Wounded Time
Chapter 7: No Longer Him

A/N: OK, now it's Donnie's turn. Who's ready? Also, this is where we see the first signs of the demon Shredder's return. Bit descriptive but hopefully bearable.

Disclaimer: Don't know or own the TMNT.

I slammed my fist on the desk again. Trying to calm down, I sit back in my chair and breath as a hand is placed on my shoulder. I look up to see blue framed brown eyes.

"Don, it's OK. We'll find him."

"I know, Leo. It's just that I can't believe that Raph would just... leave."

"He was also taken, Don. We can't forget that piece either."

"I know, I know."

"Don?"

"Yeah?"

"I want you to take a break. Go run topside and take Mikey with you. I'll stay with Sensei and call if anything changes. I'll work with the scan while you're up."

I stood and clasped Leo's shoulder. "Thanks bro."

I was grateful for Leo to take over for a little bit but that didn't stop me from feeling angry and betrayed. Walked over to where Mikey was sitting and looked over the back of the chair.

"What'cha looking at?" I asked, trying to see the book in his hands.

He hid it before I could see anything. "Nothing."

"Sketchbook?"

He sighed. "I've never gotten over what had happened between the both of us and now this?"

He help up the note Raph had left him. Pain was clear on his face as he opened it. "Raph never really cared for me till now. He was... strong enough to at least say good-bye. I don't think he realized that I hadn't gotten the note before he left but there was a relieved look on his face when I said I wasn't going to join him this time."

"You join him often?"

"Use to." Mikey stuck the note into the sketchbook. "For the week before he left, I would always meet him topside after he blew his top or when he asked. We would talk for hours but he would always stay out longer. He never told me that he was planning to leave. It never even slipped in our conversations."

I gripped his shoulder, smiling lightly. "Then come on. Let's go topside and talk like you would with Raph. Leo said I need some fresh air any ways."

He smiled and nodded, setting the sketchbook on the chair as he stood. "Lead the way bro."

With my bag already on my shoulder, I led Mikey out the door and into the tunnels. He was smiling, talking his head off about some new video game that he was going to play with Raph when we find him but I wasn't really listening. I was more concerned about someone being down there to here us. As we rounded the corner, I ran into Mikey's shell and looked over his shoulder.

"Why did you sto–"

I froze. There Raph stood, battered and broken, but on his feet with Sai out. A female was behind him, a dagger in hand. She relaxed instantly but kept her guard as Raph finally got over the shock.

"Mikey!"

"Raph!"

I watched as they embraced, smiling lightly. The female sheathed the dagger and smiled, turning to put things away.

"I didn't know I was this close to the Lair. We were walking all night and this mornin before we stopped."

"What happened to you, bro? Why are you like this?"

"Maybe after we get to the Lair."

They embraced again, laughing and now talking about random things. My eyes were still on the female as she packed and when she stood, she met my gaze with a gentle smile on her lips.

"Hi. I'm Natasha. I've been tagging along with Raphael."

"Donatello."

She nodded her head in hello and walked over to Raph. He acted like he's known her for years and I couldn't get that through my head. I took a step forward but stopped. Something wasn't right.

"Donnie! Duck!"

I hit the ground, something whistling above my head.

"Leo? Leo, what the hell are ya doing? Leo, its me, Raph."

I shuddered when the evil laugh rippled through the tunnel. Leo had laughed but it wasn't Leo who was laughing.

"What? Hothead Raph too chicken to go against his own brother?"

I cringed as I hurried to my feet. Leo's voice had spoken but the thing was that it was also one I wish I had never heard again. I looked at my brother and met a sight I didn't like.

"What the hell are you talking about? Leo, why would I fight you?"

An aura of black flames surrounded Leo, his eyes no longer his gentle brown, and his smile sharp and deadly. With eyes now tinged red, his teeth were sharp and he wore an outfit too similar to the Shredder's, skip the helmet. Hands shaking, I reach for my bow but never made it above my head.

Pain shot through my wrist as something slipped into my skin faster than I could react. As the blood ran down my arm, I kept my hand elevated as I did my best to keep it from bleeding too much.

"Stop it Leo!" I looked at Mikey, fear and tears clearly visible. "Just stop it!"

"What? Can't handle seeing me with this much power? Splinter isn't here to stop me this time."

"This time?" The words came out as a whisper, thoughts running through my head. "It was you!"

Leo laughed, his voice falling to the power of the Shredder's. "Yes, Donatello, it was me. I was the one who gave Splinter the poison. I'm the reason why that old rat isn't doing so well."

"Leo–"

"You're Leonardo has no recollection of doing any of this, Donatello. When I'm in control, he no longer exists."

Leo's voice was almost gone now and I glared at the one in my brother's body. Tears stung my eyes but none fell. None could fall as I found myself falling back.

"You're daydreaming again, Donnie," hissed Leo, his face just centimeters from mine with a wry smile on it. "You do that too much."

The pavement came up fast and by reflex, I found myself on my feet, now clenching a bleeding plastron. Wincing at the pain, I watched as both Mikey and Raph charged the changed turtle before us. Natasha hurried to my side, instantly going to my wrist, taking the star out and wrapping it in several layers of bandage.

"The chest wound isn't that bad. Be careful of using your left hand though."

"Thanks."

Mikey flew past me as I raced to fight against the evil corrupting the leader of our family. Raph skids to a halt before me, taking a side kick in his chest. I could hear Raph gasping for breath as he struggled to stay standing from the blow and I placed a hand on his shell.

"Can't take the abuse, Raph? What do you think I endure every day? I deal with you bickering with Mikey, you yelling at me. I work my shell off to keep your fucking shell alive."

"So what?" Raph snapped. "That doesn't mean you can turn on us like this."

"Emotion." The idea slammed into me from behind as Natasha leaped over me. "He's feeding off of Leo's hidden emotions!"

"I figured that!" Natasha called back as she parried a side kick.

"Leo, listen to me," Raph snapped, straightening and getting ready. "I know my fucking shell gets into trouble a lot but that doesn't mean anything. We love you, bro, and we want to help."

Leo laughed again. "Help? All you've ever done is gotten into trouble and leap into battle without a second thought. And you call that helping?"

"Leo…"

"Shut up, Raph. Just shut up!"

Leo leaped at Raph, his katana sliding into Raph's chest with ease. I watched as Raph winced and brought his fist around, contact at Leo's temple. Leo flew into the wall and Raph fell to his knees. The end of the sword glistened from Raph's shell as blood began dripping from it. He pulled it out before collapsing on his face.

"RAPH!"

Mikey was at Raph's side instantly and Natasha was right behind him. I was froze to the spot watching both Raph and Leo. There wasn't anything on my mind, my body frozen. I turned and heaved, tears streaming down my face as I cried. A hand was placed on my shoulder and I jumped. Natasha was above me, fear and sadness clear in her face. She gestured towards Raph and Leo and I looked. Mikey was doing his best to keep Raph's wound from bleeding as he supported him and he was looking our way. I sighed and stood, still crying.

"Let's get them home," I said and I picked Leo up, supporting him on his left side and Natasha helping Mikey with Raph. "Hurry and try not to let too much blood leave his system, if you can."

A/N: I was listening to Stronger by Kanye West when I finished this up and the song has given me an idea for the next one as well as Let's See How Far We've Come by Matchbox Twenty.