Note: I do not own TMNT.
Thanks for still hanging in there
TheLadyOfSouls. You will find out in this chapter ^^
Thank you
LooksOnTempests for showing interest. I have several ideas about Splinters condition. We will just have to see which one I'll find works best with the story.
maisiethegamer15, Comments like this is what drives me to write more and I appreciate them greatly. Thanks!
*.*.*.*
(OC's perspective)
I had helped Donnie locking master Splinter into the container after tying him down the same way I had been contained before on the stretcher. Don was checking Leos temperature while I stood leaning in the lab doorway eating some leftovers I had found in the fridge.
I eyed his tense features carefully. He looked pale and distant. It did not feel like he was all there, like parts of him had been shut out. Though I did not blame him after seeing Splinter that way. The memory of it gave me a stab in the heart, I could not begin to imagine the emotions going through Don right now.
His motions slowly ceased as he finished his checkup on Leo and now he just stood there gazing into nothingness. I put my plate down and walked over to him. He paid me no attention until I stood on my toes and put my arms around his neck. I felt him twitch slightly in front of me and bend forward drawing his body away from mine. I stepped closer hugging him more tightly now that I could reach around him better. He froze.
"It's ok D! We will find a way to make things as they were before. I know we can, together!" I felt how he started to shiver. "It is ok!"
Slowly he seemed to reach around me as well and I felt his weight against me. His knees where giving in and we slowly sunk down to our knees but I refused letting him go. A drip on my shoulder urged me continue speaking.
"It's ok D! I'm here. Things will be ok. Splinter is alive.. and the others will be back soon, I'm sure." He removed one had and put it up to his face while letting out a sniffle. I touched his neck carefully and he surprised me putting his hand on my the top of head slowly stroking me down across my back. I tightened my grip around him.
I had forgotten about Klunk who now wriggled to get out of my kimono. Donatello felt him and we loosened our hug enough for us both to look down as the cat untangled himself, stepped over onto Donnies knee, sniffing the air and then jumped off. The gloom tension that had been hanging over us seemed to have left the room. Looking up I saw his hazel eyes closely watching my features. It took him a few seconds to realize I was looking right at him. Our eyes locked together.
We both jumped when Don's phone rang out in the silence.
*.*.*.*
(Raph's perspective)
"Raph? Did you find him?" Donnie's voice cracked saying my name.
"Yeah! Some place above a secondhand shop. Slight problem though. He's in some girl's apartment. She knocked Casey out and told me to stay away."
"What?"
"It's getting dark so I'm just calling telling you that I'll be heading in.."
"But.."
"Is Fearless awake jet?"
"Raph I don't think tha..."
"I can't just sit here Don!" I interrupted, not willing to back down.
"What's wrong?" I heard the girl in the background. She sounded close. Had he let her out?
"Leo is out cold and Splinter..."
"I get it Brainiac. It'll be fine. Call you when where out and on our way back"
*.*.*.*
(Donnie's perspective)
"Raph, wait. I don't think.."
The sudden silence told me he had hung up.
"Aah shell!"
"What happened?" Her worried blue eyes followed me as I ran over to my computer tapping in the tacker information. She followed me over and eyed the map.
"That's where Mikey is?"
"Yeah! Some apartment on top of this second hand store"
"...Second time around?"
I looked at her in question but quickly looked it up.
"Eh, yeah!" I felt no need to question how she knew that. Was I starting to believe her story? "...Is that bad?"
She gave me a secret knowing smile.
"Only if Raph wont behave himself." I gave her questioning a look. Did she know anything about my hotheaded brother? Her features changed.
"Yeah, you're right" She answered as if reading my mind "Give me that?" I gave her my T-phone "How do I call Mikey?"
*.*.*.*
(Red head girl's perspective)
I had no idea what to do next. Should I try to run? I really should before I got dragged further into this mess. Jet somehow I did not want to. You know how you wait your entire life for it to...start? For that one amazing thing to come along and change all you thought you knew, forever? Maybe this was it?...Then again, this might also be the beginning of the end of my life. The voice on the other end of the cellphone had not sounded friendly. And the turtle-man in front of me said he had been followed by some "thugs". But what kind of thugs used sharp throwing weapons?
So here I was, 28 years old with a giant bleeding mutant turtle and some kind of masked superhero wannabe tied to my kitchen chairs blindfolded. Thinking about it it sounded like the start of a really bad B-movie. I had been trying to stop the bleeding when that guy had appeared in through the window. Was he one of the thugs? But then again, the turtle-man had stopped me from hitting him.
I eyed the turtle who called himself Michelangelo as he continued telling me about himself and his family while I cleaned out his wounds. Pulling out another bloody throwing star from his shell, he covered up a yelp with a laugh. Even thought he must be in pain he seemed cheerful and it worried me.
His words ceased when another cellphone began ringing. I eyed him and began searching the other man and soon found a strange turtle shaped phone in his leather jacket pocket.
"That's my ringtone!" Michelangelo exclaimed and smiled. "You found it!" I ignored him but answered the phone.
"Who is this?"
"Oh, hi!" A young female voice on the other end. I looked at the turtle man in suspicion and walked closer to the window glanced down the fire escape. "April, right?"
"What?"
"April O'Neil?"
I tried not to sound chocked as I answered the woman on the other end. This was my uncles apartment. How could they possibly know my name.
"Yes? Who is this?" I asked again more harshly.
"I'm a friend of the turtles.." Turtles, plural, there was more of them. How many? I went back over to Michelangelo.
"What? Who is it?" He asked innocently. Had he just been toying with me all this time because he knew he really had the upperhand? I should've run when I had the chance, right after calling the cops. Why in the world had I chosen curiosity over safety?
"I know you might not believe it" the voice began "but they really mean you no harm."
"Why are you telling me this?" My tone filled with doubt.
"Well, because it's getting dark and Raphael, the other turtle you talked to on the phone is...well let's say impulsive and very protective. The turtle in your apartment, Mikey, is his little brother..."
I paused slowly removing the blindfold off of Mikey's face. Bright blue eyes blinked up at me through the orange mask he was wearing. Nothing in the way he had been speaking to me had seemed threateningly. But looks could be deceiving.
"Look, I'm trying to help you April. Just listen please. If Raph thinks you mean harm towards his family he WILL hurt you... You don't have much time!" She urged
"Wh-why should I trust you? It could just be a trick to take me out."
"Ugh, You've spent hours with Mikey now, you can't possibly believe that." I said nothing "The way it is right now we won't be able to stop Raphael. So either you have to face his fury alone or...You could release Mikey and he will help you calm Raph down."
A clank of metal made me look up. My throat went dry and weak hands dropped the shell shaped phone. It clattered on the floorboards as I starred out in the darkness outside the window.
"April? April, are you still there?" The sound seemed to echo as time slowed around me.
*.*.*.*