Mikey's eyes began to grow wet, but his lips were peeling back and his teeth were bared, like he was struggling to keep his legs straight. All Don could do was stare, catching the weariness in his eyes and the way his body looked smaller than he recalled. Don hadn't been close to Mikey since the accident. He couldn't move his feet. Couldn't disappear down into the alley and call Karai and go... go home? To Shredder? To Baxter? To another year of being a slave and then... His brothers were struggling too. Don was hurting them, both by attempting to keep Mikey alive and not being there anymore.

"Don."

Mikey's voice was so small.

"Donnie, please-" he chocked on hsi own words, nunchucks clattering to the ground and a hand reaching out, offering a palm. "Please, I- I- I had it all thought out, what I was going to say to you!" Mikey suddenly burst. "We love you! You know that right? You know we still love you and we want - no, need - we need you back! Please, Donnie, I can't- Raph and Leo are falling apart! Splinter and I miss you and we-" His words had become hard to udnerstand. The turtle began to cry, hand still outstretched and still begging Don to just take it and go home.

A year, right?

Don felt his heart flutter, a thought he hadn't even considered before. Not through the constant haze of fear. Of what could happen. But... Mikey had the antidote in him. It would work for a year, and he could... make one himself. Do blood work and tests. But what if he couldn't? What if he couldn't make the serum in time?

He could stick a huge middle finger up to Baxter. The man who thought of every detail, no matter how small.

Shredder would be mad. Don's thoughts halted. Shredder would be really mad.

"Don! Please!" So much desperation clouded Mikey's voice. Don was dispelled from his turmoil.

"Get the fuck away from him!"

That wasn't Rapheal. That was-

Hmp! Don grunted as he was quite literally thrown to the other side of the roof by a shoulder to the side. He rolled and came to a stop, coughing as he took his kama in hand and held it over himself defensively. Leo was standing in front of Mikey, his katana glinting dangerously like wolves' teeth, watching Don with the same hatred he only reserved for the Shredder. Don tried not to let that hurt his feelings.

"No! Leo, we were talking!-" Mikey was interuppted by a sharp hiss and fell back, wringing his hands, looking to both brothers with wet eyes.

"We have nothing to say to him," Leo pointed a blade at Don. "You dare touch my brother? You dare show your face in these streets? Leave. Now. Or I will not hesitate to kill you."

Don stood up slowly, wearily. He couldn't get his plan out of his head. Who knows how long he'd be stuck inside. How many prescious hours he would lose, looking for a cure. He wouldn't be able to do so behind Baxter's... er, tube thingy... but Leo looked deathly serious. His plan might have failed before it even began. But... the syringe was laying near the ventilation system and he could see a few traces of the red still at its bottom. He could... he could help... he could... do something to...

Donatello surprised himself by choking on a sob. He felt humilated, but damn it, if he was going to just die under Shredder's foot. His kama fell out of his hand and he threw it across the roof, holding his arms out to either side of him. He had to know.

"Do it," he spat, hiding his grief behind the a stony voice. "Kill me, then."

Leo's body faltered, then straightened again. "I'm not playing games. Leave. Now."

"Make me," Don spat right back, and it felt kinda nice to act like a petulant child and- oh, shit, Leo was running at him.

But Mikey was quick, always had been, and caught Leo on his belt, both of them tumbling to an awkward roll. Leo shoved Mikey off of him, turning on his brother asking what the hell he thought he was doing. Then Karai was there, and Don's head spun as she launched herself at him, taking his wrist and trying to get him to head back to the lair. Rapheal was close on her heels, hopping up onto the rooftop just as Karai told him to get moving.

Don jerked his arm back. Karai stumbled and stopped, truning to him with first confusion and then fury.

"We're leaving, now, Donatello!" She backed a few paces, stopped. Don felt bad. Shredder would be anger with her too. She knew it, so she withdrew her sword again to fight off his three brothers and get him back to the labs. "Donatello, now is not the time for this!"

"I'm not going back!" He shouted back, voice hoarse. She tensed, looking like she might wound him herself and carry him back.

Silence strung between the group and Mikey picked himself off the ground, looking so hopeful it fucking hurt. Don wanted to help him up, but Leo and Raph's weapons kept him at bay. They were staring holes into his head, probably wondering how best to cut it off.

"If you do not come back now, you know what will happen," Karai hissed.

"An another year from now?" Don asked her, refusing to take his eyes off those blades. "And another. Until what?"

Karai was quiet for only a beat. "And you think they want you back?"

"We do!" Mikey shouted, desperate.

"No, we don't!" Raph shoved himself ahead of Leo, his eapons angling up towards Don's throat. Karai stepped back, made no move to help. Don was grateful for that. "Mike's outta his wits right now, and I ain't lettin' ya get in his head! I should fucking slit your throat right now."

And then Leo spoke. "What is that?"

The syringe. Everyone saw it, hidden in the shadow of the ventilation system. Mikey held a hand up to his neck as if realizing what exactly had occured and his eyes widened a bit. He looked at Don as if for answers. Leo stepped in front of him.

"What was that!?" He demanded. "What did you do?!"

"Donatello-" Karai was behind him.

The sais drew closer to his neck. "What the hell is talking about?!"

Karai's sword was drawn up to Raph's face and the two stood there, Don between them, his mind racing what the hell he should do next. Of course, he'd never be welcomed back into the sewers. His plan was just some dumd hopeful dream. And yet, he couldn't help but look to Mikey and see that he too had that same hope still lingering in his eyes. Karai spoke for him, though, withdrawing her sword after a moment of thought and leaving Don to Raph's mercy. She crossed her arms, defenless, looking at Leo and flashing him a look Don couldn't quite pin-point the meaning of.

"Mikey's been poisoned."

Karai, you bitch-! The sais pressed into his skin. He thought he was going to be on the ground, lifeless, when Karai spoke again, quickly and to the point.

"By Baxter Stockman. Don works for the Shredder, he gets an antidote." She pointed to the syringe. "Once a year, and it must be adminstered again. And Donatello does not know how to make it."

"I thought... I could try-" he began. He sais cut him off, blood trickling down his collarbone, into the black fabric that covered him head to toe.

"Why should we beleive you, huh!?"

"Rapheal!" Leo's orders were cool but sharp. The sais were withdrawn and Don drew in a harsh breath, his legs feeling wobbly beneath him. Leonardo took Raph's place, staring Don in the eyes with the same ferocity as before. He could feel waves of distrust flowing from him. "Why? Why should we belive you?" He repeated. "After what you did to Michelangelo?"

Don's heart crumpled. "I... I wouldn't ask you to," he began. God, it felt weird to be talking to his elder brother. "But... I can explain."

"Then do it."

"It broke, in th scuffle." Don said, eyes flashing to the syringe. "And the antidote was on the ground, and... I didn't know how else to get it into his bloodstream... I paniced and I hurt him. I know there's no excuse. I regret what I did every day."

Mikey was staring, holding his neck, tears in his eyes. Don wasn't sure if he was processing what he was saying or the fact that he's had posion running through his veins for a year. He looked back to Leo, at the whites of his eyes that peered through the familiar blue. It was stained with spots of black.

"You realize you'll be killed for this, when The Shredder hears from me personally," Karai told him sharply.

Don forced himself to smile. And God, did it hurt, but he couldn't help it. The idea was so funny to him. "Was there ever a doubt about that?" he asked. "I'm sorry, by the way."

"Be more fearful for your family, turtle," she stepped away, swords drawn at her back. "You've just doomed all three."

She was gone. Don was left with his three brothers, still feeling cowed by Leo's intesne staring contest and Raph's wringing hands that looked desperate to sink his sais into his carpace. Don then wondered what he must look like to them, playing dress up in Foot gear. He almost laughed, caught himself, sobered.

"I don't beleive it," Raph spat.

"Beleive what?!" Mikey jumped in, looking at his hand where the needle prick was oozing red. "That I have a posion in me!? Donnie, you have to get this outta me, man! You said you could do it, right?!"

"Micelangelo-" Leo warned, easing him down. "Don't jump to conclusions. We have no reason to beleive him."

"Are you kidding me?!" Mikey pushed. "It makes so much sense! Donnie would never betray us! I knew it, and now there's evidence and he wants to come home! Why would we-"

"He ain't going home," Raph interjected. He looked to Leo for support, arms crossed and face stony. "I ain't beleivin' shit that comes outta his mouth. It's a trap, ain't it?"

Don didn't know what to say. "It doesn't have to be the lair," he spoke up. "Just a palce to make the serum, that's all."

Leo and Raph exchanged sour looks. A silent exchanged passed between the two. Raph snorted and shook his head, but Leo didn't appear moved. He looked at Don and said one word that made the turtle's heart find a little releif from its burning anxiety.

"Fine. The old lair... it... it still has your lab." He struggled to speak, but regained his composure with a short breath. "You can work there." The sword came back up, shattering what little releif he felt. "But if you're lying, you're going to regret it. Sorely."

"Understood," Don replied. The sword was removed. Raph took up the back with Mikey. Leo led the front. Don ran in between them, feeling the most uncomfortable he'd ever felt in his life, as they ran towards the sewers.