Chapter 9:

Danni and Raph were arguing in the battle shell,

" No! We should go through the front, beat up anyone we see then rescue them."

" No! We should go through the back for a surprise attack. More rescuing and less fighting!" Danni argued, as they continued to argue, behind them Don and Mikey were shaking their heads. "Guys!" Don braised himself in between them, "Here's what we're going to do," he began and lead them all over to a computer. "Ok, if you look here.." Don pointed on the computer screen, " Here is a vent that's not far from where Cindy and Leo might be."

" So, all we got to do is crawl through the air vent, bust in and save them. Easy!" Mikey smiled.

" No, there's bound to be a trap." Don reminded them. " Here's what we do, we go into the air vent.." Don began.

" Then we.. Bust into the room where Leo and Cindy might be.." Mikey continued.

" And rescue them." Danni finished.

" And what if they aren't in that room?" Raph asked.

" We'll just have to come up with a different plan." Don replied and put on a head set. " Here, in case we get separated." Everyone took a head set out of his hand and slipped them on.

" Lets go!" Raph said and lead the way to the building.

Men were in the cell grabbing Leo and Cindy,

" Arg!" Cindy groaned in pain as one of the men electrocuted her then tied her hands behind her back. Leo was also groaning as he also got electrocuted, they were both dragged out of the cell but two men each. Leo struggled, he got a good base before he jumped in the air kicking the men off him, then threw himself into one of the men that was holding Cindy. Once half of her body was free, she hooked her leg around the man holding her and tripped him up.

Leo had gotten to his feet as foot ninjas began to appear, he continuously moved from side to side dodging swords and weapons that the ninjas were attacking with. He then turned to his side and a sword cut his hands free, he punched one of the ninjas up the face as hard as he could then picked up two swords and ran over to Cindy.

Cindy jumped over a ninjas widening her legs as she did, then quickly spun around and kicking a ninja away from her. She landed on the floor and Leo stopped next to her,

" Hold still!" he said and slashed at her bound hands, the rope fell from her wrists.

"Thanks."

" Come on." he said and spun the swords in his hands. Cindy nodded and leaped at a ninja, she pinned him down and punched him in the face. He bucked her up, grabbed her arm and threw her off him. Cindy landed on her front and groaned.

" Arrg!" she growled with frustration. Two green feet appeared in front of her, she looked up and saw Raph, Don, Mikey and Danni. Danni got her claws ready and slashed at ninjas, whilst Don and Mikey pulled out their weapons and attacked ninjas.

" Need a hand?" Raph offered, he pulled Cindy to her feet as Don, Mikey and Danni were in battle.

" How'd you find us?" she asked him.

" Ask Don. Now, lets give them a serious butt kicking!" Raph growled and pulled out his sai's and joined the others.

" Hey Cind!" Don called out. She turned and looked at him, " Catch!" he shouted and threw her, her sword. She caught it and pulled it out of it's sheath.

" Ahharrgg!" Leo screamed out in pain, everyone but the ninjas turned and saw Leo fall to the floor.

" Lee-ooo!" Cindy screamed and ran over to him. She threw her sword to the ground and held his face in her hands.

" Leo.." she said near braking point. His face was turning a pale green. She saw blood escaping his side. "No! Hold on!" she begged.

" Come on! Don't just sit there!" Mikey said and Pulled Leo up onto him and carried him off, Cindy picked up her sword and fought off ninjas that were trying to attack them.

" Come on!" Danni said and pulled Cindy with her as they retreated.

Don and Cindy were knelt down beside Leo in the Battle Shell, Don was sewing Leo's wound whilst Cindy held instruments that he needed and when her hands were free she held onto Leo's hands. He was unconscious from blood loss. Raph was driving them back to the lair.

" Is he going to be ok?" Cindy asked Don, Don looked at her with fear and hope in his eyes.

" I hope so.. If he makes it through the night. He's lost a lot of blood." Cindy had tears forming in her eyes and running down her cheeks. She then felt Danni's hand on her shoulder.

" He'll be fine!" she told Cindy, with hardly any concern in her voice, but that was Danni. Always the same expression on her face, hardly showing her emotions unless the time called for it. Cindy turned and looked at her sister with tears running down her cheeks.

" Thanks." she smiled for a few seconds before she turned back around and looked at Leo. She stroked his still face and tried to smile but her face wasn't doing what it was meant to.

" It'll be ok." Don said to her, he reached over Leo and placed his hand on her shoulder. She placed her hand over his and took it as a comfort, she smiled once again as more tear rolled down her cheeks and Don whipped them away with his thumb.

" Leo's strong, he'll make it." Mikey said. Cindy had to hope for the best and think positive but her mind was clouded with such horrible thoughts, it made her feel raw inside. The battle shell turned a corner and arrived outside the warehouse, the warehouse door opened automatically opened and Raph drove in. For the whole trip he didn't even once peek to see how Leo was doing. He couldn't bare it if he lost one of his brothers, or if Cindy lost someone she loved. But the main thing that made him cross and upset was that he might loss one of his brothers to the foot! If Leo died, Raph would not rest till he was avenged. If the foot messed with his family, they mess with him!

" We're here." he told everyone and removed his seat belt and headed straight for the lair, without helping the others.

" Wha- why isn't he helping?!" Cindy growled as she helped Don and Mikey hold Leo.

" He's upset, he's probably the closes to Leo. He couldn't bare it if Leo died." Don explained.

" Yeah, last time Leo was in this condition, he wouldn't leave his side and he was the one who gave Leo the head start of healing." Mikey continued as he and Don lifted Leo out of the vehicle and slowly took him in the lair with Danni close behind. Cindy didn't need to help with Leo so she walked with Danni.

" You ok?" Danni asked.

" I'll be fine." Cindy replied.

Raph stormed into the lair and sat on the sofa,

" Something troubling you, my son?" Splinter asked and sat next to Raph.

" It's Leo.. He's been stabbed by the foot and I couldn't even help him!" Raph growled.

" I sense guilt but not anger, why do you torture yourself, my son?"

" It.. Was my fault.."

" Was it? Truly? Look deep into your heart, Raphael. If you truly feel it's your fault, then maybe you could relieve yourself of this guilt then help your brothers and Cindy care for him. Like you have done before."

Raph looked to the floor.

" You helped him heel before, do it again." with that, Splinter left to see his inured Son. Leo had been up in his own room, a blanket was put over him and everyone was standing about.

" My son.." Splinter said and touched Leo's arm.

" He's been stabbed." Don said.

" I suggest we all take shifts of looking after him. He is very weak." Splinter advised.

" I'll tale the first one." Cindy offered immediately.

" Uh Cindy.." Danni began.

" What?"

" Cind, you need rest. Maybe someone else should do the first shift." Don said.

" No! I want to be with him!" she sat down next to him and watched over his still body.

" My sons, Danni, let us leave them in peace." Splinter said and left the room, and the others followed.

" Well.. I'm going back to my apartment." Danni said and stretched.

" Aint you gonna stay here with Cindy?" Mikey asked.

" No, if she wants to talk. She knows where I am. Bye." With that, she left without a word. Raph was slowly walking towards his brothers.

" H-how's Leo?" he asked quietly.

" Well.. If he makes it through the night then.. He lost a lot of blood." Don replied.

" Cind is in there with him now." Mikey said. Raph nodded and walked into the room. Cindy turned her head and saw him.

" Hi.." she said without smiling.

" You ok?" he asked and sat down next to her. Cindy sat there still for a few seconds before she burst into tear and leaned on Raph.

" I don't want to loose him!" she sobbed. Raph wrapped his arms around her.

" It's ok, I won't let that happen. Leo will live through this." he assured her.

How could he make such a promise to her? Cindy thought, but she took it as a kind of comfort.