Chapter 6

Two more weeks had gone by and still no Donnie. Everyone spending the days in their rooms. Always so quiet and lonely in the lair. Nobody ever talked to one other anymore. It was so depressing. And like I said, it was quiet. It was quiet until we hear Raph's booming voice ring through out the lair. As for Donnie, Splinter changes Donnie's bandages once a week. But they still get blood soaked. But always not as bad as the last. So he was healing.

I was just in my room reading a book. Trying to calm my nerves but my few moments of piece of interrupted.

" That's it! I can't take it!" Raph cried. And his voice sounded like he just finished sobbing.

I rushed to the living room. I felt pretty weird running. Usually I have both arms by my side going back and forth like every other person does. But now I only have one good arm to run with and I had a little limp. Not a very big one, not very noticeable. Anyway, when I came to the living room. Leo and Mikey were already there, but Splinter was not in this scene.

" What is it now Raph?!" Leo yelled at his younger brother. With Donnie passed out, Leo's temper was just as short as Raph's. When I come to think of it, Donnie really balances them all out.

" Our brother had been knocked out cold for three and a half weeks! And we did nothing to avenge him! Shredder has to pay sooner or later and guess what!? It's later!" Raph had a sarcastic tone to his yelling voice.

" Yeah, but Shredder has done nothing either! We will stay down here till Donnie wakes up! We can't be stupid and go after Shredder!" Leo countered and tried to end the conversation early but Raph didn't give in.

" That's where your wrong Leo! Shredder had done something! He's beaten our brother to death! And now it's our turn to make a move!"

" Donnie's not dead!" Leo's voice sounded more sad then angry now. He refused to believe that Donnie still had a chance to die. Because if one of the turtles die, then the family dies as well, " And we are not going anywhere!"

" Fine. You don't have to. But I'm going no matter what you say. You stupid excuses for a fearless leader." Raph spat a mean remark at Leo and ran at full ninja speed out of the lair.

" Why does he have to be so difficult?!" Leo yelled at the ceiling. Angry with Raph, with himself, with the world.

" Should we go after him?" Mikey's for once quiet voice squeaked. He almost sounded shy.

Leo let out a heavy sigh and responded, " Let's go." And he took off, assuming that we would follow. And he assumed correctly. Mikey and I were right behind him.

It was stormy outside. There was no thunder or lighting, but it was raining, and it was raining hard. Each rain drop felt like a tiny bullet on my skin. But I kept running, we had to catch up with Raph.

We knew Raph would head straight for TCRI so we took a path that would allow us to cut him off. And that's just what we did. Jumping from rooftops, we seen a figure dancing in the night. It seemed in sink with the movement of the shadows. Jumping high into the starless, cloudy, raining sky. And it was no doubt Raph. Only a ninja of his skills could pull that off.

" Raphael!" Leo called his brother's name. Leo no longer sounded angry, or sad. Only worried and desperate. He was desperate for his brother to stop running. He was desperate for his brother's mind to clear up and realize that he was making a stupid decision that could cost him his life.

As Leo called Raph's name, we seen Raph come to a stop. He looked surprise and shocked. We had caught him off his guard. His eyes widen to a point where we could see the little red veins. Raph's eyes where shocked but they also looked like he was trying to apologize through them.

Mikey and I came to a stop about 6 feet away from Raph but Leo kept going. Was he going to hurt Raph? Yell at him again? I don't know if Mikey could take another fight. Especially two in the same night. But they didn't fight or yell. Leo actually went to hug Raph. When he did, Raph hugged back.

Raph's eyes were shifting back and forth. Like he couldn't process what was going on. His bright green eyes glowing under the moonlight, I seen them fill up with tears. And when Raph closed his eyes tightly, those tears became a stream running down his face. Raph was crying.

Raph buried his face into Leo's shoulder. Right now, Raph needed the comfort of his big brother, he needed someone to be there for him, and Leo was right there when Raph needed him the most. The soothing comfort of a older sibling.

" I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry." I heard Raph mumble to Leo over and over again and buried his face deeper into Leo's shoulder.

" Raph, it's okay." Leo comforted Raph and reassured him. Then Leo glanced back at us and signalled with his head for us to get out of here. I don't think Raph would want to face us all at the same time when he just finished crying. So I took Leo's signal and got out of there. Of course along the way back home I had to explain to a confused Mikey on why we had to leave.

When we returned home, none of us knew what to do next, so we just kinda stood there, waiting for the two older turtles to come home.

" What do ya want to do?" Mikey attempted to imitate his old happy self but I could see through his mask. I could hear the sadness in his voice. Which was a little scary. Mikey's the one I always turn to when I need a laugh. But now, Mikey was the one who needed the laugh.

" Mikey, can I ask you a question?" I wondered.

" Sure."

" Have you went to visit Donnie since he got hurt, by your self?" I asked with concern in my voice. I already knew the answer. But I had a feeling that if Mikey actually sad it out loud, it might help him.

Mikey look down at the grown. Ashamed of himself, he responded.

" No." Mikey's voice was so quiet that I barely heard him.

" Don't you think that he would appreciate a visit from his only little brother?" I spoke to him like I was speaking to a child. In a calm, soft, caring way.

" No." Mikey voice was fragile. Ready to break at any point.

" Why not?" I looked down at him trying to make eye contact.

" Because he doesn't like me." Mikey looked up at me with the saddest eyes I've ever seen. His baby blue eyes full of tears.

" What makes you think that?" I was a little shocked at Mikey answer. Why wouldn't Donnie like him? Mikey's adorable! With his freckles on his cheeks, and his big eyes, wide smile? How could you dislike like?

" Because I annoy him so much. I make him angry and and and." Mikey started to stutter. Trying to fight back his tears.

" Mikey. It's a little brothers job to annoy their older brothers. Plus Donnie adores you. He told me himself. Mikey, no matter how annoying you get, your brother will always love you no matter what."

" But Donnie doesn't annoy Raph or Leo." Mikey counter but I could see it in his eyes that he was cheering up.

" Believe it or not. He does. But in his own techno way. Like he bores Raph and Leo all the time with his 'technically' speeches. I bet that's annoying to them." I explained to Mikey.

" Taylor?"

" Yeah Mikey."

" Can I ask you a question now?"

" Sure, anything."

" What did you and Donnie fight about?" Mikey's curious eyes looked deep into mine.

" I-uh..." I was at lost for words, " I think I should wait till Donnie wakes up to see if we're gonna tell people." I said the first reason that I could think off. I didn't want to tell Mikey about mine and Donnie's fight. Especially Mikey. I didn't want to change his thoughts on how he sees me, or Donnie. I couldn't do that to him. So I made up an excuse and hoped that he would except it.

" I guess that makes sense." Mikey looked down at the ground, disappointed.

" I'm gonna go read my book." I stated. Trying to lighten up mood somehow.

" Okay. Wait Taylor?" Mikey called after me.

" Yeah Mikey?"

" Two things. Do you think you could read in the living room?"

" Sure Mikey."

" And uh. When is Christmas?"

I felt my eyes go wide.

" Umm, Mikey. Christmas was 4 days ago, its December 29th today." I told him. Afraid that he might be sad. I couldn't believe that we had by passed Christmas. How did I let it slip my mind?

" Oh good." I heard a little hint of joy in his voice. Now I was confused.

" Good?" I raised an eyebrow.

" Yeah. I was hoping that we could wait for Donnie to celebrate Christmas." Mikey said distractedly while picking up a comic book from off the floor.

A smile crept across my face. Mikey was the sweetest little brother ever. Anybody would be lucky to have him as a little brother.

I stood there for a few more moments, just watching Mikey pick up his comic books. But then I continued to my room, got my book, and sat beside Mikey on the couch and began to read.

Mikey and I read our books for a good half an hour. That was until I started up the conversation again.

" Hey Mikey?"

" Yeah?" Mikey didn't look up from his comic when he spoke.

" Where's Leo and Raph? Did they come home yet?" I asked. I was looking around the room for them but found nothing.

" Uh, Now that you mention it. I don't think they have." Mikey just got the sudden realization that I did.

" Where do you think they ar-" I got cut off by approaching footsteps. We turned around to face the entrance and seen Leo and Raph running in all out of breath.

" Dudes! We were just talking about you. Where have you been?" Mikey wondered and ran over to his brothers. I followed him.

" We...ran into...some...foot." Leo looked up from the ground and said between pants.

" Are you guys okay?" I asked frantically.

" Yeah. We're fine." Raph answered. He was panting as well.

" Well that's go-" I got cut off once again but this time by Leo.

" Shh." Leo shushed me.

" Did you jus-"

" Shh." Leo shushed me again, " Do you guys hear that?"

We all got quiet and tried to listen to what Leo was hearing. It sounded like foot steps. That's when we understood why we had to be quiet. So we all nodded in response. Leo signalled for us to get against the wall. So that's what we all did.

The footsteps came closer and closer. Leo started to count to three with his fingers. A signal for us to get ready to jump out. And when he reached three. That's just what we did. And when we jumped out of our sewer home and into the halls. Karai was standing right in front of us.

" Karai?" Leo shouted as Karai's eyes went wide. I don't think she was expecting us to jump out. But she was ready and Karai got out her katana as the turtles got out their weapon. I still remained weaponless.

Karai didn't say a word and just began to charge us with her sword by her side. But did she really think she could take out three of the turtles and myself? She could probably take out me with ease, but the turtles wouldn't let that happen.

It was a quick fight. She was obviously was tired. I'm guessing that she was part of the foot fight Leo and Raph were talking about. It took about three strikes before Karai was down and passed out. She was definitely not on her a-game.

" What do we do with her?" Mikey asked while looking down at Karai.

" Do we return her to Shredder?" I questioned. Not sure what Leo's plan was.

" No." Leo answered and looked at all of us. " We keep her here."

" Oh yeah sure. Great idea Leo! Keep the enemy in our lair!" Raph shouted with sarcasm.

" No. I mean like hold her hostage. Remember the tube the krang once kept us in. Because we couldn't breath their air? Well remember Donnie replicated it. If he stills has it, we can keep Karai in there. This could be our ticket out of Shredder's enemy list. He'll want his daughter back and we'll only give her back when he agrees to leave us and New York alone." Leo explained his master plan with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

" It's never gonna work." Raph countered.

" Just give it a try." Leo's response wasn't a plea, it was more like a demand.

Raph let out a sigh and gave in. Leo nodded in satisfaction and picked up Karai and began to carry her in.

We all walked in Donnie's lab and found the giant glass tube thing very easily. It was huge. I wanted to get out of Donnie's lab as soon as possible. It brought back to many memories. And I have the feeling that they wanted to get out too. So we all helped out and pushed the tube into the living room. Since someone's always in the living room, someone could always keep an eye on Karai.

We opened up the tube and put Karai in it. We sat her up so when she woke up she wouldn't be sore. Even if we did kidnap her, we wanted her to be some what comfortable. Then we closed and locked it.

" So what now?" Mikey wondered.

" We wait." Leo simply responded. But in the end Mikey still got confused.

" For what?" Mikey asked, rubbing his head.

" For Karai to wake up. We should take shifts. You know, watching her." Leo got into more detail for his youngest brother.

" Who's gonna take the first shift?" I questioned.

" I'll take the first shift." Leo didn't offer, it was more like a state of fact, " Raph, you take second, Taylor you take third, and Mikey, you'll take fourth."

" What about fifth?" Mikey asked. He didn't sound like he was joking. So Mikey seriously didn't get it. This caused both Leo and Raph to face palm themselves.

" Mikey," I spoke in a soft caring voice, " You're the last shift. So after you it repeats. So after you it'll be Leo's turn." I explained the best I could.

" But Leo has first shift..." Mikey was still processing what I had just said.

" Just watch over Karai after me okay?" I started to get annoyed but tried to contain myself.

" Can do." Mikey smile and gave me a thumbs up as he responded.


It was my turn to watch over Karai. Each shift is about an hour. And for the first 45 minutes, nothing happened. I was just reading a book. That was until I heard movement from the cage. I glanced over but Karai made no sound. So I ignore it.

'ploump.'

The noise came again. And this time I got up and walked over to Karai. I tapped on the tube. Karai had looked up at me. Karai was awake.


New chapter! Okay so I had a lot of technical difficulties with this one, so sorry about any double spaces between lines or words or stuff like that. But anyway, happy 30th anniversary of the turtles! It's pretty cool since the show is turning 30 on the 30th of March...Anywho! As celebration I just might post another chapter today. So, please enjoy and review! Thanks! :)