Chapter Seventeen: Into the Lion's Den

(AN - for some reason this chapter keeps leaving a massive gap in the middle - I've tried to rectify but it just won't go - apologies!)

Eric Sacks finished with the droids over half an hour ago; their voices had made his head ache but it wasn't just how they said it but also what they said. Suddenly it all fitted together. The girl had been rescued, and not just by Jones and O'Neil. It had to be those reptiles. They were still alive. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. Last time when Shredder was involved they had been hiding out in the sewers and April had led them straight into his hands - that had been when he wanted, no needed, the mutagen. Now he free from those constraints. Now he just wanted the girl, and he wanted them, out of the picture.

Their ongoing existence shouldn't really come as a surprise; there had long been talk of vigilantes in the City, someone or something that protected the residents of this dark and dreary place. He had not thought much of it, until now. And it was now he needed proof. Once he located them he was certain he would find her and the experiment could be re-commence.

How to find proof? O'Neil? She could be held as a hostage, but then that would make things awkward afterwards and given the history.

Jones. A cop. A cop who worked with the turtles. Now he may be a more viable option. He would just need someone to tail him.

After speaking with Donatello Leeanne felt like a coiled spring. She was, she assumed, a rational human being, but a human nonetheless and someone who could only take so much. She hadn't allowed herself to cry over what had happened up until this point, she was trying to maintain control, fearing that if she dared let go there would no stopping.

Usually when she felt like this it would be time for a walk but as she was currently stuck underground there wasn't really a large number of places she could walk to or feel safe doing so, and that was when she found herself wandering into the room they called the 'Dojo'. Donatello had informed her it was where they trained to which Raphael had added that he usually wiped the floor with his lanky brother.

"I'd steer clear" replied the scientist as he looked at her over his glasses "Weapons"

"I can give you a tour girl" added Michelangelo with a wink "Safely. I'll holdback on my awesome ninja moves whilst you're in there" He flashed her a toothy grin as she heard Raphael cough.

On that occasion Leeanne had politely declined, she had no need to go into that room so a tour was something she could leave alone. Until now that is. In the absence of an over excited orange tour guide it would serve as the perfect place to detach for a while.

Having peeked into the darkness she felt sure it was empty and so ventured inside and fumbled for a light switch. The light which flooded the room was hardly what she would call bright but how smart was Donatello for doing all the wiring. He seemed trustworthy too, and didn't she want to stop Sacks? If he was to be shut down then he couldn't do anything to anyone else. TCRI couldn't do anything to anyone else. This scandal would be sure to end them and whatever contracts they had. It would all be over..

Walking to the other side of the room she stopped and looked at the art work hung there; all manuscripts in a language she didn't understand "It's Japanese" The stern voice made her jump but she recognised it's origin straight away "I don't expect you would understand" A large arm came past her ear and a thick finger indicated to the one on right, moving along at each point "Truth, Justice, Honour and Absolutely No Mercy. So..." He paused, his breath slow and steady "Why are you in here? Dangerous place this, you could get hurt".

Her legs felt like lead, her feet were once again unable to move, like she was somehow rooted to the spot. Why did he make her feel this way? Perhaps because she had long since felt like she knew him from somewhere, some place, deep inside... and perhaps because he had the habit of making her feel afraid and vulnerable but also drawn and a little excited; the pit of her belly spinning like it was a washing machine ending it's cycle.

"This is where we fight" The blade flicked silently to her left hand side, she caught sight of it's lengthy glisten in the low light of the room and attempted to swallow. The sides of her throat stuck together "And I always fight to win". His other hand came to rest upon her right shoulder, his fingers lightly touching her skin there, the weight and size of his body dangerously evident behind her, only a hairs breath separating one from the other.

Goosebumps pricked up her arms. As much as she should want to call out, to move away, there was a part of her that could not, that would not even dare to breathe and this was the part that actually enjoyed his attention; her body almost leaning in to his.

"This is no place for the weak, the mindless or those who would not stand their ground" The fingers stopped their movement and she felt him step away "So, Miss Whoever you are. Let's go" A loud clatter echoed through the room as a blade appeared by her feet.

It took her less than two seconds to realise what he was suggesting.

He wanted to fight.

"I don't think so" Her voice cracked a little and even though she was trying to desperately to keep herself calm her body began to shake. He could hurt her if he wanted to so very easily. Hell, he could kill her.

"C'mon. It'll be fun"

She turned round and looked at him. He didn't look in the mood for something 'fun' - His face was as hard as ever, eyes full of a steely determination that left her feeling terrified.

Ignoring the sword, the twin of the one he was already brandishing, she took a shaky step forward, keeping her eyes fixed on him: "I don't want any trouble" Her voice was trembling "I'll just go...leave...I know you don't want me to be here"

He snorted "You know nothing about me and what I want"

"I just want to go home" At this point she really did, and she would, there would be no way whatsoever that she would go through this little scenario again, that is, if she survived the first time around.

"Boo hoo" replied Leonardo sarcastically "You aren't going anywhere. Now pick up that Katana and fight!"

"I can't. I don't.."

He strode past her, a towering mass of muscle and anger, picked up the blade and held it out "Take it"

Leeanne shook her head and edged backwards, he stepped forward and thrust it at her again "I said take it"

"No..."

His frustration boiled over, grabbing her hand he used his own to make her grip it "Drop this and there will be trouble" He took a few steps away "Try. And I let you get outta here. Don't try and you don't. You defend. I attack" And he did. Bringing the sword in full loop from behind his shell to make contact with hers; the vibration shooting a pain up her arm.

The next few seconds passed over in a lot of screams and dodging but as she fell the blade he was holding cut the top of her arm. It hurt.

"It's just a scratch. C'mon. Get up" He was like a giant over her "I said Get Up!"

From her position on the ground she felt a sudden sense of calm.

Damn him. She was tired of these games. Once on her feet she went for him instead, the sword seemed to connect with her in a way she never felt possible, it's ability something she never thought she could master but there it was. Lashing out she now cut his skin and then backed away panting heavily; she suddenly feared a reprisal, suddenly feared him. She tossed the Katana at his feet. Seemingly enraged by this move he rushed her knocking the wind out of her body as he pinned her to the wall using the flat of his arm to hold her there.

"You lied" His bright blue eyes were intense up close "You can fight"

Her feet dangling she was struggling to get breath into her body "No"

"We were almost an equal match out there and you know it!" Hoisting her up higher he stuck a large thigh between her legs, loosening the pressure slightly on her chest bone so he could balance her there "Who taught you?"

"No-one, I don't.." His eyes bore into hers. She recognised something familiar. Those eyes. She'd seen them...

"LEO!" The shout came from Donatello "Raph, a little help in here!"

And then she was moved. Coolly and with consideration. The connection severed as she stumbled forward. Raphael, it seemed, was only too happy to chastise his brother whilst Donatello took her to his lab: "You're bleeding, oh my...I am so sorry Lee, so sorry..." He sat her on the bench and began attending to her arm which for some reason, no longer hurt. The reality of the situation not quite with her. Leeanne was somewhere else.

She was remembering.

And she didn't like it one bit.