Mikey never felt so heartbroken in his entire life. Not when Bradford pretended to be his friend only to betray him. Not when Raph makes fun of him. Not when Leo pushes him to do better. Not when he felt that he could never compare to Raph and Leo when it came to try and woo Donnie. None of these stood out in his heart as the moment it broke in two. Yet now…now he knows how painful such could be and he hated this god awful felling with every fiber of his being because this feeling hurt so fucking much that he wished he could make the pain stop anyway he possibly could.

His eyes never left the egg before him. The little one inside would never see the light of day. Would never know the joys and pains of the world. Would never meet its siblings. He or she would never know the amazing taste of pizza. Tears filled his eyes. They would never know how amazing their mother was. He bowed his head, wiping away the tears before they had a chance to roll down his cheeks. Why was fate so cruel?

He had broken his promise. Donnie had trusted him to take care of the eggs and he had failed to do so, his failure had cost the life of the little one before him and that he could never make up for. Donnie would never forgive him for his failure. No matter the reasoning behind it. Donnie loved his children, had adored them and even showed excitement at times when he spoke of them. He accepted his fate well enough, but as of last night he knew better now. Donnie had been forcing those smiles. Had been forcing his excitement. Though he loved his children, Donnie was afraid.

…

Donnie was in his lab working on the incubator when it was Mikey's turn to watch over him. Having been on his feet for some time, and noticing the swelling, Mikey demanded that he sit down for a foot massage, of course the stubborn turtle had refused quite a bit before he gave in and took a seat. He may have been ordered to sit and accept the foot massage but he still had other work he could do.

"I win again Dee!" he snickered. Grabbing the lotion from the shelf and moved to kneel before him. He placed his brother's swollen feet on his knee and smiled. "Come on, don't look all down in the dumps bro, I know a lotta people who would kill to have their tootsies rubbed and you are one of the few who try to avoid it when you NEED it!" he shot him a playful glare as he globed a generous amount of lotion on his hands.

The purple banded turtle scuffed. "I don't need it Mikey. I only have so long to get this incubator up and running before the eggs come and I want to be sure that it is fully functional." He reached over and grabbed a few pieces to work on them as he spoke.

The younger turtle scuffed. "Whatever you say bro, but look…" he held out his foot as comparison. "You are the skinniest of us…and your ankles are almost none existent." He puffed out his cheeks. "You need to take it easy and get off your feet more bro. It aint good for you nor the babies if you over stress yourself."

Donnie sighed and set the tools down. "You know what, you're right Mikey." He offered him a small smile of reassurance. "So for now I will relax a moment and enjoy myself." He hummed softly. There was no doubt in the younger turtle's mind that he was only doing this to humor him. His immediate elder brother always seemed to have the most patients with him. The time that came to mind most was when he helped him to learn to read. It had been a difficult one, Mikey being the one to fight it, but Donnie never gave up on him and made it into a game. When Mikey was able to read his first paragraph he could recall how happy Donnie had been, not for his accomplishment, but for the fact his little brother could now experience a larger portion of the world. This meaning Comics.

"Let me know if it hurts okay?" he asked. He was careful to rub deep but not too hard. As much as he hated being near stinky feet, he was okay to do this for Donnie. One: because he was pregnant and it was really really needed. Two: Donnie bathed regularly, given how much he worked with chemicals and oils and other things. Three: Well, Donnie deserved to be treated well. Given how much he busted his ass for everyone else with little done for him in return…and by the sound of it, he was really enjoying it. "Thought you didn't wanna foot rub bro?" he gave a wide grin as he stared up at him.

"I didn't." he muttered, cheeks blushing a bright red. "You're the one who made a big stink about it." He sighed and held his belly as a smile formed. "But I have to say it does feel amazing." There was no denying it in his brother's eyes that he was grateful to have lost this fight. He seemed more comfortable then he had been before.

Mikey's grin widened. "See! I told ya Dee, you need to listen to me! I have been reading all sorts of books! From diet to birth and let me tell you they should NOT have made it a picture book!" He wrinkled his nose and stuck out his tongue. "It looks like it will hurt a lot…" he turned to his brother with a worried look. Yes, in all the pictures and media, the mothers no matter if it was a human or a turtle, looked as though birth was painful. It worried him. Mostly because there were so few pain killers left and there was no way to get their hands on the…epadurial? Epidurial? The drug used to make birth easier for mothers.

Mahogany eyes looked back to him. Brows knitted together as if trying to think of how he could respond. Donnie was always careful when it was important on what to say to him. Mikey knew Donnie had to be careful with his words because if he wasn't, Mikey would misunderstand and go off the deep end with what he interpreted as having been said. "Well…it will hurt, but not as bad as you would think. I am biologically female and turtles and humans have been doing this since the dawn of their respective species and…"

"And sometimes the moms die." The foot rub stopped as he looked down. Mikey could feel the tears swelling in his eyes even when he tried hard to will them away. "Leo said there was a huge risk…so do the books…but those are studies on humans…not mutants bro…" he shot his baby blues to his brother, knowing the look on his face would cause Donnie to cry as well. "I don't want to lose you!"

Sure enough, he could see his big brother's eyes start to swell with tears. His lips were pressed tightly together, as if trying to stifle a cry. He could see the look in his eyes, the look that suggested that he was trying to come up with a response. "Yes…sometimes they do…" Almost immediately he wanted to take the words back. Seeing that his brother was struggling to accept the sad truth that sometimes, the mother just doesn't make it due to complications and even with advances in technology, there is only so much that can be done, despite those that try their hardest. Life and death often go hand in hand. It was the way of the world. A way that Donnie had long ago accepted.

"I DON'T WANT YOU TO DIE!" he shouted. Abandoning the foot and wrapping his arms around his brother. "I don't know what I would do without ya bro! You are the only one who never truly gave up on me! You taught me to read even though I have dysectiya. You showed me how to do math with numbers AND letters! You never lost hope in me bro! I can't lose you!"

He could feel his brother's arms wrap tightly around him. His nose in the nape of his neck for a long and silent moment that seemed to last an eternity. "Dyslexia and Algebra." He corrected. He pulled away and used the back of his hand to wipe away the tears from his face. "Mikey…There is always a chance to lose me. Nothing is ever certain and every day we live is the miracle of life." He gave him a smile and held his face in both hands. "This birth will be hard on me, on all of us but I want you to promise me something."

"Anything!" he replied, nuzzling into the warmth of his brother's hands with a soft churr, tail wagging happily. Donnie's hands were always so gentle and warm. Even after everything. Donnie was still so kindhearted. Mikey wanted to give him the world, if he could.

Donnie pressed their foreheads together. "When I lay the eggs, you have to get them into the incubator quickly. I don't know how long they will last outside of my body. With you being the fastest of us…I can trust you to be sure that they make it in quickly." He opened his eyes and gazed into those baby blue's. "Promise?"

"I don't just promise you big bro!" he reached his hand to hook their pinkies together. "I pinky promise! No backies!" He chuckled deeply and he rubbed their noses together in a kunik kiss. "Them babies will be all nice and warm and toasty in their mommy made oven! Gives a whole new meaning to buns in the oven Dee!" he snickered, placing a gentle peck on his brother's lips before pulling away to continue his task of giving the best pedicure his brother ever had. "I think a nice sparkly purple to finish it off! It would match your eye streak and I have just the color!"

"Mikey I never agreed to have you paint my toenails…" He couldn't even finish before his brother gave the puppy dog eyes. Oh he was playing dirty and Mikey knew it.

Lower lip out he held out the shade. "It's not a full pedicure without nail finish." He moved closer, color in hand. "Just a little? Come on Dee!"

Sighing once again he laid his elbow on the table and placed his cheek in his hand. "I guess I can't argue that…" the color was really pretty after all.

…..

"I'm so so so sorry little one…" he placed his hand upon the cold shell of the egg, tears flowing freely down his cheeks, the salt burned his fresh cuts on his cheek but he paid no mind to it. Lowing his head, he fell to his knees. "I wasn't fast enough…I couldn't get you in the incubator in time…I failed you…" he clenched his jaw tightly, fists balled at his side as he tried hard to control his anger at himself. "I'm sorry Dee….I broke the promise…I let your baby die…"

A hand was placed upon his shoulder making him jump. Raph was there, odd as it was and the last person he suspected would try to comfort him. "Hey…ughhh…" he wasn't good at this. He didn't know what the hell to say to make his little brother feel like this was not his fault! None of this was! There was no fucking way any of them could have known that Donnie would have given birth so soon! It was way too soon then his earlier predictions. "Mikey…It ain't yer fault…"

The orange clad turtle smacked the hand away. "Yes it is!" he snapped. "We should have been here! We should have been here for him to help! The egg wouldn't have been left out too long and would have made it into the incubator!" he hugged himself tightly. "I promised him I would make sure they all were in once they were born…" he wiped away the tears. "I didn't want to leave him….something deep inside told me that I shouldn't have left! I could only think of coming back bro! Like some…"

"Primal calling?" he tilt his head to the side. "I felt it too. We all did I'm sure because part of us may have known…" he sighed and scratched the back of his neck. "This is all new ta us…hav'en a pregnant turtle around…Donnie being biologically a chick…we never fully planned on it ya know. Never none of us eva thought…" he sighed and looked away. Comforting was not his strong suit, that he usually left to Donnie but seeing his baby brother blame himself…it wasn't right. Splinter made them leave, made them go after Karai and leave Donnie alone. They should have left one of them behind. His hands balled into fists as he shook with rage. More and more it seemed like a better idea to just take Donnie and flee.

"I know…but…" Mikey wasn't sure what to say. Raph was right, it had been surreal the past few weeks getting used to the fact Donnie was pregnant, now they were able to see and hold the eggs it made it all the more real. Now Donnie was currently in the lab being examined by Leatherhead. "It's been four hours…did LH come out yet?"

Raph rubbed his arm. "Naw. Not yet. I'm sure it isn't anything Mikey…ya know how Doctor types are. Like ta check everything even if ain't much wrong." He wasn't so sure. Even his voice lacked confidence in his own words. After LH arrived he sealed off the Lab to try and examine their brother fully without distractions. While he did that, they cleaned the Dojo as best they could, piling the broken wooden boards and tatami mats up for disposal later. For now, they were each focusing on making sure things were ready for the babies.

"Casey said when he gets here that he would help set up da crib. Ya wanna help with that?" Raph offered, trying to get Mikey to stop staring at the one they lost. Raph himself couldn't look at it. Slash had run off again, unable to handle the loss. He wouldn't even talk to him and just asked to be left alone. Raph understood, he really did but he wanted to be there for his friend, but also for his brother as well. Donnie took priority as he was physically hurt.

Mikey turned to him and tilt his head. "Don't sound like a three man job bro." he sighed. Man he wished Leo would stop mediating. He needed to talk to him and frankly, chew him out about the fucking collar on Donnie's neck. How fucking degrading was it that it was locked in the back?! He was going to chew his ass out once he finished and then figure out their next move. Donnie showed his mental state was falling rapidly. He exposed the flaws in the poly relationship and the others needed to know. They needed to remove themselves as lovers and just be supportive as brothers. Just as Donnie had said. They needed to think more about how it affected him most and not just them wanting to ensure they were not left out. After what happened in the bathroom, they had to keep an eye on Donnie. He wasn't getting better and they had done little to help his mental state. Donnie was suffering in silence all this time, being haunted by what had happened to him and they ignored the signs. "Raph…"

"Mhhhm?" he looked to his baby brother. The look on his face was one they rarely seen. One of Mikey in deep, serious thought. Though he was always quick to call him a bonehead, Mikey was highly intelligent when he wanted to be and very perceptive of others. It was Mikey who was quick to notice the change in Donnie before he himself was able to pick up on it. Things like that came quick to the smaller turtle.

"I don't think…we should put Donnie through this again." His voice cracked as he spoke. Tears welling in his eyes as he swallowed the lump in his throat.

The emerald turtle turned to face him fully. Brows together as he tried to make sense of what he was trying to say. "Mikey?" he wouldn't look at him. "More went on in the bathroom then you are admitt'en to…'

"He…He was scrubbing himself raw under boiling water…" sorrowful baby blue eyes looked to him. "Dude…Newtralizer tried ta rape him! If it weren't for Slash…" he lowered his head. "He tried to…he wanted me to…" he couldn't get out the words as his body shook. Donnie didn't want to hurt him. He didn't want to make him feel this way, he knew that but…it made him feel fucking worthless to help him. "Donnie isn't okay and he pretends to be because he doesn't want us to worry or he doesn't want us to think less of him for feeling physically aroused by being raped but…but…" he felt arms wrap tightly around him. He buried his face in his big brother's shell and let himself cry. "I don't know how to help him…"

Raph held him tightly. He didn't know what else to do and frankly all he could see is Red at the moment. Slash he understood. Slash had been under the effects of mating season and it had been Newtralizer who brought Donnie to him. What he hadn't known was that the damn bastard had tried to have his way with their brother. Oh if he ever saw that fucker again he was gonna cut off that cock of his and shove it so far up his ass! "I know Mikey…none of us gotta clue how ta help. For now, we need ta worry about 'im gett'en better and taken care of da eggs before anything else." He held him tighter. It always hurt to watch a brother suffer but to see it affect Mikey like this…he didn't know how to handle it.

"We need to help him get better mentally!" Mikey pushed away. "Physically he can handle the injuries but…his mind…it isn't well. He is trying so hard to make it seem like he is okay but he is far from it! He doesn't want to be a burden to us so he cokes everything back! You ever notice he doesn't scream anymore? It's because he isn't sleeping much! When he is awake, if you watch him, he has been keeping himself distracted to the point that he sometimes doesn't even realize we are there. He isn't okay and we all pretend not to notice it when I know all of us do!"

The elder turtle could not deny the truth. None of them sought to try and talk with Donnie, opting to give him space and let him come to them. Though it would seem to of had the opposite effect. Donnie was keeping his emotions and feelings bottled up. Trying to internalize his suffering for their sake perhaps like Mikey said because he didn't want to be a burden. They all sought to find a way to make the lair as it was before Donnie had been taken…but in the end they were avoiding the reality that it would never be the same again.

"Ever since he had been announce as a female and that he was pregnant Dad hasn't been treating him like he had." Baby blues looked into his eyes, hoping to find answers from his older brother. "I know you seen it too…how he even said Donnie wasn't capable of making decisions for himself. How he forced Donnie to accept the marriage with Leo. Don't tell me you didn't notice how he rarely even looked at him, as if he was disgusted…" he hated how their father was treating him. As if he were the lesser of them all because he was female.

"I noticed." Raph replied. Oh did he notice and it pissed him off. All of his rage had been boiling and now he was starting to piece a lot together. Splinter forbidding him from leaving the lair, having a female uchikake made for the wedding, forcing him to marry Leonardo, even slapping him when he tried to defend himself, calling him a whore and telling him he had was unable to make decisions for himself… "He treats him less than he had Karai…"

The door to the lab opened and Leatherhead walked out wiping the blood on his claws into the cloth he had. Both the brothers made their way to him along with their father. The larger mutant sighed heavily as he looked to them. "There is…so much damage to his skin and internal body. The eggs were too large and tore him…" he cleared his throat. "The healing process will be slow but I am sure that Donatello will be fine given time. I am not very familiar with the biology of a female mutant turtle as well as a male because his notes are very limited." Most were written after he was told that he was female. Donnie could only do so much research on himself after all. "I have checked the eggs and they seem stable. The reason for the suddenness of the birth have many factors such as stress, this being his first time, incompatibility with the DNA biology between him and the father, his body rejecting the eggs…" he sighed and shook his head. "I am afraid I can not find the true cause given further exploration would be risky in his current state."

"It is better to not take the risks. I feel it would be beneficial to wait until he wakes up before we agree to anything." Leo was satisfied with his answer. He wasn't going to run the risk of Donnie's health taking a turn for the worst. If he and the eggs were going to be okay then there is reason to press their luck.

Mikey glared back and crossed his arms. "Listen Leo, just because you put that collar on Donne don't make you the only one who cares about him! Donnie is hurt really bad if Leatherhead cant help him! I don't care who we go to as long as they can make sure Donnie is going to be okay!"

The elder sighed and held his head. "That is not what I meant. I am not acting as if I own Donnie I just want to ensure his safety as well as the eggs and of course everyone else in the lair. April, Casey and her father are going to staying here for a while and we need to not take any risks."

Oh that got Mikey pissed. "Risks?! You wanna talk about risks?! Why the fuck would you put a collar on him and lock it?! What if it were to get caught on something?! Or how about you not doing much to stop Dad?! You barely defended Donnie after what he did to him! It seemed like you were all too eager to let it happen bro!" he got in Leo's face. "I told Raph and I'm telling you! Donnie doesn't need lovers right now. He needs his brothers. He isn't well in the head and his mental state is in a downward spiral that is leading to the worse possible solution." He didn't want to think of that outcome. "If LH can figure out the cause of this isn't it worth exploring?"

Leo closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I know Mikey." He opened his eyes to see the bewildered baby of the family. "I never said we would not explore the cause just…not now. I know he isn't well. I know how he feels about his body's reactions to what Slash did. I know he is sinking faster then ever. I know he is choking back his emotions…I know all about it." He looked away. "I noticed it when he tried to seduce me. I am ashamed to admit it almost worked but…" he turned to his brothers. "Donnie needs time. We all know it was going to get worse before it gets better and in reality we can only do so much. Donnie needs to face these demons himself or he will never over come them. He is still in denial about it all and refuses to accept it. He doesn't realize that his body reacted naturally and that he is not to blame for what happened to him. That he is not a burden because he is…was pregnant. When he wakes I will offer him an out. I will stand by his choice and if he still desires to wed me then so be it but I am not against him rejecting me." His voice cracked at the idea of his rejection. Yet he knew that he had to accept whatever Donnie chose. "As for Splinter, once he is finished, I will speak with him about how he is treating Donnie. If I have to then…I will remove us all from his home." This was huge coming from him. The fact Leo was going against their father, even Raph's mouth was dropped.

"As leader and heir to the clan, I can and will remove us from threats, even from our own father." This was difficult for him to do and say but watching Splinter strike Donnie in the abdomen after giving birth was too much for him to bear. He even lashed out at their father once they were alone. Splinter had said he did what he needed to in order to keep them safe, pointing to the scratches on Mikey's face as proof. Leo retorted by saying it was because Mikey got to close to the eggs, Donnie was simply defending his babies and even Mikey understood he was to blame not Donnie. Yet, their father held fast that he did what was right.

"Leo…" Raph moved closer to him. "Are you sure you are okay with this?" a rare tender moment between them but needless to say, the look on Leo's face gave them the answer. He was deeply upset by the actions of their father against Donnie these past few weeks and he was not going to let him do any further harm.

The elder turtle opened his mouth to speak but was stopped by the sound of April's voice. She ran into the lair, jumping past the turnstiles and rushing to the lab. She was stopped by Mikey who held her back. "Let me go! I want to see him!"

"April, none of us have seen him in hours. He isn't faring well." Leo stepped forward informing her of the situation. "Leatherhead had done all he can but…the birth hurt Donnie a lot and…"

"What about the eggs? What about the babies?" she asked. Looking around for the incubator only to see a single egg left out on a shrine. She looked to each of them for an answer on where the others were and why that single one had been separated but the grim look on their faces spoke volumes. Her eyes welled with tears. "No…" she shook her head and buried it in Mikey's neck, trembling with grief. One egg had not survived. She had been too late to save it.

Casey was close behind her, rubbing her back gently as he spoke soft nothings. He offered Mikey a sorrowful smile before relieving him of his crying girlfriend. "Shhh, April come on, let's go lie down for a bit." He moved her to the couch.

Kirby walked in, noting his daughter's distress and shot a glare to the three brothers. "Where is Donatello?" he asked. Looking about and finding the egg. His features soon relaxed and he looked down in shame. "I am terribly sorry for your loss." He closed his eyes. Even though he already knew it was not meant to be. The grief was something he knew well. The loss of a child could never be equal in pain.

The three brothers looked at each other, unsure what the proper response was. "Thank you…" was all they could seem to agree on. The moment was awkward and draining.

"How long had it been since…" he asked.

"Don't know." Raph replied. "They were already born by the time we got here." He walked down the steps of the lab. "That one was gone by da time we got to it. Donnie was protect'en 'em." He recalled the fierceness that their brother showed as he defended his young. A determination he had never seen before in him. "Right now…he aint do'en too hot."

Mr. O'Neil nodded his understanding. "April tells me he is not fairing well mentally either. I am a psychiatrist, perhaps he may benefit from speaking with me and…" he could use that time to speak with him about his infatuation with his daughter.

"No offence, but I don't think he would be so open about talk'en…" he looked to April who was crying on Casey's shoulder. "…to yous." Yeah, as if Donnie would be so open to talking to the girl he was in love with's father about possibly his love for her. That would turn out just peachy.

~LRDM~

He stormed through the tunnels. Looking about for things that looked familiar to him and followed them from memory. It had been weeks since he last recalled the signs that pointed home, but he knew he would never forget them. Rage and anger festered inside of him. He had trusted them. Had ensured that they would take care of his mate and their eggs but no, he had known it was a bad idea to leave Donatello alone. He even voiced it several times while they waited for the rat and Shredder to piss around with details. He was silenced each time, trusting that they knew what they were doing and that his mate would be safe.

They were so wrong.

Slash punched the corner of the sewer, watching as the concrete broke into smaller chunks as it hit the opposing wall. It did little to quell his rage as he continued to the home he once shared with his brother.

He needed to get Donatello and their eggs out of the city and away from the family that seemed to not care for him. He followed their rules, stayed away and asked permission from his mate to approach and touch him. He shouldn't have to ask. He shouldn't have to walk on pins and needles around him. Yet, when the Rat had harmed him the way he did for simply defending their clutch, it had taken every ounce of fucking control he had not to rip the furry head from his fucking shoulders. Donatello would not be too keen to learn that once he woke.

"That was sooner then expected." He shot around to see his brother standing behind him, gun drawn and aimed at him. Slowly he put it away, most likely having suspected him to be an intruder. "Things take a turn for the worst with your new family?"

"They were family before you." He corrected but sighed and nodded his head. His breaths were heavy, his beak opened and closed, hesitant to speak up. After what he tried to do to his mate…could he truly trust him again? Yet, could he trust the turtles and the Rat? So far, watching one mutant was better than having to watch his brothers, the rat, the humans and the slew of other mutants that came and left the lair. "My mate laid our clutch."

Newtralizer's eyes widened. In all honestly, he didn't think it was possible for their DNA to be compatible. Perhaps the mutation was a factor. Needless to say he approached his brother with open arms and congratulated him of the new clutch of young. "I am sure they will grow to be strong and intelligent reptiles." He hummed. Yet, he noted the sorrow in his brother's face as he said that. Something weighed heavily on his mind and he was quite concerned for his brother. "Slash?" he tilt his head to the side.

"One didn't make it. Donatello had done the best he could for it, I know he did and he defended them from us all until…" rage began to build within him again. He punched the wall, shattering it as chunks fell to the ground before him. "I need to get them away…"

"My condolences for your loss brother." He lowered his head in sorrow as well. The loss of young was difficult. He knew this pain, having lost his own young to the Kraang before he was taken. After some silence had passed he raised his head, looking his brother in the eyes. "How many remain?" he was curious. How many young had the turtle carried?

"Three." Slash responded. "They were too large for his body…he isn't doing well." His voice was low, fearful and cracked with grief. "He is hurt so badly…" he turned his head away, not wanting his brother to see him like this. So grief stricken and fearful of losing the turtle he loved.

"Three…" so four total. If they were too large for his body then there was no doubt in his mind that their coupling could result in disaster each time. Even if Slash loved the turtle, even if the turtle loved him back…eventually, birth would result in the death of the young reptile. Needless to say, it also showed that the turtle was indeed fertile. That though he showed signs of being a male he had the ability to give birth to young. No mutant to date has been able to do so naturally. The Kraang had long since deemed those mutated to be sterile. The mold was indeed broken with that turtle. "Ask what you wish of me brother. I shall aid you in any way possible. After all, is this not what family is for?" he placed a hand on his shoulder and offered a smile. If all goes well with his plan, he would be sitting quite handsomely once it was all said and done. He would even be able to have a taste of that sweet treat that had been ripped away from him before.

~LRDM~

There was no denying the results were worth the risk and the trouble it took to go about it. Tigerclaw had out done himself and once again proven to be his most valued asset to his empire, for now that was, compared to the bumbling buffoons he had now. Yet, even as he looked at the map of New York and the small section of hundred blocks that were highlighted he couldn't help but allow himself to smile.

"Given time, there is no doubt that we will have found their hide out sooner or later. The time it took and the sightings with the team, the car that followed the girl…" he marked a line half way through the blocks. "If we get the Purple Dragons to search the West side as we search the East…I estimate that we have the location of the hideout in a month or two." Tigerclaw set the marker down and picked up the photos taken of the rooftop rendezvous. Each turtle seemed agitated and on edge. Far more then if they were to normally have been against them. The suddenness of them leaving was concerning once confirmed it was because of their target. If the turtle died, he would ensure the pig did as well. After all, dead pray was no fun to play with.

"Peaches…" Shredder tilt his head to time side and looked through all his notes. Their codes were idiotic, childish and frankly nonsense. To try and guess it was like talking to a wall. "What could it mean?"

The tiger mutant shrugged. "Knowing them anything." He himself was unsure about a lot of their methods. Methods he had to say put him to shame no less. Absolutely foolish in his opinion. Though it was truly hard to argue with the results they had.

"Do you want to be human?"

The large cat stopped a moment and thought about it. He had spent so much of his life as a mutant, it was all he knew and all he could remember of his life. To be human again…even if possible…would he want it?

The silence he received was quite unexpected. When he proposed the question to the others, there was no hesitation in their response. Then again, Tigerclaw had been like this since he was a child. He wondered if there was a time he recalled being human.

"No." he finally replied. "I do not recall my life as a human. This is all I know and all I will ever…." He set the pages down and searched for more. His eyes were keen when he noticed something. Brows furrowed as he looked closer at the image. The last known sighting of Donatello taken the same day that he had been injured. He studied it closely before looking at five other images of the turtle. There was an oddity in this one. One that was subtle, hardly noticeable but compared to the other images stood out. "Mhmmm." He gathered them and set the images to the side. This would require further investigating. IF what he believed was to be true, then there was much to prepare for. He wondered how The Shredder would take it? A smile formed on his face. Perhaps…there was more value within that turtle then just his intelligence and pretty face.

"Have you thought of something?" Shredder asked. Looking at the photos that had been set aside. They didn't seem interesting to him, even after he viewed them hundreds of times. What had the Tiger noticed that he himself had not? Was it a mutant thing? The more questions that were raised the more angry he became.

The large mutant turned to him. "I am not certain yet, just a hunch. I will explore it further and see, no cause for alarm." he watched the irritation flash in the man's eyes but he did not question him.

"Very well. Report to me the findings." He walked from the room toward his daughter who was still sleeping soundly. He sighed softly, wishing he had just left her in Japan where she would never have been exposed to Yoshi and his demons.