*Checks calendar* Oh wow, sorry for the long wait. I hope everyone is still with me. This chapter isn't too long...but it is something, right?
If I owned them...they would get me for neglect. :(
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Chapter 11: Know your role
Starcher stepped up his pace and fell behind the foot soldiers struggling to keep Donatello under control.
"Do not inform Master Saki of the accident," he told one of the ninja. "I want to be the one to tell him."
"Yes, sir," the soldier answered.
Starcher took an unconscious step back when an outraged Donatello broke from the soldiers and turned to face him. The black clad ninja quickly restrained him again.
"Accident?" Don snarled. "That was no accident, Starcher and you know it!"
Don's eyes narrowed. "You murdered him!"
Starcher couldn't contain his smile. "Now, Donatello," his voice was dripping with mock comfort. "I had no way of knowing how your brother would react to the drugs."
"Lair!" Don tried to keep the quiver out of his voice. "That-that girl...Elyse, she tried to warn you! You didn't listen."
"You knew exactly what you was doing." Don voice dropped to a harsh whisper.
"It was an accident." Starcher shrugged.
"It was murder!" Don retorted.
Starcher shrugged again. "You can accuse me all that you want, Donatello. It will not bring Leonardo back."
Don felt as if all the air had been sucked out of his lungs. He let out a shaky breath and slumped in the soldiers' grips.
His brother was gone...
"You-you will regret this," Don rasped. "My brothers will..."
"My only regret is that your brothers were not here to witness it." Starcher interuppted.
"Take him to room fifteen," he waved the soldiers on and they continued to drag the turtle down the hallway.
One soldier flanked the professor. "What about the other turtle, sir?"
"Have Mr. Hale take the necessary samples and then have the body burned," Starcher answered coldly. "I will deliver the ashes to Master Saki myself."
Starcher's smile grew when he heard a choked sob come from the purple clad turtle.
"Mental torture was almost as fun as physical."
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Elyse had stepped back when Jeff started to resuscitate the turtle. Time seemed to stand still, but the heart monitor finally started a steady rhythm. She blew out a deep breath.
"Don't just stand there, Elyse." Jeff moved away from the table and started to rummage through a metal cabinet. "Start him on oxygen."
Elyse gently pulled a mask over Leo's face and turned the valve to the oxygen tank. She watched his chest rise and fall. She snapped her gaze to Jeff when he returned to the table.
He quickly put an I.V. into the turtle's arm and hooked a bag of pale blue liquid to it.
"What is that?" she asked.
"It is to flush his system," Jeff answered as he continued to work. He finally met her eyes. "He won't survive without it."
"I don't understand. Why kill him and then bring him back?"
Jeff shrugged his shoulders. "I am just doing my job, Elyse."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Which I suggest that you do."
She pulled her lips into a tight line and glared at her friend.
"Don't look at me like that," Jeff rolled his eyes. "You know, I got you this job so you wouldn't have to move back home with your parents. This pays a lot more than the clinic and all you have to do is do your job and keep your mouth shut."
"You told me that I would be assisting with research, Jeff." She crossed her arms over her chest. "This was not medical research...it was torture."
Jeff threw his hands up and let out an exaggerated sigh.
"He was killed in front of his brother!" Elyse pointed her finger to the chair that Don had been in.
"Oh come on, Elyse. Listen to yourself." Jeff motioned to Leo. "This is a freak of nature, it didn't have a family. It probably doesn't even know what family is."
He removed his gloves and tossed them in the garbage. "I have to go and assist Professor Starcher. Your job is to stay here and keep an eye the turtle. Do you think that you can manage that?"
"Keep an eye on him?"
Jeff rolled his eyes again. "When he is stable he is going to be moved."
"Where to?"
"I don't know. Starcher said something about his boss wanting it." Jeff moved to the door.
The door slid open and he paused before he went through. "Just do your job and keep your mouth shut, Elyse," he said over his shoulder.
"And then you get paid."
The door slid shut leaving Elyse alone with the turtle.
She watched the monitors for a few minutes before finally turning her attention to Leo. His body was littered with bruises and cuts. She quickly walked to the sink and filled the basin with warm water. She dipped a wash cloth into the water and squeezed out the excess. She took a deep breath and walked back to the metal table.
"You poor thing," she said softly as she gently wiped away some of the blood on his exposed face. "What would Starcher's boss want with you?"
She moved the cloth down his arm, stopping at the I.V. tube. She bit her lip nervously.
"Whatever he wants with you and that other turtle can't be good."
Her hand lingered over the tape that held the I.V. in place. "Not good at all..." Her thoughts trailed off.
"I have a feeling that you would be better off dead."
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I hope to get the next chapter out sooner than this one :)
Oh, and to Payton01...sorry about the mix up. Chapter one is supposed to be the prolouge and then I have the other chapters labeled in the story. I will try to go back and fix it if I can.