Hi everyone, did you miss me? ;D

I know I promised an update of Secret Weapon - that is coming very soon. I did have the next chapter fully typed, and was doing the final edits, when my computer crashed, and the file was lost. :'( So, I am having to start over.

Anyway, this is just a little story, inspired by the snow that ground the UK to a halt last week, and also by something that happened in a movie I saw recently.

It's not my best work ever, and the plot is rather crappy and very unrealistic, but it lets you know that I'm still alive. lol ;D

DISCLAIMER: I don't own TMNT, or the related characters. I do, however, own the news reporter, Jonathan Banes (as if thats something to be proud of).

It was freezing cold. The blizzard had started suddenly, and within minutes it had already begun to lay. By now the snow was several feet deep in places, and the swirling snow made it impossible to see more than a foot in front of you.

Raph and Mikey had been out in Central Park training when suddenly the snow storm was upon them. They had attempted to find their way out of the park, but the terrible visibility prevented them from seeing anything, and the swirling wind and icy chill confused their senses.

"Raph, its s-so c-c-cold," Mikey whined through chattering teeth. "I t-told you w-we should have gone h-home hours ago."

"I -I know, M-Mikey," Raph responded, struggling to keep his own voice from showing how cold he was too, "But we - we g-gotta keep go-going. Just a l-little farther, o-okay?" He put his arm round his younger brother, both to guide him and try to warm him a little.

"Okay, Raph."

They had been walking for a long time now, and still hadn't come across a place to shelter in. Raph felt Mikey beginning to shiver more violently, and felt his own body temperature dropping. He looked around desperately, but all he could see was a white sheet in front of him, and snowflakes flying into his face.

Just then, Mikey tripped on something.

"Mikey, are y-ya alright, b-bro?" Raph asked, helping him up.

"Y-yeah, I-I'm okay. I t-tripped on s-s-something."

Raph knelt down and felt around, trying to work out exactly what the 'something' was. Before too long, Raph had ascertained that Mikey had tripped on a large protruding tree root, and that the trunk of this giant tree had a small recess in it.

"Mikey, I t-think I've just f-found a shelter fer us. W-wait right there."

His hands almost numb with cold, Raph dug the snow and some dead leaves from the recess, and tried to burrow a little deeper into the ground to make the alcove bigger, but the ground was frozen solid. Still, it would provide some shelter, and was better than nothing.

He grabbed Mikey's hand and pulled him down to the floor.

"G-get in here, M-Mikey. It'll b-be a bit w-warmer."

Mikey did not argue, but simply climbed into the makeshift shelter. Raph used some of the dead leaves to cover him, though he doubted it made much difference. Mikey was still shivering, and Raph could tell he was getting sleepy.

"Bring y-yer knees up to y-yer chest. An' yer've g-gotta s-stay awake, g-got it?"

Mikey nodded, and did as he was told. The shelter was not big enough for Raph to get in as well, so he sat in the entrance way, his shell facing outwards. He hoped this would help stop some of the cold wind blowing in, though of course it only made him feel colder. Mikey soon noticed this.

"R-Raph, y-you must be f-freezing, dude."

"I-I'll be a-alright."

"N-no y-you w-won't. M-maybe we should move c-closer t-together, t-to share b-body heat."

"Y-ya l-learn that on T-TV?" Raph tried to laugh a little, as Mikey shuffled over a little and pulled Raph closer to him.

"Uh-huh. And I t-think D-Donny mentioned it o-once." Raph wrapped his arms around his younger brother, trying to stop him shivering.

"R-Raphie, I'm so tired."

"I know. B-but we g-gotta stay awake. W-we j-just gotta."

"D-do ya t-think they'll come l-lookin' for us?"

"C-course they will, Mikey. A-an' they'll f-find us."

"Are w-we g-gonna die?"

"D-don't be stu-stupid, 'course we're not! I-I'm not gonna l-let that ha-happen."

"P-promise?"

"I promise."

"Raph and Mikey should've been back hours ago, where the shell are they?" Leo was pacing the living room. At first, he had been annoyed, and had been prepared with a lecture for them as soon as they got back, but now he was starting to feel worried.

"I'm sure they're fine, Leo. Here, have some tea." Donny passed him a mug, which Leo accepted gratefully. "And I turned the heating up, it's freezing in here."

"Indeed it is, my son," remarked Master Splinter, as he shuffled towards the sofa. He pressed the power button on the remote control, and the TV screen came to life.

"We have interrupted our usual broadcast for this special news report", a TV news reporter was saying as the TV came on. "New York citizens are being urged to stay indoors with the heating on, and to avoid venturing outside wherever possible, until advised otherwise. The city has been struck suddenly with what can only be described as a blizzard, with snow already several feet deep in Manhattan and the Central Park area. Power outages are expected within the next few hours, although none have been reported so far. It is hoped that the snow will have stopped by morning, although there are still likely to be major traffic disruptions. As of yet, no casualties have been reported, as it seems due to the late hour, most people were already at home when the storm started. We will keep you updated over the next few hours. This is Jonathan Banes, reporting for Channel 6 News. Goodnight." And with that, the usual TV program was resumed. Master Splinter turned the TV off, and turned to his two sons.

"My sons, where are your brothers, Raphael and Michelangelo?"

"They went out training several hours ago, sensei. They were going to Central Park."

"And where are they now, my son?"

By now, realisation had dawned on Leo, and his dark green skin had gone several shades paler.

"I'm sure they'll have gone to April's, Master, since the snow started," Donny quickly put in, not wanting the elderly rat to worry.

"Of course, my son, you are probably correct. But please could you telephone Miss O'Neill to put my mind at rest?"

Donny nodded in response, and quickly dialled April on his shell-cell.

"Hello?"

"Hi April, it's me."

"Oh hi, Donny. Have you seen the weather outside? There's snow everywhere!"

"Uh, yeah - that is, we've just seen a news report about it on TV."

"So, what's up?"

"Well, I was just wondering if Raph and Mikey are with you?"

"No, I haven't seen either of them. I assumed they were at home, with you guys."

"I, uh, I see."

"Why? Where are they?"

"Well, uh, they went out training in Central Park awhile ago, and - er - they haven't come back yet."

"Surely they're not out in this? They must have found shelter somewhere."

"I hope so, April."

"Have you tried calling them?"

"No point - Raph's shell-cell is waiting to be repaired in my lab, and Mikey forgot his."

"Well, keep me posted, okay?"

"Will do. Bye." He disconnected the call, and looked at his elder brother and sensei in concern.

"They weren't there," Leo stated, having already gathered the answer from what he heard of the phone call. Donny shook his head slowly.

"My sons, put on your warm clothing. We are going out to look for your brothers. I believe we should start with Central Park."

"M-Mikey, y-you s-still with me, b-bro?"

"Y-yeah, Raph."

"I-I just w-wanna s-say s-sorry fer gettin' us in-into this mess."

"It's o-okay."

"N-no, it i-isn't! Y-ya neva w-wanted to c-come out training in the f-f-first p-place. An' y-ya wanted t-ta go h-home hours be-before the s-s-snow started."

"I d-d-don't b-blame you, Raph. S-so l-let's n-not m-mention it again, 'k-kay?"

Raph just nodded, and hugged Mikey closer to his plastron, trying to will what little body heat he had left into Mikey.

"T-thanks, R-Raphie," Mikey whispered faintly.

"F-fer w-what?"

"F-f-for k-keeping me w-warm."

Raph felt tears prick his eyes - he had gotten them into this situation, and now Mikey was thanking him?! He felt his eyelids growing heavy, and knew Mikey would be feeling the same. He tried to keep his eyes open, but exhaustion overcame him, and he fell asleep.

"Mikey! Raph!" Leo and Donny called, as they searched Central Park for their missing brothers. Master Splinter was waiting in the Battle Shell. The snow was still falling, although now only a little, nothing compared to the storm that had been blowing just a short while ago. But searching such a huge park was no easy task, especially when everything was covered in snow, which made it difficult to work out exactly where you were, and if you were going in the right direction. "Raph! Mikey!"

Still no answer, but the two turtles were not going to give up.

Raph suddenly jerked awake. He thought he had heard someone calling his name, but all was silent.

"I must have dreamt it," Raph thought to himself. He then realised that he had fallen asleep, which meant that he allowed Mikey to go to sleep too.

"Mikey. Mikey, wake up!" He shook his brother gently at first, but when there was no response, he shook him harder. "Mikey, this is no time ta play around! Mikey!" But the orange-masked turtle did not respond, he just felt like a cold dead-weight against Raph's plastron, no longer even shivering."No. No! No! Mikey! Don't ya dare do this ta me! Mikey!" Holding his youngest brother in his arms, Raph felt tears trickle down his cheeks, and guilt weigh heavy on his heart.

As he sat there, he felt the previously forgotten icy cold seep back into his body, and horrific feelings tearing apart his very soul. He just wanted to die. As he closed his eyes and felt himself drift into unconsciousness, he thought he heard someone call his name again. But Raph no longer cared. He felt warmth spread throughout his body, and remembered something he had heard on TV once, that just before you freeze to death, your body suddenly feels warm.

"I must be dyin'," Raph thought, just before he gave in to the darkness that wanted to swallow him up.

Watch out for Part 2 - coming very soon. :D

Reviews are very much appreciated. xxx