Well, I finally got around to finishing this chapter. lol. I was working on it for a short time, lost interest, then picked it back up the other day... Let me tell you, I finally got over that cavity I gave myself from last chapter's sweet ending, then I gave myself an even worse one with this chapter. I have got to get out of this mushy mood with this story... I don't do it in my upcoming Bleach story (of course, that also has a WHOLE different thing going on). Anyway, enough of my ramblings. Enjoy the latest chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT. I only have Amy and Gage. Chris and his story belong to Solaris Prime.
"Another note from your boyfriend?" Mona asked with a slightly teasing tone.
I frowned, folding the paper in my hand and hiding the fake black rose behind my back. For the past month, Gage had taken to leaving those false flowers in April's shop, right on the counter Don and I worked. Hidden within the petals was always a slip of paper with the plans of the Foot Clan. There was even some information every once in a while that was helping Don figure out what turned my brothers human. Mona often liked to tease me about how I was getting flowers.
"He's not-" I started.
"You can't hide it from me, Amy."
"What makes you say that?"
"You still love him, and I bet he loves you, based on what I've heard."
"But how can that work if I can't trust him?"
"You guys have come to trust his word when it comes to those letters. You still see Gage often, by yourself. I'd say you're well on your way to fully trusting him again."
"I don't know if that's possible, Mona," I answered as I began walking to Don's computer. The note from Gage was about some of the biotechnology tests that were being performed by Stockman. Setting the paper on his desk, I stared up at the monitors.
"A new one?" Don asked, picking up the slip of paper.
"Yeah. Are you making any progress on this?"
"A lot more, now that Gage is helping us." I nodded slowly, mulling over Mona Lisa's words and staring at the black rose in my hands.
"Donny, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, Amy. What's up?" he asked, turning his chair towards me.
"You met Gage first, and am I right to assume you told the others about him?" Don sighed heavily.
"Yeah."
"What made you think I'd like him, especially after how I'd acted around him at first?"
"He had a personality I know you like."
"What makes you so sure of what I like?" I asked with a slight smirk.
"I could tell by the way you acted. Even when you seemed so upset to see him, you never once made other plans before Friday, knowing that was when he came."
"That's because Fridays can be busy. I didn't want you to get swamped," I answered defensively. My brother chuckled, shaking his head.
"Maybe, but I was right, and we all agreed," he said.
"So… he wasn't to replace Chris, right?"
"Of course not. We'd never try to do that to you. Why do you ask?"
"Because I want to know if you think he's trustworthy, and not just someone to fill an empty space."
"I can't tell you to trust him, Amy, but he's really trying for you."
"I know," I murmured, looking down at my rose.
Later in the day, I met with Gage outside of April's antique shop. He seemed a bit surprised that I'd asked him to meet me so late in the evening, but happy to see me. I was wearing a pair of jeans and a black sweatshirt with my sneakers, meaning I was planning on staying in plain sight for much of the evening. Gage was dressed just as casually, but with a dark brown coat.
"Where to?" he asked with a smile.
"There's somewhere I want to bring you, which only my family knows about," I answered solemnly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." I led Gage to Central Park, in an area that few people walked around, or really noticed. The walk was silent and I could tell he was afraid to break it. We stopped in an area surrounded by trees, hidden from the rest of the park. Beneath the largest of the trees was a small stone slab with a name and two numbers.
"Christopher Nova," Gage murmured, reading aloud. "Who was he?"
"He was my brother. He was killed ten months ago, saving us all from the Shredder… or another incarnation."
"I'm sorry to hear that. Are you alright? It must have been hard."
"It has been hard. There was nothing left of him. This is just a memorial stone. I have one of his blades at home. He took the other one with him." Gage's arm draped over my shoulders as we stared down at the marker.
"You're strong, Amy, but I hope you haven't been trying to deal with this all on your own."
"It's mine to bear. Besides, I'm fine. Why should I worry my brothers even more?"
"Because they're your brothers." I sighed with a soft chuckle and stepped forward, placing a stick of incense on the stone. Once I lit the incense, I placed my hand on the cool stone slab and a small smile crossed my lips.
"He was my best friend, you know," I murmured.
"I can only imagine. I can't believe I haven't heard of him, since he was part of your family."
"Your father may have referred to him as a 'blind brat'. Does that help?" I glanced over my shoulder to see Gage's eyes widen in realization.
"That was your brother?" he asked in shock.
"Blinded by Shredder and given his sight back by Don. I take it you've heard of him after all?"
"Heard of him? He could fight blind, and win. My father never stopped complaining about him."
"Chris would be happy to hear that," I answered, my voice dropping to a low murmur as I stared back down at the memorial stone. Gage knelt beside me, a serious air around him again, and wrapped one arm around me. He placed his other hand on the stone marker.
"Don't worry, Chris. She's being taken care of down here. She's got her family, me, and her guardian angel. I know you probably want to see her again, but I think you'll be content with what I've got planned. Sorry, Chris, but you won't be able to see your sister again until she dies an old lady, warm in her bed." A smile crept onto my face as I leaned into Gage's embrace. He wrapped his other arm around me and rested his head on mine.
"I think I can live with that arrangement."
"Good. I'd hate to break a promise to your brother. If he's anything like the other four, I'd be in for some serious haunting," Gage answered lightly and with a soft chuckle in his words.
"So, how do you plan to keep that promise for so long?"
"Simple, Amy. I won't let anything hurt you again and, if you want me around, I won't ever leave you." I sighed and laughed quietly.
"You're a hopeless romantic, you know that?"
Yay! Cheesy-ness galore! ... I really hope I can get back into the serious mood I had before... I liked that one better... Sorry, I work better with the angsty/tragedy/slightly darker style than I do with the cutesy stuff. lol. At least, that's my opinion. Anyway, please R&R.