A/N: Dedicated to RadiumCandy, a.k.a. Scaly-and-Redhead - you know why! Please check out her stuff as she is a wonderful writer with stories filled with beautiful imagery and skill.

Chapter 4

"Why can't we just go now," Raphael said, his voice was a barely contained shout. He paced outside of the huddled group; back and forth in front of the stove. A ball of raw nerves and brittle temper.

Donatello and Michelangelo's eyes shot to Master Splinter where he stood over the table, hands braced against the surface with hunched shoulders; eyes glued to the schematics that Don had tediously printed and taped together to form a large, crumpled map of the building serving as Foot Headquarters. Each boy had matching circles under their eyes. The coffee pot held the remaining dregs of Donatello's thick brew. He had finished off his fifth cup only moments ago. Mikey's jittery fingers toyed with the side of a caffeinated drink, spinning the can around and around and around in an endless circle. It was nearing two a.m. The clock above the sink ticked away the minutes, bleeding into the hours; each one seemed more distorted and abnormally lengthened that the previous.

He knew it would take some time in gathering the information he needed. Donatello was normally quick with accessing information but this task required hacking through several systems and firewalls. He had gotten to the wrong files several times and had to backtrack and begin fresh. Much to the mounting frustration of his brothers. Raphael had disrupted further progress when he and Donatello got into a heated argument over the time it was taking, ironically, wasting much more time had he kept his temper in check and his mouth closed. Michelangelo intervened and the situation erupted. Tempers flared where patience dwindled. Tears of frustration and fury were shed. Finally, Splinter had calmed them enough to have them each refocused on menial tasks while Donatello went back to his search for the information he so desperately required.

His mind raced along with his heart. His eyes scanned the thin lines on the paper separating the floors of the building, the walls of the different rooms. He had been inside only a few times and that was several weeks ago. He had done his best to memorize the location of certain rooms that he'd glimpsed. Upon casual conversation with his mortal enemy he had learned which floor served as cafeteria and where the training room lay for the many ninja employed by the Foot. It was a starting off point. But in order to get his son home without costing the lives of anyone else, he needed more concrete details. A dread slinked through his stomach. One fear out of many spoke in his mind, What if they had taken him immediately to another location? Splinter shook his head. No. Leonardo had to be there. But there was the possibility that he'd been taken to another location, the treacherous voice pressed. Master Splinter straightened and glanced up, a startled look on his face as his focus returned on his sons. Each of them stared at him with open anticipation and wide eyes. He'd been so deep in thought he only vaguely registered that his temperamental son had spoken. He had no idea what was said.

"He asked you why we can't leave now," Donatello supplied.

Splinter gave a brief shake of his head. "There is no way we can infiltrate at this time. The patrols will be coming in throughout the city. Soldiers and ninja, gang members and other factions working with the Shredder congregate and are most active throughout the night."

"Wait, how do you know?" Mikey asked as he sat back in the chair.

"In my negotiations with the Shredder, I was allowed safe passage through some of the compound."

The three stared at him in shock. They exchanged uncomfortable glances and Raphael stared at the floor. The idea that their father had been meeting with the Shredder behind their backs felt too closely like betrayal. Each shifted where they stood or sat. Mikey swallowed audibly.

Splinter clarified, "During various times of the night, as I arrived and exited at different times, I marked the level of activity. This is why we must wait until mid-morning. There will be almost no one there aside from a sparse collection of guards which will be no match for us. Then it is only a matter of locating your brother and bringing him home."

Raphael crossed his arms and dropped his forehead into one hand. He rubbed his forehead furiously.

"So, in the meantime, what?" he said from beneath his hand, voice thick with emotion.

The sound of it set Donatello's bottom lip quivering and Mikey looked swiftly between his brothers before resting his gaze on his father. His eyes were huge in his head. Pleading.

"We will plan our strategy. Raphael, we must be patient."

Raphael made a choked sound, somewhere between a snort and a derisive chuckle. He turned around and slammed one fist into a cabinet door, splintering the wood and splitting his knuckles. He mumbled a hoarse curse as Donatello jumped up to see the injury. Raphael growled and pushed past him. Donatello wheeled around.

"That's great, Raph. Bang yourself up so you'll be useless by the time we get there."

Raphael spun and Mikey dove into him as he moved to tackle the turtle in purple. Splinter loomed over them suddenly and pulled Michelangelo off of his brother as they grappled, growling and yelling.

"Enough! Save your energy!"

Mikey stumbled backwards and wiped his snout with the back of one hand. He stared miserably at them each in turn. Raphael sat up, resting his arms on his bent knees. The knuckle on his right hand stood out red and slightly swollen. They fell into an uneasy silence.

"We must remain calm. We must store our strength for the task ahead of us. Center our minds and focus."

Raphael jumped up to his feet. "That's hard to do when we don't even know if . . ." he bit off his sentence, unable to complete the terrible thought aloud. He clamped his mouth shut tightly and stared with an almost defiant expression on his face. Daring his father to chase away his fears.

Master Splinter rested a hand on Raphael's trembling shoulder. "We must have faith in him, Raphael. We must trust that Leonardo is being careful and wise while under the enemy's roof. I do not doubt he is . . . frightened and confused. But he is ninja. He is your leader. He will know how to survive." Splinter paused, allowing his words to have a chance to sink in. They made their impact as the level of tension in the room dwindled. However, his own words spoken did very little to quell the growing voices of fear in his mind. His face turned from Raphael who's eyes were cast aside, head lowered, to the lab where Karai currently lay handcuffed to the metal frame of a cot. Her words, stated so calmly and with absolute certainty came back to him, chilling his blood and weakening his knees:

He will kill him.

The light hurt his eyes. Cracking them open by millimeters only to have them water and blink rapidly, Leonardo tried again to open his eyes. The sound of footsteps, murmured voices, spoken in low, repeating tones, beeping and whirring washed over him. He turned his aching head to one side and felt himself swim as a wave of dizziness hit him with the simple motion. Slowly, his vision came into focus despite the harsh glare of the lights around him and his mind deciphered the clues presented. He was in a lab. His eyes snapped open wide and he moved to sit up. Abruptly, the action was halted by a leather band running across his chest. Panic flared.

Along with his full consciousness, the pain returned to his nervous system and that too, blinded him for a moment. His chest and sides ached, his head throbbed, and there was a burning, sharp pain between his legs, inside of him, but what stood out the most was the way his left hand cramped and shot agonizing pain up through his arm. He tried to move his fingers to see if he'd broken his wrist and if that was the root of the terrible discomfort he was experiencing. But he couldn't seem to feel his fingers, try as he might to flex them.

He grunted with effort and raised his head to see why he couldn't move his hand. His eyes trailed down the length of his arm. The length that ended just below his elbow in a thick bandage. A soft desperate sound creaked from his throat. He blinked rapidly, thinking he was not awake, apparently he was in the midst of some horrifying nightmare where he was missing part of his left arm and hand. He quickly glanced to his other arm, his palm faced up, fingers curled, the arm blackened with bruises, but whole, then back to the missing appendage. The bandaged stub of his arm jerked with a sickening reality. This time a choked sound came from the back of his throat through his nose. His head fell back against the hard surface of the table he lay upon. He pinched his eyes closed. Panting, he squirmed and tried again to raise up. The leather strap held him in place.

It isn't real. This isn't happening. Wake up. Wake up. Please, wake up.

"That which is known as Shredder's pet has regained that which is known as consciousness, Kraang."

The familiar voice sent a wave of fresh terror through him. His body broke out in a cold sweat. A sharp pinch had his eyes snapping open. Two of the robotic men gazed down at him with alien, pink glowing eyes. One of them held up a syringe. It was full of blood. The other raised what looked like a small stainless steel saw.

"Kraang wishes to extricate that which is known as internal organs from that which is known as mutant turtle for Kraang's scientific advancements."

The other robot set the syringe down and squeaked and chirped before answering, "Negative. Kraang is prohibited. That which is known as the Master will take that which is known as Kraang's ass and skewer it upon that which is known as Master's gauntlets. As was done to Kraang when Kraang disobeyed Kraang's master."

The one speaking gestured across the room and Leonardo couldn't help but turn his red-rimmed gaze to see one of the alien globs mounted on a spiked pole fastened to the floor. A grim reminder that the Master did not trifle with defiant or disobedient aliens. Leonardo swallowed dryly at the gruesome sight.

"Kraang has made that which is known as an excellent point." He squeaked and placed the saw to the medical table next to the cot Leonardo laid on. The other one chirped.

The robot crossed the room and turned around, in his metal hands he held up a large jar filled with gray colored liquid. "Kraang has sufficient material to conduct that which is known as scientific research. As promised by that which is known as Kraang's temporary Master."

The other nodded. "This is that which is known as true. It will suffice."

Once again, he could not help himself. His wide eyes darted to see what the alien was talking about and his gaze fell upon the severed remains of his left hand within the jar. The memories rushed back then.

His father exchanging him for Karai; the sound of his voice as he told the men to take him away; the fight with the Shredder, the pain; the tiles of the bathroom as he scrambled for shelter from the blast of the icy water; the men's hands on him; pinning him down; gripping his tail, pulling it away from where it was tucked in terror, protecting his tender flesh; the moment he realized what they meant to do to him; the shame, the burning humiliation; their laughter; their bodies penetrating him; hurting him in a way he'd never been hurt before; then finally his fury and attempt at revenge for what they had done and Shredder's entrance to the room. The gleam of his blades, blinding him. The fright as he realized what his punishment would be. And then before he could shame himself further with pleading for mercy; the flashing blades coming down; cutting through flesh and bone.

A tremor went through him and he cried out in fright and horror. He jerked and thrashed against the leather belt holding him. He gave another strangled cry as he flailed uselessly against the strap. His chest heaved. The bile, burning and sour, rose up. He was going to be sick.

"No! Oh god!" he croaked between incoherent groans. There was no point in crying for help, he knew, somewhere in the back, rational, stoic calm of his mind, he understood this, but he could not stood the pleading now, coming far too late for anything to be done. "No! Please! No! Help me! H-Help me!"

"Kraang subdue that which is known as Master's pet."

The robot shell of a man pressed down on his forehead, holding him pinned as he felt another pinch in the side of his throat, just below his jaw. He growled but the sound was weak and came out as more of a wavering whimper than anything intimidating. Ice flowed into him where the needle deposited the amber colored liquid he'd glimpsed from the corner of his eye. His limbs slackening in their struggling, the anxiety attack ebbing away, though the searing pain surging through him remained. Whatever they had just given him had stolen his strength without dulling any of his suffering. Everything suddenly felt too heavy to move. He could barely turn his head.

Tears stung his eyes and burned tracks down his bruised cheeks as he felt his lips tingle and then go numb. Then his face. Then the insidious tendrils of numbness worked down the front of his throat and it was suddenly hard to breathe. Panic flared within him. He started to shake violently. Pressure in his head built. His chest heaved as his lungs tried to pull air into him. His body jolted as it seized. His jaw clenched so hard his teeth in the back of his mouth creaked and popped, nearly cracking from the force. He bit the side of his tongue as his jaw tightened. Bitterness coated his throbbing tongue. Pink-tinged foam rose up in the corners of his mouth and spilled over the side of his cheeks.

"Kraang, that which is known as Master's pet is having that which Kraang feared."

The bot across the room turned. "Kraang is unclear in comprehending that which Kraang is reporting to Kraang. Clarify."

Leonardo's body bucked. The table jumped. His head slammed into the metal table. A grinding sound was coming from his throat. The robot beeped in surprise and rushed over.

"Kraang, that which is known as Master's pet is having that which is known as a reaction. Administer that which is known as counter agent."

The other Kraang stood for a moment, the lights flashing as it processed what it was ordered to do. Leonardo's convulsions continued.

"Affirmative."

Several long seconds passed before the needle was inserted into his throat. Leonardo was too numb to feel it at all. But the tingling eased and with a great gasp he was able to gulp in the stale air of the lab, filling his lungs before exhaling in a forceful burst. It was the sweetest thing he ever tasted. He took in another deep breath and this one was exhaled as a broken sob. His body quivered and jumped as the after effects of the reaction continued to slowly abate. But the terrible pressure between his eyes, the pounding of his racing heart in his ears slowed and faded.

He was vaguely aware that the bots had unfastened him from the table. They moved his legs over the side and took his whole arm in hand, moving him to stand. Trembling and still partially in shock, he clung to the Kraang's arm like a child clinging to an adult as he is about to go up an escalator for the first time. The weight of his body came down onto his toes then the balls of his feet. His knees buckled and he immediately collapsed onto the floor. Pain lanced up from his abused bottom. His stomach roiled and he retched, barely holding onto his composure.

As he struggled to regain his breath, his chin was lifted and a collar was snapped in place around his neck. He was then pulled and dragged towards the door before he was able to climb to stand on wobbling legs that felt like they were made of jelly.

He did his best to walk on his own using the robots flanking him as a makeshift crutch as he leaned first from one Kraang then to the other, cradling his bandaged arm close to his body with his other hand. Each movement, each step brought the tide of pain, crashing through him, ebbing back only to return with more force, making him whimper and whine much like the animal he was being treated as. If he wasn't so completely exhausted he would have been ashamed of himself for his weakness.

He tried not to focus on the shame of being led by a leash and collar like a dog. He tried not to think of the way his bottom hurt when he walked, causing him to limp with each step. He tried not to think of the men's hands on him. Their bodies in him. Leonardo made a soft choked sound. The bile rose as his stomach rolled and flipped in revulsion. He closed his eyes and centered himself. Desperately, he sought some thought to comfort him in his darkest hour, but the image of Master Splinter standing next to him with Karai in his arms filled his mind, the sound of his father's voice as he said, Take him, blotted out everything else. His feet staggered as his head lulled back. He was on the ground, being dragged before the pain in his missing limb being crushed beneath his weight snapped him back to reality. The Kraang tugged on the leash, knocking him once more onto his shoulder; turning to shield his severed arm from more pain. He grunted and groaned. His legs scrambled to come beneath his body, shook as he climbed to stand before being yanked off his feet again.

Swaying, still cradling his arm close to his chest, shoulders hunched, and head lowered, he was brought before the Shredder. The Kraang led him up to stand directly in front of the demon of a man's throne. Then they eased back into the shadows, their circular eyes glowing like monstrous beacons as their bodies vanished into the dark. Those twin circles of alien light the only sign that they remained before each turned and left the room. Leonardo's knees knocked into each other as he quailed before his new master. Alone with him for the first time.

"I hope you have learned your lesson, child."

Leonardo gripped his arm and pressed it closer to himself. His eyes were fixed on the ground between the Shredder's feet. The room seemed to grow and expand around him. The vastness complimented by the rippling lines of the water's current beneath the glass below. Never before had he felt this alone. This small. This frightened. Even standing in the valley of the towering skyscrapers of down town New York was nothing compared to the godlike presence of the man looming above him. More than ever he just wanted to go home. The homesickness he felt in that moment was matched in its agony only by his missing hand.

"Answer me."

Leonardo started. His eyes blinked as his throat worked. "Y-Yes," he forcibly stammered in a quiet voice.

"Your Sensei has abandoned you. It was negotiated and agreed upon. The old rat signed his name to the contract declaring that you are now my property. You belong only to me."

Leonardo twitched and did his best not to show the Shredder how much it hurt to hear the words. But even more painful, the fact that he believed every word being uttered.

"Understand that you live only at my discretion. The men are not kind, as you have learned."

Leonardo flinched.

"It is only the beginning of what lays ahead of you."

Now Leonardo's slight trembling turned into violent shaking. His teeth chattered in his aching jaw. His bowels turned to icy water.

"However, as long as you stay within my good grace, your life will continue and . . ." here he paused, "You will not be touched again."

Leonardo froze. For the first time, his eyes snapped up to meet his new master's. Twin pools of obsidian bore into his, seeing him, all his shame, his degradation and defeat, seeing past that into his quailing soul. By inches, the Shredder leaned forward in his seat, lowering his head and spreading his knees wider, gripping the armrests of his chair.

"As long as you obey. As long as you do not defy me. And you will obey me, will you not?"

Bottom lip quivering, Leonardo nodded once, sharply, hating himself bitterly for being so weak. He should be choosing death over this. There was no honor here. Miserable, he stood where he was, trembling from head to foot as the Shredder reached out and eased him closer, taking him by the shaking shoulders and pulling the young mutant between his thighs, muscular and hard like granite. A slick tension hung between them. A cloying presence of something intimidating and evil, something . . . lustful filled the air. Leonardo had felt something close to it, only not as powerful, for the first time in his life in the tiled bathroom earlier. His stomach twisted and sank. He swallowed thickly.

"I did not hear your answer."

"Y-Yes," Leonardo croaked.

"Yes, Father," the Shredder corrected, taking one finger and placing it under Leonardo's chin, forcing his face up to meet him eye to eye. The hunger that Leonardo saw within made him blanch. He shrunk further into himself. The Shredder gave his chin a slightly aggressive shake as he waited for Leonardo's response.

"Y-Yes, F-Fath-er," Leonardo whispered and his voice cracked.

A/N: Whoa boy. Who am I kidding? I bumped this bad boy up to an M rating. Though I'm almost done with it. And it won't be nearly as graphic as I, Alone.

And if that anxiety attack that Leonardo experienced before his seizure seemed authentic, you can thank IncredibleDancingBetty! I tip my hat to you, my friend! Thank you for helping me reach the level of authenticity that I crave for my fics.