Chapter Text
Leo paused, gaping at his brother for a moment before sliding off the bed and onto his knees in front of his brother. “Donnie?”
“ Leo!” Donnie did start crying then, his hands clumsily reaching out to grab for his brother as his breathing picked up. “Wh-wh-what? H-how? Where…” he clenched his eyes shut and pressed the heels of his hands to his temples with a whine.
Leo snapped out of his shock at the high pitched noise, tears pricking his own eyes as he tried to compose himself. Despite that, his voice shook as he reached for Donnie’s hands, taking them in his own and pulling them away as Donnie hiccuped. “Hey, hey. It’s okay, It’s okay, I’m right here.”
“Y-you sh-shouldn’t be h-here.” Donnie stuttered out, then looked around frantically, his confusion growing. “Where-”
“Donnie.” Leo let go of one of his hands to cup his brother's cheek, turning his attention back. “You’re home, you’re safe. Everything is okay.”
Donnie trembled in his hold for a moment, before bringing his hands up to grip Leo’s wrists. “H-how?”
Leo took a breath, furrowing his brows. “What do you mean?”
“I mean how!” Donnie pulled back a bit, shaking his head. “L-last thing I r-r-remember w-was…” he thought for a moment, blinking. “Stockman? A-and b-being put in s-solitary.”
Leo’s confusion grew. “Donnie, that was… months ago.”
“Months?” Donnie squeaked. “Th-that can’t-” he took a shaky breath in, his grip on Leo's wrists tightening in distress.
Leo swallowed, trying to scoot a little closer, but Donnie’s pupils contracted slightly and he hissed, so Leo put his palms up defensively, falling still. “Dee, it’s okay.”
Donnie shook his head, letting go of Leo’s face to bury his face in his hands. “I-It’s n-not! Why c-can’t I- wh-what h-h-happened to me?”
“Donnie, Dee, look at me.” Leo urged, “it’s going to be ok, I promise. I’ll explain everything i just need you to take a deep breath”
“H-how am I s-s-supposed to b-b-breathe when h-half of my-” Donnie curled in on himself, wheezing. “ Damnit! ”
“Hey,” Leo set his hands on the ground, palms up. “Donnie, please, breathe with me, okay?”
Donnie trembled, shaking his head vigorously for a second, then staring at Leo’s hands. He hesitated a few seconds longer before placing his on top. “O-okay.”
Leo guided him through some long, slow breaths, until Donnie’s breathing had finally evened out to a manageable level and he slumped against Leo’s plastron.
Leo wrapped him up, pressing his snout to his little brother's head. “I’m here, Donnie, you’re okay.”
Donnie wrapped his arms around Leo, squeezing him. “S-sorry.”
“There’s no need to apologize, you had a right to freak out.” Leo hummed softly. “You’re ok.”
“N-no, I-” Donnie buried his face in Leos plastron. “I w-went out alone. I w-w-was stupid- ”
“No.” Leo spoke in a sterner tone than intended, squeezing his little brother. “None of that, you’re not stupid.”
“I… I tried. ” Donnie mumbled. “To call f-for h-help.”
“I remember,” Leo mindlessly traces shapes in Donnie’s shell as he dipped back into the memory. “I got the signal and tried to call but… you never picked up.”
Donnie was quiet for a moment, then sniffled. “The c-call g-gave away m-my l-location.”
Leo froze, eyes widening with dread. “ What? ”
Donnie shrank in on himself a little. “N-no, it’s f-fine, you d-didn’t mean t-t-to.”
Leo felt his heart drop to the floor as he felt a cold realization hit him. It was his fault . He gave his brother away, he led them to him. It was his fault his brother was left as a wild animal for months .
Leo squeezed his eyes shut, trying to hide his face as he whispered in a shallow shaky voice. “ I’m sorry Dee.”
Donnie nuzzled him, shaking his head. “St-stop that.” he pulled back just to wrap his arms around Leo’s neck and hug him. “I m-missed y-you.”
Leo hugged back, as strong as he could without hurting Donnie. “I missed you too little brother.”