Knock Out

Raphael looked up at the sky, clear of clouds, and he sighed as he watched the nearing full moon. It was a quiet night, but he liked the quiet as much as he liked the rumble. He supposed the recent stillness was due to the nearing holiday. In any case, it was a good night. He felt fantastic, though he didn't know why. Scaling the rooftops calmly, looking passed normal borders; he raised an eyebrow at the sight of a shadow stomping it's foot in frustration.

Another lost turn. Why was it that she could remember how to get to Fireside from any direction in anyway, but not get to a simple place? Even Mrs. Morrison's apartment was more of a disaster. With so many alleyways twisting and turning, she knew that being on the highway would have helped her a great deal. Bria had tried teaching her how to use a map, but couldn't understand it in the least. All she knew from it was names of roads, places, and following those roads and names was very, very hard. No matter how detailed one got..she somehow managed to miss it.

Which is exactly what happened here, "I shouldn't even be going…" Rachel grumbled to herself, "Freaking Lily forcing me to survive out here. I can do it. I know I can do it but still…" Her ranting paused, "God damn it!" She stomped her foot again. "I hate this!"

Laughter rang in the night, "Having troubles, missy?" he asked appearing upside down from the lamp-post he was on, "I thought only Bria stomped her foot. You two must be sisters."

Rachel just fell silent. 'Out of all the people to find me, it just had to be him.' Her cheeks blushed a dark red. "That's what I hear." She said, priding herself for not stammering. "I usually do it when I get really, really frustrated…like I was."

"You cell died?" Raph guessed flipping to stand in front of her, "My Shell Cycle is down a couple blocks, I'll take you home."

"I forgot to charge it," She said as she held it up with a wince, "I didn't think of it until fifteen minutes ago and when I found out it was dead…well…" She shrugged. "I'm glad you were around though. You saved me some time." 'You're just lying to yourself' That is what Lily said I was doing…' She thought as she looked at him. 'But how can one tell someone, a supernatural to a human, if their feelings are right? It's like loving a computer……it can't……but can happen. It's the can part…I suppose I'm scared of' She shook her head and smiled, "Let's walk then."

'But it's not like it's going to happen. I should be thankful,' She thought to herself firmly. 'He's a good brother to his own and to me and Bria.' She nodded again, not really listening to him if he was talking, 'That's how it should work, that's it.'

Raph lead her along and when they reached his bike he held out the spare helmet, "Here……By the way, where's Lily?"

"Oh Lil? She wanted to hang around Mrs. Morrison's place." She replied as she took the spare helmet. "So she forced me out of the house pretty much." She pouted. That part was true.

"You're not a very good liar…" Raph raised an eye-ridge, "The 2nd parts fine…where is she really? This is Mrs. Morrison's area, Avenger Alley."

Rachel put a finger to her mouth and looked away. "She went over to my old apartment." She finally said with a shrug. That was also pretty true……but also a lie. "I wanted to show it to her, so yea…" She smiled innocently.

"Better…I live with a conniving little brother, so lies aren't very effective on me," Raph made sure her helmet was secure before setting his on and swinging his leg over the bike, "Hop on."

Rachel hesitantly got on behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. She knew all to well that motorcycles of any kind were going to make her fall off if she didn't have anything to hold on to. She closed her eyes and gripped him tightly as they took off to get back to the lair.

Raphael relished the short time they were on the bike, her slender arms holding onto his for security. It was so wonderful, and he felt even more fantastic than before, "Hopefully Leo will sleep once you're back," he said absently for mild conversation.

"Why won't he sleep?" Rachel questioned over the loudness of the air going through her ears and washing away everything. It made her feel…free. It was a nice feeling, but her eyes remained shut.

"Worried…and that's just Leo…Bria's staying up waiting, too…though I think it's mainly her because she's waiting for you…" Raph shrugged and they pulled into the park. He wound his way towards the lair.

Rae sighed. What could they be worried about? She knew that she'd probably would have to do something to get him to sleep. It wouldn't be the easiest thing to do either. Just when she had started to enjoy the ride, it stopped completely. She groaned mainly to herself as she got herself off of the cycle, only to fall down. Her legs were shaking since she never been on a motorcycle before he had come along. She managed to stand up, just a bit wobbly. She was quite sure it was going to wear off, "Does this always happen?"

Rachel blushed a bit before she started walking towards the door. "Coming?" She asked over her shoulder. Lily's words rung through her mind again and she was starting to think that maybe Lily was right. She didn't think so; she still doubted that and probably always would.

"Of course," Raph nodded and opened the door for her. After getting everyone else to bed, Don was the only one who was waiting; "Donnie?" the red-clad turtle raised an eye-ridge.

"I'm waiting up for Lily," Donny replied tiredly. Today would mark the fourth day he had pulled an all-nighter.

"Lily isn't going to be coming here for a couple of days." Rachel replied with a slight sweat-drop. Did Lily leave out information just so she could fill in the holes?

Donny glanced over at Rae, "What for? Do you know where she's at?"

"Training," Rachel responded. "I don't know where though."

Donny raised an eyebrow at her. "You were with her so you should have an idea of where she's at. Training for what?"

"If you're so curious ask her about the training." Rachel shrugged. "And I have bad sense of direction, remember? I can look a building for twenty minutes and forget where it's at an hour later if I leave the spot."

Raphael laughed, "Yes, quite right. I found her stomping her foot in frustration because she didn't know where she was."

'And I thought that was exaggeration……still……' Donnie shook his head. "Has anyone told you that you have to be the world's worst liar?"

"I sorta did," Raph shrugged.

Rachel sweatdropped again, "Some of what I just said was true."

"The training I believe. I think you do know where she's at though." Donny said with a slight eyebrow raise. "I don't know why you're hiding it. But I know that you have an idea, if not the complete location."

"Oh come on!" Rachel complained. "I was called here because someone decided to be stubborn and someone kicked me out of the building! I did not come here to be abused mentally!"

"Donnie," Raphael patted his brother's shoulder, "You need rest…so let's settle this. Rae, is she safe?"

"Safer than any of us right now," Rachel admitted.

"Are you certain she'll be back in a few days?" Raph asked.

Rachel let out a sigh. "I have no honor to swear it on so I'll just say yes I promise."

"Well, there ya have it! Now, will you go to bed or do I have to get Bri to tie you down and lock the lab?" Raph stared at his brother.

Donny sighed, "Alright. I accept those answers. You don't have to get Bria, I'll rest." He promised his older brother and brushed by Rae. That happened to be his biggest mistake since his aura had been filled with thoughts about Lily. Her eyes went blank, emotionless, as if she wasn't even there. She really wasn't. Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest and her whole body turned still like a statue. In her mind she saw black and white.

But the images weren't clear. They only came to her in words. Words that made sense to her at the time. She had nothing to write with, nothing to use for this outlet, but she had her voice.

"A time you remember, by sight of blood you collide

A dream that you forgotten, is now your drive.
They rule the winds; they stay by each other's sides.
Love is a passion that is forever free,
They make it so, they make it be.
So strong together and so strong apart,
It's no wonder they are of one heart.

But time is of the essence the darkness appears
It targets them, he is one of the feared.
Though they are strong, their weakened by him
The person that is being controlled within.

There's no escape for this pain besides a choice
But that choice could end it forever and air could turn moist
What destroys them no one knows,
But they'll discover it or they will die soon."

Raphael caught Rachel before she collapsed, "Rachel?" he blinked.

She opened her eyes and blinked, "What's…wrong?" Why was he looking so confused? She looked over to see that even Donny had stilled himself. She bit her lip. She couldn't remember the images that she was seeing or the words…which was why she normally wrote down her prophecies. Ah, it was probably something that she didn't need to. The message was sent to both of them.

"What was that?" Donny asked turning around to face Rae. Her voice had changed from being harsh and secretive to being peaceful and tranquil.

"I don't know." Rachel replied with a shrug. "It was probably just a fainting spell. You should go on to bed before me or Raph grabs Bria and really make her tie you up. I'll be glad to help."

'For some reason that message she gave sent me chills. Whatever it was…' Donny bit his lip as he glanced at his brother and continued walking away. He entered his lab and shut the door behind him.