There was no mercy for them. Not a single one as the Shredder beat each and last one of his subordinates for their inexcusable failure. The vial pig was his current obsession, the bastard that he was told could have possibly killed the turtle he needed, having shot his net when the foolish mutant reptile was on the edge of the building.

"Please Master Shredder!" he was currently bleeding from his arm, enough blood to be concerned with, if he even gave a shit. "I don't think that turtle is dead! Hurt maybe but…" that did nothing to quell the Lord's anger. All the others were scattered across the room, beaten, broken and bloody. None wishing to trade places with the pig.

"And is that to make me feel better?!" he pointed to the large cage where his daughter laid captive. Even after many days she still was fighting to break free. The battle to get her from the Kraang had been quick; having set the trap for them that went flawlessly. "I will have your head for this…" He raised his blades above his head fully intent on making the other pay with his life.

"Wait!" the Rhino mutant stood up, holding his bleeding face. "I saw them go in sewer. I have reason to suspect they are hiding, yes? Will it not do to place trap for other turtles? Draw them out and try to confirm if desired turtle is dead?" he asked. Offering anything he can to save his friend. "Maybe if lucky, we grab another turtle or human girl and offer trade?"

Shredder growled. The bastard made sense. It was possible to do so but they would need time to set the trap. Even if they can confirm the other turtle was alive then there was still hope to capture him. "One last chance." He kicked the pig across the room and into the Rhino mutant. "If you fail me again, heads will roll!"

~LRDM~

Leatherhead knew he shouldn't have told him. He knew he should have remained silent and told Donatello instead. Yet, another part of him knew better. There was still a chance that they could…

Splinter had to calm his rage. His mind circled through any excuse he could find that this was not and could not be true. Yet Mr. O'Neal's discovery came to his mind. There was a possibility that this was a mistake. It had to be. Perhaps Leatherhead was not aware how Donatello's machines worked?

"Are you sure…are you absolutely sure?" the father looked at him with hopeful eyes, hoping that this was a mistake.

"I have tested his blood 4 times and did a physical exam…" he walked over to the unconscious turtle, pointing to the lower half of his plastron. "You can see its raising…and…"he lowered his claw to the small turtle's legs before he withdrew them. "Needless to say I am sure."

Splinter's eyes narrowed as he turned from the room, offering a soft thank you before he opened the door. Calmly, he searched the faces for the one who had done such a thing to his son. Slowly, he moved to the beast, ignoring all the questions being asked by his other sons. It took every ounce or restraint he had not to snap the beast's neck. Hooking the cane into the plastron of the large tortoise, he yanked him down to his height, locking eyes with him.

"YOU will follow me to the dojo." He snapped. He could see the fear in the beast's eyes. Good, he should fear him. "He looked to his speechless sons and their human friends. "YOU will NOT follow. Whomever I catch near the dojo will regret disobeying me!" he looked at all their faces. "Am I clear?!" everyone was quick to respond in the affirmative.

He did not release the dark skinned beast, just dragged him along by his shell to the dojo as he felt the eyes of the others burn into his back. Once they were close enough, he whirled the cane around, throwing the fool in the dojo in one swift motion before using his tail to knock his feet from under him. He slammed the door to the dojo, before having never been used, behind him.

"Listen, I already told them, I am not leaving my…" the rat was on him in a heartbeat, cane pressed hard against his throat.

"If would be wise to chose your words quite carefully! I am not one to be as forgiving as my sons." He pressed harder, wanting to keep it there until the bastard stopped moving. "You will listen to me, you will answer me, or so help you I will ensure you will never see MY son again!" he removed the cane and backed off.

Slash coughed as the pressure was released. Damn, he always thought the turtles just took it easy on the old man but hell he could fucking see why they had a hard timed. "I really can't bring myself to care about what you have to say." He could see the rage building. "Won't change the fact that he is mine…."

The Ninja master was not even seen moving when he flew back and hit the tree. Once again the old rat was on him before he could blink. "I warned you to be wise with your words. He is not yours and if you keep foolishly assuming you will leave this dojo alive I will ensure your end is anything but peaceful!" he backed up, kicking the larger mutant to his knees. "I have said once before, I will not hesitate to kill you if I deem you a threat to the well being of MY child!" he had lost his Miwa, he would not lose Donatello as well.

The younger mutant gulped. He was clearly no match for irate father. How could he be, the rat was once a highly trained human, being a rat only heighted his senses. "No promises." He scuffed. He wasn't sure what the rat had to say, but he knew it pertained to Donatello.

A small victory. Yoshi remained standing, putting himself higher than the fool that dared to cause so much trouble for him and his son. "You claim you and he are mated. It is mutual?" he wanted to know if Donatello was a willing participant. That perhaps there was something more between the two in the time he had been missing.

Slash growled. So the bastard didn't know. Why would he? He had been held up in the dojo the whole time meditating. "Does it make a difference?" he shot back. Not the best idea as it earned him a smack to the side of his head with the cane. It was powerful, but he could tell the rat was holding back.

"I will not repeat myself!" he slammed the cane down upon the tatami mats. His voice booming louder then Slash had ever heard. "Did you force yourself on my son?!"

"Yes."

That one simple word and he was seeing red again. The child was not conceived of love. There was possibility that Donatello would resent the child, living as a constant reminder of what had happened to him. He could not fathom what it would be like for his son when he wakes. To find out such news when he himself did not know that he could even carry life within him.

Using his cane, he pulled on the beast's neck forcing his head down to the mats below. "You dare to force such a thing upon my son and claim he is yours?! Give me one good reason I should even least you continue to exist upon this earth let alone within my home?!"

"Because your son wants me here." He spoke with a slight crack in his voice. "I came here because you are the only ones I trust to help him. I knew the risk it would bring and I came anyway." He didn't fight it. What would he fight his mate's father? He was clearly outmatched, and if he did it would not be favorable to winning his mate's affection.

"And I am to believe that is to make up for keeping him from us?" he wrapped his tail around the thick wrist, bending it back at an uncomfortable angle. "How long have you had him?"

The large mutant grit his teeth. "A little over a month!" he growled out. "I didn't even take him from the Kraang! I was locked up in a cage!"

"By the Kraang?" Last month was mating season for his sons, perhaps this one had such a thing as well.

He shook his head. "I was in the sewers with my brother…the one Michelangelo calls Newtralizer." Trying to pry the tail from his wrist with his other hand, he continued to spill all he knew. "He went to the Kraang facility where Donatello was kept and brought him back…He said I deserved as mate but I wasn't in my right mind. I was primal…I built the cage so I wouldn't hurt anyone…" the tail pulled harder. "Gahhh! The moment I came to I took Donnatello away from my brother! He wanted to come home but I wanted to keep him away from the rival mates!"

"My sons?" He raised a brow. Rival mates? Was it possible that given Donatello's…uniqueness, that even his brothers had such an interest in him? He stroked his beard in though.

"Yes! Even I seen how Leonardo cooed when he had Donatello during his first season! You cant tell me you didn't suspect such a thing…" his eyes went wide. "You had no clue did you?"

The old rat jerked the wrist back before letting it go. He said nothing, only took a deep breath to calm himself. If what he said was true, then that is perhaps why Donatello did not wish to blame him. Even the old rat knew what his own sons were like during that time, even enough to keep April away. He had thought that they would only seek out females. Yet, given Mr. O'Neal's observation and the child now growing within his son…it is clear to him now that he should have been far more observant.

He turned again to the large mutant, wondering why he did not fight back once. "Do you have feelings for my child?" he asked. He wanted honesty. It was clear that he thought of Donatello as a possession. Were there true feelings behind it or just motivation of lust and instinct.

"I…care." He said. Would he call it love? Did he want love? Hell he was a fucking tortoise before he was mutated. An animal. He didn't feel love. He only felt attraction and the need to procreate.

The ninjutsu master could not help be see the parallels between him and Raphael. "To care is not enough." He slammed the cane down. "Until my son wakes, you will be welcome here. As long as he wills it, you may remain. Should he refuse your company, I will personally see to it you never set foot in my home again! Am I clear?!"

Slash could tell something rattled the old bastard, something having to do with why that gator called him into the room. "Only if you tell me what the gator mutant told you." Oh he wanted answers too.

Splinter stiffened but a moment and he knew the other had seen it. There was no denying those keen eyes of his. Even so, this beast was indeed the father of the child he had a right to know. "Donatello is carrying a new life." He watched the reaction, watching it closely for how the tortoise truly felt for his son.

The large mutant furrowed his brows for a moment. Trying to contemplate what was just said to him. New life…His eyes widened and he shot to his feet. "We are going to have hatchlings?!" there was no hiding the smile on his face, the sheer and utter joy he felt. "I am going to be a father!"