~~ Hope this was worth the wait. I've been busy, but should get some stuff up these next months. BTW, I love the new Star Trek movie. Go watch it! xD Live long and prosper! And, as always, reviews make my world go round!

Chapter Three

"You wanted to see me?" Donatello walked into April's apartment, bo staff perched in its normal position on his back. The turtle had struggled for calm all the way to her place, knowing if he was upset, April'd see it and she'd worry. Worrying would just keep them from concentrating and concentration was what was needed at the moment.

April was sitting at a desk in her bedroom, hair mussed as if she'd run her hands though it a million times. When he walked in, obviously startling her, she responded by jumping to her and hurrying forward, demanding,

"Well? Have you found Mikey? Is he okay?" Ever patient, Don answered,

"We haven't found him yet, but I think we're close. What is it that you were looking at earlier?" Confused, she peered at him.

"Why is it important? We need to be looking for Mikey, not-"

"April, something's up." His words stopped her mid-sentence. "Could I take a look at this mysterious box?" Staring at him, obviously confused, she nodded and turned to the desk, pointing it out. He sat down, turning it over in his hands and examining it. It took him about twenty minutes to pore over the thing, using several tools including yet another magnifying glass to study it. He also worked on the combination, while April informed him that,

"We tried everything we could think of. When you got here, I was looking up some more combinations on a National website." Don didn't even look up from the box, saying,

"When do you estimate it's from?"

"Um. I was thinking late 1800's or early 1900's. If you turn it upside down,"

"It has an inscription of Turner and Co." Don finished for her. "And?"

"I looked it up. It was an old company, but it's only mentioned in a few Historian Conventions etc. Otherwise, it's like it didn't even exist. But.." She trailed off and Don turned to look at her, an eyebrow cocked, waiting for her to continue.

"I could've sworn I'd seen it somewhere before.. It rings a bell but I don't know where from. And I don't even know if it matters!" She threw her hands up in frustration. "What does this even have to do with Mikey's abduction? Sure, he was here before he went out on the roofs, but why attack him? Why not just come in here and get the thing, if that's what they wanted?!" Don shook his head, concern and deep thought etching across his forehead.

"I don't know.. But it may have a connection, you never know." April paced.

"I know, I know. It's just- I know I've seen something like this before. I have! If I could just remember where from-" She started, a wondrous expression darting her face, before running for the stairs down to her shop. Don stood up, surprised, and walked toward the stairs but was nearly knocked down when she came back up.

"Look!" She said, triumphant. She was holding an open magazine, pointing at a page where a picture of an object very similar to the one sitting on the desk behind them. A paragraph in the article read,

".... and this mysterious rectangular box was found at a construction site near New York City. It is estimated to be nearly a hundred years old. Curious scientists and historians are working to find out what it contains, as it has proven so far, to be unwilling to reveal its contents. There is some speculation about the brand printed on the underside, and some say that its brand, Turner and Co. originated in the Old West, making it curious that it was found in New York. The company was said to be a part of a series of companies that helped to build the First Transcontinental Railroad. Whether or not this rumor is true is not known at this point..."

Don stared at April.

"The railroad companies became very rich. Excessively so. They made large amounts of money by selling the land that the government gave them for free to build the transcontinental railroads on. These boxes may be safes of some sort, belonging to one of the railroad company owners or stockholders. Disguised safes, perhaps." He sat down heavily.

"We need to get to that museum. Where did the article say this other box was?"

"Leo, I need someone to be at April's apartment at all times. This box may hold untold counts of valuables. Whatever it holds, or really is, it may be what the guys who attacked Mikey were after. We need someone guarding it all the time, around the clock." Leo was confused, and so were Raph and Casey, from where they stood listening to the speaker phone.

"But if they wanted this box, then why did they go after Mikey?"

"Leo.. We don't even know if these were the same people. But it's too coincidental, and my Spidey senses are tingling. We're going to check out the museum where the other box is." Leo nodded. Having been told everything, he was still confused, but, remembering that his brother couldn't see him, said,

"All right. But watch your backs. And keep an eye out for anything suspicious. If this box is connected to Mikey, then someone is probably going to be there. I'm putting Master Splinter on April's box, so the rest of us are clear to look for Mikey."

"Fine. We'll keep you updated while at the musuem. Make sure you call when you find Mikey. If he's injured, I'll need to be there." Leo swallowed. If he's injured..

"Roger." Don hung up and Leo put his phone in his belt, looking at the others. Raph's dark look of rage had never left his face and he continually looked around, as if Mikey might suddenly Apparate into their midst. Casey was on the balls of his feet, eyes wide. He was ready for some action. And so was Leonardo.

"We've searched all around the building. Let's spread out. Raph, you're going east. Casey, south, and I'm going north. Raph, when you hit the bay, head west. Once you've gone for thirty minutes, turn and head for the western section, where we'll meet up. If something goes wrong, or you find something, call in. Our coms will work as long as we stay in the city limits. Don't pull anything; if you're attacked, call in." He gave them both a steadily fierce look. There would be no heroics. They returned his gaze and he nodded finally.

"Let's go." They took off, Leo forcing himself not to run full out, trying to conserve his energy. Casey went headlong, moving fast, but remembering instructions and staying slow enough so he wouldn't miss anything. Raph did the same. Leo turned his attention to the concrete and the roads beneath him, turning on full ninja mode. If there was anything to be found, he'd find it.

"Leo! Casey!" Raph slid to a halt. He was on top of a small building that housed a sailing ship. The bay spread out in front of him, cold and silent, without a boat in sight. The air was cool as well, shrieking a little in his ears as the wind picked up. It had gotten steadily colder as the hours wore on, and Raph's eyes were bare slits in his face. Mikey. Knowing that his little brother was in danger, possibly in pain, was killing him. He had to find Michelangelo.

And he might've found him. Blood stains marked the building's top, looking spread out, as if someone's body had just been laid there. He hadn't seen any other signs of gore and had been suspecting that Mikey had been moved by heliocopter, or some kind of transportation that had kept from leaving a trail.

"Raph. What do you have?" Leo didn't sound like he'd just run several miles in under ten minutes. He sounded just like he did when he was on the couch, watching TV. Distinctly annoying.

"Big blood stain. Just one." His throat constricted and he fought to make his rough voice come out. "Leo, it's huge." He hated the way he sounded like he was reaching for comfort, but Casey distracted him by saying,

"I haven't seen squat over here since we began. Do I head over there?" There was a pause. Then,

"Not yet. Keep going. Raph," The red-banded turtle could hear emotion in his older brother's voice. "Look around. Try to find.. the source of the blood. Call us in when you find something significant. Until then, we'll keep looking." Raph could hear the added opinion. Significant as in, not Mikey. Hopefully. Well, he was hoping.

He hopped down easily, landing lightly on the sandy ground and put a hand to the wooden shack holding the boat. Peering through the slats, he judged that no one was inside, nothing that would present a threat. Even so, he brought out his sais, feeling a distinct nervousness that would not leave him.

Raphael made the quick trip around to the front and hopped onto the boat's top, balancing as it swayed, the rope ties holding. He examined the shadows, and then stood carefully and made to step down into the boat. Thankfully, he saw the blood before he stepped down. Horror made his vision swim, blurring the disturbing sight before him. Shaking all over, he leapt down, grabbing his little brother's shoulders and screaming,

"MIKEY!"