A/N: Have you remembered the time when I said that the story was almost reaching its end? (I think that was chapter 4) Hah.. Forget it. Things change, don't they? Let us just enjoy the new...thing, as of now. But don't worry. I'll stick with the plot. I give you, once more, big thanks for continuing to read! I also give my gratitude to all the reviewers who never fail to write their insights! I can't pinpoint every one of you, but of course, you know yourself, don't 'ya?

Read and enjoy! ;)

Chapter 9 ~

-'":;!?,.

No one among his brothers heard his voice.

-'":;!?,.

Raph

Raph's heart suddenly pounded the loudest. He couldn't explain his feelings right now. It was like, a thorn had been puncturing his heart. He instinctively stopped from running and he turned his back. He felt that someone was missing. Upon turning, what he saw was his extreme horror.

His mouth dropped open and his eyes narrowed. He could see his poor elder brother somehow stopped from his tracks and his eyes were dilated. He was also swaying like a drunkard. The other thing that feared him the greatest was not Tiger Claw only. Leo got barely a step left before falling down to the ground, and it seemed that he was completely unaware, or he was not conscious anymore. Damn that stab.

Raph felt the adrenaline shot through his body. With a blinding speed, he jumped from where he stood and flew back to the building where his brother stands. His sight was only focused on his way straight, as he yelled with boisterous voice. He tackled Leo, and the two of them rolled on the concrete surface of the rooftop.

The other three guys were startled by Raph's shout. They all stopped and turned their backs simultaneously, and their faces were all flabbergasted and covered with terror. Their eyes narrowed as they rushed at the corner of the rooftop. "Holy mackerel!" Mikey slapped his face and dropped his lower jaw open.

The red banded turtle caught Leo on his arms, carrying him- bridal style. He panted rapidly, as he narrowed his eyes once more. His bandana fluttered violently with the humid noon breeze as he turned his head over his shoulder to take a glance at Tiger Claw. The mutant tiger took the opportunity and sprinted faster. His face was lined with a smirk and his eyes were saying something. I'm gonna kill you.

His heart marched again, and sweat dripped on his forehead. He had to choose, and quickly. He barely had seconds to pick and respond to what was he thinking, and act based on it. He picked out a smoke bomb and slammed it to the floor. Within three seconds, the purple smoke would be able to hide their figures, and make a way to escape. Tiger Claw furrowed his brows and clenched his fists. His merciless eyes had flared once more, and now, he would not care for anyone's life. His heart was now covered with the hot blankets of anger and fierce, just enough to trigger his instinct as an assassin.

Raphael did the trick once more, but this time, he got much slower, and he felt like the ground was pulling them down instead of going up. His mind, as well as his body were now covered with terror. The moment turned into slow motion, as he tried to reach out a hand from anybody at the other building. Donnie stretched out his hand and used his bo staff as a help for Raph. Mikey and Casey held Donnie's ground, as Raph stretched a hand and gripped the wooden staff.

Carrying two shells is a problem! His left hand swiftly took its hold around the staff. Raph was safe now. His right hand was left to carry Leo's useless figure, and it was getting heavier and heavier. "Pull up! Hurry!" Raph yelled whilst his voice was trembling with mixed fear and fatigue. His right hand, which held Leo's right, was getting sweaty, and slowly loses its grip.

His brothers and his trusty friend pulled the staff with all their strengths, accompanied by several grunts. The two of them were pulled slowly to safety, and the sun was burrowing its way through Raph's eyes. "I said, HURRY!" The guys pulled them faster and stronger; to avoid another scolding from the red clad turtle.

Raph took a glimpse at Leo. When he saw his brother, he couldn't explain the sight, or anything that happened. Leo's head hung, as his chin met with his plastron. Raph could see the pain plastered onto his brother's face. His emotion was in spiral, and yet, he tried to do everything to make everyone of them safe.

Raph and Leo's shells were sliding against the wall, creating a sheer sound. Their shells were marked with several scratches, as well as the concrete wall, and Raph's left arm.

Finally, after several grunts and shouts, Leo and Raph were pulled to safety. They all panted heavily, whilst Raph kneeled on the floor and closed his eyes. He left Leo to Donnie and the others, whilst he tried to catch up for his breath.

"Raph..." Mikey placed his cold and trembling hand on Raph's shoulder. The red banded turtle turned his head and met Mikey's teary eyes. The orange clad's voice was ominous and nervous, which means only a thing- trouble. Raph's eyes narrowed again, and he swiftly dashed past Mikey.

Raph kneeled beside Leo and raised his brother's head a bit using an arm. "What?! What happened?!" Raph's emerald eyes narrowed with panic, as he tried to hold back his tears. He glanced at Leo's face, and then at Donnie. Leo isn't gone, is he? His heart was about to explode while waiting for Donnie's answer.

Don bit his lips and clenched his fists. "No, Raph. He's still alive, don't worry." Donnie said, soothingly, his voice very low. "But I don't think, he can continue this plan anymore. We need to get him back to the lair before it's too late." Donnie gestured at Leo's right arm, which made the eyes of the others to turn to it. "The cut reopened, and the blood is currently sprouting. The wound was stretched just a while ago, while you were holding him." Donnie's shoulder dropped. "All of the symptoms came out. Anxiety, restlessness, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, moist and clammy skin, bluish and pale skin, thirst, nausea and since it's severe, his unconsciousness."

Raph checked his own arm. From his skin, he saw the blood stain. Raph closed his eyes and creased his brows. I-it can't be. "What are you talking about, Donnie? That he ain't gonna live?"

Donnie inhaled. "It was shock, Raph. It happens when the circulatory system of a person is oxygen deprived. It is very dangerous. And deadly at the same time."

"We need to go away, Raph. Now..." Mikey's whisper was full of fear. He was starting to lose his hold of his tears, and anytime, he might burst into loud cries. He was not good in these rough situations. Raph and Leo were. If anything happens to his big brother, more likely, he wouldn't be able to bear it.

Donnie took a step forward. He knew this thing before it came. Leo was experiencing over fatigue, and the shock, which he was afraid of, finally took its place. The hot temperature, which resulted to dehydration, was another issue.

"We have no time!" Casey yelled, whilst pointing out a finger at the other rooftop. The three turtles gasped, and narrowed their eyes. They all saw Tiger Claw, preparing a leap and heading towards them.

Raph bowed his head down, as if he was surrendering from a war. He didn't know anything much more to do. Leading wasn't his field, and neither the decision making. He would rather sit down and twirl Mikey's nunchucks, while hitting his head. He would rather sneak into Leo's bedroom and meditate with him. But at this time, the choices were given to him, and he had no idea what to do. He sat still while supporting his fallen leader, and seemed to be calm, but deep inside, he was panicking; he was crying. He needed a help; he needed Leo.

Raph heard the heavy stomps from their front. It was their end, but at least, they would die together. He would die whilst carrying his dearest brother upon his arms. He didn't expect that their lives would end in the hands of a tiger, instead of the Shredder or the Kraang.

While Raph was losing hope, he heard his younger brothers and his friend, unsheathed their weapons and prepared themselves for a battle. He opened his eyes suddenly and saw that they were protecting them; their shadows covered the two of them at the back. The three stood there protectively, and stared at Tiger Claw with fires in their eyes.

The red banded turtle's eyes grew wide and guilt consumed him. He must be the one standing in front, instead of them. His self pitying could be set aside. A spark grew inside of him, as he slowly reached a hand on one of his sais. "Stay away, Tiger Claw. You have no right to hurt any of my brothers." Raph's cold voice said, as he stared at his fallen brother.

Tiger Claw's eyes grew wide for a second and then he smirked. The three others held their grounds and their weapons tightly. They creased their brows and stared at Tiger Claw with obvious hatred and disgust.

Technically, Tiger Claw had nothing to do with Leo's physical condition, but the fact that the one who did it was his soldier. He also showed that he wanted to kill the three youngest turtles, and aimed to capture Leo. More importantly, he was sent by Shredder. Those reasons were good enough to hate the tiger. Hate him from the deepest parts of his innards.

Raph stood up and carried Leo. His head was still lowered and his eyes were closed tightly in their sockets. He need to fight for his brothers' lives. Without Leo as their foundation, being the oldest at this time (excluding Casey), the responsibility was on his hands. The determination given by Leo to them during every battle they encounter must be seen within him, even if it was not the best he could give.

Raph went at one corner of the rooftop, without opening his eyes a bit. Tiger Claw followed his movements by moving his eyes with a raised brow. He didn't decide to attack Raph on that situation. He wanted to see them suffer instead, which he obviously saw from Raph. He wanted to see a painful death from one of the most annoying enemies he had ever encountered. The last laugh is mine.

"Leave everything to me, brother. I'll make sure he will gonna regret bumping into us." Raph whispered, while laying down Leo gently on the warm surface of the rooftop. He had no options beside that corner. Wherever he turned his head, all he could see were the bright rays of the sun, which makes everything around hot. He elevated Leo's legs an angle and his spine aligned, the basics of first aid. This would prevent the blood from draining and going to the patient's lower body, but into the heart.

The red banded turtle unsheathed his twin sais from his side and twirled them, expertly. He glared at the tiger, and pointed the tip of his weapon at the enemy. Tiger Claw glared back and smirked. Raph ran and yelled to charge Tiger Claw, which triggered the battle.

Tiger Claw swiftly dodged the first of Raphael's attack. The three others took a step back and went at different directions around the tiger. Raph gritted his teeth and lowered his body, his torso almost reaching the ground with about half a foot.

"Why don't you just surrender your brother to me so no one gets hurt?" Tiger Claw said, tauntingly, while rubbing his fist with a paw.

"Why don't you just go back into the zoo where you came from?" Raph spat back and quickly landed a spinning kick at Tiger Claw, which was easily dodged by the enemy. The red banded turtle's fuse was slowly consumed which made his rage building. None of his hits landed Tiger Claw, and whatever effort he tried to make, wasn't working. Maybe Tiger Claw was really a lot better than him. Or maybe he was just making himself deceived by this tiger, which, to the tiger's much delight, was really working.

"Raph! We need to work together!" Donnie yelled, whilst the three of them were watching Raph battle Tiger Claw alone, since they cannot sneak any attack because Raph himself never lets them by glaring. He made himself consumed by his anger and became his weakness.

"I think, he didn't hear us." Mikey raised a brow and pouted.

"You're right. He didn't even try to turn his head and meet us. Are we invisible?" Casey growled lowly behind his mask.

"He's just crazy. Let us just help him whether he sees us or not." Donnie said, with a hint of whining.

The three of them formed a circle, surrounding Tiger Claw. They all spinned their weapons expertly, without any rush. A grin formed on the tiger's face. This is just getting started. He was wrong about these turtles and their friend. They were fun. They were just like a bunch of little kids that could be his training dummies.

The three of them attacked Tiger Claw using their weapons. Mikey was the first to charge with his nunchucks, successfully hitting Tiger Claw's head. "Eat that, cat!" Tiger Claw smirked, his smirk saying, Is that all you've got? Mikey's eyes grew wide and before he spotted the incoming attack from the tiger, he was hit painfully on his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him and sending him flying towards the wall.

"Mikey!" Donnie and Raph yelled, as they creased their brows. Donnie charged forward and twirled his Bo staff. Raph tackled him, and attacked Tiger Claw by himself. "Raph! What are you doing?!" Donatello shouted angrily at Raph. The red banded turtle pretended that he did not hear his younger brother and continued to fire punches at Tiger Claw, which were not all successful.

"I said, we must work together! You won't be able to beat him by yourself!" Donnie yelled at the back, whilst trying to get a chance to hit Tiger Claw.

"Listen to your little brother, turtle. He's right. You can't beat me." Tiger Claw continued to dodge Raph's attacks.

"No!" Raph shouted and twirled his sais as he jumped backwards and gathered strength. He aggressively ran towards the tiger with blinding speed. Tiger Claw smirked and waited for Raph to go nearer. He waited for the right time and examined the turtle's movements carefully.

When Raph was about a feet far, Tiger Claw swiftly grabbed the turtle's leg, spanned him like a rope, and threw him near the spot where Mikey slammed. The impact cracked the wall badly, as Raph lost his hold of his consciousness and his body slid limply.

Mikey crept towards Raph and shook him. "Raph! Hey bro, speak to me!" Raph only moaned and twisted his face, which indicated that he felt pain.

"You're too showy, tiger!" Casey tried to release a blow at Tiger Claw with his hockey stick, but he was quickly swiped out of the tiger's way with a slash of the arm.

At the same time, Donnie took several steps towards Raph and checked him. Unbeknownst to him, Tiger Claw was aiming a blow to him on his head.

Mikey was too busy with Raph to see it and warn Donnie. Instead, Raph gained consciousness, in time when Tiger Claw had barely a second left to hit Donnie. "No! Donnie, look out!" He stretched out a hand, but he wasn't able to save Donnie from the hit. The purple banded turtle was directly hit on his head. He crashed painfully to the concrete floor, his face hitting the ground first. He lay on the floor, and seemed lifeless. Tiger Claw stepped on to Donnie's shell, and grabbed a gun from its holster and aimed it to the turtle's head.

Raph and Mikey's eyes narrowed and the color of their faces drained. Mikey trembled violently, as he bursted into voiceless tears. Don't please...don't.

"One turtle down, two more to go." Tiger Claw grinned and slowly pulled the trigger.

-'":;!?,.

A/N: No... What will happen to Donnie?! o_O

OMG. I am starting to think that I'm the meanest person around here. Firstly, this is the shortest chapter. Secondly, I wrote this like...meh.. Lastly, I stopped right here! I only wish that you won't hate me. It's just... I'm too stressed, anxious and tired. School is torture! Stage play here, cheerdance competition there and practices around! I hope you'll understand. ;) I promise to make up with you.