Disclaimer: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles belong to Mirage Studios, Peter A. Laird, and Kevin B. Eastman. I use them without permission, and without monetary profit.

Chapter Six:

The ride to the Foot headquarters was bumpy and rough. Even though Raphael's skin was tougher than any human's he still could bruise and the bed of the truck wasn't in the least bit comfortable. Empty bottles of alcohol rolled around in the back, making so much noise during the turns Raph didn't bother using his energy to keep quiet. Instead he concentrated on slightly rolling about the bed like he was just another object rolling around from the velocity instead of a huge, heavy object like he really was.

If he had kept absolutely still the silence would have given him away.

By the time that Stone stopped and go out of the car Raphael had gotten lost in the monotony of moving his body with the truck that he'd forgotten to memorize the way they had come so he could backtrack. If his brothers hadn't kept up with Stone's truck, he was lost.

He waited until the noise around the truck was gone for five minutes, and peeked from his cover. Even though the truck was parked in a parking lot alongside a handful of other vehicles, the parking lot was made of loose gravel and plants were at the edges of the square lot. The entire area around the parking lot was overgrown with trees and vegetation, so he knew he was no longer in the city. And the place he was at had been abandoned by their previous owner.

Or if the property legally belonged to the Foot - which he doubted - they certainly weren't concerned with taking care of the gardening.

Slowly shifting, he peered out of the other side of the bed of the truck, sure to keep the tarp in place, and saw a jail-like building, cream colored, square, solid, and with a large chain-link fence with circles of barbed wire at the top. There were three flagpoles in front of the building, but with no flags or rope.

Built-in high security, then.

He could find a way out, but he'd have to wait until nightfall to do it. Until then he needed to find a place to hide that wasn't Stone's truck. He hadn't even glanced at Raphael's hiding spot on the way here, because he had a goal, a place to be. On his way home, he'd be more relaxed and aware of his surroundings. Raph didn't want to take any more chances than he'd already taken.

Studying the area, he was disappointed to see that there really wasn't any place for him to take cover until nightfall. The gravel parking lot trailed into a pathway that led to the building, and though the grass was full of weeds and tall grass, he wasn't sure that would provide enough of a hiding place.

There were no sewers so that was out of the question. In order for him to safely escape and not get caught, he'd have to do it now. Once he got into the cover of the trees beyond the fence, he could hide out until his brothers caught up, or he got his bearings straight and guessed his way home. It might take him a while, but it was better than waiting around for his brothers to rescue him.

Raphael slid out from under the blue tarp and over the edge of the bed of the truck, sure to keep the vehicle between him and the building. He eased himself to the front of the truck, making sure that his movements wouldn't make the gravel crunch, and then sprinted to the building as fast as he could go so that his feet hit the ground as little as possible.

Panting and hidden by the side of the building - unless someone meandered this way - he waited for a while to see if anyone had spotted him in his mad dash. After a few moments of waiting he quietly approached the nearby fence and sliced the metal links with his sai in a long, straight line. That done, he bent the fence outward so he could squeeze through without getting stuck by the cut edges.

Once he freed himself from the fence he bolted for the trees.

Raph knew his brothers were there before he saw or heard them. Their presence soothed his frayed nerves, and he relaxed though he was still tense. Daylight hours made him jumpy because he was used to the comfort of concealing shadows. In daylight he couldn't hide as easily. It was one of the things Jackie couldn't understand about him. She was afraid of the dark. He was the dark.

He kept himself apart from the cluster of his brothers, but he could hear and see them just fine. They were so close their shoulders and knees were bumping, Donny and Leo's shells making a small, dull clacking sound as they touched. Raph didn't feel like being touched right now. He felt more comfortable without the constant contact. Most of the time he was fine with it, but right now even the thought of being touched made him want to stand up and walk farther away.

"What is this place?" Mikey asked Raph as he crawled towards their group, but stayed far enough away so he wasn't in touching distance.

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"Whatever it is, it was abandoned and heavily fortified. There used to be letters on the building, but they're gone now, because there's discoloration on the bricks."

Leonardo squinted at the spot Donny was talking about. "Looks like... NAMR."

"I'll do some research at April's after we get some sleep. We know where this place is, and have a lead. I say we go back to the sewers and tell Splinter about what we've found."

His brothers agreed and they made their way back to the city.

Chassidy's bruises didn't look better, but they did feel better. There wasn't quite as much pain and so long as she was sitting up, the blood didn't rush to her face and set it throbbing. She didn't want to overdo it with the comfrey so she decided to wait for Donatello to return for the Tylenol and vitamin D and only use the herb when her black eye hurt.

Her other bruises were almost nothing compared to her face. She could, for the most part, ignore them because of it. If she bumped her arms or torso then they let her know they were still there, especially the big one on her right hip, but they weren't swollen like her face.

"Master Splinter?" She nearly whispered, hoping she wasn't disturbing him. She had found him in the dojo doing katas. When it looked like he was finished she spoke.

Splinter had known she was there, and had been curious when she was going to speak to him. She was very shy, that he could tell, and didn't want to be any more of a burden than she already was. She asked for very little, which was a very rare thing in this self-centric society. She was sweet, and an injured soul. It was more than her face that needed healing. He hoped that he and his sons could help he while she bid her time with them.

"Yes, Chassidy-chan?"

Curious and thrown by the odd ending he put on her name, she paused. "Um." Splinter watched her, ever patient. "Uh, what are you practicing? I don't know very much about martial arts except it's pretty."

Splinter smiled with his eyes. "Yes, martial arts are pretty. Come, join me, if you are truly curious; it is a long story."

Since the brothers weren't chasing after a target this time around, it took them much longer to get to their home in the sewers than it took them to trail Stone and his truck. Their steps were less urgent, their gazes less focused. Now they were intent on remaining undetected in the warm shine of the sun. The breeze was cool, though the sewers were colder this time of the year.

Though they were very cautious and kept as hidden as possible, they enjoyed the temperature and the light. Sometimes the sewers got a little too dark and damp, which was why they sought the streets so often - Raphael more than the others. Donatello was perhaps the only one who minded their home's dank and dreary feel the least, mostly because he lived more inside of his head than aware of his surroundings. He was very perceptive, but only when he paid attention.

They were silent as they entered the dojo where Splinter was explaining the finer points of ninjitsu to Chassidy. He had grown silent the moment he sensed their prescence in the sewers, which had confused the human girl, but she didn't ask. She simply sat and watched Master Splinter for answers if he chose to answer her.

The four of them bowed before the mutant rat, Leo closest.

"Master Splinter we have found their hideout. It is not in the city, but in a small suburb several hours away. It looks like it is an abandoned government building with natural security. On the side of the building read 'NAMR.'"

Silence descended as they waited for Splinter's response. When it appeared that none would come, Leo prodded. "What do you wish us to do, Master?"

"I wish you to do nothing at this moment. I must meditate on this matter. The Shredder is gone and the Foot is weaker, but they are still and adversary and we know from past clashes. We must stop them before they become stronger, but it appears they are stronger that I had assumed. We must proceed with caution and wisdom. I shall seek that wisdom."

Splinter quit the room, his adopted sons' heads still bowed with respect.

Chassidy watched in curiosity as, after a minute passed, they relaxed and turned to each other. Raphael quietly left the room and the other three said nothing, only shooting concerned glances in his direction. He wasn't acting like his normal self, but at the same time his joining them for their mission had given them hopes. Now that they were home again the weight of whatever had made him throw his temper tantrum returned, stooping his shoulders.

Donatello faced his remaining brothers. "While we're waiting for Splinter's wisdom, I need to do some research about what we've learned. Is anyone interesting in coming with me to visit April?"

"Ooh! Ooh! Pick me! Pick me!" Mikey hopped up and down, waving a hand in the air.

"Count me in." Leo agreed. "It's been about a week so I'm sure she's got her freezer restocked."

The turned to Chassidy and she straightened, her uninjured eye wide. "Me? Uh, I don't know. I'm not exactly presentable at the moment. "

"So?" Mikey stalked closer to Chassidy and reached out for her hand. She couldn't keep the look of fear off of her face, though she tried, when Mikey reached down and clasped her wrist. His grip was loose and she could easily have pulled her hand away, but her hand lay limp in his grip. Leo stepped in and put his hand firmly on his brother's shoulder and pulling. Mikey dropped her hand and she let it drop to her side like a dead thing.

"Leave the lady alone, Mikey. If she doesn't want to come, she doesn't have to come."

Mikey pouted out his lower lip at his brother, then shot Chassidy a puppy dog expression that had her eyebrows scrunching up with sympathy. Automatically she opened her mouth to agree, but caught herself. Her mouth snapped shut, he teeth clicking together. "People are going to stare. And ask. And I don't feel like spilling my woes to everyone who stops me."

"We've got disguises. Raph's got more clothes in his closet than a human! We can't exactly go up on the surface like we are because people will stare too. And April's nice. She won't ask any questions, and if she does, we'll tell her. You don't have to say anything at all. We'll tell her that you're mute!"

Chassidy stared at the orange-masked turtle for a long time. He was at least two inches shorter than she was, but for some reason he was overwhelming. He was watching her with anticipation, looking like he already knew she was going to bend to his will. She heaved a big sigh and glanced at the other two turtles that were watching her as well, though they looked more apologetic, like the owners of a large puppy who just put his big drooling head in her lap.

"Do I have any choice?" She asked, knowing she'd given into him. She wasn't much for fights. Usually it would get her a hand upside the head if she went against Stone's word. Sometimes he wouldn't even tell her that she'd done something wrong, just slap her. Eventually all of the fight went out of her. She used to have huge arguments with her parents where she'd slam doors and scream at the top of her lungs until she got her way. Now she could hardly tell anyone 'no'.

"Of course you do!" He chirped and picked her wrist up again. She allowed him to pull her along as he walked to his room. "April's place is so cool. She's got snacks and television, and a computer, and an awesome sound system, and she lets me keep my Playstation 2 there. It's the only thing I've bought for myself." His eyes looked watery as he confided melodramatically, "It's my baby."

Chassidy couldn't help but laugh weakly at him. He was like a bulldozer: a happy, playful bulldozer.

Michelangelo's room was a mess. And full so many toys she was tiptoeing so she didn't step on anything that might break. Mikey didn't care. His feet automatically hit the floor in the bare spots. There was a mattress in the corner on the floor like in her room, and a large dresser against the opposite wall. Everything else was toys piled in mounds almost reaching her waist. On the walls were posters of bikini-clad models and a couple martial arts posters of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

In the dresser, amid more toys was a small collection of clothes. He gave her a sheepish smile. "Raph's Mr. Incognito. I'm more like Mr. Oversized Duster And Fedora." He planted said fedora on his head and slipped the wrinkled black duster on. "I'm sure I've got some better stuff in here. If not, we can raid the other's rooms."

"It's okay, I don't have to go." Chassidy couldn't help that last bid for freedom.

"It's no biggie. They won't mind it. At least, not if we're Ninja about it." Mikey flashed her an evil grin. "I still have to get Leo back for that time he threw Mr. Potato Head in the stinkiest, sludgiest sewer main he could find."

Mikey held up a pair of extra large orange and black sweat pants against Chassidy's hips. "Uuuuhhh...."

"It's okay. I just need something to hide my face."

"Oooh!" Mikey stuck his hand into a pile near the bed and pulled out a hockey mask. "Like this?"

Chassidy stared. "How about a jacket with a hood and a baseball cap?"

"That would be in Raph's room." Mikey tapped a finger to his chin. "Now, how to get it..."

"Asking?"

"Nah, too easy." Mikey rubbed his hands together. "I've got an idea."

Donatello spotted them as they returned to the living room. "Hey, we need to get going, is Chassidy coming?"

"I need something to h--!" Mikey clapped a hand over her mouth and whispered in her ear. "Ixnay on the ellingtay. We're uppoedsay to be injanay about it!"

Donny rolled his eyes and offered his trench coat and hat to her. "I've got a spare in my room."

Michelanglo didn't notice when Chassidy's body went stiff and still, her breathing becoming faster from her fear of the situation, of him. Donatello didn't notice, having already left the room. Mikey took his hand away, his attention on his brother.

"Spoil sport!"

"You bet I am. Any plot you've hatched would take too much time."

Mikey shoved his hands into the pockets of his duster and grumbled to himself while Chassidy, shaking, put on her borrowed disguise.