Welcome back, hope you enjoy the next chapter sorry for the late update.

I don't own TMNT

Chapter 4

Donny's P.O.V

"What's going on guys" asked Mikey energetically as he bounded over to where his two brothers were sitting whispering on the couch.

"Quiet Mickey" Raph scolded "we're talking about something important, go back to your video game"

"No way dude, I want in" scooting closer, Mikey grabbed a pillow hugging it against his chest, widening his big puppy brown eyes and leaned in

"Ok Mikey' Donny sighed realizing that they couldn't keep their little brother in the dark forever. "We're waiting for Leo..he's got something he needs to explain"

Mickeys eyes widened "is this about what's got him all weirded out?"

"Yeah we hope so Mikey" Raph sighed. Donny saw Mikey open his mouth ask another question but before he could do so Leo stepped out of the kitchen.

"Hey guys I'm calling a family meeting" Donny watched Leo unfold his arms to rub the back of his head "there's something I need to tell you..something I should have told you a long time ago"

The three brothers exchanged a look before heading into the kitchen. Donny tensed up when he looked over the elaborate display Leo had laid out on the table, if Donny didn't know better he would have thought Leo was briefing them on a mission or some Krang intel. Donny sighed inwardly Leo was a leader through and through, if this is how he wanted to handle this Donny wasn't going to protest. Whatever Leo needed to do in order to open up was fine with him. But then he felt a shiver go down his spine when he realized he recognized the notes. These were the notes they had taken from Stockman's lab! Donny felt his mind reeling as he tried to assemble the pieces, it had been after the mission that Leo had started acting weird. Did Leo's secret have something to do with what was in these notes? Donnie had a sudden urge to run forward and grab the notes, he had read them last night, but none of it had made sense! He was silently cursing himself for not paying closer attention. When Mikey and Donny entered the room, he felt Raph tensen beside him, and he could tell his two brothers were as baffled and worried as he was at the sight.

"I think you guys should take a seat" Leo said evenly from his place at the front of the table, his hands were out in front of him like he was physically bracing himself for the conversation.

"What's this about Leo" Raph asked after he'd taken a seat. Donny saw Leo look over at Raph, his eyes silently pleading, it was as if he was asking his brother for something; but Donny didn't know what, patience? understanding?

With a deep sigh Leo began "I don't think we should go up to the surface for a while..any of us..Stockman is working on something..something dangerous...and i think i know what it is" Leo's direction took Donny by surprise.

"Bro" Mikey chimed in, clearly unaware of the gravity of the situation, "we've battled squilioids, Krang, foot, been across the galaxy. Whatever bug brain is up to I know we can handle it"

Leo shook his head "trust me on this one Mikey". The comment sent a shiver through Donny as if the simple comment held much more meaning than just a simple warning to their fun loving brother. "Donny have you been able to make sense of Stockman's notes at all?" Donny shook his head to clear it maybe this was just a team meeting after all? "Not much leo. it looks as if Stockman is trying to recreate a formula invented by brilliant mastermind Nijal Peirce's" Donny couldn't help but notice Leo flinch as he said the name "peirce was a brilliant but half psychotic biologist who had gone rogue experimenting with mutagen..his last project the one Stockman is interested in, has something to do with electricity."

"So this Peirce dude made another mutant" asked Mickey from across the table.

"Ah no Mikey, from what I read from Stockman's notes, Pierce wasn't making anything he was merely experimenting with lifeforms and electricity. He had five test subjects all of them mutants amphibians of some kind..I don't know much about them. The lab was destroyed in the fire, the super serum Piece was able to create from the research destroyed, I honestly don't know why Stockman is pursuing this, without the subjects or the serum he had nothing to go off of."

"Ok, so why are we talking about a project that we just destroyed, and a scientist who conducted some sort of experiment years ago..when what we should be talking about is whatever your keeping from us Leo"

"Raph"

"You promised Leo!"

Leo let out a sigh, pointing to a page on the table full of maps and drawings Leo continued. "Because Raph, Peirce conducted that experiment hear not so long ago in the sewers" Donny couldn't help catch how Leo spit out the name "What Pierce created was a serum that generated electricity in the blood on a cellular basis, it runs through the bloodstream of whoever it is injected into, if Shredder gets a hold of this research he will be able to create a supper army Raph, a supper army"

"Chillax Leo, like Donnie said before the serum was destroyed in the fire"

"No Raph not all of it" Leo took a struggling breath "Peirce used mutant DNA to create the serum"

Donny shook his head slowly while he put a reassuring hand on his older brother's shoulder "it took Pierce years to find the right DNA in order to make the serum Leo, the balance is tricky, there is only one mutant who holds that DNA"

"See Leo, nothing to worry about, the serum's gone, Stockman can't make it.."

Leo shook his head "no Raph your w...wrong" he heard Leo's voice crack as he seemed to waiver "yesterday's mission was the second time..I've destroyed that Intel Donnie...Raph you said this mission was a success..and compared to last time it was..this time no off you got hurt.."

Donny pulled back his hand in shock, stunned by the direction the conversation was heading. "I did everything I could to make sure that Pierce couldn't hurt you any of you, I didn't mean to cause the fire...I just meant to get you to safety, if it destroys the lab in the process it was fine by me" leo staggered evidently growing weary from the outburst.."the serum isn't gone Raph, that's why we need to stay here..at least for awhile..at least until I have a plan..because…"Leo closed his eyes and took a breath as if willing himself to continue "because..as long as blood is flowing through my veins Stockman has the ability to re-create the serum" Donny stood there floored, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. No it can't be! He started rambling through the notes on the table, he couldn't believe what he was seeing, the notes that had been like a closed door to him before were suddenly open and confirming Leo's story.

" " Donny looked up to see Raph bound over the table to grab Leo into a hug, squeezing his brother like he was suddenly afraid that he'd lose him if he let go. Mikey was instantly at Leo's other side, also trying to take their older brother into their arms. The trio slowly sank to the floor as Leo finally lost his composure, overwhelmed by his brothers show of concern he allowed himself to be consoled in their arms.

"W..what'd they do to you bro?" asked Raph as he pulled out of the hug so he sat an arms distance away from Leo, his hand still on his shoulder. Leo with a teary Mikey clinging to his side began rubbing tears from his eyes. "It was a long time ago Raph..I'm fine"

"No your not fine!" Raph yelled as his blood pressure visibly rose to a boiling point "you were abducted by an evil scientist"

"L..loe" Donny said after a moment eyes glued to the paper in front of him "who were in the other cages?"

"What?" asked Mikey as he slightly uncurled from his place under Leo's left arm.

"Peirce had four other mutants, the notes said they were all the same species and age..they weren't experimented on..but they were there" Donny looked up to see the pain radiate through Leo. "I promise Peirce never hurt you…you didn't have the right DNA" Donny let himself slide down and sit across from his brothers, he saw the tears Leo had been holding in start to fall as he continued. "you weren't there long..only a day..and then I got you out..I'm so sorry.."

"Leo" Donny reached over to put a hand on his shoulder.

"I don't remember this" Raph stared blankly "we were lab rats too?"

"You didn't have the right DNA, you were only backups..Peirce found you guys in the sewers a few days after he found me..you were probably looking for me...he never did any tests on you guys"

"I don't remember" Raph whispered as Leo's earlier words registered in his head, "you wouldn't understand, things have happened things you don't remember things you don't want to remember!"

"An electrical blast knocked us out during the fire...splinter found us and brought us home..when I woke up three days later...splinter talked to me" leo choked "you'd forgotten the last few days..because of the electricity" leo shook his head "I guess I was glad you forgot, you shouldn't have to remember..."

Donnie couldn't hold himself back any longer he threw his arms around Leo, letting his tears overtake him as he held onto his big brother.

TBC

Apologies for the scientific mess ups, and slight angst.