Disclaimer: This madness of a disclaimer will end in 3…2…1…-beep-

Chapter Eleven

Leo paced the small space of their den as he muttered quietly and heatedly to himself. 'Where are they?!'

Only an hour ago he had come out of the dojo, leaving Raphael to finish practicing his own katas only to find out from the lab-ridden turtle that Michelangelo had left the lair hours ago. That in itself, though, wasn't really a problem; Mike was always known for journeying topside in the middle of the day every once in a while, his never-ending energy always giving him itchy feet. That, also, was ok, taken that Michelangelo was careful. With their adulthood also came responsibility and trust, trusting that they were responsible enough to remember their teachings.

However, Leo knew that out of all of the turtles, Michelangelo was the most responsible with that sort of thing, him knowing full well that the welfare of his family and himself all but depended on it. Mike knew were to go and where not to go, what he could do, and what he could not do. Therefore, Leo knew he didn't have to worry about his orange clad brother (much) when he journeyed to the world above.

Besides, Michelangelo never failed to bring back something useful from his "topside" adventures. (And ten chances to one, that something was covered in ten cheeses)

But now, this time, it was different.

He was out with Owen.

They barely knew the guy, and already Mike was dragging him out and about. That, too, wasn't really the problem, although Mike and Don should have asked him if it was ok before allowing Mike to take their guest topside. But once again, Mike knew where to go and not to go. He could be trusted with Owen.

No, that wasn't the problem.

The problem was in the fact that they had left eight hours ago, it being (roughly) four thirty at the time.

Leo looked at the den's clock.

It was a quarter after midnight.

'What's keeping them?!'

He couldn't help but grow more and more anxious with every second that past, his jaw line working as he gnawed on his already tender gum. Centrice and Don watched from the relative safety of the couch as Leo grew tense, his muscles twitching as his brow furrowed. Leo was mad, that much was obvious as his long rope of patience seemed to ravel thin with the turtle in orange. And as a result, both girl and turtle sighed, knowing full and well what was to come next. Sometimes, Leo was just so predictable…

"Where the hell are they?!"

As if on cue, Leo's voice boomed from the relative silence of the den. Don tensed, and likewise, he felt Centrice do so as well. She sat in her arms now, also watching the pacing turtle with relative silence. However, at her silence, it was easy to tell that her mind currently move no less than a mile a minute. It was just in her nature.

She was a thinker, like him. That was probably one of the reasons why they had hit it off so well, and so quickly too.

Don sighed and Centrice did the same. Leo had good cause to worry. Heck, even they were worried. Mike had been gone for a very, very long time, the chances of Michelangelo actually being in danger getting higher and higher with each passing second. But the question was, would he able to get out of it?…

Leo's voice once again drew them from their thoughts, and at the same time, it drew Centrice from her perch on Don's lap.

"I'm going out there! Mike's probably in trouble!" Leo's hand found the hilt of his Katana as he headed for the door. However, another hand, this time pale and feminine, stopped his hand in its tracks.

"No, Leo. Wait!" Centrice's voice was anything but firm, but her stance made up for what her voice lacked. Her body taunt, a hand on Leo's sword hilt as well, she stopped the turtle as he hastily made his way to the door. Don blinked, barely remembering Centrice even getting up, not to mention get over there, but there she was…

Leo, too, blinked, his confusion growing like the vines on a tree of anger as a cold worry set in once again.

"But Centrice, what if Mike's in trouble? What if he needs our help? We can't just leave hi-"

"I don't think he's in trouble, Leo…" Once again, her voice was faint against that of the booming Leo, but it did get his attention. Don looked up also, not really sure as to what Centrice was getting at, and with one look in Leo's direction, he could tell that Leo wasn't either. Meanwhile, Centrice sighed, bringing her hand back down and to her side as she did. She knew she was being irrational, but…the feeling that Mike was ok was too strong to be ignored.

Now all she had to do was explain herself…without sounding crazy. (Easier said than done…)

"I don't think Mike's in trouble."

She repeated herself, this time making sure that her voice was as definite as she felt it needed to be. However, that definition seemed to have no effect on the turtles before her; both of them still sporting unsure looks. Centrice sighed; she hoped she wouldn't have to explain more but she could tell they had trouble just taking her word for it. And as she suspected, Leo wasted no time in his protest.

"But, what if-"

"Mike's fine, I just know he is, Leo. Besides, if he wasn't, wouldn't he have contacted you by now through that mind link you all seem to share?!"

Leo blinked.

She did have a point.

Master Splinter had trained them in many aspects of Ninjitsu, their mind link being one of them. As brothers, Master Splinter explained that they all already shared a telekinetic bond, although weak. However, through years of training, that bond had been all but enhanced, it now being at the point that one turtle could specifically tell what the other one is feeling, without even being in the same room.

Meaning that if Michelangelo was in any sort of panic or disarray, Leo, Raph, and Don would have felt it immediately.

Leo watched Centrice carefully now, eyeing the determination on her usually passive face. He could tell that she felt that she knew what she was doing, but was that enough to allow himself to trust her on this one? Meanwhile, Centrice watched as Leo seemed to look her over, his eyes reading her face like he always did when he was trying to figure her out.

And as she always did, she let him.

After a moment of silence, of which did not go unnoticed by the still Donatello, of whom still resided on the old and worn couch, Leo finally sighed, removing his hand from his sword hilt, the fight leaving him with Centrice's words.

"I hope your right about this Centrice, for Mike's sake and for your own…" His eyes flashed dangerously then, which also did not go unnoticed by the passive turtle on the couch.

Nor by the one Leo was directing it to.

Centrice blinked at the obvious edge in Leo's demeanor. Although, now she couldn't help but wonder as to how similar Raph and Leo truly were (Even if they would never admit it).

Meanwhile, Leo continued, feeling that he had gotten his point across well enough, for both Centrice's and Don's eyes widened slightly at his former statement. "But, if you feel that Mike is ok, I'll take your word for it…"

That sounded so weird coming from his own lips, but he let his uneasiness slide. 'Taking someone's word for it' was definitely an action he was not familiar with and a statement he was he was not very familiar with saying. Therefore, the next part of his statement all but voiced his over all opinions on the matter, as it should have from the beginning.

"But,"

He let his gaze fall over both Centrice and the placid Donatello, hinting that they both should listen up. "If he isn't home in a half an hour, I will go searching, no matter wha-" Leo's blatant statement was all but cut off by a rather loud knock on their metal door. Leo froze, as well as the still Donatello as Centrice's gaze when from fearful to almost smug, a smirk forming her lips.

'You were saying?' Her eyes seemed to say. However, on the outside, she said nothing as the soft taping of her feet filled the silent room as she swiftly made her way to the metal door. At the last second she turned back, observing yet another presence, this time, entering the den from the Dojo. Raph joined them at the sound of the knocking, making the den's 'worried turtle' count, 'three,' instead of the previous 'two.'

She almost smiled. She knew he was worried but he just that he had a different way of showing it. Instead of dwelling silently, like her lover, Donatello, or drilling holes into the floor boards by pacing like his brother, Leonardo, Raph took to practicing in his solitude when it came to him being upset. But she could tell he was probably just as worried and anxious as his brother Leo, which only made her smile wider.

If only they knew how similar they were…

Hastily, she continued the short walk to the door, making sure to keep her step in check, not wanting to give away the true anxiousness in her heart to the turtles in the room. If they knew she was worried, her last few statements would have been deemed a lie, if even she wasn't sure over her own thoughts. Nevertheless, her mind chanted, it being all she could do with the anxiousness beating un-rhythmically in her heart.

'Please be Mike, please be Mike…'

She didn't want to think what would happen if it wasn't, but as soon as the door was opened, an overwhelming sense of relief washed over her, and with a sigh from the rest of the room, she could tell that it washed over the rest of the turtles as well.

Centrice opened the door only to be nose to beak with a smiling, beaming (formally missing) turtle in orange. In his hands, two bags stuffed to the brim with clothing…

"Hey, Cent-Piece! What's hangin'? Man, did you guys cook? I'm starved!" In his usually 'Michelangelo' manner, he greeted Centrice before side-stepping her completely and stepping into the den. He stopped, though, when he noticed the none-too-pleased stares resonating from his brothers' eyes as well as sensing their extreme displeasure, the aura in the room seemingly going icy cold as a result.

If he had radar, it would be going off.

Something was definitely up.

"Um?" He eyed his brothers wearily; their displeased stares only succeeding making the room colder, resonating in an aura that was…less than pleasant. For once, he almost didn't know what to say.

Nevertheless, that silent spell was short lived, just like everything else that had to do with Michelangelo as he stated the first thing that came to mind...

"Uh, I take it there's no food?"

It was all he could come up with, although he had a feeling his mild humor would not sit well with his now displeased brothers. Actually, now he could almost sense the Anger-o-Meter going to critical as they all seemed to grow madder with each second.

But none more than the usual hothead, Raphael.

"By the time we're finished with you, food will be the last thing on your mind…"

No sooner had Raph finished his death threat did Leo speak up, his voice volumes louder than his red clad brother's only because of the fact that Raph had growled out his death sentence while Leo just settled for yelling.

"Mikey! Where the hell have you been?! We've been worried sick! I was this close to go looking for your sorry ass, Mike! This close!" He motioned with his first finger and thumb as his hand shook in suppressed anger. He watched Mike now, his eyes narrowing at the child like innocence the twenty two year old still seemed to sport even after all of these years.

Leo knew that look and he knew it well.

Mike knew he was in deep, which wasn't a lie in the slightest.

Yeah, they were all older now, wiser, and more skilled, but with the current passing of Splinter, everyone had grown apprehensive when it came to going topside. And then, with the turning of Donatello in that fatal incident topside, the turtles had almost completely severed themselves from the above world, their lives having been riddled with one tragedy after the next. Donatello was lucky that his encounter had not proved fatal, although his life would never be the same because of it.

But now, with the near disappearance of Mikey, they had feared another tragedy, automatically assuming the worse when he had failed to come home. If it wasn't for Centrice, all of them would have followed Leo in his search, tearing up the streets for their younger brother. Meanwhile, he and Owen would have just moseyed on home, only to come back to an empty lair.

And to be in for the surprise of his life the next morning when the turtle's came home in absolute rage. Yes, if it was not for Centrice, Mike would have been in boiling water, instead of just hot.

Meanwhile, Owen watched from the background as Mikey fumbled for words. He had to do something. Still standing in the dank sewer, he hadn't even gotten the chance to walk in yet for as soon as the door was opened, Mike had been bombarded by the voices within. At first, Owen had been slightly intimidated and thrown back, not really knowing why they were all so apprehensive all of a sudden. However, after a few moments of listening unnoticed from the sewers, Owen finally figured out why they were so damn mad, and he was just as displeased with his findings.

Mainly because it was his fault.

"Mikey! Where the hell have you been?! We've been worried sick!" Leo's words left a pang of guilt in his throat. It had been his fault they stayed out so late, not the turtle's. Mike did nothing wrong. If anything, Michelangelo was completely right in his actions, following "order" to a tee. But did they know that?

Leo's next words all but proved to Owen that they didn't.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself, Mikey?"

If Mike wasn't stumbling before, he sure was stumbling now.

"I, er…I-I-"

He had nothing; nothing at all. It seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he just could not get out a sentence, not even a phrase, defending his innocence. However, thankfully, it seemed as though this was one of the few times he didn't have too.

"It's not Michelangelo's fault, it's mine. I got…caught up…at the last minute. " Owen almost cringed as he stepped out from behind the flustered turtle, catching each of their gazes for the first time. He knew his statement would not be enough to side step the barrage of questions he knew would follow. Nevertheless, he knew this was how it had to be, Mike's innocence being at stake.

Meanwhile, Leo blinked. To say that he was thrown off would have been an understatement. Owen's words just didn't make any sense.

"What?"

Owen sighed at Leo's prompt, looking around. Genuinely confused gazes met his own, the brown eyes of the turtles and the green eyes of the girl all but voicing their uncertainties with the new bit of information.

He sighed, closing his eyes.

He couldn't blame them, but he did know what would help them understand. He had to tell them…he had to tell them everything. Then and only then could they finally understand all that was going on. Not to get him wrong, he definitely didn't want too tell them. Actually, telling them such things should have been avoided at all costs, which he had been trying to do. But at the same time, his 'avoidance' also seemed to land Michelangelo into quite a bit of trouble.

"At all costs."

Those had been his thoughts, but now, he didn't know if it was worth it. Mainly, the term "at all costs" was only pertaining to himself, but now it seemed that only thinking of himself dragged someone else into the issue as well…an innocent…a friend…

He couldn't just let Michelangelo go down without putting up some kind of defense. It was his fault, and his alone, not Michelangelo's. Therefore, he should take the blame for his actions, and not the orange clad turtle.

Knowing what he had to do, he took a few calming breaths before beginning.

"It's all kind of hard to explain. It's rather a long story…"

Owen grew uneasy as he watched each turtle as well as girl give him a look. That didn't surprise him, he knew he had seemed rather…secretive…since coming, but now he was ready to tell them all, the good and the bad. Besides, what he was about to spill would affect Donatello as well, him also being a 'Creature of the Night.' Owen had tried to shield him from its true dangers of what they were, but he knew he could do so no more. Now was the time for him to completely come clean.

If not for the good of Donny, then for the good of them all.

Meanwhile, Leo sat, his curiosity at the vampire's explanation over riding his previous anger. Whatever Owen had to say, it sounded as if it was important…Leo almost smiled. Owen had been acting a little …standoffish… before, almost as if he was hiding something. Well, now, it seemed as though a few of his unasked questions were finally about to be answered, and none too late either.

"Well, we have time…"

Owen seemed accept Leo's answer, nodding as he sighed. He grew nervous, which failed to go unnoticed by the others in his room as Owen motioned for them all to sit. They obeyed; Don and Mike taking a place on either side of their brother Leo as Raph took a perch on the back of the same couch. Centrice choose Splinter's armchair, falling into it politely as her attention never left the now pacing vampire before her. He seemed edgy, nervous; very uncharacteristic for the usually calm and cool blood drinker.

Well, now that she thought about it…not really.

She could recall other times he seemed this uneasy, one of those times being only that morning. At breakfast, when he had first walked in, Centrice couldn't help but notice his uneasiness, but it passed by so quickly she had almost missed it as Owen finally walked in. It didn't pass nearly quick enough for it to go unnoted, though.

However, she didn't get a chance to dwell on the new thoughts as Owen suddenly spoke, his pacing ceasing as he looked into the new crowd that was now fashioned around him.

"I really don't know where to start."

His eyes went pleading as his heart raced. He really didn't want to do this. However, a new prompt, this time for the girl in the chair, told him that he had to, if he wanted to or not.

"Start at the beginning." She pressed, trying to encourage him any way should could. She, too, was curious, now that it seemed that what he had to say was the same thing that was making so uneasy. It only added to her growing curiosity; what could it be? However, when he finally did answer, it didn't seem to help. If anything, it only added one more inquiry to her every growing list of questions.

"Well, it all started with an organization called AVTech…"

-

Lol, Yay! Finally finished! Sorry it took so darn long, just been busy, busy, busy! But I promise I will never make you guys wait like that again! (Lol, it's only been like five days, I know, but I hate keeping people waiting) So, more coming soon! I guarantee it! R and R in the meantime!