*I am a total nerd, in case you couldn't already tell. (The type of nerd who screamed like a school girl when I discovered the video-log Peter Jackson posted from the first week of production on the Hobbit.) I've been interested in DNA ever since I learned about the Human Genome Project as a freshman in high school. That being said, it was important to me for things to be authentic, and as "non-fiction" as possible relating to the facts about stem cells. Most of what you're about to read is completely true. The only part where I took artistic liberty was Caleb's role, in that he'd already discovered a cost effective method for creating iPs cells, with less time required. And iPs cells? We'll get to that.

"Caleb, it really isn't necessary to get into all of this tonight. You just got here," Luke told him. "We could take our time, for one day."

"I'm just talking here, Luke," the older man countered. "I want to give you an idea of where I am specifically with my research, as well as the materials we're going to have to acquire...somehow."

As far as Donatello was concerned, he was ready to get to work, but he understood that everything couldn't happen instantly. He sat silently in a desk chair, fixed on Caleb as the man set to the task of simplifying and summing up his research from the last year. Nerves continued to pulse in the back of his mind, but he fought to silence them and listen to what Caleb was saying.

"There are two major hurdles we need to overcome in order to implant healthy stem cells that have the potential to create new tissue, and take back control of his lungs from the renegade cells that are mutating. The first problem to address is the actual reproduction of cells that are capable of dividing into a different type, as well as transforming into tissue. In times past it was thought that only early stage embryonic stem cells had the ability to change into any type of cell.

"However, new research has shown the merits of induced pluripotent cells for being tailored to fit a patient's immune system. They're derived from the skin and normal adult stem cells which are more readily available, and don't involve the controversy of using the embryonic variety, which forces the destruction of a human embryo."

"But how do you tailor an adult stem cell?" Donny asked. "I remember seeing induced pluripotent cells come up in my reading, but I never came across the process of their creation."

"The 'iPs cells', as they're often referred to, are a miracle of modern science. Scientists have learned how to essentially 'reprogram' the adult cells, to give them many of the same properties of embryonic cells. It opens the door wider for the possibility of using the adult cells for things they couldn't do in the past.

"The real deterrent in the beginning was that iPs cells were extremely costly and time consuming to produce. With the use of custom equipment that exists nowhere else in the world right now, I've been experimenting with a different method for reprogramming the cells that has exhibited a lot of promise. They aren't a perfect match to the version that takes longer to culture yet, but I've gotten close. If we're going to do this, we need to appropriate the equipment."

Caleb paused for a long moment. "It's possible that I could meet with my investors, and come up with an excuse to move my research back to the mountain. It all started here, and this particular project is my individual undertaking. If we don't have to risk the danger or the legal ramifications of stealing it, I would appreciate it."

"Can you pull this off?" Luke asked softly.

"I think so. I could cite adding new members to the team. Given the Lab's obvious 'vulnerabilities' over the last year, it might even make more sense to them for me to move the equipment to a secure location."

Donatello chuckled under his breath and swore he saw Caleb repressing a smile.

"It may take charming the pants off four of the staunchest men in the United States, but I believe it can be done," Caleb said. "Producing the cells is half the battle; getting Mike's immune system to accept them is the other half."

Luke's forehead creased. "I'm familiar with immuno-suppressing drugs, and how some people end up having to stay on them for the rest of their lives. I understand that they're a necessary evil, but it also opens a whole other can of worms. I guess there's no way around needing to suppress his immune system, but I'm afraid of the sickness and infection he's going to be exposed to."

Caleb smile came out of hiding. "Immuno-suppressants aren't the only player in the ball game anymore. Last year a medical student named Jeremy Pearl took a different approach in his own experiments involving the viability of transplanted stem cells in a patient. He used something called a co-stimulatory receptor blocking agent. In essence, the therapy trains the immune system to simply ignore the implanted cells.

"To test the method, scientists injected embryonic stem cells from one type of mouse, into one with a completely different genetic background. They found that when they used spaced out doses of the blocking agent, the stem cells actually flourished. In the past, if a host received cells that didn't match his own, they couldn't survive in his system for more than 28 days on immuno-suppressants, or 21 days without any kind of assistance."

"What do the blocking agents do exactly?" Marcus asked.

"The drug is designed to target T-cells, which are the key component to the immune system. Its job is to 'teach' the body's defenses to accept the donor cells. What that research teaches us is that it is possible to implant a non-genetically matched stem cell seamlessly into another host."

"Wow," Donatello said quietly. "This kind of thing has already been accomplished?"

"In animals," Caleb clarified. "Research of that nature hasn't caught up to humans yet. It's a tall order to make the jump this quickly, and a dangerous one. I told you that my version of the iPs cells hasn't been perfected."

"Maybe not," Luke said. "But your method has more promise of saving Mike than anything else does. I want to make it clear that compensation isn't an issue-"

"Compensation? You're talking about paying me? Luke, that isn't why I'm here."

"I know it isn't, but you're putting your job and research on hold."

"Not completely. I have to continue to carry on some side experiments so that I have material to present to investors. I can drag out the timeline with the iPs cells; no one expected me to have made this much ground with them already. I think I can make a convincing case out of carrying on normal research, while I'm focusing the majority of my attention on Mike."

"Does that mean the investors are paying you to do the grunt work for my brother?" Don asked.

"No," he answered. "I'll cease to withdraw private funds from them until I return to Asheville. I can call it a part time sabbatical, and electing not to take money during this period could make it more attractive to them."

"They won't find that strange?" Marcus spoke up.

"I just lost my wife a few months ago," Caleb reminded him. "I never took time off; it was easier to get buried in my work. But it's also another good excuse to get away now, if the investors end up needing it."

The purple-masked turtle shook his head, feeling a little dizzy all the sudden. "We never could have done this without you."

"You can say that again," Luke agreed. "I don't know how I'm going to repay you for this, Caleb. It's going to take some serious thought."

"Who repays you, Luke?" Caleb wondered. "Who repays your friends for saving lives and constantly risking their own? I don't want anything from you except your friendship and your trust."

"You'll have that forever," Luke said firmly.

"One of those amazing scanners you designed wouldn't hurt either," Caleb added impishly, looking at Donatello.

The turtle smiled with a strong sense of pride. "Luke submitted the patent for me on the machine. It will take a while to work through the legalities, but the goal is to get it on the market. I'd be happy to make you one in the meantime."

The older man shook his head. "What your scanner would do for EMS and hospitals alone could be revolutionary. Not to mention the ability to use it on the battlefield, out in the remote wild...the possibilities seem endless."

Don ducked his head as a shy feeling came over him. "I hope so. The technology is certainly needed."

"It's a shame your genius can't be recognized world-wide," Caleb said seriously. "I mean that too - I'm not trying to flatter you. I make a habit of not giving out false praise. You won't hear something like that from me unless I honestly believe it."

"It's true," Luke verified. "He's really not a good liar. I don't know how you pulled it off convincingly at the Institute, Caleb."

"I came in prepared by the phone call," he said dryly. "I spent the whole drive over working myself up. If I'd walked in there and been surprised by your presence, it would have been another story entirely."

Marcus grinned. "Honesty is a trait we've all had to uh...stretch somewhat since joining the group."

"That's putting it mildly," Donatello said. "We turn all of our friends into filthy liars. You can say it, guys, you know it's true."

"Only when it's necessary," Luke protested. "And you don't ask us to do it."

"I'm curious..." Caleb started curiously, gazing around the half circle at everyone. "I'm not trying to be nosey, but I'm interested to know how you pulled off a successful pregnancy, for what is now obviously a healthy child."

Donatello took a deep breath. He'd expected the subject of Olivia to be broached again, but even being prepared for it didn't stop his heart from skipping. He's just asking questions, not trying to get his hands on her. Chill out, he ordered himself. "Well, for starters, it wasn't planned," he said. "I didn't think it was possible any more than you thought it would be. But Karina got pregnant, and suddenly all my own theories about our DNA got turned on their head. Conceiving a baby isn't so much the problem as is the issue of rejection. She showed early signs of an impending miscarriage. When it became clear her body was going to reject the baby, we started playing with stem cells a little bit.

"We used a technique that involved implanting small amounts of our DNA in her uterus walls, repeating the treatment every three weeks or so. The cells were attacked by her immune system and eventually killed off, but they also imparted something important to Karina before they died. In essence, the constant injection of the cells helped enable her body not to reject Olivia, at least, not outright. But they also left her sick, and barely able to eat. We had her on an IV almost weekly, just to get the necessary nutrients she and the baby needed to survive."

"Did she carry Olivia to term?"

"Not quite," Luke replied. "Karina was in a car accident a couple of weeks before she was due, and the pregnancy was cut short. We performed a C-section to retrieve the baby, and Olivia was born a healthy little girl."

Caleb nodded. "That must have been a proud moment for you," he said to Donatello.

"I wasn't there," he muttered. "We were still in Okinawa when all of this happened."

"Geesh. When it rains in your lives, it certainly pours," Caleb remarked.

"I couldn't say it better," Marc offered. "But the storm clouds eventually recede."

"Thank God for that," Luke breathed. "We have a lot of work ahead of us...and you're going to have to guide the ship, Caleb. Are you still sure about taking this on?"

"I'm not jumping off, Luke, especially not after meeting them. Anchors away."

Luke ran a hand through his blond hair as he gave Caleb a weary smile. "The ship doesn't need to leave the port tonight. You need to get settled in, maybe actually unpack a few things?"

Caleb nodded as he got to his feet. He gave Donatello a sidelong glance before turning to the door. "I'll catch up with all of you later."

Don watched him go quietly, and then realized that Luke was staring at him. "What, Doc?"

"This is going to take some time, isn't it?"

"None of us really know what to expect with this treatment, do we, Doc?"

"I'm talking about Caleb."

"Doc, I'm okay with him. I am."

"I see your nerves, and I'm pretty sure he does too. Caleb's actually pretty perceptive."

"I'm not trying to make this harder, Doc, honest. It's just with Olivia—"

"You don't have to defend it, Donny. I understand. We just all have to try to get on the same page."

"I'm working on it, Doc."