The 56 Chevy Bel Air pulled into the motel parking lot, just in front of the main lobby. April sat behind the wheel, picking nervously at her nail polish while Robyn interrogated her with questions.
"April, what's going on here? Why are we at a motel?"
April sighed. She knew she was going to have to tell her sister the gruesome details sooner or later, so she figured it might as well be now. She glanced over at Casey, who sat slouched in the passenger seat, his neck tilted back on the head rest, mouth open, snoring softly. Just let him sleep. I can handle this.
Robyn was eyeing April suspiciously. She could feel the cold stare penetrating the back of her head. After taking a deep breath, she sighed and turned toward the backseat.
"Robyn, some...things have happened since we last talked."
"April, yesterday morning you said everything was fine.", she frowned in concern. "What's going on? Is there something you're not telling me?"
April glanced at Casey once more before continuing. He hadn't even stirred. He's out like a light.
She wasn't sure where to begin. So much had happened, and there was so much she needed to prepare her sister for. How can I get her to understand all of this?
"Robyn, our apartment was broken into yesterday."
"What!? Oh my god, April! Are you okay?" Robyn was terrified. Robberies and break-ins were things that she saw on television all the time, but never before had she imagined it could happen to someone she cared about.
"Robyn, calm down. Casey and I are fine." Grief filled her heart as she tried to form the words to explain about the wedding that never took place, the loss of her step child and the near-death of Casey's cousin. Robyn studied her intensely, her eyes fixed in fright.
"That's why we have to stay here, just for a night or two."
Robyn wasn't quite sure what to say as the fear and concern flooded through her. She thought she had sensed something was wrong when they had met at the airport, and now, it seemed her premonitions had come true.
"There's more. Casey's cousin Megan was there at the time."
"Oh my god!" Robyn covered her mouth with her hand as horrible visions of black clad men with masks and guns flooded her thoughts.
"She came here to surprise him. We had no idea..." April wasn't sure why, but a feeling of guilt had forced her to try to explain a situation she had no control over.
"What happened to her, is she okay?"
April lowered her head as the overwhelming sorrow gripped her. "She was hurt really bad. She almost died." The tears began to surface as she pictured Megan's still, bloody body laying silently on Raphael's bed. So many people getting hurt...
"My god!" Robyn's heart began to pound.
"She's gonna live." April forced a smile, but her expression betrayed the fear she felt inside.
"April, where is she?"
She wasn't quite sure if now was the appropriate time to tell her sister the whole truth. The shock of Megan's encounter and the break-in had been hard for Robyn to take.
"She's at the hospital.", April lied.
Robyn glanced around the car as she tried desperately to piece everything together. This was awful news. She had wanted so much for them to enjoy their time together while she was here, and now with the tragic events that had taken place, it seemed the whole trip would be a disaster.
"You're sure...she's gonna be okay?" Some of the fear began to subside as April reassured her of that fact. A moment of silence passed between them as they struggled with their grief.
"So, where's my little neice?" Robyn changed the subject in an attempt to lighten the mood, but the instant heartbreak on April's face told her she had failed. Unable to control her pain any longer, the tears streamed freely from April's eyes.
"What is it, April?"
"She's missing!", she blurted.
Casey woke up to her sobbing and put his arm around her. "April? What is it? What's wrong?"
"Oh, Casey! What if we never find her?" April weeped, burrying her face in his chest. He searched frantically for the right words to comfort her, but none came as he sat helpless in his own despair.
Robyn was awe-struck as she watched the grief-stricken couple embrace eachother. They looked so lost, so small. This was not the April she was used to seeing. Even after their father's death, when the sense of loss had been so great, she had never looked so helpless, so totally heartbroken.
"Come on.", Casey whispered. "We're gonna find her, I promise. I won't rest til' I do." In his heart, the uncertainty taunted him. Please god, help me keep my promise!
The determination washed over Robyn as they sat in silence. "I wanna help you.", she said softly.
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Donatello grasped his right bicep tightly as he struggled with the bo. The cut was deep and it stung something fierce. The blood peeked out from under his hand and trickled down his arm, dripping little red dots onto the floor below.
The turtles had fought well, knocking down at least half of their enemies in the long two hour battle, but still, it wasn't over. The Foot held their ground. Donatello could feel his body weakening from exhaustion and loss of blood. He feared that if it didn't end soon, Leo would be left to fend them off alone. He looked to his weary brother in concern. He's not doing much better.
Leo stood surrounded by ninja on all sides. The pain in his eyes showed clearly as he struggled to maintain his composure. There were several small cuts on his face, nothing serious from what Don could tell, but the bruise from the punch to his jaw was really starting to smart, and his head throbbed fiercely from the blow. They're toying with us.
The Foot had been attacking a few at a time throughout the fight, in an obvious attempt to tire the turtles out, while remaining strong themselves. It seemed their tactic was finally beginning to take effect as the injured siblings began to weaken.
A new set of Foot charged at Don. Weilding his bo with his left hand, he swept it through the crowd, making contact with flesh as a couple of them went down. One of the ninja grabbed the bo and yanked it from his grasp, tossing it to one of the others behind him.
"What are you gonna do now freak?" The voice was muffled behind the black nylon mask. "I took your little stick away."
Donatello despised being taunted. He was picked on enough by his brothers for being a "computer geek" and a "know-it-all". He put up with it because they were his family, and besides, he got a few good insults in there once in a while himself, but he wasn't about to take it from these creeps. Ignoring the pain that numbed his right arm, he reached it around the man's neck, bringing his knee into his chest. As the Foot soldier fell, more swarmed in to take his place.
A katana swung down toward Donatello's head. Having been stripped of his bo, he reached up to block it with his bare hand. He grimmaced in agony as the metal sliced deep into his flesh, and the red blood began to flow. He yanked his hand away, cradling it in the other as he gasped in pain.
Leonardo caught site of Don's struggle, and tried desperately to come to his aid, but he was having problems of his own. Two Foot charged at once, thier blades coming toward either side of his head. He backed into a defensive stance and brought a katana up to meet each of theirs as metal clanged with metal.
Donatello was now standing motionless in a red pool. Leo caught a glance of his brother as he stood there in awe, leaking blood like a faucet. I've gotta help him! He's going into shock! The Foot were closing in, twirling around him like they were part of some ritual dance, their sais and bos mocking him as they jabbed at his wounded body.
Leo knew he had to move quick, but the Foot were blocking his way. He continued to struggle with the two katana wielders, striking hard and quick, but just barely fast enough to block their attacks. Even all of his skill and long hours of practice and concentration hadn't fully prepared him for this gruesome battle. His arms ached as they cried out in pain from the weight of the heavy blades, yet he refused to give in to the fear.
A blade struck him in the side, right under his armpit, where the shell did not protect. The cut was deep, and he could feel the warm sticky liquid as it began to ooze out. Leonardo was infuriated. First, these creeps had made coleslaw out of Donnie, and now they were trying to chop him up into salad! Keep your cool. Concentrate. He glanced at his brother again.
Sweat was beaded up on Don's forehead. He mustered all of his strength to fend off the horde while they jabbed him with their pointy weapons. His flesh burned as a pair of sais tore into his skin. Don raised a foot to meet one of his tormentors in the face. It was one of his weaker kicks, but it did the job nonetheless.
The battle continued with Leo sword fighting a mob of katana weilders, while Don struggled to stay alert, having the use of only two feet and one hand for protection.
Suddenly, a streak of excrutiating pain spread across Leo's shell. He turned around quickly to face his attacker who weilded a long sharp dagger.
"Hey, that hurt!", he yelled.
The man shook the dagger around wildly, beckoning him to fight. Leo was physically drained. He spared a final glance at his brother, who was now down on his knees, his good hand wrapped around one of the Foot's as he struggled to keep the sai from sinking into his plastron. We gotta get out of here!
The urgency of the situation gave Leo the rush of adrenaline he needed. Whirling around, he shoved the katanas at two of his attackers, stabbing one clean through, and seriously wounding the other's leg. As they fell, he wheeled around to face the man with the dagger. There was something wild and untame about his movement, and Leo couldn't help but think of Raphael.
He raised the katana above his head. The man thrust his arm out in little jabbing motions, missing Leonardo by a long shot. As his katana came down, it chopped off the guy's hand, sending him to the floor. The man whimpered in anguish as the blood spewed from the open wrist. Feeling nauseated, Leonardo sheathed one blade and ran to help his brother as more Foot swarmed in.
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"Here." A furry hand offered her a small, steamy cup. "Drink this." Megan accepted the cup gracefully as she studied the intricate designs. Red cranes morphed into green dragons, surrounded by tiny white flowers as they twirled around the ancient plaster. She lifted it to her face, the sweet steam swirling around her lips and up her nostrils, as she breathed in the heat. The aroma of the tea was pleasurable, like fresh leaves and spices, reminding her of her home, and of her mother.
"It is an ancient Japanese herbal tea." Splinter watched as she examined the cup curiously. "Its healing properties have been known to cure even the worst of ailments." He lifted his own cup and began to drink. Megan followed his example, sipping the hot tea lightly, so as not to burn her tongue. Her muscles began to relax as the warmth coursed through her body. They drank together in silence for a moment before the rat spoke.
"You are looking much better."
Megan studied the rat. His look was that of age and wisdom, and he sat silently, sipping the tea. In this light, she found he wasn't a thing to fear, as she had first thought him to be. He was a gentle creature, a sparkle of kindness and love behind his harsh brown eyes.
A nagging question had been eating at her all morning. "Why are you helping me?"
The rat smiled softly and rested a bony hand on hers. "We help those we can."
Megan still didn't understand. "But Raphael told me that humans are your enemies, that you're forced to hide down here in the shadows, because man would seek to destroy you."
Splinter smiled wisely. "Not all humans are the enemy." He thought about April and Casey and the bonds of friendship and loyalty they shared. "And remember...in every adversary is potential friendship."
Megan studied him for a moment. "You really believe that, don't you?"
The rat nodded. "The world is filled with lost souls who seek guidance. Each of us must make decisions as we travel the path of life. I doubt there is anyone, good or bad that hasn't chosen the wrong path at some point. Even those who are good of heart are not infailable. I myself have made decisions I am not particularly proud of." He sighed as visions of years past flashed through his mind; of a two month struggle for his life as he laid in a ditch, his leg broken, growing weak as the starvation crept in. He invisioned the one who called himself the Rat King. He remembered how this spirit had forced him to see his imperfections, to eat his own kind. He shuddered at the memories. He hadn't told a soul about these experiences, not even his students.
"But we are ninja.", he continued. "And we fight to protect those who seek the right path."
"But you don't have to help anyone you don't want to. Raphael...he didn't have to help me." She lowered her eyes as she thought about what might have become of her if her rescuer hadn't been there last night.
"No." Splinter's voice was soft. "He did not."
Megan gazed into his eyes as she tried to understand the implications of Splinter's words.
"He chose to do so, as April and Casey once chose to help us, and as I now choose to help you also."
Megan smiled at the rat. "Then I choose to follow your path. I want to help all of you find Shadow."
Splinter laid his hand on hers again, his eyes softening. "Then that you shall do."
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"Man, what a dump!" Robyn complained as the flung her suitcase on the bed. April ignored her as she took inventory of her surroundings. There were two double beds, decorated with quilted maroon comforters. The gawdy blue and yellow flowers were nauseating to look at. A table stood under a single window and a small television sat on an old worn out dresser. God, why did Casey have to choose Motel 6?
Robyn laid down on the bed, propping her head up with her elbow as April excused herself to the bathroom. Robyn stared at Casey intently as he focused his attention out the window. He was a big man, not fat by any means, but very strong. His buldging biceps and calves reminded her of a hero from an action movie. She smiled lightly as she glanced at his various other attributes. Nice butt!
Casey absently ran a hand through his long dark hair. He was thinking about Megan and Shadow, and the anger was beginning to grow inside of him. He pictured his little cousin laying lifeless in the small room in the sewers, her chest motionless as the breath of life slipped away...
April came out of the bathroom and stood behind Casey. She reached her arms around his waist and burried her face in his back. I wish I knew what he was thinking! They stood there for a momet in silence before he turned around.
April gazed into his eyes, searching for a smile or that familiar twinkle in his eye, some kind of indication that he was alright.
"I'm gonna go visit Megan for a while." His gaze fell on Robyn and then back to April. "I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do."
April was well aware of the implications in his statement. I know...I gotta tell her. She shot him a pleading glance as he walked away from the window.
"You should be safe here until I get back." He gave April a quick hug, "I won't be gone long."
"Be sure to say hi to her for me." April forced a nervous smile.
Casey nodded, then added in a low voice. "You are being watched."
She understood the hidden meaning and breathed a sigh of relief as he left the room.
Casey closed the door and started down the steps. His heart began to pound harder in his chest at the thought of seeing Megan again. Please, let her be awake and well!
He strolled out to the parking lot and opened the trunk of the old car. The small brown suitcase stared back at him, reminding him of the gruesome events that had taken place last night. He was glad he hadn't let April stop by the apartment with him this morning. The sun had shed new light on its contents. The living room had been a mess. The bodies were gone, but their path of destruction had remained. Blood stained the carpet and the walls and broken glass covered the floor and ruined furniture.
He lugged the suitcase from the trunk and ducked into a nearby alley. Taking a look around to make sure no one was watching, he lifted the heavy manhole cover and pushed it to the side. Then, with one final glance at the hotel building, and a silent prayer, he slipped through the hole.
___________________________________________________________________________________
The tension was building. Leo crouched next to Donatello, noticing the agony on his pain sticken face. His teeth were clenched as the sweat dripped down his forehead. He clutched his mangeled hand as the blood continued to flow. Leo had his arm around Don's shell, whispering over and over again. "You'll be alright." Donatello wasn't so sure.
The pain was unbearable. He couldn't bear to look down at the pulpy flesh. A sick feeling swept over him and he grimmaced at the thought of losing his hand.
The Foot were closing in. No longer where they holding back. The whole swarm of them crept toward the two agonized brothers, determined to finish them off. Leonardo knew that Donatello was in no shape to fight. The blood loss and the pain from the serious injuries had weakened him too much.
Leonardo was afraid as he stood guarding his brother from their blows. He feared for Donatello's life, he feared for his own life, and he feared for the safety of the others if he failed to stop their attackers. Determined to conquer his fears, he drew his other katana and stood ready. If he was going down, he was going to do it fighting, with honor.
A pair of chucks came at his head. He ducked, pulling it into his shell. The weapon cracked on the edge of the carapace, chipping a small chunk off, but doing little damage. Leonardo became one with his sword. His skilled, steady movements announced his new found concentration. He swiped his katana at the nearby ninja, slicing thier bellies. The group was getting smaller now. There were only about thirty of them left, but even that number was great considering their current situation.
I will not fail! He blocked a sai as it came toward his face, stabbing the man with the other katana. Three attacked him at once. He whirled around as his injured side began to burn again. A sai stabbed him in the plastron. The cut wasn't deep, but it hurt. He fought off his attackers on pure adrenaline. A bo poked him in the cheek...a katana whizzed past his shoulder, just missing him as he rolled out of the way...a pair of nunchuks cracked him in the back of the head, and he went down.
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"Don and Leo have been gone for a long time, Master Splinter." The worry in Mike's face frightened Megan.
Splinter lowered his eyes. "Yes, I know."
"Maybe we should go look for them."
Raph wandered in with Casey close behind. "Hey, look who I found."
The smile on Megan's face melted Raphael as Casey set down the suitcase and gave her a hug.
"Casey, It's so good to see you!"
"It's great to see you too." Casey smiled back as he continued to embrace her. Megan's ribs cried out in pain, reminding her of her previous battle.
"Ummm...Casey...", she whispered.
"Yeah?"
"I'm still a little sore."
Casey let go and took a step back. "Oh, yeah. I'm sorry." He examined her carefully, a big grin spreading across his face before he grew serious.
"Why did you come here? I told you in the letter I'd call soon..."
"I know Casey, but I couldn't stand the thought of missing your wedding." A look of sorrow filled her big brown eyes, reminding him of a lost puppy dog. "But, I guess I blew it, didn't I?"
Casey wrapped his hands gently around the bandages on her arms. "Look at me, Megan." She allowed her eyes to meet his. "It's not your fault."
Megan didn't quite believe that, but she didn't really want to discuss it right now anyway. She forced a smile and took his hand.
"I heard about Shadow."
"Yeah." The sorrow in Casey's face made Megan's heart break. He mustered up all of his courage and stood up straight to look her in the eye. "But we're gonna find her!"
"Is that mine?" She glanced down at the luggage.
"Yeah." He lifted it and set it next to her on the bed. "I thought you might like your clothes."
"Thanks." She opened the cover and stared down at her belongings.
"Do you need some help?" Casey asked uncomfortably.
"No, thanks. I'm fine." She glanced around at the others. "But...could I have a little privacy?"
Casey grinned as he glanced at Splinter. The rat nodded and escorted them out of the room. "I believe it is your turn for watch, Michaelangelo."
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Leonardo woke up. He realized he must have blacked out for a moment as the room began to fill his vision. He was laying on the cold hard floor. His side throbbed in pain as he took stock of his surroundings. The Foot were gone. Dead and wounded bodies remained on the floor, but the rest of the attackers were nowhere to be found. He got up slowly, nursing his bruised body. His head throbbed as he looked around for his katanas. They were gone. The Foot must've taken them, but why?
Remembering Don's condition, he scanned the area frantically. He finally found him laying in a heap on the floor, bodies strewn around him.
"Oh Don, god no!"
He ran to his unconscious brother and crouched down next to him. He slid his hand under his head, cradling him in his arms. The tears began to well up as he gazed at the silent face. God...is he?... Pressing his ear to Don's chest, he listened for a heart beat. A faint but definiate thumping could be heard. No, he's still alive! Gotta get him home!
As he picked up his brother, he reflected on the fight. Why had the Foot left? "They should've destroyed us.", he said aloud.
Don's body was heavier than Leo expected. He struggled with his own weakness as he heaved his brother through the sewers. As he trudged through the passages, Don's leg slipped from Leo's grasp and dragged across the floor. "Sorry buddy. I'm doing the best I can."
He caught site of Don's mangled hand and thought about the poor guy who's hand he had taken off with his katana. The nausea crept up on him again as his brother's blood smeared itself across his plastron.
C'mon, Donnie, hang in there!
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Megan struggled with the shirt. It wasn't so bad when the material scraped across her arms, but trying to lift them to get it over her head...
She took a deep breath and raised her hands into the air again. Her lungs filled with pain as she forced the garment down around her body. Once it was completely in place, she took a break, allowing the pain to subside for a moment before struggling with the jeans. She wished she had chosen looser clothing when she packed her things. But how was I supposed to know I'd get beaten up?
The pants were even more difficult. Although the majority of her injuries were on the top half of her body, her shins and calves were pretty banged up. That wasn't the problem though. The brunt of the struggle was the fact that in order to get the jeans around her waist, she was going to have to stand up. She had tried that before, and her body had refused cruelly.
As she bent at the waist to slip her feet into the pants, the pain shot across her ribs again. Damnit! I hate being an invalid!
She pulled the legs up to her knees, breathing heavily. She never knew how tough putting on a pair of jeans could be. Now here's the tricky part. She swung her legs slowly and carefully to the left and allowed them to hang off the bed as she twisted her body to follow. The pain in her arms had subsided slightly, allowing her a little more movement than she'd had before. Could it be Splinter's tea?
All she needed to do now was give herself a little push, and she would be standing on the floor. Okay...one...two...three... She forced herself from the bed as the pain coursed up her shoulders and across her chest. Ignoring the hurt, she congratulated herself on her progress. A light-headed queasiness swept across her as she tugged at the zipper.
"There.", she announced examining her accomplishment. "That's much better."
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"Thank you, Splinter." Casey sat in the recliner, directly across from the couch the rat was resting on. "She looks so much better."
Splinter smiled and pointed to the turtle next to him. "But I could not have done it without Raphael." Casey and Raph exchanged uneasy glances. After Casey's accusations last night, the two hadn't really been able to face eachother about the subject.
"Look, Raph..." Casey said atlast. "I'm...sorry." The words were hard for him. He hadn't meant to lash out at his friend. "Seeing her laying there like that...well, I just lost my head..."
Raphael smirked at him and crossed his arms. "S'okay. Just don't let it happen again." Casey returned the grin as the unspoken understanding passed between them.
"Casey?" A voice called out from the other side of the wall.
"Yeah?"
Megan stepped out slowly, and stood before them, the outift hiding most of the wounds beneath. She looked radiant again, like the first time Raphael had laid eyes on her.
"How do I look?" She spread her arms out slowly, showing off the ensemble.
Like the Queen of Sheba herself! Raph gawked at her slack-jawed. The black velvet shirt fit snuggly around her body, emphasizing her curves. Her hair fell shoftly around her shoulders and her skin, despite the bruises, looked vibrant and healthy again.
Casey smiled at her and took her hand. "You look great, Meg."
"Thanks."
Her gaze fell on Splinter's approving face, then on Raphael. There's that look again.
"C'mon. Why don't you sit down here with us.", Casey suggested.
"Ummm, no, that's okay.", she said quickly.
Casey frowned at her curiously. "Why, what's wrong?"
She glanced down at her bandaged body. "Ummm...actually, I don't think I can."
Casey opened his mouth to speak, but their conversation was interrupted. The door swung open and an exhausted Leonardo entered, dragging Donatello over his shoulder.
"Oh my god!", Megan gasped. Splinter and Raphael jumped up from the couch and hurried to help Leonardo.
"M...master..." He said weakly as Casey helped the rat with Don's body. "I can't..."
"Shhhh." Splinter silenced his pupil and helped Raph guide him to the couch as Casey held on to Donatello. Thoughts of a Christmas almost seven years ago flashed through his head. Is he...? No, he's alive, but just barely... The vision of Leonardo laying motionless on the floor of April's apartment sent a reoccurring fear through Splinter. As a ninja master, he had grown accustomed to the wounds inflicted on his sons, but as a father, the worry and concern still haunted him every time their lives were in danger.
Michaelangelo came running into the lair. "What's going on? I heard the comotion..." He stopped in mid-sentence as his sight fell on his brothers.
"Oh my god, what happened?" He ran to Donatello, carefully wrapping his brother's arm around his neck. Casey followed his lead and did the same with the other. They carried him to the other couch and laid him down gently. Tears streamed down Mike's face as he stared at the motionless bloodied frame.
Ignoring the pain from her own injuries, Megan hurried as quickly as she could to Raph's bed and grabbed the blanket.
Splinter accepted it greatfully and laid it over Leonardo's legs. His eyes were shut as he mumbled gibberish about the Foot and Don's hand.
Michaelangelo took Megan by the hand and pulled her toward the bathroom. "C'mon. Help me with the first aid stuff." Megan followed him obediently. These guys had saved her life, and now she was going to help save theirs.