DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by Nickelodean (I think). I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

PART 25

Another dead end. This was getting tiresome, in more ways than one.

It had been a long night. A night of horror, pain and disappointment. Donnie wondered how much more he could take.

The four turtles and Karai stood inside the abandoned warehouse, the air of frustration thick. This was the fourth old, unused Foot hideout in a row they found completely empty. They visited all the secret HQs the organisation utilised during the Shredder's reign.

Obviously, their first port of call was the remains of Shredder's tower overlooking the city. Destroyed in the Mutants' final battle against their archenemy, all remaining of the gargantuan complex now was an empty building site, waiting for something to take the tower's place. They knew they would find nothing at the site itself, of course, but the Foot had a basement that largely survived the destruction. However, it seemed Tatsu was too clever to keep what remained of his clan in the most obvious location.

They spent the rest of the night scouring the other known hideouts, only to come up short everytime. Either there were more Karai did not know about, or Tatsu found a brand new place to hold up. It was now early morning, with the first rays of sun poking through the cobwebbed windows.

But Donnie did not care what time it was. He was the driving force of the search, forcing himself to keep moving and not think about the heartbreaking pain inside him. If he did, he would panic again, and be no use to the woman he loved. They moved from place to place, Donnie not stopping once; he would not stop until April was safely in his arms again. There was no other possibility. He would keep going until he literally dropped.

However, his brothers were showing signs of fatigue. Mikey hid it the least, but even Leo and Raph had trouble stifling yawns. The night had been gruelling. But none of them were prepared to stop and rest. Although Donnie would continue on alone if need be, he knew his family was with him all the way on this.

Finishing this latest fruitless inspection, they left the warehouse and continued on. They still had locations to visit: it was really no wonder Shredder had such a grip on the city with this large number of storage houses, training schools and torture dungeons.

Karai gave the next address and they began the journey. It was still early enough for the streets to be largely empty, but Donnie was all-but-oblivious to the possibility of being spotted. He simply did not care. All that mattered was his April.

As they lept and bounded over the rooftops, Donnie chanced a glance at Karai. The kinoichi seemed almost as determined as him, quickly gathering a list of places to go and forging ahead. Donnie would be lying if he said he forgave Karai, but he forced himself to see past his anger, at least where she was concerned. It was well-known Karai still felt somewhat distrusted in the Hamato clan - Raph made no bones about it, unsurprisingly - but deep down, Donnie could tell her wish for redemption was genuine, as was her love for Leo.

Karai was no doubt full of guilt for their current predicament, for not suspecting the possibility of Tatsu installing a spy in their midst. It was fortunate she still kept the lair's location secret from her troops, even with the truce. Tatsu would have proven to be a threat much earlier, otherwise.

Donnie growled at that thought. Tatsu was more than enough of a threat, now. But at the same time, he made himself a massive target. Tatsu crossed the line. If the Shredder's protege so much as touched the mother of his child, Donnie was sure he would cross the line, and kill him. Anything to keep April safe forever.

Unbeknownst to Donnie, there was movement from a rooftop to their side. Ever-observant, even when tired, Leo spotted it and narrowed his eyes. "Guys," he said, his voice cutting through the group's silent determination like a foghorn. He nodded in the direction of the other rooftop, and his brothers and lover followed his gaze.

Karai grit her teeth and let out a hiss. There, standing on the edge of the roof, was a Foot. A Rebel. Donnie's eyes widened in recognition and instantly changed course, his family seamlessly mirroring him. Obviously noticing them, the Rebel hopped off the roof and began moving towards them.

Within seconds the gap closed between them, but it still felt like so long before the Rebel was within arm's reach. As they all neared, the Rebel made to peform a kick, but Donnie was way ahead of him. The turtle dove the last few feet and tackled the Rebel. The rolled on the ground, tumbling along as the other Mutants and Human followed. The Rebel tried to kick Donnie away, but the scientist kept his grip firm. He was not letting go.

Eventually, Donnie had the Rebel pinned to the ground, stradling him and holding him by the scruff of his neck. His brothers and Karai encircled them, with Raph and Leo stomping down hard on the soldier's arms, keeping them down. Karai then ripped his mask off, but to her disappointment, it was not Freddy.

Donnie scowled deeply at the young man beneath him. "WHERE... IS... SHE?!" His family could not hide their small gasps: they had never heard his voice so guttural.

For a moment, the soldier had a look of utter terror in his eyes, but somehow managed to quell it. "I... bring a messege from my master."

"You didn't answer my question!" yelled Donnie, and he pulled his arm back before slamming his fist hard into the Rebel's face. Another gasp from the turtles and Karai. "Tell me where she is, or I'll kill you right now!"

The soldier, now with his head split open, spluttered blood dripping into his mouth. "If... if you want to... see the woman again... come to the southern docks in 24 hours."

"What does Tatsu want?" snarled Raph.

"The... the traitor... will surrender," the Rebel spat. "You'll all lay down your weapons. The traitor will relinquish control of her clan and place... place herself at Master Tatsu's mercy. If you don't, you'll never see the woman alive again... "

Donnie's eye was actually twitching. "If he's hurt her, I swear... !"

"What's to stop us from beating their whereabouts out of you right here?" interrupted Leo.

With that, the soldier bit his teeth down, and the Hamato clan in unison blinked. The man's voice slurred as his mouth frothed sickeningly. "You... have... 24 hou... " He then stopped, his eyes going glassy.

"No!" Donnie began shaking the body in vain. "Dammit, no!"

After a few seconds, silence descended on them. Leo reached out and stroked a clenched-jawed Karai's arm, while Donnie, oblivious to everything now, simply closed his eyes in despair...

TO BE CONTINUED