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AN: First of all, thank you to all of the people who reviewed the first chapter! This and the next two chapters were already written when I posted it, and I will post the third chapter fairly soon. I just want to finish chapter 5 first. Again, I do not own the turtles or any other characters from the show. However, I do own Dr. Klaas, the geneticist at O'Neil Tech, and the concept of the DNA Reader, and the basic plot.
The Birth Order Effect II
"Doesn't he seem a little—out of sorts—to you?" Starly had joined Cody and the turtle genius in the genetics lab where Donatello was feverishly testing the machine with all of the different blood samples the lab held. She and the boy genius were standing beside the cluster of tubes in the center of the room, watching their companion.
"You've noticed?" Cody rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I thought it was just me."
"He's kind of—creeping me out," Starly wrinkled her blue nose in disgust when Donatello knocked a rack of test tubes over in his excitement, spilling the contents. "Perhaps we should intervene?"
"He is just excited," Dr. Klaas stood up from the computer where he had been taking inventory and joined his employer and the young intern. "But, I can attempt to speak to him about his rather, erratic, behavior if you wish so, sir."
"Oh," Cody watched his friend in trepidation. "I suppose he's all right. I can't imagine what it must be like, wondering something your entire life and then finally being able to receive answers."
Suddenly, the shell cell in Cody's back pocket went off and the boy jumped, snatching it up and flipping it open. After glancing curiously at the caller ID, he put the phone to his ear. "Hey, Leo, what's up?"
"What's up?!" The clearly exasperated turtle demanded. "Have you any idea how long you've been gone? Where is Donatello? I want to speak with him! Is he with you? Is he still obsessing over this whole DNA thing? When are you getting back? And why on earth—?"
"Leo, hold up!" Cody had pulled the phone a few inches from his ear at the onslaught of questions. "Relax! We're fine! Donnie's right here. He's been a little, preoccupied, is all."
Leo grumbled something before replying. "I don't care if you have to drag him away from that *#%& machine, just GET HERE!"
Cody pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at it in disbelief after the shrill dial tone informed him Leonardo had hung up. "Uh, he says 'hi'."
"Yeah," Starly was also staring at the phone in disbelief. "We heard." Dr. Klaas was making notes on his clipboard as if he had found the whole exchange amusing. Very few people, er, beings, in this case, would dare speak to the CEO of O'Neil Tech in such a way. He wished he could meet this "Leo" person.
"Uh, Donnie?" Cody called out to his friend with no response. "We have to head back now. Leo's pretty ticked that we aren't back yet, so . . . Uh, Donnie? Didja hear me?"
"Hm?" Donatello glanced up and smiled at Cody, although he kept glancing back at the computer, clearly irritated by the interruption. "Did you say something, Cody?"
"Uh, yeah," Cody continued, glancing at Starly, who shrugged, for support. "Your brother just chewed me out and if we don't leave like right now I think he might actually come here and physically drag us both back."
Donnie blinked and glanced at the clock on the wall, realizing with a start just how late it was getting. "Ah, shell! Leo's gonna kill me!" He snatched up the messenger bag at his feet, snatched a shell-shocked Cody's hand, and sprinted for the door, yelling back over his shoulder. "Thanks for letting me examine the machine, Dr. Klaas! Sorry to rush out on you! My brother has this thing about punctuality!"
The two geniuses hurried down the hallway, the turtle still dragging the human behind him. "I can't believe it!" Donnie was gushing as they turned down a hallway and he slapped the button for the elevator. "After all these years, I will finally know!"
"That's gre—" Cody began.
"Oh, how I have waited for this day!" Donnie giggled like a school girl who had just received a flirtatious look from her crush. "Now we'll be able to celebrate our real birthdays!"
"Elevator's here!" Cody sing-songed, grabbing Donnie's wrist and dragging him inside the cabin. "Let's head back! Serling's probably worried sick too!"
Donatello fell silent, a goofy grin on his face, as his mind drifted to the highly advanced genetics lab he had spent all morning and a good portion of the afternoon at. He didn't even flinch when the elevator dinged open at the rooftop hangar's floor and Cody dragged him out, yelling something about supper.
The two geniuses sprinted for their HoverShell and leapt inside, gearing up the engines for the relatively short, but far too long for their tastes, flight home.
TMNT TMNT TMNT TMNT TMNT
Both Leonardo and Serling were standing there waiting for them as their ship landed and they hopped out. Serling was holding a plate he was currently polishing and Leonardo stood on one leg with his arms crossed over his plastron, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Donatello cringed inwardly as he bowed his head and shuffled over to his brother, preparing himself for a lecture.
Cody followed his fellow genius's example, hurrying forward and beaming up at his temperamental, high-maintenance robot guardian. "Master Cody," the robot began, his "mouth" lighting up as he spoke, "I assume you are aware of the time, correct?"
Cody gulped and nodded slowly. He glanced over to see that Leonardo had pulled Donatello a few feet away as he delivered his lecture. The slightly smaller turtle stood staring at the metal rooftop, toeing at a slightly loose panel. Cody was jerked back to reality when a metal hand clamped down on his arm and led him toward the shack-like structure with the elevator. Cody knew resisting was useless as he glanced back once more at his friend before the robot pulled him into the elevator.
Donnie was only half-listening by the time Leonardo had finished, copying Serling and gripping his brother's arm, dragging him toward the elevator. Donatello went without argument, wondering to himself how much worse his brother might get if it turned out he really was the eldest. Sensei, and even Donnie and his other two brothers, had always seen Leonardo as the eldest, although it was never explicitly stated, as well as seeing Michelangelo as the youngest. Raph liked to think that he was older than Donnie, although the smaller turtle was always quick to point out they had no way of knowing.
Until now. Donnie wondered just what the results of the testing might show. Then a thought struck him.
He decided right then and there that if it turned out Mikey was the oldest, he'd lie and fudge the test papers. Even picturing Mikey as the "big brother" was giving him a migraine.
His thoughts were interrupted when the elevator doors dinged open and Leonardo, who had not released his arm as of yet, dragged him through the dark hallways in the house towards the main living area.
Mikey was sitting on the ground in the middle of the room, legs crossed and a bored expression on his face. Master Splinter was sitting in front of the television; apparently, there was a marathon of his favorite soap opera on.
Leo dragged Donnie over to Mikey and forced him down, pointing at their brother, who raised his brow ridges in a silent question. Donnie sighed as he copied Mikey's posture. "You are not to move until I say so." Leo ordered sternly, before turning on his heel and marching out the doorway.
Don sighed and let his head fall into his hands. "So, what exactly did you do to deserve this punishment?"
Mikey sighed and raised his eyes to stare vacantly at his brother. "Master Splinter caught me playing my portable version of Helix 2 after he'd told me no videogames." Donnie raised his brow ridges at that. "Whaaat? Portable games aren't videogames!"
Donnie rolled his eyes and scanned the room, looking for his third brother. "Where's Raph?" He asked after his thorough search yielded no results.
Mikey shrugged. "Haven't seen him since Leo dragged him out by the bandana tails a few hours ago." The brow ridges went up again. "I think it had something to do with chess."
Donnie groaned, suddenly feeling sympathy for his "eldest" brother. No wonder he was so moody. "Another game? Hasn't Raph learned that he just can't beat Leo at strategy without dumb luck?"
"Hey!" Mikey protested. "I tripped while dodging one of Cody's kicks! So, technically, it's his fault!"
Donnie sighed and rubbed his chin. He watched the door for a moment, thinking to himself. "Hey, Mikey, if I go find Raph, will you cover for me?"
Mikey raised his brow ridges. "Cover for ya? Exactly how'm I suppose' ta do that, Don? It's not like we're in bed and I can shove a few pillows under the blankets."
Donnie groaned. "I don't know. Something just tells me Raph could use a little assistance." His eyes pleaded with Mikey. "I'll be right back."
Mikey shrugged, clearly depressed with no videogames to play. "Sure, whatever. But when Leo kicks yer shell because ya left, don't ask me ta bail you out. You're on your own."
Donnie grinned slyly. "I can feel the love." He affectionately rubbed the top of his brother's head before hopping to his feet and disappearing out the doorway to the rest of the home, although not without scanning the hallways for his brother first.
Satisfied that Leonardo was nowhere in sight, he set off down the hall in search of his hotheaded brother. If Raphael had said or done something to put their "warden" over the edge, who knows what the turtle may have done with him, assuming he'd done anything at all.
Donnie's thoughts were beginning to drift back to the genetics lab on their own accord when he heard mumbling and the sounds of struggling coming from a closet he had just passed by. Donatello paused with one foot in midair before backtracking to said closet, grasping the handle and flinging it open.
The sight that met him had him feeling both shocked and highly amused at the same time. Raphael was trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey while dangling from a metal hook situated into a shelf in the large walk-in closet, a washcloth shoved in his mouth apparently serving as a gag.
Donatello stared at him for a moment, his mouth twitching into a smile. His dark green brother glared at him and mumbled something through the washcloth, wriggling his arms and causing his body to bounce as if he were bungee jumping. Donatello slipped into the closet, his mouth still threatening to slip into a smile, as he approached his brother. The rope that had been used to tie him up with was strong, far too strong for Donnie to cut with scissors.
After staring at the thick rope for a few agonizing moments (to Raphael; Donatello, however, was thoroughly entertained), he peered down at his brother as he reached down and yanked the washcloth from his mouth. "Mind telling me what happened?" He asked, amusement still evident in his voice.
Raphael hacked and wagged his tongue around for a minute before blinking up at his brother. "Apparently, when Fearless says the last game, he means the last game."
Donatello raised his brow ridges at that before stepping back, folding his arms over his plastron. "I could have told you that."
Raphael rolled his eyes before wriggling his shoulders and growling. "Will ya quit grinnin' like a loony an' get ma down from here already?"
Donatello pinched the end of his beak in thought. "Tell me, Raph. How much would it mean to you if I were to get ya down?"
"Eh?"
"What's it worth to you?"
Raph blinked a few times before growling. "Brainiac, are ya tryin' ta blackmail me?"
Donnie's grin turned mischievous, sending a chill down the larger, currently helpless, turtle's spine. "And if I am?"
Raph grumbled something under his breath before sighing. "Jus' ferget it. I'll jus' wait fer Fearless to come get me. He ain't gonna leave me here ferever." Right? He thought in the back of his mind.
"I dunno, Raphie," Donnie tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Leo seemed pretty peeved. Besides, who's ta say he even remembers puttin' you in here?"
Raph's eyes widened for half a second before he growled again. "Now you're jus' tryin' ta scare me."
Donnie chuckled darkly, shrugging. "If you say so. But, let me warn you. Leo kind of put me in 'time out,' so, technically, I shouldn't even be here. And I'm not comin' back if you suddenly decide to change your mind. It's now or never."
Raph sighed, clearly defeated. Then his eyes narrowed. "I got yer price." His eyes glinted dangerously.
Donnie blinked in surprise, wondering if he'd said something wrong. "Yes?"
Raph grinned evilly. "You get me down from here, and I won't tell Fearless ya were up an' about when yer weren't suppose' ta be."
Dang it! Why had he told Raph that? Donnie sighed heavily. "All right, you win. Just give me a second to find something to cut you down with."
Raph's eyes widened when he caught a glimpse of something behind his now deep-in-thought brother. "Uh, Don?"
"Not now, Raph," Donnie shushed him. "I'm trying to think."
"Donnie!" Raph hissed, staring wide-eyed at the shadow behind his brother, desperately hoping it wasn't who he thought it was.
"For pete sake's, Raph!" Donnie grumbled. "I can't think with you yammerin' at me. If I don't hurry up and get back, Leo's gonna—"
"I'm going to what?" Donnie froze at the voice, slowly turning and plastering a huge grin on his face. Now he mentally slapped himself for ignoring his brother's desperate attempts to warn him. "Uh, h-hey, Leo! What's up?"
"Have I ever told you how much I despise that question?" Leo grumbled before stepping into the room and eying his clearly terrified brother. "I find it odd to find you here when I was just coming to free Raphael."
Donnie rubbed the back of his neck nervously, wondering how many ways Leo could kill him while they were in a dark closet with the only nearby help being his still trussed up brother. "Heh, imagine that. Must have been sleep walking. I'll just go back to—"
"Hold," Leo froze his brother in place with that one word. "Don't move." Donnie flinched when he saw his brother withdraw his katana, the blade slicing against the sheath as it emerged. He squeezed his eyes shut, wondering if it would hurt . . .
A loud crash, then, "OW!" Donnie's eyes flew open and he stared down at his now fallen brother. With another expert swing of his katana, Leo slashed his brother's bindings neatly and sheathed his katana once again.
"Thanks fer the warnin'," Raph muttered darkly as he wriggled out of his bindings and scrambled to his feet, teetering dangerously. Leo grabbed his shoulders and hustled him out of the room, jerking his head at Donatello without even looking back.
I am so dead, Donnie thought to himself as he followed his brothers down the hallway, back to the main living area.
Mikey glanced up at their approach, smirking when he saw Raph being shepherded by a clearly peeved Leo followed by a sheepish Donnie. He cast a glance at his purple clad brother, who shot him a warning look that clearly said "Not in the mood."
"Long time no see, Raphie-boy," Mikey grinned cheekily up at his hotheaded brother, who was still unsteady on his feet due to their being wrapped so tightly for so long. "Where ya been?"
"Shuddup, Mikey," Raph grumbled, pulling away from Leo and collapsing heavily to the ground beside his still grinning evilly brother.
"Whatsa matta, Raphie-boy?" Mikey continued his taunting. "Feeling a little humbled?"
Raph growled and would have tackled his annoying sibling if his feet weren't still prickling from the blood once again flowing through them. Not to mention he had a pounding headache from hanging upside-down for so long. If he wasn't a turtle, he swore he'd be beet red. As it was, his cheeks were flushed a little pink, although the color was slowly fading.
Leo turned around and eyed Donnie, who was staring at the ground with interest. "Donatello," the blue clad turtle practically growled.
Donnie visibly winced as he reluctantly met his sibling's hard gaze. "I don't suppose a simple 'I'm sorry' will cut it?"
Leo sighed and rolled his eyes, reaching up to massage his temples. "Where is your laptop?"
The question was so sudden and so unexpected that Donatello had barely processed the implications of such a question before he found himself answering, "Sitting on the desk over there."
Leonardo shot him once last death glare before trotting over to said desk and scooping up the laptop. "Uh, L-Leo?" The suddenly anxious turtle asked, his nervousness making him stutter. "Wh-What are you d-doing?"
"I am confiscating your personal computer," his brother replied coldly and emotionlessly. "Clearly, you see nothing wrong in not only missing your curfew by nearly a full hour but then disobeying a direct, and very simple, order." Donatello winced inwardly. Why had he thought Raph was worth it? "Therefore, I am keeping this until further notice." With that said, Leo disappeared out the doorway with Donatello's baby tucked under his arm, muttering something about chess and irresponsible, bleep, obnoxious, bleep, annoying, bleep little brothers!
Donnie decided to pretend he hadn't heard all of those expletives being applied to him. Leonardo wasn't usually one to use foul language, but he threw all caution to shell when he was pissed off.
Well, he supposed it could have been worse.
"Ya do realize, Donnie," a certain red clad turtle interrupted his genius brother's thoughts. "He's totally gonna kick yer shell in training tonight."
Mikey groaned. "He's gonna kick all our shells, just mostly Donnie's."
"Oh, ha ha," Donnie grumbled as he joined his brothers on the floor. "Now what?"
"Now?" The three ninjas jumped as their sensei appeared behind them, hands resting on his walking stick as he surveyed them in amusement. "We train."
All three of his sons groaned. And now the butt whooping began.
AN: I hope everybody enjoyed reading this chapter as much as I did writing it. Again, the third chapter will be posted soon. And, in case anybody thinks Leo is majorly OOC, there is a reason for that, which will be revealed in the next chapter. Until next update, thank you for reading! And, of course, the more reviews I get, the faster I'll update! And, constructive criticism is much appreciated, although please do be nice. We authors do have our self-esteems.
