It had been a long night for New York Police Chief Atil, and he had been around the block a few times. He had been a responder to 9/11, to alien invasions, to gang wars and such. Of course it was simple; he had been on the streets then. But as a Chief now his most exciting moments were when he went to refill his coffee.
But with each signature and each report he filled out, he was only hoping it would do some good. Somehow
Without meaning to his mind began to wonder, it was much like on a night like this when he had first "met" the Nightwatcher. He had heard the rumors for weeks, but on that night the Nightwatcher had chosen to come to him. The lights had been turned off and a rough accented voice had appeared from behind him, asking for leads on a crime wave. Atil had simply given him the information, but when he had turned to see him, he had gone. He never did tell anyone else about that night, or the nights that followed when the Nightwatcher would come and get leads. Even though he could tell the Nightwatcher was impatient and short-tempered he was still making a difference. Not surprisingly crime had fallen slightly after his appearances, what WAS surprising was the fact that the crime fell even more after the Nightwatcher disappeared. But just because the figurehead was gone, didn't mean the man (or teen, as he suspected) had stopped fighting. And when the lights in his office went out again, he knew he was right.
"Sup Chief?" that was the Nightwatcher alright, except his voice was rougher, as though he had been smoking for 3 hours straight.
But Atil simply smiled, "It's been a while, you've been doing a good job on the streets son."
"I've had help."
"Oh?" that was an interesting thought, as he set aside one stack of paper and reached for another one, "How can I help you?"
"There's a lot of weapons on the street, hurting a lot of good people. "
"Yeah I know of it, the dealers name is-"
"Blood Rain, I know of him. He blew up a building earlier tonight" he hears the Nightwatcher's voice hitch, as though trying to keep composure "I know his name; I need you to tell me where he is."
"If I knew that, I'd be there myself"
"So you don't know anything?" his voice was thick with frustration
"I didn't say that, word on the street is that he travels a lot, but he always goes back to his homeland, Canada."
"Thank you." that was new; the Nightwatcher never thanked him before. This must be serious to him, personal. Atil didn't have to turn around to know the Nightwatcher was alright gone. But he simply smiled and returned to his paperwork,
"Good Luck, Nightwatcher."
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Donnie collapsed against the wall of the dojo, the shattered pieces of his Bo staff hanging limply from his hands as he panted. But Raph simply waited, despite the late hour, he had little fear of them getting caught. After all, even if they did he didn't think they'd get in trouble. Master Splinter had told them many times to help each other out and Donnie had asked for such a thing. His little brother might be a genius (even at the tender age of 12) but he was still frustrated at the progress he was making. So that lead to their midnight practices, which usually had them in bed a few hours before actual practice.
But Raph relished training; it was simple, fun, satisfying. And, when their father finally would let them go to the surface, he wanted them all to be ready, "Come on Donnie, we need to get back to the kata."
"But you broke my Bo staff-'
"So adapt, isn't that what revolution teaches you? You're always going on about it."
"It's called Evolution, and I talk about dinosaurs-" but with a tell-tale glare from Raph he shuts up.
After all, he IS the smart one.
Raph took a step back before rushing forward again, continuing his onslaught of punches, jabs and kicks while Donnie fended him off his pieces of his bo-staff. Even though his little brother was doing a fair job, it was obvious that his moves were sluggish, "Come ON Donnie! If I can do this you can-"
With a glare of light brown eyes, and before Raph could react, Donnie shifted his arm so the broken piece of Bo staff was parallel to his forearm and slammed it into Raph's face, sending him flying back into the ground. Leaving him dazed with stars floating over his head, but instead of anger he felt a small dose of satisfaction, "That was GREAT Donnie! Good work!" but the sound heaving filled his ears. When he sat up he saw Donnie on his hands on knees, sweat covering his face and arms, breathing strained. He scrambled over to him, "Don! Donnie what's wrong!?"
"It-its nothing I-" but his little brother turned away, coughing.
The panic that filled Raph sent him running across the lair and into Splinters room where he was asleep on his back. Only awakening when Raph began to pull on his wrist talking at speeds considered to be impossible, "Raphael? What is the matter-?"
Raph breathed deeply glancing from Splinter to the dojo, forcing himself to slowdown as he pulled on his fathers arm, "Its Donnie, he's making weird sounds and he won't stop coughing."
Splinter grabbed his staff and allowed his son to drag him back to the dojo. When he saw Donnie lying on his side, he quickly knelt by him and pulled him into a sitting position against him, rubbing his back and Donnie coughed loudly. It took a bit but the sounds eventually faded, and that's when Splinter chose to turn and look at Raph, "What happened? Why were you two in the dojo so late?"
"I've been helping Donnie with extra practice. Just a few hours-"
"For how long? How long have you been practicing in secret?"
"I dunno, a few weeks, maybe 3-"
Splinter sighed heavily, wiping the sweat off of Donnie's forehead tenderly, "Raphael, I understand your desire to help your brothers and prepare them for the surface. And I understand that you and Leonardo are very gifted, but Donatello and Michelangelo are still young. There is a reason I train you boys the way I do, because too much practice with limited rest would cause any of you to get ill."
"What does that mean?"
"It means, my son that your younger brothers will eventually catch up with you. But with adequate and proper training." he turned back to Don, stroking his forehead again, "Now, would you please help your little brother to his room? He is going to need plenty of rest."
Raph nodded, kneeling by Donnie and draping his arm over his neck (he didn't have the strength to carry him). It worried him that Donnie didn't respond to him until Raph had laid him on his bed and removed his mask, when he stirred and open his eyes, "Raphie?"
"Donnie! Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm sorry-"
"Don't say that, it's my fault. I should have been more careful."
Donnie squirmed around in bed slightly, the blanket rising up to his nose before looking back at Raph sadly, "I wish I was strong like you Raphie, and then maybe I wouldn't be such a wimp."
"Hey first of all, you are strong. You laid me out before remember?"
"That was luck="
"No it wasn't, even if it was we all have different strengths remember? That's what Dad says all the time."
Donnie smile weakly and nodded before flinching heavily and screaming in pain.
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Raphs eyes shot open, gasping for air. It took a few second and looking around frantically to remember that he was in Canada and relaxed.
It had been a faster trip when Raph realized that, with his Nightwatcher uniform and helmet he could easily blend into traffic. But when he reached the border he was forced to turn of the engine and find other means of rolling across. And, despite the fact the sun was high in the sky, he had to fight the urge to yawn, after all, he wasn't used to being up so 'late'.
By assuming alone, Raph had to speculate that 2 days had passed since the fire. Most of it was spent pounding down hoodlums with military grade weapons till he found out how Blood Rain was getting his weapons over the border.
Turns out that Blood Rain snuck his cargo over in semi trucks disguised as milk trucks. They'd always drive by the same route to avoid suspicion and hire veteran truck drivers, unaware of their cargo. All of which created a very simple, but effective cover.
Smart arms dealer.
Then he had found the truck stop that they regularly used. Luckily the said semi was already there, with the symbol of a cow holding a piece of cheese and a clover. He had snuck a tracker on the bottom *(incase he lost sight of it) But because it had been night, he knew he'd have a while to wait. So he wheeled his bike around the woods till he had a good view and good shelter and waited. Sometime he had fallen asleep but the truck was still there.
Raph sighed again and wiped his forehead on his sleeve, if his father was with him, he'd try and get him to eat something but Raph was too afraid of his stomach rejecting it. So instead he took out his duffel back he had grabbed and opened it. It was mostly rations and emergency supplies, and an attempt to pass the time. But it was in his training to be ready.
For about the 100th time, his shell-cell vibrated. It was probably Leo continuing his lecturing, but when he glanced at the screen he saw Mikey's' number. But he still hesitated before answering it, holding a knife in his hands, "Mikey?"
"Raph! Oh finally." his baby brothers voice was relieved, but hushed which assured Raph that Leo didn't know he was calling, '"We've been worried sick, are you ok?"
"Who are you talking to? Of course I'm fine" he paused, "Are you ok? Are you in pain? Messing with your cast?"
"Of course I'm ok."
"And Leo? Don?"
There was a pause, "They spent a lot of time talking last night, when they thought I was asleep. "
"About what?"
"About the time we all had the flu but you. Remember that?"
Even though Mikey was obviously hiding something, the memory still made him laugh slightly, "Yeah, Master Splinter thought it'd be a good idea to let me play 'nurse.' shell that was a mistake." Even though he hadn't thought it funny at the time (none of them had). Raph had gone through with his duties how he did everything. With supreme aggression. This involved wrapping Mikey in a blanket so tightly that he passed out, shoving a funnel into Leo's mouth and pouring scalding hot soup down his throat, and, when Donnie's fever rose over 100, throwing him into a tub of ice water and accidentally holding his head underwater till the bubble stopped coming up. What was even more amazing was the fact that Splinter had no idea of the horrors coming from the infirmary till Mikey army crawled into his room begging for mercy. Of course the picture of Mikey crawling across the Lair on his belly, hiding under pieces of furniture when Raph realized he had escaped, was enough to make Raph chuckle slightly, "I did my best didn't I?"
"That's what's what was so scary about it."
Raph could just imagine Mikey laughing, hiding behind the couch. And somehow it made him less tense, until he asked the question Mikey was avoiding, "How's Leo and Donnie?"
There was a pause then Mikey said, "uh oh." and Leos' voice came over,'"Raph? Raph is that you?"
Almost immediately the irritance came back, "Who else would it be, Fearless?"
"Where are you? Why did you take your Nightwatcher uniform?"
"You know the answer to both of those questions."
"This is stupid Raph, we need you here-"
"No you don't, I need to take down Blood Rain."
"That can wait Raph!"
Raph growled heavily, he didn't expect Leo to understand, but the only thing that was the fact he didn't' have answer, "How's your hand Leo?"
"Its fine, Mikey keeps saying that I have a "Mickey Mouse" hand and that I need to even it out, but other then that its fine."
"And Don? Would someone PLEASE tell me how he's doing?"
There was a pause and Raph could hear the closing of a door. Apparently Fearless the Brainless wanted privacy, "We've made him as comfortable as we can, and we put padding around him and strapped him down so he can't accidentally move."
"I'm sure he loves that. Now, would you please tell me what yer NOT telling me?"
Another pause, "Don didn't tell us everything…"
"About what?!"
"We were talking last night, and I was able to get Don to tell me that he can't' move his." there was a pause and a heavy sigh, "He can't move his legs Raph. Even when he tried. He couldn't even sit up if we let him."
The news hit Raph so hard that he had to grab the tree for balance, already the anger and panic were swelling, "So he's paralyzed!?"
"No, even if he was Leatherhead is certain that it's temporary. That with therapy he'll be fine-"
"Leatherhead's been wrong before Leo, he overlooked the problem to begin with-"
"It's not his fault. Look, we both know Donnie isn't the best patient, and this hasn't been easy on him. But I can't even get him to eat; he just says he's not hungry no matter what I offer. And he tried to talk me out of giving him morphine last night-"
"You didn't listen to him did you!?" demanded Raph
"Shell no, but he kept saying that you and I wouldn't need it, so he shouldn't'-"
Raph growled heavily, slamming the back of his fist against the tree he was leaning on . He quickly glanced back to see if the semi had moved yet before turning back, "Then shove a funnel in his mouth-"
"That doesn't work with everyone Raph. The only reason he hasn't dried out is because of the IV."
He pulled the phone away from his head for a moment before resting his head against the tree. The last thing he wanted to do was talk to Donnie, (he still couldn't' get his nightmare out of his head) but he knew he didn't have much say in the matter, and he couldn't let Don go on like this. After all, Leo wouldn't ask his for help unless he truly needed it. SO with a deep breath he held the phone back up to his mouth, "Ok, ok Leo can you hold the phone up to Donnie's head or something. And don't' you DARE put it on speaker phone."
"Ok, thank you." there was silence again, but after a few minutes he heard Leo say , "Its Raph, he wants to talk to you." there was a small scuffle (Raph assumed that Leo was putting the phone up to Donnie's head) and the closing of a door again a confused Don spoke over, "Raph?"
"Hey Donnie. How you feeling?" he tried to put on a friendly tone,
"I'm fine, Mikey's' been keeping me company and Leatherhead is going to be staying at the Lair for a while incase something happens."
"That's good of him."
Donnie laughed slightly, "'that's good of him? Are you under duress?"
"It aint more bogus then you claiming your fine, so how about we both drop the crap?" Raph knew he was being harsh, but he wasn't going to get Donnie to tell him anything by pretending to be a friendly nurse. So after silence Donnie spoke up, "I hate it Raph, I hate being strapped to a freaking bed, I hate not being able to." there was another pause
"Leo already told me about your legs, and how you're trying to talk him out of giving you morphine. "
"We don't' have a lot and its only for emergencies-"
"Incase you forgot, you're practically paralyzed so that counts-"
"But I'm not, I should be able move. It shouldn't bother me. The pain shouldn't keep me from moving, it wouldn't stop you-"
"That's bullshit and you know it. Every bit of it. You're not going to be able to get better if you keep being stubborn-" he paused, waiting for Donnie to say something like 'look whose talking' but he could visualize Donnie biting his tongue, trying to keep from saying anything to make him hang up. So he took a deep breath , "You need to let the others help you, even if it means letting them feed you-"
"Leo told you about that? I just haven't been hungry."
"Don." he took a breath, he needed to be reasonable. Which was hard enough as it is, "Donnie, I know it cant be easy. If it were me I would of already bitten off everyone's fingers. But you're not me, you have to be smart about this. The more you let them help you the faster you'll heal. Which may not seen fast, but considering the alternative doesn't that help?"
There was silence again, "When are you coming home?"
"Soon little brother. I'll be back soon," Raph cast another glance over his shoulder. He could see movement stirring in the cabin of the trailer and knew the driver was awake, "I promise."
" You shouldn't' be out there, Blood Rain is dangerous-"
"I gotta do this Donnie. I have to take him down before he hurts anyone else."
"I know that, but that can wait we should be going after him together. As a team."
Raph heard the semi truck roar to life and hurried over to his bike, "Don I gotta go ok?"
"Raph I'm sorry-"
But Raph had already hung up, he tried not to think of Donnie on the other end of the line realizing the dead silence. Unable even to hang up the phone, he tried not to think of the long and difficult journey had ahead of him. As he straddled his motorcycle and pressed "silent mode" on the handlebars which immediately quieted the motor to near nothing. All he could think about was about how many ways he was going to break Blood Rains skull.
And then how he was going to go home and shove a funnel down Donnie's throat.
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It took many hours and Raph wasn't a geographic master (or whatever they called them) but he was pretty sure they should have been to Alaska by now. But after many drop offs (after which the driver was replaced by, who Raph knew, was one of Blood Rains' men), he eventually saw the trailer's covering being torn off and replaced with a plain black one.
The drive even took them into the mountains and into snowy hell, but luckily the leather on his uniform kept him from succumbing to this exothermic ways. Past small towns and even smaller gas stations. But the truck eventually drove off the 'main' road (which at this point was simply snow) and down a pass so narrow that Raph had to commend the driver on his skills.
He chose to slwo down though, without the cover of other cars he'd be easily spotted by the driver. Raph still had the tracker anyway. So he parked his bike again and lay down low for a few hours , pulling a white cameo blanket over himself and the bike incase there were camera's he didn't see, before wheeling the bike up the hill.
Of course, it would have been easier to simply ride it but in pass so narrow the smallest exhaust would stick out like a sore thumb.
Eventually the road opened up and a white mansion was revealed, hidden by its color and built directly into the mountain. In fact, if Raph hadn't been openly looking for it he was sure he would of passed it altogether. He looked around for the semi before concluding that it was probably hidden in a garage.
He made his way back to his bike before opening up his duffle bag again. At this point his stomach growled for the granola he kept in there, but the thought of Donnie refusing to eat made him shove it deeper into the bag. He knew Donnie wouldn't' of listened to him, so the sooner he got back the better. He pulled out several cases of shuriken and knives before opting to simply go for the knives. After all, they were lighter and easier to throw.
Knives, smoke bombs, sais (good ol' sais') he only paused when he remembered the chains still attached to his uniform. He had been meaning to remove them, but now he felt like he needed them. Incase his sais were to fail, after all he was pretty good with them.
manrikigusaris
Satisfied he draped the came back over his back and turned to look at the mansion. As soon as night fell, he'd take on the role of Nightwatcher one more time.
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There are certain things you never wan to hear when you're sneaking into a arms dealer's home.
1) the click of a gun behind your head
2) and not least, the sound of blaring sirens and red lights shooting around like a disco.
So when all three happen, you know you're in a lot of trouble. But when you're Raph, you do the first thing that pops into your head. Which, in this case is spin around and slam the knuckle of his sai into the gun holders face and slam a foot into his neck before taking off down the hallway. He knew the guy would be out before he hit the ground.
AS much satisfaction as that moment gave him, it still didn't' change the fact that everyone on the mountain knew he was here. But it didn't change his mission objective.
The doorway ahead of him opened up and a goon stepped out with a automatic rifle in his hands. Before he could even see him, Raph triggered a chain to drop into his hand and shot it forward into the man's stomach, sending him flying back into the hall he had come from.
He couldn't' keep track of how many goons he had knocked out, but judging by the fact 2 of his throwing knife cases were already empty ,and the trail of knocked out goons behind him (at least he KIND of hoped they were unconscious), he had too assume a lot.
Raph ducked down and crouched around a corner. He knew that the odds of him getting through the mansion without being seen were not likely (even with his training) but he had been hoping to get a sight of Blood Rain before the sirens went off. But That obviously didn't happen.
He took a moment to think, as far as he knew, he had been to every room in this freaking building (including through 5 indoor pools).
Some people…
He stepped over another body before running back the way he came back to the top of a master stair case which reminded Raph of something from the Beauty and the Beast (Dam Mikey's movie night). When he heard footsteps running he quickly ducked back into the shadows in time to see a group of goons running out, 2 of them separated and ran a bit ahead, checking around the corner of the staircase (not having enough sense to check the top, where Raph was hiding). When they felt they were safe they turned back to the group, hurrying out into the hallway all of them around a singular object, a person hunched over with a leather jacket covering him
Bingo.
Raph slipped out of the shadows and onto the railing, throwing himself off and at the group. One of the goons (the one closest to Blood Rain) suddenly yelled something and the half of the group surged forward while half stayed behind, guns up and ready.
But Raph slammed into them with the force, and effect of a bowling ball and turning to the running away group, "Get back here!" he shouted, yanking out one of his sais.
Suddenly a arm shot out and grabbed his. Another one followed, a goon hugged him from behind (not the affectionate kind ) the combined weight caused Raph to sway, he braced his feet trying to drag the group with him, but it didn't he could already feel the goon on his feet trying to grab the other one. Raph lifted one of his sais and threw it after the group, but the arm finally caught his another leg and sent him face planting before he could see if it hit. Raph growled heavily twisting around to free his arms but the "stooges" have such a tight grip on him that they are pinned to his side. He could hear them fumbling around, trying to get a gun out probably
Like that was going to happen.
He pressed his free hand even tighter against his body, feeling for a packet on his side, slowly inching till he felt the tell tale sign of a smoke pellet and pinched on either side of it.
Smoke erupted from underneath him, shooting out and covering the area, already the stooges are coughing and hacking uncontrollably, too busy clutching at their throats to realize that the angry turtle they had been trying to tackle was now standing, pressing his knuckles together.
Of course without their weapons it wasn't a fair fight, and they were all out for the count and Raph was running the way Blood Rain had ran, snatching up his other sai and charging forward. Luckily the hallway is pretty straight, with no secret openings or doors. He should be able to catch up soon, the thought of that makes Raphs' fingers twitch as he rounds another corner-
A goon slammed himself into Raphs stomach with the ferocity of a steroid induced football player, almost knocking him off his feet. But he forces his weight down, doubling over the man and grabbing him around the waist, trying ot reach his damm weapsons again but another goon grabbed him from behind, arms around his neck. That's when Raph saw the third one at the end of the hall raising something in his hands. Cold realization hits him fast enough to dive his head to the right just as the sound fof gunfire fills the air. Something catches the side of Raphs face and slams into the wall behind him, but the feel of warmth blood running down his face only enrages him. He dug his feet deeper into the ground and lifted the goon around his waist high into the air and tossed him towards the goon with the gun before slammign his free hand into the "Hand' goons face, sending im against the wall in agony. The sound of antoher click sends Raph diving forward, low to the ground as bullets rain around him, feeling a quick tuck on his sleeve he dove forward and slammed his shoulder into goons stomach before grabbing him by the head and tossing him back with "hand" goon.
Raph was back on the run, but he quickly felt his face, the bullet only appeared to nick the skin, but that felt like a lot of blood. And ,as he glanced at the shot on his arm, realized the bullet only nicked the Nightwatcher uniform.
Thank shell for that.
Just ahead he can see another waiting up there, gun at his side and watching intently. Just what he needed, he reached at his sides to pull out his sais when the guy suddenly threw himself back away from him seething the gun and reaching at his waist. But Raph doesn't give him a chance and throws a punch at his face but the goon ducks down and lunges himself at Raphs chest.
Raph turned in time to dodge but the guy was back at him again, and there's something trailing in his hands. That's when Raph realizes what it is.
Chains.
Freaking, chains.
How ironic is that?
But now Raphs' back is to the ending of the hallway that Blood Rain had run through, but before he can turn around "Chain" (as Raph was officially calling him now, because "goon" just didn't fit) launched a ball (attached to the end of the chain) right at him. Raph takes another step back, leg shooting out and pinning it against the wall. But Chain has twisted his body, causing the other end of the chain to shoot at him too. Knowing this hallway was limited as it is, he quickly turned his body an took the impact directly in the shoulder.
Pain shot out, causing him to stumble back, but before he could even move Chain was on him again, puling a knife out of his pocket and diving on him. Raph quickly took a step back and shot his knee up and caught him right in the face, the sound of cracking nose (nto the most pleasant sound filled the air and sent him against the opposite wall, holding his face.
Raph was about to raise his foot to knock Chain out completely when a beeping sound filled the hallway, slow at first, it builds up speed. Sort of like-'
The last thing Raph remembers is the sound of explosion and rock slamming into his head.