After All This Time

Chapter 42

A yawn escaped Raph's mouth "we almost done?" he asked. Leo sighed "yea almost, let's check China town then we can go home." he said as he walked off. Raph groaned "Leo, we checked China town like three times tonight." Leo paused, he turned to Raph with a slightly confused face "we did?" that caught Raph off guard "yea we did, are you feeling okay?" He walked up and placed the back of his hand on his brother's forehead. Leo lightly pushed Raph's hand away. He sighed "yea I feel fine, I just... I don't know I guess this past week has been a lot to wrap my head around." he crossed his arms over his chest. Raph let out a small sigh as well, the week had been full of shit. They heard rumor of the krang having a secret base they used to experiment on people, they have spent all week trying to find leads, then add the situation with Maddie on top and it's a little overwhelming. "Look we will figure things out, we always do." Raph said trying to be supportive. "Yea but what if we can't find the base? I mean the krang have already kidnapped a bunch of people, what if they already started their experiments? And Mandy-" "Maddie" "Maddie. what if something happens and we don't make it in time?" Leo said. dumping his worries out. Raph's face morphed into a sad expression for a split second before going back to a neutral one, he knew Leo hadn't gotten over what happened to Karai. "Leo" he put a hand on his shoulder "that's not going to happen, okay? We will keep her safe and we will find the krang." he gave a reassuring smile. Leo took a deep breath and relaxed a bit "your right, sorry I just dumped that on you." Raph gave a slight chuckle and lightly nudged Leo with his arm "don't worry about it man, you know we are here whenever you need." Leo gave a smile "come on let's head home, its late." he said as he turned to the direction of the ally closest to their home. Raph snickered "technically its yearly." "Ah shut it."

"Guys we are back!" Raph yelled out through the lair as he made his way to the couch. "Raph, Leo! Welcome back. How was patrol?" Casey asked from the beanbag. "It was alright-wait why are you guys here?" Leo asked with a raised 'brow' "what we can't hang out?" Casey teased. "No, just it's like two in the morning?" "Oh, shit is it really?" he asked. "Yea it is, don't you guys have school as well?" Casey rubbed the back of his neck "maybe..." Leo shook his head; he looked around the room, April was curled up in a blue blanket passed out on the couch, Maddie was barely visible under a grey blanket, she was also passed out. "Hey wait where's Mikey?" Raph asked in a low voice to not wake the girls. "Ah he went to his room; he was barely awake. Oh, also your guy's dinner is in the fridge" Casey informed them. "Oh bet, I forgot about that." Raph rushed off to get his food. "Well, I'm assuming you guys are staying the night, Casey stay in Donnie's room so the girls can have the living room, Don will most likely fall asleep in his lab like usual, shit I don't think he's actually slept in his room for a good two months." Leo said trying to recall. "You got it boss man." Casey said as he got up to head to bed as well. Leo went off to the kitchen to join Raph. "Watch tonight be the night Donnie sleeps in his bed." "Oh god don't jinx it."

Maddie woke with a shiver going through her body, it was freezing in the living room. Now you may think 'oh she came from Montana it snows up there-' doesn't matter, it hits fifty and she's freezing her tits off. "God its cold, what time is it?" she said with a hushed whisper. She felt around till she found her phone. She found it in-between the couch "of course it would be there." She checked her phone, the clock read three thirty-five AM, and ten present battery power. She groaned as another shiver ran through her body "it's too cold..." her face morphed into an unpleasant one. She thought about what she could do, right as she was about to contemplate sleeping under the couch cushions an idea popped into her head. 'Na I shouldn't...' she contemplated till another chill shot through her body making her teeth chatter and muscles tense.

"Maybe I should... Na I'll be fine..."