Chapter 8: A Night Off

Madison sighed deeply with content and rolled over in the soft bed, refusing to open her eyes. She didn't know how long she had been asleep but she felt very at ease right now. She had just had the most wonderful dream about Molly. She was talking. Madison smiled to herself, wishing for such a thing. She so desperately missed hearing the sweet ringing sound of Molly's laughter and voice. They used to sing songs together when Mama was alive. There was once when Molly was 5 years old and kept stubbornly insisting that she could read. Madison played along and said that she could read the bed time story that night. The little girl proceeded to find the dictionary and "read" the story of a princess who fought dragons from it. Madison smiled to herself. That was probably her favorite memory of Molly.

She wanted very much too just roll over and go back to sleep but her body wouldn't let her. She wasn't used to getting this much sleep, if that makes any sense, so she decided to just get up. She turned to get up and ended up rolling over something. She picked up the rabbit Raphael had givin Molly, wondering why it was in bed with her. She pushed the question to the back of her mind as she sat up and slid her feet to the cold floor. She had to steady herself for a minute on her feet. The shot Donny had givin her had hit her and hit her hard once she had let it and its effects were still making her feel a little wobbly. Madison picked up the rabbit and made a mental note to give it back to Molly when she found her. She made her way out of the room, squinting a bit as a result of moving from complete darkness to a brightly light hall way. She made her way to the kitchen where she found Leo, Raph and Mikey sitting around the table. Mikey was munching his way through last nights left over pizza while Leo sipped at some tea and Raph ranted about something or other, also munching on pizza.

"Hey, Guys," she said standing in the door frame.

"Hey, Maddy!" Mikey chirped. "Want some pizza?"

"Um no that's ok," Madison smiled, walking over to the table. "Though I wouldn't mind the rest of that stew Leo brought me earlier. Is there any more of that left?"

"Yep," Mikey jumped up and bounced over to the fridge.

Leo looked at her, "You feeling better?"

"Much better," she said, putting a hand over his and kissing him on top of his bald green head. "Thank you."

"So what's with the rabbit, Alice?" Mikey asked from behind the fridge door. "You takin' off to Wonderland or somethin'?"

"Oh… Ya know I dunno," she said, holding the thing up by its foot. "I found it next to me when I woke up. I guess Molly must of put it there so I thought I'd give it back. Where is she?"

"Well actually April and Casey took the kids out and are letting them stay at their place tonight," Leo said, into his mug. "We all kinda figured you could use a night off."

"But…but what about the flyers?" Madison asked sounding more than a little uneasy. "What if someone sees them? Master Splinter didn't think me going shopping by myself was a good idea why on earth would he let all of them leave together?"

"Ah, don't worry about it," Raph said. "They won't do anything stupid or call attention to themselves. They were takin 'em to the movies and McDonalds, what could possibly happen?"

"Don't jinx it, Raph," Madison said, taking a seat next to him. "Plenty can happen."

"Ah, you worry too much," Mikey said setting a bowl of reheated stew in front of her. Madison sniffed it, inhaling the wonderful scent before attacking the stew as though she hadn't eaten in a hundred years. "Hungry much?"

Madison smiled over her bowl, "Can ya tell?"

"Just a little."

Madison laughed and finished the stew, "Can I have some more?"

"What are you 'Oliver Twist'?" Mikey laughed taking the bowl from her to get her some more stew.

"Sorry, it's just really good stew," she replied. As Mikey dished her up some more food Madison put her elbows on the table and leaned on her hands. "Well this is weird…"

"What?" Raph asked.

"This… this not having to watch the kids," Madison said making hand motions. "I mean what am I suppose to do?"

"Anything you want I guess," Raph shrugged. "What do you wanna do?"

"I really dunno," Madison said, accepting more stew from Mikey. "What is there to do?"

"Well lotsa stuff," Raph said. "Er… well you could… uh… hmmm…"

Madison chuckled as she picked her spoon back up. She frowned for a second and put the spoon back in the bowl. Leo looked concerned, "Something wrong, Madison?"

"Hmm? Oh no it's just that…" she paused for a moment. "It's just kinda weird to have everything so… quiet."

"Ain't nothin' wrong with a little peace and quiet," Raph said.

"Never really had a lot a peace but when it got quiet it usually meant nothin' good was gonna happen," Madison said accepted the tea Mikey held out to her. She stared past Leo, her eyes far off and face in a state of thought. "If we could hear him we at least knew where he was in the house and whether or not he sounded like he was angry. It was when we couldn't hear him when we had to start to worry. Sometimes he would surprise us, grab one of the kids, drag them off and lock us in the bed room. We wouldn't see them for at least an hour…" The guys looked at her oddly. She snapped out of her slight trance and met their gaze with an awkward lopsided smile. "What?"

"N… nuthin'."

"Then why are you lookin' at me like I just grew a third eye?"

"Well it's just…"

"I believe," Splinter's ancient voice emerged behind them. "That what my son means to say is that you have not shared of your past until just now." The old rat smiled. "A very positive yet surprising step on your part, Madison."

"Yeah, somethin' like that," Leo blushed.

Madison smiled a bit and blushed before turning her attention back to her food, "Don't rub it in… don't need to be reminded I'm goin' soft."

"Accepting an extended hand for help is not weakness, my child," Master Splinter said, walking over and placing a hand on her shoulder. "It is a sign of healing. A sign of strength."

Madison smiled and looked up at the wise creature, "How is it that you always know what to say and how to say it?"

Splinter smiled back and took a seat next to her, his paws perched on his walking stick, "Like you, Madison, I have raised four children and with parenthood comes understanding."

"I'm their sister, Master Splinter, not our mom."

"You are the closest thing those children have to a mother," he said giving her a knowing look. "And you accept the job with great strength and grace. I have no doubt in my mind that there is any one earth who loves those children more than you do."

Madison just nodded. He was right about that. No one loved them more than she did though she was pretty sure that he and the guys were close seconds. That made her smile.

"So, my daughter, what would you like to do tonight?"

She looked up and blinked, "I really don't know. I've never had a night off before."

"Hey!" Raph said suddenly. "I think I know just the thing. Leo, what time is it?""

"Um…" he glanced over shoulder. "About 7:45, why?"

"Grab yer coat," Raph said to Madison as he got up and left the room.

Madison raised an eye brow and looked at Mikey and Leo for a possible answer but they just shrugged in as much confusion as her. She shrugged herself but got up and went to retrieve her coat and shoes. When she reemerged she saw Raph standing the strange elevator she had up till now avoided. He was mumbling something to Donny and they both nodded and agreed on something. She raised an eyebrow and strolled over; they immediately stopped talking, "Did I interrupt something?"

"Nah," Raph said, pushing a button next to the doors and allowed them to open. "After you."

"Have fun," Donny said over his shoulder as he walked a away. Madison raised another eyebrow at Raph who was glaring in Donny's direction as the door closed and the elevator rose. They soon arrived in a garage topside where the guys kept all their vehicles. Raph strolled over to a beautiful red motorcycle and tossed Madison a helmet.

"Where are we going?"

"Classified."

"Raph!"

"Just get on," he rolled his eyes, put on his own helmet before swinging a leg over the bike and starting it. Madison rolled her eyes but pulled the helmet on over her wild hair and climbed on the bike as well, having a knawing feeling that she may have just signed her own death certificate. "Hold on." She heard Raph muffled voice over the roaring engine. She grabbed sides of his shell just in time to have him peel out of the garage at practically a million mile per hour!

"RAAAPPPPHHHHH!" she screamed. "I'm gonna kill you! Slow down will ya!"

"Can't," he yelled over his shoulder. "We're gonna be as it is late."

"Late for what!"

"Classified."

"RAPHAEL! When you don't have my life in your hands I'm gonna…!"

Raph smirked and pretended he couldn't hear her. He let a smile escape ever time she hugged him tighter from behind; even if the reason was just because she was afraid of falling off the bike. She squeezed him extra hard every time they turned a corner sharply. He could only imagine that her eyes were squwenched tight, not daring to look. They made a few more turns before Raph slowed the bike down, eventually rolling to a stop, "We're here."

Madison opened her eyes, promising herself to kill Raph later for that last turn that nearly had them parallel to the ground, and scanned the scene. She took the helmet off and made a face, "Raph… this is just an ally."

"Sure… you think that," Raph smirked, climbing off the bike. "Well you coming?"

Madison swung her leg off and set the helmet on the bike. She really had no idea what was suppose to be so special about this. It was just an alley. "Over here," Raph called. She turned around and saw him standing next to a fire escape. "Come on." They scaled the escape to the roof. He then proceeded to open up a roof trap.

"Raph, where the hell are we going?"

"You'll find out in a minute, wrap your arms around my neck."

"Excuse me?"

"Just shut up and do it," he said. Madison threw her hands up in defeat but did as he asked anyway. He picked her up in his arms, which surprised her, and jumped down the trap. They landed with a silent thud on the floor beneath. Raph gently set her down; she could hear music in the back round. It sounded familiar, "Watch yer step," he whispered. Madison snorted. The room was pitch black, she could barely she her hand in front of her face. "It would suck to fall. And it'd be kinda awkward explainin' what yer doin' up 'ere."

"Where is 'here'?" she whispered back. She didn't get a response and she felt Raph presence leave. "Raph... Raph? Raphael!" She didn't like this, being left alone in the dark. She really didn't like this…

"Shhhh!" he hissed, appearing at her side, causing her to jump a little. "You have got to be quiet or we're gonna get caught."

"But I can't see anything," she protested, her baring returning. "Where are we?"

"Just chill, ok? Here," he said taking her hand and leading her through what seemed like a maze of pipes, wires and electrical equipment. The music was getting louder and louder.

"Raph, will you please tell me where we are," she said.

"Look for yerself," they stopped and Raph motioned to a lay out of rafters and an over hand bridge that was close to the ceiling just ahead of them. Madison must have had a very confused expression on her face that for some reason he could see because he chuckled. "Go look." Madison crawled out on to the over hang bridge, because she was too tall to stand, looked out over the view and gasped. It was a theater, a Broadway stage to be exact. The audience was filled to the max and the orchestra had just finished the overture. Madison's eyes widened. She suddenly recognized the music.

"'Wicked'!" she exclaimed. "This is my favorite Broadway! How did you know?"

Raph took a seat next to her. "Kaylin told me. Said you were practically obsessed with it."

"Damn right," she said, not taking her eyes away as the curtain rose and the opening chorus took the stage. "I can't believe you'd do this for me."

"Thought you'd like it."

"Thank you so much!" she hugged his neck tightly.

"Eh, alright, alright enough with the mushy crap," Raph chuckled. Madison looked back at the stage, a huge smile plastered to her face the whole time. Raph smiled, watching for a bit as the different colored lights from the stage danced in her eyes. He noticed something different in her immedietly. Her eyes, they weren't frightened, they weren't cold or empty. For just this one moment they looked exactly how they shoulda always looked; Alive.

As the two watched the play they smiled both just enjoying the moment. Not knowing, nor caring what was happening in the rest of the world. Not knowing, nor caring, that at that moment a rickety Ford Taurus was pulling into New York. Not knowing, nor caring, that the man inside the car's depraved eyes were scanning the streets, vengefully looking for the young warrior and those she would die to protect.

"And when I get my hands on you, Madison," he growled in a very low deadly tone. "You just might… you just might…"