't going to let his brother get away with this.

"Stop it!" Mikey shouts. Everyone jerks their heads around to look at him and he glares pitifully at each of them in turn. "Stop fighting all the time." His voice is much weaker now. "Leo almost died…can't we just be happy that he's ok now?"

Donnie opens his mouth to contradict Mikey, but he stops himself. Who cares if Leo wasn't as at risk as Mikey thinks? It was bad and ultimately that's all that matters. It was bad enough to shake them all up.

Raph drops his eyes to the ground. His grip on his weapon loosens and a disconcerted look flickers across his face. He grumbles something, but no one can make it out.

"And so what if Donnie wants to go back." This has everyone's attention. Shock plays across their faces and they scarcely breathe as Mikey speaks. "I don't know her, but I saw it too. She is horrified about what she did, and…she's hurting."

Donnie stares disbelievingly at his little brother. He opens and closes his mouth around empty words. He will never cease to be amazed by Mikey's perception.

Raph struggles for a moment, but he quickly finds his bearings. He chokes out a laugh. "So?" He crosses his arms over his chest as he looks hard at Mikey. "Feeling bad doesn't mean nothing if you keep doing bad things anyway. Who cares how guilty the thing is? It's a monster. And we should have finished it."

Donnie doesn't mean to do it. It's one of the rare moments in his life where he acts without thinking at all. He punches Raph in the jaw.

The blow is hard enough that it knocks Raph off his feet. He falls back and grunts as he lands on the floor. His mouth hangs open slightly and fury mingled with bewilderment shine in his eyes as he stares up at Donnie.

Mikey jumps down next to Raph. He looks with wide eyes full of concern at his brother. Once he sees there is only shock there he shifts his gaze to Donnie, confusion etches clear as day.

Donnie breathes heavily in and out. "You're so stupid." He glowers down at Raph. "I swear. I get that it's your fatal flaw, but that doesn't change how impossibly stupid it makes you look." He shakes his head stiffly. "Not everything's in black and white Raphael. It's not always good and evil, hero and monster. There are shades of grey. And that's what she is. You too a little bit. You idiot."

Raph grapples for the words to fire back at him, but all he can do is stare up at Donnie. Fatal flaw? What? And shades of grey? No. Life is already complicated enough. Good and evil is where it isn't. Just like Karai, this animal must be evil. But Leo didn't think so either. What is wrong with his brothers?

Donnie doesn't give him time to collect his thoughts. He turns hard on his heel and stomps away from them. His mind burns with furious thoughts that he must escape before he acts out of turn again. He doesn't want to hurt his family, not over this or anything.

"Donnie!" Leo cries after him. His mind races. "Donatello." He says firmly. He leaps off the table. He holds his inhaler tight, feeling a little short of breath.

Donnie swirls around. He shoots a hateful glare at Leo. "No, Leo." He says with just as much firmness as his brother. "That isn't going to work. I'm not going to stop just because you say my name like that." His expression softens slightly. "And don't even think of following me like that. You're just going to work yourself up and agitate your allergies."

Surprise flickers across Leo's face, but he swiftly covers it with a scowl. "I'm fine." Even know he notices his voice is a little off. Great. The fear and anxiety are making him worse again. If Donnie would just stop this wouldn't be an issue.

"You're a lot of things." Donnie frowns. "But fine is not one of them right now." He holds tighter onto the bag over his shoulder. "And you need to relax. So stop. Just leave it alone." He gives Leo one last meaningful look and then he runs. He doesn't look back or heed his brothers' calls. He doesn't have time to waste.

"You're not really gonna let him go like that, are you?" Raph gives Leo a sharp look. He lets Mikey help him up as he waits impatiently for Leo's verdict.

Leo hangs his head. "What do you want me to do Raph?" He says softly. "You know I can't do much right now." He is pretty sure he could at least follow along though.

"What?" Raph snorts. "Can't do much? Please. You're out leader. No stupid allergy is ever gonna be enough to do you in. When one of us is in trouble, you'd do anything." Raph's eyes spark with feeling. "So do something."

Leo smiles faintly at his brother's encouraging words. "If you want, we can follow him." Leo shrugs. His grip on his inhaler tightens.

Raph notices and grimaces slightly. He hurriedly hides it and smiles at Leo. "Don't worry." He says with surprising softness. "You'll be fine. The worst is over."

Mikey nods fervently. "You can do it." He can't say he agrees with going after Donnie, but there is always a chance that the animal's worse side with show even now. If she does attack then they need to be there to save Donnie from himself.

Leo nods firmly in return. "Alright." He tucks the inhaler in his belt. "Let's track him down." No one else is going to get hurt tonight.

…

Donnie makes his way back to the site of the attack. He moves swiftly and with precision. If what he saw was true, what Mikey claimed to see too, then he doesn't have much time. Just periods of weakness, of guilt, they are only small windows of vulnerability. Soon she will be nothing more than a monster again. A monster out for his blood. Blood which he will give without a fight because of simple devastation and failure.

Donnie shakes his head with furious passion. No. No, he won't let that happen. He'll get there and with enough time to do what he needs. The site is already coming into view. The splatters of blood mark the road. It sends a shiver down his spine and he gets flashes – her clouded eyes, the blood dripping from her face, blood dripping from his brothers, and her bared teeth hungering for all their flesh.

It's almost enough to scare him away. Almost. Still he proceeds. He moves carefully and now very slowly as he approaches the nearby alleys. His is especially alert for the slightest sounds. Somehow he doubts movement will be what catches his attention. With her wounds she probably didn't make it very far and there's no way she would still be moving.

As he creeps closer he hears a faint but distinct sound. He tenses and grabs for his bo staff. It's not like it will do him any good, not against her. But it's instinct. "Alopex?" He says softly to the growling sound coming from the depths of the alley.

Alopex's ears press all the way down. Her eyes are narrowed and her teeth bared. She wishes she could leap to her feet and take on a more defensive pose, but even in her clouded mind she sees how idiotic such a task would be. She can barely lift her head to watch for the intruder.

Donnie swallows hard. This is definitely not a great start to things. "It's just me." He remembers back to the night he'd said the same think – the night she attacked Casey. Only now he is truly afraid of her. He doesn't trust the real her to be the one that's listening and responding. It could be either side.

Alopex's ear flicks slightly. Her intense eyes dim a little. "Donnie…" Her voice is strangled and sounds nothing like the Alopex Donnie knows.

Donnie lets out a heavy sigh and his body relaxes. Still, a tight grimace mars his face at the sound that comes out of Alopex. It's her, but it's a version of her that he has never witnessed before. Before this moment he would have claimed it impossible for her to sound so scared.

He draws out his t-phone to shed some light on his path. He moves carefully forward then, his light soon falling on where she lies. He catches his breath and his heart clenches at the sight of her. Red coats her fur and her chest scarcely moves her breathes are so shallow. He sees the pain lurking in her eyes too. He knew she wasn't the same as before. "You're hurt…"

Alopex scowls weakly up at him. "You shouldn't be here." She trembles faintly from the effort of keeping her head up and bitterly concedes to putting it down on her paws.

Donnie frowns deeply. "Yes I should." He moves in, kneeling down next to her. He wants to help her, and there's so much to help, but he isn't sure how to begin. She could easily snap. She's in an extremely fragile place in both body and mind. "I want to help you."

Alopex chokes out a laugh. It's layered with bitterness. "You idiot." Her voice cracks at the edges. "You can't save me. No one can." She digs her claws vindictively into the dirt. "Even now I want to tear you apart. I just can't move."

Donnie cringes. She may be different, but one thing is still the same. She's as blatant as ever. "No, I don't believe that." Donnie shakes his head vaguely. "Before, you wouldn't even talk. You were a mindless animal. Now it's different."

"You fool. Nothing's different. I'm just too weak…not enough blood."

Donnie's face lights with realization. "That's it." He gasps. "The more hurt you are, the more your mind comes back."

"So what?" Alopex grinds out. "You want to bleed me dry? Kill me?"

Donnie is mortified. "What? No." He makes a face. "It just…it makes sense now is all." His voice trails off into a whisper. He looks away from her, forlorn. He then tries to reach toward the cut across her stomach.

Alopex snorts softly. "Nothing makes sense. You don't get anything." She digs her claws deeper into the earth. "That's not it at all." She jerks her head up and snaps at his hands.

Donnie pulls his hand back sharply. He presses them close to his chest. His breathing is a little more rapid.

Alopex bares her teeth and growls softly. She only ceases once she is sure he won't move again. As she lays her head back down though a stab of guilt hits her and her ears fold down. "It's horrible Donnie…" Her voice trembles. "I don't want it. Really. I don't want to kill people. But…but I need it. The blood…" Tears sting her eyes.

Donnie stares sadly at her. He doesn't know what to say. "Alopex…"

"Without it I…I can't function. I go crazy. I do horrible things." Her lip quivers. "And then…then I get weak." She shakes her head stiffly. "And I can't take it. The guilt…it tears me apart. The only way to suppress it…is to do it again, and again, and again. Until I can't feel anything." A sob catches in her throat.

Donnie feels tears of his own rise to the surface. "You went too long then. Tonight. That's why we beat you." Almost. As he says it, he hates himself. He sounds like her, the way she was back when he first told her a story of April. That's not what she needs. She already knows that.

Alopex whines softly. "I'm sorry…" A single sob escapes. "I almost killed him…the blue one. I-I didn't mean to. I just…I…I'm so sorry."

Donnie hesitates, but in the end he can't stop himself. He reaches for her and gently lifts her toward him. He holds her carefully, avoiding her injuries as he holds her against him.

Alopex rises on her knees as he draws her near. She sits like a human and allows him to easily hold her close. She turns her head in to the crook of his neck and the tears finally slip down her face, mingling with the cut and stinging terribly. But nothing could ever be as terrible as her guilt right now.

Donnie reaches up and pets her head. "It's ok…" He tries to sound strong, but he hears the wavering in his tone. "I know you didn't mean it."

"How can you say that? How can you forgive me for everything?" Why does he have to be so unbearably nice? It'd be so much easier to accept her fate if he hated her as much as she hates herself. "I almost killed him. I used your secrets against all of them."

"I know." Donnie reaches down into his bag and brings out a cloth. He gently runs it over the cut on her face. "But it's not your fault." He clenches his teeth. "You…you only got this way because of me. Protecting me." It was all Slash's fault.

Alopex sobs harder. "Donnie, please…help me." She shudders against him.

Donnie bites his lip, but is isn't enough. Tears slip down his face. "I will." He tightens his grip on her. "I'm going to make you better." And he means it with every fiber of his being.

High above them on the roofs his brothers look down on the pair. Their expressions vary from disgust to pity. Leo has to place a hand on Raph's arm to keep him from barreling down there and killing her right then and there, but none of them end up revealing themselves. They can only watch and wonder what their genius brother has in mind. Because they've heard the tales. Once a man eater, always a man eater. Can Donnie really break down and rebuild instinct? And what will he do if he fails? Because as smart as he is, their brother's no God. And there are some things a person just can't change.

So what did you think? More low key than the past chapters, but I hope it was still powerful. And I hope Leo having an inhaler makes sense. I did a lot of research and I think it can be used for allergies. Well, please review!