I love the reviews and how everyones worried about Donatello, dont worry thats already been planned. Have faith in the author . . .Breathe in . . .breathe out.
Onward.
The Names Jones,
Casey
Well Known Crazy
"I dont know what he was thinking, going alone" April stood off from everyone talking to Leonardo, Master Splinter and Don had met April at the entrance way.
"He'll bring him back" Don put a hand on Aprils shoulder who lowered her posture with a hint of sadness.
"I thought this vigilante work was slowing down . . .I mean I understand in an emergency but . . .Now he's just looking for something to fight with, like he can never get enough" April put a hand to her forehead.
"Take heart Miss O Neil, Raphael will bring him back" Master Splinter said with the utmost compassion and understanding. April knew that the fatherly rat worried about his own sons, going off on patrol, what with everything going on now, and the purple dragons having gotton stronger in numbers and the number of reported incidents steadily climbing.
Beth woke up shortly after Raphael had left when Leonardo came back out. Brandace was awake in the chair, silent but awake. Donatello had turned off the security triggers until Raphael came back, which they'd give the area and local tunnels, including the conjuntion up top near a subway tunnel where anyone could Follow Raphael and Casey, taking the long way home, easily. Being the resident 'brain' he set up extra precautions, especially now since they were harboring three teen females from a notorious street gang, the most powerfull street gang on the lower east side . . .and still expanding. They might even run into the local gangs that the police have been on track of for years. If the purple dragons could do that, they'd have more nights like this, that Donatello knew was a fact. Casey may have infiltrated a storage warehouse but who knew how many other places the purple dragons had marked off. Gangs had basic safehouses, homes, residences, warehouses whether legally bought or abandoned, the purple dragons were no different, just more powerfull. With Hun the leader and having taken his fair share of the foot clans 'income', he was able to build up his original adolescent street gang into a gangdom.
'Casey can't take them all on, but if he wants to take the lives of dragons on his own conscience then that was his choice . . .even though it was against what they were taught'. Donatello leaned upwards and haunched his shoulders looking up at Leonardo who seemed to be pondering the same thoughts. 'They were taught the way of bushido, and taught the lessons of ninja. They wouldn't kill if they could avoid it, but those same rules werent forcibly applied to Casey . . .who knows what that maniac is up to, or who he put down'.
"Why arent you in your room?"
Bethany had sat up a little while ago, no longer pretending she was asleep. If Brandace was asleep she was pretending well enough, but everyone knew whoever was in the room could hear Aprils panicking and worry, and Master Splinters comforting words.
"It's . . .dark"
Bethany admitted only part of what bothered her about the room. She knew she shouldn't complain and that having a room was better than sleeping out on the street somewhere, cold and hard. But the walls looked like a prison cell, the door was metal and cold, the floor was paved with no carpet, just as cold as the door. Somehow Raphael, Brandace, and Leonardo's rooms were all conveniently spaced near one another except Leonardo's was a little farther down. If she closed her eyes she could see the subway station the way it looked back whenever it was built, just add furnishings. But the room she got, wasn't a room, and she knew it.
Leonardo seemed to think about what to say, she didn't know if it was because he didn't want to be too harsh, or if he was just being silent out of the fact she felt she was being ungratefull.
"I'm sorry . . .I know a room is a room but . . ."
"It doesnt feel like your own"
Bethany felt relieved by his answer, he understood, so she didn't feel so bad. His tone gave the gesture that he had guess from experience.
"We'll figure it out later but . . .You need to sleep, both of you" Leonardo looked back at Brandace who just closed her eyes and turned around like she was ignoring it. Bethany dreaded going back to the room, she hated the cold feeling, the alone feeling, the noise of the subway rolling over head among whatever else lived and moved in this underground world. She leaned forwards on the couch seat edge, the springs felt underneith her.
"She can sleep in mine" Brandace said not turning over. Bethany looked up from the offer which Leonardo didn't seem to reject.
"Is that okay?" Bethany felt stupid asking him, she wanted to tell him that she was going to go sleep in Brandaces room, which was slightly smaller, a little more welcome than the large dark cold cell she was given. But a small part of her, wanted his approval, it was his home, she was in his world, it was a torn reply.
Leonardo gave a nod before standing up, if they were willing to accomodate with eachother than that was up to them. "Any sign of them yet?" Leonardo asked Donatello who turned to his computer. If Raph was out any later with Casey's condition unknown, they'd have to join the search. Everyone was already waking up anyway.
"Pajama party?" Michelangelo walked in a little drowsy from the way he was walking leaning on the couch to support a long yawn. . .
"I'm giving him a half an hour" Leonardo stood up walking towards his room to retrieve his swords, strapping them back onto his shell.
'we already have a full plate, three extra people to watch out for, along with my brothers . . .and friends'. Leonardo rubbed the side of his face before looking at his own hand. It was almost like an out of body experience, when you realize youre different than everyone else, but everyone talks and acts as if you werent. Maybe having extra people around wasn't so bad . . .it kept up this environment that he knew his brothers and maybe even his sensei had always wanted, an accepted one.
"Leo, Raphs on his way" Donatello came to his door, Leonardo stood up from his bed to wait out in the main area near the entrance.
(No asylum for me)
"Please . . .(Sobs) St-top, I'll give you whatever you want man, take the shit, I dont want it"
Casey felt an intake of breath . . .He tasted copperish blood in his mouth, 'little jr. landed a lucky shot smashing his metal made mask into his lower lip, slicing part of it against one of the breathing slots. He licked his lower lip under the mask, staring down like god on a sinner.
"You purple dragons think you own these streets? (chuckles)"
Jr. stayed on the ground. "you . . .you killed em, your a fucking murderer" He tried to crawl away, kids' leg was limp on the count 'of he broke it.
"Nah, their just takin' a little nap, I know its gotta be tough, poisoning the city every waking second, pushin' drugs, stealin, hurting innocent people, citizens who right now are sound asleep in the their beds, or out working honest jobs, unlike some people". Casey said in a mocking lower like half whisper.
"What the heck made you and yer little dragon buddies pick the color purple anyway . . .I always wondered" Casey mocked with a chuckle using the end of his hockey stick to lift the chin of the guy on the ground. The kid spit blood to his left, glaring up at the masked vigilante.
"Well this's been real fun but , Better cut this short" Casey whirled his hockey stick reaching back for force with his right arm, the guy on the ground turning to cover his face for impact.
Casey Jones felt something hit the back of his head. . .
Quickly turning around he didn't see anything . . .except one of his hockey pucks on the floor . . .Staring at it slightly perplexed.
"He's down and out Case . . .Ya did 'yer job, walk away"
Casey lowered his head with a smirk under that mask, the voice familiar. Shaking his head.
"Ya see" Casey pointed upwards with major sarcasm dripping from each breath he took "It aint nice to interrupt while I'm with a client". Casey motioned to the guy on the ground who had tried crawling away looking around for that invisible voice. The warehouse was darker now since the masked hockey freak took most of the lights out. At least the ones near him anyway.
"I think he got what the dr. ordered . . .Dont make me come out Case . . .I already called the cops, lets go".
Casey jones heard Raphaels voice come from one direction, then another.
"I aint done here yet" . . .
"Yeah ya are . . .Lets go" That voice got darker in tone , threatening.
"Well 'Vince' looks like I gotta hit the bricks" Casey had his hands up like he was going to say goodbye with apologies. Vince Petty looked up feeling pain his his jaw, his head and what felt like a broken nose. His ankle was twisted and his leg went numb. As soon as this asshole left he had to beat it, if the cops caught him Hun would rather sooner cut his losses than bail him out. He hadn't been initiated into the dragons . . .not yet.
Vince felt the sting of wood on the side of his head causing black spots in his vision before laying still with his own quiet unconsciousness.
"You coulda called"
"Ahhh Figured you were in bed already" Casey shrugged giving a light excuse. Casey jones looked to the left where his friends giant shelled muscular turtle form, roundish head, and the light glance of red color from his mask in the dim light.
"I didn't call the cops yet" Raphs voice answered while walking closer getting a look at the bloody mess on the floor.
"He aint got no dragon on 'im" Casey watched and looked down with Raphael, noticing this kid didn't have any tats or those headbands the dragons sometimes wore, usually sportin' something with purple.
"So he's a baby dragon, better get em while their young. Less chance they'll wanna get back in it" Casey jones lifted up his mask only part way to spit the blood he'd been tasting for the last fifteen minutes.
"This place doesnt have security, we should be fine" Casey looked around seeing no cameras, just a half empty, contaminated warehouse.
"Come on bonehead, ya got ur girl waitin' and no doubt the family's up waitin on us" Raphaels large form turned while Casey looked around.
"I wanted to light this place up . . ." He sounded half dissapointed, and half angry.
"You can play with y'er matches later"
Casey jones wiped sweat from his forehead following Raph out the backway. The night air relieving his pores and skin of coolness from the hot sweat.
"So youre gonna call the cops"
"I aint callin' em, yer callin' em"
"Why did ya say youre gonna call em if you aint"
"I said I did when that kid was conscious, I lied"
"Your a terrible liar"
"Shut up and call em"
"(Whispers) Fuck" He put his hockey stick back in his strapped sports bag.
"Bonehead"
"Got any quarters?"
"(Sighs)"
(Aint no rest for the wicked, the innocent, or the worried)
Bethany had gone back to sleep in Brandaces room. it was five A.M and an hour or so since Raphael left. Brandace felt tired mentally but couldn't sleep. Knowing any second Raphael was going to come back in, it hit her that this was real life. Not comforting like a cartoon, he could get seriously hurt, or bring back a dead casey jones. She'd watched enough gangland and seen enough news to know that what was going on wasn't easy to deal with. April was shaken up, and Raphaels brothers and father couldn't and wouldn't sleep until they came back. The uncertainty of everything made her feel vulnerable. This world was just as real as the one she grew up in, and like the song went "Their aint no rest for the wicked". Which made sure that the rest of them didn't get any safe rest either.
Everyones heads lifted when the sound of pipes and brick wall opening made the only tangible sound worth hearing. Raphael had a tired and battleworn looking Casey Jones around his shoulder for support. April got up quickly but took small steps towards them. Raphaels large body compared to Casey Jone's tall but thinner one, made an interesting sight at half past five A.M.
"Casey?"
"I'm alright babe" Casey let Raph let go of him.
"Thankyou" April looked sincerely at Raphael. "Are you hurt?" April lifted a hand towards Casey's face which he flinched a little when she reached for him. "I'm cool babe just . . .a little tired thats all" Casey smirked at Raphael , who didn't seem to reciprocate the joke.
"Tired?" Aprils voice quipped back.
"TIRED?, I'll tell you about being tired. You dont call, I wake up in bed 'ALONE', and its bad enough that your out playing vigilante every night but you promised you'd help me out tomorrow . . .Which technically tomorrow is now Today, once again you'll be passed out on the couch on a lifeline." April crossed her arms after ranting. Brandace watched Raphaels stance, a little hesitant to say anything. The rest just watched.
"Well I guess that means I'm not needed here, Night family" Michelangelo quickly excused himself. Donatello seemed to agree, looking around at the parties involved before nodding to Master splinter who also looked a little tired. Master Splinter nodded back to Donatello and Leonardo, who got up and left seeing there was nothing for them to do but stand around and witness Casey get a verbal lashing by a tired and angry red head.
Raphael walked past the chair, looking down and then back up at Casey and April who were trying to lower their voices. Raphael made the crazy sign to Brandace who gave half smirk closing her eyes. Donatello even seemd to shake his head with an amused soft smile turning in his computer chair.
"I'm sorry babe, it was a drug bust, The cops never would've known about it and . . .Incase you havent noticed the purple dragons are starting to lose their control. They can't keep their own in line anymore and their losing drug profits from all the busts lately, Their finally losin".
"I understand Casey but . . .What about us, what your winning , were losing" April looked around.
"Look i'm going home, where I should be. You can decide whether or not you care to go back to bed, or if you'd rather spend the rest of night here . . ." April got up walking to the entrance way pulling a pipe lever and the door opening for her. Casey rubbed the back of his neck.
"(whispers) Shit" .
The lair got quiet. Master Splinter and everyone else had left to their own. Casey laid back on the couch with a loud sigh.
"Ya stayin'?" Raphael asked tossing a pillow to Casey who caught it with his left hand and put it behind his head. "She's pissed at me . . .I dont know what to do man . . .This settling down thing I- . . .I dont know if I can be the guy she wants me to be". Casey stared up at the ceiling.
"I'm goin' ta bed, I'll see ya in a few hours" Raphael grumbled knowing that Master Splinter wouldn't have them miss another day of training when they'd been missing a few lessons the past few weeks 'cuz of stuff like this.
Casey Jones sighed looking up at the ceiling. "Hey kid, uhhhh . . .'Branden?'" Casey pointed at the chair.
"It's Brandace . . ." She looked up at the ceiling and over at the ragged and worn looking vigilante. Raphael had stopped mid step up the stair looking at the couch with disbelief, like he couldn't believe his friend was talking to her.
"Right, Brandi and Candace put togetha . . .Your a girl" Casey pointed at her.
Brandace looked up eyes cornered to Raphael who turned around shaking his green head.
"Last time I checked" Brandace answered smoothly, not mean, but patient.
"Whaddaya think she wants? I mean with women its always somethin'" Casey put one hand behind his head and one hand upwards like he was in a therapy session.
" . . .Not that hard to figure out . . .While your here crashing on that couch, she's heading home to bed, by herself. She might be angry with you but if youre looking to score 'good boyfriend' points I'd get my butt in gear and go to her" Brandace looked over, her eyes tired.
Casey sat up contemplating it. Looking back to where Raphael was, now gone, then to the floor. Elbow resting on his knee thinking. "She can kick my ass if she wants to" He got up tossing the pillow to the chair which Brandace let hit her, too tired to catch.
"Tell Raph I'm at Aprils"
"Mhm" Brandace pulled the covers over her, the chair leaned back and the pull out footrest up. It wasn't as comfy as a bed but then again, she couldn't sleep anymore if she tried. If she changed sleeping habits she could get a nap in, maybe a few hours. Maybe she'd actually sleep in this time.
(restless)
Leonardo rubbed his face downard, leaning down against the wall cornered with his bed.
'It's just a coincedince' He thought this same line over and over since it happened. His memory replaying that horrifying feeling in his gut over and over. That feeling, that he chased, to find out it was true. Even though it didn't add up to any of the events, or anything logical, anything within' reason. He had taken off his swords strapped to his shell, feeling them over lightly. They were apart of him, and they shared the same battles he did, even the one inside him right now.
He didn't hold the sceptor long enough, and when Donny asked him to meditate and focus on it, he only took two minutes, and he knew that his brother knew. Leonardo avoided touching the sceptor. Not only out of slight paranoia, but out of caution. Donny's experiments and tests were logical, and they knocked out a few fears that he and anyone else all might've had.
'But it doesnt change whats already been'. He laid face down sideways against the pillow, relaxing his body to rest. He wouldn't allow intangible rain to sting his face, or to watch it again. Someone falling from the sky, like a twisted casted out angel, or someone commiting suicide in a free fall. He wouldn't allow any of those to cast a shadow over his sleep, right now it was the only freedom from the feelings he had, just dark sleep.
(Grow up, move on, Already heard that one)
"(Gasp for breath)"
. . .She gripped the covers under her. Feeling the sting of wanting to cry in her nose and behind her eyes threatening to spring. Kelly felt herself chatter before closing her teeth tightly breathing outwards.
'Dont cry . . .Dont cry'
She chanted it like a mantra in her head, it was hard not to. She had a nightmare. She couldn't remember all of it, just that her mom was in it, and that even in her sleep she could feel herself wanting to cry just before she woke up. The air was still and she saw the lights on in the lair, but the set of lights near her subway car were off. the Other side of the subway car behind to the rest of the lair was the other training area. She didn't hear anything, just her own breathing.
Kelly smith pulled her knees up to her chest holding them together leaning her head down.
(Safe)
Bethany walked into the kitchen area, she woke up on Brandaces bed, in Brandaces room with an empty stomach. She felt hunger pains as soon as she could wake herself up. She walked around feeling almost like an intruder. This wasn't her home, and she didn't want to just look around the cupboards and refridgerator like it was her own home. Rubbing her arm lightly with the other hand she looked around hoping for Brandace or Kelly to walk in, they were more comfortable here. She shy'd away from the kitchen area. Passing by she tried walking straight to Kelly's subway car, room, whatever it was. Her brown hair was scrunched into a short mess, walking with her arms crossed. She didn't care how she looked, right now she was hungry and . . .didn't want to raid another family's food pantry without permission or an invitation.
'Or to eat with someone so I dont feel so alone'. She walked past the t.v area where she saw a large green form sitting on the floor infront of the t.v. Light humming and enthusiastic half hums while the sound of cases being moved on the floor. The orange bandanna gave it away.
"Oh hey uh . . .Beth" Michelangelo paused, almost like he stopped himself from saying 'babe' or 'dudette'. He was looking through dvd's or video game cases. Bethany gave a small nod while walking to Kelly's subcar. 'I could've sworn Brandace was here'. She looked around not seeing the other friend anywhere.
Michelangelo was torn between watching a movie or playin' something. Master Splinter was going to give them until noon before training. Today's lesson 'Focus' . . ."Swell". He thought tossing aside Night raiders II, and picking up a movie looking it over.
"Oh okay . . ." Bethany had walked back out of the subway car, sliding the door closed. Michelangelo looked up, Beth almost sounded 'depressed'.
"Yo dudette . . ." Michelangelo gave a small two fingered wave while Bethany walked over timidly.
"Yes?" She asked.
"Everything cool?" Michelangelo asked with no particular expression.
"Sure, I . . ."
Bethany paused looking at Michelangelo's unblinking stare.
"I dont know . . ." Bethany changed what she was going to say. Standing holding her arms looking up timidly at the now standing Michelangelo.
"I'm gonna go find Brandace" Bethany gave a nod walking away quickly. If he didn't know any better he'd think she was afraid of him. She's still new though, he let it go with an excuse. He'd be pretty freaked out too if he was her.
(Passing the time)
31
(Push up)
32 . . .33 . . .34 . . .35 . . .36 . . .
'C'mon reach a hundred and then you can break'. Brandace blew her hair up out of her face going down for another. Metal music playing from her laptop standing on the file cabinet that came with the room. Her mattress lying on the floor covered with her messy blankets and pillows in a mess.
42 . . .43 . . .44 . . .45
(knock knock knock)
Three times in a quick row. Brandace puffed out pushing her hair back while her bangs went back into place reguardless.
"Yeah?" Bethany stood behind the door.
"I'm really hungry but I dont wanna ask for food . . .come get food with me" She giggled slighty.
"Oh . . .Here" Brandace handed her a small box of breakfast pizza.
"April brought it over, I had a piece , you can have the last two. Michelangelo had the rest" The 18 year old smirked handing the box over.
"Thankyou" Beth walked into the room.
"What are you doing?"
"Passing the time" Brandace answered getting back on the floor.
"Sweating is better than rotting away and turning into a vegetable, I might as well start growing roots into the concrete" She added. Bethany gave a 'whatever works for you' eyebrow quirk before getting back to feeding her appetite.
"Kelly awake?" Brandace asked going back to push ups.
"I went in a few minutes ago, she claimed she wasn't feeling well" Bethany said taking a small bite.
"She sick?"
"Homesick" Bethany looked at the other brunette with a sympathetic sadness.
Brandace laid on her back staring up at the ceiling. It hit all of them hard.
"Do you know how they say time heals all wounds?" Bethany asked looking down at her slice suddenly not feeling very hungry.
"Yeah"
"I think time is making it worse . . ." Bethany set the slice back in the box looking down at Brandace to the side who stared up at the ceiling.
"I know" She whispered. 'especially if its our own fault were here' . . .
(Just not up to it)
"Did you let your system check for updates?"
"Yes mam you need to let your computer update its system" Donatello nodded.
"NO problem have a nice day" Donatello clicked ready for another phone call, sighing slightly and leaning back in the chair, his shell taking up back room.
"How's gettin' harrassed and verbally kicked in the shell doin' for ya today?" Donatello closed his eyes rolling them hearing the sarcastic cynisism of his more Agressive brother, Raph was awake.
"Oh look whose awake, good morning to you too" Donatello quipped back typing in something that came up on the screen.
"You know how pitifull ya sound on dat thing?" Raphael pointed to the mic head set donatello was sporting like usual.
"At least I contribute around here, Even Michelangelo pulls his weight when the occasion arises, while Leonardo trains consistantly, I'd like to know what you do with your time that is so . . ."
"Yeah you got me all figured' out" Raphael rolled his eyes.
"Hey dudes, Splinters ready" Michelangelo came over motioning back to the workout area.
(Lesson in Compassion)
The one thing that never changed since this whole dimension and falling females incident thing occured was. Wake up, eat, work, train, rinse , repeat. Donatello liked consistancy, he liked structure. It sounded blase to most but he was more of a structured and sophisticated turtle. While scheduals bored Michelangelo, and only seemed to aggravate or help Raph, and it didn't seem to matter to Leo, having a set routine kept his world together better. When things changed too much he felt out of place, like when they had to restart and find a new home from the old sewer den. He could help rebuild and put himself towards new projects to making their new home better, more efficient, and easily accesible to things the people above the surface had access too. Just because they lived underground didn't mean they had to become cave turtles.
While Master Splinter spoke of needing to be compassionate of others, and how-
'When someone is born, that is the way they are, they are all born equal as everyone else, how they choose to live their lives is up to them whether they realize this difference or not, You were raised to know that even if your enemy doesnt show you compassion, it does not mean you should not simply because they believe you are below them. Not only do you attain spiritual, mental, and physical strength, by helping others, you are helping yourself. By being more compassionate than your enemy you are showing you are stronger, by having the ability to be compassionate where they cannot or will not allow it'.
He was frustrated, and he had been frustrated lately. Donatello had pushed his thoughts to what he knew, training, the family, and work. With this situation three females having a few things in common, his structure had to adjust, it wasn't hard . . .Until so many roads and theories he thought were more accurate than others, and correct even . . .Then it became . . .frustrating.
Master Splinter was giving us this talk not only to remind us that just because our life had been distrupted by three individuals, three individuals lives had been disrupted too. For awhile, The intelligent turtle had to admit, gripping his bo staff for slight comfort, he had to admit he had forgotten.
He pondered over it, working and unraveling the feeling in his head during group meditation. He studied that feeling, feeling the slight cold beneath him, and the warmness of the glowing candles.
'Sensei?"
Everyones eyes opened. Mikey had spoken up, Master Splinters eyes hadn't opened "Yes Michelangelo?"
"I uh . . .I had an idea . . .ya know, Kinda related to the whole 'compassionate' thing?"
Master Splinter waited for Michelangelo to speak . . .
Hope everyone had a good thanks giving. Michelangelo's voice shall be heard next chapter, stay tuned.