Chapter 15: What's the Plan?

Raphael stumbled back after being completely plowed over by Madison. Not even five seconds later Kaylin slammed into him being unable to stop from her dead sprint. She yelped in pain and grabbed her shoulder having run right into him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Pipsqueak!" he said, holding her up a bit. "Watch the arm."

"Raph! You've gotta do something!"

"Whats going on?" Raph looked alarmed at Kaylin's panicked appearance.

"She's missing!" Kaylin nearly shrieked and grabbed the top of his plastron, a hysterical look on her face.

"Who's missing?" his eyes narrowed.

Tears began streaming down her cheeks, "We can't find Molly! She's not in the Lair!"

It took Raph all of 3 seconds to go sprinting to the dojo, "LEEEEOOO!" he said screaming for his brothers. "DONNY! MIKEY! GET OUT HERE NOW!"

"What's going on?" Mikey asked, poking his head out of the infirmary with Donny behind him. Leo came out of the dojo with Master Splinter, both also looking confused at Raph's frantic state.

"Molly's missing!" he exclaimed.

They didn't need to be told twice; the four mutants ran after Raphael out of the Lair and down the sewer tunnels. It wasn't long before they found Madison kneeling on the ground staring at something in a paralyzed state of horror. She was clutching something tightly to her chest.

"Madison!" Raph ran to her and knelt down. "Maddy, what happened? Where is she! Say something dammit!" Madison didn't, or rather couldn't, say anything. She handed him what was in her hands. Raph stared at the familiar plush in his hands in alarm, "No…" tears rimmed his eyes. Molly's rabbit.

"I was too late," Madison said numbly. "I promised her… I swore I would never let him… oh god…" Madison threw herself into Raph's arms and sobbed.

Raph didn't care what crap Mikey would probably dish him later; he let his own tears start rolling down his cheeks. He held her even though all the strength in his arms had evaporated. He felt a soft hand on his head and looked up at his Sensei whose eyes were also damp. He turned around and looked at his brothers. They looked just as devastated.

"Come, my son," He helped Raphael get Madison to her feet and they started walking back to the Lair; Madison's eyes never left the rabbit she had taken back from Raph. The trip back to the Lair was a long quiet one even though it only took a few minutes. Peter and Kaylin met them at the door with worried expressions. They gasped when they saw the rabbit clutched in Madison's grip and Kaylin started to cry.

Peter looked determined not to start crying himself. He wanted so much to be strong; he wanted to be a man. Wrapping his arms around his crying twin he felt her shaking violently. He wanted so much to comfort her but how was he supposed to give her hope when it was something he himself couldn't even find. Madison seemed to know what was going through his head. She went over and wrapped her arms around the both of them, pulling them close.

Madison felt the boney soft hand on her shoulder and faced Master Splinter, "I am so sorry," he said, sounding about as bad as she felt.

"The only one who is gonna be sorry is him!" Raph thundered. "I'll rip his throat out with my bare hands!"

"No," Madison said coldly. "No, Raph, you won't. You are going to stay here."

"WHAT?" Raph nearly shrieked. "Have you lost your mind! He's got Molly! And you want me to sit here! YOU want to just sit here knowing what he is going to do to her!"

"Calm yourself, my son," Splinter said. He tried to place his hand on his son but Raphael threw it off in a very out of character fashion.

"No! No I will calm myself! Are you nuts!" he shouted at Splinter.

"Raph!" Leo exclaimed. "How dare you speak to Master Splinter like that!"

"Shove it, Leo!" he rounded on his brother. "I'll speak however the hell I want right now! Molly has just been abducted by some psycho path nut job who wants to do the nasty to her and everyone for some reason everyone wants to do nothing about it! Tell me this, Sensei; tell me this, DO YOU SERIOUSLY EXPECT ME TO STAY CALM OR HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST YOUR MIND WITH THE REST OF THEM! What The hell are you thinking?"

"RAPHAEL!" Splinter thundered. "You dishonor yourself by speaking to you master in such tones! I know your pain and anger of losing Molly but do not be foolish enough to think that you are the only one suffering from this lose! We are her family too! She is my daughter and I her father! Do you truly think that the lose of my child is not plunging a blade through my heart as well? If you can not see the pain of anyone but yourself then I have truly failed as your father."

Raphael went completely silent for a moment; his Sensei's words had grabbed his heart, ripped it out and stepped on it. "I… Master Splinter…" He bowed to the rat. "I'm sorry, Sensei, I don't know what came over me."

"Grief, my son, it is called grief," Splinter said sadly. "I must meditate." He walked to the other side of the Lair and entered his room, closing the door behind him. If any of them had sat silently long enough they would have heard his soft weeping.

"Raph, I never said I was just going to sit here," Madison said, finally letting go of the twins. "I am going after him."

"We're going with you," Peter said.

"No you're not," Madison said. "You are going to April and Casey's with the other two."

"Madison, I can't just…"

"You can and you will," Madison said. "This is not a game, Peter; Molly's life is very well in danger."

"That's why I should go!" he said. "Madison, please don't leave me behind on this one I have to go!"

"Peter, if this is about proving to dad that you're some big tough guy macho man you have another thing coming."

"I am a man," he snarled. "Don't you dare tell me I'm not."

"Yes, Peter, you are, alright! You are a man, but do you know what real men do?" Madison said looking him in the eye. "They don't seek revenge when they know what is would cost those dear to them. They protect the ones they love who can't protect themselves. They respect the requests of the ones who love them and they sacrifice their own desires for the better of their family." Peter went silent. He wanted to go so badly. He wanted to make their father pay. "You claim to be the man of the family now but if you want to truly prove that, please, do what I ask."

"But…"

"Kaylin is hurt, Brian is defenseless and I need someone to keep them safe," Madison said. "Please, Peter?"

Peter was angry but he nodded and escorted Kaylin out of the room to get her and Brian ready. Madison collapsed on the couch, wanting to do nothing but sit there and sob. She had failed; not just Molly, but everyone. Peter, Kaylin, Brian, herself… mom…

"So what's the plan?" Donny's voice pulled her out of her pain.

"I don't know what to do," she confessed. "I just don't know what to do…"

"Well you're not just going to leave her there!"

"Raph, for once in your life, shut up," Madison snapped. "I'm trying to think." Raph scowled but shut his mouth. She sat there on the couch for a while looking deep in thought with her eyes closed and her hand on her forehead. Her eye finally opened and she sat up. "I have an idea, but it's probably going to be risky…" she started explaining her plan to the guys. When she had finished Madison sat there in silence waiting for a response. Raphael was the first to speak.

"Are… you… INSANE!

"Of course I am, you should know this by now," she said rolling her eyes at the red clad turtle.

"Actually," Leo said. "This could work."

"What if she gets hurt!" Raph exclaimed. "Or Molly!"

"If?" Madison chuckled darkly. "There is no 'if', Raph." Before Raphael could respond she continued. "We need to move quickly. If he hasn't done anything to her yet he will soon, so to save her as much pain possible we need to do this now or Molly is going to pay the price for it. Understood?"

Everyone nodded.

"Mikey, I want you and Donny to take the other kids to April and Casey's right now," she said turning to the orange and purple turtles. "Oh, and Donny?" she wrote something down on a piece of paper, folded it and handed it to Don. "Give this to April. Have her run and get me one of these and have Casey drive to this address with Peter, and tell him to step on it. Peter will know what it is they need to pick up. We're going to need them," Don nodded and gave her a hug before running into his lab for a second while Mikey ran after Peter.

A few moments later they reemerged with the twins and the baby. Madison took Brian in her arms and hugged him closely. Kaylin hugged her around the waist, burying her face in Madison's shoulder. Maddy kissed her head and gave her a reassuring squeezing, being careful not to upset the shoulder. She kissed Brian and passed him off to Mikey. Peter looked at the ground, his hands in his pockets and a scowl on his face. "Peter…" she said. He didn't look up. "Peter, look at me honey," she tilted his head up gently and smiled kindly. "I'm so proud of you." Peter's eyes became misty and he threw himself at her. Peter's sank into her embrace and let himself be a child again for just one moment as he cried on her chest. She held him close and stroked his messy blonde hair.

"You're coming back, right?" he asked in a very childlike manner when his tears had slowed.

"Of course I am."

"Promise?"

"I promise," Madison tilted his head back up and smiled at the unsure look on his face. "Hey, when was the last time I broke a promise to you?"

"Never."

"Well than there you go then," she smiled, kissing him on the head. "Obey Casey and April please, and Kaylin by god if I find out you are pushing yourself with a busted shoulder you are in so much trouble." Kay smiled a little.

"Here," Donny said handing her a few computer print outs. "You'll need these."

"What are they?"

"Directions to, and the room number, or the hotel your dad is staying at," he said. "More than likely that is where he is taking Molly but it's not definite."

"How did you get these?" she looked impressed.

"Oh it's nothing your average super genius slash hacker pro couldn't do," he smiled.

"Thanks, Donny," she kissed him on the cheek. She skimmed the papers and suddenly looked annoyed but relieved. "The Royal Palace, that's only six blocks from here." She smiled at the twins. "We'll get her back you guys," she reassured them. "Don't worry." She gave them each another quick hug and watched them leave with Donny and Mikey. "I love you."

"They'll be fine," Leo said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Madison placed her hand over his and squeezed, "I know," she smiled. Folding the papers and shoving them into her pocket her face became hard and determined. "Alright guys, let's go, we're burning time."

"Madison," said Splinter, who had suddenly reappeared behind her. "I have a gift for you." Madison watched him as he extended his hand. She gazed upon a small jade medallion necklace sitting in the palm of it. There were several strange marking chiseled all around the edge of the medallion with one large carving in the center. She lightly ran her fingers over the markings.

"What do these mean?" she asked.

"Love, Courage, Strength, Control, Kindness, Knowledge, Wisdom…" he pointed to the in the middle. "Purity." Madison let a smile escape. Splinter placed the necklace around Madison's neck and cupped her face with his boney hands. "Something to remind you what you are and that your true family is always with you."

"Master Splinter?" she said before he turned to go.

"Yes?"

"I have something for you too," she reached around and unclasped the tiny gold chair that had not left her neck since being placed there by her mother during their last Christmas together. She placed the little necklace and charms into his hand. "Only been one other person in my life has ever put anything around my neck and she was probably the only adult up till now that I knew loved me," she said with a soft smiled. "I want you to have it." She gave Splinter a kiss good bye before running out the door with Raph and Leo.

Splinter clasped the chain around his neck, "Be safe, my daughter."

Master Splinter went to his room. He lit the many candles lining the walls and kneeled down on a worn mat with burning bowls on either side. Tears were streaming down his face as he began chanting a prayer. He prayed for the baby and twins as the Battle Shell rolled to a stop in front of April and Casey's house. He prayed as though he could Madison tightening her grip around Raph's body as they raced through the streets on his cycle and his heart beating in cynic with Leo's as he leaped from roof to roof, fallowing Madison and Raph. He chanted louder as though he could see Madison climbing the stairs of the hotel. Chanting the prayer faster and faster, like her pace walked down the hall; his heart racing as he knew hers must be. With his eyes clenched shut he could almost see his beloved daughter standing in front of a polished wooden door, her eyes void of all emotion except courage.

Madison raised her arm and knocked firmly on door number 357, her heart pounding in her chest. The tiniest flicker of fright danced in the back of her mind but she refused to let show. If he couldn't see it he couldn't feed off on it. She heard the door knob turn and the door open with a click. Her piercing green eyes stared straight into the mocking face of evil with no fear.

"Hi, Dad."