A/N: I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all the support you've given me. You guys are the absolute BEST! :D
Chapter 1: Sapphire
The first thing I'm aware of is the slow, steady, burning pain. It beckons to me, pulling me from the deep unconsciousness I've somehow fallen into. My eyelids slowly force themselves to open and it's a moment before I realize where I am.
But when I do, I'm suddenly wide awake. I jerk against the metal cuffs holding me to the lab table. "No. No, no, no. Not here."
"Saph?"
A voice, though rougher than normal, but still familiar. The string of panicked words lodges in my throat.
Leo sits against the far wall of the lab, chains binding his wrists and ankles to the ground. His body is bruised and beaten, and streaks of blood have stained his plastron red, but all I can think about is how happy I am to see him awake - to see him alive.
"What happened?" I ask quietly. "My memory is kind of foggy."
The leader's face creases in a grimace and he shifts, trying to get more comfortable. "Tiger Claw used me as bait to find the Lair, took out Donnie and Raph, and almost killed Mikey. Splinter came out of his room to see what the commotion was about, and bought me just enough time to make sure the others were okay. And then Tiger Claw found you - and seemed very interested in you, for some reason -, held a gun to Splinter's head, and forced the two of us to come with him back to Shredder's old lair."
A curse slips from my mouth and I squeeze my eyes shut, willing my headache to go away. There's only one possible explanation for why the giant cat was so interested in me. And that means that I'm in major trouble.
"Leo, there's something I need to-"
"Well, well, well. Look who's awake."
My blood runs cold as a dark-haired, brown-skinned man steps into my limited field of vision. "Baxter Stockman."
Stockman beams. "At least you can get my name right. Everyone else is so challenged by the pronunciation. Anyway, did you have a nice nap?"
"Oh, yes. I'm assuming the headache is just a bonus?"
"An unfortunate side effect to the procedure, I'm afraid. It will leave you feeling weak and possibly nauseous, so please, if you must vomit, do so in the other direction. I would rather not get my new lab coat dirty."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Leo interrupts from across the room. "What do you mean by procedure?"
The scientist makes an offhand gesture, clicking his tongue. "Really, it's very complicated to explain. But if you necessarily need to know, I'm draining the serum from her blood."
My face drains of color. No.
"What serum?" the blue-banded turtle presses, nearly growling.
"You didn't tell him?" Stockman asks me in surprise. Then, "No, of course you didn't tell him. Hate to ruin the...ah...mood, wouldn't you?"
"I was going to, but I...you know what? It doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that his brothers are going to get here and kick your sorry butt." The words don't come out nearly as fierce as I'd hoped.
"Unfortunately for you, his brothers are incapacitated at the moment. My compatriot dealt them all quite heavy blows. It could take days to recover. And by the time they arrive, well...you won't be of much use to anyone." A small, cold smile appears on Stockman's face and he tugs on the IV stuck in the crook of my elbow. "In the meantime, I'd best be going. The situation between you two is pretty awkward right now, considering the fact that you hid something this massive from your ninja boyfriend. But the good news is that you'll get the chance to clear the air before...you know."
The man fairly skips from the lab, humming a little tune to himself. I don't even have to look to know that Leo's cobalt gaze is planted squarely on me.
"Saph...what was he talking about? Does this have anything to do with Tiger Claw's sudden fascination with you?"
It has everything to do with Tiger Claw's sudden fascination with me, but I can't tell him. Not yet. Later, I promise myself.
"Look, it's...it's a really long story, and my head is hurting too badly to explain it all right now, okay?"
He's silent for a moment. Then he exhales, shaking his head. "Fine. I'm going to find a way out of here, and then you're explaining everything once we get back home."
"Fair enough." Because hopefully by then, I'll have come up with a convincing lie.
At least, a lie that will hold out long enough that I can put my plan into motion.
