Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT or anything related. I just own Maggie any my
originals.
A/N: *sighs* Well, I guess I'm finally back. I'm sorry for the delay in updating this story and all my others, but I really needed some time to sort through all the stuff that was going through my head. Thanks to everyone for their support and understanding. It really means a lot to me.
Chapter 6: Busted!
If it had been possible for her to do, Maggie would have taken the 'ninja vanish' term to a whole new meaning and made herself invisible. It would have been a great deal more convenient than staring into the angry faces of her Sensei and brothers. Unfortunately, it was impossible for even a cat such as herself to pull off such an act. So she was stuck where she was, part of her praying that whatever they did would be swift and painless.
But it was anything but. Instead, she was instantly jumped on by her brothers, who began demanding where she had been, why she had gone out so late, and what had she been thinking. They told her that if she hadn't just come home, they were going out to look for her. They told her that she had had everyone worried. They were telling and demanding so many things that it was impossible for Maggie to get a word of her own in.
So she was just left standing there with them talking until a sharp command from Splinter silenced her brothers. Once they were, he began asking questions of his own. These turned out to be very much like the three Turtles' questions, but they were asked in a more controlled and definitely more authoritative tone that Maggie knew better than to resist.
I.I was with Casey. He needed my help, Maggie eventually answered.
If anything could have taken the anger away from her family's faces, that was it. When they had discovered Maggie missing from her room, they had assumed that she had gone off on her own. It wouldn't have been the first time that she had done something like that. But for her to say that Casey, a man that they all knew she could hardly stand, had come for her help and that she had actually agreed to go, that was a major shock.
"Just why would Casey ask you for help, Magnolia?" Splinter asked, once he had regained his composure.
That was a question that Maggie knew that she should answer, but it was one that she dreaded. She had promised Casey that she wouldn't tell anyone about what was going on until they had Raph safely home. They might have gotten him to the lair entrance, but that wasn't all the way home. So Maggie wasn't sure if she should say anything yet.
"Why did Casey asked for your help, Magnolia?" Splinter demanded again.
Knowing that she had no choice but to answer, Maggie gulped, He, uh, needed me to help him find Raph.
That definitely brought a questioning look to the faces of those around her. Of all the answers that they thought she might give them, that was not among them. Then again, everything that she had been telling them was not what they had been expecting from the girl this evening.
"He lost Raph? You gotta be kidding," Mikey scoffed, only to be silenced by a glare from Splinter.
No. It's true, he needed me to help find Raph. He said he lost him topside, Maggie insisted, B-but we found him. He's okay.
After listening to her explanation, Splinter demanded," Where are your brother and Mr. Jones now, Magnolia?"
Casey's waiting with Raph up there, Maggie gulped as she pointed towards the opening overhead.
That was all that the other needed to know. With a silent nod from their Master, Don headed for the ladder and climbed up while Leo and Mikey waited at the bottom with their sister. Maggie watched them go by her and was almost tempted to follow after them to help on the higher level. But when she caught Splinter glaring at her, she thought better of it. She would stay below and help from there.
Things went swiftly from there. Casey, who had been surprised to find another Turtle coming to help him instead of his feline companion, wisely kept his mouth shut as he helped Don lower Raph down. Below, Leo, Mikey and Maggie were there to take hold of Raph and lower him down the rest of the way. Once they had gotten him down, Don and Casey joined the others below.
Leo and Mike propped their brother up while Splinter got a better look at him. He eyed Raphael critically, taking into account all the stains on his clothing and the bits of vomit that still clung to the Turtle's skin. With quicker ease than Maggie had shown but with the same dexterity, Splinter also caught the scent that still clung to his son. His nose wrinkled slightly when he caught it and that told him all he needed to know as to how Raph came to be this way.
It brought immediate disappointment to Splinter that his son had fallen into such a state. But there was little that could be done about it at present. The act had been completely and it was doubtful that Raphael would be waking anytime soon. The only things that could really be done were to just make Raph comfortable and to leave a bucket nearby in case he woke and was ill. Tasks, that for now, would fall to his brothers to carry out. For while they did that, it would give Splinter a chance to deal with the other parties involved.
"Take your brother to his room and see what needs to be done for him, my sons. I will see him myself after I have dealt with your sister," Splinter ordered.
The other Turtles looked like they wanted to protest when they were told this, but they held their tongues. They knew that their Master meant business when he used that particular tone. He was about to go on the warpath and there was no stopping him when that happened. They already knew that it wouldn't be a pretty sight.
So they did as they were told and prepared to leave. Just as Maggie and Casey had spent a good part of the night doing, Donatello took hold of Raph's upper torso while Leonardo took hold of his legs and feet. With Mikey directing them, they lifted their brother up, bracing as they settled his weight between them. When they had, Don and Leo started to make their way towards Raph's room with Mikey in tow.
On their way out, each of the Turtles directed an angry glare in the vicinity of Casey Jones. The human visibly flinched when he met those gazes. He knew that they were silently blaming him for what was going on, even if they weren't completely aware of all that had happened. They were telling the next time the three Turtles were alone with him, he was going to be in for some serious trouble. They weren't going to let this pass so easily and they were letting him know it.
If anyone else noticed this silent exchange, they gave no acknowledgement. Instead, their attentions were elsewhere. Splinter's attention, once his sons were gone, had turned again to Magnolia. Maggie's attention was caught between staring at her feet and daring to meet her Master's gaze. The former was definitely easier, but the former was necessary to do if she wanted to keep out of any further trouble.
There's no reason to feel sorry for yourself now, Magnolia. You knew that this could happen the second you went with Casey. So stop being such a baby and take it like a real cat, she scolded herself.
But as the saying goes, it is easier to say something than to do it. She may have wanted to face what was to come, but Maggie couldn't help feeling more than a little nervous and scared. She knew what Splinter was like when he was upset about something, both minor and major. And that was never a pretty picture to have, especially when you were the one who had gotten him upset to begin with.
"Do you have any idea how worried everyone was about you?" Splinter demanded.
Her ears lying flat in submission, Maggie could only hang her head at her Master's words. Though she knew that it could quite possibly happen during this mess, the last thing that she had wanted was to worry her Master and brothers in any way. They were the people she cared about most and how they felt towards her meant a great deal to the girl.
I.I was just trying to help, Sensei, Maggie tried to explain.
Off to the side, Casey watched in silence as the girl tried to explain herself. For the moment, he had decided that it was just better to keep quiet and stay out of the line of fire. If he did that, then it meant that he would have a chance to figure out what to say so that he could keep his head.
The longer he watched Maggie getting the brunt of everything though, the harder it was to stick to that decision. He really felt bad for allowing her to take everything when it wasn't entirely her fault. She shouldn't have to do that. Not when he was the one who had talked her into this in the first place.
It just became too much for the human to handle. He knew that he couldn't just let his companion take the heat for what he had started. He had to do something before this went any farther. Even when it meant that he would get his own head bitten off in the process.
"Hey, don't blame the kid for this. It's not really her fault," Casey interjected," I was the one that talked her into helping me find him."
Both Splinter and Magnolia looked at Casey in an instant. Both of them had forgotten that he was even there until now. Now that they remembered, their expressions towards him were entirely different. For Splinter, he felt a mixture of slight surprise and disbelief. He knew that the human had a part in this, but he wasn't entirely sure what that had been.
Maggie certainly couldn't help but once again look at the human in surprise. Was he actually trying to stick up for her? It was certainly a nice gesture, but not really necessary. Even if he was the one who came to her in the first place, Maggie knew that Casey wasn't totally to blame. She had a part in this too. After all, instead of just going off with him, she could have gone to tell the rest of the family what was happening. Then, they could have all helped to find the missing ninja turtle and no one would be getting into trouble. But she hadn't.
She had chosen to go with Casey of her own free will. That meant just as she had gone freely, then she must be willing to take the consequences of her attentions. Even when that included facing the wrath of her Sensei. At the moment however, said Sensei was feeling more than just anger towards his daughter's behavior.
Splinter sighed and rubbed his temple as he felt the headache that had been developing while he wondered about Magnolia worsening. When he had first found her gone, he had had no idea of where she could have gone or why. He knew only that she was missing and could well be in trouble if she were on her own.
Now that Casey was trying to claim responsibility for this, it certainly complicated matters more for the rat. Maggie he had been prepared to deal with, since she was the only one he had thought was missing. With her, it was simply the process of finding out what had been going through her head and just how to handle her afterwards.
What to do with Casey Jones was an entirely different matter. Splinter knew that he held no authority over the human, even in his own home. For starters, he was not one of Splinter's students nor was he a youngster. Casey was a grown man who was free to do as he wished with his time.
Being a grown man didn't always mean that he was very wise in what he did with his days however. How he acted with Raph whenever they went out or when he was with other humans proved that easily enough. And now that he had taken Maggie out of her home without Splinter's permission that only added to the list of immature things that Casey did.
At this rate, Splinter realized he wasn't going to do get anything done if his attention was divided like this. He was going to have to find a way to deal with one thing at a time so that he could make sure everything was taken care of before it got out of hand again. So he decided that it was best to send Maggie to wait while he dealt with Casey.
"I will deal with you in a moment, Magnolia. Go wait in my study," Splinter ordered.
When he used that tone, the girl didn't need to be told twice. Casting a glance at Casey, Maggie hastily bowed to her Sensei and left. The two that remained behind watched her go with mixed emotions. Casey with the sense that he was sorry for having gotten her into trouble and Splinter with anger that she had gone off like she had.
Once Magnolia was out of earshot, Splinter returned his full gaze to Casey. His gaze hardened a great deal more so than it did when he was facing Magnolia. With her, the anger that came in his expressions were out of a parent's concern for the safety of his child. She was still young enough that there someone could easily hurt her if she were captured or cornered.
But in Casey's case, the anger that Splinter now felt flowing through him was that of outrage towards another adult who should have known better. Casey was well into his twenties and he knew the dangers that came from walking about the surface world at night. He should have known that taking in a child into that kind of atmosphere would do her harm.
It didn't matter that Casey had tried to take responsibility when he attempted to stick up for Maggie when Splinter scolded her. As far as he was concerned, Casey should have already done that before any of this happened. He should have been more responsible and come to Splinter, the parent, when his son went missing, instead of going to Maggie, the child.
In the back of his mind, Casey could sense the anger that was rising in Splinter. And that really scared him. Casey had seen how Splinter reacted whenever his sons did something stupid. He knew that though the rat was smaller than any one of them and looked frail, he could more than easily bring the Turtles down a few pegs. He could beat any of them down in a heartbeat and all the Turtles knew it. That was why they were always so nervous about getting on their Master's bad side whenever they went out. They knew a slipup would just end with them getting into trouble.
The Turtles were not alone in being exposed to that particular tone. Maggie too had more than once brought its sternness down upon her head for doing something foolish or for misbehavior. And just like her brothers, she had felt the full sting of it for whatever she had done.
That tone had only been turned towards Casey a few times since he had made friends with Raphael and his family. Those times had been when he had annoyed Splinter somehow in connection with his son and when they went out looking for punks' skulls to punch in. Splinter may have taught his sons how to fight and that they should use their skills to help those in need, but he had not taught them to go out seeking trouble.
When he went with Casey though, that was exactly what as happening. Instead of following what he had been taught, Raph chose to follow his own impulses and to do what he wanted. It hadn't always ended well and more than once brought about Splinter's disappointment.
It had also caused Splinter's irritation towards Casey to grow just a bit more. He had nothing against the human personally, but he knew that the man had a very strong influence on his son's behavior. Splinter knew that influence could very easily get his son intro trouble, as it already had.
I'm a dead man, Casey couldn't help but groan over and over as he looked into Splinter's eyes, I am such a dead man.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Jones?" Splinter asked.
"Guess I don't know where to start," Casey shrugged, feeling incredibly stupid saying that.
"It is often found that the easiest way to explain any story is by starting at the beginning, Mr. Jones," Splinter suggested.
It was so obvious that it felt stupid to hear it from Splinter. Inside, Casey was feeling like such an idiot. Once again tonight, he had managed to make himself look like a fool in Splinter's eyes. Not the best thing to happen when he was already digging himself a grave for taking off with Maggie.
"I lost track of Raph in the crowd and when I couldn't find him, I decided to come back here for help. Out of everyone, the furball seemed like the best one to ask," Casey explained.
"And what reasoning did you use to come to that conclusion, Mr. Jones?" Splinter said coolly.
"Well, uh, the kid knows what Raph smells like, so I thought she'd be able to track him real easy," the human gulped, naturally quelling under the rat's angry gaze," And, since she doesn't argue with him a lot, I thought he might listen to her better if there was any trouble. I mean, he definitely wouldn't listen to Leo's jabbering. Right?"
That last part had been a joke that he had desperately hoped that Splinter might find even the least little bit funny. He was sorely disappointed. Humor was the farthest thing from the rat's mind and expression as he listened to the human's words. If anything, it only seemed to annoy him more.
Which meant that it might be better to try a different tactic. Just what that was supposed to be, Casey had no idea. He really wasn't used to talking to Splinter on a topic like this, or any topic for that matter, so it was hard for him to know just what to say to Splinter. What he had managed to say so far had just been impromptu at best and even then it didn't seem to be helping much.
But it was just enough for now. For despite his present irritation with the man, Splinter listened to Casey's explanation without interruption. He was upset with the human for his part in this, but that would not prevent him from at least hearing Casey's side of things. That much was his right and Splinter would not be rude by ignoring that fact.
So he waited until Casey was finished before he said anything himself. When he spoke, his tone was kept the same as when he was speaking to one of his children after they had been caught during a 'crime'. Almost the same anyhow. There was an obvious difference now that he was speaking with Casey.
"Is that every reason why you asked my daughter for help?" Splinter asked stoically.
There were a million responses that Casey could have said to answer that question. Many of which were meant to cover both his hide and hopefully Maggie's. But as soon as he tried to say them, his mind went completely blank. Why, he couldn't really be certain.
Maybe it was because he knew that if he tried to just make something up or only tell a half-truth, the rat would know. Somehow, Splinter could always ferret out those sorts of things with immense ease. He certainly did whenever he was questioning his sons about their escapades on the surface.
And if he could do that with his sons, then there was no doubt in Casey's mind that he could do the same with him as well. So it was probably not a good idea to tempt fate and try to lie now. Better to just tell the whole story, be done with and still keep from getting any farther from Splinter's good graces than he already had.
"Well, I knew the kid wouldn't ask a lot of questions until we got started. She'd help me get the job done and wait till later before she started makin' a fuss about stuff," the human replied as confidently as he could.
"So you asked for her help because she knew how to track Raphael and because she would do as she was told and not cause you any trouble," Splinter translated.
Anything further that the human might have had up until that point suddenly fled him when he heard Splinter say that. It wasn't really the last thing that he had been expecting the rat to say, but it certainly wasn't among the foremost things on his list. And it was making him wonder just what he had to say now.
It was true enough though. As well as for the other reasons that he had enlisted her help, Casey really had thought that it would be easier to deal with Maggie since she was a kid and would supposedly do what an adult friend of the family told her. That had been part of the plan anyway.
If only Casey had known earlier that it was the furthest thing from the truth. If anything, Maggie had rarely done what he had told her tonight. Sure she had found the trail for them and led the way to Raph, but there were still those times when she had taken off without telling him. That was enough to make Casey realize that Maggie might have been doing that to help their search, but she wasn't always going to do what he told her.
"After tonight, believe me, that's the last thing I will ever think about that kid," he admitted to Splinter," She gave me enough heart attacks tonight that I know she'll do her own thing instead of listening to me."
"Heart attacks?" Splinter echoed.
If he had been better able to read the rat's emotions, Casey could have sworn that he sounded amused by the very prospect of Maggie causing the human trouble. It certainly would have been justly due for all the trouble Casey Jones had help to cause among the family tonight.
It was a feeling that wasn't even remotely shared with the human. Casey was more surprised than anything else. Oddly, getting this kind of reaction from Splinter reminded Casey of someone else he knew. He had just spent the evening with her, trudging through back alleys and through the sewers, carrying her heavy and unconscious idiot brother home. He had also been stuck with her running off half the time and nearly scaring him to death the rest of the time.
Now I think I know where the kid gets that weird mean streak of hers and it sure ain't from Raph, Casey thought.
Wisely, he didn't mention this feeling. He got the impression that if he did, Splinter just might forget his principles against harming a guest and just knock Casey upside the head with his walking stick. From the way he had seen the Turtles react when they got that retaliation, he knew that once again the rat could pack a punch with that stick.
Instead, he was just going to answer Splinter's question and leave it at that. It would both give the rat what he wanted to know and make sure that Casey still didn't tempt fate again that night. A win-win situation if there ever was one.
"When we were looking for Raph, she took off a couple times without telling me. I think it was 'cause she got a hold of the scent and wanted to be sure," Casey replied," But she never let me know before she took off, so it kinda.startled me when she did that."
That was really a major understatement and Casey knew it. He had nearly jumped out of his skin those times that Maggie had run off and then when she returned and snuck up behind him. But that was just something that he really didn't want to admit to. It would bring down his reputation as a tough guy too quickly and that was just a blow to his ego that Casey couldn't take.
True to his usual demeanor though, Splinter already caught onto what the human was feeling. His next words, as they had so many times before, proved as much. Which only led to Casey's greater embarrassment.
"You were afraid that she might get herself into trouble if she didn't tell you what was going on?" Splinter supplied.
Feeling his cheeks start to get a little hot, despite how hard he was trying to keep himself under control, Casey nodded mutely. He really wished that Splinter would stop doing that. Over and over again when he pointed out what Casey was thinking, it made the human feel like a little kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
"If that is the case, then in a way at least, you can understand the fear that I felt when I went to check on Magnolia this evening and found that she was not in her room," Splinter sniffed.
Scratching the back of his head, Casey nodded slowly," Yeah, I guess I kinda did feel that way."
He guessed that might have been the circumstances. It was true that Casey was worried about Maggie while she was with him. He knew that since she was his best friend's little sister, that he would have to keep an eye on her while they were out. That much he was aware of and acknowledged. But that wasn't the only reason why he got so edgy when the girl took off.
Privately, Casey had also been worried about what the rest of Maggie's family might say if she had gotten herself hurt while she was with Casey. Like the feline, he had known that there were certain risks entailed when it came to tracking down Raphael. He knew that they might run into some goons on the way or that they might find Raph in a deeper situation than anyone had anticipated. Both situations that could very easily put a youngster like Maggie into danger.
But because he had been more worried about Raph and making sure that he was still in one piece, Casey had mostly pushed those things aside. At the time, it had seemed like the right thing to do. But now, as he stood here facing what could easily become the irate Sensei of said girl, maybe it might have been better to consider a slightly different course of action.
"Now that you realize this, Mr. Jones, I hope that in the future you will come to me first if there is a problem concerning my sons. I do not appreciate a child being taken into the heavens know what behind my back," Splinter said.
"Yes sir," Casey gulped.
Once again, he was trying to use his head while dealing with Master Splinter. Somehow, it seemed best just to treat him with the utmost respect and pray that it might placate him even a little. That last part was very farfetched, but it wasn't too bad an idea. Anything that Casey tried now just might have prolonged his life for a bit longer than if he didn't try.
Splinter sensed this feeble attempt to make amends and he was willing to accept it. It didn't mean that he was completely willing to forgive Casey right away, but he was still willing to accept this as a start. At least it meant that the human was using his head for once.
Perhaps it is better for it to happen now than later, Splinter thought to himself.
He didn't say anything about that now though. No matter how appropriate it was, it would be rude to say so to a guest. Better to let him either figure it out on his own or just remain in ignorance. Instead, he decided that now might be a good time to both end this conversation and to put down the one restriction that he had the power to put upon Casey Jones.
"Perhaps it would be wise if you refrain from visiting us for a time, Mr. Jones. I think my children are going to need some time to think about what's happened and your presence might cause a distraction for them. That is not something they will be needing for now," Splinter sniffed.
There was no mistaking what the rat was telling Casey this time. He knew that until Splinter was feeling better towards him, that it wouldn't be safe for him to come around the Turtles' home for awhile. Not that it would be safe for him even then, considering the dark looks that Leo, Don, and Mikey had given him before they had carried Raph off.
Just like their brother, those three could easily hold a grudge for a long time when they wanted to. And just like Raph, they could be very nasty when it came time to take that grudge out on something. But unlike Raph, they didn't just rush into it and settle things with a few punches.
Those three could get downright serious when they wanted to take a grudge out to its fullest. They thought out what they wanted to do, making sure they got the details just right. Then and only then, would they strike and take out the grudge on the one who had started everything. Knowing all this, Casey had the feeling that the next few months for him would be uneasy at best.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, sir," Casey nodded.
"Then I wish you a good evening, Mr. Jones. I am sorry that I cannot show you out, but I need to attend to my children. I am sure you understand," Splinter sniffed.
"Yeah, I do. Don't worry about me," Casey said hastily," You just go on and take care of Raph. I'll be okay getting out on my own."
Splinter only nodded and then turned to leave. He made a direct course for the train car that was his study. There he would first deal with his daughter's mistakes and then give her the necessary punishment. Afterwards, he would deal with Raphael.
Casey watched him go for a few seconds before turning to make his own escape. Part of him was actually surprised that he had managed to get out of this so easily. Well, if one could call a silent death threat from a Turtle trio and being warned off by a ninja master rat getting off easy. Which it really was, considering that those same certain people could have easily turned him into a bloody pulp the second everything had been sorted out.
A/N: Sorry to say it, but that's all I'm going to put up for now. I've got a bunch of other stuff going on right now, mostly school, and I don't have the time that I would like to work on my fics. But I'll get around to it eventually. And once again, thank you all for your patience about my updating. I do appreciate it.
A/N: *sighs* Well, I guess I'm finally back. I'm sorry for the delay in updating this story and all my others, but I really needed some time to sort through all the stuff that was going through my head. Thanks to everyone for their support and understanding. It really means a lot to me.
Chapter 6: Busted!
If it had been possible for her to do, Maggie would have taken the 'ninja vanish' term to a whole new meaning and made herself invisible. It would have been a great deal more convenient than staring into the angry faces of her Sensei and brothers. Unfortunately, it was impossible for even a cat such as herself to pull off such an act. So she was stuck where she was, part of her praying that whatever they did would be swift and painless.
But it was anything but. Instead, she was instantly jumped on by her brothers, who began demanding where she had been, why she had gone out so late, and what had she been thinking. They told her that if she hadn't just come home, they were going out to look for her. They told her that she had had everyone worried. They were telling and demanding so many things that it was impossible for Maggie to get a word of her own in.
So she was just left standing there with them talking until a sharp command from Splinter silenced her brothers. Once they were, he began asking questions of his own. These turned out to be very much like the three Turtles' questions, but they were asked in a more controlled and definitely more authoritative tone that Maggie knew better than to resist.
I.I was with Casey. He needed my help, Maggie eventually answered.
If anything could have taken the anger away from her family's faces, that was it. When they had discovered Maggie missing from her room, they had assumed that she had gone off on her own. It wouldn't have been the first time that she had done something like that. But for her to say that Casey, a man that they all knew she could hardly stand, had come for her help and that she had actually agreed to go, that was a major shock.
"Just why would Casey ask you for help, Magnolia?" Splinter asked, once he had regained his composure.
That was a question that Maggie knew that she should answer, but it was one that she dreaded. She had promised Casey that she wouldn't tell anyone about what was going on until they had Raph safely home. They might have gotten him to the lair entrance, but that wasn't all the way home. So Maggie wasn't sure if she should say anything yet.
"Why did Casey asked for your help, Magnolia?" Splinter demanded again.
Knowing that she had no choice but to answer, Maggie gulped, He, uh, needed me to help him find Raph.
That definitely brought a questioning look to the faces of those around her. Of all the answers that they thought she might give them, that was not among them. Then again, everything that she had been telling them was not what they had been expecting from the girl this evening.
"He lost Raph? You gotta be kidding," Mikey scoffed, only to be silenced by a glare from Splinter.
No. It's true, he needed me to help find Raph. He said he lost him topside, Maggie insisted, B-but we found him. He's okay.
After listening to her explanation, Splinter demanded," Where are your brother and Mr. Jones now, Magnolia?"
Casey's waiting with Raph up there, Maggie gulped as she pointed towards the opening overhead.
That was all that the other needed to know. With a silent nod from their Master, Don headed for the ladder and climbed up while Leo and Mikey waited at the bottom with their sister. Maggie watched them go by her and was almost tempted to follow after them to help on the higher level. But when she caught Splinter glaring at her, she thought better of it. She would stay below and help from there.
Things went swiftly from there. Casey, who had been surprised to find another Turtle coming to help him instead of his feline companion, wisely kept his mouth shut as he helped Don lower Raph down. Below, Leo, Mikey and Maggie were there to take hold of Raph and lower him down the rest of the way. Once they had gotten him down, Don and Casey joined the others below.
Leo and Mike propped their brother up while Splinter got a better look at him. He eyed Raphael critically, taking into account all the stains on his clothing and the bits of vomit that still clung to the Turtle's skin. With quicker ease than Maggie had shown but with the same dexterity, Splinter also caught the scent that still clung to his son. His nose wrinkled slightly when he caught it and that told him all he needed to know as to how Raph came to be this way.
It brought immediate disappointment to Splinter that his son had fallen into such a state. But there was little that could be done about it at present. The act had been completely and it was doubtful that Raphael would be waking anytime soon. The only things that could really be done were to just make Raph comfortable and to leave a bucket nearby in case he woke and was ill. Tasks, that for now, would fall to his brothers to carry out. For while they did that, it would give Splinter a chance to deal with the other parties involved.
"Take your brother to his room and see what needs to be done for him, my sons. I will see him myself after I have dealt with your sister," Splinter ordered.
The other Turtles looked like they wanted to protest when they were told this, but they held their tongues. They knew that their Master meant business when he used that particular tone. He was about to go on the warpath and there was no stopping him when that happened. They already knew that it wouldn't be a pretty sight.
So they did as they were told and prepared to leave. Just as Maggie and Casey had spent a good part of the night doing, Donatello took hold of Raph's upper torso while Leonardo took hold of his legs and feet. With Mikey directing them, they lifted their brother up, bracing as they settled his weight between them. When they had, Don and Leo started to make their way towards Raph's room with Mikey in tow.
On their way out, each of the Turtles directed an angry glare in the vicinity of Casey Jones. The human visibly flinched when he met those gazes. He knew that they were silently blaming him for what was going on, even if they weren't completely aware of all that had happened. They were telling the next time the three Turtles were alone with him, he was going to be in for some serious trouble. They weren't going to let this pass so easily and they were letting him know it.
If anyone else noticed this silent exchange, they gave no acknowledgement. Instead, their attentions were elsewhere. Splinter's attention, once his sons were gone, had turned again to Magnolia. Maggie's attention was caught between staring at her feet and daring to meet her Master's gaze. The former was definitely easier, but the former was necessary to do if she wanted to keep out of any further trouble.
There's no reason to feel sorry for yourself now, Magnolia. You knew that this could happen the second you went with Casey. So stop being such a baby and take it like a real cat, she scolded herself.
But as the saying goes, it is easier to say something than to do it. She may have wanted to face what was to come, but Maggie couldn't help feeling more than a little nervous and scared. She knew what Splinter was like when he was upset about something, both minor and major. And that was never a pretty picture to have, especially when you were the one who had gotten him upset to begin with.
"Do you have any idea how worried everyone was about you?" Splinter demanded.
Her ears lying flat in submission, Maggie could only hang her head at her Master's words. Though she knew that it could quite possibly happen during this mess, the last thing that she had wanted was to worry her Master and brothers in any way. They were the people she cared about most and how they felt towards her meant a great deal to the girl.
I.I was just trying to help, Sensei, Maggie tried to explain.
Off to the side, Casey watched in silence as the girl tried to explain herself. For the moment, he had decided that it was just better to keep quiet and stay out of the line of fire. If he did that, then it meant that he would have a chance to figure out what to say so that he could keep his head.
The longer he watched Maggie getting the brunt of everything though, the harder it was to stick to that decision. He really felt bad for allowing her to take everything when it wasn't entirely her fault. She shouldn't have to do that. Not when he was the one who had talked her into this in the first place.
It just became too much for the human to handle. He knew that he couldn't just let his companion take the heat for what he had started. He had to do something before this went any farther. Even when it meant that he would get his own head bitten off in the process.
"Hey, don't blame the kid for this. It's not really her fault," Casey interjected," I was the one that talked her into helping me find him."
Both Splinter and Magnolia looked at Casey in an instant. Both of them had forgotten that he was even there until now. Now that they remembered, their expressions towards him were entirely different. For Splinter, he felt a mixture of slight surprise and disbelief. He knew that the human had a part in this, but he wasn't entirely sure what that had been.
Maggie certainly couldn't help but once again look at the human in surprise. Was he actually trying to stick up for her? It was certainly a nice gesture, but not really necessary. Even if he was the one who came to her in the first place, Maggie knew that Casey wasn't totally to blame. She had a part in this too. After all, instead of just going off with him, she could have gone to tell the rest of the family what was happening. Then, they could have all helped to find the missing ninja turtle and no one would be getting into trouble. But she hadn't.
She had chosen to go with Casey of her own free will. That meant just as she had gone freely, then she must be willing to take the consequences of her attentions. Even when that included facing the wrath of her Sensei. At the moment however, said Sensei was feeling more than just anger towards his daughter's behavior.
Splinter sighed and rubbed his temple as he felt the headache that had been developing while he wondered about Magnolia worsening. When he had first found her gone, he had had no idea of where she could have gone or why. He knew only that she was missing and could well be in trouble if she were on her own.
Now that Casey was trying to claim responsibility for this, it certainly complicated matters more for the rat. Maggie he had been prepared to deal with, since she was the only one he had thought was missing. With her, it was simply the process of finding out what had been going through her head and just how to handle her afterwards.
What to do with Casey Jones was an entirely different matter. Splinter knew that he held no authority over the human, even in his own home. For starters, he was not one of Splinter's students nor was he a youngster. Casey was a grown man who was free to do as he wished with his time.
Being a grown man didn't always mean that he was very wise in what he did with his days however. How he acted with Raph whenever they went out or when he was with other humans proved that easily enough. And now that he had taken Maggie out of her home without Splinter's permission that only added to the list of immature things that Casey did.
At this rate, Splinter realized he wasn't going to do get anything done if his attention was divided like this. He was going to have to find a way to deal with one thing at a time so that he could make sure everything was taken care of before it got out of hand again. So he decided that it was best to send Maggie to wait while he dealt with Casey.
"I will deal with you in a moment, Magnolia. Go wait in my study," Splinter ordered.
When he used that tone, the girl didn't need to be told twice. Casting a glance at Casey, Maggie hastily bowed to her Sensei and left. The two that remained behind watched her go with mixed emotions. Casey with the sense that he was sorry for having gotten her into trouble and Splinter with anger that she had gone off like she had.
Once Magnolia was out of earshot, Splinter returned his full gaze to Casey. His gaze hardened a great deal more so than it did when he was facing Magnolia. With her, the anger that came in his expressions were out of a parent's concern for the safety of his child. She was still young enough that there someone could easily hurt her if she were captured or cornered.
But in Casey's case, the anger that Splinter now felt flowing through him was that of outrage towards another adult who should have known better. Casey was well into his twenties and he knew the dangers that came from walking about the surface world at night. He should have known that taking in a child into that kind of atmosphere would do her harm.
It didn't matter that Casey had tried to take responsibility when he attempted to stick up for Maggie when Splinter scolded her. As far as he was concerned, Casey should have already done that before any of this happened. He should have been more responsible and come to Splinter, the parent, when his son went missing, instead of going to Maggie, the child.
In the back of his mind, Casey could sense the anger that was rising in Splinter. And that really scared him. Casey had seen how Splinter reacted whenever his sons did something stupid. He knew that though the rat was smaller than any one of them and looked frail, he could more than easily bring the Turtles down a few pegs. He could beat any of them down in a heartbeat and all the Turtles knew it. That was why they were always so nervous about getting on their Master's bad side whenever they went out. They knew a slipup would just end with them getting into trouble.
The Turtles were not alone in being exposed to that particular tone. Maggie too had more than once brought its sternness down upon her head for doing something foolish or for misbehavior. And just like her brothers, she had felt the full sting of it for whatever she had done.
That tone had only been turned towards Casey a few times since he had made friends with Raphael and his family. Those times had been when he had annoyed Splinter somehow in connection with his son and when they went out looking for punks' skulls to punch in. Splinter may have taught his sons how to fight and that they should use their skills to help those in need, but he had not taught them to go out seeking trouble.
When he went with Casey though, that was exactly what as happening. Instead of following what he had been taught, Raph chose to follow his own impulses and to do what he wanted. It hadn't always ended well and more than once brought about Splinter's disappointment.
It had also caused Splinter's irritation towards Casey to grow just a bit more. He had nothing against the human personally, but he knew that the man had a very strong influence on his son's behavior. Splinter knew that influence could very easily get his son intro trouble, as it already had.
I'm a dead man, Casey couldn't help but groan over and over as he looked into Splinter's eyes, I am such a dead man.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Jones?" Splinter asked.
"Guess I don't know where to start," Casey shrugged, feeling incredibly stupid saying that.
"It is often found that the easiest way to explain any story is by starting at the beginning, Mr. Jones," Splinter suggested.
It was so obvious that it felt stupid to hear it from Splinter. Inside, Casey was feeling like such an idiot. Once again tonight, he had managed to make himself look like a fool in Splinter's eyes. Not the best thing to happen when he was already digging himself a grave for taking off with Maggie.
"I lost track of Raph in the crowd and when I couldn't find him, I decided to come back here for help. Out of everyone, the furball seemed like the best one to ask," Casey explained.
"And what reasoning did you use to come to that conclusion, Mr. Jones?" Splinter said coolly.
"Well, uh, the kid knows what Raph smells like, so I thought she'd be able to track him real easy," the human gulped, naturally quelling under the rat's angry gaze," And, since she doesn't argue with him a lot, I thought he might listen to her better if there was any trouble. I mean, he definitely wouldn't listen to Leo's jabbering. Right?"
That last part had been a joke that he had desperately hoped that Splinter might find even the least little bit funny. He was sorely disappointed. Humor was the farthest thing from the rat's mind and expression as he listened to the human's words. If anything, it only seemed to annoy him more.
Which meant that it might be better to try a different tactic. Just what that was supposed to be, Casey had no idea. He really wasn't used to talking to Splinter on a topic like this, or any topic for that matter, so it was hard for him to know just what to say to Splinter. What he had managed to say so far had just been impromptu at best and even then it didn't seem to be helping much.
But it was just enough for now. For despite his present irritation with the man, Splinter listened to Casey's explanation without interruption. He was upset with the human for his part in this, but that would not prevent him from at least hearing Casey's side of things. That much was his right and Splinter would not be rude by ignoring that fact.
So he waited until Casey was finished before he said anything himself. When he spoke, his tone was kept the same as when he was speaking to one of his children after they had been caught during a 'crime'. Almost the same anyhow. There was an obvious difference now that he was speaking with Casey.
"Is that every reason why you asked my daughter for help?" Splinter asked stoically.
There were a million responses that Casey could have said to answer that question. Many of which were meant to cover both his hide and hopefully Maggie's. But as soon as he tried to say them, his mind went completely blank. Why, he couldn't really be certain.
Maybe it was because he knew that if he tried to just make something up or only tell a half-truth, the rat would know. Somehow, Splinter could always ferret out those sorts of things with immense ease. He certainly did whenever he was questioning his sons about their escapades on the surface.
And if he could do that with his sons, then there was no doubt in Casey's mind that he could do the same with him as well. So it was probably not a good idea to tempt fate and try to lie now. Better to just tell the whole story, be done with and still keep from getting any farther from Splinter's good graces than he already had.
"Well, I knew the kid wouldn't ask a lot of questions until we got started. She'd help me get the job done and wait till later before she started makin' a fuss about stuff," the human replied as confidently as he could.
"So you asked for her help because she knew how to track Raphael and because she would do as she was told and not cause you any trouble," Splinter translated.
Anything further that the human might have had up until that point suddenly fled him when he heard Splinter say that. It wasn't really the last thing that he had been expecting the rat to say, but it certainly wasn't among the foremost things on his list. And it was making him wonder just what he had to say now.
It was true enough though. As well as for the other reasons that he had enlisted her help, Casey really had thought that it would be easier to deal with Maggie since she was a kid and would supposedly do what an adult friend of the family told her. That had been part of the plan anyway.
If only Casey had known earlier that it was the furthest thing from the truth. If anything, Maggie had rarely done what he had told her tonight. Sure she had found the trail for them and led the way to Raph, but there were still those times when she had taken off without telling him. That was enough to make Casey realize that Maggie might have been doing that to help their search, but she wasn't always going to do what he told her.
"After tonight, believe me, that's the last thing I will ever think about that kid," he admitted to Splinter," She gave me enough heart attacks tonight that I know she'll do her own thing instead of listening to me."
"Heart attacks?" Splinter echoed.
If he had been better able to read the rat's emotions, Casey could have sworn that he sounded amused by the very prospect of Maggie causing the human trouble. It certainly would have been justly due for all the trouble Casey Jones had help to cause among the family tonight.
It was a feeling that wasn't even remotely shared with the human. Casey was more surprised than anything else. Oddly, getting this kind of reaction from Splinter reminded Casey of someone else he knew. He had just spent the evening with her, trudging through back alleys and through the sewers, carrying her heavy and unconscious idiot brother home. He had also been stuck with her running off half the time and nearly scaring him to death the rest of the time.
Now I think I know where the kid gets that weird mean streak of hers and it sure ain't from Raph, Casey thought.
Wisely, he didn't mention this feeling. He got the impression that if he did, Splinter just might forget his principles against harming a guest and just knock Casey upside the head with his walking stick. From the way he had seen the Turtles react when they got that retaliation, he knew that once again the rat could pack a punch with that stick.
Instead, he was just going to answer Splinter's question and leave it at that. It would both give the rat what he wanted to know and make sure that Casey still didn't tempt fate again that night. A win-win situation if there ever was one.
"When we were looking for Raph, she took off a couple times without telling me. I think it was 'cause she got a hold of the scent and wanted to be sure," Casey replied," But she never let me know before she took off, so it kinda.startled me when she did that."
That was really a major understatement and Casey knew it. He had nearly jumped out of his skin those times that Maggie had run off and then when she returned and snuck up behind him. But that was just something that he really didn't want to admit to. It would bring down his reputation as a tough guy too quickly and that was just a blow to his ego that Casey couldn't take.
True to his usual demeanor though, Splinter already caught onto what the human was feeling. His next words, as they had so many times before, proved as much. Which only led to Casey's greater embarrassment.
"You were afraid that she might get herself into trouble if she didn't tell you what was going on?" Splinter supplied.
Feeling his cheeks start to get a little hot, despite how hard he was trying to keep himself under control, Casey nodded mutely. He really wished that Splinter would stop doing that. Over and over again when he pointed out what Casey was thinking, it made the human feel like a little kid with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
"If that is the case, then in a way at least, you can understand the fear that I felt when I went to check on Magnolia this evening and found that she was not in her room," Splinter sniffed.
Scratching the back of his head, Casey nodded slowly," Yeah, I guess I kinda did feel that way."
He guessed that might have been the circumstances. It was true that Casey was worried about Maggie while she was with him. He knew that since she was his best friend's little sister, that he would have to keep an eye on her while they were out. That much he was aware of and acknowledged. But that wasn't the only reason why he got so edgy when the girl took off.
Privately, Casey had also been worried about what the rest of Maggie's family might say if she had gotten herself hurt while she was with Casey. Like the feline, he had known that there were certain risks entailed when it came to tracking down Raphael. He knew that they might run into some goons on the way or that they might find Raph in a deeper situation than anyone had anticipated. Both situations that could very easily put a youngster like Maggie into danger.
But because he had been more worried about Raph and making sure that he was still in one piece, Casey had mostly pushed those things aside. At the time, it had seemed like the right thing to do. But now, as he stood here facing what could easily become the irate Sensei of said girl, maybe it might have been better to consider a slightly different course of action.
"Now that you realize this, Mr. Jones, I hope that in the future you will come to me first if there is a problem concerning my sons. I do not appreciate a child being taken into the heavens know what behind my back," Splinter said.
"Yes sir," Casey gulped.
Once again, he was trying to use his head while dealing with Master Splinter. Somehow, it seemed best just to treat him with the utmost respect and pray that it might placate him even a little. That last part was very farfetched, but it wasn't too bad an idea. Anything that Casey tried now just might have prolonged his life for a bit longer than if he didn't try.
Splinter sensed this feeble attempt to make amends and he was willing to accept it. It didn't mean that he was completely willing to forgive Casey right away, but he was still willing to accept this as a start. At least it meant that the human was using his head for once.
Perhaps it is better for it to happen now than later, Splinter thought to himself.
He didn't say anything about that now though. No matter how appropriate it was, it would be rude to say so to a guest. Better to let him either figure it out on his own or just remain in ignorance. Instead, he decided that now might be a good time to both end this conversation and to put down the one restriction that he had the power to put upon Casey Jones.
"Perhaps it would be wise if you refrain from visiting us for a time, Mr. Jones. I think my children are going to need some time to think about what's happened and your presence might cause a distraction for them. That is not something they will be needing for now," Splinter sniffed.
There was no mistaking what the rat was telling Casey this time. He knew that until Splinter was feeling better towards him, that it wouldn't be safe for him to come around the Turtles' home for awhile. Not that it would be safe for him even then, considering the dark looks that Leo, Don, and Mikey had given him before they had carried Raph off.
Just like their brother, those three could easily hold a grudge for a long time when they wanted to. And just like Raph, they could be very nasty when it came time to take that grudge out on something. But unlike Raph, they didn't just rush into it and settle things with a few punches.
Those three could get downright serious when they wanted to take a grudge out to its fullest. They thought out what they wanted to do, making sure they got the details just right. Then and only then, would they strike and take out the grudge on the one who had started everything. Knowing all this, Casey had the feeling that the next few months for him would be uneasy at best.
"Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, sir," Casey nodded.
"Then I wish you a good evening, Mr. Jones. I am sorry that I cannot show you out, but I need to attend to my children. I am sure you understand," Splinter sniffed.
"Yeah, I do. Don't worry about me," Casey said hastily," You just go on and take care of Raph. I'll be okay getting out on my own."
Splinter only nodded and then turned to leave. He made a direct course for the train car that was his study. There he would first deal with his daughter's mistakes and then give her the necessary punishment. Afterwards, he would deal with Raphael.
Casey watched him go for a few seconds before turning to make his own escape. Part of him was actually surprised that he had managed to get out of this so easily. Well, if one could call a silent death threat from a Turtle trio and being warned off by a ninja master rat getting off easy. Which it really was, considering that those same certain people could have easily turned him into a bloody pulp the second everything had been sorted out.
A/N: Sorry to say it, but that's all I'm going to put up for now. I've got a bunch of other stuff going on right now, mostly school, and I don't have the time that I would like to work on my fics. But I'll get around to it eventually. And once again, thank you all for your patience about my updating. I do appreciate it.