A chunk of credit goes to my new muse, Poleepkwana for helping me get through this chapter, and also having a fellow TMNT fan to obsess over things!

Chapter 17 - Sinking In

The location of the lab was not far, and they had driven there without exchanging a word. Raphael had taken the wheel, knowing where they were headed while Donatello rode in the back stewing over his thoughts. After having a few minutes to calm down and reflect on what had transpired that afternoon, he was feeling guilty for his actions. Sure, he was pissed at Raph, and frankly he felt justified for it. But while it was not uncommon for his hot-headed brother to throw punches in anger, it was very much unlike him. He just felt so betrayed. And at the moment, that feeling was much easier to focus on than rejection.

The transport pulled up to park and the engine powered down. "It's in that building across the street." Raph pointed out the windshield.

Donnie silently unhooked his seatbelt and gathered the small bag of lab equipment he had brought to collect samples. A frown crossing his features when he realized that Raphael had moved to the back to stand beside him.

"Donnie, can we talk for a minute?"

"I'm pretty sure I already voiced everything that I wanted to say to you." Donatello's voice was low and angry as he pushed past him, harder than necessary, to get to the door at the back of the transport.

Reaching out to grab his shoulder as he passed him, Raph forcefully spun his lanky brother back to face him. "Fair enough, but there's something I need to say to you."

"This isn't the time Raph!" Donnie shouted back at him, returning an angry shove at his brother's shoulders.

"Then I'll be quick!" Raph roared.

Donatello's eyes narrowed in anger, challenging his brother to pick a fight. His hands balled up in tight fists at his side. "So talk."

Raphael sighed, he was trying to start an apology and already he was shouting. He took a deep breath and started. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start…" He struggled for the right words to use. "..thinking about April like that. It just happened."

Donnie huffed. "Yeah, I'm sure with all that time the two of you spend alone."

"It was never like that Donnie. In fact, I was the one that called her out on her feelings for you. She had it bad for you, even before she realized it."

Donatello rolled his eyes, not really sure that he believed anything he was hearing.

"Look, you don't have to believe me, but I just needed to say it. We'll fix this."

Stealing a glance at this brother's face, Donnie could see the guilt written all over it. Along with the nice swelling in his cheek from where his knuckles had connected with it. He let out a sigh of resignation. "How's your jaw?" He asked as politely as he could muster.

"S'fine" Raph shrugged.

"Sorry I punched you." Don offered his half of the peace flag.

"You were rightfully pissed. Lord knows, I'da done the same thing." This comment brought a knowing smile to the faces of each brother. "In fact, it was kinda' nice to see you lose your cool like that. Now I'm not the only one that's beaten someone 'cause I was pissed."

"Greeeeaaat." Was Donnie's sarcastic reply.

"Think you can 'not hate me' long enough to fix Leo?" Raph asked.

"I don't 'hate you' Raph, but this is going to take a while for me to forgive." Donnie paused and adjusted the bag on his shoulder. "But, Leonardo's well being comes first. So, let's go see what we can find."

Raph nodded sharply. That was about as good as he could hope for.

The two brothers slipped out of the back of the large van and into the darkness of the shadows.

XX

X

Mikey found himself pacing just outside the dojo doors. As soon as the other two had left, he had followed his eldest brother and watched him enter, and he hadn't come out since. At one point, Mikey had poked his head in just to verify that he was still there and what he had seen did not make him feel any better. Leonardo seemed to have been standing watch over the strange wasp egg that had been delicately perched upon a small pile of blankets. His brother had not moved when he slide the door open to peek in, but had spoken low and intensely, "Leave me be."

With an exaggerated gulp, Mikey had slammed the door back shut.

"Oh man, oh man, oh man." He mumbled outloud to himself as he paced. "This is totally weird."

Tapping his forehead, Mikey was trying to force his brain to think of ways to lure Leo out of his trance. Suddenly an idea popped in and he rushed back over to slide the door open again.

Seeing his brother still standing there, staring down at the foreign intruder, urged him to move forward with his plan, despite knowing he was most likely going to be yelled at. "Hey Leo, it's time for Space Heroes! You want to come watch the new episode with me?"

Not only was there no response, but his brother didn't even seem to budge.

"You ah… you sure about that buddy? I mean, we could order some pizza and start a marathon! We both have injured arms, we could be healing pals!" Mikey had worked up the nerve to move further into the room as he spoke.

Leo had his shell to him and Mikey came right up behind him, wanting to get in his face to try for his attention. But just as he was about to place a hand on his shoulder, his oldest brother spun around so quickly it made him jump.

"Geez Leo! I…" Mikey caught sight of the look on his brother's face and momentarily lost his voice.

Leonardo's reticulated membrane was shut over his eyes, and something was staining the delicate membrane to appear almost a blackish tone. It gave his brother a look about him as if his eyes were dead to the world. Leo's upper lip quivered and he lifted a corner just enough to let out a low growl.

"I said, to leave me ALONE!" He roared in a voice that was unfamiliar.

"Ok! I'm sorry! I'll leave you alone!" Mikey shouted, recoiling back away from his brother and jetting back out the door.

He slammed the door shut again, and slumped against it, lowering himself to the ground and fishing his phone out from his belt. "Oh man! I better call Donnie!"

XX

X

The Kraang lab had clearly been a victim of the fight. According to Raphael, most of the damage had already been there when they arrived. Tables were overturned, damage from blasters had left holes in the walls and cabinets. Papers and broken bottles were strewn across the room, leaving shards of broken glass everywhere. A fluorescent light hung delicately from the ceiling, one remaining tube flickering to stay alive, casting the small space in an eerie glow.

Donatello cautiously stepped around the larger piles of glass, and noticed the remains of a Kraang robot laying in pieces in the far corner. Crouching down next to it, he rolled it over to verify that the alien blob which once inhabited it was indeed gone. Looking up, he noticed what was left of a torn poster hanging from the wall, on it were details of various insect's anatomy.

"Do you think it was the wasp that attacked these Kraang?" Donatello spoke quietly.

Raph shrugged in response. "That thing was huge. It took some work to take it down."

"I guess it took these Kraang by surprise." Donnie kicked the detached robot head next to him for emphasis.

He knelt down and picked up a handful of the papers on the floor, but he could make out nothing helpful on them. Spotting a computer laying on its side under a table, he picked it up, but ash like remains of it sprinkled out of the giant laser hole that had clearly blasted through the side of it.

"I'm not seeing much worth salvaging. Everything's been destroyed. Whether it was the result of the fight, or the Kraang getting rid of evidence, I'm not certain."

"Maybe a bit of both." Raph grumbled.

Donatello, quickly sifted through the cabinets looking for any clue as to what kind of experiments had been run here, but without any luck. The last cabinet however, had some equipment that was still in decent shape.

"Whoo-hoo, nice centrifuge!" He commented, gleefully to himself, collecting up the parts of it, to take back to the lair.

Raph, who had been digging through some rubble behind a desk, sat upright at the sound of his brother's voice, but rolled his eyes upon hearing what he'd said. "Nerd." He muttered to himself.

He looked back down and spotted a photograph buried under the rubble. "Hey Donnie, come look at this!"

Donnie clambered over the piles of broken lab equipment between himself and Raph and took the photograph he handed over to inspect. "Whoah." He breathed out, seeing the image before him of the giant wasp in some sort of glass cell. Seemingly where they had kept it before it got loose.

"Ok, this thing is clearly a threat, and I'm not sure what it did to Leo, but the only place we're going to find answers is in that egg."

Just then, his phone went off and he shoved the photo back over to Raph to free up his hand and fetch his phone from his belt. "Hey Mikey, how's Leo?"

Raphael watched as Donatello's face grew more and more concerned from whatever Mikey was telling him on the other end.

"Okay, we're headed back. Make sure he doesn't leave!" His voice held a sense of urgency.

"Trust me dude, he's not going anywhere." Mikey responded, just loud enough that Raph was able to pick it up.

Donnie closed his phone and put it back in his belt. "Sounds like Leo's behavior has gotten worse. Help me grab some of this equipment? I might need it."

Raph shoved the photo in his belt and followed Donnie back over to the cabinet.

XX

x

After their tea ceremony, April and Splinter had spent the evening first doing some tranquil Tai Chi type exercises and followed that with a few hours of meditation before turning in for the night. And now this morning, after having risen much earlier than April thought was even possible, and silently enjoying a simple breakfast of tea and some dry breads, she found herself again meditating now late into the afternoon.

To some extent this is what April had been expecting when Splinter had invited her on this journey. But she assumed that after a while they might spar or even talk through the things that were obviously bothering her. Hours of meditating in silence and stewing on her own thoughts and decisions was not helping her get her mind off things. She had never been great at meditating, much like Donatello or Michelangelo, she found her mind was often too busy and it was hard to shut it down and purely relax.

Each time she closed her eyes, her thoughts immediately went back to Donatello. She found herself daydreaming about the memories of their date and how happy she had been pressed up against him, laying kisses on his neck while he managed to make her feel amazing in ways she had never felt possible. Immediately these pleasurable memories would be chased away by the recollection of how hurt he had looked when she had explained to him why they shouldn't be together. The dejected loss on his features put there by herself. But she couldn't even stand the thought of how much more it would have hurt, had they not made these realizations until further into their relationship. She let out a heavy breath as her heart twisted in mourning.

"You seem to be having more trouble with your focus than usual today." Splinter spoke softly from his place on the rug beside her.

She opened her eyes and noted that he had not shifted from his lotus position. Her shoulders sagged and she closed her eyes once more.

Another few moments of silence had passed before Splinter's calming voice broke through the room again.

"Throughout our lives, relationships will always be a thing that will at times weigh heavy in our minds. If you try to hide from these thoughts, your focus will become clouded." He paused as if allowing this information to sink in. "You and Donatello have become quite close these past few weeks."

Unable to hide the surprise on her face, she just nodded silently. Of course he would have put that together on his own.

"And now something about this new relationship is troubling you." Splinter provided, knowing that she would need some fuel to start the discussion.

April looked up again and this time found her sensei looking back at her, his hands placed softly in his lap, his ears alert as he awaited her response.

"I'm sorry sensei, I'm just feeling… a little lost right now." April apologized. Not really sure just how much to divulge at this point.

Splinter nodded, "I would like to tell you a story."

April cocked an eyebrow at his suggestion before relaxing her own hands into her lap and stretching out her legs in front of her, feeling the familiar tingling as the numb limbs came back to life; readying herself for his narration.

"I remember vividly the day I met Tang Shen. It was a warm afternoon in Spring, and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. My father had brought me along to a party and we were officially introduced to Tang Shen and her family. The kimono she wore that day was a vivid pink and although quite young at the time, I remember thinking that she was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on.

Her family was well known in our village, and she had many suitors, Oroko Saki was one, as you well know. But after that first day I met her, I longed to know her better and began my courtship. I can assure you that during this time, she was the focus of my attention, and often on my mind." His eyes closed as he drank in the memories of the day, reliving the event in his retelling.

He opened his eyes and smiled at her, cocking his head to one side, his ears standing at alert, indicating that he was waiting for her. Now that the moment had come, she suddenly felt shy about talking with Splinter. Any previous discussions she had had with her own father concerning relationships had been mostly him babbling about being safe and making sure she was ready. They had never once talked about actual feelings. And now realizing that this father-figure just so happened to be the actual father of the boy she wanted to talk about, make the situation all the more intimidating.

"It's not just a matter of focus sensei, I'm unsure of what to do."

"The relationship is presenting challenges?" He asked.

"No. Actually, it has been going really well." April answered honestly. "Better than I imagined."

Splinter nodded his head softly and smiled. "It is, your differences that provide a certain challenge."

"Yes but, not like I would have expected." April thought back to how she had wondered whether they would truly be able to feel attracted to one another, and how since the first moment they had kissed, she had quickly realized that would not be an issue. She doubted that is what Splinter had meant by his statement, but couldn't help the path her mind had taken her. She felt her cheeks flush at the thought.

"You are unhappy?"

April let out a sigh. This was where things got complicated. "No, I was quite happy." She started. "But I've made some realizations that change things."

Splinter nodded. "My sons live very different lives from the people in the world above. And Donatello would never be able to be a part of your life like a human companion would." It saddened him to think that because of what they were, it would cause his sons to be alone, but he couldn't blame this young girl with so much ahead of her in life to focus on those things.

"It's not that." April shook her head. "I mean, I've thought about it, I know some things will be a little more complicated because of who he is, what he is. I've accepted that…." She trailed off, before focusing in on the thing that was nagging at the back of her mind. "Do you realize that I am the first girl that Donatello had ever met in person?" She asked.

"Ah, I did know this." Splinter nodded recollecting the events of that Mutation Day. "In fact after my sons had run into your kidnappers, I had forbade them from going back above, but it was Donatello who had insisted that they must rescue you. He had seen how frightened you were, and knew that they were your best hope."

April had not known this bit of information. "I screamed when he approached me." She recalled the events of that evening, her cheeks warming at the guilt of her initial reaction. "But then he held out his hand to me and spoke so kindly, and I knew he was not the one I needed to fear."

"You gave him a chance to prove himself. I believe it was at the moment he became enamored with you."

"It wasn't until recently that I realized how deep his feelings ran. And apparently they had always been there."

"Ah yes. My intelligent son has a tendency to become a bit obsessive when he finds something that catches his attention." Splinter smiled to himself.

"But don't you see? How could he possibly have true feelings for me, when he's had nothing else to compare it to?" April let her head fall a little and wrapped her arms around herself.

Splinter sat on this information for a moment and silently nodded his head. "I'm sure that it must be much the same way for yourself."

"I know that I care for him, Sensei. More than I've cared for anyone."

"But how can you truly know? If you have had no other relationships with half-humans to compare it to?"

April looked up at him, she could see where he was trying to go with this, but he just didn't understand. "It's not the same sensei, I have experience around other boys, his brothers even, and my feelings for Donatello are different. It doesn't seem possible for him to feel so strongly about me… he just happened to meet me first, and doesn't know any better."

"Do not underestimate the power of first impressions, April." Splinter retorted. "Because you are the first person he has felt this way about, you are special, and that is one thing that will never change. There is no reason to belittle such a thing."

April opened her mouth to respond, but paused, catching the point that her teacher had just made. "But he had already decided that we were 'meant to be' before he ever really got to know me."

"Now my dear," Splinter stopped to correct her. "Donatello is first most, a man of science. He can be quick to make a hypothesis about something. And not all of his experiments turn out well…in fact, quite often they end up blowing up in his face. But he can also recognize when something is really worthy of his dedication, even after a few explosions.

There are things he is willing to lose sleep over, because despite what anyone else may think, he deems those things worthy of his full attention. I have learned over the years, that if he pursues something, it must mean that he sees potential in it. He can see how it will work.

And although he may be stubborn, he does not think illogically. He understands that some projects must ultimately be put to rest. He would be the first one to admit if it turned out his hypothesis was wrong. He may have decided that he cared for you long ago, but if you hadn't proven him right once he was able to test those feelings, he would have reconsidered."

April listened to her sensei's rebuttal, her brow creased in worry as a new thought came to mind.

"But there's so much of the world he doesn't even know. What if he finds a 'new project' more worthy of his time?" April asked, using his metaphor for lack of a better way to ask.

"We can never predict what life might make of things. But this is true of all relationships April, whether they involve or not, someone quite as unique as my son. But I think that you'll find my children have a sense of loyalty above all other things." He paused, closing his eyes to relive another memory. "If I might make a comparison to my own experiences, after I met Tang Shen, I had no reason to keep looking because I knew I could never do better than her."

April fidgeted in her spot and ran a hand through her bangs as she thought about what Splinter had just told her.

Watching the young woman struggle with very new and intense feelings, Splinter understood that part of her hesitation could be attributed to her own lack of experience, leading her to feel more vulnerable. "It's entirely fine for you to have your own doubts, my child. You too are young and unfamiliar with much this world has to offer."

A small tear escaped from the corner of her eye. Of course he would think that. That it was in fact her own doubts and insecurities that had caused her to push Donatello away. And while to some small extent that was probably true, it was certainly not because she didn't care for him.

"I love him." She whispered. "I have absolutely no doubts about that."

"Perhaps it is time to trust that Donatello is also aware of these doubts, and has in turn decided not to dwell on them. I cannot assure you that this thing between the two of you will surely work out, because maybe it will not…" He paused before smiling. "But…, maybe it will. What matters now is not how this started. It matters that in that first impression you both found something worth keeping, and something worth testing. Donatello found his project, his magnum opus, and he seems pretty determined to make it work."

A smile spread across her features, as she slowly wiped the lone tear off her cheek. "You're right sensei. It is worth working for."

XX

X

By the time they got back to the lair, Mikey was in full on panic mode. According to him, he had tempted Leo with several alluring options, from Space Heroes, to pizza to even the threat of defacing his beloved pristine comic book collection.

"The last couple of times I went in there I couldn't even get him to talk to me. He just stands watch over that egg! It's like he doesn't even hear me." Mikey bounced around on the balls of his feet, a habit that showed up when he was particularly nervous.

"And you said his eyes have turned black?" Donatello asked over his shoulder as he perused his shelf of medical textbooks.

"Yeah man, he looks like an alien or something. I'm totally freaking out!"

Raph grabbed Mikey's shoulder holding him in place, forcing him to stop moving. "Chill out! You're not helping anything."

Mikey's fidgeting came to a stop, his head slightly hanging as he seemed to focus on the dingy floor.

"We need to find a way to get that egg from Leo. It's the only clue we have to figuring out what infected him." Donnie replied.

"I'm on it. This freak show ends now!" Raph stomped off towards the dojo. "You two prep whatever you need, I'm not coming back without that egg."

Having found the book on 'Common Reptile Infections' Donatello handed it to Mikey as he made his way over to sit at his computer.

"See if you can find anything in there about the reticulated membrane changing color."

Mikey took the book and plopped down onto the stool beside his brother. "What are you doing?"

"I'm researching this wasp, Raph found this photograph of it and I'm hoping to narrow down the species." Donnie pulled the battle-worn picture from his belt and placed it on the desktop between them. Mikey leaned forward to examine it.

"Holy cow! That thing is freaky! Is that going to come out of that egg?" He pointed with enthusiasm at the horrific image of the insect.

"Well, that's what we're trying to prevent Mikey. Plus I need that egg to hopefully create an antido—…" Donatello trailed off and his eyes narrowed as he studied the article on the screen in front of him. "Oh no."

"Oh no? Don't say 'on no'!" Mikey jumped up out of the stool to get a better view of the screen. "What is it Donnie?"

"It's a Parasitic Wasp. According to this, the wasp places a zombie-like trance over those it infects, forcing them to watch over their young." He tapped the monitor in front of him, showing some images of a caterpillar protecting a cluster of eggs.

"Will the trance wear off once the egg hatches?" Mikey asked.

Scanning over the text, Donnie attempted to find an answer to his brother's questions. Shaking his head solemnly, he replied. "It says here, they become nourishment for the newborns."

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Mikey questioned.

The two leaned forward watching in horror at the progression of images on the screen as they scrolled. The newly hatched wasp immediately begins to feed upon the creature left to protect it.

"It's eating him! It's EATING HIM!" Michelangelo shouted out in horror.

Donnie sat back in his chair, his eyes wide with worry. "Ok, we're going to need a sample of Leo's blood. Between that and the egg, we should be able to make some kind of an antidote." He tapped his chin as he thought.

"Where is Raph with the egg? What's taking him so long?" His little brother asked, fear visible in his eyes.

Donatello pushed his chair back from the desk, practically plowing over Mikey who was standing right behind him. He ran to a drawer and started digging around for a blood drawing kit. Finding everything he needed and tucking the supplies into his belt, he turned to his brother. "Ok Mikey, we're going to go help, this has to end now before that wasp is allowed to get any closer to hatching. Think you can do this?"

Looking up into his taller brother's eyes, Mikey drank in his confidence and bravery and nodded affirmatively.

XX

X

End Chapter 17 - Sinking In

UGH… I'm so sorry everyone this chapter has taken me forever! I have the hardest time writing Splinter, and had it not been for the help of the lovely Poleepkwana, I never would have gotten through this chapter! Also, I must apologize as the other reason this is so delayed, is that her and I have been scheming together about a new story that we have in the works. I don't think we're ready to give anything away just yet, but trust me when I say it will be full of Apriltello goodness! Hopefully we'll be ready to start posting the first chapter here soon!

Seriously though, you guys are the best fans ever! I LOVE every single one of your reviews, even when you're just asking me to update! And I LOVE all of the theories and questions you all throw my way, sometimes you guys point out things I realize I might have forgotten! I've said it before, but as much as I love this fandom and writing this story, it wouldn't be nearly as fun without all the support and feedback I get from you all!

So, how did you feel about the conversation between Splinter and April? Did you feel his points were valid?

Was Donnie too calm next to Raph in the next scene? I think after having a few minutes to calm himself, he'd realize that he was overreacting, especially with the new threat looming over them. Do you agree?

Please leave a review! Critique, ask a question, tell me if you liked it, or why you didn't! It all helps teach me how to become better and it's the best kind of encouragement! Thanks!