Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT.

Song for this Fic: Iris as performed by the GooGooDolls

Leo and his brothers are 32 years old. Tony is 37.

**Warning** This fic contains something that may be disturbing to some. Please if you choose to read do not flame this fic but rather comment concerning the quality of the writing.**

Chapter 18: The Challenge

Don's POV

One second Leo and I are leaning over April's table looking at places in which we could hide out and scout and the next Leo is holding an arrow inches from his chest.

"Holy shit!" Casey squawks in panic and April gives a startled yelp.

Mike tenses and I reach for my Bo.

Nothing else comes into the window even after Leo walks forward and peers out, eyes narrowing.

"What do you see?" Mike asks.

Leo doesn't reply but looks down at the arrow still clutched in his hand.

It's then that I see the paper around the shaft and feel my stomach clench.

This can't be good.

Leo slowly opens it and suddenly my calm brother looks absolutely furious.

"Leo?" Mike whispers cautiously.

"They have Tony and Uen," he grunts out, knuckles turning white around the arrow shaft.

I feel my skin crawl.

"What do they want?" I ask stiffly.

"Me…alone at midnight tomorrow," he replies, chest heaving as he squeezes his eyes shut.

"I'll kill her if Tony is hurt," Leo snarls, throwing the arrow down as he turns back towards the window.

Whoever he was looking at must be gone because Leo grunts before stiffly moving towards the table.

"Did they say anything about Raph?" Mike asks softly, "He hasn't come back yet…"

It's like a stage cue and Raph darts through the window, rolling as he hits the floor and jumping to his feet, eyes narrowed.

"We've got a problem," he states.

"Yeah we know," Leo grates out.

"But I think I'm got the solution," Raph replies.

We all look at him in confusion.

"Kyogen's like you Leo," Raph replies chuckling at our confused looks.

"How would you?" Leo starts.

"I caught his boyfriend right before I ran into an old friend, then after I left he and Koyogen met up to deliver your little note," Raph replies, straightening, "There'll be one way to get Kyogen's attention."

Leo frowns before nodding.

"That kid," Mike whispers.

"I don't like it," April states, "Leo I know how angry you are if that boy and Kyogen are as close and you and Tony…"

"He'll want to exchange hostages," Leo cuts off, "If not, then we at least can get my son to squirm a little and we'll have his attention."

April frowns and I feel sick at the prospect.

"I know just who have help," Raph states with a slight grin, his eyes have a mischievous look, "But we'll have to wait until tomorrow."

Leo frowns and grunts, muscles twitching in frustration.

"This better work," he grates out.

Raph gives Leo a look that simply requests trust.

"It will," he replies.

Rae's POV

His name is Raphael.

Hebrew for "God is healer" or "healed by God" and an archangel's name.

Fitting, as Raphael has a healing spirit and seems to be a sort of angel.

He donned Nightwatcher's garb years ago to protect these streets like an angel sent to stir the waters of the healing pool in ancient times.* For a time, he did just that.

At first I was upset learning that he was well but was no longer the Nightwatcher until I learned of why he stopped.

He returned to the shadows after his family was reunited.

And now? Now he's asked me to do something very important. He needs to speak to my son about the group he's joined.

The Foot clan, a group of ninja who hold a resentment towards Raphael's family and now they are under attack.

I fumble with the straw in my cup as I glance around the park, my eyes carefully searching for my son in the crowd.

I tried to contact him through the headquarters to Saki Industries earlier today like Raphael asked me to.

He warned me it would be dangerous, but a friend of his is keeping an eye on me. A man with shoulder-length black hair greeted me by bumping into me and pushing a note into my hand earlier. He's now sitting two benches away holding a book and looking as if nothing could possibly be out of the ordinary.

My heart hammers in my chest as I hear my son's voice.

"Ian-" I start desperately before he cuts me off.

"Shush," he hisses, "You can't try to contact me again mom…they'll…hurt you."

His pale blue-grey eyes look sad as he slides into the bench beside me.

"I miss you," I whisper, heart hammering as I realize I am about to betray my son's trust.

I hope to God this is worth the risk. Please let Raphael be able to talk some sense into my son.

He is quiet for a moment, eyes scanning the crowd.

I follow his gaze and flinch at the sight of Kyogen Oroku at the newspaper stand, flicking through things as his odd eyes flick over to myself and my son.

My heart plummets, my son isn't alone as we had hoped he'd be.

"I…I miss you too," he whispers, "I'm sorry mom. I tried to help get the PD's off you back about protection money for your shop…I sold our bikes to stop them from torching the store."

My heart constricts in my chest and tears form at the corners of my eyes.

"You were trying to protect me," I manage.

It hurts knowing that my son stole our bikes but I can see why now.

"They…wouldn't let me leave," he whispers.

"They kidnapped you?" I gasp.

"At first…but I chose to stay," he replies, his eyes flicking up towards Kyogen, "I-I found someone…"

I follow his gaze and pause at the sight of Kyogen watching us, he and my son make eye contact and my eyes widen.

They are…together? I never realized that my son…

"I..I didn't know you-" I start.

"I'm not…it's…it's just him. Just him," he whispers, "No other guys, just Kyo."

Part of me smiles but I am worried.

"Does he love you?" I ask softly.

Ian smiles shyly and chuckles.

"I think so," he mumbles, "He's conflicted…his mom doesn't want him to be so he's sort of rebelling but I do know that he cares about me at least."

I glance over at Kyogen who is frowning at us slightly.

"Ian…I have to confess something," I whisper.

Ian looks at me and nods.

"It was a trap, so Kyo could get a chance to talk to his father," Ian replies.

My son gives me a sad look.

"Yes," I whisper, "They wanted me to get you to come…so that Kyogen would…come after you and…Leonardo could speak to him."

Ian nods.

"That's what we thought," Ian states softly, "It's ok mom…I'll go with you. Kyo…he…he needs to talk to his dad. He's never known him."

I pause.

"He's never known his father?" I ask softly.

"It's complicated…but Kyo wasn't conceived naturally…his dad only just found out about him," Ian states gently, "I'll go with you, but we have to go when Kyo isn't looking."

"Will he hurt me for taking you?" I ask softly.

"I won't let him," Ian replies, my son's pale eyes meeting mine.

I nod when I see the conviction in his gaze.

"I'm sorry I got you into this mess," he whispers.

"Because of all of this Ian, I finally got to meet him again," I whisper.

His eyes widen.

"The-?" he starts.

I nod.

"He's the guy who grabbed you last night," I state gently.

Ian frowns and then snorts softly.

"Go figure, Kyogen's uncle would snag me to get information," Ian chuckles.

I can't help the startled smile and then I jump when Kyogen starts to move towards us.

"Ian, if we are going to do this…we have to go now," I whisper.

Ian glances up and quickly starts to leave with me.

"Ice?" I hear Kyogen question then I see Casey cut him off on his way past, "hey!"

"Move fast," Ian tells me.

I pick up the pace and grip Ian's arm as we quickly move towards my car, he darts inside as I slam my door closed. Just as I pull away from the curb I spot Kyogen darting towards us, eyes wide.

"ICE!" He shouts, breaking into a run as I pull away, his hands scrape my bumper and then he stumbles, "ICE!"

He stands staring at us looking betrayed as I drive out of the parking lot.

"Ice?" I ask my son after a moment.

"Nickname they gave me," Ian replies softly, "Because of my eyes….Kyo…liked it."

"I'm sorry," I whisper, "To make you do that to him."

"He'll forgive me…most likely," my son sighs before closing his eyes and resting his forehead on the window, "Is Leonardo going to be at your place?"

"No, but Casey will be delivering a message to Kyogen," I reply, "He's…hoping to trade you for Antonio and Uen."

My son is silent for a few moments.

"It won't work…Karai won't let him," Ian replies.

"So…this is for nothing?" I ask weakly.

"God I hope not," Ian replies, "Kyo will be pissed…"

My stomach twists.

Kyogen's POV

I feel as if my heart has been ripped from my chest and I drop to my knees on the sidewalk where the car previously was.

He's gone, he just left…

I hear footsteps behind me and turn my head to acknowledge the person behind me.

"You stopped me," I grate out angrily.

"We needed to get your attention," the man replies, "This is from Leo."

I turn my gaze towards the man behind me and see him holding out a roll of paper.

"Why?" I ask stiffly, "Why did you need to get my attention."

"Because Leonardo wants his husband and daughter back," the man replies, "Read the note."

My chest heaves and I grip the note in a fist.

We need to talk come to Ian's place tonight at eight.

When I look up again the man is gone and my gaze falls onto my sports-bike that Ice and I rode here.

My blood boils.

My father…he took the only person I trusted and turned him against me….

It's now that I know I hate him, my father truly is a monster.

I'll kill him…I swear it.

That night I stand on the roof opposite to where my father is holding Ice, to were my lover has retreated and I fire an arrow into the window with my reply to my father's request, but it is more a note towards Ice.

You betrayed me…they die.

A/N" Thought it'd be interesting to discuss Raph's namesake (more notes below). Also getting close to the end here folks, hang in there, only a few chapters left! Please Review!

*Note about Raphael's namesake:

"After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted." John 5:1-4

-The Pool had five porches and according to the Bible there was a tradition that an angel moved the waters at certain times and healed the sick. It was here at the Pool of Bethesda that Jesus healed the man who was lame for thirty-eight years.