Author's Note: I'm very sorry for the wait. There's no excuse for me for taking this long with the next chapter. My creativity on this chapter is very loose and just made for filler. I had trouble and wanted to make it one chapter, but needed to break it into two parts. Still i hope you like it. Enjoy.

Chapter 31: Questioning

"Alright…that was the eighth one…I need a break," Raph announced to his family, standing up from his seat and stretching his arms out, feeling a few pops in his joints.

"Same here," Leo agreed with his bro, leaning back in his chair in front of the computer and stretching his arms.

"Man I can't believe we found nothing so far," Mikey sighed, leaning back in his chair, not opting to stretch at all.

It had been a few hours since the brothers managed to guess their brother's password. And now in order to find anything that could help them they were watching Don's work logs, seeing if there was something he created that would help. But it was turning into a boring effort since it felt like time was moving very slow. Plus the fact that the logs were usually at least thirty minutes long or more. And the worst thing is that they didn't even put a dent in the amount of logs they watched.

"How much longer should we go?" Raph then asked as he eased himself back into his chair. Now looking at his brothers. He just asked not because the boredom was getting to him, Sooner or later they would need to crash. It's already night and possible late since they hadn't checked the time at all.

Leo understood his brother's reasoning as a yawn left his mouth, the boredom and the time didn't mix. The leaf green turtle is tired, but knew they had to keep going until they were ready to drop, that's how determined they were.

"Just a few more…I know it's taking long but we have to at least keep going for as long as we can," He explained to them, leaning back in the seat to rest more.

"Do not over exert yourselves my sons, as much as you want to continue you still need your rest," Splinter explained, sitting in a much more comfy chair provided by his sons. His voice sounding a bit softer and somewhat strained.

The aged rat may have looked fine on the outside but despite all that he'd been through he's tired. The fur below his eyes darken some, showing how little sleep he had gotten. Still, even though he's tired he went on with his sons, hoping to be with them if they managed to find something. It just took one look at their father for the boys to know this.

"Master Splinter…why don't you get some sleep," Raph is the first to speak up.

"Do not worry about me I'll be fine," the rat responded with a shake of his head.

"You know Sensei, it's alright," Mikey said next, backing up his older brother. "We know you're tired and need rest as well."

"I can handle it my sons," The rat spoke up, once again dismissing the offer to leave. "Despite my age I can still go a long while without sleep."

"Sensei please," Leo went last, the other two hoping that he could get through to their stubborn father. "Like you've said before, we're young, we can recover faster, but you…uh…"

Both of Splinter's eyes narrowed, almost in a way that said, 'you best pick your next words carefully'. "Yes Leonardo?" he asked, in a warning tone.

Now Leo was fumbling for words, as it seems things have entered a dangerous area. Now he had to pick the next few words carefully, and hopefully they weren't the wrong ones. "Sensei I wasn't trying to make any negative comments it's just…well…out of us all you've had it the worst. It's starting to take a toll and we still need you there for guidance. Plus also if there's another chance if we encounter Donny, then we'll going to need you most of all at full strength if we're going to get him back."

Right after that silence filled the lab as both Mikey and Raph looked between their brother and father. Now worried what was going to happen now that Leo had said his piece. Both of the rat's eyes continued to narrow as the words process, his face showing no sign of what he could be thinking.

Finally after an eerie silence Splinter's face softened with a sigh, shoulder's slumping and body relaxing. The fatigue that had been building up had finally started to show. "You are right Leonardo, I am more tired than I'm letting on. It just pains me to stand on the sidelines once again when you all are so close."

His three sons seemed to relax at their father's words, still at a loss for words. Mikey then spoke up, "But Sensei, you've done enough."

"No I haven't," he shook his head. "For over a year I've been staying back, not doing anything. As a parent it's my duty to find my son…I miss Donatello so much and I can't bear to stand back and do nothing else."

"But sensei you're not standing back," Raph took over, knowing he had to reassure his father. "We all need rest, taking the time to recover isn't a bad thing. We care about you…and…we don't want to lose another family member."

All three of them were surprised at Raph's words, not sure if he even said it. But it eventually sank in as his words were true, and Splinter is touched by his son's concerns. And in all honesty he knew they were right about his wellbeing, and as much as it pained him he needed to give into it.

"All three of you are right…I'll go and retire for the night," he responded softly, getting up from his seat.

"Raph can you help him?" Leo asked his red clad brother.

"I do not require that," Splinter reassured.

"It's no problem at all," Raph responded as he stood up and went to his father's side. "All in all just to get out of the lab for even a minute."

"Thank you my son," the rat except the offer as he walked out of the lab and towards his room, Raph following right behind him.

Once the two were gone Mikey then sat back down in his chair to face his older brother, "Ok what's next?"

The blue clad ninja turned back to the screen and looked at the next log, "It's says cells."

Splinter's bedroom slid open silently as the rat walked in, letting out a small yawn as he trekked about. Every single movement seemed to take up more energy as the sight of his bed neared, never really knowing how tired he was. Right behind him Raph entered and closed the door behind them, turning to watch his father go over to his bed.

"You don't have to stay Raphael," Splinter ended up saying as he noticed his son is in the room with him.

"Nah I just want to make sure you're ok before I leave," He responded, still by the door.

"Still it isn't necessary," Splinter kept on protesting as he placed his walking stick on the table.

Raph just looked at the ground, taking a breath before he answered, "It's not just that…There was something else."

Both of Splinter's ears perked as he heard this, hearing a bit of distressed in his son's voice. This is a dead giveaway that something important was going to be said, "What is it Raphael?"

"I…I'm…" he tried to say, but had trouble trying to say it.

"Take your time my son, there's no rush," Splinter walked to the turtle's side, placing a comfortable paw on his shoulder.

Both of Raph's eyes closed, feeling a bit better as he felt his father's paw on him, giving a bit more confidence. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" asked a surprised Splinter, not sure why his son would be asking for forgiveness.

"For letting Donny get away…I had the chance to bring him back but I failed. The once in a lifetimes chance and I blew it," his eyes remained closed as he said this.

"Raphael," Splinter spot, his eyes going soft after hearing what his son had said. Apparently he felt bad for not being able to get Don back, and the failure of it has brought him down. Still even on his own and from what was explained the red clad turtle did everything he could. "You have nothing to be ashamed of, you did all you could."

"But I could have done more, yet I didn't," He still looked at the ground, not wanting to look his father in the eye. "I'm usually stronger than Don and much better trained, but…I guess I was wrong, and he got the better of me."

"You were unprepared for what was going to happened. Whatever the Foot has done to Donatello is a mystery to us, all the way to the point where he could maybe be better than all of you," Splinter sighed as he spoke, trying to be blunt yet reassuring. "You will encounter your brother again, but when that time comes things will go our way."

"But Master I may have blew the only chance we had, I don't think-" Raph didn't get to finish as he was cut off.

"We will, my son try and not be negative about this, we will find your brother."

It's hard to argue with his father's reasoning, he never had to doubt him at all in his life. Every time he and his brothers trust his father's words he always turned out to be right. And why should he questioned it now? "I…yes sensei," he bowed to his father, also feeling somewhat better for some reason.

"If you ever need to talk-"

"I know," He cut his father off. "You'll always here."

"Of course…" Splinter then let out a yawn as he turned and headed for his bed.

"Sleep well sensei," Raph bowed once more as he turned and headed out of the room.

The whole world completely mute to Donatello as he remained stunned stiff. All sorts of noise going on but his system not registering it as he continued to look at the bond appearance of his one and only human friend. Just the sight of it made him look like a prisoner…mainly a trespasser who's being interrogated for some reason.

When his sensei questioned his loyalty Don knew that he could be trusted, but that wasn't enough. Shredder wanted proof that his student could be trusted, which came the next part. After following him Don found himself in some sort of interrogation room, which was outlined with tiles that were stained with blood. Most of which is dry, any wet blood went down a drain that is in the room. And to his surprise Gavin all tied up and beaten up some, whatever Shredder wanted him to do, it Involved Gavin.

"Gavin…what did you do?" He thought to himself, jaw still dropped and shocked. But everything around him slowly started to come back like a crashing car.

"Junko!" Oroku called out, causing his student to jump.

"Uh…yes?" He turned towards him, breathing quickened a bit from the small scare.

"I know you are wondering what is going on here," Shredder said as he walked about the room, arms behind his back and acting in a cool demeanor. Almost as if he has done this kind of thing already. "Gavin here is not what he claims to be…I thought he was a trusted scientist that had all my best interest in heart but it turns out that I was wrong."

"Wh-What do you mean?" Don asked in a unsettling voice, eyes never leaving his sensei.

Kneeling next to Gavin he grabbed a fist full of hair, roughly pulling his head up so he could look at the turtle. "He happens to be a spy sent here to steal all the valuable secrets I have."

"What!?" his heart skipped a beat as he heard this, not believing what he's being told. "N…No…that can't be…Gavin can't…no he wouldn't…"

"He did!" Oroku roughly shoved Gavin's head to the side as he got up, now a bit angered. "My men have had their suspicious of a spy within our ranks for some time now, but we couldn't find any traces at all. Gavin here seems to be a professional at covering his tracks, but in the end we got him."

This left Don speechless, not sure what to say or even if he should say anything. Was what his sensei saying really true? Or was it a lie just to turn him against his only friend?

"No…sensei wouldn't do that, he has never lied to me before, and why would he start now? Unless he knows this and is lying right now…but…what if he isn't?"

"But…how do you-" Don began talking but Oroku interrupted him, holding something up for him to see.

"Recognize this?" his eyes narrowed, looking at his student directly, and mentally smirking as he saw both eyes raise up in shock.

Don was stunned to see a CD case in his sensei's hand, with a familiar CD within the case labeled with his handwriting. "No…that's my…program…I didn't show anyone else that…but…"

"He…He had it?" Don breathed out.

"More like stole from your lab," Oroku announced sneered, both of them now looking down at Gavin. The bound human just turned his head, not wanting to look anyone in the eye, especially his only friend.

"So it is true?" Don moved closer and kneeled down. "Answer me…Gavin answer me."

Don watched as his only friend adverted all eye contact, almost as if he was ashamed at what was being asked. Silence filled the room as the black clad turtle waited for an answer, not truly believing what was being said. Sadly a nod confirmed his dread, add more shock and also betrayal for him. Gavin would have said it himself but thank the gag for that.

"No…No, why would-how could-Why did-" Don could hardly speak as the new revelation was heard, leaving him shocked for words.

"It's because he's a spy," Oroku said, voice now getting serious, now gaining the attention of both of them. As well as shocking Gavin some, muffling some words that were not understandable.

"A spy?" Don gasped.

"Yes, a spy," Oroku confirmed as he delivered a punch to the right side of Gavin. A loud muffled grunt of pain being heard as he fell to the ground. A bruise already starting to form as a muffled groan could be heard. Oroku seemed to be getting angrier by the minute. "We only found out about it, he's liked to all of us. He works for a rival company in another state and was sent here to steal our secrets. I can't believe one of my most trusted scientist turned out to be a spy!" He then kicked the downed man in the stomach, causing more painful groans to expel from his gagged mouth, now curling up on the cold floor.

"But…that can't be, He never gave me a reason to think of him like that," Don tried to argue, a side of him still not accepting the fact of his one and only friend here.

"Junko…he has been tricking you," Oroku moved closer to his student, eyes changed to ones of concern as he placed both hands on the turtle's shoulders. "He lied to you, he never was your friend."

"Mmph!" Gavin spoke out almost immediately, his words unintelligible to all. But this action definitely caught the turtle's attention, curious as to what he's trying to say.

"Ignore him," Oroku turned his student's attention back to him. "Think about it Junko, after you got here you started to do amazing things, and came up with programs, projects and the like that none of the scientist could ever dream of. And then Gavin here comes in and tries to be all nice, and what for? To gain your trust and friendship."

"But…but…" Don looked down at the floor, the words stinging big time as they could be possible. And now it majorly made him question his friendship with Gavin, especially since he took his firewall bypass program. He hadn't even used that program yet and only showed him it recently. "I just…I'm not…"

"You don't believe me, don't you?" Oroku frowned, a look of hurt displayed as his student took a sharp intake of breath.

"N-N-No! That's not what I meant!" Don tried to reassure, but it seemed like it was a bit too late.

"Then listen to this then Junko, why is it out of all the other people here why did only Gavin befriend you? How come the only one who's different out of everyone here he choose you to bond with? He knows of your talent, and because of the organization he works for your inventions would be a gold mine for him to steal."

All Don did is stand there, mouth dropping a bit as all these facts were listed. He had no idea what to say, mostly because the more he thought about it the more it all rang true. "No one else chose to befriend me…except Gavin, but…no wait he started to talk to me before I started to work on the inventions…but yet…he did admit to working for another company."

"And I assume he spoke to you about…maybe leaving here, didn't he?" Oroku then asked, which caused Gavin and don to widen their eyes in surprise, both thinking on how he knew that as another silence fell upon the room.

Shredder looked upon his student, still able to see the shock on his face and a bit of hesitance. He waited for an answer but knew it wouldn't come since he wouldn't know what to say. "Don't worry Junko, you can tell me, I won't get angry."

This ease the black clad turtle a bit, still it didn't fully ease his beating heart as the same fear remained. He had to say something but worried what would really happen if he told the truth. But still his sensei never gave a reason to be doubted, nor a reason why he would lie at all.

Slowly he nodded, "Yes, sensei, he did." He responded, in the end Don couldn't lie to him at all, even if it was to save his own life. There wasn't a clear explanation why, but he just did.

"Just as I thought," Oroku nodded, then looked upon his student with a grave face. "Think about it Junko. He steals your work, he befriends you, and the fact that he asked if you wanted to leave? He was trying to steal you away from us and take you to his company."

Immediately Gavin started to shout through his gag, but the words were still muffled. Obviously the statement setting him off and sort of angry. Don really wanted to know what was being said but didn't dare ask of it. But yet the message started to process in his head, and the more he thought about it the more it started to ring true.

"He wanted to take me away? Is that his true intentions? So does that mean he wasn't my friend to begin with?" He thought to himself as he looked at Gavin's direction, whose eyes were locked onto the turtle, almost as if he was trying to say something.

"Gavin, is that true?" he asked out of reaction, wanting to know this truth badly. At the sound of those words Gavin shook his head and muffled out what could have been a no.

"He lies," Oroku said, gaining his student's attention. "He'll say anything to try to save himself. And this is where your test comes into play."

Don gulped as Oroku turned and walked over to one of his Foot ninja, who respectfully presented a single katana. The pristine blade shined in the light as Shredder grabbed the weapon, and turned back to his student, walking towards him.

"Junko, your loyalty has come into question, all of which I don't want to believe in. I need to know that I can still trust you with everything I've shown you. So here, right this very moment," he then gave the blade to the turtle, who is shocked as the realization of what's going on finally present itself.

"Kill Gavin."

A/N: Hope you like. once again it's a filler to me, and is setting up for something I already know you all know. Still it's a set up for it. Once again i'm sorry for the long wait, I tried big time with it and didn't come out the way I wanted it to. And chances are the next chapter might be short. So i'm sorry for that too. Still i thank you all for still following the story. Till next time.