Authors note: We are reaching the finish line of this story and I'm a little sad, but also happy. This is the largest story I've ever even come close to finishing and I'm so proud. I'm also glad that so many of you guys like it.

Mikey and Leatherhead spent the next day in the cage. They had food and water, but other than that they simply had to wait for whatever happened next. Physically they were both still fine though Mikey's leg ached a little bit. He couldn't help, but wonder why Bishop had bothered to set it. He probably wanted to keep Mikey alive until he wasn't useful, though Mikey tried not to go down that path of thought.

A few minutes later they heard the warehouse doors open and footsteps. The man who had tazed them was back and just like last night he opened the small second door in the cell to pass protein bars and water.

"I see you're awake. Good that means I can get what I need." The man pulled out a video camera from a bag he was carrying and placed something that looked like a sound box up to his mouth. "Hello Mr. and Mrs. Heinz and hello Yoshi Hamato. As you can see I have your boys safe and sound. However they won't stay that way if I don't get what I want." His voice sounded deep and slightly distorted thanks to a sound box distorter. "I want fifteen million dollars wired to a special account that I will include with this video. If I do not get this amount in five I will kill one of the boys. If I don't receive it after another five days I will kill the second boy. Tick tock tick tock the clock is ticking. Normally this is the part where I warn you not to get the police involved, but it doesn't matter. No one can find me or your boys. The only way to see them alive again is to give me the money. So I'd better get it or you'll be holding a funeral maybe even two." He shut off the camera and put it away.

Mikey frowned. "Does Bishop know about this?"

The man snorted. "Of course not. When he first came to me asking to get info on you two I only did it for the large sum of money. When I found out how wealthy both your families are I decided that I'd ask for a ransom."

Mikey's frowned deepened. "We could tell Bishop what you're planning. He won't like it."

"Bishop is not going to believe a filthy mutant over someone who's been incremental in capturing you. You can tell him, but even if he does start to suspect me I'll be gone with enough money to take me someplace he'll never find me." He smiled at Mikey and Leatherhead before walking away.

When he was gone Leatherhead pulled Mikey into a hug and the younger teen hugged back. Neither wanted to think of their fate and both needed to be comforted and reminded they were okay….for now.

Leo, Raph and Donnie woke up and got ready for school. There were still a bunch of news stations outside their apartment, but they managed to get past them. It was a mostly normal day though the pitting looks were already getting old. It was when they got out of school that they were in for a surprise. Master Splinter was waiting for them with the car.

"Come boys, there has been a new development in Michelangelo and Luke's case." They fallowed splinter out into the car. It must be a real emergency if Splinter was using the car. Normally they walked everywhere.

When they got home the Heinz were there and they were sitting in front of the TV. Elma looked like she'd been crying. Master splinter motioned for them to sit and they did. Splinter picked up the remote and pressed play. What looked to be a warehouse appeared on screen and the boys gasped at seeing Mikey and Leatherhead in a cage. They looked scared and tired and with the camera focused mainly on their faces the group could not see if they had any injuries. A distorted voice began to speak telling them what he wanted. The threat sounded real and Leo felt his blood run cold at the thought of losing Mikey and Leatherhead. When the tape ended Leo looked to his father. "What do we do?" He asked softly.

"We pay the man the money, but involve the police."

"The guys got to be pretty cocky to think that the police won't find him" Raph said.

Splinter headed into the kitchen to get the phone. Within twenty minutes Officer Eastman arrived with his partner Officer Laird was at the apartment and demanding to see the DVD. They showed it to him and they made notes. The officers took the envelope for evidence.

Within twenty more minutes a group of detectives were in the apartment and talking about how they should approach things. The three brothers were nervous hoping they were one step closer to getting Mikey and Leatherhead back safely. The police were skeptical. Thinking this was all too easy and while they didn't voice it the question of whether the two teen were still really alive was there. It was decided to set up a sting operation. They'd wire the money and wait for the kidnapper to pick it up. Instead of arresting him they'd follow him and see if it would lead them back to the boys. If it seemed like he was going to simply leave the country they'd bring him in for interrogation. It was the best plan they could come up with. However it would take another day and a half before the money could be gathered. It hurt everyone to think that Mikey and Leatherhead would be trapped for almost two more days, but it was the best that could be done. When it was time for bed the three brothers went to Leo and Raph's room, but just like before it was hard to sleep.

Mikey and Leatherhead spent the day in mostly silence. Neither knew what to say or had anything to stay. They just stayed close and took comfort in each other's presence. That night the man who was black came back and Mikey could tell by the way he stormed into the warehouse and shoved in more protein bars and water. It was clear that he hadn't gotten the money he wanted.

Mikey flinched when he saw the man pull out the cow prod. He cried out as it touched his skin and within a few seconds things went dark.

When Mikey woke up he was again tied to a chair. He tried not to look afraid as Bishop came in. He wanted more info, but Mikey was running out of ideas. Bishop didn't like that he wasn't getting anything else out of the teen and if Mikey hesitated for more than a minute Bishop would hit him. In the end Mikey made something up about space dinosaurs who while enemies of the Kanng, but were just as bad. Bishop finial knocked him out again and he woke up in the cage. Leatherhead pulled Mikey close gently.

"I'm so sorry," he said tears clear in his voice.

Mikey shook his head. "Not your fault. You didn't let him out of the hospital and if it wasn't us it would have been someone else."

Leatherhead didn't seem to agree, but he didn't say anything. They quietly ate the power bars and tried to take comfort in one another's presence.

That night Mikey couldn't fall asleep and neither could Leatherhead. They both knew that each day the money wasn't wired was a day closer to death. Even if the money was delivered that didn't mean they were going to be released and with Bishop getting more and more hungry for info the teens didn't have it might not be Bishop's assistant that killed them. Mikey knew if it came down to that he'd have the man kill him first. He knew Leatherhead was probably thinking the same thing, but he wouldn't let him. He felt like he needed to pay for not keeping his boyfriend safe. All those years of ninjutsu had not mattered when he needed them most. What was the point of knowing self defense when you couldn't keep the person you loved most safe? When morning finally came Mikey hoped it was with the chance of freedom and that if it wasn't than they were still alive tomorrow.