A/N: And.. there off!

Oh yeah. Raine, Honey? I don't think Karai has a good sense of humour! heh!

Disclaimer: Don't own them.

Chapter 25

Michelangelo paced the floor of the living room.

"Can't we go now?" he asked, impatiently. He stopped momentarily to look hopefully at his oldest brother.

Leo sighed. "Mikey, let's wait another hour at least. It's still light outside."

Mikey's shoulders slumped. "Oh, bummer man. I just want to go and get my bro back."

"We all do, Mikey," Don spoke gently.

"Leonardo is right, my son," Splinter spoke up. "It is best to wait and have the cover of night. It will be to your advantage."

"I guess so," Mikey lamented.

"Donatello, do you have the blue prints?" Leonardo asked.

Don waved the printed papers in his hand. "You bet."

They were able to follow the girl's mother to the building that the foot had adopted. Don spent all afternoon researching the web. Just when he was almost convinced that the building had been too old, there was no longer any information pertaining to it, he stumbled across an old document. It used to be the old history museum, and it had been left to rot. To Don's delight, he also found a layout of the building.

Leonardo retrieved the papers from Don and laid them on the kitchen table once again. He studied the layout for the hundredth time.

"Don't you have that memorized by now?" Mikey joked.

"I just want to make sure I am not missing anything," Leo muttered, more to himself. He noted where the exits and the entrance were located. "I am sure there will be sentries here," he said as he placed a green finger on those spots.

"We can try to enter here," Don said, as he pointed to a window that belonged to the second floor.

"How about the roof top?" Mikey piped up.

"It's probably heavily guarded as well," Leo explained. "This is the main base. Just because it is well hidden, doesn't mean it would not be heavily guarded."

"Paranoid much?" Mikey sighed.

"I just wish I knew how they remodeled the inside," Don commented. "If we only knew where they were holding them, it would make things so much easier."

"We will just have to take extra precautions," Splinter spoke.

Leonardo snapped his head in his sensei's direction. "We?" he repeated. "Father... this will be dangerous."

"I know. You will be going into the belly of the beast." Splinter looked at Leo with determination. "You will need all the help you can get. "

"But what if we run into Shredder?" Mikey blurted.

Splinter nodded, realizing that would be a possibility and one that he was ready to face.

"I am confident I can handle my old foe," he assured the youngest turtle.

"I'm coming too, " Skye piped up.

Leo didn't bother to voice his opposing opinion. Instead, his response was, "Very well." He stood up straight and folded his arms. "We leave in exactly one hour."

***

It was the longest hour of Skye's life. To try and distract herself, she went with Splinter to meditate. While he mentally prepared for battle, she tried to reach her sister. She tried so hard her brain felt like it might explode. In the end, she did manage to connect with Raine for only a brief second. It was long enough to tell her, "We are coming tonight!"

"Take heart, child," Splinter said, soothingly. The energy from her frustration disrupted his own meditative state. She sighed as she unfolded her legs.

"Master Splinter. I'm just so scared," she admitted, fear riding on every word.

Splinter smiled. "So am I," he confessed.

Skye blinked at him. "Really?"

He nodded. "Yes. Only a fool would not be scared. However, I use my fear to my advantage, not disadvantage."

"What do you mean?" Skye asked, confused.

"I use my fear to help keep my senses sharp, to help me not to put my guard down. Do not let your own fear overcome you. It can swallow you whole if you give in."

Skye pondered his philosophy. It did make sense. Sort of. "Well, I know I won't let my fear stop me from going. We would risk our lives for each other. I want to help get my sister back."

Splinter reached out and gently rubbed his thumb across her cheek, catching the tear that had trailed downwards.

"And so we shall."

***

Raine stared up at the ceiling. Her head ached as if a dozen snare drums pummeled against her frontal lobes. Her eyes burned and her throat felt dry. Her chest heaved in an irregular pattern as it shook with sobs. The minute she was left alone in her room, she had burst into uncontrollable tears. How could she betray Raphael? Or did she? If she protected him, then it left the others and Skye in danger. She was caught in a lose/losesituation.

As she tried to calm herself, long enough to hope for sleep, she heard a voice way in the back of her mind. Although it was faint, she knew it was Skye. We're coming, tonight!
she heard her shout. But that was it. Shewas gone.

They are coming?

Raine couldn't believe her ears. However, she didn't let herself get too hopeful. They still had to get through the defenses, and through the building. She knew they had a feat ahead of them yet. The odds were against them. Raine lay back, and tightly clasped her hands together and folded them over her chest. She prayed for their safety. She was almost asleep when the door to her room flung open and she heard foot steps across the tile floor. Startled, she opened her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" she snapped at her mother.

"Mistress Karai wants to see you," she replied, just as coldly.

"Why? I'm not telling her anything. You know that."

"Raine, stop the heroics. You know that eventually, they will get what they want. Why don't you just make it easier on yourself now? You would save yourself a whole lot of grief."

"How would I make it easier on myself?" Raine questioned. "Knowing that I turned my own sister and friends over?"

"Raine, if you cooperate, they will spare you and let us be a family again."

Raine's eyes bulged. "A family! Again? We were never a family!"

"How can you say that?"

Raine stared her mother right in the eyes and snarled, "Families do not lie to each other. No matter what."

"We did what we had to do!"

"No. If you trusted us, you wouldn't have to lie. That is what our whole life has been. One big lie."

"You are just a teenager," her mother said angrily as she jerked Raine off the bed and led her by the arm to the door. "You don't know what you are talking about. You tell me one family that lives a flawless life."

"Splinter and the turtles. That's who!"

Gina's face burned crimson. Wordlessly, she dragged Raine to Karai's office. She led her through the door into the huge room with marbles tiled flooring and cherry oak furniture.
"Hello, again, my dear," Karai greeted with that same grin of confidence smeared over her lips.

Raine didn't answer. Karai straightened in her chair. "I have something to show you."
Raine just shrugged indifferently. Anger raged through Karai. Nonetheless, she remained poised. "Come over here." One of the ninja that had stood in front of her desk, dragged her closed to Karai. Surveillance pictures was on the computer screen.

"So?" Raine asked.

"Look closer." Karai clicked the mouse over the image on the bottom left hand corner. Instantly it went large and she could tell it was from an outside camera. She stared at it until she finally saw movement. She saw a truck pull up. Then , to her horror, she saw three men drag Raphael outside and place him in the trailer. She watched as the truck drove off.

"No," Raine said in a whisper. "How could you?"

"I just wanted you to be aware, that I do carry out with my threats."

"You're a monster," Raine growled, through gritted teeth.

"See? We're more powerful than you think," Karai continued. "I will not let a mere girl defy me."

Raine's mind wheeled with thoughts. Oh no, she thought. How will the guys ever find Raphael now? They just had to succeed. But how ? With all those ninja.... Hmmm.... Maybe.... Do I dare.....What if that idea fails....

Raine breathed out a dramatic sigh. "Fine, Karai. You win. I will tell you were to find the turtles."

Karai whipped around and stared at Raine. "I knew you wouldl come to your senses, child," she cooed.

Raine took a deep breath before she blurted, "130 E 7th St. Right near Tompkins Square Park."

Karai let the news settle in. "I know of the park. The turtles are there?"

Raine nodded sadly. "Yes"

"Very good, " Karai complemented. "You shall be rewarded. You shall be free to join your family."

Raine shook her head. "No thanks. As far as I am concerned, I don't have any." She turned her back to her mother. "Can I go to my room now?"

Gina felt her hands ball into fists as the full effect of Raine's anger hit her.

Karai nodded. "Very well. You may go. I've got to prepare for our hunt." She picked up the black phone. As her fingers dangled over the buttons, she glanced upward. "Oh, and Raine. I hope you didn't betray us. Because if you did, your punishment will be far worse than your turtle friend."

Raine swallowed hard and hoped that she couldn't smell fear like a dog.

"No, Mistress. I assure you. You will find turtles at that location."

"Good," she said. Her fingers hit a single button that instantly connected with another room in the building. As Raine left, she heard her order a fleet of her best ninja to be ready immediately. They were going out to get the turtles; she was going to personally lead them.

Raine dove back under her covers and curled up into the fetal position. She rocked back and forth to try and ease the sick feeling that plagued her body. She hoped she didn't make the biggest mistake of her life; and she hoped she boughtthe others just enough time.

***

Late that night, far on the other end of New York, Karai led her Foot ninja quickly through the shadows. She knew the area they had to get to. Once she had seen the park, she waved for her ninja to hang back. She went forward, closer to the address given.
" Hmm," she muttered, as she looked around. There was no manhole cover in sight. She looked up at the signs once more. Then the address that Raine had given her stuck out like a sore thumb along the side of a brick building on the corner.

"What is this?" she hissed. She looked up and saw MIKEY'S PET SHOP was painted on the sign above the door. White hot anger bubbled through her veins as she looked at the window. Scrawled across a piece of florescent pink bristle board were the words, WE GOT TURTLES!

"That girl will pay with her life," she vowed.