*Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise.

*Author's Notes: I've finally returned with a new chapter of 'Slash's Revenge' and it's another emotional one. Things are about to take a turn for the dramatic.

Huge thanks to the following readers for reviewing my last chapter: LittleMiss Icequeen, jgrasper22, Pilyarquitect, animegamefanatic, reader6675, Minnie1015, Missbille, Robinschatz and the numerous guest readers. I appreciate all of you so incredibly much. You are all awesome! Please keep sharing your thoughts with me. It means the world to me to read what you think about my writing.

Okay… Let's get on with the chapter, shall we? I hope you all like it. *fingers crossed*

CJ

Chapter 43 – Missing

Temporarily rendered speechless by Michelangelo's rather shocking announcement, Leonardo and Master Splinter just stood there staring at the youngest turtle as though he had sprouted a unicorn horn in the center of his forehead or something.

Mikey took their lack of response as a need to repeat himself, and so, he did in a shrill voice that echoed off the walls of the entire lair.

"He's gone!"

A few more seconds of stunned silence passed before Leo regained the ability to speak. His own voice coming out just as shrill as Mikey's had, almost as if he was mocking his little brother. "Who's gone?"

At first, Mikey appeared to be offended by the question, until it eventually dawned on him that he had forgotten to specify which brother was missing. A rather important detail he probably shouldn't have omitted. It was no wonder Leo was wigging out.

Oops! My bad…

"Raph!"

"What?!" This was Leo's go-to response for any kind of surprising news. He was constantly howling out the word 'what' even though he had heard the information loud and clear. It was just a Leo thing.

Over the years, Mikey had learned to just roll with it.

"Yeah! Donnie was still asleep, so I went to check on Raph and there was no one in his room. It was totally empty, so I quick checked the kitchen and he wasn't there. And he wasn't watching TV or going to the bathroom, either. Well, I suppose he could be going to the bathroom… Just not in our bathroom. Although I'm not sure why he would go to the bathroom somewhere else, but when a dude's gotta go, you gotta – "

Rolling his eyes towards the ceiling, Leo cut his youngest brother off before he could ramble on any further. "Mikey!"

The orange-masked turtle blushed and let out an embarrassed little chuckle prior to responding. "Sorry… Anyway, the point is, he's not in the lair. It's like he just vanished into thin air." Mikey's voice faded into a soft whimper; his concern for his missing brother quite evident. Upon close inspection, he looked to be on the brink of tears.

Master Splinter placed a paw on his distraught son's shoulder in hopes of comforting him while his oldest son tried his best to process the situation.

Unfortunately, all of Leo's thoughts seemed to lead to one dire conclusion.

"He didn't just vanish, Mikey. He obviously left the lair. And I have a bad feeling I know exactly where he's heading." Forehead crinkling in despair, Leonardo began to nervously pace back and forth, but he soon stopped in his tracks when he saw Donatello hobble into the Dojo.

"Wh – What's going on?" The genius turtle bounced his gaze around the room, from family member to family member. His eyes were red and glassy, presumably from lack of sleep, which immediately made Leonardo feel bad for rousing his wounded brother.

"Sorry for waking you, Donnie."

Though his infected leg was healing nicely, Donatello still walked with a pronounced limp as he approached his father and blue and orange-clad brothers.

"Is everything okay?"

A part of Leo didn't want to tell Donnie what was going on, if only to spare him the additional pain. The smartest turtle had been through enough already.

Unfortunately, Mikey didn't have any qualms with blurting out the truth…

"Raph is missing."

Head dipping down low, Donnie simply breathed out the word "Oh." He felt a pang of guilt gnawing away in the pit of his gut. Donatello couldn't help but to wonder if Raphael had felt this way when he had made him flee the lair that fateful night.

Yeah, right!

Like he even noticed I was gone…

As always, the voices in Donnie's head were quick to taunt him…

"Pathetic! You're worthless, Donnie! Always have been. We're constantly having to save your sorry shell. Look at you. You're nothing but a disgrace."

"You're always screwing everything up, Donnie! How many times have you nearly killed us now? How many times, huh?"

"We'd all be better off without you!"

"All you ever do is put everyone in danger, Donnie! You're supposed to be the smart one, but you ruin everything you touch!"

"I should just leave you here to die."

The words hurt.

They hurt so very much.

Yet despite the pain Raphael had caused him, Donatello still hated the thought that he was the reason his brother had left the safety of their lair.

What if Slash was out there waiting for Raph, just like he had been waiting for Donatello?

The turtle in purple would never be able to forgive himself.

"This is all my fault. We have to find him." No sooner had the words passed Donnie's lips when he was heading for the weapons rack, eager to get his hands on a bo-staff.

Leo caught his brainy brother by the back of his uninjured arm and gave it a good tug so that Donatello spun around to face him. "You're not going anywhere."

The wounded turtle cowered in fear for several drawn-out seconds until he was able to find his voice once again, but it came out meek and apprehensive, stripped of any semblance of confidence. "B – But I h – have – " Alas, Donnie's argument only got three words in before his father held up a paw to stop him. Not that it really mattered. Nothing Donatello could have said or done would have changed Leonardo or Master Splinter's minds on the matter.

"Leonardo is right, Donatello. You cannot be allowed to go up to the surface in your condition. You are to remain here. I will accompany your brothers."

This command did not sit well with the brainy turtle.

No, not well at all…

His immediate older brother could be in danger because of him. Donnie didn't want to be sidelined while the rest of his family was out there putting their lives on the line. "You can't keep me cooped up in the lair forever! You may need my help!"

"While I do not deny that your presence would be greatly beneficial, Donatello, I cannot condone a decision that would put you directly in harm's way. You are still badly injured, my son."

Disappointment swept across Donatello's face as he peered up at his father through impossibly big brown eyes. He looked like one of those sad, pitiful dogs in those depressing TV commercials reaching out for donations for abused animals. Those commercials always made Mikey want to cry, and right now, so did poor Donnie.

Seeing Donnie's pained expression was pulling at Leo's heartstrings as well.

Hadn't his brother been hurt enough?

"I know you want to help, Donnie, but we can't risk losing you again." Leonardo had to pause for composure before he added, "Please understand."

Donatello gently nodded his head, indicating he understood. He made no attempt to hide the dejection in his voice as he spoke. "I – I get it. You don't want me to come with because I'd be a… a liability."

"Donnie…" Leonardo extended a hand towards his injured brother intent on consoling him, but pulled away when Donatello noticeably recoiled, once again frightened by the incoming physical contact.

The scared reaction made Leonardo's blood boil beneath his skin. The leader in blue could still hear Slash's gravelly voice resounding in the back of his head…

"He's never gonna be the same after what I did to him."

Oblivious to Leonardo's inner struggle, Donatello continued to battle his own demons. He rubbed his wounded arm despondently, knowing that his lingering injuries were the reason he was being forced to stay behind.

Just like Leo, Donnie could also hear Slash's voice resounding in his head, belittling him again and again and again…

"You're good for nothing."

"Poor, frail, little Donatello."

"What a disappointment you must be to your fearless leader."

The genius turtle managed to fight back the tears, but could not hide the telltale quiver that came through in his barely audible voice. "It's okay. You're right to think that. I would only slow you down…"

Leonardo wanted so much to comfort his wounded brother, but at the same time, the leader knew he had to be firm and stand his ground. There was no way he was letting Donatello come with. Not so long as that monster was still out there, waiting to pounce.

"You'll be safe here, Donnie. We'll be back soon. I promise."

Looking into Leonardo's eyes, Donatello could see the conviction residing deep within them. His brother truly meant every word he had just said. Still, the purple-clad turtle found himself praying on all that was good that Leo had not just made a vow he could not keep.

With as much confidence as he could muster, Donatello put on a brave face. He didn't want his family to see that this was killing him inside. "I'll hold you to that."

Leonardo forced a smile and prepared to make his exit when Mikey's timid voice sounded out.

"But who's gonna stay with Donnie?"

All eyes fell upon the youngest sibling who looked to be on the verge of a panic attack.

The thought of leaving Donnie all alone in the lair was nothing shy of terrifying. Sure, Mikey understood why his wounded brother couldn't come with, but the turtle in orange didn't want to leave him behind. Not when Donnie was still so broken inside.

"Perhaps April would be willing to come down to the lair and – "

Embarrassed by the insinuation that he required a babysitter, Donatello was quick to interrupt his father midsentence. "No! I don't need anyone to stay here with me. I'll be fine."

"Too late, bro. I already texted her."

Donnie let out a lengthy groan followed by a facepalm. This wasn't the first time he had been burned by Mikey's super-fast typing abilities. The genius wondered how someone with such thick, clumsy fingers could type about a hundred words a minute. He guessed it was just one of those anomalies he would never fully comprehend. Kind of like the success of the whole disco era…

"I'm sure April is already on her way. Let's get going!" The sudden urgency in Leonardo's tone was not lost on the others. The leader then took one last sympathetic glance at Donatello before rushing out of the Dojo, immediately followed by Master Splinter.

Mikey stayed behind just long enough to hear his brainy big brother say, "Be careful."

With two thumbs held high, Michelangelo exited the Dojo, leaving Donatello to worry about his family all by himself.

If not for the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his legs probably would have given out miles ago. He ran as though on autopilot, leaping from building to building without a moment's hesitation. With his body pushed well beyond its limits, each impact sent a wave of pain radiating through him, but his brain had somehow disconnected from any sensation other than anger.

So much anger…

It was an all-too familiar feeling that brought him a strange sense of comfort as he continued to sprint towards his destination.

He had only been in this part of the city once before, but he knew exactly where to go.

Exactly where to find him.

At long last, he reached the building he had been searching for, coming to a skidding halt on the gravelly surface of the rooftop beneath his feet.

Over ten days had passed since he had last been here, but it still felt as though it was only yesterday...

"Are you saying that Donnie's inside this building?"

"Wow! Figure that out all on your own, Leonardo? And here I thought your daddy did all the thinking for you."

"Where inside this building is Donatello located?"

"He's on the eighth floor. Apartment eight-zero-three."

The number of the apartment was forever ingrained in his memory, like a permanent scar in the back of his mind. Just hearing the number made him sick to his stomach. The mere thought of that hideous apartment was almost too much to bear. He could feel his whole body start to shudder.

Keep it together, Raph.

You've gotta keep it together.

Somehow pushing past the nausea twisting in his gut, the turtle in red slipped through the roof access hatch and made his way down the stairs until he came to the door with the faded eight painted on it. When he forced the door open, it once again let out a mighty creak that brought back a floodgate of memories he'd just as soon forget.

He hated this place.

Hated everything about it.

He squinted as he peered down the dark hall in front of him, keeping an eye out for any movement in the shadows. When he saw nothing, he advanced towards the second door on the right, making sure not to make a sound.

Eight-zero-three.

There were the five locks on the outside of the door, just like he remembered. Only this time, they were all unlatched. A disturbing fact that instantly put his nerves on edge even more so than they already were.

Was it unlocked simply because there was no longer anyone to keep held prisoner?

Or was it because someone couldn't lock the doors from the inside?

Raphael swallowed hard as he reached for the doorknob and gave the handle a gentle turn, trying to do so as noiselessly as turtley possible. Once inside, he reached for his trusty sais and gave them a twirl, not for show, but out of involuntary habit.

Things inside the apartment were forebodingly quiet.

Too quiet for Raphael's liking.

There was no 'ploop-ploop' of water. No humming of traffic. No buzzing of streetlights.

There was just the sound of himself breathing.

It was more than a little unsettling.

Doing his best not to gag over the stench still lingering in the air, the red-clad turtle moved on silent feet past the empty bathroom on the left side of the apartment. He didn't need to bother going inside the room. Even in the dark, he could see it was so small, there was nowhere for someone to hide.

With his sais at ready, as though he half-expected someone to jump out at him at any second, he entered the bedroom. Heart thrumming inside his chest at a rampant pace, he narrowed his eyes and intently scanned the room. However, there wasn't a whole lot to see. Like the bathroom, it was a cramped space that didn't provide any place to hide, aside from behind the door which had been the first place Raph had checked.

Tightening his grip around the hilts of his sais, the hotheaded turtle exited the bedroom and headed straight for the main living space of the apartment.

It was something he had been dreading from the time he had left the lair, returning to the very spot his brother had been viciously tortured, but his need for revenge had pushed him onward.

He had a promise to keep, after all…

"I swear on my life that I will make him pay!"

Determination pouring off him in sheets, the temperamental ninja made his way past the cage where Donatello had been held hostage, desperately trying not to look at it. What his eyes couldn't avoid were the blood stains. They were everywhere. The morbid sight of his brother's blood all over the floor was distracting, but Raphael forced himself to look up so he could glance around the living room and kitchen in search of the monster who had hurt his family.

Much to Raph's disgust, that monster was nowhere to be seen.

No!

This couldn't be.

He had to be here.

Raph could smell him all over the damn apartment. Even over the scent of all that blood.

"Slash! Where are you?"

No response followed, but Raph still wasn't convinced he was, in fact, alone.

"SLASH!"

Once again, all that could be heard was the sound of the hotheaded turtle's heavy breathing. Breathing that grew even heavier when he laid eyes on the bloodied object lying in front of his brother's former prison…

"A muzzle? You put a freakin' muzzle on him?!"

Letting out a thunderous growl, Raph rushed forward and furiously drove a sai into the muzzle. The longest tip of his weapon went straight through the offensive device and stuck deep into the hardwood beneath. So deep, it took quite a bit of effort to pull the sai back out. When Raph looked down at the damage he had caused to the floor, he once again found himself staring at the blood smeared all around. Blood that had long since dried to an ugly, dark-brown color, but it still had Raph seeing red.

He could still see Slash towering over all that blood.

Could still hear his gruff voice…

"What the? Where'd he go?"

"Shouldn't we be asking you that?"

"But he was right here when I left! I distinctly remember it! I threw him in the cage after I – "

"After you what?"

"Wire cutters… But – But they were lying in the middle of the – "

"Wire cutters? What the – "

"…"

"What did you do to my brother?!"

Visions of Donatello's mangled forefinger caused Raphael to growl out again, a much more feral sound than the previous one.

That monster had tried to cut Donnie's finger right off, yet Raphael had had the gall to defend him…

"Wait! Are you actually defending his actions!? He was planning on sending you my severed finger!"

"But he didn't! Donnie, listen!"

"I'm through with listening to you! You've always cared about him more than me! Don't deny it! Even now, after he did what he did, you still love him more than you ever did me!"

"Donnie, that's not – "

"Don't lie to me! I know what you really think of me! He told me over and over again! You think I'm weak and useless! An embarrassment to the clan! You wished we were never related! You told him that yourself!"

"Donnie… "

"GO ON! Admit it! Tell me how useless I am again! Tell me how I screw everything up and ruin everything I touch! Say it! Tell me how I'm not worth saving!"

"No."

"HOW COULD YOU?"

"Wh – What?"

"How could you sit there and defend him after everything he's done! Unless… Unless S – Slash was telling the truth all along! You never c – cared about me!"

Donatello believed all the awful things that monster had said and Raphael had no one to blame but himself. The turtle in red had taken Slash's side, even after everything that had happened. Raphael had given his immediate younger brother every reason to believe Slash's words were true.

Utterly ashamed of himself, Raph shook his head in denial, only to lock eyes on the cage that had held his brother captive for all those days. Just the thought of his tallest sibling being cooped up inside that tiny prison cell made the volatile turtle's blood pressure rise to unhealthy levels.

Then, he once again heard the sound of Slash's voice, taunting him…

"He's safe in his cage, where he belongs. Don't worry. I've been taking real good care of him. Me and Donnie-boy spent so much quality time together, you probably won't even recognize him anymore."

Those words had Raph's temper spiraling out of control.

Slash had taken pleasure in hurting his little brother…

"Wow! I really enjoyed hearing your brother scream like that, Raphael. Did you?"

He had taken pleasure in physically and mentally torturing Donnie just to get back at Raphael…

"So, who do you think this'll hurt more, Raphael? Donatello or you?"

And now, Raph and Donnie's relationship may never be mended, all because of Slash's obsessive need for revenge.

Well, it was Raphael's turn for revenge and he was going to make that monster pay, just like he had promised…

"Y – You! You monster! You spineless coward! I will hunt you down and I will take you out! You hear me? TAKE! YOU! OUT! I'll rip your shell off!"

"Slash! I know you're here! I can feel it! Show yourself, Slash!" Raphael's voice bounced off the walls as he called out for his former best friend.

All that followed was the eerie silence, pushing the red-masked turtle past the brink.

"SHOW YOURSELF NOW, OR SO HELP ME!"

Just as he was about to call out a third time, the hotheaded turtle heard the distinct sound of the front door to the apartment creak open.

Once again holding his sais at ready, Raph shifted into a defensive stance, all-too eager to attack the dark, ominous figure drawing near.

This time, he would show no mercy.

To be continued…

*More Author's Notes: Yikes! Stuff's about to hit the fan. Who's ready?

As always, please take a couple of moments to favorite, follow, like, reblog, review and/or comment on this story if you want me to continue posting updates. I really, really, really want to know.

Thank you so very much for reading my story. I truly adore all my readers more than I can possibly say. *big hugs*

CJ