Mike sat up in the bed with a strangled gasp, his lungs suddenly compressed. Burning pain flared up his right arm and he bit down hard against a cry—
Raph—
And his mind bolted out like a shot, surging over the walls of the drugs, crashing down, screaming, heading straight for the wounded—

Through a dim haze, hand clutched to the bleeding tear in his upper right arm, Raph sank to his knees and watched the black car speed away; probably the same car with the same guys who had tranked him and kidnapped that kid Tommy…
Pain was throbbing now, like fire up his shoulder, and blood was a warm trickle. He sucked in a deep breath, staggered toward the shadows, and that was when the yells in his head started.

Keeping to the walls, trying to blend with the rush of people, Carrie ran, not sure where she was going, just knowing she had to find that room, had to know if it was real…Someone roughly shoved against her and she bit down against a grunt of protest, then hurried on. No one noticed. Something in her mind pulled at her, leading her down this hall and that, down these stairs and these; into the cold dankness of what seemed to be a floor level.
Stopping to catch her breath, she moved along slowly, her heart in her throat. White walls, double doors…doors lining walls…
She walked like a blind woman, hands along the walls, until she felt that tug again and stopped at a closed brown door. It was here. Whatever had been in that vision, it was in here.
She touched the knob, knew it was locked. Stepping back she bit her lip, focused on the knob. Reached—
Felt the spark, felt the power coil, felt it move forward. Put her hand on the knob and turned it with a sharp jerk. The power gripped the tumblers and made them turn, and then it was free. She pushed the door open and stepped in.
Blue light shelves…the two small canisters. It was here. Her skin broke out in gooseflesh, she felt her knees tremble. The little floating things…
What have they done? Oh my god…
Shaking, she walked past and stared at the vials of blood. Unmarked. But she knew, somehow she knew, that none of it was A or B or O or even RH.
The blood was not human blood, it was—
Oh my GOD, what are they doing?
And there was some kind of filtering device, something that would maybe extract unwanted agents from the samples…
Suddenly she didn’t want to see anymore; staggered back and bumped against something, not wanting to know what it was…with a moan of pure terror, she shuddered as if struck with electricity and bolted from the room, not bothering to slam it shut behind her.

Raph, can you hear me?
The cry was like a knife itself, cutting through the fog, and he looked up, struggling to focus…
Please, Raph, answer me. Raph!
“Mike?” he whispered.Mike? I’m here.
Jesus Raph, don’t scare me! How bad is it?
He sucked in a shallow breath. I’m still alive, if that helps.
He felt a sort of gentle probing, like someone looking over the wound under his fingers.
Raph, don’t fight me, okay? I’m gonna help you…Mike sounded breathless, frightened. Raph suddenly realized that his brother was planning to do something neither found exactly pleasant…
Wait, Mike…I can make it back to the lair. It’s…okay, Don and Splinter will—
Just humor me, Raph. You’re hurting like hell now, which means I’m hurting like hell, both of us wants it to stop—
He permitted himself a shaky smile. Damn bastards know who I am now.
They know you’re like me, Mike said. I think they just wanted to make sure you weren’t gonna come after me. They’ll leave you alone. I think.
Heh. Yeah, that makes me feel better.
He struggled to his feet, felt gentle disembodied hands support him. Jeez, that freaks me out…
An echo of slight laughter. What, you think I’m gonna let you walk all the way home y’self? I’m stopping the bleeding now, no lasting damage. But the bullet’s gotta come out.
He nodded. I know. Don’t worry. He caught an echo of pain--emotion-- and remembered Mike's encounter with a gun…the sense of helplessness…Mike--you okay?
I’ll…be fine. Now shut up and move.
Slowly, Raph managed to make his way down the nearest manhole, out of sight.

Breathing a slow sigh of relief, Splinter got up and headed out to prepare the infirmary, and tell Donatello and Leonardo that Raphael was coming back.

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