Someone to Count On
Ch. 21
"Fully Recovered"
The second week of December arrived and Milani was relieved she could finally return to work after being out for so long. Her friends were also glad too, they no longer had to work extra shifts to pay the bills. Besides they were just glad that Milani was herself again.
Aeiko approached her.
"So does that mean our training can continue finally Lani? Now that Karai's daughter is ahead of the foot while her aunt is still in recovery I think it's wise to be prepared if we get attacked again unexpectedly?"
Holly interrupted.
"Yes you do have a point Aeiko, but it's like 11 days before Christmas? We still have to put up our tree and the decorations outside. Will we really have time to train?"
Emerald exited the kitchen sipping her coffee and cut in.
"We all get off early tonight right, so let's call the guys and tell them we need help with our tree and the outside lights. Then maybe tomorrow we can start training again? What do you think Lani?"
Milani sipped her coffee.
"Okay before I clock in I'll call Leo and tell him that we need help and that we need to return to training. See you all when I get off later. Ciao for now ladies, I can't be late for work April will kill me."
Milani grabbed her coffee and took it with her as she walked to work fully alert. She didn't trust anyone. She saw a few foot members enter the bagel shop and just continued on her way to work. Suddenly a teenager that looked just like Karai jumped down in front of her saying.
"Well Milani, I am wondering why my aunt is so interested in you? She told me you have something to tell me about my mother, and if I don't get the answer I need you will be sorry."
Chapman appeared and yelled to his daughter.
"I told you before young lady, your aunt has no right to have you confront this girl. Now get back to the skyscraper and back to your training before I forbid you to lead the foot until your aunt is well do I make myself clear young lady, Do I?"
She disappeared into smoke and Chapman just shook his head.
"Sorry about my daughter Ms. Toshi. She wants to know who is responsible for her mother's death, and Larai told her you have the answer she needs. She will not bother you again, she just needs to accept the fact her mother was killed by an unfortunate accident. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Good Day Ms. Toshi."
Milani bowed.
"Thank you Mr. Chapman and to you and your family also a Merry Christmas."
She now had ten minutes to make it to work and ran at top speed toward the antique shop making sure her coffee doesn't spill on her outfit. She made it five minutes before her shift started and April smiled at her.
"Welcome back Milani, so good to have you back. What is on your mind, you seem worried about something? Would you like to talk to me before we get busy?"
Milani put her stuff in her locker and began as she clocked in.
"On my way to work today, Karai's daughter approached me asking me questions about her mother's death. She said that her Aunt told her that I have the answers she needs about that dishonorable bitch's death. Sorry about the language April, I cuss when I am angry. Then her father Chapman apologized to me about his daughter's behavior and wished me and my family a Merry Christmas. He thinks that Karai's death was an unfortunate accident, but we all know who killed her. I am the one that killed her, and when her daughter finds out it was me the foot will attack us again."
April sighed.
"Milani there is no proof that you are the one responsible for Karai's death. It has already been proclaimed to be an unsolved mystery. So Larai can talk all she wants, you really shouldn't worry about it. The only ones who know that it was you is actually Leo and his brothers, and Larai too. But Chapman told his daughter to ignore her Aunt so you really shouldn't be worrying about it. Don't let this mess up your Christmas okay. Come on let's get to work we have customers and one is Larai on crutches too. I will take care of her you just count the inventory. Go on Milani."
Milani nodded and went to the back room to open the boxes of the new holiday items they just got in and sorted them into piles while she made columns and counted what they had on hand.
In the meantime, April approached Larai nicely.
"Hello ma'am can I help you find something? Oh you like the swords, the one you must be buying for must be very special. Here let's look at this selection, just came in for the holiday season."
Larai looked at the swords and responded.
"Yes Mrs. Jones I am looking for a sword for my niece. She is the new head of the foot clan; I still am not able to fight so she will be in charge until I am back on my feet thanks to that freak Leonardo."
At that moment Leonardo walked in as a human and glared at Larai as he approached April. In his mind.
'I'll give her a freak, she's lucky that she survived our last battle. Let me cut in April is getting annoyed with this dishonorable ninja sorceress.'
He approached and responded in a nice tone winking at April.
"Here ma'am come with me to this section, these swords are made for teenagers that have mastered their skills at such a young age. Which one of these would she like? Oh that one is beautiful, I will engrave it for you and have it wrapped when you pick it up in two days. Thank you ma'am my job is to help our customers find the right gift for that special person in their lives. Have a great day and Merry Christmas to you to. See you in two days. Thank you for shopping with us."
After she left April looked at Leo.
"Thank you, for taking over Leo. I am so glad you talked me into letting you work here. Oh Milani is here in the back room doing inventory. Can you give her a hand Leo while I get the next customer? You are supposed to be wearing your nametag Leo, please put it on."
He nodded and clocked in, then he put on his nametag and went to the backroom and put his hands over Milani's eyes.
"Guess who?"
She was about to flip him over when he whispered in her ear.
'It's me babe, don't go hurting me now.'
She turned around and smiled at him.
"Real funny Leo, so you are working here now? I didn't see that coming at all. You never worked a day in your life."
He chuckled.
"I am human, so I got myself a job and will learn. Here let me give you a hand with this inventory. There is a lot."
She smiled.
"Yes there sure is. Welcome to working at an Antique shop during the holiday season. Oh speaking of holiday Leo, after work today can you and your brothers please come by and help us out with our tree and the outside decorations. It's eleven days till Christmas and we did nothing yet."
He sorted the items out and put them in piles telling Milani how many to write down. Then he responded.
"Sure no problem babe, we will come by later and help you ladies. But that is not all that is on your mind. Talk to me Milani I am your man you know."
She sighed and began as she closed the inventory book.
"See today Aeiko suggested we should start training again since Karai's daughter is the head of the foot clan now. She thinks that they will attack us again with Karai's daughter leading them. Then we all realized we had nothing done for the holiday yet and that is why I asked you to help us."
He nodded and responded.
"Ah ha, and what else? Milani I know something is bothering you spill it now."
Milani stood up and put the items on the cart that needs to go on the sales floor and took a deep breath as she explained.
"On my way to work today she approached me and demanded I tell her who is responsible for her mother's death because Larai told her to come to me. She also said if I don't answer I will be sorry, and that's when Chapman came in and made her leave. But Leo you know as much as I do, that is not the last time she will come to me for answers. Eventually she will find out that I am the one who killed her mother and come after us again. I have heard her skills surpass her mother's and her aunt's and am wondering if I will be able to defeat her or end up losing my life like I almost did when you stabbed me."
He embraced her and smiled.
"You will defeat her Milani, and will not have to do it on your own you have us to help you. So stop worrying and don't let this ruin our Christmas okay babe. After we finish with the tree and the outside we will continue your training okay. Come on let's get this merchandise on the sales floor before April kills us both."
She giggled and went out to the sales floor with Leo and put everything out on the floor.
(In the meantime at the pizza place that Holly worked at)
Mr. Minelli approached her.
"Hey Holly, I have a new employee that I need you to train. Come on Mike, this is Holly she will be your trainer. I am going on my lunch make sure you take care of the place while I am out."
Holly looked up and punched him lightly.
"Really Mikey, I have to train my boyfriend because he decided to work with me. This is going to be real fun. Why me? I should kill you, you know that."
He chuckled.
"What's wrong babe, you can't train me because I am your man. I am human so I decided to get a job and decided to work here with you. Would you rather me not?"
She sighed.
"I am just surprised that's all. Okay then put on your apron and your hat so we can start while we aren't that busy."
He smiled and did what she told him and tossed a few pizza pies and put them in the oven. She just giggled and smiled at him.
"Okay now it's time to teach you how to wait on a table. Come with me sir."
They made their way to the table and seen Karai's daughter with a friend of hers. Michelangelo swallowed hard as he approached.
"Hello my name is Mike and I will be your server today. Would you like to start off with some drinks while you look at the menus?"
Misaki looked up.
"Yes we would like a glass of water for now Mike. Thank you."
Michelangelo smiled.
"Also while you wait I will bring some bread; would you like garlic rolls or just Italian bread with butter?"
Misaki's boyfriend looked up.
"White Italian bread with butter thank you."
Michelangelo wrote it down on his pad and entered the kitchen looking at Holly.
"Just my luck, I get to wait on Karai's daughter and I think her boyfriend. Thanks a bunch babe let's just hope she doesn't say something to get me angry. Can I have two waters and some Italian bread with butter please."
She showed him where the water was and where to get the bread and smiled.
"You'll do fine Mike; stop worrying will you? Right now she's a customer not the head of the foot calm down."
Michelangelo looked at her.
"She practically is babe, just came in here for a bite to eat. My first day of work and I get the enemy what a day this is?"
He bought them the bread and water. As he walked away he overheard them talking about Karai's death.
"My Aunt told me to approach Milani, and ask her about my mother but my father interrupted me when she was about to answer me. I will find out who is responsible for my mother's death mark my words. All I remember hearing is my mother cursing a guy called Leonardo and blaming him for everything. Who is this Leonardo my mom was referring to, is he an ex or something before she met my father?"
Michelangelo stopped in his tracks and asked nicely.
"Have you decided what you are having tonight?"
Jay responded.
"Yes Mike we will have a medium cheese pie and two Pepsis. Don't mind my girl's attitude here, she just has a new responsibility and doesn't really want it. She is a really nice girl trust me."
Michelangelo smiled.
"It's okay, I'll bring out your sodas while you wait for your pie. "
He walked away and went back to the soda machine where Holly was checking the sodas and sighed.
"Now Misaki thinks my brother Leo was her mother's ex-boyfriend. Can this day get any worse than it is already?"
Holly was curious and asked.
"Mikey, was Karai, Leo's ex by any chance? Milani was wondering the same thing but he keeps on denying it."
Michelangelo swallowed hard and responded.
"Well we really aren't sure. My brothers and I have our suspicions but haven't really asked him. When he hears her name he gets all uptight. Besides we like our shells where they are if you don't mind babe."
Holly sighed.
"Is there anyone that he would talk to about Karai? Milani wants to ask him, but she doesn't want to get into another fight with your brother. We all know where that got her the last time, she nearly lost her life after Leo stabbed her while he was under Larai's spell."
Michelangelo shrugged as he took the sodas to Misaki and Jay. Then he smiled.
"Your pie will be out in about thirty minutes, would you like more bread or butter?"
Jay shook his head.
"No we had enough bread Mike. If we need anything else, we will flag you down."
Michelangelo nodded and walked away again. Then he put the pie in the oven and sighed thinking.
'Bro if Karai was your ex, you should tell your girl instead of denying it. I would really like to know what you two had going on myself? The way you behaved after she stabbed you on Shredder's ship with your own sword after you saved her life too. It doesn't make any sense at all.'
(A Block down from the pizza parlor Aeiko was at work at the gym she worked as a trainer at)
Raphael approached her.
"Yo babe, guess who just got a job here?"
She looked and saw him in a uniform.
"Really Raph, why did you choose this gym to be a trainer at? How did you get a job, you're not exactly a human you know?"
He crossed his arms.
"Yea so, what's your point? Does it make you jealous by any chance? Because you are glaring at my client like you wanna kill her or somethin'"
Aeiko glared back.
"Ha ha you're real funny you know Raph. I am not jealous, just surprised that's all. If you would excuse me I have my client in the other room. Have fun if you think you can handle working here like me."
He yelled back.
"Fine then be like that see if I care!"
Aeiko stormed off into the other room and walked up to her client. Her client looked and stared at her and whistled.
"Oh look my trainer is a hot tamale! Aren't I the lucky one to have you train me sugar."
Aeiko glared at Raphael who was turning red as the client continued to flirt with her. Then she looked dead in his eyes.
"I ain't here to get a man. I just work here so just do me a favor and pay attention to my instructions I am already taken so eyes back in your head bud understood."
Her client knew she was not playing and backed off. He listened to her instructions and just ran on the treadmill while she sat at the front desk glaring at the client flirting with Raphael as he was her spotter on the weights. Raphael wasn't really paying attention as his client was tracing his abs through his uniform shirt. From the desk Aeiko rolled up a ball of paper and threw it at him, hitting him in the back of his head. He felt it hit his head and yelled.
"What the, who is throwing paper balls at me!"
Aeiko left her desk and approached him and bopped him in the back of his head.
"Yo Raph, I don't think your girl would appreciate your female clients putting their hands on you! Look down you idiot!"
He looked and cleared his throat when he realized where her hands were.
"Sorry, but I don't date my clients. Besides I am already taken. So get your hands off me lady!"
His client removed her hands and apologized.
"Sorry, I always do that when my trainer is such a fine looking stud with muscles that make me melt! It won't happen again."
Aeiko stormed off and shook her head. Raphael tapped one of the other guys and ran after Aeiko.
"Yo Aeiko babe, what the hell is your problem? You shouldn't get jealous like that and run off. You know that you are the only girl for me. I was so involved in my job that I didn't realize where her hands were. Don't ever think that I would cheat on you again. Now come on let's get back to work before we both get fired! Aeiko listen to me, it won't happen again I swear on my ninja honor. Now come on the boss is looking for us. I'll make it up to you after we finish helping you girls okay. Now come on."
He made sure the camera wasn't on them and kissed Aeiko deeply on her lips causing her to smile. Then they both went back to work.
(In the meantime Donatello was in his lab at the lair working on some modifications to the security system of the lair and sighed.)
Master Splinter entered and asked.
"Donatello my son, why are you here all alone while your brothers are at work?"
He responded.
"Sensei I can't get a job at Emerald's school. At least they can work with their girlfriends. Mine is a preschool teacher I have no experience whatsoever with that kind of job. Besides I had to upgrade the security system for the lair. We don't need another episode like we had with Karai do we?"
Master Splinter thought for a second.
"Why not go visit Casey at his garage and see if he needs another mechanic. You are good with cars and other scientific things."
Donatello thought for a second.
"I didn't think about that, thank you Sensei. After I finish up here I'll go see Casey and see if I can work with him."
Splinter nodded and responded.
"Very well my son. I'll see you all later, I am going to watch my programs in the living room with a nice batch of sushi."
After Donatello finished the modifications to the security system. He hit his watch and headed topside toward Casey's garage. Casey spotted him.
"Yo Don what brings you here? I thought you would be at work with Emerald like your brothers are at their girls' jobs."
He sighed and began.
"Yea I tried that lamebrain, but I have no schooling to be a teacher like Emerald. I was wondering if I can work here with you since I am good with technical stuff? I mean you have the twins now don't you?"
Casey smiled and handed him a jumpsuit and a hat.
"Welcome aboard Don to Jones' Custom Fixes. You're just in time I am swamped here. Yea I do but my mom moved down from Boston and watches them when we are at work."
Donatello smiled and got right to work on a car that was really totaled. He and Casey worked on it together while his other mechanics worked on their jobs.
(Back at the pizza parlor)
Michelangelo bought Misaki and Jay their pizza and then he waited on another table while Holly handled the cooking to fill the orders. After they finished, Jay slipped Michelangelo a ten-dollar tip and thanked him as they exited the pizza parlor hand in hand.
Around three thirty Emerald got off and headed home to get everything out for the tree and the decorations outside. She checked the lights and made sure she separated all the lights for outside from the ones that were for the tree. Then she put the tree up and entered the kitchen to make some fresh egg nog for the tree trimming and decorating tonight. Donatello was the first one to arrive and knocked on the door. She answered and was about to kiss him but coughed.
"Whoa Don you smell like you just got home from working at Casey's garage. That smells even worse than the sewer."
He chuckled.
"Ha ha you're funny Emerald. Yes, I did just get off of work at Casey's garage. My brothers and I decided to get jobs like you three. Can I go take a shower please before my brothers get here with the girls."
She giggled.
"Yes you may, but I am not kissing you while you smell like that Don that is for sure."
He smiled as he entered the house and turned into his turtle form and headed upstairs to take a shower.