Summary: Sequel to Redemption. 5 months after the accident, Raphael is slowly coming to terms with his disabilities and moving on with his life. But one night everything is about change. Caught in an ambush, Leo is the one who needs saving this time. But can Raphael get him home in time? Or will his disabilities mean death for them both?
Disclaimer: I do not own the turtles. All rights belong to their respective owners.
Author's Notes: Sorry for the wait guys, the holidays have been pretty hectic! I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as you enjoyed the first.
Of course, all of this couldn't be possible without my amazing and faithful Beta readers, Amonraphoenix and DarkUnderwolrd. Thank you so much for sticking with me guys and helping me with this story.
I do hope you all enjoy this story as much as the first, maybe even more so. Please read and enjoy.
-Retribution-
Chapter Two
-Raphael-
They pulled up behind the abandoned warehouses, hiding the Battle-Shell from view behind rows of discarded metal that had been left to rust behind the dumpsters.
Raphael was the first one out of the van. His Sais already in his hands as he scanned the surrounding area with narrowed eyes, looking for any signs of his brother or their enemies.
"Now, Raph, you need to promise me that you'll be careful," Donatello warned as he hopped out of the van to stand beside his brother. "I don't want to have to patch you up again."
"Relax, Donnie, I'll be fine," Raph reassured his worried brother. "It's the Foot that better watch themselves. When I'm through with them they're going to wish they never messed with our family!" Raph vowed darkly with a malicious grin.
"Come on," Leo said, unsheathing his twin katanna. "We're wasting time."
They followed behind him as Leo led them from around the back of the building. From inside they could hear the sounds of fighting. Raphael growled impatiently and twirled his Sais in preparation. His baby brother was in there, and if the Foot had touched him, Raphael was going to introduce them into a world of pain.
They snuck past one of the shattered windows and Raphael chanced a peak in. There were over forty Foot-Ninja that were still standing. They were all crowded around Michelangelo, who was slowly being herded into a corner to cut off his escape and ability to fight. He didn't appear to be seriously hurt, aside from a few shallow cuts on his arms and legs. His eyes were narrowed in grim determination, and his nun-chucks spun in deadly circles as he waited and taunted for the Foot-Ninja to take a step closer.
"They have him surrounded," Raphael whispered fiercely to his brothers, ducking away from the window. "I don't think he's hurt too badly. There are about forty of them, so we should be able to take them easily enough."
"Good," Leo nodded. "We'll move around to the far side. We need to push them back away from Mikey, so a direct attack is best."
"At your word, Fearless Leader," Raphael said which earned him a strange look from Leo.
They made their way around the warehouse until they were positioned at the door.
"On three," Leo said, holding up his fingers to silently count down. On three they barged through the door with a battle cry, weapons raised as they charged in to their enemies.
The Foot whirled around to face the new threat, momentarily forgetting about Michelangelo. But a moment was all that Mikey needed. As soon as their attention was diverted, Mikey lunged at the nearest Foot-Ninja, knocking him out with one swift movement and quickly dashed through the gap in the enemy's lines and back into open space.
"Go and help Mikey!" Leo told Don. "Raph and I will take the rest."
Donnie nodded and ran around to help Mikey, knocking Foot-Ninjas down in his path with precision strikes. Raphael growled and ducked under a swipe from a Foot-Soldier. Lashing out with the butt of his sai he knocked the Foot down and whirled around to slam his elbow into the mouth of a Foot-Ninja who was sneaking up behind him. Next to him Leo deflected the blades that were aimed at him, constantly moving so that no enemy couldn't sneak up behind him. Raphael caught an oncoming blade in the prongs of his sai and used his strength to push the enemy back. He saw movement from the corner of his good eye and was preparing himself to lash out when someone pushed him from behind.
Raphael stumbled and turned to see Leo push him out of the way and knock out the Foot-Soldier.
"Hey," Raphael snarled angrily, "I had him!"
Leo ignored him and turned around to deflect another sword stroke. Raphael seethed in anger but didn't have time to think much about it. A Foot-Ninja had snuck up on his blindside and kicked him sharply in the ribs. Raphael gasped as the air was driven from his lungs and he fell down to his knees. Still clutching his Sais, Raphael lashed out blindly at the Foot-Ninja and cut him across his legs. The Ninja cried out in pain and Raphael sent a swift right-hook into his cheek as he doubled over, knocking the Ninja unconscious. Getting stiffly to his feet, Raphael held his weapons tighter and turned in a slow circle so no one could sneak up on his blindside again. His ribs ached where he had been kicked and his bad leg was starting to pound with searing pain.
Three Foot-Ninjas closed in on him, each holding a deadly katanna. One lunged at him and Raphael met him halfway, using his bigger size to knock the Ninja over. A second came at him, aiming for his now exposed side. Raphael ducked and spun away, but the third ninja came up behind him and kicked his legs out from under him. He hit the ground shell first with a heavy thud. Raphael rolled and pushed himself unsteadily to his knees. His prosthetic leg groaned under him in protest and Raphael fell back onto the floor. The ache in his leg felt like it was one fire. Raphael growled and gnashed his teeth together, trying to ignore the pain and get back up onto his feet.
"Raph, look out!" Leo suddenly shouted, appearing at his brother's side in a flash and pushing him out of the way.
Raphael didn't see the Ninja with the dagger until he came into the view of his good eye. Leo pushed him out of the way just in time. Instead of plunging into his chest, the dagger bit deeply into Leo's upper thigh. Leo grunted and stumbled, but managed to stay standing despite the torrent of blood that gushed from the wound, quickly turning his leg crimson.
"You are going to pay for that," Raphael growled, lunging at the Ninja with renewed strength and vigour. He knocked the dagger from the Ninja's hand and feigned a blow before punching him square in the jaw. The Ninja was unconscious before he hit the ground. Panting, Raphael scanned around and realized that what was left of the Foot were quickly dispersing. Unconscious or dead bodies lay scattered across the floor. Mikey and Don stood at the end of the warehouse, relatively unscathed as far as Raphael could see.
He moved over to Leo and put a hand on his shoulder, inspecting the gash on his leg. It was long and deep; deep enough to need stitches. Scarlet blood ran down his leg and pooled on the floor at his feet.
"You pushed me out of the way," Raphael growled softly.
"You didn't see him coming," Leo pointed out.
Raphael didn't say anything, knowing Leo was speaking the truth. He didn't see the dagger, and if it weren't for Leo he would be lying dead on the ground right now.
"Stupid eye and stupid leg!" Raphael cursed vehemently.
"It's alright, Raph," Leo said gently. "You fought well, considering this is your first time since...since the accident."
"Bullshit," Raphael snarled. "If it hadn't been for you, I'd be dead right now and you know it!"
"Leo, what happened you your leg?" Donnie cried, rushing over to them with Mikey in tow.
"It's not as bad as it looks, Donnie," Leo assured his brother.
Don ignored him and bent down to inspect the wound. "It needs to be stitched Leo, before you lose too much blood, but I can't do it here," Donnie explained as he deftly wrapped his brother's leg with a pressure bandage until they could get home.
"Long time, no see, turtles," a deep, familiar voice rumbled from the doorway.
"Ah guys, I think we have company," Mikey said, facing the door where the remaining Foot-Ninjas had retreated.
Raphael turned around to find Hun standing at the door with twenty Purple Dragons standing behind him.
"Hun, what are you doing here?" Leo growled.
"Did you really think we would just give up after you broke into our base, killed our men and took back your brother?" Hun grinned evilly. "We're not finished yet, and now you turtles have fallen right into our little trap."
"Oh man, I have a bad feeling about this," Mikey muttered as he stepped closer to his brothers.
Hun's smile grew as he pulled a small grenade from his pocket. Pulling the pin his eyes locked with Raph's single blazing amber eye. "Enjoy the After-Life, freaks."
And then he threw the grenade.
"Look out!" Leo shouted.
The grenade landed next to one of the support columns. There was a deafening bang followed by an ear-splitting crack.
"Run!" Don shouted as he watched the support column collapse with the squeal of metal on metal into another column, causing a deadly chain reaction around them.
The turtles ran for the exit as the building gave an ominous groan and started to collapse around them. They dodged falling debris as they ran for one of the windows. Unfortunately the Purple Dragons had roughly boarded them up, and were probably still waiting for them outside in case they managed to escape. But right now their main focus was escaping the building and not being crushed.
"Keep going!" Leo yelled as they continued to dodge the falling debris. There was a loud crack and a brick came loose from the roof, knocking Leo on the side of the head. Leo grunted and fell to the ground, unconscious.
Raphael whirled around, his eye going wide with panic and fear. "Leo!" Running back to his fallen brother, Raphael tried to lift him over his shoulder, but his prosthetic leg groaned under the added weight. Cursing, Raphael started to drag Leo towards the far window. All around him the building was shaking and was being swallowed by smoke and dust.
Donnie and Mikey stopped and turned back, running back to help Raphael.
"Get out!" Raphael yelled at them before they could get too close. "I've got him. Get out of here, now! I'm right behind you!"
As the words died on his lips, there was a final, ominous groan as the building supports collapsed completely. A moment later the floor beneath Raphael's feet gave out under him, and he and Leo went plunging into the darkness below.
Author's Notes:I love a good cliffhanger, don't you?
Reviews are greatly appreciated; I'd love to hear what you all thought!
Till the next time,
~Cat