a/n
I owe a HUGE apology, I forgot to answer a question last week and I feel SOOOO BAD. I love my questions! Don't' ever think I don't!
from LyHan12
She wanted to knowwww: *pulls out letter*
Q: What season of Tmnt do your story take part to?
Hmmm, well, first of all I must say that the story arcs "Back to the Sewer" and "Fast Forward' are DEAD to me, they took away from the series so drastically that I can't possibly forgive them. THEY DIDN'T' CUT OFF SHREDDERS HEAD ONCE!
but Anyway, I do include' Turtles Forever and the Ninja Tribunal' so my series takes place right after "Turtles Forever"
Keep sending your questions! They don't just have to be about Unyielding either, they can be about the other fics too!
Shades of Despair
Donnie was used to illness, it plagued most of his memories and he often found himself waking up gasping for air. But that wasn't always from 'illness' but also from his brothers rolling over him in his sleep (which happened far more times then he wanted to admit, mostly because it never happened to Mikey).
But this ?
This was new
This was new pain
It radiated from his throat, a stinging sensation that started in deep then radiated from his lungs. A separate pian radiated from below his throat as his skin tugged tightly. All of that might have concerned him but what caught his attention most of all was the familiar mist of oxygen blowing past his lips and providing relief in his lungs. He knew this mist
The breathing machine
Why was he on the mask again? Why did his head hurt so badly? What happened-?
Then it hit him.
He had gone after Leonardo.
Because there was no way for him to get home.
Then he had gone after Leonardo.
What happened then?
He had found Leonardo
He had tried to knock his head off with a wooden plank
Then Leonardo had held him
He held him, when he was on the verge of collapsing. When he had even so sure his family was going to fall apart. Giving him soft reassurance. Telling him he would still be able to go home
But that hadn't changed anything
There was no way to get home.
Donnie couldn't stop the small whimper from escaping his lips. The memory came back, the anguish that had filled his chest, the anger, the feeling of betrayal-
The sound of something squeaking, moving closer. It almost sounded like Splinters popping joints, but it was like grinding metal. It came closer to him, but his body was too heavy to do anything
"The poor little thing."
What the heck was that? Was it a voice? It kind of sounded like one, except it sounded like it was on its own level. But there was a level of compassion in 'his (?) voice that touched him. He was used to a condescending tone, when he fell ill at the 'clinic' and he would hear the voices of patients asking about him.
This voice was truly concerned.
"I cannot imagine what he must be feeling right now" aw, thank you disembodied ungendered specified voice. He felt something press against the side of his face- spirits that was cold! Was it that 'stethoscope' thing that Donatello had used on him-?
Wait
WAIT
This thing was shaped like a HAND-
Don's eyes shot open. His eyes meeting a strange wide face with curved cheeks and bright lights shining at him through abyssly dark eyes.
A scream tore free of his lips. The metal stick creature stumbled back and away from him. Don's hand reached out to his side his fingers closing over something heavy, his arm shot around sending the creature stumbling back, arms shooting up over his head to protect his 'face.'
There! Don grabbed his mask and threw the blankets off of him; he drew in a large breath before yanking off the breathing mask and jumping off the bed on the other side.
Before his feet could even hit the floor he felt something yank him back. Another scream tore from his lips as he twisted his body around. But the grip on his shell and the fact his feet weren't' touching the ground ceased all mobility. "Calm! Calm-"
LEATHERHEAD?!
He honestly wasn't' sure how long it had been since he had seen his old mentor (Long enough that he should have been hugging him, instead of holding him up by the shell like a puppy, maybe Donnie would of.
Instead his heart began to hammer in his chest; he tried to draw in a wheezing breath. His airway refused to open. He squeezed his eyes shut as his hands flew up to his throat. He felt something gurgling in the back of his throat-
"PUT HIM DOWN!"
Maybe it was the enclosed space, but the voice echoed painfully against the young kames scalp. He could even feel the Leatherhead lookalike quake with surprise. YOU heard him you pant less look-alike, put-
A giant hand suddenly went up under his legs as his massive body turned around but Don's vision was obscured by a broad chest. Spirits he smelled bad, "I did not mean anything, he awoke with fright and attacked the Professor-"
"He can't breathe on his own," arms shoved under him and all but yanked him away from the large crocodile. A mask was pressed right back over his beak and sweet merciful air. Hs hand going over the mask itself if only to reassure himself his one source of mercy was still there
Wait
His eyes shot back open as he looked up to his savior. A blue masked turtle a concern on his face that was impossible to duplicate.
Leonardo
Despite the recent return of memories, he couldn't help but wrap his arms around the older turtle's neck. His face finding a place in his chest as he released a slow breath.
Leonardo was back
Leonardo would help him-
"Are you alight Half-shell!?"His voice was soft, just what he needed. He didn't need to wake up with a metal man touching his face and a giant naked reptile holding him. Don's throat ached lightly so he found himself nodding lightly, his fingers digging tighter into his palms but he forced a nod from him if only to keep Leonardo from freaking out. HE felt himself being lowered back down onto a familiar futon-
Wait
This wasn't a futon.
This was the raised 'bed' that he had first woken up in. the room they had taken him too when they had been concerned for his health.
What was going on-?
"Are you alright Professor Honeycutt?"
Huh? Who was Leonardo talking to? Was this 'Leatherhead' named Professor? That made no sense-
No, Leatherhead hadn't been hurt at all, and the large crocodile was kneeling by the metal man. They were concerned about that thing?! Why would they it had touched him-
"I'm perfectly alright Leonardo," there was that weird voice gain. It made Don squeeze his Leonardo's' arm even tighter, how unnerving. The gold eyes turned back to look at him, though he realized one of the 'bulbs' had been dimmed and was now flickering weakly, "The Rapscallion damaged my optical unit."
Optical unit? Did he mean he damaged his 'eyes'? Did it even have the ability to see?
But he could remember that 'hand' against his face' and that his voice had sounded so concerned. Like he was alive…
Was that possible?
Could a metal man be alive?
It was capable of pain, of concern and fear. And now? Frustration
Oh Spirits
How could he be so cruel?
Don raised his head up weakly, he wanted to apologize for his rudeness, he wanted forgiveness or alteast let his regret known. He put his arm under his shell to raise himself up but his stomach ached with exertion. He couldn't even get his arm under his body to leverage himself
"Don stay down." a hand ran over his forehead, "Please don't exert your energy."
But he was sorry! He opened his mouth but his nervousness kept his vocal chords from actually doing anything.
Dam shyness
It was NOT cute
Don looked back to his older counterpart, his hand freed of the blanket yanked over his body (that seemed to be Leonardo's' solution to everything. "Taisho," he whispered lightly.
The white eyed' mask turned back to him. Don wasn't sure how they could be so expressive or how they even turned white with the masks on. But he scooted closer to his 'companion, glancing back to the odd friends in the corner before looking back to him, "Gomen'nasai. Watashi wa kare ga ikiteita shiranakatta, watashi wa hontōni gomen'nasai gomen'nasai..." before glancing over to the 'metal Professor again'. He heard a small chuckle behind him as a hand rubbed his scalp
"What did the abusive turtle tell you Leonardo?" Professor said, his voice held slight accusation that Don knew he deserved. He couldn't help but return his eyes to the blanket. How had he never noticed their design?! It was so FASCINATING-
"Don't be mad at him Professor Honeycutt, he's too shy to say so himself but he's' really sorry for what he did." why did Leonardo have to press on his scalp so hard? How was that emphasizing his apology? That weird voice filed the air again only this time it was breathy, did the Car-man sigh? "I supposed I cannot stay frustrated with someone who has such a quiet voice."
What did his voice have to do with anything? He wasn't THAT quiet-
Another slow breath ran into his lungs, a watery tickle swelled till it touched the back of his throat. Dons hand shot up and yanked off the mask (despite the surprised shout from Leonardo) turning his head to the side, he hacked over the side of the bed. He could just feel the painful deprivation of water rise up in the back of his throat. His couching choked-
A hand slapped the back of his shell, but he wasn't sure whose it was. He squeezed his eyes shut-
Finally the liquid began to ebb away, but his lungs refused to work on their own. A hand grabbed the top of his shell and dragged him right back onto the bed. The mask returning to his face and the bliss of oxygen.
He almost didn't realize an arm was still wrapped around his shoulders, Donnie could only assume that the other hand was holding the oxygen mask to his beak.
"You were right Leonardo, he is quite unwell." Professors weird voice returned, so did that concern he had blessed Don with before. Spirits why was he so tired? Didn't he just wake up? Wait, what was Leonardo right about-?
"I told you, he can't breathe without the machine, and I didn't know who else to turn to. I know you're not doctors but you two and Donatello make up the smartest person in the world. I thought you might be able to help."
What? Leatherhead wasn't' an I-sha in this world? That was weird, especially since his mentor had always tried to sway him from his engineering and science ways.
This really was a weird world-
"You were very lucky we got a hold of a Pulse oximetry device, it will allow us to read his oxygen levels."
"Good." There's a relief to his voice. What the heck was a pulse Oximetry device? Whatever it was, he wasn't cold like a 'stethoscope'." I think we used to have one, for our Donnie. But, you know, then Mikey happened."
"Then consider it a gift."
Aw, that was nice of him. Alteast both Leatherheads were kind. Maybe it was something all Leatherheads had in common. It would make sense.
That's one of the questions he had asked himself, he had spent many nights asking Leonardo questions about his world. Trying to find the smallest similarities-
Wait what? Why was Leatherhead and Professor leaving the room? Leonardo was now standing at his bedside, holding something in his hands, a strange device that he almost didn't have a word to describe it. He wanted to ask what is was but his voice failed him. Don looked to the strange device questioningly before looking back up to Leonardo's face. The older companion gave him a strange face before looked down to the device in his hands with a 'oh' smile, "It's supposed to test to oxygen level in your blood."
Oxygen level? He had read about that, it would make sense Leonardo would want to check it. But how were they going to do that? As Leonardo sat on the edge of the bed, Don chose to simply allow the oxygen be carried out of his lungs as he stared as the ceiling. He felt something pinch over his finger, gently at first then tighter as though a hand was squeezing over it till he felt a harder prick on his finger and something warm leaking over his finger. Well, Leonardo did say he needed blood-
He glanced over in time to see Leonardo set the device on the strange metal table by his side. He was now wrapping something sticky around his paper like paper dipped in honey, "Did it hurt?" his voice was so soft, almost like wasn't trying to speak too loudly
"Not really." Yay! His voice came back, he felt fine. Except for the pain in his chest, Dons head scooted closer to Leos' side. If only to feel comforted by his presence, Spirits he was tired, why WAS he so tired? He wanted to go to sleep, an itch ran across the skin of his throat, his hand crawled free of his blanket and ran to the base-
A hand took his, "Don't." Leonardo's' hand held his so gently a thumb caressing over his knuckles "Y-you're stitches have to heal."
That's true, he nodded softly before returning his head to the pillow, when his Kuma-ni had stitches , Donnie and Mama almost had to pin him down to keep him from scratching them out-
Wait-
Stitches!?
Don's hand pulled harder against Leonardo's trying to free itself but his companion held on strong, refusing to let go.
Why did he have stitches?
What happened?!
What happened in the sewer?
He could vaguely remember a bright light, Leonardo running ahead of him nearly dragging him behind him.
Then he remembered choking, struggling for breath.-
Oh
What else would he have done?
Leonardo saved his life.
"I'm so sorry Halfshell." his voice was hushed; Donnie could just feel his hand tighten around his, "I'm so sorry I'm so sorry." Oh Spirits, he didn't blame himself did he? It would be the Leonardo thing to do, "You were choking, and I didn't know what else to do. I had to save you."
Poor Leonardo
He must have been scared,
"It-it's not your fault," Why was it so hard to talk? He wanted to stay awake; he needed to stay awake for his friend, "It happens. It happens at home too, bu-but w-we have black candles to open m-my throat. I'm sorry, I'm sorry-"
"Don't apologize, I should have had another option." his hand was released just as a beeping sound filled the air as his presence left his side. Were the 'results' up? He could barely see through his heavy eyelids. But he could see Leonardo's' face, though he stood away from the bed, his face scrunched up as his focus remained solely fixed on the device
He wasn't really a detective
But he knew his results wasn't good
And he knew Leonardo wasn't happy, whenever His Leonardo would get upset or angry he normally let the presence of his family and others, if only to protect his family from himself
But he didn't want Leonardo to leave
He didn't want to be alone.
"Don't go."
He surprised by the weak voice, so pathetic and tiny. HE wasn't even sure if it was his, if Leonardo's wasn't looking at him with a surprised look on his face. Don closed his eyes, fighting the shame swelling up in his stomach. Though he no longer had any control of his breathing, he felt it come out in the smallest of whimpers he tried to hide by rolling over onto his side. Shell facing his masochist companion
He knew better then Leonardo what was wrong with him
He knew that he had water in his lungs
He knew it came from days ago, when he had first arrived into this world and tried to open a portal. When he had fallen into the sewers and almost drowned had it not been for the same turtle standing in the room
He knew it had been building up this whole time,
Every time they had given him their 'cough' medicine to prevent the blood from his lips. It had built up deeper.
he knew that's why he was sick
A hand fell on his shoulder, massaging them gently. Soft sympathetic fingers, running over the back of his scalp and running down his bicep.
"I'm not leaving your side Halfshell."
Maybe it was impending fear boiling in his stomach. But Don rolled over to face his companion. Now resting comfortable while sitting on the bed the hand continuing to run over his scalp in almost the motherly method that made him miss his own.
He slowly raised his head to rest it on Leonardo's thigh, preferring the company rather than the softness of a pillow.
He knew he could trust Leonardo
(#)(#)(#)(#)
The rumbling of wagon shouldn't of been comforting. It should have been rough and it should of made him ache and moan as anyone would. But to him it was soft and rhythmic like the rocking of mother's arms. Though he was far too old to remember such a thing, he could only make assumptions. But he could assume this is what it felt like. And it as just as soft was his own futon at home or the soft warm blades of summer grass
He yawned before rubbing his palms over his eyelids, but found his mask a worthy enough adversary to drag off his face before feeling the sweet relief of rough palms over itchy eyes.
A finger wiggled in to pinch his neck. A grimace grew over his face as he smacked the hand away, a unusually large hand that he knew belonged to a unusually cruel big brother, "Raph doooonntt."
"Awww what? I aint doing nuthin',"
"Yes you are." Don twisted his face lightly before rolling over. Half expecting to fall back asleep in the amount of time ti would take to sigh, but instead felt another harder pinch to the back of his neck. he yelped out in pain before grabbing onto the emerald green hand and bit onto his swollen thumb. The hand jerked out of his mouth with an irritated shout, "hey! Ma the brat bit me!"
"Course he did, he was sleeping and the bigger brat kept pinching him. And you know he's getting over a fever."
Don couldn't help but smile when he heard his older brother grumbled. But now that he was thoroughly pinched he rolled up through the wagon of blankets and supplies before glancing to the head of the wagon
His mother was sitting at the drive, reins in hands and wrapped in a happi that had was covered in so much dirt and mud that you couldn't tell it had once been a white silk that her mother had treasured.
Donnie never could understand why someone would hate their mother that much.
he moved up to his knees and crawled up to the bench they sat on, crushing his arms over the wood and resting his head down so it was resting on his cushioned arms, looking up to the older members of the family a yawn escaping his lips for a moment, "How far are we from Horyu City?"
"About a day and a half baby,"
"How do you know?"
"We just passed a sign that said "Murakami."
"What kind of name is 'Murakami?" ah Raph ever the optimist, "I bet it's one of those villages where everyone's cousins and they have a million kids."
Donnie laughed lightly he felt an arm hook over his neck. His face mushed into his brothers red sleeveless top in a friendly headlock, a rough palm rubbing his scalp for a moment before the hand drew away, the grip loosened, "Don?"
"Yeah?"
"You had another nightmare didn't you?"
How could he tell? Was the fact he hadn't stopped shivering since he had woken up? Their mother twisted in her seat to look at him for a moment, "You ok baby?"
Don nodded, before curling back on the wagon, pulling the blanket back over him.
He tried to ignore the whispering up ahead he felt something brush against his side and the squeaking of wood as something slid into the back of the wagon, a hand falling on his shell Hey baby bro, you ok?"
Don nodded again; hands went to his sides and all but picking him right back up into a siting position. Donnie turned to bury his head into his big brothers chest. Enjoying his stubby fingers massaging his neck lightly, "was it that dream again?"
Donnie nodded clinging to his brothers chest,
"You're never going to be alone, you know that bro?"
Don nodded again
"So go back to sleep, we'll be right here when you rake up."
He had never told anyone this, and it was a rare thing to even admit to himself. But he hated when people made promises. It wasn't' the same as 'giving your word'. The word 'promise' tinged with innocence and promised a happy ending for children. So many children had asked him for a 'promise' that their loved ones would be alright.
No matter how mad he wanted, no matter how their eyes would fill with tears, he could never promise them that.
"I promise. You'll never be alone."
Promises were nothing but empty hopes
They were made to be broken.
(#)(#)(#)(#)
"Donnie."
Hm? He knew that voice, but he was not used to the stroking across his forehead. Don had somehow rolled over onto his stomach and he had lost his "Leonardo" Pillow. But that had just been his voice right? Spirits what he wouldn't give for some actual lucidity in his waking moments. Maybe he could get a Yosei just for that, they could spare enough energy to help him with that right? But what if he got a Koro-pok-guru instead? He already had Mikey-
"Donnie please." why was he insisting so hard? The hand moved to rock his shell ever so gently, "Please Donnie."
He was trying, he really was. He tried to drag his arms up form under the blankets but the normally warm comfort the quilts gave him had been replaced with the feeling of being covered in bags of dirt. His fingers twitched in a feeble attempt to move leaving him in a tired sigh, 'm tired." so tired. He wanted to go back to sleep. The oxygen hissed again, steady breath being carried into his lungs-
"No=no-no Halfshell come on, " before Don could do anything, he felt hands take his shoulder from under the blankets and roll him over slowly , his shell now to mattress and he was slowly pulled into a sitting position. What was going on? "I have some rice here and I need you to eat it, alright?"
Eat? Eat now? He couldn't move his rams, how was he supposed to do anything let alone move? He slowly moved his head away from the source of Leonardo's' voice only to have it rolled back over with a gentle palm, "Don you need your strength. Please, just one bite. For me"
What? Why? He had only been asleep for a few moments, why was it so imperative he eat now? The mention of food brought back the rustic taste of blood in his mouth and an awful churning in his stomach.
One bite
That's all Leonardo was asking for
Just one bite
He turned his head back the way of Leonardo's voice, he felt someone pull the mask away from his mouth ever so gently so that he could feel with warmth of the room collide with the mist of his oxygen. There in case he needed to breath Don opened his mouth, it must not have been enough for Leonardo because he felt fingers press into the hinges of his mouth. Small pieces of rice were put in his mouth before Don closed his mouth slowly. Thankfully rice didn't take much chewing (heck, he hadn't even opened his eyes). He swallowed the rice down his throat before turning his head away and pressed it back into the mask. He wanted to go back to sleep-
"Nonono Don." fingers brushed against his face again, turning his head back around, "Don, I have some rice here, I just need you to take one bite."
Wait
What?
That wasn't right. He just ate some rice he just ate 'one bite, '"I-I-I did-"
"Not yet I just need you to take one bite alright? Just one?"
Had he misheard? His head pounded slowly, he was used to hallucinations. Maybe before had been one of them
He didn't want to disappoint Leonardo.
Donnie rolled his weak neck back over. He didn't have to listen to his stomach to know its protests. He opened his mouth and felt the rice being placed in there slowly. There, that was done….his mind begged to return to rest. He needed more. He was just so tired…he was so tired from that alone….
A hand ran down the side of his face, bouncing it ever so lightly, and "Come on Don please? I know you don't want to but I need you to just eat one bite. Aright?"
No
He had just eaten. He knew he did, his stomach knew as hell he did. And it had returned with angry boiling pains that came when given food it didn't' want, no.
Was he losing his mind?
NO
"I-"his vocal chords vibrated uselessly for a moment. He felt chopsticks brush against his lisp for a moment and the torture rice he knew was on it. He turned his head away, he felt the sheet of the pillow stick to his warm sweaty skin for a moment before peeling away, "No, I d-id-"
"Don," his voice sounded so sympathetic. So worried, pleading, "Don you haven't eaten anything Pleas I just want you to eat one bite-"
"NO!"
If he hadn't lost his voice before he definitely did now. It hadn't even been exceptionally loud if not sudden. If not soaked by a cracked desperate voice "NO, I a-ate. I-I-I ate."
"Don-"
"no." It didn't have quite the forced force as last time but left him gasping itno the oxygen machine. He wanted to scorn the older turtle, to yell at him for making him feel like a fool.
But that's what he was
A fool
He could hear the sound of ceramic being rested on metal; hands held his shoulders and forced them back onto his shell, the mask tightened back around his mouth. But if Donnie had any mobility he would of kicked him
"I'm sorry Donnie.' Why was he still whispering? His voice was downright hoarse, "I needed to get you to eat-"
"Y-you lied."
"I-I didn't have a choice. Please understand." the hand returned to his face, "yo- you haven't eaten in days, I was scared-"
NO, but once again, his vocals failed him. His eyes burning behind closing eyelids. He didn't want to talk to him. He slowly rolled his body, though every inch of him screamed in protest. Donnie couldn't even stop the whimper from escaping his lips tile he finally had his shell facing his 'liar'
"Don." there it was, that voice that hoarse voice. Tinged with sadness, "Don please don't." he felt a hand run over the back of his scalp, "Pl-Please look at me Halfshell."
Don turned his face into the pillow, anything to keep away from Leonardo; His breaths came in through shaking lips.
He didn't want anything to do with that liar right now
He felt the hand run down the back of his scalp for a moment. Lingering for a moment longer as though in hopes he would roll over, in hopes for forgiveness.
Don couldn't have rolled over if he wanted to.
A tired sigh filled the air, Don almost felt bad if he was not a fool. He felt the hand return back to shi shoulder, running up and down his arm for a moment
"You'll forgive me, when you're better."
Don was not so sure. If he could have turned his shell to Leonardo again, he would of. Insteade he felt Leonardo's' hand trace down the back of his skull for a moment longer before the creaking of chair fillled the air and the popping of metal hinges.
Alone
Silence.
The burning in his eyes fought for domination, to win over all over feelings to be expressed. But the heaviness of his eyelids refused to let the tears fall. To give them that victory.
To give Leonardo that victory.
Slowly let his mind slip away. The only other sound being a faint beeping. It was mechanical like Professors voice. Rhythmic, but it was slow, almost painfully so
It almost sounded like a heartbeat
It almost sounded like his heartbeat.
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Mama?
What had happened? Did he fall asleep again? He was supposed to right? That's what Kuma-ni told him to do? And if the familiar rocking of wagon told him they were still traveling. That was good right? He moved under the thick blanket his throat ached from the odd angle, Spirits everything hurt-
A hand ran over his scalp. At first the claws made him think of his mother, had they traded place?
Except these hands weren't rough like his mother's (from years of fighting) but they were wrinkled, the hands of an old man
"The poor child, he is talking in his sleep again."
No that was not Splinter, that was Lorenzo, his Grandfather. Was his head resting on his grandfathers lap? What was going on? Had he been talking? And who was hugging him-
"He had been doing that for quite some time I am surprised he has not woken up Michelangelo."
Mikey? That explained who his secret snuggler was. Who else would it be? He felt the arms tighten around his chest. Were they the only ones in the wagon? No, there was the sound of soft breathing, uncollected and out of pattern. There had to be quite a few people in the wagon with them, where were they going?
Where was Mama?
Where was Kuma-ni?
Where was Uncle Doribno?
Where was Usagi?
Where was Aniki-
"I know you are quite worried about your sons Splinter, but there is nothing you can do to help them now."
Wait what? What did he mean? What was he talking about? Why wouldn't' they be there?, "I know, Dorinbo will never let anything happen to them. Neither will Kaede, but a father can worry."
"I would be concerned if you were not. But you can focus on your sons with you now. You can focus on your ailed child." Ailed child? Was that him? Why was he always the 'ailed' child' it was annoying beyond hell. He was so much more than a 'ailed child.'
"I know, has he cooled off?"
"No, but he is breathing easier and we have black candles and his medicine if he gets worse."
"That at least is good news." Don could just imagine his father nodding deeply. he had to be the one driving the wagon. Who else would it be, "One of my biggest concerns when I was a prisoner in Hebi's castle was who was watching over the poor child. I would be lying if I hadn't hoped that Donatello had ended up under Leonardo's' care. And when I found out otherwise, I was very disturbed." Wait, that meant he didn't have faith in Raph. Right? I mean, Don had been told that Raphael hadn't been very kind to Don when they were children, when Don had been just a baby, but still-," But I am proud to of been proven wrong."
"I can imagine, does it upset you that Donatello won't talk to you? He won't even go to you."
"The wound still hurts, yes, but I do not know what I expected." he sounded so tired, how long had they been driving? Where were they going? "He was scared of me after he saw me murder an intruder in our house; I do not know why I expected to welcome me with open arms."
"He is still young, Splinter, And he is very intelligent. Even he will realize how much you love him. He will go to you."
"Those words are very kind, but I fear them. Not for myself, but I know the rest of my sons want nothing more than the same thing. I do not want them to resent Donatello for his feelings. I fear their frustration would be taken out on them. I have seen in in Michelangelo's eyes." there was the smallest snapping of reigns, "Do you know how I go visit my sons? Sometimes I will stay over and I will cook a meal for them. Though I do not live but a house width away. Anytime I make a meal and call them to it as they tease and play in the yard. I can see the horror in his eyes, and the moment I take my eyes off of him, he is gone. More often than none, Raphael will go to find him later and carry his sleeping body home. HE will tell me he went to Dorinbo's' house to stay with him and his son. I am grateful for my friend to soothe him when he is so terrified but I cannot help but feel….envious."
NO, he knew that? He didn't mean for him to find out. He never wanted to hurt Splinters feelings, what else was he supposed to do? He could still remember that day, he hadn't meant to go to Dorinbo's' house, but his mother hadn't been in town and he just found himself running. Usagi had stopped him from running off the edge of the edge of the earth and had taken him back to Dorinbo's' house.
Dorinbo always welcomed him with open arms.
And between the father son rabbit pair there had been no way he could AVOID eating. But he never remembered falling asleep…..
Don heard a painful wheezing fill the air, gasping like a fish out of water.
Someone was choking
"He'll go to you."
Pain began to radiate up his throat. As though water was bubbling up the back of it, desperate to escape. Dons hands flew up to his throat. His arms and legs began to feel heavy as though he was beign drug down-
Then he knew the truth
He was the one choking
"He'll go to you."
Lorenzo, help, help. He begged, coudlnt he see him choking? He was dying, he could't breath, why wasn't he helping him?
"He'll accept you."
Grandfather please
I can't breath
I can't breathe.
His vision was filled with dark blue and his body was weighed down by a thick substance. He knew this substance; it was the one thing Raph never let him near
Water
He was drowning
"He'll go to you."
Don's body twisted around, the water was dead around him, but his weak legs couldn't even move him. His eyes shot to the surface, where the sun was disoriented against the surface. Tauntingly close
"He'll accept you."
PLEASE HELP ME!
"He'll go to you."
I'm sorry father
Gomen'nasai
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Don felt as though his lungs were suddenly inflated like the 'organ ball' Mikey like to play with. His next to numb body shooting up into sitting position. His face slamming against his knees and digging the plastic of his mask into his skin-
Air
He had air again-
The mattress bounced up under him as a body sat behind him, arms flew around him and drug him back against a chest, one arm held him tight while the other pressed his face tightly to a chest.
Leonardo.
Leonardo had come back.
If his arms had worked he would of hugged Leonardo right back. But right now he wasn't' even sure he still had arms. His head was still fuzzy and lightheaded and his eyes burnt with tears he was desperately trying to keep back
""ssssssh its alright its alright you're fine."
Was he? Was he alright? He wasn't sure, his body rested almost entirely in Leonardo's' arms and that was the very same reason he hadn't fallen over yet.
What had happened?
"I-I'm so sorry Halfshell I-I was just going ot get tea. I shouldn't of left." he felt a beak press into his scalp, "I'm so sorry, I'm so so sorry. I-I didn't even know your breathing machine had stopped t-till my watch had gone off."
W-watch? That device that told time? Leonardo had told him about that, Dons eyes traveled down to the arm draped around his waist, he could just see the black device strapped to his wrist. For some reason (instead of the numbers Leonardo had told him about) it had been replaced with a red flashing light. He turned his head around to look back to the breathing machine the same light was flashing on it.
Leonardo had him on monitor? He had been worried enough to get Donatello to create such a thing so that he could be aware of his wellbeing even if he wasn't in the room?
Don blinked away the angry terrified tears that once again rammed against the emotions in him. He forced them closed before pressing his face back against his savior's chest. Mouthing the words he so desperately wanted to say. IN the smallest hope his body would actually do as he commanded
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
Gomen'nasai
He felt Leonardo's' hand run up and down his scalp. A small tremble going through his fingers that was almost unrecognizable.
Leonardo?
He tried to turn his head back, if only to see Taisho's face. He needed to know if the older was alright. He needed to know. But the moment his neck twitched in a feeble attempt to obey, the hand on the back of his head pressed his face tighter against his chest. As if covering his eyes…
Leonardo did not want him to see his face.
Slowly and painfully, Don raised his hand to rest on the one on his side. Knowing he would never be able to hold his other hand. He sent a muscle spasm through his hand in hopes it would emulate hand holding.
His hand was gently squeezed back and another tremor shot through Leonardo's body. Was he alright? Why was he shaking so bad. Don hadn't meant to scare him, eh really didn't. I'm sorry he thought to him, though he knew there was no point.
A soft whispering reached Don's ears. Though they were less than coherent to him, Donnie wasn't sure if this was from the infection itself or from the tone of Leonardo's' voice. But he was defiantly talking. Donnie knew it wasn't to him, he was talking to himself?
It was like he was arguing with himself
No
He was begging with himself-
Suddenly his suppose had sent him right back onto the bed, a hand to his forehead, "Stay here." Leonardo's' voice came out hushed, though his eyes demanded his obedience. It wasn't' even a moment later the turtle had disappeared from the room.
What was he doing?
The door to the 'med room' opened again. IT took a considerable amount of courage and logic not to jump out of his skin when a 'trench coat' walked in with a large brimmed hat covering his face. A bundle draped over his forearm.
Seriously, who else would it be?
Leonardo was once again sitting on the edge of the bed; an arm snuck under his body and helped him into a sitting position.
Though vision blurred, his body had regained some feeling from when he was suffocating though one of its strength. He felt his useless arms being drug into a sleeve of an equally long coat. A hood being pulled over his head-
Wait did they change his clothes?
How long had he been asleep-
"-Need you to stay quiet, alright?" oh Spirits, had Leonardo started talking again? And why was he in that trench coat? His eyes fluttered weakly as arms went underneath him and lifted him up. He could just hear the 'portable breathing machine' squished against his side. What was going on?
He wasn't sure if ti was Leonardo's' skill as a ninja or is own dizziness but didn't remember being moved at al before he was being laid down again. His body meeting cold metal strip. Something was drug across his chest and clicked into place, like in a seatbelt
Wait
Were they in a car?
He wanted answers, in a futile attempt, he felt his hand take a hold of Leonardo's' as he began to pull away. But he felt his hand become sandwiched between two of Leonardo's' a small whisper reaching his ears
"You're going to be ok Halfshell, I getting you help."
What? Getting him help? Wasn't that what Leatherhead and Professor were for? Was their method not working? Was that why Leonardo had taken him to a 'car'. (A large one, judging from the sound of it).
Why had no one tried to stop them?
What was Leonardo doing? One final question waved across his mind. AS the sound of 'starting engine' reached his ears. The large car under him coming to life, as he found sleep pulling him back under as a blanket was pulled over his body
Where were they going?
a/n
Gomen'nasai: I'm so sorry
Watashi wa kare ga ikiteita shiranakatta, watashi wa hontōni gomen'nasai gomen'nasai.: I didn't know he was alive, I'm sorry I'm really sorry.
Pulse oximetry: Something that reads oxygen in a persons blood
Yosei: Japanese fairy, it was thought they could bring people back to life
Koro-pok-guru: little people, the ainu believed in who were small, agile and skilled in also know nothing of evil and remain children their entire lives They're kind of like faries, in this Donnie is comparing Mikey to these creatures