Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the property of Viacom, Nickelodeon, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird and all organizations associated with said names. This is non-profit.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Exile
by BrownEyedBirdie

Author's Note: And welcome again! Did you enjoy the last chapter? Too silly? Not silly enough? Well, this one is a bit more on track of a genuine narrative, plus it's going to answer a few more plot points that have come up. Weiterlesen!

Chapter 8 – Gold

In the first few days of February, the cold finally broke and the air began to feel slightly less bone chilling. Still the temperatures were not warm enough for the Turtles to spend more than a few hours at a time. They began to wear blankets that they fashioned into large winter suits.

"Man, we look like monkeys," Mikey complained, itching at the wooly blanket. But he did his patrols all the same and was usually sweating by the end. With the break in the cold also came bad news. The power grid Donnie had set up was not performing consistently and it caused power surges that sporadically blew fuses on the farm house. Donnie had been touchy since hearing about E.P.F. and its mission against the Kraang. With the power grid no longer working, Donnie became even more short-tempered.

"It's like having another Raphael around," Mikey commented softly one evening as Donnie stormed out to replace yet another fuse.

April became increasingly more concerned about Donnie's behavior, but found no chance to talk to him about it as he seemed to be constantly avoiding her.

"Give him some space," Raph advised everyone, "He's got a lot on his plate with Leo, being in charge and now managing our power source."

The first week in February, Donnie showed signs of the first pleasant mood as he came in from the kitchen.

"The crack in Leo's shell has healed nicely," he said.

"Awesome!" Mikey shouted. Raph sighed happily.

"I want to try and get him hydrated," Donnie continued, "But I'm not ready to submerge him yet. That'll come later when it's warmer. Right now, I think we could just wipe him down."

"I'll do that," Raph said, "As a matter of fact, I want to talk to you about that Donnie."

"Okay," Donnie said, "I think I want to move him upstairs too. He'll be more comfortable and closer to the tub."

"He can use my room," April said.

"Are you sure, April?" Raph asked.

"I'm fine," April said, "I think I'd prefer to be downstairs with everyone else for now anyway."

"Okay," Donnie said, "Let's move Leo upstairs. But carefully because he's still got a lot of internal damage that I'm not sure of."

At that moment, the lights went out again.

"Oh, sewer bunnies!" Donnie shouted and stormed out.

"So much for his good mood," Mikey said. The rest of them carried Leo gently upstairs and tucked him into April's bed.

"I'm going to go down and check the chickens," Mikey said, "That farmer's market thing is tomorrow. I hope we've got enough."

April followed him out the door.

"April, when Donnie comes back in, send him upstairs, okay?" Raph said.

"Okay," April said.

As April went downstairs, she heard Casey shout from the kitchen. She ran the rest of the way and gaped. There was a basket filled with eggs. Mikey was just carrying in a second basket.

"I can't believe there are so many," April said, "It looks like it's over 100 eggs."

"Crazy layers," Casey said.

"There's a bit more out there," Mikey said, "Probably another basket full. I'll bring them in after I get warm."

"No, I'll do it," April said, "Help Casey put them in the packages for tomorrow."

Donnie comes in, his teeth chattering and he stamps his feet free of snow.

"I swear I'm going to get this working," he said with a shiver, "If I could only find another way to provide power. Like a generator or something."

"You'll figure it out, Donnie," April said, "You always do."

Donnie looked at her with an odd expression and April cleared her throat.

"Raph is upstairs with Leo," she said, "He asked you to come upstairs."

"Oh, okay," Donnie said. He quickly left the room. April stared after him sadly.

Donnie found Raph in the bathroom, wetting a towel.

"You needed to see me," Donnie said.

"Donnie, I want to talk to you about Leo," Raph said, "I think I want to look after him myself."

"Alone?" Donnie said in surprise.

"I know you'll still have to check on him," Raph said, "And that's fine, but I want to do most of the work. I kind of feel like I owe it to him now."

Donnie looked at Raph with a level gaze that Raph recognized for assembling puzzles or finding a missing number in a math equation. Finally Donnie nodded.

"Okay, if that's what you really want," Donnie said, "I'm still coming up to check on him, but you're in charge of everything else."

Raph nodded and went back to the bedroom where Leo lay asleep. Donnie returned downstairs to count up the eggs and prepare for them for the Farmer's Market.

April and Casey watched as the three Turtles unloaded the car of baskets and a few groceries that had been purchased. The Farmers Market had been incredibly successful. That night, they all sat in the kitchen while Mikey cooked up a vegetable stew with what had been bought at the market that day. Donnie counted up the money remaining from the day.

"What are you telling anyone if they ask who you are?" Raph asked.

"We've told everyone we're cousins," Casey said.

"We're homeschooled and this is an economic lesson," April said.

"Which you get an A in," Donnie said, "We've earned $52.95 today."

"That's not a lot of money," Casey said.

"We should celebrate," April said.

"Let's hold off until after we see how consistent the chickens are," Donnie said, "Anyway, I'm on patrol tonight, so I'll see everyone later."

Donnie hurried up the stairs to put on the warm

"Where do we put this money," Casey asked, "Anyone got a bank account?"

"We can put it in that cigar box we found the other money in," April said, "I'll go get it."

The cigar box was where she left it in her parent's room. As she picked it up, she noticed some of the other contents, including a large folded paper. She carried the box back down to the kitchen, still examining the paper.

"Whatcha got, April?" Mikey asked.

"I don't know," she said, "It's got an odd shape and a weird pattern on it."

"Can I see?" Casey asked. April gave it to him and he opened it.

"Oh, cool," he laughed, "It's a map."

"Like a treasure map?" Mikey asked.

"Probably not, Mikey," April said, "This isn't the type of place you'd bury treasure."

"It's got a path traced here," Casey said, "And circled here is something I can't quite make out. It's in a clearing in this area east of the house."

"A treasure!" Mikey cried, "Gold and stuff like that."

"Mikey, I'm telling you that there is not going to be any pirate's treasure buried around here," April said, "Why would anyone bury something out in the middle of nowhere?"

The lights flicked out again and from upstairs, they could hear Donnie let off a string of Japanese that no one needed to translate.

"Whoa," Mikey said, "Dude, he's seriously hacked off."

Donnie came storming down the stairs.

"Let me go instead, Donnie," Mikey said, "I'll take your patrol."

"That's not fair to do, Mikey," Donnie said, "But thanks all the same."

"Seriously, dude," Mikey implored, "I don't mind."

Donnie looked longingly at the couch and sighed.

"If you're really sure," he said.

"Go relax," Mikey said, "Fix what needs fixing and then relax."

Donnie pulled on an overcoat and went out the door. Mikey quickly looked at Casey with a grin.

"Casey," Mikey said excitedly, "Want to come with me on patrol? I think I might expand the route a bit today."

"Like through the woods maybe?" Cased asked with a knowing grin.

"Maybe," Mikey grinned back.

"Sweet, I'm in."

After dressing in heavier clothes and the oversized suit, Mikey and Casey headed out. The sun was shining in pale afternoon glory. The snow, thanks to the increased temperature, was thick and wet but still very cold.

"So, how far do we go?" Mikey asked. Casey unfolded the map and the two examined it.

"I'm pretty good at geography," Casey said, "I got a B-. The scale says 1 inch equals 1 mile. My pinky is 3 inches long." Casey measured out the distance on the map.

"Okay, we got 6 miles straight from the front of the house," Casey said.

They started marching into the forest. Mikey was a good judge of distance and announced when they had gone the required 6 miles.

"Okay, now we turn south," Casey said, "Now, we went east from the house so south is to our left, right."

"Right," Mikey said.

"Right," Casey said and turned.

"No, left," Mikey said.

"You said right," Casey said.

"I was agreeing with you," Mikey said.

"Oh, right," Casey said.

"No, left."

They turned south and began marching as Casey measured out the miles.

"Three and a half miles before we turn west again," Casey said, "Then we go east."

"Are you sure?" Mikey said, "I think we need to go a little farther than that."

"Trust me, Mikey," Casey said, "I'm taking us the clearest route."

The next few hours were quiet, except for the sounds of their feet crunching in the snow. The sky grew darker as they hiked deeper into the woods.

"Casey, I think we've gone a lot farther than the map is saying," Mikey said, "And it's getting late."

"We're almost there, Mikey," Casey said, "Another couple of miles up ahead and we'll be there."

Mikey gave a shiver as the suit seemed to grow heavier with the wet snow. It was starting to cut through to his cold-blooded body and he was growing more tired and slower. But Casey didn't slow down.

"One more turn," he said. Mikey gave a large yawn and couldn't hide the next shiver.

"Hey, don't fall asleep now," Casey said, "We're practically on top of it."

"M'okay," Mikey said, "Just feeling a little sleepy."

Casey slipped Mikey's arm over his shoulder. They kept walking. At last, they could see a break in the trees ahead.

"Almost there," Casey announced, "It should be right through….here?"

They stepped through the trees and were face to face with the barn, chicken coop and back of the farmhouse.

"We're back?" Mikey asked, "That B- must have been on a curve."

"Now way," Casey groaned.

"There you two are," April said as she walked out of the barn, "We've been getting worried. There's a heavy snowfall expected tonight and Donnie wants everyone inside."

"Sounds good," Mikey said and followed April inside as quickly as he could.

"You need to get warm," April said, "What were you both doing?"

"Nothing," Casey grumbled, "Just on patrol."

Dinner was quiet as Mikey at three bowls of the hot soup he'd made. Donnie only lectured a few minutes about cold-blooded and hibernation before the power went out again. Donnie couldn't even muster the energy to complain as he went back outside while April lit candles. Bed that night was in the small bedroom with Leo where everyone could stay warm and comfortable. Everyone slept heavily except Casey, who remained awake, brooding over the failure with the map. At last, he gave up trying to sleep and went downstairs, grabbing the map as he went.

April yawned and stretched. It was still early but the crick in her next wouldn't allow her to go back to sleep. She glanced around and saw that Donnie was leaning against her dresser, propped up by his bo-staff and breathing deeply. April quietly crept over to lay her blanket over him and he blinked awake.

"Sorry," she whispered, "I didn't mean to wake you. I just didn't want you to get cold."

"I'm okay," Donnie said, "I was downstairs checking the fuse box. Go back to sleep."

"I've got a crick in my neck," April said, "I'll go downstairs and fix some breakfast. Waffles sound okay?"

"Fine," Donnie said. April didn't push it. But she was growing steadily more annoyed. His had been overly distant as it was, but the distance seemed to have increased since the E.P.F. news story.

"I'm sure the cold and his responsibilities are just making him this way," she thought, "Once Leo is recovered he'll be back to normal."

April sat quietly beside him as the sun came up. She watched Leo's plastron rise and fall steadily. Raph sat beside the bed, dozing but April knew he was aware of them. Mikey slept on the floor. April suddenly became aware of something.

"Donnie," April said, "Where's Casey?"

"Casey's missing?" Raph asked.

"I don't know," April said, "Maybe he's downstairs."

"No, I was just down there," Donnie said.

"What's going on?" Mikey asked.

"Go to sleep, Mikey," Raph said, "We're just trying to find Casey? He's not in one of the other rooms? Maybe Mikey's snoring chased him out."

April hurried to look. She returned a few moments later.

"He's not here," April said urgently.

"Where could he have gone?" Donnie asked. Mikey shifted nervously.

"Um, he might have gone to follow the map again," he said.

"What map?" Donnie asked.

Casey stumped through the forest and shivered. The sun was barely a glow on the horizon, but it was growing steadily lighter as he moved through the trees. In hindsight, he probably should have waited until much later in the morning. He had barely left the house before tripping over a fallen tree hidden in the snow which resulted in a face full of snow and dirt. Next he'd misjudged the slope of a hill and gone tumbling down into a tree where he sustained a bruise. The final indignity was accidentally disturbing a nesting bird which resulted in Casey sporting a new hairdo.

"This so better be worth it," Casey said. He was feeling tired, cold and hungry but not knowing where the map was leading was driving him crazy. He pulled out the paper he had made in the morning and glanced at it again. He had double and triple check the measurements as he'd written out the instructions of where to go. He knew he was on the right track.

"Definitely the right way this time," he said and went deeper in. The horizon was turning brighter and there was a hint of red. Casey's mind drifted back to the words Donnie had muttered. He knew the rhyme as well and also knew what a red sky in the morning meant.

"Good thing I'm not a sailor," Casey said, although he was not anxious to be stuck out there. Suddenly, he pitched forward and felt a cold wetness soak through him. He had stepped into a melting stream.

"Oh, come on!" Casey hollered. Then he gasped he looked at the paper in his hand and saw the water slowly turning the paper into pulp.

"Are you serious?" Casey asked the paper. He gave a shiver as he climbed out of the water. Looking around, he tried to remember his next direction and headed upstream, following it as it twisted through the trees. He began to shiver more earnestly and considered turning around. But he knew that he would never be able to find his way back so the only choice was to move forward. The sun was up now and pouring through the trees, but it didn't warm Casey's chilled limbs.

"I've g-g-got to be alm-m-most there," Casey chattered desperately, trying to convince himself as well as whatever was conspiring against him. The trees gradually began to thin and Casey felt his heart race as he saw a break in the trees.

"F-F-Finally," he said and hurried forward. As he broke into the clearing, his right foot caught in a hole and he fell again. He gave a cry of pain as he felt his ankle twist hard. He pushed up from the ground and looked around. The clearing was empty, except for an old broken down windmill and a rusted out pickup truck. The only sound was the gentle rumbling of a waterfall at the head of a stream. The stream probably traveled all the way back into the hills where the melting snow would no doubt make the stream swell into a larger force in the spring.

"There's nothing," Casey groaned again and climbed gingerly to his feet. He'd had enough falls and spills in hockey to recognize that his ankle was badly twisted, perhaps even sprained. Even now, he could feel his shoe tightening painfully as his ankle swelled. He tried to stand on it but hissed in pain. He hopped over to the pickup and opened the door. Climbing inside, he pulled his foot up onto the passenger seat. He wouldn't dare take his shoe off, even if it wasn't the middle of winter. He had to figure out a way to get back to the house.

"Brilliant, Casey Jones," he muttered and tried to breathe. Panicking would not help right now. From the truck cabin, Casey saw no other spots of safety. The windmill looked about ready to collapse, but he was shocked to that the inside of the truck looked reasonably salvageable.

"An "A" in metal shop to brag about," Casey said, "And this baby doesn't look to bad. It could be a sweet ride if I could work on it back at the house. But first thing is getting myself back. "

Casey began to shiver even harder, but he was growing more tired and felt his mind going fuzzy. Time ticked by slowly as the sun traveled further up.

"Man," he said, "If I get out of this, I am never going to say anything bad about Donnie again."

"CASEY!"

"Oh boy," Casey sighed, "I'm hearing things. Sounds like April."

"CASEY JONES!"

Casey snapped to himself and saw a flash of headlights a mile beyond the trees. He squinted ahead and saw familiar redhead silhouetted against the morning sun.

"Casey, are you here?" April called again, "Answer me!"

"April!" Casey shouted, "Over here."

April tore through the trees, followed closely by Mikey and Raph. Donnie brought up the rear, carrying his medical kit.

"Casey, are you alright?" she asked in relief. She looked at him carefully.

"I'm fine, Red," Casey said, "Takes more than this to slow me down."

"Casey, you're soaking wet," April said, "What happened?"

"Just tripped and fell in the stream," he replied.

"Jones, we're getting you back in the van," Raph said, "Give me a hand, Mikey."

They hauled Casey to his feet and he gave a cry of pain.

"Hold on," Donnie said, "Set him back down so I can look at his ankle. I think it might be sprained."

Perhaps it was the cold numbing his body, but Donnie was surprisingly gentle as he touched Casey's ankle.

"Don't let him walk," Donnie said, "What in the name of Darwin were you doing out here, Jones?"

"I was following the treasure map," Casey said sleepily.

"Jones, that was a topographical map," Donnie said, rubbing his eyes as though to ward off a headache, "Kirby was probably going to try and have some work done out here and wanted a survey done."

"So no treasure?" Casey said in disbelief.

"I wouldn't say that," Donnie replied. He looked at the windmill.

"This could be useful if we can get it back," Donnie said, "It might just solve our power problems."

"What is it?" April asked.

"Casey needs our attention first," Donnie said, "Let's get him back to the house."

"How did you guys get all the way out here anyway?" Casey asked.

"You left the map behind," April replied, "I knew you'd be going for the circled clearing. Donnie took a look at the map and saw that it was only about 10 miles up the road."

"What?" Casey asked. He looked around and saw the van parked about a mile from the clearing.

"Oh," he said. And could say nothing else as he was carried out of the clearing.

*()()()*

This is the longest chapter I think, but has the most going on. I really wanted to take a try and writing Casey a proper one shot story. I don't dislike Casey at all in the 2012 version, but my favorite version has always been the one from the 1990 movie; that Casey was witty, sarcastic, had a way of doing a deadpan delivery that I just loved. And before any of you Casey fans get all up in arms, remember that there are 18 more chapters to go, so he'll have a few other stories that will round him out a bit. See you in the next chapter.