Never The Same Again Chapter 6

[blkdragonqueen]

Never The Same Again: Part 1- Perfectly Tarnished

 WOW! It's been a moth over a year since I updated this fic! I am so, so very sorry! /cries/ I do apologize but my Transformers fic has sort of taken over my life. However the wonderful movie Turtles Forever came out on DVD (not the extended version but a version nonetheless) so I've been re-reading my favorite TMNT fics. Now I know I stated that this chapter would be titled "Underground Battle" however I came to the startling realization about one important detail. I suck at writing fight scenes. Which is kind of bad when you're writing for a series called Teenage Mutant NINJA Turtles. Hoo-boy. This ought to be a challenge. Wish me luck!

Previous Chapters HERE

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Chapter Six: I Got The Hat

Donatello was very proud of himself. He had lasted a whole seven minutes against the Foot elite. That was a new personal best.

Mentally sighing, he watched though his now one clear eye as the team leader took his bo and snapped it in half against the wall of the sewer. Don winced as the familiar piece of wood splintered and cracked before being dropped in the horrid water. The guy was so going to pay for that. Maybe Don could muster up enough energy to snag his hat or something.

The fight had been completely one sided and though Don gave it his all, Don's all was not good enough against the elite as say, Leo's all. Even Mikey could last longer against them. Sixteen year old Mikey at that! Who knew how forty-six year old Mikey handled against them. Probably could wipe the floor with them by now if they've managed to survive this long.

His injured foot had a lot to do with his unbalanced stance and the limited space hampered his bo staff just as he knew it would. The team of four had overpowered him and subdued him rather quickly. Don had gotten in some good hits but they hit better and harder. His ribs were bruised, luckily not broken, and his left eye was completely swollen. They hadn't used their more deadly weapons such as their kamas, tridents or katanas but instead had used subduing weapons such as a chain weapon that Don didn't recognize.

It had been a small dart that had to have been filled with a strong inhibitor that had finally taken him down. Clearly they wanted to capture him alive rather than just take him out of the picture completely. Don did not fall unconscious but was feeling rather lax and half asleep, like the real world was sort of glazed over like in a dream. The pain in his ribs and eye still hurt like all hell though, much to his dismay. "Couldn't at least add a muscle relaxant or something…" he muttered as he was hauled out of the water.

His only regret, as they shuffled him up the ladder to where a normal patrol was hauling him out of the manhole, was that he didn't get to know the older Mikey as well as he would have liked, never mind not seeing Raph or Leo at all. 'Maybe Shredder will keep me a live for a little while so I can at least hear what's happened to them.'

"Load him into the truck," one of the patrol men shouted. "Carefully!"

"Well duh," Don couldn't help but mumble in reminiscence of Angel, the message from his brain stating for him to keep silent never quite reaching his mouth. One of the four men carrying him to the truck actually stifled a laugh. Don couldn't help but smile slightly at that.

"Watch the roofs!" One of the elite shouted. "He was spotted with Michelangelo earlier. He's got to be close!"

"Well duh," the man who had laughed snickered.

"Shhhh!" one of the others hissed. "You'll jinx it!"

"He did," a deadly voice rang out.

"Shit! Code Red! All units fan out!"

"Get that one in the truck!"

"Where is he?"

"Don't let go of that one!"

"Look out!"

Don frowned as the arms supporting his left side suddenly disappeared and he slumped forward, pulling his weight out of the others grasps. He was coherent enough to ensure that he fell on his less injured right side so as not to damage his ribs any further than they already were. He wondered vaguely if they were cracked.

The sound of punches landing, metal striking metal and gun fire sounded behind him as a few more humans suddenly were at Don's side again. Even drugged as he was Don was able to make full use of the shell on his back as he rolled over and pushed off with his good foot, swinging around and knocking their feet out from under them. 'Strike,' Don thought with an almost maniac giggle before his injured foot made itself known as he went to stop spinning. "Oh that hurt."

"DONNIE!"

"Hey Mikey! Oh, wait. It's just 'Mike' now isn't it?" Don tried to suppress a hysterical giggle and failed miserably.

A large form suddenly dropped down next to him and Don peered up and his old-younger brother. "Status?" Mike bit out as he blocked the swing of a katana with, of all things, a shot gun.

"Drugged. Some sort of inhibitor or something... Can't walk either," Don announced.

"Shit," Mike snarled as he pulled back and the shot gun went off.

There was a horrific scream of pain in the background but Donnie didn't pay all that much attention to it. "Leave me."

"Not a chance!" Mike snapped back. "I'm not losing you again!"

"Not Donatello," Donnie muttered dazedly. "Clone."

"Fuck," Mike muttered under his breath as he stabbed one of the elite with his own trident. When had he gotten that? Don's good eye slid to the figure off to Mike's side.

"Left," he muttered.

"Got it." Mike swung around and the patrol guard didn't know what hit him as the trident's middle prong got him in the throat.

'Ick,' Don turned away from the blood spewing all over the place. He blinked. "Where'd the other ones go?" he muttered confusedly as only three of the elite remained.

"Man, they really gave you some good shit didn't they?" Mike asked as he lashed out with a now broken trident handle, shoving the jagged end right into an unarmored side of one of them. More blood spilled out. Don watched it spray incomprehensibly.

"Really good," he agreed.

"You're. Not. Taking. Him!" Mike snarled as he did a quick spin kick and knocked one of the two elite away.

"The master has order his detainment at all costs," the head elite finally spoke. "He has made the apprehension of Donatello top priority."

"Too bad you won't be able to fill that order," Mike snapped as his arm shot out and the sun glinted off something that the man deflected with his sword.

"Even if you stop us, others will hunt him down. Master Shredder will not be deterred," the ninja continued.

"Same shit, different day," Mike snapped. "He said the same thing when he swore out warrants for us."

"Ah, but you have not been missing for thirty years have you?" the ninja taunted as Mike fought off the other two elite.

"What's ya point?" Mike huffed as one of the two elite went down. Don had no idea what his brother did to him as he used the truck's tailgate to help himself up.

"You three are different from your brother," the head elite announced. "We have always been aware of your movements. The level you three have progressed to in your fighting. Just look around, you've taken out all my men. But the Shredder has decreed that Donatello out of all four of you is the most dangerous."

Mike frowned as he stared at the human in confusion. "Just what are you trying to say?" he asked slowly.

The head elite gave Mike his full attention, more than willing to relay his master's own words from earlier that day. "That while you three and your rebellion have been a hindrance in Master Shredder's dealings, he is too formidable an opponent to allow roaming free."

Mike scowled, trying to understand the ninja's underlining meaning to the words while the elite spun his katana around before dropping into a fighting stance. Mike reciprocated, shifting his balance as he brought his nun-chucks back to the fore-front. The two stared at one another, neither one moving, each watching the other for the slightest give away as to their next move.

'The two that got away had to call for back up too,' Mike thought anxiously. 'I have to end this quickly and get Donnie under cover before-'

Mike's thought stopped dead as there was a sudden movement behind the elite ninja and suddenly the man's hat was swiped right off his head. "I got it!" Donnie cried triumphantly and Mike made his move in that split-second distraction. The tanto slid into the man's eye socket with little resistance as the man turned back to face him. He yanked the blade out quickly as the body fell to the ground. Don frowned down at the now corpse. "Ewwwww."

"Come on!" Mike snapped as he snagged Don's free hand and started to dragged him off towards the alleyway.

"My feet hurt," Don whined petulantly. "Can't we take the truck?"

Mike actually froze in surprise. His gaze going to the large army truck still idling away he let out a small snort. "Even drugged to the gills you're always looking ahead," he laughed before he turned back around and tugged Don in the new direction.

Don climbed into the passenger seat, the hat going on his lap as Mike quickly got in. "Stick shift. Fuck," Mike snarled as he spotted the shift.

"I got it!" Don called out and he quickly reached down and set his hand on the shift. "Ready!"

Mike stared at his brother for a long moment before he gave a half shrug. "Right, let's go."

It took a couple of blocks for them to get in a rhythm as Don would shift gears before Mike was even ready as he was more attuned to the engine's different creaks and groans due to his mechanical knowledge. More than likely because Don knew the ins and out's better than even Raph did. They drove mostly in silence afterwards as Mike navigated the back and abandoned roads of the city.

"Where are we going?" Don asked after a moment. His slurring had dissipated some and Mike sighed as he realized that the drug must already be leaving Don's system. The Foot must have assumed that he would be secured by this point in time and had the dosage set accordingly. "Back to April?"

"Too late now," Mike answered as he turned towards what was once Central Park. "We can't meet up with them till after dark."

"Oh." Don's voice sounded small as he looked back down at the stick shift again. They drove in silence for a few more blocks.

"They don't want me there, do they?" Don asked quietly.

"NO!" Mike quickly countered. "April always wants' you around, you know that. Angel too."

"Not Don. Clone."

"We don't know that," Mike quickly growled out. He tried to think of a way to explain himself in "Don speak" while Don was still slightly out of it. "We just… don't have all our facts yet."

Don blinked. "Point." Mikey let out a sigh of relief before Don continued. "You'll take care of it though," Don grinned at him brightly. "You always were a good caretaker."

Mike nearly groaned. "Don, that conversation you heard. I don't think you heard all of it-"

"Does it matter?" Don interrupted. "We don't know what I am."

"You're Don, 'nuff said."

"But I could be a clone made by Shredder!"

Mike thought about that for a moment. "You know Don, that head ninja was saying some interesting stuff."

"I got his hat!" Don announced gleefully.

"Yes you did get his hat," Mike chuckled, wondering exactly how aware Don was currently with whatever it was that was running through him. "Don," he spoke after a long while and Don's good eye meet with Mike's unflinchingly. They stared at one another for a while before Mike sighed and slowly moved the truck into a heavily wooded area. Without the landscapers most of central park had run wild. "Wait here," he commanded as reached by his knees before he climbed out.

Don frowned and watched as Mikey moved around and popped the hood, blocking his view of the other turtle. Don frowned wondering what it was that Mikey was doing. He was never really any good with the mechanical aspect of any of their vehicles. With a sigh, Don set the hat aside sadly and reached for the passenger door.

Mikey had practically climbed onto the engine and was looking around with a small penlight that he suddenly had in his hand. Don wondered briefly where he had gotten in as he climbed up onto the front bumper to look into the front of the truck as well. "What are we looking for?" he asked in a mock whisper.

"Jesus Crist!" Mike yelped in surprise as he jumped and nearly fell backwards off the truck. Don simply reached out and hauled Mike back by his shoulder strap. "Why aren't you in the truck?"

"Curious," Don shrugged as he turned back to the engine. "So what are we looking for?"

Mike sighed as he also turned back to the engine and waved the penlight over it again. "Tracker. Shredder's guys keep changing the shape and moving it around so it's harder to see. If it's not here it might be under the carriage."

Don glanced over the engine for a while. "That," he announced pointing to a small dime-sized bolt. "That's not part of the piston ring."

Mike stared at the small round piece of metal before he reached forward and easily yanked it off. He stared at the magnet attached to the back. "Nice one."

Don grinned. "What do we do with it?" he asked curiously. "Break it?"

"Nah," Mike grinned as he passed the small tracker to Don. "Hang on a second."

Don watched curiously as Mike moved away from him and started looking under the underbrush. When he got down onto his knees and practically crawled under the bush Don's eyes widened in surprise before he too got on his knees, trying to see what it was that Mike was looking for. "Need help?"

Mike didn't reply and Don was about to repeat his question when Mike suddenly dove to the left and there was a sudden high pitched squealing sound. "Got ya you little-" Don blinked as Mikey crawled out of the bush and stood up, his prize clutched tightly in his hand. "Hold him," Mike commanded as he passed the squirming rat over to Don.

Ensuring his grip kept the rat from managing to get his teeth into Don's fingers he held on to the furry creature in one hand and the tracker in the other. A grin bloomed over his face and Mikey chuckled as he pulled out a string of twine with a washer on the end. Clamping the washer onto the magnet Mikey pressed the tracker to the rat's back and with both hands free Don was able to get the rat positioned so Mike could wrap the twin around the animal a few more times and quickly tied it off with a one-handed bowline knot.

Snickering, Don bent down and let the rat take off into the woods. "Time to go?"

"Time to go," Mike agreed as he quickly headed back for the front of the truck and dropped the hood as Don clambered into the passenger seat.

"Steal trucks often?" Don asked with a laugh as they headed off.

"More than you know," Mike snickered. "I'll tell ya, it was a lot easier with you here than it was by myself."

"I can imagine," Don chuckled as he leaned back in his seat, the hat once again on his lap. Shifting gears again, Don watched the spars scenery go by. "What did he say?" he asked after they drove thirty minutes in silence, winding this way and that.

Mike glanced over at Don and took note that his brown eye was less glazed over. The other one however was still swollen to the size of a baseball. "We'll have to get the swelling down on that," Mike sighed as he turned again. "And I'm not avoiding the question," he added as Don opened his mouth to ask again. "Just wait till we're no longer on the move."

Don nodded in understanding and he was silent as they drove for a while before pulling into, of all things, a parking garage. "Well head to the apartment building next door," Mike explained as he weaved around some debris and maneuvered the truck into a dark corner.

With the truck secured the two clambered out, the straw hat still in Don's grasp as they quickly moved to the building next door. It took a few searches before they found an apartment not completely in ruins. The couch even was still intact though it was sagging in the middle. Don frowned at it and sat down on a wooden kitchen chair instead, setting the hat on the table. Mikey was rumbling somewhere in the back of the apartment before he came out, a dusty pillowcase in his hand. "Be right back," he stated and quickly ducked out the door. Don blinked in surprise but Mikey was back before he made good on his decided to follow.

The pillowcase was folded into a smaller square and sopping wet. Don stared at it dubiously as Mike held it out. "Rainwater," Mike explained with a grin. "Likes to collect in the dips of the wreckage where it can."

Don nodded gratefully and set the hat aside to accept the impromptu washcloth and set it over his eye. It wasn't cold enough like ice would have been but it was better than nothing. "So?" Don asked as Mike flopped onto the couch. Don was surprised it didn't collapse under Mike's weight. "What was it he said that has you thinking?"

Mike sighed as he looked back at Don in the kitchen alcove. "He stated that the shredder wanted you captured."

"Well of course he would," Don sighed agitatedly. "Why kill something he spent so much time and effort on?"

"No, that's just the thing; he said that Shredder made your capture top priority."

Don frowned at that. "Why would he do that?"

"That's just the thing! Why would he if he's the one that –er, made you?"

Don nodded slowly. "It doesn't make any sense unless he's working on the mental aspect."

"Mental aspect?" Mike asked curiously.

Don thought long and hard for a moment before he spoke, choosing his words carefully. "Perhaps only a select few knew of my creation. Shredder would have to have a cover story for when I suddenly appeared, wouldn't he? The Foot and not to mention the Purple Dragons would question why he would let me run around freely and if they do nothing then that would send up red flags with April and the others, wouldn't it?"

Mike sighed. Sometimes he hated how methodical Don could be sometimes. "But that's only assuming he did make you! What if he didn't?"

"What? You think someone else did? Like who?" even as he said it a name popped into his head and Don clamped his teeth shut to keep from blurting out that particular name. Not until he had a firmer grasp on what was happening with rearguards to Shredder and the start of the war.

Mike nearly groaned in aggravation capturing Don's attention once again. "Don, we don't even know if you really are a clone!"

"It's the only thing that makes any sense!"

"It can't be the only hypothesis though, right? There could be another explanation."

Don gave him a skeptical look. "Such as…?"

"Um…" Mike wracked his brain as he tried to think of something. It was like a bolt of lightning as one of Mike's favorite comic issues suddenly sprang to mind. "Time travel!"

Don's good eye went wide before he thought about it thoroughly. "Possible but not as likely as the clone theory."

"Why not? We've time traveled before!"

"I think I would have remembered another encounter with Renet," Don admitted after a moment, thinking of the quirky apprentice timestress they had encountered once before, "but it is possible, if only slight."

"It would explain why you're only sixteen too!"

Don shook his head as he contemplated it. "Too many things would have to happen for that to be possible. A way to time travel to begin with. Renet aside, nothing we have or even the Shredder has allows time travel. Or rather did."

"Maybe an experiment you were working on?" Don glared and Mike threw up his hand in a mollifying gesture. "Okay, okay, sorry. Geez. I'm just saying."

"Let's look at this systematically," Don sighed. "We'll work on the clone theory first. And if I am a clone, yes, 'if'," he conceded at Mike's dark glare. "If I am a clone then I can't go back to April and the resistance. Not until we're sure that I don't have a tracker of my own somewhere in my system, whether microscopic or something larger."

"We can always tie it to a city rat or if it's one of those tiny ones, a cockroach."

Don laughed out loud at this. "I need to check myself over first. So I need some of my equipment. Maybe raid a hospital for an x-ray machine or something."

"Is that where you were headed? A hospital?"

Don ducked his head a bit. "Actually, I didn't think about that. I was actually headed back to the lair." He shrugged slightly. "I figured since that's where the Shredder dumped me it was both safe and the lat place he'd look." He sighed. "However the hospital idea seems like a better option but I don't know how to work most of those equipments."

Mike frowned and thought for a long time before he finally spoke. "I think I may know someone who would." Don looked at him hopefully but Mike only pulled a face. "Stockman."

Don's good eye widened. "Oh shell," he groaned in despair.

"He's the only other one who knows what to look for aside from you Donnie," Mike argued.

"I know," Don practically wailed. "That's the frightening part!"

"Well at least we have a plan now," Mike soothed.

"True," Don sighed as he leaned back in his chair and flipped the pillow-case around so a cooler side was once again pressed against his bad eye.

Mike watched him for a time before he heaved himself off the couch and moved towards the leg Don was keeping curled under him. "Let me see. I have a few things but Stockman and Hun can bring what medical supplies we need when we meet up with them."

"Oh God, I forgot about Hun," Don groaned as Mike pulled his leg out from under the chair to see the gash on Don's foot.

"Don't see how you could," Mike snickered. "They're a bit unforgettable."

"No kidding," Don agreed before a yelp escaped him at Mike's prodding.

"This is going to get infected."

"I know," Don sighed in agreement. "City streets, the sewers-"

"I can't believe you didn't realize the sewers would be booby trapped!"

"Sorry! I can get one wrong once in a while!" Don huffed irritably. "And I had a few other things on my mind too ya know."

"I know," Mike spoke quietly. "Donnie… I think I know what you heard that made you leave and I think I need to make this clear now." Don looked down in surprise as Mike looked up and caught his gaze with his own dark, serious one. "When I said I would take you out I meant 'out of the rebels hideouts'. Not out-out. Just, someplace else that would keep not only them safe but you as well."

Don ducked his head a bit, almost hiding behind the pillowcase compress. "I think I knew that somehow but-"

"But you're sixteen, thrust into a strange war torn world with a baby brother who's thirty years older than you are," Mike chuckled. "I think it's understandable that you would still be leery of us."

"But I shouldn't be," Don argued. "Not with you."

Mike shook his head as he stood back up. "It's going to take some time getting to know one another again," he explained quietly. "And I'm more than willing to wait." Don looked like he was about to argue again but Mike shook his head again and snagging Don's wrist, hauled him out of the chair. "We'll argue later," he chuckled. "You need rest."

Don looked like he was still going to argue but Mike had led him to the couch and unceremoniously pushed him down on it. "Well if you insist," Don sighed, trying to sound indignant but the large yawn that instantly followed hindered any though image he was going for.

Mike plopped down next to him and threw his arm around his shoulder. "It's been a long day, hasn't it?"

"Really long," Don sighed as he leaned back and propped his wounded foot on the broken table before him. "What were those chain weapons the foot were using? I don't think I've ever seen those before."

Mike looked over at Don in surprised. "The manriki-gusari?" He was quiet for a long time. "Raph could explain them better. He used those a lot in the year between your disappearance and that first assault on Shredder's strong hold." Don frowned but didn't ask. He had plenty of time later for question. "By the way, what are you going to do with the hat?"

Don chuckled. "Don't know. If I have the right equipment I'm thinking of bronzing it." Mike laughed uproariously and Don grinned slightly, glad he was able to get his brother laughing but he noticed that the tightness of Mike's grip around his shoulders never relaxed even a fraction.

Comments

[quietthis.livejournal.com]

Drugged Don = Awesome.

Oh, Don. Please start wearing that hat. <3

I want to say this was awesome. It was funny and also a bit sad, since Don is so convinced that he is a clone now. But I loved how you threw in subtle stuff with Don's expert-areas, and Mike's paranoia. ^^

[blkdragonqueen.livejournal.com]

Drugged Don = Extremely Awesome! Man I had fun with Drugged Donnie. XD

He HAD to get that hat! It was destined to happen at some point! Not sure if I ever saw another fanfic with that but it's just too epic not to do!

Yeah, poor Don. Mike has his work cut out for him to try and get Don's self-esteem back up. Much more dark-depressing-Don ahead. :(

[quietthis.livejournal.com]

He is so much fun. x3

The hat is his destiny! HE SHALL WEAR IT. WITH PRIDE. 8D

Yeah... D: but it's so much fun. 83

[okamichan.livejournal.com]

Don with the hat! XD that was really random, but I'm glad someone did it! I'm so glad you picked this back up again. :3

One thing... didn't Mikey already tell Don that the sewers were booby-trapped, or had he just been thinking that? (My memory might be faulty)

[blkdragonqueen.livejournal.com]

It had to happen at one point! I'm just surprised that I've never seen it before! Yeah, I need to work on this more. >.> I'm so sorry it's taken me this long.

O_o? You know, I'm not sure if Mikey did or didn't warn him. Must check. (Memory sputtering and dead on the side of the road :P)

I'm glad you're enjoying it! XD

[flonnebonne]

This is a fantastic story. Love the plot and the character interaction. Can't wait to see where you go with it. :)

[blkdragonqueen.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying the fic!

[galaxy-detour.livejournal.com]

Just finished rereading this, and I was really thrilled for a new chapeter, and anticipate more. c: your characterization is perfect.

[blkdragonqueen.livejournal.com]

XD Thank you. The characterization was kind of what I was worried about. :P Glad you enjoy it so far!