Chapter One – Denial

This is a challenge on Stealthy Stories, thought up by Connie Nervegas. Lots of people are trying it so I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and try a darker story for once. Hope you enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT.

Those who are dead are not dead, they're just living in my head ~ Coldplay

New York City, the city that never sleeps. He wondered vaguely whether never sleeping made a person deaf and blind eventually. That seemed to be the problem with the people in the apartment they were fighting over. Sure, they were ninja, but an overgrown turtle being slammed on to a ceiling has to make some noise. Right? They probably did hear, but living in the Big Apple had taught them not to get involved in random fights occurring on their rooftops.

He dodged another attack from a foot ninja sneaking up behind him and twisted, slamming his Bo forwards. The ninja flew backwards several feet into Raph's warpath and found himself eating the roof pretty quickly. Raph used him as a springboard and flipped over the ninja in front of him to put himself in a better position. He brought the blunt end of his sai down on the next joke and smirked as they guy span like a ballet dancer and landed at his feet. He found himself close to Mikey who grinned over at him as though this was some kind of training session. Of course, Mike looked away when Raph swivelled and caught a sword with one sai, the other plunged into the attacker who fell back silently towards Mikey.

Mikey hopped over the guy. He called to the next contestant. He thought absently that this was getting way too easy. He felt like Leo when he realised he'd cracked their pattern. Wait till they're doing something normal like visiting April and Casey, then spring out from various shadows and hiding places and attack. That was pretty much it. He 'hmphed' to himself as he flipped the next guy over on to his back. He was beginning to think they didn't have any imagination whatsoever. He heard Leo calling.

Leo could tell this wasn't right. Unless they had all improved vastly or the foot had ran out of trained ninja, which he highly doubted, he couldn't understand how they were doing so well. It might have been the presence of their father. He always seemed to fuel their morale just by being there. He knew Splinter could defend himself but there was a certain edge of more emotion involved in this fight, at least for him. He couldn't let anything happen to Splinter. He brought his sword hilt on to the man's arm, probably breaking it, and then kicked him away. He hit the wall and slid to the ground with a dull thud. He looked around. That was the last.

"Whoop! High threes dudes!" Mikey grinned. He held up a hand and they all humoured him with matching grins and high threes. Splinter walked over holding his walking stick tightly. "Hey, you ok Master Splinter?"

"I am quite alright, Michelangelo," Splinter reassured with a kind smile. His dark eyes glistened in the dim light. "However, I believe I will respectfully decline this trip to Miss O'Neil's. I am in need of some tea and a good long nap."

Mikey whined but Raph shut him up with a look. Leo stepped forwards and escorted him back to the lair. The others waited on the rooftop. Once Leo was happy that Splinter was back safely they set off for a movie night at April's.

Leonardo rolled his shoulder back and forward in its socket as he climbed out of bed. He ran a hand over his face and took his mask from the bedside table. He put it on and yawned. Why did he agree to those movie nights? He didn't understand how the others could stay up so late and still be alive in the morning. Years of practise, probably. No wonder Donnie went through so much coffee.

Leo walked in his half-Zombie state into the kitchen where he looked forward to having a customary cup of steaming tea prepared by Splinter. He pushed open the door but found the kitchen was still dark. Splinter had been pretty tired last night, his limp more prominent. Leo shook himself – of course Splinter wouldn't be up so early after last night. It hadn't been the hardest fight but for a man of his age it was enough. He boiled some water and resigned himself to making a half decent cup of tea this morning rather than an expertly made Splinter special. There was something more enjoyable about drinking tea made by his father than one he made himself. It made sense – Splinter had years of practise to him.

"Morning, Leo!" Leo spun around, almost spilling everything. "Hey! It's only me – you're favourite brother who's about to make you the best breakfast ever."

"Mikey, you're not getting out of morning training," Leo smirked. Mikey looked shocked.

"What are you implying? That I wouldn't make you breakfast just because I love you?" He grinned. Leo rolled his eyes.

"Training's still on," he smiled.

"And someone's getting some plain old toast," Mikey harrumphed. He turned to the fridge and took out various ingredients for a big family breakfast. "Hey, where's Sensei?"

"He's still in bed, I figured I'd leave him – he looked really tired last night," Leo explained. Mikey shrugged and carried on with breakfast.

Half an hour later, Leo found himself munching on toast while he watched his brothers tuck in to eggs, bacon, sausage and all the extras. Good job he had Donnie to pass him stuff under the table.

"Come on, Mikey! You can't stall anymore! We're ready to start!" Leo called. He was getting a tiny bit impatient now. He wished Mike would learn when a joke goes too far. But no. His youngest brother usually needed a physical warning for the message to get through.

"C'mon, Mike! Don't make me smack you one in front of Splinter," Raph yelled. Donnie frowned at the loudness in protest. It was morning. They should be listening to the birds singing, not Raph. Luckily, just before Raph decided it was time to physically drag him to the dojo, Mikey appeared in the doorway still holding the tray of breakfast he'd been taking to Splinter.

"Um, guys, I think..." he looked at the breakfast plate, full of food, "I don't know..."

"Spit it out," Raph snapped. Mikey looked up at them again. Leo felt a horrible sense of dread crawl into the pit of his stomach.

"He didn't wake up..." Mike paused. "When I went in, he usually knows I'm there... he didn't wake up."

Leo pushed the dread aside for a moment and made his way to Splinter's room. He pushed open the door slowly. Just because he hadn't woken up didn't mean anything – he'd been tired and it had been cold out last night. He probably just had a cold or something. Even ninja senses are hindered by the common cold. But the peaceful way their father was lying made the dread return. He turned and saw his brothers in the doorway.

He knelt next to the bed and placed a hand on his father's arm. He felt... cold. Leo stood up in alarm. He felt as though a sword had gone straight through his heart.

"Master Splinter?" he shook the rat's arm gently. This was definitely wrong. He stepped back. He watched in a daze as Donnie walked forwards slowly and knelt next to the bed where he had been a few moments ago. It was as though he couldn't hear anything. Donnie removed their father's arm from underneath the covers and felt for a pulse. Leo dizzily watched as Donnie turned and the look on his face was enough. Donnie placed the arm down gently and sat looking at the floor. Leo was gone. He was lost inside his own thoughts. Until he heard the crash. He span just in time to see the whole breakfast tray smash across the floor and a blur running. The second blur ran after it. He sank to the floor in an attempt to tidy up the mess but somehow found himself at Donnie's side.

"He's gone."

I know, I know, it isn't exactly following the challenge criteria at the moment, but it's on the way *cackles evilly*

Please review :)