Ch 32. The Truth Comes Out.

Raph, along with Donnie, Mikey, April, Casey, Renet and Angel, raced the Hamato family SUV down the streets of New York City to the TCRI building and Raph quickly parked the car. They ran into the building and were just about to get to the elevator but were stopped by a large security guard. "What are you kids doing here?" He demanded.

Donnie brought out his wallet and showed his school ID, "We have an appointment with Dr. Rockwell," he said but was surprised when the large guard started laughing.

"Yeah right, and I have an appointment to see the Queen of England next week." He said as he herded them toward the door.

"No, really I do have an appointment with him!" Donnie told him.

"Hey quit pushing!" Casey yelled.

"Damn it, we need to get in there!" Raph yelled as he slapped the guard's hands away.

"Please sir," Renet implored, "This is an emergency, if you would just call Dr. Rockwell, he'll tell you we're expected."

The guard looked from one teen to the other. "Well, alright," He grumbled as he walked toward his desk, "I'll call but if this turns out to be a prank I'll have the cops on you before you can say 'Gotcha'!"

The group watched eagerly as the guard picked up the phone and dialed Rockwell's office, after a few moments, he looked back at the kids with an irritated look and nodded to them. "Go right in." He told them ruefully.

The teens walked past him and into the elevator, however the guard's eyes narrowed in anger when he looked and saw Mikey stick his tongue out and raspberry him. Raph slapped him in the head, "Knock it off Mikey." He told him as they rode the elevator to the top floor. "Remember we need to go out this way too."

Mikey suddenly paled, "Oh yeah, I forgot."

As the elevator made it's way to the top floor, Donnie began to bounce excitedly, "Oh man, I've been waiting for this my whole life." He said while practically drooling.

"You're whole life?" Angel looked up at him dubiously, "Did you not have any fun when you were a kid?"

"Well..." Donnie blushed lightly.

"Not the time Donnie!" Raph yelled as the elevator came to a stop.

The elevator door opened and the teens quickly made their way out and over to a door where a large gold name plate showed the name of Dr. Tyler Rockwell, CEO. They walked in and a tall woman with blond hair looked up from her desk curiously.

"My name is Donatello Hamato," Donnie said anxiously. "We have an appointment."

The woman looked from him to the others standing behind him, "I was told to expect four turtles, not humans." She stated as she stood up. She looked at Donnie, "You and the other turtles may go in but the rest of you will have to wait."

Although their friends were not happy about having to wait outside in the lobby, they did so nonetheless while Raph, Donnie and Mikey followed the woman into the office of Dr. Rockwell. The monkey looked up from his desk as the three Hamatos walked in.

He stood and greeted them with a nod. "Where is Leonardo?" He asked, "I was really hoping to speak with him about his father and these shots he's been receiving."

Raph and Donnie went into the long story of what had been happening to Leo since the beginning of the week. Rockwell listened intently and narrowed his eyes while rubbing his chin worriedly. "I can't be certain," he began as he started rifling through his desk, "But it sounds like the shot Leonardo received may have been some sort of enhancing drug," He looked at Raph, "And you say, according to Leonardo, his father has been doing this since he was around five years old?"

"That's what he told me." Raph replied.

Dr. Rockwell nodded and pulled out a folder. "We do work with the military trying to find ways in helping soldiers to withstand illnesses brought on by being in foreign lands or biological chemicals, we also work with the military in trying to find new equipment that can help in battle…"

"And I have several ideas that I would love to tell you about Dr. Rockwell," Donnie quickly jumped in while his brothers moaned. "I have an idea for this all-terrain vehicle that…."

"Donnie," Mikey nudged his taller brother, "Not now dude."

"Oh, right, sorry." Donnie said looking very contrite. He cleared his throat, "Sorry Dr. Rockwell, please go on."

Rockwell nodded, "We will speak Donatello but right now I am anxious to look into what's going on with your friend," he continued to looked through his papers with a look of disappointment. "I was so hoping to get some of his blood and check his DNA."

"Actually Doc, We do have some." Raph said as he began to take off his jacket. Rockwell looked up at them suspiciously and Donnie quickly shook his head.

"When Raph and Leo got into their fight in the locker room," He explained pointing to Raph's shirt, "Some of Leo's blood spilled on his shirt," Raph took off his shirt and handed it to Rockwell.

Rockwell took the shirt and inspected it, "Well, there's not much there but maybe," He looked at the turtles with a grim look, "It might be enough to get the information we need." He started toward his door, "It will take some time but I'll call you as soon as I have data."

The three turtles followed him out, "Hey Doc," Raph turned to him as they walked into the lobby and were joined by the others, "Until you know what's going on, would it be possible for you to hold off transfering Leo's father to Japan?"

Rockwell blinked at Raph in surprise, "I am not sending Mr. Oroku to Japan." He told him. "Although he does have an office here, he is able to do much of his work from anywhere in the world, but I would have no reason to send him there since we do not have a research facility there."

"Wait," Donnie looked at Rockwell, "Say that again."

"You have no research place in Japan?" Mikey looked dumbfounded, "But then why does his dad tell him that's the reason he goes there?"

"And why does he want to move there now?" Raph rubbed his chin. "We need to figure out a way to help Leo, fast."

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Irma quickly drove to her home and made her way inside. She ran to her bedroom and rummaged through her closet, after several seconds, she pulled out a small shoe box. Inside she found several papers along with a small cassette tape. 'Maybe you have somethings on me Saki,' She thought as she found her mini hand held tape recorder and placed the small cassette inside, 'But I've got a few things on you too.' She went to her spare bedroom and found paper and a pen, as she sat down to write, she placed the recorder on her table and pressed play.

"Irma," It was Saki's voice, "If you value your life you will forget everything you saw here today."

"I just want to know why?" Irma's voice was loud and pleading, "Why must you do this to him?" Footsteps sounded as the two were walked. "He is your son after all and…."

"He is a freak I allowed to be born so I may continue my experiments," Saki was almost yelling, "And if you try and stop me I will follow through with my promise."

"You can't hold that over me forever," Irma's voice pleaded. "Besides it was your own men who killed him, not me."

"And it was you who stood by and let it happen," Saki's voice was suddenly low. "Along with your sister," More walking could be heard on the tape, "Must I remind you of everything you let happen since we became….related."

"But….He's just a boy." Irma was now crying, "And he just lost his mother."

"And she was your sister….you knew what was happening to her," A deep cold laugh, "Where is the difference?"

Irma shut the tape off and wiped the tears from her face. 'How could I let him force me into all this?' She wondered angrily to herself as she quickly wrote out her letter. She placed everything in a large envelope and ran back to her car. She got in and drove toward Saki's house, along the way she stopped at a postal mail box and placed the package inside. She then continued to Saki's estate and drove up to the gate. Since she knew the code, she decided it was not necessary to announce herself so she drove straight in and walked up to the door. 'I just hope I'm not too late.'

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Twenty minutes after leaving the school, Leo angrily walked into the house and followed his father into his study. "Talk to me father!" Leo demanded.

Saki looked at him with a darkening gaze, "There is nothing to talk about, we are leaving at the end of the week," He leaned on his desk and stared hard into Leo's eyes, "Now get to your room and start packing."

Leo backed away slightly and shook his head. "Tell me why now!?" His voice was filled with hate and anger. "Why do you want to pull me out of school when I have the basketball championship game coming up, finals and graduation?" Saki sat down and began to pull out his papers. Leo scowled and grabbed one of the folders out of his hands. "Don't ignore me father!" He yelled at him, his fist pounding on the desk.

Saki stood up angrily and glared down at the turtle with daggers in his eyes; Leo took a breath and forced himself to calm down as he placed the folder back on the desk. "I just want to know why we can't wait to move to Japan till after I graduate," He said, his voice now a little softer.

"Stockman and Falco are fearful the drug may not be stable," Saki told him. "It would be better if we were in Japan so we could have direct access to the facility in case there are…complications."

Leo looked at Saki suspiciously, "Did the results come back?" he asked with narrowing eyes, "Did Stockman or…"Leo continued to watch Saki with uncertainty, "Falco find something?"

"Why are you continuing to question me?" Saki demanded, "Everything I am doing is to help you," He sat back down and continued to go through his papers, "Now get to your room and start packing." Saki glare at him, "We will have the movers here tomorrow to begin shipping things."

Leo nodded and left the study, but instead of going to his room, he went to the kitchen to get some dinner. 'With everything going on I'm surprised I'm hungry.' Leo thought as he began to make his food.

While Leo was in the kitchen, Saki continued to go through his papers, as he did he glanced at his monitor and saw Irma walking up to the door. He scowled angrily as he watched her walk in. Standing, he quickly walked out of his study and met her just as she walked into the foyer.

"Where is Leonardo?" She demanded.

Her voice carried and Leo looked up at the sound of a female voice just outside the kitchen door. Leo narrowed his eyes, 'Auntie?'

"He is busy," Leo heard Saki tell her, "Why?" Leo got up and started toward the door. He peeked out and watched as the two of them made their way toward Saki's study. 'Aunt Irma sounds angry,' He walked over to the study and placed his ear close to the door, 'I wonder what's going on?'

Saki shut the door and motioned for Irma to take a seat but she refused. "I saw you at the school Saki," She informed him, "I heard what you were saying," Saki watched as Irma started pacing. "I'm not going to let you blackmail me anymore," She told him watching as Saki's jaw clenched, "And I'm not going to let you take Leonardo away from here, he doesn't deserve to go through this." She insisted, "He's just a boy and he's your son, how you can be so cruel as to do these things you're doing..."

"Like what I did to your sister," Saki reminded her. "Why must we go through this time and time again Irma?" He demanded tiredly, "You are in this as deep as I am and if you go to the cops you will be the only one to suffer," He smirked at her, "After all, there is no evidence I had anything to do with your husband's death, unlike you." He spat, "He was, after all, abusive to you, and it was you who bought the gun he was shot with." He gave a cold laugh, "Amazing how the cops never found that out, isn't it?" He leaned in close to her, "But of course, it wouldn't be hard for them to find that little bit of information, would it?"

Irma took a handkerchief out of her purse and wiped her eyes, "I don't care about that anymore!" She yelled, "I should have stood up to you when I realized what you were doing and I hate myself for being such a coward!" She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders, "But I'm not going to be afraid of you anymore, I'm taking Leonardo out of here and together we're going to the police."

She began to turn but Saki quickly walked in front of her, "And what are you going to tell him?" He asked, "That you stood by and watched his mother slowly die of a cancer you knew she had been deliberately inflicted with?" He sneered down at her, "That you've known all along that I, his own father, has been using his DNA because of the mutagen that runs through his blood to further my research on creating an enhancing gene to sell to the military?" Saki started laughing, "Do you think he's going to believe that, and if he did, that he's going to want to go with you anymore then he would want to go with me?" Saki shook his head and went back to his desk, "Telling him anything is only going to make him want to run away and then what do you think will happen to him?" He watched as Irma's face started angrily at him. "I've already injected him with the drug and the best thing for him right now is to continue getting more of it," He suggested, "Otherwise it could kill him if the injections are stopped." He leaned forward and stared hard at her. "Is that what you want to let happen, kill your one and only nephew?"

Irma shook hard as she clenched her jaw and fist and held back her sobs, "I will find a way to stop you from doing this Saki!" She yelled out as she started for the door, "I won't let you get away with this any longer!"

'Oh God No!' Leo was horrified as he leaned himself away from the door and started to feel panic coming in a wave of dread over his whole body. He put his hands to his mouth in horror and started to back away from the door, 'I have to get out of here, I have to get away from both of them,' He told himself, he turned and started toward the front door but stopped when he saw Xever walk in. Leo swallowed hard and pushed down the fear he was certain was showing in his eyes. He started walking again but this time he went toward the stairs to go to his room.

Xever watched Leo curiously as the turtle started away from the study, "Do you need something boy?" He demanded as Leo walked toward him.

Leo took a deep breath and shook his head, "Whatever I need is none of your business," He said with a strong yet shaky voice.

Xever walked over toward him before he could reach the stairs and blocked his way. Leo looked up at him and attempted to steady his nerves. "What?" Leo demanded through gritted teeth.

Xever looked at him mockingly, "That green eyed turtle has a temper, doesn't he?" When Leo said nothing, Xever began to back slightly away allowing Leo to start up the stairs. "I think the next time I meet up with him, I won't try to stop him from fighting me," He looked at Leo as the turtle stopped walking and looked back at him, watching as he played with his knife, "I do like a good challenge after all". He flicked his knife expertly and placed it back into his pocket all the while looking at Leo with a threatening gaze.

But Leo only turned and ran up the stairs, 'I don't have time for this,' Leo told himself as he quickly walked into his room, 'I've got to get out of here and get to Raph.' He ran his hands up and down his arms. 'I've got to find out what they've done to me.'

After Xever had seen Leo go upstairs, he started his way down the hall just as Irma was walking out of the study. He watched curiously as she pushed past him sobbing and cursing Saki's name. After she had left Saki stepped out and motioned for Xever to come into the study. "Xever," He opened a drawer and withdrew a gun. "I have a job for you," With a cold smile, Xever took the gun and placed it in his pocket, "Follow Irma and…take care of her." Saki told him as he turned to leave, "And if she should put up a fight, have Bradford's idiots help you,"

"As you wish boss," Xever said with an evil grin, "And I should let you know Master," Saki raised an eyebrow at him, "That turtle was at the door while you and Ms. Langinstein were in here," Saki scowled angrily, "I have a feeling he may have overheard whatever you two were discussing."

"Go do what you were told to do," He ordered, "I'll deal with my son."

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Irma got into her car and took off with tires squealing, her mind raced with all that Saki had said and now she had no idea what to do. How could she get Leonardo to come with her without reveling all that she had been involved with? Who could she trust? She knew she couldn't go to the police because she knew Saki had contacts within the department.

She shook her head angrily, "Stop being like this Irma," She scolded herself, "Leonardo is what matters, you've got to do something…" She drove to her apartment and walked in locking the door behind her. "But what can I do?" She tossed her purse on the floor and placed her coat on a chair. She sighed in frustration, "I can't get Vern involved with this, he has a son," She started sobbing, "There's got to be someone I can turn to."

She sat at her table trying desperately to think but her mind was clouded with memories of a past life. Memories of her life as a child with Venus, memories of her and her husband, her life after Saki had found out she'd been abused, her life at the school, the students she'd come to love. Her eyes widen as she thought of Leo's friends. She grabbed her phone out of her purse and looked up the Hamato dojo phone number. After three rings, the phone picked up and she heard Splinter's voice on the line.

"This is the Hamato Dojo….."

"Master Splinter, this is Leo's Aunt," She yelled quickly into the phone, "I have to….."

"We are currently closed, please leave your name and number at the tone and we will return your call as soon as possible."

Irma pounded her fist on her table in aggravation as she heard the beep, but there was nothing she could do, she had to leave a message and hoped the Hamatos could get to Leo before anything happened.

"Master Splinter, This is Irma Langinstein," She said as tears ran down her cheek, "I need you to help Leonardo, please his father is trying to kill him!"