Okay, this is the sequel to Sister Moon. Read that first, then you'll understand this story…here goes NUTHIN!
If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free
AKA
Chapter 1
Enter Desdemona Lashonde
In Texas, San Antonio, home of the Alamo, it was hot. Hot and Humid.
The city bustled about as usual.
Every now and then, the wail of a firetruck siren rang out.
14-year-old Tristan sighed moodily as he muttered," This is so dumb… Chloe's havin' the time of her life in New York and I'M stuck here…"
Suddenly, he heard his mom shout," WHAT THE HELL IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?! PALOMA, WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?!?!?"
Tristan quickly stood to his feet, as three-year-old Bella began to cry, and he muttered," Just what we need."
***
Desdemona was feeling so many things, it wasn't funny.
Fury was the foremost. Gut-wrenching fear. And deep, deep sorrow.
"Paloma, what happened?! I thought you told me that your friend was dependable! Like hell it wasn't her fault! She doesn't have alarms?! Cameras?! Don't give me that crap! No, I'm coming to New York! And I am going to FIND my daughter! I don't give a damn! I'm coming!"
She slammed the phone down and turned around wildly.
Three of her children were looking at her blankly.
The oldest asked," Is Chloe okay?"
Desdemona slumped into a chair.
"I don't know…"
The mother suddenly straightened and phoned a number she had not phoned in a while…
"Uriah? Thank you for answering, look, I need you to take care of the kids for a few weeks. No, no, nothing like that! NO! Don't you DARE go there!!! Ok…thank you."
Desdemona looked at her children and ordered," pack your things, you're going to be staying with your father. Tristan, you're coming with me."
***
"HI-YAH!!!"
Chloe swept Mikey's out from under him, and a grin lit up her face," Yay! I did it! I did it!!"
Raphael smirked," Dude, you got pawned by a girl!"
Chloe stuck out her tongue," A teenage mutant NINJA TURTLE girl, to you, Mr. Sexist!!!"
Donatello snickered," Raph, you got schooled by your little sister!"
Leonardo was trying not to burst into laughter, hand over mouth, eyes shut as he shook with laughter. Boy, since Chloe had joined their sparring sessions, things had been so much lighter…he didn't know if he was losing it or what, but she kept things so fresh…sometimes reminding them, again, that things are not as they seem.
Chloe now bowed to Mikey, who grinned," You're getting better!"
Splinter added," Chloe, I believe you are ready for the midnight patrols. It is now up to you, whether or not you go."
Chloe squealed and pulled Leo to his feet, dancing with him as she sang," I'm going out tonight!! I'm going out tonight!!! WHOO-HOO-HOO!!!!"
Suddenly, April appeared, looking a little shaken as she announced," Hey everyone, I've got some news and I'm not sure if it's good or bad."
Chloe froze, and in her stomach, her gut wrenched.
"My mom's coming here, isn't she?"
April stared," How the heck did you know?"
Chloe smiled wryly," Gut instinct. I know my mom. She's tough, brave, and LOYAL. I knew she wouldn't rest… I just don't know if her loyalty and motherliness will be enough to cause her to accept me as I am…" Chloe looked down at her self.
She had never felt entirely comfortable going about wearing nothing, so came up with a new outfit; blue short skirt, brown tights and a pink halter-top. Her weapon of choice? A thick, knotted rope and grappling hook.
She didn't wear shoes, if she could help it, and her hair was braided back, a light pink bandana tied around her head.
She wrinkled her snout as she added," Is my mom coming alone?"
"She's brining one of your brothers with her. Oh, and also, three of your friends are coming with her."
Chloe stopped short," What?!"
"Um… she said she was bringing Alex, Tana and Charis." April clarified.
Mikey turned to Chloe," You didn't tell us you had friends."
Chloe muttered," I didn't know I HAD friends…um," she added louder," These friends…I haven't seen them in years! why are they showing up now?!"
Splinter replied," Perhaps they are concerned about you, Chloe. What is the saying? Ah, you don't know what you have until it is gone."
Chloe rolled her eyes," man… HOLY SNAP! What if the Shredder finds out that they're in the city?! What if they are in danger?! Oh man, oh man, oh man…" She moaned, sinking to her knees, face in hands.
Leo knelt by her," Chloe, hey, remember I told you we'd deal with this when it became a reality?"
Chloe was still moaning," Man, oh man, oh man, oh man…"
Raphael shouted," SNAP OUT OF IT, CHLOE!!!"
"AH!" Chloe jumped and shouted," DON'T YELL AT ME!!!"
Raphael yelled back," DON'T FREAK OUT!"
Chloe shouted," YOU'RE STILL YELLING!!"
Mikey interrupted," Um, pizza anyone?"
Chloe and Raphael both stared blankly.
Don grinned," That always works!"
Leonardo cut in," Okay, so, when are Chloe's family coming?"
"They'll be here tomorrow." April responded.
Chloe took a deep breath. And laughed. And then cried.
And then hiccupped.
"WHAT AM I GOIN TO DO?!?!" she wailed.
Raphael was about to yell when Donatello told her," Don't sweat it, Chloe, we'll think of something… but it looks like we're going to have to tell your mom at least what really happened to you."
Chloe sniffled," My letter didn't do any good…"
Leonardo corrected," You let her know you're alive. That has to count for something."
Chloe snorted," yeah, writing to someone to let them know you're alive is great! I feel like a damn skeleton in the closet."
"You are." Raphael pointed bluntly.
Chloe smacked her forehead," Oh, RIGHT! I'm a mutant turtle! What was I thinking?"
Mikey ran out of the room, and came back with a kit-kat bar.
Chloe's eyes widened and she chirped," Kit-kat! Yummy! Gimme!"
"Calm down first, Chloe." Mikey told her in his best 'Leo' voice.
She pouted," but I like da kit-kat!"
"Calm down!"
She pouted," Ok!"
Mikey gave one kitkat and she muched on it happily as Donatello resumed," April, first, we'll need you to tell Chloe's mom the story. Then, if she's not content with that, we'll introduce her to Leo. Leo will tell her the story again. Then, we'll show her Chloe. If she screams and calls the police, we'll vanish, and it will be your voice against hers. Like you said when you first met us, who'd believe her, I mean, giant talking turtles?"
April nodded," Sounds like a plan."
Leonardo took the kit-kats from Mikey, glaring," How'd you find these?"
Mikey grinned," Dude, I'm the little brother who gets you into trouble! I know where you guys stash your stuff!"
Chloe interrupted," May I have another?"
Leo gave her the whole bar.
She squealed and smooched him, in front of everyone, before going back to muching on her chocolate.
Donatello grinned," I've heard about chocolate having that effect on women…I didn't believe it was true."
Leo was grinning foolishly from the kiss, and April cleared her throat," I'd better go and get ready to greet Chloe's mother."
Chloe looked up, worried for a moment, before licking her fingers.
"I'll try to be calm. But for goodness' sakes, put yourselves in MY shoes!"
Donnie tried and he turned pale," Oh Shell…"
Chloe nodded darkly," NOW do you understand?"
Donnie asked," Can I have a kit-kat?"
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