A/N: This chapter jumps from Mimi's POV to 3rd person, it kind of bothers me to write in anything but third person, but it felt right for this chapter. Just so you know, only two weeks have past since the first chapter. The Prologue was set not too long before that. And this chapter wasn't beta-ed
Thanks
Disclaimer: Not mine, obviously.
Music for this chapter:
I Want To Hold Your Hand – The Beatles
Chapter 6:
Surprise! You're Legal!
"Age is only a number, a cipher for the records. A man can't retire his experience. He must use it. Experience achieves more with less energy and time."
--Bernard Baruch
Mimi's POV
"Man, this diner is so slow…" I said with a bored sigh, Casey rolled his eyes and checked his watch.
"We gotta get going." He said,
"You wear a watch?" I snorted, "Since when do you wear a watch?"
"April got it for me, says I need to actually be on time once in a while." He shrugged and I full out laughed at him.
"Man, you need to grow up." I shook my head, "Ape needs you to be committed to your relationship if nothing else."
"Since when are you Dr. Phil?" He said with a small frown and I just rolled my eyes, "This diner is really slow…"
After finally getting our food, and getting the hell out of the diner we headed for home. It was almost eight, so Casey's watch said. We had a busy day today. Casey took me to get my drivers license, not that I'd use it much. I live in New York City, and I don't even own a car. Whatever, he was excited about it. After getting my useless laminated piece of paper that states I'm officially legal and able to drive, we went shopping.
Well, not really. Shopping was never a thing either of us did for fun, so we mostly just pissed people off. That's always fun. One cashier got so mad he turned an interesting shade of purple-ish red. I did buy a couple CD's and some t-shirts; Casey said everything else showed way too much skin. Over protective brothers can be a pain.
Taking the elevator up to our floor, we ran into our neighbors. They conveniently don't like me or Casey. April is gone a lot, and when she's home we're generally better behaved. Otherwise, we yell a lot, play loud music, and I have a tendency to throw things at him when he pisses me off. I can see why they don't like us, but that's beside the point.
I'm generally better than I was last night. I was freaked out; I had no idea what made … the animal in me…come out. Note to self: Never say 'the animal in me' again…anyway; Raph was surprisingly helpful even though I didn't really tell him what had happened. And he promised to keep me from hurting the people I care about, and I trust him to keep that promise. So, I'm in a much better mood.
We got to our floor, and walked towards our door. Casey pushed me into the wall for making fun of him and his watch again. I laughed pushing off the wall and kicking his ass, literally. We were laughing when we got to our door, but there was someone I didn't expect.
"Roger." I said eyes widened slightly in shock, he smiled at me, he had one hand behind his back, "Casey, this is my bud from school, Roger this is my brother."
"Hey." Casey said shortly giving Roger the ever famous 'stay the hell away from my sister' glare, "Make this quick." He said to me before slipping into our apartment.
"Nice guy." Roger said with raised eyebrows, I'm sure Casey's meeting with Roger was much nicer than Raph's…or Nightwatcher's.
"Hey, that's my brother, lay off." I said chuckling a little, "I haven't seen ya' for a while, how are you?"
"I'm good," He nodded, and whistled, "Nice jacket, real leather?"
"Oh yeah." I said, looking at the worn and old leather jacket I wore over my black and white pin striped tank top, "Family heirloom I guess you could say," I shrugged, "Casey handed it over as a birthday present."
"Oh, that reminds me." He said pulling the hand that was still behind him in front and holding a bouquet of wild flowers. I was speechless, they were beautiful, I love wildflowers, and it was just unexpected.
"Roger…" I said breathlessly, as he held them out to me, "They're beautiful." I gently took them from him and smelled their sweet scent. They smelt like my mother…
"So are you…" He said it quietly, and I looked up at him slightly shocked and only blushing a little. I was, once again, speechless. "Happy Birthday, Mimi."
I really had no idea what to say to him. I knew he had a major thing for me, and I tried to squash it. He was a great friend, but I am so totally…Raph is…whatever. I couldn't think of Roger that way if I tried, that's the point. So when he walked by kissing me on the cheek I could only stand there. I never had problems with this before. I never had someone interested in me that I wasn't in turn, interested in. I, surprisingly, didn't have the heart to tell this poor guy I was so caught up with a hot headed, stubborn, jealous, show off, crime fighting, mutant turtle; that I couldn't even try to think of someone else in that way.
By the time I shook my head and realized I had been standing idly for at least a minute, he was gone. Well, I had to admit, he did have dramatic affect. Flowers, a small peck on the cheek, and a dramatic exit while I was caught up in my own world. I wiped my cheek, even though there wasn't anything there. I looked at the flowers and felt guilt rear its ugly head.
Happy birthday, to me.
I walked into the house, and it was shockingly quiet. The boys were supposed to be coming over, and April was home. I shrugged and went straight to the living room, where the TV was off, and it was just weird. April came out of the hallway smiling,
"Who are the flowers from?"
"Uh…Roger." I said putting them on the coffee table, "Where is everybody?"
"They're here." April said turning off the lights, but I could see perfectly fine.
"I'm officially confused." I complained when there was singing, yeah. Singing.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you," Sang Donnie, Mikey, April, Casey, and most surprisingly of all…Maureen, Joanne and Angel. Raph and Splinter followed them as they walked toward me with a cake, eighteen candles lit, "Happy birthday, dear Mimi!" Suddenly April flicked the lights on, "Happy birthday to you!" The grins on the girls' faces couldn't match my completely shocked look. My jaw had dropped and I covered it lightly, I could cry. It was so good to see them.
"You really should have seen this coming." Joanne grinned, and I laughed a little.
"Blow out the candles already," Angel said, "My arms are getting tired."
I laughed and took a deep breath blowing out all the candles. The room erupted into cheers and laughter. The girls put the cake down, and I attacked Joanne with a hug. She laughed hugging me tightly. I turned to Maureen who had cut her hair so it was layered, and just past her shoulders. She giggled that cute giggle that could melt anyone's heart and jumped at me. I lifted her a couple feet off the ground squeezing her tightly. By this time I was a little teary eyed. When I turned to Angel, who looked as pretty as she always had, she gave me a huge hug. I squeezed my eyes shut and a couple tears escaped, but at the moment I didn't care at all.
"You have no idea how much it means to me that you came." I whispered, forgetting all the anger and bitterness I had gathered aimed at her, and everyone else for that matter.
"Yeah, but something's missing isn't it?" She said back, I could hear conversation in the background but it was just background noise.
"He'll be back…" I said, "He wouldn't abandon us, I won't ever believe that."
Maureen tore me away for another hug, before announcing that she had to go to the bathroom. I couldn't help but laugh, and feel weight off my shoulders. April hugged me and then grabbed my flowers, saying she was going to put them in a vase. I just kind of shrugged; I had nothing to say about them. I hugged Mikey, who ruffled my hair and earned a smack upside the head. Then Donnie gave me one of his comforting hugs saying,
"Sorry about yesterday…" I sighed, having almost forgot the fight.
"It's cool, Don." I hugged him again, and then Splinter; I turned to Raph who raised his eyebrows (or…whatever) at me.
"Guess Roger didn't take the Nightwatcher's advice." He said, and I smiled up at him.
"Don't be jealous." I said and he rolled his eyes.
"Cake!" Maureen giggled handing me a piece and sitting me down on the couch. The girls all sat around me.
"So… how was your day?" Angel asked.
Third Person
-That Morning-
The noise downstairs made Mimi's eyes open, and she groaned. Mikey had just broken something, and Raph proceeded to call him a variety of names rather loudly. Donnie had to yell at them to keep it down, and then there was quiet. Which meant, Splinter had interfered.
'Right on, old dude.' She thought, of course she would never say that to her sensei out loud.
Mimi looked around the familiar room. Old barbells, a very beat up punching bag, a small radio, the cot where she had slept for so long. It looked untouched, the two pillows in the same place they were when she got up the last morning she stayed on that cot. She wondered why he hadn't gotten rid of it, or moved it at all.
She inhaled the musky scent of the room, and closed her eyes. She felt comfortable and safe, but knew that the only thing missing was his arms wrapped around her. She rolled her self up in his blankets and sighed happily. She stayed there for a few minutes before her stomach grumbled at her, and at the same time the door opened.
"You up?" Raph asked and she lifted her self up, still wrapped in his blankets.
"Yeah." She yawned, "It's hard to sleep with World War three goin' on downstairs."
"It doesn't bother me." He said and she threw the covers off.
"You grew up with three brothers." She said, "And you sleep like a rock."
"Yeah well, speakin' of brothers, yours is downstairs."
Mimi sighed and rubbed her eyes, "Okay." She stood and moved for the door, but he blocked it. She gave him a 'get out of my way' look.
He stepped forward, and for moment she thought he was going to kiss her. He didn't, just wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her into a hug. She stood purely shocked for a moment. Last night's peck on the forehead, and grab of the hand was a shock, but this was a bigger one. Finally she melted and wrapped her arms around his neck. Nothing was missing this time. She felt safe, comfortable, and was in his arms.
"I told ya' I didn't want today be a really big deal." Mimi said sitting in the passenger seat, they were currently on their way to the mall after an agonizingly long time at the DMV.
"Well, it is to April, so when we get home just pretend to be excited." He said, "And we haven't done anything together in forever, so stop complaining."
"Fine." She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms she looked out the window, "When are you gonna marry her anyways?" There was a pause.
"I dunno." He said quietly, and she looked over.
"Whaddya mean?"
"I mean, maybe I'm not the best for her, y'know?"
"No, I don't." Mimi said with raised eyebrows, "Casey that woman is head over heels in love with you." She paused, "It's almost sickenin' sometimes." He laughed shortly,
"Come on, Squirt…" He began, "She's a former news reporter, she travels all over the world, she's gorgeous, and I'm a college drop out that is out every night beatin' up small time criminals."
"Mom was an uptown chick too, she loved Dad to death…" Mimi cringed at the statement that was scarily literal. When he didn't reply, Mimi sighed, "Look Casey, she loves you, and you love her, that's all that really matters."
"Yeah, you're right." He sighed softly, "Speakin' of Dad…" Casey reached in the back seat, and put a badly wrapped box on her lap, Mimi looked at the box, before opening it up, "Mom gave that to me the year after he died, for my eighteenth…"
Mimi stared down at the familiar black leather jacket. Slightly worn, and aged, but still in good a shape as it ever had been. It was folded neatly in the box, and the smell of her father and the leather escaped the box. She ran her hand over the leather before picking it up out of the box and holding it out in front of her.
"It's his jacket…" Her voice was soft, and a look of nostalgia was present on her face.
"It's yours now." Casey smiled, stepping on the gas as the car in front of them moved up a bit, "Put it on, already!" She chuckled and slipped it on with a little difficulty because of the small space.
"It still smells like him…" She said pressing the collar to her nose, smelling it happily.
"Check the inside pockets." He said as traffic picked up.
Mimi slipped her hand into the right hand pocket and felt a folded type of paper. She sighed already having an idea of what it was. She took out the folded picture and was hesitant to open it. When she finally did she laughed at the picture of her as a baby, and Casey at five years old.
"Oh my god!" Mimi chuckled in a high pitched tone, "You were such a creepy lookin' kid!"
"Heh, thanks little sis!" Casey said with a smile, sarcasm dripping from his tone, "That was eighteen years ago…"
"Oh god…" She said quietly, "And he kept in his pocket the entire time…"
"Check the other one." He advised, and she folded the picture putting it back into the right-sided inner pocket, before reaching into the left side.
It was another picture, and even older one than the one of her and Casey. She opened it and smiled instantly. It was a photo of her mom and dad on their wedding day. Her mother very pregnant with Casey at the time. They were both smiling widely, in their wedding clothes.
"I swear, you look just like her sometimes…" He said and she laughed a little.
"You and Dad have the same haircut…" She teased, "Either he was ahead of his time, or you need to get with the times." He laughed in response and she put the picture back into its pocket, "Thanks, Case."
"Anytime, Squirt." He smiled over at her, and sighed as they pulled into the parking garage, "Let's get this over with…"
Mimi's POV
Angel awaited a response, and I only laughed and said, "It was pretty good." It was true.
"Nice jacket!" Mikey said as if he just recognized it.
"Thanks, Mike." Mimi grinned, "Casey gave it to me."
"Oh, that reminds me!" April disappeared for a moment, and I just looked at everyone confusedly.
"So, how did the guys react when they saw all of you here?" I asked as Raph sat next to me on the couch, Mikey sat on the coffee table, and Donnie sat next to Joey on the floor. The way she looked at him and kissed his beak made me smile softly. Splinter was talking to Casey at the table but I couldn't hear what they were saying.
"Well…there were mixed reactions…" Maureen said.
Third Person
- About an hour before Mimi arrived –
"Are they here yet?" Maureen asked for what seemed to be the millionth time.
"No." April, Angel, and Joanne chorused. There was a bark from another room, and Angel looked to April.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." April smiled innocently.
"Are they—"
"Maureen you ask again, I'm going to shove that controller up your –" Joanne began irately.
"Joanne!" Scolded April, and then laughed lightly, "She's just excited to see the guys."
"MAUREEN!" Came the all to familiar surfer like voice, there was a scary high-pitched scream they could only hope was from Maureen.
"Mikey oh my god!!" Maureen squealed, and the three girls looked into the living room where Mikey and Maureen were currently caught in a lip lock.
"Oh wow." April said, putting down a dishtowel and heading to a living room, she cleared her throat and the teens separated with innocent smiles.
"Whoa!" Mikey said, walking over to Angel and Joanne who had followed April, "I knew there'd be pretty girls at this party, but I didn't there'd be angels." He winked and Angel laughed and hugged the turtle.
"Smooth, Mike." Joanne said shaking her head, before hugging him, "Where are the other two?"
"Bringin' Splinter." He said, before sitting next to Maureen on the couch.
"Yeah, thanks for the help little bro." Came Raph's voice as he helped his father through the window.
"Raphie!!" Squealed Maureen and Raph cringed and smiled at the same time. Only one person called him that.
"Hey, Ree." He said with a small chuckle, as she jumped up to give him a hug. He lifted her up and spun her around, he would never admit he had a small soft spot for Maureen, "Good to see ya' back so soon, Joe." He smiled hugging her, "I had a feelin' you'd set somethin' like this up…"
"I don't care if she wants it to be a big deal or not." Chuckled Joanne moving past him to hug and kiss Donnie.
"She's been spending too much time with Mimi, I think." Angel joked leaning on the wall slightly, "He's really not back then…"
"Yeah, but you could do betta' anyway." Raph smiled softly, Angel smiled and hugged him, "I'm warnin' ya' she's been a bit touchy lately." He said speaking of Mimi, there was another squeal as Maureen greeted Donnie.
"Yeah, I know…" She said, "I guess I've got a lot of damage control to do."
"I wouldn't worry about it today." Donnie walked over, "She may not want to admit it, but Mimi's secretly excited about today."
"Hey, Donatello, my favorite geek ever!" Angel laughed hugging him,
"Is Mimi here yet?" Maureen asked.
"Oh god…" Joanne groaned with a cringe.
Mimi's POV
I couldn't help but laugh at my friends as they explained how everyone reacted. I shook my head and commented on how much of a spaz Maureen was. April came back out and put a small box in my lap, very gently.
"Hurry up and open it, he was a pain to get in there." She seemed flustered, and it moved and I was suddenly cautious to open it.
"What is it?" I asked, and she smiled,
"Open it!"
Before I could the lid popped off and I couldn't contain the grin that made it's way to my face. Several people 'awww-ed' including Mikey. Maureen giggled and clapped her hands, saying how lucky I was. It was a puppy, a white Pomerainian dog, and he was fluffy. He had a black collar that stuck out against his snow-white fur. In metal letters it spelled out 'Killer.'
"Killer?" I laughed, "Oh my god, he's amazing." I said picking him up, he barked at me but I just laughed.
"He bites…" Mumbled Casey showing a bandaged finger, and even Raph laughed at him.
"Cute, but mean!" Maureen said,
"Just like Mimi…" Raph said, this got some more laughs but I just gave him a playful glare and said,
"I prefer viscous." I looked at April who was smiling, "Thanks, he's adorable." He sat in my lap now, looking at everyone curiously.
"Oh, me next!" Mikey cried excitedly, he threw me a box and I caught it with a laugh.
"Don't be so excited, Mike." I said sarcastically and looked over as Killer sniffed Raph's hand, "I think he likes you." He just shook his head at me and said,
"Open the present before Mikey wets himself."
I laughed and began unwrapping the present. I laughed again when I saw what it was.
"Classic Mikey." I shook my head showing the group chocolate in the shape of turtles.
"Well you love candy, and you obviously love turtles!" Mikey reasoned,
"That is surprisingly clever, Michelangelo." Donnie praised, and Mikey mocked a bow.
"Thanks, Mike." I said, "I'm out of candy too, great timing."
Donnie handed me a small, neatly wrapped rectangle object and I had a feeling I knew what it was. I opened it and was actually surprised. He got me a book, but one that seemed to be interesting. I'm not really a reader, so I was surprised it actually peaked my interest.
"She's a Rebel: The History of Women in Rock and Roll…" I said the title aloud, "Well Donnie, I never thought I'd ever actually want to read a book."
"Figured you'd like it, seemed like you'd want to read about strong female figures."
"Don't encourage her." Raph said, I gave him another playful glare.
"I love it, Don…" I hugged him, which was kind of hard with Killer in my lap. Maureen put a thin box on my lap and Killer sniffed it.
"We put our money together, and thought you would like this." Joanne said and I shook my head.
"You all really didn't need to do all this."
"That's why I didn't." Raph said and I looked at him,
"If you could keep your mouth shut for once, that'd be great." He simply shook his head at me, "Anyway, you guys –"
"Just open it!" Maureen said moving around in her seat.
"Deep breaths, Maureen." Joanne instructed.
Laughing I opened the box and smiled. It was a silver chain link necklace, I assumed it was real silver, but I'm not sure. Killer sniffed at it and I laughed petting his head a little. There was a pendant on it. The letter 'M' encrusted with diamonds. It really was pretty, a little more girly than what I was used to, but pretty.
"Wow guys…" I said, "It's beautiful…"
"I know it's not really your style, per say, but we thought you'd like it." Angel smiled.
"It's shiny, who doesn't love shiny?" Maureen asked as if it were terribly obvious.
"Killer likes it…" I said as the puppy sniffed at it, "You think it'll look good on me?"
The dog promptly barked as if in response and I chuckled, before taking it out of the box and putting it on. I was having difficulties so Raph helped out, and smoothly kept his hand on my back when he was done. I have no idea what the deal is with him…us…whatever. I liked the feeling, so what's the damage?
"So who is this Roger kid?" April asked sitting on Casey's lap,
"And why is he bringing you flowers?" Casey half glared.
"He's just a friend from school." I rolled my eyes, figured they'd say somethin' eventually, "I guess he might have a little crush on me."
"Y'think?" Raph said, "He was all over her after their date to the movies."
"Raphael!" I scolded, very shocked that he would actually mention that night, "It was not a date."
"What were you doin' spying on them anyway, Raphie?" Maureen asked with a smirk.
"Are you jealous of that little wimp?" Casey asked partially offended.
"Wow, this reminds me of conversation Raphael and I had very recently." I said looking to Raph with an amused smile, he was peeved to say in the least.
"Like I told Mimi," He said looking at me, then to Casey, "There's nothin' to be jealous of."
"So he says." Donnie mumbled causing Joey to laugh. I put my hand on Raph's leg and squeezed.
"It doesn't matter anyway," I said, "He's not my type."
"Why, 'cause he isn't green?" Casey laughed and I chuckled.
"Exactly!" I responded mockingly.
After about an hour the group had separated so people could catch up. Killer fell asleep and I put him to bed in my room. Casey, April and Splinter were talking about their business and one of April's recent trips to Japan. Maureen and Mikey were going head to head on our rarely used game console. Joey sat comfortably in Donnie's lap, while talking to Angel about something.
Seeing Donnie and Joe so affectionate was new. And not only to me. The usually shy, reserved, couple was surprisingly open. I felt bad for Angel, but I knew that would subside. All this sugar coated giddiness that was only present because I missed them so much would fade, and we would start butting heads. I decided to bask in the temporary calmness.
Then there was Raph and I. His arm had moved its way around my shoulder, and my head had found it's place on his strong shoulder. I wanted to ask him what this meant, if we were back together. I looked up at him and he glanced down at me.
"Ya' wanna go up on the roof?" He asked and I nodded.
He held my hand as we climbed out the window. I didn't miss the stares we got. Splinter had a soft smile, April looked pleased, Casey looked a little peeved. April, Don, and Joey seemed to cease conversation as we passed them. I heard April ask what the deal was with us before we finally got out of hearing range.
We ended up sitting on the ledge looking down, like I had done for so many nights in a row. We sat close to each other, and I still felt that tense confusion. I wondered if he felt anything like it. If he was wondering what we were, or whatever. A few moments of silence passed, the sounds of the city filling them up or us.
"So," He said finally, "That's your Dad's jacket?" I looked at it and nodded,
"My Mom gave it to him when he turned eighteen…" I paused before frowning lightly, "It was a year after he died…" I was kind of in my own world at this point, and I suppose my words seemed distant, and far off like I was, "It's been six years…" I shook my head with a small smile, "She died a year after…"
"I'm sorry."
"Don't say that." My tone was harsh, I was tired of that response. People never really meant that, they just couldn't find something else to say. "You're not sorry, you didn't know them."
"I'm sorry you had to go through losin' 'em." He replied, his tone almost as harsh as mine.
I hoped he was telling the truth, and decided I would believe him. There was another long pause. I reached into the pockets inside and unfolded them, handing them to Raph. He gave me a questioning look, it reminded me a lot of Leo's.
"That's them…" I clarified nodding to the first picture, "on their wedding day…"
"She's hot…" He said,
"Raphael!" I scolded hitting him hard on the shoulder, "That's my mother!"
"I know." His words were dripping with amusement, "She looks like you…"
"Y'think?" I asked leaning on his shoulder slightly to get a better look at the picture.
"Yeah…" He said quietly before looking at the other one, I felt his body jerk a bit as he snorted.
"Look how cute Casey used to be!" I laughed, "I have no idea what happened…" I paused, "He kept both of these in his pockets all the time…" I sighed and shook my head.
"For not wantin' to make a big deal of your birthday you acted pretty excited…"
"Hey, back off," I defended, "I missed the girls, and getting a baby is a big deal…"
"It's a dog." He said plainly,
"A baby dog." I said and he chuckled. God, I loved that sound.
"Whatever." He said, "You comin' over tonight?"
"I'll try to sneak out after the girls fall asleep." I said, "Why you haven't seen enough of me already today?"
"I could never see enough of ya'." It was oddly sweet to say, but all I could do was smile.
Maybe it was a Happy Birthday after all….
Third Person
- A Month Later –
"There, that's where I saw him…" The little hispanic boy said, pointing to the tree where he had seen 'the ghost of the jungle' overlooking the village.
"Thank you…" April's voice was far off, like she was thinking of something else. "You'd better get home now…"
"Do you know the ghost?" Asked the little boy and April smiled softly,
"He wasn't always a ghost…"
Her red hair was pulled back, a bandana keeping any straggler pieces out of her face. Hard to believe a month passed since she was last at home with her sisters, the turtles, Mimi and Casey. April swung her machete at some brush in her way, and looked around. She really had no idea what she'd find, she only hoped it was an old familiar face.
Seeing an abandoned machine gun she bent down to study it. She touched it lightly, as if it would tell her all she needed to know. She looked at it and then around her self once more. The sound of the jungle was loud, calls from who knows how many animals rang out.
"Hello?" She called out to seemingly, no one. The plants to the side of her rustled a little, and she straightened out, "Is anyone here?"
Whatever was rustling in the brush, she decided it was a good idea to follow it. Stepping into the mess of the jungle, calling out to whoever, or whatever was there. She was looking around for anything, anyone, and paying no attention to where her feet were going. April took one wrong step and cried out as she fell, into what she didn't know. Vines that had grown down into wherever she was falling snapped under her weight as she yelled.
Suddenly she grunted slightly as she was caught. Her head lolled backwards and she closed them feeling uncomfortable from the vines. She felt two strong arms holding her, and only hoped for the best. She grabbed her head slightly as she pulled herself up, and she smiled breathlessly,
"It's a long way from the City to just…drop in." She knew that voice, and she knew there were only four people who used puns just like that.
"Leo…" He gave her a half smile, and half questioning look.
Leonardo set her down and moved over to where he had built a fire. Looking around April realized she had fallen into a cave. It was dark, except for the light peeking through from where she had fallen, and the glow emitted from the fire. The place still had an eerie feeling to it.
'Wow, these guys really know how to pick real estate…' She thought before sitting on a rock across from the blue banded turtle. There was a pause for a moment as Leo threw some more wood into the fire before saying,
"You came all the way down here to look for me?"
"Actually, I was already here on business." She said, "But then the local legend started sounding familiar, so I decided to snoop around."
"What kind of business?" Leonardo sounded skeptical and interested, he poked at the fire interestedly.
"Ancient artifacts." April said proudly, "Some tycoon with too much time on his hands has his heart set on these 3000 year old statues…"
"Well, you always did run with a strange crowd, April…" Leo said almost teasingly, but she seemed contemplative as she replied.
"Well our strange crowd hasn't been the same without you." Leo looked up almost stunned by her words, and poked at the fire again. Aiming to avoid eye contact, April pressed on, "Things aren't looking so good back home…"
"How bad could it be?" He said feigning non-chalance, "I'm sure Donnie's got everything under control."
"Donnie's working I.T. tech support now, from home…" April shrugged, "He's pretty busy with it most the time." April chuckled a little, "He gets pretty frustrated sometimes, and Mimi doesn't help at all with the prank calling…"
"But Donnie's a genius." Leo said looking almost perplexed, "Why would he take a job like that?"
"At least he's keeping busy…" April tried, and Leo asked another question,
"Well, if he's doing that, who's keeping an eye on Mikey?"
"Mikey's gotten into the um …entertainment business…." April said with a small smile, and Leo gave her a questioning look, "He wears this giant, grinning turtle head and goes to kids parties…. He calls it 'Cowabunga Carl Party Services.'" Leo's almost concerned frown was amusing, "He and Donnie painted the van and everything…" She paused before shrugging, "He's a big hit."
"All right…" Leo said, almost afraid to hear the answer to his next question, "Let's hear it." He paused slightly looking up at the red head, "What's Raph doing?"
"No one knows…" April said almost sadly, "He just…sleeps all day…"
"Well, what's he do all night?" Leo asked, knowing that there was something else. April shrugged, "How's Casey?"
"Fine, we just got a new place, I think he's a little depressed lately." Leo frowned in confusion, "I'm gone a lot, and Mimi just turned eighteen." She laughed softly, "We brought the girls out to surprise her…"
"How are they?" He asked almost eagerly.
"Joanne graduated, she skipped into her senior year and got accepted at NYU." April grinned, and Leo nodded.
"I bet she was excited."
"She was." April laughed, "Maureen got onto the Cheerleading team, she likes it, but the girls are a lot of unwanted drama she says."
"Maureen is a cheerleader?" Leo almost laughed, "I bet she does the job well." He hesitated before glancing up and asking, "And…Angel?"
"Joined some group that encourages teens to become successful leaders or something like that…and taking care of the family, as usual." April softly added, "She misses you, Leo." He nodded softly, and then sighed.
"How's Mimi?" He asked, "A royal pain as usual?"
"Mimi's been…" She hesitated, "Raph broke it off with her –"
"What?" Leo asked, "Why?"
"He said he needed space, and that he was too upset about everyone leaving to be there for her…"
"That's ridiculous…" He grumbled.
"I know." April nodded, "It took a toll on Mimi. The guys were so busy doing their own thing, and Casey and I were so busy with the business…" She sighed, "She's been in bad shape…fights at school, she quit her job, she came home the other night covered in blood…"
"Is she still training?"
"Yeah, her and Splinter got pretty close, he was the only one who had the time, or patience to be there for her."
"I guess a lot has changed…."
"Your training period ended…a year ago…" April said, "And Splinter and Angel say you don't write anymore…"
"Splinter sent me down here to become a better leader." Leo said defensively, "I can't go back a failure!" He was almost cross with her now, "Besides, these people need me more than my brothers do."
"If Master Splinter were here, he'd ask you 'what is your heart telling you?'" April tried, knowing Leo had a need to please his father.
"I don't know…" Leo said standing and throwing his stick into the fire, "I just know something's missing…"
"Your brothers need you Leo…" April said almost desperately, "The girl's need you, your father needs you…" She hesitated, "It's not the same with everyone home except you." She looked away, and Leo looked like he had heard enough, "They're lost without you…" When she looked back up he had disappeared swiftly and silently, "Leo!" She called out, but all she got in response were the echoes of her voice, and the faint screech of bats.
Standing a couples of miles away from the docks where the huge cargo ship waited to be loaded and then begin it's way to the city, April sighed. That was her ride home, and it wasn't going to be fun. She looked to blue banded turtle hiding in the brush.
"You sure you don't want to come back?"
"Not now, April." He said for the fiftieth time, "I'll be back…when I'm ready."
"Well, then at least write…" She advised, "for your father's sake."
"Goodbye, April." He smiled a bit, April sighed and shook her head.
"Bye, Leo." She turned and began walking, looking over her shoulder she found him to be already gone. Taking out her phone, she dialed home.
Mimi and Casey sat on the couch watching some sport, that Mimi was only slightly interested in. The triplets, who were staying in the City for summer break, had all gone out to shop. Mimi declined joining them, she had shopped too much in the past month they'd been sharing their home. She looked over to the blinking answering machine and realized that the TV was so loud, they'd missed a call.
"Turn it on mute, for a sec…" She said and Casey grudgingly complied.
"What're you doin'?" He asked annoyed,
"We got a message, dork." She said pressing the button.
"Hey guys, it's April…" Came the voice out of the speaker, "I'm about to board the ship home, got all the statues. I should be there within' a week or two…" She sounded slightly annoyed, "I, uh, found Leo…" Both perked up, "He's fine, protecting some helpless village…" She paused again, "I love and miss you all, I'll be home soon…" It cut off.
"Hey, maybe he'll come back with her!" Casey said excitedly, Mimi bit her lip.
"Don't tell the guys, or the girls." She said immediately, erasing the message.
"Why not?"
"Just don't….okay?" Her voice was a little on edge as she walked past him and went into her room.
"I still don't see why we can't tell 'em!" He called, and Mimi sighed.
'Because he's not coming back…' She thought sadly, she didn't want their hopes to get up and then crushed, 'Not yet…'
A/N: So, that was this chapter...I kinda want fanart, because I can't draw...So, if anyone wants to do fanart it'll be put on my Deviantart and my bio page and I'll credit you and everything...And I might be changing my penname...just a heads up.
Thanks guys!!
CacahuetePoco
