Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Welcome to Hell, or what is better known as, the justice system. Lark figured she had just left Satan himself after escaping the facility within the east woods. This was considered to be Hell, part 2: getting dragged through the police headquarters where all eyes looked upon her as if she were nothing but a dangerous criminal fitted for the cold slammer. She had every right to feel angry, tired, upset, and worst of all, aching over a headache that was slowly creeping it's way back to where her skull had struck upon the hard ground. The first order of business, after being tisked by everyone within ten feet of her, was to be seen by the head chief, a person less enthused for more excitement to light up his day. The news from town had already reached his little office and it was going to seem like an eternity before he had heard or seen the last of what all had happened.

"Good evening, Miss Hanson." He calmly stated.

"Yeah, what's so good about it? Thanks to this schmuck, I'm ignoring doctor's orders to rest." Lark scowled as Jesse entered next, smirking to him.

The chief glared and started to rise. "Jesse?"

"Hey, sir-" He quickly waved.

"Of all the people who were sent to pick her up, they chose YOU?!"

"Well, actually, I was on my way to get her from the hospital after Bob told me where she was. He uh, also told me what she had been up to these past couple of weeks. The job that she neglected to tell me or anyone else for that matter." Jesse eyed her attire with a huff. Lark crossed her arms defensively to that.

The chief sized her up. "Yes, so it appears. More folks then just her will be questioned once we discover who all worked out there. It's unfortunate that one of them was someone we know personally." Silence passed for a few seconds. Yes, she was guilty, but so were bunches of people that DID manage to escape. "Miss Hanson, you attend the University here, correct?" Lark looked away, nodding slowly. "Uhm, hmm. Well, unless you've been studying chemistry during the Thanksgiving holiday, I'm sure you've got a good reason why you're wearing a lab coat?"

"Oh, Chief. You apparently know more than you're leading on." Lark mumbled. "I confessed to Officer Candis that I worked for Kelvin Harris...but I am strongly admitting that I was unaware of who he was at the time of my employment. The man wasn't even using that name before I got to really know him-"

"Inside and out?"

"Oh, shove it, Jesse!"

"No, you!"

"All right, that's enough!" The chief shouted, then looked over to Lark. "We can save the interrogation at a later time. Can I get you something to drink, Miss Hanson?"

"Before or after I get thrown in jail?"

"I'm simply trying to be hospitable, my dear!"

"Fine. How about a cup of water so that I can take some Advil?" She glanced to Jesse, wanting to smack him all around the room. "You know, Chief, I was just released from the hospital when my ass was dragged all the way over here! They wouldn't even let me stop to drop off my medication prescription."

"Hmm." He started to read the contents of the folder, looking up to her. "Yes, I understand that clearly, but you do know why you were brought in here, correct?" Lark nodded again, almost ready to break down in sobs. "Mm, hm. Miss Hanson, I apologize of how you were treated but, it seems these notes prove that we have no choice but to keep you in holding. Just for awhile...until we get more answers. Before you arrived, I got an urgent call from Officer Candis who is bringing in more suspects that were found at the warehouse. Perhaps they will shed some light on this situation better than what I've been given throughout the day."

"Whomever they are, Chief, they are probably just like me. Unaware of what they gotten themselves into."

"We'll see when they arrive. Jesse? Get her some water." He stood up and took her by the shoulder. "I'll see to it that she gets checked in." Lark sighed heavily. "Properly."

In a back room, Lark was permitted one phone call that she tearfully dialed upon. She couldn't very well call her house and expect much help from there. Her parents were an absolute out of the question and any friends that she called friends were flat broke all the time. Between visits of seeing Shadow and Kate, April gave her the number to the farmhouse for whatever reasons would be necessary to call for future occurrences. This would be one good reason to call and she proceeded to dial it, getting-

"The answering machine, damn!" Well, beggars can't be choosers. "April? Hey, this is Lark. Uh, I called to tell you I didn't actually get home right away. I'm uh, actually....spending the night in jail! Uh, yeah. My boyfriend, Jesse, arrested me as soon as we left the hospital and...ah, God it's a long story, but could you please bail me of out here? I didn't know who else to call at this time of night...I'm so sorry to do this to all of you... I promise to pay you back, just please, help me if you can. Bye." Lark felt herself getting choked up as she hung up the receiver. She was taken back to a little room, hand pressed to her head. The pain was still with her and was going to be like that all night long.

The word, 'properly' was used to the fullest. Hand prints, photo taken, and her shoes removed just before being shoved into a square-shaped room. There was one uncomfortable cot, one toilet with brillo pad-like toilet paper, and one window with bars on the sill. Lark turned to catch Jesse staring at her as the door slammed shut.

"I can't believe you're doing this to me; how could you?! You think I'm guilty?!"

"Guilty as charged, sweetie. I'm only doing my job and you know it."

"Jesse, my parents are coming in tomorrow for Thanksgiving! What am I supposed to do? Eat at the dinner table with a police guard standing by me? I have to get out of here before they arrive or my life will forever be reminded of how shameful I am to them!"

"You should of thought of that before getting yourself into this mess."

"This is not entirely my fault! Aren't you going to do something?"

"I dunno. I can either round up your $800 bail money beforehand or, I'll ask your mom to bake a cake and stick a file in it!" He laughed at her, not to mention the guard had to cover his mouth to hide the snickering. "Just kidding. I'll think of something to do-"

"No, forget it. I don't want your help anymore! You've already done enough for me as it is! Just go away!"

"Fine, I'm going home. I'll keep the light on for you, how's that?" More laughter. The guard bit his lip.

"How about coming in here so I can put your lights out?!" Lark grumbled and turned away, her head throbbing. "Ohhh, damn, just stay the hell away from me!"

"You know, I did worry about your safety out there." He seemed to sound serious. "But you left me no choice but to turn you in. I'll try to get you out when I can."

"Sure. Whatever." Lark stretched out on the cot, covering her eyes with one hand. "I'll believe that when you bail me out and I'm sleeping in a decent bed." She didn't see him leave the room. The door slamming shut was the indication of his departure. Lark cringed to the loud bang, followed by tears streaking down her cheeks onto the dirty pillow beneath her.

The car ride to police headquarters was long and quiet. In all their years as crime fighters, all their hard training of hiding from the enforcers of the law, justice had finally gotten a hold of the Turtles and was ready to lock them up and throw away the key. Leonardo rested his head against the window and puffed out a breath, making a little circle of steam appear on the glass under his nose. He knew they looked different, he knew humans shunned anything that appeared out of the ordinary. But, to be hustled in like this as if they had done something bad was, in his book, unjustifiable. What did they do? Why were they being taken away if there was no evidence that they committed a crime?

Just being the way we are is a crime on it's own, Leo thought to himself. He glanced over to Splinter whom sat quietly next to him. His head was bowed and his eyes were gazing downward. All their hands were in cuffs but it hurt Leo to see his sensei wearing those horrid things on his thin wrists. The handcuffs had to be adjusted all the way on the last 'click' to prevent them from slipping off of him. It didn't matter. Splinter was an honest rat. A smart one, too. He knew better not to escape from the cops or abandon his family, especially in the weak state he was in. They'd catch him in minutes.

"What are you thinking, master?" Leo decided to break the silence.

Splinter slowly raised his head, his eyes with a glazed look to them. "I am praying, Leonardo...." He started. "....and thinking of what will become of us."

"Something good, I hope?" Michaelangelo said. Always the optimist.

"No. This is bullshit." Raphael groaned from the other side of the van. "They'll take one look at us and we'll never see the light of day again!"

"Well, we never did before, Raph. Until now." Donatello corrected him silently. "Our lives in the beginning were always in darkness with no sunlight."

"Hey, what were you guys, part vampire?" Casey joked. Getting no laughs, he went serious again. "You know, you guys have April and I to thank for your real taste of sunlight. And I'll bet she'll do her damnedest to get us out and home before long."

At 5:50 p.m., the van pulled up at police headquarters, causing quite a stir to the passersby on the street. Each of the Turtles and Splinter looked out a window to the people. Throwing produce, making faces, and glaring with disgust were a few ideas that came to mind. Instead, some people casually walked on while a few did stop to see who was inside the vehicle. As the group was being slowly taken out, giving another reason for the people to stare at them, Bob pulled Jack aside onto the sidewalk with a smile.

"You did good, Jack. The borrowed van bit didn't convince them, but we still got a hold of them."

"Robert, I didn't want to do this. Casey's my friend, he's got a family to take care of. You got your convict, you solved the case. Just let them go and have a nice, quiet, holiday."

"Not until we settle the score, Jack. There's still a lot of questions that need to be answered before we can let Mr. Jones go."

"And his family."

Bob shook his head. "I don't think so, Jack. These creatures are deadly and shouldn't be roaming free around here. You know, I'm doing the right thing."

Leonardo glanced up just in time to catch a glimpse of Jesse walking out and seeing his partner, Bob. Him again! The same cop from earlier. I could never forget that face. The face of a creep! The two exchanged quiet words for a moment, giving the others a more reason to be gawked at by the people walking around. Leo watched long enough to soon make eye contact with Jesse, whom in turn took in his stare uncomfortably and turned away, making Leo smirk. Yeah, you've been a bad boy, you'd better turn away from me, you scumbag! He still remembered when him and Bob tried to snatch him away at the hospital and clearly saw that other shirt beneath his uniform. The F.U.-

"See that cop? He's one of them." Leo spoke breathy, making Raph look over as well. "And I'm not referring to one of the law-abiding citizens either."

"Well, what the hell can we do, O Fearless One?" Raph droned.

"I don't know. I just don't know anymore."

"Whoa, with you not knowing what to do, we're in big trouble." Mike was right, but also wasn't helping.

"Thanks a lot, Mike."

"Well, you usually think of something, don't ya?"

"Yes." He sighed, glancing to Donatello. "One of us usually does."

"Don't look at me, I'm just along from the ride!" Don quickly stated when he caught his glance.

The police station temporarily ceased of any casual activity. Every officer stopped what they were doing to look up and see five short, heavily clothed people being ushered in, followed by a tall and very obnoxious man screaming obscenities to anyone close to him. Bob entered last, shaking his head and apologizing quietly to the staring officers for Casey's behavior. The chief approached them with a lip curled and eyes widened.

"Officer Candis....don't tell me Ringling Bros. has come to town?" His head leaned low to get a good look of their green faces.

"Very funny." Bob pointed to them. "I apologize for not preparing you with their appearances. But the situation is far more important here. I found this charming set of party goers out at that east warehouse where Kelvin Harris was also found roaming about. Armed yes, as you can plainly see, and very hot tempered."

"Got that right." Casey growled.

"It seems as though these creatures were working for, or were apart of, Harris's scheme to-"

"No! That's not true!" Donatello snapped suddenly, making Casey and his brothers look over. "We were trying to stop him, not help- "

"Silence!" The chief bellowed. "I'm not speaking to you!" He looked back over to Bob. "Go on."

Bob nodded. "I had my men bring these creatures in after assuming they were a few of the ones responsible for the many deaths and disappearances of forest and domestics animals within the area. This one..." He tapped Leo's shoulder as he paced around them. "...was caught stealing my partner's horse in broad daylight. He says it was an emergency but, I'll leave that for you to decide, Chief." The chief looked to Leo whom squinted at him, then over to Bob.

"Mm. Look Candis, I've had more important things to handle then the circus family, here." The chief glanced to his pile of large notes as he returned to his squeaky chair. "In regards to the links of this Harris person, I just got more in on the shooting that occurred in town today. It happened at exactly 3:35 in the afternoon. The two men that were involved have already been questioned and put away. Apparently, they were hired gunmen on some mission to track down someone." He looked up to all of them, then back down. "Three women were found at the scene, each identified as follows. April O'Neil Jones- "

"That's my wife!" Casey gasped and looked to the others. "Holy shit, Chief! That's my wife-"

"Hold your tongue, Mr. Jones! I'm not finished!" The chief gazed down at the papers again. "Uh, the other girl was...Kate..no, wait, that's her maiden name. Kate...Russell. A few witnesses said she was hit by one of the gunmen..."

"Shot in the chest." Bob looked down.

"All right, Bob, so it-"

"What?!" Raph shrilled and pushed forward. "Kate was shot?!"

"Excuse me, am I speaking to you?" The chief glared to Raph.

"Goddamn it, you'd better be! I demand to know if she's all right!"

"I repeat, son, am I speaking to you?"

"Raph, stop. Please...we're in enough trouble...just stop..." Leonardo muttered quietly.

"You should listen to him, Raph. Because until I get some answers, all of you are in a heap of trouble!" The chief pointed with a pencil, looking down again. Son? What was it with calling them, son? Raphael rolled his eyes, not wanting to be anyone's son except to Splinter, who was the only father figure he had ever known. He looked down to his sensei. The rat looked tired and frail standing there beside him. "And lastly, the third girl was..." His eyes blinked when the name re-registered in his tired and old head. "...Lark Hanson..." He looked up to Bob. "She was involved in the shooting?"

"Yes, sir." Bob said silently. "Oh. And speaking of Miss Hanson, was she already, you know, taken-"

"Yes, yes. She was already taken care of before you arrived." The chief sighed, reading the notes over. "Yes, she was-"

"What?!" Don's eyes widened. "Taken care of? What do you mean by that?!"

"Now, that is none of your damn business, son!" The chief said, almost rising out of his seat. "What's it to you, anyway?!"

"Nothing, sir. Nothing at all." Don blinked his eyes to normal, realizing he widened them so far, it gave him a headache.

The chief went on. "Right. As I was saying..."

Outside the building, Jack kicked a pebble and glanced around with hands deep in his pockets. Seeing as he'd done enough damage to Casey and the others, he decided to snatch the nearest pay phone and call the home front to inform what he liked to call 'the other half' of the current news that was yet to be heard.

"Come on, woman, pick up. Pick up!"

The chief went on with his forever stack of papers, now boring his audience to sleep. "And now, with the many phone calls of unusual counts of wolves in the area, pets have been disappearing from homes, reportedly stolen or attacked by the wildlife...scientists were said to be experimenting animals out there..." The chief shook his head. "I don't see how this connects with Harris's-"

"Chief?" Bob cleared his throat and gestured to the folders. "Under where it lists what his studies...um...obsessions were, should explain what his intentions clearly covered."

"Yes, so it does seem to fit." The chief tapped his pencil lightly, quietly thinking and reading over Lark's report again. "I think, I'm beginning to see the connections here."

"Hot damn. We got a break through. What an intelligent guy!" Casey mumbled sarcastically. The others groaned.

Lark's message continued to blink on the machine as April rushed in when she heard her phone ringing four times. Tom stood in the doorway, glancing around the room. What a complete mess. The wolves were messy devils and left the place in shambles. April didn't have the time nor the strength to clean up after the disastrous beasts wrecked havoc on her priceless antiques and hard to replace furniture.

"Hello?" April said in a huff, hoping she didn't lose the person on the other line.

"Yeah, is this the Jones's residence?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"This is Jack, a friend of Casey's.

"Jack? Oh, oh, Jack Russell!" April exclaimed. Tom looked up and stared at her. "Hello, um, yes, I remember you. Why are you calling? Where is Casey?"

"Well, funny you should ask that, ma'am. He's downtown at the police station. Him and his friends have been taken into police custody. Now, after the run-in with Mr. Harris, the officers arrived at the scene to take care of him, but at the same time, took them away for questioning."

"Oh, God!" April howled and clenched the curly phone wire. "Stay there, Jack! I'll be right down! I just have to stop at the bank and get some money-"

"Don't worry about the money, ma'am. Just get down to the police station, okay? Don't worry about it."

"All right, thank you, Jack." April hung up and glared to Tom. "My family's been taken in down at the police station! Come on, we've got to go there- "

"Hang on, April. Who was that you talked to? Did you say, Jack?"

April paused while picking up her purse. "Yeah, Jack Russell. He lives out here. Why?"

"Damn it. I knew it!" Tom mumbled then headed for the door. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to have a serious talk with him."

"About what?"

Tom looked to her closely. "Well, for one, to let him know his WIFE is dying in the hospital, and two, for me to notify my nephew that his daddy is still alive!" April cupped her mouth and stared wide-eyed. He motioned her forward. "Let's go, I'll fill you in later." Lark's message was left unanswered in their haste to go back out.

"And furthermore, when my team was called out to the scene to scout out a group called Fuc? No, F.U.C....it's abbreviated here...." The chief flipped over the last page in the thick folder. It was possible to sleep standing up for the group. Michaelangelo's head rolled back and then forward, Leonardo was blinking to try and stay awake, Raphael yawned several times, and Donatello rested upon the chief's desk, head bowed. Splinter almost looked like he was meditating on the floor. Casey stared at the chief, wide awake and lips pursed to incoherent words being uttered.

"Mmmiggin'...friggin...no....good...want...to...go...now...hurry the hell UP!"

The chief glanced up, then down again. "Finally, after the warehouse exploded, Officer Candis brought you six in to me for questioning....the connections with the scientists, I can see where that came from....well, now it's becoming more clear with the updates that keep flooding my desk here..." Light snoring was heard from the group. "...Yet again, I failed to see the connections of you all involved with this operation, if I don't have the proof in front of me, I can't arrest any of you, regardless of whatever you folks are. I'm sorry, Officer Candis, but these people can go."

"About damn time!" Casey shouted, causing the others to snap to attention.

"But Chief, look at them!" Bob pulled himself away from the wall, pointing. "They're not even human! They're alien creatures from another planet!"

The chief sighed and glanced up to him. "Candis, they're innocent! What do you want me to do? Send them off to some science lab or ship them to Area 51? Yes, their appearance is very strange but if they're not convicted of any crime, there's nothing I can do!"

"I found them at the scene, Chief! They might have been working for Harris undercover!"

"Again, Candis! I need proof of that! For all I know, they might have tried to stop Harris! Or they were endangered by his ridiculous testing! Did you ever stop and think that?" Bob went to speak but couldn't find the words. "Look, it's very late, tomorrow's Thanksgiving, let's just forget the whole thing." He started to mumble to himself with a groan. "I need a good stiff drink, been working too many damn hours...." The chief glanced to the them. "...look, you folks can go home. I don't know where on earth you came from but, I cannot arrest you without proof that you committed a crime."

"But, but they did commit a crime!" Bob pointed to Leo. "That one stole my partner's horse!"

The chief looked over to Leonardo, recalling Bob mentioning something about that earlier. "Is that true? You stole an officer's horse?"

"I borrowed it!" Leo defended himself. "I've already told him why I took the horse! I had to rush an injured child to the hospital. HIS child!" Leo nodded over to Casey since his hands were prevented to gesture. "If you don't believe me, phone the hospital and look up the name Shadow Jones!"

"How was I to know what he was going to do with it, Chief!" Bob complained. "I'd still call it stealing!"

"No, it's what we might call a misdemeanor, Candis. If taking the animal was for a good cause, and it was returned to the rightful owner, I see no point in aggravating the problem, or the the uh...uh..." The chief looked to Leo. "...uh, whatever you are, anymore."

"We're turtles." Leo calmly told him, already thinking the obvious was right in front of them.

"That was my next guess." The chief glanced to Bob and stood up. "Candis, I think we're done for the evening. You folks can go. We still need to contact the morgue and head out to the warehouse and deal with the remains for proper burials."

Donatello gulped. "You mean, Harris didn't make it?"

The chief looked up. "It's no concern of yours anymore, son. He'll be taken care of. Lester! Remove the cuffs." Lester and some other officers unlocked the cuffs and removed them from their wrists. Their arms fell loose to their sides with a soft sigh of relief.

Leonardo approached the chief. "Thank you for letting us go, Chief. I thought for sure because of our appearance, we'd cause a stir to your officers."

"Or, you'd lock us up for good!" Michaelangelo popped up.

"I don't judge a book by it's cover, son." Son. The name was getting rather old to all of them. "I've seen stranger things in my day and decide not to question the oddities as quickly as other people do."

"What do we do now, chief?" Michaelangelo asked.

"All's said and done. You can go now." The chief simply said, his attitude snapping. "So, that I may go myself-"

"Wait." The chief groaned as Donatello walked over next. "Chief, what about Lark? When you said she was already taken care of-"

"No, perhaps you didn't hear me clearly? I said it was none of your damn business!"

"But, Chief-"

"Look, do you need an invitation to exit stage left? I said, you can go! Now!" Donatello squinted and looked to the others.

They slowly started to step back, not getting far. "You know something, he's rude...he's damn rude..." Casey mumbled to Donatello whom covered his eyes.

"What did you say?" The chief's eyes widened.

Don waved his hand. "Nothing. He said nothing-"

Casey pointed to him. "You...are rude!"

"Oh, I'm rude?" The chief gestured to himself. "Well, I don't like your attitude and I can have you all locked up in two seconds for insulting the head officer!"

Casey stepped back and thumbed to Don childishly. "He started it."

"Ut! I did not!"

"Did too!"

"Did not!"

"OUT!" The chief screamed. "All of you! Git! Get them out of here, for God's sake!" The group was quickly shuffled out by shoving officers that were in no mood for any arguments. Michaelangelo waved and shrugged as they left.

"Pleasure doing business with ya!"

The chief glanced to Bob, shaking his head. "Maybe I should have had them all locked up for acting like complete imbeciles!"

Casey groaned and fumed all the way to the exit, looking around to the five of them. "That guy was damn rude! Admit it, Donny Boy, he was!"

Donatello droned, "Casey! Let it go, already-"

"Shit, no! I'm tellin' ya! What the hell's his problem?! He's all droppin' out a small hint about my wife, MY wife! Not just anyone's but MINE! Then, he's all bringing up that Kate was hurt and have Raph goin' berserk over not knowing how the hell she is....but when you, Donny, have the gall to ask about whoever the hell that Lark woman is-"

"Casey-"

"That just...God, that pisses me off! I need to hit something! Just give me one person to knock over senseless! I have to hit someone. NOW!"

Jack saw them walk out and came over with a smile. "Oh, Casey! They let you folks go? I see my plan worked, didn't it?"

Casey turned and punched him in the face, knocking him backwards onto his rear. "Worked like a charm, 'pal.'" He smiled slightly. "Ahhh..."

"Feel better?" Leonardo raised an eyebrow as Mike and Don went to retrieve Jack from the sidewalk.

Casey looked to him and nodded. "Yeah. Actually, I do!"

April drove with one hand and held her cel phone in the other as Tom told her all about Jack. The thought of him being alive both angered and relieved Tom and he knew deep down that his nephew needed a father in his life, not just an uncle. He wasn't sure when he saw him whether to hug him or punch him hard in the face. Violence didn't solve problems. It would just feel good for him to knock some sense into that selfish mind of his or even make him wake up and smell the coffee.

Tom turned to the side window and sighed heavily. How was he going to even inform Jack properly that Kate, his one true and only love, was slowly dying in the hospital? Does he even know? Would he even care? Catching his silence on the line, April finally spoke up to him.

"I'm sorry he abandoned your family like this. I can't understand if he survived the attack, why didn't he go back to his wife and child?"

"I don't know, April. That's what I want to find out." He sighed. "That's what I'm going to find out."

April followed the road, silently shaking her head. She couldn't see her life without Casey or Shadow, or even the guys and Splinter. It upset her that the one daughter she thought she'd ever have was now dying in the hospital. Aside from the ungodly medical bills that was ready to come attacking their finance struggles, another bombshell hit of her having to bail her husband and the others from jail! Jack, the one she had current doubts about, told her not to worry with paying out gobs of money. She couldn't help it. It was in her nature to worry all the time. If sink or swim were the two choices here, she was definitely drowning deeply within her own sorrows and defeats.

"I never met this Jack person before."

"That's him." Tom said suddenly. April glanced over at the front entrance of the police station. Casey looked up as the mini-van and truck pulled up alongside the road. April looked to Casey with a faint smile, glad to see he looked just fine.

"Oh...and there's my..." She briefly said as she got out without closing the car door and rushed over. "Casey! Oh, Casey!" April jumped up and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him on every inch of his face. "I was....*kiss* so...*kiss* worried about you! Oh, my God! My God!"

Michaelangelo decided to wave to her, paying the sheer price. "Hey, April! We're here, too! Howzit-"

"Oh, you guys!" April pulled away and embraced them at the same time, strangling their necks at once. "You're all going to drive me to an early grave! I swear it!"

"Um, April. Who the hell is that?" Casey glanced up to the truck that was parked behind her van. Tom slowly stepped out with a face that was quite opposite of April's. He stared at Jack with much anger and confusion. Casey, not knowing Tom, glared harshly. Raphael looked to Tom and groaned.

"Hello, Jack." Tom started steadily. Everyone looked to Jack.

"Hello, Tom." Jack said quietly. Everyone looked to Tom.

Mike looked to the both of them back and forth, grinning. "Well, now. That wasn't so bad!"

"Wait, it'll get better." Raph assured him.

A young woman walked down an empty hallway. Hours and hours have gone by and without any news or phone calls to the house, she decided to take her car and drive out to the quiet hospital herself.

"Hi, I'm here to see Kate Russell, please."

"Friend or family member?" The nurse asked while pushing the sign-in sheet toward her.

"She's my sister-in-law." Nicole gestured. "I haven't heard anything from my brother and came by to visit her myself." Her name was scribbled in and next she was pointed in the direction of Intensive Care, making Nicole's heart sink. She swallowed and wrapped her jacket around her closely, walking down with clopping boots that echoed within the halls. She passed by several rooms with their doors ajar, television screens blaring out various blabber mouths.

"In later news-" *click* "They both work their way up the ladder-" *click* "Later tonight on News at 11:00, we'll unveil how convict, Kelvin Harris, was found-" *click*

Nicole paused and stuck her head in one room, looking to the TV near the ceiling.

"It seems the bizarre disappearances of pets and various animals has finally come to a close tonight. Suspects have now been rounded up as Kelvin Harris, escaped convict, was discovered- " *click* "This is CNN...." Nicole hated it when people had a short attention span! The old man channel surfing didn't even notice her standing there. Clutching her bottom lip, her heart lifted a little higher to the sound of this convict being found. This would allow everyone in town to take a breather for once. But then, a huge gasp escaped her lips when she saw what else flashed across the all 24-hour news channel.

"The events have started to question around the surprise shooting in town earlier today-" The cameraman panned a chaotic scene of cops, ambulances, horses trying be controlled, one that Nicole squinted to; one seemed to look familiar to her. Kate's horse, Augustus, was briefly seen trying to be calmed down. The camera then spun around rather quickly and the reporter didn't pause in her speech but she heard it clearly. "One woman was apparently shot off her horse-" The camera turned right to her face, her deathly features being lifted on a stretcher, then back to cops running and people shoving.

"Oh, no! Oh, God!" Nicole whispered as she watched the pre-recorded tape. "Oh, Kate!" The old man sat up and looked behind him, seeing no one there. Nicole clutched her mouth as she made her way down the hall to her room. "Tom, damn it! Why didn't you call? Why didn't you tell me?!" She paused in the doorway, her purse dropping to the floor as she stared at Kate in the bed. "Why didn't you tell me she was shot?" Inching closer to the bed, the sobs came on harder and faster. She wasn't a blood relative, but she was family. Seeing her with tubes through her arms and nostrils caused Nicole to whine silently. With no one there to hold her, she slumped down in the chair and held herself.

"Oh, Kate." She whispered. "I wished to God there was something I could do for you."

Kate sunk in and out of consciousness, trembling her lips. "Mm...rrr...Raaah...rrRaph..."

Nicole blinked to her. "Raph? Who's that? Katie, dear, what are you saying?"

Kate opened one eye, the pupil sliding upward, then closed again. "Oh....hum...mmm....." She gasped quickly, then relaxed. "Juuuusss...Raph...."

Nicole was completely puzzled by all this. Kate must have been referring to what Tom told her about an odd but harmless friend that had visited their ranch a few days ago. There was no meeting she had with a Raphael but she did recall hearing his name from her brother. No mistake. Yet she wondered why she'd be muttering for him of all people. Very puzzling to her. She had much to learn if she could only get the words out clearly.

Pacing, sitting on the curb, staring out at cars that passed by. Tom was in shock to see Jack was still alive as he in turn was in as much shock to hear Kate had been badly injured. Raphael wasn't apart of it but stood by them to hear all the news about Kate's conditions, cursing at himself for letting her go to town. Jack cursed at nature for screwing up his life, not to mention his marriage.

"So, you mean to tell me you've been alive this whole damn time and you never once went back to her?!" Tom screamed out.

"I couldn't, Tom." Jack sighed. "I just couldn't go back-"

"Why not? She loved you! She and your son have been in a depression ever since the news came out that you died. Well, I've got news too! She may be dying right now and won't be around for you to see her again!" Tom put his hands down violently, pacing, yes more pacing, around on the sidewalk.

"What would I say to her after all this time? That the accident spared me but I'm forever encased with a large problem I can't shake off?!"

"Look, I don't know what encasement you're talking about, but-"

"Exactly. You don't know what I've been going through. Okay? You have no idea! None!" Raphael crossed his arms, watching Jack point and fume.

"Jack!" Tom glared at him. "You can tell me anything. You can tell Kate anything, shit, she's your wife for Christ's sake!"

"Not anymore. It's been too long. She thinks I'm dead and it should stay that way. She would not accept the person I've become."

"Maybe if you talk to her, Jack, she might listen." The two looked over to Raph. "Kate's a good person and shouldn't be left in the dark like this. She has a son, a small boy with no father. Tom's his uncle and has been looking after him in your absence. But the kid needs a decent, full-time Dad." Raph approached Jack, squinting his eyes. "It may be her dying wish that her son grows up with at least one parent in his life."

"I can't look after my son. Not the way I am now." Tom looked to him oddly. Jack sat down on the curb, his rifle hanging over the gutter. "Look, Kate is in bad shape. If she saw me now, she would go into complete shock and may not handle it."

"Might be a relieved shock, Jack." Tom suggested. "She missed you terribly. Seeing you again might even help her regain strength."

Jack looked back to Raph whom was staring downward. He sat for a few minutes quietly. "Aw, God...." Raph shot a glance back up to him. "Um....how long are visiting hours?" Tom looked to Raphael, smiling. Raph nodded silently.

"Long enough for you."

"Then, we'll go there now." Tom announced. "You can ride with me, Jack."

"Perfect." Casey snapped a finger. "You're heading back to the hospital." He looked to Leo slightly. "We'll be tagging along to stop and see my daughter there as well. April?"

"Yes, Casey. Absolutely." April looked to Splinter. "Splinter, will you be okay to make one more stop? I know you and the guys must be very exhausted but, um, Casey still hasn't seen Shadow since, you know, the accident...and...I thought....um, if it's all right, we could stop by on the way home...."

"Of course, April." The rat calmly spoke up from being quiet for so long. "I understand your concerns for us, but as her chosen grandfather, I do not wish to pass up this visit for anything in the world." April swallowed and clutched Casey's middle. "However, I cannot speak for all of us on the matter." Splinter looked to the Turtles for an answer.

"Uh, yeah. It's fine by us, sensei." Leonardo quietly replied with a shrug. "I mean, I can't speak for all of us either, but, as her chosen uncles, I'm sure we'd all like to make a stop there before returning home for the evening."

"Yes." Michaelangelo nodded.

"Sure." Donatello agreed.

"Mm, hm." Raphael nodded as well.

Splinter nodded last before turning back to April. "It is settled, then. We will all pay a visit to her. As a family."

The next stop before homeward bound was the hospital. The group divided into their separate vehicles in silence. Before he stepped into the van, Donatello glanced over to the police station, then to Michaelangelo.

"What is it, Don?"

"Not all's said and done, Mike. That's for sure."

"Do you think Lark's okay?"

"I don't know. I'm still quite curious when the chief said she had been 'taken care of.' I'm determined to find out just what he meant. Even if it kills me."

Both vehicles arrived at the hospital at 9:33 p.m., not allowing much time for the visitors to see the patients. Casey and Michaelangelo went in ahead of them to go see Shadow. Her father and closest uncle were so anxious in wanting to see her after being away for so long, they couldn't wait for the others to walk in all together. Jack and Tom entered next and stopped at the sign-in desk, seeing Nicole's name written on it.

"Oh, damn."

"What is it?" Raphael paused alongside him and gazed downward.

"My wife's here. I knew I should have called her sooner." Tom looked to April approaching him. "We're running out of time so we'll have to make this a quick visit."

"Us too, Tom." April looked to Don, Leo, and Splinter coming closer. "Just hope we can all get in before ten."

The halls were silent and empty but after Casey and Mike went through, they could have waken every person in there, dead or alive! Casey got the room number after alerting the front desk that 'the desperate dad' was here to see his ailing child. Visiting hours were almost at a close so they had to hurry up to say a quick hello and good-bye. Casey entered the room first, feeling his stomach start to tie in knots. There she was, strapped and hooked up to a bunch of humming machines, sound asleep.

"Oh, shit. My poor girl."

Casey walked around the bed slowly, removing his coat and keeping his gaze on her the whole time. Michaelangelo entered next, also feeling a large weight dropping on him. A hand went to his lips as he walked around to the other side of the bed but keeping his coat, his disguise, on him. It didn't even look like her, the girl he saw before he left that night with Casey when he became a wolf. It was almost two days that he hadn't seen her. Her face was full of scratches and cuts from when she fell down the ravine. The doctors did their best at cleaning up the wounds but now, patches of Band-Aids and gauze's covered her little body all over. Mike reached to pick up her left arm, seeing that typical wrist band attached to it. He crouched down and gazed at her for a long time.

"Hey, Shadow. How's it going? Wow, you've got some nice lodging here. Great room, great view of the street, heh." He cleared his throat. "Um, well, we hope to have you at dinner tomorrow. You know, Thanksgiving. Yeah, only difference will be I won't get my head stuck in the turkey's butt like last year..." Casey smiled, looking away as he sat down in a chair. Mike smiled too, almost sobbing next. "Yeah, wasn't doing it for laughs but you guys craaacked up at me for like a good long hour. I'd like you to be there. I really would. We'll be having your favorite, you know, macaroni and cheese? You love that." Mike covered his mouth with his other hand, his shoulders shaking. "Do you....want to say anything, Casey?"

Casey stared numbly, clutching his daughter's small hand within his own. He wanted to tell her she'd be all right, to tell himself that she will make it. She was so young and so fragile, he wanted to take her in his arms and hold her for the rest of his life.

"I....uh..." Casey sniffed, staring at her face. "I just wanted to say, uh, Shadow, uhm...I'm....sorry for the way I treated you, and...treated April lately....uhm, baby, I love you so much....goddamn it, this can't be happening." He covered his eyes, trying to hold back tears. "I love both my girls, Mike, and I don't want to lose either of them. Don't want to lose them at all...."

Michaelangelo stared to him, seeing this man sad for the very first time. Oh, sure he knew he's cried before for other reasons but he never, for as long as he knew him, saw him get upset like he was at that moment. April entered fairly soon and crossed over to Casey, wrapping her arms around him and triggering his sobs to finally escape. April cried too, looking over to the still body on the bed. Michaelangelo stood up, putting Shadow's hand back on her stomach and kissed her forehead.

Casey looked up to Mike as he headed for the door. "Mike? When you see Leo, tell him that...um...tell him I'm sorry for the way I acted to him and, um, and that I thank him for saving my little girl's life."

"Casey." Michaelangelo placed a hand on his shoulder. "He's here with us. I think it would be better if you told him yourself-"

"No, I don't think I could do that. Not after the way I treated him."

"Leo would understand and he'd be more appreciative if you told him and not have me do it."

"I don't know...I-" Casey suddenly felt a presence and gazed upward. "Aw, shit."

"Eh?" Michaelangelo turned around, his grin widening. "Ah. Speak of the devil."

"How much did you hear?" Casey whined.

Leonardo stood in the doorway, lightly shrugging. "What I've wanted to hear days ago."

Each paid a short time to sit, hold her hand, talk (mostly to themselves), and simply be there in the room with her. She sensed their quiet presence, felt the air move around with slow movements, heard voices assuring a speedy recovery, not to mention their great adventures of conquering an evil man and saving the world once again from the forces of darkness.

"Hey, it all sounded good to her. Thought I caught a smile!"

"Wouldn't doubt it." Donatello leaned over the bed, holding Shadow's hand and fumbling the wristband with his thumb.

Michaelangelo observed him. "You wonder what use those things have?"

"Much use." Don muttered.

"Incase she escapes, they'll know who she is." Raph spoke up from the back of the room. He sounded serious.

Mike frowned. "Where would she go? Come on! Is that true?!" He looked to April whom nodded with a shrug.

"Raph's right. Except the part of her escaping. It's a patient identification band. See?" Don spun it around, showing her name written with a ball point pen. "It's an easier way to keep track of everyone instead of memorizing over hundreds of names. Doctors have enough trouble concentrating on difficult surgical procedures as it is."

"Heh, like brain surgery? It would suck to be the patient that the doc messed up with that."

"Right, Mike." Raph smirked. "Yours was named Abbynormal when they passed them out in the Creation department."

"Ha, ha. You think you're sooo funny."

"Hey, you're the one that left it wide open. It was too easy not to pass up." Raphael stood up, approaching the bed. "Later, doll." He lightly tapped Shadow's arm then headed for the door to the empty hall. "Still got time. Damn it. Gotta hurry."

At ten minutes to ten o'clock, he decided to slip away in an attempt to steal a quick glance at Kate. He remembered Tom and Jack heading to the Intensive Care unit and proceeded to follow the signs in that direction. Leonardo, knowing he'd try to get in to see her and would cause a stir, slowly followed his trail. He was suddenly reminded of when both were going after Casey when he first met Jack. This place had a very different atmosphere compared to the great outdoors. Leo disliked hospitals for one reason. A game the doctor's were usually familiar with or what a movie was once entitled. Playing God. To Leo, if there was nothing left to do to save a life, then there was no point in letting the person suffer or live hooked up to a machine to die a slow and painful death. He scanned the area around him as he walked on, getting a sudden chill.

You doctors in here, do what you can to prolong the inevitable but if all else fails, let the real God take control of the situation.

"Hopefully, He won't have to tonight." Leo whispered to his inner thoughts. "Now, where did Raph go to?" His eyes looked top to bottom, then stopped to a sign overhead. Intensive Care. He didn't have to go too far. "Damn." He started to run next.

The nurse stammered. "I'm sorry, sir, I-"

"Don't 'sir' me ya bitch!" Raphael growled. "I'm going in to see her and that's final!"

"I can't!" She attempted to keep a low voice and use her body as a barrier to block the passage. "There's already three people in the room and we can't overcrowd our patients-"

"Look lady, you don't understand! I have to see her-"

"I do understand! But, I can't let you in right now! It's doctor's orders."

"Oh, really? Here's one of my orders. Let me in, now! Or how would you like a fist in the mouth, woman?!" Raph's eyes were demonic to her startled ones.

"Raph?" Leonardo turned the corner, catching him rushing to the nurse. "Hey, no! Raph...stop!" He called again, making Raph stop and turn around. The nurse backed away and looked relieved to see someone that would attempt to restrain him. We say 'attempt' here because, unless you enjoy breathing, it is virtually impossible to do such a task.

"Please, stop him. I don't want any violence, now!" She eyed Leo whom Raph glared to with seething anger. "If you don't leave now, I'm going to have to call security on you!"

"Raph, let's go, come on-"

Raph pointed as he started to walk backwards. "Don't think you won, lady-"

"Raph-"

"I will see her! You betcher ass I will be back!" Turning the corner, Leo had him with both hands on his shoulders which he, surprisingly, wasn't fighting off. Instead, Raphael huffed a breath out and shook his head. "What the fuck was her problem? Five minutes was all I needed to see her. Just five goddamn minutes!"

"I know, Raph. I know-"

"If you know, why the fuck did you pull me back like that?! Why didn't you let me punch that bitch's lights out?! I could have easily knocked her to her feet-"

"Raph! Are you out of your mind?! We just spent almost two hours at the police station for no damn reason! If you had hit that woman, our asses would get hauled back there so fast, you'd think you were in a time warp! Not only that, we'd be considered a threat to everyone all because you struck one person and our lives of secrecy would forever be destroyed!"

"How right you are..." He panted to him. "...and how sickening that gets..."

Leo squinted to him. "Yes. I know I am right-"

"Phsaw!" Raphael backed up against the wall, breathing in and out and clenching his fists. "Well...what do you know? The ever faithful leader strikes again! Must get tiresome being so goddamn perfect all the time, doesn't it?"

"I'm not perfect, Raph."

"And so modest, too!"

"Raph!"

"Aw, lay off me already!" Raph pushed away from the wall and started to walk away from him. "I'm outta here-"

"Wait. You're leaving? You're not going to see Shadow anymore?"

"You heard me. I've had enough of this place." He shoved passed him and headed for the exit.

"Fine! Be that way!" Leonardo groaned and stormed off to meet up with the others while someone else decided to quietly tag along behind Raph.

Michaelangelo turned and walked out into the hall where he found Donatello in a chair, resting his head against the wall. "Hey, bro." Mike sat down next to him, crossing his leg over. "The audience is slowly dissipating, isn't it?" Don shrugged to him, not looking over. "Any word on Kate?" No response. "Don?"

"Sorry. I was just thinking. Jack and Tom haven't shown up yet. All I know is she's in the Intensive Care unit. That's what I heard the lady at the front desk say." Mike looked to him, seeing him stare blankly. "I don't think she's going to make it, Mike. I mean, I don't want to sound like gloom and doom but, she wasn't doing good beforehand. They went to see her of course, even Nicole, Tom's sister, has showed up."

"Where's Raph?"

"Outside having a goddamn cigarette." Leonardo stated as he approached them. "He can really piss me off at times."

"I thought it was all the time."

"I'm being nice, Mike, because I'm not in the mood."

"Hey..." Mike stood up as April and Casey came walking out of the room. "How're you holdin' up, April?"

"I'm hanging in there, Mike. I'll be all right. We should be getting home now." She paused and looked around. "Where's Splinter and Raph?"

"Well, Raph went to cool off." Mike rolled his eyes. "And I've got a pretty good idea where Splinter ventured off to."

Raphael took one last long drag before flicking the cigarette into the street, the little butt giving off small sparks as it bounced. Hands shoved deep in his pockets, he walked around half the block, keeping his coat collar high and around his cheeks. He then circled back to the front, looking up to the windows. One of them had her inside them.

"Why did you leave so soon, Raphael?" Raph turned to see Splinter calmly standing there. "Do you wish to talk about it?"

"I'd rather not, sensei, if you don't mind."

"Mm..." Splinter sighed. "Then, I will pressure it no further. We do not have to discuss it."

"Good." Raph snorted, turning away. Silence for five seconds. The reverse psychology gave in fast. "See, what I don't get is how the hell these people, these stupid nurses, can keep their jobs. I tried to get in to see Kate but the nurse said there'd be too many people at once. I got so mad, I almost punched her out. The bitch could care less how I feel. She was then going to call security on me if Leo hadn't shown up; the damn guy always appears at the right moment to save my ass. I was done for the evening and decided to take myself out. That's why I left. All right? There's your answer. You happy?"

"In truth, Raphael, I only feel in deep sympathy for April and Casey, for Kate and her family, and for how my son's are reacting to the events we have experienced these passed few days. There has not been any happiness I have felt since this whole vacation started. Of what has happened to us and our friends, I feel nothing but remorse toward it all."

Raphael stared at him. Damn, he was good. And right. How could anyone enjoy a vacation that had gone to hell from the first day? All their times spent together usually ended up with someone getting hurt or killed. Raph looked up to the building, blinking a few times. Splinter looked down, shaking his head.

"Look, it's no disrespects to Shadow or anyone. Okay? I messed up. It's just....Kate's condition is more severe. The chances of her making it compared to Shadow is...." He swallowed, feeling a lump in the throat. "All I'm saying is, I wanted to see her for maybe...one more time."

"I understand, Raphael... and you, too, have my deepest sympathies."

"Yeah...whatever....hey, sensei. Did you go see Shadow?"

"Yes, briefly before I came to find you."

"Mm..damn. Sorry, I cut your visit so short, sensei." He mumbled, staring at the floor.

"I do not regret it too much, Raphael. There is still tomorrow for both of us to see her for as long as we wish. It is very late and we should return home to rest."

"You mad at me?" He raised an eyebrow.

"No. I am not."

"Why not? I'd be if I was you! Hell, I bet my bros will be pissed."

Splinter nodded. "Yes. But, they will forgive you in time. April and Casey will as well. In the future, you will learn to always remember your loved ones, living or not. That is a first and most important, priority."

"But sensei. I wanted her to be apart of our family."

"She is apart of our family. If she is important to you, than she is important to all of us."

"Right."

"Raphael?" Tom, holding Nicole around her shoulder, walked out to them. Jack followed behind. "Hey. We're going to go. I'm sorry you couldn't get in to see her."

"'Sokay." Raph replied, turning to Nicole. "You must be Nicole."

"Yes. Hi, Raphael." She reached out and shook his gloved hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Mm..."

"We're coming back tomorrow, Raphael." Tom watched his facial expression. Pure sadness. "You're more than welcome to stop by to see her."

"I have plans to come back, anyway." He looked to Splinter. "To visit my niece. But, yeah. I wanna see Kate. Have every intention of doing that."

"Raphael. Raph." Nicole said quietly. He looked up with a frown. "Kate mentioned your name to me. I'm sorry we didn't meet when my brother told me about you-"

"Kate asked for me?" His eyes blinked to hers.

"Uh...yeah, I didn't know who that was. Well, I guess I do now." She lifted a smile. "So, we'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah...right."

"Well, guess we'll go. I'll take Jack home. Goodnight, Raphael and..." Tom glanced to Splinter. "...uh, and Splinter, was it?" Splinter nodded. "Got it right! See you, later!" Nicole waved and the three headed for the truck parked around the corner. Raph stared after them, his body tingling all over.

"I wonder if Jack was able to speak with his wife." Splinter said quietly.

"She...she asked for me." Raph ignored him, not caring about Jack. He didn't even bother to ask how his meeting went with her. "Did you hear what she said?"

"Yes, Raphael."

"Guys? Splinter?" April emerged out of the building first, catching Tom drive away down the road. "Oh, he already left." April stepped over to Raph, looking to him closely. "They're closing down for the night, so we're gonna go. You both okay?"

"Yes, April." Splinter nodded. "We are fine."

"Raph..."

"I'm fine. Sorry, I ditched everyone."

"It's all right, Raph. I mean, I understand you were worried about Kate's condition. You'll see her and Shadow tomorrow morning. Casey and I are coming back; you and anyone else wanting to go are welcomed to join us."

"Thanks, April. I'll do that."

"Okay." April smiled and lightly kissed his cheek. "I'll go pull the car around to the front. I'll just be a minute."

Raph watched Splinter standing there, covering his coat around him closer. His brownish-black eyes always held a sparkle when the light hit them just right. The sparkle this time, was doubled with hints of water within them. Leo hated seeing him full of sorrow, so did Mike and Don. Raph now realized he too shared that same feeling as his brothers when looking upon his sensei. Under that tough exterior of his laid a soft heart that felt pity to others in mourning.

"It'll be okay, sensei." Raph lightly tapped his bony shoulder. "It'll be okay."

April stopped the mini-van in front of the hospital as the others slowly emerged from the closing doors, each piling in to the humming vehicle. No one gave harsh looks or bothered to say anything to Raph. Either it was quickly forgotten or each was too tired and too sad to raise a fit. The drive back to the house was the same way. Very quiet. And very sad.

CHAPTER 22 BACK TO CHAPTER 20 BACK TO FAN FICTION PAGE