A/N: I'm gonna dedicate this chapter to my long-suffering hubbie. Thanks to his creative efforts I've got around another seven months of my hormone induced creative flurry to get the rest of this series finished before the old routine of midnight nappy changes and 3am feeds reduces me to a slobbering mess incapable of intelligible conversation, let alone writing! Hehehe, looking forward to it immensely!

A/N 2: Just wanna be boring and thank The REAL Cheese Monkey, artykidd and cynlee for the reviews once again. Getting the email alerts for these really is a highlight of my day! Sad, I know. But hey, at the moment I'm a boring housewife with two hyperactive sons, my other highlights include getting through lunch without having to mop the floor afterwards, and being able to sit on the couch for more than 5 minutes without being dive bombed!

Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT, or any related characters (much to their relief, I'm sure!) If there is anything else in this story you recognise from somewhere else, then I don't own that either.

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"You just fuckin' left her there!" Leo realised he'd lost count of how many times he'd wished his sensei had let him report in private. But Splinter had insisted there be no more secrets regarding this girl and asked Leo to report in the lounge area where all could have their input, however vulgar.
"It was what she wanted Raph." Leo's internal struggle to keep his calm was barely visible to his family as he clenched his fists under his crossed arms even tighter.
"To hell with 'what she wanted'! How could you leave a girl that's had the crap beaten out of her, alone, with half the street scum in this city after her, on a fuckin' night like this?" As if to emphasise Raphs' animated speech a low rumble of thunder echoed distantly through the lair from the surface above, the lights dimming momentarily in concert with the sound.

"My son, calm yourself." Splinter interceded.
"NO! You damn well did this on purpose, didn't you?" Raph all but spat in Leo's face. Leo felt his restraint start to crack, returning his brother's scowl eye-to-eye.
"What the hell did you expect me to do? Drag her back here kicking and screaming? It's over Raph. And it's what she wanted. You can't blame me for that."
"Wanna bet? Ow!" The end of Splinter's walking stick rapped Raph sharply over his knuckles before he could finish drawing his sai.
"Damn." Raph muttered darkly as he clutched his stinging hand, sucking on his knuckles to dull the pain. The end of Splinter's cane resting lightly on his chest was enough to make Leo back down, dropping his fists back to his sides from where he had started to reach for his own weapons.

Splinters' tone was stern.
"Raphael, in this Leonardo is right."
"You always think Leo's friggin' right…" Raph muttered, his fierce look still directed at his brother. Splinters' own eyes narrowing at his sons' insolence, he raised his cane again to ward off Leo's response.
"No. I do not. But in this instance it is obvious that it was Tausha's decision to leave. Would you have your brother dishonour her wishes?" Knowing his answer would, at best, just earn him a longer lecture and a dozen extra flips Raph turned his back, silently mouthing a particularly obscene rant complete with vicious hand movements. Splinter let him vent for a moment before drawing him back to face him with a gentle but insistent hand on his arm.

"Perhaps this is for the best, my son. Surely it is in her interest to escape her Father."
"Damn straight, but just how far does 'wonder-boy' here think she's gonna get, huh? When her body turns up floatin' in the Hudson, it's gonna be on your fuckin' conscience bro. And I'm gonna make sure you damn well feel it!" Raphs' hand tightened around the hilt of his sai again.
"No, it won't Raph. It was her choice, not mine. Just because you're being a jackass about it doesn't change that."
"Grrrr!" Raph launched his attack. However, the point of Splinter's walking stick nudged under his chin brought him up short. At a sharp glance from his master, Leo re-sheathed the blade he'd drawn to defend himself.

"Enough. I will not have you two fighting over this any longer. What is done is done. Leonardo, fifty flips at this end of the dojo, plus two for swearing." With a quick bow for his sensei, and a dirty look for is brother, Leo complied. Splinter dropped his cane, releasing Raph's chin.
"Raphael, fifty flips at the far end of the dojo, plus eighteen for swearing. Go. Now." With a feral growl Raph obeyed. Don ducking his head to the side, well out of harms way, as Raph punched the end of the couch in passing. Splinter observed them from the ledge behind the sofa as they commenced their punishment before he continued, sternly addressing all of his sons.

"I do not wish to there to be anymore arguments, taunts or other trouble regarding this situation. If there are, the ones involved will undertake one hundred flips each. Regardless of whom the perpetrator is. Is this clear to all of you?"
"Yes Sensei." Leo barked between flips. The same answer was given, a little less strenuously, by the two peering over the back of the couch. Raph just grunted what Splinter took to be an affirmation.
"Good." With a frustrated sigh Splinter headed into the kitchen to prepare a much needed pot of tea.

"Gees! Women, you can't live with 'em…, eh?" Mike whispered cheekily to Don.
"Yeah, and it's a heck of a lot safer living without 'em!" Don grinned weakly back.
"Hehe. Ya gotta admit though, they certainly are good for entertainment value!" Mike's grin widened even further as Don sceptically shook his head.

"…forty eight…forty nine…fifty. Augh, finally!" Raph paused to stretch and shake out his arms and legs for a moment, before starting on his extra flips. The exercise had tired him a little, taken the edge off his battle lust, as it was meant to do. However, Raph still felt a tension in his muscles, an urging for action he just couldn't shake. He glared over towards the rest of his family settled in front of the TVs. Leos' profile as he sat on the lawn chair, still rubbing down his own limbs after his exertion, re-ignited Raphs' anger. Fists clenched he stalked towards the dojo wall, getting back into position to complete his punishment. The rough brick ignored the scowl he gave it before he flipped away backwards.

"…eleven...twelve…" The pause between each count was getting longer. His family ignored it, probably thinking he was just getting tired when, in fact, he was starting to pace slightly as he returned to his starting point. His counts still being spoken out loud enough for Splinter to hear, now interspersed with evil mutterings under his breath.
"…fourteen…damn friggin' Leo, thinks he knows everything…fifteen…well 'e doesn't, he's got no idea, no friggin' idea at all…sixteen…grrr, what I'd give to beat some friggin' sense into that over blown, pompous, self-friggin'-righteous…seventeen…argh, why can't they see that this just isn't right?...eighteen!" Raph lent his back against the wall, head and shoulders aching slightly at the chill touch to his warmed skin. However, the cool of the brick failed to make much impact on the heated anger coursing through him.
"This just isn't right at all."

A sudden conviction to do something, anything, locked in Raphs' mind. Glancing around, he dismissed trying to get to the elevator with a simple dash. In its position next to the TVs there was a good chance his brothers could jump him and stop him getting out that way. But time was of the essence. He didn't contemplate why, or even what he was really going to do. He just needed to get out, and get fast, now.

Over towards the sewer entrance he spied Mikeys' old hover board amid the jumble of regular skateboards, bikes, large boots and other detritus that seemed to gather next to the door. That particular toy was currently gathering dust as Don had refused to repair one of the jet packs. It had developed an uncontrollable wobble after yet another altercation where Mike had been forcibly removed from the device as he'd buzzed everyone in the lair.

Closing his eyes as far as he could whilst still being able to see slightly, hoping it would look to his family as if he were just resting against the wall, Raph waited. Only the tops of Mike and Dons' heads were visible where they were still sat on the couch. Gradually Leo relaxed back on the lawn chair, getting engrossed in the cheesy horror flick they were watching. It featured a leather-clad, sword wielding vampire chick fighting other immaculate looking bloodsuckers and a variety of other supernatural beasties.

After a few more minutes Splinter finally leaned forward to pour himself another cup of tea from the pot on the table. Whilst his Father's view of the dojo was temporarily blocked by the couch Raph made his move. Quick and silent, he was at the sewer entrance before anyone even noticed he had left the dojo wall. The clatter as he yanked the hover-board out of the pile got their attention though. Ignoring their yells and commands to stop he was out the door and running down the tunnel, desperately trying to get the jet packs to start up after weeks of neglect.

Instantly realising what their hot-headed brother was up to Leo, Don and Mikey launched themselves after him. First through the door Mikey led the charge as he spotted the unmistakable glow of the jet packs igniting down a nearby side tunnel. The three set off in hot pursuit, being guided by the flicker of light and noise from the small engines. A few minutes and many twists and turns later they skidded into a large tunnel. Leo smirked as he realised Raph must have forgotten the next side tunnel along had recently been blocked off by maintenance workers. The noise and glow emanating from the now shallow passageway betrayed his location.

With a triumphant "A-HA!" Leo leapt into the alcove, confusion quickly giving way to anger as he spotted the hover-board jammed into the wooden blockade, no Raphael in sight.
"Oh gees, with that unstable booster Raph could have given us the slip at any point! The hover board may have just been turning itself at random…"
"I needed to know that five minutes ago, Don." Leo scowled, already trudging past his brothers to begin back tracking their route for signs of where Raph had deserted. Hastily Don retrieved the board and followed his brothers back the way they had come.

Half way back to the lair they ran into Splinter. Using his sensitive sense of smell he pointed out an alternative route for them.
"My sons, quickly, I believe he exited this way." Hastily Splinter led them through the labyrinth, turning into a narrow tunnel that terminated with an open manhole. The run off from the street added to the deluge pouring through the opening. Without pause Leo scaled the ladder, realising it exited in the street a short distance from their warehouse. He managed to duck his head back just in time to avoid the wake as Raph sped past on the Shell Cycle, though he still copped most of the greasy water as it fell into the manhole.

"Argh! That little… He's for it now!" Leo vowed as he scrambled out onto the street, running straight for the warehouse, and the Battle Shell. After sharing a quick concerned glance Don and Mike followed.
"Take care, my sons!" Splinter called after them.

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The driving rain hadn't let up at all, though with his speed it helped to keep him inconspicuous to the few other drivers braving the streets at this late hour. The wind chill as he sped throughout lower Manhattan had him shivering so badly he had almost lost control of the bike a few times.

Luckily, he'd managed to run into a couple of small groups of Dragons. The quick, savage skirmishes helping to warm him for a while before the chill set back in as he roamed the streets. He had no real idea where to look. Leo had run into Tausha in Chinatown almost four hours ago, so he was sure she would be a fair way north of there by now. However, he had traversed nearly every street between there and Times Square with no luck.

He tried to comfort himself with the thought that she had probably made it to the bus port and was already heading out of the city. But instead of making him feel relieved, the idea that she was gone for good just left him with a disturbingly hollow sensation. As he made another sweep through Times Square, past the Port Authority Bus Terminal, a red light warned him he was running low on fuel. There was just enough left for him to make it home.
"Damn it! Why can't anything go friggin' right for once?"

He pulled into a narrow alley to park up and ponder his options for a moment. He didn't get much of a chance as the storm unleashed a torrent of hail. The alley didn't offer any real protection from the onslaught. Grabbing a sodden cardboard box from a nearby trash pile Raph ripped it open and flung it over his bike, huddling between the vehicle and the alley wall under the makeshift roof. The hail struck the cardboard with such force it started to disintegrate where he held it aloft over his head.

Glancing about for some other means of protection he spotted a drainage grate a short distance away, and decided to make a run for it. Luckily the metal grid welded over the opening was practically rusted through. One sharp jerk with his sais ripped it open enough for him to drop through into the shelter below. He quickly took off his helmet, the tinted visor making it difficult to see in the gloom. Rubbing his arms to bring some warmth back to them and feel out where they had been bruised by the falling ice, he wandered down the small flooded tunnel. The chill water starting to reach past his knees, he searched for somewhere a little drier to wait out the hail storm.

The larger tunnel his subsidiary fed was flooded almost as badly. However, off to his right he spotted the squared entrance to a service tunnel that was still around two feet above the current water line. Fording the underground stream Raph hauled himself up into the comparatively dry passage, finding it led to a large plant room filled with disused generators.

Exhaust vents in the ceiling allowed a small amount of light to filter into the room. Wanting to keep moving to warm himself and prevent his muscles getting too stiff, he started to search for a tarpaulin or something dry and hopefully reasonably clean to wrap himself in. He paused for a moment as he thought he heard a faint scuff from the far end of the room. Dismissing it for probably just being a rat, he continued his search. The sound of a stifled sneeze made his head snap up. It definitely wasn't a rat.

Quietly placing his helmet on the floor he drew a sai into his right hand and stealthily advanced towards the source of the noise. He was certain it came from behind a large metal fuel tank in the back corner. Crabbing across the front of the tank to avoid being seen, he grabbed a metal support strut to swing himself round, adding impetus to his strike as he invaded the gap. Somehow he managed to stop himself, the tip of his weapon less than an inch from her good eye.

She didn't make a sound, just stared at the metal like a rabbit at headlights. She held her ninja-to off to one side with both hands, as if ready to thrust it at her attacker. However, they stood frozen for a moment, until Raph all but tossed his sai aside, horrified by what he had almost done. Snapped from her trance she glanced uncertainly up at him before dropping her own weapon with a clatter. Eyes downcast, she stood dejected before him.

Shocked at seeing the actual damage to her face, Raph reached out his trembling right hand to cup her pale cheek. Gently he ran his thumb beneath a small, but relatively fresh cut just in front of her ear.
"They were already waiting for me there…" she mumbled. Silent tears coursed down her cheeks at the admission.

A tumult of emotions; the hurt of her almost leaving, the horror of seeing her like this, his anger and frustration, all balled themselves into a knot that wedged itself so tightly in his throat he could barely breath. The ache forced tears to burn in his eyes. All he wanted to do was lock his arms around her, protect her. But she looked so fragile he was afraid any kind of pressure would make her crumble like dust.

It wasn't a conscious act. He was almost surprised to find himself doing it. But he needed to let her know, somehow, that he cared, everything was going to be alright. Her eyelashes tickled slightly, fluttering against his lower lip as he touched the lightest of kisses to her swollen eye. He pulled back slightly to see her reaction. She stood stock still, barely seeming to breathe. Although she had closed her eyes, she didn't seem angry or disgusted.

Gently he pressed another light, hesitant kiss on her damaged cheek, tasting the salt of the tears beneath her eye. As he withdrew his lips again she almost imperceptibly lifted her head. Slowly he moved down her cheek, kissing away the tracks of her tears, each light touch lingering a little longer than the last, especially as he reached the corner of her mouth. The feel of her lips next to his own sent a thrill through his body. Unconsciously he gripped the metal strut he still held a little tighter, moved his right hand along her jaw a little until his finger tips brushed her hair.

As he pulled away she moved slightly to face him a little better. Cautiously he placed his next kiss gently on her lips. A pounding in his chest and between his ears almost threatened to overwhelm him as she tentatively returned the pressure.

"RAPHAEL!" shattered the moment.