Thanks to Raph's No. 1 Girl for being my amazing beta!!
Enjoy!
Don was busy inside his lab, hands fiddling with anything they touched. He wasn't working on anything in particular, he just needed to mess around and fix or experiment on something. The minute he heard the lair door fly open and heavy footsteps, he knew who it was.
He stepped to the door, about to greet Casey when the words were choked back. Casey was there alright, but seriously ticked off at something. Or someone. Don gulped as he ducked his head back in. He couldn't remember doing anything that might have made the man mad, but with the look on his face, the person (or turtle) on the receiving end was dead meat.
"LEO!" Casey roared at the closed dojo doors. He cracked his knuckles.
Mikey had stepped from his room and scurried to stand beside Donny. At his questioning look, Mikey whispered.
"Safety in numbers, dude."
Leo opened the door to the training room, swords still in his hands. He looked questioningly at Casey.
"What is it Casey?" Leo asked. He ducked as Casey's fist flew at him. As he moved, something snapped.
This is exactly what had happened with Raph. Right before he left.
Casey was about to aim another punch when Splinter stepped from the room, whiskers twitching at the enraged man.
"Mr. Jones, please calm yourself!" Splinter yelled in a loud voice.
Casey stopped and started breathing heavily. He put his hands on his knees, and glared at Leo and Splinter. "How could you?" he panted, anger in his voice.
Mikey shot Leo a questioning look. What?
"How could I what, Casey?" Leo sheathed his swords and stood beside Casey, waiting for him to catch his breath.
"Raph."
Leo's eyes went wide. Silence overtook the lair and for seconds, nobody dared to speak.
"You saw Raph?" Mikey asked in a small voice. His eyes held onto hope that he had.
"Yeah and he told me the whole lot." At Leo's pained look, he snarled. "Everythin'. Every word that was spoken and every feelin' that went through his head. Everythin'." He repeated.
Splinter calmly walked into the room, though his eyes were filled with grief. "Mr. Jones, why don't you have a seat and explain your evening to us?" Looking at his face, he went on, "it seems we have some words that need to be shared."
For the next hour, Casey was filled in with every detail. Every word that Splinter said and every word Leo had spoken. About the bear and its meaning, and the notes. About the attempted apologies they all tried to make.
When they were done, Casey leaned back into the couch. He was too stunned to say anything at first.
"Whoa." He breathed. "I need a minute to take this all in."
"Casey, where's Raph?" Mikey asked. "Where's he been hiding?"
Casey opened his mouth then remembered the promise he had made. He slowly shook his head. "I…I can't say."
Don spoke up for the first time that evening. "You can't or you won't?"
"I made him a promise, alright!" Casey nearly shouted. He was mad that he was caught in the middle of things and after everything was explained, he wanted to tell them. But a promise was a promise.
"Can you at least tell us how he's doing then?" Leo asked. None of them had been able to forget Raph left them injured.
"I guess I can tell you that." He stated quietly. "He looked pretty bad guys. The place was filthy and there weren't enough blankets to keep a kitten warm. I tried to give him my coat but he just handed it off to some little girl." He heard Splinter inhale sharply. "He was shivering bad and has a nasty cough. He looks and smells like garbage and by the looks of him, he hasn't gotten enough sleep. He looks weak and puny now." He drew a deep breath. "Overall…bad, guys. His leg's still giving him trouble; he was using the help of others to get around."
Casey almost smirked when he heard Don swear. But with all that was going on, he couldn't - wouldn't - allow even a small grin to pass across his features.
"So what do we do?" Casey asked, once everyone had time to register everything.
Leo stood up. His eyes narrowed angrily. "We're going to get our brother back."
Mikey sighed. "Leo, you keep saying that. You have been for a month. Sensei?" he looked to his sensei for help.
Splinter said nothing, just stared at his eldest son. "I believe Michelangelo is correct. I keep hearing words, yet I see no action behind them."
Leo looked at Splinter in dismay. "But you said -"
Splinter held up one furry hand. "I said that we must let Raphael do his part, as do we all. Raphael cannot make it right on his own. It takes two to have a fight, and it takes two to make it right."
"You said one though." Mikey was confused.
"Michelangelo, it takes only one to admit to a mistake, yet it takes two to fix it."
"Huh?"
Donnie sighed. "Mikey, you need two people to have a fight right?"
"Yeah."
"Okay then. In a fight you only need one person to admit to the mistake and that's the first step to making it better. But it can't be properly fixed unless the two who fought it out both admit to it. So it takes two to have a fight, one to admit to a mistake, and two to heal it all the way. Kinda like the final seal on a patch up."
Mikey sighed. "I'm still confused."
"Okay Mike, let's say you and me get into a fight."
"Okay."
"Later, I realize that I said some things wrong and I need to apologize because I want to be your friend again. You follow me?"
"Yep!"
"Good. Now I go up to you and apologize. Now when you accept it, we're friends again." Don said. "But, let's say you don't accept the apology - are we still friends?"
"Uh…no." Mike's eyes lit up. "Oh! So it takes two to fight, it takes only one to realize it but it takes two to make things right again." At everyone's jubilant nod, Mikey gave them all a lazy grin. "I'm smart." His face quickly recovered his serious look and he went back to his glare at Leo. "Leo?"
Leo rubbed his head. "I…I don't know what to do, guys." He admitted. "Everything that's happened these past few weeks has been so confusing. I really don't know what to do…sensei?" he turned with pleading eyes, seeking his father's wisdom.
"Leonardo, what does your heart tell you?"
Leo looked startled at the question. "I – What?"
"Your heart, Leonardo." Splinter placed his hand on the blue clad turtle's plastron where his heart would be. "Your heart." He added softly.
Leo opened his mouth, and then quickly turned his head away. He'd never been asked something like that – the family always came first in his book.
"I'm not sure." Leo whispered before he pushed his brothers aside. "I need some air."
"Leonardo, running will only delay the problem." Splinter told him as he slipped on the heavy winter coat. "When you return, the problem will still be here. However, it could be worse than when you left it, or it couldn't." The elderly rat shrugged as if nothing was the matter.
Leo paused halfway in slipping on his coat. He needed to get out but…was his father warning him of something? Something that could happen while he was out alone with his thoughts? Surely he would say something. Surely.
He turned to ask but he had already retreated to his room for meditation. With a sigh, he finished his task of zipping, pulling the two ends together and he slipped on two gloves and a hat. He started to close the closet door when a large bag filled to the rim with old hats, gloves, scarves, and coats they had outgrown over the ages, caught his eye.
With a quick motion he grabbed it and rushed out the door. Maybe he'd see Raph and give him the articles of clothing - as a peace treaty or something. Anything to show the hot-headed turtle that Leo regretted what had happened. Maybe it would be enough…though he highly doubted it.
As he slipped up the manhole cover, he heard light footsteps following him. Spinning around, he was about to say something to his brothers for following him but it wasn't his brothers. Casey stood behind him, a determined look on his face.
"What do you want, Casey?" Leo asked, trying not to let irritation creep into his voice. He really wanted to be alone.
"I'll show you where Raph is." Casey mumbled, kicking up sewer dust and rocks with his heavy boot. "I owe you that much for almost…well…you know."
Leo bowed to Casey, thankful beyond words. "Casey…thanks. You'll never know how much that means to me. If it'll make you feel better," he said, noticing the slight hesitation in the man's blue eyes. "I'll stay away for awhile – just so Raph doesn't get it in his head that you showed me."
Casey nodded, relief flooding over his face like a wave. He eagerly shoved the manhole cover up, helping Leo to the darkened alley. Together they made their way across town, leaping buildings like leapfrog, ducking out of sight from any Foot ninja or from any stray people that wandered too far into an alley.
"There." Casey said finally, pointing to an old, broken down warehouse.
Leo's sharp brown eyes viewed the area, dismay showing on his normally collected features. The place – like Casey said – was a disaster waiting to happen. Even if they were desperate, Leo would never let his family near that place, it looked so hazardous. Leo could almost picture the bright orange and red signs flashing STAY AWAY OR LOSE YOUR HEAD or STAY OUT IF YOU WANT TO LIVE!
"This place is a dump – literally." Leo growled as he pictured Raph being so desperate to live here.
"I know. Inside is worse." Casey told him. He gently pushed the blue clad turtle forward. "Go ahead. I would never make you wait to see Raph after missing him for over a month. I'll deal with him when the time comes. If it was April in there, I don't think I'd be able to wait, promise or not."
Leo shot a grateful look at his friend. "Casey thanks. Again. That's twice you've helped us today."
Casey shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a helpful person." He chuckled as he gave him another light shove. "Go on."
Leo nodded his head; his heart racing as he slowly approached the place. What would Raph say? What would he do? Would he get mad and order him out?
Leo half wished when Raph caught sight of him, he'd break down and beg to be let back home.
He footsteps drew closer and he was about to enter the building when whispering voices drew his attention. They were deep voices, rich and full. Obviously not from someone who had been outside and near frozen awhile.
He slowly made his way forward, each footstep set carefully upon the frozen ground. Using the shadows as cover, he drew near enough to hear them but not to be spotted.
"Ya see that frog in there?" one of the men hissed to his partner. His voice was young and as he turned to his friend, a familiar symbol flashed out at Leo from the man's heavy leather coat. Leo growled softly.
Purple Dragons.
"It's a turtle, you dumb cretin." His partner sounded much older, maybe in his late forties. He had a dark purple Mohawk and a dragon (obviously purple as well) tattooed on his smug little face.
Leo vaguely wondered, if he was careful enough – could he slice that annoying tattoo off the man's face with one of his katanas and not kill him? Hmm…?
"Does it matter what it is?" the first man chuckled. "It's going to be dead meat soon."
Leo's eyes narrowed dangerously as the man pulled a small black box from his coat pocket.
"Shouldn't we, you know, get all the people out first?" a young girl voice spoke up. Leo didn't notice the young teenage girl standing behind the men, in the dark shadows of the alley. She looked maybe seventeen, with dark red hair and a nose ring with a small dragon hanging off it. She wore all black.
"Nah…" the man in his fifties started attaching wires to the small box. "They're just a bunch of homeless dopes; nobody will notice a few less homeless people on the streets; not like anyone really pays much attention to them anyway."
"Well guess what, pal?" Leo hissed as he stepped from the shadows. Drawing his swords from their sheaths, he gave them a few experienced swings in the air. They cut through cleanly with a gentle whistling sound. "Party's over."
The girl paled and backed away instantly while the other two stood up, drawing various weapons from the pockets. One held a Swiss Army knife, the other a long chain with a spike at the end. The older man with the chain swung it over his head like a cowboy with a lasso.
Leo could tell instantly the man knew how to handle it. The man was good, but he was better.
"Why don't you calmly walk away and I won't have to kill you." Leo said calmly, death written in his voice.
"Kill us?" the younger dude laughed madly as he twisted his wrist, sending the knife into a few twists. "Okay, lizard boy, let's show you how the big boys play." With that, he lunged forward.
Leo neatly stepped aside, letting the boy lunge past him, stumbling when knife failed to meet flesh. Raising his sword hilt, he slammed it over the boy's head. He starred at the unconscious form at his feet. "And it's turtle." He hissed.
One down, one to go.
He spun around as he heard a high-pitched laugh. The girl was kneeling over the small black box, a crazed gleam in her eye. A small remote control rested in her hand, her thumb wavering over the red button.
Leo lunged forward, hands outstretched for the remote. Even in midair, he knew he wasn't going to make it.
With one last laugh, her thumb slammed down. A small click could be heard and a loud explosion shook the ground as a large fireball shot up into the sky. Debris rained down on Leo as he slowly began to get to his feet from being knocked to the floor. Turing he spotted the girl lying dead a few feet away, a long wooden spike producing from her chest from the flying remains of whatever was blown up. Blood shot out like a geyser; her body was already covered in it.
Her eyes were still open and still held that insane gleam, although her mouth was in the shape of an O. Her partner lay dead beside her, his head covered by a large stone. Blood slowly oozed out from underneath and Leo faintly realized what had happened. He was lucky to be alive – the girl was an assassin almost. She did her job, knowing it would get her killed in the process. And she'd seemed to be untrained at the beginning; Leo thought she'd be too scared to pull anything.
Her job…wait!
He turned, fearing the worse. Reality hit him like concrete when he realized what building she had just blown up. No. Shell no.
"RAPH!!!!" Leo screamed into the flames as they hungrily consumed the remains of the structure. "RAPH!!!!!!"
Reivew if you want to save Raphie! HAHAHAHAHAHA
