A/N: Before you all decide to throw your keyboards at me...let me explain. Would I really have much of a fic if there was not bad guy drama? Heh.
I assure you. No turtles were harmed during the making of this fiction.
Disclaimer:I do not own tmnt.
Betrayed Secrets~Chapter 6
"Ava, come on over and join us." Donatello was the first to notice the distance she had put between herself and the turtle brothers. Don was busy tinkering with some strange object in his hands as he kept Mikey company. The orange banded turtle engrossed in the latest kung fu spoof movie. Raph brushed past her, a can of soda in one hand, and an over sized bag of nachos in the other.
"I thought you were watching a movie,"Raph muttered, dropping himself on the end of their battered couch..
"We are, Raphie. Look!" Mikey said, pointing at the screen.
"That's not a movie. That's a pile of garbage. Besides you already saw this about five times."
"Six. But who's counting?" Mikey smirked.
Raphael curled his fist into a tight ball. "Don't make me hurt you so early in the day," he growled.
Mikey ignored him, snatched the bag of chips Raphael had placed between them and returned his focus to the movie once again.
Ava stood, leaning against the door frame, arms wrapped around her chest, pretending to be watching the movie. While her eyes trained on the television, her mind was elsewhere. She hated herself for what she was about to do.
May as well get it over with, she decided, when Leonardo entered the room. He sat on the floor and placed one of his katana across his lap and opened the jar of polish he had brought with him. She pulled together all her strength and leaped into the false story she had prepared over and over that afternoon.
She made her way across the room, sitting in the worn arm chair. After taking a big breath, she asked, "Can I ask a huge favor of you guys?"
Donatello looked over and shrugged. "Sure, Ava. What is it?"
Ava smacked her lips nervously before she spoke again.
"Well…you see... Mom asked me to make sure I look after the apartment. I am kind of nervous being there all alone." She peered up from under her bangs. Leo and Mikey were now tuned into her tale of woe. Although Raph seemed to be watching the movie, she could tell that by the way the tilted his head, he was listening as well.
"Well, that's pretty understandable," Mikey told her. "A young girl alone in New York is a magnet for trouble."
"I know," she answered with a sigh. "I was wondering... if you guys could..." She left her voice trail off and shook her head. "Oh, I feel so silly."
"Yes. We can come and help you look after the place for your mom," Leo assured her.
Ava's eyes darted across the room to Leonardo. "Really?" She tried to force happiness into her tone.
The noble turtle nodded. "Of course we will."
Ava forced a smile back. "Thank you."
^V^
Ava paced the beige carpet in their humble apartment. Her eyes kept flickering upwards to the silly looking cat clock on the wall above the kitchen table. The guys would be arriving any moment and she was ready. They were all ready. She squirmed as she thought about the five strongest of Victor's employees hide in wait in various positions within the apartment. Two were in her mother's room, two in her own room and one actually managed to squeeze into the broom closet. Somewhere in the streets below three more waited with a truck and trailer. Just the thought of them made her feel uncomfortable and edgy to the point where she contemplated running to the bathroom to vomit.
Under their watchful eyes, she had prepared a hearty snack according to the turtles taste;pepperonie pizza and nachos. Her stomach twisted itself into knots as she coated the food with a bag full of crushed up tranquilizers. She hoped they would immediately fall asleep with no fight. She would hate to see them injured as well. Ava fidgeted with the plates, organized her mother's decorative burgundy throw pillows on the couch. She opened and closed each cupboard door, for not other reason but a sheer act of anxiety.
"Pizza! Oh, you shouldn't have!"
She gasped as she spun around. She didn't even hear them enter the apartment. As usual they entered via the big window in the living room.
"Mikey! Guys!" she greeted. She glanced over her shoulder to the spread on the table. "I figured it was the least I could do."
"Well, I know I can go for some deep dish action," Donatello assured her, as he placed his bo onto the floor beside him.
Okay. Let's do this quick and painless, she thought.
"Okay. You guys get settled in. I think there are a few good movies on television," she called out from the kitchen as she gathered the pizza and chips.
"Do you need a hand?" Leo offered.
"Nah, I got it," she replied as she made the second trip into the living room, this time armed with plates and cans of soda.
She rearranged everything on the cherry red coffee table before sitting back into one of the two armchairs that flanked the couch.
"Dig in guys," she invited.
"Don't mind if I do," Mikey replied, as he charged forward and was the first one to take the bait. She watched every chew, every swallow as he gulped down a piece of pizza and a handful of nachos. He obviously didn't suspect a thing.
Don was the next to lean forward to help himself. He chewed away as he lost himself in the show that was on the TV. Leo followed suit.
"Aren't you going to have some?" Raphael asked, as he stretched his arm for a slice of pizza. "Cause you know you don't stand a chance with Mikey, the 'turtle black hole,' here."
"I have more in the kitchen. I can get some later."
Mikey turned to him and opened his mouth to protest Raph's remark. The sudden cautious look on his older brother's face quieted him immediately.
Raphael took another deliberate sniff at the cheese and automatically tossed the pizza back into the box.
"Guys! Don't touch that food!" he shouted. With a confused look, he turned to Ava. She pushed herself against the back of the chair.
"What is going on?" he demanded.
"Raph, what are you talking about?" Don questioned.
Raphael leaned forward and knocked the half eaten portion of his brother's third slice to the ground.
"Hey!"
"No, Don," Leo said sharply, now on full alert. He sniffed the fresh piece he was about to eat and immediately tossed it as well. "Something isn't right." The rest turned to look at Ava. They all wore confused expressions.
"Ava?" Don questioned.
Ava didn't get a chance to reply. Mikey was the first one to show symptoms.
"Dudes, I don't feel so good." His speech was slurred. Mikey shook his head and tried to get to stand up. His legs refused to co-operate and was sent crashing back to the floor. Within minutes, he was passed out cold on the floor.
"MIKEY!" the rest of the brothers called out as they all leaped to his aid. Don was the first to reach him. Immediately he assessed the situation.
"What is it, Donatello? "Leo's voice was full of worry. "What's wrong with him?"
Don shook his head. "He is out cold." As he attempted to turn Mikey into a more comfortable position, he felt his arms start to feel like heavy weights.
"No," he breathed. He tried to force himself to his feet, but his attempt was futile. He soon succumbed to the drug.
"DON!" Leo shouted. He half turned and looked over his shoulder. There was fear evident in his eyes.
"What IS going on?"
This is crazy! Ava scolded herself. She wished she never, ever had agreed to such a horrible plan. She saw confusion in Leonardo and was heart wrenching to watch. She couldn't bear it any longer. I got to do something! she thought to herself, disobeying all orders to not get involved.
"Leo!" she called out but was cut off before she could say anything else.
"Be on your guard, men!" the male voice boomed through out the room as three of the men emerged from their hiding spot.
"Huh?" Leo gasped. Raphael was already in a defensive fighting stance. He reached down and retrieved his sais. He held them menacingly.
Leo unsheathed his katanas and held them in front of his body. He began to feel his body start to relax , his movements uncooperative.. "Who are these guys? Ava! Get out of here!"
"Forget it Leo. She's.... Leo? Leo!" Raph called out as Leonardo's swords clanged as they hit the floor. Leo swayed and collapsed between them.
Raph narrowed, sending Ava a look that made her blood run cold.
"Okay, big guy. Your time to take a nap."One of the assailants laughed.
"I don't think so, pal," Raph snorted.
"Uhh.... Bruce.... what do we do?" another asked, realizing what they were now up against.
"We do what we do to every other animal. We trap it, Lou. It is all of us, against one of them. I think we have the upper hand."
"Think again," Raphael's husky voice challenged. "I love these odds."
"Lou, you and the rest start gathering up the other turtles. I will deal with this one."
"Bring it on!" Raph cried out. He was determined to keep them away from his fallen brothers.
Bruce clutched the tazer in his hand. He bounded forward toward the waiting Raphael. Instantly, he was thrown back against the wall.
"You wretched creature!" Bruce yelled in anger.
"Not so easy is it?" Raphael boasted.
Bruce reached down and plucked the walkie talkie that he had clipped onto his belt.
"Richard! I think we may need a hand. We have a live one here!"
"You invited more to our little party? Good." Raph snorted. He turned his attention to the other four men that had gathered around his slumbering brothers. "And where do you think you are going?" In a flash, he had crossed the room and took out one of the men that was trying to gather Leonardo."Get your filthy hands off of my brother!" He reached over and had a second by his shirt. He raised him in the air, ready to toss him.
What felt like a bee stung his right bicep. "What the shell...?"
He looked down at his arm and saw a dart embedded into his thick green skin.
"Raph!" was Ava's immediate response. She had been standing on the sidelines, frozen in place as she watched the whole scene unravel before her like some horror film.
"Richard you idiot! We are not supposed to harm them!" Bruce scolded as he rose to his feet.
"I did not harm him, fool. I am trying to slow him down," the tall man barked back. He raised his gun again toward Raphael and fired. Raph managed to dodge the second dart, but not a third by another attacker.
"Damn it!" Raphael cursed under his breath as he felt the next dart stick his calf. Realizing the situation just got worse; he sheathed his sais and bounded for the large picture window of the living room. In a blink of an eye, he used the fire escape.
"Don't let him get away!" Bruce yelled at Richard and his two followers. He turned to Lou. "Get those turtles to the truck! I will help the others capture the fourth."
No, oh no! Ava thought. She didn't picture things to get so out of control. She watched helplessly as the men wrapped large tarps around Leo, Don and Mikey. Carefully, they were dragged out through the window. She pivoted and flew down the stairs and out onto the street. As she ran out of the building, she could already hear the scuffle that was occurring out back. Her legs felt like two strings of spaghetti as she rounded the corner. She stopped dead in her tracks when she came upon the others.
"Haven't you given up yet!" chortled Bruce. Him and the others formed a tight circle around Raphael.
"You don't know me very well," Raph snapped back. He sprang towards them. He managed to sweep the legs out from underneath one of them. The others were ready as he regrouped for a second attack.
One of the larger men stepped forward, seemingly inviting Raph to attack. The hot headed turtle took the bait. He sprang at him, but the tranquilizer drug had already started to take effect. His moves were getting sloppy and miscalculated. The man stepped out of the way easily.
"Stand still," Raph growled. He lurched forward again and swung his sai through the air. The big man just stepped backwards and laughed.
"You're finished, shell back."
"Never," Raph panted. Ava could see Raph's legs trembling as he fought for the strength to stay upright. His sais were held lower than normal, and his eyes started to flutter. "You will never take me!" His speech was now slurred.
Satisfied that the tables had indeed turned, Bruce stepped back. The others followed his lead . They backed off.
"Where are you cowards going?" Raphael sung out. He sloppily stepped forward and threw a misjudged punch into the air. "Come on. Cowards!" He attempted a round house. His balancing leg buckled at the knee and he feel onto his back. Instantly he tried to roll over and stand. He flailed around like a fish out of water for a few brief seconds before he finally realized he had loss this battle. He finally laid still.
"Raph!" Ava gasped, sadly. This was not how it was supposed to be. This was not part of the deal. It pained her to see her friend lying helplessly in front of the others. She watched his chest rise and fall as he started to fall victim to the sedative.
Raph heard her. He turned his head towards her and glared at her. Fire danced in his amber eyes.
"Traitor!" he managed before his lids finally closed. The word stung her like a slap in the face.
"You did good, little girl," Bruce praised her as they gathered Raphael and placed him in the back of the trailer with the rest of the sleeping turtles. Ava didn't answer. She felt lifeless inside. She moved away from Bruce until her back hit the brick wall of the apartment complex. She shook her head over and over as she stared at the mayhem she had help create. As the team of hunters closed the gates, hot tears sprang to her eyes. She slid down the wall until she was sitting on the ground. She covered her eyes with her hands and began to cry.