Disclaimer:……this thing is like cigarettes…every time…it knocks off three minutes from my life

Chapter Four

Raph slouched into the wooden chair, leaning back as he did.

He was bored.

There was no other way around it.

An idle hand found his newly bandaged neck. He itched lightly, winching at its soreness.

'Damn, Leo put this thing on too tight!' The bandage itched profusely, making it harder and harder to concentrate on anything at all. He found himself constantly picking at it, which annoyed him even more. This was one of the many reasons why Leo was never allowed to take care of any wounds. He always did it too tight, or too loose using too little bandages or too many.

So it just better to have him not do it at all.

There was a portion of time when Leo was completely banned from the med room, due to an accident involving the healing herbs, a projectile bowl, and Don's face. Raph smiled despite himself. It had taken Don all night to clean up those herbs, and all of that day to find adequate replacements. He sighed. He really did miss them, his own worry and anxiety bubbling up at the thought of those two. How Leo could just cope with sitting and waiting was beyond him. He, personally, had always had busy feet.

Today was no exception.

He itched at his neck, again, rather annoyed with the pain and the satisfaction he felt with the movement. He risked a look, eyeing the cause of his discomfort. Leo sat in the silent den, seemingly putting Splinter's arm chair to good use. Raph also noticed how still his brother sat; his right arm twitching ever so often as he absently played with an idle string sticking out of the arm of the old recliner. All the while, Leo kept a steady gaze on the clock.

It seemed as though Raph wasn't the only one worried about their brother's whereabouts, that much was certain.

Raph turned back to the table, his hand finding his neck once again. It was just so damn quiet.

Too quiet.

With no one around, it made things that much unbearable. He had to get out. He had to get away, even for a few hours. Rubbing his neck one last time, he couldn't help but follow his brother's gaze to the den's mantle, the clock ticking away.

Eleven Twenty at night.

'Well, it's too late to catch a movie.' Damn. Well, there goes that idea. He idly rubbed his hands together, eager to do something, anything, to keep the worry from building in his own mind.

Maybe he didn't have to see a movie. He looked at the clock again.

Maybe he should just go for a walk.

Standing, he made his way to lair door, retrieving his coat and fedora on the way. Yes, a walk did sound good. He could get some well needed fresh air and get out from under the weary eye of his constipated, rod up the ass brother.

Yup, a walk was sounding better and better.

However, just as his fingers found the door's key pad, that same brother's voice rang out in the empty lair.

"And just where do you think your going?!" Leo turned suddenly, hitting his brother with a cold accusative stare. Raph, however, was not fazed, not even for a second. Actually, he had been expecting it. You don't live with someone all of your life and not learn a thing or two. He would hear Leo's say in the matter before the night was through, that was a given.

Personally, though, it just wasn't any of his business.

"Out." He answered simply, never missing a beat. His fingers moved over the key pad accordingly. There was a 'beep beep' and the door gave way.

He was free.

However, Leo's voice still rung out to him, but this time, he paid it no mind. Ironically, Leo was just as stubborn; he was just as determined to be heard as Raph was to ignore him.

"No! You're not going anywhere!" He was over the couch in microseconds, a hand on the door, hindering it from swing open. Raph looked up, a familiar glint in his eyes.

The Challenge.

Raph seethed from under the low hat.

How dare he!

He looked into Leo's determined eyes, his own wrath making itself known. He growled. Leo stepped up to the unspoken challenge, his eyes never breaking the contact of the other's. However, a voice made blink.

'You can't stop him, you know.' The voice stated matter-of-factly. Leo froze, his hands inches from the door. Raph looked up, ready to face what ever argument Leo had in store. However, nothing came as Leo just stood there. Raph stopped, noticing Leo's subtle change in demeanor. He looked into his brother's face; Leo looked, almost…uncertain…like he didn't know what to do. He would have to admit that the look confused Raph to no end.

Meanwhile, the voice continued, send Leo adrift in his former goals. He blinked one more time, listening nervously as it spoke once again.

'He's gonna do whatever he wants to, regardless of what you say. You're not the leader, remember? Splinter was the leader! You're nothing with out him, you know that!" The clinical voice sent ice down his spine at its harsh but true words. What was he doing, trying to stop Raph? Raph was not obligated to listen to him, so why should he? Why should he even try?

Raph watched in shock as the anger and determination visibly melted from Leo's facing, being replaced by a weariness that could only be compared to the look of an old man.

Leo stepped off, his voice slow and tired.

"Raph…" His eyes dropped, it was no use. "Raph…do what you want. I'm going to bed." He suddenly felt drained, worn-out. Broodingly, he made his way to his room, shutting the door behind him. Raph stood there, his fingers barely touching the door, his eyes wide in shock.

It wasn't until the audible 'click' of Leo's door did everything finally register for him.

Raph turned, facing the direction that Leo had just disappeared into just a few second earlier. Did he just witness what he thought he witnessed?

'Did Leo just…back down?!' His immediate mind told him no, but as the seconds pass by with no reemergence of the turtle in question, Raph discovered that yes, Leo had given up.

The Surrender.

Raph looked at the door with a new vigor. He was free, free to do what he wanted. He smiled; maybe he might be able to catch a movie after all.

'But, don't you see that there's something definitely wrong with this picture?!' Raph ignored the voice, continuing through the open door.

'He's worried over Mike and Don being gone. And what do you do? Pick up and leave. He's upset, Raph! Don't you see?! You can't leave. He's your brother!' Raph seethed, grinding his teeth in frustration. There he was, finally free, and his conscience just had to go and get the best of him.

'I can still go. I don't have to hang around here if I don't want to!' He took one more step out of the door, but stopped. Damn. He turned, completely giving in.

It wasn't fair.

Meanwhile, the voice seemed to smile.

'Now, don't you feel good for doing the right thing?'

"DAMN YOU LEO!" Raph's voice echoed the otherwise silent lair, startling Leo from his meditation. Leo smiled as the ruckus of Raph stomping back into the lair and shutting the door resonated to his lowly room.

Raph made his way over to the couch, grumbling as he flipped over the back to land on the overstuffed cushions.

Huffily, he picked up the remote. Meanwhile, the voice smiled wider.

See, now don't you feel all warm and fuzzy now that you've done the right thing?'

Shut up, you!'

Raph growled, low and long. Infomercials, damn them! There was nothing on. Bound to a night of aimless channel surfing was not something that he would described as 'warm and fuzzy.' His hand found his neck, itching lightly. He winced.

'Damn that Leo…'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Gods?" Mike blinked, one eye ridge rising above the other. Owen clearly heard the skepticism in his tone.

Mike did not believe him.

Owen sighed; this was going to be harder than he thought.

"Fallen angles, to be exactly. Shunned from the paradise because of the sins of one." He emphasized his point by hold up one paled finger. Don blinked. He had heard that somewhere, that phrase sounded vaguely familiar…

'The sins of one?' "Do you mean, Lucifer?!" Donatello asked, his voice cracking in surprise. Owen frowned, he tried to neglect mentioning the name of the Betrayer, but he nodded nevertheless. Absently running a pale hand through his hair, he continued.

"Those angles were shunned as well, meant to follow the Betrayer into the fiery depths waiting for him. However, not all of the angels complied. There were those that realized the errors of their ways, that realized their wrongdoings. They repented, starting uproar among their ranks. There was a rebellion…' He smiled. "against the rebel."

With a glint in his eye, he finally ceased his pacing, facing the turtles completely.

"There was a fierce battle, the new rebels fought impressively against the Betrayer and his followers; a battle lasting for centuries. But, alas, in the end, they still lay defeated, over powered by the newly appointed Satan and his followers. As a final insult, the angels were left behind on this earth, stranded, their wings broken and dismembered by the Evil one himself.

It was here that they stayed.

Too good to go to hell, but too evil to go back to heaven, they were left on this earth, cursed for all eternity. Cursed by both, but wanted by none. The blood lust they live for, instant death by sun." He concluded the story, ending with the actual poem of their own history. He breathed, his gaze distantly upward.

Blinking, Mike and Donatello exchanged glances. Owen waited, watching them lightly as he relit the cigarette from before.

"That's it, you're finished? Is that all you wanted us for?"

Owen smirked from behind the stick. There questions never ended. Both Mike and Don looked up at him expectantly. He exhaled before answering.

"Well, no." He mumbled. "There is more. But the rest is not important. What is important is his role in all of this." He nodded towards the turtle in purple. Mike followed his gaze, creasing his brow as he went.

"What does he have to do with any of this?"

Owen smiled, leaning down, looking the turtle in question in the eye. Donny watched his decent towards him, seemingly growing uncomfortable as they came eye to eye.

"It just so happens that your friend here has just become a part of our ranks. Therefore, he must be taught our ways." He stood from his perch, instantly going into a stretch. Don watched him blankly, as if not completely registering what Owen had just said.

"What, exactly, will you be…teaching me?" The more he heard, the more he didn't want to take part, but he knew he had no choice. Never the less, he still reeled, this was still just too much to absorb all at one time.

Owen blinked; well that was as good a question as any.

"I'll be teaching you how to survive." He stated mater-of-factly. Donatello swallowed hard, before returning Owen's gaze. However, he was not finished, he continued after taking another drag of his cigarette. "After that, there will be …lessons…on other…subjects." Donny blinked

'Other subjects?'

Mike spoke up, having been listening the whole time. "Other subjects, like what?" He couldn't help but be curious. There was more?

Owen sighed, they really were clueless.

"Oh, just leaning how to control your telekinesis, your telepathy, and how to travel the Plain…" He trailed off, throwing a knowledgeable glance towards the turtle in purple. "But you seem to already know about that, don't you Donatello?" Without giving the turtle a chance to answer, Owen reached into his pockets, pulling out two darkly colored packs. He handed them to the reluctant Donatello. The turtle stood, eyeing them wearily.
"What are these?" He threw a curious glance towards the smiling Owen. Meanwhile, Mike's eyes widened.

'Those aren't what I think they are, are they?!' However, Owen's next words confirmed his suspicions; bring dread to his soul, and to soul of his brother.

"Transfusion packs." He stated. He watched amused as the turtle gagged, wildly throwing the packs to the ground. He caught them easily.

"Careful!" He chided. "You're gonna need these." He offered them to the turtle a second time, but this time, he just outright refused. Owen snarled. "That was not a question." He stated before shoving the supplement into the turtle's palms. He gagged once again, but this time, they stayed in his hands. Owen's steady gaze never left his eyes.

"Drink one tonight, and one tomorrow." He instructed simply. Slowly, hesitantly, the turtle nodded, but not before making a face. Mike watched on, at a complete loss on what to do. However, Owen turned to him, making it easy.

"We are finished here, for tonight." He stated before turning away. Over his shoulder, he completed his instructions.

"You two, go home. I want you back here tomorrow. Tomorrow, and for now on, we will meet here, and from there, we will begin." It was then that Owen began to walk away, much to the turtle's surprise. Be that as it may, none of them actually had the guts to stop the retreating vampire, nor did they have the will to ask the questions that plagued them with his story. All they could do was watch on as he disappeared into the night air. They exchanged glances.

Without a single word, they turned, heading back under the night sky.

Mike found it surprisingly easy to find their way back, but he did blink in surprise when he realized that they were indeed in Central Park after all. Although, he was no expert, the place seemed extremely different at night; almost non-recognizable.

Larger. Definitely larger. Also, the woods were almost deserted, a big contrast to the central park they knew.

Walking, he and his brother traveled in silence, both of them still in awe as to what they saw and witnessed that night. At reaching familiar territory, they both shut off, finding the manhole almost on automatic. Tired, awestricken, and incoherent, they slipped inside of the man sized hole, covering it behind them.

Little did they know that they were being watched from above.

The man blinked from the adjacent roof top, his red hair falling into his eyes as the frosty winds blew; his coat billowing in the moonlight. Trevor grinned, raising an eye brow at the sight of the over grown turtles, of which were currently making their descent into the tunnels of the sewers.

'Well, well, well.' He smiled. 'What do we have here?'

***

Lol, cool! This chapter came out better than I thought! Really had fun here too! Lol. Looking forward to your input, R and R