A/N: Only one chapter to go after this... Don't worry, I won't allow blood to stain my carpets!
heh
chapter 9 -New Friends-
~~~
Note to self, thought Raphael, climbing the stairs. Do not mess wit' Author's kids.
He mounted the last few steps and turned the corner. Lying across the bed, glaring at a television as if it had offended her was a red-haired girl.
Whoa. She's pretty, thought Raph, cocking his head to examine her profile. Red hair like her ma. Hope she ain't got da same temper ta go wit' it.
"Hi, kid," he said gruffly.
The girl's head whipped around, startled. "Oh, hi, Mike," she said absently, turning back to the cooking show she was watching. An instant later she was sitting up, squealing.
"Holy snap!" she shrieked.
Raph backed away, startled.
"What?"
"Hi! Raphael! Wow, I can't believe you're actually here!" The kid was grinning so widely, Raph was sure she'd hurt herself. "You've always been my favorite!"
Raphael stood staring, taken aback. Far from being nervous or intimidated by him, she was grinning as if she were actually happy to see him. It wasn't a reaction he was used to.
"So, uh, Kid, what's yer name?" he asked, recovering his composure.
"Jessica," she supplied with another grin. "Do you wanna watch tv with me?"
"Uh, not right now, Kid… er, Jessica," he answered. "I… we came ta get my brother."
"Yeah, he's annoying, huh?" Jessica scowled. "I have a little brother, too. Mikey's almost as bad as Arek!"
"'Almost' as bad?" asked Raph with a smirk.
"Yep. Arek's worse." Jessica shook her head. "Just be glad you've only got one little brother like Mikey. I've got Arek, plus his friend Brody. It's like having two little brothers."
"I have two little brothers, too," said Raphael.
"I know, but Donatello's cool," said Jessica with a giggle. "He builds things and fixes stuff. Mikey's the only spaz."
"Dat's true." Raph chuckled, settling himself on the foot of the bed. "So, you like pink?" he asked.
"It's ok," she said, "but I like purple better."
Dis kid jus' gets better an' better.
"Do you know you've still got paint on your shell?" asked Jessica.
Raph scowled. "I know," he growled.
"You want help getting that off?" she asked. She tilted her head, considering. "Pink goes good with dark green, but you don't usually wear pink, do you? I mean, you're like, the tough guy. Tough guys don't wear pink."
Raph felt his face getting nearly as red as his mask.
"Uh, yeah, I guess," he said.
"Come on." She stood up and grabbed his elbow, not at all phased by touching a giant, mutated turtle. "Mom's got some rags in the bathroom." She led him firmly into the little bathroom off the office. Raph stood watching, amused, while she wet a cloth and got some soap. She scrubbed the paint-spot with the rag, carefully removing the paint from the crevices until there was no trace of the pink patch left.
"Wow, ya got it all off, huh? T'anks," he said, twisting to check her work.
"Use the mirror," she advised.
"Oh, yeah." Raph turned so that he could see his shell in the bathroom mirror. "Looks good."
"Jessi, is Raphael up there with you? Supper's about ready!" called Mary up the stairs.
"Yeah, we're coming Mom," called Jessi.
"Great, I'm starvin'," said Raph.
"So, what're you gonna do to Mike?" asked Jessica.
"Oh, I dunno," said Raph, startled. "I had ta promise my bros I wouldn't hurt him."
She looked disappointed. "Well, maybe you can prank him," she said.
"I had an idea or two," said Raph with a smirk.
"Cool." She matched his expression. "Can I help?"
"Sure, Kid," said Raph with a grin.
Shell, I like dis kid.
The pair headed downstairs.
Michelangelo eeeped when Raphael walked into the kitchen, and ducked behind his eldest brother.
"Relax, Mikey, I told you, Raph's ok," said Leonardo firmly.
"Yeah, Mike, I ain't mad at ya no more," said Raph easily. "See, da paint all came off."
"It did?" asked Donatello, surprised.
"Yep." Raph smirked.
"I helped him get it off," said Jessica. "Hi Don. Hi, Leo."
"Hello," said Leonardo formally.
"Hi," said Donatello with a shy smile.
"I had no idea my kids would be able to see you guys," said Mary, shaking her head with a smile. "This is weird, in a cool sort of way."
"Hey, Mike, ya wanna go down to the creek with me?" Arek piped up, dashing into the room. He skidded to a halt when he saw the red-banded turtle. "Mikey, run," he called, his blue eyes going wide.
"Hey!" protested Raph. "He's my brother."
"It's ok, Arek, Raphael's not going to hurt Mikey," said Jessica. Raph caught her smirk before it vanished into an innocent smile.
"Are you sure? 'Cause Mikey got paint all over him," said Arek suspiciously. He went to stand beside Michelangelo, putting himself in front of the orange-banded turtle as if he would shield him.
"No one's going to get hurt," said Mary firmly, shooting Raph a warning glance. "Sit down, guys. The salad's ready and the burgers are on the table."
The meal passed in organized chaos as everyone ate their fill, laughing and talking.
"So, what's the big secret you're going to reveal in Leonardo's Angel?" asked Donatello.
"What are you talking about, Don?" asked Mary, glaring. "You haven't been hacking my files again, have you?"
The purple-banded turtle blushed. "Umm… well I kind of saw a snippet of a chat between you and Katie, and you were hinting at a big secret and…" he stammered.
"Hamato Donatello!" Mary's voice snapped like the crack of a whip. "Stay out of my computer! If I wanted you to know, it wouldn't be a surprise."
"Sorry," muttered Don.
"Oh! I know about the secret!" said Jessica, her eyes shining.
"Jess! Don't tell him!" snapped Mary.
"I won't, Mom." Jessica rolled her eyes.
Donatello looked at her thoughtfully.
"No bribing the kids, Don," Mary scolded.
Donatello sighed. "Ok," he agreed.
"Don't worry. It's a good surprise," said Mary with a mischievous smile that earned her a dark look from the turtle.
"So, Mike, ya wanna play a game," asked Raphael.
Mary looked up. There'd been a definite sharpening in attention in the other two brothers. Raph glanced at the suspicious author.
"I thought we could… ya know, play hide-an'-seek wit' da kids. What's dat game Arek likes? Manhunt? We could play Turtle-hunt," he said with a grin.
"Like hide-and-seek in the dark. Sure," Mary nodded. "As long as the kids aren't out too late. They've got school in the morning."
"Cool!" yelled Arek.
"Sounds like a good training exercise," said Leo, nodding.
"Um, Ok, I guess," said Mike, glancing a bit nervously at his older brother. Raphael just smiled.
"I'll clear up. Go, have fun," said Mary with a smile.
"Ok, cool. See ya, Mom," said Arek, already half-way out the door.
"Are you sure, Mom?" asked Jessica, hesitating.
"Yeah, we can help, Mikell," said Donatello.
"No, go on," said Mary. "It's already getting dark."
"Awesome," said Jessi with a grin. "Let's go."
"Would you mind if I had a look at your garden?" asked Donatello.
"Sure, go ahead," said Mary, carrying plates to the sink. "But there's nothing edible left in it. We harvested it this weekend. All that's left are a few rotten tomatoes we didn't get to in time, and I think a couple squash that bugs got into, too."
She was busy turning on the water and reaching for the soap, and so missed the flash of unholy glee that crossed Raphael's features.
"Come on, guys," he said, giving Mike his most innocent grin. Michelangelo didn't look convinced.
"Um, maybe I'll just… help Mikell with the dishes," he muttered.
"Come on, Mike," said Leonardo, grabbing his youngest brother by the arm. "You slacked off training this morning."
"Yeah, Mike, it'll be fun," Donatello said, taking his other arm. "Let's go."
"Ok," said Mike reluctantly. He allowed himself to be led outside. Raphael was already out in the yard, leaning over to talk to Jessica.
"Come on, Mike! You an' me can be on a team!" called Arek.
"Cool, Micro-Dude," said Michelangelo, his spirits perking up. "Race ya to the woods!"
Raph smiled, watching his youngest brother disappear into the trees. Yep. Dis is workin' out perfectly, he thought.
"Come on, Jessi, let's git our ammo," he said with a grin.
Jessica returned his smirk with a maniacal smile of her own. She led the red-banded turtle over to the garden and started gathering spoiled vegetables into a bucket.
"Raph, just what do you have in mind?" asked Leonardo, watching the pair gleefully collecting rotting vegetation.
"Don't worry, Fearless. I said I wouldn't hurt 'im," Raph answered. Jessica giggled.
"Why don't you two go on an' start playin' da game," said Raph to his brothers. "Jessi an' me'll catch up. Make sure Arek's out o' da way, ok? Mikell'll have my shell if he gets in da middle o' dis."
"Ok, Raph, just remember, no injuries," said Leo sternly. He and Don jogged off toward the woods.
"Oh, don't worry, Fearless. I ain't gonna hurt 'im," said Raph under his breath. Jessica giggled again.
"We got enough?" asked Raphael.
"I think so," said Jessica, hefting the bucket.
"Good. Can ya carry dat to da woods? I'll go get Mikey," said Raphael.
"Sure. I'll see you out there," said Jessica.
Raph headed into the woods. He could hear Leonardo and Donatello calling to each other, playfully trash-talking, and Arek's high, piping voice. Soon he heard Michelangelo, from a bit further into the trees.
"Hey, Micro-Dude, where are ya?" he called.
There you are, Mike. Dat's right, jus' keep yellin', thought Raphael, slipping through the trees.
"Arek? Don? Leo? Dudes!" called Mikey, his voice rising slightly with the beginnings of panic.
Raph smirked as he approached the hyper young turtle. Jus' a little closer…
"Leo!" called Mikey again. Raphael was close enough now to hear him sigh.
"I sure hope there aren't any wild animals out here," grumbled Michelangelo. "They'd feel real bad if I got lost an' a bear got me or somethin'…"
"Or a brother," growled Raph, making his voice low and menacing.
"EEEEEEEEEP!" squealed Mikey. He turned to face his hot-headed brother. "Geez, Raph, you scared the shell offa me!"
"Hi, Mikey," said Raph, smiling.
Michelangelo went a shade paler, glancing around for an escape route. Before he could bolt, Raph pounced. In an instant, he had his younger brother pinned on the forest floor. He stared into Mike's blue eyes and smirked. Michelangelo squirmed.
"Umm, you're not… still mad about… about that… um… little joke, are you, Bro?" asked Mike.
"Nah," said Raph, still smirking. "We're jus' playin' a friendly little game, remember?"
