Leonardo sighed as Master Splinter's homemade painkillers melted on his tongue. They tasted awful but they did the trick, slowly easing the pain in his head and smoothing out his anxiety. He found himself idly wondering what was in them despite the fact Leonardo never got an answer as a child. However, what he did know was they gave him the best sleep he ever had in his youth and Leo couldn't imagine needing anything more right now.

Splinter adjusted the blanket around his legs with an unreadable expression on his face and tucked him in before heading back to his room. He fought against Splinter's wishes to put him in his room after explaining the rescue in detail. Having already blacked out for most of the end of the rescue and not wanting to be apart from his newly rejoined family, Leo finally managed to convince his father to put him on the couch instead. He wasn't much use to them here, pretty much sedated from Splinter's pills, but he was closer to the lab and Donnie and that would have to do.

The thing was, the foot were the ones that ambushed them and ultimately kidnapped Donatello, so to find him in the clutches of the Kraang was as confusing as it was concerning. They resolved to speak about it in depth after everyone had a proper rest and hopefully get the answer from Donnie himself if he was up for talking about it, which Leo had his doubts about but hoped maybe Splinter would be able to coax it out of him better than he could.

Leo watched his father leave and his eyes filled with unshed tears, longing for his father's arms around him. He felt like a child again, wanting comfort from this horrible situation. His heart squeezed painfully, and he hugged his arms to himself. He was so confused and overwhelmed with the rush of emotions that seized his body. Leonardo was convinced the day Donatello came home would be an untouchable day, that nothing could penetrate the joy and relief he would feel when his younger brother was in the safety of their home. Instead, he felt an uneasiness and an anxiety that crept up his throat and threatened to suffocate him. The air around him felt unsteady and tense, and the feeling of something still being missing played on Leo's mind. He fell asleep shortly after, feeling warm and fuzzy but restless. He'd wake up briefly to Mikey's pale face a little too close to his, asking if he was okay and joking that he wasn't sure if Leo was still breathing and was just checking. He'd tell him Don was still sleeping and rush off to go double check that information was still correct. Leo wondered if he was going to sleep at all tonight.

He couldn't however shake the feeling of something being wrong. For a long time, he had been struggling with a feeling of discontentment and gripping anxiety, but he put that down to Donatello's vicious capture and the affect that night had on them all. The relief he craved was not even a tiny bit satisfied and the crushing weight in his chest still pulled him down.

Then, like the universe wanted to prove his terrible feelings right, Michelangelo screamed.

"MASTER SPLINTER!"

The air around him turned cold and Leonardo shot up, his legs tangled in the blanket. He fumbled with it and threw it to the ground. Master Splinter came sprinting into the living room, his fur dishevelled and tail stiff. Every alarm in Leonardo's body went off, his mind racing yet frozen in terror at the same time. The last time he seen his father so frazzled, he was stumbling and stuttering to tell him why Donatello hadn't returned home with them. Well, that and the time he almost killed himself after his sort of breakdown. Leonardo mentally shook the thought out of his head and cringed at the memory. Before he had time to blink, Mikey screamed once again, and Splinter shot past him quick as a lightning bolt.

"MASTER SPLINTER HELP!"

Leonardo felt a sense of impending doom as he stumbled towards the lab. His senses were on high alert, the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and the promise of more sleep was long gone despite the medication he'd taken. He ran after Splinter on shaky legs and into the lab where he skidded to a stop, his brain struggling to process the scene before him.

Michelangelo was still screaming incoherently as he pulled desperately on Donatello's shell. Raphael choked under Don's hands, his face red and puffed, his eyes wide from the pressure being applied to his throat. His legs kicked uselessly, and his hands clawed at Donnie's trembling hands. Donatello's irises, now so light in colour they were almost transparent, were alight with what Leo thought was rage.

'Or is that fear?'

Don's teeth were bared in a snarl and saliva frothed around his mouth and chin. Leonardo stuttered and stepped towards them. Donatello was making the most awful hissing noise and was spitting words through gritted teeth Leo couldn't understand.

"Donnie! Bro let go of him! What are you doing?!" Mikey yelled. He struggled and pulled at his brother, evidently affected by the panic. Michelangelo, when focused, could give Raph a run for his money in terms of strength and ability. He was without a doubt stronger than Donnie and Leo blanched as Mikey struggled to move him. "Please!"

Master Splinter was over in a flash, pulling Mikey out of the way and swiftly pinching Donnie hard between both shoulders but somehow not quite getting the pressure point he was looking for. Leo seen his father hesitate for the first time in his life to incapacitate one of them. Donatello shrieked and twisted in Splinter's grip to try and fight the new threat. His hands released Raphael's neck and he flopped to the side to choke and gasp for air. Leonardo took a shaky step forward, not knowing how to help or intervene until he seen the unadulterated terror on Mikey's face and approached his baby brother.

"DONATELLO!" Master Splinter's voice thundered, and Leonardo flinched. He never quite got over the feeling of panic that would wash over him when Splinter shouted so seriously. His eyes drooped against his will and progressively became heavier as he fought against the tiredness that threatened to drop him. "Stop at once!" Splinter yelled and wrestled with Donatello's arms, surprisingly having a hard time restraining him.

Michelangelo's hands shook as he rubbed a hand on his temple and his other hand worried at his neck and collarbone. Leonardo could see the stress and confusion rattle him and his breath quickened as his eyes darted around the room. He knew an oncoming panic attack when he seen one; he experienced them many a time when he was up late by himself or when he came home from another failed patrol to find information on Donnie's whereabouts. A flash of memories hit him as he observed his brother- waking up late at night covered in cold sweat after dreams of Donnie being killed by every enemy they had, a rooftop surface rising to meet him as he collapsed, and the stench of his own blood filled his nostrils. Hearing Raph's agonized wails when he found him battered, bloody and clinging to consciousness in an alleyway.

"Mikey look at me, breathe." Leonardo said firmly. This was something he knew how to fix, and he grabbed Mikey's hands in his own. "Breathe with me, look at me Mike,"

Mikey's baby blue eyes finally found his own and Leo nodded encouragingly as he modeled slower breathing. Thankfully, that was enough to anchor Mikey back in to the present and slow his breathing down. Leo rubbed his arm soothingly as Raphael struggled to his feet beside them, gruffly throwing away any help from them as he rubbed his bruising throat.

"Are you okay Raph?" Mikey asked, swiping away at the tears that hadn't quite escaped his eyes. He sniffed as Raph finally caught his breath, eyes nearly popping out of his head and incredibly stunned.

"Do I LOOK alright?!" Raph cried, his eyes wide. He threw his arms out incredulously.

"Not okay then." Mikey muttered, hugging his hands under his armpits.

Beside them, Donatello twisted around violently to meet Splinter's face. He stopped struggling, his face falling blank and his eyes analysing every inch of his father like it was his first time seeing him. The ridge of Don's eyes relaxed and Leo wondered if Splinter had somehow slipped Donnie the sedating meds, not him.

"Sensei." Donnie said softly and his blue eyes creased as he smiled. "It's you… Hamato Yoshi." He said, somewhat robotically.

Master Splinter's eyebrows twitched at his full name and his ears flattened. The air around them felt very wrong and Leo watched Donnie carefully, like he might reach out and strangle Splinter whilst he had the chance. Raph muttered "What the fuck?" under his breath.

"My son, are you feeling alright?" Master Splinter asked and Donnie reached his hands out to grab Splinter's forearms. He held on like Splinter might disappear if he let go, his eyes now unmoving and unblinking. "Why did you attack Raphael?"

Donnie's serene smile fell from his face and his expression went blank. The question seemed to short circuit his brain because his eyes became unfocused, and Leo could see despite the expressionless face his mind was working overtime. Like a computer lagging and crashing, Donnie went silent and didn't offer a response. Splinter's hands reached for Donatello's arms in return, torn between reprimanding his son and holding him tight.

Raph sucked in a harsh breath. "What the fuck Donnie?!" he repeated. His voice was raspy and he coughed once. "What the hell was that?"

Donnie's head turned to look at Raph. His face twisted angrily and he looked about ready to jump him again. His body began to move towards Raph, who squared his shoulders and his hands shot towards his Sais. Donnie's new light blue eyes glanced over to Leonardo's and flashed his normal brown a few times before he shook his head like a faulty remote and the blue remained. A warm lick of panic had Leonardo shuffling a bit where he stood, so confused and so worried and preparing to throw himself in front of Raph in case Donnie got his hands on his throat again. Splinter pulled Donnie gently towards him, his grip firm.

"Come my son, let us talk in my quarters." He said and Donnie smiled back up at him like he just offered him the world. "Leonardo, you are quite pale, please lie down and rest my son. I will speak to you all soon."

The three brothers watched him shuffle out with Donatello in complete silence. It felt like ages before anyone moved, the air seemingly sucked out of the room and leaving a deep confusion in its wake. They all moved into the living room, Leonardo insisting on staying put in the main area to find out Master Splinter's findings. He fought his drooping eyelids as Mikey reached to place his blue blanket back on his lap but batted his hands away when he tried to tuck him in.

"Did you guys see his eyes change colour?" Leonardo had to ask. He couldn't stop replaying the moment over in his head. Raph had sat himself down beside the tv on the ground. He grunted in the negative.

"No fearless, I was too busy being strangled…!"

"Maybe the lazer thingies changed his eye colour?" Mikey offered, thumbing at his knee pad. He was sat on the other end of the couch, not looking up.

"Or rattled his brain." Raph grumbled and wrapped his arms around his knees, chin on top and eyes glaring at the floor. Leo's heart stuttered in his chest.

"It looks like he's been brainwashed." Leo said.

"To attack us…?" Mikey asked fearfully.

"Murder us Mikey! He was going to choke me to death five seconds ago!" Raph snapped, throwing his hands in the air. "Or did you not see that part because you were screamin' like a banshee- "

"Donnie wouldn't murder us!" Mikey snapped back. "You're the one who told us not to make assumptions!"

"He just TRIED TO!"

"ENOUGH!" Leonardo shouted. Raph and Mikey stopped to look at him with wide eyes. "We have to figure this out together, for Don's sake!"

Raph huffed indignantly and looked away as Mikey slumped over in his seat. Both of their energy and frustration sapped at their small argument. For a minute Leonardo could pretend they were back in their circle, bickering about a patrol or something menial.

"Let's see what Master Splinter has to say." Leo said. He didn't have anything to go off until their father got to speak with Donatello personally and see what state his brother was in. Maybe it was confusion and Don thought he was still with the Kraang? Leo silently prayed that Don had a case of PTSD and that was something they could tackle together, but if Don didn't recognise them-

No. Leo wouldn't let his mind wander off in to all the horrible conclusions it was conjuring up. Splinter reprimanded him often enough for jumping to conclusions time and time again without concrete evidence. He would wait until his father discussed it with him and they had a plan of action to help Donnie's mind heal.

After a short while of tense silence Raph went off to beat the life out of a pitiful punching bag that he refused to replace and Mikey turned on the tv, muting it the second it started making noise. Leonardo sat waiting… and waiting… and hoping.

Soon Master Splinter reappeared at the entrance of his room and gestured for Leonardo to come. Leo rushed towards him, trying to gauge his father's facial expression on the way. Splinter always had an impeccable poker face but something in Leo thought he looked hopeful- dare he say optimistic-

Sad. That was a sad half grin on his father's face and Leo's stomach dropped. That never meant good news.

Once situated in the dojo alone, as Donnie was resting in Splinter's room, Leo sat on his knees opposite Splinter. His heart hammered painfully in his chest and he clenched his hands in to shaky fists. He wished someone would just put him out of his misery at this point.

"Leonardo, it appears your brother's memory has changed."

"Does he remember us?!" Leo asked before he could stop himself. Splinter sighed heavily.

"He does, however that is not the problem. I believe he may have an altered view on you and your brothers." Splinter said grimly.

"Altered how?" Leo asked, leaning forward. Splinter shook his head and closed his eyes, thinking deeply about how to word his next sentence.

'Did he always look this old? Or had the circumstances aged him recently?' Leo thought to himself, noticing the grey around his mouth, the wrinkles and veins on his hands. It wasn't something Leonardo necessarily paid attention to. Sure, he knew his father was a grown man with a family before he even found and began raising him as a baby, but Leo hadn't expected to see such a shift in his appearance. 'Have I been dreaming the last few months? How didn't I notice that?'

Maybe he just didn't want to see his father aging.

"Time will tell, my son." Splinter responded, looking him dead in the eye. "We must ensure you and your brother's safety whilst Donatello adjusts to being home."

Leonardo sagged where he sat. His father had a knack for being infuriatingly vague at the best of times and letting them learn things the long and hard way, however Leo didn't want to learn the hard way. His head pulsed in warning of returning pain. He wanted an answer and he wanted to know how fix this. In a flurry of rushing thoughts Leonardo realised the answer he so desperately wanted, despite his father's wisdom, was an answer his father probably didn't have to give. Unless he had prior knowledge on how to deal with the victim of alien abduction and subsequent kidnapping, they were all in the dark.

"Leonardo," Splinter began. "Donatello is aware of who we are to him. This makes Raphael's attack much more worrisome… I believe he didn't mean to reveal that information to me."

Leo looked around the room, feeling lost again. It was a feeling he had become well acquainted with.

"Why, what did he say sensei?"

"I think our enemies' hands are at play here my son, they have warped his higher brain. We must watch over your brother with caution, we do not want a repeat of what happened with Raphael, or worse." Splinter warned.

"Hai sensei."

"Go and get some sleep, I will watch over him whilst you and your brothers rest. You must prepare a rotation where one of you is awake at all times until we are sure Donatello will not attack any of you."

Leo swallowed dryly and nodded his head in affirmation. He bowed his head and waited for Splinter to get up first, then slowly got up and headed for the living area where his brothers waited for him.

This was going to be a tough one to explain.

Donnie's first day home was complete and utter chaos.

Leonardo sighed heavily and rubbed his hand over his aching head. His beak slowly got more painful as the day wore on and an unrelenting tension settled into his brain. He was at a loss at what to do; Donnie seemed to be in absolute disarray and confusion, then at times very lucid and in the afternoon, Leo thought he might be coming round when he sat back on the sofa and watched Leo intently with what seemed to be a fond look in his eyes. They slowly faded into their brown again and Leo stared, mouth agape at the change until Raph strolled past.

Don tackled Raph to the ground as he was walking past the tv, narrowly missing the screen, kicking and punching every inch he could reach. The only warning Leo got was his eyes; they flashed and turned blue before he lunged. Once he was pulled off Raph by Leo and Mikey, who crawled away stuttering and cursing, Don lay down on the floor and cried. Raph blanched at the sight, hesitantly returning and awkwardly patting his shoulder whilst his left eye blackened.

Once they managed to get Donnie on the sofa, he lay down and slept.

Leo was out of his mind with worry but took the crying as a good thing- it must mean he had some sort of remorse.

The next few days Donnie slept a lot. Leo considered poking him a few times to be sure he was still alive with how soundly he slept until late at night when he would wake up screaming and Leonardo felt like his heart was just going to give out from the stress. Raph couldn't be alone with Donnie in case he was attacked. It wasn't that Raph couldn't handle himself in a fight, but Donnie was so quick and seemed to strike when he was least expecting it. Leo concluded that Don's intellect wasn't affected as he consciously waited for the best opportunity to do so. Leo wondered if he was biding his time to attack him too.

Mikey blustered around like a tornado, presenting Donnie with his blanket from his room, coffee the way he liked it and then a small action figure he thought might please him. When Donnie looked at him like he grew another head, Mikey laughed nervously and suggested a cup of tea instead because 'Maybe being kidnapped changed your hot beverage preference?'

He rushed off to make some, muttering something about getting dinner ready and Raph got up and followed him, shaking his head. On his way out he made eye contact with Leo, glancing at Donnie and a silent agreement passed between them. Out of all the brothers Donnie seemed to lean towards Leonardo the most and he would watch him whilst Raph kept a subtle eye on Mikey.

'Mike's looking a little bit thinner' Leo thought, watching them leave and noticing the loss of muscle and fat on his younger brother's arms and legs. 'But he's always eating, isn't he?'

Leonardo had lost some weight himself without intending to. There were just some nights he stayed out longer searching, some days he passed on extra servings of dinner because his stomach had turned sick with anxiety. However, he hadn't lost quite as much as his younger brother had. Leo made a mental note to keep an eye on that.

He turned back to Donnie, who stared blankly at the tv, his mouth slightly agape. He looked like there was nothing going through his head, it was unnatural and made Leo feel uncomfortable. He was so used to Donnie fluttering around like a blue bottle fly, brimming with ideas and plans with not enough hours in the day to fulfil them. Leo sighed, he had to be patient. That Donatello was as carefree as their lifestyle would allow them to be. Sure, they found themselves in sticky situations where Don had stayed up all night and almost ruined himself trying to find answers and create new weaponry, but once that was over they could breathe in relief and recover together.

That's what they had to do now, but Leo felt out of his depth. Usually, he had some insight in to what his brothers may be going through, and they could resolve the matter together. Leonardo had no idea what he was dealing with here but quite evidently Donnie wasn't completely sound of mind anymore. The thought drove spikes of fear through Leo's chest.

'Donnie would have figured out what's wrong by now, if it was one of us.'

That sentiment haunted Leo's mind.

"Don?" Leo asked and very slowly, Donatello's head turned to face him. He plastered what Leo considered to be a fake smile on his face.

"Yes L-Leonardo?" He replied. Don rarely called Leo his full name, only ever in serious situations, so the word sent little alarm bells flying.

"Are you okay?" Leo said and kicked himself mentally. Of course, he wasn't okay! But what else was he supposed to ask? Is your head telling you to kill me in my sleep?!

"Yes, Leonardo I am physically doing well!"

"Mentally though?"

Don faltered and a look of fear came over his face.

"Y-yes." He faltered and looked away. His eyes flashed brown. Leo was about to push further when Don raised a trembling hand to his face. "Please Leo, I can't talk about it yet."

"That's okay Don… just-"Leo hesitated. "Just know we're here for you, we'll work this out."

"You can't" Donatello said simply and shivered. His eyes were glued to the tv screen.

The evening news had moved on to the weather section. There was a storm on its way this weekend and thunder and lightning was expected to hit New York City. As he watched, Leonardo's mind was suddenly transported back to that night. The rain had almost washed them out of it and the thunder had left them vulnerable. They couldn't fully hear the shadows that moved towards them. Leonardo trembled as he heard the thunderous bangs overhead again and ducked his head. Leo hesitated for just a second then turned the channel over, hoping Donnie wasn't reliving that night like he was. He kicked himself mentally at his hesitation.

A moment of hesitation is what cost them in the first place.