Emerald
Chapter 11: Preview

A/N: Strange thing about stories. They seem to like to take their own road.

Disclaimer: Don't own or know the TMNT.

"Some how I kind of changed into a turtle while Cara and Leatherhead were trying to get me stable." She rubbed the back of her neck. "Defense mechanism, I guess."

Everyone was around her sitting, except for the couple standing. Leatherhead nodded, stating, "I was slightly startled when the transformation happened so rapidly but when your vitals finally stabled and you opened your eyes, Miss Emerald, I was the least bit worried about your condition."

"Do you have any idea why you're a turtle?" Mily asked, fiddling with her shirt.

"No." Emerald shifted. "I don't remember a lot from home but things are becoming clear since..."

Many let the subject drop, all knowing what she meant. Don stopped pacing, his hand still on his chin as he thought. Removing his hand, he looked at Emerald and said, "That kid has been talking openly to me since you threatened him. But when I had asked him how you two knew each other, he just stared at me before laughing. 'She hasn't told them. She hasn't told them! This is great!' What is he talking about, Ema? What does he mean by this?"

Emerald's hand twitched and she knew Leo saw. Swallowing, she said, "I barely remember anything from my home. I would tell you what he meant if I knew but I don't. I'm sorry."

Don's eyes narrowed, his disbelieve visible but he let it drop. Facing the standing croc, he asked, "What happened when she changed?"

Leatherhead pushed off the pillar he was leaning against, clearing his throat. "Well, her vitals were going crazy as her body withered as if she was having convulsions. Somewhere in the middle of this convulsion, I noticed that her skin was a pale green, suddenly noticeable against her cloths. Her hair fell out and her hand changed form, becoming three fingered instead of her normal 5. I wasn't able to see how her shell or plastron were formed because of her cloths and the sheet but I was able to watch her face change."

Leatherhead looked at Emerald with a sweet smile on his face. "I'm glad you were unconscious for it all, Miss Emerald. The way you changed and at that rate had to be painful."

Emerald smiled weakly but said nothing. Leo frowned, touching her arm.

"Ema," he whispered, standing. "What's wrong?"

Emerald's gaze fell away from the turtle in blue and Leo sighed. "Leo, I...I think I saw my transformation in a different view but I can't really remember it."

"Speak up, child," Splinter said. "We would like to hear what you have to say."

Emerald sidestepped Leo and stood so everyone could see her. Taking a deep breath, she started. "I remember watching Leo being pushed back by Raph before falling over. What I saw, was different from what you tell me happened.

"Raph...was too late. The shot was fired before he could move the gun or Leo. At the site of his brother's blood, Raph...slit Sly's throat. The teen collapsed as Raph turned around, Mikey taking hold of him, supporting him. Don cringed as he sought for a pulse but found none. Cara walked over to me and helped me up.

"Tears were running down everyone's face except for Raph's. He was sitting alone in Leo's room, doing something. I walked in, my side wrapped. I sat next to him on Leo's bed and watched as Raph fiddled with a picture, a piece of paper, and Leo's bandanna.

"We sat in silence till Don came in and said that we could see Leo now. I stood but Raph shook his head, saying that he would stay where he was. I entered the room that was empty except for Leo's body. With tears falling rarely from my face now, I gripped one of his hands and squeezed it tight.

"Not really thinking about it, I leaned forward and kissed him. It was short but the sensation was strange. It wasn't just on my lips but it flowed all over my body. When I pulled back, I looked at my still tingling hands to see them now green with three fingers. I touched my lips with my fingers and started to feel lightheaded. Standing, I sat in a chair and passed out.

"When I woke up, I was looking up at a croc standing over me, propping my head for some reason." She hesitated. "I guess you know the rest."

Raph was gripping Leo's hand, Raph's face a pastel green. Cara and Mikey were also pale and Don was in pure shock. Mily some how found her way to the old rat and had her face buried into hi kimono. Splinter was running a hand over her head as Leatherhead shifted his weight uneasily.

"I didn't get hit with a bullet, did I?" Leo asked, instantly bringing a hand to the top of his head.

This broke the panic in the room and a few laughed, relieved that the story wasn't real. Splinter smiled and stood. "We should all be grateful no one died today and no one was a murderer. I am going to go meditate if any of you need me."

The rat bowed and everyone returned the bow. Soon the living room was empty sake for Raph. Mikey, Mily, Cara had gone to the kitchen while Don and Leatherhead went to go check on the psychotic teen, Emerald and Venus wondered around talking to each other, and Leo had gone to his room. Raph sighed and picked up the remote, turning the TV on.

"Another chance of rain for this afternoon's ride home. If you're going to be outside, make sure that–"

"Many are saying that Hellboy 2 'was a thriller be–"

"Mass crowds are forming at many game shops as the new–"

"There have been reports of little green men in New York City and many say they aren't men. Dan Hufferfield is live with a witness."

"Guys! Come check this out quick!" Raph called over the TV.

"Mat, tell the viewers what you had seen just a few hours ago."

"Well," the homeless man said, "I had been looking for a place to stay out of the rain that was coming when I happened to look up. I couldn't see very clearly but I thought I saw a turtle's shell. There was a redhead female sitting before it across the roof so I thought she was making some kind of sculpture but when the sculpture moved, I realized that the turtle was real. He stood about 5 foot in height and was pretty well built compared to the female. She was well built and cute, thought, so–"

The report moved the mic, the rest of what Mat was saying lost. "That's what one of the spotters say about the little green men living here in New York City. Back to you."

"Thank you, Dan," the female in the newsroom said, the shot changing. "Five others have reported the sightings of these strange creatures all around the city. Similar traits between the little green men are that they stand around 5 feet in heighth, are wearing a bandanna with colors ranging from a yellow to a deep blue, are carrying some sort of weapon, and are turtles. Some have come–"

The TV was muted as a picture was shown on the TV screen. All immediately recognized Emerald in the wheelchair with a heavily wrapped short person pushing the chair. The thing in the picture that was highlighted was the uncovered green face of Leo walking next to the chair.

"I took this picture just because I thought it was sweet," someone was saying when Raph turned the volume on. "I was taking pictures for a class in the park and they drew my attention. When my teacher spotted the third figures green skin, I didn't think much of it till I heard the reports."

"The ones that have spotted these creatures out and about have said that they are harmless, stating that no one was harmed by the creatures as they watched. Government officials are saying different."

Several people hissed as the face of John Bishop appeared on the screen. "These creatures are dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. We are working on trying to capture and contain these creatures before anyone is hurt."

"Too late for that," Mikey commented, earning himself a few hits and hisses.

"...if the government was involved with the creation of these creatures now loose on New York City."

"The government has no hand at the creation of these mutants," Bishop said, "but we will have a hand at their demise."

"This remark has stirred up some sensitive issues among the animal lovers and the piece lovers. Many are saying that these creatures should be accepted into the society as people, not as freaks. With so many few sighting, some even believe there are not very many of them."

A teenager's face appeared, a gentle smile on her face. "There have been only 5 sightings and a few are of the same mutant. If they have only seen about three mutants that look like this, there are probably very few of them living here. 10 max, possibly. These creatures are an endangered species within themselves. There might not be many females to even keep the species alive."

"None!" Mikey called out, earning a second round of beating and hissing.

"...on the topic, some even going as far as saying that people are just making this up to get attention. Though we have had people email us on the subject none have come forward to state it live. We'll be right back."

The TV was muted again and silence hung over the Lair. Leo soon broke the silence. "So the world now knows of us?"

Conversations instantly sparked into existence as the subject was talked about between mutants and humans. Don's shell cell rang and everyone fell silent.

"Hello? Hey April. What u... Yeah, we saw the news. No, none of us deliberately. I don't know. Want me to ask?" Don covered the receiver with his hand and looked at Splinter. "How are you taking this, Sensei?"

The old rat sighed, stating, "I'm very ashamed that they actually have footage of us and that people have actually seen us. But since some people actually think that we should be left alone... I do not know, Donatello, what I truly fell about the situation."

"He's a bit confused," Don said into the phone. "The lot of us are. Yeah they are. Sure. 10 minutes? K. See ya."

Don hung up and everyone held their breath. Don took a deep breath before saying, "April and Casey are coming over. They had nothing to do with this and want to talk about it."

It was like the whole Lair exhaled. Many relaxed but a few were still watching the TV, ridged in their discomfort.

"Guys," Raph said, eyes focused on the TV. "April and Casey may not have squealed but someone did. And on them."

"Say what?" "No way!" "Shell." "Call them." "I am!"

"Guys!" Raph snapped. "I can't hear."

"...by a Miss Karai Saki. I'm here with April O'Neal and Casey Jones, two said to be in contact with these creatures we've been having reports about. Do you have any comment on the situation?"

The mic was pointed at April. "If there are creatures out there like they say, then I hope we figure out if they are wild or tame before we do anything. If these creatures are possibly civil and we can communicate with them, we could possibly learn about their world. If they are just like the animals around us with no way of communicating, then we treat them as animals and see what we can learn from how they live and how they've lived."

"Thank you, Miss O'Neal. Back to you–"

"Thank you April," Mikey cheered. "Knew we could trust you."

"Thankfully they didn't give the mic to Casey," Raph chuckled. Several nodded, agreeing.

"Hey April. Yes we just saw you. You looked fine. No, I'm being honest. Thank you, by the way. Yes, we probably would have. That good. Take your time. K. See you soon."

Everyone looked at Don as he hung up the shell cell. Sighing, he looked up. "Well? Who could have let this slip?"

Emerald's eyes narrowed. "Bishop," she hissed.

A/N: DUNDUNDUN!! Funny thing. This story is taking its own path.