Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the property of Viacom, Nickelodeon, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird and all organizations associated with said names. This is a non-profit piece of fiction designed for entertainment.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Exile
by BrownEyedBirdie

Author's Note: Since I'm almost done with "Love's Symphony", I decided to begin posting this. I've been curious about the three months the Turtles spent on the farm (it was snowing when the Invasion took place and suddenly, it was spring?) So, I decided to write up my own version. Weiterlesen!

Chapter 1 – So What Did You Do?

The farm was silent as the evening began in earnest. Crickets were chirping faintly as Leo stood outside the barn, taking in deep breaths of the cool late April evening. Inside, he could hear the sounds of clinking beakers and test tubes as his younger brother worked on Raph. After facing the Creep, as Mikey had dubbed the monster, Leo had walked back with the group as they dragged the chained creature into the barn. Donnie had rambled on about boiling points and various equations and calculations that only made Leo's aching head spin more. Instead, he had tried to focus with Mikey and Casey as he helped to pull the Creep along. It was surprising how docile the Creep was now.

"Why's he not fighting us?" Mikey asked.

"My best guess is because the bottle of medicine is destroyed," April said, "He's in shock."

Leo had agreed with the theory, especially when he put up no resistance to being changed down and having, to Leo's dismay, an overlarge needle inserted in his arm. At that point, Leo left to stand outside rather than risk throwing up again. He sat on the ground against the barn wall as an hour drifted past. He had dozed off when he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He opened one sleepy eye and looked up into the exhausted eyes of his brother.

"Leo," Donnie called softly, "You can come back in now."

Leo attempted to climb to his feet before sinking back down. His leg had fallen asleep. Donnie lifted Leo's arm over his shoulders and slowly helped him to his feet. Leo limped into the lab area. The green, grassy form of Raph lay on a couple of hay bales and beside him, looking like a pile of mulch in overalls, was the Creep.

"Is it dead?" Leo asked.

"In as much as it was ever alive," Donnie replied, "The mutagen in the medicine was failed retro-mutagen. I turned it into a cure, like with the shell-acne for Mikey. It worked like mutagen works, but probably not with the same sort of potency."

"Just enough to make the Creep?"

"It combined with the swamp water and plants," Donnie said, "It was alive, but it had a limited sentience."

"So how do we get back Raph's mutagen?"

"I've separated it from the swamp water," Donnie said, "The swamp water boiled away and left the mutagen. I can pump the mutagen back into Raph through this IV tube."

Donnie held up the tubing proudly. Leo grinned at the expression on Donnie's face. He knew it all too well after successes with inventions and serums that didn't blow up the Lair.

Leo sat down and watched Donnie work. He must have drifted off again because the next thing he knew Donnie was examining the fresh wounds on Leo's arms and legs.

"Will I live?" Leo asked sleepily. Donnie looked at him with an angry stare usually reserved for Mikey.

"You could have gotten killed," Donnie said, "Or ended up back in the tub."

"I couldn't let him hurt any of you," Leo said, "In any other situation, we would have been prepared, but we didn't know what was out there."

"I know," Donnie said, "More of my mistake. If only I hadn't made that medicine."

"Hey, it was a good idea," Leo said, "Just a poor execution. Besides, I'm the one who dropped it so half the blame goes on me."

Donnie gave a weak smile and began to examine Leo's leg more closely. When Leo hissed at his touch on a tender spot, Donnie frowned.

"Let me get something on this," he said. He dug through his box and pulled out a roll of gauze and some ointment. Leo shifted his gaze around the barn. He applauded how much Donnie had been able to put together on perhaps even less than they usually found in the sewers. The hay bales were piled up against the wall and a table with a number of beakers bubbled and fizzed with activity. Beside the table, Leo saw Mikey and April curled up next to each other. Casey was passed out on the haystacks above them. As Donnie passed, he bent down and gently shifted her away from Mikey. Then he covered her in an old quilt, which he fingered with a familiarity that Leo wondered at. Donnie caught Leo staring at him as he came over.

"Mikey has had nightmares," Donnie explained, "The last one was a few weeks ago, but tonight was pretty rough for him."

Leo nodded. "It must have been tough for everyone."

Donnie only nodded back and bandaged Leo's leg. Leo gave him a long look of curiosity.

"Donnie, about our disagreement," Leo began.

"I'm sorry," Donnie interrupted, "I'm sorry I fought you. You were right. If I had just done what you said, everything would have been fine."

"Well, I should have come to expect that from you," Leo said, "Why should that have changed in three months?"

"What are you talking about?" Donnie asked.

"I was talking about disagreeing with you tonight," Leo said, "What are you talking about?" And then everything clicked. Donnie looked down in embarrassment.

"I know why you divided us up the way you did," Donnie said, "No sense teaming the two sensible ones and the two wild ones together to try to function. We needed to have a balance. It's a decision I would have made too, if I had been thinking clearer."

They were both silent for a moment. At last, Leo stood up and limped up to Donnie, staring up into his eyes.

"Donnie, what all has been happening while I was unconscious," Leo said, "Raph wouldn't tell me much. I think he was more focused on me getting back in shape."

Donnie didn't answer.

"You've been in charge, haven't you," Leo said. It wasn't a question and Donnie nodded.

"We didn't know what to do," Donnie said, "We went back to the lair and…I just wanted to do what you said we should do. So we packed up as much as we could and got out of town."

"And what about the Turtle Mech?" Leo asked. Donnie flinched visibly and seemed to shrink.

"We used it," Donnie answered, "And you were right, it wasn't ready. It was able to stop Kraang Prime, but only for a moment."

"I'm glad," Leo said. Donnie looked at him in surprise.

"I thought you hated the Turtle Mech idea?" said Donnie.

"Well, you know how I feel about technology versus traditional ninjutsu," Leo said, "But I'm glad because I see now how right you were too."

"But it was mistake," Donnie said. Leo smiled at the tone.

"Do you really want me to lecture you?" Leo asked, "Because I think you've lectured yourself enough all these months we've been here."

Donnie bowed his head.

"Donnie, you were thinking about defense," Leo said, "You always do. That's why you wanted to stay. You knew that if the Kraang invaded, April, Kirby, Casey and everyone wouldn't have any defense."

"But you wanted to defend it too," Donnie said, determined to paint his brother in the best light, "You said that having a second base outside the city was the way to go."

"Except what neither of us knew was finding the Lair was what the Kraang wanted to start the invasion," Leo said, "My plan was to leave and tell no one we were gone. That way no one could get any information out of them. But the Foot would have singled April out. Then April would have gone to the Lair for safety. The Kraang would have invaded and we wouldn't have been able to save anyone."

Donnie blinked and Leo smiled.

"We both made mistakes, Donnie," Leo said, "Master Splinter told us to forget about our egos. If we'd listened, we could have planned together instead of against each other."

Donnie ran a hand over his eyes. Leo placed an arm around Donnie.

"I am still really sorry about what I said about you leading us into disaster," Donnie said hoarsely.

"Let's forget about it," Leo said, "You've more than made up for it since then, I think. I'm glad you were left in charge."

"Well, it wasn't by choice," Donnie said, "I just sort of took over."

"Do you want to know a secret?" Leo asked, "Sensei made me leader because I asked to be leader. I wanted to be responsible for everyone. But I've always looked to you as, I don't know, a second-in-command, I guess. Yeah, the technology thing drives me nuts, but without it, we couldn't have a chance in a lot of situations. So yeah, Donnie, you've always supported me when it's been right. And I wouldn't have wanted anyone else in charge."

Donnie's face looked pleased slightly.

"So, second-in-command," Leo said, sounding official now, "I'd like to be briefed on these last three months."

Donnie gave a laugh and stood up. He walked over to his desk and flipped on a small coffee maker.

"Tea or coffee?"Donnie asked. Leo laughed.

"We've got a long night," Leo said, "Do we have enough coffee?"

"Oh yeah," Donnie said. The machine beeped and Donnie poured two cups and started another batch. He fixed Leo's cup just the way he liked it and Leo took a grateful sip. Then he looked at Donnie.

"So," he said, "What did you do?"

*()()()*

Have your own idea about the 3 months away? Send me a PM and share it with me. I may be able to use it.