Entwined

Chapter 25: Separated

Reni plugged her earbud in and turned her music up. It was against the rules, but the boss generally didn't care so long as they were in the backroom. She hadn't gotten a reply from anyone during her meal break. It worried her slightly, but there was little she could do. As Savior by Skillet played, she danced with all the grace of a warrior in combat. The freight didn't stand a chance.

~ I'm everything you've wanted

I am the one who's haunting you

I am the eyes inside of you

Stare back at you

There's nothing left to lose

There's nothing left to prove~

Reni grunted slightly as she threw a particularly heavy box onto a cart with no small amount of satisfaction. Normally Rissy would help out with the heavy stuff, so it always made her feel good when she could handle one when the tall woman was off.

OoO

"Alright, that's the door?"

Rae nodded, and the pair silently made their way through the shadows of twilight and slipped into the building.

"Huh. Would have thought there would have been a security system of some sort."

"I have the passcodes, remember? Now, put your hands behind you back and act like a prisoner. I'd like to avoid a fight for as long as possible."

Rissy complied as Rae put her mask on and grasped the other woman's wrists gently. The pair quickly made their way to the intersection Rae had talked about. A pair of ninja nodded politely to Rae, one going so far as to open the door to the cell block for them so she wouldn't have any problems with her 'prisoner'. Rissy was glad that her thick hair was hanging over her face, otherwise the small grin on her face would have given them away.

"Okay, looks like it's just us here. Kaylee was in Cell 32, let's go."

OoO

Raph punched Leo's number as he and Donnie ran through the woods.

"Did you find them?"

"No Fearless, but it looked like they had a plan at least. Donnie said it seemed like they were going to enter from a door on the east side of the building."

"Alright, we're heading that way. When you two catch up with us, meet us on the east side."

OoO

Kaylee was steadily picking the dry polish from her fingernails. She had been so bored all day long, since she had discovered Rae gone that morning. There had been an initial panic, followed by her being interrogated, before the ninjas simply leaving her alone again. She wondered idly if Rae had taken her idea to heart and gotten in contact with Reni. She wanted to believe she had.

"Kaylee?"

The petite woman looked up sharply as a familiar voice came though the door. With a squeal of excitement, she rushed over.

"Rissy! Did Rae find you and Reni?"

"Present and accounted for, Kaylee."

"And Reni's at work. She's gonna be pissed that she missed all the fun."

"Ladies, looks like we've been discovered."

Several Foot ninja had entered the cell block, none of them looking too pleased. Rissy snorted and stood protectively in front of her much smaller friend as Rae dropped into a defensive position. The leader chuckled.

"Do you girls really think you can survive the storm?"

Gray eyes narrowed. "Bitch, we ARE the storm!"

OoO

The turtles flitted silently down the hallways, speeding up as they heard the sounds of battle. They erupted into the fray with a bone chilling battle cry. Leo's eyes surveyed the scene as he fought. Rae was looking worse for wear, but still fighting back. She had moved to cover a small blonde woman who was huddled in a corner and holding her shoulder at an odd angle.

Where's Rissy? Donnie's eyes scanned the hallway again, looking for the familiar tangle of chestnut hair or bright gray eyes but came up empty. Maybe she's the getaway driver? That would be sensible. His Bo staff laid another Foot ninja out before he vaulted over the rest and landed in the corner with the girls. Rae looked relieved to have the backup, using her kodachi for support as she knelt and leaned against the wall.

OoO

"I'll have fun interrogating this one when she wakes up. She was quite the mouthy one earlier." The ninja unceremoniously dumped his unconscious load onto the bare concrete floor, causing a plethora of thick chestnut waves to scatter around their owner, before slamming the door shut and locking it.

OoO

Reni had the feeling that something was wrong. There had been an odd knot in her stomach forming in her stomach over the past couple hours, and it was growing more intense. She was glad it was the end of her shift. She checked her phone again. No replies from Rissy, but she had a message from Leo.

'Rissy and Rae went to rescue Kaylee. We're going to intercept them. See you when you get home.'

Emerald eyes widened in disbelief. She wouldn't dare...

OoO

Raph sighed and looked at the small blonde in his arms again. Apparently, Rissy had told her to stay close to him if something happened. The girl's faith in her friend's judgment boggled his mind. Kaylee, for her part, was worried about Rissy. The tall woman had been separated from them. She huddled deeper into the strong arms cradling her, making Raph glance at her again.

"We're almost to Reni's place, don't worry sweetheart. Donnie'll have ya fixed up in no time."

"I'm not concerned about that. I'm worried about where Rissy is. She got separated from us in the fight."

Raph glanced sharply at his brother Donnie, glad Kaylee had whispered instead of shouting. "She's tough, I'm sure she's fine. Hell, she may be waiting to tease us about how long it took us to make it back."

Kaylee nodded slightly, not entirely convinced, and went back to watching the forest race by in a blur.

OoO

Reni ran her fingers over Kaylee's swollen shoulder joint as Donnie finished patching up Rae's injuries.

"Doesn't look like anything's broken, but it needs to be popped back into place. It's going to hurt, Kayleekins, but it needs to be done."

The blonde grimaced. "Yes, ma'am."

"Raph, can you help hold her steady?"

"Sure."

Reni grabbed her small friend's shoulder, flinching at the sick popping sound the joint made as is snapped back into place. Mikey couldn't hold back a small amused chuckle.

"Man Raph, she just made you look like a bitch! You always whine when you have to have your joints popped back in place, but she just had it done without so much as a whimper!"

"Shaddup, or I'll pound ya!"

"YOU shut up or I'll punch you in the face!"

Raph stared down at the blonde who had just yelled at him, expression incredulous. "You'll punch me in the face?"

"Yes."

"With what, a marshmallow?"

"Maybe, my fists aren't very hard.."

"Kayleekins, what happened to Rissy?"

OoO

Spice brown eyes stared up at the moon. Donnie couldn't sleep, and for once it wasn't because of all the ideas and equations running rampant through his mind. Rissy's notebook was in his hands, open to the legend she had recounted there. I wonder if there's anything else like this in here. Donnie felt slightly guilty about snooping, but if it helped him understand what was going on, he would do it. Flipping to the beginning, he began reading. Page after page of meticulous notes on empathy, controlling the ability, and the dream realm were absorbed by the genius turtle. After each page, Donnie felt a little sleepier until he couldn't fight it anymore and drifted off.

OoO

Rissy sat on her log, content to watch the stars in her dream world. She didn't turn this time as a presence entered her clearing and seated itself next to her again.

"Rissy?"

"Hm?"

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For not coming in time to save you from the Foot."

"It's ok, I was being mouthy anyway. How's Kaylee holding up?"

"She dislocated her shoulder, but she'll be fine."

Rissy nodded. Donnie ran his eyes worriedly over her hunched form. "Rissy?"

"Hm?"

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing."

"Let me see."

"Are you sure you want to?"

Donnie's eyes narrowed, his hands tugging gently on the clasp that kept the cloak around the woman's form. Rissy made no move to stop him, only closing her eyes in shame it fell away. The gentle genius stared in horror. Multiple lacerations, some deep, marred her flesh. A particularly nasty gash bled freely across her upper arm, and instinctively he reached out and placed a hand on the wound to staunch the flow of blood.

"What happened to you, Rissy?"

The woman laughed sadly. "The Foot didn't appreciate my attitude."

OoO

Breakfast the next morning was a quiet affair. Kaylee picked at her food, prompting Raph to shove a spoon full of cereal into her open mouth when she sighed.

"So Fearless, are we going back for Rissy or what?"

Donnie, who had just entered the kitchen, glared at his brother. "Of course we're going back for her, shellbrains."

"We can't be hasty, Donnie. I know you like her but -"

"But nothing, Leo! The Foot are beating her for information about us! I saw how much blood she was losing, if we don't get her out of there soon -"

"What the shell do you mean, you saw how much blood she was losing?"

Donnie looked away, not sure how to explain it to his brothers. "I saw her in my dreams last night.."

"So, you want to run off and infiltrate a dangerous Foot facility without a plan all because of some dream? Donnie, it was just a nightmare."

Donnie held up a bloody hand. "Somehow, I don't think so."