Chapter 10: Out there...in here
Leonardo stood atop a roof waiting. He spent a lot of time like this when it came to Karai. Not that he minded. He liked to meet with her and it was good to have a break from his brothers. No doubt Raphael would mercilessly wind him up once he knew who he had met up with. Between him and Michelangelo they sure knew how to put the point across about this relationship with Karai. Mikey, however much the prankster was quite innocently teasing about these things. Leonardo didn't even know how much he knew about 'these things'. He was certain his brother had never had a girlfriend, although he'd harbored his fair share of crushes!
Raphael, on the other hand, did it for one purpose and one purpose alone, and that was to get a rise - to goad him to lose his temper. Leonardo practiced the art meditation and relaxation so he was certainly not going to let his brother get to him. Besides Karai had been through enough, and although at first it had been an uneasy truce they were now politely settled in the realms of a 'flirtatious friendship'.
He didn't understand why it was that Raphael was being so awkward lately; so much more angry and so much more unsettled. All of them were grieving; they all missed Master Splinter with his guidance, strength and care. Why couldn't Raphael pull together, as a family, the way that Donnie and Mikey had done? Leaning on each other had really helped to ease the pain and the three of them felt like their bond had deepened.
Raphael had chosen to create even more of a distance and each day it felt like more and more that there were the three of them, and then there was Raphael.
He wanted to fix it but he didn't know how.
In that moment of deep thought he was kicked roughly from behind and knocked forward, Karai stood over him laughing. Instead of leaving him lying in a hopeless pile though she stuck out a hand and pulled him up. He rubbed his head.
"Nice to see you too" he muttered, feeling a dent in his pride as well as his skull.
"Oh c'mon Leo, you know I like to have fun" she replied smiling "Please don't be mad at me"
"I wouldn't exactly call me getting hurt 'fun'" he answered, brushing himself off.
"Oh, please, don't be such a baby" she teased lightly touching his arm in the process. Her contact made his stomach fill with butterflies and his face heat up. Why did he still react this way around her? It was so embarassing! He silently told himself to take a breath 'get a grip'.
Karai turned away and strolled over to the roof edge jumping up onto it and walking along, her arms outstretched appearing to balance like a high wire artist. This made him feel incredibly nervous. He knew she did it on purpose.
"So..how have you been? Raphael still behaving like a four year old?" Walking past him he couldn't help but appreciate her shapely figure. His mouth suddenly felt incredibly dry.
He coughed, trying to call up some moisture to his throat.
"Yes, he's still acting up"
"I don't know how you put up with it; I'd have thrown him out years ago, way before Splinter"
Leonardo avoided her gaze; he knew she had a point but Raphael was his brother and blood was a powerful bond.
"I want to help him"
She jumped down and stood next to him "I know" Once again she touched his arm "You're too good"
His face once again flushed up; he swore she realised as he saw her smile knowingly and remove her hand.
"So...did you find anything out?"
Now she sat on the ledge, her legs dangling loosely. "No 'how are you'? Just straight in with what I know?" She was still smiling.
He conceded defeat and smiled back: "Sorry, how are you?"
"I'm great. Things are great. Well, you know..." Indeed he did!
"...As for TCRI they are definitely up to something. I managed to find out that they are running behind a company called Novak, the CEO is heavily hidden - so much so that I couldn't find a name. They seem to have a fascination with something called The Source whatever the hell that means. I found no rooms with the images like she'd described and no mention of her - though it doesn't mean that it isn't true of course - you know TCRI, they are super efficient at hiding things"
Yes, he knew that all too well. It had been over five years though since they had encountered any Alien Robots or aliens for that matter. TCRI had come clean; come out and admitted that a number of things had happened in the past but that they were now legit and employed only humans. The Mayor had even opened the new layer of offices at the launch. On the surface everything looked good but Leonardo had a feeling that all was not as it seemed and Karai had always supported this. Her father, the Shredder, had been wiped out during a battle with the Kraang; the alien race hiding behind the corporate image of TCRI. And she, Karai, had been badly injured.
Of all people, Karai understood this whole situation, and for this he was grateful.
I woke up and for one tiny second I thought I was back in the hotel. Realising I was now blessed with severe back pain I clicked that this was no king size bed but was more of a lumpy sofa. I roused myself and sat up. Raphael was in the chair opposite and he was still sleeping. His peaceful countenance made me smile - this Raphael was a far cry from the angry, aggressive one that I had encountered earlier. I studied his face; wondering what he had been through to make him so mad. I know Leo had mentioned about their father's death but I found it hard to believe that it was that and that alone which troubled him so.
Turning round I stretched and then bent to fold up the blankets; my back cracked un-happily so I let out a groan. As a turned back round Raphael was sitting up awake and watching me intensely. I don't know why but for some reason my stomach flipped. A real actual flip and I swear I felt myself blushing. Coughing I turned back round and went to pick up my bundle.
"You stayed.." I announced, my voice sounding all quaky; why on earth did I feel so goddamn emotional?
"Well, I kinda figured you might feel a bit lost..it's no big deal" he replied, stepping past me.
No big deal? To him maybe but to me it shared he had a heart - he cared. Otherwise he would have just left me on my own out here. I popped my pile of bed linen on the top of a large wooden chest that sat in the corner and then followed Raphael to the kitchen. He was getting some breakfast and in a series of grunts asked whether I was hungry too. I responded eagerly and sat down, offering him a smile which he chose not to return.
"Did you sleep okay?" I wanted to try to make some sort of conversational effort.
"No, not really, that chair is way too small for a guy of my stature..." He glanced at me and put a cup of tea on the table next to my hands "You?"
"Okay...did Leo come back?"
Perhaps I shouldn't have asked about Leonardo because I saw Raphael visibly bristling at the question. He buttered some toast and put a slice down for me "I didn't know he'd gone out so don't ask me" He remained standing as he munched his toast - perhaps he was fed up of being in a chair? Or maybe he doesn't want to be next to you...came the whiny little naggy voice I'd had in my head since being bullied. I felt my eyes well up so to avoid the un-comfortableness that goes alongside a girl bursting into tears I picked up my tea and toast and beat a hasty retreat. I wanted to phone my mom and the police in the UK so it was a good excuse to move myself.
The home phone was still off line - the Police were polite but I swear they thought I was insane. They agreed to go and check the house and get back to me. Donatello had issued me with one of their custom built T-Phones so I was back on line with tech which was brilliant.
"Has Leo spoken with you?" Donatello's question immediately put me on edge. We were sitting in his lab after he'd given me a quick lesson in T-phone usage.
"No" I began "Why? I didn't think he was back yet"
"Oh he was back hours ago but you were sleeping so he left you to it"
"Have you slept?"
Donatello shook his head.
"Has Leo said anything to you? Did he meet Karai?"
"Oh yes, he met her, she couldn't say much though but had a nice little encryption stick for me - I'm just looking at it now. One thing though, the comp you won, do you remember entering?"
I smiled "No, I enter a lot. I do the lottery four times a week too - daft I know." I took in his expression and put my new toy in my pocket "Why? What do you know?"
"The company behind it have links with TCRI...what Leo and I reckon is you won on purpose. They fixed it to get you here"
"That's silly...why would they? I told you I'm no-one"
"Apparently not" Donatello turned the computer around and there were the reams and reams of photographs - all of me - all of me growing up, from baby, toddler, teenager and beyond.
I looked at him, shaking my head - not quite believing what I was seeing again.
"We just need to find out what they want and why they have interest in you" He gave me a sympathetic smile, put down the computer and carried on typing.
My head felt like it was going to explode. I wanted to march over to this TCRI place and demand answers, though I doubt I'd be given any.
"Can't we just ask them what they want?"
Donatello stepped away from the screen "It's not that easy. Look, there are things you really should know about TCRI..."
And so I listened as he proceeded to tell me about corporate cover ups and monsters. This, I concluded, was making me feel more and more like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole with no control and no understanding of what was to come.