A/N: A bit of a nail biter in this chap, but Leo and Raph are a pretty good team and I think they could handle a simple recon mission without too much trouble, don't you?

Chapter 21 -Into the Spider's Web-
~~~

Leonardo moved through the trees almost silently. Raph kept up easily, his sai clenched in his fists, keeping a close eye out for any sight or sound of the animal that attacked his little brother. Leo stopped just ahead, crouching and holding up a hand to stop Raph. Raph knelt next to him, his amber gaze scanning the woods around them.

"This has got to be the place," whispered Leo, pointing.

Raph's eyes narrowed behind his red mask. The rustic little cabin sat back near the trees. The barn was nearer, standing solid and forbidding, silhouetted against the darkening sky.

"Let's go." Raph started forward, only to be stopped by a hand on his arm.

"Look." Leo pointed.

Raph swore. A dog… a huge dog, was lying under the porch. They couldn't see from where they crouched whether it was awake, but it wasn't moving.

"Mike already checked," whispered Leo. "We know Don's not in the barn."

"What about da cabin?" Raph's hands tightened on his sai. He was itching to rush out and challenge the dog, to tear it apart for attacking his little brother.

"Maybe we should scout the barn first," said Leo. His dark eyes were still on the dog. "In case Mike missed something."

"Ya t'ink he would've?"

"It's possible," said Leo. "You interrupted him when you called, remember? We should at least check, Raph. I don't want to miss anything."

"Ok." Let's jus' get movin', thought Raph. The faster we get movin', da faster we can find Don.

The pair moved across the yard with hardly a rustle of the grass as they passed. The dog never noticed their presence.

"Da door's locked, Fearless," whispered Raph, pointing.

Leo nodded. "Didn't Mike say he went in through the back?" he answered. "Let's try that first."

It didn't take long to locate the loose board and slip into the barn. Raph had a harder time slipping through the opening with his slightly bulkier shell. In the seconds he was wedged in the space, he felt something tickle his face and reflexively slapped at it, panic rising at the thought of a spider landing on his skin.

His fingers touched something silky soft and light, like spiderweb. He grunted, jerking his way out of the tight opening. Leo shook his head, not quite smirking, and Raph scowled. He glanced back at the gap, expecting to see silken strands hanging. He looked closer. That wasn't spider web.

It looks like…

"Hey, Leo, lookit dis," he called.

"What is it?" Leonardo came close, examining the strands hanging from a sliver in the wood. "It looks like… hair?"

"Yeah. It's kinda red. Like Ape's, but lighter," said Raph.

"Someone's used this way before."

"Musta been a girl."

"Yeah, or a long-haired man."

Raph snorted. Leonardo glanced at him. "Casey has long hair," he remarked.

Raph shot him a scowl. "Yeah, but dis is curly," he pointed out, holding up some of the strands. "I can't imagine a guy wit' long, curly blond hair."

Raph could see by the way Leo's face twitched he was trying hard not to smile. "True," he admitted. "So it was probably a girl. And not long ago, or the hairs would've blown away."

"Dat doesn't help us find Don though," muttered Raphael, letting the hairs fall from his fingers onto the dusty floor. He moved silently across the barn.

A horse whickered, making him whirl and take a defensive crouch.

"Relax, Raph," said Leo, moving toward the stall. "Mike was right, he's pretty calm about seeing giant turtles," he remarked.

"Mebbe he's jus' a smart horse," said Raph.

Leonardo shook his head. He was kneeling in the next stall. "Raph, look," he whispered.

Raphael leaned over his brother's shoulder and scowled. "What's dat?"

"Looks like something was… tied here," said Leonardo, his voice tight. "Look, there're still strands of rope."

"Ya don't t'ink…"

"I don't know, Raph. But I do know Don's not here. We've got to find him."

"We will." Raph straightened. "Let's check da house."

"And face that dog?"

"I'll take care o' 'im."

"Raph…"

"Leo, dat dog bit Mikey."

"It was defending its territory."

"I'm defendin' my brother!"

"Not by killing an animal for doing what it's supposed to do!"

Raph growled, turning away. "Fine. I'll knock it out. Is dat ok wit' you, Fearless?"

"Raph… Do what you need to. I'm just saying, don't use excessive force, ok?"

"Whatever."

Raph stalked over to the gap in the barn boards and forced his shell through the narrow opening once more. He started across the yard, sticking to the deeper shadows. Leo was close behind. Raph caught a glimpse of steel flashing in the moonlight and knew his brother had drawn his weapons.

Sure, don't hurt da poor dog. What're ya gonna do wit' yer katana, Leo? Pet it?

He was nearly to the porch when the dog lifted its head, an uncertain growl sounding in its throat.

"Raph, keep it busy."

Raphael glanced at his brother, but his gaze quickly snapped back to the dog, which was no on its feet and moving toward him cautiously, growling.

"Hey, doggy. Nice doggy," said Raph, sarcasm dripping from every word. "Ya want anot'er bite o' turtle? Bring it on. I'll teach ya ta bite people…"

The dog lunged. Raph was sorely tempted to drive his sai into the animal's throat, to rip and tear as it had done to Mike's leg, but instead he brought the blunt handle of his sai down on its skull, dropping it at his feet.

"Raph!" Leo's voice rose slightly with alarm.

"'m ok, Leo. I jus' knocked 'im out," answered Raphael. Don't worry. I didn't hurt da poor defenseless dog.

"Come on," said Leonardo, motioning. Raph joined his brother and together they circled the cabin, scouting. Around the back they found a window. Leo leaned closer, peering through the dusk. He recoiled, seeing the thin strand of wire across the pane of glass. He pointed and Raph nodded, scowling.

"Booby trap," he mouthed. They slowly backed away and kept moving around the building.

Leo stopped so suddenly Raph nearly ran into his brother's shell. He swore. Leonardo pointed. Raph followed his finger and swore again. The leaves had been disturbed, and he could see, just jutting out from under them, the edge of a rather nasty steel trap. A few more steps and it would have latched onto his leg. Raphael scowled.

Dis guy's a proper nut, he thought. Booby traps on da house, an' bear traps out back. He's expectin' an invasion or somet'in.

"Let's try around front," whispered Leo. "He'd have to have a safe way of getting in and out, right?"

"Ok," said Raph. He wasn't about to admit it to his brother, but fumbling around in the gathering dark, with traps about, was beginning to make him nervous.

They moved back to the front of the cabin. The dog hadn't stirred.

"You sure you didn't kill it?" asked Leo.

"I don't t'ink so, Fearless," answered Raph."Why dontcha go give it mouth ta mouth if yer so worried?"

Leonardo just shook his head. They heard the horse whicker in the barn. Raph pointed. The barn door was open.

"Da guy must be feedin' da horse," he hissed. "Now's our chance, Leo. Let's check da house."

"Agreed. Watch my back," said Leonardo. "I'll go in and check things out."

Raphael nodded reluctantly. He would've argued, but they didn't have much time. Wraithlike, Leo disappeared into the cabin.

He was gone less than five minutes. Raph didn't have time to get impatient before his brother reappeared at his side motioning toward the trees. The pair disappeared as silently as they'd come, before Jack Koban finished filling the horse's hay net.

***

Less than a mile off, Raph couldn't contain himself any longer. "So, didja find anyt'in?" he demanded.

"Nothing, Raph. No sign of Don anywhere. The place is like a militant's dream. He's got more guns than an armory," said Leo grimly. "And I think he's on some medications. I found a bunch of bottles with prescription labels."

"Oh great, he's jus' some nut. How come Don's trail leads here?" growled Raph.

"I don't know," said Leo with a sigh. "But there was no sign of Donny in the house or in the barn. We're just going to have to keep looking." He flipped open his shell-cel. "I'll call the girls and have them meet us. They should've had time to deal with that hiker by now."

Raph nodded silently.

***

"So, there was no sign of him anywhere?" April asked.

"Nothing, April," said Leonardo, starting the Battle Shell and easing down the road. "It's like he disappeared off the face of the earth."

"We'll find him, ani," said Austin, laying her hand on Leo's shell.

"Yeah, bro," chimed in Michelangelo. "I'm just glad you didn't run into that dog." He shivered.

Raph carefully avoided Leonardo's eyes. They hadn't had to discuss not telling Mike about the dog.

"I just can't stand the idea that he could be out there, somewhere, hurt or sick or…" Leonardo trailed off. He kept his eyes on the road to hide the moisture gathering in them.

"He's going to be fine, Leo," said April firmly. "Don's strong and smart. If there's a way, he'd find it, you know that. He's going to be ok."

"Ape's right," said Raphael. "Don's fine."

"I hope so," muttered the leader.

Don't give up hope yet, Fearless, thought Raph. If Donny's out here, we're gonna find him. Don't you worry 'bout dat. I ain't goin' home wit'out my bro. Dat's a promise.