Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT or make any money from it. This just for fun.

"Tainted Blood": Chapter 3

Tick…tock…tick…tock.

Donatello groaned, the faint annoying sound continued to drone off someplace in the distance. He's waken up to bad headaches before, and this one appeared no different. He reached up carefully to sooth his throbbing forehead; letting out a yelp at a sudden tug on his wrist. Recoiling, he abruptly ceased his movements. From what he could feel, his limbs were bound immobile, accompanied by firmly wrapped bandages throughout most of his body.

Last he remembered he was with his brothers in Agent Bishop's lab getting the shell beat out of them by his warped clones. There was this silvery substance spreading, a fire started, and Mikey was—Mikey!! Memories from before came flashing back like a splash of cold water. Their youngest brother had been in trouble.

Concern lifting the remaining clouds in his head, he scanned the new interior for the orange wearing ninja. Michelangelo lay not too far away on the floor next to him. His limbs were confined in a similar fashion, gauze and bandages included. The ticking sound came from a small clock on a table next to him. Curious, Donnie lifted his head from the floor to get a better visual of their surroundings.

Raph and Leo lay just past him and Mikey. Unconscious but otherwise okay. As for the room, the words 'plain, dull, and ordinary' came to mind. Nothing really seemed to fill it aside from the table, clock, small window, and chip-painted walls.

"Mikey.", he whispered, rolling to side best he could to not irritate his raw burns beneath the wrappings.

"Mikey wake up."

"…huh…what…what happened?" he slurred.

"We've been shanghaied. How do you feel?"

"Stiff…achy. Where are we?"

"I don't know. This doesn't look like Bishop's place."

"Hospitality's still the same." Mikey moaned, fidgeting against his bindings. It was evident that the turtle was still waking up. With the amount of white patches he gave close the appearance of a mummy.

Donnie sighed, "…might as well get used to it. At least until we can—"

A sudden noise from behind the closed door caused the purple clad turtle to become fully alert once more. Murmuring could be heard from the other side; sounds of perhaps furniture being moved around soon to follow.

Mikey perked up at the commotion as well, trying to place it. They could hear people talking in what must be another room. Muffled words came through in small clusters.

"maybe…one here…if we…won't look…there…much…'

"Leo perhaps I…change…they…be old."

"We'll…to wait…give…to…prepare. Don't want…happen Donnie."

Mike turned toward his brother who reflected back the same confused look. Who are these people? Do they work for Bishop?

"..check…see if…can't…an infection…"

Light foot falls drew towards their door, the brothers' eyes widening as they came closer. Time seemed to slow down. The tiny jingling of the doorknob took only a few moments to creak open the only separation between the new arrival and the turtles. Mike's eyes remained glued to the slowly swaying open door, feeling cool air from the other side reach his face. His vision finally caught up with the occupant starring down at him. He did the only rational thing his brain would allow him.

He screamed.

Donatello winced; personally glad that his brother was already on the floor else he would have flipped himself out of a chair. He got into a sitting position when finally the figure came into full view. What he saw sent him slack jawed.

'What the shell?'

Green skin. Hard shell. Purple bandana? How is that…?

Don felt his shell hit the floor again as his own scream left his mouth and joined his brother's. It was himself! Th-that person standing in the doorway was him.

'How is that humanly possible?!'

"Wait, you'll ruin your dressings.", the Don look-alike protested. It swiftly caught Mikey pulling himself across the wooden floor; his attempt to get away scratching up his bandages.

"Calm down shell-for-brains. You're just making this harder." It flinched as Mikey then screamed louder, causing both Raph and Leo to awaken. The whole room seemed to come alive with the blaring screams.

"You're…you're…" the blue masked one couldn't form words. His confused head kept switching between the two purple clad turtles.

"I'm Donatello." Don look-alike introduced. A med kit sat not too far away in the doorway. One hand still restraining the flustered Mikey, the other reached back to retrieve it.

"I'm honestly surprised the movements you made didn't tear back open your wounds Mikey." More gauze in hand, the turtle looked back at him. "You really should be more careful."

Poor Mikey appeared like he was going to hyperventilate. His real brother lay right across from him, not this imposter. Wetting his lips a little, he tried his best to get over his initial shock.

"…um..I got a newsflash for you turtle from the twilight zone. You're not Donatello."

The new turtle gave a small grin, cocking its head to the side to stare fully at the trembling ninja in its grasp.

"And what would give you that impression, Michelangelo?"

"Well, one, he's right over there. And two…you're a girl."

AN: It sucks I know, but I'm feeling sick today. I was going to rewrite it like I did the last chapter but I thought screw it. I couldn't think of anything to add or fix. (You can only re-read over it so many times, and my brain hurts. A bets reader may be nice…) It's incredibly short and has female turtles (dun dun dun). But I'm giving it a twist and probably not have anything romantic happen between them and the guys. Perhaps a slight chance…but not in this story.

Oh—and belated happy new years!!