Chapter 24 ~Reunion~

Lucille heard the stone elevator doors slide open, and footsteps, but she didn't come out of the room she'd been using immediately. She held back until she could no longer bear the waiting, before sliding the door open and moving out into the main part of the Lair. She didn't see Austin at first, and her heart sank. The living area was empty.

They weren't able to get her, she thought. Tears stung her eyes. Poor Michelangelo. He must be devastated…

Voices from the dojo had her moving instinctively in that direction. This time she didn't enter boldly, but slipped over to the doorway and peered into the dimly-lit room. A Turtle was there, his back to her, with red mask-tails trailing down the back of his shell. Lucille had to fight down the urge to step back instinctively. The Turtle was larger and more muscular than those she'd met previously, Leonardo and Michelangelo. There was an aura of menace about him. His voice rumbled quietly as he spoke to a young woman with long, shining brown hair. She was looking steadily into his face without a trace of fear. Lucille couldn't hear the conversation, but the quiet tone and the proximity of the speakers made her feel as if she were intruding. When the Turtle gently cupped his hand to the woman's neck and leaned forward, slanting his mouth over hers, she turned away hastily, unwilling to intrude on such a private moment.

Fresh tears stung Luci's eyes. The tenderness between the pair was so poignant, her heart ached. She fingered the pendent around her neck absently, rubbing the tips of her fingers over the stone, and wandered back toward the hall that led to the room she'd been using.

The squawk of an impatient child had Luci turning toward the kitchen. She headed in that direction, thinking vaguely of what she'd say to Leonardo, to try to comfort the young leader. He'd left looking so determined.

"Do you want more tea?"

"No, let me get Skylar fed first…"

The voice… familiar, lost, returned, had Lucille sprinting to the kitchen. She burst through the doorway, staring, a little cry escaping her when she spotted her niece, perched on a kitchen chair, cradling a squirming Turtle babe. Michelangelo was leaning down to take the child with an indulgent smile. He glanced up.

"Oh, hey, Dudette. We thought you were still sleepin'."

"Aunt Luci!" Austin passed the baby to the Turtle and scrambled to her feet, rushing across the kitchen to catch Lucille up in a tight embrace. "Are you all right? Oh Aunt Luci, I was so worried about you!"

"Austin!" Lucille hugged the trembling young woman close. "It's all right, dear. It's all right now."

"Are you all right, Aunt Luci? Those thugs didn't hurt you?" Austin released the woman, leaning back to gaze worriedly into her face.

"I'm fine, thanks to your family, Austin," replied Lucille with a smile.

"I didn't want it to be like this." Tears filled Austin's eyes. "Aunt Luci, I never meant for you to get hurt. I didn't know…"

"Hush, child," said Luci gently. She reached up to touch Austin's face. She's here. She's really here. This isn't just an insane dream... "I'm just glad you're safe."

"This is why… Aunt Luci, this is why I didn't want to let you in," said Austin softly. "I was afraid of something like this."

"Dear, Rin hasn't changed. Do you think I didn't know?" Lucille shook her head. "Did I leave your mother when she married the fool? Of course not. And I'm not holding your father against you either."

"Lucille-san is very wise, Austin." A gravelly voice spoke up from the kitchen. Splinter came around the corner of the table, with a cup of tea in his hands. "Won't you come in and join us, Miss Lucille?"

"Yes, where are my manners. Come in, Aunt Luci. I want you to meet my family properly."

"I have, Dear," said Luci quietly, feeling a bit overwhelmed now that she saw Austin in the protective circle of her family. Michelangelo hovered close, with his daughter snuggled close to his plastron. Lucille couldn't help but smile when she heard the child's contented giggle and saw her grab the end of her father's mask and tried to stuff it into her mouth. Michelangelo grinned indulgently, tugging the silky material out of the baby's fingers.

"Silly girl," he cooed. "Here. This is better." He reached down, picking up a small piece of banana off a plate on the table and offering it to the baby. She grabbed it and stuffed it into her mouth, grinning with delight. "That's right, eat up. Don't you worry, you can have all you want to eat from now on."

"Is she hungry?" asked Lucille, puzzled.

"We both are," confessed Austin, going back to the table and sitting down. She reached over, putting her hand on Michelangelo's side. He smiled and sank down into a chair next to her.

"That Rin guy didn't bother feeding them," he growled, glancing at Lucille.

Her breath caught in her throat. "Austin…"

"It's ok Aunt Luci. He didn't… I mean, we're both ok. Skylar's ok." Austin shivered, and Lucille frowned.

"He didn't… threaten you? Or the baby?"

Austin glanced at Michelangelo before shaking her head. She avoided Luci's eyes.

"We're fine," she repeated a bit more firmly.

Lucille took the hint and didn't press further. She let Austin lead her to the table, and chose a seat across from her niece, next to Splinter. Leonardo was standing, leaning on the counter, watching everyone with a faint smile. Splinter nodded a greeting to Lucille as she sat.

She watched as Austin fed the baby bits of fruit from a plate obviously prepared for the purpose. Skylar was stuffing pieces in her mouth as fast as Austin handed them to her. Michelangelo hovered protectively next to the pair.

"You sure you're ok?" he asked.

Austin leaned into his shoulder and he put his arm around her. "We're fine, Mike. Thanks to you guys. I can't believe he thought he could keep me prisoner." She shivered.

"What did he want, Austin?" asked Leonardo.

"He wants me to go to Grandfather and get him to change his will so that Father will be the beneficiary," explained Austin.

There was a long moment of silence.

"Then he won't give up easily," said Leonardo softly. "Austin, you need to consider whether it's safe for you to go topside now, at least for a while."

"What? I have to work, Leo!" Austin's hazel eyes flashed. "I'm not going to hide from him. I'm not."

"What about the police?" asked Lucille. "Austin, don't you think you should file a report?"

"No." Austin shook her head firmly. "It's too risky."

"Austin, you and your daughter were kidnapped," argued Lucille. "You have to go to the police!"

"I can't Aunt Luci. Can't you see? It would put my family in danger. I can't risk it," said Austin.

Lucille shook her head, frustrated, but didn't argue further.

I really have no right to tell her what to do, she thought.

Splinter cleared his throat. "Austin-chan, perhaps it would be best to consider the options in the morning, when we are all rested," he suggested gently.

"Hai, Sensei." Austin nodded.

Splinter sipped his tea calmly, the argument cowed for the moment.

Another Turtle strode into the room, the one Lucille'd seen in the dojo.

"'Sup?" he asked the assembly in general, pausing to reach over Austin's shoulder and tickle the baby's cheek.

Skylar tipped her head back, dropping a bit of banana, and grinned widely, reaching her sticky hands up to him.

"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" she exclaimed.

"Hey Kid, it's good ta see you, too," said the red-masked Turtle gruffly.

"Aww, why don'tcha give Uncle Raphy a nice big kiss," teased Michelangelo. For the first time, Lucille saw him smile, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I t'ink I'll wait til she's done eatin'." The muscular Turtle straightened, his amber eyes resting briefly on Lucille before flickering away.

"Lucille-san, this is my son, Raphael," supplied Splinter.

"I believe we've met," answered Luci carefully, watching the Turtle.

"Uh, yeah. Sorry about dat." Raphael shifted uneasily. "When we got to da park an' found ya leanin' over Sensei like dat, I…" He trailed off, glancing at Leonardo.

"What my brother is trying to say is he's sorry for attacking you, Miss Chesney," said Leonardo, giving Raphael a stern look.

"You attacked Aunt Luci?" Austin was on her feet in an instant, handing Skylar off to her husband. She crowded close to Raphael's plastron. To Luci's surprise, the Turtle flinched back from the petite woman's onslaught. "Why would you do that, Raph?"

"It was an accident, Austin, honest!" He was holding up his hands as if to ward her off. "I didn't know she was yer aunt!"

"He was defending his father," said Luci, stifling a giggle at the comical sight of the large Turtle backing away from her niece. "Austin, it's all right, I accept his apology."

Austin glared at Raphael for a few more seconds before she nodded. "All right. But Raph, you really have to be more careful. Aunt Luci is family."

"Yeah, I know." Raphael gave the girl a smirking grin. "Fergive me, Sis?"

Austin glared for a moment before wrapping him up in a tight embrace. "If Aunt Luci can, I can too."

Raphael's eyes flicked to Luci's face again and she gave him a cautious smile. He relaxed visibly, hugging Austin briefly before stepping away with a twitch of embarrassment.

"Good. Now dat's settled, what've we got ta eat? Hey, where's Donny, anyway?"

"He went to April's," answered Leonardo. "She called. Apparently the child he and Mikey… rescued is giving her some trouble." His dark eyes were on Michelangelo's back. Luci saw the orange-banded Turtle's shoulders hunch slightly. Austin's eyes widened as her gaze moved from her husband to her brother in law. Lucille tensed. She could sense the beginnings of a family fight.

Raphael sighed. "They were gonna tell ya, Fearless."

"You knew about this too?" Leonardo's voice rose with surprise. He was looking at his brother with what looked like hurt.

"Don't get yer shell in a bunch, Leo," answered Raphael.

"My shell is not in a bunch, Raph," snapped Leonardo. "When Donny told me I didn't know it was a family-wide conspiracy." He glanced at Lucille and shook his head. "We'll talk about this later," he said stiffly. "I'm going to bed. Good night, everyone."

The blue-banded Turtle strode out of the room without another word.

"Ah, man…" Michelangelo glanced at Austin.

"It'll be all right," she said, reaching for his arm. "He'll calm down."

"Your brother is rightfully upset," said Splinter quietly. "But Donatello and I discussed this. Michelangelo, you and Donatello will need to speak with Leonardo in the morning."

"Ok, Sensei."

Splinter nodded sharply, but said no more on the matter. Raphael went to the refrigerator and rummaged around, coming out with a soda. He nodded to Splinter in a gesture of casual respect and left the kitchen.

I've never seen a family settle a dispute so quickly, thought Lucille. I was sure Leonardo and Michelangelo were going to argue, but… I hope my presence here isn't causing tension.

"I should go," she said suddenly. "Austin, you're safe now, but Janey needs me. I really should be getting back."

"Oh, Aunt Luci, why don't you stay tonight?" Austin turned to her aunt, pleading. "Mike can take you back to your hotel in the morning, and you can go from there. Please, Aunt Luci, I haven't seen you in so long."

"Well…"

"It is late. Of course if you wish it, my son will escort you back to your hotel, but it would be an honor if you would accept our hospitality, Lucille-san," said Splinter.

Luci turned to glance at the Rat. His dark eyes were unfathomable, but he gave her a reassuring smile. Slowly, she nodded.

"All right."