Hi guys, I'm so sorry it's taken me soooo long to upload but here is a chunky one for your enjoyment. I've hopefully gotten my writing bug back for a while.

Moon Eclipse Shadows: Thank you for such a comprehensive review :) I agree with a lot of what you said and all I can say is don't worry, things will work themselves out. For good or bad, I can't say just yet ;)

Chapter 10

Leo led his brothers to the surface. He turned back to check on their progress. Mikey walked close behind Don and Raph brought up the rear.

"Don, are you sure you can handle it?"

Donatello nodded. "I need to at least try."

They paused underneath their exit to the streets. "If what Don said is true, then Ghost will only attack when we're alone."

"That would mean staying together would keep us safe." Mikey added.

Don nodded. "Theoretically. But we have to fight her to get her to leave. Once all of us have defeated her we'll be free."

"So, what's the plan?" Raph asked.

Leo shifted his feet. "We do the patrol like normal only we each take a different section of the city. If you come in contact with Ghost, set off the tracer on your Shellcell."

They agreed and took off for their designated zones.

Raph cursed as soon as he realized what was in his area. The sky seemed to agree with him as it began to thunder ominously. The last thing he needed right now was the temptation to be around Raine. He needed to keep his mind focused on finding and defeating Ghost. The assassin was bound to attack again soon, it had been almost a month since she'd attacked Don and he couldn't figure out why she was waiting. Maybe she was watching them, hoping to catch one alone. That's why tonight was planned; to lure Ghost out.

A thought made Raph stop and go cold. If Ghost had been watching them, she would know about Raine and Sara. Could Ghost be there now, watching the sisters, waiting for them?

He adjusted his trajectory and headed for the apartment. Why hadn't they realized that they were putting the sisters' in danger? He swore at himself and his brothers. They should know better by now.

He stopped on the rooftop and caught his breath. He searched the surrounding roofs for any sign of the assassin. He waited for several minutes, searching the area with his senses. When nothing caught his attention or raised any instinctive red flags he relaxed.

Suddenly he felt unsure, uncertain of his motives. Ghost wasn't here but he was. He had wanted to come here to see Raine, a part of his mind had wanted to be here. Ghost or not.

Now that he was here, only a short distance from the object of his desire Raph didn't want to leave without seeing her, talking to her.

Raine stood at her window, enjoying the smell of incoming rain. It had always been one of her favourite things. The scent of rain, fresh cut grass, and pine forests. The city may not be the place she'd want to call home forever but it still managed to produce some of the beautiful scents that she loved. Central Park was a brilliant place to visit, especially after a rainstorm.

Raine sipped at her glass of wine and luxuriated in the fact that she had the apartment to herself tonight. Sara was spending the night at a school friend's place and she wouldn't be back till tomorrow afternoon. God bless weekends, Raine smiled. Tonight she would drink her wine, eat some cheese and maybe do some online shopping. She would keep her mind clear of all the stresses in her life. It had been wrong and unprofessional to involve both sides of her life. The fear of them colliding was minimal to the repercussions that would rain down on her and everyone around her if it happened.

Just thinking about the possibility had Raine's heart speeding up and tension coiling in her stomach. The pure contradiction of her situation made her very uneasy.

She was leaning against the window, breathing in the scent (trying to calm herself) when she heard a noise from above her. That wouldn't have been odd normally except that the apartment above her was empty. The tenants had left two weeks ago and she'd made sure Daniel kept the apartment empty.

The noise came again and Raine crept out of the window and slowly up the ladder. She could hear muttering and cursing as she eased closer to the top. Peeking over the edge she saw Raph pacing. With a sigh of relief she climbed over the ledge.

"Raphael?" He turned with a start. "What are you doing?"

"Err…I was just going to check if you and Sara were okay." He looked nervous as he babbled. "But it looks like you are so I won't bother you."

Raph strode to the edge of the building; he had almost gotten away when she called out.

"Raphael, wait."

He turned around, wishing he had run off the ledge.
Raine ran over to him. "Did you want to come in? I mean it's fairly cold out here."

Raph moved away from her. "Nah, I shouldn't. I gotta meet the guys on patrol."

"Are you hunting Dragons again?" Raine grabbed his arm.

"Somethin' like that." He shrugged. The movement made the bandage over his chest pull. Raine reached up and touched the edges of the white material.

"If you keep doing this you're going to get in more trouble." Raine dropped her bandaged hand to his. "Can't you take a break, just this once?"

Raph shook off her hand, his anger flared. Didn't she know that he was protecting people just like her. Stopping others from being hurt just like she was.

"I can't take a break, not when there are monsters out there are hurtin' innocent people every night."

"But you're hurt." Raine argued.

"So are you." Raph shot back, gesturing at her arm. Raine pulled her sleeve over the bandage as if that could make the wound disappear.

"I'm not out looking for trouble every night." Raine retorted.

"And no one else is going to protect this city."

"Why are you doing this all the time?"

"Why do you care?"

Hurt flickered across her face, Raph immediately felt guilty and regretted saying that.

Raine composed herself, she and Sara had discussed the unlikeliness of them being together but it still hurt to hear him confirm her thoughts.

"I'm sor…" Raph sighed heavily. "Go back inside Raine, it's too cold out here."

Just as he said that the sky opened up and it started raining. They were quickly drenched, the rain bounced off Raph's shell and soaked into Raine's hair and clothes.

"Go inside Raine." Raph repeated.

Raine ignored him and moved closer. She stopped when she was inches away.

"I care because you are a good person, you're caring and protective and when you want to be you are so noble…. and…" She looked down. "And you mean a lot to me."

When she looked up, Raph saw undefined emotions that mirrored his inner turmoil. Just like when he'd spoken to her on the fire-escape earlier in the week. Without thinking he reached out a hand and cupped her face. Raine turned her head and kissed his palm.

When their eyes locked again Raine saw fire, knowing that this would probably be the only chance she ever had, Raine slid her hand behind his neck and pulled his head down to hers.

Raph stared down at the face getting closer. Desire surged through him and he forgot that he was trying to distance himself. Crushing his mouth on hers, Raph ignored his conscience as he pulled Raine hard against him. He heard her small gasp as she slammed into his plastron. Easing his grip only slightly Raph continued to kiss her hungrily. Raine's hands tightened on his bandana tails. Slowly they broke apart. Raine noticed dimly that it was still raining.

Raph backed away, thoughts were running through his head that confused him and made him doubt his choices.

"I have to go." He said quickly before disappearing into the darkness.

Raine stood there and watched him go, her thoughts still fuzzy from the kiss. She could still feel the imprint of his mouth on hers. Why had he left so quickly?

The part of her brain that was working properly chimed in. The turtles were separated. Years of training turned that thought into movement and Raine was off the roof and in her bedroom before she could say 'Night off.'.

Off came her wet clothes and on went the traditional uniform of the Blood Guild. Raine kept only one in the apartment in case she had to make a quick escape. As soon as the hood and mask fell into place she became Ghost.

Twenty minutes later she was surveying the opposite end of the city. She hoped Raph was far from here. She didn't want to fight him tonight. Not after what had happened.

Ghost sent her senses out, trying to catch the aura of one of the mutants. She sat stone still for five minutes until one became noticeable.

She stalked it until she was certain of which one it was. Tonight was clearly her lucky night. Michelangelo was leaping rooftops 400 meters away. She followed the turtle until he reached a rooftop at an intersection and had only limited escape options.

Michelangelo was peering over the edge when Ghost came up behind him.
"You're being very brave coming out alone."

He spun around. "Woah, Betty…I mean Ghost. What are you doing here?"

She blinked. "It's your turn to fight me."

The orange banded turtle groaned. "Really? Damn, there goes my dinner plans."

Ghost was tempted to smile but pulled her pair of sai from their holders instead. Michelangelo grinned as his hand went behind him and came back spinning his nunchaku.

They clashed together in a whirlwind of limbs, no preliminary testing of defences. Unlike her fight with Donatello, this one was mostly acrobatic work. Kicks and swift strikes to get around the spinning protection of his nunchaku.

The speed and dexterity of Michelangelo's movements astounded Ghost, she'd never seen him move so swiftly. The pure effortlessness of his technique was jaw-dropping and for a moment Ghost was captivated by the beauty of his talent and skill. Luckily she wasn't struck still by it.

She dropped down and swept her leg under his. He dodged and deflected her upward attack. The nunchaku whistled past her ear as Ghost twisted her neck just in time. Ghost rolled onto her feet and struck again, this time she caught Michelangelo across the cheek.

They sprang apart and he touched the bloody slash. "Ouch. You're quick."

"I have to be, it's part of the job."

He grinned again and covered the distance between them. Sai and nunchaku clashed and twisted together as they darted around each other, seeking an opening. The hard wood of his weapons smacked against her multiple times, causing Ghost to drop several of her attacks. She was certain the number of bruises on her body was growing exponentially, but his attacks didn't hit hard enough to break the skin.

She could see the way he was playing with her. She wasn't surprised, it was in his nature to play around. That he managed to incorporate it into his fighting style made her smile.

Ghost deflected another strike and came up in Michelangelo's opening. The tip of her sai opened a shallow gash from just above the top edge of his plastron, across his clavicle and up his neck. He flinched back in time to avoid it slicing his face.

Raph started when his shell-cell went off with the tune Mikey had programmed into it. Remembering Leo's plan he quickly pulled it out and flipped it open. What sounded like voices followed by fighting came through the speaker. Somewhere in the city Ghost had found Mikey.

Lightening snapped above them, momentarily illuminating the rain-slick rooftop.

Michelangelo spun his nunchaku while trying to judge Ghost's next move. She was fast and highly skilled.

Mike thought fleetingly as she jumped towards him again, that it was similar to sparing with Leo. Except she wanted to kill him.

He flipped backward, losing his stability as one foot disappeared in a deep puddle as he landed. His shell smacked into the wet concrete as he toppled backwards. Ghost's blade glinted in the darkness above him.

Remembering how he escaped from Raph after a particularly inventive prank, Mike pushed his foot to the bottom of the puddle and kicked.

Ghost exclaimed in the darkness and he saw her silhouette moving away. Taking this opportunity he got to his feet and slid into the shadows behind her.

Ghost dashed the water from her eyes and spun, trying to find Michelangelo again. The soft splash of a foot was her only warning before his weapon came down hard on her arm.

Ghost heard the crack before the pain registered in her brain. She went down to one knee and cradled what she was sure was a broken arm. She panted through the pain until she could close off her mind to it and push it away.

Michelangelo stood nearby watching her.

"Did Donatello explain my rules to you?" She forced the words out.

"Yeah."

"Then finish this."

He balked. "I don't want to kill you."

Ghost pushed herself to her feet. Her good hand limply holding one of her sai. "The only way to stop me is to kill me. Otherwise I will destroy you and hunt the rest of your family down."

"Why?"

"I am bound by my word of honour and oath of loyalty to the Blood Guild." Ghost knew she shouldn't be saying any of this but exhaustion and pain was muddling her thoughts.

"So you don't want to kill us? You have to because you were told to." Mike said thoughtfully.

She nodded. "Something like that."

"Can't you quit?"

Ghost chuckled, its sound was ruined by the pain beating at her mental shields. "It's all the same in the end….Why don't you just end this now, turtle? I'll die one day either way."

The truth behind that statement made her cringe internally.

"My brothers will be here soon. We can help you."

Ghost frowned. "You just broke my arm, why are you trying to save me now?"

"I don't think you're a bad person."

She looked up at him incredulously. "I'm hunting your family and I've almost killed one of your brothers. You are a bad judge of character if you think I'm a good person."

He cracked a grin. "You might not be a good person but you're not bad either."

Ghost stared at her target. Her eyesight was starting to get a little fuzzy and the harsh pain in her arm was becoming too much of a distraction for coherent thought.

As if from far away she heard other voices invade their dark battleground. Michelangelo's brothers had arrived.

"Finish this turtle, let me die with honour."

She sensed him hesitate and gathered what strength she had left. The attack could have been blocked if Michelangelo had been focused on her. Ghost quickly toppled her distracted target and swiped the tip of the sai along his throat.

A startled expression crossed his face like many of the others she'd assassinated this way. The soft wheeze of breathing told her she hadn't cut deep enough but the sounds of his approaching brothers had Ghost abandoning the scene. They would either be able to save him or he'd die in the night.

One way or another she'd know soon.

Two blocks away she stripped off her hood and joined the small stream of people still on the rainy street and limped down a pre-chosen escape route.

Her broken arm held close to her body to protect it, she'd have to come up with a plausible excuse for her injuries, something that would disguise her true actions. The worst ache, Ghost acknowledged solemnly, was the one in her heart.

She pulled out her mobile phone. "Daniel, it's me."

"Of course it is. Only you have this number. Is the target destroyed?"

Cold settled in her chest. "I think so."

"Think so? Why didn't you confirm the kill?"

"The other targets arrived before I could. I have a broken arm, I had to leave."

He sighed. "You're getting sloppy on this one Ghost. You're too close."

"Lay off, Dan. I need cover. How am I going to explain my injuries?"

"Where are you?" He asked, all business.

She looked around, carefully assessing her surroundings. "East end of Route three."

She heard the faint sound of tapping then, "All right, keep going fifty feet."

Ghost kept walking, her eyes darting around to find evidence of what Daniel had planned. There were only a handful of people on the street, the rain and time keeping them inside. Ghost wished she had done the same.

Her highly tuned senses, fuzzy from pain, warned her just moments before the explosion slammed her into the building next to her.

"Mikey!"

"Where are you, Michelangelo?"

The turtles searched the dark rooftop for a sign of their missing brother. Leonardo flipped open his shellcell and they waited in tense silence for Mikey's distinctive ringtone.

At the first sound they moved. Don saw him first and exclaimed, drawing the others' attention. Torchlight flicked on and was followed by a gasp from Leo and Raph.

They hurried to his side and Raph felt sick as he knelt next to his brother, he took the torch from Don so he could work some magic.

A miracle is what we need. He thought solemnly.

In the circle of light he could see the pool of fresh blood mixing with the rain around Mikey's head. His little brother was covered in cuts and abrasions, but it was the slice across his neck that had Raph concerned. He was correct in guessing that it was the source of the majority of the blood.

Fear and anger sparked in Raph a Don confirmed that Mike would survive for now. Fear for almost losing his brother and anger that someone had dared touch Mikey. Only he was allowed to abuse his brothers.

Don turned to him and gave him and Leo a list of things he needed to be capable to move Mikey safely back to the lair.

"What if Ghost comes back?" Leo asked. "You shouldn't wait here alone."

"Ghost isn't after me and from the looks of it she isn't after Mike any more either. You two are safest together. Now go."

Raph and Leo quickly departed. They were surrounded by apartment buildings, one had to be empty or have a window open. Luckily they found a dark apartment nearby and wedged open a window.

"I'm going to kill her." Raph uttered as they slipped into the dark bathroom.

"Let's focus on getting Michelangelo back to the lair, then I'll help you."

Leo's uncharacteristic reply made Raph stare, the look of fury and grief on Leo's face told him everything. He grinned darkly and clapped a hand on Leonardo's shoulder. For once, they stood united on a mission to destroy.

Together they gathered the necessary supplies Don had listed and left some money in return. Raph even grabbed a bottle of whiskey on his hunt through the apartment.

When they got back to the rooftop they saw that Don had assembled a makeshift shelter to keep Mikey dry. He took the bandages and such from the pair and directed them to lift their wounded brother while he slid a rough pallet of boxes and damp cardboard beneath him.

Don and Leo's open-air medical skills surpassed Raph's, he stood back and kept an eye out for ghost in case she decided to come back.

Fifteen minutes later they deemed Mikey fit for travel and carefully draped him over Raph's shoulder. Raphael had volunteered, knowing he had the required muscle and endurance to haul Mike's dead weight the five blocks home.

A muffled explosion followed by car alarms and shouts caught their attention. They stared for several moments without speaking. Raph could see Leo was torn between his loyalty to Michelangelo and his duty to the city. Raph wanted to investigate too, he also wanted to smash a head into a wall but he couldn't with his currant load.

Don noticed too apparently. "No, Leo, tonight the city can look after itself. Mike needs us."

Immediately shame crossed Leonardo's face. Raph bumped into him as he started moving. "Come on, we should leave."

What did you think? Please review and let me know :)

TammyCat