A Father's Advice -- Continuation from Helping Strays (Tag: Splinter)

After Leo had taken off to do...whatever, Don and Splinter headed home. It was an uncomfortable silence to be sure. Don just knew Splinter wanted to talk to him and expected it soon. But it never happened on the way home. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe Don was just worrying over nothing.

He still remembered the brief kiss Love gave him. He knew she liked him but had no idea what transpired behind his shell by his red-clad brother and her. Don may never know, either. Speaking of Raph, Don hadn't heard anything from Raph all night. Was he okay? No one else seemed all that concerned. Don would be sure to make a call in the morning.

It was getting late. The others still weren't home and Don was left alone with Splinter. Should he be worried? Don decided to head for his lab to get some work done, hoping the rest of his family would trickle in sometime later that night. After waiting a couple hours, Don decided to call it a night and exited his lab, hoping his father had also gone to his room for the night.

Splinter knew on the entire walk home Donatello expected him to talk, to say something. But he let the youngster stew over the events. And meditated for some time. Maybe now the cat had a home she would back off? Given her personality the ninja Master thought not... but surely he could try to warn his sons about women like that, especially ones much older than his sons and should not be allover them?

He let the quiet couple of hours pass ears moving taking in all the peace of the lair that was absent of all but one son.

Whom was now leaving his lab.

"Donatello," Splinters voice cut through the lairs unnatural quiet. "Come here please my son, kneel." he commands in a tone that did not give away his thoughts, even if he half auspected that his intellectual sonmight have some inkling of what he wishes to discuss with him.

'Oh, boy. Here it comes,' Donatello thought with a sense of dread. He knew the rat master was much too quiet on the way home. Don knew Splinter would break the silence sooner or later. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to sneak into his room undetected as he had hoped.

With a small gulp, Don nodded, coming over to his father and kneeling, hands resting on his thighs and his head down. "Yes, Sensei?"

Splinter watches Donatello kneel and smiled gently. "Why do you look so worried my son? You lead your team well and accomplished you goal."

Okay he had just given him the honey. Soon would come the hatchet. He was going to have to be blunt, he knew or at least suspected Donatello liked the mutant cat, but he could not encourage it. The feline had been enough drama in their lives as it was...

If only he knew he was correct and she would be the cause of more.

"And perhaps the mission will be a complete success and the feline actually keep her word and no longer consume people." Gris tone suggested he highly doubted she would always stick to the promise though. He hoped that this did not have adverse consequences upon their newly made new friend Leatherhead and his human Friend Erica. "Though you should have taken the time to tell that gator about his new room mate before we left. He had a right to know."

He watches Donatello as he speaks to him. Soon would come the disapproval of more than necessary contact with the woman whom would no doubt only continue to create havoc in their lives and their team if allowed to continue to do so.

Did he really lead the team well? It seemed to Don that the others were happy to leave the place and to get out of there as soon as possible. Splinter was right about accomplishing their goal, though. They found Love a suitable home. Don soon frowned deeply when his father mentioned about how he should have warned Leatherhead about Love's 'past'.

"I know, Sensei, and I'm sorry." He bowed his head deeper in shame. "I just...got caught up in the moment." And the others were so gung-ho for leaving quickly and it slipped his mind. Love's kiss didn't help to keep his mind on-track either.

And here comes the metaphorical hatchet aiming for the exposed back of neck as his son hung his head.

"There should not be any moment! This woman may have needed our assistance but never forget she is part of the reason why one of your own brothers feels he can no longer come home! Is unsure of his welcome, his worth in your team, and that his brothers will not understand he was only trying to protect them. " The rat said sharply, "you know she is only going to cause more pain and strife amongst this family if allowed."

He sighs, "I will not approve of you seeking more contact with her, and certainly not in any way that is not strictly informatory." He knew it was harsh but this had to be nipped in the bud, his son, his most intellectual son surely knew what involvement with this mutant had cost them already. "I cannot of course forbid you from seeing her but she is only going to hurt you, hurt your brothers, more and we have already paid a price that should have been too much. You should be seeking to mend fences with your brother. And make time to try speaking to that gator. He may already by now be aware but you have a duty to none the less inform him. Though when you do, you will not go alone, go with myself or one of your brothers."

Don closed his eyes, taking in everything Splinter was telling him.  Now Don was sure he failed in leading his team.  He let his own emotions get in the way of his duty -- he could see that now.  And Splinter's words definitely confirmed it.

He also wasn't surprised at all that he would have an escort any time he is near Love.  Don also understood this.  No matter what he did, if it had to do with this woman, it was solely Don's responsibility that he took care of matters in the most efficient way possible.

Don wanted to cry for being so blind to the truth and possibly leading his family and new friends into danger.  How could he be so stupid?!  Swallowing thickly, he nodded in agreement, knowing he had to do what was right.  And the right thing wasn't the same as Don originally saw it.

"Hai, Master Splinter."

Splinter shifted, moving around the table closer to Donatello and placed a fatherly hand on his shoulder. "This is the price of leadership my son, knowing you succeeded, but that cost is involved." He tells him gently, "Leonardo weighs the cost and outcome every single mission you's have ever been on, and those that loom ahead even if he for the moment no longer leads."

"I don't want to hurt you my son, or possibly deny you female companionship... Just not hers. And whatever comes try to mend your brethren bonds." He says softy. "Listen to your heart and you mind and this experience you have earned to guide you. As leader when ever your next mission comes up you may choose whom leads then." He sits on the table just patting Don's shoulder encouraging him to talk to him.

Don nodded again. "I understand, Sensei. I will go and talk to Leatherhead in the morning." Then he paused for a moment before speaking what was currently on his mind, finally looking up again to meet his father's gaze. "I'm also worried about Raph."

Splinter smiles. "Yes please and if neither Michelangelo has returned from his date and Leonardo from his outing I shall come with you my son to visit the cat and gator." He offers.

He gave this intellectual son of his time to process all that was said.

Ah the question.

"Raphael is with April, I will not tell you how he is, your his brother you should seek him out when you are ready," he smiles gently. " it does not do to have an incomplete team,." He hangs his own head a little. "Though I spoke true before, he fears he has pushed to far, that he is the only to blame for the fracture."

"Okay, Master Splinter," Don finally said, nodding in agreement. When the conversation turned back to his brother in red, Don listened carefully. On one hand, Don was disappointed Raph hadn't checked in with him. But, he guessed it was his own responsibility to touch base with him. Splinter was right.

However, if Raph thought he was the cause for the team falling apart, Don didn't see it that way at all. It was his own fault...and to a somewhat lesser extent, Leo. If Leo hadn't rebelled like did, then the leader would still have his position and everyone else would fall in line. Since Don was now the leader until further notice, it was his job to keep the team together.

"I'll call him first thing in the morning," Don promised.

Splinter purred a little in thought his tail curling about his legs, "not too early my son, remember your brother is not a morning person," and he grinned a little. "Your next eldest brother is unsure of his place, worth and fear s he may have finally pushed you's away too far. You and Leonardo still owe him acknowledgement for turning eighteen. It's an big day for teens after all. We may have to make it up to him-" he was about to say more again both acknowledge Donnies good efforts and the bad in leading so far, for he had been doing good work. When Donatello's t phone and his own beeped signalling a voice message.

Splinter held up a clawed hand to signal he would check his first.

Angel wrote:

"Master Splinter, its Angel," a small breath. "I am home." And another breath, she sounded awkward. "I hate to ask such short notice but I have just come home and seen a electrical problem that needs Donatello's attention ASAP if he consents to come over. Just thought I'd ask you first. Please text back, missed you guys." Then the click.

Splinter smiled, a weight he had carried since the girl left gone. "Oh that is wonderful news. What say you Donatello? Up to helping a close friend?" He asks. "Glad to hear she is back."

Don smiled at that. "I know that, Sensei." Don could recall a few times when he suffered from the 'Wrath of Raph' because he woke him up from a deep sleep. He definitely didn't want to experience it again so soon.

When Splinter said a close friend needed their help, Don pulled out his own phone, smiling at the name that came up on the caller ID -- Angel. "Sure. When does she want us to come over? And for what exactly?"

"well Angel has said as soon as possible, if you feel up to it Donatello we can head over now, it will be great to catch up with her and finally be able to offer her the condolences we could not before when she had lost her grandmother." Splinter suggests smiling at his son.

Normally he'd have encouraged a good sleep, however not only had it indeed been some time since they had seen Angel, it would also afford them the chance to talk more on the way to her place. He suspected if they were there very late that Angel would put them up for the night should they be there very very late and they could head out to see Love and Leatherhead in the morning.

"Not entirely certain what it is that she needs looked at, but grab you tool kit you use around here when working on general maintenance and we can send her a quick message and head off to see her as soon as you are ready."

Although it might have been nice to catch at least a couple hours of sleep, Don decided to hold off on it. It seemed like Angel wanted his help now. With a brief nod to his father, he headed for his lab. "I'll go get ready." Then he did just that.

Splinter waits speaking as Donatello goes and prepares himself. He himself going to grab some milk and left overs encase Angel had not eaten or had no coffee, tea and was low on supplies having just home.

A little sugar and coffee and tea some bread. "Glad she reached out to us, she will then be ready to see your brothers soon and April and Casey too - they will be glad to see her too, she has a lot to share with us no doubt."

He chatters lightly and glad he spoke to Donatello, he sensed more than knew Love would be more drama, he hoped his warning would sink in and whatever it was Donatello would still seek to mend fences with his brothers, not allow her to come between them all irrevocably... Not let her break their family beyond repair.

Don emerged from his lab a short time later with his bag slinged across his body over one shoulder.  "Yeah.  It will be great to see her again."

Then he headed out of foot with his father into the dark tunnels.

((To be continued in: Pond-side Beasties ))