TMNT: Lullaby for Leo

Ch.13~ Liar

The small boy smiled as he sat in the back of the armored car, he was wearing his favorite outfit. A pair of cargo shorts, skateboard shoes, white socks, and red t-shirt the same color as his beloved Dad's mask. In his small green hands, he held a dart gun he planned to show his Dad.

He knew that his Dad was a ninja and was curious if his Dad could catch a dart fired from this. Along with testing this, he wanted to hear more stories from his Dad, he liked being able to spend his birthday with his Dad. Despite only spending one day out of every year with him, he loved his Dad and knew his Dad loved him.

Questions like 'why he couldn't stay with his Dad?' had plagued him for the last while. No one would answer him, they just said that he had to stay with the army men. This had not been the answer the young boy had been looking for, he had hoped for a real reason. Sadly no one had been willing to give him one, not even his Dad when he had asked him last year.

"It'll be another few hours till we arrive, do you need anything?" a soldier asked, the small boy looked at the man examining him.

"I'm hungry." the boy answered, the soldier searched his bag before pulling out a granola bar and tossing it at the boy who caught it with ease. "Thank you."

(Raph's POV)

"I have ta go Leo!" I yelled, he looked at me worriedly.

"Not until you explain this to me, Raph I'm here to help you, please let me help you, we can work something out together." he replied, grabbing my shoulders.

"Leonardo is right Raphael, tell us what is going on." Splinter added, I shook my head.

"You wouldn't understand!" I growled, struggling in Leo's iron grip.

"Then it explains it till we understand it Raph," Leo stated I bit my lip shaking my head as I began to shake.

"He'll kill him if I don't go, please Leo let me go!" I screamed, looking at him tears falling down my cheeks.

"Who will kill him?!"

"This is something I can't tell you... Please, Leo just let me go, I'll be back home before morning please just let me go..."

"Does it have to do with what happened to you?"

"Yes..."

"You'll come back home right."

"I will, this isn't the first time I've done this... Please Leo.. I won't even be going topside. Please... you have no idea how important this is."

Leo regarded me sadly, turning to father I saw father looking at me with worry. But he nodded slowly, and Leo sighed and pulled me into a hug.

"You can go, please just come home safe."

"I will..."

(Leo's POV)

I walked with Raph downstairs Mikey and Don looked at him worriedly. He smiled at them giving a small wave before dashing out of the lair. They looked at me confused, I flopped down on the couch placing a hand over my eyes. Please let him come home safe.

(Raph's POV)

Arriving at the spot they dropped me off at I folded my arms over my chest. Maybe I should have told Leo, I mean he did say he wanted to be Vincent's father. No; what am I thinking he would have never let me come if I told him and who knows what that monster would have done to Vincent. I shuddered at the thought of what that man could do to my son.

"Greetings Raphael." he greeted, I snarled at the man.

"Daddy!" Vincent cheered, running over to hug me.

Scooping him up in my arms I hugged my son close sparing on glare at the man. Holding him with one arm I tickled him playfully he giggled grabbing my wrist trying to stop my assault on his side. Poking his stomach, I stopped my tickling and messed with his jet-black hair lovingly.

"Happy birthday my darling boy," I said, nuzzling his cheek making him giggle.

"Goodbye Raphael." the man stated, I felt a jolt pass through me and I fell to the ground Vincent still in my arms. Damn him...

Opening my eyes again I felt a weight on my chest, looking down I saw Vincent lying on me unconscious. I shot up cradling my son as I checked his pulse. Good, it's steady, looking around I noticed none of the soldiers were there. Standing up I leaned against the wall my body still sluggish from the taser.

Why would that bastard just leave Vincent with me? What kind of goal could he achieve by giving him back to me? Growling I muttered a few choice swear words under my breath. Pulling out my cell I stared at it; should I call Leo.

Frowning I dialed Leo's number and put the phone to my ear, great how do I explain this. It's not I can just be like hey Leo can you come to the spot where you found me and pick up me and our son. I heard Leo pick up and I stiffened; here I go.

"Raph what's wrong are you okay?!" he questions worriedly.

"I'm fine can you meet me at the spot where you found me," I replied, best if he just see's this for himself.

"Sure, are you really okay?"

"Yeah... I'm fine please just trust me."

"I'll be there soon, okay."

"Okay."

Hanging up I slumped against the wall slowly putting my phone back in the pouch on my belt. Damn. There is no way in hell I'll be able to keep what happened a secret now. Looking down at Vincent I smiled softly, but this is what I always wanted. Still, this was fishy, why would he just hand over Vincent, is this some twisted game. If so I will not fall into his trap, he'll never see my son again, Vincent is staying with me.

(Leo's POV)

Approaching the spot, I frowned, to think after all the cruelty they dealt on Raph they dumped him here for me to find. Rounding the corner, I saw Raph leaning against the wall he was cast in shadows, but he was clearly holding something in his arms.

"Raph what happened?" I asked he shrunk back a bit.

"Just look." he stated, stepping into the light.

There in his arms was a small emerald skinned, black-haired long-tailed boy asleep in his arms. Was this Vincent? He looked at me expectantly as I stared in shock.

Composing myself I moved closer and reached out to touch the boy but Raph flinched back. I stopped but, in a few moments, he grabbed my hand and placed into on the boy's head. Gently I tousled the boy's hair, moving closer I put my other hand on the boy's cheek stroking it carefully.

"Is this?"

"Yeah this is Vincent, ain't he as cute as I told ya he'd be."

"Of course he is, how did..?"

"Every year on his birthday I'd leave home and come here and the man who took me would show up with Vincent. I'd hold him for a bit he knocks me out and I'd wake up here alone. But this time when I woke up Vincent was still in my arms. That bastard's planning something, I know it, but I have no idea what."

"Every year?"

"Yeah, I know it was risky and stupid but..."

"I get it, you had to make sure Vincent was alright."

"Yeah... How the fuck are we going to explain this?"