Chapter 21 - Challenges

"He went out? Mikey! I can't believe you told him!" Leonardo was standing, arms folded across his chest he was trying to give his brother the 'angry look' "I'm disappointed, seriously disappointed"

Joshua snorted and got up "Take a chill pill - it ain't Mike's fault - Raph tortured him. And for Christ's sake, you ain't his dad!"

Leonardo frowned and unfolded his arms "No, maybe as not but I'm your dad and their leader! What if something happens to Raph? You would all hold me responsible" He was particularly thinking of what Karai said:

Dead. They would all be dead.

"No we wouldn't" replied Josh "C'mon Mike, lets go hang out in my room, get away from this power crazed idiot"

"Excuse me?" Leonardo was now attempting to give Joshua his 'stern father look'; he couldn't believe he was acting like this and talking to him in this manner. Ignoring his father Joshua grabbed Michelangelo's arm and began to pull him out of the room "Josh! Don't you dare walk away when I'm talking to you!"

The lad stopped but still had hold of Michelangelo's arm, indicating that he obviously still wanted to leave. The youngest turtle looked like he wanted to hide - not really appreciating also being on the receiving end of one of Leonardo's 'father' lectures. As he stood and listened to the rise and fall of his brother's voice, and Joshua's attempts at protests, he felt really glad that Leo wasn't his father. At the end of the lecture Michelangelo concluded that Leo really liked the sound of his own voice.

With Josh sent to his room alone the two brothers sat down "My turn now?" ventured the orange-banded turtle looking at Leonardo with big puppy dog eyes.

"No, not your turn. Look I'm sorry bro, I shouldn't have had a go at you, I just feel under so much pressure sometimes" Leonardo almost seemed to hang his head in shame. Mikey shuffled up next to him and put an arm round his big brother's shoulders.

"It's okay Leo, I forgive you"

It was then that Raphael made an appearance, throwing open the door and huffing as he stepped inside. Michelangelo could feel Leonardo start to tense up already. There was going to be fireworks so he decided to sneak off to the kitchen for a late night snack and then retire to bed.

Raphael met the irritated look of his brother as he turned round. "What?" he began "Leo, you're the one who should get the lecture you dick brain, why the fuck would you go and hook up with the enemy?"

Leonardo got up and walked over so they were standing face to face "Karai is not the enemy" he replied simply "She wants to help"

Raphael burst out laughing "Not the enemy? What the heck are you on Leo?! Karai is Shredder's daughter, remember Shredder the metal man who wanted to destroy us all as well as all of New York. You're being led by your dick you idiot!"

"You're one to talk. You abandon the team so you can go and get laid!"

Raphael felt so close to punching Leonardo, - he wanted to knock that smug look right off his face but instead he tried to keep himself under control by thinking about his breathing the way sensei had taught him.

"And it's your girl that's dangerous" added Leo, pointing a finger at his brother's face. That was it; Raphael snapped, he shoved his brother in the chest, hard, sending him toppling backwards.

"Don't ever do that pokey finger thing again! I ain't one of your little minions Leo, you can't boss me around like you do the others and as for Becky being dangerous; what a fucking joke. Do not try and pin your own insecurities on her" He stood over him, glaring and breathing heavily "You're pathetic" he spat before walking away.

Leonardo pulled himself up. He plonked down onto the sofa and sat quietly on his own.

Perhaps Raph was right.. Perhaps he was being pathetic... I mean, how much could he really trust Karai? He liked her admittedly, fancied her even, but liking someone does not automatically mean you can trust them. Nor does it make them good.

Now he felt more confused then ever.

The Profiler had really put together a good identity. Their killer had issues. They had obviously been the victim of rape and wanted to re-assert power over those who chose to take advantage. But the new angle was that their killer could be a woman. Nick Houston had never suspected that because of the brutality involved in the murders. How could a woman do such awful things? But then, he supposed, there were other women who had been caught, tried and convicted; women were capable of killing just as violently as men.

The one thing that no-one could nail though was how these fires were started. It was already concluded that no fueling agent had been used so they had just been started spontaneously. Nick was therefore now reading into that concept - the idea that perhaps, just perhaps, somebody out there had the ability to spark flame from their very being.

He was not shocked by the possibility of this concept. He was very well versed in the 'strange and unusual' and this was a very lucky thing because not only was there the 'fire issue' but there was also an issue with the object that had been found at the scene: the rather large feather. Ridiculous as it was, ridiculous as it seemed that thing was in fact real. Once it had been confirmed as real it had been shipped off to a bird expert so that he could identify the species. As yet nothing had come back. He wondered what they would say when it did come back - what species of bird has feathers that damn big and that damn colour? It was red with a golden glow about it. Nick had seen parrots, Hell, he even researched parrots on the internet but nothing, not even one, looked like it had feathers like that. Their feathers were too small for starters.

A uniformed officer entered the room "Chief wants to see you"

Nick felt himself roll his eyes "Okay, thanks"

He got up and grabbed his jacket - couldn't face the Chief without being fully suited - he knew this man requested that all those who were minus a uniform were smart and presentable and that usually meant wearing a suit.

Arriving upstairs he knocked on the Chief's door before entering - he hoped he wouldn't be asked to explain about the feather..

She'd spent a long time with the one called Raphael. They'd talked for what seemed like hours and as dawn had prepared to break she had arrived home to the feeling of weakness that always overwhelmed her. The Opal was glowing. She opened the box and hesitated slightly before reaching to touch it. As she did she could feel a tremendous heat coming from the stone and passing into her body. It was almost overwhelming. She tried to end the contact but it wouldn't let her, it was almost like it had formed a strong invisible connection that would not be broken.

Her legs felt heavy and with that everything went black as she crumpled to the floor.

She didn't know how long she had lain there but when she awoke she felt weird. Sitting herself up she could hear knocking coming from the other side of the door.

"Miss Phoenix?"

Blast, it was that little worm Stockman. She was not in the mood for him at all.

Stumbling forward she briefly checked her reflection. Nothing looked different but she could still feel it - something felt different, something deep inside her very being almost as if her basic makeup had been altered.

She opened the door "What do you want Stockman? and make it quick, I'm busy"

"Just wanted to let you know that the magic ingredient is here so we are all on track as planned" He looked like he waiting for a tongue lashing.

"Good, don't let me down or I will destroy your sorry ass, you got that?"

He nodded furiously "Yes, of course"

She slammed the door and went to lie down on the bed. Crawling along the covers her head eventually hit the pillow and she felt her eyes close.

In sleep she was once again consumed by visions. They showed the prophecy and the role she would play - they showed the cleansing and the new beginning. During her time in this mystic world she also became aware of something darker, something ancient, something that made her feel a chill to her very bones. This presence was angry. It communicated nothing but rage and flame. Flame that consumed her soul and took control. She was now no longer the girl she was trying to remember - this Rebecca Madison, the girl that was good and kind. The girl who'd had a father and the girl who had been loved.

She was once again the Phoenix.

And tonight she would hunt, she would fly and she would kill.