Chapter 31: A Decision
"Just give me a call when you've come to a decision," Rockwell said as he and Splinter entered the living room.
"Thank you, Doctor Rockwell," Splinter said as he stopped just outside the door.
Rockwell sighed, placing a hand on Splinter's shoulder, "I am sorry, Splinter. I wish I could do more."
"I am thankful for all that you have done for my family. There is no need to be sorry," Splinter reassured. Rockwell nodded as he and the other Mutanimals filed out of the lair. The shrill questions from Pete ringing through the tunnels as they left.
"Sensei, what's going on?" Leo asked.
"Come to the dojo. We have some things to discuss," Splinter said turning back to the dojo. Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Karai all looked at each other before following their father into the dojo. Mikey kept his hold on Donnie as they filed in. No one knew what Rockwell wanted.
"Father," Karai started as they all knelt on the floor, watching him closely. Splinter walked forward, taking Donatello from Michelangelo's hands and knelt as well. "What's going on?"
"As you know, Doctor Rockwell had something to tell me today," Splinter started, stroking the shell. "He has found a cure."
"What?"
"Really?"
"No way!"
"We're going to get Donnie back?"
Splinter looked at each of his children, from Michelangelo's hope filled face to Raphael's one filled with disbelief to Leonardo's calculating one to Karai's small smile. "Doctor Rockwell said that the cure is very unpredictable. His tests weren't consistent."
"How so?" Karai asked, the smile leaving her face as her eyes narrowed.
Splinter turned and pulled a few pictures over to show his children. "This is the original mutation." He pointed to the first picture. "These other pictures are when the cure was administered. Each one is slightly different and none of them have come close to the original."
"So, even if we give Donnie the cure, we may not get Donnie back?" Mikey gasped, his blue eyes widening as they filled with tears.
Splinter looked down at the little turtle and stroke the shell. "That is what I wanted to speak with you all. I know I didn't give you much a choice when we used the retromutagen on him, but I'd like to give you a choice now."
"On what?" Leo asked, hoping it wouldn't be what he was thinking.
"On wither or not to use the cure," Splinter answered. "The cure would be able to restore him physically but we won't know if Donatello will be himself. I want each of you to think about this matter. We will talk more tomorrow." Each of his children bowed and slowly walked out. Raphael stepped forward, reaching for Donatello. "Go, Raphael. Donatello will stay with me while you think this over."
Raphael blinked before murmuring, "Hai, Sensei."
The door to the dojo closed and Splinter sighed and ran his fingers over the little shell. "What do you think, my son? Should I use the cure on you and risk yourself? How can I live with myself if you are not you? You've gone through so much, my son. Maybe it would be best to leave you as you are." The little turtle reached around and nibbled his fingers. "Your eyes still haunt me. When you looked at me before Rockwell poured the retromutagen, you looked at me with such love and trust. You trusted me to do what is best for you. You still trust me to do what is best for you. I hope you know, no matter what, I will always love you."
Leonardo watched as his brothers and sister separated and silence fell on the lair. He sighed and walked over to his room, gently shutting himself in and away from his family. Leo looked around his room. Everything seemed darker since Donnie was mutated and unmutated. They were lucky that nothing in the lair had been seriously broken, except for the toaster. Leo sat on his bed, burying his head in his hands.
A cure that may not cure him? Leo wanted to see his brother again so badly but if the cure didn't bring him back as himself, was it worth it? Would life be better as a normal turtle, living in blissful ignorance? Or would it be alright to risk Donnie like that?
Leo groaned and fell back on his bed. He failed as a leader so much recently. How could he make a decision like this and not fail?
Karai gently shut the door and sat down on Donnie's bed. She didn't know what to do. Donnie had done so much for her and she didn't do anything to repay that kindness. True, she had helped him when he would lose himself in his own mind but then, Donnie was unmutated into a regular turtle. Karai couldn't really do anything to help a normal turtle but if the cure didn't fully restore him, maybe she could help.
Karai buried her face in her hands. She felt terrible. No one won. Maybe meditation would help.
Michelangelo tossed his nunchakus onto his bed, not caring about the little voice in his head that sounded like Splinter telling him to treat his weapons with respect. Everything was just crazy and happened too fast and nothing made since. First, Donnie was turned into a crazed giant turtle with huge teeth and sometimes wouldn't recognize his own family. Then, he was dying and Rockwell said the only way to save him was use his own retromutagen on him. Then, Donnie was a tiny little turtle and was super cute. And now, they had a chance to get him back but it may not work.
Mikey nearly screamed in frustration. His mind was running around in circles and it was super hard to focus. This was serious and Mikey needed to think about his brother. He missed Donnie so much. He needed his big brother back. Would he even get his big brother back with the cure?
Raphael couldn't believe this. A cure. A cure! They could get Donnie back! But would he even be Donnie? How could he risk his brother like that? He may not understand all the science stuff but he could see the difference in each picture. There was as huge risk. He wanted his little brother back but if the cure didn't work, would he even be Donnie?
Raph stifled a cry and bit back the tears. Why was everything so difficult? He just wanted everything to go back to normal. He just wanted his little brother back.
Author's Note: The ultimate decision. To use the cure or not? Special thanks to Pilartquitect and a Guest!