Wow, I can't believe how quickly I got this chapter out! I guess because I knew exactly what was going to happen and where it was heading long before I got to write it! That and I have been wanting to write this chapter for quite a while because now we're slipping into Raphael's main part of this story.

It's not a massive chapter but this one is the length it is because I wanted to keep it short and powerful and to the point. It is the pivotal scene so I hope I have done it justice. Enjoy my dear readers! :D :D :D

*MNID*

Chapter 11 Recollection, Separation

GP didn't know how long he'd been running when he finally staggered to a halt. His chest heaved and his limbs wobbled slightly from fatigue and it was only then that he realised that he had no idea where he actually was. For the second time in his life he was lost and alone in the dark, dank coldness of the sewers. Why did he even think that this was a good idea? He'd grabbed his bag and shot straight out of the garage door before Mikey could catch up with him. How he'd managed that he didn't know.

A guilty pressure weighed upon his shoulders. After all the progress he had made he'd turned around and simply given up because of one individual. It was ridiculous. What was he doing? They all had to be so bitterly disappointed in him. GP sniffed, rubbing the back of his gloved hand across his snout as glanced all around him.

Mikey had shown him around the sewers immediately surrounding the lair (with chichi's permission of course) quite a few months ago but nothing around him now was even remotely familiar. GP shivered and sniffed again, starting to feel his mask dampening for what seemed the umpteenth time that day. Why was he such an emotional wreck? He never thought one person could cry as much as he had done in the past nine months. It was embarrassing and despite all his efforts everyone had seen him do it. He'd never been comfortable showing his emotions in front of anyone. Stockman had despised it and had inadvertently taught him to conceal his pain, hold it in until he was completely alone. He hated how weak and vulnerable it made him feel, he'd never felt at ease doing it. Crying was meant to be a release, making you feel at least a bit better afterwards, (he'd read somewhere). GP never had.

He scrubbed viciously at his eyes, sore and raw as they already were and tried to blink his blurring vision clear. A horrible sense of deja vu descended upon him and his body quivered. He felt like that lost toddler crying in the dark. He didn't want to be here, alone, in the shadows and the wet. GP's chest shuddered as a sob escaped and clenching his jaw he threw his arms over his head as his knees gave way and splashed in the numbing water letting out a wretched moan of frustration and self loathing.

Why did he have to do the most stupidest thing he could and run away? Running away never solved anything so what the hell was he doing? He really was an idiot.

There was suddenly a splash in the waters ahead of him and GP froze, tensing every muscle as he peered into the darkness ahead. Had he got turned about? Had one of his family found him?

"Hello?" his voice sounded so small in the vastness of the sewers.

More splashing sounded and an awful metallic cry echoed down the tunnel towards him. GP jolted out of the water instinctively hefting his bo staff as the owner of that dreadful howl came into view. A fearful gasp escaped the youth's throat and he staggered backwards as not one, not two, not even three enemies came converging on him but twelve. A horrid red glow spread across the walls and for a horrifying moment GP stiffened as he came face to face with the twisted versions of his own creation.

*MNID*

Raph grumbled as he sloshed through the cold sewer water. As much as he didn't want to, he knew not complying would be incredibly unwise (given the current circumstances). He was far from being in anybody's good books right now and to go back and admit he'd shirked the job Leo had given him would hardly earn him any merit points. Despite how he felt about the whole situation, he was smart enough to know that he had pushed it as far as he possibly could.

Raphael suddenly stubbed his toe on something in the water and swore under his breath. Why did the gangly nerd have to go and get himself lost in the sewers? Why couldn't have just locked himself in his room or something? He'd better not be the one to find him because of all the trouble that brainiac had caused him, he'd drag him home kicking and screaming. Hell, he'd throw the geek over his shoulder if he had to.

Forty-five minutes into his search, Raph turned another corner when he heard it. All his senses snapped onto high alert and he pulled his sais. He knew the sounds of combat when he heard it, even at a distance. It took five agonising minutes to close the gap. The noises got louder and more distinct and as he reached a curve in the tunnel he skidded to a stop. It was those freaking Chompers, MOUSERS or ECHOERS or whatever the hell they were called. They were squealing and converging on someone just out of sight. He didn't know why but this caused his heart to start hammering in his breast.

"Keep away from me!" a familiar voice shrieked. "Just keep away!"

Something in that desperate tone chilled Raph's very blood. He pelted down the tunnel only to be met head on by a group of gnashing MOUSERS. Blocking his path they dived at him, several for his feet whilst the others launched for his chest.

"Get the hell off me!" he bellowed as metal claws scraped at his already scarred pastron. He swept an arm down plunging down a sai for good measure and skewering one of the nasty metal creations straight through its shining skull.

One snapped at his arm and with his sheer weight slammed the robot into the wall with his shoulder. There was a horrid squeal and the crumpled MOUSER fell to the floor only to be replaced by two more. One he kicked into the opposite wall whilst the next met its doom by the points of Raph's sais.

When no more of the little beasts sprang back up Raphael lurched down the tunnel and was met by a sight that coiled an iron spring about his chest. Donatello was being assailed by the MOUSERS on all sides. He ploughed his naginata through the glinting silver bodies, bloody gashes marred his arms as the robots showed the lone turtle mutant no mercy. The jeans he wore looked ragged and bloodied and even fresh the scratch across his cheek told Raph that Donatello had put up one hell of fight so far to keep so many of the metal monsters at bay for so long.

Then the unthinkable happened the kid lost his footing and splashed into the murky water. Raph caught his breath temporarily fixed to the spot as the MOUSERS threw themselves onto the mutant turtle's cracked shell. Somehow he pushed his arms underneath him enough to get clearance and finally caught sight of Raph himself. Those chestnut red eyes seemed to burn straight into his very soul and in that second a vision snapped into the crimson ninja's mind. He saw a small turtle tot staring back him earnestly, reaching out as he beat his father's shoulder to stop. Those bright eyes and fear filled expression grew smaller until he fell out of sight in the distance. "Donnie," he breathed, shaking his head as he finally came back to his senses.

What the hell was that? Did-did that actually happen? Holy crap. He remembered. He remembered Donatello!

"Raphael!"

The desperate cry slammed Raph back to the here and now and he lunged forward letting out a guttural roar as he brought a hammering blow down on the nearest MOUSERS. Two were thrown into the closest wall, one met its end on the point of his left hand sai, the right took out two more, crushing them into the sewer floor. Clearing as many as he could he grabbed the kid's elbow and hauled him to his feet.

"C'mon we need to get out of here!"

Needing no further encouragement Donatello staggered after him.

That's when it happened. The whole tunnel seemed to shake and the wall to the left of them started to crumble. Before Raph knew what what was going on a stray MOUSER leapt at his head. He dodged back but not quick enough to avoid getting a gash across his right cheek.

"Sonofa-!" he cursed just as something splashed behind him and grabbed his nearest ankle.

He whirled round expecting another of the metal beasts clamping onto his leg but no, it was Donatello who released a yelp and an alarmed cry as more of the damn robots surged about him from the hole in the wall. It was only then that he realised what the little bastards were up to. They were dragging the kid away, down their self made tunnel.

"Get off of him!" Raph all but roared, attempting to dive forward and make grab. "Ya ain't takin' him anywhere!" but just like ants converging on a sweet treat the MOUSERS didn't relent.

Half a dozen broke off to detain Raph, stopping him grabbing Donatello's arm by a fraction of inch. He shouted in frustration as the purple banded turtle writhed about to free him from the metallic mass of robotic bodies. He slammed his sais, kicked and punched until his knuckles were hopelessly bloodied and bruised but the lanky teen was quickly being hauled away, protests and curses pouring from his mouth as he reached out to grabbed anything to slow his inevitable fate.

Raph snatched at Donatello's bo that had been lost in the waters and swung it towards him to give the desperate turtle something to hold on too. His adrenalin increased tenfold as a pair of gloved hands managed to snatch the end. Raphael dug in his heels, ignoring the robots that snatched at every part of him, trying to force him to let go, the pain receptors popping mercilessly in his brain.

Then he slipped.

The MOUSERS got the upper claw and took the advantage and one almighty tug had both turtles pulled into the brick burrow. Raph's feet caught the remaining edges of the tunnel wall and leant back gritting his teeth as he playing a grotesque game of tug of war.

"Don't let go Donnie, don't let go!" he found himself saying.

The look Donatello gave him, despite the situation was one of utter shock and surprise. "I won't!" he hollered back and somehow Raph instinctively knew that he wouldn't.

Raphael didn't know how long the sick game lasted as his muscles started to burn with fatigue, in the end it wasn't either mutant who broke the chain but the chain itself. The bo staff creaked and an ominous dull crack filled the turtles' ears. Bright green met chestnut red and a look of sheer horror passed between the pair. Half second later the bo snapped.

"NO!" Both their voices rang together in perfect unison and Donatello was swiftly dragged down.

"RAPHAEL!"

"DONNIE!" Raph dived down the gaping hole, but even as his feet touched the brickwork the bricks gave way. "Aaah!" He threw himself back just in time.

By now the straggling MOUSERS that had a hold of Raph let go and skittered across the tunnel jumping the void and joining the rest of the fleeing hoard. A desperate hand reached out for him and although he lunged forwards he knew there was absolutely nothing he could do. The makeshift tunnel wouldn't support his bulk. He watched helplessly as Donatello was pulled out of sight and the need burst up his throat more strongly than it had ever done before. "DONNIE!"

Those flashing auberne eyes that sparked that long lost memory disappeared from sight and the crushing pain that descended upon his chest was unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. He couldn't save him. The young teen felt a wave of sickness crash over him as the sudden realisation slapped him viciously across the face.

It all made sense now, why did he keep sweeping it under the rug? The fear in Donnie's expression was undeniable. Nobody who looked that fearful would ever be loyal to the person trying to claw them back.

Raphael sank to his knees, clutching the shattered bo staff to his plastron as he stared into the dark space Donnie just occupied. His departing screams repeating in his head. Raph felt like he'd just been kicked in the stomach with an iron army boot. This was all his fault.

Because of him Donnie was being dragged right back into the clutches of the man they had freed him from. Because of him, Hamato Raphael, Baxter Stockman had reclaimed his precious 'Guinea Pig'. What the hell was he going to do?

*MNID*

NOTES:

I just want to thank everyone again for your comments and favs and follows! You guys are the best and as always don't be afraid to leave a comment, as I've said before I love reading them both long and short because they really do make my day! Sit tight my friends because I have a surprise popping up in chapter 12! Thanks again my fabulous readers! :D :D :D