Chapter 4: Monsters
A/N: So here's the next chapter. I want to thank everyone who has read and reviewed thus far. I'm so glad you're enjoying this story. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon. The 2003 Turtles are property of Mirage Studios. I only own the plot and nothing more.
"You don't have to feel guilty, my friend. I know what it is like to be a monster."
Don stared at Leatherhead as they sat in his home and shook his head. "You're not a monster, Leatherhead," he said. "You just have a temper problem, but you're getting over that. And I'm not guilty about the mutation because that wasn't my fault. I'm guilty that my brothers and you had to make a deal with two of our biggest enemies to save me."
"But you do not have to feel guilty about that either. We did what we had to do to save you. You would have done the same for one of us."
"No, I would have found the cure," Don answered. "I hate Bishop! I really want to teach him a lesson after what he did! It's his fault that I was mutated in the first place!"
"That would be unwise, Donatello," Leatherhead told him. "You cannot go seeking out Bishop. He could hurt you or worse."
Don sighed. "I know that, Leatherhead, but I want to. I just hate what he's done to us."
"I do as well, Donatello, but there is nothing you can do. Please put it out of your mind."
Don nodded and their conversation drifted to other subjects. But back in his mind, Don's hatred continued and he knew he'd have to act on it soon.
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Home was very quiet as Don entered. He headed to his room and sat on his bed, picking up the copy of Frankenstein that April had given him. He continued to read, and as he did, he began to see something. Bishop was just as twisted, if not more so, than Victor Frankenstein as he played with his creations. And he had made Donnie a monster because of those creations and what they did to him! Sure, Frankenstein's motives were pure curiosity to see if creating life would work, but Bishop's motives were anything but curiosity. It was more of a vindictive fascination and a sadistic longing that satiated him. And because of his games, Don had been the victim.
Don needed to go after him, but he knew what his family would say. They would tell him it was a lost cause and that he shouldn't try it. He could just hear their voices.
Leo would say, "No, Donnie, it's not worth it. Leave it be."
Raph would say, "You're nuts for tryin' to take him out."
Mikey would beg, "No, Donnie, don't do it. You'll get killed."
Splinter would plead, "Please let this go, Donatello. Revenge is not the answer to your problems."
But they didn't understand what was going on. Don had to do this. He had to make things right.
He snuck down to the dojo and did some quick training before going to bed. He attacked the punching bag furiously, imagining it to be Agent Bishop. He was afraid his family would hear him, but they didn't, and that made him feel better. After a few rounds, Don settled to sleep.
One way or another, he was going to have his revenge whether his family liked it or not.
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Agent John Bishop prided himself on being intelligent. He was a good agent, and though he often messed around with things that he shouldn't, it was always for the greater good. He remembered what the aliens had done to him and how they had treated him. He knew he had to do all he could to get over that, but it was hard. Dealing with mutants was even harder than that. The Turtles had been a thorn in his side since he'd met them.
And yet, they had sought his aid when Donatello was mutated into a hideous monster. He had wanted to kill the abomination, but an idea had formed in his head and he had declared a bargain with the freaks. They had agreed and had given him what he'd wanted in exchange for aid for their brother. And though Bishop had given them the cure and was glad he'd had what he wanted, he knew the partnership wouldn't last. They would be after him again, and when they did come, he would be ready for them.
A noise drew his attention, and he turned around only come face to face with Donatello himself. How had he gotten in?
"What are you doing here?" Bishop demanded.
"I'm here for some payback," Don answered. "I'm here to finish what you started."
Bishop laughed. "So, you came here for revenge?"
The Turtle's eyes narrowed in anger. "Yes," he answered.
"I didn't think you had it in you, Donatello," said Bishop. "After all, you always struck me as the one who always favored other means of settling scores. Now, Raphael I can see having a vendetta or even Leonardo, but not you."
Donatello smiled. "Then I guess you don't know me as well as you think you do," he said.
"Maybe I don't," said Bishop. "But I don't think killing me is the solution."
"And why not?" Don spat. "You were the one who unleashed those mutants in the sewers! You were the one who turned me into a monster! It's time for your sadistic games to come to an end, and if that means killing you, then that's what I'll do!"
Bishop regarded the Turtle and smiled. He knew that he could use this Turtle to his advantage. "I suppose I do owe you an explanation," he said. "I did cure you of your mutation, but unfortunately, it's only temporary."
Don's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean that the cure I gave you is only a temporary fix," he answered. "It will work for now, but eventually, you'll revert back to your monstrous state once again."
Don processed what the agent was saying. "So, you're telling me that the cure you gave me won't be permanent? How is that possible? How could you have lied to my brothers?"
"I didn't lie to them," Bishop replied. "I thought it was the true cure until a few days after that. My mistake was in blowing up the headquarters, losing all of the samples I had to create the permanent cure. Once I realized my mistake, I knew I had to warn you, but I was afraid you wouldn't' trust me after all I had done to you. But now you have come to me. If I believed in God I would say this is divine intervention, but since I don't, I'd say it was more of a fluke that you came to me."
Don gave a bitter laugh. "So you think me coming to kill you is a good thing?"
"As I said, killing me isn't the solution," Bishop reminded him. "If you kill me, you'll kill any chance you have of curing your state. Do you really want to revert back to that monstrous state again? Do you want to put your family at risk after everything they did to cure you? How do you think they would feel if they found out what you did to me and that you did it alone without their knowledge?"
The Turtle hesitated at his words, processing what he said. The agent was right. His family would resent him, and if he didn't have the cure, he would die. He couldn't let that happen.
"What do you want me to do then?" he asked.
Bishop smiled. "I need you to help me," he answered. "Together, we can come up with the cure you need to remain whole."
Don was taken aback. "So you want me to work for you?"
"It seems to be a fair trade," Bishop responded. "You work for me and I give you the cure you need. Granted, what you have to do may not be pleasant, but if you want that cure, I suggest that you do what I ask."
Once again, the Turtle hesitated as he processed the agent's words. Bishop could almost see the gears working in Don's mind as he thought about what was being offered.
Finally, Don nodded. "Okay, I'll do it," he said. "But if you double cross me and don't give me the cure I need, then I'll have no choice but to kill you. Are we clear?"
Bishop smiled. "Yes, we're clear, Donatello." He held out his hand, and the Turtle shook it. "Looks like we have a deal."
"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to my family."
"Oh, that won't be necessary," Bishop said. "You work for me now, so you will stay here. I'll give you the best lodging and make sure that you have everything you need to be comfortable."
"Then may I at least call them and tell them where I am?" Don asked him.
Bishop shook his head. "No, there's no service here, and even if you did get it, I can't allow it. As long as you work for me, you will do what I want you to do. There will be no contact with your family as it's too dangerous. You might cause an unnecessary war, and I can't allow that to happen if I am to succeed with what I want to do."
"I can't talk to my family? But what if they're worried about me?"
"That's not my concern, Donatello. Sometimes, you have to sacrifice things in order to get what you want. If you want the cure, then you have to abide by my rules. If you don't like it, then you can leave and remain a hideous monster. The choice is yours."
Once again, Don hesitated and then lowered his head in defeat. "Okay, I'll do as you ask," he replied.
"Good. Let me show you to your quarters then."
As he led Don away, Bishop smiled to himself. This was a brilliant plan, and it served the purpose he wanted. As long as Donatello believed that he would remain a monster if he didn't get a true cure, he was putty in Bishop's hands. How stupid these freaks were sometimes! But in a way, that was the best way for them to be manipulated.
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As Don lay in bed, he couldn't help but curse himself for being so stupid. Of course Bishop wouldn't let him see his family! He was too smart for that! But it still made Don ache to think that he'd never see them again. He took out his Shell Cell and turned it on. He wasn't able to call them, but he gazed at his picture which was a picture of his family. How he wished he could talk to them! He really needed their guidance now. But this was the price he had to pay, a sacrifice he had to make. He gazed at his family, tears filling his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, guys," he whispered. "I'm so sorry I've hurt you, but I have to do this. I love you." Then he turned off the phone and fell asleep, hoping that something good would come of this once and for all.
A/N: And that's the end of another chapter. I'm having so much fun with this little story! So now Don's made a deal with the devil himself! You're probably wondering how Don got there and all of that, right? Well, that'll be answered in chapter five. Feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.