Perseverance

Donatello unplugged the old van’s battery back at the lair and strolled off to the kitchen to get a snack. It was a pain in the neck, having to plug and unplug the battery like that, but the darn thing would drain its charge if he left it hooked up. He hummed quietly to himself as he dug through the fridge for some ham, cheese, lettuce, mustard, and pepperoni to make himself a sandwich. They’d tried calling Splinter and April as soon as they’d gotten home, but when it didn’t answer, they’d figured that the two were out for a walk or sitting in one of the hot springs. After Mike and Leo had gone out to pick up more groceries, Raphael tried calling again and when Don came in, he was sitting at the table, talking on the phone with April. She was supposed to bring Master Splinter home in a few days.

“He’s been sleeping a lot,” Don could hear her quiet, far-away voice on the other end of the line. It sounded like she was in a tin can. “But he’s comfortable and relaxed. He misses you all very much...” her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat.

“Is he coughing less?” Raphael asked. There was a long pause. “April?” he asked, frowning.

“No, honey, he’s not,” April said so softly that Donatello almost didn’t hear it.

Raphael clenched his fist so hard against the table that it shook. Donatello put his hand on his brother’s forearm, but couldn’t look him in the eyes.

“He’s dying, isn’t he?” Raphael said. It wasn’t really a question. Don could hear April start to cry softly. “How long?” Raphael whispered, closing his eyes and leaning forward to rest his forehead on Don’s hand.

“I don’t know,” she said, “a few days maybe... a week... I don’t know, Raphael. He made me promise not to call you - he wanted you to have a nice time and be happy. I think you’d better come out here in the morning though, honey... just... just in case.”

“We’ll come tonight.” Raphael said. “As soon as Mike and Leo get back, we’ll go.”

“Alright,” April sniffled. Don wasn’t hungry anymore. He felt numb as he got up and stuck his food back into the fridge. “It’s a beautiful place here,” April was saying. She sounded very tired. “It’s very peaceful.”

Don couldn’t take it anymore. He stumbled out of the kitchen and into his workshop to a large closet in the corner. He pulled a key from his belt and unlocked the door, opening it slowly so he could look at the most horrible thing he’d ever made; Master Splinter’s coffin.

They’d had a scare with their sensei’s health, a year ago when he’d gotten pneumonia. the ordeal had weakened the old rat so badly that they were sure they were going to lose him. Don had stolen an IV and some medication from the veterinary clinic, but Splinter’s bronchial tubes had been so damaged that his lungs kept filling slowly with fluid, which was why he had such an awful hack.

The coffin stood upright in the closet with an old blanket over it to keep the dust off. Don had made it out of a beautiful, rich maple that he’d salvaged from an old church that was being demolished. He’d found the hinges there, too. The four handles (he knew there should have been six, but since it was just going to be his four brothers carrying it, he’d only put four) were beautiful gold-plated ones that he’d found on an old dresser in the junk yard. He’d melted down old broken gold necklaces that people threw away, perhaps not realizing their value, for the letters to spell HAMATO YOSHI on the lid, and he’d polished the whole thing with a rich, deep walnut so that the grain showed through. He’d lined the inside with a soft duvet and covered it with a rich, oriental-patterned silk that he’d found in a dumpster behind an interior decorator’s that had gone out of business.

It was beautiful and hideous all at the same time. Don didn’t bother lifting the blanket to look at it - he knew EXACTLY how it looked. They’d bury Master Splinter deep in the woods where it was still and quiet enough for him to meditate in the soft green light with the birds and wild creatures for all eternity.

Don choked back a sob and locked the door again.

“Don!” Raph shouted. “Fuck! Don come quick!”

Donatello went flying out of his lab, down the hall and into the living room. “What’s the matter? Are you hurt?!” he shouted, looking the red turtle up and down.

“I’m fine!” Raph snapped. He pointed to the t.v. “Look!”

Don looked at the screen - Vernon was on there covering interviewing the police chief about a kidnapping. Don looked at Raphael, confused. He didn’t want to seem mean, but people got kidnapped all the time - why was this worth shouting over.

“Shh! Listen!” Raph hissed, turning the volume up.

“... if anyone has any information on the arson or on the kidnapping of Lisa Miller, please contact the police immediately by dialing 9-1-1...” Vernon was saying.

“Holy fuck! That’s Charlie’s friend!” Don cried, his mouth falling open. The camera panned off Vernon to show the firemen battling the blaze while Vernon continued to give a physical description of Lisa. Donatello didn’t recognize the building at first, then the horror hit him hard. It was the bookstore... and there, in the background was his girlfriend, crying hysterically, while a paramedic put a blanket over her shoulders and kindly, but firmly pulled her away from the scene.

He looked at Raphael and the two of them leaped up and tore out of the lair.