Leo's feet padded the floor in silence as he made his way to the living room. His mouth curled to speak, but closed with hesitation.

"So," Leo began, clasping Raph's attention, but he didn't catch Donnie's, who was sitting on the floor watching T.V. Leo was starting to back away from the idea, but he observed at Donnie's dented head and knew it was the right choice.

"I called Kirby to check on Donnie." He choked out with impatience, his stomach agitating, because Kirby could come and tell them Donnie can be dead any minute, or something worse. But nothing can be inferior to a death of a brother.

"Why the shell did you call him?" Raph asked, his voice thick with anger. His hands tightened into fists, and eyes tapering to a glower.

Leo resisted the urge to bark it out once again, how did his hothead of a brother didn't understand him the first time was beyond him. "It's been over a month, Raph, Donnie hasn't said a word since Mikey brought him home, I'm worrie–"

"You're worried?" Raph mocked, and he threw his hands over his head. "You've done nothing to help our brother, Leo. You slammed the door in front of him, and suddenly you're worried!?" He wanted to yell more, the anger flushing his face, but he glanced down to see his brother looking up at him quietly.

Donnie's eyes were unsheathed with tears, and Raph lowered his fists and released the tension on his hands. The red flush going away immediately after Raph realized he's petrifying his brother.

"I made a mistake, Raph! I assumed too quickly over the situation and never thought of how Donnie felt. Look, I called Kirby for a good reason. This is a way to fix both mine and Donnie's situation. I can make it up to him." Leo's voice dipped to a whisper, eyes gazing to his younger brothers who turned away from Raph to gaze up at the T.V. again. Leo glanced at Donnie who repeatedly tapped his feet against the rhythm of the show's tune. Oblivious to the world around him, nothing the normal Donnie would do.

His brother was alerted at all times, he didn't watch cartoons as much as he now did. This Donnie wasn't like the Donnie he knew before he left that night. Leo's spine gave a shiver, he didn't know if it was from the Wintery weather outside, or the thought of his brother never being himself again…

Raph opened his mouth to argue, but another voice interrupted him before he can even speak.

"H-Hello, Leonardo?"

Both Raph and Leo snapped their heads up at the new voice. Almost instantly, Leo's expression turned to a fond smile, and he walked away from the living room to the entrance of the lair and stretched his hand out to greet Kirby. His hand shook from the cold, but Kirby didn't realized it, or didn't really care.

"Mr. O'Neil, glad you could make it." Leo said, shaking Kirby's hand.

"Me too." Kirby answered, releasing the handshake and removed the black snow-filled jacket. "It's going to be snowing like this until middle of February, if we're lucky." Kirby stated, attempting to shake the cold off him.

"So." Mr. O'Neil removed the gray beanie, bristles of snow falling on his beard and his forehead wrinkled as he spoke, "where is he?" He asked softly.

Leo moved from Kirby's sight, so he was able to see the living room. "He's sitting on the floor." He told him as he jabbed his thumb over his shoulder where Donatello sat by the T.V…. watching Clifford. Leo grimaced, but he tried not to make it apparent.

Kirby stepped forward, and Leo nodded as an approval to let him see his brother. Kirby's eyes landed on the dented head. And while he was on the phone with Leo, Leonardo made it sound like Donatello had a bump on his head, not—not this.

Donnie's skull was carved in, stitches that held only the flaps of the skin where it was torn, and not helping with the actual damage inside. Kirby didn't like the idea of the brain damage being covered up. Especially when he knew Donatello's the genius, and as Leo had put it, he wasn't the same, but Kirby didn't want to take it in. Not yet… Not after Donnie had cured him, twice, and the whole city due to his intelligent mind. His breath cut short. He wasn't prepared.

"Donnie." Leo spoke out, breaking the man out of his thoughts. He glanced at Leo, then to Donnie, who sat stiffly on the floor. The tapping of his feet stopped, and muffled giggles were covered by his palm.

Kirby came closer to Donatello, and kneeled on one knee, his hand touched his shoulder. Softly. "Donatello, it's me Kir—" Kirby didn't even had a chance to finish his sentence, when Donnie turned to look at him.

Between that second, Donnie's giggles halted, his hand retreated to the cement. His chest puffed out, and he inhaled all the air he can gathered, and screamed. In the corner of his eye, he saw Raph and even Leo jolt from the surprising scream. Kirby looked at Donnie, calmly, "No, no, Donatello it's okay…"

Donnie backed away, the screams turning into sobs. His arms shook underneath him, and gave out on him and with a thud he fell on his back. His head hit concrete, tongue bitten from his teeth chattering from impact. The taste of copper made his way in his mouth and the tears balled up and left the corner of his eyes. Out of instinct, his hands clutched his head.

Kirby's hand was still in the air, mouth agape. He stared in awestruck, mentally taking notes on Donnie's behavior. Before he can comment, Raph stood up to go aid his brother, but Leo passed through the both and helped Donnie up.

Kirby slowly stood, and Raph turned to him and pushed him away with an usher of "you're upsetting him."

The man nodded at Raphael, his voice dipped in apprehension. "This is going to be harder than I thought." He mumbled when he backed away from the upset turtle.

Leo instantly acted and embraced his anxiety-filled brother into a hug. His fingers were tainted with blood, and Leo straightened his shoulders back and raised his neck to see his brother's back head. Blood dotted its way in-between the stitches, and Leo caught the bruise settling in.

"I knew this was a bad idea." Raph mumbled, turning his head to his fallen brother, only to see Leo hugging him. He took a step onward, but stopped.

"I'm so sorry little brother…" Leo whispered sympathetically that Raph barely caught the words in between Donnie's sobs. Leo removed his wrist wrap, balling it up and placing it on his brother's head. Donnie inhaled sharply, burying his face on the nook of Leo's neck and shoulder. Leo felt the hot tears continue to run down his brother's cheek and he felt the need to bring his brother closer.

Raph brought his leg back, and twisted his head to Kirby. Raphael's eyes creased in worry, he turned his head to Leo and Donnie again, wanting to take that step again and take more to go help his brother.

A hand gripped his wrist, halting him.

Kirby pulled Raphael closer to him, his eyes gazing at the duo and he turned back to Raph. "Leonardo told me the whole situation," he said in a whisper, "it's best to leave them for now."

Raph looked at the two again, and Kirby's grip softened, until he let go. Donnie fell silent, his face continued buried on Leo's shoulder blade. Raph silently agreed, turning to Kirby with a tug on his lips. Leo finally did something good this past month…

Raph mouth opened towards Kirby, now wanting an explanation of Donnie's sudden outburst, but a worried some Mikey came out of the kitchen. He tossed the kitchen towel to the table, and he approached towards the two by the couch. His eyes were inclusive, looking at Raph to Kirby in a turmoil.

"What's going on?" Mikey asked, Raph heard the concern in his voice. "I couldn't leave the kitchen without burning up the food. Is Donnie having a seiz–?"

Raph cut him off with a "no," before Mikey could finish his sentence. Donnie haven't had a seizure for a few days, but even with his seizures, they weren't as bad as the first time. So, in a frenzy Raph lightly pushed Mikey away from the scene, as Kirby followed the two.

"Come on." Raph alleged, his lips tugged to a small smile, he didn't want to bother Leo as he finally apologized. "I'll help ya make breakfast." Raph wrapped his arm around Mikey's neck, and Mikey looked agitatedly to the side.

"I want to check if Donnie's okay." He voiced softly.

Kirby entered the conversation as he came closer, the only sound was Leo hushing Donnie, repeatedly. "Your brother just needs some time, Michelangelo. He isn't used to anyone but his own family, right?"

Mikey nodded, huffing out the anxiety he held in. "He's okay though?"

"He's fine." Raph responded for Kirby, spinning his brother around as he led him to the kitchen.

"And plus, breakfast wouldn't hurt anyone, would it?"

"With your cooking? Yes." Mikey replied defiantly, receiving a glower from Raph. "What?" He questioned, walking to the kitchen. "The last time you cooked, the kitchen almost caught on fire, and don't let me get started on Leo." He joked, the tension rolled off his shoulders knowing the fact that someone was looking over Donnie. Even if it was Leo, if Raph had trust on him, he should too.

"You knuckle-head." Raph raised his hand to slap Mikey on the head, but wavered. His hand went on his shoulder instead and gave it a good squeeze. "We're all hungry, especially the nerd." He told him with a smug and Mikey noticed the hesitance from the slap, but chose not to say anything. He, then nodded with a slight smile. Raph noticed the exhaustion on his face, but chose not to speak of it.

"Something light for Donatello will be good." Kirby told them, taking a seat on the table. "He's been stressed, and in my opinion he shouldn't be eating something heavy."

"Pancakes it is!" Mikey exclaimed, raising his hand up in excitement, "I can add anchovies, and Mikey's le especial ingredient."

"You better not give that to Donnie, or any of us," Raph expressed, sticking his tongue out at the thought of it.

"Fine." Mikey said, pulling out the can of anchovies, and showing the can to Raph. "But you're missing out on it." He said with a gesture, and Raph rolled his eyes on him.

"Now hurry up. I'm starving."