A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews! And yes, Leo and Shinta will get their own father/son bonding fic later. I've already got an idea for them.


Yoshi felt that things were finally starting to smooth out in his life. Ona had stayed true to her word, so he and Kaz had started hanging out again. His mother seemed to be doing slightly better, though she looked really tired a lot of the time. Even his father had backed off some. Things were definitely getting better. Plus, on the nights he didn't patrol with his family, he and Cole did. They'd been busting heads together for weeks now.

And that was currently where he was headed, to meet up with him. He leapt over an alley with silence and grace. And spotted the human waiting a few rooftops over, landing beside him just a moment later. He noticed right away that Cole didn't look happy. "What's wrong?"

"I gotta show you something. Come on." Cole led the way across the rooves for several blocks and then stopped. He knelt near the roof's edge and pointed across the street. "Check it out."

Yoshi watched as the supposed abandoned building emanated a dim light and shadows moved inside. "I don't get it." They didn't fight the homeless, who cared if they took up residence in the place.

Cole put up a hand to quiet him. "Just wait."

That's when Yoshi saw the movement in the dark alley adjacent to the building. Five shadows moved in what Yoshi thought was a strangely familiar manner. They were barely visible in the darkness, until one got a little too close to the street. Cole pointed. "There do you see him?"

It was person in a black dogi with a red band across their brow. As quickly as he appeared, he disappeared. Yoshi frowned, something tugging at his memory. He wasn't quite sure, but the outfit seemed familiar. "When did you notice these guys?"

"The other night on my way home. I wasn't sure what to make of it the first time so I came back this way to check it out again and they were still here. Who do you think they are? A new gang or something?" Cole leaned forward, trying to see between the slats nailed across the building's front.

"Don't know, but they definitely look like they're up to somethin'. Nobody gets dressed up like that for kicks." Yoshi scanned the building for a spot he could check inside. "How many of them do you think are in there?"

Cole shrugged. "I don't know."

"Well, we need to find out." Yoshi made for the fire-escape.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Cole looked slightly panicked.

"Just watch my back." Yoshi descended into the alley and darted across the street, keeping as much to the shadows as he could. He edged along the front of the building to peer through one of the cracks between the boards.

Inside were dozens of the guys dressed in black. Now in the light, he could see the emblem on their brows. He clamped a hand over his mouth to suppress the gasp that wanted to leave him. No way! That's impossible! The Foot were defeated a long time ago, before I was born. Yoshi glanced up. The building was at least six stories high. That meant there could literally be a hundred or more inside there. He backed off as fast as stealth would allow, his nerve wavering.

When he made it back to the roof, Cole glared at him. "Gee, Yoshi, you trying to get us both killed!"

"Shh! No. But you might, if you don't keep it down." Yoshi knelt beside the edge again, more cautiously this time.

Cole knelt beside him. "What did you see in there?"

"Trouble and a lot of it. We're going to need back up."

Cole made a face. "What kind of back up?"

Yoshi moved away from the edge and pulled his phone, not really responding to his companion's question. "Dad, we have a problem. You'd better get down here. Bleaker and 58th. Better bring some help too."

Raph's voice was rough and drowsy on the other end. "What is it?"

"The Foot."

In the lair, Raph sat bolt upright in the bed. He held the phone away from him and stared at it for a long moment. "What did you-"

"I said I think it's the Foot."

Raph was out of the bed and pulling on his gear. "Stay down and stay out of sight. I'll be there in a few." He hung up and grabbed his mask, heading for the door.

"Raph?" Cat called after him.

He paused in the doorway to look at her in the dim light. "It's probably nothin'. Go back to sleep, darlin'. I'll be back soon."

She frowned. They'd been together a very long time and the random call in the middle of the night wasn't so uncommon. It usually meant trouble. She knew he could handle it, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "Be careful."

He smirked. "Always." He pulled the door to and headed down the hall. He was surprised to see the light on in the kitchen. Glancing inside, he found Mikey at the table with an odd assortment of foods in front of him.

Mikey looked up at him with a grin. "Hey, bro. Come to get a midnight snack?"

Raph made a face, shaking his head at him. "No, Yoshi just called and said he spotted some Foot."

Mikey frowned. "Called? Where-"

"No time for an explanation. You comin' or should I get Leo or Don?"

Mikey stood, dropping his half eaten sandwich on the table. "Let me snag my chucks." He disappeared into his room for just a minute and returned shortly, weapons in his belt. Within moments they were on the garage's roof and racing off into the night.

As they neared the rendezvous point, Mikey could feel his skin begin to prickle. Something was wrong. He glanced around them in the darkness. "Raph?"

"Yeah, Mikey. I feel it. Somebody's watchin' us." Raph came to stop, scanning their surroundings as he pulled his sai.

Mikey pulled his nunchakus, backing up to his brother. "What's going on?"

Yoshi frowned as he saw the shadows of Raph and Mikey suddenly stop. They were still three buildings away. "What are they doin'?" He didn't have a chance to ponder the questions as what seemed like a throng of dark shapes descended on them. The Foot had seemed to materialize out of thin air. "No!" His guts twisted. Had he been spotted after all? "We have to help them!" He started forward, but felt something sharp pierce his neck.

His hand went up to cover the injured flesh as he turned to stare at Cole. The world swayed and fell to his knees. "I don't….I don't understand….Cole….Why?" He fell forward in a semi-conscious heap.

Cole stepped forward and pulled off the holo-projector from Yoshi's belt, dropped it to the ground and crushed it under his foot. "Because turtle you took mine, now I'm going to take yours."

Mikey kicked a Foot soldier. It stumbled back, but didn't go down. "I don't remember these Foot-bots being so tough before."

"Must've had an upgrade." Raph snarled as he used his sai to slice a mechanical arm off. In the distance he heard Yoshi's shout and spun towards him in time to see him stumble and fall to his knees. "Yoshi!" Raph roared as he tried to tear a path through the Foot. Mikey stayed close, covering his back as they pushed their way through. The mass of Foot moved with them though, so even as they got closer to Yoshi there was still a sea of enemies between them. Raph spared his son another glance, only to see him laid out on the rooftop with the young man standing over him. Fear coursed through his body. Was he hurt or worse dead? "Yoshi!"

"Raph, look out!" Mikey shouted behind him.

But he didn't have time to react as the katana was driven right through his shoulder. Raphael roared in pain, slamming his sai into the robot's head. The machine went down but two more took its place. He tried to fight but with the katana still sticking out of his shoulder he was significantly restricted in his movements. He blocked another sword but couldn't block the bo that struck him from the other side. White light blazed across his vision and he fell to his knees.

"Raph!" Mikey cried. There was no way he could keep these Foot at bay by himself. There were nearly sixty still left on the roof.

A few buildings over, Yoshi lifted his head slightly at his father's cry of pain. He was too far away and he could barely see through his blurry eyes. But what he did see, made his heart stop beating altogether. "No…Dad…." And then the blackness consumed him as the sedative took effect.

"Raph, stay with me, bro!" Mikey swung his nunchakus, trying to keep some distance between them and the swarm of Foot. But it was futile, there were just too many. Things were not looking good. These new Foot robots were stronger, faster, and even seemed more skilled than the old ones. A fist slammed into his face and he stumbled back almost tripping over Raph. "Can you hear me, Raphie? We can't stay here."

Raph gave a grunt, shaking his head to try to clear it. "Yoshi…We can't leave Yoshi."

Mikey glanced in Yoshi's direction, but he wasn't there anymore. "We have to for right now." Mikey cringed as a blade sliced along his bicep. Making up his mind, he yanked Raph to his feet and threw his good arm over his shoulders. "Gotta go, bro. We'll come back."

Raph couldn't protest much. He was losing a lot of blood and that mixed with the blow to the head was making speech, not to mention thought, very difficult.

Mikey backed them to the closest ledge, using his feet to help keep the droids away. He just needed a little space, so they could make a run for it. In one swift movement, he turned them and leapt across the space between the buildings. Something sharp embedded itself in his calf while in mid-leap. He stumbled on the landing, not being able to bear both his weight and Raph's on his injured leg. Raph fell to the side, crying out as the katana shifted in his shoulder.

Mikey growled as he pulled the shuriken from his leg. They were definitely not out running the Foot now. He clambered to his feet and pulled Raph up as best he could. There was a small utility closet a few feet away. It would have to do. He pulled Raph inside and closed the door behind them. Leaning against it, he pulled his cell. "Why is it when me and you go out together we always end up in trouble?" He grumbled at his mostly unconscious brother. He pressed his thumb to the screen and it came to life. There was a sudden pounding on the door that nearly made him drop the device. "Sorry, we're not taking visitors right now." He informed the Foot on the other side. He hit the speed dial and the speaker, setting it on the ground so he could use his hands.

It rang for only a moment, when Leo's annoyed voice came over the line. "Mikey, why are you calling me at 2 a.m.?"

"Leo! Get your shell down here!" Mikey grunted as the door bounced even beneath his weight. "Damn it!"

"Mikey! What's going on? Where are you?"

"It's the Foot! They're back! We're off Bleaker somewhere between 57th and 58th!" He gasped as his body was jarred again. "Raph's down! Better hurry! He's not looking good! Well, worse than normal." He knew he was rambling but it felt better to talk than listening to the deafening silence his injured brother was now making.

There was shouting on the other end of the phone. "We're on our way!"

The turtle van skidded as it tore out of the parking lot. Mikey could hear the tires squealing over the open line. He glanced at Raph, where he lay unmoving. "Raph?" There was no response. "Leo?"

"I'm still here Mikey."

"They got Yoshi." He bit his lip, trying to fight back the tears. "I don't know what happened to him."

Leo cursed under his breath. "We're almost there."

The door jerked again and Mikey hissed as he put too much weight on his injured leg. "I just hope we aren't turtle chop suey when you get here."

There was another squeal of tires on the other end. "We're here!" Leo hung up and within moments there were the sounds of fighting outside.

Mikey slid down the door, still leaning heavily against it. He wanted to check on Raph, but didn't know if he should move or not. "Raphie? Say something, bro." But again there was no response.

The door jerked behind him. "Michelangelo!" It was Leo.

Mikey scrambled away from the door and to his brother's side, pressing a finger to his neck. There was a pulse, but it was weak. The door flew open and Leo stared in shock at the amount of blood covering his brothers and the sword still sticking out of Raph's shoulder. Donnie pushed past him, squeezing into the small space. The sounds of combat could still be heard beyond the door.

Leo seemed to come to his senses, grabbing Mikey's arm and pulling him out of the shed. He pulled his arm over his shoulders and glanced back at his other two brothers. "Can you move him, Don?"

Donnie frowned. "We don't have a choice. He's alive but just barely. I can't do anything here. We have to get him home."

Leo turned to where Kaz, K-three, and Mira were holding off the remaining Foot. There seemed to be a lot less of them now. "Kaz! Take Mikey to the van."

Kaz caught his kusarigama as it returned form decapitating two soldiers. He sprinted over and took Mikey's other arm, transferring his weight easily from his uncle. "Now who's being reckless?"

Mikey shot his son a death glare. "Shut up!"

Leo was moving out into the fray again. "Mira, help Donnie!"

The petite turtle retracted the blades at the end of her tonfa, spun them and tucked them in her belt before darting to the shed. She couldn't prevent the sharp cry at the sight of her uncle. Donnie was knelt beside him, a pensive look on his face. He glanced at her. "Get the bandages out of my bag." She did as she was told and moved to kneel beside him. He took a deep breath and gripped the hilt of the sword.

She tensed. "What are you doing? If you pull it out, he could bleed to death."

Donatello didn't look at her, his eyes fixed on the spot the sword was embedded. "We have to. We can't move him like this." It was risky, he knew that, but it was their only choice. He didn't wait for a response from his daughter, but pulled the blade out in one swift, skilled movement. The wound gushed and he grabbed for the bandages Mira had ready. He stuffed several in both sides of Raph shoulder in an attempt to at least slow the bleeding, then wrapped a good amount around his brother's broad shoulder so they could move him.

"Donnie!" Leo called from outside. "We have to go! We're about to have more company!" He could see more shadows moving in their direction a few buildings over.

Donnie lifted Raph in a fireman's carry across his shoulders. He grunted under his larger brother's weight. "Sheesh, you're heavy Raph." He moved out of the shed with Mira at his heels. "Let's go!"

It didn't take long to get Raph into the van and for them to be speeding down the street. Mira felt a lump growing in her throat. It wasn't the blood that was scaring her, she'd seen plenty of that. It hadn't even been the sword sticking right through her uncle's shoulder, though that had not been a pleasant sight. It was the fact that he had yet to move or even make a sound. She wasn't even sure he was breathing.

But her father was working furiously trying to get the bleeding to stop and cursing every time the van swerved, threatening to topple his patient off the cot. He didn't say anything though, the sooner they got to the lair the greater chance of Raph's survival. "Just hang in there, bro. We're almost home."


A/N: -ducking behind brick wall as angry crowd chases- Ahh! Cliffy! I'm so bad about those... ^_^