Chapter 2: Saviors of New York

A/N: And here's the next chapter in this tale. I want to thank all of those who have read and reviewed thus far. Your kind words mean the world to me and I'm glad you're enjoying this story as much as I enjoy writing it. Now Willow will finally meet the Turtles.

Disclaimer: TMNT and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon. I only own the plot, Willow Green, Cynthia Lee, and any other characters not associated with TMNT.

I'm not sure how long I've been here now. The days have just run together for me. The Kraang are still here and are still causing trouble. Jack acquired a television, but even the news isn't right as Carlos Chiang O'Brien Gambe keeps saying that everything is fine. It's far from fine, and yet he can't see that. Jack thinks he's being mind-controlled by the Kraang. I wasn't aware they could do that, but it sends shivers down my spine just thinking about it. What if my students were mind-controlled? What about Cynthia? I just can't bear to think about it.

Despite my fears, the Mighty Mutanimals have done all they could to reassure me. We found some board games and have been playing them. It's a lot of fun, and at these times I can almost forget that I'm in a warehouse while the city is being invaded by the Kraang. Instead, I flash back to sleepovers at Cynthia's where we would play board games and watch movies until we fell asleep. If only we could go back to those days!

The Mutanimals have gone out again. I just hope they'll be safe. I do worry about them at times, and I think they understand that. Ah, they just got back. I'd better make sure they aren't wounded. Slash was hurt a few days ago from laser fire from the Kraang. It healed, but it scared me to think that he was hurt.

Until next time,

Willow

22222

Willow was surprised to see the Mutanimals back, but she was equally surprised at who was with them. She gasped as she saw four mutant turtles with different colored masks looking at her. Jack rose from his desk and greeted them.

"So, are these the friends you were talking about?" Willow asked him.

Jack nodded. "Yep, these are the ones," he answered. "Ninja Turtles, I want to introduce you to Willow Green. She's a good friend of mine I've been taking care of during the invasion."

"Pleased to meet you," Willow said as she extended her hand to the blue masked Turtle.

"Likewise," the blue masked Turtle said as he shook her hand. "I'm Leonardo, but you can call me Leo for short. The one in red is Raphael, though you can call him Raph. The one in purple is called Donatello but you may call him Donnie."

The orange masked one came forward before Leo could say anything else and smiled at me. "And I'm Michelangelo, but the ladies call me Mikey," he said puckering up his lips for a kiss.

"Nice to meet you, Mikey," Willow said with a laugh.

Jack showed the Turtles a series of slides about the Kraang and what they were planning. It was clear that Leo and Slash had some animosity and weren't willing to work together, but they had no choice. Before anything else could be said, the Kraang invaded the warehouse and began firing. Willow shrieked and did her best to dodge the lase fire. Leo ordered her to hide while he fended off some of the Kraang. Jack was injured by laser fire, and they carried him away and to the pizza parlor where the Turtles had been staying.

Willow was amazed at how they'd converted the place into a home. Along with the Turtles were a rat named Splinter who was their father and sensei and two human children named April O'Neil and Casey Jones. She didn't know them at all as they had never been to her dojo, but they seemed like good kids.

The Turtles convened about what to do and the Mutanimals joined them, though Slash was adamant about not working with Leo. Once the plan had been formulated, they headed out to destroy the missile that the Kraang were going to use. Willow wanted to help, but Leo gave her a stern look.

"This isn't your place, Miss Green," he said. "You need to stay here where it's safe. We can't risk you getting hurt."

Once again, Willow was insulted by his tone, though she understood why he felt that way. She would just be in the way, and that wasn't something that could happen. So she stayed with Splinter, Jack, and the kids while the mutants went to take care of the problem. She only hoped that they would get rid of the problem and stop the Kraang once and for all.

22222

The Turtles and Mutanimals haven't come back yet. What's going on? It doesn't look like they've stopped anything. I really hate just staying here, but I know why I have to. I'd just be underfoot, and I can't afford to be a liability. I've been watching Jack and making sure he's still breathing, which he is. I suppose that's a good thing.

While I've been waiting, I've been talking to Splinter. He told me how he and the Turtles came to be and a little more about the Mutanimals. He's a very interesting rat, and I find myself taking a liking to him. He reminds me a bit of my own father with how worried he is for his children.

"I'm sure they'll be okay," I reassured him when he worried that they wouldn't come back.

"I know, but I do worry about them. Do you have any children of your own, Miss Green?"

"Please, call me Willow. No, I don't have any official children, but I run a dojo and think of my students as my children. They're all so special, and I worry about them."

"Yes, I am sure you do. Do you just teach children then?"

"No, I teach elderly people, too. You'd be surprised how many elderly people are fit to work out. My oldest student is sixty-five."

Splinter smiled. "That is admirable for someone that old to want to continue to stay active."

"Yes, it is. Edith is a very active woman, and she enjoys learning from me."

"I am sure you are a good teacher," he commented.

"Thank you, Splinter," I said. "I'm sure you're a good teacher, too. Your sons seem very nice."

"They are, though they can be a handful at times just like any children."

"How old are they?"

"They are sixteen," he answered.

"Leo sounded much older than that," I commented.

"Yes, his voice has indeed changed due to the attack," explained Splinter.

"What attack?"

"He was attacked by Shredder and the Foot."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Will he be okay?"

"I believe he will though it will take time for him to heal."

Hearing what happened to Leo made me feel horrible. How could one so young suffer at the hands of someone so horrible? Splinter filled me in on their war with the Foot and Shredder. He seemed like a horrible man, and I wished I could do something to help with that.

Wait, something is happening! People are reappearing. I think it's the ones who were mutated. I'd better go and see what's going on.

Until next time,

Willow

22222

Willow hurried out of the pizza parlor and saw people coming around. The Kraang had disappeared, and it looked like everything was fine. Splinter smiled as he saw the people rejoicing the defeat of the Kraang.

"I believe my sons were successful," he said.

"I should probably go home," Willow said.

"No, we do not know how safe your home is. Perhaps you would like to stay the night with us at our home. You can always go back tomorrow."

"I'm sure my home is fine, Splinter," she reassured him. "Thanks for the offer, but I really do need to get back."

"I will have one of my sons escort you," Splinter replied.

Willow accepted that and walked home with Leonardo following her from the rooftops. He appeared in the alley next to her apartment and motioned her to come to him.

"You need to stay here," he said. "I want to make sure your apartment is safe. Is there a fire escape there?"

"Yes, go around back. My apartment is on the second floor, second window from the right."

He nodded and left. Willow watched as he made his way into her apartment and then deemed with a thumbs up that it was safe. She entered through the lobby and used her key to open her apartment. It still looked the same, much to Willow's relief.

"Looks like everything's fine," she said. "Thanks for walking me home."

"No problem," he said then yawned.

"You look tired," she noted. "Maybe you can stay the night here."

"I don't want to be any trouble," he protested.

"It's no trouble at all. Just call your dad to tell him where you are, and I'm sure he'll be fine with it."

Leo did as she asked and Splinter gave his permission for Leo to stay. Willow went into her room and came out with a blanket. Leo had already settled himself on the couch, and Willow covered him with the blanket and wished him a good night, which he returned. Then she settled into her own bed, happy to be home at last.

22222

She was roused out of sleep by Leo crying out. Jumping out of bed, she hurried to the living room and saw Leo thrashing about on the couch. She shook him awake, and he sat bolt upright, letting out a cry of alarm.

"Shh, it's okay," she soothed. "You're safe here." She held him close and rubbed his shell, taking note of the scars that littered his body. "Don't be scared."

He continued to tremble against her, sobs wracking his body as he remembered the horrible images. She knew he had been thinking about the attack and had dreamed about it.

"Do you want to talk about the dream?" she asked after he had calmed down.

Leo shook his head. "No, I really don't."

"Okay. Do you want me to stay with you until you fall asleep?"

He nodded. "I'd like that very much."

And so she stayed and talked with him until he grew tired again. Then she hummed a lullaby her mother used to hum to her when she was little and waited while his eyelids closed and his breathing became soft. Planting a soft kiss on his forehead, she bade him goodnight and settled into her own bed. She noticed a message from Cynthia which confirmed she was safe and answered it with a text. Then she picked up her journal just as she did every night before bed.

22222

Leo finally fell asleep. I feel horrible for him and what he had to endure at the hands of the Shredder. I will do all I can to protect him from that horrible man so he doesn't hurt Leo ever again. I know it's not much, but I just want to make sure he doesn't get hurt again. No one should have to deal with that.

Before he fell asleep, Leo and I talked of various subjects because that's how my friends and I used to fall asleep when we had sleepovers. I wasn't sure he wanted to talk to me, but he did. I found out he loves Space Heroes, too, and he seemed surprised that I was a fan.

"You like Space Heroes?" he asked skeptically.

"Yes, I've loved it for a long time. Why do you sound so skeptical?"

"Well, you're an adult, and I didn't think adults liked stuff like that."

I laughed. Such a silly boy! "Adults can like anything. You're never too old to like cartoons. I've known adults who still watch Bugs Bunny."

"Yeah, we used to watch those shows, too," he said. "Do you like sports?"

"Not really. I do enjoy pro wrestling though."

"Yeah, Mikey, Raph, and I like it, but Donnie hates it. He thinks it's all fake garbage."

I laughed. "Cynthia says the same thing. Whenever I start talking about it, she says, 'I don't know how you can like that fake garbage. It's so dumb.' The only other friend who likes it besides me is Gina."

"What does she do?"

"She's a bus driver, and she loves wrestling just as much as I do. She used to be a huge fan of Hulk Hogan."

"She doesn't like him now?"

"I think she does, but even she admits that he's gotten so old."

"Ah, I see. So, what was your favorite subject in school?"

"I loved English," I answered. "PE was also a favorite of mine. Did Splinter teach you guys?"

"Yeah he taught us how to read and write. My favorite subject has always been history, especially Japanese history. Donnie likes science and math, Mikey likes art, and Raph doesn't really like school."

"Does Splinter still teach you?"

"Sometimes, though as we've gotten older, he's pretty much told us we need to figure things out for ourselves."

I nodded. "That seems reasonable. What's the best part about being a ninja?"

"I've always liked using my weapons and helping people in need. I know ninjutsu wasn't made for that initially, but I feel like my brothers and I are fulfilling a purpose when we go out and help people. I've always wanted to be a hero, and I feel like I'm living out my dream."

"I can see why you would feel that way."

"What's the best part about being a sensei?"

"My students are the best part," I replied. "I enjoy teaching them new things and seeing their eyes light up when they learn a new move. It's always so rewarding to me."

"I think Splinter feels the same way with us," he said. "I can tell he has a certain gleam in his eye when we learn a new move."

"You speak about him so reverently as though you worship him," I noted.

"I suppose I do in my own way," he conceded. "I always want to be the best I can be and please him. I want to be just like him."

"But you can't be just like him, Leo," I pointed out. "You have to find your own path. It's fine to want to please him, but remember that you aren't your father and you never will be. You have to be yourself, too."

He sighed. "You're right, but it's not that easy. I asked to be the leader, and now I have to carry the burden on my own."

I put a hand on his shoulder. "You aren't alone, Leo. You have your family to help you carry the burden and you have me, too. I promise if you ever need to talk about something, I'm here."

He smiled. "Thanks, Miss Green."

"Please, call me Willow."

"Okay, Willow," he said. He yawned.

"I see someone is tired. Do you think you can go to sleep?"

"I think so. Thanks for staying with me, Willow."

"You're welcome, Leo. Are you sure you'll be able to stay here during the day? I have to work tomorrow."

"I'll be fine," he reassured me. "I already told Sensei I would be back tomorrow night after patrol."

"Okay. Well, have a good sleep."

"Could you sing something for me? Master Splinter would always sing a lullaby whenever we had nightmares."

"I suppose I could do that," I answered. Then I hummed a lullaby my mother used to sing to me and watched as his eyelids closed and his breathing became soft. I planted a kiss on his forehead and left him to sleep.

I know he's still in a lot of pain, and it's up to me to help him through it along with his other family members. But for right now, I'd better get to sleep so I can go to work in the morning. I wouldn't want to be tired on my first day back.

Until next time,

Willow

A/N: And another chapter is done. I swear, I'm having so much fun with this, and I'm even planning on writing a few one shots featuring Willow and the others. We'll see how things go. In the meantime, feel free to leave a review and have a shelltastic day.