Holy Cow! An update! Where did that come from! To those waiting on Practice Makes Perfect I'm sorry … but Leo and Splinter just don't wanna have the 'talk'!

Goblin Cat KC - Dammit, am I that transparent! Stop reading my mind! PLEASE! I'm begging you here ...

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Chapter 11- Seek And Ye Shall Find

"Are you certain?"

"NO!" Raph shot back at his Father with little regard for his authority or appropriate respect. "I thought I'd jus' makkitup for a lil bit o' fun?" Rolling his eyes he glanced back towards the room, his head shaking once again. He honestly couldn't believe this ... Leo wouldn't do this sorta thing, well at least he didn't use to.

"B-but …" Mikey gestured to the entrance, "We woulda seen 'em."

"Back door mean anything Mi-chel!" Raph snapped at his brother, his hand shooting out to one side jerkily to emphasise his point. "Ya know, that lil pool of bilge we meanta sneak out o'next time sh!t hits the fan."

"Raphael, calm down!" Splinter instructed him, "You will do your brother no good in this state." Splinter watched his son's hand move over his face, running up and over his features, his angry impulsive nature still caught up in the sheer disbelief that this had somehow happened. "Raphael?" Splinter attracted his son's attention, to observe and note the still blank look he exhibited.

There was tranquillity in the sewer tunnels, a calm that was accentuated by the dark shadows that spread up and down the old red walls. It was easy to see how one could get lost in the identi-kit tubular tunnels, with their dark water trails snaking up their centres. The alcoves that were built into the sides of these tunnels were always evenly spaced, sometimes positioned on the level with the narrow, slick grey-black concrete pathways that ran up both sides, at others they were set into the base of the tunnel, always partially submerged by the waste that flooded the area. When nearing the surface the alcoves became interspersed with metal ladders that led to a world where the roof of the tunnel became the ground of the oblivious majority. The trick to knowing ones way around lay in recognising the metal pipes that were at times present in great number, and in other instances barely visible. Many of these tunnels were left undisturbed and oblivious to the family they unwittingly housed, until today.

Two lean green arms broke the surface. Emerging from the water first, Leonardo pulled his upper torso from the murky water with well practiced ease, swivelling his body around to perch himself down upon a concrete lip that Donny had added to aid in any quick exits that needed to be made. Bracing his body against the block, he reached back down into the inky blackness, his arm waiting expectantly for the arrival of another.

"We could go and look?" Donny suggested quietly, "That might work."

"Look?" Raph's sceptical tone was harsh, "Geez Donny there's a plan I hadn't thought of!" He had stopped pacing just like his father had asked, and now opted to sit perched in front of the TV. "Do yo'have any idea how many times I've turned around and there's Leo? Cos I'll tell yo'so'ethin' fo'nothin' Donny, if he can find me in the middle o'th'night on th'otha side o'town don't yo'think that maybe, jus' maybe he can use his freaky mind chi and play hide an' go seek?" Exhaling loudly Raph glanced at the clock on the TV screen, he didn't know how to deal with this, and the lack of control that fate had dealt him was stressing him out. But if there was one thing he did know, it was how to follow a trail, and come Hell or high water he was going to pick up his brothers and get him back … even if he had to club him over the head and drag him in one step at a time. "Nah, we aint gonna go lookin'. We're gonna track 'em."

"Kinda like a search and rescue?" Mikey asked, his fingers nervously fiddling with the tip of his bandanna. It sounded kinda dangerous, going out into the sewers like this, especially without a real leader, to quite possibly bring in a bro who didn't really wanta come.

"If that's how yo'wanna look at it."

Lotus treaded water in a small alcove, with the additional weight of her sword; along with her still healing ribs taking this route to gain her much desired freedom was tiring. Gulping in as much air as she could her olive hands pushed off the curving stone roof that was inches from her skull, her hair floating up around her neck and eyes when she plunged beneath the surface. Her feet pushed off the back of the small hollow powering her forwards and into an alarmingly inky darkness. Powerful, determined kicks ensured her movement was constant, though as she continued to manoeuvre along the enclosed tunnel with burning lungs she began to wonder if she would ever surface.

From his position at the side of the pool Leonardo began to worry. He had taken the underwater path numerous times when he had gone out in pursuit of Raph, as such he took it for granted that another could make the trip on their first attempt. After a second of hesitation and still no sign of her, he turned his body round on the lip before lowering his body down into the water as quietly as possible …

The tension in the lair ran high; currently the usually quiet Donatello was busy trying to ascertain the difference between 'looking' and 'tracking'. Following Raphael around the lair he continued to question his brother's hasty and rather illogical plan.

"Look, we aint got time for this." Rounding on his brother he met his glare for glare. "It's simple, we're goin' out, we're pickin' up the trail an' when we find 'em we're gonna bring Leo in, an' then take that crazy ass bitch t'the nearest copshop." Done explaining Raph tossed Mikey the rope he had collected. "Getcha bag Donny, we gotta book."

"Er …" Getting up Mikey wrapped the rope around his middle several times, tying off the loose end on his belt. "Why don't we split?" Not one to usually receive Raph's wrath he had no desire to attract any of this new super-stressed half crazy leading Raph's brand. But he'd said it himself, they were like majorly behind in the game, and Leo was good. "Ya know, ta make up lost time …" his mini brainwave was met with a critical, exasperated expression, "or sumthin' …" he finished weakly.

Drawing in a deep breath Raph ran through everything, one last time from the top. "We aint splittin' up! Yo'bump into ninja bitch yo'really think yo'can take her? Or jus' to put it out there what if Leo an' her do a tag team? Huh? I don' think so!" Rolling his eyes he led them towards the exit, the bemused, impressed look on his Father's face lost to him.

"Raphael," following his sons to the lair's proper entrance Splinter offered his worried son a small smile of reassurance. "Take care of yourself, and your brothers. All of them. I will remain here, should your brother have a change of heart."

In all, from the second that their disappearance had been noted to the moment that the three brothers left the lair ten minutes had passed.

With each strike of her legs the leather encased metal beat off them both with confusing irregularity. Lotus struggled in the darkness, her panicking mind and burning lungs screaming for air. Striking out in the darkness her cold hand struck the moving tissue of another. Twisting about in the water her third 'leg' snared between her moving limbs halting her progress, letting out a cry of surprise her remaining air slipped free from her lungs in a stream of tiny bubbles that would never break the surface. When warriors envisioned their deaths, it was on a battlefield, not battered and battle weary in murky waters that swept beneath a city.

To feel two arms wrap around her middle and pull her in the correct direction was both relaxing and relieving. Breaking the surface, he held her close whilst she spluttered and choked on the vile liquid that had flooded into her lungs. Resting her head against his chest she let out a small chuckle, "Arigatou. (1)" she finally whispered, ignoring the small voice in the back of her head that reminded her of the emotional detachment she needed to maintain.

Smiling at one of her own phrases he kissed her cheek, pulling a face of disgust at the taste of her skin now that it was coated in the dark liquid. Tilting his head backwards he began to power the two of them towards the side of the pool. "You're welcome." He informed her quietly, his right arm leaving her waist to reach up to the exposed concrete ledge. Wrapping his fingertips around the lip he bent both of his legs back to balance them against the submerged side of the pool. "Climb up, it's alright, you're not that heavy."

Turning around in the water Lotus' narrow eyes widened at his words, putting one foot onto the top of his thigh she took a deep breath before wrapping both of her hands around his extended arm. "Gah!" her customised grunt escaped her lips whilst she began the painful escape from the water. The tip of her sheathed blade, the personification of her honour as a warrior, halted in its assault of her lower legs by Leo's left hand. Once she was free of the water she rolled over on the ledge to lower down one arm to her fellow escapee, despite her considerably lower upper body strength one good deed deserved another. As a woman of honour she was duty bound to keep the scales balanced.

"I don't gettit." Mikey whispered to Donny. "If we know they went out the back, why are we sneakin' around up front?" Fiddling with the end of the hemp rope he had he sought some sort of response from the brains of the family with a curious frown.

Sighing Don merely shrugged his shoulders, the large duffel bag he lugged along with him bouncing uncomfortably, "This is Raph logic Mikey. I don't think it's meant to make sense to anyone other than its owner."

"Clueless huh?" walking along the raised concrete path Mikey decided to raise his voice above a whisper. They were no where near the plunge pool that they had dug an escape route into anyway. And taking a leap of faith with Raph wasn't the adrenaline rush one might think it would be. In fact, right now it felt more like a leap into the temple of doom.

"Correct.", though Donny didn't raise his voice to the same level that Mikey had he did share his sentiment. There was something wrong about hunting their brother through the sewers. And though Raphael may not have intended it he had succeeded in planting the image of having to take their eldest, and generally all round better, down.

"Dare ya ta call him on it." Mikey whispered, his voice dropping following a death stare from his other brother. Responding to their brother's raised hand the two stopped all talking and movement. Sliding into the shadows they crept up to join Raphael at the junction, peering round the corner Raph beckoned for first Donny and then Mikey to come and look down the murky corridor.

Escaping the chamber, and leaving behind the watery grave brought a small smile to Lotus' lips. Unlike her partner she shivered with the cold, and found her graceful steps to create more noise than she was accustomed to making. Despite her earlier display of feigned illness and pain Leonardo did not seem to notice her ability to move with considerable ease, stopping and starting at his instruction often times with no notice. Manipulating the weight of her blade so that it lay in a more comfortable position across her back, she reached out to gently take a hold of the tail of his bandanna. Tugging it gently to get his attention she offered him a small questioning frown, her lips parting slightly to form a small 'o'.

Unlike his brothers, Lotus' knowledge of communication by hand was vast. Pressing his two fingers together he made a slicing motion, the palm facing the walls of the tunnel they were in as opposed to his body. The motion was a quick gesture, a mere flick of the wrist, his fingers never moving from the roof of the sewer as he did so, the movement no more than 35 degrees. Her face became stoic as she understood the gesture, someone was there.

Raising both of her bruised hands she closed her left into a fist, whilst the middle of her right hand circled slowly in an anti clockwise direction on the flat surface she had created. She held her left hand up facing his, the flat side facing his face.

How many? Leo frowned, in the short time that the two had known each other Lotus had been told of many of their successes on and off the battlefield. However one of the few things he had not discussed with her, or even attempted to explain was his ability to 'sense' his brothers. Specifically Raphael. Right now they had stopped due to one of his vague hunches, and under normal circumstances he would continue to follow it up until it yielded results. Not turn around and go the other way. With his eyes rolling upwards he tried to figure out if there was anyone else 'present'. Finally he brought his right hand up to his chest, his middle finger tapping his breast bone once, closely followed by a small shrug.

Lotus' mind went through all of the gestures she knew, not knowing of one for 'who' she simply mouthed the word to him.

Drawing his brow together into an angry scowl, he brought up one hand and made rapid stabbing motions downwards, his three fingers spread out to imitate the prongs of a sai. Pressing her head back against the smooth, cold stone she pressed her mouth into her shoulder in order to suppress a small giggle.

It was a close one to call, retreating back around the corner the three brothers looked at each other. Sucking in his cheeks Raph glanced back to the red cornerstone. He didn't know why it was that he had slowed up at this point, but if Leo was there he sure as Hell wasn't going to go marching straight into some crazy ass trap. But then again, it might not be a damn trap; it might not even be his brother, just some dumb rat or something. Remaining hunched his fingers tapped rapidly off his thighs before he glanced back; quietly he mouthed the word 'fuck'. In response to Don's frown he raised both of his hands. "I'll be right back." He mouthed, before flexing his fingers, drawing his sais and creeping quietly down the corridor.