Donatello was getting his News the way he preferred to, by way of the instant Internet updates. While the articles were often extremely short, he considered it a better use of his time than waiting around for newscasters to get around to announcing the small tidbits in between commercial breaks.

Nonetheless, he was grateful when Leonardo came back. As solitary as Donatello often needed to be to get real work done, now wasn't a time when he wanted to be alone. His blue-masked brother stretched to reach the spare tablet and settled into the chair beside him.

"Are you keeping up with all of this?" Leonardo asked.

Don nodded. "As much as they're telling us, Leo, which is hardly anything. The Authorities don't want to release too many details at once, and that's not a good sign. The complete lack of knowledge about the cause of deaths, I don't really buy it. I'm sure there has to be enough physical evidence between the victims for them to make some type of preliminary determination."

"So why wouldn't they want to tell people what's going on? It seems like the Police would want to provide some type of assurance, considering the number of people who use public transit. If it isn't carbon monoxide, what other invisible sources could be responsible for the death toll?"

"There's a chance we're looking at something like an industrial accident, where there was unintentional exposure of some gas that has yet to be identified."

"It would make sense for Officials to want to keep quiet about it too, at least if someone was trying to cover it up or downplay it. Is there any chance that the earthquake could have contributed to a natural leak of some kind?"

Donatello hesitated, and then began typing again. "The timing is strange. I mean, it's possible there was another small aftershock that we aren't even aware of. A lot of the underground pipes have experienced significant stress since last year…but I just don't know. The chance also exists that someone did this on purpose, Leo. We might be looking at something like the use of a nerve agent."

Leonardo caught his breath. "But they only attacked a few of the cars? Where's the reason in that, Don?"

"No one said that terrorists operate under reason, Leo. If we're looking at a worst case scenario, my guess would be that they're trying to exhibit the power they have over life and death. They kill people there, let them live over here. It leaves you questioning who could possibly be safe. We won't know anything for sure until they start communicating what they actually found in those cars."

Leo leaned back thoughtfully in his chair, and Donatello could see the wheels turning in his mind. "Is there any advance warning when someone is using a nerve agent? If something like that was being used underground in the subway tunnels, it stands to reason that the sewers could eventually be affected."

Donatello tried to give him an encouraging smile. "By our natural senses, they would be difficult to decipher. Most of them are colorless and odorless, and some are more lethal than others. But the detectors we have in place to scan for carbon monoxide and methane would probably be sufficient to pick up a change in air quality caused by a nerve agent too."

"How much time would we have to evacuate in a situation like that?"

"It depends on the gas, Leo. Some of them can kill you within a couple of minutes."

"What about the oxis? Would they help?"

Don shook his head. "Not with something that can be absorbed by the skin. It would take an entire bodysuit to ward off that type of agent."

"Right…" Leonardo trailed off with a far-away look in his eyes. "I don't know. I guess I'm being paranoid, but it's impossible to know what to expect. The fact that it occurred onboard two different trains that were nowhere near each other…It doesn't feel accidental, does it?"

"No, Leo, not to me either." While Donny watched, his oldest brother retreated back into silent contemplation.

He took the opportunity to look down at the tablet in his hand, and reloaded the site from which he was receiving his news. Every so often an update appeared near the end of the story, but the last couple of times he'd refreshed the page, there hadn't been any new content. This time, however, a new comment with an asterisk greeted him.

Donatello snapped his fingers at Leonardo to get his attention before sending him a message. "The National Terrorism Advisory System has been activated."

"Then the authorities think this was intentional," Leonardo said tightly.

"They must have reason to suspect that it was. They're issuing warnings over all forms of public transportation, including rail and bus lines."

"Shell," Leo proclaimed. "How are people going to get around the city?"

"Got me, Bro. I hope they find a legitimate explanation that rules out terrorism, but I'm not holding my breath. They're not saying very much here, except that citizens should report suspicious activity."

Leonardo rolled his eyes. "I wonder how many leads that will turn up in a place like New York City," he said sarcastically. "Talk about taking a shot in the dark."

Donatello shrugged. "They don't have eyes everywhere, Leo. That's why they're encouraging people to be vigilant."

"Yeah, vigilant." Leonardo sighed heavily. "If we could count on people to do that, we wouldn't be able to do our job. This is nuts, Don. The city doesn't need this. They're still recovering from the earthquake."

Donny gave him a bleak look. "All we can do is wait for more news, Leo. If it was a nerve agent, they're going to have to come out and tell us eventually."

Leo nodded. "Sorry for pushing you for this information. I feel pretty wound up for a few reasons."

"It's okay, Leo, I'm thinking about these things too. It's nice to be able to mull it over along with someone else."

"You don't feel like you're being ignored, do you, Don?"

"Not ignored, Leo, but still kind of on the outside. Let's face it: I'm the last one to hear about most things. The only reason I knew about this before anyone else was because I was already surfing the Internet."

The blue-masked turtle grimaced. "I'm sorry, Bro. No one is trying to leave you out, but I know that's probably what it feels like."

"No. It feels like people are trying to take it easy on me," Donny countered. "I'm better than I have been, Leo, honestly. I feel stronger now than I even did last week, and I'm definitely staying awake longer. I almost feel like I could pull an all-nighter." He gave Leonardo a grin.

"Don't even think about it, Don. Knowing Doc, he'll rescind your tablet privileges or block your Internet."

"Yeah, I know. I'm just saying that I can handle more, Leo. I may not be strong enough to get to my feet, but my mind feels clear. I can feel the difference."

Leonardo smiled wide. "We see the difference too. I'm already to the point where I can barely understand you again."

Donatello chuckled inwardly, but he felt bittersweet too. What I wouldn't give for the opportunity to express myself the normal way.

"Are you all right?" Leo asked, picking up on the subtle change in his countenance.

"Yeah," he answered. "I just wish that the road back didn't have to be so long. I wish a lot of things. I want to push myself, but I can only do so much."

"You're not the only one," his brother said morosely. "Raph, Mike, and I have been running too hard on the surface. I've been pushing them too hard. We've been pounding the pavement, hoping for some sign of the Akiudo. It hasn't done us any good, and we're all exhausted."

"It doesn't sound like non-stop running is the answer," he said logically.

"Yeah, thanks, Don. Why couldn't you tell me that a few days ago?"

The purple-masked turtle shook his head. "Would you have listened?"

"Are you trying to say that I'm hard-headed?" Leo quipped.

"No more than the rest of us," Don said. "How do you think we survive so many things?"

Leonardo smiled back at him, and turned his head when there was a knock at the door.

Greg peered inside the room a moment later. "Hey, guys. We've come to hide from the latest disaster."

"Hi, Heff," Leonardo replied. "Did Doc and Kat come back with you?"

"Yeah, along with Sayuri and the kids. Could you handle a couple of visitors, Donny?"

Donatello nodded, and Leo got to his feet.

"He's all yours, Greg," Leonardo said. "I need to go clear my head."

After his brother left the room, the man held the door open and beckoned for someone else to come. Donny smiled when Shunshi entered the room, and the boy returned it timidly. The boy had been somewhat stifled in Donatello's presence ever since coming to the United States, but the turtle knew not to take it personally.

Not everyone knows how to deal with the type of injury I'm facing, and he's just a kid after all. It doesn't help that his English is more limited than Hisui's. Concentrating on the second language was harder for Donatello than focusing strictly on English. The teenage girl had been more than willing to translate between the two of them, but Shunshi hadn't been receptive. My Japanese will get easier, along with everything else. It has to, he thought hopefully.

The shock of dark hair that normally covered half of the boy's face looked like it had been recently cut, and Donatello made sure to mention it. "You look good," he told Shunshi.

"New life, new way to look," he said simply. "Different, but good."

Donatello nodded once more. "Change can be good. Do you like your new home?"

The boy raised his hand and shook it from side to side. "Is so-so. I wish to be with you."

"You can see me any time you want to, Shun," Don reminded him.

Shunshi gave him the first hint of a smile. "How you feel?"

"Okay," Donny typed, searching for the simplest words he could think of. "Pain isn't bad. But I wish I could talk and get up from this bed."

"We all want that," Shunshi said emphatically, and glanced back at Greg. "Greg-san, he take me to play games. Fun, but not like doing with everyone."

"I understand. But you live on surface, Shun. It's good to do things there too."

"Everything happens fast. Is difficult to keep up."

"New York City is like that. But our friends are here to help you. You'll get used to everything, I promise."

"I am happy to be here. When I heard of subway, I was scared."

"Did you think that we were affected too?"

The boy swallowed with a hesitant nod.

"They are different tunnels, Shunshi. We have machines watching over us too. We are safe here," Don said, even though he knew there was no certainty.

Shunshi looked at Greg again. "Greg-san made me feel not as scared. He said you were okay."

"Yes, we are. You can always trust Greg to help you, Shun."

The man looked like he was about to open his mouth, but then his hand reached for his belt instead. "Dang it," he said under his breath. "It's my boss. I thought this might be coming. Excuse me, guys."

The sandy-haired man picked up the phone. "This is Greg. Yes, Sir, I'm well aware of what's going on with…Not about the subway? Then why…right this second?" He was silent for a few seconds. "No, I agree that sounds strange." The man glanced at his watch. "I'm coming, but I'm a few minutes out. I'll do my best to get there before then."

Greg hung up without saying goodbye, and met Donatello's baffled gaze. "Kelley needs me at the temporary Field Office. I thought he was contacting me about the subway, but he said it's unrelated. Apparently someone's trying pretty hard to reach me, so I need to get down there."

"You are leaving?" Shunshi asked in confusion.

"I'll be back," he assured him, and made eye contact with Donatello again. "I'm going to sort out whatever this is at the Field Office, and I'll return as soon as I can."

Donatello raised a hand to bid him farewell, and watched the man hurry out of the room. I wonder what that's all about. Well, it must be important. I'd better focus on the visitor at hand.

He smiled at Shunshi. "Greg has an important job," he told him.

"Like Sayuri-san did," Shunshi replied. "But so do you – the most important."

"All of the parts are important, Shun, even where you and your sister are considered. I'm glad you're here."

"Me too, Donny-san."