Unexpected Mother

Part 23

April POV

(Two Months later )

Nuzzling Venus with her beak, April chirped at her little girl, as the little one coo at her happily, only two months old, she was a strong, happy child, laughing, chirping, always wanting someone to hold her, though Raph seems to be her favourite, Donnie was the other brother she cling onto.

Humming to her precious child, April rocked the little turtle in her arms, the past months have been hard on April, constantly feeding Venus, which she had no choice to breastfeed, for she had no formula as a substitute, on top of that, taking care of four children who in turn did try to help out, she was exhausted to say the least.

With the bus snug as a bug, surrounded by trees for shelter and out of sight, April had no choice then to park it, not continuing her journey home.

The thought of driving in her condition or predicament without another helping hand, would be suicide, putting her children at risk.

The only thing that was making her feel comfortable with this decision was the fact she had that radar system that detected humans and mutants, which was kept on all the time, to insure the safety of her family.

Rubbing her tiresome eyes, rest beckoned her, with the children in bed and Venus being fed and ready for bed as well, April slowly rose to her feet, feeling the weight of her shell hitting her hard, she must be tired for her to feel her shell pulling her down like this.

Reaching the archway, April stared beyond the dashboard, noticing how the snow was fully melted, it was turning into spring, green and fresh, to think it's been three months since, she saw her beloved and her… Leo…

Wiping the tears away, Venus stirred within her arms, opening her eyes wide, the child looked at her mother, then started to cry as if she could sense her mother's sorrow, or at least smell it.

Smiling at her sweet child, April took a seat at the radar station.

"It's ok Venus," April said calmly soothing the child's cries, "Mommy was thinking about your father and your big brother Leo, I didn't mean to upset you," April nuzzled her beak into Venus's neck as the child squealed, touching April's face in response.

"You know what little girl, when we get home, your father is going to be overly thrilled in finally meeting you. He is a great man, well alligator. I will tell you a secret, he is quite big, but very huggable. Your brothers use to play knights and dragons with him, you know. Leo was a brave knight; he would help your brothers to defeat the dragon in order to save the princess. I bet Leo would make you the princess next time, like your other brothers, he would love you to bits…." April teared up, placing her hand in her palm, she promised herself that she wouldn't get upset, or start crying over Leo.

She missed her child greatly, she didn't even know if he was alive or dead, that feeling alone was more than enough to rip her heart apart, piece by piece.

"Mommy…" Donnie's voice came behind April, startling her at first as she desperately wiped her tears away quickly, to hide what she was doing, all she needed was to upset her other child.

"Donnie, why are you still up?" April turned the chair around to face Donnie, giving him a weak smile, hoping it was believable.

"I can't sleep… are you ok mom?" Donnie came up to April, then brushed Venus's cheek as the little turtle giggled, extending her arms to her big brother to hold her.

Giving Venus to Donnie, Donnie held her close to him with a big grin on his face, as he kissed his sister on the head sweetly.

"I'm fine Donnie, are you not sleeping because you're excited over tomorrow?" April smiled more, tucking away her sorrows to the darkest part of her heart, watching for signs from her child, picking up what she was doing.

"Well, yeah, I guess…. But… are we ready to leave?" Donnie shuffled his feet; he was concerned over his mother's health and well being, it was agreed if she wasn't ready they wouldn't push her, they wanted their mother to be feeling fine more than anything else, even over finally going home.

Leaning forward April rubbed Donnie's head gently, making him give out a little chirp, how much he has grown in the past months, they all have, each one been acting more independent, she wasn't sure what happened at that lab could have brought this on, or was it because they had a little sister to help take care of?

"We are ready. Tonight I will get enough sleep, don't worry my little man. I wouldn't travel if I thought it was a risk upon you and your siblings," April assured Donnie, getting off her seat.

"Mommy… will… I was wondering can I sleep beside you?" Donnie looked at April with wild eyes, pleading her to say yes.

"Of course, I will bring Venus up; do you want to hold her when we go to bed?" April took Venus from Donnie's arms, as the young turtle went up the ladder to the top landing, where the beds were.

"Really! Thanks mom," Donnie looked behind him with a wide smile, he loved being around his little sister, feeling the pride of being the oldest.

Following him, April noticed why Donnie asked to sleep beside her, there on the other side, with a mountain of blankets, was Mikey on one side and Mona on the other, with poor Raph in the middle of them.

With a light chuckle April shook her head of the sight, as she found a spot gathering some blankets and pillows, letting Donnie to lay in front of her as she placed Venus in his arms.

Kissing them both, April placed the blankets on all three of them, laying her head on a pillow, allowing sleep to take her.

She needed all the rest she could get for tomorrow, they have stayed in this spot way too long for her liking; it was time to start heading home again.

"MOMMY!" a small voice yelled, scaring April half to death, making her jump in her spot as she slammed her head on the roof of the bus.

With a hiss, she held her aching head, as her vision was blurred, seeing three Mikeys in front of her.

"Mikey…" April started moaning in pain, letting her eyes adjust, "What's wrong, sweetie?"

Excitedly the young turtle beamed, "Today we start our journey back home!"

Looking upon the eager face, bright and cheerful as always, April only moaned in response, flopping back down, pulling the blankets over her head, it must be early, she bet it wasn't even day light and Mikey was already wired for sound.

"Mommy come on get up," Mikey shook her arm, as April gave another moan in protest.

"Mikey, leave mom alone," Raph yawned rubbing his eyes, giving Mikey the stink eye for being so loud so early in the morning.

"But…" Mikey started only to have Donnie interrupt him.

"Get back to bed Mikey," Donnie snapped his beak in annoyance, smacking Mikey with his pillow, trying not disturb Venus, who stirred in his arms.

"Come on, aren't we all ready to go!" Mikey cheered, as if everyone was on the same page, answered him with a hissing 'NO!', including April.

Pouting Mikey crossed his legs, sitting there staring at all lazy butts, not one of them was willing to get up, why not?

Tilting his head, Mikey wondered how to get this rolling, then an idea came to mind, quickly Mikey climbed down the ladder heading towards the kitchen.

Grabbing a pot, filling it with icy cold water, Mikey smirked, if they won't wake up by normal means, he will have to force it.

Slowly and steadily, Mikey went back to the top compartment, wondering who will be his first victim, sure he could target his mom, but the fear of getting grounded was up in the air.

As for Donnie, it would be a bad choice since he was holding his little sister… leaving only one brother left… Raph!

Slowly creeping to his big brother, Mikey watched Raph, who in turn had no idea what was coming.

With a big 'HA!' Mikey threw the pot of water at his unexpected brother with much enthusiasm, only to hear a giggle from his side…

The water that was going at Raph, suddenly changed directions splashing poor Mikey in the face, making him topple over backwards.

In seconds as the young turtle screamed, April jerked up witnessing the water attack, quickly she went forward, grabbing the pot that flung out of Mikey's hand, that almost came back down on him.

With a huff, crossing his arms angrily, Mikey looked at his water soaked shirt, then gave a venomous look over towards Venus, who was sitting up, smiling and clapping, "VENUS come on, why did you do that!"

As the anger in his voice came out, Venus sniffled, then started to cry, sighing, April put the pot down, going to Venus to comfort her.

"Venus, that wasn't nice to do that to your big brother, or," April looked towards Mikey, "It wasn't nice of your big brother to try to do such a trick on Raph either."

Head down in shame, Mikey didn't say a peep, noticing that Venus was sniffling looking at him with big sad eyes.

Biting his lip, Mikey knew he shouldn't have yelled at her, feeling her eyes tearing him apart with guilt, sighing, he gave into them, going to her, giving her a big hug, "I'm sorry sis…"

With a giggle, Venus smiled happily; suddenly the water on Mikey and the blankets went into the air in a vapour, going back into the pot as a liquid once more.

By now, use to these things, April just shook her head with a light chuckle, "Well, now, Mikey, why don't you bring back that pot of water downstairs. Donnie would you like to help me with breakfast?"

"Really!" Donnie beamed jumping out of bed; he loved helping his mother to cook.

"Mom, can we sleep in a bit more," Raph asked sleepily, looking at Mona, who was still asleep, regardless of the event that just played out.

"Yes, you can sweetie. I will call when breakfast is ready Raph," April smiled, letting Mikey to take the lead, with Donnie next then her, as Raph went back into the blankets to snuggle back with Mona.

(3 hrs later)

Making sure the radar didn't pick anything up, April opened the doors of the bus allowing the fresh warm spring air to come in, to air the place out.

The children, knowing the rules, went and played in the new green grass, while April double checked the bus, making sure everything was in order before their journey.

Checking the tires, the exterior of the bus, everything seemed fine, the diagnostics came up normal, they had plenty of water that April made sure was well stocked up with snow before it ever melted.

Taking in the air, April breathe deeply, soon it will be the boy's birthday, they will be turning seven this year, she just hoped she reached home before it comes around, yet she knew better, that it was a possibility that they might not get home in time.

Sure, it should be another week to reach home, that didn't mean, it would be just that simple…

April was unsure how the conditions of the roads are, after the winter past, or what obstacles she might face as well.

All she needed to do was keep in mind of her children's safety, and if it takes longer than she wanted, there was nothing she could do about it.

Though she did start to wonder if she should dare find a town and scavenge for supplies, all though the bus was well packed, it was obvious things were starting to run out.

With the uncertainty of not knowing how long this trip was going to take, she didn't want to find herself with nothing, with nothing around, resulting her running out of food.

Leaning her shell against the bus, April stretched, watching the children play, laughing, running around free of worries, part of her wish, this moment would last forever, yet alas, it could not, but once home they can do this every day, being just kids.

Leatherhead POV

The room rocked back and forth, Leatherhead was happy not being the one plagued by sea sickness, Casey on the other hand wasn't so lucky, as the human that was greener than his own skin, lay there half dead.

"Casey, are you sure you're going to be ok?" Leatherhead asked his friend trying not to laugh, for he had to admit, for a human, Casey was as tough as they came, but now he was being defeated by the ocean on a small cargo boat.

Being two months, since he and Casey with his child Shadow, escaped the clutches of the Ringleader and his despicable bloodbath games, they both been scrounging around to gather enough money to leave the Turks and Caicos Islands, which surprised him at first how far from home he really was, it was more than he imagined and feared.

That said, the things he had to do to find a way home, though he hated to admit it, he had no choice then to stoop down to petty thievery, with only one boat in the bay that was willing to harbor mutants, the fee to travel back to the mainland as they called it, was high.

What didn't help, with the Ringleader running the show, it was pure luck alone that Casey was able to convince the old sailor to bring them to the mainland, without him handing them over to the Ringleader.

Now with a six day journey by sea that would taken less, but with rumors of sea beasts popping up recently, which Leatherhead figured were some kind of mutant, threaten certain areas of the sea, there was no choice in taking detours to reach the mainland.

"I will… ah… damn it Leatherhead… why… ahh… can you not be sick… HICK… ahh shit…," Casey moaned, sprawling himself out, not to happy feeling the waves under him.

"Well, maybe it's for I'm an alligator, or I'm just that lucky," Leatherhead smirked, then looked over towards Shadow who was playing with some dolls, occupying herself, "At least she is not affected by this."

"Yeah… ahh, where is the… oh hell!" Casey scrambled to his feet, heading for the bucket that was on the other side of the room, spilling his guts out as both Shadow and Leatherhead looked at him.

"Leatherhead," Shadow came up to him, with wondering eyes, feeling sorry for her father.

"Yes Shadow?" Leatherhead put his focus on Shadow trying to ignore Casey, feeling a bit sick by the sight.

"Is there anything you can do for my dad?" Shadow asked, sitting next to Leatherhead's tail using it as a back rest, placing her dolls in front of her.

Thinking on it, he was considering beforehand this might be an issue, while they packed to leave the island for good, he did make something for such occasions, but would it work?

"Well, I have this band that I have made, that puts pressure on the Nei-Kuan pressure point, but I'm not sure if it would work or not," Leatherhead took out a makeshift wristband made out of hemp with a stone on it.

Not sparing another moment, Shadow snatched it up, "Let's try it, dad's puke smells like week old fish, it's disgusting!"

With a bark, Leatherhead roared on the comment, he never considered that Shadow being a dog, her sense of smell was far greater than his, as it stands the smell was making his stomach turn, who knows what it was doing for her.

"Here dad, use this," Shadow covered her muzzle, as she tied the bracelet onto his wrist.

"It might take a bit before it has any effect, but there is no guarantee it will work though," Leatherhead informed Casey, while the human flopped on his back, moaning.

Shaking his head, there was nothing Leatherhead could do then hope the wrist band would work.

(3hrs later)

Watching the stars through the small window, Leatherhead admired them, he wondered if April too, was looking at them with the boys…

Sighing, Leatherhead wished he was home, he wish to see his family again.

"You're thinking about them, aren't you?" Casey sat down beside him, by the looks of it the human looked better than before.

Passing some fruit to the alligator, taking a look over towards his sleeping child, Casey too ate his meal without worry of becoming sick, for the bracelet was working well for him.

"Yes, I am, I hope they are fine," Leatherhead sighed again taking a bite of his fruit.

"Well, what you told me about them, I believe they are fine. They are probably waiting for you to come home," Casey smiled, hoping it will cheer Leatherhead up.

"You're probably right…"

Biting his lip, Casey sighed, "I can't say I know 100% on how you're feeling right now, but I do understand the feeling of losing someone you love, and the mere thought of losing Shadow is more than I can bear."

Turning away from the window, Leatherhead didn't want to pry, but this has been on his mind for some time, "Not to be nosy, but what happen to Shadow's mother?"

As the man stared at his fruit, Leatherhead was feeling, he shouldn't have brought it up, yet Casey looked at him with a slow nod, like he was agreeing he should tell Leatherhead what happened.

"First, Leatherhead, I want you to understand about my daughter, what I am going to tell you makes her no different than you and I," Casey started, as he read Leatherhead's face, seeing if there were any signs that he might not want to tell Leatherhead the truth.

"Go on," Leatherhead insisted, wondering why Casey said that, in such a manner.

"As you know, I use to be a detective in Chicago. My field of work, entitles, long, unpredictable hours, there would be days I wouldn't come home. My fiancée and I were trying for a child, but it wasn't going so well. I felt guilty, leaving her alone, so one day I… I bought this puppy for her…," Casey trailed off looking at Shadow fighting away the tears.

"My fiancée called her… Shadow…" Casey stopped, looking at Leatherhead waiting for him to say something on the line, on how could he claim his pet as his precious child.

Yet the alligator did not, nodding in acknowledgment, "Casey I haven't told you something, maybe I should before you continue your story, I too was not human. I was born an alligator and was mutated before the rain."

"Really?" Casey was shocked looking at Leatherhead, this whole time he thought he was human, then mutated, not once did he consider any other way.

"Yes, I was, so I understand… and I all so understand, if you don't want to continue your story it is fine. It is nice to see a human that thinks a mutant animal is no different then himself; you are good man Casey Jones."

"Thanks… but I do want to tell you, for you're the first person I have ever dared to do so. I have been burdened with this secret for so long, maybe for I feared what others would say, or I am afraid in facing what happened that day… But I think it is finally time I told it," Casey smiled at Leatherhead, taking the alligators words to heart, pleased to see a mutant animal seeing him no different as well, regardless if he was human.

"So, as I said, I gave Shadow to my fiancée. When the storm came, when the rain fell… I was out of town on some drug bust, little did I know at the time this was happening. I don't know what actually happened, but my fiancée called me, telling me the horrors that were unfolding, as she informed me she will meet me outside of the city," taking a breath Casey mood became darker as he continued.

"When I arrived at the place she wanted to meet, some of the rain hit that area before hand… There within the kitchen… were pools of water, covering everything, the roof was leaking, she must have not noticed…. In the middle of the blood and green water, surrounded by shredded clothing, was this young mutated child... Shadow was crying, frighten, she must have witnessed my fiancée's death…." Casey started to cry placing his head in the palm of his hands.

"I froze, shock at the sight, I didn't know what to think. I wanted to scream, cry, curse the world for taking my love. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, my beloved was dead, for I witness some other people dying in the same manner... Yet all that, all I could do was look at this child. She was so young, so helpless, whimpering in complete horror… She looked at me, Leatherhead, with those big brown eyes full of fear, she wasn't sure what to do, as she just stared at me. Like she was begging me to help her, comfort her. Without a thought I picked her up, wrapping her in my coat leaving the room, not looking back. After that I told her I was her father… Why? Maybe for I lost the love of my life and I was afraid to lose anything else that I held dear to me… I know she would have loved Shadow like a daughter if she lived, so I made myself her father, for there was no way I was going to let a child like herself be alone in this world."

Silently Leatherhead looked at Casey, to witness such a horrifying scene, was quite unbearable, for he too remembered how he felt when he thought April died.

"Casey, I know this isn't a question to ask, but you said you picked her up, meaning you came into contact with the water? Yet you're still human?" Leatherhead asked, unsure it was an appropriate time to ask such a question.

Wiping away the tears, Casey nodded, "Actually, believe it or not, many people stayed human after coming in contact with the water, as others mutated, as the rest died. Why… I don't know, I just know that stuff has no effect on me."

Sitting back, Leatherhead thought about it, was it possible that some humans had an immunity to it? Surely Casey wouldn't lie and it was obvious he was still human, so not everyone died or mutated, why?

Shaking his head, though that day still plagued him with questions, this wasn't the time to think on it, he had more important things to put his mind on.

Like what to do next, when he gets to the mainland, by the sounds of it, things have changed more than he realized, traveling home will not be so simple.