A/N:A Thank you all for the reviews. Ch 20 coming at ya. Enjoy and as always see ch 1 for disclaimer

Ch 20 A Flicker of Hope

"Whewie!" Bebop cried out, after the initial shock wore off. "Master you look good. Those turtles don't stand a chance in Hell now!"

"You did good turtle," Tiger Claw said, looking at Donnie.

"Yeah I must agree," Donnie said with a satisfied smirk. "I've really out done myself this time."

"I want to see for myself," Shredder boomed, his new voice being deeper and louder than his old one. He walked over to the mirror and looked at himself. What he saw both shocked him and pleased him at the same time. He had grown in mass. His muscles were as big as boulders and his armor seamed to have grown as well. His blades were bigger and sharper and his mask had become something that looked like an alien face. Shredder's veins were bulging and seamed to be glowing from the mutagen that was inside them. "Excellent," he said as he balled his fists as swung his blades at the near by cement pole. The blades easily sliced through the cement, which pleased the Shredder greatly. He was about to speak when suddenly the alarms went off, indicating someone was there. "Is it the turtles?" Shredder demanded.

"Yeah its them," Bebop declared as he checked the monitors. "And their annoying friends too."

"Good," Shredder said, examining his blades. "Make sure they come to me."

"Yes Master," the group said as the dispersed. Shredder eagerly awaited the turtles' arrival, the thought of revenge further fueling his rage.

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Leo and his friends approached the warehouse. They were met by April and Casey. "Hey guys," April said with a wave.

"Where's Donnie?" Leo asked, deciding to get right to the point.

"Inside," Casey said, pointing to the building. "But there's somethin' you.." But Leo paid him no attention and brushed past him and April, heading right for the warehouse. "Leo wait!" Casey cried out.

"Leo dude just stop for a minute," Mikey cried out, trying to catch up with his brother.

"Leonardo stop!" Splinter commanded. This caused Leo to instantly stop. The blue masked turtle turned and faced Splinter. "It is not wise to go rushing into a dangerous situation without a plan," the brown coated rat said.

"Sensei I don't have time for plans," Leo declared, shocking everyone.

"But Leo you're always the one that insists on havin' a game plan," Mondo said, scratching his head in confusion.

"Donnie's in there Mondo!" Leo cried out. "We have to rescue him. The more time we waste planning and we could lose him again!"

"Leo if we go in there without a plan bad things could happen," Karai pointed out.

"I'm aware of that Karai," Leo snapped, glaring at his sister.

"You could get yourself killed idiot," Slash snapped back.

"So what if I do?" Leo shot back. Everyone exchanged looks of worry and concern when he said this part. But Leo continued saying, "I'll go in and distract them that way the rest of you can grab Donnie and get him out of there."

"Hold it right there Leo," Raph said, wheeling himself in front of his brother. "You ain't sacrificin' yourself."

"I'm the leader Raph," Leo said, his voice low and dark. "If I have to let myself die in order to save Donnie then so be it."

"I knew it was a bad idea for you to come," Karai said. "You're still in suicidal mode." April and Casey's eyes went wide and they exchanged confused looks.

"Whoa say what?" Casey said, his black eyes huge.

"Leo tried to kill himself," Karai informed the teens. They both gasped and April put her hand to her mouth. "And it looks like he's still on the 'I wanna kill myself' kick," Karai continued, glaring at her directly younger brother

"Karai.." Leo began. But he didn't get a chance to finish. Splinter looked at Leatherhead and Slash and nodded. Without saying a word the alligator and snapping turtle went into action. Leatherhead grabbed Leo by his arms and put him in the back of the Shell Raiser. Slash tied Leo to one of the seats, making sure the knots were tight enough to hold without hurting him. "Hey!" Leo cried out, struggling against Leatherhead's grip. But he still was weak so he couldn't put up much of a fight. "Untie me!" Leo shouted, struggling against the ropes. "C'mon guys this isn't funny. Let me go."

"If this is what is takes to make sure you don't try nothin' then so be it," Slash said as he tied the final knot.

"Hey wait," Leo cried out as the group was leaving. "Look I didn't mean what I said ok? I'm not looking to kill myself. I swear I'm not. I just want to save Donnie. Please just let me save my little brother. Its my fault he got captured. I have to make it right. Please don't take that from me." By now Leo's voice had become desperate and pleading. Mikey went to untie his brother. But he was stopped by Splinter.

"Sensei he just wants to help us," Mikey declared. "We can't leave him here alone. What if someone comes? He won't even be able to defend himself."

"I'll stay with 'im," Mondo volunteered. "I'll make sure nothin' happens to 'im."

"Thank you Mondo," Splinter said with a grateful smile. Then he looked at Leo, who gave him a pleading look.

"Sensei please," Leo began.

"I am sorry Leonardo," Splinter said, his voice full of sadness. "But this is for your protection." With that Mondo climbed in the back of the Shell Raiser and shut the doors. The rest of the group headed inside the warehouse hoping they'd be able to save Donnie.

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Splinter and the rest of the group were making their way towards the entrance of Shredder's lair. But they didn't make it very far before they were ambushed. Tiger Claw, Dog-Pound, Fishface, Bebop and Rocksteady were all there and the group attacked. Donnie was also there but he remained off to the side. "Leonardo isn't there," he thought to himself. "He must be around here somewhere." Donnie went off to search for Leo. But Tiger Claw noticed and followed Donnie while the others took on the rest of the group. "Wahoo!" Bebop cried out as he swooped towards the group, firing his lasers at them. Dr. Rockwell fired his own shot at the warthog but missed. "Yeah can't catch me son!" Bebop taunted. "My suit is new and improved!" With that he fired another shot at the group, knocking them all backwards, where Rocksteady, Dog-Pound and Fishface were waiting. While the group was still reeling from the blast Rocksteady took the opportunity to hit Slash, Leatherhead and Splinter as hard as he could, sending the crashing into the ground. Rocksteady then delivered another hard hit before they could recover. At the same time Dog-Pound took out Mikey, April and Karai while Fishface took out Raph and Casey. Fishface made sure Raph got knocked away from his chair, thinking that would cause him not to be able to move. But to the mutant's surprise Raph kicked him as hard as he could. This caught the purple skinned fish off guard and he stumbled and fell. But the effort from the kick took more energy that Raph had expected and he couldn't deliver another kick. But Fishface and his cohorts soon remembered the plan and drew back slightly, giving the group time to recover. "Where is my son?" Splinter demanded, glaring at the group.

"Oh you want your son do you?' Bebop mocked. "Well if you want him you'll have to come get him." With that Bebop let out an evil laugh and soared back inside with the rest of the group behind him.

"Whoa that was like majorly weird," Casey declared, scratching his head.

"Never mind about that," Karai snapped as she ran inside the building. "Lets go!" Dr. Rockwell and Leatherhead looked at Slash, who nodded. Mikey helped Raph back in his chair and they too, along with Splinter, April and Casey raced inside the building.

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Meanwhile Donnie had found the Shell Raiser. "I bet those idiots left it unlocked," he thought with a laugh. "Time to take back what I gave them." With that Donnie opened up the back doors. He saw Leo tied inside. When Leo saw Donnie his blue eyes widened in surprise.

"Donnie," Leo began.

"Well looks like it my lucky night," Donnie sneered.

"Donnie please just listen to me," Leo pleaded. "You're not yourself. Shredder has you under a mind control drug."

"I knew you would try something like this," Donnie growled. "I should just finish you off right now. But there'd be no fun in that. So I'm gonna do you a favor." With that Donnie reached down and untied Leo. The blue masked turtle stood.

"Donnie thank you," Leo said with a smile. But his smile quickly vanished when Donnie took out his bo and swung it hard taking Leo to the ground. Donnie was about to hit him again when Mondo came swooping out from where he'd been hiding.

"Cowabunga!" the orange skinned gecko cried as he kicked Donnie hard, sending him to the ground. Mondo grabbed his skateboard and was about to hit Donnie with it when Leo stopped him.

"No!" Leo cried out. "Don't hurt him Mondo!"

"But Leo.." Mondo began.

"He's my little brother," Leo pointed out. "I can't let my little brother get hurt." Leo looked at Donnie, who was staring at him with wide brown eyes.

"Leo.." he began, his voice soft and caring as if the old Donnie was coming back. Leo saw the sparkle in Donnie's eyes. but that didn't last long. Donnie shook his head to clear it and the cold Donnie was back. "The Master has need of both of you," came his cold voice. Mondo and Leo exchanged confused looks but before either one of them could say anything Donnie picked up his bo and swung sending both mutants into a world of black.

A/N well there you have it folks ch 20 complete. Review please.