NTSA ch 4

[blkdragonqueen]

Never The Same Again Part 1- Perfectly Tarnished

Surprise! Did anyone see the small picture of the SAINW turtles during Turtles Forever when The Shredder was going through the different worlds? I did and so here's chapter four. Since Cover Me is still uncompleted if I DO start into this fic once more the updates will be sporadic and far between. I am so sorry! ;_; -Sigh- Un-edited. Sorry for any and all mistakes!

Refresh your memories! On Fanfic.net! or here on LJ -> Chapter One // Chapter Two // Chapter Three || The Index!

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Chapter Four: The Speculations

The warehouse was very much a warehouse. A giant empty building filled with nothing but cleared space aside from a small side walled off to create an office and the catwalks all up above their heads. The large empty brackets from where the large machinery had once stood the only testament to there once being life in the building. It was much larger then the old one where the vehicles Don had almost built from scratch were rusting. It was almost depressing in a way.

Don sighed as he looked around watching as everyone scrambled to get everything secure before the sun rose and Shredder’s helicopter patrols were in the air once again. It was almost complete chaos. Everyone was running back and forth, the sound of trucks being backed into the next warehouse a steady rumble. It was pandemonium everywhere.

With a frown, Don looked down at the box of assorted stuff that had been shoved into his arms by Angel as Mike went to stow the truck. Among the items there was even an extra gun clip next to a spare can of grease. Cringing just a bit, Don looked around for a place to get rid of the thing.

“You look lost,” a voice chuckled behind him and Don turned around to find a young girl no older than himself or how old he saw himself.

“Err… yeah,” he said sheepishly as he held out the box. “I wasn’t sure where this would go.”

“I’ll take it,” she smiled as she easily grabbed the edge and set it under her arm.

Don blinked. “Um, thanks.”

“No problem,” the girl grinned. She did not move away from him. Don fought the urge to fidget.

“Lydia, don’t you have some other things to be attending to?” A voice drawled and the girl gave Angel a quick frown before she scuttled off.

“Thanks,” Don sighed in relief.

“Sorry about that,” Angel snickered as she guided Donatello over to the far side of the building. “You can understand that you’re a bit of a curiosity.”

“Well, Mikey said that everyone was use to him and Leo and Raph when they come over but I’m still not use to having so many eyes on me.”

“True,” Angel smiled. “Last time we saw you it was when you and the others were still widely unknown by the general public.”

“Everyone knows?” Don gasped as he turned to look at Angel in stupefied shock. “Not just the group here but everyone?”

“Which is not necessarily a good thing,” a deep voice spoke up from the shadows. Don whirled around and glanced down as Hun rolled up to him.

Stockman’s floating eyeball swiveled to look at his reluctant host. “Now, now,” he said in a chastising tone. “Let us not scare the poor thing.” The eye swiveled to look at the turtle and Don instantly took a small step back and bumped into Angel who was frowning at the brain in the jar. Stockman chuckled. “He’s been through enough already I think.”

Don frowned as he looked back at Hun. “I don’t understand.”

“Shredder has promised Hun’s former position to anyone who finds and turns in one of us,” Mike growled as he came up to the group, glaring at both Hun and Stockman. “As you can imagine, it is a tempting proposition for those in the work chains. Not to mention the street forces and the actual foot ninja’s themselves.”

Hun made a quick scoff of disgust as he wheeled back and spun his chair around, heading back to where April was directing everyone. Don watched them go apprehensively before he turned to Mike who was still watching the two former members of Shredder’s inner workings. “They’ll turn us in without a second’s thought, won’t they?” he asked quietly.

“Can you blame them?” Mike sighed.

Don’s eyes went wide. “But you’re fighting the Shredder! Doesn’t that count for something?”

“When weighed against real food and an actual bed, it’s surprisingly not that much,” Mike shook his head. “Anyway, here.”

Don’s arm was suddenly filled once again as Mike lifted the pack that Don hadn’t even noticed he had and pressed it into his arm. “A tent?” Don asked baffled as recognition finally set in. He glanced around amazed to see that others were setting up tents or sleeping bags around the floor of the warehouse. He looked back at Mike in surprise.

Mike quirked an eye ridge and snickered. “Quick on the uptake today, aren’t’ we?”

Don gave him an exasperated look. “It’s been a long day,” he chuckled. “Give me some credit.”

The other turtle just snickered before he caught Don’s elbow. “This way genius.”

Don gave Mike a sideways glance as he was steered towards the far corner. It was the only one without a door and far enough away from the windows that had a nice full view of the entire warehouse. “Strategic,” he murmured.

“Indeed,” Mike snickered. “Do you need help with the tent?” Don gave him another disbelieving look and Mike actually ducked his head in embarrassment. “Right. Sorry.”

Don shook his head. He could actually understand Mikey’s awkwardness if it had truly been over thirty years as the evidence clearly showed despite Don’s continued disbelief. “Actually, if you wouldn’t mind,” he said slowly. “These things are always twice as hard without the instructions.”

The smallest twitch of a smile crept over Mike’s face as he snagged the zipper and pulled. “Well, well, well. Will wonders never cease?”

It took them about twenty minutes to set up the single pup tent and it was more because of the awkwardness between the two turtles than the actual complication of setting up the tent. With a small sigh, Don gave Mike a thumb’s up. “Huh,” he laughed as he got up. “Guess I didn’t really need your help after all.”

Mike chuckled as he gave Don’s shoulder a rather forceful pat. “Yeah, you’re a genius.”

Don just grinned before he glanced around. “So where’s yours?” he asked a bit puzzled. “I could give you some tips.”

Mike just grinned and slowly leaned forward. “You’re looking at it,” he chuckled as he tilted his head towards the now perfectly set up tent.

Don’s eyes just went wide in surprise before he glanced down at the completed structure. The tent was only large enough for one of their large bulk and Mikey, rather Mike, was so much larger in his adult form. “But-”

“Don’t worry about it,” Mike chuckled, throwing his arm around Don’s shoulders, refusing to allow himself to think about just how narrow and small those shoulders felt. “I have first shift any how.” Don still looked hesitant however and Mike sighed. “Look, I’ll wake ya when my shift ends. Is that better?” The shoulders relaxing under his arm told Mike that it was.

“I’m so sorr-”

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” Mike growled, pulling Don closer to his side.

Don nodded. “Thanks,” he said instead.

“That’s better,” Mike nodded sharply as he pulled away. Don instantly felt the loss of the comfort Mike’s embrace gave him and was once more floating alone in the sea of his confusion. “Now get some rest,” Mike told him.

“Oh but I couldn’t.”

“Nonsense,” Mike interrupted him once again. “You got maybe two hours sleep before and that had only been when you past out and I know that the day’s surprises are going to catch up to you and hit you hard.” Don couldn’t argue. “Sleep brainiac.”

Don could only smile at the nickname. It was something familiar when even Mikey himself wasn’t as much. Don nodded as he turned towards the tent. “Night.”

Mike grinned before he turned, his one lone arm rose in a half wave. “Morning bro,” he said and Don smiled. Just the simplest of words shortened in the most intimate of ways. Don knew that he could rest because at least one of his brothers was there watching out for him. It was a good feeling.

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Mike looked up surprise as a pair of feet suddenly blocked his view of the floor and he looked up surprised to find April not looking at him but rather behind him. “Isn’t that your tent?”

Mike simply lifted one shoulder. “Does it matter?”

April finally looked away and glanced at her long time friend. “Considering that you’ve never once used it, possibly.” Mike sent her a quick glare but April simply smiled. “But not surprising.”

The turtle shook his head. “So what’s up?” he asked, changing the subject as they walked away from the small tent in the corner. Mike couldn’t help but take in the sight of the other tents and makeshift beddings were kept well away from where he had left Donnie.

Angel gave him a quick smile as they past and Mike gave her a grateful nod. He didn’t care that these were his allies; he didn’t want anyone near Don at the moment. Not so much because the still didn’t even know if he really was the long lost Donatello but rather the thought of anything happening to him now after so long frightened Michelangelo to the core.

April gave him an understanding smile when he finally turned his attention back to her before her expression turned serious. “Jordan called a meeting.”

Mike couldn’t contain a snort of disgust. “Why do you let that guy remain?” he growled as he glanced over at the office space where he could see some of the other “high commanders” standing around. “He’s unstable.”

“Some can say the same about you,” April shrugged. Mike gave another growl and she shot him a quick glance. “He wants the Shredder gone same as everyone else,” she persisted. “He can be trusted.”

“For now,” Mike snarled.

April sighed. “Mikey, say the word and you know I’ll take your instincts over anyone else’s gut feelings.”

Mike actually considered it, not the first time and it would probably not be the last but for the moment he shook his head. “No. We still need him.” He paused. “Damn it.”

April snickered as they finally reached the door. “Shall we then?”

Mike nodded and he looked back over his shoulder to see Angel trotting over towards them. “I’m here!” she smiled.

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Mike sighed as he followed the two women into the room.

Jordan instantly looked up and his gaze locked on the large ninja turtle and stayed there. Mike just frowned at him as he took his place behind April where she sat in the folding chair that had been set up at the front of the room. Angel took her own place on April’s other side sitting down in the offered chair as opposed to Mike who remained standing.

Hun and Stockman were there as well along side Victor, a once military man now pushing near seventy who helped Mike train the new recruits every now and again as well as Alan, another older gentleman who was just hard as nails and simply refused to lay down and die. The fact that these two men were willing to follow April and Angel was just amazing. Mike felt that it had more to do with not only the history the two woman had in regards to Shredder but his own presence as well. Perhaps even Leo and Raph when they bothered to show up and help.

“All right,” Victor said in his deep gruff voice as he stepped forward, Alan remaining beside the door. “Who the fuck is that?”

Mike frowned as Victor jabbed his finger towards the main area of the warehouse, pointing in the direction of the corner Mike had left Don in. “The smog getting to ya?” Mike drawled as he leaned back against the wall, trying not to let how much anger he was feeling show.

Victor just gave Mike a disapproving glare. “Don’t push me kid,” he huffed and Mike actually felt amusement at the nickname. “Who or what is that? Because it’s just as Jordan said, he doesn’t look like he’s eighteen let alone pushing fifty like yourself.”

“Hey, I’ll have you know I’m in my prime here!” Mike chuckled.

“Mutant ooze and turtle DNA aside, you’re just as worn down as the rest of us from fighting kid,” Alan chuckled.

Mike couldn’t stop himself as he stuck out his tongue, the old childish instincts rising up within him since first seeing Don and succumbing to that old feeling upon seeing his youngest elder brother that everything was finally going to be all right. “Make me,” he couldn’t help but taunt.

The corner of Victor’s lip twitched up. “Don’t tempt me young ‘un.” Mike, April and Angel all laughed and even Alan smirked.

“Yeah, laugh it up!” Jordan snapped pushing himself off the wall he was leaning against. “Do you have any idea where he came from? Where he’s been?” he glared at the turtle. “Who sent him?”

“No one sent him,” April frowned at the man.

“That we know!” Jordan snapped, the anger clearly heard in his voice.

“That’s enough Jordan,” Alan growled and Jordan glanced back at him before he relaxed his stance.

Victor gave him a long stare before he turned back to Mike and the ladies. “Perhaps one should start at the beginning.”

April and Angel looked at one another but Mike simply nodded. “I found him at the old lair,” he said simply. “Still sixteen and frightened out of his mind.”

“Don was scared?” April gasped, her motherly instincts instantly taking over as it usually did for all her lost lambs.

“You wouldn’t think it but yeah,” Mike nodded. “The facts weren’t adding up and for him that’s about a scary as staring down a platoon of foot elite.”

There was a snort from Jordan but Victor just continued to stare at Mike. “We know very little about him,” he said slowly. “Whenever the fact that you had another brother came up, when we were speaking with any one of you, you’d all just clam up.”

“Save for Raphael,” Alan snorted from the door. “He’d usually break something and storm away.”

“True,” Victor chuckled.

“Will you stop fooling around!” Jordan snapped furiously.

“And just how are we to react?” Hun finally spoke up as he glared at Jordan. Jordan instantly backed down, taking a step away from the man in the wheelchair. No one could figure out what it was about Hun that kept Jordan in line when he got belligerent; Hun’s imposing characteristic or Stockman attached to his shoulder. Hun raised an eyebrow. “We must figure this out properly and decide how to proceed.” The others three men stared at him in surprise as Hun looked at each one carefully. “If this is truly Donatello then we are in a much better position than we have ever been before.”

“What?” Jordan practically screeched outraged. “That-that kid?”

“Watch yourself,” Mike growled, his hand fingering the small throwing needles hidden in the seams of his belt.

Jordan didn’t even give him a second look, his focus on Hun. “How in the world is that… turtle going to help?”

“Indeed,” Alan drawled from the door. “I’m curious as to your optimism as well considering everything we’ve done to date you’ve found fault with.”

Hun was quiet for a long moment. “You have never seen the four turtles work as a single unit before,” he said slowly. “They were always a force to be reckoned with.” Hun smirked at Jordan. “And all that when they were sill technically minors.”

“Indeed,” Stockman’s voice floated out of his speaker. “They were always better as a single unit. Even that first year young Donatello was gone they still manage to put a nice dent in Shredder’s plans though not a very large one.” The mad scientist cackled. “Imagine what they can do now that the one whose intelligence that is only slightly on par with my own utter brilliance has return.”

“If he has returned,” Hun spoke slowly. “We are still unsure of his origins or even if he truly is the real Donatello. We must never underestimate the Shredder’s cunning.”

“Which is what. I’ve. Been. Saying.” Jordan gritted out between his teeth.

“What? That you think he’s a clone?” Angel growled at the man. “How do you know he’s not a clone though? What if it really is Donatello?”

“A sixteen year old reappearing after thirty years missing?” Jordan snarled angrily. “What? You think maybe he was kidnapped by aliens?”

“Considering that Shredder himself is an alien, it’s a big possibility,” April snapped, giving the man her own frosty glare.

Hun shot Jordan a quick frown before he turned back to Michelangelo. “It is understanding that you are overwhelmed that your long lost brother has returned but we must look at this from every angle.”

“I’m sorry to say he’s right,” April said quietly. “We have to be prepared that he’s not really Donatello.”

“Then what is he?” Michelangelo growled. “He’s no robot, that’s for damn sure.”

“We didn’t say he was,” Stockman drawled. “A clone however is a possibility.”

“If he’s a clone of my brother he’s still my brother,” Mike persisted.

“If he’s a clone then we have no way of knowing if he can be trusted,” Victor told Mike soothingly. “It could be that even he himself is unaware of whether or not he is a clone.”

“What do you mean?” Mike asked suspiciously.

“Mind control for one,” Stockman spoke insensitively. “The Shredder may be able to take control of him remotely to kill the inner workings of those who would oppose him.” Stockman paused for effect. “Meaning us.”

“Well duh.” Angel glared at the floating eyeball.

“I’m just saying,” Stockman insisted.

“It is a possibility,” Victor nodded.

“Don’t you think I haven’t thought of that,” Mike growled at the humans in the room. “I know that he might be a plant! I know that he may not be the actual original Donatello.”

“Oh Mikey,” April said sadly.

“I have already gone over most the scenarios and I think that even if he is a plant-” Mike broke off before he had to swallow the lump in his throat and continued on. “If he is a clone made by the Shredder then it would only make sense that he’s waiting for the right moment to use him. We have time.”

“If he is indeed a ‘plant’,” Jordan growled. “He may just be some elaborate way for the Shredder to keep track of us. Of our movements.”

“He cloned my long lost brother simply to track us?” Mike drawled skeptically.

“Possible,” Stockman mused. “He has come up with the most outlandish schemes for the simplest of purposes.”

“I doubt it,” Mike huffed.

“You would know,” Alan shook his head. “You’ve been fighting him nearly all of your life.”

Mike glanced at the man still leaning against the door frame, every once in a while glancing out at the warehouse floor outside the window. “Why do you think I had him in the far corner?” he finally huffed. “I’m not stupid. I know that he could possibly be a threat! And if he is then believe me, I will be the first one to take him out before anything happened that could hurt you.”

“Mikey!” April gasped. “You aren’t saying-?”

“What?” Mike looked back at April and Angel’s horrified looks. “No! Not that!” he instantly tried to reassure them. “I will simply leave with him before I let anything jeopardize any of you.”

“We know you will,” Alan spoke from the door. “You have been nothing but honest with us since we all first met you.”

“And you’ve done nothing but fight the Shredder for not only our sake but in remembrance of your father,” Victor nodded. “We trust you and your judgment.”

“However you understand our concern,” Alan finished.

“You have nothing to concern yourselves about,” Mike told them honestly. “He is my brother and therefore he’s my responsibility.”

“Then we will leave him to you,” Alan nodded.

“The hell we will!” Jordan yelped angrily.

“Shall we put it to a vote then?” Hun drawled. Jordan instantly backed down, knowing when the numbers were against him.

“I still say this is a mistake,” he snarled, sending Mike a vicious glare.

“We are not keeping you here,” April told him pointedly. “You know quite well where the door is.”

Mike pushed himself off the wall and fell into an aggressive stance, just waiting for Jordan to say something, anything. Jordan actually took his own firm stance and glared right back at Mike. The two just stared at one another for a long moment and Alan and Victor instantly shifted into defensive stances, glad that any meeting that was held by the rebels had but one rule; That no guns were brought into them.

That didn’t mean that they weren’t dangerous without them. Michelangelo had trained many of them well in hand-to-hand combat. April and Angel looked back and forth at the two in the middle of a standoff. Jordan remained silent and didn’t move while Mike fingered his throwing needles once again. No one specified that one had to be completely unarmed and Mike always had at least two weapons on him no one ever knew about.

Jordan finally relaxed his stance and went back to leaning against the wall. Mike was rather disappointed.

“We should probably send out more scouts for various locations that we can move to at a moment’s notice,” Hun stated after the tension in the room finally dropped though there was still an uncomfortable undercurrent.

“Indeed,” April nodded sadly. “We have to take every precaution.”

“Do we have too?” Angel asked with a troubled frown.

“Unfortunately we have to,” Mike was the one to answer her. “They’re right. We can’t just ignore the fact that Don isn’t what we hope he is.”

“I’ll get some of the younger ones on it,” Alan nodded.

“Not the rookies,” Mike instantly criticized.

“I’m not an idiot,” Alan smirked.

“So meeting adjourned?” Stockman asked cheerfully. Hun sent Mike a longsuffering look and Mike could only send him one of sympathy.

“I suppose so,” Mike shrugged.

The other men nodded and filed out of the room. Jordan was the last to go and he couldn’t stop himself from sending Mike a quick glare. Mike frowned. “April, remind me again…”

“We need all the help we can get,” April chuckled. “Even if they are ass holes.”

“Right,” Mike nodded, still looking thoughtful.

“So what’s next?” Angel asked.

“Next we double our look out,” Mike sighed. “We have to know when Shredder makes his move if at all.”

“There’s going to be a lot of groaning,” Angel snickered.

“Better than being caught with our asses out,” Mike chuckled as they exited the office.

“You always had a way with words,” April chuckled.

Mike smiled before his entire body went suddenly ramrod straight. Both women were instantly on alert as all three of the froze in their tracks. Mike ignored them, glancing around the entire warehouse once, twice and then a third time. Neither one of his scans turned up anything out of the ordinary but that darn feeling just wouldn’t go away.

He barely saw Hun look up, probably alerted by Stockman regarding Mike’s tense posture but Mike couldn’t focus on the former leader of the Purple Dragons at that point in time. His gaze was now locked at a point across the warehouse. Locked on the small tent he had just assisted Donatello construct barely twenty minutes ago.

Mike called himself all sorts of names as he instantly sprinted towards the tent to confirm what he already knew in his heart. The tent was empty. “Damn it!” he hissed under his breath wondering why he didn’t think that Don would still be awake.

Don never went to bed early and even then he took more catnaps than actually sleeping through the night. That large brain of his always working, always turning the calculations over and over and Don would get up every so often to work on something as inspiration struck him before trying to sleep once again. Mike would often get up to make breakfast to learn that he was not the first one up as he heard Don tinkering away.

Fear struck in Michelangelo’s heart as two questions reared up in his own mind. First were the panic moments of wondering where Don had gone. Secondly and more importantly, knowing Don’s curiosity as he did, just how much had he overheard?

-To Be Continued

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Author's Note: Yes, yes I am horrid. I am so sorry!

 

Comments

[quietthis.livejournal.com]

"Well, Mikey said that everyone was use to him-"

I think it should be "used" instead. :3

AND NOW:


I squeed. A lot. When I saw this update, I mean. Because YAY! More SAINW love. X3

I like how Mike is comforting Donnie, and at the same time how Donnie is clinging on to anything that's familiar. :3

And the "Is he the real deal?" thing is perfect! But I am just afraid that he must've heard the part where it sounded like Mike would kill him, and then left before he heard the rest. <_<; Also, I am guessing Donnie will start doubting himself. Either because of this, or because his over-grown brain starts taking thinking to another level. (like it always does) Who knows, maybe he will convince himself that this is just some illusion Shredder has thrown him into? Mwuahaha, angst. *glee* So, anyway. LOVED IT! *clings to you*

[blkdragonqueen.livejournal.com]

LOL! This is why I was staying Mum about Turtles Forever. :p I didn't want to spoil the surprise!

Poor Don. His brain is going into overdrive. ;p I'm glad that you liked the chapter. It took me a while to get it to what I wanted.

[quietthis.livejournal.com]

Oooooh. XD

I love, love, love the chapter! And that time was very well written. X3

And Donnie's brain always goes into overdrive. That's because we love him. :D