Chapter 9

Raph stood on the rooftop of the tallest building. He glared out at the night. He felt so lost. So angry. So... he didn't know what. But he did know what. All he knew was that he really missed Leo. He would give anything to have his big brother back. He could remember the time when he and Leo would go out on midnight runs, not saying anything, just comfortable with each other's presence as they raced through the night. Next he would remember the not so good memories. The ones where he would yell and fight and almost run his fist right through Leo because he thought his older brother was being such a bone headed jerk. But really it was him that was the bone headed jerk. Just most of the time when Raph wasn't obviously provoking him, Leo let it slide unless it was time for one of those famous lectures. Boy how he wished he could have one of those now. It would make up for the death sentence Don said they had. Poison. He didn't expect anything less from the Foot. But his mind couldn't help wondering. Was this the last time? The last time top side looking up at the sky? The last time feeling the night breeze? The last hours with his brothers? He gave an involuntary shudder and turned from the building. It was time to head back home. The only peace he had about the poison that he didn't feel, yet was still coursing through his veins, was that if this was it... he would join Leo in death. He wouldn't have to deal with him being gone anymore. But he didn't want to die. Not yet. So he quickened his pace to spend what time he had with his family, whether he was still agitated or not. "I wish you were here Leo," he couldn't help but whisper to the night air as he slipped back into the sewers.

He walked slowly back to the lair, anger and utter sadness competing in his mind. His mind was a jumble of thoughts. By the time he got back to the lair, he was in no frame of mind to be messed with. He barely hesitated at the door as it opened before slipping in and punching the button to close the door. Raph started to the lab to find out how far Donny was on finding a cure when he stopped to look at the nearly empty lair. Mikey and the TV were only sounds he could hear. "What do you think you're doing?!"

Mikey looked up at him and shivered. "Watching TV."

Raph suddenly shivered too. Though for once it wasn't out of anger. "I can see that!"

"So. What's your point?" Mikey asked, watching him without that ever present smile.

"You act like everything's just fine!" Raph roared, unable to contain his frustration. Everyone should be doing something. Anything.

"Chill dude. Donny's got it covered."

"And he's come up with nothing in the last hour," Raph growled.

"You don't know that." Mikey half glared at his older brother. "You've been up top side the whole time Don's been in the lab!"

"He woulda called!" Raph spun and stomped off, intent on finding out what Don knew. He had half a mind to let Mikey have it, but strangely didn't feel like pounding the crap out of him. Maybe when he came out of the lab he would...

In the lab Don was at his desk staring at his computer screen. Books surrounded him. It appeared that he hadn't moved since sitting down at that computer of his. Not that Raph had seen him when he sat down, but there were plenty of papers in the purple banded turtle's lap.

Raph walked up to him and stood there a moment, pushing down his anger. He knew it would only distract Don if he yelled at him. "Anything?" he finally asked after a few minutes, his voice edgy but mostly calm.

Don shook his head and started coughing violently, paper spewing out of his lap. Raph awkwardly stood there and patted his back. A few minutes later Don was trying to catch his breath, heaving before finally getting his breath back and being able to talk again.

"You ok?" Raph asked, stepping back, relieved that Don's coughing spell was over. What was up with that anyway? The poison he thought grimly.

"Think so," Don answered. He reached down and picked up the papers that had fallen. He looked more down than when you told Mikey no to getting pizza.

"You haven't found anything since you've been in here?" Raph tried again, hoping for a different answer this time.

Don shook his head again. "This stuff is rare. Almost unheard of. Nothing yet. It's going to take a little more time."

Raph let out a frustrated breath and crossed his arms. This just wasn't happening. He scowled.

The sound of Splinter's nails on the brick floor crossed the lab, stopping behind Raph and Don. A hand went to both turtles resting on one shoulder each. "I know there will be a solution. Do not loose heart my sons."

Raph sighed and clenched one of his fists. He muttered and walked away from them plopping down in a chair. His scowl never leaving his face.

Splinter let his hands fall. Worry etched his face and eyes. It appeared that he had aged quite a bit through this.

Raph had expected the worry. He was worried too. What if Splinter lost all his sons? What would become of their sensei then? He looked up as Mikey came in wrapped up in a thick blanket.

"It's f-f-freezing in here," Mikey said teeth chattering.

"It's not." Don looked back at his computer screen. "It's just the poison."

Mikey nodded staring off at the wall. "What if we don't find it in time?"

Raph stared at his orange banded brother. That thought had crossed his mind so many times it was making him nauseous. Or maybe that was the poison. Probably both. He couldn't bare the thought of leaving Splinter. Or April and Casey. Especially Casey. They were best buds, did everything together. He mostly enjoyed bapping purple dragons with Case. He'd love to right now. If only it would help them find a cure in time.

A faint click echoed through the lair.

Raph counted everyone in the lab. Double counted. Don, Mikey, Splinter. They were all here. April and Casey were away on a trip and not due back for a few days. Another reason he longed to get through this. He actually wanted to see them again before... He shook his head and refocused his thoughts on the little click he heard.

"Something wrong Raph?" Don asked now staring at him. Everyone seemed to be staring at him.

"I don't know. I thought I heard something." Raph stared at the lab door. He didn't see anyone coming. Didn't even hear anymore sounds.

"Dude you're getting paranoid," Mikey said, attempting to lighten the mood, but failing miserably.

Raph glared at him. "I am not!"

"Then you're just nuts."

Raph slapped him in the head. "Knock it off."

"Ok ok," Mikey whined.

Raph spun and stomped off, leaving the lab to find out what made the noise. There was absolutely no way he had imagined that noise. He was a ninja trained to hear every little foreign noise around him. Especially those in his own him. Raph glanced around the lair, stopping three feet from the lab and stood there frozen in his tracks.

Shade stood in the center of the lair, his eyes fixed on the door to Splinter's room. He was silent, unmoving as if he were waiting for something.

Raph growled. The creep had come for Splinter now. He ripped out his sai as their eyes met. There was no way he was going to let that no good, home intruding creep leave his home alive.