Five More Minutes

~ 1 ~

Mikey's P.O.V

"The purple dragons are up to something." Leo says. He's pacing back and forth in front of the couch where eveyone one is sitting. Me, Donnie, Raph, and then Splinter is standing near the end of the couch.
"They've been in and out of that abandoned factory on East Tenth Ave." Donnie adds on.
"Since it's abandon everything is all bordered up, so we can't tell what they are up to from the outside."
"Maybe it's just their secret lair." I say as I fold my legs into a pretzel. Leo gives me a look of disapproval and annoyance. "What?"
"Why are we just sitting around on our tails then? Let's go kick some Purple Dragon butt!" Raph says with and he jumps to his feet.
"Raph, it could be dangerous." Leo says. "Like I said, we have no idea what kind of schemes they're hiding in there."
"That's exactly why we have to take action!" Donnie and I exchange glances.
Leo and Raph have been at each other's throats for the last few days and we can't figure out why. They occasionally fight, I mean we all do, but it never goes on like this.
"What we have to do is come up a plan-"
"I've got a plan for ya, Fearless, we sneak into that factory and shut it down!"
"Raph, it's not that simple! What do you want us to do? Prance through the front door and ask them what they're up to?" Leo rolls his eyes.
"Whatever, Leo, I'm going. If you want to sit around all day and talk about action- go for it. I'm going to actually do something."
"Raph, wait! I'm the leader-"
"Oh yeah! Big leader Leo, don't get in his way." Leo throws his hands in the hair and he starts to walk towards the exit of the lair.
"Raph!" Leo calls out again and he rubs his temple before he chases after him.
"We should probably follow them so they don't kill themselves- or each other." Don says as he stands up. I groan and I stand up too.
"Be careful, my sons. Take care you each other."
"We'll try." I respond to Sensei then I catch up to Don.
Me and him follow a few feet behind Leo and Raph. It's better not to get stuck in their crossfire.
This morning during training, I was sparring against Leo and Donnie had to spar against Raph. They took both of us down in a matter of seconds just so they could fight each other. And, man, did that fight get intense. A sai came so close to hitting Don that it cut a slit in the side of his mask.
"Hey Don, you're the brains of the group. Tell Leo I'm right." Raph says as he spins around.
"Uh..." Donnie doesn't respond.
"Donnie," Leo glances over his shoulder and looks at him. "Tell Raph that he's being a reckless hot-head who is going to get the rest of hurt because of it."
"Guys," I groan and I cover my ears. "Please just stop!" I can feel some tears building up in my eyes but I blink them away.
"So what is I'm being reckless!? At least I'm doing something, and you didn't have to follow me, Leo."
"Yes, Raph I did!"
"I thought you were the leader, Leo, not a follower." Raph mimics Leo and folds his arms over his chest.
I hug myself, I can't stand to listen to them fight like this anymore. And not to mention the unbearable tension that follows them around.
Donnie glances over at me and he puts his hand on my shoulder.
"They'll figure it out soon. They always do." He whispers to me, reassuring me.
"Thanks, Don." I whisper back. He smiles at me and then he takes his hand off of my shoulder.
"Leaders make sure their team isn't in danger, and you're putting yourself in danger by barging in without a plan- not to mention that you're putting three other turtles in danger too."
"I told you I have a plan!"
"Oh yeah, my bad. Hey guys!" Leo calls over his shoulder. "Here's Raph's plan: We get to the factory, we kindly knock on their door and when they answer, we simply ask them what they are doing. And you know, they will just tell us and then we will ask them to stop- and then they will! Genius, right?"
"That's not my plan, idiot! My plan is to just do something instead of sitting around!" Raph gets in Leo's face and he yells.
I think I can feel the heat coming from Raph. I glance at Donnie who is no longer paying attention to their fight.
He has a map out.
"We were sitting around to come up with a plan to take action! When we get there, what do you suppose we do?"
"Sneak into a window, duh."
"Witch one? And then what are we going to do? What if there are traps? Then what-"
"ENOUGH!" I yell at the top of my lungs. I can feel my eyes swelling with tears. I can't take anymore of their stupid, stupid arguing. They both stop walking and they turn around to look at me. A look of shock is plastered on both of their faces, Donnie's too.
Shell, I'm shocked too, I didn't think I had it in me to yell like that. But Leo and Raph just pushed me over the edge.
"I can't listen to you guys argue anymore!" The tears that were drowning my eyes flood down my cheeks.
"Sorry Mikey," Leo says softly and he steps back. He stands next to me and he puts his arm around my shoulder and gives me a light hug.
Raph scoffs and he kicks a stone as he starts walking again.
Leo slows down and lets Raph and Donnie get a few feet ahead of us.
Now Raph his holding on end of the map while Donnie holds the other. Donnie is tracing his finger around the map to find the fastest way to get there.
"He just doesn't get it." Leo sighs as he takes his arm off of my shoulders.
"What do you mean?"
"The pressure I'm under as the leader. My job is to make sure that our missions are successful, and that no one gets hurt."
"Maybe you should try talking to him?"
"Talking to him? Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I mean maybe if he understood your feelings he would back down a little bit."
"I can't just talk to him. His skull is too thick, I won't ever be able to get through to him."
"You won't know until you try, Leo."
"I guess. But how?"
"Just sit down with him and express your feelings, tell him what you told me. And then maybe he'll even tell you what's got him all angry. And then I won't have to listen to you two fight ever again."
"Well I don't know about 'ever again' but I guess I could give it a try."
"Thanks." I smile at Leo and he smiles back.
"Here." Donnie calls out to us. "We'll climb out of this manhole and then there's an apartment building right next to this alley. We climb up the fire escape and we can jump the rooftops for a block and a half and then we'll be at the factory." Donnie folds up his map and he sticks it back into his belt.
"Sounds like a plan." Leo says. I glance at Raph just in time to see him roll his eyes. Raph jumps up and he grabs the ladder first. Donnie follows after him, then I go, and then Leo goes last.
When we are all out of the sewers, Leo kicks the manhole cover back where it goes.
"When we get there," Leo says as he jumps onto the dumpster under the fire escapes. "Please, no one run into the building right away. Let's just figure what our best way in is." It's pretty obvious that's he's talking to Raph, but he's making it sound like he's talking to all of us.
"Okay, Leo." I say and I follow him up the fire escape.
The four of us reach the top of the apartment complex in no time.
We break out into a silent run as we jump across the next alley and onto the other building.
We keep building jumping until we get to the building that's next to the factory.
"They're in there." Donnie says as he crouched near the edge of the building. "There is light coming from the windows.
Leo crouches down next to Donnie and he examines the building.
Raph sighs angrily. "I'm going in." He takes a few steps back from the edge of the building that we're on right now.
"Raph wait!" Leo whispers loudly.
Raph ignores him and jumps onto the roof of the factory. Leo curses under his breath.
"Mikey, Donnie, you guys take the South and East window."
Leo leaps onto the factory.
Me and Donnie exchange worried glances and then we follow Leo.
I go to the South side of the building. I go into full stealth mode as I tie my grappling hook around my waist.
I get the hook stuck on the edge of the building then I slowly lower myself down. When I get to the window I pull off the top board, then the second. I push them onto the roof and then I slip into the window. I untie myself and I leave my rope there.
I crouch onto the ceiling beam and I hide in the shadows.
It's so dark up here I can hardly see anything pass the edge of my nose.
I grab onto the beam tightly as I glance around.
I think I can see Donnie, he just came though the window. Leo and Raph are perched on the beams too.
I look down at the ground.
What the?
There's greenhouses? Six big greenhouses.
What could they be growing in greenhouses?
I glance at Leo, he's going the same thing I am.
I lean down a little more to get a better look.
I see-
My foot slips out from under me. I try to grab the beam before I fall-
Oh no.