Two police officers were already standing by the Cavalier by the time that Timothy got outside, having taken note of the damage that clearly had nothing to do with the storm.

"Looks like somebody was using it for target practice." Douglas remarked to Grant.

The other was examining the driver's side, much too close for Tim's comfort. "I don't think the car was the target." The second said after a moment. "Take a look, I've got what appears to be blood on this side. I'd say there's more going on here than just a tornado touching down."

Tim put on the calmest demeanor that he could muster as he approached them.

"May I help you gentlemen?" He asked, as if nothing were the least bit unusual about the situation.

"Do you know anything about this vehicle sir?" Grant responded at once. "Have you heard or seen anything out here tonight?"

"Besides the obvious, you mean? Can't say that I have." Tim lied through his teeth. "But then, things have been insane since that thing hit. Generators failed, so we've got no power whatsoever inside. Been a little occupied trying to deal with these issues."

One of the man eyed the building just a little suspiciously, as the other's questioning gaze never left Tim.

"We've got a dead body less than half a mile from here, and now this vehicle that's definitely come under some kind of assault." Grant stated evenly. "Sir, we'd like to have a closer look around, if you don't mind."

"What if I do mind?" Timothy retorted.

Both officers exchanged another look.

"We're going to need to speak with everyone on the premises sir, and your cooperation would be most appreciated." Grant said, with a hint of further conviction.

"Who said anything about other people being around?" Tim replied, for no other purpose than stalling their process.

"You did," Douglas pointed out. "You said we've got no power."

Without further hesitation, Grant turned to the radio that was clipped to his shoulder, and called for further units to come in.

"You have no reason to be on the property." Tim told them.

"It sounds an awful lot like you're trying to hide something sir. I think it's about time that we saw some ID." Grant challenged him outright.

"You want my ID?" Tim repeated, and then offered his badge up to them. "Will this suffice for your inquiries?"

The one with the flashlight took it from him, and studied the shield for a long moment. "NYPD?" He said incredulously. "Little far from home, aren't you? What brings you out to this neck of the woods?"

"I really couldn't say." Tim said evenly.

"It's not every day that a big city boy like yourself turns up on the backside of Xenia." Grant added.

"Stranger things have happened." Tim replied placidly.

"Well then Officer, please do me the grand favor of waiting here with Douglas while he checks out your ID. When back-up arrives, we'll look into the interior. And speak of the devils."

The sight of three additional sets of flashing lights made Timothy hold his breath.


Luke moved swiftly to get Donatello properly strapped in, while Leonardo and Jenna were handling Raphael together.

"Jen, just go up front, and get this thing moving. We can't afford any more delays. I'll stick back here with the guys." Luke ordered her over his shoulder.

Michelangelo was already buckled in on the same seat where they'd braced Raphael. Slightly trembling fingers traced his brother's skull, as the younger turtle wished that he would wake up. Meanwhile, Donatello seemed to snap slightly out of his dazed condition when Jenna slammed the back doors shut, and something important occurred to him.

"Doc." His voice was slightly desperate, though it didn't register very loudly. "The cameras. The video feed. There's tons of footage of the three of us! Somebody's gonna find it in there!"

Luke whirled back around to face the turtle, pressing him down as he tried to rise. "Donnie, it's okay. Tim thought of that - he used one of those stun weapons to completely fry every CPU in that room. Whatever backlog they had should have been destroyed."

"Where is Tim?" Donatello asked for the fifth time, unaware that he'd been repeating himself.

"He's going to catch up with us." Luke said, more confidently than he really felt.

As the Battle Shell started moving, Leonardo ducked down on the seat next to Donatello, and held out an arm to steady his brother as he slumped against him.

"Why is the light flashing?" Donatello drawled wearily, as his gaze seemed transfixed by the dome light still illuminating the back of the van.

"Try to rest Donnie, and this will all make more sense tomorrow." Luke tried to encourage him.


The Avalanche and the van were presently bouncing along the gravel road, traveling the opposite direction from Route 42. Marcus glanced in his rear-view mirror again, and then sighed in April's direction.

"Why do I get the feeling Tim was taking some kind of matters into his own hands?" He said tightly.

"Well, he did say that--" April abruptly cut herself off when her phone vibrated. "Just a second Marc."

The woman flipped the facing open, and Katherine's voice greeted her on the other end.

"April, quick! You guys mentioned that Donnie has some kind of a flash drive, something he used to download the contents of Lilah's computer from the Technology Center. Tell me that you still have it!"

"We still have it, it's in the case with my laptop." April replied at once. "But what's going on Kat? I thought you were being treated."

"I've postponed that for the moment, because our newest member has decided to try and take the fall for everyone!"

"What are you saying? Are you telling that Tim--"

"Is probably getting himself into royal trouble, yeah, that's what I'm saying. I've contacted someone locally for assistance in this matter, but I'm going to need proof to back-up my claims, and I need it fast! The Commander over Wright Patterson is on his way over here, and it would be nice if this evidence gets here before he does!"

April only hesitated for a beat of silence. "You've got it Kat, Marc and I will head that direction."

"Good - let me know when you're close, and I'll tell you how to find us."


Luke and Marcus were discussing strategy a couple of minutes later, as they picked their way along the back unmarked road, hoping to find something that would lead to civilization.

"You'd already made up your mind about this anyway, hadn't you?" Marcus asked him. "Just get the guys to that 'safe house', and you let April and I worry about getting to Katherine."

"I can't believe we just left him back there. This is so wrong!" Luke fumed in frustration.

"None of us knew what he was planning to do Luke. Focus. You have to protect the guys, and just let us do this." Marcus said firmly. "It's going to be alright, I know it will. Katherine is the queen of fast talk, remember? Tim couldn't have a better person in his corner for this." As Marcus finished the sentence, he noticed the first actual road sign that had come up. "Yes, here we go! Now we're talking. Let me know when you get settled, and I'll pass on anything to you as it comes up as well."

"Okay Marc." Luke said tiredly. "Just try to get to the hospital in one piece, you hear me?"

"I do believe that you're confusing my driving with yours'."

"I recall a certain someone getting pulled over by a state-trooper doing ninety once." Luke reminded the man glibly. "And Jenna's not there to talk you out of it this time."


"Let me get this straight." Grant was close to seething by this moment. "You have no explanation for the men imprisoned behind these walls?"

Tim stared back at the man coolly, and shook his head after a moment. "None that I'm at liberty to discuss at this time."

"Do you even realize how this makes you look? We need to get some real answers from you, starting right now!" Grant proclaimed, inches away from his face. "Don't you believe for one second that we won't lock you up."

Tim smiled a little defiantly, merely relieved that it seemed the others had made a clean break from the property. "You can do whatever you want with me, but I've got nothing to say on the matter. That's my right."

"Have it your way." Grant shrugged. "Hands behind your back please."

The smile never left Tim's face, even as he was being handcuffed against the side of the car.

"The one thing I will tell you, is that you don't want to let any of those men escape." Tim informed the officer handling him.

"Escape?" Douglas snapped. "We still haven't even gotten those doors open."

Tim actually chuckled out loud. "Right...there's a real trick to that."

"This is funny to you? Do you think we're playing around?" Grant demanded severely.

"Y'know, after the things I've already faced down tonight, this is incredibly mild in comparison." Tim replied. "You'll get your answers soon enough. But you're not hearing it from my mouth, I don't have that kind of authority."

"Douglas, I've heard enough of this junk. Just put him in the car, get him out of my sight before I do something I'll regret." Grant ordered the other man, and stalked back in the direction of the Compound once more.