April could hardly contain her excitement. She couldn't focus on the homework in front of her at all. When her dad walked in the door of Mei's apartment, April jumped up from the sofa, scattering her American History homework everywhere.
"Ready to go?" she said.
Kirby frowned at April. "Mei's appointment went just fine, April. Nice of you to ask her."
Mei wheeled herself in. "Oh, she's just excited, Kirby. I think we all are. I wish I was out of this thing so that I could come down to the lair, too."
"I have to admit," Kirby said, "I don't know how convinced I am that this retro-retro-mutagen is going to be the solution for Donatello. After all, it worked perfectly on Xever – but it was designed with Xever in mind, not Donnie. The results might not be the ones we're looking for."
"It'll be fine, Dad," April said. "I have a good feeling about this. It's going to work."
"Are you sure that's one of your 'feelings,' and not just wishful thinking?"
It was April's turn to frown."Don't be such a pessimist, Dad. Let's go, already."
"You know, I have half a mind to make you stay behind. I can't believe you would go on that mission without even telling me."
"You're still mad about that?"
Kirby threw his arms up in the air. "You're still covered in bruises, April! What if everything had gone wrong?"
"It didn't, though. Dad, please let me come. I promise I'll run everything by you from now on."
Except if I think you'll say no, and it's something that absolutely has to happen…
Kirby looked at her skeptically for a moment. "Fine. You can come. Mei, do you need anything before we leave?"
"I'm fine, Kirby," Mei said, smiling. "Go bring back my nephew. I want to hear from him as soon as possible."
"Again, I'm not sure how hopeful we should be," Kirby said.
"Let's just go," April said.
Soon, they were on their way through the sewers. April was practically skipping. She couldn't wait to see Donnie, couldn't wait to hear his voice, couldn't wait to tell him how much she loved him…
"April, even if it works, there might be complications," her dad said.
April stopped dead in her tracks. "Why do you have to be like that, Dad?"
"Because I don't want you to get your hopes up, April."
April rolled her eyes and resumed skipping through the tunnels.
When they finally arrived at the lair, Mikey launched off the sofa and ran over to Kirby. He threw his arms around him. "I'm so glad you're here, Mr. O!"
Kirby gingerly returned the hug. "Let's just hope this works."
April surveyed the room. Everyone looked like they were about to detonate with excitement; only Splinter maintained a semblance of calm. Raph sat on the couch with Donnie balanced on his shoulder.
"Everything is prepared, Kirby," Splinter said. "We just need to administer the serum."
Raph stood up and started to take Donnie to the lab.
"Just a moment," Splinter said. He drew a deep breath. "Given the drug's…side effects, I think it will be wise if only Kirby and I are in the lab."
General protest went up around the room.
"Master Splinter," April said, running to him, "that's unfair. We all want to be there for this. I want to be there!"
"Yeah," Leo said. "I know how much pain the serum causes – I saw how it affected Xever. I can handle it, and so can Karai."
"And you think you can handle seeing your brother in so much pain?" Splinter countered. "Besides, if he wakes immediately, too many people will overwhelm him. My decision is final."
"And I back it up," Kirby said.
April groaned. It wasn't fair. She'd been waiting so long for this…
"We will come get you as soon as he is ready for company," Splinter said. He walked over to Raphael and took Donnie from him. Raph scowled, but said nothing. Then, Kirby and Splinter walked into the lab and shut the door behind them.
Everyone in the room exchanged glances.
Then it was a mad scramble to see who could get closest to the doors first. When they got there, they all scuffled over who got to place their ear over the place where the door met. April almost got it, but Raph actually punched her out of the way. She was about to protest when Leo shook his head at her.
Then they all fell totally silent, straining to listen.
"Dang it, Donnie," Raph muttered.
"What?" Leo whispered.
"Remember how we used to complain about all the noise? He did something so that when the doors are closed, barely any sound can get through. I can't hear a thing."
They were all silent again for a few minutes, everyone straining to hear.
"I'm gonna get a glass," Mikey said, bolting off to the kitchen.
Not seconds after he was gone, the muffled sound of screaming came from the other side of the door. Everyone jumped collectively.
Raph clenched his fists.
"Good thing Mikey left," Leo muttered.
Hang in there, Donnie. April closed her eyes. It'll be over soon.
"So, how likely is it that they all have their ears pressed up against the door right this minute?"
Splinter set Donatello on the exam table, not bothering to look at Kirby. "Extremely. They will not hear much, though. Donatello did his best to soundproof these doors so that his experiments and welding would not disturb the rest of the family. Usually, only very loud sounds make it through."
"Yeah, but if they're right next to the door, won't they hear it if he starts screaming?" Kirby said.
Splinter cringed. Yes, they absolutely would. But it would be muffled, and it would still be better than for them to witness the transformation. They would not have to see the expression of pain that would erupt across Donatello's face as it resumed its customary form. None of the turtles remembered just how excruciating the mutation process was – but Splinter did. It was painful enough to make him black out, and he had a high pain tolerance. "That is outside of our control. If it upsets any of them, Leonardo will restore calm."
"All right." Kirby looked at the beaker. "So…any idea of how much of this to use?"
"I have witnessed that even a small amount of regular mutagen can transform a creature. I suggest that we use the same amount that Leonardo and Karai used on Xever."
"Donatello's so much smaller than Xever, though."
"In his present state, perhaps. But he is the same size once mutated, if not slightly heavier because of his shell."
"All right," Kirby said. "So…how much of a dose is that?"
"Here." Splinter remembered watching Leonardo and Karai prepare. He grabbed the small syringe and filled it completely, then tapped out the bubbles and squeezed a small amount out to be sure there was no air inside. He was about to hand the syringe to Kirby when he realized that Donatello was his own responsibility. "I will administer it. I simply need you to be at the ready, in the event that something goes awry."
Kirby nodded.
Drawing a deep breath to steady his trembling hands, Splinter took the syringe over to Donatello. "Take hold of his foot and keep him from pulling it back into his shell. I am going to administer it in the muscle of his leg."
Kirby obeyed, making sure that Donatello's leg was fully extended.
Drawing another breath, Splinter pressed the needle into Donatello's flesh and depressed the plunger, then quickly pulled the needle out so that it would not break off by accident.
The little turtle started squirming immediately, making hissing noises. It was almost a full minute and nothing had happened, except that the creature was clearly in pain.
Kirby frowned. "Is it…?"
Please. Please, my son. Come back to me.
Then, there was a cracking sound as the turtle's shell split and fell away. He grew at an exponential rate, and his limbs stretched out. His new shell developed rapidly, expanding and making crackling sounds as it grew. He was almost halfway to his mutated form when he started screaming and thrashing around wildly.
"Hold him!" Splinter ran to keep Donatello from falling off the table. Kirby steadied Donatello's head and neck with one hand and held onto his arm with the other. The turtle continued to grow and change, assuming the familiar features that defined him.
Moments later, the mutation was complete. Donatello was back. Not a single thing about him looked different than before the accident. Splinter even caught a glimpse of the gap in Donatello's teeth.
Donatello was still moaning in pain, and his eyes looked around wildly, full of fear.
"Shh, my son," Splinter said, holding back tears of relief. "You are safe."
Donatello looked at Splinter for a moment. Something like a ghost of recognition crossed his face. Then he squeezed his eyes shut and groaned. After a moment, his face relaxed and he laid his head down on the table. His breathing became quiet and soft, as if he was sleeping.
Splinter took Donatello's pulse. It was at a normal rate. Splinter closed his eyes in relief. "He is asleep now, I think."
"Looks like he needs some time to recover from the ordeal," Kirby said.
"Indeed. I do not think we should wake him. Let him come to naturally. Go tell the others what has happened. I will wait here until he wakes."
"All right. Call if you need anything."
When Kirby opened the door, he was assaulted by the clamor of five teenagers desperate to know what had happened. The doors slid shut again and the room was filled with nothing but the soft sounds of humming fluorescent lights.
Splinter drew a chair over to the table and sat down, holding Donatello's hand. Softly, he began to sing the lullaby he had sung to his boys all those years ago.
About ten minutes later, Donatello drew a sharp breath and opened his eyes.
"Welcome back, my son," Splinter said, unable to keep a tear from escaping.