A visit from the future. PART ONE

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It wasn't often, but when it did happen, it could continue for weeks on end. Why? Because he was a stubborn fool when it came to his own health.

Sure he wasn't Raph, but that meant nothing really.

It had been weeks now. The thunderous blue vortex that had taken each of them off to different places. Raph to the races, Leo to Usagi's world, Mikey to a world of superheroes. And him? A hellish place where he'd basically killed his own brothers, just to stop the enemy that should have been defeated long ago.

Tossing over Don stared at the ceiling. The plain white tiles did nothing to sooth his plagued mind, the nightmares still came.

It had been over three weeks now, why couldn't he just get over it? Leave it in the past, and continue to his future? Easy. His future was a hell where he'd disappeared and cost his brothers their happiness, and their lives. He had been the one who'd made that stupid plan, he was the one who had been gone for thirty years! But why? Why did he disappear, why did he leave his family, why did he leave his friends?

Another sigh, and Don sat up. He wasn't getting any sleep, that was apparent. Placing his feet on the cold, cement floor he walked across his room, switching the lamp on. The small amount of light casting shadows around the room, and over his olive skin. Bags ran deeply under his coffee eyes, making his face more sunken in from his lack of sleep.

"...stupid..It wasn't my future! why does it still attack me!" Don said in a hushed whimpered yell. Scrubbing at his eyes, Don slumped into his computer chair. His brother had begged him not to put another computer there but...well he needed it, and with out the computer in his room, how was he to check the systems when he woke up? It was mandatory, they couldn't survive without the security systems. Okay, they could, but it just wasn't safe.

Safe.

What if he disappeared tomorrow?He'd have to check all the security systems today, just to make sure everything was running correctly. That way, if any did happen, at least the others would be safe.

Swiveling in his chair, Don looked at his door. He was hiding in here a lot lately.

Maybe, maybe he would come out and see the others today. Mikey was talking about a new video game, Leo wanted the toaster fixed, again, And Raph..well Raph basically had Don's full week planned out. He wanted to work on the new updates for his bike, then there was that new patch job needed for Raph's punching bag, also the alarm clock had died painfully when that said had accidentily smashed it into teeny..tiny..pieces.

Standing up, Don went for the door, peeking out he looked to see if anyone else was up.

No one.

Closing his eyes momentarily, Don slinked out, heading for the kitchen. He hasn't eaten much past a cup of coffee so he could still participate in training. Now, with his stomach empty, food was pretty much on the top of his list. Entering the kitchen, Don went straight for the fridge, pulling out his desired food.

" ya sneak outta your room now, Dony-boy?"

Don whirled around to seek where the voice was coming from. " Raph? what are-are you doing up this early?"

" oooh, already get tha stutter, and I just got here...hmphf..so Don, how'd ya sleep tonight?"

Don blinked. " to-tonight? Fine, Raph..now if you don't mind, I'm hungry"

Raph gave a dark chuckle. " Sure ya slept fine brainiac..That's why ya up so early...Oh an next time ya decide to do rounds, make sure we're asleep first."

Don blushed slightly. " I wasn't doing 'rounds' Raph" He snapped. " I was simply checking to-to see if-"

" we were safe, ya I know. Trust me brainiac, I get ya've been off on your.. whateva..but seriously you need ta get some sleep, your startin' to look like a zombie, more so then Mike does afta an all night vid fest. So get your ass to bed"

Don gave a snarl, slaming his plate on the counter. " I'm fine! Nothings wrong! okay? I-I just can't sleep.." Don sighed.

Raph gave a nod. " Wanna talk about it"

Don shook his head. " No..it-its nothing really, I'm just not sleeping well"

" that makes it something" Raph said, rolling his eyes. Walking over to the counter he leaned back. " just spill it. It might help, ya know?"

Giving a sigh, Don leaned on the counter beside Raph. No, he didn't want to say anything, especially not to Raph. he would just make fun of him, say it was stupid, childish. Yet, didn't Raph have a lot of night mares? Don used to here him when they had rooms beside each other.

Raph was taping his fingers, waitng for a reply. He was sick of never getting a reply from said purple clad turtle, so at this point, he wasn't leaving without one so when it came, he could bearly here it.

" what?" Raph said, turning to look at his brother who's eyes were down cast.

"..nightmares" he said again, a little louder this time.

Raph blinked. Sure nightmares were on his list, but they weren't at the top.. " nightmares, huh? k so talk it out. "

Don's head snapped to the side. Why was Raph so keen on figuring out what was digging at him? " I would prefer not to, Thanks anyway." He said, then turning put his plate in the sink and started heading for his room.

" This have anythin' to do with disappearing?"

Don froze, turning slowly to meet a pair of burning amber eyes. No one spoke for a moment they just stood there silently. " how-how did you know that?"

Raph scoffed, crossing his arms. " you're the only one ta not say anythin' about what happened...figured it had ta be bad."

Don fidgeted under Raph's intense gaze. With a small nod, he went back into the kitchen, standing in front of Raph. "...bad is an understatement, Raphie."

With that, Don began to speak of everything. How he'd been missing for thirty years, how Splinter had died, Mikey's missing arm and how cold he'd become. Then he told Raph of how he and Leo no longer spoke, how they were at each others throats, ready to kill each other. Then, then he went on about how he'd killed them all. How it was Don's idiotic plan that had ran the rest of them into the ground. Don spoke of how they'd all followed him, ready to do what ever he had to say, and that was what killed them all.

Raph, stood there, nodding when he should, but never spoke, just allowing Don to finish and finally let it out.

" It was me!...I-I killed you ! we-well them but..God Raph, they just followed me in! They, they didn't even question! and god! It was so stupid!" Don yelled, covering his eyes with his slightly trembling hands. A hand on his shoulder jostled him from his memory relapse.

" Ya really think that, don't you?" Raph said, his tone not harsh, but most definitely not soft. " Don..your our level head, or brains, and our ya know..uh- shit, Don your the one that' kept us alive an' livin'!...They were us right?..Okay, so then I know me. I would have followed you to tha end of the earth, Don. We followed you because, we knew."

Don looked up at Raph, cunfused. Raph smirked, shaking his head.

" Don, they knew it wasn't gonna end well. And ya know why they still went in by your lead? Cause they trusted ya to finish it. You did, and I think that's what they really needed...a brother back. So they could be a team, so they could put an end ta that asshole Shredder. Ya saved the planet Don. "

A choked whimper left Don's throat. " But Raph-"

" No 'buts', Don I aint hearin' it" Raph snarled. " Even if they weren't us or what eva, you were still their brother, they followed you cause they trusted you. I'd do the same thing."

Don looked up startled by Raph's statement, but all he saw in Raph's golden eyes was a shining determination meant to quench any doubt Don could possibly hold.

"But-"

" What did I just say?...Come on" Raph huffed out, grabbing Don by the arm. Don struggled but Raph's grip was to tight. " Raph where are we going? what are you doing?"

Getting to the dojo doors, Raph smirked. " Figured if sleep aint working, might as well make you exhausted enough ya have no choice but to shut down."

Don couldn't help but smile, even if it was just a little.

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It worked.

Don was exhausted. Raph had ran him through every kata he could think of, then it was sparing, which was not a friendly spar. He'd basically needed to be carried from the dojo after that. Once in bed, he'd crashed instantly.

Now, he was awake, a fairly well rested.

Getting up with a stretch, Don walked out of his room. It was near noon now, everyone would be in the kitchen.

Leo, Don and Mikey sat at the table, Raph at the fridge grabbing numerous items.

" Good morning, sleepy head" Mikey said cheerfully.

"morning" Don answered, sitting down in his spot. Leo sat on his right, he gave Don a quick nod before continuing with his book. Raph turned then, a sandwich in hand. Sitting on Don's left, Raph glared at Mikey then looked down at his sandwich. Raising an eye ridge at this, Don simply ignore it.

" so when does Master Splinter get back, dude?" Mikey asked Leo who was trying desperatly to finsh his book. Sighing, he put it down.

" He gets back in a about a week, Mikey, I told you that yesterday." Leo said, rolling his eyes. Ever since Master Splinter had left for his trip to see the ancient one, Mikey had continued to ask Leo every second day when their master would return. It was starting to wear on his last nerves, how ever small they were now.

" hey, Brainiac how'd ya-"

The ever so quiet noise of the lair entrance resealing sounded, just barely caught by Raph.

" Raph? what-"

"shut it" Raph snarled. Going to the entrance, he stayed flushed against the wall. Motioning to the other to follow suit. With Don at Raph side, and Leo with Mikey on the other side, the four brothers readied them selves.

Hearing voices from the living room, the four brothers went in, weapons drawn and stances ready.

It wasn't what they were expecting.

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Hey! Okay so this one was supposed to be a one shot..but it was to fun to pass up. It wont be more then four chapters tho. R&R please! I'd love to hear what ya thought of it ^^ OH! It was writen for CrazyNutSquirrel, this was her request.
No rude comments, flames, hates, what ever. I don't appreciate them, nor like them. Seriously how would you like it if I went on your story and chewed your story out? Wouldn't feel nice would it?...I think not.
KK All my love to my reader / reviewers. You guys are amazing ^^ kk R&R luv ya! Ruth.