Chapter Eleven: Hide and seek
As soon as Donatello arrived back at the lair Michelangelo was on at him, pushing himself into his face and his space refusing to pay attention to any protest. The purple clad turtle attempted to get past his brother on more than several occasions and each time he found himself blocked by a very over-excited green and orange mass whilst the voice became just a noise.
"Mikey for pete's sake!"
"Who's Pete?"
Donatello deadpanned, then shook his head "Seriously?"
"Well I dunno who you meet when you got out there do I? You might know 50 guys named Pete"
"There is no-one named Pete it's just a saying. Can I just be allowed sit down please...quietly"
Splinter was occupying his chair in the main living space, also awaiting Donatello's return, but unlike Michelangelo, his father understood that the tallest son needed some time and space so waited patiently for Donatello to come in and lower himself on to the couch; head in hands.
"Michelangelo" began Splinter calmly "Go and get your brother a glass of water"
"Why?"
One look from his father spoke volumes leading the smallest turtle scamper off to the kichen without another word.
Splinter reached forward and gathered up Donatello's hands in his own: "Are you okay my son?"
"I think so. It's not what you expect, not what I expected...It's shaken me up a little, I always though I was a good driver"
"You are a good driver, do not doubt yourself. It was merely an accident, they happen all the time especially in this City, and she ran out from no-where you say? So therefore how could it have been avoided?"
"Yes... I know...but dad, we're supposed to protect humans not almost kill them...I just feel so guilty sensei" Donatello lowered his head even further, his arms encasing it in a make-shift embrace "She was so tiny"
"She is in the right place though now and she is safe yes?"
"For now" muttered Donatello. The conversation he had had with Casey made him seriously question the sustainability of that. Firstly, she worked for Eric Sacks at TCRI which was not a place with the best reputation and secondly she had been the one who had 'vanished' from the apartment block where the first killings had taken place. It could be that she may hold information which, as a result, could put her in a vulnerable position whether with this killer, TCRI or both.
"Lovely cold water straight from the tap!" announced Michelangelo, presenting the glass to Donatello and managing to spill a quarter of it in the process.
"A-ha, it's the turtle of death" Raphael lunged forward and rubbed Donatello's head with a closed fist. The disgruntled look on Splinter's face indicated his obvious irritation to which Raphael held up his hands in defense "Joke, joke. Buuuut, in all seriousness, how is she?"
"In hospital" answered Donatello simply
"Not surprised with you splattering her over the road"
"Raphael!" Splinter edged forwards and jabbed a finger in his direction "No more or it will be the Hashi for you!"
"Apologies. I was just messing" The largest brother sat himself alongside Michelangelo who bumped him with a shoulder "She's going to be okay though right?"
"Concussion, they think, they'll keep her over night but no broken bones, nothing serious, just some scrapes and bruises"
Splinter looked at Raphael warning him to behave, the red banded turtle held up his hands again and then used one to draw a halo over his head.
"It's just a tough one..." Donatello stopped himself
"What is it Donnie?" Leonardo joined the circle but unlike the others he remained standing "What have I missed?"
Michelangelo scooted closer to Raphael who in turn shoved him away: "Hey, back off bro, you tryin' to get in my lap or what?"
"Nooo" He glanced up at their Leader trying to figure out whether this was regular Leo or pyscho Leo that might throw him about again.
"There was an unfortunate incident... I kinda ran someone over"
Leonardo folded his arms, his mouth dropping open "What!?"
"It's okay, she's okay!...She's in hospital, getting the best care and all that..."
"How exactly did this happen?" Michelangelo ducked past Raphael and moved closer to Splinter for some form of protection, when he glanced back Leonardo he was watching him closely "Was it you?"
Now it was the Mikey's turn to hold up his hands "Hey, no, I didn't do anything!" He looked at Donatello with puppy dog eyes silently pleading with him not to drop him in it. He really didn't need Leo on his shell - or throwing him on his shell - either way was painful.
"It wasn't any one's fault, just my bad driving" answered Donatello sadly
"Hold on, hold on, all of you, this is nobody's fault it was an accident" interrupted Splinter firmly "the girl in question ran out onto the road, Mr Jones has sorted it so all okay now and now she is in hospital she will get well again"
"Casey!? How did he end up involved?" Leonardo was still adopting a serious pose and refusing to sit.
"Well, I called him and actually it was good because turns out she is the girl who went missing from that apartment block, you know, she works at TCRI..."
Leonardo's frown disappated and he finally sat down "Seriously?"
"Oh yes. Lucky find then.." Donatello waited for some - any - signs of softening from his older brother but even in a seated position, Leo remained as rigid as ever.
Raphael snorted loudly "She was hardly a find..more like a smash and grab"
"Hashi now!" Splinter stood up and pointed a finger in that direction "You will never learn!" He poked his largest son in the leg with his cane to hurry him along.
"Dad" whined Red "Seriously"
"Very and very. Move it!" He jabbed him again.
"He's in for a very tough hour or two" said Donatello smiling to himself. He took a breath and pursed his lips "Look Leo really it did all start with you.."
"Me? How is that possible?"
Michelangelo visibly shrunk away.
"Well, there was concern that you weren't well so I was coming to check"
"And let me guess, being mithered by Mikey" he almost spat the name out, shifting his body weight he stood back up again and stiffened "I'm fine. I just had a headache. It's gone now. Michelangelo had no reason to bother you" Eyes bore into said turtle.
Donatello was quick to his defense: "It was no bother, I guess, in my haste to get home, maybe I drove a little too quickly and that's why it happened. But, I just wanted to help... a brother is always there for a brother right?" Donatello really wanted to clear the obvious tension that had arisen. Leonardo sighed and seemed to relax a bit "Yes"
"Good. You err, won't mind if we pick up a few tests later will you?"
"I'm fine. I told you Donnie, it was just a headache and now it has gone" he replied firmly "I'm going to do some training, catch up, let me know when Casey gets here right?" And with that he disappeared into the dojo without a backwards glance.
Michelangelo suddenly released a large mouthful of air: "Phew. Thanks for having my shell bro' and not spilling about stuff"
By 'stuff' Donatello assumed he was referring mainly to the accusation that Leo pushed him over without physically touching him.
"Just let me handle him - you just keep a low profile, if you can, it's obvious something is going on though what I have no idea"
"You do believe me don't you? I wouldn't just say things, not about Leo anyways...maybe Raph, but he always gets my jokes...sort of"
Michelangelo looked incredibly vulnerable and small, Donatello reached out patted him on the shoulder "I know. It'll be okay, don't worry"
As he strode towards the dojo he was already aware of the swish-thunk of Leonardo's Katana blades and found himself swallowing nervously.
Relax. He told himself. It's just Leo, your brother.
It seemed incomprehensible but he actually felt on edge; in much the same way that Michelangelo had been, and he had no idea why. Leonardo was taking a second to find his breath, Donatello recognised the way in which he positioned his weapons that he was preparing for a difficult set. He chose to stay silent and remain in the shadows hoping that perhaps Leonardo would be too engrossed having been somewhat absent in training recently. The eldest usually always strove for perfection, never lost his cool and remained level headed. Lately though he appeared angered by something which seemed to make him switch.
The blade sped past his head in seconds, the contact causing him to wince and cry out. He observed the large bulk of his brother standing in the middle of the dojo whose breaths were still slow and steady and realised it was his own breathing that had gone up two fold. Someone was in control here and it wasn't Donatello. He touched his temple and felt the sticky texture of blood fall under his fingers: "What the hell Leo! You could have killed me"
Leonardo chuckled and sheathed the second blade across his back "Don't be such a baby, it's just a scratch, besides you shouldn't try and sneak up on me"
"I wasn't! I just wanted to talk that's all, I was merely holding back until you'd moved through the first round! Believe it or not I wanted to avoid injury"
The first katana came away from the wall with a slight pop "I told you. There is nothing to talk about so if you don't want a matching scar the other side I'd give up on this"
Donatello attempted to protest "But we..."
"Nothing Donnie. We nothing! I'm fine so can I just have some space, please.."
As both blades reconnected within their owner's grasp Donatello reconnected with the exit. He knew Leonardo had agreed to the testing but also knew that argument would be fruitless and the mood which the eldest was in would mean there would be only one of them who would get hurt. He would wait until Casey arrived and hopefully, by then, Leo would be more Leo.
Casey found himself waiting, once again, on somebody else. This time though it was a doctor so he didn't mind. He was waiting to get the all clear to question the subject having left TCRI behind to shift all of his attention onto this. If it turned out that this female knew the killer at her apartment block or knew something that would bear fruit he was willing to put the time in and had told his superior just that. It sat well with them but it didn't so much with April. She already complained that he spent far too much time with the force and not enough with her but once he explained why this was so important she couldn't really say anything else.
"Just promise you'll be careful... oh and get me the best scoop"
He smiled "Always"
She would meet him later for an update and he would also be able to speak with Donnie and the rest of the guys about his little proposition.
"You can go in now but not for too long she needs to rest - and no sudden shocks or overly pressing questions"
The doctor gave him an 'I'm being serious' glare whilst the nurse smiled.
"No worries" muttered Casey "None at all" He indicated to the uniform who waited with him and they went inside. The female was slightly raised up in bed, her wrist in a bandage, her face tilted towards the window and away from them. "Miss Miller?" She shifted her head "I'm Officer Jones this is Officer McKendrick" He noticed the sutured gash on her forehead, it stood out so very prominently against her pale skin, that was obviously where she'd made impact with Donatello's vehicle "We'd like to ask you a couple of questions if that's okay?"
"Sure" She looked weary - probably the concussion - or maybe drugs. Casey was no physician but there was no doubt that the girl looked worn out.
"Do you remember what happened today?"
"I..ran..there was the car.." She blinked and threaded a finger into the bed sheet "Doctor Fallon..."
"Mike Fallon was your boss right? At TCRI" Casey flipped open a notepad "You'd just been moved to a new department.."
She looked at the bed sheets "Sort of..It was.." Words failed her. A trial? On her? You're the experiment.
"We found Doctor Fallon not far away from where we found you. Do you remember?" The cop with the shaven head appeared to be pressing for answers that she didn't have. Lord she hated this.
"I know he's gone" Something rose up in her chest she wasn't sure if it was anger, bitterness or something else entirely "I didn't see who did it"
"We haven't found a weapon"
Were they thinking?
"It wasn't me" The words just spilled out of her mouth "I wouldn't.." And at the same time she remembered what Sacks had shown her what he had said she'd done.
"I know" Officer Jones seemed like he considered touching her arm then changed his mind and instead walked around the bed so she had one on each side "I just want to know what you remember, no matter how it may seem I just need honesty, okay?"
And how could she do that? He would think her insane, have her locked up. At the time it had all seemed so real but now...No. Now she had to keep it simple - weigh things up - find out when she could get home and then figure things out from there.
"My apartment..I left for work"
"And everything was fine?"
"Yes.."
The two officers exchanged a look.
"I arrived there and at some point Mike, Doctor Fallon wanted to talk, we went out and that's when..."
"Do you remember what time this was? You were reported as missing"
She shook her head and then visibly flinched at the pain "Impossible"
"We tried tracking you down and came up with zero, I even spoke with Sacks"
Leeanne felt herself shudder at the mention of his name "Don't trust him"
"I don't. That's why I'm here and I'm relying on you to help me. Do you think you could do that?"