Love Don't Come Easy.
Rated: T
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Author's Note:Yes, I am well aware that I have to be insane to be starting another story. But in actuality this story was started some time ago, I have been working on it and not posting. Besides we all know I'm certified insane and proud of it, so I figured I'd do a little teasing and post a chapter to get some feedback if nothing else.
Chapter One: An Old Friend
Melody sighed as she set down the tray of dishes in the kitchen of the restaurant where she worked, she felt the dull ache in the middle of her back, and the far more demanding pain that traveled up from the soles of her feet, up the complete length of her leg, it had been a long shift, made even longer by the fact she was closing up tonight, and another waitress had called in sick earlier, with no one to fill in for her Melody, had taken the overtime and handled all the customers, sometimes with help from the busboys.
She rolled her shoulders easing the stiffness, closing her eyes she knew that it wouldn't be too much longer before they locked up calling it a night and then she could go home put her feet up and have a nice hot cup of tea, while relaxing in front of the TV before going to bed, and officially calling it a night. The restaurant was almost quiet now, the supervisor was in the office doing last minute paper work, the cook was doing last bit of clean up in the kitchen that he didn't trust to the young kids.
She arched her back and heard the audible sound of snapping travel along her spine, as she loaded the dishes into the washer, the cook turned and gave a gruff smile.
"So when's that boy of yours coming home?"
"Once classes are over, only a few more months really" Melody replied, "I'm hoping he would have settled for that girl he brought for a visit the last few times." Melody replied.
Cliff snorted a bit, "Tryin' to marry him off are ya? Aw he's young let him sow a few oats. It's all part of being a guy." He informed her, "Look I'm taking this out to the bin." he hefted the garbage.
"So go already I'll be fine. Jordan is in the office." she pointed out, she heard the sound of a tinkling bell coming from the entrance, "Wouldn't you know it always has to be that one late one." she huffed.
"Tell him fryer is down for the night" Cliff retorted.
"Sure but uh, most late people just want coffee and a bit of a snack anyways he shouldn't take too long" Melody stated as she turned on her heels, Or at least I hope not, she mused to herself, she really did want to get home and relax. Her thoughts though were now on her son who was away at University, he was a good boy, but he'd make her so happy if he could ever stop playing around and settle down with a girl, the last one he had introduced her to, had been a very nice girl.
Melody ducked through the swinging doors that separated the kitchen from the restraunt while Cliff headed out the back door, to deposit the waste in the bin. He usually just tossed the stuff out the door then lugged it to the bin later, a scruffy looking man in his late thirties stood eyeing the place in a suspicious way, that caused Melody to pause uneasily. "Hi there cold night isn't it? I suppose you've come in for..." she had begun but now paused in her best effort of sounding cheery and bright, to shift uneasily under his cold gaze.
"Shut your trap" he snapped in a chilling frostbitten tone, " Just keep quiet and you won't get hurt. Long as you co-operate right." He shook his wind blown hair but it settled in just as much of a mess as it had been to begin with.
Melody slowly raised both hands glancing at the clock, she wanted to placate this guy, or stall him, or something, but she wasn't going put her life in danger either, she had lived in the Big Apple long enough to recognize trouble, and this fellow looked like he was ready to snap. "Sure what ever you want" she agreed in soothing fashion.
"I'll tell you what I want you cow," he snarled as he pulled a small handgun from a coat pocket, "I want all your money. Hear me?"
Melody swallowed nervously as she glanced at the weapon, with a hint of disgust that was clearly mingled with fear, some one as wired as this fellow seemed to be, sure didn't need a lit fuse to go setting him off. "I'll just go over to the till over there and do that for you" she agreed.
"Fine just get a move on all ready." he grumped waving the gun about.
This caused Melody to grow nervous and in her panic she accidentally hit the wrong key.
"Come on get a move on lady, before I blow your brains out. Cause I will" he informed her sharply.
Melody nodded taking a deep breath, as all thoughts of her son vanished, she hit the correct key and the drawer sprang free of the register, Melody handed the money over, "There, That's all of it, cept for some coin." she informed him.
The crook looked at her "You guys got a safe around here?"
"I...I can't..." Melody stammered as she started around the counter.
Just then there was the sound of a siren out on the streets a few blocks away, the crook jerked his head up and his finger tightened involuntarily upon the trigger, there was a loud deafening sound, it seemed far too noisy to have been made by the weapon and yet, the crook bolted from the restraunt leaving the front door open.
Melody gasped as she felt something wet and sticky on her hands she looked down to see blood fromher midsection, she stared at it, in a disjointed, disbelieving way. She heard Cliff shouting cussing something, heard her supervisor yell to Cliff to call for an ambulance, as her legs gave out under her, there is so much blood, she thought,too much blood.
The insistent ringing of a phone caused a huddled form to stir, the lump under the pile of blankets rolled and an arm reached out picking up the phone, as the being came to a slow sitting position on the bed. She was not quite human, though there were similarities, like the long dark almost black hair that was a tangled mess at this time of day, the five fingers, the undeniable muscle on arms and legs, the high cheekbones in her round face, and yet she was not human, for she like the rest of her family looked more like giant turtles, only they were turtles with a difference, as her dad liked to say.
She blinked blearily trying to get sleep grit out of her eyes and focus on her clock, she was dreading the news that might be forthcoming from the phone's receiver, she had learned that there was no good news that came late at night. Much as she wanted to, she couldn't just turn off the phone or ignore the incoming calls either. Part of growing up and gaining responsibility meant she had to answer any calls when she was off duty and respond to them, in an appropriate fashion, it was a large commitment to ask of most youths of her age for it was no easy task, and yet the girl had accepted it as part of her life and duties, though she was only twenty years old. Well almost twenty one.
"If this isn't urgent, whoever is calling at this ungodly hour will live to regret it" she vowed to herself before speaking. "Hullo Whose there?" She mumbled a bit slurring the words.
"Ra...Rama?" came a distant sounding reply that seemed far too shaky and hoarse.
"Who is this?" Rama asked suspiciously not recognizing the voice on the other end of the line.
"It's Jessie" the caller replied simply his tone ragged.
That brought Rama even more awake and alert "Jessie what is up compadre?" she wondered, elated to be hearing from him, but also knowing her long time friend would not be calling for no reason. Sure she hadn't seen a great deal of him not since she was like thirteen or fourteen, they had drifted a little going their own separate ways, yet when the two of them got together it was almost as if they had never parted, and they never forgot to phone or e-mail one another about life in general.
Rama waited for a reply but when she heard nothing she scowled, "Jessie what is it, What's wrong?" she begged, "We both know you aren't in the habit of calling this late to say hi."
Jessie gasped"I ...mmm..my mom. She's be..bebebe...been ki..killed" he explained, sounding almost as bad as he had when he'd been seven years old.
Rama knew her friend well enough to know he didn't stammer much any more, oh once in a while if he was scared or nervous he would stammer a bit but never to this extent, so the fact he was stammering badly told her instantly that whatever it was was truly bad. Had Jessie just said his mom had been killed? Rama wondered as she shook her head quickly. "Jess, I'm sorry. You have my condolences. It is always hard to lose one you love" She replied shocked at the news report.
She knew the pain and sorrow of losing a loved one, Splinter had died just a year ago, and though his death had been peaceful it had still disturbed the clan. She could only sit on the edge of her bed and listen to what Jessie had to tell her. "I don't know what to do Rama" Jessie concluded sobbing while trying to force the words out of his mouth.
"First off Jess, I am here for you right now. I will be here for you as long as you want to talk, or if you just want me to listen to you. Secondly when you come to Manhattan, come straight to the lair, we'll help you with every thing we can." She offered generously, not even stopping to check with the Jonin of the clan, her Sensei, the Master. She knew for a fact that Leonardo wouldn't turn her friend away under such circumstances as he faced, he would; she knew, welcome him into their home at any time. "You shouldn't be alone right now Jessie, especially when you have family right here willing to give you the shells off our backs."
By the time she hung up the phone some time later she realized it was much too late to go back to sleep, but far too early to be up and mobile. She stretched and yawned figuring she may as well get up and get something done, the news about Melody had disturbed her, and she wanted something to do, just to stay occupied. She picked up the brush and comb by the bed side table and began to brush out her long hair, picking at the tangles, in preparation of braiding it up. Years of doing it had perfected the skill so it took no time whatsoever to have her hair up and well out of her way before she strapped on her equipment.
She slipped out into the lair moving on soft feet, doing her best not to disturb others as she moved out to the kitchen, the fridge hummed softly and the noise competed with the low tick tick of the clock on the wall. Rama flicked on the light and began to set up a tray to take to Leo while making a pot of fresh tea, when she was satisfied with everything she picked up the tray and headed for the meditation room, where Leonardo sat in the lotus position eyes closed, he hardly seemed aware that she was in the room with him.
Rama merely bowed setting the tray down and maintaining her position until he chose to acknowledge her. She patiently sat not shifting an iota, her eyes closed, her breathing slow and calm before Leo opened his eyes.
"Ah Ramiela thank you. What are you doing up so early?" Leo asked.
Ramiela bowed deeper "Good morning noble and revered Master." She replied in her usual fashion, before she rose enough to pour the tea, fixing it exactly to Leo's liking before handing him his cup and preparing one of her own.
Leo watched her every move carefully and he quirked an eye ridge at her.
"I had a call from Jessie Master" she admitted.
Leo rocked back slightly as he sipped his tea, "I take it bad news?" he asked.
Rama nodded somberly "Jessie's mother died in hospital due to a gun shot wound she received during a robbery" Rama spoke softly.
"Aiden and Kali were covering that part of town last night" Leo murmured. He scowled slightly "They didn't say anything."
"Well Master, I am sure you are aware that we can't be everywhere at once, much as we try." Rama replied delicately, " Perhaps they covered that section of town earlier and trouble came later. It has happened before on more than one occasion that I am aware of."
"True enough" Leo admitted, "when the others become older though we might really be able to put a dent in some of the crime around the city."
Rama nodded, for the most part only her oldest cousins were permitted to patrol, which meant Aiden and Kali, while Uncle Raph's oldest Ashlynn and the master's third born child Jeff were just starting to learn patrol routines, the rest of the cousins were too young yet." I told Jessie he could stay here and we would help him where we could" Rama informed Leo, " He was pretty upset so I figured that he could use some company, and I didn't think you'd mind."
"Is he all right now Ramiela?" Leo asked concern in his voice.
"Yeah, as well as can be expected at any rate. At least he sounded a bit more with it when I got off the phone" Ramiela assured Leo.
"What about his girlfriend, will Stacy be coming?" Leo wondered.
"I didn't ask about her. I didn't think it was right" Rama admitted wincing inwardly, Stacy was Jessie's latest girlfriend, his fourth or something since he'd been sixteen, which meant about one girl a year. "I'm sure Jessie won't reveal anything to her about us, if she came along. I mean Jess would know better." Rama declared staunchly.
"I'm aware of that" Leo pointed out, " I know Jessie has always been good about keeping our secret" Leo paused and smiled at his niece, "That is when you haven't been encouraging him to do otherwise."
Rama gave him a wide eyed innocent look while resting one hand flat against her plastron but before she could deny or dispute the fact, Leo wagged a finger at her giving her a mock scowl.
"Don't even try that on me" he warned her, " You are far too much like your father!" he accused.
Rama giggled in reply, holding one hand over her mouth, her eyes sparkling with the mischievous light that was never far away.
"Don't worry we will figure out something, no matter what the case is" Leo assured her.
Rama gave him a grateful smile as she finished her tea " I think I'll go make some muffins for breakfast" she announced as she gathered the dirty dishes onto the tray.
Leo grinned and gave her a pleading look.
Rama smiled and shook her head "Yes, I'll make some of your favourites Master," Rama replied to his unspoken request as she left the room.
Leo sat back a bit on the straw mat, he glanced over to the scented candles their gentle light flickering casting strange shadows on the concrete wall, he had not mentioned the guest that had arrived last night, but there was time yet for that. Leo knew Rama would not shirk her duties, no matter how concerned or worried she might be for her old friend.
Leo smiled softly to himself, Splinter knew what he was doing when he picked her for Jonin, she has boundless energy and could outlast the energizer bunny in any race.
TBC