"Raph!" Leo burst through the door, katanas drawn. "Raph, you here?!" An eery silence washed over them as they entered the apartment.
"Oh man, my couch!", Mike whined. It was covered with a deep red puddle that seeped into the cushions like ketchup on a sponge. Mike had seen blood before many times, but the sight of it glistening on his furniture, in the middle of his living room, while Raph, Shadow, and Casey's cousin were missing made him nauseous.
"Damnit!" Casey yelled as he stared at the red mess. "If anything's happened to Shadow or Meg..."
"Don't worry." Don crouched next to the couch, examining the blood as he rubbed it between his fingers. "It's still wet. If this belongs to one of them, they must've been here recently." He rose to his feet, trying to control the panic that had crept up on him unexpectedly. "They couldn't have gone far."
Leo tip-toed down the hall, his katanas at the ready. "Raphael?", he said quietly, peeking into the rooms as he passed. If anything's happened to him... A knot formed in his chest as he gazed beyond each doorway. He hated not feeling in control of the situation. If only we had gotten here sooner... He couldn't bare to think about what gory sights might lay behind one of these doors. "Raph, are you here?" He reluctantly continued his search, but there was no one to be found. The rooms were empty. Disappointed, and somewhat relieved, he returned to the living room and joined the others.
Splinter's gaze fell to the carpet. "Look", he pointed to the red drops that formed a pathway through the apartment.
"They must've gone to the sewers!", April declared, keeping her head turned away from the red liquid. April was a brave woman, but she had always gotten queasy at the sight of blood, and now, knowing it might belong to someone she cared about, she couldn't bare to acknowledge its existence.
"We must hurry." Splinter had always tried his best to cover the true emotions that lingered within. He, afterall, was their mentor, their protector. How could he allow them to gaze upon his soul, to see his inner most thoughts? Throughout his life, he had carried so many burdens. Like any father, he worried for his sons. He worried about their safety, their feelings about where they fit in this human's world, but mostly he worried about how they would carry on once he was gone. He felt responsible somehow for the transformation that led them to their present condition, for the role they were forced to play in life. He especially worried about the "angry" one. The one who made rash decisions, not stopping to think about the consequences before he acted. It was a burden that he alone carried, and he would until the day he died. Now, standing here among them, sensing the fear and uncertainty, he felt the need to reach out, to comfort them in his loving grasp, but the urgency of the moment kept his mind on the task at hand.
He looked his pupils in the eyes. "I fear we are running out of time."
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The dressings were wrapped snuggly around her feeble body as she lay motionless on the old mattress.
"That should do it.", Raphael announced as he taped down the last of the gauze. He tossed the roll aside and gazed carefully at her broken body. She looked like a mummy. The dressings covered her from head to toe, wrapping her in a protective cocoon. This is my fault! He knelt down beside her and took her hand, gawking at the blood that had already begun to seep through the bandages on her chest.
"I'm sorry.", he said softly as the guilt began to well up inside of him. "I should've gotten to you sooner..."
Her hand was surprisingly cold and clammy to the touch. He gazed upon her pale face, a feeling of yearning, of emotions that he couldn't quite understand washing over him. What's happening to me? As the adrenaline subsided, he allowed his sight to fall once again on the tender flesh that peeked out from underneath the bandages. She's so beautiful. He crouched there for a moment, his eyes fixed on her still frame.
"Man..." He stood, trying to shake the emotions from his head. "What's wrong with me?" I've gotta pull myself together! Brushing his thoughts and desires aside, he removed the cloth from her head and rested his hand in its place. That's when he noticed something was terribly wrong.
"Jeezus!" He gasped at the sting of her icy cold skin. Her lips had begun to turn blue and drops beaded up on her cheeks. Raph grabbed a blanket and laid it over her gently. He stared at her chest in silent horror, realizing for the first time that it was no longer rising and falling with the breath of life. "No!", he yelled as the tears fought to surface. "Jeezus, no!"
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They rounded the bend with heavy hearts. Leonardo took the lead, gripping the katanas firmly. His mind raced as he fought back the insecurities that had already begun to surface. What if they were too late? He eyed the others silently. I have to stop thinking like that! He lead them to a spot about a yard from the entrance. "Now", he whispered, pushing the fear aside. "Everyone, stay qui...."
"Raphael!", Mike bellowed, unable to contain his emotions any longer. Splinter conked him on the head with his walking stick in an attempt to silence him. "Ow!" Mike flinched as the wood came down on his scalp.
"Quiet..." Leo finished, frowning at him angrily. "Thanks, Mike.", he scolded. "If the Foot are down here, they know we're here now."
Raphael heard a familiar voice call his name. Could that be Mikey? He rose slowly, wiping the tears from his eyes as he took one last glance at the girl and ran toward the entrance.
"Mike, is that you?", he called. A moment later, his brothers, Splinter, April and Casey rushed into the room.
"Raph, you're okay!" Leo's heart filled with joy at the sight of his brother, the tension turning into silent hope.
Michaelangelo threw his arms around his brother, sobbing lightly. "I thought you were a gonner!", he whispered.
Leonardo and Donatello followed Mike's example, and they stood in the doorway of their lair embracing eachother in quiet understanding.
"I'm okay." Raphael fought back his emotions as he lead them to Megan's body. "But she's not."
"Oh my god!" April turned her head away at the sight of the mangled body. She clenched her teeth tightly as the tears began to roll down her cheeks. How could anyone do this to another human being?
"Megan!" Casey rushed to her side and thrust Raphael a look of accusation and hatred. "How could you let this happen!?", he demanded.
Raphael stood in silence, the grief and blame turning to anger and frustration. Casey grasped his cousin's hand, gasping at the chill of her skin. Sobbing silently, his mind filled with memories of his lost youth, when everything was so simple, so innocent. He thought about the day his new cousin had come home from the hospital...
The white Mustang honked as it pulled into the driveway. Casey stared at the car in silent anticipation.
"Hi, Casey, is your mother home?" His uncle Steve got out of the car and shut the door with a loud slam.
"Yeah, she's in the house." Casey looked on in wonder at the woman who sat in the front seat. "Is she here?", he asked expectantly. His uncle smiled down at him warmly.
"Yes, she is.", he said softly. "You can go see her if you wish." He motioned to the car.
Casey rushed over to the vehicle, smiling from ear to ear. As he approached, his aunt Julia rolled down the window. "Have you come to say hello to your new baby cousin?", she smiled.
Casey nodded as the door opened and the bundle was brought into view. Gazing upon her face, a feeling of overwhelming joy filled his heart. Finally, she was here, the cousin he had been waiting to meet for so long. She was a beautiful baby.
"Her name is Megan.", Julia smiled. Megan...what a wonderful name....
"Megan", he sobbed quietly. "Why?"
The others gazed at Casey with concern and sorrow. Splinter was studying her carefully, a somber look in his eyes as he felt for a pulse.
"You gotta help her!" The urgency was building within Raphael as he yelled at his sensei. "She's not breathing!", he pleaded.
Michaelangelo hurried to stand next to the girl, his eyes running over whatever wasn't covered by the blanket as he examined Raph's handiwork.
"She's dead!", Raph blurted.
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"Midnight." Robyn groaned as she glanced at the alarm clock. Her suitcase lay open on the messy bed, clothes laying in heaps all around it. She picked up a pile of shirts and stuffed them on top of the large dome that had already formed in the suitcase. As she brought the cover down over the mess, she realized it wouldn't close. Shit!
"Come on!" She climbed on the bed and leaped on top of the luggage, pushing with all of her weight. Click! The bag finally obeyed under the strain, leaving pieces of material hanging out on all sides.
She sat there for a moment as thoughts of her sister filled her mind. April was a mother now, and a wife. Robyn had been hurt when she found out her sister hadn't included her in this important day. She felt betrayed and neglected, as if she didn't matter in April's life anymore. She couldn't believe her nerve at asking her to come stay with her like she was taking pitty on her, or feeling sorry for her. As the day went on though, she thought about how long it had been since they had last seen eachother. She thought also about the neice she had never met.
"Wow.", she hopped off the suitcase and lugged it to the floor. "I'm an aunt now!" The idea was strange to her. She had never given much thought to having her own child, and now she had a neice to help watch over, even if she was across the country.
Robyn had tried to stay mad at her sister, but when the truth srufaced, her anger slipped away, and only happiness remained. April was finally getting what Robyn knew she had always wanted and needed.
She changed into her nightgown and flopped down on the bed, reaching over to set the alarm clock for six a.m. "Tomorrow's the big day", she yawned dreamily. If only she had known how big.
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"Raphael." Splinter studied his son carefully, a look of compassion in his aged eyes. "I want you to tell me everything that has happened, as best as you can remember." The rat placed his hand on her chest, examining the bandage.
Raphael squinted at his sensei nervously. "I'll try.", he sighed, glancing in Casey's direction. His friend was distraught. He sat there silently, unmoving as he stared at his cousin's still body.
"Michaelangelo gawked in awe at the girl and jabbed Raph with his elbow, "She's cute!" He forced a grin, trying to break the tension. Raph balled his hand into a fist and held it in his brother's face, ready to strike.
"Yame!", Splinter yelled, a frown wrinkling his furry forehead. Raphael lowered his fist reluctantly and glared at Mike. "Everybody out!", the rat commanded.
"Aww! But Master Splinter...", Mike protested.
"Now Michaelangelo." Splinter's look was stern. Leonardo grabbed Mike by the shell and lead him toward the door.
"Man, no fair!", Mike mumbled as he was lead out of the room.
Donatello laid his hand on Splinter's shoulder, a lump forming in his throat. "Good luck, Master Splinter.", he said quietly.
Splinter nodded and turned his attention toward Casey. "You must go..."
"I'm not leaving her.", Casey insisted. Splinter let out a sigh and glanced at April. Sensing his thoughts, she stood behind Casey, reaching her arms around his body to embrace him in a hug.
"C'mon Casey.", she spoke softly. "We need to leave Splinter alone."
"I can't." Casey stared at the wall, his fists clenched.
"Casey..." April pushed. "We have to trust Splinter. If anyone can help her, he can."
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"Raphael..." The room was quiet as Splinter and his son stared down at the frail body. "You have done well." He pulled back the blanket to examine the rest of the bandages carefully, checking that they weren't too tight, but sufficiently protecting the wounds.
"Master, I don't know the first thing about first aid.", Raph replied solemnly. "I wish you or Mike coulda been here with me..." His voice trailed off as he noticed the smile behind his master's eyes.
"I am proud of you, Raphael." A grin escaped his lips as he held Raph's eyes for a moment.
The turtle forced a smile at the old rat. "You are?", he asked amazed. "But I failed, Master...she's...she's....d--" He fought the tears back as the sorrow began to well up inside of him again.
"No." Splinter replied quickly, pressing his fingers to her neck again. "She is not dead." The relief washed over Raphael as he watched his sensei intently. "Her breathing and pulse are faint. She is in shock, but she is alive."
The blood began to rush through Raphael's veins and he could feel his heartbeat in his temples as the excitement coursed through his body. "Really?", he gasped.
The rat nodded and lifted her legs carefully. "Bring me some pillows.", he instructed.
Raphael did as he was told, slipping them under her feet. Splinter began to pull at the dirty chest bandage. "We must take care of this." He peeled the tape carefully from her skin. The wound was very deep. Splinter knew that if they didn't clean it and close it up right away, it could get infected, and it wouldn't heal properly.
Raphael was embarassed at the thought of his "father" and him together, gawking down at the girl's exposed skin. He turned away and tried to busy himself by humming the theme from "Love Boat". It was the first thing that popped into his mind, and somehow, it just seemed fitting.
Splinter acknowledged the nervousness in his pupil and smiled to himself. Never before had he seen Raphael act this way. It was a welcome change over the anger, the frustration, and the hot-headedness. Being sure not to cause him any further embarassment, he quickly threw away the bandage and covered her again with the blanket.
"Raphael", he said, turning to face him. "We must stitch up the wound."
His head pounded as he realized the implications in his master's words. "We?", he winced.
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"Man!" Michaelangelo paced the floor, his hands behind his back, nervously awaiting the outcome of his Master's work. "I should be in there.", he griped. "I know about this stuff."
Donatello sat on the couch, resting his feet on the coffee table as he thought about the events of the evening. He had already configured that if they would have gotten back to the apartment about twenty minutes earlier, they probably would have come in right at the end of the fight. Maybe they could have helped her then. His grief was great as he sat in silent thought, pondering the possibilities.
Casey was beat. He slumped in the chair and stared at the blank television screen through squinted eyes. His body ached for rest, but he would not allow himself relief from the pain. April sat next to him on the arm of the chair, stroking his forehead lightly with her hand as he fought off the sleep that threatened to take over.
"Be patient, Mike." Leo sat on the floor, his legs crossed as he concentrated on breathing deeply. Somehow meditation seemed to help him calm his nerves. He frowned at Mike. Why does he have to be so antsy all the time?
Raphael burst through the door and ran out into the living room. "She lives!" He raised his hands high into the air. "Mwahahahaha!"
Casey jumped up, all traces of sleepiness disolving into excitement and hope. His brothers and April crowded around him as they asked numerous questions.
"How is she doing?"
"So she started breathing again?"
"Was she in shock?"
"What went on in there? Took ya long enough!"
"Is she awake?"
Raphael sighed and took a deep breath. "She's doin' better, April. Splinter says she'll be just fine now. Yes, Mike, she started breathing again. Yeah, Don, she was in shock. A lot went on in there Leo, too much for me to go into detail now, but I'll tell you about it some time. And no, Casey, she's not awake yet, but Splinter says it's only a matter of time..."
"I want to see her!" Casey interrupted, pushing past him.
Splinter appeared in the doorway and nodded. "You may all come in now.", he smiled faintly. "But just for a moment."
Casey was the first to the door, followed by Michaelangelo, with Leo and Don close behind him. April, slightly nervous at what she might find, brought up the rear. Raph walked next to her, reassuring her everything would be okay.
"She's gonna make it." The joy forced it's way through, lighting up his face with a smile. April had never seen him so animated and full of life. He was truly proud of his accomplishments. "She's looking a lot better, April.", he added.
Candles surrounded the dim room, encircling the bed as she lay there in silence. The blankets rose slightly as she breathed easily now. Casey brushed the matted hair away from her forehead as the relief washed over him, robbing him of his energy. It had been a long day for all of them, and as they stood there together in that small dark room, an unspoken understanding filled their hearts. They were together and they were safe. All of them, that is, but Shadow.