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Is the strange Turtle he meets the worst thing that's ever happened to him, or something else?\n\nMulti-chapter 2k3", "count": "28", "submission_left_submission_id": "1072823", "submission_left_file_name": "1483069_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_25.doc", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1483/1483069_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_25.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1483/1483069_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_25.jpg", "submission_left_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1483/1483069_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_25.jpg", "submission_left_thumb_huge_x": "152", "submission_left_thumb_huge_y": "123", "submission_left_thumb_large_x": "152", "submission_left_thumb_large_y": "123", "submission_left_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_left_thumb_medium_y": "97", "submission_right_submission_id": "1075679", "submission_right_file_name": "1487290_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_27.doc", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/1487/1487290_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_27.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/1487/1487290_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_27.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/1487/1487290_hummerhouse_don_and_the_puzzle_box_part_27.jpg", "submission_right_thumb_huge_x": "241", "submission_right_thumb_huge_y": "300", "submission_right_thumb_large_x": "160", "submission_right_thumb_large_y": "200", "submission_right_thumb_medium_x": "96", "submission_right_thumb_medium_y": "120" } ], "description": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.\nWord Count: 100K+ multi-chapter 2k3\nSummary: Donatello sets out to do April a small favor and winds up in another dimension.\nRating will vary by chapter, from G to NC-17\n\n~~The fantastic preview image of a scene from part 25 was created by @NeiNing", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.
Word Count: 100K+ multi-chapter 2k3
Summary: Donatello sets out to do April a small favor and winds up in another dimension.
Rating will vary by chapter, from G to NC-17

~~The fantastic preview image of a scene from part 25 was created by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNeiNing\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNeiNing\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
", "writing": "\tDon had found it hard to fall asleep after witnessing the fight between Raph and Nicco because he was angry at them for the barbaric way they had chosen to solve their differences. It was almost as if they’d both become Neanderthals and were fighting over a choice piece of meat. Feeling as though he was viewed as property by either his brothers or his lover did not sit well with him.\n\n\tThe pair had gone off to the kitchen to drink and brag after their fight and Don could hear them from Mikey’s room. He’d had to wrap a pillow around his head just to drown out the noise.\n\n\tWhen Don had eventually drifted off it was into a deep sleep that even Mikey’s movements hadn’t wakened him from. It was mid-morning by the time Don managed to rouse himself and get up.\n\n\tThe kitchen was alive with activity when Don finally made it downstairs. He spotted Master Splinter seated on the couch watching the day’s news broadcast, a pot of tea on the table before him. Their father normally breakfasted early in order to avoid the mad rush as his sons made a beeline for sustenance. While they invaded the kitchen, Master Splinter would enjoy his tea in relative peace.\n\n\tDon was still miffed when he entered the kitchen and the sight of Raph and Nicco seated at the table, laughing about who knew what, did nothing to improve his humor. Seeing the various injuries they’d sustained during their fight was just another layer of salt on Don’s wounded sensibilities.\n\n\tAfter a quick glance, Don purposely avoided looking at the pair, exchanging nods with Leo who was sitting across from them. As Don headed for the coffee pot he saw Mikey pour batter into a pan and guessed that his brother had offered to cook breakfast for everyone.\n\n\tA few sips of coffee brightened Don’s eyes but not his attitude. Mikey flipped a pancake into the air, expertly catching it in the pan, a feat no one else in the family was capable of performing.\n\n\tMikey glanced at Don. “Ready for a stack of hot ones, Donny?”\n\n\tDon had no desire to sit at the table with the two turtles he was peeved at so he said, “No. All I want is coffee. I have work to do.”\n\n\tThat much was true; he always had projects lined up and waiting for him. Not that anything was pressing at the moment, but it gave him a good excuse to distance himself from everyone. Leave them he did; after topping off his cup of coffee Don took the elevator up to the garage.\n\n\tDon missed the glances his brothers exchanged behind his back as he left. After Nicco exited the kitchen to attend his daily training session with Master Splinter, the remaining three turtles headed out to talk to their genius brother.\n\t\n\tWhenever Donatello was mad about something he usually chose to work on a project that involved demolition. The garage was a great place for that and as soon as Don entered he grabbed a mallet and began hammering away at the frame of an old van he intended to use for parts.\n\n[right][/right]Upon hearing the sound of the elevator door opening, Don pressed his lips into a thin line and didn’t bother turning around to see who was there. He continued to pound away, assuming that Nicco had come up to join him, but in a moment the sound of multiple footsteps told him it was his brothers. They stopped next to the van’s front end, quite close to where Don was working.\n\n\tDon didn’t say anything as he pulled the bumper loose and they were silent as well. For several long minutes the tableau held; Don angrily yanking parts off the frame and tossing them aside as his brothers quietly watched.\n\n\t“I’m an asshole,” Raph finally said, breaking their silence.\n\n\tAlthough he wanted to continue to ignore them, Don so rarely heard Raph say anything that came near to the phrase ‘I’m sorry’ that he couldn’t help responding. “Yes you are.”\n\n\tRaph chuckled. “Ya’ gotta admit that I’m good at it.”\n\n\tThat made Don glance up. The first thing he noticed was Raph’s cocky smile and then his brother’s split lip.\n\n\t“You’ve always been good at it,” Don replied with a frown. “That doesn’t mean you should make it your life’s mission.”\n\n\t“I’m trying ta apologize,” Raph said, noting the expression on the genius’ face.\n\n\t“I guessed as much,” Don said. “What exactly are you apologizing for?”\n\n\t“It’s not just Raph who is apologizing,” Leo cut in. “All three of us owe you an apology for the way we’ve treated Niccolo and you as well. Succumbing to our basic instincts may have excused our initial reaction to his presence, but we should have had faith in your word that he wasn’t a danger.”\n\n\t“When you said you’d taken him as a mate we should have trusted you to make that decision,” Mikey said contritely. “It wasn’t right of us to think we knew what you needed better than you did.”\n\n\tDon had been tense as he stood listening to his brothers but with their words his shoulders began to relax. In the past no matter what their differences, the four of them had always talked it out and that’s what they were now doing.\n\n\t“It ain’t easy switching gears in my head so that I see ya’ as something more than my genius brother,” Raph said. “Trying ta wrap my mind around the fact that ya’ even know what sex is freaks me out a little, much less knowing that you’re doing it with somebody.”\n\n\t“And you know Raph; if it freaks him out he hits it,” Mikey added with a grin.\n\n\tAs if on cue, Raph reached out and popped Mikey on the back of his head. “Mikey’s on the top of the list of things that freak me out,” he said.\n\n\tDon couldn’t help but smile as he watched Mikey rub his head and glare at Raph. The normalcy of their interactions felt good after the strained atmosphere of the past few days.\n\n\t“Considering all of the strange things that we’ve faced I guess I didn’t figure that Nicco’s sudden appearance would cause such alarm,” Don said. “That’s on me; I should have found a better way other than just walking in with him.”\n\n\tLeo shook his head. “No you were right; we have handled situations like that with more flexibility. Look at how we met Leatherhead. After a short initial misunderstanding we took the time to talk to him. We should have done that with Nicco as well.”\n\n\t“That ‘misunderstanding’ included his trying to drown us and Raph threatening to turn him into a handbag,” Don reminded him dryly. “No one held a grudge when it was over.”\n\n\t“You’ve got to know how strange your announcing you had a mate was to us,” Leo said vehemently. “A [i]male[/i] mate at that. It isn’t a scenario we’ve ever discussed. Sure, when we were younger we talked some about girls, but that was when I was drawn to Karai and you had a small crush on April. We didn’t even entertain those fantasies seriously because we didn’t think anything would come of it.”\n\n\tRaph jumped in. “What Leo’s trying ta say in his oh so subtle way is that ya’ having a guy for a mate threw us for a loop.”\n\n\t“Yeah, Donny. We needed an adjustment period,” Mikey said.\n\n\t“You three have strange ways of adjusting,” Don said, looking at them disapprovingly.\n\n\t“It should all be okay now,” Mikey assured him. “Raph had fist fights with both Leatherhead and Casey before they became friends, so he and Nicco are on their way to being best buds. You see how that works? You bring people by for Raph to beat up and then he’s happy.”\n\n\tHe ducked as Raph took another swipe at the back of his head. When Mikey stuck his tongue out at his brother, Raph dug a knuckle into his side.\n\n\t“Ow!” Mikey whined, rubbing at the spot.\n\n\t“So are we forgiven or what?” Raph asked, ignoring Mikey.\n\n\t“Of course,” Don told him, feeling relieved. “I . . . I have an apology to offer too. I shouldn’t have said what I did about leaving you guys. I would never, ever do that to you.”\n\n\t“You were angry and upset,” Leo said. “You have nothing to apologize for in reacting the way that you did.”\n\n\t“That is no excuse,” Don insisted. “I know that you guys are aware of how much that alternate reality haunts me. I would hate for any of you to hold that experience over my head in an attempt to manipulate me in some way and I shouldn’t have done it either.”\n\n\tLeo’s eyes were soft with understanding as he looked at his brother. “Don’t beat yourself up, Donny. We knew you weren’t serious.”\n\n\tThey stood contemplating each other, neither speaking, until Raph cleared his throat. “Are we done with the mushy stuff now or do you two need a minute?”\n\n\t“We should hug it out,” Mikey announced with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Reaching for Raph, he said, “Come on Raphie, give me a hug.”\n\n\tRaph planted his palm squarely in the center of Mikey’s face to hold him back. “Touch me and I’ll rearrange your arms.”\n\n\t“The more I think about it, the more I believe Nicco or someone like him is the best kind of partner for one of us to have,” Leo said, ignoring his brightly banded brothers. “Our lives aren’t easy in the best of times and just being acquainted with us is dangerous. Nicco knows how to take care of himself and has a unique understanding of danger because he’s been exposed to it.”\n\n\t“Master Splinter taught April how to fight after she met us,” Mikey pointed out.\n\n\t“That was because he could see her potential,” Leo told him. “She has a warrior’s spirit.”\n\n\t“And now he’s gonna wax philosophical,” Raph said jokingly. “Don’t encourage him, Mikey.”\n\n\t“A little introspection wouldn’t hurt either of you,” Leo said, his tone indicating he wasn’t holding out any real hope that would happen.\n\n\t“You introspect enough for the rest of us,” Mikey responded with a grin. “We’ve gotten used to our freedom.”\n\n\tLeo rolled his eyes and Don watched their byplay, happy that no one seemed upset or angry with him any longer.\n\n\t“[i]You’ve [/i]gotten used to being lazy,” Raph said, staring pointedly at Mikey. “I say that we let Donny here go play with his puzzle box thingy while the three of us finish pulling this frame apart.”\n\n\t“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Leo said in agreement, taking the mallet out of Don’s hand. “I’m sure you and Nicco are both anxious to find out if there’s a way to travel back and forth between worlds.”\n\n\t“I want to try it out too,” Mikey said, grinning widely. “We can go to his world and walk around in the open. How cool is that?”\n\n\t“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and . . . .” Don began.\n\n\tBefore he could finish the sentence, Raph spun him around and applied pressure to his shell, pushing him towards the elevator. “We can manage to tear something up without your assistance,” Raph assured his brother. “It’s what Mikey does best.”\n\n\tDon looked back over his shoulder in time to see Mikey grab for the mallet and Leo dodge him. “Hey, don’t let Mikey use my arc welder.”\n\n\tMikey glanced up, a mock pout on his face. “Aw~w dude!”\n\n\tAs they approached the elevator, Raph said, “Maybe we should give some extra thought ta letting Mikey go ta Nicco’s world. I ain’t sure they’re ready for him yet.”\n\n\t“Wait until you meet Mase,” Don said with a laugh. “I’m not sure their world is ready for two of them at once.”\n\n\tRaph stopped his brother before the elevator’s sensor could open the door. “It’s good ta see ya’ smile again.”\n\n\t“It’s nice to be able to smile,” Don admitted. He could tell from the intensity of Raph’s gaze that his brother had something else on his mind.\n\n\t“Look, do me a favor and don’t go too hard on Nicco,” Raph said. Lifting a hand as Don started to say something, Raph continued. “I know I’m not the only one you’re pissed at for the fight me and Nicco had.”\n\n\t“Going from actively despising Nicco to suddenly becoming his advocate is a quick about face,” Don said noncommittally.\n\n\t“Ya’ ain’t happy with us for fighting, I get that,” Raph said.\n\n\t“Not happy with you?” Don asked incredulously, his voice rising an octave. Taking a breath, he said, “This isn’t some stupid movie where the girl gets excited by two guys fighting over her. We see too much fighting as it is and I’m the one who’s usually left patching up the end results of it. I didn’t like Nicco baiting you and I didn’t like that you were so angry at his presence that you swallowed the bait.”\n\n\t“Donny,” Raph said, his voice soft enough to catch his brother’s attention and cut Don’s tirade off before it could build up steam. “I’m sorry we scared ya’.”\n\n\t“I . . . .” Don began.\n\n\t“Don’t bother trying ta deny it,” Raph said with a shake of his head. “You’re mad ‘cause ya’ got scared when we were fighting. I’ve felt that same exact way watching Leo battle the Shredder. Only difference is I knew he had ta do it and ya’ don’t get why me and Nicco needed ta resort ta fists.”\n\n\t“No I do not,” Don said adamantly. “Enemies resort to fists, reasonable thinking beings talk first.”\n\n\t“Everything ain’t black and white like that, Donny-boy,” Raph told him. “Some folks feel like they got a good reason ta dislike someone, ta see them as an enemy, because they’ve got access to something that’s precious ta that person. Nicco walked in here and right off the bat he’s got more say so over ya’ than your own family. Words don’t tell me nothing about someone ‘cause lies are easy ta tell. When I want ta take someone’s true measure, I’ve got ta force them ta show me who they really are.”\n\n\t“By brute force,” Don said.\n\n\tRaph shrugged. “It’s easier for me ta read a person when their mental guard is down. A hard left works real good for getting someone ta show ya’ his real colors.”\n\n\t“Those would be black and blue I suppose,” Don said with a snort of amusement.\n\n\t“You’re gonna make him squirm some, aren’t ya’?” Raph asked, perceiving his brother’s pique.\n\n \tDon took a deep breath, glancing away from Raph as he did so. “I’m still peeved at him.” He looked at Raph again. “Give me some time and don’t talk to him about it, okay? I’m still working on this whole relationship thing. I know Nicco cares for me, but sometimes he can be so . . . so . . . .”\n\n\t“Infuriating?” Raph supplied with a grin.\n\n\tWith a laugh, Don said, “Infuriating. He’s got a lot to learn about communication.”\n\n\t“Leading an army ain’t quite the same as being on a team,” Raph said. “That whole couple’s thing is more about teamwork. Teach him; he’ll learn.”\n\n\t“What do you know about couples?” Don asked teasingly.\n\n\t“Not a damn thing,” Raph answered, the grin turning into a wide smile. “I know a shell of a lot about fighting though. Don’t let this turn into one.”\n\n\t“I won’t,” Don assured him, stepping forward to activate the elevator.\n\n\tBefore the door closed behind him, he saw Raph join his brothers, who were making short work of the junk van.\n\n\tAs he stepped into the lair Don could hear Master Splinter barking instructions to Nicco. Partway to his lab, Don stopped and eyed the portal room they’d started building. It was now fully enclosed, but the bricks hadn’t been placed on the walls as yet. Several stacks of them lay on the floor next to the walls as well as the materials needed to secure them.\n\n\tDisguising that space so that it looked like just another brick wall inside the lair was as important as repairing the puzzle box itself. Don changed course and set to work, deciding that he would tackle the much quieter job of fixing the artifact later, when everyone else was trying to sleep.\n\n\tHe’d been hard at it for an hour when his brothers descended in the elevator. Spotting Don laying bricks, they came over to join him.\n\n\tRaph held his hand out for the trowel Don was holding while Mikey took up a second one. As they pitched in, Don took the time to stand and stretch his back.\n\n\t“Nicco?” Leo asked.\n\n\t“Still in there with Master Splinter,” Don said, pointing towards the dojo.\n\n\tLeo nodded, knowing that his father was spending extra time on Nicco’s practice sessions. Looking over the job Don had begun, he asked, “Making it blend in?”\n\n\t“That’s the idea,” Don said. “I’m going to hide the entrance too so that if someone breaks in here they won’t find the portal room. I’ve already reinforced the walls to withstand three times as much firepower as the rest of the lair. The entrance will open into a small outer room and then a second entrance takes you into the portal room itself. While I was in Nicco’s home we worked out some security features and a signaling system.”\n\n\t“Something that relays messages between worlds once the corridor is open,” Leo guessed astutely.\n\n\t“It’s simple too,” Don said. “Different colored golf balls. You see a red one come sailing through, you don’t go into the corridor.”\n\n\t“If the corridor is stable, then you could go into the room with the puzzle box without being inadvertently sucked into it, correct?” Leo asked.\n\n\t“Yes. That way someone on either side could toss a golf ball through and close the corridor on their end if they needed to transport the artifact,” Don told him.\n\n\t“And that’s more likely to happen here than on Nicco’s world.” Leo glanced back towards the dojo as Master Splinter and Nicco came out. “Looks as though they’re done for the day.”\n\n\tDon followed his gaze and saw Nicco look in his direction. Quickly averting his eyes, Don picked up the level and checked the bricks that had been laid and then ran a new string line for the next course of bricks.\n\n\tBy then Nicco had joined them, exchanging greetings with Don’s brothers. Rather than turning in his direction, Don took up a new bag of mortar mix, dumping it into his wheelbarrow.\n\n\tAs he was adding water, Nicco walked around to the front of the wheelbarrow, standing directly in Don’s line of sight.\n\n\t“Want some help mixing that, Donny?” Nicco asked.\n\n\tWithout a word, Don handed him the shovel and turned his back. Going around to one of the side walls farthest from where Nicco worked, Don began setting out a course of bricks and Leo soon came over to help him.\n\n\tThe five turtles worked together for three hours, each taking a quick lunch break when they reached a stopping point. Don continued to snub Nicco, even going so far as to wait until after Nicco had eaten before going to grab himself a sandwich.\n\n\tFor the most part, Nicco gave him his space, sensing that Don was perturbed and knowing that it wasn’t the most auspicious time to try and talk to him. When they were finished for the day, Don used the hazardous chemical shower in his lab to clean up, thus avoiding the upstairs bathroom and any chance of running into Nicco up there.\n\n\tWhen dinner rolled around it was obvious to everyone that Don wasn’t speaking to his mate. That fact made for a certain level of awkwardness around the table, though Nicco behaved as though nothing was amiss. His periodic glances of amused tolerance which he turned on Don only served to further aggravate the genius.\n\n\tAfter dinner, Mikey invited Nicco to play a video game with him, swearing that he wouldn’t cheat. When Nicco accepted with a laugh and followed the youngest turtle, Don felt hurt, experiencing a tangibly sharp pang in his chest. If he was upset with Nicco then his mate shouldn’t be having a good time.\n\n\tFor a moment Don thought about going up to Mikey’s room and calling it a night. He pushed the idea aside quickly though because he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep.\n\n\tThe brick walls around the portal room were almost finished and Don had already drawn out the design for the hidden entrance. What he really needed to do was tackle the puzzle box itself. Now that he needn’t worry about his brothers destroying the artifact, it was time to work on repairing it.\n\n\tDon removed the puzzle box from the safe in his lab and sat down at his worktable, switching on an overhead light. Using the technique he and Mase had come up with, Don carefully opened the artifact so that he could extract the burned out crystals.\n\n\tIntent on his work, Don didn’t hear anyone come into the room and wouldn’t have known someone was there if not for the faint snick of the latch bolt.\n\n\t“Were you repairing that so we could stay together, or to get rid of me?” Nicco asked, his voice low and even.\n\n\tStartled, Don looked up at his lover’s face and his heart jumped into his throat. He’d been sure that Nicco was trying not to crowd him but should have realized the older turtle would wait to confront him until a more advantageous time.\n\n\tNicco had picked the perfect spot too. Don would have to barrel right through him if he wanted out and from the look on Nicco’s face, he wasn’t going to allow that to happen.\n\n\tWith a slightly shaking hand, Donatello set the puzzle box aside and forced his eyes up to Nicco’s. It was clear from the strong amber gaze that the two lovers were about to have it out.\n\nTBC………………..", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "\tDon had found it hard to fall asleep after witnessing the fight between Raph and Nicco because he was angry at them for the barbaric way they had chosen to solve their differences.  It was almost as if they’d both become Neanderthals and were fighting over a choice piece of meat.  Feeling as though he was viewed as property by either his brothers or his lover did not sit well with him.

\tThe pair had gone off to the kitchen to drink and brag after their fight and Don could hear them from Mikey’s room.  He’d had to wrap a pillow around his head just to drown out the noise.

\tWhen Don had eventually drifted off it was into a deep sleep that even Mikey’s movements hadn’t wakened him from.  It was mid-morning by the time Don managed to rouse himself and get up.

\tThe kitchen was alive with activity when Don finally made it downstairs.  He spotted Master Splinter seated on the couch watching the day’s news broadcast, a pot of tea on the table before him.  Their father normally breakfasted early in order to avoid the mad rush as his sons made a beeline for sustenance.  While they invaded the kitchen, Master Splinter would enjoy his tea in relative peace.

\tDon was still miffed when he entered the kitchen and the sight of Raph and Nicco seated at the table, laughing about who knew what, did nothing to improve his humor.  Seeing the various injuries they’d sustained during their fight was just another layer of salt on Don’s wounded sensibilities.

\tAfter a quick glance, Don purposely avoided looking at the pair, exchanging nods with Leo who was sitting across from them.  As Don headed for the coffee pot he saw Mikey pour batter into a pan and guessed that his brother had offered to cook breakfast for everyone.

\tA few sips of coffee brightened Don’s eyes but not his attitude.  Mikey flipped a pancake into the air, expertly catching it in the pan, a feat no one else in the family was capable of performing.

\tMikey glanced at Don.  “Ready for a stack of hot ones, Donny?”

\tDon had no desire to sit at the table with the two turtles he was peeved at so he said, “No.  All I want is coffee.  I have work to do.”

\tThat much was true; he always had projects lined up and waiting for him.  Not that anything was pressing at the moment, but it gave him a good excuse to distance himself from everyone.  Leave them he did; after topping off his cup of coffee Don took the elevator up to the garage.

\tDon missed the glances his brothers exchanged behind his back as he left.  After Nicco exited the kitchen to attend his daily training session with Master Splinter, the remaining three turtles headed out to talk to their genius brother.
\t
\tWhenever Donatello was mad about something he usually chose to work on a project that involved demolition.  The garage was a great place for that and as soon as Don entered he grabbed a mallet and began hammering away at the frame of an old van he intended to use for parts.

Upon hearing the sound of the elevator door opening, Don pressed his lips into a thin line and didn’t bother turning around to see who was there.  He continued to pound away, assuming that Nicco had come up to join him, but in a moment the sound of multiple footsteps told him it was his brothers.  They stopped next to the van’s front end, quite close to where Don was working.

\tDon didn’t say anything as he pulled the bumper loose and they were silent as well.  For several long minutes the tableau held; Don angrily yanking parts off the frame and tossing them aside as his brothers quietly watched.

\t“I’m an asshole,” Raph finally said, breaking their silence.

\tAlthough he wanted to continue to ignore them, Don so rarely heard Raph say anything that came near to the phrase ‘I’m sorry’ that he couldn’t help responding.  “Yes you are.”

\tRaph chuckled.  “Ya’ gotta admit that I’m good at it.”

\tThat made Don glance up.  The first thing he noticed was Raph’s cocky smile and then his brother’s split lip.

\t“You’ve always been good at it,” Don replied with a frown.  “That doesn’t mean you should make it your life’s mission.”

\t“I’m trying ta apologize,” Raph said, noting the expression on the genius’ face.

\t“I guessed as much,” Don said.  “What exactly are you apologizing for?”

\t“It’s not just Raph who is apologizing,” Leo cut in.  “All three of us owe you an apology for the way we’ve treated Niccolo and you as well.  Succumbing to our basic instincts may have excused our initial reaction to his presence, but we should have had faith in your word that he wasn’t a danger.”

\t“When you said you’d taken him as a mate we should have trusted you to make that decision,” Mikey said contritely.  “It wasn’t right of us to think we knew what you needed better than you did.”

\tDon had been tense as he stood listening to his brothers but with their words his shoulders began to relax.  In the past no matter what their differences, the four of them had always talked it out and that’s what they were now doing.

\t“It ain’t easy switching gears in my head so that I see ya’ as something more than my genius brother,” Raph said.  “Trying ta wrap my mind around the fact that ya’ even know what sex is freaks me out a little, much less knowing that you’re doing it with somebody.”

\t“And you know Raph; if it freaks him out he hits it,” Mikey added with a grin.

\tAs if on cue, Raph reached out and popped Mikey on the back of his head.  “Mikey’s on the top of the list of things that freak me out,” he said.

\tDon couldn’t help but smile as he watched Mikey rub his head and glare at Raph.  The normalcy of their interactions felt good after the strained atmosphere of the past few days.

\t“Considering all of the strange things that we’ve faced I guess I didn’t figure that Nicco’s sudden appearance would cause such alarm,” Don said.  “That’s on me; I should have found a better way other than just walking in with him.”

\tLeo shook his head.  “No you were right; we have handled situations like that with more flexibility.  Look at how we met Leatherhead.  After a short initial misunderstanding we took the time to talk to him.  We should have done that with Nicco as well.”

\t“That ‘misunderstanding’ included his trying to drown us and Raph threatening to turn him into a handbag,” Don reminded him dryly.  “No one held a grudge when it was over.”

\t“You’ve got to know how strange your announcing you had a mate was to us,” Leo said vehemently.  “A male mate at that.  It isn’t a scenario we’ve ever discussed.  Sure, when we were younger we talked some about girls, but that was when I was drawn to Karai and you had a small crush on April.  We didn’t even entertain those fantasies seriously because we didn’t think anything would come of it.”

\tRaph jumped in.  “What Leo’s trying ta say in his oh so subtle way is that ya’ having a guy for a mate threw us for a loop.”

\t“Yeah, Donny.  We needed an adjustment period,” Mikey said.

\t“You three have strange ways of adjusting,” Don said, looking at them disapprovingly.

\t“It should all be okay now,” Mikey assured him.  “Raph had fist fights with both Leatherhead and Casey before they became friends, so he and Nicco are on their way to being best buds.  You see how that works?  You bring people by for Raph to beat up and then he’s happy.”

\tHe ducked as Raph took another swipe at the back of his head.  When Mikey stuck his tongue out at his brother, Raph dug a knuckle into his side.

\t“Ow!” Mikey whined, rubbing at the spot.

\t“So are we forgiven or what?” Raph asked, ignoring Mikey.

\t“Of course,” Don told him, feeling relieved.  “I . . . I have an apology to offer too.  I shouldn’t have said what I did about leaving you guys.  I would never, ever do that to you.”

\t“You were angry and upset,” Leo said.  “You have nothing to apologize for in reacting the way that you did.”

\t“That is no excuse,” Don insisted.  “I know that you guys are aware of how much that alternate reality haunts me.  I would hate for any of you to hold that experience over my head in an attempt to manipulate me in some way and I shouldn’t have done it either.”

\tLeo’s eyes were soft with understanding as he looked at his brother.  “Don’t beat yourself up, Donny.  We knew you weren’t serious.”

\tThey stood contemplating each other, neither speaking, until Raph cleared his throat.  “Are we done with the mushy stuff now or do you two need a minute?”

\t“We should hug it out,” Mikey announced with a mischievous glint in his eyes.  Reaching for Raph, he said, “Come on Raphie, give me a hug.”

\tRaph planted his palm squarely in the center of Mikey’s face to hold him back.  “Touch me and I’ll rearrange your arms.”

\t“The more I think about it, the more I believe Nicco or someone like him is the best kind of partner for one of us to have,” Leo said, ignoring his brightly banded brothers.  “Our lives aren’t easy in the best of times and just being acquainted with us is dangerous.  Nicco knows how to take care of himself and has a unique understanding of danger because he’s been exposed to it.”

\t“Master Splinter taught April how to fight after she met us,” Mikey pointed out.

\t“That was because he could see her potential,” Leo told him.  “She has a warrior’s spirit.”

\t“And now he’s gonna wax philosophical,” Raph said jokingly.  “Don’t encourage him, Mikey.”

\t“A little introspection wouldn’t hurt either of you,” Leo said, his tone indicating he wasn’t holding out any real hope that would happen.

\t“You introspect enough for the rest of us,” Mikey responded with a grin.  “We’ve gotten used to our freedom.”

\tLeo rolled his eyes and Don watched their byplay, happy that no one seemed upset or angry with him any longer.

\t“You’ve gotten used to being lazy,” Raph said, staring pointedly at Mikey.  “I say that we let Donny here go play with his puzzle box thingy while the three of us finish pulling this frame apart.”

\t“I think that’s an excellent idea,” Leo said in agreement, taking the mallet out of Don’s hand.  “I’m sure you and Nicco are both anxious to find out if there’s a way to travel back and forth between worlds.”

\t“I want to try it out too,” Mikey said, grinning widely.  “We can go to his world and walk around in the open.  How cool is that?”

\t“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and . . . .” Don began.

\tBefore he could finish the sentence, Raph spun him around and applied pressure to his shell, pushing him towards the elevator.  “We can manage to tear something up without your assistance,” Raph assured his brother.  “It’s what Mikey does best.”

\tDon looked back over his shoulder in time to see Mikey grab for the mallet and Leo dodge him.  “Hey, don’t let Mikey use my arc welder.”

\tMikey glanced up, a mock pout on his face.  “Aw~w dude!”

\tAs they approached the elevator, Raph said, “Maybe we should give some extra thought ta letting Mikey go ta Nicco’s world.  I ain’t sure they’re ready for him yet.”

\t“Wait until you meet Mase,” Don said with a laugh.  “I’m not sure their world is ready for two of them at once.”

\tRaph stopped his brother before the elevator’s sensor could open the door.  “It’s good ta see ya’ smile again.”

\t“It’s nice to be able to smile,” Don admitted.  He could tell from the intensity of Raph’s gaze that his brother had something else on his mind.

\t“Look, do me a favor and don’t go too hard on Nicco,” Raph said.  Lifting a hand as Don started to say something, Raph continued.  “I know I’m not the only one you’re pissed at for the fight me and Nicco had.”

\t“Going from actively despising Nicco to suddenly becoming his advocate is a quick about face,” Don said noncommittally.

\t“Ya’ ain’t happy with us for fighting, I get that,” Raph said.

\t“Not happy with you?” Don asked incredulously, his voice rising an octave.  Taking a breath, he said, “This isn’t some stupid movie where the girl gets excited by two guys fighting over her.  We see too much fighting as it is and I’m the one who’s usually left patching up the end results of it.  I didn’t like Nicco baiting you and I didn’t like that you were so angry at his presence that you swallowed the bait.”

\t“Donny,” Raph said, his voice soft enough to catch his brother’s attention and cut Don’s tirade off before it could build up steam.  “I’m sorry we scared ya’.”

\t“I . . . .” Don began.

\t“Don’t bother trying ta deny it,” Raph said with a shake of his head.  “You’re mad ‘cause ya’ got scared when we were fighting.  I’ve felt that same exact way watching Leo battle the Shredder.  Only difference is I knew he had ta do it and ya’ don’t get why me and Nicco needed ta resort ta fists.”

\t“No I do not,” Don said adamantly.  “Enemies resort to fists, reasonable thinking beings talk first.”

\t“Everything ain’t black and white like that, Donny-boy,” Raph told him.  “Some folks feel like they got a good reason ta dislike someone, ta see them as an enemy, because they’ve got access to something that’s precious ta that person.  Nicco walked in here and right off the bat he’s got more say so over ya’ than your own family.  Words don’t tell me nothing about someone ‘cause lies are easy ta tell.  When I want ta take someone’s true measure, I’ve got ta force them ta show me who they really are.”

\t“By brute force,” Don said.

\tRaph shrugged.  “It’s easier for me ta read a person when their mental guard is down.  A hard left works real good for getting someone ta show ya’ his real colors.”

\t“Those would be black and blue I suppose,” Don said with a snort of amusement.

\t“You’re gonna make him squirm some, aren’t ya’?” Raph asked, perceiving his brother’s pique.

 \tDon took a deep breath, glancing away from Raph as he did so.  “I’m still peeved at him.”  He looked at Raph again.  “Give me some time and don’t talk to him about it, okay?  I’m still working on this whole relationship thing.  I know Nicco cares for me, but sometimes he can be so . . . so . . . .”

\t“Infuriating?” Raph supplied with a grin.

\tWith a laugh, Don said, “Infuriating.  He’s got a lot to learn about communication.”

\t“Leading an army ain’t quite the same as being on a team,” Raph said.  “That whole couple’s thing is more about teamwork.  Teach him; he’ll learn.”

\t“What do you know about couples?” Don asked teasingly.

\t“Not a damn thing,” Raph answered, the grin turning into a wide smile.  “I know a shell of a lot about fighting though.  Don’t let this turn into one.”

\t“I won’t,” Don assured him, stepping forward to activate the elevator.

\tBefore the door closed behind him, he saw Raph join his brothers, who were making short work of the junk van.

\tAs he stepped into the lair Don could hear Master Splinter barking instructions to Nicco.  Partway to his lab, Don stopped and eyed the portal room they’d started building.  It was now fully enclosed, but the bricks hadn’t been placed on the walls as yet.  Several stacks of them lay on the floor next to the walls as well as the materials needed to secure them.

\tDisguising that space so that it looked like just another brick wall inside the lair was as important as repairing the puzzle box itself.  Don changed course and set to work, deciding that he would tackle the much quieter job of fixing the artifact later, when everyone else was trying to sleep.

\tHe’d been hard at it for an hour when his brothers descended in the elevator.  Spotting Don laying bricks, they came over to join him.

\tRaph held his hand out for the trowel Don was holding while Mikey took up a second one.  As they pitched in, Don took the time to stand and stretch his back.

\t“Nicco?” Leo asked.

\t“Still in there with Master Splinter,” Don said, pointing towards the dojo.

\tLeo nodded, knowing that his father was spending extra time on Nicco’s practice sessions.  Looking over the job Don had begun, he asked, “Making it blend in?”

\t“That’s the idea,” Don said.  “I’m going to hide the entrance too so that if someone breaks in here they won’t find the portal room.  I’ve already reinforced the walls to withstand three times as much firepower as the rest of the lair.  The entrance will open into a small outer room and then a second entrance takes you into the portal room itself.  While I was in Nicco’s home we worked out some security features and a signaling system.”

\t“Something that relays messages between worlds once the corridor is open,” Leo guessed astutely.

\t“It’s simple too,” Don said.  “Different colored golf balls.  You see a red one come sailing through, you don’t go into the corridor.”

\t“If the corridor is stable, then you could go into the room with the puzzle box without being inadvertently sucked into it, correct?” Leo asked.

\t“Yes.  That way someone on either side could toss a golf ball through and close the corridor on their end if they needed to transport the artifact,” Don told him.

\t“And that’s more likely to happen here than on Nicco’s world.”  Leo glanced back towards the dojo as Master Splinter and Nicco came out.  “Looks as though they’re done for the day.”

\tDon followed his gaze and saw Nicco look in his direction.  Quickly averting his eyes, Don picked up the level and checked the bricks that had been laid and then ran a new string line for the next course of bricks.

\tBy then Nicco had joined them, exchanging greetings with Don’s brothers.  Rather than turning in his direction, Don took up a new bag of mortar mix, dumping it into his wheelbarrow.

\tAs he was adding water, Nicco walked around to the front of the wheelbarrow, standing directly in Don’s line of sight.

\t“Want some help mixing that, Donny?” Nicco asked.

\tWithout a word, Don handed him the shovel and turned his back.  Going around to one of the side walls farthest from where Nicco worked, Don began setting out a course of bricks and Leo soon came over to help him.

\tThe five turtles worked together for three hours, each taking a quick lunch break when they reached a stopping point.  Don continued to snub Nicco, even going so far as to wait until after Nicco had eaten before going to grab himself a sandwich.

\tFor the most part, Nicco gave him his space, sensing that Don was perturbed and knowing that it wasn’t the most auspicious time to try and talk to him.  When they were finished for the day, Don used the hazardous chemical shower in his lab to clean up, thus avoiding the upstairs bathroom and any chance of running into Nicco up there.

\tWhen dinner rolled around it was obvious to everyone that Don wasn’t speaking to his mate.  That fact made for a certain level of awkwardness around the table, though Nicco behaved as though nothing was amiss.  His periodic glances of amused tolerance which he turned on Don only served to further aggravate the genius.

\tAfter dinner, Mikey invited Nicco to play a video game with him, swearing that he wouldn’t cheat.  When Nicco accepted with a laugh and followed the youngest turtle, Don felt hurt, experiencing a tangibly sharp pang in his chest.  If he was upset with Nicco then his mate shouldn’t be having a good time.

\tFor a moment Don thought about going up to Mikey’s room and calling it a night.  He pushed the idea aside quickly though because he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep.

\tThe brick walls around the portal room were almost finished and Don had already drawn out the design for the hidden entrance.  What he really needed to do was tackle the puzzle box itself.  Now that he needn’t worry about his brothers destroying the artifact, it was time to work on repairing it.

\tDon removed the puzzle box from the safe in his lab and sat down at his worktable, switching on an overhead light.  Using the technique he and Mase had come up with, Don carefully opened the artifact so that he could extract the burned out crystals.

\tIntent on his work, Don didn’t hear anyone come into the room and wouldn’t have known someone was there if not for the faint snick of the latch bolt.

\t“Were you repairing that so we could stay together, or to get rid of me?” Nicco asked, his voice low and even.

\tStartled, Don looked up at his lover’s face and his heart jumped into his throat.  He’d been sure that Nicco was trying not to crowd him but should have realized the older turtle would wait to confront him until a more advantageous time.

\tNicco had picked the perfect spot too.  Don would have to barrel right through him if he wanted out and from the look on Nicco’s face, he wasn’t going to allow that to happen.

\tWith a slightly shaking hand, Donatello set the puzzle box aside and forced his eyes up to Nicco’s.  It was clear from the strong amber gaze that the two lovers were about to have it out.

TBC………………..", "pools_count": 1, "title": "Don and the Puzzle Box part 26", "deleted": "f", "public": "t", "mimetype": "application/msword", "pagecount": "1", "rating_id": "2", "rating_name": "Adult", "ratings": [ { "content_tag_id": "4", "name": "Sexual Themes", "description": "Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal", "rating_id": "2" } ], "submission_type_id": "12", "type_name": "Writing - Document", "guest_block": "t", "friends_only": "f", "comments_count": "4", "views": "257" }