"I have my t-phone with me now." Madi pulled her pack onto her back and did her best to avoid eye-contact with the people standing before her. She couldn't look at them, otherwise the waterworks would start and the last thing she needed to do was start crying. Crying wasn't going to help anyone. "And Donnie modified it so we can video-chat, too. So if any of you guys want to talk, I'll do my best to answer. If I don't answer the first time you try to call me or text me, wait an hour or two. If I haven't called you back or texted you by then, try one last time."

"And if you don't answer then?" Donnie questioned sadly.

"Then keep waiting." She pulled out her t-phone and turned it on to make sure it was still working, then slid it into her jeans pocket. "Don't take any action what so ever. If I haven't gotten in touch with you within a week, then you guys can decide as a group what you want to do next. But don't take any form of action until a week has passed."

"An entire week?" Raph exclaimed.

"Yes." She readjusted the straps of her bag against her shoulders. "No more, no less. That way if my t-phone breaks and I'm in the middle of nowhere, I have time to run for civilization and use the nearest building's phone to call one of you and tell you why I missed your calls."

"Sounds logical enough." Leo commented. The silence that followed was excruciating. No one made a sound. Not Jacob, April, her mother, Splinter, Em, Leo, Donnie, Mikey, or Raph. Madi cleared her throat and took a deep breath after checking the clock on her t-phone to see what time it was.

"Well, I should get going. I don't want to miss my flight."

One by one, each member of the group hugged the girl. First was Em, who thanked Madi for saving her life one last time. Then Jacob, who messed up her hair with his hand like an older brother would've done. April, who wasn't at risk of tearing up then but knew she'd be sobbing later. Splinter, who tried to bow traditionally instead but ended up with two arms wrapped around his stomach and no choice but to return the favor. Leo, who asked to spar when she returned and received an enthusiastic yes in reply. Donnie, who wanted her to know that he'd always be here if she ever needed anything. Mikey, who didn't really say anything, just squeezed her tight through a wave of non-stop crying and non-understandable, blubbery words. And lastly, her mother.

"You know I love you, right?" She murmured into her daughter's hair and held her tight.

"I know." Madi said in reply. "I love you, too. Always have. Always will."

Madi turned to confront Raphael one last time, but was stopped short when he took her hand instead.

"I'll walk you out."

*********

The walk through the sewers was completely silent, save for the splashing of their feet when the water reached above their ankles. Raph, nor Madi, knew why they didn't run fast enough to use the walls around them to avoid the puddles. Maybe they didn't want speed through this possibly final event. Maybe Madi wanted to get the mud off of her shoes before she'd sneak onto her flight to Japan. Maybe Raph didn't want to go back to the swarm of upset people they'd left behind yet.

As much as they wanted to talk to each other, to say things that needed  to be said and discuss matters that needed to be discussed, the dark silence passing between them kept their mouths from opening. The silence was filled with questions never asked, remarks that would never be made, and opinions no one cared about right now.

But along with the silence came a much-needed peacefulness. For the first time since they met, Raph and Madi were internally appreciating the fact that they'd been fortunate enough to find each other, to learn about each other and form a bond between them. Raph thought of all the conversations he'd had with her, the adventures they'd been on, everything they'd lost and everything they'd gained from being on the same team-

Raph mentally shook his head.

No, 'team' wasn't the type of word he'd use when it came to the girl walking by his side. She was more than just a team member. The term 'team member' wasn't sentimental enough for his liking. 'Girlfriend' wasn't a good match, either.... Maybe....

The two words popped into his mind once they reached the ladder up to the New York street and Madi released her hold on Raph's hand. She didn't look at him as she grabbed the side of the latter and tucked her hair behind her ear. The words she said weren't as strong and independent as they'd been before. Instead of the growling dog she'd been when Madi said she was going to Japan alone, in its place was a shaking puppy, unsure of whether or not she'd made the right decision. 

"Thanks, Raph," Her voiced cracked when she said his name, but refused to turn her face towards him one last time. He opened his mouth to speak, then stopped as a small, shaky smile worked its way across her lips. "We've had some great times, you and I." He frowned and was about to yell at her, to say that she needed to stop with the whole 'I could die and never come back' crap. But, with a heavy heart, it dawned on him that everything was moving in that direction. At first, it hadn't gotten to him that Madi was really leaving, that she could really never come back...

...that he wouldn't be there to save her.

It hit him like a truck and he couldn't stop himself from pulling her into a tight embrace, one last time. Though streams of tears were falling from her eyes, she leaned her head on his shoulder and let out a little laugh.

"Remember when you hated me," She giggled through her tears. "Remember the food fight we had in the kitchen...and how one  time we fell asleep on the roof..." He wanted to say something, to say that he loved her and that he wanted her to stay. He wanted to get on his knees and beg if it meant she wouldn't leave them. Instead, he bit back the sobbing and pressed his lips to her forehead. He thought that maybe if he didn't say it, maybe if he didn't press his lips against hers, maybe if he didn't plead for her to stay, she would come back. Maybe saying good bye was like the butterfly effect, how one little action can change fate.

So he didn't say he loved her.

So he didn't kiss her lips.

So he didn't say good bye.

He watched as she wiped the tears from her eyes, climbed up the latter, and vanished without another word.