Chapter 6: The Antidote

"Got it!" Donatello exclaimed, holding a vial of light pink liquid.

"What do you mean?" Stockman buzzed, flying low next to the turtle.

Donnie rubbed his eyes, "I've got the… uh… cure."

Stockman stared at him for only a moment before saying, "I shall inform Master Shredder at once. I hope you have a plan, Donatello." Donnie nodded as the mutant flew off. So far, his plan was falling into place. This antidote would bridge the gap between the animal instinct and the human mind. Karai would regain control of her mind and body. He turned the vial in the palm of his mind, hoping it would actually work, unlike the retromutagen that didn't.

"I hear you are ready, mutant."

Donatello jumped, holding the vial tightly in his hand. The Shredder stood right in front of him, waiting for the answer. Donnie nodded and held out the pink liquid. "Just apply this to Karai and she should be cured."

"It is in your best interests for this to work," The Shredder unsheathed his claws, letting them hover in front of Donnie's face for a second before grabbing the vial.

"Tiger Claw, Bradford, get Karai ready." The two mutants nodded and left their master's side to fetch the mutated girl. Donatello shifted around for a moment as Fishface moved behind him, pushing him forward.

"You better hope your cure works. Master Shredder doesn't like failure." Donnie only nodded to the mutant fish, watching as Rahzar and Tiger Claw caught Karai and forced her out in the open, hissing and thrashing the whole time. Shredder walked up to Karai, who only hissed in hate and rage at him.

"I will have you back, my daughter." Shredder held out the vial and tipped it onto Karai's head, the pink liquid spreading slightly on the smooth scales before being absorbed by the skin. Karai still thrashed on the ground, trying to break free of her bonds. Nothing was happening. "Turtle! How long will it take to work?"

Donnie gulped, knowing he needed to make his act believable. "It… it… should be working now. My calculations told me that the effects would be immediate and there would be some kind of change."

"You failed me."

"I'll try again, I mean…" Donnie was unable to finish as Shredder spun around, kicking him in the plastron and sending him crashing into the opposing wall. Donnie blinked the stars out of his eyes to see Shredder baring down upon him, a hand reaching out to wrap tightly around his neck. The Shredder squeezed tightly as Donnie gasped for breath, the sound of metal unsheathing rang through the air.

"I do not accept failure." Donatello let out the precious air in his lungs as Shredder slice through his shoulder, going all the way through, pinning him to the wall. The pain was unimaginable. If he was able to breathe, Donnie was sure he would be screaming. A slight twist and the blades were out of his shoulder, the blood flying across the room as the hand around his throat tightened.

Black spots began to dance across his vision as Donnie slowly began to lose consciousness. The fingers around his throat loosened just enough for Donnie to gulp down some precious air. Shredder pulled his body away from the wall and then, slammed it back, a horrible cracking sound exploding through the lab as a tight scream rang through the air. Pain was the only thing Donatello knew in that moment as a sweet darkness finally began to claim him.

The last thing he heard was the Shredder saying, "You better hope you can create that cure."

"Dona...tell….oooo." A soft voice called out to him, pulling him away from the sweet darkness that made the pain go away. A sharp, lingering pain pulled Donatello back into the land of the living. Each breath he took was full of pain and he could barely open his eyes. "Dona….tello…."

With a groan, Donnie opened his eyes to a pool of blood. He reached out to push himself up when pain shot through the arm as the right arm spasm and lay unmoving. Using his other arm, Donnie pushed himself up, ignoring the way his lungs burned and his shell felt horrible. He glanced around his cage, bloody streaks led to wear he had laid. He was back in the corner he normally occupied.

"Probably Stockman," Donnie whispered to himself.

"Donatello….."

Donnie jumped, yelping as it moved his shell and turned to the corner where the piece of the wall was gone. Two snake eyes blinked at him from the darkened hole. He slowly dragged himself over to the hole, making sure his back was to the glass. "Karai?"

"You…. You… you gave me back my mind," The soft voice breathed in wonder.

Donnie managed to smile through his pain. "I said I would and once we're out of here, I'm going to make a cure for you."

The eyes blinked as a snake head hand reached through the opening, flicking out its tongue onto Donnie blood drenched arm. "You have been hurt."

"I'm fine," Donnie waved off. "I made a cure to get you back in control and made Shredder believe it would unmutate you."

"Thank you."

"I don't think it is safe for Shredder to know you are back in control," Donnie whispered. "He is planning on making a mind control serum."

Karai's hand nudged Donnie's arm. "I understand. We will keep it a secret and figure a way out. Now, tell me, what are your injuries?"

"I'm fi…."

"Donatello, we are family and as your big sister, you will tell me your injuries."

Donnie blinked. He had always wanted a big sister and now, Karai was ready to accept that she was a part of his family. With a smile, Donnie answered, "My throat is a little sore, I can't really move my right arm. Shredder pierced through my shoulder and I believe my shell is cracked."

The hand retreated back into the darkness that was Karai's cage. "You should rest then. You have done such great work only to receive torture."

"You will…. Watch over me?" He couldn't believe how small his voice was. Even though his wasn't the baby of the family, Donnie was considered one of the younger brothers so he had always been watched over. Now, he was alone and only wanted some kindness.

"Of course….. little brother." Donnie smiled as he curled back onto the ground, ignoring the blood on the ground, and enjoying the strokes on his head Karai was giving him. "Thank you….."

Author's Note: I was on a roll writing today so I thought I'd treat with another update! Shout out to Heather, Pilyarquitect, Livvie13, Pip, and Agentcocacola for the reviews! Reviews are always welcome.