Chapter 2
"Donny, get the lead out! Let's go!" When no reply was forthcoming, Raphael jogged across the lair and poked his head into his brother's room. "What's the holdup?"
"Just...let me...finish this thought," Don replied absently, fingers skimming over his keyboard so quickly they appeared blurred. "Got an idea for upgrading the weapons on the Battle Shell."
Raph smirked and folded his arms across his chest. "About that...Leo and Mikey are already in the Battle Shell. You really want to test how long our fearless leader can keep Mikey from pushing buttons?"
"Uh..." Don paused, eyes widening behind his mask.
"So, you done?"
"I'm done!" Don hurriedly saved his work and shut the laptop, grabbing his bo and his battered duffle before striding out the door. Raph snickered and followed close behind as they made their way to the garage and climbed into the Battle Shell.
"About time, Donny," Mikey drawled, leaning back in his chair.
"You know, you never complain if I take my time fixing your Nintendo," Don pointed out as he started up the armored truck.
"I know. Because the last time I did that, you re-wrote the code so Mario was wearing the Princess' dress for the entire game and I had to play with Luigi to maintain my manly dignity." He made a disgusted face. "Luigi, dude."
"Your 'manly dignity'?" Raph asked with a smirk. "So how do you explain all the times you've dressed in drag?"
"Pink is not your color," Don put in. Leonardo laughed from behind the city map he was holding and completely missed the dirty look Mikey gave him.
"So where we going?" Raph asked, leaning back in his chair.
"I saw a crew of Purple Dragons unloading a delivery truck at a warehouse down by the docks when I was out on patrol yesterday," Leo said, lowering the map. "Take the expressway, Don. We'll get there faster." He turned back to Raphael. "The crates they were unloading looked an awful lot like the shipment the ATF recovered from those gunrunners last month."
Raph huffed. "Great. Trigger-happy goons with new toys. As if this mutant outbreak isn't enough for us to deal with." He pulled out one of his sai and idly started twirling the pronged weapon in a complicated series of spins.
Even in New York, the streets were clear late at night and Don was a fast driver, so the trip was quick. The brothers were quiet from force of habit. They rarely spoke to each other while on patrol over the rooftops, and despite the fact that they were inside a vehicle, the knowledge that they were on their way to a possible confrontation kept them silent.
Don killed the lights and pulled the Battle Shell into a sheltered alley a couple blocks away. "How do you want to do this?" he asked.
"The building has a skylight," Leo answered. "We can scout it out from there."
Raph was the last to leave the Battle Shell, keeping an eye out at the rear. The four of them used shuko spikes to climb the side of the nearest warehouse, then ran lightly across the flat rooftops, leaping easily from building to building. Leo signaled that the next building was the one he wanted, and when Raph landed in a soundless crouch, he remained motionless for several seconds to make sure they had been undetected. Leo nodded and beckoned them toward the skylight at the center of the roof.
Dim yellow light shone through the grimy skylight, showing that the building was occupied. Raph peered down and scowled when he saw Hun moving between stacks of large wooden crates, accompanied by about two dozen rough-looking gang members.
"You were right, Leo," Don murmured. Hun had just used a crowbar to pry the top off of one of the crates, and the unmistakable shapes of machine pistols nestled in the packaging.
Mikey let out a low whistle. "Those'll scuff your shell."
"Looks like they're already breaking them in," Raph observed darkly. He gestured at a cluster of Purple Dragons near the back of the warehouse. Each one had an automatic weapon holstered on his his or her belt.
Leo "hmm-ed" a little under his breath. "Maybe we should set up surveillance," he ventured. "I'm not worried about being outnumbered, but these guns are more than the Purple Dragons have had before. I'd just as soon not give them any sort of target practice. We can wait until they're gone before we move in."
"Looks like they're getting ready to practice with them now," Don said worriedly. A brief scuffle had taken place in the corner of the warehouse, and now one of the gang members had been seized and was being marched toward the center of the room. Hun barked a command, the rumble of his deep voice audible even through the glass of the skylight, and the wiry Hispanic man was forced to his knees. He lifted his face and stared Hun down defiantly.
"Aw, hell," Raph growled through gritted teeth. "He's an undercover cop."
"Raph, you're sure?" Leo asked.
"Yeah. Casey knows him. He's been on assignment for the past six months but Case didn't know where. Guess we know now." His mouth pressed into a grim line. "And from the look of things, Hun does, too."
Leo took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay, then. New plan, boys. This is now a rescue mission."
Mikey pulled out his nunchaku and twitched his wrists to start them spinning, an enthusiastic grin lighting his face as the heavy whizzing handles set up a sinister hum. "Smash and grab?"
Leo grinned back at him, sliding his katana free of their sheaths. "Something like that. Let's get in, get the police officer, and get out. We can figure out another time to deal with the weapons." He turned to Donatello. "Don, you think you can handle the drop?"
Don hopped up and down once or twice on his leg, still bandaged from where the mutant creature had wounded him a few months back. "Yeah, I should be fine."
Leo nodded. "Okay. Anytime you're ready."
Raph tensed, hands threading through the prongs of his sai as Don raised his bo. Don swung the staff down in a powerful stroke. The skylight shattered, and the four turtles jumped through the opening in a cloud of shimmering shards. Raph hit the ground in a rolling crouch. The glass crunched against his shell, but the fragments tumbled harmlessly off his tough skin.
He gathered his feet beneath him and launched himself straight at the cluster of Purple Dragons holding the police officer. He crashed into them like a freight train, sending bodies flying. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the streak of orange and green that was Michelangelo, spinning and striking at Hun, forcing the towering gang leader back.
The undercover officer stared at him, wide-eyed. "You guys are real!"
Raph pivoted on his right leg while knocking back three gang members with his left. "So Hun's told you about us?"
"Just the bad stuff!" The man jumped to his feet and slugged one of their attackers, sending the man tumbling to the ground. Raph barked a laugh, disarming another thug with a twist of his sai.
A yelp from Michelangelo was the only warning Raph had before his brother went sailing across the room. He plowed shell first into a crate with a splintering crash and thumped to the concrete floor, half buried in debris. Raph was relieved to see Mikey start to get up right away, but his movements were clumsy. Donatello saw a group of chain-wielding gang members closing in on his dazed brother and broke away from where he was fighting beside Leo. He charged across the room, forcing the Purple Dragons back as he whirled his bo in deadly circles, standing protectively between Mikey and the would-be attackers as his brother regained his feet.
"Leo!"
Leonardo's eyes darted in the direction of his brother's call, gritting his teeth while four gang members pressed him back. "Little busy here, Don!"
Don snarled as a chain lashed against his arm, leaving welts curving around his biceps. "Leo, they've got grenades!" He darted a quick glance over his shoulder. "You okay, Mikey?"
"Yeah," Michelangelo said breathlessly. "Just a lucky punch."
Raph risked a look away from his opponent. Mikey had freed himself from the rubble but was still moving slowly as several sinister-looking oval shapes tumbled to the ground between his feet. Raph had only averted his eyes for a fraction of a second, but it nearly proved fatal. As he was turning back, he saw Hun's arm moving up in the telltale sweep of someone bringing a firearm to bear.
"Get down!" He launched himself through the air and slammed against the undercover officer. They both went sprawling as a spray of bullets tore through the air.
"Fall back!" Leo yelled. "Raph, get that guy out of here!"
Raphael scrambled to his feet, dragging the cop up by the collar of his leather jacket. "You heard him!" he said, giving him a shove.
The cop hesitated for just a moment, then nodded grimly. "Thanks!" He darted for the door. Hun roared and fired the machine pistol again. Concrete chips flew up from the floor as bullets hit behind the running officer's heels, but he put on a final burst of speed and disappeared into the night.
Hun rounded on members of his crew. "You four! Go after him!" he bellowed. "The rest of you, take out the turtles!" There was a rush of running feet as the gang members moved to comply.
"Guys, scatter!" Leo ordered. "The windows, in back!"
Raph sheathed his sai and slipped his shuko spikes on his hands in one smooth movement as he ran, turning the prongs around to rest against the back of his hands. Splinter would frown to see the climbing tools used in such a manner, but when the pursuing gang members fell back as Raph's spiked fist whooshed inches from their faces, he figured his sensei couldn't complain too much.
He poured on the speed, sprinting between the tall stacks of wooden crates toward the back of the warehouse. He couldn't see his brothers but he could hear the angry shouts and sounds of fighting as the Purple Dragons chased after them. The staccato sound of gunfire came again. Bullets thunked into the wooden crates and ricocheted metallically off of used car parts and scrap metal stored inside.
He was almost there. Raph could hear Hun screaming another order but he couldn't understand the words over the tumult.
There were three seconds of silence.
The ground bucked under his feet and he hit the floor hard as the explosion from the grenade pounded the air. Wood and metal shards went flying, scraping over his shell. Raph scrambled to his feet, ignoring the stinging nicks the debris left in his arms and legs. When the next grenade went off, he stumbled, but he was ready for it. The wooden crates were burning and the flickering orange light made his shadow writhe against the walls.
He broke free of the maze of crates and ran headlong into the open area at the back of the warehouse. Mikey was already there, poised to climb the wall, pulling on his shuko spikes. The anxious lines in his face relaxed a little as he saw Raph and Don emerging from the stacks.
"Where's Leo?" Don asked, coughing a little from the smoke.
"There!" Mikey took a step or two back the way they had come, whole body strung tight with tension as he watched Leo run. Leo was coming as fast as he could, but the grenade blasts had blocked his way with debris and slowed him down. He had sheathed his swords to free his hands, and he had almost reached them. He crouched and sprang, vaulting over the last row of wooden boxes.
Hun threw a third grenade.
The blast rattled the walls, knocking Raph, Don, and Mikey to the floor. Leo twisted in midair, shielding his head with his arms as the crates of scrap metal shattered. The scorching shockwave from the explosion slammed Leonardo into the wall and he dropped like a stone.
Raphael struggled to his feet and bolted after his brother, ignoring the dizzying ringing in his ears and the sound of approaching gang members. Leo was huddled on the floor, gasping for breath through clenched teeth – and a hot crimson puddle was creeping across the concrete floor beneath him.
"Hang on, bro," Raph said, barely managing to force the words out past the sudden choking dread. "Just hang on. Don't fight me. Let me move you." He carefully hooked his hands around Leo's shoulders and turned him over. A terrible icy hand twisted his stomach as he saw the shards of metal embedded deep in his brother's side. The fall to the ground had jarred them. A wide gash was torn in the softer bridge between his plastron and carapace, and as Raph lifted his brother, he saw that a second piece of shrapnel had punched through the shell on the lower third of his plastron.
"Mikey, help me!" Only his years of training kept Raph from panicking. Michelangelo flew to his side. The two of them lifted Leo so he stood between them, arms heavy on their shoulders, struggling to stand on shaking legs. Don gave a shout of alarm, springing forward and swinging his bo like a bat. The grenade falling toward them hit the solid wooden weapon with a terrifying crack. It arced away from them before it exploded – close enough to stagger them, but far enough away so they stayed on their feet. And it blasted a gaping hole in the side of the warehouse.
"Move!" Raph barked. He lurched forward, hauling Leo and Mikey with him. Don brought up the rear, staying back far enough to hold off the Purple Dragons until his brothers were free of the building. Raph risked a glance back. The gang was deterred by the fire and falling debris, but it was only a matter of time before they came after them. "Don, go! Get the Battle Shell!"
Don gave one last look over his shoulder before he sheathed his bo and sprinted off into the darkness. Raphael tightened his grip on Leo and picked up the pace, hating that he had to force his brother to move faster, but knowing he didn't have a choice. He could feel the blood running in a hot slick from Leo's side down his leg. The sound of a diesel engine cut through the night and the bright sweep of headlights illuminated the dark street as the Battle Shell came tearing around the corner.
"You got him, Raph?" Mikey asked. When his brother nodded, he ducked away from beneath Leo's arm and darted forward, throwing open the back doors. Leo's arm clamped painfully around Raphael's neck and he nearly fell when Michelangelo let go, but he clenched his teeth down on a guttural moan and forced his legs to keep moving. Mikey reached down and grabbed hold of Leo's blood-soaked belt, helping Raph haul him into the back of the truck. He slammed the doors shut and hollered to Don: "We're in! Punch it!"
Raph braced himself against the wall of the armored truck and slid to the ground. It was more of a controlled fall as Leo's legs gave out, and it took all of Raph's strength to keep his brother from collapsing to the floor. He deftly unbuckled the straps that held the katana against Leo's back and tossed them aside. Leo fell back against Raph's chest, shaking as the initial shock of injury started wearing off and the real pain set in.
"Get it out," he gasped.
"You know we can't do that yet," Raph said hoarsely, catching hold of Leo's hand to keep him from pulling at the scorched metal fragments.
Leo swallowed thickly and nodded once, squeezing his eyes shut. "I know."
Mikey fell to his knees and ripped open the first aid kit, pulling out rolls of gauze and bandages. The blood running from Leo's side was already forming a pool on the metal floor. Mikey exchanged an anguished look with Raphael but moved in anyway, wrapping the bandage material firmly around Leo's middle to stabilize the metal and slow the bleeding. As the loops of gauze tightened, the cracks in his plastron ground together with a sound that sent nausea curling deep in Raph's gut.
A breathless cry escaped Leo's chest, and he flinched, reflexively moving away from Mikey's hands – but his movements lacked strength and Raph easily restrained him, wrapping one arm across his chest and curling his other hand around Leo's forehead, gently but irresistibly holding the blue-banded head against his shoulder. "Don't, Leo," he said in a low voice. "It's okay. It'll be okay. Just hold still."
Mikey pulled out the last of the bandage material. In spite of how fast he'd worked and the thickness of the wadding, the white gauze was already soaked through and blood was still flowing steadily from the wounds. Leo was growing heavy against Raph's chest, head tucked in the pocket of his brother's shoulder.
Raph had been gently rubbing Leo's cool, clammy forehead while Mikey worked. "You still with me?" he asked.
"Yeah," he said thinly.
"Atta boy." He kept his voice low and calm, but when he looked at Michelangelo, there were tears starting in his brother's eyes. Raph's own eyes narrowed as he saw the red welt burned in the right side of Mikey's neck. "What happened there?" he asked.
"Uh..." Mikey looked up, dazed and distraught, pressing a hand to the oozing wound. "Bullet grazed me, I think."
Leo stirred when he heard the reply, blinking his half-open eyes to bring his brother into focus. "You all right?"
Mikey laughed, a tremulous, watery sound. "Yeah, bro. I'm okay."
"Donny, too?"
"Donny, too."
"Raph?" Leo tilted his head back and Raph immediately looked down to meet his gaze.
"Me? 'Course I'm okay. You think those Purple Dragon punks can put a scratch on me?" Raph tightened his hold on his brother, giving him a spare, fond smile. "You're gonna be okay, too, buddy."
Leo gave him a sad little smile and blinked heavily, eyes glazed with pain. Raph had a sudden cold, dizzying feeling as if he was looking at his brother from a very long way off. And with a terrible surge of soul-wrenching pain, he knew.
"Donny. Pull over." He was surprised how the gently the words came out.
"No! We have to get him home!" Don's voice was high and brittle, like thin winter ice. "We don't have time - "
"Pull over." How could he sound so calm when on the inside, he was howling, screaming, breaking apart? "Now. You need to be here." His fingertips continued gently stroking Leo's forehead.
"But Master Splinter - "
"- will understand. Stop the van, Don."
Donatello's only reply was a strangled sob, but he obeyed. The van rounded a corner and coasted gently to a stop, deep in a narrow alley, well hidden from the street. Don cut the engine. Leo's strained, shuddering breaths seemed unnaturally loud in the sudden silence. He trembled, growing heavier against Raph's chest as Don clambered out of the driver's seat to kneel at his side.
"It's okay, Fearless," Raph said softly, pressing his forehead to the crown of Leo's head. "We've got ya."
Leonardo tried and failed to reach for his brothers, but Don and Mikey saw the weak movement and they each took one of his hands, heedless of the blood that covered his palms. Leo swallowed convulsively. "I – I'm sor..."
"Don't," Mikey choked out. "Don't say it."
"Okay." Tears of pain and regret welled up in Leo's eyes and spilled over, darkening the fabric of his mask. "Tell Master Splinter..." His voice trailed off and his gaze grew distant, but he shook himself and became more alert when he heard Don start to cry. "S'okay, Donny." His breathing had changed from labored panting to steadily weakening gasps, and Raph felt his body shuddering against the pain as he fought to stay awake.
"Go to sleep, Leo," Raphael whispered gruffly. "I'll look out for Mike and Donny. It's okay to sleep."
"Raph..." The word came out on a breath as thin as a snowflake and was gone just as quickly. Leo's hands tightened around Don's and Mikey's, but he curled obediently into Raph's arms and closed his eyes. Michelangelo crawled forward and pressed his forehead against Leo's chest as keening sobs shook his body. Raphael was stone-still, holding on to Leo for as long as he could, feeling the rapid, weak flutter of his brother's pulse. One shallow, strained breath. Another. Another. And...
Raph gasped, shaken from head to toe by a sudden, savagely wrenching pain as if someone had plunged an ice pick into his plastron and torn away half the plating. Mikey cried out, and Don pitched forward as if he had been struck. But as quickly as it had come, the ripping sensation was gone, leaving a black, hollow feeling behind.
"No," Donatello gasped. "No."
The tears pressing against the backs of Raph's eyes finally spilled over. Still holding Leo's body cradled in his left arm, Raph reached out and put his right hand on the back of Don's neck. Don allowed himself to be pulled forward until his head was on Raph's shoulder. He pressed close to Raph and Leo, reaching out to drape his arm across Mikey's shell. Michelangelo didn't acknowledge it – he just hugged Leo tighter, sobbing so hard he could hardly breathe.
