Sorry to not have this or any chapter of my other fic up lately. I've been working on it, but there was a little writer's block and little bit of flu or something. Anyway both are gone and I'm writing like the wind again. Yay! Here is more. ;)

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Chapter 27

Rai looked through the mess of junk in the room that was once Don's lab. Things were all topsy turvy. He and Casey had already righted many shelves, but that didn't help much in finding the antibiotics that April needed for Leo. He wasn't sure if they would find it in this mess. Many of the bottles were strew about the room, hidden under various objects. Others were broken beyond recognition. Rai sighed, not knowing what to do. Leo needed those antibiotics. He heard what April had said. He knew what could happen if they didn't get the antibiotics. He knew it too well.

Casey threw an object across the room at the wall, the object sailing right in front of Rai, causing him to duck. It crashed with a hard thud.

"Casey!" April yelled.

"It's not here April!" Casey yelled back, frustration unmistakable in his voice. "Not here."

"Then don't go throwing things all over the room," Raph glared at Casey. "Some people are trying to rest." He looked at Mikey then glared back at Casey.

"We really need it Casey," April said gently.

Casey sighed and turned back to trying to find it.

Rai let out his own sigh and crawled under what was left of Don's desk. There were a lot of broken bottles under it. He reached for one, picking it up carefully and read the label. Some sort of chemical he couldn't pronounce, let alone read. He put it aside and reached for another and another, each one not what he was looking for. Another thud sounded. Rai jolted hitting his head on the desk. He rubbed his head where it was sore and pulled himself out from under the desk, looking for the source of the sound.

"Sorry. Accident..." Casey called from somewhere across some fallen debris.

Rai shook his head and bent back down, reaching for another bottle under the desk. He didn't see any more bottles, but he reached toward the wall anyway. His hand brushed something sharp, digging into his skin. He bit his lip against the stinging pain and gently pulled the broken glass out and read it in the light. Antibiotics. He put his cut finger in his mouth to get rid of the blood and stood, putting the broken glass on the broken desk. He pulled his finger out of his mouth, still stinging, and crossed a few big broken objects to get to Casey. Rai grabbed his arm and dragged him through the debris to April. "The bottle of the antibiotics is broken," he croaked out, his voice still hoarse and his throat sore.

April looked a little crest fallen. "Casey, I need you to go to the drug store."

"I can't find the stuff in that place," Casey complained.

"Just do it!" Raph yelled. "Leo needs it. Now. I'm coming with you." He slowly stood up, wincing in pain and fell back down.

"No you are not my son," Splinter objected. "You are hurt as well. You will do yourself no good to go."

"But you can't go either sensei," Raph protested. "You can barely walk."

Splinter nodded sadly.

"I'll go with him," Rai said, voice low.

"Wait a minute," April interjected. She pulled a chair over and set it in front of Rai. "Sit."

Rai stared at her, not comprehending.

"Sit," she repeated.

Rai sat on the chair and waited, not knowing what April wanted to do. Though he knew it was best not to argue with April when she repeated an order.

"I want to have a look at your throat. It should be fine since you're still talking somewhat. So it's not obviously crushed, but I want to look just the same," April explained.

Rai nodded a bit relieved now knowing what she wanted to do. "Ok." He opened his mouth for her to have a look. She seemed to take a long time, but finally pulled back after awhile. He shut his mouth. "Well?"

"It's a little red and irritated," April said. "Just do as Don said earlier and lay off talking so much. I doubt a little here and there will hurt you."

"Thanks," Rai said with a sigh. He stood, hoping his throat would get better soon. He hated the sore and scratchy feeling. "Are you staying here?"

April nodded. "I have to help keep Leo's temperature down. You two hurry back."

Rai nodded. He started out of the lab, Casey right behind him, passing a sleeping Mikey on his way out. He was glad that Mikey was able to rest. The poor guy needed it. They all did. He could feel how worn out he himself already was. But Leo needed the antibiotics. So he would rest once they got it.

They exited the lair and clambered up a ladder to the surface. Rai checked inside his trench coat, satisfied that both sai were securely in their spot in his belt and closed the trench coat tight over his body. He pulled the hood up so none of the humans up here on the surface would be able to see his red and black fur. Or the fact that he was a tiger, not human. Screams in the night would not be good right now. Might even draw attention from any of their foes.

"You ready?" Casey asked impatiently.

"Yeah." Rai started down the alley and turned right once they got out to the street. The nearest drug store was only a couple blocks away. But the one that would have what they needed for Leo was a couple more blocks after that. He hadn't realized that until too late and didn't want to go back into the sewers after coming up near the wrong one, so he pulled his hood a little more over his head and continued on down the street. Not a lot of people seemed to be walking the streets tonight, not like in the day time. But that was fine with Rai. Lots of people or no he wasn't bothered by it. Just if he was well hidden under his trench coat, he'd be fine.

They reached the drug store without incident and Rai pulled the door open, letting Casey go ahead of him. He eyed the street, making sure there were no Foot ninjas following them. Seeing none he entered the store, unintentionally tugging his hood down a little more. He followed Casey, quickly catching up to him. Casey looked like he was a little out of his league, looking at bottles of lotion instead of antibiotics. Rai shook his head. "It's this way," he murmured heading in the right direction.

"Right..." Casey half chuckled. "I knew that."

Rai shook his head looking for the right aisle, which shouldn't be too far away. At least Casey was close. Finding it, he began searching the bottle's labels, starting on the right side. Casey started on the left, keeping up with Rai. They were quiet as they looked and as they got towards the end of the aisle, Rai started chewing on his lip. It didn't look like they had it here. And this drug store seemed to have everything else too. Just not what they needed. They might have to go across the city to get what they needed. But Rai kept thinking that if that happened they might not get back to the lair in time.

"Uh... is this it?"

Startled out of his dark thoughts, Rai turned around to look at Casey holding up a weird shaped bottle. He read the label and sighed with a small smile, relieved. "Yeah. That's it."

Casey half grinned. "Cool. I'll go pay fer it and meet ya outside."

Rai nodded and started through the aisles, walking out the door and waiting for Casey. The night air was cool, a small breeze blowing in his face. No ninjas in sight. He didn't think there would be any, but it was still habit to check. One he would never loose. But he didn't care. It was a small price to pay.

As soon as Casey came out carrying the small bag, they slipped back down into the sewers and walked through the tunnels back to the lair. It seemed to take longer than the walk to the drug store, but that was probably due to the fact that both were starting to really worry they might not have enough of the antibiotics or not get back in time for the stuff to do anything for Leo. Finally after what seemed a long time they walked through the lair's front door and into the lab. April was squeezing out the cloth and replacing it on Leo's forehead. It looked like she had taken off the bandages on Leo's cut arm and had been starting to clean it.

"We got it babe," Casey said, holding out the bag to her.

"Thank goodness." April took the bag and pulled the bottle out. She put the bag aside and unscrewed the bottle, using it and some other things to clean Leo's arm.

Rai wearily sat down on the ground and leaned against the wall. He was more tired now, feeling sleep not too far off. The thought of it sounded really nice. He blinked tiredly as he watched April finish rewrapping Leo's arm and redoing the cloth on his forehead. "Is his temp down any?" Rai asked, breaking the small silence.

"Yes," April nodded turning back to the others. "Some. It should be down a lot more by morning." She looked at all of them. "You guys really need to get some sleep."

"Yes. I think that would be a good idea," Splinter agreed. He looked greatly tired as well.

"Fine," Raph grumbled. He looked anything but happy. "But I'm staying right here."

Splinter sighed but nodded. "That might be best."

Rai was glad. He didn't want to get up at all. He could feel himself drift already. Everyone either leaned against the lab wall while they could find space or laid on the floor. Raph stayed right where he was in that chair, not looking like he would sleep yet. Casey pulled out another cot from the debris for April and sat on the ground, out in no time. April sat on the cot, but didn't sleep. She watched Don. Rai noticed that Splinter also didn't sleep yet. He also watched Don, who had to wake up soon. It would be no danger to let Leo sleep until morning. He was just exhausted. But Don should wake up. Should've been awake by now. Rai wondered why, not able to think of anything as to why the turtle was not awake yet. Maybe he too was exhausted. They all were.

"Guys..." a whisper echoed through the silent room.

Rai's eyes snapped up, seeing Don awake, not expecting it at the moment. He smiled lightly as April and Splinter crowded around Don.

"How are you feeling Don?" April asked.

"Sore..." Don moaned.

Splinter nodded. "That is to be expected my son. But you must rest now. We are safe."

Don looked tiredly at them then the others in the room, eyes locking with Rai, who nodded tiredly. Don sighed and consented. "Everyone is ok?"

"They will be," April reassured him.

Don smiled slightly. "Good," he whispered tiredly, letting his eyes close.

Rai's own eyes slowly shut as he slipped into the darkness of sweet sleep, sounds of April and Splinter settling down to rest as well.