I am so sorry this took so long, but I do hope you enjoy. Now that two of my major fics are out of the way, I can focus on this one and the sequel to No Matter What, called Forever Loved so be sure and keep an eyes out for it :D
For this chapter I want to thank three great people who helped me through roadblocks of all sorts. Thanks to Mikell, Melody Winters, and Cindy Silverwhip.
They do NOT belong to me *rolls eyes* they now belong to Nickelodeon but all OC's belong to me so ask before use please!
Sunlight slowly drifted through the heavy glass, gently washing the two curled up figured in a heavy ray of warmth. Raph stirred, barley shifting around from his curled up position around Mikey. The young pup's leg was wrapped in a heavy cast, all blood cleaned up from the fluffy silver fur. Mikey gave a small whimper, pressing himself closer to Raph's body warmth.
Raph knew that they would have slept well into the morning, if not for the rapid barking that sounded out of the blue. Their were yips of smaller dog and deep throaty barks of the larger ones, each one demanding his or her own breakfast. One ear lazily lifting, he could hear Ben and Kevin's calling out to each dog, dishes rattling, and the sounds of large bags being torn open and dog food pellets pouring into dishes. He could also hear the slight creak of the hose knob being turned and water rushing through the small cylinder tube as it filled up a long trench of water that ran through each of the kennels.
"Hmmm..." Wearily lifting his head, Mikey blinked tiredly and half-heartedly sniffed the air. "Roasted ham, cripsy bacon, scrambled eggs..."
With a sigh, Raph opened one heavy eyelid and stared at eager, huge blue eyes. "Sorry kid, but I have feeling that ain't for ya. That's what the humans eat, you're gonna get dog food most likely."
"Dog food?" The innocent cock of the head tore at Raph's heart. "What's that?"
"Your breakfast." Raph muttered, letting his head rest back on his flame-printed paw. Silence was golden... but it was only golden as long as it lasted. A paw prodding his side, made him groan and his muscles tense up.
"I'm hungry."
"Then go bug Kevin."
"Who?"
Raph would've answered, but the rattle of keys made his head completely come up and his ears perk. "That's Kevin."
Said boy peeked his head into the room, a huge grin on his face. "Hi guys." his eyes softened at the sight of his 'dog' curled up beside the young puppy. "Aww, did you make a friend Houston?"
Raph snorted. "More like a nuisance." Subconsioucly, his tail started to beat against the metal table as Kevin walked over and gave both him and Mikey and pat on the head.
"Who's hungry?" cooed Kevin.
"Me! Me! Me!"
Raph had no doubt that if all four of his paws were working and all four bones still intact, he would be bouncing around, begging, whining, and being a turtle disguied as a dog.
Even in dog form, the youngest turtle haunted Raph.
Raph wondered what bad...well, worse than normal things, he had done to deserve such bad karma.
"I got puppy food for you," Kevin shook a small bowl, the contents rattling inside of the metal dish. "And for Houston, mom has breakfast in the kitchen." His voice was teasing, thinking Raph couldn't understand him.
Carefully reaching over Raph's stretched out body, he carefully grabbed Mikey's small body. One hand cupping the chest and the other wrapping around the rear, he gently lifted him into the air before settling him in a pet carrier that rested in the room.
"Sorry 'bout that boy, but we can't have too much movement until that leg of yours heals." Kevin apologized as he set the food dish in along with Mikey and latched the cage door shut.
Raph, still on the table, cringed when he saw the flash of fear in blue eyes. But before he could react on it, and force Kevin to let the terrified pup out of his carrier, the small black nose started to quiver.
"FOOD!"
Both Raph and Kevin watched in utter amusement as Mikey dug into the metal bowl, inhaling the softened dry dog food mix that was soaked in gravy. Not three minutes later, he raised his head, a goofy grin on his face, his silver muzzle stained with gravy, Running a pink tongue over them, he gave a low whine.
"Its all gone." He pouted.
Shaking his head, Raph easily hoped down from the table, landing silently on all four paws. "Rest up kid." He started to walk after Kevin, but a sinfully loud howl made both dog and boy stiffen and cringe.
"Don't leave me Raphie!" Mikey wailed, pressing himself against the bars.
Pinning his ears, Raph shot the boy a death glare. Mikey cringed back from the amber daggers.
"But...but Raphie..." he whimpered.
Patience was slowly going down the drain, and was being quickly replaced by fierce annoyance. It grew even more when Rebeca pocked her head, a huge, fake smile that only equaled trouble.
"How's it going?" she asked, stepping fully into the room. "How's the pup?"
"He already ate."
"That's good." She knelt by the cage, peering inside. Mikey wagged his tail, hit little ear perking and a low whine echoing in his throat. "This poor thing needs some meat on his bones."
"He ate everything." Informed Kevin, his hand straying to Raph's head.
As disgusted as Raph was with himself, he found himself leaning towards the gentle hand that said so much in a single stoke.
"Good. Now why don't I take Houston inside and you can help your father with the other dogs."
"What do you need Houston for?"
The grin on Rebeca's face would have sent shivers through any sane person, and sadly, Raph had a feeling that he was the only person, er dog, that was sane enough to realize it.
"Bath time."
Oh yeah, they've lost it.
Happy place, happy place, just remember the happy place where I'm Mikey free.
Warm water rushing over his paws brought him from his wanna-be happy place and back into the land of reality. Rebeca was humming "Green Acres" from TV while filling up the large bathtub set in the bathroom. With one hand she tested the water, casually adjusting the knobs, the other held Raph's collar firmly.
Raph had already tried jumping out of the tub, hoping his sheer weight and size would dislodge the happy-go lucky woman, but she seemed prepared for any he might have pulled. Once again, Raph found himself in the tub, defeated to the horrid hands of shampoo suds, and the off-key tunes of the woman.
Lowering his head, he let out a low groan as he felt cup after cup being filled to the brim before being dumped on his fur, carefully and clearly soaking him to the bone. The cup in one hand was quickly replaced with a huge bottle of shampoo.
Raph's eyes went wide as the smell hit him like Mikey falling into sewer water. "No! Anything but that!" But his pleas were met by deaf ears as a huge goop of strawberry scented shampoo was spread from his neck fur down to the base of his tail. Slim fingers massaged it into his fur, quickly turning his tawny and raven colored fur into a mess of suds.
He wasn't sure how long he was tortured, but he did know that he was never, ever, going to eat another strawberry, chocolate coated or not, for as long as he lived.
Chocolate...
His mind strayed to his ultimate weakness when another torture hit him. Dogs can't eat chocolate!
"I swear," he groaned, turning his face towards the ceiling. "Whoever is up there, they must hate me."
Finally after Rebeca saw fit that he was clean enough, she brought down the small nozzle and easily sprayed down Raph's whole body before bring out a heavy towel and roughly drying his fur until it was just damp.
"Aw," Becka smiled, cupping Raph's face as she smiled at him. "You're so cute!" she cooed, brushing her nose against Raph's damp black one.
"As long as ya keep yer bows and ribbons away, we'll get along just fine." Raph informed her, pulling away at hearing the door to the bathroom open. Expecting to see Kevin, he turned with perked ears.
What he did see however, brought fear and panic once again to his heart.
"Hi Amber." Rebeca smiled at the girl. "I'm glad you can help with the fundraiser."
"Anything to help out." Amber told her.
"Aw... you brought Sandra with you." Lifting a hand, Rebeca let the pretty white she-dog sniff her hand, before promptly licking it. "I know one dog who's glad to see her." Both girls giggled as Sandra turned ice blue eyes on Raph's frozen form.
"Hello Raphael..." She purred as she sashayed over to him.
Oh shell....
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