Chapter 12

A/N: I am so sorry for the wait on this. Life got away from me and things just took forever to get sorted out. I can't promise that the chapters will come any faster but I will try. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and read.

I own nothing.

Huge thanks to Mama. I love you.


For a moment it seemed like the world stopped; everything around Raphael froze in a wave of confusion and worry. The Foot were making their way around the younger turtle, waving their weapons in ready; their movements silent and deadly. Raph was crouched a foot away, watching his baby brother battle for his life and then he was gone. His heart nearly leapt into his throat at the thought of losing another brother.

He mentally shouted at his body to do something, anything, before he had to watch his brother fall at the hands of the Foot. Raphael forced himself up onto his legs. His body shook with the unfamiliar effort and almost threw him back to the ground but he fought through the searing pain. He was not going to let his old age take him out of this fight; Mikey needed him and he would do whatever he could to help him.

"Mikey!" He wanted to scream but his lips wouldn't move. What the hell was wrong with him? Raph clenched his teeth and pushed forward, leaping in between the different buildings towards his younger brother.

For a moment it looked as if the younger turtle had disappeared but just as quickly as he had been consumed by the sea of black Mikey had thrown off his attackers, blocking with whatever strength he had left.

It had been so long since either of them had fought against the Foot. After the rise of Shredder, the hired ninjas that worked for him seemed to have disappeared, slipping between the cracks of the run-down city.

Raph was about to leap over to the roof his brother was on when his heart contracted in his chest and sent him stumbling down. His body fell, just barely missing the railings lining the ally, until he crashed onto a fire escape.

The wind had been knocked out of him, causing Raphael to fight for a desperate breath, and his vision danced with white specks. For a moment it seemed as if death had finally taken him but the life-threatening pain drumming through his chest and spine rudely reminded him that he was, in fact, still alive and kicking.

He lay on the fire escape for a moment, trying to catch his breath. Raph refused to believe that he was getting old and that his body couldn't handle the strenuous activities that were a part of his everyday life.

"Need a hand?" If he hadn't been partially blind, he would have sworn he was imagining the familiar young Asian man kneeling in front of him.

He was half-tempted to slap Nenji's hand away but instead clasped it and used their combined strength to pull himself to his feet. "My brother..." he muttered, clenching the side of his plastron.

Raph couldn't be certain the young man was the Nenji he had been thinking of but by the lack of fear on the other's face and the striking blue eyes gleaming back at him it became clear this was the same man.

They had never really gotten along. Nenji had joined their ranks shortly after Casey had died and it always felt like the man had been trying to replace their friend.

"Mike's fine." Nenji looped his arm around Raph's waist to steady him. "I have him waiting down in the alley."

Raph rolled his eyes, pushing away from the human. "Did Leo send everyone here?" he muttered as they started down the fire escape.

Nenji was quiet for a moment, most likely trying to figure out how to shut him up for good. "We actually didn't know Leo was here. April had a suspicion that he was training underground somewhere." He rolled his shoulders in a shrug.

"That didn't strike you as odd?" Raph asked.

Nenji shot him a look. "This is Leo we're talking about. He is odd."

Raph wasn't able to think of a witty comeback. In fact, this whole thing seemed a little off in his books. There was no way April would not have know where Leo was. The two of them had become inseparable ever since Don's disappearance.

April knew every move Leo made before he could even think about it. Come to think of it, April had already known what he and Mike had been planning. Didn't that mean that she knew of the possibility that Leo would follow them?

Dropping down into the alley, all Raph could see were the dark shadows of New York. His brother was nowhere nearby. "I thought you said Mikey was here," he growled at the ninja.

No response came. Had he only imagined Nenji? It wouldn't be the first time his mind played tricks on him.

Ralph's hands dropped down to the hostlers on his hips and cursed when he realized his sai were no longer there. He must have lost them on his fall down.

Something struck him in the back of the head and the last thing he heard before he blacked out was Nenji's laughter. "He was here. No need to worry, Raphael, he's in good hands."


Whether days or weeks went by, Donatello couldn't be sure. Everything seemed to be the same in his small cage. The temperature had yet to change beyond the point of freezing, and Shredder hadn't made another appearance.

He wanted to be go home. He wanted to be with his brothers and father. This was not how he wanted to leave his world. A part of him prayed his siblings would find him and the other half screamed for them to stay away.

The Shredder may not have told him every detail of his plan but Donnie wasn't stupid. He knew he was a tool to get Master Splinter within arms reach. Shredder wanted to take away everything Splinter held dear and his sons were the tip of the iceburg.

Don wished there was a way to contact his family. He didn't want them here. He couldn't watch the Shredder tear his family apart.

"Which one are you?" A small voice asked.

For a moment Donnie thought he'd imagined the voice but a small child stepped into the light and cocked his head at him. "Which one are you?" he asked again.

Donnie wasn't sure how to respond to the child. He looked young and had a small frame. He sort of reminded Don of Mikey, save for the scowl in his face.

The little boy made a 'tsk' sound. "I will not ask again, turtle. Who are you?"

Don pushed his head up and sighed quietly. "My name is Donatello." he whispered. His body ached and his head spun with confusion.

Why would the Shredder have a child?

The black haired boy shifted his weight onto his right leg and smirked at him. "So father was right, you are the smart one." He crossed his arms over his chest. "This will be so much more interesting. You'll make for a better conversationalist."

"Is that so?" asked Donnie.

"Quite," the child replied, turning to leave.

He didn't understand. The boy had simply asked him his name and was going to leave? How did that make any sense? "Wait!" Don called. "Who are you?"

He was sure the boy would never tell him. That would be too personal and the Shredder would need all of his pawns tied tightly if his plan was going to work. But the boy paused at the door and turned back to him. From where he was standing Don could just barely make out the intensity of the boy's eyes; they were almost icy blue. It was odd, considering the boy's heritage.

"My name is Nenji."