Chapter 26: Risen from the Dead

A/N: I can't believe how fast these ideas for this story are coming out! I want to thank all of those who have read and reviewed thus far. Your kind words mean the world to me and keep motivating me to keep writing. Special thanks to Illusionna as always for letting me borrow her characters. You are truly the best! I hope that all of you enjoy this chapter too because things are really going to start happening.

Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters are property of Nickelodeon. The Phoenix, her children, and any other characters from The Other Side of the City are property of Illusionna and are used with permission from the author. I only own the plot and my own characters.

Ian smiled as he studied the image in the microscope. His research was going well and he was happy with how things were turning out. He looked over at his partner, Lia Moriarty, and smiled at her.

"Looks like we have a success here," she noted.

He nodded. "Yeah, we're doing pretty well with this stuff."

When it was time to leave, they cleaned up the lab and took off their lab coats.

"So where are you headed?" Lia asked him.

"Home to eat dinner," he answered.

"That's no fun," she said. "Why don't you have dinner with me at my place? I'm a pretty good cook."

"I'd like that," he replied. Inside, he was dancing for joy because he had always wanted Lia to ask him out in some fashion. He thought she was very attractive with her red hair and piercing green eyes hidden behind stylish glasses.

"Great," she said. "Let's go."

Lia's apartment was small and still cozy for someone who lived alone. She owned a small Yorkshire terrier named Toby who leaped up to greet them as they came in. Ian ruffled the dog's fur as the dog licked his hand.

"He's always been very friendly," remarked Lia.

"I was never allowed to have dogs because my mom was allergic," he explained.

"Well, you're welcome to come in here and spend time with Toby whenever you like."

"Thanks. I think I'll take you up on that offer. So, what's for dinner?"

"Lasagna," she answered. "You want to help me cook it?"

"Sure," he replied. "What do I do first?"

She got out a casserole dish and the ingredients. "Put the noodles in the dish," she instructed.

Ian did so and found that he really liked it. Lia heated up a pan of marinara sauce and got out the ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese. Once the sauce was heated up, she instructed Ian to put some sauce on the noodles while she put on the ricotta and the mozzarella and more noodles. They layered them on until they were to Lia's satisfaction.

"That was fun," Ian commented as Lia put the dish into the oven.

"You've never cooked before?" she asked him.

"Not really," he answered. "Mostly I eat microwave dinners and frozen pizza if I don't eat out."

Lia shook her head. "Sounds like you could use a cook at your place. One of these days I'll have to come over and cook you a meal or two."

"That would be nice," he said.

When the lasagna was finished, Lia took it out and cut it up then served it on two plates. "Oh, I forgot to put in some garlic bread!" she gasped. "I always do that to go with the lasagna!"

"Don't worry about it," he said gently. "What you have is fine."

Lia sighed and tried to calm down, which he found adorable.

"Lia, I wanted to talk to you about something," he said.

"What is it?" she asked him.

"Well, I was walking home from the lab one day and I saw this woman who was with two mutants," he began. "The one mutant was injured and the woman just laid her hands on the injury and it healed."

Lia's eyes widened. "Really?" she gasped. "I've heard rumors that there are other mutants in the city, but this is astounding. Think of all the work this woman could do for us. Maybe all she would have to do is lay hands on someone and they'll be cured of cancer. We definitely have to see her and ask her what made her the way she is."

"Well, I don't really the like the idea of using someone else to play God, Lia," Ian chastised.

"We aren't going to be using her," Lia protested. "She would get paid for her services just like anyone else would. I just think that this is a breakthrough that we've been waiting for."

"I suppose you have a point, but I think it would be best for me to get acquainted with her before I ask her if she can be used as a guinea pig of sorts."

Lia nodded. "That makes sense."

"But I also want you to keep it a secret between us. No one else is to know about this, understood?"

"I completely understand."

"Good. Now, let's eat more of this delicious meal."

22222

Medusa's whip cracked in the air as she advanced on Raph. He dodged the weapon and tried for a strike of his own, but the boa evaded him and managed to tangle her whip around his legs, tripping him up.

"Dammit!" he cursed. "What the hell was that for, Dus?"

She giggled. "You need to be more focused on your opponent," she lectured.

"How was I supposed to know you were gonna do that?"

"You have to pay attention at all times," she replied.

He snarled and tackled her to the ground. "I'll show you focused," he said playfully as he began tickling her.

"Raph, stop!" she squealed.

"Not until you admit that I'm a kick-ass ninja."

"Okay, okay, you're a kick-ass ninja," she said.

"And?"

"And no one fights the way you do."

"And?"

"And there will never be another like you in my life because you make my life complete."

Raph smiled, kissed her on the lips, and released her. "That's better."

"Dude, how come you never kissed me when you did that to me?" Mikey teased. "You got off easy, Dus."

Raph wrinkled his beak. "Bro, that is just wrong! You're my brother."

Mikey giggled. "I know that. I just wanted to see the look on your face when I said that."

Raph growled. "Why you little…." He took off after his brother with Mikey squealing the whole way.

Medusa giggled and left the dojo to see what the others were doing. She found Arcos working on a painting.

"Where are Aries and Mama?" she asked.

"Mama went for a walk and Aries is in the lab with Donnie," Arcos replied.

"That's a pretty good painting," Medusa commented.

"Thanks. I really hope to do more of them. April wants to try and get people to buy them so I can make some money."

"That would be cool," Medusa said.

"Guys, could you please stop running around?" Leo complained. "I'm trying to watch this episode."

"You've seen it at least fifty times already," Raph countered.

"But it's one of my favorites," Leo replied.

22222

"Are you sure this will work, Donnie?" Aries asked.

"I'm as sure as I'm ever going to be," Donnie replied. "I've mixed some of the retro-mutagen with your mom's blood and think that will help with what I need."

"I'm surprised you didn't want to use all of my blood," April joked.

"Well, I did use a little," he said. "Okay, fingers crossed." He opened Timothy's tank and poured in the retro-mutagen.

At first, nothing happened, but then the blob that was known as The Pulverizer began to change shape. Skin began to form over his organs until he was the same human Donatello had befriended.

With a happy cry, Donnie opened the tank and let Timothy climb out though he did need some assistance.

"Thanks for bringing me back, Donnie," he said. "I knew you could do it."

"Sorry it took so long, Timothy," Donnie apologized.

"No sweat," he said.

"What's going on in here?" Leo demanded as he burst into the lab with Mikey, Raph, Medusa, and Arcos behind him. Then he took in the human standing before them. "Pulverizer?" he gasped.

"Yep, it's me," Timothy said happily.

Mikey ran over and engulfed the human oaf into a big hug. "Dude, it's so good to have you back!" he cried.

"Good to see you too, Mikey," Timothy said as he patted the youngest Turtle's shell.

"You know, I kind of liked him better as a blob," Raph said.

"Be nice, Raph," Leo warned him.

"Hey, Leo, your voice is different," Timothy noted.

"Yeah, it's a long story," Leo said.

"Cool. I hope we can catch up sometime. Hey, who are these other mutants?"

"Timothy, this is Aries, Arcos, and Medusa, The Children of the Phoenix," Donnie introduced them.

"Nice to meet you," Timothy said. "Who's the Phoenix?"

"She's our mother," Medusa answered.

"Is she a mutant too?"

"No, she's human and she heals people," Aries explained.

"Nice. Well, I better get going. I know my mom has been worried sick about me so I need to let her know I'm okay."

"I'll go with you," Donnie said.

"Cool and you can catch me up on all the stuff you did while I was frozen."

22222

"So, what was space like?"

"It was so amazing, Tim. You would have loved it."

"I bet I would have. Sounds like you guys were doing a lot of stuff while I was gone."

"Yeah, but I never stopped trying to find a cure for you. That was always my main goal and now I've achieved that."

"I always knew you would. So, why is Leo's voice all different?"

"He was brutally attacked by Shredder and his henchmen during the second Kraang invasion and sustained multiple injuries including damage to his throat."

"Man, that sucks. I really wish I could teach Shredder a lesson."

"Timothy, what did you promise me about getting into situations you shouldn't?" Donnie warned him.

Timothy sighed. "I know. I won't do anything stupid, Donnie. I promise. And now that I'm back, maybe you could start training me again."

"I think that could be arranged as long as Splinter thinks it's okay," Donnie replied.

"Well, here we are. Thanks for walking me here, Donnie."

"I'll stay on the roof until you get inside safely and then I'll go home. But don't forget to call if you need anything, okay?"

Timothy grinned. "You got it." He hurried inside while Donnie stayed on the roof.

It seemed like only a few minutes before Timothy climbed back up on the rooftop. Donnie's face took on a worried expression.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Mom moved away," Timothy answered. "The guy who lives there now said she left for Florida after I was reported missing and no leads came up. Why would she just go like that?"

"I don't know, but maybe we could track her down and get you there," suggested Donnie.

"I doubt she would want me back or believe that it was me," Timothy said sadly. "Maybe this is a better option. I can just find another place to live and get on my feet."

"I don't think there is any other place for you right now," pointed out Donnie. "Plus, with Shredder still out there, I don't want anything to happen to you. You can stay with us."

"Donnie, I can't. Your dad wouldn't like it and you have enough people staying with you as it is."

"But you can't stay on the streets and the Lair is perfectly safe for you," Donnie argued. "We're going down there to talk to Sensei about it."

Before Timothy could argue, Donnie suddenly yelped and clutched his neck. He pulled out a dart before he sank to the ground in a heap.

"Donnie!" Timothy yelled. He turned and saw a mutant wolf and a human woman coming toward the two of them. Who were they?

"Well, if it isn't the fool known as the Pulverizer," the wolf sneered.

"Chris Bradford?" Timothy gasped. "What happened to you?"

"It doesn't matter," Bradford said. "All that matters is that I'm taking that Turtle with me."

Timothy got in front of Donnie and adopted a defensive stance. "You'll have to get through me first!" he threatened.

Bradford laughed. "That won't be a problem." He lunged at Timothy and grabbed him before throwing him to the ground.

"Boy, he's pathetic," the woman said.

"Never mind that. Let's take the freak to the Shredder. He has big plans for him."

"No!" Timothy yelled, but it was too late. Bradford and the woman took Donnie and left via a smoke bomb.

"I have to tell the Turtles about this!" Timothy said to himself.

22222

"What do you mean you lost Donnie?" Raph yelled, getting in Timothy's face.

"Stand down, Raph!" Leo warned. "Who took him?"

"Bradford and some lady," Timothy answered as he wiped Raph's spit off his cheek. "I knew I had to come and get you. Bradford said that Shredder has some big plans for him but I don't know what they are."

"Hey, maybe you could rejoin the Foot and find out," Raph suggested.

"No, we are NOT repeating that mistake," Leo replied. "We'll have to regroup and come up with a plant to rescue Donnie."

"I want to go with you," Timothy offered.

"Sorry, Tim, but you need to stay here," said Leo. "We're not leaving yet anyway. If we go too soon, it could be bad."

At that moment, Phoenix entered looking a little worn out. "What's going on?"

"Donnie's bene captured," Leo answered. "Oh, Phoenix, this is Timothy, Donnie's friend."

"Nice to meet you," Phoenix said.

"Yeah, nice to meet you, too," Timothy said.

"Who took Donatello?" Splinter demanded.

"The Foot took him," Timothy answered. "I tried to stop them, but they overpowered me. Hey, you must be Donnie's dad. I remember you."

"Yes, it is good to see you back, Timothy," Splinter said.

"Uh, I know this isn't a good time, but can I crash at your place for a while?" Timothy asked. "My mom moved away and I really don't have anywhere to go."

"No way!" Raph yelled. "We're not having this guy stay here!"

"Raphael, that is not your decision to make!" Splinter said sternly. "Timothy may stay here as long as he wants to and he may use Donatello's room."

"Thanks," Timothy said as he grabbed Splinter's paw and began shaking it.

"Aw, sewer apples," Raph groaned.

22222

"Order up!" Keno yelled.

I took the order and took it over to the people at the table. "Here you go," I said. "Enjoy your meal."

As I was headed to the back, I spotted a gentleman reading the paper and saw Phoenix's face on there. I hurried over to him and said, "Excuse me, can I borrow this?"

"Only if you give it back," he said.

I nodded and looked at the front page. The headline read, "Local Woman Fakes Death." The article gave details about Phoebe and how she was recently discovered to be alive and that there was a reward for anyone who apprehended her. A chill ran through me and I knew I had to warn the Turtles of this. I gave the paper back to the man and grabbed my phone and dialed Leo's number.

"Leo, is Phoenix there?"

"Yeah, she's here. What's up, Tony?"

"Tell her not to go out anymore. There's a reward for her capture in the paper."

"Okay, meet us at the Lair after your shift," Leo said. "First Donnie and now this."

"Wait, what happened to Donnie?"

"The Foot captured him."

"Oh no! I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Tony, is everything okay?" Uncle Gino asked me.

"No, Donnie's been captured I have to go after my shift is over."

"Just go ahead. I can handle things here."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

"Thanks, Uncle Gino," I said.

As I ran to the Lair, I couldn't help but think about why Donnie would be captured. Was it because of the retro-mutagen, or was it something else? Either way this wasn't a good thing for any of us and we needed to get him back soon. I hurried into the Lair and saw everyone gathered together, including a human I had no trouble recognizing.

"Tim?" I gasped.

"Hey, Tony," he said. "I wondered if I would see you again."

I ignored him and turned to Leo. "What's the story?"

"Donnie got captured by the Foot as I told you though we aren't sure why. What was all that about Phoenix staying inside anyway?"

"There's an article about her in the paper," I answered. "It says that they're offering a reward for anyone who can capture her."

"It has to be Stephane's doing," Phoenix said. "I had a feeling he was just playing me when he said he wouldn't force me to go home when all along he has been planning to expose that I'm really alive."

"You know that this means you cannot go to clinic," said Splinter.

"I can always go in disguise and I have gotten better at being stealthy," she reminded him.

"I am sorry, Phoebe, but that is not a risk I am willing to take. You must stay here."

She said nothing more, but there was a defiant gleam in her eyes that said she was going to do whatever she wanted to do no matter what.

"I still don't see why we can't just bust in there and take Donnie now," Raph complained.

"If we go busting in there, we risk Donnie's life," Leo replied. "Shredder wants him for a specific thing and I have a feeling he'll keep him alive long enough to get what he wants."

"It might have to do with the retro-mutagen," I said.

"Shredder wouldn't want that though," said Leo.

"He would if he wants to restore Karai to her original state," I countered.

"What if Bradford wants it to turn human again?" Mikey suggested.

"That's stupid!" Raph retorted. "Why the hell would Rahzar want to become human again?"

"Mikey has a point," mused Leo. "Timothy said that Bradford and a woman were there and they took Donnie. Maybe she promised to turn Bradford human and found out about what Donnie knows."

"But why would that matter?" Raph asked. "Donnie hasn't talked about it outside of the Lair."

"Actually he told me about it at Murakami's," April interjected. "We were discussing it together and how it could help other people who are mutants."

"Was there anyone else in the shop?" Leo asked her.

"I didn't notice anyone, but we were in the back where we usually are. I didn't sense anyone either."

"Great, so someone heard your conversation and you were too googly eyed at Donnie to even sense them!" grumbled Raph.

"It had to be Danielle," I said. "She's always with Bradford now and I can see her promising him something like that."

"Okay, now we know the motive," Leo said. "It's time to come up with a plan to get him back."

"Now that's what I'm talking about," Raph said.

I just hoped that we would get Donnie back before something happened to him. Shredder was capable of anything, and we had to be alert for anything. But one thing was for sure: They weren't going to get away with taking one of our own.

A/N: And that's the end of another chapter. I had to bring Timothy back because I always felt it was a shame that his story didn't really have any closure and I have a feeling that it won't have much closure at the end of the series. So now Phoenix has been exposed and Donnie has been captured. Let's just hope our heroes can get him back before he becomes Turtle soup! Feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.