Road Trip

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters in this piece. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are the wonderful creations of Eastman and Laird and they are owned by people who are not me. I also don't get paid for this. Please don't sue.

A/N: I decided to take a little break from Nalong. Actually it was a rather insistent plot bunny that forced me to take a break. I'll get back to that story soon! In the meantime I hope you enjoy this!

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"Mikey, you'd better remember to turn that off when we stop." Donatello warned his brother as he saw the reading light in the back of the battle-shell come on.

"Sure thing bro." Mikey responded promptly.

Don wasn't going to complain too much because the light meant that Mikey was reading his comic book and not asking annoying questions like 'are we there yet?' As long as Mikey was reading everyone was happier. Leo sat beside him in the passenger's seat with a map spread out on his lap and an atlas lying open on the dashboard. Raph was behind Don sipping on a soda and watching on with a rare look of amusement as Leo fiddled with the maps in an attempt to plot the course to their destination

"You know Don. We really should have done this last night." In all honesty it was too dark to read the map, but that didn't stop Leo from trying.

"We did. We're staying on this road until…"

"I told you I don't like being on the freeways. There are too many opportunities to be seen, and never mind the possibility of a wreck. Look around Don, and tell me there aren't too many cars for comfort."

"Actually, statistics say that the likelihood of a wreck is much lower on the freeway than on those little highways you want to take. Besides, this rig would stand out like a sore thumb there. We've already had this discussion Leo, you lost, besides Mikey gets sick on those roads, remember?"

"Then why are you letting him read?"

Don gave Leo a look that said since when am I his keeper. But the look he got back from Leo wanted an answer, so Don gave him one.

"Two things Leo. A) If he gets sick it's his own fault, and what am I gonna do about it? Pull over and take his comic book? And B) If he's reading then he's not asking if we're there yet.

Even Leo couldn't refute the truth of the second statement.

Raphael continued to watch on as his entertainment suddenly became far more interesting.

Leo sighed and started to fold the map. Well he tried to. Every time he got about halfway through he came across a crease going the opposite direction, and shortly after that the map exploded back to its full size and he had to start over. After the fifth failed attempt he caught Don shaking his head slightly at his complete and utter inability to fold the map, but it was the chuckle from Raphael that almost put him over the edge. He growled at the map and tried again only to have the thing burst open once more

"Need a hand with that bro?" Raphael asked with amusement in his voice. As much fun as it was to watch Leo try to fold that map Raphael couldn't help but get in a stab at his brother's expense.

"No."

Raph sat back in his seat and watched as his entertainment continued. He couldn't help but giggle each time the map once again erupted in his brother's lap.

After a few more failed attempted Leo caught Donatello's repeated glances in his direction.

"Shouldn't you be watching the road!" he snapped. Donatello quickly turned back to the road in response, but it wasn't long before he had to glance back over at Leo's progress, or lack thereof.

Finally, the blue-clad turtle gave up on folding the map and, annoyed with Raph's continued laughing, threw it into the red turtle's lap. The shocked look on Raphael's face was all Leo needed to feel his mood lighten a little.

"You think you can to better?" Leo asked silkily.

The grimace that passed over Raph's features was quickly suppressed, but Leo caught it and tucked in to watch as Raph made his own attempt at folding the map. Each time Raph failed to close the map properly he noticed the amused look on Leo's face as he was forced to start over.

"Where's the high and mighty map folder now?" Leo asked smugly around the third attempt.

"This thing doesn't fold!" Raph shouted, too loudly for the small confines of the battle-shell.

Mikey took off his headphones and put down his comic book at Raph's shout.

"Well, it started folded. You just need the right touch!" Mikey's mocking expression turned to fear as the map landed squarely in his lap.

"You think you go the right touch? Ok, you do it."

Donatello spotted a 'Rest Area - 1 Mile' sign and hoped beyond hope that no one was there, though this late at night they were probably ok. He, for one, needed a break.

Leo and Raph were now both watching Mikey attempt to fold the map. Holding it carefully he forced down the last fold and, being careful not to release the corners, he offered it to Leo, who wasn't quite willing to touch the bulging blob of map.

"Uh Mikey, I don't think…"

"Shut up, it's folded isn't it?" He turned to Raph and again offered the map.

"Kinda." Raph eyed the paper as though it were dangerous and, quite possibly, lethal.

Mikey finally put the map on the floor only to have it explode open once again as Donatello pulled the rig off the freeway.

"Oh for crying out loud!" He exclaimed as he shut the truck down and turned to his brothers who were still trying to fold the map. "Give it to me."

They didn't respond right away, just looked at him oddly.

"Come on, hand it over." Don insisted with seldom used authority in his voice.

Mikey handed the now well worn map over to the purple clad turtle and, along with his other brothers, watched in shock as Donnie quickly and quietly returned the map to its original folded state and stashed it in the glove box in front of Leo.

"Don't know about you, but I need a break." Don said as he climbed down from the driver's seat and headed toward the restroom, leaving his brothers to do as they would in the battle-shell.

Leo opened the glove box again and the three turtles still in the rig disbelievingly eyed the map where it now innocently laid in the glove box. They were still staring at the map when Don came out of the restroom. They looked up as he glanced over his shoulder and headed in the opposite direction of the truck. Leonardo carefully closed the glove box, locking the map up inside where it could do no more damage, and the three remaining turtles jumped out of the vehicle and headed to the restroom.

When they came out Donatello was nowhere to be found. They stood quietly for a moment and listened. Eventually the noise that had caught Donnie's attention found their ears as well. A rushing of water, but it was a far different from the water sound they heard in the sewers. This was not water running through a contained pipe, but water trickling and dancing through trees and over rocks. It was a bit of a walk but they did eventually find the source of the sound.

The river smelled wonderful. It had a clean scent that only a freshwater river far from the city can have. The air also carried the slight tang of soil. The smell was so different from anything they encountered in the city, and they chose to take some time to sit back and enjoy it, as soon as they found Don that is. It didn't take long to find him, looking around they discovered that he was already a step ahead of them in the enjoying the river department. Donatello was lying on his plastron atop a large rock at the very edge of the water. One hand dangled down and flicked at the river every now and then. He was quite content where he was; his brothers could tell that much even from where they stood in the dark. Even Raphael felt a sense of peace in this place. So close to civilization and the world that they were constantly hiding from, and yet it felt like the nearest town was miles away.

Raph headed toward his brother who was still perched on his rock either oblivious to Raphael's presence or ignoring it. As he neared Donatello's perch Raph spotted a smaller rock on the riverbank and sat down on it dangling his feet in the cool clean water. Everything felt different here, even the water, and for the first time in far too long Raphael felt totally at peace. He just sat, feet in the water, and let his mind wander.

"Nice isn't it?" A familiar quiet voice interrupted Raph's thoughts.

He looked up at Donatello whose presence he had almost forgotten.

"Yeah, it's a nice spot."

For several long moments the only sounds were the song the river and Donatello's occasional splashing.

"COWABUNGA!!!"

Then there was that.

Donatello and Raphael snapped to attention and observed the scene now taking place in the river. Michelangelo had cannon-balled into the cool water and was now paddling happily around the river.

"Hey Donnie!" He called out. "Nice spot!"

Looking upstream from his spot on the rock he could see Leo shaking his head at Mikey's antics, but darn it that water looked inviting. Donnie stripped off his pads, belt and mask before leaping from the rock and tackling his joker of a brother.

Raphael looked up the river and caught his still dry brother's eye.

"You know what they say Leo. If ya can't beat em…!" Raph clambered up the rock Don had been sitting on and jumped into the water almost on top of Donnie and Mikey.

Leo watched, and had to laugh at his brothers splashing around in the river like little kids. He tried to do the mature thing, the responsible thing and stay dry on the shore to keep an eye out for anyone who might come by, but there was another part of him that really wanted to go into that water as well. He watched and weighed his options. Michelangelo went underwater and disappeared for a few moments. Raph and Don were busy splashing each other and didn't seem to notice that their orange masked brother was no longer part of their game. Leo scanned the river for any trace of Michelangelo, and didn't see any. He was scanning the far bank when cool water hit him.

He looked toward the source of the splash and there was Mikey. All Leo could see of him was the top of his head, the orange mask he had neglected to take off and mischievous look in his eyes. His decision was made now. Leo quickly stripped off his pads, belt and mask before joining his brothers in the water.

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A couple of hours later all four turtles were ready to get back on the road. Mikey was of course complaining about his knee and elbow pads being wet, but no one really had any sympathy for him. Raph's were wet too, but he didn't complain. Don and Leo were dry by the time they got back to the battle-shell where they put their pads, belts and masks back on.

"So who's drivin'?" Raph asked. Everyone knew that the translation of that statement was 'NOT IT!' Even though Raph usually liked to drive he evidently didn't want to now.

"You go a couple more hours left in you Donnie?" Leo asked. He wasn't fond of driving, especially on the freeway and Mikey had already leapt into the back.

"Sure." Don climbed back into the driver's seat and turned the key.

Whir…whir…whir…rrrrrrr…

Nothing. Don had a feeling he knew exactly what had happened, but he tried it again anyway.

Whir…whir…whir…rrrrrrr…

"Miiii-keeeyy,"

"What?" There was genuine confusion on Mikey's face as he tried to figure out what he'd done now.

Donatello looked back and sure enough, the reading light emitted a too-soft glow. The other three turtles followed Don's gaze and immediately knew what had happened.

"Good one Bro," Raphael growled as he smacked Mikey up the back of the head.

"Oops."

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WOOHOO!! Ok that's done. This was intended as a one shot. Based on the ending, I give you three guesses as to what I did that led to this little plot bunny, and the first two don't count.