Author's Note- Hey guys I am back with an extra long chapter for the wait! Thank you all for reviwing and being patient and look to speedier updates from now on!
The only part of being a human I actually enjoyed was being able to comfortably lie in a bed.
As a turtle with a large hard shell this wasn't easy. I mean it was always doable, it just took some work, usually with at least an hour or two of rolling from side to side trying to find a good position to fall asleep in. And somehow the optimal position changed from night to night.
This never really bothered me with the concerns of sleeping though, since I was always one to avoid the bed unless absolutely and necessary. However it did make the simple task of lying down and just thinking difficult.
It was a very small and weird thing to envy about the human body, but I always kind of longed to just lie on my back, stare at the ceiling and just think, allowing my relentless thoughts to just eventually die down and carry me into a peaceful slumber.
Now that I had that however, I realized it was a stupid thing to wish for. Mostly because I figured that it wasn't the shell on my back keeping me from sleeping, but my relentless thoughts, that profoundly refused to settle down.
I rolled to my side for what had t have been the hundredth time since I woke up an hour ago and groaned inwardly to myself.
It was at that point I couldn't help but remember a movie Mikey made me watch a year or two ago. I forgot what it was called but it was about this man stranded all alone on an island. Eventually after weeks of not being able to communicate to anyone else, he drew a face on a softball and started talking to it. He even named it and referred to it as his 'friend'.
Mikey loved it; I found it creepy and improbable.
However now I was considering doing the same thing to my pillow.
I just had so many thoughts racing through me that I felt if I didn't get them out somehow, my brain would explode, or maybe something less melodramatic.
Point was I needed an outlet.
I needed to talk to someone about these dreams I kept having. How they felt like memories, but I knew they weren't mine. How I kept feeling that I was somehow in this Daniel guy's mind, but not in control of his actions.
I was starting to think maybe they were actual memories. Maybe this Daniel guy was a real person, and they implanted my brain into his body somehow! Maybe that was the reason I was having his memories.
My entire body shuddered until rational Donatello interjected.
If they somehow did implant my mind into someone else's body, which no technology is nearly advanced enough to do, then why would they place me in a mental hospital? And why would they want me believing I had schizophrenia?
It made no sense. But then again, nothing here made sense.
I lightly slapped my face with my hand. But I shouldn't have even been focused on the dreams, but rather some way to get out of here.
At least I could deduce that they probably didn't have my brothers, since no one else was listed as being a teenager. But they did have Casey. Plus they had me in Northampton, which was a three hour drive from the city, and at least two days' worth of travel on foot.
I was about to plunge myself into a sea of more concerns when Dr. O'Neil and Dr. Goldstein came in.
I sat up and immediately frowned at the latter's presence. Dr. O'Neil seemed to be very uneasy as well.
"I have come to oversee your next therapy session with Dr. Jones," Dr. Goldstein announced before exchanging a good morning, "I understand that the last time didn't go so well. However my assistant has claimed that you seem to be thriving with individual attention and deserve a second chance."
Dr. O'Neil shifted uncomfortably and I raised an eyebrow at her. Needless to say I wasn't too eager about going back to a 'therapy group' comprised with my worst enemies. However I really couldn't pass up an opportunity to see Casey, especially since I needed to do more snooping around the place if I was to come up with a solid escape plan.
I nodded towards them and held out my hands to be cuffed.
"Today we're going to be talking about identity, and what makes you you." Dr. Jones started with a smile and slowly walked laps around the room. "Now the dictionary defines identity as being who a person is."
With great difficulty I found myself trying to keep track of what he was saying and Dr. Goldstein in the back corner jotting down notes on his clipboard every so often.
Dr. Jones paused and looked at Bradford, "Now Chris, can you please share with us what that definition means to you?"
Bradford snorted, "That the dictionary was written by clueless hippies like you?"
The rest of the group laughed, but Dr. Jones just ignored them, "To me the two words that stick out are being and person. What makes a person a person? Well according to many authors, anthropologists, and psychologists, a person is defined by their actions, their reactions, and their relationships with other people."
He looked at me this time and smiled, "Daniel, what were some of your actions that have defined who you are as a person?"
I stared at him blankly, obviously startled at the question. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Dr. Goldstein looking up from his clipboard.
Should I be honest? I didn't really see what I could gain from lying.
With a deep breath, I answered "I-I guess the actions that define me are those that I did to defend the city, my friends and family. I guess my fights with the Shredder and Kraang were..."
I stopped when the group around me began laughing at me hysterically. Dr. Goldstein narrowed his eyes at me and began furiously writing on his clipboard. I wanted to sink into my chair.
"Hey come on now, that's enough." Dr. Jones said sternly, "This is a place where we are all open and accepting of one another." he turned back to me, "Sorry about that Daniel, now do you think you can tell me about the most important relationships that you have?"
I smiled softly; I didn't even have to think about this one, "I suppose those would be the ones I had with my brothers. Leon, Michael, and Ralph were really the only ones I ever..."
I stopped short in shock.
Those names they just slipped out, almost as if I really believed they were my true family.
I felt my entire body shaking and as soon as I could find my voice again I whispered, "I-I don't want to talk about this anymore."
Dr. Jones rested his hand in my shoulder, "It's okay Daniel, whatever you can share is fine."
He continued to talk, but I no longer had the ability to listen to him. Instead I stared straight ahead in horror, quietly panicking about that split second I forgot about Leo, Raph and Mikey.
I only barely noticed Dr. Goldstein quietly exiting the room.
I stayed behind long after the rest of the group left, still staring in shocked silence at the floor in front of me.
"You wanna go continue working on that fuse?" Dr. Jones asked, snapping me out of my trance.
I looked up at him and he winked. It suddenly occurred to me that he saw through my fried fuse lie, heck he probably never even fell for it to begin with.
I really didn't want to. I wanted to just go back to my cell and sleep off my newly formed migraine, but I knew time was of the essence. The quicker I learned about the building, the quicker I could escape.
I nodded and followed him solemnly.
When we got to the reception room he looked back at me and smiled sympathetically. "Hey I'm sorry about what happened back there. Those guys don't always think before acting."
"Why was Dr. Goldstein there?" I asked. I really could care less about what the group thought of me.
Dr. Jones stopped short and hesitated, "Uhh, well you see that's complicated Daniel…"
"Hey guys," Dr. O'Neil said cheerfully, coming in with a tray holding three sandwiches, "Daniel I snatched you a turkey and ham sandwich this time." She snickered.
"Umm thanks but…"
"Heh you know April, they're eventually gonna get on your case for stealing food for him." Dr. Jones laughed.
Dr. O'Neil laughed and put her hand on her hip. "What makes you think they know what I'm doing?"
I sighed and took the sandwich from her. I figured it didn't really matter what Dr. Goldstein wanted with me anyway.
We had lunch in the same place we ate last night's dinner. This time admiring the brilliant blue sky as Dr. Jones talked about his old hockey days in high school.
"Dr. O'Neil," Dr. Goldstein called from a room a little bit down the hall, "A word please."
Dr. O'Neil frowned and reluctantly out her half eaten sandwich down, "I'm sorry guys."
She then scuttled to Dr. Goldstein and together they disappeared around the corner and out of my sight.
I stared after them. The whole thing seemed too suspicious for me to just ignore.
"I have to go to the bathroom," I said and pushed myself away from the table.
I followed the same path they went slowly enough not to raise alarm. When I rounded the corner I couldn't see them but heard voices coming from a nearby door.
I put my ear by said door to hear their hushed conversation.
"After careful evaluation do you believe that he is a liable candidate for the clinical trials?" Dr. Goldstein's deep voice said.
"Absolutely, I actually think he's one of the most promising patients we have here." Dr. O'Neil replied.
My stomach dropped and I had the undeniable feeling they were talking about me.
"I agree." Dr. Goldstein said, "But only if you stick to protocol, it is very important he be in the right mental state when we start them. Have you been treating him with the pills?"
"Yes," she said, and paused, "But I've been putting them in his food without is acknowledgment, I still don't think he completely trusts me yet."
I pulled myself away from the door and had to fight my instinct to sink to the floor.
They had been drugging my food!? All this time?
As if on cue my stomach let out a low deep growl and I suddenly felt nauseous like I had just eaten one of Mikey's homemade pizzas.
"Very good, I will continue to keep an eye on him, but I am very proud of you for taking charge so far." Dr. Goldstein said.
"Thank you Doctor."
I gasped as I heard them slowly walk to the door.
Within a second I bolted back to the table where Dr. Jones sat waiting.
"Hey buddy," he said as I dropped into my chair panting, "Did you find the bathroom okay?"
I ignored him though and instead glared at Dr. O'Neil's and Dr. Goldstein's departing figures.
Dr. Jones tried to bring up more conversation with me several times as we continued working on the fuse, but I wasn't interested.
I was mad.
And I knew I shouldn't have been. I shouldn't have been feeling such deep betrayal. I knew I shouldn't have trusted anyone. No matter what they said or did they were still my captors and they were still keeping me locked up. I knew these people were lying to me from the second I got there.
But they were just so good at it. Especially Dr. O'Neil.
As much as I hated to admit it she was the one thing about this whole thing that had been somewhat bearable.
And even though her cheery out look annoyed me before, I liked that she was the only one who genuinely tried to make me feel welcome.
I liked how she actually seemed to be trying to be my friend.
I scoffed and without thinking banged my screwdriver on the wall.
I should have been mad at myself. I never should have let myself get so entangled in their lies. I never should have exposed so much of myself to anyone here. No matter how friendly they seemed.
Dr. Jones looked me over with concern, "Hey Daniel, you feeling okay?" he asked.
"I need a walk." I said shortly and left before he could say anything else.
If anything this proved that I needed to get out of here as soon as possible. If they were drugging my food with God knows what, giving me hallucinations could have only been the beginning.
For the next three hours I scoped out the hallway and a few places a little beyond it to memorize all I could about the building's layout. Then Dr. Jones finally came to get me and took me back to my cell.
When Dr. O'Neil came in with a tray containing rice and some kind of soup I immediately turned my back from her.
I heard the tray gently touch the floor then her soft voice, "Daniel, I brought you dinner."
With clenched fists I stormed over to her just as she was sliding the tray through the bars. I took one look her, then the food, and angrily flipped the tray in disgust.
She gasped and the food landed all over her shoes.
"Daniel!" she started.
"You tricked me!" I yelled, "You've been putting drugs in my food all this time without telling me!"
I glared hard at her. It was another Raph move, but right now I really wasn't feeling like Donatello.
She sighed, "You heard that huh?"
I folded my arms and raised an eyebrow.
"Look I'm sorry Daniel, but I knew you wouldn't be comfortable with taking pills, but I can assure you this medication…."
"I don't want to hear it!" I yelled, her voice felt like knives digging through my skin.
With that I stormed back to my bed and shielded myself in the covers. Not only had she nearly gotten away with lying to me, but now it felt like she was mocking me about it as well.
She sighed, "I understand, I'll have someone come by and clean this up tomorrow. Good night Daniel."
With that I heard her footsteps silently retreating back to the door and I found myself fighting a growing lump in my throat.
I was sitting in the back row of the class, intently focusing on my notes when the bell rang and dismissed everyone.
Keeping to myself I collected all my things and walked slowly to the door.
"Just a minute Daniel." the teacher called from behind his desk.
"Y-yes Mr. Menasche." I said nervously.
He smiled, "I just wanted to tell you that you have the highest standardized testing score in the school, you're performance was particularly impressive in the science field."
I stared at him in shock so he continued, "Anyways the rest of the science teachers and I think you will be a very promising for the Golden Gate Milena Program. Do you know what that is?"
I shook my head.
"Well it takes young bright students like yourself, and ships them off to the Ivy league college of their choosing a few years early. And you know the best part? They pay for all of your education! So you can get a full ride to whatever college you choose."
"Wow," I said softy.
"As you would probably have guessed this program is extremely competitive. Only the best of the best get in. However since you have one of the, if not the highest GPAs in the schools you are definitely in that category." He finished.
I stayed quiet. I had no idea what to say. This all sounded like my own personal fairytale.
Mr. Menasche just continued, "A couple of the main directors of the program are coming Friday to see the science fair and I think it would improve your chances if you impressed them."
"Y-yes sir." I said quickly finding my voice.
"Excellent!" he said cheerfully and pulled out a sheet of paper from his desk. "Here's the application, the fee in one hundred dollars and you have until Friday to send it in."
I froze and my excitement dissipated. I didn't have that much money, not even close. I stayed quiet however, took the paper and silently left.
