Nearly a day had already passed by since Aria was put into the coma. Donatello had been working non-stop and Lawrence was busy making sure the company and the public didn't find out. He had come up with a good reason for Arias sudden absence, so at the very least, they wouldn't have to worry about that for the time being. Leonardo and Mikey wanted to stay and support their brother, but he insisted they go back home. April however, was given a room to sleep in, in case they needed more blood to test.

"Master Donatello, I've brought your dinner." Lawrence said as he placed a tray down on the small table at the end of Arias bed. "I see you didn't eat your lunch…"

"I'm really not hungry, I'm sure you can understand…" Donatello responded quietly, sitting in a chair beside Arias bed, holding her hand as he waited for the results of his first batch of medicine. He hadn't slept that night as he mixed and he certainly couldn't sleep while he waited for it to work or fail.

"I'm afraid I must insist that you have something," Lawrence replied, placing a large drink in Donatello's free hand. "Miss Aria was distraught the last time you didn't eat. If you truly can't digest much at the moment, I insist you drink this. It will give you the nutrients you need."

Donatello felt sick just thinking about drinking this green mush he was handed, but it would be better than forcing down anything else. When he tried to eat breakfast this morning, he couldn't swallow a single piece of solid food. "…I get it…" he muttered.

"Has there been any change?"

The turtle shook his head, "none yet, but at least it doesn't seem to have any negative effects…"

"I see. I have acquired a donor heart and several surgeons are on call. Should I move them to the grounds?"

"…but I thought we couldn't let anyone know about this. …are you sure the doctors won't spread this around once they're finished?"

"I am quite sure. If I move them onto the grounds, it would be easier to monitor them as well."

With a sigh, Donatello nodded his head, "okay…just…do what you think is best…" he agreed.

Lawrence bowed his head and turned to leave the room, but stopped just short of the doorway. "Miss Aria is fond of Sir Author Conan Doyle's work. There is a collection of his books in the library. I'm sure she would like it if you read to her."

Donatello sat up a bit and glanced at Arias sleeping face, "…I didn't know that. …I never even asked what her favorite book was…"

"The Hound of the Baskervilles. That's her favorite." Lawrence added before he left the room and the door slid closed.

A bitter, solemn chuckle escaped the turtles lips and he set the drink down on a side table before turning to Aria again. "…he knows so much about you. …I know it's stupid…but I can't help feeling a little jealous." He gripped her hand tight, "when we were children…I asked you so many questions about yourself…but now…I don't recall asking you much. You were always the one talking…asking about me and my interests…asking me what I wanted."

Though he spoke, he knew there wouldn't be a response. After a few moments of silence, Donatello kissed the back of her hand and set it down gently. "I think I'll go to the library and get those books for you. I won't be long."

Many might think it strange to speak to an unresponsive patient, but Donatello had read many articles stating that it could help. Familiar voices, smells, and even holding a coma patients hand could help them. Though he wasn't really certain any of this was getting through to her. On his way to the library, the mansion felt much bigger than it did before. There was no sound other than his heavy footsteps and with each one, he felt heavier and heavier. Aria was usually beside him, laughing and speaking cheerfully. Now it was painfully silent. Did she really expect him to suffer this kind of silence once she was gone? If he inherited this place, he'd feel obligated to stay, but it would only torture him.

He trudged into the large library. On any other day, he would have been happy to see a sea of books like this, but he was too empty right now. Donatello scanned the shelves for several minutes until he finally found the collection of books he was looking for. He pulled Arias favorite book and a few others until he had a pile of books to fill his arms. He didn't expect to read them all to Aria, but perhaps she would like a few during her recovery. He turned for the exit, finding it a little difficult to see over the tower he'd created. Leaving the room, he felt something knock against him and Donatello fell back as the books tumbled to the floor.

When he looked up, he saw that it was April he had bumped into. She seemed to be embarrassed and was now quickly snatching up some books.

"Sorry!" She offered quickly, "I keep getting lost in the place!"

"It's fine," Donatello replied, gathering up the books as well and getting to his feet. He offered April a hand up as he usually would and she appeared happy for the help.

"This…doesn't look like research," April pointed out as she got to her feet, still holding onto Donatello's hand.

"It's not. I was going to read some of these to Aria. They say it helps patients to hear familiar voices and these are some of her favorites." He slipped his hand from April and offered to take the rest of the books. "Where were you trying to go?"

"I just wanted to stretch my legs. I feel stiff if I just lay around. Um, why don't I carry this half for you? So you don't fall down again."

"I appreciate it, but I can—"

"—come on. It will give me something to do."

Donatello sighed and nodded his head, "okay. …but there's plenty to do here if you need to occupy your time. I'm sorry we have to keep you here…but just in case…"

"I'm just glad I can help…" April insisted. It was also nice to have this time with him, but she wouldn't be mentioning that under the circumstances. It would be in poor taste with Aria sick in bed.

The two made it back to the lab and set the books down when April noticed the uneaten food that hadn't yet been taken away.

"…I see you haven't been eating."

"I'm not hungry." Donatello replied simply. "…everything tastes wrong right now anyway. Like soil or mud…"

"That's just because you're upset."

"You think?" Donatello snapped quietly, but immediately took a breath and reeled back his irritation, "…sorry, sorry…I'm just…"

"I know," April finished for him. "It's okay…" she insisted, stepping forward and taking his hand. "…this is a lot for you to take right now…"

Donatello felt a twinge of guilt as April took his hand. It didn't make his heart race, but they were by Arias bedside. He gently jerked his hand back and forced a smile. "It is…but I can handle it."

April was visibly hurt by his actions, but she made no mention of it. Was this how Donatello felt every time she would pull away from him? It wasn't pleasant. "…I know you can. …but you really should try and eat or you won't be able to—"

"—Lawrence is making me drink these gross protein…grass shakes or something. I'll be fine."

"Lawrence, huh?" April muttered as she glanced back at the closed door. "…how much do you trust that guy…?"

Donatello slumped himself down into the chair next to Arias bed and thought for a moment. "Me? …well…he does what he can for Aria and he's certainly capable. …not that I much like him being alone with Aria…" he mumbled at the end, "why do you ask?"

April hesitated. This wasn't the right time to throw anything else at Donatello, but she didn't often get the chance to be alone with him anymore. "…well…I just don't like him. He… kinda creeps me out. Haven't you noticed that he always just shows up? You never actually hear him coming and when he's around…it feels cold…"

"He's…quiet, sure…" Donatello agreed, "but I don't feel cold around him. I guess he doesn't smile or anything…so that can come off as cold…"

"Not like that," April shook her head, "I mean…I'm not saying he's evil or anything…but I think…he might…have done some really shady stuff."

Donatello recalled Lawrence mentioning that Aria had to bribe some officials for the Mutant City project. Obviously, that would be considered shady to anyone, but it wasn't for anything bad. "I'm pretty sure he only does what Aria asks him to. He's…annoyingly close to her, but that's his job."

"Do you think he's ever told Aria how he feels…?"

The turtle flinched, "…e-even if he did…" Donatello started as he turned to look down at Arias face, "…Aria has never thought of anyone but me. So…he would have clearly been rejected."

"Yeah…" April replied quietly, feeling a bit like a third wheel when she saw the way Donatello was looking at the sleeping girl. "…maybe."

"No, I'm sure of it," Donatello insisted with another forced smile. "Did you know, her favorite flower is the purple Rose? She also speaks five different languages and can dance ballet? A-also, she studied science and engineering just like I did and—"

"—you don't have to brag about her…" April interrupted, trying to make it sound like a joke.

Donatello blushed lightly, "ah…I didn't mean it to sound like that," he started awkwardly before he reached down and took Arias limp hand. "…I was probably just trying to show how much I knew about her. …I didn't even really know what her favorite book was. Lawrence had to tell me…" admitted Donatello as he gripped her hand gently. "I knew her when she was a child…and I know a little more now…but we didn't have a lot of time. …and all this time she's been worried about how to make me happy. I should have been more focused on her…"

"You didn't know she was sick…and when she arrived she was a stranger to you. You can't fall in love over night…"

"But now I—" Donatello stopped, slightly embarrassed to say these things in front of others. "…it's different now. I remember nearly everything. I remember how important she was to me and how…devastated I was when they took her away. Our reunion should have been a happy one."

"You…talk as if you've…fallen in love…" April mumbled, almost worried about saying it aloud.

Donatello heard April, but wondered for a moment if he should pretend he didn't. This wasn't the time for this for of thing. He stroked the back of Arias hand with his thumb and smiled sadly, "…when I was a kid…she was my first love. I thought…we'd grow up together. …and now…those feelings…have all flooded back…and more." He admitted, using his free hand to brush a bit of Arias hair from her face. "I do love her. …I love her…and I… just want her to get better."

April almost felt sick. Nothing like disgust, but a feeling like she'd been forced to eat something that hurt her stomach. She didn't want to hear this. "…my-my point was…" April choked out as she swallowed back what she really wanted to say. "…I don't trust Lawrence. …and I know he's got a thing for Aria. …it's probably not a good thing to keep him around."

"What exactly are you worried about? That he'd hurt Aria? Or that he'll make a pass at her?"

"Um—no," April shook her head, "he just seems like someone who's capable of anything. I mean…what if you can't save Aria? Do you really think he's going to take it well? What if he blames you and…and hurts you."

"He'd have every right to blame me…" Donatello sighed sadly. "…I certainly blame myself for a lot of what happened to Aria. If she hadn't met me…I'm sure her life would have been happier."

A thought occurred to April. Something that she probably shouldn't be thinking at all, much less saying aloud. "…if…you could make her forget you…would you do it?"

"What?"

"Do you think…she'd be happier if she forgot about you?" April asked again. "…it's… something I could probably do…"

Donatello turned his head towards April. He hadn't considered that. If April could erase his existence from Arias memory, what would happen? Would she be happier? Her life would certainly be easier if she didn't love a mutant. However, forgetting him now wouldn't change the past. She would have still been abused and isolated, just without the memory of him. However, it might make her life easier now. Was it the right thing to do? As the turtle pondered what it mean to do something like this, a sudden image flashed through his head.

'It is okay to forget, my son….'

Master Splinters voice echoed through his head. The image of the rat standing over him and extending his hand to cover the turtles eyes. He let out a small exhale, as he let the memory sink in. "…he told me to forget…" Donatello mumbled under his breath.

April wasn't sure what he meant by this. It didn't have anything to do with what they were discussing. "Donatello?"

"…it was him. …Sensei…" Donatello continued. "…it was his fault."