p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I stood in the doorway leading from the Lair to the sewers, looking at the place I had called my home for over a year and a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEverybody had already said that I could come back and visit as often as I wanted to, but it would never be the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy room was packed and empty, the few clothes I was keeping already in a bag near my feet, the rest donated to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI had contacted Stockman last night and he was ecstatic that I had agreed to work with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe sounded noticeably less excited when I told him the Turtles would be accompanying me every step of the way, but not enough to pass up such a wondrous style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe had actually apologized for his attack on me the other night, saying that he couldn't think of another way to get me to hear him out and actually consider his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhile I still did not like the man, I could understand style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTo a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We're all loaded and waiting for ya," Raph said quietly, coming up behind style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe put his massive hands on my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI lowered my wings subconsciously and leaned back against style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI suddenly felt like style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was time to go. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm ready to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLet's do this before I become sensible and change my mind," I said. Raph gave me a sad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's my pigeon," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI almost lost it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You're not making this any easier, you know," I said, angrily brushing away the tears that had started to slide down my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRaph shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I ain't tryin' to. You know I don't like this whole idea," he pointed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI opened my mouth to say something, but he held a finger up before I could. "But if it's what will make you happy, then I'm behind you every step of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou need to know that, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe gotta look out for each style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's what families do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI looked up at him, reminded again just how lucky I was to call these brothers my family, to call Raph my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI reached up and hugged him, burying my face in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe hugged me tight, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe grabbed my small bag of belongings for me and we walked to the van. Leo was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman's place wasn't far style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNot much was said on the drive style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMikey insisted I sit on his lap so he could hug me while we style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI didn't say style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSplinter, who was joining us, simply watched us all with careful, loving style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"All too soon we parked at the back of a small building where Stockman said he would meet style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSure enough, as soon as we stepped out of the van the scientist himself stepped out of the shadows, a big grin on his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe was the well-built version of himself now, not the mouse-man we were first introduced to. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I am ever so glad to see you made it safely, my darling," he said happily, walking up to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRaph bristled, stepping in front to block his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Get away from her," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman froze but did not step style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm not going to harm style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt would be against my nature and my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI come from a peace-seeking people who try to maintain balance in life and death, the universe, and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanKilling such a sweet, lost soul would upset that style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBelieve me when I say I am doing this not only for her, but for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe will not come to harm while under my care," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs I looked at him, something told me his motives were style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI couldn't decide if I was going to trust that part of me just yet. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Just to be sure, we're not leaving her side, Stockman," Leo said firmly, putting a hand on Raph's shoulder and staring down at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"If you must," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNow Donnie was the one to answer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We must."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanStockman motioned for us to follow style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanActually, he motioned for me to follow him and everybody else fell into line behind style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe led us through the building's back doors, which revealed a simple but highly advanced research lab with instruments that I'm sure weren't legal to own in the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNobody else was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Welcome to my secret hideout," he said warmly, putting a massive arm around my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI shrugged it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe didn't seem style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSoon we came to a large, flat table with a modest white sheet over the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman grabbed me under the armpits before I knew what was going on and hefted me onto the top of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span'Please, lay style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy microbots will change you into the body suit you'll wear during the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd before you protest, it's either the body suit or your birthday suit, so I suggest you take the body style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAny other fabric will hinder the operation."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And what exactly is the operation?" Donnie asked, pure curiosity barely style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI knew that he was just as concerned for me as each of the others, but his curiosity sometimes got the better of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhile Stock man began to explain, several toaster-sized robots flew over to me, hovering above the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOne of them held up a sheet separating me from the rest of the group while the others cut off my old clothes and pressed the form-fitting suit to my body before the cool air could chill my bare style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were done in less than a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy old clothes lay in rags at my feet and on me was what appeared to be some sort of modified spandex style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnkle to wrist to collarbone, I was covered in this weird new style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe microbots gathered the ragged remains of my clothes and whizzed them off somewhere, presumably to a trash style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI frowned style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThose had been my favourite style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman was talking/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"… found thatt he mutagen infused in her blood is creating all of her 'abnormalities', so if we simply defuse the mutagen she will turn back style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat was the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I've tried that before and it's had disastrous results, results I'm not willing to risk having Miss Angel here style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo we're going to alter the program a little style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut first, will you please go sit in the chairs over there?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA Plexiglas wall is going to separate you from the two of us while she undergoes the procedure, for em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"everyone's /emsafety," he said, emphasizing the last part to stop the arguments he could see rising on the brothers' style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanReluctantly, they complied, each sitting in a chair thirty feet away from the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSure enough, a thick, Plexiglas wall slid up from the floor and sealed to the ceiling with a soft style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now, my dear," Stockman crooned, speaking to me, "this won't take style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMaybe an style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPlease, lay style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAre you afraid of needles?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't particularly enjoy them, but I'm not scared of them, no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm going to put this one…" he pulled a large shot out of his left coat pocket. "…into your left arm and this one…" he pulled out another large shot out of his right pocket. "…into your right style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe one on the left will take out your mutated blood and the one on the right will replace it with normal human style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen you shall be normal and the universe shall be balanced once again," he finished, almost glowing with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You really are doing this out of good will, aren't you?" I asked, realizing as I asked that it was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe nodded solemnly, putting a large, black hand on my cheek softly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI made a very bad first impression of myself when we first met, and I shall continue to apologize for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I had to be sure that they," he motioned to the Turtles, who were watching the two of us anxiously, "would take care of you after this was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe only way to do that was to put you in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhen I saw that they would go to any lengths to save you, I knew you would be in good hands after the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt will be difficult acclimating to normal life again, but they will help you get back on your style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm sure of it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Forgive me, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI misjudged you," I apologized, suddenly feeling a grudging respect for this strange style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe smiled at me, his teeth brilliantly white against his dark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It is a good thing you are not a chief justice, then, no?" he said style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI chuckled and laid style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe inserted the IV's into my arms and hooked them up to two large machines that came up from the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOne had a large container of what I had to assume was non-mutated blood, and the other container was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat one was for my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Do I have to stay awake for this?" I asked, already getting a little style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman considered my question for a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I should think style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt might be best if you were asleep, actually, to reduce the trauma," he said, more to himself than to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe reached into a drawer under the table and pulled out a much smaller shot than the ones currently in my arms and injected the substance into my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanImmediately, I began to feel style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman pressed a button on the underside of the table and thick, nylon straps suddenly appeared across my upper arms, chest, waist, thighs, calves, and ankles./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"For safety," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"We don't want you moving around while you are sleeping, do we?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAll I could do was shake my head style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI strained to see the Turtles on the other side of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI couldn't see style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI began to freak style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA heart monitor Stockman must have put on me began to beep faster and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen they were there, all four of them, looking at me through the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe beeping style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy eyelids felt like style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen, the world went style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIt felt like I had barely closed my eyes when I was being dragged from sleep, much against my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSomething was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"There was dull yelling, bright flashing lights, frantic beeping. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Pounding on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Buttons being style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"More style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Then, fire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"There was fire in my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI was burning!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I tried screaming, but I couldn't escape the fog of sleep still surrounding style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI tried opening my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTried style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSomething was tying me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"A huge style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCold style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBlessed cold style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMore voices, not dulled anymore. Yelling. I still couldn't understand the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy ears felt style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSomeone take the fire away!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Then, it was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe beeping, the yelling, the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI could style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI could feel the fire being drawn away, vein by vein, until I could breathe style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I fell asleep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI don't know for how style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNot long style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis time, I woke up more style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI wasn't on fire style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the harsh style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFour figures stood above me, talking quietly between style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen they all hushed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Angel?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAre you awake?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCan you hear me?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDon, how are her vitals?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe other machine broke when Stockman yanked the cord."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Vital signs style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd I mean style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs in, human style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBlood pressure stabilizing, core body temperature stabilizing, heart rate steadying…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I tried to sit up, but large, gentle, three-fingered hands held me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Not yet, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou ain't done yet."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""What happened?" I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe others looked at each other sadly, not sure what to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFinally, Mikey spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""The procedure didn't really work out like Stockman thought it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou weren't taking the normal blood like you should style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt… it was killing style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe all went berserk. Nobody could stop yelling, Raph said some new swear words, and finally we all broke the glass so we could get to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman was freaking out, pressing all sorts a buttons and levers and things and finally he just yanked the tube from your style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut you were losing a lot of blood because your body was trying to get rid of the stuff he had put in you, so he… he gave you style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEnough of the normal blood was kept in your body that your half-human blood and his already half-human blood will make you almost human style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's a miracle you two have the same blood style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou're gonna be human, Angel," he explained style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI couldn't believe my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Where's Stockman?" I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI had to talk to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMikey motioned to the floor on the right side of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe helped me sit up and peek over the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSure enough, Stockman was sitting back against a leg of the table, hooked up to a machine that was taking his blood and giving it to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked up at me and smiled style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Hello, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm glad to see you are doing better style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe went through some scary minutes, no?" he asked, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"All is better now, no?" he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWith a sickening feeling I realized he was going to die if he kept giving me his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe heart rate monitor began to beep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Look, I'm fine now, see?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou don't have to do this style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou don't have to…" I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI couldn't think style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe laughed weakly, his eyes beginning to close style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMikey helped me to the floor so I could sit next to the man that was dying so that I could style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe others stood around us silently, having nothing to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman continued, his voice growing softer with each style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""You will live now, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd you will live a normal style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe balance will be restored to you and your family and your style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd I… I will finally be rid of this wretched half-life I have been stuck in for so many style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI will finally be able to run in the land of green hills where my father is, where my grandfather is, where my ancestors style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd I will run as a man now, no?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI will run…as…a man…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Stockman's head fell against his chest style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe was gone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I don't remember much of the next two style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLeo told me later that I started crying after Stockman style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was all a blur to me. Donnie had sent an anonymous signal to the police so they came upon the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe had been sure to take care of any evidence that would have led to the discovery of mutagen or mutants at all, though, so all the police found was a middle-aged man who had died mysteriously but peacefully in his sleep at work in a room completely sterilized and clear of any DNA or style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were able to give Stockman a proper style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Now we were almost to April's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI would stay with her for a few days to get used to my new style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI grimaced as I remembered the episode following Stockman's death./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Come on, Angel, we've got to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDonnie needs to get this place clear so we can go before the police get here."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Help me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI—where are they?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Where are what?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""My wings?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhere are my wings!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey're gone!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWho took them?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Angel, we knew this was going to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's the whole reason we came style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe—"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""No, you don't understand!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey're gone!"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I had been in shock, Donnie style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhich was totally style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLike how people who lost limbs in wars go into style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI went into style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRaph had to hold me so I couldn't move until I calmed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter I did, he explained to me how my wings had seemed to grow back into my back until they disappeared style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBecause a small percentage of my blood was still infused with mutagen, Donnie had told me, there was a small chance they might grow back at some point in my life, but it was highly style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat filled me with an unexpected style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt felt weird now to be able to fully sit back against a chair, to feel the rough fabric brushing against my back, to not have that familiar weight pulling me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe first time I had tried to walk I almost fell forward as I tried to get used to having a normal center of balance again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"But here we style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI was going to see my family style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"We arrived at April's house a little before style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe was waiting out on the porch for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLeo held the back of the van open for me so I could hop style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was still light outside, though, so neither he nor his brothers could escort me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd to tell the truth, I felt more than a little uncomfortable walking out in broad daylight after needing to hide in the shadows for so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Call us if you need anything," Leo style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI knew that if I got so much as a papercut one of them would be there as soon as I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI had a suspicion that letting me go was harder for them than they made it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was hard for me, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I cheered myself up by reminding myself that I could still visit them style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's not like we were never going to see each other style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSignificantly happier, I walked up to April carefully and gave her a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe Turtles made sure we made it safely into the building before driving style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""You look great," April complimented as we walked up the stairs to her apartment style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI feel… style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNot having wings feels so… style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI don't even know how to describe it," I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I can style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's going to take some getting used style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I bet you'll feel better after a nice long style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCome on in and we'll get you all set style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSplinter gave me some exercises to do with you that will help you acclimate to your new style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOr, your old style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm not even sure what to say anymore," she said, laughing style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut yes, a shower does sound style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThank you for letting me stay here, by the way."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Of course!" she exclaimed as we arrived at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I stood in the shower as April got dinner ready, letting the hot water pour over my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI thought of my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy mother, my father, my brothers and sisters…it had been so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA year and a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHow was I going to meet them?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat could I say?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat if they asked questions I couldn't answer?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Suddenly, as if having an epiphany, I remembered that this was my family I was talking style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis is what I had been dreaming about for almost two years and now it was finally here!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI was scared, of course, but more than anything I was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI realized that no matter what happened in the next few hours, I was going to be with my family style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy heart began to pound and a smile spread over my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanApril knocked on the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Angel?" she called through the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Yeah?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""You'll have to cut your shower style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIrma just texted and said that your parents couldn't wait to see style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey're on their way here now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I got out of the shower quickly, getting dressed in record time and pulling my hair up into a messy up-do to keep it out of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI had no belongings to pack, so I began pacing the living room style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanApril continued cooking style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""How long until they get here?" I asked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe gave me a patient smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""About ten style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey live all the way across town, you know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's my home too, you know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I began pacing style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNine minutes later, there was a knock at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI froze, suddenly unable to convince my body to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanApril came out of the kitchen and led me to the couch in the front room, gently shoving me onto one of the cushions, and walked over to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe opened it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Hello!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanO'neil style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMay I help you?" the sporty reporter asked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDaniel and Sarah exchanged style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIrma had a huge smile on her face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""We were told you had someone for us," Daniel finally style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanApril smiled, stepping back from the doorway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Why don't you see for yourself?" she style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Then I saw them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"They looked just like I had remembered style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDad still had his crooked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMom's hair was still in a high ponytail with wisps of hair escaping all over her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBoth of them stared at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Mom?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDad?" I asked, my voice style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI stood and took a tentative step towards style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen Mom was running across the hardwood and pulling me into her arms, sobbing style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Malachi!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOh, my baby girl!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou're style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou're style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou're em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"alive!/emspan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe thought you were dead and we were heartbroken but you're here and alive and…oh, my precious, baby girl."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Dad wasn't far behind her, hugging us both and pulling my head into his chest, murmuring intelligible phrases into my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTears streamed down my face as I smiled and laughed and cried all at the same time. Then, suddenly, there were little people pulling at my shirt and clothes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Mal, is that really you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""We thought you were dead!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Mal!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I looked down and sure enough, there were Kim and Andie, matching hairdos and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI released myself from my parents grasp and knelt down beside them, hugging them both at the same style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey clung to me, throwing their small arms around my neck getting their fingers caught in my hair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Yes, honeys, it really is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm back."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Austin stood a little ways off, watching us all very style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI remembered last Christmas when I had given him the note in the snow and he had seen me, wings and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked at me with big, brown, steady style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Are you my sister?" he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI passed Kim and Andie over to my parents and scooted over to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""What do you think?" I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAustin didn't move./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""You were dead," he finally style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I know that's what they told style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I was just missing and couldn't tell any of you where I was so you wouldn't get in trouble or style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, I had to pretend to be…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""…dead." Austin finished for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe refused to look me in the eye, instead staring at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I don't believe you," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"My sister is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe police said so."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Austin, baby, do you remember last Christmas?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhen you got the note in the snow?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"His eyes snapped up at that and he met my gaze for the first style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You know about the note?" he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Nobody else believed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWas that you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"My heart jerked, but I had prepared for this style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"No," I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"That wasn't style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat was an angel I sent to tell you that I was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI know it's hard to believe, but I need you to trust style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe note said that I would be coming back, didn't it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Austin nodded, tears gathering in his disbelieving style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen he was hugging me and burying his face in my shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I knew it!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI knew you weren't gone, Mal!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNobody believed me when I said I saw the girl with wings but I did and she said you'd be home and now here you are and I'm never letting you go style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI love you so much, sissy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Mom, Dad, Kim, and Andie joined in the hug so we were all a kneeling, tear-y eyed mess of people and hugs and emotions, and finally, after 18 long months, I was able to say the four words I had longed to say to my family one more time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I love you, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Outside, watching through the window from the building across the street, Donnie turned off the mini-projector style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIrma had been secretly streaming the whole scene through her phone so Don and the other four could watch style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were on top of the neighboring building, making sure their adopted sister got back to her biological family style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMaster Splinter placed a wrinkled hand on his son's shoulder. Donnie gave him a sad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""She will be happy now," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLeo, sitting with his shell against the air conditioning unit, gently elbowed Michelangelo, who was staring at the ground style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMikey gave him a sad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRaph was standing off to the side, arms folded across his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I guess our job here is done, then?" he asked no one in particular./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""For the moment, yes," Splinter style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFour pairs of masked eyes looked up at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"This chapter of our lives is closing, but it is not an unhappy ending, is it?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAngel, or Malachi I guess I should say, has found her home with her family after being separated for over a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis is a happy day style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDo not let it be tainted by selfish sadness, my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBe happy for your style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd trust that we will see her again in the near future."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Hai, sensei," they style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Then, after gathering the few things they had needed to make the projector work, they made their way back into the night, leaving nothing but shadow in their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We're all loaded and waiting for ya," Raph said quietly, coming up behind style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe put his massive hands on my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI lowered my wings subconsciously and leaned back against style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI suddenly felt like style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was time to go. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I'm ready to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLet's do this before I become sensible and change my mind," I said. Raph gave me a sad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"That's my pigeon," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI almost lost it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You're not making this any easier, you know," I said, angrily brushing away the tears that had started to slide down my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRaph shrugged./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I ain't tryin' to. You know I don't like this whole idea," he pointed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI opened my mouth to say something, but he held a finger up before I could. "But if it's what will make you happy, then I'm behind you every step of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou need to know that, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe gotta look out for each style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's what families do."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanI looked up at him, reminded again just how lucky I was to call these brothers my family, to call Raph my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI reached up and hugged him, burying my face in his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe hugged me tight, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanHe grabbed my small bag of belongings for me and we walked to the van. Leo was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman's place wasn't far style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNot much was said on the drive style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMikey insisted I sit on his lap so he could hug me while we style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI didn't say style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSplinter, who was joining us, simply watched us all with careful, loving style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"All too soon we parked at the back of a small building where Stockman said he would meet style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSure enough, as soon as we stepped out of the van the scientist himself stepped out of the shadows, a big grin on his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe was the well-built version of himself now, not the mouse-man we were first introduced to. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I am ever so glad to see you made it safely, my darling," he said happily, walking up to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRaph bristled, stepping in front to block his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Get away from her," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman froze but did not step style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm not going to harm style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt would be against my nature and my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI come from a peace-seeking people who try to maintain balance in life and death, the universe, and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanKilling such a sweet, lost soul would upset that style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBelieve me when I say I am doing this not only for her, but for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe will not come to harm while under my care," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs I looked at him, something told me his motives were style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI couldn't decide if I was going to trust that part of me just yet. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Just to be sure, we're not leaving her side, Stockman," Leo said firmly, putting a hand on Raph's shoulder and staring down at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"If you must," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNow Donnie was the one to answer./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"We must."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanStockman motioned for us to follow style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanActually, he motioned for me to follow him and everybody else fell into line behind style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe led us through the building's back doors, which revealed a simple but highly advanced research lab with instruments that I'm sure weren't legal to own in the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNobody else was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Welcome to my secret hideout," he said warmly, putting a massive arm around my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI shrugged it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe didn't seem style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSoon we came to a large, flat table with a modest white sheet over the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman grabbed me under the armpits before I knew what was going on and hefted me onto the top of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span'Please, lay style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy microbots will change you into the body suit you'll wear during the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd before you protest, it's either the body suit or your birthday suit, so I suggest you take the body style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAny other fabric will hinder the operation."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"And what exactly is the operation?" Donnie asked, pure curiosity barely style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI knew that he was just as concerned for me as each of the others, but his curiosity sometimes got the better of style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhile Stock man began to explain, several toaster-sized robots flew over to me, hovering above the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOne of them held up a sheet separating me from the rest of the group while the others cut off my old clothes and pressed the form-fitting suit to my body before the cool air could chill my bare style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were done in less than a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy old clothes lay in rags at my feet and on me was what appeared to be some sort of modified spandex style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnkle to wrist to collarbone, I was covered in this weird new style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe microbots gathered the ragged remains of my clothes and whizzed them off somewhere, presumably to a trash style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI frowned style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThose had been my favourite style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman was talking/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"… found thatt he mutagen infused in her blood is creating all of her 'abnormalities', so if we simply defuse the mutagen she will turn back style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat was the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I've tried that before and it's had disastrous results, results I'm not willing to risk having Miss Angel here style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo we're going to alter the program a little style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut first, will you please go sit in the chairs over there?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA Plexiglas wall is going to separate you from the two of us while she undergoes the procedure, for em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"everyone's /emsafety," he said, emphasizing the last part to stop the arguments he could see rising on the brothers' style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanReluctantly, they complied, each sitting in a chair thirty feet away from the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSure enough, a thick, Plexiglas wall slid up from the floor and sealed to the ceiling with a soft style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Now, my dear," Stockman crooned, speaking to me, "this won't take style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMaybe an style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanPlease, lay style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAre you afraid of needles?" he asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I don't particularly enjoy them, but I'm not scared of them, no."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm going to put this one…" he pulled a large shot out of his left coat pocket. "…into your left arm and this one…" he pulled out another large shot out of his right pocket. "…into your right style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe one on the left will take out your mutated blood and the one on the right will replace it with normal human style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen you shall be normal and the universe shall be balanced once again," he finished, almost glowing with style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"You really are doing this out of good will, aren't you?" I asked, realizing as I asked that it was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe nodded solemnly, putting a large, black hand on my cheek softly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Yes, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI made a very bad first impression of myself when we first met, and I shall continue to apologize for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I had to be sure that they," he motioned to the Turtles, who were watching the two of us anxiously, "would take care of you after this was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe only way to do that was to put you in style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhen I saw that they would go to any lengths to save you, I knew you would be in good hands after the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt will be difficult acclimating to normal life again, but they will help you get back on your style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm sure of it."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Forgive me, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI misjudged you," I apologized, suddenly feeling a grudging respect for this strange style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe smiled at me, his teeth brilliantly white against his dark style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"It is a good thing you are not a chief justice, then, no?" he said style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI chuckled and laid style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe inserted the IV's into my arms and hooked them up to two large machines that came up from the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOne had a large container of what I had to assume was non-mutated blood, and the other container was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat one was for my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Do I have to stay awake for this?" I asked, already getting a little style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman considered my question for a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I should think style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt might be best if you were asleep, actually, to reduce the trauma," he said, more to himself than to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe reached into a drawer under the table and pulled out a much smaller shot than the ones currently in my arms and injected the substance into my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanImmediately, I began to feel style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman pressed a button on the underside of the table and thick, nylon straps suddenly appeared across my upper arms, chest, waist, thighs, calves, and ankles./span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"For safety," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"We don't want you moving around while you are sleeping, do we?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAll I could do was shake my head style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI strained to see the Turtles on the other side of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI couldn't see style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI began to freak style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA heart monitor Stockman must have put on me began to beep faster and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen they were there, all four of them, looking at me through the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe beeping style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy eyelids felt like style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen, the world went style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*/span/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanIt felt like I had barely closed my eyes when I was being dragged from sleep, much against my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSomething was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"There was dull yelling, bright flashing lights, frantic beeping. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Pounding on the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Buttons being style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"More style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Then, fire./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"There was fire in my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI was burning!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I tried screaming, but I couldn't escape the fog of sleep still surrounding style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI tried opening my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTried style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSomething was tying me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"A huge style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCold style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBlessed cold style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMore voices, not dulled anymore. Yelling. I still couldn't understand the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy ears felt style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSomeone take the fire away!/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Then, it was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe beeping, the yelling, the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI could style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI could feel the fire being drawn away, vein by vein, until I could breathe style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I fell asleep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI don't know for how style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNot long style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis time, I woke up more style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI wasn't on fire style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the harsh style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFour figures stood above me, talking quietly between style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen they all hushed./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Angel?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAre you awake?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCan you hear me?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDon, how are her vitals?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe other machine broke when Stockman yanked the cord."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Vital signs style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd I mean style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAs in, human style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBlood pressure stabilizing, core body temperature stabilizing, heart rate steadying…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I tried to sit up, but large, gentle, three-fingered hands held me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Not yet, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou ain't done yet."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""What happened?" I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe others looked at each other sadly, not sure what to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFinally, Mikey spoke./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""The procedure didn't really work out like Stockman thought it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou weren't taking the normal blood like you should style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt… it was killing style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe all went berserk. Nobody could stop yelling, Raph said some new swear words, and finally we all broke the glass so we could get to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman was freaking out, pressing all sorts a buttons and levers and things and finally he just yanked the tube from your style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut you were losing a lot of blood because your body was trying to get rid of the stuff he had put in you, so he… he gave you style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanEnough of the normal blood was kept in your body that your half-human blood and his already half-human blood will make you almost human style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's a miracle you two have the same blood style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou're gonna be human, Angel," he explained style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI couldn't believe my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Where's Stockman?" I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI had to talk to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMikey motioned to the floor on the right side of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe helped me sit up and peek over the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSure enough, Stockman was sitting back against a leg of the table, hooked up to a machine that was taking his blood and giving it to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked up at me and smiled style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Hello, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm glad to see you are doing better style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe went through some scary minutes, no?" he asked, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"All is better now, no?" he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWith a sickening feeling I realized he was going to die if he kept giving me his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe heart rate monitor began to beep style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Look, I'm fine now, see?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou don't have to do this style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou don't have to…" I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI couldn't think style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe laughed weakly, his eyes beginning to close style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMikey helped me to the floor so I could sit next to the man that was dying so that I could style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe others stood around us silently, having nothing to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanStockman continued, his voice growing softer with each style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""You will live now, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd you will live a normal style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe balance will be restored to you and your family and your style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd I… I will finally be rid of this wretched half-life I have been stuck in for so many style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI will finally be able to run in the land of green hills where my father is, where my grandfather is, where my ancestors style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd I will run as a man now, no?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI will run…as…a man…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Stockman's head fell against his chest style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe was gone./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I don't remember much of the next two style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLeo told me later that I started crying after Stockman style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was all a blur to me. Donnie had sent an anonymous signal to the police so they came upon the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe had been sure to take care of any evidence that would have led to the discovery of mutagen or mutants at all, though, so all the police found was a middle-aged man who had died mysteriously but peacefully in his sleep at work in a room completely sterilized and clear of any DNA or style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were able to give Stockman a proper style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Now we were almost to April's style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI would stay with her for a few days to get used to my new style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI grimaced as I remembered the episode following Stockman's death./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Come on, Angel, we've got to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDonnie needs to get this place clear so we can go before the police get here."/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Help me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI—where are they?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Where are what?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""My wings?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhere are my wings!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey're gone!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWho took them?"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Angel, we knew this was going to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's the whole reason we came style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe—"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""No, you don't understand!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey're gone!"/span/em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I had been in shock, Donnie style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhich was totally style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLike how people who lost limbs in wars go into style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI went into style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRaph had to hold me so I couldn't move until I calmed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAfter I did, he explained to me how my wings had seemed to grow back into my back until they disappeared style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBecause a small percentage of my blood was still infused with mutagen, Donnie had told me, there was a small chance they might grow back at some point in my life, but it was highly style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat filled me with an unexpected style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt felt weird now to be able to fully sit back against a chair, to feel the rough fabric brushing against my back, to not have that familiar weight pulling me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe first time I had tried to walk I almost fell forward as I tried to get used to having a normal center of balance again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"But here we style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI was going to see my family style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"We arrived at April's house a little before style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe was waiting out on the porch for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLeo held the back of the van open for me so I could hop style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was still light outside, though, so neither he nor his brothers could escort me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd to tell the truth, I felt more than a little uncomfortable walking out in broad daylight after needing to hide in the shadows for so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Call us if you need anything," Leo style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI knew that if I got so much as a papercut one of them would be there as soon as I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI had a suspicion that letting me go was harder for them than they made it style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt was hard for me, style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I cheered myself up by reminding myself that I could still visit them style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's not like we were never going to see each other style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSignificantly happier, I walked up to April carefully and gave her a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe Turtles made sure we made it safely into the building before driving style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""You look great," April complimented as we walked up the stairs to her apartment style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI feel… style="mso-spacerun: yes;" style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNot having wings feels so… style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI don't even know how to describe it," I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe nodded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I can style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's going to take some getting used style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I bet you'll feel better after a nice long style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanCome on in and we'll get you all set style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSplinter gave me some exercises to do with you that will help you acclimate to your new style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOr, your old style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm not even sure what to say anymore," she said, laughing style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Me style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut yes, a shower does sound style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThank you for letting me stay here, by the way."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Of course!" she exclaimed as we arrived at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I stood in the shower as April got dinner ready, letting the hot water pour over my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI thought of my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy mother, my father, my brothers and sisters…it had been so style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanA year and a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHow was I going to meet them?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat could I say?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat if they asked questions I couldn't answer?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Suddenly, as if having an epiphany, I remembered that this was my family I was talking style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis is what I had been dreaming about for almost two years and now it was finally here!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI was scared, of course, but more than anything I was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI realized that no matter what happened in the next few hours, I was going to be with my family style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMy heart began to pound and a smile spread over my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanApril knocked on the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Angel?" she called through the door./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Yeah?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""You'll have to cut your shower style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIrma just texted and said that your parents couldn't wait to see style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey're on their way here now."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I got out of the shower quickly, getting dressed in record time and pulling my hair up into a messy up-do to keep it out of the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI had no belongings to pack, so I began pacing the living room style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanApril continued cooking style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""How long until they get here?" I asked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe gave me a patient smile. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""About ten style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey live all the way across town, you know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIt's my home too, you know."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I began pacing style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNine minutes later, there was a knock at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI froze, suddenly unable to convince my body to style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanApril came out of the kitchen and led me to the couch in the front room, gently shoving me onto one of the cushions, and walked over to the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanShe opened it./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Hello!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanO'neil style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMay I help you?" the sporty reporter asked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDaniel and Sarah exchanged style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIrma had a huge smile on her face./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""We were told you had someone for us," Daniel finally style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanApril smiled, stepping back from the doorway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Why don't you see for yourself?" she style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Then I saw them./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"They looked just like I had remembered style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDad still had his crooked style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMom's hair was still in a high ponytail with wisps of hair escaping all over her style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBoth of them stared at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Mom?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDad?" I asked, my voice style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI stood and took a tentative step towards style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen Mom was running across the hardwood and pulling me into her arms, sobbing style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Malachi!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOh, my baby girl!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou're style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou're style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanYou're em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"alive!/emspan style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWe thought you were dead and we were heartbroken but you're here and alive and…oh, my precious, baby girl."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Dad wasn't far behind her, hugging us both and pulling my head into his chest, murmuring intelligible phrases into my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTears streamed down my face as I smiled and laughed and cried all at the same time. Then, suddenly, there were little people pulling at my shirt and clothes./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Mal, is that really you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""We thought you were dead!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Mal!"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"I looked down and sure enough, there were Kim and Andie, matching hairdos and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI released myself from my parents grasp and knelt down beside them, hugging them both at the same style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey clung to me, throwing their small arms around my neck getting their fingers caught in my hair./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Yes, honeys, it really is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI'm back."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Austin stood a little ways off, watching us all very style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI remembered last Christmas when I had given him the note in the snow and he had seen me, wings and style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe looked at me with big, brown, steady style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Are you my sister?" he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI passed Kim and Andie over to my parents and scooted over to him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""What do you think?" I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAustin didn't move./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""You were dead," he finally style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I know that's what they told style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBut I was just missing and couldn't tell any of you where I was so you wouldn't get in trouble or style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanSo, I had to pretend to be…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""…dead." Austin finished for style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanHe refused to look me in the eye, instead staring at the style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"I don't believe you," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"My sister is style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe police said so."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Austin, baby, do you remember last Christmas?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhen you got the note in the snow?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"His eyes snapped up at that and he met my gaze for the first style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"You know about the note?" he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"Nobody else believed style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWas that you?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"My heart jerked, but I had prepared for this style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"No," I style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"That wasn't style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThat was an angel I sent to tell you that I was style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI know it's hard to believe, but I need you to trust style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThe note said that I would be coming back, didn't it?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Austin nodded, tears gathering in his disbelieving style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThen he was hugging me and burying his face in my shoulder./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I knew it!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI knew you weren't gone, Mal!span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanNobody believed me when I said I saw the girl with wings but I did and she said you'd be home and now here you are and I'm never letting you go style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanI love you so much, sissy."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Mom, Dad, Kim, and Andie joined in the hug so we were all a kneeling, tear-y eyed mess of people and hugs and emotions, and finally, after 18 long months, I was able to say the four words I had longed to say to my family one more time./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I love you, too."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span*/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Outside, watching through the window from the building across the street, Donnie turned off the mini-projector style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanIrma had been secretly streaming the whole scene through her phone so Don and the other four could watch style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThey were on top of the neighboring building, making sure their adopted sister got back to her biological family style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMaster Splinter placed a wrinkled hand on his son's shoulder. Donnie gave him a sad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""She will be happy now," he style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLeo, sitting with his shell against the air conditioning unit, gently elbowed Michelangelo, who was staring at the ground style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanMikey gave him a sad style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanRaph was standing off to the side, arms folded across his style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""I guess our job here is done, then?" he asked no one in particular./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""For the moment, yes," Splinter style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanFour pairs of masked eyes looked up at style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span"This chapter of our lives is closing, but it is not an unhappy ending, is it?span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAngel, or Malachi I guess I should say, has found her home with her family after being separated for over a style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis is a happy day style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanDo not let it be tainted by selfish sadness, my style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanBe happy for your style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAnd trust that we will see her again in the near future."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;""Hai, sensei," they style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif;"Then, after gathering the few things they had needed to make the projector work, they made their way back into the night, leaving nothing but shadow in their style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/span/p