Chapter Twenty One - Unfinished Business

"You shouldn't have gone to the hospital." Donna looked up as she saw Jesse slowly approaching her. "They absolutely freaked." Donna remained silent. She had been thinking of Donnie.

"What else could I do?"

"Be more discreet?" Jesse placed a hand on Donna's shoulder as she slowly sat beside her. Donna sighed as she looked out onto the city of Manhattan. The view from the rooftop was amazing and it gave her time to think. It was late afternoon now and it would be dark in a few hours.

"Any news from the others?" Donna inquired.

"Nope. Haven't heard anything from April or Casey. They'll be back soon..." her voice trailed as she heard her name being called. Jesse turned to look and saw a figure approaching her. She quickly looked back to the space beside her - now an empty spot beside her.

"Who you talkin' too?" Casey asked.

"Nobody. Just came out here to think. How's Sarah?" Casey paused, then sat beside her, where Donna had been only moments before.

"Still sleeping. I think that she'll be okay. The doc said her vitals were stable." He took a deep breath as his bottom lip began to tremble. Jesse took his hand gently and placed hers into it.

"I'm sure that she'll be fine. She's a fighter, always has been." Casey gave her a half smile.

"That she is... well we better get back in there, the guys are here." He rose to stand, offering her a helping hand, which she took.

"You go ahead, I'll be there in a minute."

"Sure?"

"Yep," she took a deep breath, "nerves."

"Riiight.They don't bite ya know."

"Yeah, doesn't help though. Wish we could meet under better circumstances ya know?" Casey nodded and headed back down. As he disappeared from sight, Donna appeared from no where causing Jesse to jump.

"Please don't do that."

"Sorry, calves started to cramp."

"That was close."

"Yeah, a little too close. You better go. I'll be around somewhere... if not I'll be at the hospital a little later... AND... I'll be more discreet."

Jesse slowly made her way into the livingroom. Once there the chatter stopped and she saw the turtles in trench coats and fedoras look up. Two of them seemed shocked by her appearance, while the other seemed neutral. He approached her.

"Hey dudette, it's good to see you walking around." It dawned on her who it was.

"You must be Mikey.." he nodded, "thanks for helping me. Sarah told me what you did." With the mention of her name, his demeanour changed. "She's strong. You'll see." He slowly nooded, not being able to find any words and the two of them went to sit, all the while she noticed the turtle in the red mask watching her the whole time. After a few moments, the cold glare bothered her and she stood quickly, grimacing at the pain and faced the turtle.

"What the HELL is your problem?" She demanded, one hand on her hip as the other was in a sling.

"WHERE IS HE?"

"Like I'm suppose to know?"

Raph stood and faced her."This is ALL your fault?"

"MY FAULT?"

"Yeah... you're the one they want, I reckon we should let them have yer ass in exchange for Donnie!" Jesse's mouth fell open, then she replied.

"Screw you!" He pulled out his sais as she did too - she was now always armed, just in case.

"This is not my doing! Your brother is missing and my sister is in hospital." She lowered her weapon. "How quickly we forget." She turned her back and headed into the kitchen. Leo let out a sigh of relief as Raph lowered his weapons.

"I'm outta here!" He snorted, placing the sais in his belt as he headed for the rooftop.

"If you need me I'll be at Sarah's." Jesse stated and left the room.

"Well... that went... well." April commented as she watched the door close behind Jesse.

"What an asshole!" Jesse sobbed as Donna did her best to comfort her.

"That wasn't a good idea to confront him like that. Everyone is stressed."

"I know, I know. Jeez, I still can't believe you watched from the kitchen window. What if someone saw you?"

"Well they didn't, did they?" Jesse took a few breaths. "So, who do you think has him and why?" Donna sat on top of the counter.

"I dunno... but why don't I go and find out?"

Donna crept quietly onto the fire escape, knowing that the closest concealed manhole was across the street. She needed to get to the rooftop in order to get to the next closest building. She also knew that Donnie's angry brother was up there somewhere. She slowly made it up to the rooftop, keeping to the darkest of the shadows. Her cloak flowed around her as a slight breeze brushed against her face. She saw him and paused for a moment as it sounded like he was actually crying! Curiosity got the better of her and she went in for a closer look. She saw him look up and she flattened herself against the brick wall.

Raph sat, his face in his hands. He didn't want to show it but he was really worried. He had never known this kind of hit before. His actions inside ran through his mind time and time again. He hadn't meant to threaten the girl. Tears welled up in his eyes as the events of the last day replayed itself. The thought of April that distressed got to him. He felt a presence and looked up, drawing his sais.

"Who's there?" He demanded. A figure stepped out of the shadows.

"I didn't want to bother you." The female voice replied. "I just came to apologise. I didn't mean to respond the way I did." He lowered his weapons. Raph took a deep breath... he had regretted his previous actions and did his best to curb his anger.

"Me neither." He mumbled. Jesse slowly approached him.

"We're all hurting. It's okay you know." Raph didn't respond. "I'm Sarah's half sister, Jesse."

"Raphael." He grunted.

"Do you mind if I sit with you for a bit? I need some air and company would be nice."

"If you want..." he looked to her bruised face and his eyes softened.

Donna watched from the shadows. The interruption was perfect timing. She watched as the two started to talk. She made her way across the rooftop, then jumped the narrow gap between the two buildings. The hospital was a fair distance from here and she knew it would take an hour or two to get there if she was lucky.. on the other hand, there was always the subway...

Donna paused as she looked at the hospital in front of her. The trip had been uneventful and the few people on the subway had not even given her a second glance. She took a breath as she entered the building.

Keeping to the shadows, she had passed through the various corridors unnoticed. At this time of night, only essential lighting had been left on, along with limited staff.

Looking down both directions of the corridor, she paused as she reached for the knob. She took a breath as she turned it and let herself in.

They sat there in silence. Jesse sighed as she got more comfortable. With one arm in a sling she did her best to lay back and she looked up at the night sky. Raph looked over to her and watched her for a moment. She grimaced as she tried to get comfortable, before slowly trying to sit up again. Raph noticed her discomfort and gently helped her to a sitting postion.

"Howz the pain?"

"A little better today, though the ribs aren't the best. My shoulder is heaps better though. Should be able to take this thing off tomorrow," she lifted her arm a little to show Raph the sling.

"Do you remember what happened?"

"Vaguely, though I kinda remember my half brother helping me out. The B.D's did this, not the Foot. They're the only ones organized enough. I'm guessing that might be who has Donnie. I guess Sarah will be the only one who can tell us for sure." Raph paused for a moment.

"The B.D's?"

"Yeah Black Dragon, made up of what's left of Shredder's Elite. I was in there for a short while before they decided to try to take me out."

"Any ideas?"

"I think they found out I was an informant for the Foot."

"Why you?"

"I was ordered to go."

Donna took a deep breath as she faced Sarah. She looked a little better today with some colour back in her face and her breathing was a little more steady. She looked around before moving a chair closer to the bed. She took hold of one hand and kissed the back of it

"Hey Sarah. I hope you can hear me. We really need you to wake up. Donnie's missing. Please come back to us..." her voice trailed as she slightly felt Sarah squeeze her hand. Her eyes lit up with hope.

"C'mon Sarah, I know you can do it!" She watched as Sarah slowly turned her head to face her. Her eyes opened.

"Please keep it down, I've got a migrane!" She heard Sarah saying bearely above a whisper.

"What?"

"Relax. I've been awoke for an hour or so." She tried her best to smile.

"Oh... sorry."

"Sit and don't stress... I'll be fine." The words came out slow and steady. Sarah trying her best to comfort her little sister.

"Do the others know?"

Sarah slowly shook her head. "I need the peace and quiet for the time being. The hospital will call first thing in the morning... did Donnie make it back?" This time it was Donna who shook her head.

"I'm sorry Sarah, we don't know where he is."

"Damn!" She took a few deep breaths as a tear made its way down to the corner of her cheek. "There were just too many of them..."

"Of who?"

"The Black Dragons. This was a set up to get me out of the way... I know you've fallen for him... promise me you won't go after him." Donna stood and faced the window, her back to Sarah as she opened the double doors.

"I'm sorry Sarah I can't do that."

It was the early hours of the morning by the time Donna got back to Sarah's apartment. She knew what she had to do. She paused for a moment as she headed toward the bedrooms, knowing that IT would be there. As she pulled various training equipment out of a closet her thoughts ran wild. She felt extreme sadness as she hated to think how they would be treating him, then it turned to pure hatred and anger. She stopped searching as she came to Sarah's katana - still packed from Sarah's journey from Sydney to New York. She took the package downstairs and placed it on the counter as she readied herself. She lit three candles and sat on the floor. She needed to focus her energy and this was the best way in which to do it. She closed her eyes as she started to mediate.

The apartment emptied as the hospital had called notifying April that Sarah had woken and had asked for her. Not able to make it this time around, Jesse slowly walked to Sarah's apartment, looking for Donna. She was amazed as she quietly opened the unlocked door.

Her eyes fell onto Donna - katana in hand in near perfect posture as she repeated one kata after another.

"Please don't tell me you're gonna do what I think you are?" Donna paused for a moment.

"And what will you have me do? Sit on my ass and wait for them to kill him?"

"It's to dangerous. You can't!" Jesse protested.

"I know and that's why I must go."

"When?"

"Three nights from now when I'm ready. Now if you wouldn't mind, I have to get back to my preparation."

Jesse's jaw dropped as she saw the determination in her eyes. She hurried back to April's apartment as quickly as her body allowed her to. Once locating her pager, she simply typed 911, then waited for a response.

Hours had passed and she had heard nothing. Waiting on the couch, it was only a matter of time before she fell asleep.

She woke in a fright as she stirred, only to find someone in a full combat dogi bent over her. On reflex, she balled her fist and went to strike, only to have it deflected.

"Relax it's me." A muffled voice said. He hesitated, then pulled off his hood.

"Josh? Oh thank god!" She reached foward and hugged him, her face filling with pain.

"Take it easy there. Dan told me what happened. Are you okay?" He sat beside his half sister.

"Will be. Sarah's friends patched me up."

"I can't stay long. What's so urgent that it couldn't wait? This is dangerous."

"I know... are you going to see Sarah?"

"No, we thought it would draw too much attention... why?"

"I need you to pass on a message." He raised an eyebrow.

"And you can't do it?"

"Not without the other's finding out. It concerns the female turtle..."

April held onto Sarah's hand tightly while Casey paced the room.

"You scared us there for a bit," she smiled as she gently stroked Sarah's hair, "but it's incredible just how great you're looking."

"I feel like I've been hit by a bus." She stated flatly.Casey stopped pacing and faced Sarah, his hands on the end of the hospital bed and he leaned in.

"So what happened?" Sarah paused and the half smile vanished from her face.

"Donnie and I were heading back from the supermarket when they ambushed us in the alley. I just dunno how that blade struck me. I did what I could, but there were just too many..." her voice trailed as a nurse walked in carrying a stainless steel tray filled with dressings.

"If you don't mind, I need to change her dressings. It won't take long." April hesitated, then was lead out by Casey. April sat and Casey close by. He placed his arm around her shoulders.

"She's looking great." April smiled and put her arms around him. She looked into his eyes before quickly giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"Thanks for everything." She hugged him.

As Casey opened his mouth to reply, they heard a commotion coming from Sarah's room as the stainless steel tray hit the ground.

"So how are we this morning?" The nurse asked Sarah.

"Not too bad actually, the pain isn't so bad.." The nurse smiled as she checked Sarah's chart. That was always a good response.

"You sure?" She raised an eyebrow as she scanned the notes.

"Yeah ... actually." Sarah answered a little puzzled.

"Mmm, okay, well let's just have a look, shall we? This may hurt a little." The nurse stated as she helped turn Sarah onto her side. Sarah grimaced. The pain wasn't too bad... that was until the nurse started with the dressing. She heard the nurse gasp, then as the nurse took a few steps back, she bumped into the bed table and the tray crashed onto the ground.

"What is it?" Sarah managed to ask as Casey and April burst into the room.

"Is everything okay?" Casey asked through the curtain.

"I think so Case." April held onto his arm as he tried to get closer.

"That's amazing, in all my years, I've never seen anything like it."

"Like what?"

"Your chart says you've been here for only a few days."

"Yeah, that's right."

"Well, it's just that your wound is healing extremely well in my opinion. I can't see any sign of infection and the scar is healing nicely. I'm going to ask your doctor to come in shortly, just for a second opinion."

Visiting hours came and went and finally April and Casey made it back downtown, only to come home to find Jesse sleeping. April sat by the sleeping figure and gently shook her awoke. Jesse slowly stirred and woke to find April smiling at her.

"Good news I take it?"

"Yeah, she's doing real well. She should be home soon."

"Already?" Jesse asked in disbelief.

"Yep, great isn't it? How about you?"

"Okay I guess. Could be worse." There was an uncomfortable silence, then April yawned.

"I'm heading off to bed. I can't believe just how tired I am." As April took her leave, Casey headed to the fridge and pulled out a Bud.

"Want one?" He offered.

"Sure." He poped the top and handed it to her.

"Cheers." And they clinked the two bottles.

Sarah sighed as she channel surfed. Not much was on tonight and she could not wait to get out of there - she was not used to all of the free time she was faced with at present. As nature called, she slowly stood and as the pain made itself known, her face slightly screwed up in pain. She had noticed that it pained less than this morning. As she was still hooked up to a drip, she unhooked the bag and took it with her.

As she returned to her bed, she stopped short. Sitting in the seat near her bed was her half brother Josh.

"You're looking well," he stated. As Sarah jumped a little, he smirked, amused by her reaction.

"Shit, don't do that!" She frowned at him, the look she gave him wiped the smirk from his face.

"Your senses will return in a few days, give it time." Now he was being serious.

"And what do you know about it?"

"That was a serious injury. I'm just glad your friends got to you in time."

"Case said the intel was vague."

"Dan passed on what we knew and we told you're friends as soon as we heard..." his voice trailed as he went over to help her back into bed, which Sarah gratefully accepted.

"You know that the last thing Dan and I wanted was this." Sarah half smiled and patted his hand.

"I know... though those bastards will pay, you realise that right?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah I kinda figured, tho don't do anything stupid."

"I'm not about to... but I have my friend to consider."

"That's one of the reasons why I'm here." This time it was Sarah who raised an eyebrow. "I spoke to Jess this afternoon. The female is going after him." Sarah took a deep breath.

"Damn! The idot!" She tried to get up. "I havta get outta here!" Josh hurried over and slowly pushed her down.

"Not yet. She told Jess three nights from now. You have time..." his voice trailed as his pager went off.

"I gotta check in. I'll see you later?" She nodded. Sarah sat there and thought about it. The more she did so the more tired she grew. Without realising, she was soon blissfully asleep.

Sarah's dreams were interrupted as a figure popped into her mind. Her eyes flickered and opened a few moments later. She woke to find a doctor by her side, syringe in hand, as he was inserting it into the drip line.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" Her eyes narrowed as she focused on his face, only to notice beads of sweat on his forehead. The doctor seemed edgy. Her eyes widened with horror as she realised what was happening. She placed her free hand over the needle inserted into the back of her hand and ripped it from her skin as she jumped to her feet. The "doctor" taking a few steps back before going into a fighting stance.

"Sonofvabitch!" She hissed as she readied herself, anger fuelling her strength. Her eyes homed in on a scapel under the bed - left there when the nurse had dropped the tray containing her dressings earlier on that day. She dropped to her knees picking the scapel up and threw it at her attacker where it embedded itself in his arm. He grunted as he pulled it out and lunged at her. Sarah hissed as the blade caught her forearm. She stumbled back, grasping it when she felt the bed table behind her. In one clean action, she wheeled it around herself and threw it at him, the table catching him on the thigh. The scaple falling to the ground and rolling a little as he steadied himself. Her attacker shoved it to one side and went for her again. She saw the scaple and headed for it. She dove over him as he went in low to attack her injury. Sarah's body curved as she went into a neat foward roll, scooping the weapon up as she rolled by it. This time her aim was true. She again threw it at him, from a crouched position. He gasped for air as it struck him in the neck. She rose and stared at him face on. For the second time, her attacker pulled the scaple from his body and held it in front of himself. Sarah grunted, then pivoted on one foot going into a round -the-house kick. Her foot struck him square in the chest and he flew back, taking the bed table with him, both crashing through the glass doors and onto the small balcony. Sarah paused for a moment. She knew she could not stay here. Taking a painful breath she fled into the corridor, a trail of blood behind her. Her right hand was clamped over her side while the other swung loosely, bleeding both from the drip and the gash on her forearm. She headed for a supplies cupboard knowing that she would not get far like this. Her bare feet slapped the cold hard ground, making little sound. She knew the corridor took a sharp left and she took it.

A moment after she left, an out of breath Josh burst into the room.

"They know you're here!" He exclaimed as he was confronted by the scene in front of him. He knew that he was too late. As two nurses headed in, he headed out and run down the corridor he had just came down. He wasn't about to answer questions to which he didn't know the answers to.

Sarah paused as she leant on a wall, leave a blood smear as she moved on. She was limping heavily and hoped that her stitches were holding up. She came to a supply cupboard and tried the knob. She grimaced as she took a step back. She held her breath as she went into position and the door swung on it hinges as it was kicked open.

She saw some clean sheets and grabbed one, placing it on her arm, trying to mop up some of the blood. The gash was nasty, though not untreatable. She knew she didn't have much time. She saw some clean towels and helped herself to two. Tossing the now soiled sheet to one side she did her best to wrap her arm. She stuck her head out of the door and scanned the corridors. Seeing that the coast was clear, she limped to the opposite wall, then headed for the entrance. It was not safe for her here and she had to get out.

As she headed for the carpark, she stuck to the shadows as she saw two squad cars pull up. As hospital flood lights were being turned on, she begin to panic. They would see her and she would have to go back. As the ones closest to her were turned on, two hands from within a car close to her reached out and pulled her in. She stared into the eyes of... Josh.

"Stay down!" He demanded as he slammed his foot on the accelator. The engine roared to life and the car sped out of the carpark. Josh checked his rear view mirror. "Good, we're not being followed." He looked down to Sarah, who was huddled into the seat, shaking. She was trying to catch her breath and gather her thoughts. That had been a little too close for her liking.

"You okay?" Sarah paused.

"Will be." Josh looked at the scared figure in front of him.

"Dan informed me they were going after you. I got back as soon as I could."

"They tried... and failed... again."

"I can see that. What now?" Sarah tried to sit up and groaned as she did so. She needed to rest, to gather her strength and her thoughts.

"Head way downtown, when we get there, I'll tell you."

Chapter Twenty Two Up Soon!