This chapter contains adult language, and a little bit of blood.

Thank you all for the wonderful reviews! I really, Really appreciate it. And I am happy to know that you are enjoying it

So, this is a long, complicated and emotional chapter, just bear with me. I know I left it at a cliffhanger and you all want to know what happens next so I'll wrap this up and let you read now!

Ch. 23-Keeping Him in Sane

She screamed in pain, her vision beginning to go fuzzy from the blow to the head. I can't let the fact that this is my uncle stop me. I've got to make it out of here. Everything began to go dark as one final thought entered her mind…Raph

Raphael! Midori's mind snapped back into focus. He's still in danger! I have to find him…to warn him.

Midori could feel more than see the armored figure pressing against her. She lashed out. Dragon recoiled with a growl. He had assumed his niece was too injured to resist.

She tried to straighten, but the head injury made her stumble. Ryuu seized the opportunity and grabbed her wrists. Midori writhed away from his grip, making a mad dash for the window. Her uncle lunged, his hand clamping over her ankle. Midori's heart beat wildly in her chest. She shook her head to clear her vision and flipped herself over, kicking him in the face. Ryuu drew back just long enough for her to squeeze out the window and slam it hard, jamming the old rusty hinges.

By the time Dragon had broken the glass, she'd disappeared without a trace. Ryuu cursed under his breath.

Midori stumbled through the sewers, clinging to the tunnel walls to stay upright. Raphael…I've got to get to Raphael. She'd been walking for so long…she had no idea where she was. It was then Midori realized she'd become completely and hopelessly lost. So many twists and turns…the tunnels were endless. She had no idea where Raphael's family lair was, or if he would even been in the sewers. Midori slowed her pace, collapsing in exhaustion. She pressed her back against the wall, tears rolling down her face. The wet droplets cascaded down her cheeks, and onto her neck. The blood had stained what was left of the left shoulder of her white t-shirt. She felt weak.

"Raphael, please help." Midori whimpered, letting her head fall into her hands.

The next day, the lair was filled with the sound of training. Michelangelo, Leonardo and Donatello were engaged in the middle of a 'last-one-standing' sparring match. All three turtles jumped into the fray, each in turn attacking one brother and defending themselves from the other.

Just as they were charging towards each other a dark armored figure landed in the center of the tatami mats. They immediately tried to stop, stumbling into a rather undignified heap on the floor. The three turtles jumped to their feet in the blink of an eye, holding their weapons at the ready.

Master Splinter stood from his meditative position prepared to attack, but the rat stilled himself as his sons charged the offender. His keen eyes recognized the fighting style instantly. "Yame!"

Everyone froze, including the intruder. Leo, Don, and Mikey stared at their sensei with wide-eyed and surprised expressions. Master Splinter padded over to them, silently. "That is quite enough." He said calmly. His four-fingered hands pushed Leo, Don and Mikey away from the armored figure gently. Splinter looked down into the black visor, "Raphael, please remove that helmet and explain what is going on." Raph did as he was asked.

The other three turtles did a double-take. How had sensei known that? I mean, yeah they knew Raph was Nightwatcher, but they hadn't said anything to Sensei.

Leo's eye-ridges furrowed. "Raph?! What are you doing here?" then he added, belatedly, "I thought you said it was too dangerous." The eldest's tone was confused.

"It's Jade." Raph growled with pure and absolute menace that made his brothers shudder.

Master Splinter was silent. So Raphael was this 'Nightwatcher.' His son should have known better than to go and get embroiled in vigilante antics. At the moment, though, it seemed as though Raphael intended to remain in turtle form for a short while at least, because he had now unzipped and removed his Nightwatcher suit. Speaking of antics…Raphael had been gone for over a week. And he hadn't even greeted his old and worried father. Hmph. "Raphael, I'm sure you can give us a better greeting than that."

Raph looked a little guilty and he pulled Master Splinter into a somewhat tentative embrace. "I'm sorry, Sensei. I just don't know what to do. Something's wrong. I can feel it."

"Slow down, my son." Splinter said, putting his hands on his temperamental son's shoulders. In a way the rat needed to prove to himself that Raphael was really back. "Tell us what you mean."

"I can't find Jade. I've looked everywhere. I went to her hideout, and she wasn't there. I even tried her apartment she wasn't there. The place was entirely empty. But there were b-blood stains and some ripped fabric in one of the rooms. If something's happened to her…" The hothead pulled away from his father his fists clenched. "Idiot! I never should have dragged her into this! Rgh!" Raphael was about to punch the wall when Leo stepped in front trying to calm him down, but Raph growled, "Leo get out of my way before I take my frustration out on you!" Leonardo wisely stepped aside.

A thud rang through the lair as Raph's fist met the wall. "I gotta find her!" he growled, a hint of desperation in his voice that Leonardo had only heard a few times before.

Donatello looked about ready to beat Raphael to a pulp. If there was one thing that really made the brainiac lose his patience, it was Raph's self-destructive habits. But instead of admonishing, Don's tone was strangely calm. "And you think bloody knuckles will help?"

Raph was silent, his eyes glazed over, obviously not in the moment with them. When Donnie tried to take hold of his injured hand, Raph's eyes flashed and he pulled it away. "No thanks Don. I'll take care of it myself." After a questioning stare he shrugged. "I do it often enough anyways."

The turtles and Master Splinter followed Raphael into the lab, where he immediately located the disinfectant and cotton swabs. It took the hothead less than a minute to wrap the hand securely. After he was finished Donatello inspected the bandage. The brainiac raised an eye-ridge. "Where did you learn that?"

Raph gave him a look.

"That's no combat or boxing wrap. It's an efficiently wrapped bandage."

Raphael looked away, and somehow they all knew the answer. Jade.

Master Splinter raised an eyebrow. "You are worried about her."

Green eyes glowed. "Of course I am, Master Splinter. I got her into this. And now she could be hurt. I…"

"I understand my son." He said with a nod. "You feel responsible for her safety."

Raphael nodded, his eyes earnest. His eye-ridges furrowed. "Sensei I've been wanting to ask you about something."

Master Splinter nodded and Raph led him over to Donnie's desk. Raphael found a scrap of blank paper and a pencil and began to draw something. Mikey went around the desk and tried to glance over the hothead's shoulder, but Raph growled and he backed off. Raph showed his father the image and Splinter tensed. The turtles heard Splinter's sharp intake of breath and sent him questioning glances. Instead, the rat master looked directly at his second son.

"Where did you see this?"

There was a moment of tense silence before Raphael answered. "A tattoo. On a guy's arm."

Splinter's nose wrinkled with anger and disgust. "It is the symbol of the Shredder."

Mikey gave all of them a strange look. "What the heck? I thought the Foot symbol was a red foot in a circle."

"It is." Donnie said.

Leonardo looked at the symbol and observed, "The Foot symbol is a red foot, but this appears to be a Japanese symbol that roughly translates to Shredder."

Raphael straightened. His muscles tensed and his eyes grew wide. "Say that again." He stated.

Leo, Don and Mikey gave each other confused looks. Then Leo said slowly, "I said the Foot symbol is-"

"Not that." Raph said cutting him off. "The last part."

Deep blue eyes stared at him questioningly, "It roughly translates to—"

"That's it!" The hothead said loudly, growing more and more anxious by the second. "Oh of course! Ryuu, Ryuu, it 'roughly translates to' dragon in Japanese! Idiot, I'm such a damn idiot! Ryuu Yamamoto! Of course!"

Master Splinter's eyes flashed. How did his son know that name? Before he could ask however—

"Oh Raph you fool, you stupid fool!" The green-eyed turtle reprimanded himself. Raphael burst out the door of the lab and was headed for the lair entrance.

With a rather hurried farewell to Master Splinter, the other three turtles trailed after their rampaging brother. They ran after Raph as fast as they could. He was already out in the sewer tunnels. It was Mikey who found him first.

"Where ya going Raph?" He asked.

Raphael didn't even turn around to look at him. "I'm going to find Jade and get her back safe. No matter what it takes. Even if I have to go straight to Shredhead's hideout."

Michelangelo scoffed, thinking his brother was joking. When he saw Raph's expression his mouth closed and his eyes widened.

"You're not serious, are you?" Leonardo asked.

Raphael glared daggers at him. The hothead's jaw clenched as he growled out the words. "Like I said: I'll do whatever it takes." He repeated emphatically.

The emerald green turtle was about to go storming off when a forest green hand caught his wrist. He turned to face his older brother warily.

"Before you jump into anything…" Raphael turned to look at him. Leo continued, "Please consider letting us go with you. We can help you cover more ground, besides this way you won't be alone. Please let us."

Raph stopped in his tracks. He considered Leonardo's arguments. It was a good idea. Especially considering that Jade could be in some serious trouble. He might need all the help he could get. But on the other hand, he'd be endangering his brothers. But what about Midori? What if she was…

No. No. I'm not even going to think about that. She's okay. She just has to be.

Raphael extricated himself from Leonardo's grip and motioned them to follow, pretending not to notice the sighs of relief from his brothers. "If things get too dangerous, I'm sending you back. I won't have you getting hurt because of me."

They nodded.

On their way towards Ryuu's apartment through the sewers, Raphael heard the slightest sound of movement echoing through the nearby tunnels. He signaled to his brothers who confirmed it, and they began to comb the area. Raph told them to split up, but again Leo overrode him.

"We can't split up. That's exactly what they would expect us to do."

Much as he wanted to argue, Raph had to admit, Leo was right. The green-eyed turtle nodded.

After searching several dead-end tunnels to no avail, they turned down a main tunnel. There was a sharp intake of breath. Belatedly, the turtles realized that the individual in question had seen them as soon as they turned the corner. The tunnel was dimly lit and dirty (but what part of the sewers wasn't?)

Midori had been sitting in that same spot with her knees pulled up to her chest for who-knows-how-long. She felt dizzy and weak. She thought she had fallen asleep at some point, but she wasn't sure. There was no measure of certainty anymore. No way to differentiate reality from hallucination, fact from fantasy. It was just a blur. An incongruous whirl of emotions and perception.

Suddenly she heard the gentle sound of soft feet coming closer to her resting place. Is that what this is? She thought slowly, her cognizance foggy and muddled. Is there where it all ends?

Then figures came around the corner. She only saw one of them.

He looked tired. His face was drawn in weariness, his features strong, but lacking their usual power and chiseled look. His bright green eyes looked worried. Raphael.

That was all it took. The damn of emotions broke and she hurled herself at him.

"No don't! Stand down!" Raphael exclaimed as his brothers drew their weapons and prepared to attack the human who was currently barreling straight towards them. They froze in shock watching as she ran past them and flung herself straight into Raphael's arms. He reached out and steadied her, seeming frantic with worry at her emotional state. "Midori—what in the world?" he saw the dark bruises on her face, the torn shirt and the blood-stained clothing and his expression darkened, "Who did this?" The normally aggressive turtle fingered her injuries lightly and she whimpered. "Tell me, Midori, who did this?" Leo decided he had never seen Raphael do anything so gently in his entire life.

"How do you know her?" Leo asked with surprise.

"Shut up Fearless!" Raph glared at the eldest, before turning his focus back to her. "Are you alright?" she said nothing, her light form literally shaking in fear. "God, Midori, please. I don't know what to do. Tell me what you need me to do." Raphael sounded almost…desperate, prompting the other three turtles to observe the unfolding situation carefully.

"Hold me, just hold me. Please don't let go. Don't ever let me go. Just so I know you're really here." She sobbed and he obliged wrapping her in his arms whole heartedly.

"I won't, I promise. I promise. It's alright now. I'm here. I'm here." The emerald green turtle pulled her closer against his plastron for emphasis, trying to calm her.

The other turtles watched the exchange with interest, surprise, and a growing sense of concern.

Donatello took a step towards them, reaching out to examine her injuries. Midori recoiled with a whimper, making Raph's heart clench. He couldn't stand seeing her like this. He held her arms tightly, "Don't worry. Don's not gonna hurt you." She still looked uncertain, so he added, "Would I lie to you?" His green eyes stared intensely down into her fear-filled golden ones. Midori leaned into him, silently accepting his reassurance. Raph nodded to Donatello.

The brainiac glanced over the minor injuries, but when he came to the blow on the head his dark eyes met his immediate older brother's in an unreadable gaze. Raphael didn't know what was wrong, nor did he need to know. He saw in Donatello's eyes the most important thing: We have to get her to the lab…ASAP.

Raphael scooped her up into his arms. She automatically wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against his plastron. He glanced down at her with concern and turned to his older brother.

Leo's POV

Raphael's green eyes turned to me desperately, asking the obvious question. I stared for a long moment at my younger brother, then at the frail form currently sobbing against his shoulder, before slowly nodding my permission. The look Raph sent me was one of inestimable gratitude. Without further delay, he scooped the fragile human form into his arms and headed back to the way we had come. I motioned for Don and Mikey to follow.

Donnie nodded and went ahead, while Mikey and I walked slightly behind. "But what about patrol?"

"Sorry Mikey, but we need to make sure Raph can handle this. He might need us."

The youngest nodded before he spoke up, "I told ya it was a girl, bro." I pulled a Raph and smacked Michelangelo upside the head.

"Not a good time, Mikey." I said with a slight growl. Michelangelo raised an eye-ridge, but otherwise said nothing.

Third Person POV

When they got Midori into the lab, she refused to lay on the lab table, or allow Donatello to get too close.

"It's alright Midori. I promise. No one is going to hurt you. I'm right here. And Donatello is my brother. He won't hurt you. He wants to help. Please." Raph's eyes shone with earnest and she slowly began to oblige.

Ten minutes later, after Donatello had sedated her, he sent Raphael out of the lab. He said that he needed to have room to work. Though in truth, Don had realized that Raph was blaming himself more and more for what had happened to her. And the emotional strain of seeing her in such a state was proving to be too much.

Even for the strongest of the turtles.

Raph looked haggard. His skin had gone pale and he looked as though he hadn't eaten in days. Bright green eyes were dull and faded, their gleaming irises smoothed over by a foggy haze.

Leonardo was the first who dared approach him. The eldest turtle plopped down on the couch beside his younger brother and after a moment of silence said, "You do realize you'll have to explain all of this to Master Splinter?"

By 'all of this' Leo most certainly meant the fact that there was another strange human in their house.

"Once he knows who she is, he won't be able to turn her away." Raph stated. Leo regarded him quizzically, but decided to let the cryptic remark rest…for now.

"So how are you holding up?" Leo asked casually.

Raphael gave him a pointed glare.

Leonardo lowered his eyes, knowing it was a stupid question. "How long have you two been together?"

The red-banded turtle stumbled for a moment before settling on, "We ain't. She's the best friend I ever had."

"But I thought Casey was-"

Raph cut him off "Casey's my best bud, sure, but…she's the only one who's ever been able to make me feel…"

"Feel…?" Leo prodded gently, taking care not to incite Raph's volatile temper.

"It's almost as though she can take my anger away, she mitigates it somehow."

"You're serious about her aren't you?"Leonardo asked, his expression serious. His deep blue eyes glinted in the dim light.

Raphael answered with a growl. "I'm not about to give her up if that's what you mean."

Leo frowned. "I'd never ask you to do that, and that isn't what I meant. I meant you're hoping for something more aren't you?"

"No." The older turtle stared at him in confusion. Raph gave Leo a leveled stare. "Look at her, Leo. You really think someone that beautiful would be interested in some hideous mutant freak like me?!"

Deep blue eyes narrowed fractionally. "You're not a hideous mutant freak!" He gave Leo a 'really?' Look. "So you're a little rough around the edges. So what? If she returns your feelings, she'll be willing to see past all of that. And if she isn't," the leader's voice lowered in volume but heightened in intensity, "then she doesn't deserve you." Leo stood slowly, patting Raphael's shoulder gently. "Get some sleep, Raph."

The next day, Donatello called them into the lab and gave them a synopsis of her condition. Raphael's anger was steady growing through the entire explanation until all his rage, anxiousness, and worry burst out in one huge tidal wave. …Make that a tsunami.

"I'm gonna tear him limb from limb! I'm gonna ram my Sai through his sick dirty mother-fuckin heart! No, no that's not enough. I'm gonna make him suffer until he begs me to end his life quickly and I'm gonna turn my sai in the wound and let him bleed to death!" Leonardo and Donatello stared at him. Sure Raph had threatened a lot of people, but this was different, this time, he was serious.

Before they could speak or even move Raphael had tensed. The red-masked turtle ran a hand over his head and said in a calmer, more defeated tone, "What am I doin? None of this is gonna get me anywhere." He looked down at the unconscious form on the table and Leo saw his fisted grip softly tighten. A sad, woeful grin appeared at the corner of his mouth and he shrugged, his head shaking back and forth in a disturbing chuckle. His green eyes never left her face for a moment, "You see what you do to me? Even unconscious you keep me fucking sane!" The hothead lowered his head and pressed it against her hand. Whispering desperately, "I'm so sorry, Midori. I should have been there for ya. Guess I broke my promise. Said I'd help ya, well look where that got you. I'm…I'm so, so sorry."

Leonardo didn't have to look to know there were tears in Raph's eyes.

Review Please! And Thank you all for reading!