AN: This chapter is a touch bittersweet, featuring a little childhood flashback of Donnie and Raph right off the bat, as well as enjoying some of Splinter's secret room. I would like to have some more quiet contemplation time in there, so that I can incorporate some back story as to why the turtles fight with the weapons they have.

I will be taking a few days off from updates so I can contemplate what I want to do with Raph. I've left the plot open enough for him to either grow closer to, or further from Donnie over the next few chapters. If they are close throughout these next chapters its going to affect Leo's combat scenes later, the closer they are the more aggressive Leo will be. On the flipside, them being angry at each other will lead to more tension and suspense for Donnie's combat scenes later. Any input on this would be appreciated.

I hope you enjoy the sixth chapter and I look forward to your reviews should you choose to leave them.

Triangle Part 1- Leadership

Chapter 6

A clawed hand stroked the decorative rug on the wall, it's owner deep in thought. With a stroke of his beard Splinter took a glance around his personal area, minimally decorated, meant for sleep and meditation. His hand stroked the rug another time as he confirmed there were no eyes watching him from his doorway. The last thing he wanted right now was for one of his sons to grow curious and discover what he was hiding. Pulling the wall hanging aside, Splinter retreated behind to a hallway, which opened up to a secret room. Murky light filtered down from a small, flickering bulb on the ceiling, illuminating the dust as it stirred to his light steps. Numerous items of emotional importance were lined up along the walls. Memories swirled throughout the room with the dust.

On one table lay four sets of small, broken weapons, each with a white cloth tied to the grips. A thick, polished wooden post leaned against the table, names and dates carved to the side. Splinter brushed the grey layer of dust from it, and smiled halfway. He had been using it to record his son's height about twice yearly when they were younger. It was the year Donnie had a growth spurt and surpassed Raph that his hotheaded son had kicked the whole thing down after a heated argument. It was after he had taken Raph aside and lectured him on the dangers of jealousy that Splinter overheard the discussion between him and Donnie.

" Did you get in big trouble?" Donnie asked, eyes wide behind his white mask " I can't believe you actually did that!"

Raph waved his hand, his face clad in an identical white cloth " I can't believe you didn't."

Eyes downcast, Donnie sighed, " I wanted to." He admitted. " I don't like it when he compares us, makes us fight. We're not the same. I know for sure because I used a DNA testing kit I got of the internet to test everybody."

Raph's eye narrowed, " I don't remember you giving me any tests."

" Well duh, I had to do it while you were sleeping because you don't like needles" Donnie said gleefully.

" You did what?!"

Splinter's mind snapped back to where he was. After hearing the discussion he had realized that even though he understood that their personalities were indeed different, he hadn't given them enough of a chance to properly express themselves. For their next mutation day he presented them with special gifts; their colors and their specialized weapons, instead of taking their height.

The broken weapons that lay on the table caught his eye. Granting them individuality had fueled the rivalry between the brothers, the opposite of what Donnie had predicted. Their skills also developed at a faster pace. They quickly outgrew their replica weapons and as each broke it was replaced with the real thing.

Splinter turned from the table and faced the opposite wall. It was empty, reserved for future memories. The wall was too big to be without one of his sons. His mind made up, he turned from his little memory chamber and pushed the hanging rug to the side. It had just settled behind him when there was an urgent knock.

He slid open the door to find Leo waiting, holding a device in his hand, " I know where they took Donnie."

Donnie sat quietly on the floor in a bedroom of the residence he was brought to, his back resting against the wall. His hands rested lightly in the bowl made by his crossed legs. He had regained consciousness while they were stitching his arms up as he lay restrained on the kitchen floor. His fingers weren't numb, but he couldn't move them without a flare of pain shooting up his arms. After his wounds were stitched and wrapped, his captors moved him to the bedroom where he sat under light guard.

The next room over, the master bedroom, reverberated with angry shouting, Bey was obviously displeased with his minion's results. Keeping his eyes down, Donnie listened in, hoping for a clue as to where he was.

" My orders were clear." Bey raised his voice towards what seemed like a captain of sorts. " I hand chose you to retrieve the four turtles in fighting condition. Instead you kill one, let two get away and the one you do capture, you cripple beyond my use!" There was a silence, which Donnie presumed was the bat trying to calm himself, " There is only one of them we're able to utilize now, and we've lost the element of surprise. We cannot afford any more mistakes. I want all of your scouts to carry a copy of this letter, be sure it reaches his hands. I'll accept negotiations this time, as long as we can get the one in blue on our side. Do not fail me, or I will see to it that you're left to their mercy, and I doubt they'll have a shred of it after what you've done."

There was the sound of a door opening as the captain exited the room to carry out the mission. The figure paused as she passed his doorway, flipping her curly black hair behind her as she stepped in towards Donnie. His eyes narrowed as the sheep looked down at him. Odette crouched down and waved an envelope in front of him with a catlike grin, " I'm on my way out to grab you a companion. " She sang, " Maybe he can hold the spoon for you while you eat." she teased before turning to the door with a laugh.

" Your plan isn't going to work." Donnie said simply, sitting uselessly against the wall.

Odette turned back to him with a look over her shoulder, " We'll see. After all, we have you...and we don't need you. I can be pretty persuasive with my knives" she winked at him before marching from the room.

Donnie closed his eyes and let his chin sink down to his chest. " Tell me about it." he muttered as he let his mind plunge into thoughts. There had to be some way to escape. His finger twitched. Some way that didn't involve using his arms. His brow knit together in frustration at his state of helplessness. Perhaps his brothers will find him? Leo had been there when Donnie had lost consciousness, perhaps his brother was nearby, similarly plotting a way to get him home. His thoughts spun a little as he dozed off, still exhausted from last night's battle.

Leo found Raph in the kitchen, his head resting on his arms on the table, both sai laying freshly polished in front of him. Pulling up a chair, Leo sat next to him, his presence acknowledged only by a sideways glance from his brother. He placed the device on the table with a clatter, " I found this in Donnie's room."

Raph picked up the device and turned it in his hand before he began pressing buttons. When prompted to authorize his voice he turned to Leo, " What is this?" The device beeped, " Raphael authorized". After a moment the screen filled with lines. A map displayed city blocks. He was about to write it off as useless when a blue dot flashed in the center of the screen and then faded out. Immediately after a red one lit up. An orange one. Then, off in a distant residential area, a purple one. Raph's eyes narrowed as the sequence repeated itself. " Is this a tracking device?"

Leo nodded slowly. Carefully, Raph set it back on the table, his eyes narrowing " We could have really used that when Mikey ran off." He rose to his feet, pushing the chair back with a foot before making his way out into the sitting area. " You coming?"

Raph had already left and Leo was at the top of the stairs when he looked back. Splinter stood watching from the doorway to the dojo. " I am counting on you to bring them both back safe." He said before he turned and retreated back through the doorway. Leo spun towards where Raph had gone, intent on catching up.

The pair had only made it about half way to their destination when Leo called them to a halt and the crouched low. A few rooftops away stood one of the mutants, the fox, his eyes searching the night, his multiple tails flicking around. Leo turned to Raph with a nod and they split up.

The capture was flawless, and Raph restrained the squirming creature against his chest, the point of his sai pressing to his throat. Leo pounded a fist to his palm, " Wait, wait! I have a message, a message!" The creature squealed.

Leo paused and his eyes met with Raph's. The fox squirmed again, " In the bag!" Leo reached to the fox's side, lifting an envelope out of the bag. Wasting no time for formality, he ripped the envelope off of the handwritten letter. The leader's eyes scanned the words written, his brows slowly knitting together as he read further. Finished, his eyes returned to the fox. Leo tore the letter to pieces, scattering them to the wind like confetti. " No deal."

Raph clutched the fox harder as it began to squirm more, it's voice rising, "Negotiate! We'll negotiate. What's fair?"

Raph's head shot up, " Negotiate? Leo, what did that letter say?"

Leo ignored his brother's question, " Fine, here is my offer. Return our ally, then you get what you want. It's my only offer."

" Leo, what are you doing? What did the letter say?" Raph's eyes shot down to the fox, " I swear if you are using that freaky hypnosis I'm going to pound you into the ground so hard you-"

" We're exchanging prisoners Raph." Leo stared straight into his brother's eyes. " I am trading myself for Donnie."

With a crash, Raph slammed the fox to the rooftop, " Don't I get any say in all of this? You're just going to listen to the enemy?"

Leo turned away, considering his brother's words. " Donnie is injured, there is no way he can get away on his own. Besides." Leo's eyes glared towards his brother, " It is my fault he was captured in the first place."

Leo arrived at the point of exchange early, but even so the enemy was already there. Bey stood there, accompanied the sheep girl. Between them stood Donnie. His arms were wrapped in bandages, hiding the wounds he had received the night prior. His eyes were heavy, tired.

No words were exchanged, The sheep led Donnie half way, while Raph walked with Leo. Upon meeting the exchange happened. Leo didn't look back as he returned with the enemy. As soon as he made it to Bey his legs were kicked from under him and he was promptly disarmed and bound to be hauled away like a prisoner.

When the pair returned to the lair, Splinter was standing waiting, Donnie's tracker held out in his hand. Raph took a step forward, " Hero traded himself for Donnie." he explained with a snarl.

Donnie rushed up to where his tracker was held out and examined it from Splinter's hand. " How did you guys know about the tracker?" His gaze bounced from his father to his brother in confusion, " I didn't tell anyone I had this!"

Raph crossed his arms, " Leo found it." he answered. " It's how we found you... well, were going to find you before someone changed the plans." His fist pounded into the wall.

Splinter's ears perked, " My son, what has you so angry? "

Raph's fist struck the wall again, " Leo traded himself off because I told him what happened was his fault." His hand opened against the stone, " But if I had stayed with Donnie until Leo got there... this wouldn't have happened." He finished, his eyes staring at the far wall.

" Or all of you would have been captured." Splinter finished. He made his way towards Raph, placing a hand on his shoulder. " We have this" he lifted his other hand with the tracker, " So Leo is not lost to us. We can reflect on our mistakes after he is safe." Splinter eyed the device closer, " Mikey's been calling this a 'T-P-S'." he mentioned offhandedly.

Raph's gaze rose, " Mikey's awake?" After a confirming nod from Splinter a small bark of a laugh escaped the turtle, washing away some of his tension, " He really does have rocks for brains. We'd better not keep him waiting."

End chapter 6

AN: YAY! Mikey's awake again...But poor Raph is having some internal conflicts. Perhaps Mikey can cheer him up. Donnie has a bit of explaining to do as well.