Chapter Ten:
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"Tell me again why we're doing this?" Donatello grumped as he tried to type on the keyboard.
He had one arm outstretched while he tried to take a sip from the paper cup with the other, needing the bitter hot taste of caffeine soothingly sliding across his tongue and dry mouth, and warming his thirsty throat before kicking his sleepy system into gear, but without dropping the beverage as the brother who tried to half-mindedly dress him into warm clothes.
"Because I said so." Leo grumped like an irritated mother, and then tugged the jacket onto Don's shoulders, "And I don't care how much work you want done, Donny, it's only for a few hours and you seriously need the time off-- and goddamnit! Shut that damn screen already!" he yelled, aggravated.
"No! The results aren't out yet and I need them printed before I turn the computer off, damn it!" the cranky olive green turtle growled back like a madly provoked beast. "I'll turn it off when they're done, and not before, understand?" He crossly shouted.
He hated it when the leader tried to take over his turf- this was his lab! No way in seventh hell was he going to let Leo boot him out of his personal sanctuary, damn it! Over his dead rotting worm-infested body! Not if he had something to say about it!
Leo, like a baby deer at a speeding truck's headlights, froze in his tracks for a few seconds, stupidly blinking at the irritated sleep-deprived puffy red eyes that glared back at him; Leonardo thought if looks could kill, then he should have died a few times now. After a moment to gather his thoughts, the leader cautiously tugged the sleeve cuff and buttoned it, now pleased that it was neatly in place.
He pushed away from his silently fuming brother, "Fine, gees, no need to get so snappy." He nervously edged back to adjust his brother's collar sleeve, "I just thought a little family trip would lighten your mood." A low snarl was the first reply he received.
"I'm in Raph mode, don't provoke me, or I swear to whatever deity is out there Leo, I will bite you! And I guarantee you will not like it!" The purple masked kin spitefully hissed at the screen, set aside the paper cup to angrily and personally adjust his jacket, and then violently hit the enter key, announcing the printer's whirring as it came to life. "Now get out of my lab, before I personally boot you." He warned, not looking back at his wary brother.
Without a second thought Leo slinked out of the lab, leaving the door ajar. He leaned against the wall and breathed out a sigh of relief, heart beating wildly against his chest. He seriously thought Don was going to lob his head off back there! Holy! Since when was the geek such a spitfire menace? Since when was the pacifist such a hot headed stick of dynamite? He made Raph's temper look like a popsicle at the top of an iceberg.
Distracted, heartbeats no longer deafening his ears, he spotted his orange masked brother happily skip past him with a wide grin, seemingly not acknowledging him there looking pale as a ghost, and hurried towards the kitchen where everyone waited.
With a huff the leader went to check if everyone was ready. He had yet to get dressed so he was the last to get prepared for their little trek. He drew in a deep breath to calm himself, no need to freak everyone if they saw his messed appearance.
Once in the kitchen, he spied Mike tying a frilly long ribbon of sorts on Dew's hair, neatly pulling it back into a cute ponytail. Her hair wasn't short enough to be called a pigtail, and not long enough to be considered a horsetail, so their little brother decided a ponytail sounded cuter.
Thankfully, though amazingly enough, Dew's bruised lip had healed overnight. By morning the cut was gone and the stitches came off, and though there was the tiniest indication that her lip was injured, the marring sign was slowly fading, much to Michelangelo's relief.
At the opposite side of the table Raphael and Splinter eyed a brochure April had gotten them earlier, and the two were casually discussing the plan for tonight. If they were going to Coney Island after closing time to give Dew some play time in a real park, then they had to be ready for the security and what not.
Amusingly enough, Casey had guaranteed that he had an acquaintance who worked at the park, (who owed him something,) and he himself could work there for the night to give them backup in case they had to split, and offer them cover so Dew could experience what it's like to be out doors in a real park for the first time.
Casey hadn't met Dew yet, but April had informed him of the shy little girl, and how she seemed uncomfortable around her. Naturally, the man was more amused at the fact Raph was declared the mommy, (unaware of the outburst the hothead had given the redhead at the time,) than the fact his green family had a baby girl among their ranks.
Leonardo walked into the kitchen and towards his brother and father, but when Mike announced he was done with the ribbon, Leo found his eyes widening at the sight of Dew laden with too many fluffy clothes to protect her from the nippy weather, she looked adorably humorous. Heck! All he could see of her now was the top of her head half way down her snout, the rest of her face was covered with the scarf and the jacket's double layered collar.
"Uhh, Mikey?" Leo began, stifling a laugh, "She is supposed to be able to breath under all those clothes, right?" he asked, somewhat entertained.
His youngest blinked, glanced at the child as she tugged a bit at the uncomfortable scarf prickling her snout, and then rubbed the back of his neck, "Um, you think I over did it?" he sheepishly smiled.
"Just a smidge," Raph teased with a mild smile, "But seriously, Mikey? She practically looks like a mini Eskimo." He laughed.
In agreement to the overbearing and excessive clothes, Dew untied the scarf and threw it off with a huff, inhaling a large amount of air before exhaling in relief, grateful for some cool air in her lungs. After that, she started fiddling with the collar to ease the heat on her neck. It was too stuffy, she felt like she was growing hotter inside, and it was very uncomfortable.
Brochure set aside, Raph bemusedly rounded the table to kneel down to her level, and then proceeded to tug the zipper to her jacket, barely blinking as he practically felt her body heat whoosh from its confined article of clothes and brush against his face. But what made him blink was the fact she wore a jeans overall under that jacket.
"Oh for crying out loud!" he scowled, hastily helping the child out of her heavy piece of cloth, "Are you trying to cook her alive, Mikey? She would have suffocated under all of that!" he exclaimed angrily, and bit back a growl and a few choice words, when he saw a single droplet of sweat dribble down the girl's throat. "She's keeping the overall, but the jacket stays off."
"But Raph, it's cold out there," Mike argued in a child like voice, "what if she caught a cold?"
"She wont." He grumped, peeling the jacket off, careful not to tug at her hair, "You're dressing her as if she's about to risk her very life through a snowstorm, and it's not even snowing!" the hothead shot his brother a scolding look, not amused, then helped the child out of the thick slacks since the overall kept her legs warm enough.
Mentally keeping notes to himself, Raphael decided there was no way he was letting Mike dress Dew whenever they decide to go out, his brother was probably going to put her body into overheat and make her sick!
"But honey," the youngest turtle whined in a hurt playful tone, pouting cutely.
Raphael blinked and his left brow twitched, shot a look at Leo when the leader snorted a small laugh, and then slowly craned his neck around to shoot a dirty look at the orange masked sibling, who simply grinned wide in a teasing manner. "I thought Donny was your husband." He darkly muttered.
"Donny's in one of your 'Talk to me and I'll bite your head off,' mode; I know better than to risk my spleen with him now." Mike cupped his hip, looking like a hurt puppy, "I'm not that crazy." He amended.
"Speaking of Donny," Leo interrupted, "may I suggest we just leave him here? He's sleep deprived, cranky, and is pretty much in a state of mind I find more a threat to himself than us." The elder turtle confessed, feeling a little awkward from his previous mishap with the olive green turtle.
Uncomfortable, worried and yet confused what had gotten into their usually peaceful brother. To the leader, it almost seemed like an under-toned beast from the depth of Donatello's mind who behaved so aggressively. It just didn't seem like their brother for some reason; or maybe it was all in his head, or Don was just aggressive when sleep deprived? Leonardo just didn't know anymore.
"Your brother will join us, Leonardo; he had been much too absorbed into his projects as of late, he is driving himself thin to the point of neglecting his own health." Splinter commented, "Perhaps a long break under a peaceful night's sky with family, would help sooth his disoriented mind and keep him at peace with himself, long enough for his body to calm down enough for him to get some rest." He briefly explained.
"Your brother had been rather violently due the exhaustion of mind and body, and I fear stress is starting to take a toll to his temper as well. If we let him have his way any further, he may damage himself beyond our ability to mend." He sighed, parental worry eating at his mind.
The rat master closed his eyes for a moment, and then glanced with a humored fatherly glint as Raphael fussed over Dew's clothes to make sure she was kept warm, but not too warm as to not overheat her fragile body.
"Hello pot," Michelangelo suddenly chimed, a huge bemused grin tugged the corners of his lips.
Raphael paused then blinked, stared at his impish brother, and then at the child he was fussing over. A moment passed before he palmed his face and groaned, and then shot a surprisingly amused scowl at his brother.
"Hello kettle." Raphael replied, apparently humored, and the slightest bit annoyed.
Dew blinked and tilted her head; weren't kettle and pot the same thing?
. o 0 o 0 o .
She stared wide eyed and mouth a gap at the large, navy blue blanket they called the sky.
There were lots and lots of pretty shiny and sparkly dots up there, and she thought they were the prettiest thing she had ever seen!
"Thanks for covering for us, Casey; I do hope it wouldn't get you in any trouble." Leo said after exiting the van. "Too bad April couldn't come along, though." He added.
"Aint no problem, Leo. April kinda wanted to get some things done at the shop, so it was probably her choice." The black haired man flashed a friendly smile, then glanced at the new arrival. "And this must be Dew, right?" he knelt a bit to greet her, but she quickly and shyly ducked behind Michelangelo's legs, shielding herself from the giant pale man. He laughed, "Man, Ape weren't kidding when she said she was bashful."
"She's just not used to interact with someone who doesn't look like her; even Klunk is having trouble warming her up." Mike chimed, tenderly he petted the girl's head, "Dewdrop, this is Casey and he's family. He is kind of Raph's non-turtle twin, so you shouldn't be afraid of him, okay?" he comforted.
The little blonde peered at the human, eyes blue, wide and curious, and perhaps a tad shy. Unlike the other human with the bright red head fur, this one looked- nicer? She wasn't sure, there was just something more- more about him. If he was Raph-like, then he must be a nice person, right?
"Why do I have to come along, sensei? I rather stay in the van." Donatello sourly grumped for the umpteenth time since they left the lair, which earned him a sharp smack on the backside from his father's cane. Stifling the urge to snap back a blue streak at his father, even the brainy turtle in his irritated state of mind knew better than to push his luck.
"Your behavior is being most infuriating, Donatello." Splinter chided sharply, "You will calm down and clear your mind, you shall join me and your brothers and sister during this outing, and I expect you to be civil." He ordered.
With a set jaw and an evidently irritated sneer, the purple masked turtle controlled his anger the best he could before he replied, "Yes, sensei." He bowed his head, but the bitter tone to his voice did not go unnoticed.
The human blinked at the scene and scooted closer to the red masked turtle, "Let me guess; he ate out of your cereal bowl this morning?" he whispered in hope to lighten the mood, yet he was uneasy at the clear display of anger from the usually calm turtle. The human could practically feel Don's rage buzzing around like an excessively charged ball of lightening waiting to explode.
"Workaholic, sleep deprived, caffeine withdrawal, mother hen Leo," the dark skinned turtle shrugged as he summarized the situation.
"Hey!" came the small complaint from the leader, while Mike's shushed chortle went ignored.
Raphael smiled cheekily at his blue masked kin, but blinked when he felt a soft touch took hold of his hand, soon followed by the small body pressed to his leg, hugging him close. He glanced down at the blonde girl who took his hand, holding it tightly, yet her eyes were worried and probably sad, as she watched their father reprimand their cranky brother.
He wasn't sure what to do, since she probably needed comforting. Don had been giving her strange somber looks when they were in the van, and the hothead found it irritating. At first, he thought it was the bruise on her lip, but it had soon faded and healed just fine. In fact, Leo was glad it was a minor split and she didn't actually bleed, the cut was pretty much gone by now.
Poor Dew would have freaked if she had bled, since they didn't know if the sight of blood was something that might bother her.
Now, he wasn't so sure about his brainy brother. It was almost as if Don was so deep into his own mind, Dew has something to do with the way he's been driving himself through the wall, and whatever it was, he wasn't sharing it with anyone.
Sometimes a guy just doesn't want to share what bothers him, Raphael knew that feeling all too well.
Heck! He did it most of the time. But he also knew that sometimes, it helps to get that massive weight off yours chest, because it actually helps a person breathe a lot easier. Sometimes just talking about it helps at some level, it doesn't necessarily mean there is going to be some sort of answer to it.
At a point, Raphael used to talk to the literal wall, (but then switched to venting to his punching bag while beating it up,) but time after time he just grew frustrated, he wanted to talk to someone who would actually respond. As rarely as it was, Michelangelo had been his deep well, the only person he trusted more than himself to tell his secrets too.
Mike was the proverbial well where Raphael threw his rocks and never heard them hit bottom, and the lack of echo assured them they were in good hands.
Don would have fretted and tried to find a scientific reasoning to make them better, and Leo would have pressured him to try and work it out by force. Master Splinter would have had trouble finding the common ground to even start understanding the problem; he and Raphael may have lived in the same house, but they were on two separate mindsets.
Besides, there were timed in the turtle's life where he just couldn't see himself talking to his father about anything.
And Mike? Mikey would sometimes just listen, lighten the mood and casually either brush the worried off Raphael's shoulder as if they were invisible dust, or somehow just say the right words in the time tone of voice, and the hothead would almost magically feel better- to an extent, anyway. The hothead didn't really know what was it his baby brother had that was such bliss, but he knew he would have brought home a massacre if Mike hadn't had that skill to lull his monsters when they were too riled up to stay confined.
Watching Donatello suffer the same aggravation, Raphael wondered if maybe cornering his brother and risking the chance of swallowing some teeth would be worth it. The olive green turtle was livid and aggravated, simply because he was not allowed to knock himself into a coma by over working himself in his lab. Seriously, his brother needed some time off to clear that steam-pumped head; Don was starting to scare everyone, even Raphael himself.
Slightly squeezing Dew's hand, he smiled down at the absentminded child, before gently tugging her towards the theme park's gates. Leo, Casey and Mike had already gone inside, Donatello and their father were still at the van bickering hotly, so Raphael decided it was a good time to show his little sister around and wait for her to pick one of the games, so Casey could turn its engine on.
And …for some reason, he had this weird strong urge to go on the Ferris-wheel… thought Dew would love the top of the Ferris wheel.
At the thought of his brothers laughing their heads off and embarrassing himself into oblivion by offering the thought to the child, he decided to not do it tonight, but sneak Dew out some other time, just the two of them, and have a little fun away from his brothers.
Leo's fear of heights might cramp that plan, so he knew Leo wouldn't be able to join them; better to exclude him altogether.
Mike's obsession with playing on the wheel's structure, like some sort of oversized rotating makeshift-monkey-bars, would give him a heart attack if Mike did that 'falling off' stunt again.
He swore to himself a long time ago, if he wasn't so horrified out of his mind that day, he would have throttled Mike into mush, if only he didn't feel so relived his brother was fine and in one piece. At that day, Mike probably felt Raphael's distraught at the extreme prank, for he had been questionably well-behaved afterwards, if only for a while, before the mischievous streak found its way back into their lives.
Raphael decided it was better to take Dew up the Ferris wheel next time, when it was just the two of them.
He wanted it to be a night for her to remember, and because he had an image to uphold.
. o 0 o 0 o .
She sat on the bench next to her grandfather, happily spooning half-melted ice cream from the cup in her hands.
She wasn't allowed to eat it cold, because her front teeth still ached from her trip a day ago. The ache did tingle a bit, but it didn't deter her from enjoying the soothing cold treat.
In the vast open area before her, she watched as three brothers dashed across the grayed concrete floor in dazzling speed.
Roller skating, the pale white human told her, and from what she saw Raphie bro was the best, because no matter how Leo and Mikey bro tried to catch up to him, the red masked turtle seemed to have this amazing ability for sharp turns, that would send the other two slamming against each other, or against the barriers keeping the pool surrounded.
They did collide into each other a few times when all three fell in one large heap, and the human burst into laughter when they did. Raphie and Mikey seemed to find hitting their heads funny, while Leo bro just groaned and rubbed his forehead. They were too far away, so whatever they were telling each other was something she couldn't hear.
She didn't fully understand it, what was so funny about banging their heads together, didn't that hurt? The child thought that it looked more painful than funny, and Mikey looked like he liked hurting his head. Adults were so weird…
Slowly taking another bite from her ice cream, absently enjoying the creamy taste of milk on her tongue, she glanced at the white and pink swirl in her cup, slowly melting and looking like yoghurt.
A moment passed, and she heard a heavy sigh from a short distance off.
On the next bench a few feet away, Donny sank into the seat with a deep frown and tired red eyes. He roughly rubbed his eyes as if he was sleepy but didn't want to sleep, then yawned and shook his head hard.
She wanted to go sit next to him, but he somehow looked angry and it scared her.
She jumped when Mikey bro suddenly screamed and bolted away from the tangled heap, Raphie laughed like- well, something kinda weird she'd never heard before, it was a new expression and she didn't know how to describe it. Soon Leo laughed and stood up, casually rolling after the two running circles across the skating pool.
Splinter chuckled and pushed off the bench, shook his head and then smiled at her, "Stay with Donatello, Dewdrop, I shall return in a moment. I believe your brothers need a reminder or two regarding their swiftness training." He petted her head with a fatherly smile, and sighed when Mike screamed again, begging for mercy. Raphael had managed to tackle him to the floor and demanded he called for their uncle.
Dew blinked… they had an uncle? She didn't remember meeting any…
She nodded, half worried if Mikey was going to be alright, but sure Raphie wouldn't intentionally hurt him. She watched the rat round the pool to get closer to the ledge where Mike tried to climb off, as Raph latched onto the orange masked turtle's leg, laughing crazily. Leo bro tried to pull them apart, but Raphie wasn't letting go, even the human got pulled into the tangled heap when he tried to separate them.
With a blink, she pushed off the bench and simply headed towards the cranky, olive green turtle. Donatello seemed to tense a bit when she approached, but otherwise didn't move away, but he did scoot enough to offer her some space to sit next to him.
She glanced at the free space, smiled sweetly and coyly climbed into the spot, comfortably nestling by his side. She took another bite from her ice cream, swinging her legs, she watched as Mikey managed to flee the ring and dashed away, but with Raphie hot on his trail. The human laughed, while grandpa and Leo shook their heads.
"… and the dish ran away with the spoon," Donatello suddenly sing-sang with a strange smile.
He chuckled and leaned back against the bench, arms resting on the backrest, before he withdrew a hand and pinched the space between his eyes again. Then he leaned his head back and fell silent, eyeing the starlit sky above, olive green skin bathed by the illuminating night time lights as his smile stretched the slightest bit wider.
Dew stared, mesmerized; she found Donny bro's face at that peaceful moment real pretty.
She glanced back at her ice cream, and on a whim offered him her half melted cup. Perhaps he'd like a taste?
He didn't notice her at first, but when he did his brows arched high, so she smiled and offered again. He stared at her for a moment longer, before a sad smile crossed his features. Silently he took the cup, set it aside, and then with no warning whatsoever, pulled her off the bench and into a firm yet unusually tender embrace.
She blinked, her face half buried into the collar of his jacket. He smelled like coffee.
"Come what may, now and for days to come, but please, Dew, don't you disappear." He murmured in a saddened tone, and his hug tightened.
She didn't move, she merely frowned in confusion, blinked for the umpteenth time that evening, and then tried to hug back as far as he arms allowed. She nuzzled his neck, as much as she could bury her face into it past the fluffy collar, ignoring how it prickled her lip, and then rest her head on his shoulder. If Donny bro was sad and needed a hug, then she'll hug him if it'll make him feel better.
They snuggled for a moment, she closed her eyes and smiled, because it felt so nice. Donny bro felt so warm, his arms around her and his hand on her head, stroking down her hair.
She didn't know why, but she liked it when her brothers stroked down her hair, it made her feel- special somehow.
Opening her eyes she tried to ignore the lock of hair that hung before her eyes, it made her snout itch, so she freed an arm to brush it away. But because of her action, Don eased his hold yet kept her cuddled close.
She rested her chin on his shoulder, and then spied something a distance off from where they sat.
At first she didn't know what it was, but when she did she perked in glee.
It was a toy store!
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A/N: whew… feedback and critique welcomed!