This was going to be the last chapter of the arc, but I took so long that I figured I'd split it in two. I hope you enjoy!

He didn't want to do it, really. But he used what he brought and muzzled Alopex. It was surprisingly easy and she was amazingly compliant. He just didn't know how she would act when faced with his brothers again. Or how they'd act. This way he could protect them as much as her. She was still very unstable after all. And Donnie really didn't know what might make her snap. So for now this was the best way.

He also ties specially made gloves over her hands before leading her out of the alley. She stays by his side the whole way, but the distance grows all the while. She is not pleased with these accommodations, but that is not all it is. Donnie senses her fear, and it is her fear for herself and his safety that causes the every growing distance.

They drop down into the sewers and he has a moment of hesitation. His eyes dart to her and he bites his lip. Their eyes meet and the sadness overflows from them. Then he shakes away his lingering doubts, or at least suppresses them, before proceeding. He nearly brings her all the way there when suddenly a person drops down and blocks his path.

"I don't even think so Donnie." Raph's green eyes pierce him through the darkness. "There's no way in hell you're getting her past me. That mutt isn't getting anywhere near our home." He draws a sai and points it at them.

Alopex's ears flatten on her head. She snarls and tenses in preparation. Just because she can't claw or bite him doesn't mean she can't take him down.

Donnie stretches his arm out in front of her. "Stop it Raph." He narrows his eyes. "You're going to set her off again. And I promised her I'd help her and the only way I can do that is if I bring her home."

Raph snorts. "Oh no. I'm gonna set off the mighty beast." He waves his hands in mock fear. "And why the heck should I care?" He directs his sai inches from her face. "That thing almost killed Leo."

"Raph." Leo's sharp voice cuts through the air. He appears a moment later by Raph's side. "That's enough." He looks hard at his brother before turning his gaze toward Donnie. "Donnie, what do you intend to do anyway?"

Raph goes agape. "What?" He stares in disbelief at Leo.

Leo throws his hand up in Raph's face. Well?" He crosses his arms and raises a brow.

Donnie shakes his head. "I…I'm not sure yet. But I…I have to try." He glances at his feet for a fleeting moment as indecision eats away at him. Once he looks up at Leo he knows it is the only card he has and he says, "It's like you with Karai. Only I know I can help her." He nods firmly.

Leo looks Donnie over carefully. He doesn't like the line drawn between his relationship with Karai and Donnie's with his creature. Because any relationship like the one he shares with Karai can not possibly end well. "Donnie…" He sighs. "Just…you have to keep her contained."

Donnie grimaces. "I know." He bows his head slightly. He already has a plan to build a unit to keep her in. It shouldn't take long either. "She won't hurt anyone."

Alopex eyes Leo all the while. For the first time she truly takes him in. The way he stands is so much straighter than the others and the others, even Donnie, they seem to turn to him for permission. The way he acts too, he must be the leader. Ironic that the leader would be the weakest against her. She smiles to herself.

Leo notices her shift and he draws in a soft breath. He draws back slightly, putting some more distance between them. "A-Alright." He silently curses himself for his weakness. He's the leader. He can't be this way. "But the moment that promise is broken, I-"

Raph coughs out a laugh. "Are you kidding me?" He turns sharply so he is between Leo and Donnie. He glares fiercely at his older brother and his hands clench into fists. "No! We are not enabling him. Don't be an idiot Leo! Don't let him play on your emotions like that! I mean, Karai? Really? She-"

"Raph." Leo cuts his brother off. He looks hard at him, but there is a defeated edge in his next words. "My decision is final. And that's that."

Raph opens and closes his mouth around empty words. His fists tremble terribly as he struggles against knocking his brother out. The only thing holding him back is Leo's recent allergic reaction. It shouldn't, but it does anyway.

"Dudes," Mikey drops down from where he was hanging on the ceiling. "We don't have to fight." He looks pleadingly at Raph in particular. "Let's just…give her a chance. Give Donnie a chance."

Raph lets out a slow, heavy breath. He closes his eyes for a moment and opens them again, a fragile calm entering them. "Fine." He grinds out. He looks hard at Donnie. "But the instant anything goes wrong I swear I'm gonna beat you senseless and kill that mutt."

Donnie cringes. "Yeah…" He whispers. His voice is tight. "Alright." A grimace stretches across his face and he drops his gaze to the ground.

Alopex lays a gloved hand on Donnie's shoulder. She smiles sadly even though no one can see. Her eyes speak for her. They do the same as she sneers at Raph. "Don't you threaten him."

Raph barely conceals his genuine surprise. "Oh, so the feral beast can talk, huh?" He smirks.

Leo elbows Raph hard in the side. He shoots him a look that says more than any words ever could. "Let's keep going guys." He turns quickly and only looks back once to make sure Raph doesn't start anything else.

Alopex isn't sure if the others notice, but Leo moved just a little too quick. She doesn't know him, still she saw his nervousness with her before. It's not the red turtle that caused it or frustration in general. It can only be her.

The others follow shortly behind. They walk wordlessly with Donnie's hand on Alopex's arm. He isn't afraid per say, but he wants to be careful. He could also use the support himself. Mikey trails along near Alopex. He peers around at her every time he is sure she isn't looking, snapping his head around when he notices her gaze move toward him.

Alopex smiles each and every time the little orange one jerks forward. She very nearly laughs a time or two, but somehow Raph is looking at her each of those times. So her expression grows cold and she glares right back at the obviously overprotective brother.

Luckily Splinter is nowhere to be seen when they arrive. Donnie doesn't need more opposition, especially not right now. He must focus on the containment unit. So the four go their separate ways and Donnie brings Alopex to the area with his lab. "Can you wait here?" He motions to a seat.

Alopex nods. She lowers herself into the chair and keeps her eyes on him every moment. After so long her hands begin to twitch and she salivates. The hunger rises in her as she watches him move about and piece together her cage.

Donnie works as fast as he can. He feels her gaze on him and knows each time it shifts to a darker presence on his back. It even sends a shiver up his spine near the end. He swallows hard and eyes her carefully as his project reaches its end.

"A-Alright." He opens the bar door and points inside. "You…have to go in." He ducks his head on instinct. "Sorry."

Alopex growls and narrows her eyes at him. She quickly shakes her head and rids herself of these horrible feelings. No. She can't go at him. She stands stiffly and walks just as rigidly over to him. She enters the cell and stops just past the entry.

Donnie steps forward with due tentativeness and carefully removes the muzzle and gloves. He then shuts the barred door after her and locks it. It's not high-tech or fancy, but it is strong enough to keep her in and allow him to monitor her as she goes through the stages of what he can only describe as withdraw. He can only hope that depriving her of blood for long enough with break her of her habit.

Alopex rubs her snout and scowls down at Donnie. She can do nothing but praise the fact he put steel bars between them or she knows she would jump at him now.

Donnie bows his head and grimaces. "Sorry…" He doesn't look back at her. The contempt in her eyes burns him to the core. "I…I'll be right back." He dodges his brothers and goes to kitchen for snack while he watches her for a little while. Then he immediately returns, still avoiding looking at her face. And in the end he stays all night, watching until he can't hold his head up and falls asleep on his desk. Even then he believes he's keeping an eye on her, watching as she descends into viciousness. Not even his dreams give him reprieve.

…

The next morning is worse. Donnie wakes to the sound of vicious snarls and frantic scratching. He starts awake and nearly topples over backwards. He catches himself on the edge of the table and lets out a heavy breath. He peeks up to see what he already knows.

Alopex is down on all fours with her face shoved hard against the bars. She reaches far with her paws and scraps desperately. Her mouth moves, but no words come out.

Donnie's brows raise on his head and his mouth opens slowly. This image is more jarring than the nights before. Somehow here with her near him he expected things to be different. "Alopex…" He sighs softly. He pushes himself up and walks over to her, just out of range.

"What is this noise?" Donnie jumps in his skin as Splinter's voice reaches him. He spins around and his eyes widen considerably.

Splinter raises a brow at his son.

"O-Oh!" Donnie side steps as if to hide Alopex. "Sensei…I…"

Splinter easily peers around Donnie to see the beast he conceals. "Donatello," He says sternly. "What is that? And why have you brought it into our home?"

Donnie scowls and replies on instinct. "She."

Splinter blinks twice. He tilts his head slightly.

Donnie ducks his head and a tight grimace stretches across his face. "Sorry." He licks his lips. "I…It's just…she's not a thing or an it. She's…just like us. Or…was." He averts his eyes and sighs sadly.

Splinter looks his son over carefully. He glances back to the animal growling in the background. "I see…" She does wear clothes despite the fact she comes off as no more than a feral beast. "And how is it you came up on her?"

Donnie shrinks beneath Splinter's gaze. Each new question makes him squirm even more. "Dad…" He slips into the tongue of his childhood. "Can't I please just keep her here? She needs my help, she asked for it. And we're supposed to help people and…she's important to me."

Splinter frowns deeply. "Leonardo warned be about an…unexpected visitor. But I did not expect this." Again he looks to the animal behind his son. "She is…intense." He picks his words carefully. "And I assume she was not always like this." He raises a brow.

Donnie nods grimly. "That's why I'm helping her. She doesn't want to be this way. She just…couldn't stop. She-" He bites his lip. He shakes his head slowly. "She has a thirst for blood. So I have to help her break this."

Splinter sighs heavily. "As long as no one gets hurt, then you may do as you will. But remember my son, there is a point when valiant effort becomes wasted energy." He smiles sadly at Donnie.

Donnie nods. "I understand father." But it won't come to that. He refuses to let his efforts come to naught. He turns slowly away from Splinter and back to Alopex. He kneels down and forces a smile. "You hungry Alopex?"

Alopex backs away from the edge of the cage. She scowls fiercely at Donnie, but her snarls die down. She paws at her face and shakes her head. When she looks up a trance of clarity shows in her eyes. "Donnie…" Her ears droop. She lays down, her head on the floor, and whines softly.

Donnie scoots closer. He tentatively reaches through the bars and rubs Alopex's head. "I know it's hard." He says softly. "So do you want anything? Food?"

Alopex growls deep in her throat, but she keeps herself from acting. She makes a soft sound of agreement. "Anything to eat." They both know what she really wants, but there's no point in even asking. She just needs something to distract her, to fill her aching stomach.

Donnie retracts his hand. He stands slowly and watches Alopex all the while. "I'll be right back." He whispers as he turns to leave.

Splinter watched his son intently as he interacted with Alopex. As Donnie passes him he falls into line with him. "May I help you?"

Donnie frowns and blinks once in faint surprise. He tilts his head and peers curiously at his father. "Really? Well, yeah, I guess." He shrugs. "I could use some help figuring out what's best to feed her for this."

Splinter lays his arm around Donnie's shoulder. "Of course my son."

Another pair of eyes watches as the two disappear into the kitchen. A smirk curls Raph's lips as he does a double take to make sure they won't be coming back too soon. "Alright, time for some fun." He chuckles softly as he proceeds into Donnie's lab.

He walks without fear toward her enclosure. The smirk never fades from his face. "You beat Slash, yet look at you now. Locked in a cage like the animal you are."

Alopex jerks her head up at the sound of his voice. The fire sparks in her eyes and her lips curl back, revealing bared teeth. "Step closer and say that." She hisses. She jumps to her feet and tenses, crouching. "You coward."

Raph throws his head back and laughs. "Yeah, I'm a coward." He leans back against the table and crosses his arms. "But I'm not stupid." He narrows his eyes and the humor disappears. "And I don't kill people."

Alopex's ears flatten against her head. She barks furiously. "You prick!" She smashes her face against the bars and scrapes her claws along the ground, far from reaching Raph. "You-You-!" Her words die in her fury and snarls.

Raph grins from ear to ear. "What does Donnie even see in you?" He snorts. He shakes his head. "Cause all I see is a monster. And your snarling isn't doing anything to help your point."

Alopex doesn't heed his chiding. She goes just as vigorously at him through the bars. Every so often she gets an offensive word out, but it's mostly lost in her animal instinct.

"You just keep at it then." Raph rolls his eyes. He crouches down, just out of her reach. "Keep proving me right and making Donnie look like a fool." His gaze intensifies at the very thought. "If anything, that should be the reason you stop this." He points his sai at her. "Acting like an animal."

"Raph!" Donnie's voice is sharp and fast approaching. "Get away from her!" He slams the tray down on the nearest surface. He races toward them and for the second time in the past few days he acts without thinking. He kicks Raph in the gut.

Raph goes flying across the room. He skids on the floor until he collides with the wall. He groans softly to himself. "You…" He grinds out.

"Donatello." Splinter looks hard at him. "You do not attack your brother like that!" He picks the abandoned tray up and moves toward the boys.

"But he-" Donnie points at Raph. He stops short as he notices Raph moving.

"You…little punk." He wheezes. He gets up on his elbows and knees. He crawls forward a space, glaring heatedly at Donnie. His teeth clench and fingers curl into tight fists. "I swear I-"

Alopex dives to the corner of the cage. She strikes out and grabs ahold of Raph's arm. She pulls with all her might and digs her claws deep into his skin for traction. With the other she scrapes viciously. She leans her head as far out as she can to be ready when she draws him near enough.

"Alopex!" Donnie cries. "No!" He scrambles toward the two.

Raph lets out a sharp cry. He pulls back against her and shifts himself swiftly. He brings his leg close and shoves it out, kicking her arms. "Le' go!" Blood runs down his only other good arm, now just as bad off as the first.

Donnie runs to them and pops Alopex in the snout.

Alopex starts and stumbles back. She releases Raph and stares with shock for the briefest of moments. Then her face sets in fury and she growls at them all. She lifts her claws to her mouth and licks them desperately.

Donnie pushes Raph far away from the cage. "You-You idiot!" His lips quiver and his eyes burn. "You-"

"This is your fault!" Raph points a finger an inch from Donnie's face. "You had to get in the way! You had to go back out there! And you had to bring her back here to 'save' her or whatever!" Raph throws an arm up in the arm and lets out a heavy breath. "Damn it Donnie, you-"

Donnie stares blankly down at Raph's injured arm. He lifts it carefully, his fingers trembling around it. "I'm sorry…" His voice is tight.

"What?" Raph snaps. "God I hate it when you-"

Donnie jerks his head down and catches his breath. "I'm sorry." He chokes out. A sob ekes past his lips and his grip on Raph's arm tightens. "I just, I wanted her to be ok. I wanted my friend back. But I…" He slowly lifts his head and meets eyes with Raph. His own are filled with tears. "I never wanted to hurt you…" His voice cracks.

Raph's gaze slowly softens. His brows knit together and he frowns deeply. "Donnie," He sighs. He pries his younger brother's hands from his arm and brings him up to his side. "Don't cry about it. I've been hurt worse." Slash comes to mind. "And I'm not mad at you, just…" Just everything else.

Donnie wipes his arm over his eyes. He smiles weakly. "But you're still hurt. And it's because of me." He hangs his head. He sniffles faintly. "Maybe I should have never…"

Raph slings his arm around Donnie and pulls him closer still. He grins down at his usually taller brother. "Nah, like I said. It's nothing." He rubs Donnie's head. "So don't be upset. Cause I…I'm the one that's sorry." He smiles sadly. "I still hate her, but I shoulda left her alone, for you."

Donnie should be happy, and he is, but he crumbles anyway. He buries his face in Raph's shoulder and cries. He holds tight to Raph and whispers he's sorry over and over again.

Raph runs his hand over Donnie's arm. "It'll be alright Donnie." He murmurs. He looks up and over at the animal held back only by bars. She's calmed down now and Raph can't help but be bothered by the way she is acting now.

Alopex ceases attacking the bars. Donnie's broken tone and expression brings her down. Her ears droop and the fire fades from her eyes. The lust for blood still pulses strong within her, but she keeps it contained. She lays herself down, resting her head on her paws. She whines softly. Her eyes shine with a thin layer of tears. If only she could be the one to help him. But instead she caused his pain.

Splinter eyes Alopex with intrigue. She may lash out, but she obviously has feelings and emotions. Just as Donnie claimed, she is not so different from them. Perhaps she can be saved. Perhaps all this pain and effort won't be wasted. He smiles vaguely. Perhaps.

What did you think? I hope you enjoyed it. :) Please review!