Time Out: Donatello

"Donnie, I'm bored!" whined Michelangelo for probably the 20th time in the past hour.

I can't help but roll my eyes at his moaning as I try to focus on my own projects. Since Raph had stormed out and Master Splinter had followed, I'd gone in my lab to do some work and Mikey had decided to keep me company. By company, I mean moan and crunch potato chips while I work. Leo had huffed about Raph for a few minutes and stormed into the Dojo to meditate or train – maybe both.

"You don't have to keep me company Mikey, I'm sure the TV is free." I suggested helpfully, and with a bit of hope.

"No way, dude! It's too quiet out there and Leo's probably still brooding in the Dojo. Bad vibes, bro." replied Michelangelo through handfuls of chips.

"Raph and Master Splinter will probably be back soon anyway" I said. My eyes lingered on the clock though. They seem to have been gone a long time, I've no doubt Master Splinter caught up to Raph and it's highly doubtful he would have refused to come home with him.

At that moment, the lab door creaked open to reveal Leonardo. Judging by his stiff body language he wasn't completely over the argument with Raphael.

"Sup bro" greeted Mikey, without bothering to turn around to Leo.

Rather than return the greeting, Leonardo seemed to want to get straight to the point of his lab visit and in doing so he confirmed what I was just thinking.

"Do you guys think they've been gone a while?" questioned my blue masked sibling, "I didn't think it would take long for Master Splinter to bring him back."

"Raph, looked kind of upset though" answered Mikey, now turning his full attention to Leo.

"He's always upset with me about something, what's new?" retorted Leo, rolling his eyes.

As I listened to the conversation, I couldn't help but think back to the argument. The purple dragons had gone really quiet over the past few weeks and Raph seemed to think it was becayse they were up to something. Leo, on the other hand was much more focused on what the Foot Clan was doing compared to street gangs. Raph though we should check out what the purple dragons were doing, since it seemed really weird how little we'd seen of them, but Leo told him we should be grateful they disappeared and focus on the Foot. I will be the first to admit Raph normally wants to go looking for a fight, but I couldn't help but agree with him on this. What would a bit of surveillance hurt? I think Leo's got so used to ignoring Raph's ideas he wasn't really paying much attention to what he was suggesting, even though Raph was being quite reasonable for a change. I think the complete dismissal of his ideas got to Raph and he fell back into the familiar argument with Leo. Looking back on it, I feel kind of guilty. Master Splinter came out of his room, not long after the argument started and told Raph off for questioning Leo's decisions. He told him he was being disrespectful, and he must support his leader. I agreed with Raph and I think Mikey did too, but neither of us intervened, even when Raph looked to us for help. Raph and Leo always argue about nearly everything, but I think it was what Master Splinter said that upset him. He tried so hard to reign his temper in. At this point Leo was looking a little smug since Splinter had sided with him, but Raph wasn't ready to give up and tried to explain his plan to Master Splinter.

I can't help but cringe when I think of the hurt look in Raph's eyes when Splinter cut him off and told him he must do as Leo says. I should have said something. I know from past experience Splinter tends to side with Leo, though I'm not entirely sure why. If anyone even suggests favouritism to Splinter he strongly denies it, but the way he dismissed Raph just seemed really cold and out of character. It was almost like he just wanted to get the argument over with and skipped the part where he listened to Raph. Normally he hears both sides before agreeing with Leo.

"Donnie?" questioned Leo, dragging my mind back to the present.

"I think Raph was more upset with Master Splinter than you tonight"

"It was me he was yelling at!" replied Leo

"True, but Sensei shut him down before he even got started" added in Mikey, who had clearly noticed the same thing I did.

Crossing his arms over, Leo huffed from the doorway "So what? He probably got fed up of Raph shouting all the time"

"Takes two to tango, bro" quipped Mikey, to Leo's annoyance.

Taking a deep breath I prepare myself for what I'm about to say. I'm sure it won't go down well.

"Leo, did you really not notice how upset Raph was? You shut him down pretty fast and Master Splinter didn't even hear what he had to say before agreeing with you!" Do you not see how that could have upset him?"

"Well, yeah…" answered Leo suddenly looking uncomfortable

"I think Master Splinter realised and that's why he went to get him, instead of sending you" I concluded

"Should it have taken this long though?" asked Mikey with a nervous glance at the clock

"Maybe they're talking about stuff? It has been a while though" speculated Leo with a look of deep thought on his face

"Donnie.."

"Already on it" I knew exactly what Mikey was about to ask. Can you track them? Yes. Yes, I can. A few taps on my keyboard later and I'm looking at a map with all five of our shell cells on. Three in the lair. The other two…

Gone?

That can't be right. At this point Mikey and Leo are both hovering over my shoulders as I double and then triple check for both Raph and Splinters signals.

"This can't be good, right? asked a nervous Michelangelo

"No, it's not" I agreed while trying to pull up the last known location of their phones. "According to this their phones were together in an alley on the other side of town before both signals disappeared."

"Grab your gear, and let's head out there. They could need our help" ordered Leo in a grim tone

Things aren't looking good. At least they were both together, hopefully. What could have happened to them?

A/N - Thanks for your reviews! Love to know people are still enjoying this!