I know, I know...two chapters in one week. I can't believe it either. Don't make any sudden moves...I may run behind a rock and you won't see me for a month! lol Just kidding.

I like oreos and I don't own them...

Chapter 14: Deceive

The clock on the wall slowly ticked off the seconds. A few times Elyse could have swore that the little hand jumped back several ticks before continuing on. No one had came back to the lab, she didn't even hear foot steps shuffle outside the door.

A small radio stood on the counter. She was supposed to call when the turtle was stable enough to be moved.

Her eyes turned to the creature on the table. He hadn't even twitched in the hours that she had been there. He still had over half a bag left of the serum that Jeff connected to his I.V.

The serum that he needed to live.

Suddenly the air felt cold, Elyse pulled her lab coat tight and crossed her arms over her chest. She had thought several times about leaving, getting out of there as fast as she could. Moving back in with her parents never sounded so good. But she had the strongest feeling that this was one job she couldn't just walk away from. That if she was to be terminated...it really meant terminate. She would have to escape.

But even that didn't seem possible.

A low groan from across the room snapped her attention back to the turtle. His hands twitched under the straps that bound him to the table and his head slowly moved side to side.

She crossed the room in two quick strides and stood a few feet from the table. She watched closely as his eyes fluttered and then opened. His glassy gaze flickered around the room before landing on Elyse.

He blinked, trying to clear his vision. But only a blur that had a human shape remained. He slowly became aware of the mask on his face and the fact that he couldn't move his hands and legs. A panicked groan rose in his throat and he started to thrash around.

No! Not again! His foggy mind started to race. The vivid hallucinations of failing to save his family...his friends.

He felt a warm hand press against his plastron. He flinched from the touch, his panic and thrashing became more intense.

Stop! No more! His mind screamed what his voice wouldn't.

"Shhh...it's OK."

A soft voice broke through the fog. He heard the voice before, but couldn't remember where.

"Stop. You are hurting yourself."

The warm hand returned and pressed down with a little more force, another on his forehead. He stopped thrashing but couldn't keep his body from trembling.

He tried to bring the blur of shapes and colors into focus again. A woman slowly came into view. He remembered her.

One of the lab assistants. The horrible memories came rushing back like a tidal wave causing his body to shake even more.

The woman must have thought he was cold because she spread a blanket over him. But nothing could take the chill from his body.

His eyes roamed around the room.

Searching.

His brother! Where was Don?

"D'ny?" His voice was weak and muffled behind the oxygen mask.

Elyse's brow knotted. "What?"

"Br'ther." Again, his voice was muffled.

Elyse's breath froze in her chest. "He said brother...the other turtle."

She nervously licked her lips. "Your brother?"

A small nod.

Elyse took a deep breath. The turtle's eye started to droop, exhaustion taking over.

"They took him," she said. "Starcher took him and I'm not sure where." Her words tumbled out quickly. She wanted to tell him before he lost consciousness again.

"I s'rry..." was all that he got out before his eyes closed and didn't flutter open again.

Elyse knew that he wasn't talking to her.

Her hands shook as she adjusted the blanket. He had woke up and the medicine was almost finished flushing his system. Karai wanted to be told when he could be moved. But he wasn't ready yet...so she didn't have to call. She still had some time to figure out what to do.

Suddenly an alarm blared through the building. Elyse jumped back at the sound and fell over an instrument table. Scaples, syringes and dozens of glass vials scattered across the floor. She quickly picked herself up and ran to the door. Foot steps thundered down the hall and shouts rang out over the screaming alarm.

"Now what?"

Raph felt like all the air had been sucked out of his lungs. His brother was grieving. He had saw what happened.

No! They tricked 'im. That had to be what happened. They drugged 'im an' made 'im think he saw Leo bein' killed. Raph's thoughts were suffocating him.

Apparently April thought the same thing. She took a small flashlight and check Don's eyes.

"He hasn't been drugged," she said. "At least not recently."

"No," Raph growled. "I can't believe it. I won't believe it."

"I-I'm sorry." Raph could feel the pain in his brother's voice.

Donny believed it.

Raph reached out and gently brushed his brother's face. "It'll be OK, bro," he whispered. "You rest...April will take care of you."

His eyes snapped to Splinter. He could see the fire and determination in his son's glare.

Splinter followed Raph as he quickly exited the van.

"My son..."

"I'm going Masta', " Raph snapped. "I have to. An' I will bring 'im back...one way or the other."

He turned and started across the parking lot before Splinter could say anything.

"Wait up." Mikey ran after his brother. He caught up with him and easily kept up with Raph's pace.

Casey gave April's hand a squeeze before he took off after his friends. "You ain't goin' without me!"

Splinter's watery gaze followed the trio out of the parking lot. "Good luck."

He turned and shuffled to the van. His purple clad son was still very much alive...and needed his father.

I'm still going to try to update another chapter next week. Hopefully things will work out. :)