The sudden blaring of loud music jarred Raphael awake so hard that he tumbled off the couch upon which he'd fallen asleep. He swore even as he picked himself up from the floor and fixed his brothers with a glare.
"What the shell, guys?"
Leonardo had the nerve to snort. "Would you rather have been soaked? We thought about it."
The red-masked turtle flopped back down on the couch. "Yer both shellheads."
"Takes one to know one," Don shot back.
Raphael dropped his head down on the arm of the dilapidated couch, sulking. He wasn't in the mood for receiving a hard time or laughing with the others. It had been three days since their father and youngest brother had disappeared, and the fear of what had happened to them was now acute.
It had taken well over an hour to fall asleep on the couch, despite running their shells off all night. His head was throbbing, he was still tired, and his brothers had woken him in one of the most annoying manners possible.
If Raphael had the energy, he would have sought some instant retaliation. Instead, he automatically started zoning out while resting against the couch.
"Nothing's really funny right now, huh?" Donatello offered guiltily.
He opened amber eyes to gaze up at his younger brother. "You are a genius, ain't ya?"
"Sorry, Raph," Donny replied. "That doesn't look very comfortable. Maybe you should actually go lay down."
The red-masked turtle grunted at the apology and Don's concern.
"You need to go to bed," Leo agreed.
The sentence earned another dark look from Raphael. Sleeping in the space the four turtle shared along with two old mattresses wasn't the same without Mikey, and it made resting harder.
Leonardo folded his arms at Raph's expression of disdain. "Then you're not going to get mad if we do some stuff down here, are you? Or is everything in the den supposed to stop because you do?"
"If you'd quit talking, it'd make my day, Leo."
The teen clicked on the TV in response. "I missed the morning news, Raph, but it's close to noon. We'll get to hear it all over again."
Raphael groaned loudly, even though he hated giving Leo any satisfaction.
"I'll turn it off in a few minutes, if you choose to use your real words," the older turtle teased.
Raph gave Leonardo his equivalent of a middle finger and buried his face into a battered throw pillow.
"Nice, bro. Tell me how you really feel."
He remained behind the pillow and doggedly refused to reply. The red-masked turtle sensed Leo still standing over him, and it only irritated him more.
"We're gonna find them, Raph," Leonardo reminded him seriously.
An awkward silence followed when Raphael said nothing.
"You have to get some more sleep, but a little food wouldn't hurt first. Can I get you any of the Chinese?"
Raph didn't feel like it, but he also wasn't going to break into the limited stores they'd specifically acquired for missing family members. "Whatever, Leo," he answered finally.
Raphael lowered the cushion slightly to catch his eye.
"I'll be back in a bit."
The second Leo left the room, Raph looked around for the remote. The TV commercial blaring unnaturally loud in the background was somehow more annoying than the thought of eating the same stuff he'd been solely subsisting on for two days already. Though he couldn't see the clicker anywhere, the idea of rising from the couch was also frustrating.
Instead he replaced the pillow under his head and pictured himself falling asleep through the fast food commercials and advertisements for personal injury lawyers. The image of Splinter arriving just then and catching the red-masked turtle in the act of lounging when he hadn't broached any katas made him smile briefly, only to nearly break down in the next moment.
Shell, I don't wanna think that they're hurt or dead, but where are they? If Splinter and Mikey could have come back, it seems like they woulda by now. Something happened to them, maybe something really bad. Wondering about this doesn't help, but I can't keep ignoring it either.
The shuffle of feet behind the couch revealed that Raphael wasn't alone, and he jerked to turn around. Seeing his purple-masked brother standing over his shoulder like he was keeping watch bugged him too.
"Would you sit down or something, Genius?"
He shook his head. "I was in the middle of something. I'm not staying long; I just want to hear the local headlines."
"Yeah, they gotta be fascinating," Raph grumbled sarcastically.
"Good afternoon, everyone. This is Lindsey Ryan, and welcome to your twelve-o-clock news. Coming up we'll have your five day forecast and the updated traffic, but to top off the hour, we have the three big things you need to know..."
The newscaster's chipper tone made Raphael want to kick the TV. But that won't go over well, especially doing it in front of Donny.
"Coming up first, we're bringing you an update on one of the two stories which broke this morning. Ojas Char, the taxi-driver who was involved in a brutal overnight assault with his own children in the back seat, has been upgraded to stable condition at Manhattan General Hospital..."
Raphael dropped his pillow with a start and sent a huge grin to Donatello over his shoulder. His younger brother circled the couch in slow motion, but didn't say anything while the woman continued.
"The eight and ten-year-old who escaped without a scratch have nothing but thanks for the mystery figures who stepped up to defend them, from what's being described as a racially-driven attack. Police are left searching for answers over the individuals who fled the scene, and what really happened last night at Cooper and Ludlow.
"The names of suspects currently in custody have yet to be released, but sources say at least five men are being held without bond..."
Raphael clapped his brother's shell. "What do you think of that, Donny? First time on the beat, and ya made the news. Don't go getting a big head or nothin'."
The fact that the purple-masked turned crimson was enough incentive to call Leonardo back into the room.
"Yo, Leo! C'mere – Genius got himself covered on the news!"
The blue-masked turtle looked understandably confused when he emerged from the kitchen. "What?"
"We made the news," Donny corrected. "And no one knows what actually happened. The important thing is, that family is gonna be okay."
"It is good news," Leo agreed. "Donny, why don't you sit down with Raph for a while? You need to eat too. Your notes can wait for a few minutes."
"But I got this idea deactivating the sensors last night..."
Donatello's voice fell to the background while the newswoman continued her broadcast. It'd been easy to tune out most of the follow-up story covering a local politician who'd been caught taking bribes, but now the red-masked turtle was ready for it to end.
He glanced over to find Leonardo with the remote control still in his grip, patiently explaining to their youngest brother why eating more than five bites of breakfast was necessary. "We already saw the best part, Leo. Can we turn it off now?"
The teen sent him a smug grin. "If you're done being a grumpy shell, I might be able to give it up. But it's gonna cost you."
Raphael's eye ridges rose. "Ain't got nothing to pay ya, bro, and I wouldn't give it up if I did."
"You really want to sit through the entire news then, don't you?" Leonardo gestured to the TV screen. "There are several minutes to go."
"What do I gotta do, y' stubborn pain in the-"
"Stop." Don's interjection cut him off loudly.
"Rude much, Donny?"
"Raph, shut up!"
The surprising force behind the command from his younger brother actually rendered him speechless momentarily. A scowl started to form, right before he spotted the news camera panning over extremely familiar-looking storage containers.
"That's not Reid's, is it?"
"Be quiet!" Leonardo urged that time, hitting the volume button to increase sound.
"...and we're returning to a developing story we also broke this morning, as a Channel 6 exclusive. In the last hour we received confirmation that New York Freight Forwarding has rescinded all operations, following an ongoing police investigation. We go now to our Dan O'Brien in the field..."
Raphael shook his head while camera angles changed. "It ain't the same place, guys-"
"Just shush!" Donatello ordered with no less intensity.
"...Thank you, Lindsey. As we reported first thing this morning, Channel 6 has a unique perspective on this police investigation, as it was an anonymous tip called in to our own Crimestopper's line which shed light on the troubling dealings within the company."
The picture shifted again, and the voice narrating switched back to Lindsey.
"It all began with a phone call two nights ago from someone who sounded like a child and provided no proof of his claims. The tip was almost dismissed as a prank, but two additional calls supplied more compelling information, which led our station to turn the information over to Police. We bring you our exclusive coverage of how it unfolded..."
In place of newscasters or backdrops, a closed-captioned style text filled the screen to accompany an uncannily familiar voice.
"You guys gotta check into this place, because bad things are happening. There are drugs and guns, and all this stuff that's gonna hurt people."
The recording sounded too much like their little brother to be real. Raphael blinked rapidly while wondering if he was still asleep.
"There are Crypts storing their junk inside the New York Freight Forwarding warehouse. You have to send someone to check it out. And when they find stuff, you gotta tell everyone that the Turtle Titan sent you. Don't forget that part."
Raphael was on his feet at the use of his youngest brother's annoying, self-inflicted nickname. All memory of weariness and fear evaporated as disbelief warred with joy. It was extremely disappointing when the voice switched back to the lady newscaster.
"When Police contacted the owner of Freight Forwarding, he was cooperative with their request for a thorough search. While the investigation into the warehouse continues, a deeper look is also being taken of internal personnel, and what part they may have had to play in the cover-up of materials which have already been located. Can you tell us about any new developments, Dan?"
The scene switched back to a well-dressed man in an outdoor setting, with a clear shot of the bay behind him.
"NYPD has yet to release the names of any suspects or the details of possible charges, but sources reveal that at least one individual from Freight Forwarding is being considered a person of interest. All operations at the warehouse will remain suspended as the wide sweep of the property enters its fourth hour.
"While Police are focused on locating the source behind the large quantity of narcotics that have been recovered, our station will continue to follow up on solving the mystery of the young caller that set this into motion, who only referred to himself as the Turtle Titan. This is Dan O'Brien, reporting live from Staten Island, for Channel 6 News."
Raphael whipped around to face his brothers, and found them in a similar state of shock that he was experiencing.
"Is it possible?" Donatello's voice shook. "Staten Island? How would they even get there?"
"How doesn't matter," Leo retorted. "Only the where. Don, we need information. Is this the kind of thing you could get off of a computer?"
The purple-masked turtle sank to the couch with an overwhelmed expression. "Uh...yes and no. The web can reveal a lot of things, but the most important details would probably be limited to the company's intranet. That is, their internal servers. We need to go back to Reid's!"
"But they ain't there, Donny!" Raph cried. "At least, it don't sound like it."
"That's where things must have gone wrong though," Don countered. "The companies are connected somehow. Our best bet for getting information on Freight Forwarding is to return to the original site. Give me a chance to poke around their computers."
Leo crouched in front of him. "Donny, can you do this?"
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure that...I'll make it work, Leo! I swear I will."
"What we need is a boat," Raphael pointed out. "Hitch a ride on the ferry and call it a night."
"No, Raph," the blue-masked turtle said quietly. "We need details before we show up, and we have to get as close to this secondary site as possible." After a pause, Leonardo looked back to Donatello. "If you tell me you can do it again, I'm behind you."
Don regained his feet. "I'll do it."
"And what are we supposed to do in the meantime, twiddle our thumbs?" the red-masked turtle demanded. "I can't sit here for the next eight hours until the sun goes down!"
Leonardo straightened to stand between him and Donny. "No. We need to get ready to go, and pack what supplies we have. Because when we walk out the door this time, we're not coming back without them."
Raphael had finally retired for the sheer necessity of recovering energy, but he felt too excited to fall asleep. Knowing for sure that his youngest brother was alive, and by extension his Sensei probably was too, made it much more difficult to unwind and relax.
The red-masked turtle couldn't help being frustrated. Can you imagine the cops sitting around? What if people called 'em for help, and they had to wait several hours before doing something? It's been days, and now we've gotta find them.
Raph winced as he pictured his Master's disappointment upon leaving them that disastrous Friday night. Regret surged in the memory's wake, and made him want to forget the argument entirely.
Be easier to do if Leo's smug self wasn't always baiting me. He can blame me for all the crap he wants, and it don't change what actually happened. But this ain't the time to be thinking about it, not when we've got more important things to do.
He rolled onto his side to face the wall and sighed deeply. I never wanted to let Master Splinter down so bad. Feels like that's all we've done since the night they vanished, but it's gonna change. I swear I won't let nothing happen to them again.
Raphael squeezed his eyes shut, but it only made the memory more vivid. He hadn't planned any of the fight. The red-masked turtle never needed to scheme an explosion in advance; it was more natural to explode like a volcano releasing built up energy.
The recollection of Leo's shock when Raph ignored the signal for the end of the spar almost made him chuckle. Then he was reminded of everything the violent blow set into motion, and felt like punching himself.
There had been no thought applied to continuing the assault when it was supposed to be over. Even the fact that Splinter was a mere few paces across the room didn't leave an impact.
Raphael still wasn't technically sorry for slugging his brother in the mouth, but desperately guilt-stricken for the aftermath. His mind drifted to getting physical with Leo the following morning, and the ease with which they'd both fallen into it.
The fighting ain't okay. Goes against what Splinter always taught us about defense. Shell, I don't wanna hurt Leo badly, but sometimes he comes down so hard...and that ain't right either!
He shouldn't be allowed to get away with it, and he usually does. Feels like Sensei doesn't notice or care how Leo treats me. Leonardo's his golden child, who normally can do no wrong. I didn't hate seeing him get reamed out by Sensei for his part. I'd almost do it again, just to watch his perfect shell get put in his place.
Raphael nearly smiled, before fiercely shaking his head. No, that's wrong too. What we did wasn't all right. If we hadn't fought, Master Splinter and Mikey would be here.
The soft squeal of their bedroom door made the red-masked turtle sit up, to find Leonardo hovering in the entrance. "What's up, Leo?"
"Haven't slept, have you?"
"Kinda hard to."
"I understand, but you've got to get some rest. God only knows what we'll end up having to do tonight."
Raph rolled onto his shell to stare at the dark ceiling. "What are we gonna do, Leo? What if we can't find a way out there? Or Donny doesn't get anything off that computer?"
"We're going to find a way."
"Just 'cause you say so, bro? You don't have that much power. Some stuff really is impossible."
Leonardo didn't answer for such a long moment, he figured he'd offended him.
"You can't really know if something's impossible, not until you've tried every option," the teen said finally. "I think many people quit because something feels impossible, but we haven't got that luxury, Raph. We have to do this, because we've got no other choice."
Raphael sat up and fixed his brother with a determined stare. "I'll do anything to get them back, Leo. I don't care how crazy it is."
His brother lowered to the end of the mattress. "I don't enjoy fighting with you, Raph. I never have. We don't agree about a lot of things, but we're on the same page here. There's nothing I won't risk to get our Sensei and brother back.
"I mean...I don't want to see you or Donny hurt, but as far as anything else goes? I'm willing to do it. There isn't one thing more important than finding them. We can agree there, right?"
Raphael nodded stoically, but wasn't sure where he was going.
"We need to get guilt out of our heads for the moment, Raph, and forget about our issues with each other. Because honestly, that stuff doesn't matter compared to missing them, does it?"
The twelve-year-old shook his head. "Nah, I'm with ya, bro."
"Tonight we get to do something, Raph. We have our first real direction in days. So I want you to try to relax again, and remember we're taking action. We need you rested, so you don't end up useless."
Raphael snorted. "Who's useless, Leo? Not me."
"You won't be either, as long as you take care of yourself. You agree to that, and I'll keep on Donny's shell to sleep too."
"Do that, Leo. Can't have our genius keeling over on us."
"Not on my watch." Leonardo rose with a grunt and headed for the door.
Raphael watched him go thoughtfully, and exhaled as the door closed behind him. I don't know if we can do any of it. But the impossible is our only option.