A/N: Do you believe in love at first sight? I do. And happy endings, those are good, too.


Chapter 28 -I'll Take Care of You-
~~~

Donatello stirred. Oh shell, my head hurts. He sat up, wobbling slightly, and wished he hadn't. His head felt as though a pile driver was pounding it into the ground. A noise outside made him open his eyes, but the inside of the box was still as black as the darkest night. He swore mentally. Bishop. Now what? How'm I gonna get out of here?

"Donnie? Mike?"

Leonardo?

"Leo!" Don's voice was hoarse, and he was wracked by a coughing fit. Darn drugs, my mouth feels like I've been eating cotton… He tried again. "Leo, in here!" He punctuated his cry with a bang on the side of the container.

"Donnie! Are you ok?" His oldest brother's anxious voice just penetrated the container.

"I'm fine." Don's voice grew stronger. "Get me out, Leo!"

"I'm trying. There's a number pad on the side of this thing. I don't have the code. What do I do, Don?" Leonardo's voice was strained with desperation.

"Is there a panel?"

"… yeah."

"Open it. Find the wires."

"… Ok."

Don heard metal grinding outside, and the creeeeaak of a panel bending. "Leo, do you see wiring?"

"Yes."

"Ok, what colors?"

"Red, blue, green, black, white, yellow, orange…"

"Ok, just a minute. What's attached to what?"

"Umm… the red and black are attached to a… box thing. And the yellow and green go up inside a tube. The white… It kind of goes off to a side…"

Donatello rubbed a tired hand over his face. "Leo, cut the blue wire," he said.

"Don, are you sure? When I hit the wrong code, a light started flashing…"

"Leo, cut the blue wire now!" Don's voice took on urgency. He heard a click and a hiss, and held his breath.

If Bishop's booby-trapped the containment units… It sounds as though he has, with that red light. If Leo cuts the wrong wire…

The crack of light appeared once more, blinding him. Donatello made it to his feet and staggered toward the opening. "Leo…" He fell forward, feeling himself held up by his brother's comforting embrace.

"You're ok now, Don. Come on, I've still got to get Mikey out." He started to lead Donatello forward, catching him again when he swayed. Leo's eye-ridges rose. "What's wrong with you?"

"Tranq… Bishop…"

Leonardo swore. "It's gonna be ok, Don. Casey!" he called.

"Right here, Leo." Casey Jones appeared at the back of the truck. Donatello's eyes widened. Casey looked like he was wearing a gory Halloween mask. Blood from an obvious cut on his scalp had dripped down most of one side of his face, and was drying there. His chin and cheek sported blackening red bruises, and Don was certain his nose was broken by the position and swelling.

"Come on, Donny," said the man good-naturedly. "Let's get you outta there…" He helped Don down from the back. Leonardo went back into the truck, repeating the procedure on the second containment unit. Those outside heard a high, keening cry as the box opened.

"No! No, leave me alone!"

"Mikey! Mike, it's ok. It's me, Leo… Come on, bro, you're safe now, get up. Let me get these ropes off... Oh, Michelangelo… what'd they do to you?"

Leonardo appeared in the doorway, his brother's arm slung over his shoulder. Michelangelo looked dazed, his blue eyes wide. His face was bruised and the bandage had fallen off his stitched arm, revealing torn stitches and more bruising. Blood was pooling in obviously fresh rope burns on his wrists. He was trembling violently.

"L… Leo?" he whispered, looking full into his brother's face for the first time as they stepped out into the light. "Is it… really you? I'm not… dead yet, am I?"

"No, Mikey. You're fine," said Leonardo gently. He leaned forward, supporting Mikey and lowering him down to Casey and Raphael's waiting hands. Michelangelo took one look at Raphael and burst into tears.

"I knew it… I knew it… Bishop killed me," he sobbed. His arms went around Raph's shoulders, causing the older turtle to grunt with pain. "I don't care, Raphie… I don't care if we're dead, as long as we're dead together!"

"Mikey, ya bonehead," Raphael growled. "Ya ain't dead. But yer gonna be if ya don't get offa me."

Ignoring their older brother's threats, Donatello moved close, wrapping himself around his brothers. "You're safe now, Mike," he told the youngest turtle gently.

Michelangelo looked at Don, then at Raph and back again. The terrible expression of fear and confusion eased, a slow smile taking its place. "What took you guys so long?" he asked.

Leonardo shook his head. "Come on, Casey," he said. "I need your help."

Together, they lifted the unconscious figure of John Bishop up from the ground, and slung him none-too-gently into one of his own containment units. They stuffed the rest of the guards into the second unit and closed the truck doors.

***

April was beginning to worry. Splinter had left her over an hour ago, and had not yet returned. She was just psyching herself up to attempt walking to the nearest pay phone to call a cab when an unfamiliar truck pulled up. April's breath caught in her throat as it stopped at the alley where she was hidden. A man hopped down, and hurried toward her. She almost screamed before she recognized the battered face of Casey Jones.

"Come on, Ape. We gotta get outta here," he said.

"Casey! What happened? Are you ok? Where's your shirt?"

"Leo needed it fer a bandage," he replied. Seeing her eyes widen, he shook his head. "Everybody's good, April. We got some injuries, but we're all gonna be ok."

For once, April didn't protest when the big man scooped her up. She laid her head against his sweaty shoulder, hardly noticing the dirt that caked his bare chest. He carried her to the already-full truck. "Sorry, Babe. Yer gonna hafta sit in my lap," he said with a smirk. April blushed crimson, but her sharp retort was stopped short by a familiar chuckle from the back seat.

"Raphael?" She twisted, peering past the young boy sitting next to Leonardo, to stare over the seat. Raph's golden gaze met her eyes calmly. Splinter sat next to him.

"Hiya, April." Raph's eyes held a glint of mischief. "Sorry fer da cramped quarters. Don and Mikey had ta ride in da back."

"You got Mikey back?"

"Yeah, Ape, he's shook up, but he's gonna be ok."

April smiled through her tears. "Oh, Raph… It's so good to see you."

"Aww…" Raphael smirked, but the blush creeping up his cheeks belied his expression.

"Come on," said Leonardo, pulling the truck carefully away from the curb. "Let's go home."

***

Serena drew a hissing breath as Juan tightened the rag he was tying around her injured leg. He glanced up, meeting her eyes. "Sorry."

"No, I've got to be able to walk on it. It's ok," she said through gritted teeth. Juan tied the last knot, and helped the girl get to her feet. "Come on," she said softly. "Let's get out of here."

Juan took her weight, marveling at the strength he could feel in her arm clamped around his waist. They made their way down the hall, away from the general chaos in the main part of the warehouse. They came to an open door, and Serena paused.

"Wait."

Juan fidgeted as the girl hobbled over to the office, and stuck her head in. "Oh, man… Sullivan," she said softly. Juan looked over her shoulder. A man was lying against the wall. At first, Juan thought he was… but no, his chest rose and fell steadily. He was merely unconscious. Juan slipped into the room behind Serena. A voice in the hall made him whirl.

Serena swore under her breath. "Quick, in here." she grabbed his hand and dragged him through another door. It led to an adjoining storage room. They crouched together behind a dusty crate.

"Have you got the money, Hun?"

"Yes."

"Good, good. Here's the sample merchandise I promised…"

Juan peered out from behind the crate. He could just make out the men through the cracked-open door. A huge, blond man was standing at the desk. A much smaller, swarthy man stood on the other side, holding out a pistol. It disappeared into Hun's meaty paw.

"These will do just fine," Hun said, smiling grimly. "I'd like to examine the rest of the shipment."

"Fine. As soon as I receive payment…"

"First we unload," said Hun. He picked up a black leather case from the corner and opened it, showing the man the contents.

The man was scowling. "Our agreement was cash on delivery," he said.

"You'll get your money when we get the truck unloaded," said Hun smoothly, closing the bag and setting it down.

"If you double-cross me, Hun…"

"Don't worry. Sullivan here will guard your payment." The men left the room, chuckling like a pair of old friends.

Juan let out a breath he hadn't been aware of holding, and got to his feet. He pulled Serena up. "Come on, muchacha. We gotta get outta here."

"All right."

In the doorway, Juan hesitated. They're buying guns. I should do something. But what can one hombre do? His eyes landed on a second black bag in the corner. Mamma's medicine is so expensive, he thought. Almost without thinking, his hands snaked out, picking up the bags. He tucked one under his arm, holding the other by the handle. He held out his free hand to the girl.

"Come on, senorita, he said to Serena. "Let's get you to da hospital an' get dat leg fixed up."

"I tol' you, I ain't goin' ta no hospital," snapped Serena. "I ain't got no money fer da hospital."

"I'll take care of it," said Juan with a smile. The handle of the bags holding the money had a nice weight in his hand. "I'll take care o' everyt'in from now on."

Serena looked up at him. Slowly, her suspicious gaze was replaced with a tremulous smile. She tucked her hand into Juan's, and leaned on him as he led her away from the warehouse.

"How about, later on, I take ya back ta my place?" said Juan. "I… I'd like ya ta meet my sister. And my Ma."

"What? What if she don't like me?" asked Serena, suddenly shy.

Juan looked once more into those deep brown pools, and felt his breath hitch in his throat. "Oh, don't worry," he said softly. "She's gonna love you."