Here we go again... On a side note, I finally took the anonymous review thing off. Now you can leave unsigned reviews. (Only reason I didn't do this last Chapter, is because I didn't know how to get it to work, nor did I have the time to figure it out.)

Rated T for: Violence, some possible language. (Everything where it belongs, and in check.)

Thanks To: Pretender Fanatic, and PainterofSorrows.

Inspiration: Brothers. A pain in the neck when their around, and a pain in heart when their gone.

Note to PainterofSorrows: I lied. It's another short one. On the upside, I did Keep my other promise.

David moved swiftly and silently through the parking lot. Tonight's mission was a tough one, and he knew that the chances of success were slim to none. However, David also knew that if he failed here, all hope for Lee, Maria, and himself were lost. So he pressed onwards, slowly, with painstaking care.

The parking lot was to a local Wall-Mart store, now closed for "Repairs" caused by a strange incident. Supposedly, some drunk had driven into it with an eighteen wheeler. That was the craziest story they had come up with yet.

The "drunk driver" Had been a prisoner whose time had expired, and he was a convenient diversion. David held a silent fear that his older brother might meet the same fate, but it was dormant, and easily shaken off. Lee was fast when he needed it most, and clever. He could handle it. Not to mention, if he hadn't already been killed, they wouldn't do it for a long time. He had information.

Dangerous information, worth an entire underworld. David knew that, far better than anyone else. He didn't have to be told that his life was in danger, or that of his brothers. It was an obvious detail of his night life.

David also knew that whatever had gotten Lee could catch him with quicker ease, had it chosen to. Yet, it hadn't. It was a puzzling problem. Why wasn't he being watched? Did they know his identity? Or were they toying with him?

As he considered that, his mind turned to a bigger question which haunted him constantly. Why was he still opposing the Foot, when his greatest ally had been captured, and his only chance at taking down the organization gone? Was Lee planning on dragging herinto this mess? Maybe Aiden? Or worse, had Lee gotten his hands on the big prize he had so eluded to numerous times? If so, why hadn't he elaborated, or put up safeguards?

David smiled at that. That was a foolish question. Lee never had a back-up plan. He made it all up as he went, and never thought twice about it. It was a good trait when battling the mafia, but this time, he hadn't thought it out far enough, and it had cost him.

David slipped up to the gardening section, and slipped through the gates with a practiced casualness. His dark eyes scanned the surrounding area. Time had made him paranoid. This pressure that had been sitting on him like a rock had caused his every sense to sharpen to an almost inhuman level.

Seeing, nor hearing nothing, David stalked through the shadows, and into the building. Tonight was going to be a long night... He would have to worry about Amy, Aiden, Maria, and Lee later.

Silence filled the dark space between Lee, and his captor. That wasn't so bad, in some ways. The darkness spared him from having to see the gruesome tools used in his long, grueling torture. That and the added silence brought him comfort from the constant stream of questions, and screaming agony.

However, in other ways it was worse than the torture he had thus endured. His worst enemy was standing, staring at him from out of the darkness. Somewhere near the door perhaps? Possible. Probable? He wasn't so sure.

Lee squinted into the blanket that protected his foe from his penetrating gaze. He wondered just what this man was doing here. He didn't usually get his own hands dirty. No, only when he had no other option. Lee smiled a little to himself.

That smile widened, as he heard a small shuffle, sounding a step. He closed his eyes, and laughed. It hurt to do so, but it was worthy effort, or so he felt. The cold, dark space echoed with his loud, somewhat pained laughter.

"And what, pray tell," A low, commanding voice asked. "Is it you find so amusing?" It was a smooth, graceful male voice, with a calm, lordly tone.

Lee opened his blue-grey eyes, to pierce the figure, half draped in darkness. His smile twitched slightly.

"Well, not just anyone gets an audience with The Shredder." He chuckled.

"The only reason I am here, is because you know where a personal belonging of mine is." The voice stated tone even.

"Is that so?" Lee asked, loosing his smile. "Then why isn't it that you've killed me, like Ivan?"

The voice hesitated. "You are... Still useful to my cause, should you choose to join me."

Lee saw the dark figure advance. "What say you?"

Lee's face twisted in disgust, as he launched a loud projectile of spit at the shadowed man.

"To hell with that plan." He snarled. "I'll die first."

The younger man smiled suddenly. "Besides... You've already taken my freedom from me... Nothing left to take besides my life..."

The shadow stepped back. "Is that so?"

A feeling of dread washed over Lee, sitting in his stomach like a lead weight.

"Then what about your younger siblings?"

Cold sweat beaded Lee's forehead. His heart rate increased, as it thrummed loudly in his ears.

"I thought as much..." The cool voice laughed. "Then I shall send for one."

That's it. Cliffhangers always make for good chapter endings. (Mwahahaha.)