Chapter Fifteen: Welcome to the Underworld

"Ridiculous!" hissed Sacks. He was standing by the large window in his office as the phone at his ear was rapidly discharged across the room where it hit the wall and broke. The Kraang Droids were supposed to get to Leeanne Miller before she left the hospital - they didn't do that - then they tried to intercept before she was intercepted and they didn't do that either. Oh Sacks was not just slightly mad, he was livid, if he didn't rely so much on the Kraang for their chemicals then he would have nailed them to the side of the building and left them there. Now, thanks to them, Miss Miller could be anywhere in this enormous City and there was no way to find her. Or was there?

He sat at his desk and pressed the intercom: "Can you send agents 4 to 12 upstairs once they return?"

A female voice answered: "Of course Sir"

Sacks hung up. Officer Jones was at the scene, he'd left with Leeanne, Officer Jones was also close to April O'Neil who had been close to.. Could it be? Could those freaks still be hiding out in the sewer system and that it was there where she had been taken? It would certainly be easy enough to find out.

April cornered Casey in the kitchen. They were still in the turtle's lair and she was pushing to find out more about the incident.

"I really deserve this scoop" she whined "All I want is to know whether these creepy guys in suits are linked to something dark at TCRI"

Casey shook his head "All? That's all you want..? It is more than my life is worth to even give you a hint without anything solid and without talking to our Chief"

"But.."

"No buts. Did you not see the 'look' that I was given when you asked about TCRI? That will be a black mark against my name and I am not risking another. Not with my application an' all"

April wrapped her arms around his waist and pushed herself as close as possible before saying in her sexiest voice: "Not even if I am really nice to you later?"

He chuckled "No. Sorry. As tempting as that sounds...I am un-moved"

"You're a nightmare" she scolded, giving him a playful slap.

Within his lab Donatello was keeping one eye on Leeanne Miller and another on the paperwork which Casey had given him. Whoever had produced this was clever, but not clever enough. They were trying to hide information by over-complicating it. Donatello had seen that little trick before and it would not stop him uncovering the truth. Something was definitely going on at TCRI and he felt obligated to help Casey find out what, besides, truth be told it was kind of nice to have a little project to get his teeth into since Michelangelo destroyed the teleport.

"Urm...where am I?"

So much for keeping an eye on the Miller girl. She was not only awake but had moved herself around on the trolley and was seated upright, legs dangling off the side. As Donatello turned and as she appeared to fit the picture together in her brain her eyes widened. Donatello got up quickly but didn't go full on into 'I will invade your space' like Mikey would have.

"It's okay, you're safe, I'm Donatello. A friend of April and Casey's" He held up both hands then realised the three fingered appearance may not do anything to help his cause "I realise this is a little unusual, strange even, but please be assured you have no need to feel nervous - we don't bite, well, only those who misbehave, lawbreakers, you know.."

He gave up. But, she wasn't screaming so that was a start.

"I'll go grab Casey.." Donatello moved to the door and she watched him go, eyes still rather wide "Jones, it's...just time for you to be here"

"Oh is she awake?!" Michelangelo's excited tones radiated across the lair.

"Yes Mikey but you stay put, time remember, give her time"

Leeanne heard a scuffling noise as she slid herself off the trolley, her eyes scanning the room as she did. There was a lot of stuff in this space but it was neatly organised. There were also a lot of items that she recognised: test tubes, bunsen burners, beakers.

"Hey Lee.." She jumped a little "Don't be alarmed. Look, I didn't tell you the guys are..." He chose his words with care "A little different, because, well, the doctor said no shocks and I also thought maybe you wouldn't agree to come here" He took a breath, trying to read her reaction which still didn't involve screaming or fainting and she didn't look any paler so.."My friends, our friends" He indicated to April "Are mutants. April has known them since she was a child, they were test subjects under Sacks and the chemical, the mutagen, well, obviously..so there you go"

Leeanne looked from one to another, she seemed to be mulling things over: "Okaaay. You're a cop, I have to trust you right?"

"Hoping to be a Detective so I am definitely trustworthy, as are these guys. They protect this City and us a lot more than you realise. You remember the things that went on with Shredder, the Foot Clan and all that garbage in the sky?"

Leeanne nodded. All of that was kinda hard to miss.

"These guys stopped all of that. They work with us, supporting us in our goal to keep New York safe and they don't get paid; they do it because they love this City and the people in it"

"Right.." It sounded logical; all of those things did happen - Shredder, Footclan, the thing in the sky.. "Wait.." She turned to April "How did you know them as a child?"

"Long story short my father was a scientist, he worked with Sacks, I used to take my video camera in and pretend I was a journalist.." Her voice trailed off and the period of silence which followed was deafening. Something had to have happened, Leeanne just got that feeling, and she also got the feeling that she shouldn't walk down that path any further.

April smiled "Come on, you have to meet Mikey before he explodes"

"Mikey?" Leeanne moved a little closer to the group

"My younger brother" began Donatello "And first of all, I am sorry, he's a little O.T.T at times"

"But adorable" added April, flashing another smile.

And that's how it went for the next two hours. Introductions, a tour, a more detailed 'how it all began' from Splinter all whilst Leeanne tried to digest everything which was being fed to her.

"And food" Michelangelo was nestled in his beanbag and beaming up at her "What your most favourite thing to eat? If you could have anything at all in the world.."

Leeanne bit on her bottom lip: "Chinese"

Mikey looked disappointed but nodded "Chinese is cool"

"He was hoping you'd say Pizza" announced Raphael lazily as he flicked through the TV channels with the remote "Because that's his favourite"

"Oh" Leeanne shifted in the seat and lowered her eyes. Would the talking stop now? Would she have her own room whilst here? Lord she hoped so. Donatello, it seemed, had a hidden talent as a mind-reader.

"I'll show you to your room" He stood up and smiled. Leeanne got up and followed his lead. This guy - turtle - was so tall; now she felt even more like a midget. "Like I said before, sorry about Mikey, he's just...well, put it this way, it looked like you needed rescuing"

Leeanne found herself smiling but said nothing. Her jaw felt over tired following the most amount of social interaction she had had in years. The pain reminded her she was definitely not one for chit-chat.

As they walked across the lair a large shadow moved into view - a fourth turtle - this time with a blue eye covering. He stopped and looked at her; for some odd reason she felt like she couldn't take another step. Her legs felt welded to the floor.

"You okay..?" Donatello moved up beside her, blocking the eye contact between her and the one they'd said was Leonardo. The Leader.

When he moved back and uncovered the view, the turtle had gone and her legs felt free again. She became aware that Donatello was eyeing her with concern.

"Yes, yes...I...I'm fine. Sorry"

"Good. Your room is just here.." He opened a large wooden door and held it open so she could go inside "My lady.."

Leeanne felt so awkward - she tried to hide it by heading straight to the line of books stacked neatly on a shelf in the room. They were all science books. It was then that the penny dropped: "This is your room isn't it?"

"Umm..yes, but..do not concern yourself - I volunteered and I have a hammock in the lab"

She turned and looked at him "Now I feel bad...I wish I could go ho.."

"Don't be silly, it is not a problem at all" interrupted Donatello "I am a workaholic, and what with our Patrols and the police work and my lab I..I would rather be there and, you know what, I hardly ever use this space so seriously, no problem at all"

She looked away "I would still rather go home"

"Well, you can't" He walked over to her "It's not safe okay, and it is my..our..pleasure to have you here" As she glanced up he smiled "Besides, you know what a treat it is for me to have a fellow scientist around?" She found herself smiling back "We can talk about experiments, inventions...the list is endless"

"Ok..but when I can go..when it's all.."

"You can go straight home. We promise not to hold you hostage. Turtle's honour" He held up a hand.

As he talked about all the things she could access in his room she found her mind drifting back to Leonardo and the way he had looked at her.

"You're thinking of Leo aren't you?"

God this guy was good!

"Honestly. Leo is going through 'some stuff' at the moment and we kinda don't know exactly what.. buuut Splinter says you're welcome, the rest of us are happy you're here so please don't let him get to you"

"It's his home though..I don't.." began Leeanne nervously.

"It's our home too. Look around this space - everything, everything mod-con wise, the air filtration system..All me. So, I kinda think I'm a little integral to this family"

"I guess.."

"Know it sister.." Donatello stood up straight "By rights, I really should be the Leader"

Looking back to the books Leeanne knew she wouldn't be able to disuade so decided to let it go for now.

"I shall leave you to clear your head, you kinda look like you need some me time. The sheets and everything are fresh, there's a couple of towels.. And BTW, there's a lock on the door - I suggest you use it" Donatello noticed her eyes widen so he quickly jumped in: "Mikey. He has no concept of 'own space'"

"Oh ok..thank you.."

"No worries. I'll give you a knock when there's some lunch around, usually just toast and whatever" He walked back to the door and stepped back through it "Don't worry, it's all going to be okay" And then he was gone. And she was alone.