Author's Note: Hey there, sorry again for the wait, real life things are getting in the way. Now once again, I have to give major credit to Glazier Blue as she took the reins on this chapter, and did wonderfully on it. Now The chapter was large so we had to split it in half, still what we have is good and we hope it's enjoyable.

Chapter 10: Connected Part 1

He was almost there... Donnie could see a manhole just ahead of him, but he would have to get to the bottom level again in order to reach the ladder going up. Is this what a ray of hope felt like? A sudden sound from just behind him made the young teen stop... It sounded like a creak, when something heavy was on a ladder that was about to give out... Was he here?! For a moment Donnie couldn't move. Frozen but waiting to see if there were any suspicious sounds to follow up, but as the seconds ticked by, all he could hear was the running water. Maybe he has just been paranoid? Well, he had just been turtle-napped and tortured by an inhumanly strong psychopath with vampire like fetishes. It wasn't an overreaction, but just to be safe, he had better get the shell out of here! By now he had just made it to the bottom of the ladder and started to climb, only to stop dead half way as he realized he didn't even know what time of day or night it was. He didn't even know what part of town he was under. He had been locked up in the dark for so long, he could be coming up in the middle of a busy road at lunch hour for all he knew... People may notice him.

For a hole 5 long seconds Donnie was stuck with the choice whether to risk been seen above ground or to go find another manhole and risk been found by the Rat King – No! He would take his chances above ground with the humans, and all that came with it. He just needed to get the shell out of here! Donnie quickly made his way to the top, deciding to just take a peek before assessing his chances.

Just as he started to move the lid, it felt like his heart was beating its way through his shell. Rays of red sun light bled in, breaking up the darkness surrounding him. It took a moment for Donnie's eyes to adjust before the surface level became clear and Donatello gasped as he got a look at a beautiful burning sun rise. Maybe it was because he had been through hell and was feeling a bit vulnerable, but just for a moment everything felt like it was going to be ok. The strong smell of salt hit him, but it felt like the most amazing breath of fresh air, washing away the nightmares of the underground. The water was in the distance. He must be close to the river... and best of all there didn't look to be anyone around. He could get out of here and be home shortly. His arms still felt like jelly, as It took all the weight in his back and strength left in his arms to shove the lid back just enough for him to make his way out. Donnie even allowed himself a smile of relief when he felt something suddenly locked around both his ankles, instantaneously stopping his heartbeat and sending his mouth dry. The next second, Donnie's legs were yanked hard off the ladder sending him back down into the cold pit. Out of shock, a cry burst forth as the air rushed past him and the light of freedom that he had been basking in just a second ago vanished. Pain rippled up his shell as he hit the ground. Water splashed over his face choking him... and a shadow loomed.

Splinter decided that his closes captive neighbor seemed to be the best target to focus on first.

Hours had passed before he achieved any result, but time didn't seem to be moving the same way here as in the real world. It could have just been minuets or months for all Splinter knew and he couldn't allow himself to draw on his anger to compel him. Anger just caused pain and panic among the web. This had to be methodically aimed without drawing to much attention to himself. Even with all his meditation training, it had taken a lot more controlled than expected, but it paid off. Soon light could physically be seen feeding from Splinter's mind and down the thread of the Rat King's telepathic web... but instead of seeing the deep glowing red light that caused them all such suffering, Splinter's light was pale, almost white and nowhere near as vibrant and they faded into nothing before reaching any of the other rats bonded with him... but that was good for the moment. At least until he could be sure the Rat King wasn't going to catch him. The only reason he hadn't noticed so far was because he was to consume in his search for his... Who was the Rat King looking for again? Someone important? … His son! His most intelligent son. How could he have forgotten that? Donatello was running out of time and yet he was fading from his father's memory like water.

He wasn't at all sure this idea could even work, but it was time to put it into practice. Focusing all his energy onto his cell mate that was still been tortured by the burning red beams, his light barely made any difference even when it started reaching it. He growled in frustration, knowing that Purple – Donatello! needed him. Thinking of Donatello linked him with the Rat King like a distorted window. Every time he looked to the left side of his wall-less prison, he could see just shadows, but they were moving! Seeing through the Rat Kings eyes as he rushed through the maze, hunting his son. He couldn't see how close he was, but he could feel the thrill of adrenaline running through the Rat King like a drug. He had to be close catching up with his... who? - his son! His smart middle son. With regret Splinter had to force himself to look away. While his physical body remained unconscious, he had a short reprieve from the Rat Kings torture. He might not get another chance, and he had to distance himself from his King – No! NOT his King, as much as possible. Focus on just that one rat hanging before him. He soon felt new pain spread through him, but it wasn't his, it was the rat he was trying to reach. What suffering the Rat King was inflicting on his "subject's" was beyond cruel. Only after much white light coating the smaller rodent did it eventually slow its cries of distress and look up at him!

With the first fiber of hope Splinter had felt since he had been imprisoned here, he reached out with everything he had. "Help me!" He cried and he knew the other could understand him. He also knew it was a risk trying to talk. This creature, though suffering had only ever known the wrath of the Rat King, It might be too afraid to defy its Master. It's not like he could protect it from the pain the red light was inflicting upon it... But maybe he could take that pain onto himself instead and give the other a chance? But would it help him or just run away? What if it alerted the King to what he was trying to do? He could try and take control of it, but then how would he be better than the Rat King? All he could do was ask and hope to see what would happen... He waited with bated breath, trying to sense what the smaller rodent was feeling. As he connected with it, a violent tremble shot through him. He did feel its fear for the Rat King, but it also felt its...HATE! This was good, "Help me and I will help you!"

It couldn't answer him, but with this one unspoken thought Splinter knew he had at least one friend. One ally. It was progress, but it still wasn't enough, as he needed more... Many more. But what if the Rat King noticed? He was connected to each of the thousands of rats... Would he notice if just a few of the connections were severed? It was a chance he had to take. He winced as more of the Rat Kings mind seeped into his, catching a small glimpse. Good job he was still unconscious in reality.

Splinter went to work on the next cell mate with a plan forming in mind. He would have to take as much of the pain from the other rats onto himself to give them a chance to help him in the real world. But how many of them could he take? There was only so many minds he could protect all at once. What if... what if he engrained himself enough into the network to break- What was that?!

Splinter suddenly looked up! Not what, who was that? That voice? It was calling him! He knew that voice? He knew it well, but he couldn't remember where from...It was far away, deep in the shadows of the web. He tried calling back, but he was drowned out by the other rats screeches. Who was it?

He struggled in his bonds. Someone was here looking for him...and he knew them well, in fact that voice belonged to someone he loved, he was sure of it... Not Purple! – Donatello! but there were others...Wait, What? He had just been worried about them not a moment ago... How could he forget who they were? Images of them came back, but only with some concentration. Red! Orange... Blue- BLUE! It was Blue's voice calling to him! His other son...What was happening to him? How could he forget them!? Don- Purple wasn't the only one running out of time. It seemed the deeper he got into the web, the further away he left his family behind.

Splinter listened to his son call out to him. If he focused hard enough, he could reach him... But the truth was he didn't want too... He was too ashamed. He had almost killed them...with his own hands…yet they were still wanting to reach out.

"Father!" The voice was closer this time. "I can feel you, but I can't find you!"

Splinter closed his eyes wanting nothing more than to vanish into the web along with his shame... but this wasn't just about him. It was about saving... saving... Purple? Saving Donatello! Oh no! This was why the Rat King was confident about keeping him. He was losing them! He was losing himself. He wasn't sure how much longer he can last before it was all gone…yet one thing was for certain. This was his only chance to redeem some honor and save his shoving his pride aside; the father reached out to... to...? His eldest... yes! Leonardo! Pushing all the noise and squealing of the other cell mate aside. There was no time to let the stress over-whelm him. He had to reach … Blue, before he vanished.

"Leonardo, my son can you hear me?" For a moment there was no reply, and he was afraid that his son had already gone, or he was to ashamed of him to respond. But the hope was renewed when a reply was carried through the darkness over the sound of the other captives whaling.

"Father? Are you there? What's that awful noise?" Leo sounded confused and yet determined. "Is it really you?"

"My son there isn't much time... I am losing myself and your brother is in danger... He will not last against... him!"

Another pause but when Leo spoke this time, his voice was urgent, even desperate. "Him? He has Donnie too? Who is it Sensei? Who has done this to you both?" Splinter didn't miss the edge in his son's voice. Part of Leo still didn't believe that it really was him.

A painful cry whipped both the rat master and the turtle away from the communication. "Donnie!" Leo yelled. He had herd it too. The shadows through the distorted window in Splinter's brain bled out, consuming his vision. Donatello had been found! He was falling!

"You must hurry my son... The Rat King is going to kill your brother. Go! Before it's too late!"

"The Rat King? Leo repeated. "What? But he... he's dead!" Leo and Splinter could not see one another, but Splinter could picture his son face as confusion turned to horrific realization. But the sound his little brothers cries washed over him like ice water, forcing him to shove any confusion aside. "How do we find you both?"

Splinter's heart fell into his gut at the urgent question and not just by the fact he didn't actually know where they were in the real or spirit world. "If you cannot save my mind then you MUST end my body's suffering." The father, with a heavy heart, knew what he was asking him to do, but there was no other choice.

"What? I don't …. Father NO!"

It broke him, but he loved all his sons, even enough to give them up. No more inflicting them with pain by his hands. The Rat King would never let him be. He would always come hunting for him and how many of his sons would be targeted? No. For any hope of beating the rat king, he had to take them out of the equation. But if only one of them could be saved, "Save Donatello at all cost. That is my order." Splinter tone shifted from father to master and even in this desperate circumstance Leo was left with little room to argue. At this moment, right now, Donnie was fighting for his life. He came first, but they were still left with the obstruction of actually finding his location - Crack!

Suddenly the two were rendered speechless by a very distinct sound...

A loud single sickening crack! The unmistakable sound of bones been crushed or dislocated. At the same time Donatello had released another final cry of anguish before falling completely silent, leaving the remaining two with a cold shudder running down their spines... They were to late!

"NO!" Splinter cried

"DONNIE!" Leo cried louder and Splinter feared his yells had been heard by more than just him. He could feel the other dark presence suddenly approaching. Splinter didn't think. With the last of his will, he forced the presence of his eldest back into the abyss before he could be discovered. His last hope gone.

With the horror of what he had just heard still fresh in his mind, the father worried that Donatello rescues could now be a recovery? He had to do something. SOMETHING! But what? The rat master looked above him once again searching for an answer only to find the one rat he had saved so far looking back at him. It seemed to be the only one not squirming in pain now. This had him wondering where was this particular rat's current location in the real world right now?

A/N: Hope you like. Intense right? Donnie was just mere seconds from freedom only to have it yanked away from it, literally. Also, you got to feel bad for Splinter, he's losing his identity and everything that went with it. He's up to something and Leo just came at the right time. Yet, we all know how noble Splinter is, when it comes down to it, he would sacrifice himself if it meant his sons would live. Still, he's up to something and it's a long shot. Like I said the chapter was split and the next part will be uploaded in a few days, so be on the lookout for that. Can't wait to hear your thoughts, till next time.