Disclaimer: If you think I own the Turtles or anything related to them, you are very, very wrong. I'm just playing with them for a little while I promise to put them back when I'm done. I mean no harm, please don't sue.

Chapter 26: Escape From Jiarlin

Raphael picked up the TurtleCom a second time, and again it was Donatello on the other end. Had it been someone else, they would have been in big trouble.

"Yeah, we're together, and we're ready to head out." Raph confirmed after a quick glance at Leo and Mikey when Don asked about their state of preparedness for leaving the city. "Where are you?"

Hastily memorizing the directions they were given to a meeting spot, Raphael hung up and tucked the TurtleCom back into his belt.

"So, I guess this means you're really going?" John asked sadly from his spot still plastered against Leo's plastron.

"Yes, I'm really going." Leo nodded as he looked down at John.

"Let me come with you." John begged. "I don't want another clam. I want you."

"John, you don't belong in my world anymore than I belong here. You just can't come with us."

"Please, Leo. Let me come with you. Please don't leave me alone. Please." John hugged his clam just a little tighter and tried to memorize everything he could about Leo. His scent, the feel of his powerful muscles and the way they moved under his wonderful, scaly skin. The deep brown of his eyes and the slight striping he had along his neck.

"John," Leo complained as he tried to get the man off of him.

"Please, at least let me come with you to wherever you're going to leave this world."

"It's in gairen territory. I couldn't in good conscience allow you to be left there. We won't be able to protect you on your return trip."

"I don't care." John insisted. "If you're gone, I'd be better off eaten by the gairen than left here. Let me come."

As Leo continued his attempts to rid himself of the John-shaped leech, he heard himself agreeing with the man's request a second time. He found himself immediately released, and not quite understanding what had just happened to make him consent to the crazy plan. A quick glance at Mikey and Raph revealed that they were not the least bit pleased with this latest development, but they did not seem to be interfering either. All four immediately hurried toward the meeting place that Don had suggested.

Donatello was hiding in the shadows when his brothers arrived... with John in tow. He remained there for a brief moment, searching for the people he knew couldn't be far behind him before making his presence known. Even Leo hadn't noticed his hiding place, though he had to admit that his blue-masked brother seemed to be slightly distracted by John's presence. Don himself was a bit baffled by John being here, but he seemed to be traveling as part of the group. With a sigh, Don stepped out from his hiding spot.

"We have to move quickly, they've probably already noticed that I'm gone."

Leo nodded and the quintet was hurrying through the city's streets without another word being spoken. During their run, Don managed to get close enough to Raphael to ask what was going on.

"John's coming with us to the portal."

"What? If the gairen are anything like we've heard, he doesn't stand a chance of getting back." Don objected.

"He knows, and he doesn't care."

"but-"

"Just drop it, Donnie." Raph snipped. "Nothing we say is going to stop him anymore than anything we said stopped him at the hospital."

"He didn't like us saying 'Twinkie' at the hospital. That got him to leave."

"Yeah, well, I don't think that's going to work this time. He's pretty attached to ol' Fearless if you haven't noticed."

"I actually did notice that one." Don commented as he ran. He was a little surprised at how well John seemed to be keeping their pace. When he'd found that the man was coming along, he'd actually hoped that John would change his mind when he found out just how fast the turtles intended to move.

"Halt!" someone shouted from behind them. The four turtles and John all did as they were ordered then slowly turned around to face the speaker.

"Donatello," The man in the front of a group of five shouted. He had been the one to call for their halt. "you are to come with us." All five officers held a spray can in each hand.

"You're got to be kidding me." Raphael muttered under his breath, only to be shushed by Leo.

"I will not." Don shouted in response to the order.

"By order of the People of Jiarlin and the Academy of Gorijan, you will comply."

Leo stepped in front of Donatello, and Raphael and Michelangelo took flanking positions, forcing Don behind them.

"You are not taking him." Leo informed the officers. "You will not break up our family."

"You stand no chance against us." The officer informed the turtles. Don couldn't help but notice that John was cowering behind him, and he rolled his eyes. "We are experts in the way of Kvilethiacianux."

"We have been underestimated before." Leo countered. "You are not taking him."

"You, child, have no choice in the matter." The officer continued as he stepped toward the group.

Leonardo responded by drawing his swords. "I do not wish to hurt you, but you cannot be allowed to take my brother." He felt Mikey, Raph and Don following his lead behind him by pulling their own weapons free.

The officer, tired of talking to Leo turned his focus to Don. "It is required by the People of Jiarlan, the Academy of Gorijan, and the Profession of Engineering, that you come with us, Donatello. You have no choice in this matter."

Don felt a vague pulling on his thoughts and almost broke from his brothers to follow the officers and do as he had been ordered, but he used a light state of meditation that Master Splinter had taught them so long ago to force that vague pulling out of his mind. His thoughts were his own, and his choices were his own. The People of Jiarlin, the Academy of Gorijan and the Profession of Engineering were not his masters, and they did not dictate his actions.

"I do have a choice." Don shouted back, stepping in front of Leonardo. "I make the choice to stay with my family. I am leaving, and nothing you can do will make me stay."

Having been moved behind Donatello, Leo immediately felt John latch onto his shoulder. He could feel the man cowering behind his back.

"You should not be standing up to them, Leonardo." John urged. "They know kvilethiacianux."

"We will be fine." Leo promised. "We've dealt with more difficult opponents than these guys.

"They are well trained." John continued. "I have seen them in action. They know moves that no civilian knows.

Leo nodded, but ignored John's suggestion. "We can't leave Donnie here, John. I won't leave without him, and I can't stay here." Behind him, he could feel John sigh and nod.

"If you do not comply we will be forced to take action. I recommend you comply, Donatello." The officer held out his spray bottle menacingly.

"Um, is this some sort of joke?" Don asked sideways to Mikey.

"Nope, this is apparently what they do."

"Right."

The turtles just waited in a defensive position for the officers to make the first move. In a strange world, they certainly did not want to be seen as the attackers, though that is probably what it would look like no matter what happened here. All the same, they waited.

Leo stepped forward again and all four stood in a straight line facing their potential adversaries.

"We do not belong here." Leo said so all could hear him. "Just let us go on our way."

The lead officer was the one to respond again. "The rest of you are free to do as you will, but Donatello must come with us."

"Sorry, we're a family, and you aren't separating us." Mikey challenged.

"It ain't gonna happen so you can just forget it." Raph added.

All four turtles moved at the same time, diving to the sides to avoid the spray that shot from the lead officer's bottle. Leo managed to grab John by the shirt and pull him to the ground.

"Get clear." Leo ordered shortly, and John was quick to comply. He didn't leave completely, but he got to his feet and moved out of the way.

First 'shot' fired, the turtles jumped into the fray, getting in close to their opponents. Leo, Raph and Mikey had quickly learned that the kvilethiacianux practitioners didn't like to be too close to their opponents. Spraying someone too near you could result in painful back splash. Using hand to hand combat weapons was a distinct advantage, and the turtles were quick to press that advantage. Leo disarmed and downed two of the five officers and Mikey, Raph and Don took one each. The battle had been over before it even began. Racing away from the scene, Leo grabbed John's arm as they ran by.

"You still want to come?" He asked hastily of the man who had declared them clams.

"I won't leave you, Leo. You're my clam." John insisted, picking up his pace to catch up with Raph, Mikey and Don who had pulled ahead of them.

"Remember, this was your decision. I can't be responsible for anything that happens to you from here on out." Leo informed the man. Even as he said it, he knew that he was lying to himself. John had become a part of their group, and Leo took care of the group, no matter what.