Disclaimer: TMNT is not mine, it in fact belongs to Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman.

Title: The rat and a street thug

Genre: Friendship

Summary: When Splinter is separated from his sons, he is injured in the alleys. The thug he saves decides to return favor…. This alliance is just as shaky, unstable and doomed as a condemned building. Can Splinter make it work just as long as he is being carted around? Can his sons find him?

Prologue

"Come along boys," Splinter chided gently and flicked his tail in a manner of authority – his four sons were trailing behind him, Raphael was again bickering with Leonardo. Splinter was honestly stumped about what to do about Raphael, the source of most of the bickering. Leonardo, Donatello and Michaelangelo all had a dislike for conflict, but Raphael was unfortunately the living embodiment of it.

"Leonardo, Raphael!" Splinter reprimanded "You two are not permitted to speak to each other for the rest of this journey, understand?" His sons in blue and red mumbled something before looking away from each other. Splinter managed somewhat of a smile and grimace when he heard his youngest son in orange make and off the wall remark and get immediately rebuked by his brothers. Although Michaelangelo always had the best intentions at heart, Splinter sometimes wondered if he ever used his mind for anything other than plotting on how to infuriate his brothers (Raphael in particular).

The mutant family was currently seeking shelter topside – Ms. O'Neil's place or Mr. Jones, there was a colossal storm going on, and they did not wish to be in the sewers if a bad flood were to happen.

Splinter suddenly stopped and his ears perked up; distant roaring steadily growing stronger….

"Master?" Leonardo asked from behind him "Is something the matter?" Unfortunately, his sons could not hear what he could; his rat hearing had always been rather acute even in his old age, and his sons didn't even have ears to speak of so the fact they could hear at all always boggled Splinter.

"Run my sons!" Master Splinter commanded and started sprinting, his startled sons quickly followed suit; Splinter knew they were lagging behind purposely because they could very easily out-run him, but they did not wish too. Such loyal students they were, but now was not the time.

"Run faster! Leave me behind if you have to!" Splinter commanded.

"We aren't leaving you!" They all refused, Master Splinter quickly turned his head to face them and gave them a glare.

"That is an order!" He barked "Michaelangelo, you are the fastest; run at top speed and lead your brothers to Ms. O'Neil's."

"But-" His nunchaku-wielding son tried to argue, but the torrent of words caught in his throat when Splinter lay his serious gaze on him.

"Michaelangelo!" He warned; with a gulp, the orange-masked turtle nodded reluctantly and ran at top speed ahead. "The rest of you, run and follow your brother!"

Reluctantly, with Splinters orders and yelling, they did what he said, even when they were far ahead of him Splinter still urged them.

The roaring wasn't so distant now…

Splinter only had time to wonder if his sons were okay when the wave crashed into him.

There weren't enough stories about Splinter... So I thought, why not?

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