Checks calendar...oh wow, where did the time go? So very sorry for taking so long with this. But like I said in my profile...my youngest has had a really rough way to go since the New Year. Hopefully things will get better. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me :)

I own a TMNT pin (thanks to my oldest daughter)...but no actual ninja turtles.

Chapter 18: Too Close for Comfort

Mr. Hale quietly made his way to the labs. Shivers ran through him as he passed Starcher's office. He wondered if they had removed the body yet, or if the old man was still face down in a puddle of his own blood. When he reached the room that the turtle was in, he swiped his card and entered the room. He couldn't help but to feel relieved when the soldiers, that had followed him to the labs, stayed out in the hall.

"Elyse?" Hale called out as he pulled a fresh pair of latex gloves on his hands.

He stepped further into the room. The metal tray was turned over and all the instruments were scattered across the floor.

"Elyse?" He called again to the empty room.

"Where could she be?"

The turtle was still strapped to the exam table and he didn't appear to be conscious. Jeff righted the tray and picked up most of the vials and scalpels. He checked his watch and blew out a frustrated sigh. He started to feel angry that his so-called friend would just up and leave after he stuck his neck out to get her this job.

He didn't have a lot of time to think about it. He had to get this turtle ready to be moved, and it had to survive the trip. He really didn't want to make Karai upset.

Jeff swallowed thickly as chills ran through him again. He knew what happened when Karai got upset.

He quickly loosened the straps on the turtle's ankles. He checked mobility and reflexes in his legs. He moved to the I.V. and removed it.

His mind was racing while he worked.

Where was Elyse? Why did she leave? What if she didn't leave?

"Oh God, what if something happened to her? What if Karai…"

Jeff was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that it didn't even occur to him that Leo could be awake. He didn't think anything of it until he felt a grip on his wrist and he looked down at two unfocused, but open, eyes.

"Wha…aughrr!" Jeff grunted when the wrist was twisted.

Leo struggled to push himself up with his free hand and managed to shove Jeff away. The young man yelped when his head bounced off the wall.

Leo swung his legs around and slid off of the table. The room spun and he had to fight back the urge to throw up. He tightly gripped the edge of the table and tried to make his legs hold his weight.

He want to yell at the man across the room…demand that he tell him where his brother is. But he was using most of his strength to stay upright.

Jeff slowly made his way to the door. He had to get the soldiers. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. If this turtle didn't kill him…Karai definitely would.

Jeff pounded on the door. "Help!" he screamed. "The creature is loose!"

"No," Leo barely rasped out.

The door opened and four foot soldiers poured into the room.

Leo squeezed his eyes shut and he willed his legs to move. He had to get out…he had to find his brother.

When the soldiers moved in to grab him, Leo shoved the instrument table at them. He tried get past them, but one of the soldiers swept his legs out from under him. Leo hit the ground with a loud thud and the soldiers quickly tried to pin him down.

Two ninja pressed on his shell and the other on his head. The forth soldier tried to pull his hands back to shackle them.

Leo ground out a frustrated scream. His voice felt like gravel in his throat. He squirmed and flailed wildly. It wasn't graceful and it wasn't coordinated, but he couldn't let them get his hands bound.

He felt his head being lifted and then a sharp pain, lights exploded behind his eyes. Then again. He let out a groan as a warm, sticky puddle formed under his head. He closed his eyes and used his remaining strength to stay conscious.

The soldier managed to snap the cuffs on his wrists and they pulled him to his knees.

"Stupid kame," one ninja hissed.

Leo slowly blinked. The room shifted and darkened. Everything was a dark gray and the soldiers looked like shadows as they surrounded him. Their movements were slow and jerky. It reminded Leo of a scary movie that he had watched with Mikey. He couldn't remember the name. He really didn't care for the movie…it didn't scare him. He just watched it so Mikey wouldn't be scared.

Leo blinked again. It scared him now…and Mikey wasn't with him.

One of the black clad men grabbed his head. Leo tried to move away but the ninja's grip was strong. A foul tasting cloth was shoved in his mouth and held into place by a strip of thick duct tape that was quickly wrapped around his face.

Panic knotted in Leo's stomach and it took him a few moments to realize that he didn't have to breath out of his mouth.

"Master Shredder is waiting for you, freak," the shadow growled. "And soon you will die, just like your brother."

Leo's chest tightened. He couldn't breath and this time it had nothing to do with the gag.

He tried to say his brother's name but nothing came out of his mouth except a muffled groan.

Leo heard the rustle of fabric and when the darkness came, it smelled like blood and sweat.

"Clean this mess up," one of the soldiers barked at Hale. "And maybe Mistress Karai will not hear of your blunder!"

They yanked Leo to his feet and ushered him out the door. Leo struggled to keep up with them but his legs felt like lead. He tripped and stumbled until they reached the elevator.

As the doors to the elevator closed the access door at the stairs swung open.

"He should be on this floor, " Raph whispered as he checked the hall.

"Hurry up," he called behind him.

*insert evil laugh here*