Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT. ...I'm totally Mikey for Halloween though. (yes, I'm thinking about that right now)

Isolation

"Donnie! Donnie!"

Mikey banged on the door of the lab.

"Donnie, come on!"

"This is bad." Leo mused.

"He hasn't been out for days." Raph said

"Not even working on some project ever keeps him in this long."

"Sensei couldn't even get him to come out." Mikey added.

"Donnie! We've got pizza!" Mikey tried again.

"That's how to get you out of your room." Raph hissed.

"Well, I don't have something…Donnie-ish to offer."

"Guys," Leo interjected. "Stop."

"Well what're we gonna do?" Mikey asked. "He can't just stay in there forever."

"You're right, and he won't. He just…won't be coming out just yet."

Leo led Mikey away from the lab, Raph followed behind.

Inside the lab, from under the table, Donnie stomach growled loudly.

'They're gone.'

Donnie shuddered at the sound of the voice again.

'You should eat something. I don't want you dying on me.'

"No. If I leave this room, you'll force me to harm my family."

'You have a point…but you do know I could force you to leave this room any time I wanted, right?'

Donnie gasped.

"Then…why…"

'I'm still thinking. How should I do this? Should I do it one by one, or all at once? Should I take you over completely, so much you don't even know what's going on? Or should I make you watch? Should I-'

"Stop…please…" Donnie gasped.

'Yeah, so I've got plenty to do while you stay in here and starve yourself. You're going to have to go outside sooner or later.'

Donnie shook his head, but the voice was right. The hunger was getting close to unbearable, and while he didn't want to hurt the others, the quickly seeping will to live still lingered, and he'd have to leave the lab soon.

'What're you going to do?'

"I'll go…but not today."

'…suit yourself.'

Donnie took the dismissive tone in the voice to mean that he was going to be left alone for the moment, and while he really didn't want to let his guard down, he was very tired. He felt himself begin to nod off, and though he fought it the entire time, sleep finally took him.

A few days later, Donnie still hadn't left his room. Everyone grew more and more worried for him, but the only one who hadn't stopped attempting to coax him out of the lab was Mikey, who banged on the door every day until Leo stopped him.

It was one of his calmer days. He actually left his usual position under the desk and leaned against the side of it, facing the door as if he were going to walk through it any moment.

'You're going to die y'know.'

The voice didn't even surprise him anymore. He chuckled lethargically.

"That's okay. The others will be safer that way."

'Maybe, but they won't be too happy about you dying'

"But they'll live."

'I bet a day wouldn't pass without the thought of you burdening their hearts.'

"But they'll live.'

'I bet the oldest one would take it out on himself'

"But-"

"Donnie?"

As if he was summoned, Leo rapped lightly on the door. Donnie tensed and tried to crawl back under the desk, this time, he was stopped.

"No…please don't" He whispered. He gripped his chest as the all too familiar burn set in.

'I'm not gonna kill him yet. Just talk to him."

Donnie was forced to the door. He slowly pushed it open. He felt the spirit release him, and his first thought was to slam the door shut once more and return to his desk, but he was held in place by Leo's stare.

Leo was shocked. No part of him had expected a response, much less for the door to actually open. Donnie looked afraid, totally on edge.

"Hi Leo." He whispered.

"I was just checking on you."

Donnie stared at the floor with a troubled expression.

"We're all really worried about you."

"…Sorry."

Leo could barely hear him, but he definitely heard his stomach. He grabbed his hand and pulled him from the doorway.

"You have to eat something, you must be starving."

Donnie silently followed behind Leo.

When they got to the kitchen, Mikey and Raph were at the table, enjoying some pepperoni pizza. As soon as Mikey spotted Donnie he dropped his slice and flew out of his chair. He tackled him, almost knocking him to the ground as he hugged him tight.

"DONNIE! YOU CAME OUT! Oh my gosh I was so worried! Why did you stay in there so long!? Don't do that! I thought-"

"Mikey," Leo cut him off.

"Take it down a few notches."

Mikey nodded and released Donnie from his death grip. Leo led him to the table and Mikey pushed a slice of pizza in front of him.

"You must be hungry, right? Or maybe you're like me. I always keep a stash in my room."

"Gross…" Raph scrunched up his face.

Donnie stared at the pizza. Something seemed to be holding him back. Leo recalled the last time he ate pizza.

"Perhaps you'd like something else?"

"…Just water…please."

Leo didn't like it, but he fulfilled Donnie's request. Donnie downed the cup quickly, let Leo fill it again, and started to drink again, but not nearly as fast. Leo set to slicing fruit. He was determined for Donnie to eat something.

"So Donnie," Raph started. "What's wrong?"

Donnie's eyes widened.

"Wrong?"

"Well yeah." Mikey said. "People don't usually lock themselves in their room for no reason."

Donnie appeared to be searching for something to say. He finished the cup of water again.

"Do you still feel bad about that fight with Bebop and Rocksteady?" Mikey asked. Donnie shook his head. Leo slid the bowl of fruit in front of him.

"This isn't even about that, is it?" Leo asked, but it wasn't a question.

"…There's nothing wrong." Donnie said. Even he flinched at the obviousness of that lie.

"That's not true." Mikey said.

"We want to help you, but we can't if you don't talk to us!" Raph snapped, standing abruptly.

"What if I don't want to talk!?"

"You have to do something! You can't just stay in your lab until you starve! That's not going to do anything!"

"But what if it does do something!?"

"What's that going to do!? Huh!?"

"You wouldn't understand until later!"

"I'D UNDERSTAND RIGHT NOW IF YOU STOPPED LOCKING US OUT AND SAID SOMETHING!"

Donnie stayed quiet. He looked as though he were about to cry.

"Please Donnie, let us help you." Mikey pleaded.

Donnie slid out of his chair and dashed out of the room. The other three jolted as they heard his door slam shut.

"Raph you idiot!" Mikey hissed.

"I didn't say anything that wasn't true."

Leo didn't bother breaking the two up. He just started at the untouched fruit bowl, lost in deep thought.

Back under the table, Donnie was curled up into a ball, hugging his knees and rocking back and forth. He desperately tried to keep himself together. He heard the low cackle of the spirit again.

"Time's up."

Donnie's breath caught in his throat. He shook his head and hoped for some kind of follow up from the voice in his head, but there was none. A single tear ran down his cheek. He couldn't find it in himself to hold them back anymore. It was over.

His time had run out.

His attempt had been in vain.

He was powerless.

Donnie broke down…

and cried.

End Chapter 6