A/N The usual thanks to my ever loyal reviewers and readers. Ch 19 coming at ya and warning heavy swearing ahead.. Enjoy and as always see ch 1 for disclaimer
Ch 19 Laying Down the Law
Everyone looked at Raphael, shocked at the words that were coming out of his mouth. "Raphael," Splinter began.
"No Father I'm sorry but I gotta be honest here," Raphael began. "I ain't one to sugar coat things. Never have been. Never will be."
"Raph you don't seriously mean you wish Leo would have died do you?" Karai asked, her brown eyes wide.
"No Karai I don't wish that," Raphael snapped, rolling his green eyes. Then he turned towards Leonardo, who was staring at him with wide blue eyes. "Leo what you did was selfish!" Raphael cried out. "Not to mention stupid! What the Hell were you thinking?!"
"I wasn't thinking," Leonardo admitted, lowering his eyes. "I..I was just so depressed. I..I thought everyone would be better off without me here to screw things up."
"Well that's some serious bull shit if I ever heard it," Raphael growled.
"Raph c'mon," Michelangelo pleaded, not wanting a fight to break out between his brothers. "Be nice."
"Like I said Mikey I don't sugar coat things," Raphael declared. "I call bull shit when I hear it."
"Raph I admit I did a stupid thing," Leonardo said, wiping his eyes in frustration. "Ok?"
"No," Raphael growled, getting within inches of his slightly older brother's face. "Not ok Leo."
"Raphael," Splinter tried again. But once again his second oldest son cut him off.
"No Father he doesn't get to just shrug this off," Raphael cried out.
"Raphael," Slash said, hoping Raphael would listen to him. "There's a time and place for things."
"Yeah here and now!" Raphael shouted, surprising his snapping turtle friend. "He tried to fucking kill himself Slash! He tried to take the coward's way out. And that's fucked up! Do you know how many times I though about fuckin' killin' myself?! A lot. But I never did. Because I knew that was the cowardly thing to do. And I couldn't do that to my family."
"Perhaps we should go," Dr. Rockwell suggested, felling uneasy with the situation. The monkey didn't like arguments. Especially ones where he felt in the middle.
"No you guys don't have to go," Leonardo said, still staring at his slightly younger brother. "Because I'm sure whatever Raph's gonna say will be heard all over the lair anyways. So you may as well hear it now."
"You're damn right it will be!" Raphael shouted, balling his fists up in anger.. "You got a Hell of a lot of never tryin' to kill yourself Leo. You call yourself a ninja? Would a ninja do what you did? Hell no they wouldn't. Because a true ninja ain't a fuckin' coward like you!"
"I already admit I made a mistake," Leonardo shot back, the anger boiling up inside of him. "What the Hell else do you want from me Raph?!"
"A mistake?!" Raphael cried, his voice coming out very high pitched. "A mistake?! A mistake is forgetting to do something or letting Donnie get captured. A mistake isn't trying to kill yourself Leo!"
"Raph," Michelangelo began. But the look his brother gave him mad the orange masked turtle quickly shut his mouth. He even backed up to stand with Mondo and Leatherhead, who were standing awkwardly by the door, not quite sure what then should do.
"No Mikey Leo expects everyone to feel sorry for him and that ain't happenin'," Raphael snarled, still staring down his blue masked brother.
"I don't expect sympathy from anyone Raphael," Leonardo snarled, throwing back his covers and getting out of bed. Leonardo got in front of Raphael's chair. "Least of all from you," he growled, his voice low and dark. A sort of smile came across Raphael's face and he gripped the arms of his chair and stood so that he was directly facing his older brother.
"I don't have sympathy for people that just wanna give up Leonardo!" Raphael growled, shoving Leonardo. Leonardo fell to the ground. Due to his blood loss he wasn't as strong as he usually was and he struggled to get up. Raphael stumbled a little at the force of shoving his brother and he too fell. Michelangelo went to help his brothers but they both shot him death looks and he backed up. Splinter was about to say something when Slash's T-com beeped.
"Yeah what," Slash growled into the device.
"Slash its April," came April's voice. "You and the others need to come right now to the lower East side. Donnie's here and it looks like there's trouble."
"Right," Slash said, snapping his device closed. "We've got trouble," he informed the group. The snapping turtle informed the group of what April had just told him.
"Lets go," Raphael said as he climbed into his chair.
"I'm comin' too," Michelangelo declared. Dr. Rockwell opened his mouth to protest but the orange masked turtle held up his hand. "I'll be fine," he insisted. "And I'm not gonna argue on this." With that the youngest turtle exited the room with the rest of group behind him.
TMNTTMNTTMNT
Minutes later the group was getting in the Shell Raiser. Leonardo began to climb in but Splinter grabbed his arm. "Leonardo you should not be going," the wise old rat said gently.
"Sensei I've gotta go," Leonardo insisted. "If there's a chance we could get Donnie back I've gotta go."
"Leo maybe you should stay here," Karai put in, not wanting her brother to further injure himself.
"I'm fine Karai," Leonardo snapped as he brushed past his sister and father and got into the Shell Raiser.
"If you are going then I am going as well," Splinter declared, sitting beside Michelangelo and Mondo.
"Fine lets just go," Leonardo said, impatiently as he climbed into the driver's seat.
"Perhaps I should.." Dr. Rockwell began. But the glare Leonardo shot him caused him to fall silent. After everyone was buckled in Leonardo floored the gas and the group was off.
TMNTTMNTTMNT
Meanwhile in the lower East Side Donatello was finishing the latest mutagen he had mixed. Stockman was gladly helping the turtle, knowing that if there was a screw up Donatello would take the blame and not him. Just then Shredder entered the room. "Is it done yet?" the evil ninja demanded.
"Yes Master its complete," Donatello informed Shredder, showing him the completed product.
"Good," Shredder said, grabbing the vial of mutagen and walking away with it. "Come Donatello we have much work to do," Shredder said.
"Master may I ask a question?" Donatello began.
"You may speak," Shredder said.
"You had me create this new mutagen," Donatello said. "But you didn't have me steal any DNA or have any new test subjects brought here. Why is that?"
"We will not be needing any DNA," Shredder informed the teen turtle. "This new mutagen should be able to make anyone who comes in contact with it have enhanced abilities, including the ability to heal and enhanced strength."
"But why no test subjects?" Donatello asked, still not understanding what Shredder's whole plan was.
"I do not have any need for test subjects," Shredder declared. "I am going to use the mutagen on myself."
"Master forgive me but are you sure that's wise?" Donatello asked, his brown eyes wide.
"You will do as you're told turtle!" Shredder growled, causing Donatello to jump. "And you will not question me again! Understood?!"
"Yes Master," Donatello said with a bow. "Forgive me. I will do as you wish."
"Good," Shredder said as the entered his room. Stockman had already set up the IVs and the machines that would monitor Shredder's vitals. Tiger Claw was also in the room in case he was needed. Shredder said nothing more. He merely got into bed and Stockman inserted to IVs in his arms. Donatello then administered the mutagen and watched as it flowed into the Shredder's body.
TMNTTMNTTMNT
A couple of hours later the process was complete. Dog-Pound, Fishface, Bebop and Rocksteady were waiting outside for news on their master. Donatello emerged from Shredder's room with a smile on his face. "Well?" Dog-Pound snapped impatiently. "Did it work?"
"See for yourself," was all Donatello said as he stepped to the side. The group's eyes went wide at what they saw.
"He-he's so huge," Bebop gaped, peering over his sunglasses.
"He not Shredder anymore," Rocksteady said in awe. "Is Super Shredder now."
A/N well there you have it ch 19 complete. What did you all think? Review please.