Chapter 8
The silence seemed to drag on for hours. Nobody moved, not even Leo at the mention of Donatello.
"You…you took him! Where is he?!" Raph was the first to register the shock, and he leapt at Rahzar, who dodged the blow easily.
"Tsk-tsk-tsk, I wouldn't do that if I were you. You do want to hear his message, don't you?" Rahzar teasingly asked. Begrudgingly, Raph put away his Sais and folded his arms.
"So tell us what you have to say then." commanded the turtle in red.
"He asked for his green notebook. He needs it for something…..important. Bring it to the warehouse on 3rd and Jefferson in two hours, or we start taking pieces of his shell." Razhar growled out. With their message delivered, Rahzar threw Leo at Raph before the two mutants made their escape.
Everyone sat in shocked silence in the Shell Raiser as they made their way back. The news of their brother left the group speechless. As the Shell Raiser trudged onward, Raphael became more and more agitated.
"I'll have Rahzar's fucking head on a stick. He'll pay for this. They'll all pay." Raph finally growled out, cracking his knuckles in preparation for a fight.
"Cool it, Raph. We don't even know where he is." Leo replied coolly.
"Yes we fucking do! He's at Shredder's stupid lair doing who knows what to Donnie!"
"But what if he wasn't there? We'd break in and get ourselves killed, then who will help Donnie? Just sit down and breathe."
"We don't have time to 'sit and breathe'. Don needs us now. Or are you just butt-hurt that Rahzar threw you around like you were a toy?"
The Shell raiser screeched to a sudden stop, throwing everyone foreword painfully. A chorus of 'ows' and 'what the hell, Leo' rose from the back.
"Shut it, Raph. Donnie needs us to be patient and figure out a plan. Shredder isn't going to kill him yet, and rushing in without a plan will do more harm than good. So sit down and shut up. Got it?" Leo's cold voice silenced the cabin, and Raph snorted back in reply.
Everyone sat in shocked silence as the Shell Raiser trudged onward.
The screeching of the Shell Raiser reverberated in the abandoned subway station, taking the place of the usual loud banter of the young teens. After stepping out of a hulking vehicle, the group split into pairs and traveled their separate ways. Mikey and Casey traveled to the kitchen to gorge themselves. April and Raph went to scour Donnie's lab for the green notebook. Poor Leo, however, was given the task of telling Master Splinter of their recent expedition. With dread weighing heavily in the pit of his stomach, Leo made his way to the dojo.
Master Splinter was seated underneath the tree, meditating peacefully. Leo sighed before alerting their father.
"Sensei?" The blue clad turtle sounded from the entrance of the dojo. Splinter turned his ears in attention to the eldest turtle, but did not shift from his spot. A short silence followed as Leo shifted his weight from foot to foot.
"We found Donnie. Well, not found per se..."
The hesitation in Leo's voice caused the old rat to rise from his position on the floor. The young turtle cleared his throat uncomfortably, averting his gaze from his father's.
"Then where is he?" Splinter asked calmly. Leo, once more, sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"He's...I'm sorry Sensei," Leo bowed in respect, "He's been captured by the Shredder."