From The Shadows || TMNT 2012 FanFiction (BOOK 1)

Chapter 18. A Couple of Hours

     Eventually, the conversations died. It had gotten late, later than Leo had wanted to stay out, and everyone was getting pretty tired.

     "April and I are going to start heading back," Carrie says. The two girls stood and stretched.

     "I think we should call it a night as well," Leo says.

     "We should totally try to hang out here as much as possible," Mikey comments, rejoining his brothers.

     Donnie nods. "I'll have to come back and study this place. I'm sure Noah has tons of notes on how he was able to create such a sustainable environment. I'll have to read back through everything we found at the apartment."

     Raph rolls his eyes. "You are such a nerd."

     "Well, what am I supposed to do?! The science that has to have gone into this place is astounding!"

     "Sometimes you just need to stop talking. You're the only one that cares," Raph says.

     Donnie frowns. "Because no one else has the same amount of appreciation for science as I do."

     April smiles. "It's okay. I'm sure whatever you find will be interesting, Donnie."

     The team left the garden, smiling and talking once again. The turtles split from the two girls and made their way up to the rooftops. They would be rejoined once again at the manhole cover they had come from.

     "Well, dudes," Mikey starts, "I'd say that was a well-deserved break."

     Leo nods. "Don't get too comfortable. Master Splinter's training isn't over and we still have to come up with specifics for our plan."

     The brothers jump from rooftop to rooftop, constantly peering over the sides to make sure April and Carrie were well on their way.

     "Oh yeah! I kinda forgot about that," Mikey says.

     "We're not surprised," Raph comments.

     The turtles continued on their journey back to their lair. They followed the route they had taken to get to the garden. It was an easy path and hardly took any time at all. The proximity of the garden to the lair was convenient. Everyone appreciated convenience once in a while.

      But that's all it was: once in a while. The peace the turtles collectively felt was cut short as a figure dropped in front of them. One-by-one more dark figures surrounded them.

     Mikey frowns. "Come on!"

     "Did you guys really think you'd be able to run around out here with no confrontation?" Karai laughs. "Especially with the whole 'Carrie' situation you boys have gotten yourselves into?"

     "Well, we almost made it," Raph mutters.

     "Almost." Karai steps toward the mutant brothers. "Here's the deal. This situation we're dealing with right now, it's bigger than our little family quarrel."

     "What situation?" Leo asks.

     "The Carrie one. The one I mentioned two seconds ago. The one-"

     "Alright. I get it." Leo shakes his head. "Then what do you want?"

     "I want to make a deal."

     "Does Shredder know what you're doing?" Donnie inquires.

     "Master Shredder's primary goal is to kill you four and Hamato Yoshi... well, was his primary goal. Ever since he found out Carrie and Noah live here, the Foot have been searching for the power Noah created that Carrie possesses."