Chapter 9
Hope and a Lull-a-bye
Leonardo raced over the rooftops, his golden-brown eyes glittering with pain.
The full moon sheltered him, and the haunting song that Chloe used to sing floated in his ears.
He paused as Pain ate him up.
She was gone…probably forever.
He bowed his head and, alone and weary, he sobbed.
The tears came faster now, flowing down his face as he moaned," Chloe…I'm so sorry, love. I'm so, so sorry!"
He hadn't realized just how much he cared about her until she was gone.
And now, he realized he couldn't bear the thought of her not knowing him…not knowing that he had listened to her pain when no one but the moon knew, and that she had sung to him, twin strange songs, meant for werewolves and vampires and demi-gods.
His tears dried up as he swore," Karai, you're in for it now. Somehow or other, you are going to pay for what you did to her."
"Yeah, yeah, hey Fearless, I got news for you."
leo turned as Raphael came up on the rooftop, adding," Damn you were hard to track down!"
"What is it Raph?" Leo asked, eagerly.
"Leatherhead said that Chloe's brain-waves suggest that she just needs a key to remember everything…a key as simple as a well-loved song."
He looked at Leonardo meaningfully.
Leo rolled his eyes.
"So, you know about that too?"
"Yeah, bro, but it may work, right?"
Leonardo sighed," So, what now?"
"You're the only who knows the song, am I right?"
"Yeah…"
"You gotta sing it to her."
Leonardo growled," if it will bring her memory back, then what the shell are we waiting for?!"
***
Chloe was sleeping, fairly comfortably, and Leatherhead nodded to Leonard as he left the two of them alone.
Leo went to the cage and placed a hand on the containment glass.
He looked down at her sleeping form and sighed as he remembered, that night she had talked to the moon…had sung to the moon…
Her heart had been so full of pain, and he remembered the tears that had spilled from her eyes, dripping to the cemented roof below.
Slowly, he declared,"
Sister moon will be my guide
In your blue, blue shadows I would hide
All good people sleep tonight
I'm all by myself in your silver light
I would gaze at your face the whole night through
I'd go out of my mind, but for you
Gazing down on her, he carefully sang,"
Lying in a mother's arms
The primal root of a woman's charms
I'm a stranger to the sun
My eyes are too weak
How cold is a heart
When it's warmth that he seeks?
You watch every night, you don't care what I do
I'd go out of my mind, but for you
I'd go out of my mind, but for you
He smiled, changing up the words slightly as he crooned,"
"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun
My hunger for her explains everything I've done
To howl at the moon the whole night through
And they really don't care if I do
I'd go out of my mind, but for you"
Sister moon
He titled his head, howling the oo in moon, wishing…hoping…praying that this would work.
Would it?
Slowly, her eyes came open.
She looked at him.
He held his breath.
"Leo?"
He nearly shouted for joy as she added," OH MY GOSH!!!! I remember! LEO!"
He recklessly opened the glass, and she tumbled out, wrapping her arms around him, she sobbed, "Leo! It's really you! It's me! I remember! I remember! Oh LEO!!!"
He began to cry now, too, as she sobbed," Leo, you freed me. I was in a prison of lies…and you guided me home."
"What are friends for?" He whispered tenderly as he brushed her hair out of her face.
She giggled, suddenly shy, as she asked," So…you've have ten weeks without my charming company…did you miss me?"
"Chloe…I love you. Now and forever." He vowed fiercely, asking slowly, "How do you feel about…this...transformation?"
"I like it," she smirked," I guess…that's the good part about this. I was so scared…cause we were different species, Leo. But this changes that. I'm a mutant turtle like you…so I feel like I am free…to love you." she whispered, as she stood on tip-toe and pressed her lips to his.
Leo's eyes widened, but he kissed her back, whispering," I'd go out of my mind, but for you."
Suddenly, the other three came in, and Chloe squealed happily," Donnie! Mikey! Raph!"
She hugged them each in turn, adding," I'm so glad!"
Mikey asked," So, you're okay? You remember us?"
"Yeah…I'm okay, Mikey. I remember everything, thanks." She murmured.
Leonardo swallowed.
"Chloe, I'm so sorry-"
"Don't be. It wasn't your fault." She said firmly," But, my aunt Paloma, we've got to get her out of here! Hun knew about her, that's why I went quietly. They'll try and get her!"
Don quickly called April to warn her.
When Donatello came back, he softly asked," Chloe?"
"Yes Don?" she asked, looking at him in surprise as he softly declared," Chloe, I'm so sorry. This is our fault. If you hadn't gotten mixed in with us, this never would've happened."
"You don't know that." Chloe told him, challenging him slightly, as she took both his hand and Leo's hand, daring them to apologize again.
Leo paused as he looked at her.
Chloe smiled.
"Well? You don't! No one is told what might have happened, are they?" She asked quietly.
Leo sighed.
"You're giving me my own advice."
Raphael snorted," When did you give her advice?"
Chloe looked at Leo in surprise.
Leo shuffled his feet.
"I was helping Chloe with her self-defense in the mornings." He admitted reluctantly.
He blushed when his brothers grinned diabolically.
But Chloe immediately snarled," If either one of you says a word, I'll personally rip out your tongue and feed it to the fishes!!!"
Raphael and Michelangelo both felt their mouths drop open as Chloe glared fiercely.
Donatello grinned," Chloe, you okay?"
She commented dryly," Considering that it was Leo that offered to help me with my self-defense, I'm not in the mood to hear him getting bashed by his bros…however teasing the jousts."
Raphael snapped his mouth shut, but Mikey grinned," So, Chloe…you like Leo?"
Chloe smiled.
"Yeah, I like Leo. I like all you guys. You're cool. You're my friends. This is the second time Leo's rescued me. Why wouldn't I like Leo?"
Mikey pouted," No, I meant-"
"Mikey, that's enough!" Leonardo told him sharply.
Chloe suddenly spoke up," Dudes, problem! My folks! They may be split, but they care about me! What do I tell my aunt?! My mom?! OMG, I'm freaking out!!" Chloe's eyes had widened and her voice rose in a squeal.
"Don't worry…we'll think of something." Leonardo soothed as he realized she was right.
Chloe sighed.
"Well, whatever happens, I know one thing for sure."
"What's that?" Mikey asked.
Chloe grinned wryly.
"I'm going to keep learning Ninjistu, and you can't stop me. Cause I refuse to be a plain old mutant turtle!!"
Raphael grinned softly.
"If you have the guts, sister."
Chloe grinned.
"Hey, I got mutated! I stood up to a freak man-mountain! My four best friends are teenage mutant ninja turtles!! Hell if I settle for anything less!" she said heatedly.
Leonardo looked at her in consideration.
"You're already partially ninja. I think Master Splinter would agree to continuing your training!"
Chloe nodded, grinning softly," And time will tell, won't it? Hell…er, heh, I mean shell if I don't become a ass-whooping ninja like you guys…"
