This chapter was fun to write, though I had to write it five different times. Casey is a bonehead, I'm sorry to say. (runs from screaming Casey fans)
anyways, (ducks from rotten tomatoes) they don't belong to me, but the plot does.
As always, IncredibleDancingBetty is awesome!
"Faster guys!" Casey whooped as he hurled the rooftops with speed. Casey was as clumsy as a rhino in a china cup, but when it came to war, he was a swooping eagle. Everything was timed just right, every aim with enough force, he was a born vigilante.
And a bonehead.
Casey heard the short bursts of air behind him from Leo, Don and Mikey. April had gone down to the docks to trade something with an old antique dealer, and she had called Casey when she heard sounds of a battle.
Casey was halfway there at the mention of battle. Normally he'd call Raph to come help. But even as he hit the button on his own phone for Raph's, the sickening feeling of Raph being gone hit him like a ton of bricks.
Raph was gone.
He'd been gone for over a month now and he rarely visited the lair anymore. Sure he went with April, but his heart wasn't in it. He was used to opening the door and hearing a snide remark about how he was dressed or something and he'd reply. Now when he'd open the door, silence was the only greeting he got.
"Casey, this had better not be a joke." Leo warned as he ran beside the man.
"It's not bro, listen." Mikey (the fastest) was at the edge of the next building, peering down even as the others made the final leap.
Leo stopped at his brother's side, his eyes narrowed as he watched the scene below him. There were many injured, some lying unconscious or possibly dead, on the ground. There was blood everywhere.
"This is how we'll do it." Leo told them in a low voice. "Casey, you go first and get their attention while me and the others hit them from behind. We go in, beat them, and leave. Nothing stops us, understand?"
"Whatever." With another whoop, the vigilante jumped to the ground, a hockey stick as well as a bat in his hands. With a cry, he leapt into the fray, weapons swinging with practiced ease.
The mob bearing the dragon turned on the man with a roar.
"Now." Silently, the three turtles bounded down, landing behind the men without a sound. Weapons at ready, they began to take down the unsuspected gang.
Homeless surged around them, the sight of back up renewing their energy just enough to beat them off.
"And stay away!" A man beside Leo screamed, pumping his fist in the air. He had curly brown hair and matching brown eyes. As the last vanished, he turned to Leo.
His mouth dropped and his eyes went wide. "You're…" he stuttered.
Leo acknowledged the man with a dip of his head. "Yes."
"Raph!" the man whispered as he ran to a pile of crumpled boxes.
"Raph?" Mikey looked confused before realization hit him. "Raph!" he hurled towards the man, shoving away boxes from one side as the man worked on the other.
Casey was at the man's side in an instant, hands furiously ripping away whatever dared to stand between (or in this case above) his best friend.
Don hastily moved for a bag that lay abounded during the fight. Tearing it open, he began rummaging through for what few medical supplies he had with him.
Leo heart nearly stopped when he heard the his brother's name. Raph was here? He studied the anxious face of the man that was unburying his brother from beneath the rumble.
With a shake of his head, he stumbled forward, lending his own arms and strength to the desperate search for his brother.
Please be alright Raph, Leo thought as he removed a large shipping crate. Be alright.
He lifted the corners of another, flipping it aside. A limp green arm stuck out.
"Raph." Leo whispered desperately as he worked with twice the speed now. "He's over here!" he yelled.
Within minutes, they'd uncovered a two legs and then a plastron.
"We got to be careful guys." Don traced a finger down a faint crack on Raph's plastron. "It looks like we're dealing with a few broken bones."
Mikey nodded, his green face dripping with sweat as he moved a piece of debris that uncovered the turtle's neck. One more.
Raph's face was revealed. His eyes were shut, one swollen. Large bruises dotted his head like spots and blood covered his lips. His whole body masked his face conditions.
"Raph." Shaun knelt beside the still turtle, gently holding his hand. His brown hair flopped on his eyes, covering the tears that now spilled down his cheeks. He was aware of other three turtles hovering over him. He didn't want to move from his vigil beside him, but he knew that, whether he liked it or not, they were still Raph's real family and had a right to him.
With a small sigh escaping his lips, he moved aside on his knees, allowing the turtle family to crowd around their fallen brother.
He watched the one in a purple mask began a thorough examination from checking his pulse to setting some of the smaller breaks.
"This isn't good." He turned to the others. "He's got quiet a few broken ribs, what I think is a broken leg, and bad bruises." He knelt beside him again. "His plastron was cracked and he's got splinters that could outmatch a piece of wood."
Shaun stepped forward. "Wait," the others turned around.
If Raph could put his life out for them, he could put his out for Raph's.
"I demand to know what you think you're going to do with him. He's part of our family," he watched as the one in orange narrowed his eyes dangerously. "And as part of it, we will help with his healing."
"I don't think so." The blue one pulled out a sword and held it in front of him. "We're his real family, not you. We'll take care of him from this point forward. We thank you for sheltering him, but I believe it's time he returned where he belongs."
Joey stepped beside Shaun, his fists clenching. A low growl formed in his throat as he watched them fasten Raph to a long, piece of plywood. Shaun held out a hand to disrupt his frantic charge.
The man wearing a hockey mask and wielded a large hockey stick followed the turtles, his weapon at ready in case they tried following. Joey waited until they were out of sight before sneaking forward, keeping watch as they moved into an alley.
The one in blue removed a manhole cover and motioned the man in. The hockey masked man jumped and the one turtle in orange followed a second later. With careful ease, they lowered Raph into the hole before jumping in themselves and sealing it up.
Joey's eyes lit up.
Bingo.
"Steady guys…watch out for that rock Leo." Don went ahead, warning them of anything that could jostle the turtle Mikey and Leo carried. Casey had run ahead to tell Splinter and to get April down there.
As Casey burst through the door, Splinter shot out of the meditation room, walking stick held out before him like a weapon. His ears were laid back and his whiskers twitched. When he saw who it was, he relaxed.
"Mr. Jones, what has happened." He felt his old heart start to race. "Where are my sons?"
"Right here master." Donny poked his head in, still shouting warning. "Gentle…careful of that step Mikey. Leo, you're shifting him too much to the right…good, good…easy now."
Splinter nose got a whiff of a smell he'd desperately longed for. Raphael. With sudden speed, he was at the door watching as the two brought him in.
He still wore a mask, but not of his own, Splinter thought with a hint of pride. At least he was still ninja enough to bear the symbol. His body showed the rough days he'd faced with little food and cold nights.
He'd lost a lot of weight and his once finely tuned muscles had shrunken down in size. The next thing he'd noticed were the bruises of a recent fight on his pale green skin.
"Leonardo, contact Miss Jones. I will assist your brother in the infirmary." Splinter commanded. He turned to his eager youngest. "Michelangelo, please wait out here with Mr. Jones." He lowered his voice. "I take pleasure in my comfy chair and would not enjoy searching out another."
A.K.A- Keep Casey from destroying the lair.
Mikey nodded his head as Splinter and Don rushed Raph into the infirmary. Leo was already on the phone, talking quietly to their red headed friend.
Casey anxiously hovered outside the locked doors. Mikey was just as worried. "Come on Raph," he whispered. "Ya got to make it. You just got too."
He gasped and he rushed to the door when he heard loud, panicked voices from inside. He reached for the door then pulled back, as if the door was a snake.
He had to stay outside.
April rushed past him, hurryingly opening the large metal doors. She was too focused on getting in, she forgot to close the doors all the way. With a gentle creak, it opened enough to allow a good view for anyone outside.
Casey, Mikey and Leo all hovered outside, peeking through the small crack.
Leo watched as Don wrapped his brother's ribs tightly in white. Then, after searching his shelves, came up with a small jar filled with sticky, yellow paste of some sort.
Donnie opened the jar, sticking two fingers inside and stirring it slowly. The paste stuck to his hands and he was relieved.; it was still good. After he stirred it a few more seconds, he brought out a small goop on his fingers.
Going over to his brother, he began to smear it on his cracked plastron. The paste should cover the crack and keep it from cracking even more if he got hit again and also fill the small gap. After smearing it good, he used his palm to wipe it smooth.
Splinter was gently bandaging his son's head. He rubbed Raphael's head in calming, soothing strokes. A thin layer of perspiration covered his features. Reaching for a soft cloth, he cleaned his face.
"There my son." He whispered.
April was done setting up the IV, after sticking the needle into his wrist. "There," she wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans. "It wasn't necessary, but it can only help."
Splinter breathed in relief when they were done. Turning, he bowed at April. "Thank you for all your help, my child." He told her sincerely.
April waved him off. "I was glad I could help." Turning around, she shook at her head at the sight of three pairs of eyes starring at her. "Come on in you three. But stay quiet." She emphasized the last word as the three strode into the room.
Mikey went straight to Raph's side, tears coming to his blue eyes. Raph was supposed to come home, but like this? He felt a comforting hand being laid on his shoulder and he didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Leo.
"Come my sons." Splinter ushered them all out the door. "I believe Leonardo has some things he would like to tell his brother." At Mike's look, he added. "The things said are to be between the two of them."
Mikey groaned as he and the others were shooed out the door. Leo didn't look up as he head the door click. They were alone.
"Hey bro." Leo whispered as he starred at this brother. "I know its been awhile and everything, but…" he turned away, unable to look anymore. "I…I can't tell you how sorry I was that night you left. I went to wake you, but found you missing instead."
He let the tears fall freely now. They stained the white sheets his brother lay upon.
"I thought I was going to die then and there. How could I have been so heartless to see that you were right," he closed his eyes. "I was wrong in saying that you had to be someone you're not. I was wrong to make you try and apologize."
He let out a small, forced laugh. "Sensei taught me something while you were gone. An apology is a waste of breath if it doesn't come from the heart. An heartless apology is nothing more than a lie. And family's don't lie." He whispered fiercely as he dabbed his brother's forehead with a wet cloth.
"I was wrong in all that. And I'm sorry," he lowered his gaze to the floor. "I wish I could ask for your forgiveness but I can't take it. I will earn it back." He leaned back in his chair. "And Raph, for the record. I…I never meant to lock you out."
Um yeah...next chapter will have the Mikey interaction in it and another cute story, similar to the bear. I have to say, I love Mikey and Raph brotherly love fics...there just so CUTE!
Well, you know the drill. I thrive on reviews so you want updates, you review!