A/N: Hmm... took a while longer for me to update this than I'd expected. Sorry...? And, I know this is short, but I really think the next scene belong in chapter 3. Thanks for all the lovely reviews. As usual, my repsonses can be found a Stealthy Stories. (There's a link to use in my bio). Please keep them coming (the reviews, that is) and tell me what you think of it so far. Hope you guys at least got some of the answers you were looking for in this chapter.

Chapter 2

A shrill, beeping noise erupted in the lair, everyone's alarmed eyes instantly turning to me for answers. I knew exactly what the problem was, and I was already running inside my sub car to have a look at the computer.

Clicking on the shortcut at the left corner on the desktop, I began to type out the password to get proper access to the system and find out which motion detector it was that had been set off, when suddenly the piercing noise stopped, leaving behind a silence that felt terribly unfamiliar in our home.

"What's happening, Don?"

So focused on what I was doing, I hadn't noticed Leo standing next to me, worriedly leaning over my shoulder in search of an explanation. Not that it surprised me. Leo always worried; it was kind of his thing.

"It's the security alarm," I briefly mumbled under my concentration, my stressed fingers dancing madly across the keyboard, typing out codes neither of them could even begin to understand.

"My god," Leo breathed, turning as stiff as a corpse at my words. Had I bothered to look away from the screen, I would have witnessed every possible horrible scenario play themselves out in his eyes, something I could definitely do without.

Luckily, I was able to locate which tunnel the alarm was connected to, and I inwardly scolded myself for preventing all of this from happening in the first place. It was almost stupid enough to the point where I felt a little bit embarrassed.

"No, no it's nothing like that," I quickly ensured him, logging on to the camera that was positioned in the sewer tunnel, a tiny window with night vision view popping up on the screen, providing me with a look at the scene, and – just like I had expected – there was nothing there. I glanced over my shoulder where I stood leaned over the desk, noticing for the first time that the rest of the family had gathered inside my crowded room, as well. Even Master Splinter, who had a grave, expectant look in his fixated eyes. Moving on to look at Leo, I shook my head with what I hoped was a calming smile. "Don't worry. It only does this to remind me that I need to change the batteries."

"Batteries?" Raph repeated in mild shock from where he stood, all the way in the back with Sensei. "You run this thing on batteries?"

"Well... yeah. You don't expect me to have cables leading all the way there, do you?"

Raphael shrugged indifferently.

"Good batteries and a reliable transmitter works a lot more smoother than wiring. Trust me." To this, he only shot me a blank stare. "Just think of it as a car alarm," I explained. "You don't see that many people walking around with a cable down their pocket. Kind of unpractical, don't you think?"

"A'righ, a'right," Raph said, raising his hands in a gesture to silence me. "I wasn't that interested, Donnie."

Frowning briefly, I turned back to the screen to shut down the two windows I'd just opened, moving on to searching the drawers of my desk for the particular batteries I would need.

"So, you're sure it's just the batteries, then?" Leo piped in, causing me to look up and meet his concerned eyes. "I mean, what if it's the real deal?" he pressed. "Don't you think we--"

"The alarm wouldn't turn off by itself like that if there was someone trespassing," I calmly explained to my always-cautious brother. "And I happen to know that this particular detector was running low on batteries. I got a signal earlier this week, telling me they needed changing. I should've just taken care of it on the spot. Could've saved everyone this pointless worry."

"But..." Mikey hesitantly began, a confused look twisting his features. "But it was so... loud. Would it really go off like that just cuz the batteries are checking out?"

"It would," I replied with a nod before going back to searching my desk for those batteries, "if they're close enough to run out completely. Kind of to let me know it needs an emergency change, which is why..." I then added, grabbing two of the many loose AA batteries in my drawer with a victorious smile, "I'm heading over there right now to take care of it."

"By yourself?" Leonardo asked.

"Um... yeah?" I turned to him with a puzzled expression.

"At least let me come with you," Leo insisted, his gaze unwavering as he spoke.

"Leo, you really don't have to. I'm perfectly capable of changing a couple of batteries by myself," told him with a joking smile, shoving the batteries down a tiny pocket in my belt. "Besides," I added as an afterthought, "it's your turn to prepare lunch, remember?"

"Then have someone else come with you," Leo stubbornly countered.

"I really don't see any reason t--"

"Please, Donatello," Master Splinter firmly cut in. "It would ease our minds, knowing you had someone with you."

"Well, of course, Master," I politely replied. "But I still think it's an unnecessary precaution."

"Precautions are never unnecessary," Splinter said, his solemn stare making me feel like I was seven again. "Michelangelo," he then said, turning to look at an alert Mikey, "you will accompany your brother down the tunnel."

"Sure thing, Sensei," Mike replied, looking quite happy about it. "Know what? It'll give me a chance to try out my new Batman flashlight. I found it the other day when we were patrolling," he chirped, already hurrying out of my room to fetch his new toy. "You wouldn't believe the awesome condition it's in! " he excitedly called over his shoulder as he ran down the platform.

Tramping through the cold water, I held Mike almost as tight as if I deep down feared someone would run up beside us and snatch him right in front of my eyes. Of course, if that were to happen, I'd be given a warning. There was no way for someone to travel soundlessly through these tunnels. Even us, a couple of well-trained ninjas, couldn't help but splash as we ran through the freezing water.

However, the last time we'd stopped, there had been more splashing further down the tunnel, much like a lingering echo of our own, which of course I knew it wasn't. They'd been right behind us, not in sight, but close enough for me to hear them.

I didn't have the courage to stop and listen a second time.

Instead, my thoughts helplessly went back to before my world caved in; before panic and fear ruled my senses; before tears I didn't have the time for had abused my throat to the point where I felt as though I'd been forced to swallow razor blades.

To think it was only a little over an hour ago.

Like it had been decided, Mikey and I went to have a look at the motion detector. There had been nothing out of the ordinary with it. Just like I'd told them, the problem was the batteries needing changing, and only a few minutes after we'd left the lair, we were already on our way back home.

Mike had been tangibly disappointed that his cheap Batman flashlight hadn't worked as well as he'd hoped. A child's toy simply wasn't designed to function in the consuming darkness of New York City's sewer tunnels, and I couldn't help feeling sorry for him.

He'd been so excited when he found it in that alley. Judging by the shriek of delight he'd released when he saw it on the ground, I had almost half expected he'd found a winning lottery ticket or something.

Batman toy, one million dollars – had I really been that surprised to learn that Mikey treasured them both equally?

Of course not. The real surprise had been waiting for us at home, where the others had stayed behind, convinced by none other than myself that they were perfectly safe.

Never before had it hurt so bad to be wrong.