Chapter 4: DON'S PLEA

Splinter led his sons along the rooftops of New York City. They all knew this way; it was how they always went to April's if the Battle Shell wasn't up to it.

Leo, Raph and Mikey struggled to keep up with their Sensei, old as he was. They had never seen him run this fast and it worried them.

True, Donatello was often sidetracked with his thoughts, but he would never be gone this long without calling. It just wasn't like Donny. They came to the alley across from April's shop and climbed down from the rooftop.

They decided not to bother April or Casey. They'd only worry, especially April, who was very close to Don. They searched the alley for clues. It didn't take long; apparently the Foot didn't bother to clean up when they were finished.

"Guys!" Michelangelo said, "Look, its Donny's keyboard, the one I wrecked."

Then something else caught his eye, "And this is…" Mikey hesitated,

"His Bo." Leo finished for him, as he looked around. "This isn't good,"

he said picking something up off the ground.

"What the heck are those?" Raph asked, staring at what seemed to be flattened ping-pong balls lying in Leo's hand.

"Knock-out gas." Leo shuddered at the thought.

"Donatello is in grave danger and we must find him quickly," said Splinter, trying to stay calm.

Raphael, however, decided that "calm" was out of the question.

"I'm gonna get whoever took Donny and…I'll…I'll," Raph trailed off as Splinter touched his shoulder gently, quieting him.

Suddenly, Leo's shell cell began to ring. He looked at his brothers and Master. They nodded and Leo took the phone out of his belt and answered it.

"Hello?" he said.

"Ah, Leonardo, how nice to hear from you, I do believe I have something of yours," said an all too familiar voice.

"What the… Karai?" Leo said.

Then he heard a new voice. It sounded weak, but Leo knew exactly who it was. "Leo, it's a trap. Don't come. Please, please…AHHH!"

Leo nearly choked on his next words. "Donny? What's wrong? Where are you?

Donny? Don!"

But then Karai's voice answered again.

"Well Leonardo, the choice is yours. If you want to save your brother, you will find the clue to out location somewhere in that alley. Oh and you have only 1hour to get here, or your precious little brother won't be worth saving. Good-bye." The line went dead.

Leo looked at his family, trying to find the words he needed. Finally he spoke, "Karai has Don. He sounds pretty bad so we have to find the clue that will tell us

their location. It's in this alley, hurry."

Within minutes, Splinter found what they were looking for. It was a note pinned to the brick wall behind the dumpster by a challenge marker. It said:

If you wish to get Donatello back, come to the abandoned warehouse, near the East River. You have less than one hour, or he will be killed.

"My sons, quickly, follow me," said Splinter.