Season 3- Episode 12- A New Mess To Clean

—-

Hey guys! Just saying that I started writing one shots as well, so feel free to visit and follow my account! The 3rd season will end soon, so be ready for action! Now, let's begin!

—-

"Alright, let's go check on them." Raph suddenly announced to April and his brothers, as he started to walk in the direction of the dojo.

"W-what?! Raph! We can't interrupt them!" Leo exclaimed in slight panic of what Raph might do as his eyes widened and body tensed.

Raph stopped in his tracks, as he turned around and looked at Donnie.

"What should we do, Donnie? Since this is about you, you call the shots." Raph said as he crossed his arms and awaited his answer.

Donnie flinched in slight embarrassment at being in the spotlight, and was surprised by Raph actually asking him for his opinion. Raph usually just did whatever he wanted. There's something that Donnie had noticed lately. Because of what was going on, Raph was calmer and more open minded with Donnie. He would get protective over him and ask him what he wishes to do in certain situations. It was actually normal of Raph to be more attentive to his little brothers in time of need. It's a quality that Donnie had always appreciated.

Donnie thought to himself for a few seconds, until he had decided.

"Let's just see if they need anything without disturbing them." He finally announced, making Raph smirk at Leo, who glared back at him.

"Oh, come on! Why do you always take his side over mine?" Leo pouted with a childish huff as he crossed his arms.

"Maybe because he's the smart one?" Raph answered with a confident smile, as Leo groaned and Mikey and April chuckled at his insult.

Donnie rolled his eyes as he turned to Leo.

"Since you've brought the enemy to the lair at such a delicate time, I would say that it's a fitting punishment." He told Leo with a lifted eyebrow, obviously still angry at Leo, who chuckled nervously and looked away.

Raph walked to Donnie and grabbed him by the shoulder with newfound energy. "Good!" He smirked as he started to walk Donnie with him to the dojo. "Now let's go!"

Leo, Mikey and April were quick to follow as they arrived at the dojo's entrance.

"I can sense you, my sons. You may enter." They heard Splinter's voice declare as soon as they arrived at the entrance, not too shocked but still surprised as usual at Splinter's detecting abilities.

They looked at each other shyly, and hesitantly entered the dojo.

They came face to face with Karai and their Sensei. Karai had stared at Donnie with wide eyes and an open jaw, basically burning holes through his skull.

"Shocked you that much. Huh?" Raph asked cynically with a raised brow and crossed arms.

"I… I don't…" Karai stuttered for a moment with pleading eyes that held guilt in them. She then looked down to the floor as her expression darkened.

"Brother. I've made a mistake." She mumbled quietly and somberly as she turned her eyes to Donnie.

April and the brothers flinch in surprise and wide eyes when Karai calls Donnie "brother". Of course, it was odd in general to hear her say that, but what was surprising was how soon she used that term.

Donnie looked at his brothers and April for a moment, then at Splinter, and then back at Karai in nervousness.

"W-what?" He stuttered in confusion and surprise.

"If it's about fighting for the Shredder then it's fine. You know the truth now." Leo joined the conversation, assuring Karai with a firm tone.

Karai shook her head at Leo's statement. "No! That's not it!" She exclaimed, as her expression started to get filled with panic.

"Miwa?" Splinter asked, uncertain of Karai's intentions as he looked at her suspiciously.

"You good, Karai?" Mikey asked with a frown, not understanding what was going on, much like everyone else in the room.

"We need to leave." She declared in alarm, as she looked at the family in regret.

—-

Karai had told them the plan. The real reason why she was in the lair. Needless to say that the family was shocked. Terrified. And quite obviously, Raph was furious.

"I TOLD YOU!" He yelled at Leo, who just realized what kind of mistake he had made. His expression was distant, and mouth ajar.

"Leo…" Donnie whispered in terror. Leo looked at him, seeing how scared Donnie looked, as April rubbed his shell and tried talking him into calming down.

Splinter took a deep breath as he composed himself. "You need to leave. Lead TigerClaw away from the lair. April and I will stay with Donatello and Casey." He commanded with authority and firm eyes, looking at Donatello as he signaled him that he should not object about staying in the lair right now.

The brothers looked at each other, and then hesitantly at Karai.

Leo sighed, trying to make himself feel less guilty, as he ordered. "Raph. Mikey. Let's go."

Raph, Mikey, Leo and Karai left the dojo hurriedly, as they looked back at the members of the family who stayed behind one last time.

"Stay safe." Donnie told them with a worried frown, as Mikey sent him a goofy smile. "Don't worry, D!"

Donnie waited a few seconds after they had left, as the room was filled with deafening silence, just to fall on his knees with a distant look.

"Donatello!" "Donnie!" His father and April yelped in surprise and worry.

"It's my fault. All of this is my fault." He mumbled in terror, as April and Splinter flinched in response.

"D-Donatello…?" Splinter asked hesitantly, with newfound anxiety clouding his face.

Donatello only grabbed the sides of his head and squeezed his eyes shut with gritted teeth.

He then hugged himself as he started to tremble. "I'm such a disgrace." He whispered loud enough for the whole room to hear.

April and Splinter flinched as they looked at him in shock.

"Donnie, no." April said with a firm voice as she fell to her knees and grabbed his shoulders. "Don't you even dare think such a thing." She made him open his eyes and look at her with uncertainty. Splinter walked to his side and crouched beside him, as he started to rub his shell in comfort.

"Donatello, you are a blessing. Never think that you are a disgrace." Splinter said in a gentle voice, as he looked over Donnie's expression.

"Really?" He whispered, not really believing what his father was trying to tell him.

"Really." He assured, with a gentle smile, as he patted his head.

"…Okay." Donnie whispered in response, as he looked down at the floor shyly, yet still uncertain.

"Good. Never think such a thing again." Splinter smiled and lightly chuckled as he rubbed Donnie's head, lightening the mood since he could still sense that Donnie did not believe what he was telling him, and was still feeling down. Donnie and April smiled at his chuckle.

Splinter knew that since Donnie had discovered the truth, he needed to feel like a Hamato again. He knew that he felt like an imposter. As if he doesn't belong. But Splinter will make an effort to make sure that Donnie feels as much as a Hamato as any other brother feels. And that's because they are family.

—-

And this is it for this episode! The end of the season is near! Please stay tuned and support my work!