A/N: (cough cough) Yes. I am a horrible little person who has not updated for a very long time and I deserve to be pelted with bananas. (gives everyone a crate of said fruit) But if it makes you pity me at all, I have a cold, and I'm working with the workload of senior! (gets only blank looks) ooook. No pity for IR. Oh well then. Enjoy the story! (hacks up a lung)

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Late evening was creeping up slowly by the time that everything had been debated about and settled. Despite the drama and headaches Splinter had dealt with stemming from his sons illness's, he was still reluctant to let them go. It had taken everything April had to convince him, and at the same time not tell him what she'd seen in the room. There were just some moments she'd rather not relive!

Finally, through much persuasion and promises, he'd agreed to allow them to leave with her. But only after it was dark enough to give them adequate cover. Now that that time had approached though, April wondered if he wouldn't back out.

"And remember your manners, my sons. You may be ill, but you are still guests of Miss O'Neil. Do not run her ragged or distract her from her business...are you sure you would not prefer to stay here?" Splinter's tail twitched anxiously as he followed his two sons to the van.

"We'll be fine, Sensei. Don't worry 'bout it." Raph shrugged the concern off with a smirk before climbing into the van. His canvas bag slung over his shoulder.

"Yes but..."

"It'll be alright, father. We'll call you as soon as we get there." Leo promised. "You can even take the tunnel if you want to visit us." there was slight embarrassment at the fact they were driving their father so crazy April had to offer to take them, but there was nothing he could do about it. And the chance to get away from Raph for however long this disease lasted sounded like heaven!

Splinter sighed. His whiskers twitching as he studied the ground beneath his feet. The grip on his cane tightening then loosening before he looked up at his oldest, then to his second oldest who was nestled in the van. They were not helpless children, he knew this. And it was only for a few days and not even two miles away! But they were still his babies! He'd never not been there when they were sick before!

"I promise I'll take good care of them." April said as she came up behind the rat, blankets for the ride in tow. She moved around him trying not to trip as she threw the blankets into the open back, and helped tuck a comforter around Raph. He gave her a growl, but it was one of the many things their father insisted on. They had to be bundled up for this journey!

"The last thing you need is phenomena!" Splinter had snapped sharply not two hours ago before packing Raphael's old stuffed octopus into his bag. He didn't know why his son hadn't packed it himself, but he was sure he'd want it when they got to April's. After all, he'd always had it with him when he was sick!

"And you can call anytime you want. I'm sure I'll be up." April's smile was cut off as Casey blasted a horn in the drivers seat.

"Yo, we gettin' this thing movin' or what?! I'm missin' a hockey game!" the vigilante stuck out his head, then immediately pulled it back at the withering glances. "Sheesh. Forgive a guy fer wantin' to watch a game!" he muttered.

"Don't count on it." April sighed, before giving Splinter a comforting pat on the shoulder before helping Leo into the back. After a brief goodbye with his son's, the doors were closed and April made her way around back. "Tell Don and Mikey, I said bye."

"And please tell my mischievous son's to keep out of trouble!" Splinter replied, then quickly added. "I will be here if you need me!"

His comment was only acknowledged with a wave as the van started up and jerked to a start. Rumbling away from the old garage and the rat who stood there watching.

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As the bumps in the road became more frequent, Raph began to feel more nauseated as he curled up in the blanket. How was it that he had roamed these streets a hundred times and only now was he noticing how bumpy they were?! Or maybe they were smoother before. Maybe they'd been perfectly smooth and then someone knew they were sick and decided to put potholes all over just to...

The turtle wanted to smack his head. He'd been hanging around Mikey waaay to much. Shaking his head, Raph sat up straighter and picked up his bag looking for something to distract himself with during the trip over. When he opened it though, he realized it wasn't his bag, but Leo's. Hmmm...

Before the debate between good and evil could even start, Raph was digging through his brother's possessions to see what he had brought and if there was something interesting. His brother seemed completely oblivious to this action. That is until Raph found something and looked up with a smirk.

"Wow, Leo! What'd ya pack this for?!" he laughed as he pulled out a child's wooden sword.

"Hey! Have you ever heard of privacy, Raphael?! Give that back!" Leo's voice went from groggy to angry in seconds as he looked at his younger brother and sat up straighter.

"Awww, I remember this. This was yer first trainin' sword. Hehheh. Leo that's cute!" who knew fearless leader was someone who needed a comfort object?! Shell even Mikey outgrew that!

"Oh yeah well...well lets just see what you packed!" It was the lamest thing Leo could come up with as he snatched his brother's bag.

"Go ahead and poke arouns, bro. Ya won't find any...oh shell!" Raph's eyes widened as Leo pulled out a stuffed octopus with a menacing grin. "How did that get there?!"

Leo laughed.

"Awww, like you don't know." he chuckled as he turned the stuffed animal over in his hands. It was over ten years old, with tearing seems, a missing eye, and one corner of the head seemed to be permanently disfigured from when his brother was three and had gone through a teething stint and chewed on it. "Now you were saying something about cute?"

"I swear I don't know how that got in there!" Raph snarled, his throat scratchy as he bit back the urge to demand his brother hand it over. He'd endure water torture before he ever admitted to liking that thing! Let alone that he was actually glad it was in the bag. Splinter must have packed it for him. It was a little secret betwen them that he still had it. Of course neither ever expected that secret would be revealed quite like this!

"C'mon, Raph! It's nothing to be ashamed of!" Leo sing songed as he raised the little plushy in front of his face, swishing it back and forth. A small part of him knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help it! It was just to funny! Big tough Raphael still having a stuffed animal?!

"Yer right! It's nothin' to be ashamed of cause I didn't pack that thing!"

"Uh huh..."

"I swear I didn't pack that thing! I haven't even seen it for years! For all I knew it got last when the old lair caved in!" in reality it had been one of the first things he'd looked for when they were salvaging their old lair!

Leo only offered a knowing smirk as he continued to make the stuffed animal dance in front of his face. He knew Raph probably hadn't packed it. He would have never risked it being found! But if there was one person he could read, it was his brother. And right now, he read: relief, all over his face. Well, that and embarrassment.

Several minutes of silence passed between the two before Raph finally crossed his arms and looked up at his brother.

"Ya won't tell Mikey will ya?"

The oldest turtle shook his head as he threw the stuffed animal back to his brother.

"As long as you don't mention the sword."

"Deal!" Raph slid the memento back inside the bag, and tossed it over to Leo as the final seal on their agreement.

Satisfaction rested on both the turtles faces as they sat back. Not even an hour out of quarantine with each other and they were already behaving more civilized! Sure they were still stuck together for the trip, but with the promise of personal space looming ahead, this was something they were willing to endure.

Twenty minutes passed in silence and comfort before they jolted over the final bump and the van powered down. Finally! They were here! Both turtles stretched out their backs and pulled the blankest over their heads, only exposing their faces as they clutched the cloth underneath their chins. Their bags now slung over their shoulders and hidden. Anyone who saw them would either assume they were sick relatives coming for a visit, or very strange dressers. Though fortunately at this time, they didn't expect to meet anyone else.

However as the doors opened and revealed four heavily armed men in black armor, not meeting anyone else became the least of their problem.

"What the shell?!" Leo barked as he dropped his blanket and jumped to his feet with his brother not seconds behind him. They may be sick, but there was a difference between being sick and helpless!

Before either could make a move though, or wonder what happened to the drivers, two men took aim and fired two cords at each of them from guantlets on their wrists. On contact they released an electrical charge that sent both turtles crashing to their knees, then another larger one that sent them to their stomachs.

"L...leo...this..." Raph didn't have time to finish his thought before his eyes rolled up and he fell into darkness with another charge. His brother following suite.

Neither felt the way they were pulled from the van and slung over broad shoulders, or saw the limp bodies of Casey and April thrown into the back of the van in their stead, as they were carried off towards an unknown destination.

to be continued...

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A/N: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! (hack cough) Well, I hope this was ok. I've been so out of practice in writing the turtles that I don't know if I've lost something or not! Hopefully not. But if so, please point me in the right direction to regain it! Hope you guys liked it, and remember, reviews feed hungry authors.

Be Blessed

your friend

innocent-rebel