Slash's Revenge

Chapter 14 - The Middle Ones

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

*Author's Notes: Here's the latest chapter of 'Slash's Revenge,' and as I warned you in the previous chapter, this one is rather intense.

Thanks so much for reading.

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Chapter 14 – The Middle Ones

Unspeakable rage coursed through the red-clad turtle's entire being as he stared down at the rough surface beneath his feet. Blood – his brother's blood – painted the rooftop an ugly shade of dark brown. Granted, the blood had faded some in the ten days since it had been spilled, but it was still there, taunting him. Truth be told, even if the stains had been washed away completely, they would still be forever etched in Raphael's brain.

Hands clenched into the tightest of fists, Raph cast his gaze away from the surface, nearly giving himself whiplash in the process. The problem was, everywhere he looked on that rooftop, he was reminded of Donatello. The hotheaded turtle's eyes drifted down to the spot where he and Mikey had found Donnie, hunched over and barely conscious, after Slash had attacked him the first time. The memory of his genius brother's battered body made Raphael's own blood come to a rapid boil. He could still remember how frail Donnie had felt against him as they had sought out cover. It was like Donnie had no strength left in him at all. Slash had beaten him so severely, Raph had had to practically drag his injured brother along the rooftops. He remembered, at one point, Donnie had actually asked them to just leave him...

"Can't make it. Too weak. You go on without me, fellas."

Of course, Raphael wasn't about to leave his wounded little brother, alone and defenseless, on the rooftop. No way, no how. He'd just as soon die.

The red-masked warrior had been quick to remind Donnie of their solemn vow to one another...

"No turtle left behind. That's our rule!"

Shortly after making that statement, all shell had broken loose. Slash had gone totally berserk and beaten the tar out of all of them, but none so much as Donatello. Even weeks later, the injuries inflicted by Slash still hindered the genius turtle's movements.

And now...

Raphael couldn't stop himself from constantly thinking about what Donnie might be going through at the hands of that evil monster. Mental pictures of Slash using poor Donatello as his personal punching bag or whipping post made the temperamental turtle feel as though he was going to burst into flames.

All the intense fury and violence Slash had exhibited the night of his transformation; Donatello was now the undeserving recipient of that pure hatred.

While the rest of the family were all safe and sound, what was happening to Donnie?

The not knowing was tearing Raphael apart inside.

Master Splinter had been desperately trying, both day and night, to reach out to Donatello via meditation, but to no avail. Raph shuddered to think what that meant. Granted, he had never been the most spiritual turtle of the family, but that didn't mean he didn't have faith. Especially in his father. If Sensei couldn't find Donnie, then –

No! Quit thinking like that, Raph!

On unsteady feet, the hotheaded turtle walked towards the edge of the roof where Slash had left Donatello for dead that ill-fated night exactly one month before. It seemed like so long ago, and yet, the memory still felt as fresh as though it had happened only yesterday. In the back of his mind, Raphael could still see his missing brother's brutally beaten form propped up against the roof ledge. The image was enough to bring tears to the older turtle's eyes.