Chapter 24

Rai slowly and soundlessly snuck over to Raph while the others kept the Shredder busy. He knelt over Raph and felt for a pulse. Relief surged through him finding it normal. He shook Raph's shoulder, knowing Raph couldn't be out that hard.

"Is he ok?" April asked, kneeling next to him.

Rai nodded.

Raph groaned. His right hand came up and rubbed his head. "What hit me?"

Rai quickly covered Raph's mouth and shook his head. He pulled his hand away and turned to peek back at Shredder. He cringed as he saw Leo crash to the floor, knocking his head against a steel shelf jutting out from the wall. Leo was quiet, but he pulled himself just slightly up. His eyes slowly looked up at Shredder. Rai refocused his gaze to the Shredder, who was now slowly inching his way toward Don. Rai growled lowly. A hand touched his arm. He turned to April and scowled. Even she knew he should be growling. He turned and helped Raph up, who was now scowling just as much as Rai was.

April stood and stepped to Raph's other side. "You feel ok?"

"Peachy..." Raph glared harder, shaking his head. "Think my head's clear now. I... No..." his voice trailed off.

Rai saw Raph gaze behind him. He spun around, getting knocked down in an instant. He groaned, feeling a heavy weight on top of him. He slowly opened his closed eyes to see a green shell.

The shell rolled off him. "Sorry..." Don murmured.

Rai got to his feet just in time to see Raph dart forward. He shook his head. That turtle couldn't be kept out of things for long. He helped Donny to his feet and watched Raph's movements.

Raph jumped up and kicked Shredder in the back, knocking him to the floor, then jumped back out of Shredder's reach. His scowl turned more into a scowl as he waited for Shredder to come at him.

Rai searched the room for Splinter, Mikey, and Casey. At the far right end, Splinter was helping Mikey up. At the other end of the room Casey was jumping up to his feet and running toward the action with Raph and Shredder at the center of the room. Rai looked over at Leo who was trying to stand, wobbly on his feet once he made it. Rai silently crossed the distance and helped steady Leo.

"I don't know what to do," Don murmured behind Rai and Leo. "We're going to get creamed."

"Think Donatello," April spoke up from Rai's left. "There must be something we can try."

"But what?" Leo whispered faintly.

Don remained silent, mind turning behind those brown eyes of his.

Rai kept his grip firm on Leo to keep him steady and right where he was. He knew Leo wanted to help Raph and Casey with Shredder. But he just couldn't allow it. The others wouldn't either. Cuz this time Leo would end up dead. Rai saw Raph go sailing threw the air again, straight into Casey. The red banded turtle leapt to his feet and charged Shredder again, jumping up, leg extending, connecting this time and sending Shredder to the ground. Shredder stood up again and ran at Raph, arm pulling back for a punch. Raph ducked easily with a big smirk. Rai turned hearing a shuffle of movement behind him and saw Mikey walk up to them with Splinter hobbling beside him.

"What do we do Donny?" Mikey asked, fear in his eyes.

Don rubbed his forehead. "I don't know. I don't know," he panic thick in his voice. "We can't kill him. Raph and Casey are trying, but are about to wear down. We can't help them. We're not in good enough shape to do so. We'd have to bring this place down. It's the only thing I can think of. But there's no way to do it."

Rai shoved his hand into his coat pocket and pulled out a small black device. Everyone around him looked at him, then the device. "Explosives," he whispered. "All around the building."

Don's eyes widened. His mouth opened, then shut.

"We started putting them up as soon as we got here," April said with one look at Don.

Don nodded. "Good good. That will work. Are they all set?"

Rai nodded. He put the device back in his pocket and pulled out a different device. The detonator with a little red button. He handed it to Don.

Don took it and smiled, nearly beaming. "Perfect," he whispered.

And to Rai's surprise, Leo smiled faintly as well.

"Let's do it," Mikey said excitedly.

Splinter nodded hopefully.

"Mikey you distract Shredder and I'll tell Raph and Case," Don said. "April, Rai. Help Leo and Splinter out of here. I think we've taken down all the ninjas here so you shouldn't have a problem."

Rai nodded. "See you outside," he whispered faintly. He looked at Leo, who nodded and started out of the building. April and Splinter kept right behind him. Rai followed the trail of his little explosives, making dizzying turns. He was sure he would have gotten lost getting out of there if it weren't for his explosive trail. He finally spotted the door and started feeling Leo getting heavier. He glanced at the blue baned turtle. Leo was starting to fade out, he was so worn and exhausted. Rai was relived that Leo's right arm didn't seem to be bleeding, but it did look crusted over in dried red blood. He worried about in infection as they exited the building. He, Leo, April, and Splinter kept a few dozen feet away from the building as they waited for the others. Rai was tense as he knew the others were too. He focused himself on keeping Leo upright and watching for Don, Mikey, Raph and Casey.

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I'm soooo sorry. Another cliffhanger. I better run and hide! I need to change POVs and if I leave it in the same chapter it'll get too long. But trust me the next chapter will be up really soon. I promise.