Tranquilness

"You wanted to see me master?" Baxter Stockman asked rolling into Oroku Saki's main hallway. Oroku opened his dark eyes pulling out of deep meditation, ready for anything..he saw the mad scientist with the eye patch and robotic arm still in tact from his punishments of failing to defeat the turtles he so dearly wanted dead.

"I wanted to see how the mutant army is doing Stockman..I hope everything's according to plan." Saki said his voice as cold as ice. Stockman hesitated as he tried to find his voice.

"The...the plan is going well, but what if something..I mean if your greatness. Were to happen?" Stockman muttered sweat pouring onto his tanned skin.

"Has something happened you haven't had the head to inform me about?" Saki asked angrily.

"I said if.."

"Silence...you trog." Saki said heartlessly as he pounded the table. "How many countless hours I wanted to say this to you Oh the merciless thoughts I had to fight..how many sweet temptations I had for you to be pushed away..the enticing thoughts of murdering you I had to withstand, but as a fellow businessman I needed you for my plans of destroying the dastardly turtles, but still you HAVEN'T been successful. This time if you fail..."

"Sir! Our hunters captured two of the mutant creatures that escaped from the army's pad on the seventh underground." A Foot Technician reported dragging Roxanne's limp body in the net and Michelangelo in handcuffs into the room.

"So this is the happening you failed to report about." Saki hissed at Stockman.

"We'll take them to the base immediately." the Foot Technician answered. Saki motioned him to stop as he walked towards the two mutant animals. He paced towards Michelangelo and lifted his chin.

"Hey Shred Head..remember me?" Mikey shouted. Saki stared into space and looked away.

"Yes...the foolish wise cracker." Saki answered and turned towards the technician. "Tie them to the post...we'll use them as bait."

"Bait? For what sharks?" Mikey joked. Saki moved towards the door.

"Gag the turtle as well." he concluded and went down the elevator.

"I can't believe this happened...It should have been me that jumped into the van! I swore I'd take care of her." Leo stated to his brothers after the fight. Don put a hand on his brother's shoulder.

"You didn't need to take care of her..she could fend for herself." Don answered.

"Someone could have noticed that she was hurt! I feel it was my fault that she and Mikey got caught." Leo defended as they went back to the lair.

"It didn't have to end this way Leo..we all could have helped her." Don informed. "We all could have gave Roxy a hand..but she was fighting with us in our hearts."

"She's not dead Don." Raph insisted.

"Not like we know." Leo added.

"My sons..wait, another missing." the old rat realized, but then gave a little chuckle. "Don't tell me Michelangelo is playing a trick with the fox warrior?"

Leonardo was silent...he looked at his master and walked away. Splinter was awestruck and confused of his student's sudden feelings..Donatello was there to explain.

"Sensei, Mikey and Roxanne aren't coming back.." Don said sadly.

"The Foot captured them with their new elite of ninja." Raph continued for his brother. "But on the bright side we don't have to hear those puns Mikey's always dishing out."

"True, but his spirit will be lost." Splinter said looking over his shoulder at Leonardo. "And his won't be the only one in some hearts."

The lair was quiet that night, no loud music, no fighting or name calling, and no laughter. The place seemed empty while the turtles were scattered alone inside their rooms. Raph silently shuffled his feet along the floor in front of Mikey's pad looking inside every few minutes forgetting that he was a captive of the Shredder and stalked away.

Leo opened his eyes and looked down off the calm tranquil waters underneath the bridge hoping that he would be as tranquil as they were before. He just couldn't handle the thoughts that remained in his head, his brother and new friend were in Shredder's hands and knew that with Mikey hostage, the turtles might lose their spirits completely.

"Still upset huh." Don remarked with Splinter right beside him.

"It feels rather quiet without the Mikester here." Leo commented.

"I know.. I haven't been able to do some of my new inventions without Mikey looking over my shoulder." Don informed. " I guess I got so used to it that I kept looking over my shoulder every two minutes."

"It seems that everyone got so used to Michelangelo that his presence haunts us even when he is not there." Splinter mentioned philosophically. "I too have been unable to meditate without recollecting him causing interferences."

"We have to do somethin' about this!" Raphael shouted as he joined the others. "I'm getting paranoid in my own shell without that joker around."

"And somehow I miss Mikey too." Don recollected. "I even miss that fox..Roxy."

"It's because of her Mikey got caught with the Foot!" Raphael blurted punching the wall. "It's her fault all of this happened!"

"Raph, those Hunters were after her...it was only natural that they'd go find her." Don replied.

"Oh now she's your girlfriend too! Sheesh all this mess started with Roxanne." Raph remarked angrily. "Why don't we just leave that fuzz tail for the Shredder to skin and get back to the normal ninja butt kicking, space travelling, shell of a life."

"Roxanne isn't the only one that was kidnapped. If Shredder slices her neck..he'll probably slice Mikey's too, that's a turtle down and we don't want the lair like this the rest of our lives?" Leo notified, he turned to Master Splinter. "I don't know if you can find it in your heart, but we need to rescue both of them. Foot or not..I intend a full search and rescue mission."

"You don't need my heart's wishes my son, it is your decision...and I shall fight along beside you." Splinter said in a low voice putting a paw in Leonardo's open hand. "Let us get your brother and your friend back."