Raphael rested his chin silently in both hands as he watched the practice on the stage below, from his hidden perch overhead. If you'd told him even six months ago that he would be watching so many men dance in tights, he probably would have laughed for a week. But he'd started coming out to the auditorium on a random basis, just to watch Karina's efforts with the Company. He'd been amazed to discover the amount of skill and stamina that actually went into all of it.
They might look a little like pansies, but weaklings they ain't, he said to himself, smiling when he noticed Karina cast a glance over her shoulder at the empty auditorium behind her.
Yeah babe, I'm here. Told you I was comin'.
The humans below were engaged in the rigorous activity of preparing for their opening night. As Raphael continued to watch, Karina resumed walking up and down the stage, offering encouragement and feedback, as well as some demonstration. Through the window he could just barely hear her voice, when she raised it further to address several dancers at once on the front line of the stage.
"...Yes, you have the movement, you know the choreography." She was saying. "There's not a doubt in my mind that you could perform eventonight, and blow the minds of the audience. But now I want you to focus a little more on where the emotion is coming from in this portion. There's a difference between delivering a performance that will impress someone, and doing it in such a way that moves them.
They can walk out of here completely satisfied, and sure that they got their money's worth. But six months from now, will they remember it? Two years later, will the thought of it still bring tears to their eyes? That's the difference. We can easily impress them for an evening, simply with the talent that all of you possess. Or you could move them in such a way, that even hearing strains of the same music will reproduce the same feeling you gave them that night.
That's what we all should strive for. I know the rush you feel, just getting the opportunity to perform on this stage. But your power doesn't have to end here. You can leave a lasting impact on those that watch, any of you can. Art isn't supposed to only be about entertainment. The very best kind becomes a part of your soul."
Karina stepped in line with six of the women, and took them through the steps again together, easily matching their pace. Raphael caught his breath slightly as he watched them, and shook his head.
I think she's crazy sometimes. She ought be on that stage dancing with 'em, not just teaching them the steps. There's no WAY she's really too old to get started.
He hated being so far removed while they were practicing. Getting to watch Karina dance up close was an exercise in amazement - he could hardly take his eyes off of her.
The woman called out to the dancers to take a break a couple of minutes later, and cast another meaningful look over her shoulder in Raphael's direction. While the men and women settled down in chairs and on the edge of the stage, Karina swiftly separated herself from them, striding up the center aisle of the auditorium. After being certain that no one was following her, she made for the stairs, and started climbing what would end up being six flights.
Raphael was waiting for her directly at the top, with something of an exasperated look. "I told ya you don't have to drag yourself all the way up here Kari. You just making sure that I'm actually here?" He finished with a wide grin.
She punched him in the shoulder with a bit of a breathless smile. "I believed you. When you go to the trouble to behere, I like to come see you."
"They're looking good down there."
"Do you think so Raph? They're ready, I know they are. They've got to be the most talented group I've ever worked with before, I'm so excited for them, I'm so..." She trailed off for an instant, laughing at herself. "I'm sorry, I'm talking a mile a minute here. It's an amazing feeling to be a part of something like this."
"You look good down there too." Raphael remarked. "I can't help thinking you should be going on with them."
"Raph, it's okay. I'm happy with the work I'm doing, though I'm glad not all the shows will be as intensive as this one. Opening nights a couple of days away, and it's a relief in some ways. I've missed my time with you."
"You still see me every night."
Her lips lightly brushed his, and then she pulled back to focus on his amber gaze. "It's not the same Raph. But I won't be anywhere near this busy on the next project - I won't be theonlychoreographer. That will cut down on the number of practices for me alone."
The red-banded turtle stroked her neck a little longingly, bringing his finger to rest on the abstract bull of her pendant, then initialed a more serious kiss than the last. "You have to go soon, don't you?" He reminded her, even though he didn't really want her too.
"They won't complain about getting a longer break." She giggled, nuzzling contentedly against his chest. "It feels so good right here. Do you think they'd notice if I didn't come back?"
"I dunno Kari, seems like somebody would." The turtle quipped, and then stole another kiss from her. "Go on. They'll get antsy soon, y'don't want them to come looking for you."
"Thanks for coming Raph. I guess I'll see you in about an hour and a half."
Michelangelo ventured into the Lab, and immediately heard the incessant sound that signified Donatello was still working. He didn't normally like to bother his older brother when he was in the middle of something, but he had a strong feeling Donnie was trying to stay busy for some reason.
The purple-banded turtle turned slightly when he heard Mike coming, and caught a glimpse of the turtle out of the corner of his eye.
"Hey," Donnie said evenly, pushing away from the keyboard a little. "Sorry about dinner. I've just been a little caught up in here, you know how it is."
Michelangelo had learned a long time ago that the best way to get his old partner to open up was to be up-front with him. "Donnie, why are you avoiding Doc?" He asked point-blank.
"Who said I was avoiding him?"
Mike gave him a look, and yanked another chair over to join him by the computer. "You've barely said ten words since he got here, and now you've been holed up in the Lab for hours."
"I have deadlines, I'm trying to keep on track."
"Donnie."
Donatello rubbed his forehead as if he were nervous or tired, Michelangelo guessed it was a combination of both.
"What's the matter with you two?" He pursued.
"Nothing Mike, there's no problem with us."
"Then what's with the disappearing act?"
Donatello glanced at the door, as if someone was going to come walking in at that very moment. "I'mnervous Mike, and I don't want him to see it. He has enough reason to be worried, without my fear feeding into it."
"Your fear of what?" Mike asked. "Is this about Kat and Heff running off to Ohio?"
"I don't like it Mike." Donnie said tensely, as he looked down at the floor. "I have a bad feeling about this. That man is an absolute snake."
"Donnie...they can handle themselves. And you don't really think they'd go after the man single-handedly, do you?"
"They aren't the problem Mikey. Of course they can handle themselves, but so can you, and Leo, and Raph. That didn't stop them from getting ahold of you. They're bad guys, they don't play fair.
Knowing what we do about Stolle, I'm not sure how to feel about this lead. Geesh, I mean...it just doesn't make sense that he would let himself get tracked that way. All he had to do was hang up the phone sooner, he had to know that!"
"Isn't is possible that he made a mistake Donnie?"
Donatello shook his head. "Anything is possible Mike. I just don't think it's very likely."
"Luke, really, I get enough of the hospital when I'm actually working." Marcus said with mock exasperation. "Do you have to inflict 'House' on me on the off hours?"
"What?" Luke said, actually sounding as if he hadn't heard a word that his friend had just said to him. Luke had been staring vapidly at the screen, but it was now apparent that his mind was somewhere else entirely.
"I asked you if we have to watch the medical drama. Are you okay Luke?"
"Oh, sorry. Here, watch what you want." Luke replied, still sounding distracted.
Marcus took the remote from him, but only to turn the TV off.
"You didn't answer me." Marc pressed him.
"About what?"
"I asked if you were okay."
"I...I'm fine Marc." Luke tried to sound convincing.
His friend sighed softly. "There's no sense in keeping this to yourself. If you're anxious--"
"What's there to be anxious about? They're just checking into his whereabouts, right? And they don't even know for sure that it was really Stolle on the phone. Maybe Williams has some family in Ohio or something."
"Maybe." Marcus said evenly. "But in any case, they're professionals. This is what they do, what they're good at."
"So there's no reason to worry." Luke added at once.
"I don't think you should be borrowing trouble Luke. They only left a few hours ago, I'm sure they're not even there yet."
"Then why's Donatello freaked out?"
Marcus cocked his head at Luke strangely. "What makes you say that Luke? I thought he seemed preoccupied, but he gets that way sometimes anyway, right?"
Luke rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. "He's playing 'keep away'. He wouldn't do that right now, not unless he was worried."
"Yeah Doc," The turtle's voice carried suddenly, from the direction of the Lab. "I've been avoiding you, and I'm sorry. I don't like this situation, and I didn't want to make you feel worse than you already do." Donatello told him.
"You weren't fooling me Donnie." Luke said a little reproachfully.
"I'm sorry Doc." The turtle repeated. "I didn't want to complicate things."
"Maybe we shouldn't even talk about it for right now." Luke said a little dismissively. "Mike's got some classic DVD's around here somewhere, doesn't he? I think I need to see something funny."
"I can hook you up with his Three Stooges Doc, but I won't be responsible for the floodgate you may inadvertently open up with Mikey." Donnie said impishly.