The Godturtle: Part 1

Michelangelo sat glued to the TV, eyes wide, with his knees tucked up to his chest plate. The Godfather Part 1 was on. And he was left alone to watch it in peace. Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael had gone out to get a bite to eat, and Alexandra's ankle had been bothering her so she'd gone to bed early. No one to make wisecracks about Mike's choice of movies, no one to talk through it, and no one to try and change the channel. Michelangelo looked up at the faint sound of the rubber grips on Alex's crutches hitting the floor.

"What are you doing up?" he questioned, his eyes never leaving the screen. " I thought you'd have been asleep hours ago."

"I needed some painkillers," Alex yawned, hobbling to where Mike was sitting. "Then I promise I'll go back to bed and you can watch your movie in peace."

"Why don't you sit out here and watch it with me," Mike suggested.

Alex smiled, glad that he had offered. "Thanks. But Mafia movies aren't really my thing."

"Suit yourself," Mike replied.

"Night," Alex said, turned awkwardly and hobbled to the bathroom.

Mike turned his full attention back to the movie. He heard Alex's crutches sliding across the floor a few moments later as she made her way back to bed. Then he heard voices up above as his brothers returned from their outing. So much for watching his movie in peace. He should have known it wouldn't last long.

"Hey Mike," Raph greeted, jumping over the back of the couch and landing on his belly.

Michelangelo responded with a grunt.

"Oooo. The Godfather!" Leo said excitedly, flopping down in a chair. "If I'd have known this was going to be on I'd have stayed home and watched it with you."

Scowling, Michelangelo waited for Donatello's comments.

"I'm going to bed," Donatello spoke up. "Good night."

"Night," Leo and Raph chorused.

Mike smiled; glad he'd managed to get rid of two siblings. Now if only he could get rid of the other two.

"I love this part!" Leo almost squealed. Then he proceeded to recite the dialogue.

Michelangelo was fed up. He got to his feet and stomped off.

"What's eatin him?" Raph questioned, snatching a bag of potato chips off the coffee table.

Leo shrugged. "Beats me." He grabbed the bag from Raphael and munched on a handful of chips, reciting the movie lines with his mouth full.

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Michelangelo flung himself on his bed and put his hands under his chin. Instead of feeling like his normal jovial self, he felt somewhat bitter and annoyed. Having no privacy was getting to him. He couldn't even get 2 hours of peace to watch a movie on his own with out some one reciting the lines, or fighting during it. Feeling this way bothered him even more. He could hear Raph and Leo talking and with a grumble pulled his pillow over his head to drown them out. Eventually Michelangelo fell into a fitful sleep, his dreams clouded and angry.

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Michelangelo woke up late the next morning. From the moment he opened his eyes he didn't feel like his normal self. He felt tired and grumpy, and not ready to deal with any of his family.

"Morning Sleeping Beauty," Raph joked as Mike emerged from his room.

Mike's response was truly uncharacteristic of him. He flipped his brother off and with a few unmentionable mumbles, retreated for the kitchen to find a source of caffeine.

Raph sat on the couch with his mouth agape. "Did you—He flipped me off!" he sputtered.

"Something's bugging him," Leo stated.

Donatello looked up from examining Alexandra's ankle. "Give him some space guys. Maybe he didn't sleep well."

Leo nodded and watched Donnie pressing on his sister's foot. "How's it looking Donnie?"

"Pretty good considering," Donatello replied. "She should start being able to put a little bit of weight down on it soon."

"It's still a little sore," Alex sighed. "But not as sore as my armpits." She lifted her arms and pointed to the nice purple discolorations the crutches had left.

"You'll be off the crutches soon," Donatello laughed. "And maybe this will teach you not to screw around on skateboards anymore."

Alex mimicked her brother sarcastically as she pulled the brace back over her foot and strapped on the Velcro. "I'm starved. Who's making breakfast?"

Leo raised his hand, wiggling his fingers. He grinned evilly. Raphael, Donnie and Alex groaned. They didn't want to think about what a bad mood Mike was going to be in after he ate one of Leo's breakfasts.

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The day went from bad to worse. Everywhere Mike went, some one else was there. He'd gone to his room to try and read. Leo was rifling through his CDs. Alex and Raph were watching TV in the living room, Donnie was in the practice room. Finally he could stand it anymore. Grabbing his coat and hat he darted up the ladder.

"Where ya going?" Alex questioned.

"Out," Mike snarled and disappeared up the entrance.

Alex looked at Raph. He shrugged and turned back to the TV.

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For awhile Michelangelo just sat on the roof of April's apartment building and sniffed the air. Then he wandered the streets. He bought a slice of pizza and a magazine and found a quiet place to sit and eat and read. When he was finished Mike wandered around some more. A group of interesting looking people caught his attention and he followed them to an old abandoned factory.

"Anthony had to go," one of the men said. "He was careless."

"Anthony?" Mike whispered to himself.

"But boss who are we gonna get to replace him?" another man spoke. "We can't pull off that job next week with out a new man."

Michelangelo's eyes grew wide. This sounded like something from one of his movies! His attention became so focused on the conversation that he lost his balance and tripped, knocking over a stack of boxes and making a whole lot of noise. The three men turned and Michelangelo looked up to find 3 guns pointed right at him. Stunned, he clambered to his feet.

"Well well well," the first man rasped, rubbing his chin with the back of his hand. "Looks like we gots us a visitor."

Michelangelo backed up and the hands holding the guns let him no that he better not do it again. The freedom he'd been hoping for had gotten Mike into a whole lot of trouble. And he was stuck with out any one to back him up.…

Continued in Part 2