Disclaimer: Again. Don't own TMNT or anything associated. All I have own are my originals. Thank you. (

Chapter 7: Mortal Consequences

A/N: All right, maybe I got this done sooner than I expected. I honestly did not think that I would spend so much time writing. But since I did this so fast, it may not be as good as my other chapters. If that's the case, then I may take it down and revise it later on. Until that's for certain, please enjoy what I've got. And in the near future, I'll try and get more on..

Raph: *comes in* Hey, I thought everyone was here to read the story, not listen to you keep yakkin' like that. Are ya gonna let them get with it or not?

*glares at the intruder* I thought I told you not to bother me when I'm in the middle of something. So if you would please leave before you make me do something you'll regret.

Raph: You're the one who keeps yakkin', not..

*snaps fingers, putting a zipper on Raph* As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I hope to get more on this fic done. Until then, enjoy and read while I take care of my other annoyances. Hey Raph, got a sec?

Strangely, the journey to the Junction was not as rowdy as one might have expected. From the way that they had tried to go at one another and their actions before leaving home, anyone would have thought that Leo and Raph would be arguing the entire way. If anything, this was the farthest thing from the truth.

Their journey was one of silence and angry glares as they ran through the tunnels of the sewer to their destination. This took some time however, as they had to recall their path from a memory that was somewhat clouded from years of disuse. After all, they had only gone to the Junction when they were six and that had been four years before.

That one time had only happened because Splinter had been taking them through another passage that went parallel to the Junction. When they had heard the roaring water from the different pipes leading from all over the city as it gathered into the pool, the boys had grown curious. They had asked Splinter what it was and if it was dangerous, because the noise of it reminded more than one of them what they thought a monster sounded like.

Only as a lesson to show his sons that it was not a monster but still a dangerous place nonetheless, Splinter took his children to see the cause of the noise. From a lower tunnel that was well away from waters, he led them to what he called the Junction. It was a place shrouded in gloom and filled with shadows that spread over water and land alike.

Both curious and nervous about what they saw, the Turtles had looked on at the sight with awe. Never in their young lives had they ever seen anything so murky and desolate of life. It was like something of a bad dream, though not nearly that of a nightmare. But whatever it was to the mind, it was certainly enough to scare them into listening to their Sensei. He knew of this place and warned his sons of the dangers that came with it, telling them never to go there again.

In the years to come, the boys had respected their father's wishes and stayed clear of the Junction. Sometimes, if they were on foraging expeditions with Splinter, they might take the passage that ran near the Junction. But that was not often and only taken when no other routes home were open. It was also the closest that any of them ever came to being near the Junction since that first day when they were young. Until today.

Which was what happened when Leo and Raph finally arrived, they found the very place that they had only gone to once in their lives but remembered vividly before them. They had come through the lower tunnel that they had used years ago and then climbed up to where the big pipe was. From there, the view proved to be just as eerie and spooky as it had been all those years ago. The same shadowy water still lapped at the edges of the pool, the pipes were just as jagged and misshapen before, and the darkness was just as thick as it had always been.

"Okay," Leo said after a moment of glancing about," Now that we're here, how do you want to do this?"

Caught off guard, Raphael could only look at his brother is annoyed disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Hadn't they already agreed how this situation was going to be handled?

"I thought we already agreed that we were just gonna fight it out," Raph accused," So how can you ask how we're supposed to do this?"

"That was before you suggested this place," Leo snapped," But now that we're, I think you'll notice that there isn't a lot of room for us to have a duel. If it's not underwater, then it's too high for us to reach."

"Don't be such a dork, Leo. The answer you're looking for is right over there," Raphael snorted.

He pointed to the long, heavy pipe that lay across the pool below them. The steel it consisted of was nearly an inch thick, giving testament to the effort that was put into it to keep the pipe in working order. On the top, there was a layer of muck that had been gathered for countless years until it almost formed a carpet across the entire length of the pipe.

This layer wasn't really that visible in the dimness that filled the Junction. The only thing that could even hint at its presence was the fact that it was a darker stripe against the blackness of the old pipe. Which was just enough.

"We stand on that pipe and spar for as long as we can," Raph suggested," Just like we agreed, the first one to lose the fight or chickens out is the loser."

"You're kidding right?" Leo asked as he nervously looked down at the pool below. "You got a better idea?" his brother snorted.

"Not really," Leo admitted.

"Then let's do this," Raphael growled.

Just as he was about to take a step toward the pipe, a voice suddenly echoed through the shadows," Wait!"

Startled by the sudden presence of another, both Raph and Leo turned to see a familiar form came climbing toward them from the shadows of the tunnel they'd just come through. At first, the pair was too stunned to say or do anything but watch. The boys had come here expecting that they would be alone and able to fight in peace. The last thing that they had expected was for anyone else to show up.

Yet, here there was proof of the opposite. For out of the shadows Donatello came climbing and then was nearly at a run to reach them. It was hard to make out his features in the dim light that filtered in this far underground, but it was easy to see that he had been running at top speed. He came running to his brothers and only stopped just short of them, completely out of breath and halting only to get it back.

"What are you doing here?" Leonardo demanded.

"Trying to stop you guys from making a big mistake, that's what," Donatello panted wearily," Maggie told us what you guys are gonna do."

"Maggie?! I told her that it wasn't any of her business. Why'd she have to go and tattle about it?" Raphael grumbled to himself.

"She did it because she knew that what you're doing is stupid and dangerous, Raphael," Don insisted as he got to his feet," Maggie just didn't want to see you guys get hurt and I don't either. So please, don't do this."

"We have to, Donnie. It's the only way we can finish this mess," Leo told his brother. Don's head snapped up as he glared at his brother. Leo knew instantly that Don was angry at him and not just for coming here to fight with Raphael. There was something else, a meaning buried deep in his eyes that reflected hurt and near betrayal.

"You can't even start talking about finishing anything, Leonardo. Not after what you did. You promised me that you weren't going to start anything with him, but you did anyway," Donnie accused.

Well aware of his broken promise, Leo was unable to meet his younger brother's eyes. He knew what he had said to Don earlier and back then, he had meant to keep his word. But he just couldn't now. Not if he wanted to keep his honor and finish out what he had started with Raphael. It just wouldn't be right.

I'll make it up to you when this is all over, Donatello. I swear it, Leo said to himself.

"That doesn't matter right now, Donatello. We've got other stuff to worry about. So go home," Leo ordered somewhat uncomfortably.

Ignoring Don after that, Leonardo and Raphael proceeded to make their way to the edge of the pipe. There was just enough room on the end for them to step up one at a time and walk out toward the center while the other followed suit. Their brother only looked on in disbelief. He couldn't believe that they were actually going to do through with this whole, stupid thing.

But that didn't last long. Just as son as they climbing up, Donatello was quick to follow. Despite his misgivings about his brothers' stupidity, he wasn't about to let them out of his sight now. Not after he had nearly ran himself ragged in trying to reach them in time to stop someone from getting hurt.

By the time that he acted though, his brothers had already reached the pipe edge. There was a slight scuffle over who would climb on first but it was quickly sorted out. Against normal tradition, Raphael climbed up first. He had to be careful, only just managing to keep his balance when his feet touched the slick top surface.

Leonardo was just about to follow after him when Donatello managed to catch up. He had one foot on the pipe and one on the ledge that it was rooted into. Before stepping on all the way, he decided to wait until Raphael was on enough that he could do the same without knocking them both off. That took longer than either one had expected, since Raph still stood just off the edge himself, trying to keep his balance before moving on.

"Please, just stop it, both of you. This isn't going to solve anything," Donnie pleaded, scrambling up to meet them.

But again, his words fell on deaf ears. So intent were Raph and Leo on beating one another, that they couldn't even hear a voice of reason when it was right there with them. If Donatello's presence was anything to his brothers, it was just a mere annoyance that kept interrupting what had to be done.

"Just go home, Don. This isn't your problem. This is between me and him," Leo growled again, glaring at Raphael as he spoke.

"Bring it on, Sensei's pet," Raph taunted.

"Guys, stop it," Don pleaded again.

Like earlier, he tried to push himself between his two brothers to keep them apart. Don hoped that if he could, then maybe it would help to stop them from starting an all out fight. After all, they claimed it was between them and no one else. Then it was his guess that they wouldn't try to hurt him like they were trying to do to each other.

It had only been a wild guess at best and what he realized was a poor one when his idea didn't work. Though they had fallen for his tactics at home, neither Leonardo nor Raphael was about to give in this time. Not when they were so close to settling a battle that had been going on for years.

When tried to force his way in, they pushed him out. Both Leo and Raph reached out and shoved Don out of their way so that they were facing each other once again. The shove Donatello received from his brothers wasn't really that hard. If they had been on more even ground, then it really wouldn't have mattered. Don might have only landed on his backside or even kept his balance altogether. But here, where the ground was slick from the continuous splashing water that collected into pools wherever there was space, everything was slick with moisture. So when he was pushed, Don's balance was thrown off just enough where he slipped on this excess and fell backward.

Everything seemed to go in slow motion for Donatello from that second on as he slipped and fell downward. He had unwittingly been facing the pool when he tried to force his brothers apart, so there was nothing between him and the open air. He could still see his brothers reaching in vain for him. Both of their faces filled with a shock and horror that nearly mirrored his own when he realized what was happening. Then they were lost from his view as he plummeted toward the rushing pool below.

He hit the water with a hard splash that sent a high spray into the air. Instantly, a cold spread over Donatello's body that was unlike anything that he had ever felt before. In that single instance, it felt as if millions of needles were being thrust into every part of his body all at once. Without meaning to, Donatello tried to scream out in pain and instead took in a mouthful of water.

This went straight into him, sending another wave of shock throughout his body. It sent the inhaled water out just as another mouthful started to come in. Back and forth, back and forth it went, never really seeming to go anywhere. This nearly drove Don's frantic mind insane as his body struggled to gain access to the air it was now crying out for.

Acting on instinct despite his pain and fear, Donatello tried to find his way to the surface again. Blinded by panic and lost among the foggy world of the sewer waters, his quest had little success. He couldn't tell which way he was supposed to go. And even if he had, there was still the current to consider.

This far under, the current was a force unto itself. It acted with a mind of its own that seemed to be entirely wild and intent on proving its power. Mostly proven through the act of keeping the young Turtle caught within its deadly and dragging embrace. Even so, he still tried as Don was driven on by a force that was just as powerful, his will to live.

He finally broke through to the surface when the current seemed to show a bout of mercy and allowed a swell to push his body upward. As soon as he broke through the water, Don gasped desperately for breath. Donnie inhaled deeply, coughing up the water still in his mouth and struggling for air at the same time. This resulted in him getting little of the air that he frantically needed before being pulled under by the merciless current a second time.

And again, Donatello was forced to try and fight for his life. It was in vain though, as this time, the current refused to let him rise again. Instead, it kept him under and drew him further and further into darkness that seemed eager to claim him.

Don tried to fight against this too as he fought against the current's power. But these were both battles that he lost. His body weak from the pain and shock of the icy waters, Don finally had to give up that struggle and accept what was happening to him. When he did this, he began to fall deeper into the darkness that could only be unconsciousness and it soon became a welcomed experience. For in this darkness, there was no need to struggle and he was free of the pain his body felt from the icy needles that had continued to pierce his skin.

This was a welcome sensation, to be free from the pain. But as he slipped deeper and deeper into the darkness, Donnie had the strangest feeling. Even here, where there was nothing but the shadows, he felt sure that he had heard someone calling out to him. If this was true or not, he did not. For then he completely claimed by unconsciousness just as the thought entered his mind.

A/N: *throws hands up in defense * Okay, okay. I know some people are gonna be seriously mad that I've gone and drowned Donatello in this chapter. But just remember, I don't do something without a reason in these things. For further reasoning for my madness, you'll just have to wait until the next chapter. When I get that out, I'm not really sure because I'm working now and that takes a lot of time. But it will come as soon as I can get everything worked out. Until then, please refrain from flames of any type, because they will be ignored. Thank you. ;)

Raph: *now tied up in the corner with a zipper still on his beak*

Me: :)