TMNT

It's Never Over

Part 4

Author's note and disclaimer: I have no notes this time, I'm falling asleep, which is stupid because it's a little after 10 P.M so I'm gonna go make some coffee and attempt to write this without falling asleep on top of my keyboard. I do not own TMNT.

Update: It's almost two in the morning and my friends and I are laughing because her map on a Dragon Age game looks like a penis. And she didn't catch it until I said something. We both need to lay off the coffee. #NOSLEEPFORTHEIDIOTS

Ashley was starting to open up a bit more in school and around her close friends three months after Oliver's death. Talking with Splinter about her nightmarish memories of the day he died and the ones about the future, helped to take the stress off her shoulders.

"So your visions are returning?" Master Splinter asked, while sipping on some tea. They decided months before Oliver was taken, that Ashley's visions were about the future. Majority of them came true and Ashley had the since of Déjà vu, even if she had never met the person or been to a building before.

"I wouldn't call them visions when all I'm getting are voices. And even then, those voices are muddled." Ashley replied as she stretched her legs out. "But they sound familiar somehow."

"Are they calling out for you?"

"It feels like that, but I at the same time I feel like I'm sinking. It's cold and I'm numb. All I feel is bliss, it's like the best high I've ever hard, but everything around me seems dark almost."

Splinter tilted his head to the side in confusion, ignoring her comment on being high. "What do you mean?"

Ashley sighed, stretching her back while crossing her legs over each other. "When that person calls out to me, it sounds like they're crying, like they were in pain. It made me want to stay, but something much stronger was pulling me away."

"Perhaps you will get a clearer picture if you meditate on it?" Master Splinter suggested.

"I would, but April and I are supposed to meet up at the library for a history project. She'll kill me if I'm late again." Ashley dusted herself off before she said her fair wells to her master and the brothers. As she ran off, Master Splinter sensed something the further and further she got away, like she was disappearing from their world. He shrugged it off, thinking that he just needed a nap. However, something in his gut told him to keep an eye on her or else she would slip away.

When Ashley returned home that evening she found a letter that had been slipped under her door. She poked at it with her switch blade, hoping that it wouldn't blow up, after dubbing it safe, Ashley picked it up and read through the chicken scratch cursive.

Ashley,

Don't be alarmed, this isn't another stalker. It's Maxwell. I wanted to see how you were doing, but you weren't home. I hope you don't mind that I left this here. Text me at the number below, I'll be free for a few weeks. They're forcing me to take a vacation. I'd like to talk to you, not about the weather or anything. Just anything in general.

-Maxwell

Weeks passed and every day it felt like Raphael saw Ashley less and less. Every time he went over to see if she wanted to hang out and peeked through her window he saw Maxwell sitting at her kitchen bar. She was always doing homework and he always helped her. But one night he saw something that he probably shouldn't have seen. Ashley was reading one of her essays aloud, Raph couldn't hear what she was saying because of the window, but she was walking around the kitchen, ranting and raving about something that most likely pissed her off. Maxwell was there, as usual, listening intently and then suddenly he stood. He closed the gap between them, wrapped an around the small of Ashley's back and kissed her mid rant. The blood in his veins boiled, he wanted to smash through the glass and beat the shit out of Maxwell. He held off, however, thinking that Ashley would push him off, but she didn't. Her papers fell to the floor and her arms wrapped around Maxwell's neck.

He beat his fists against the window, startling the humans inside and ran away from the apartment complex.

"It must've been a bird." Maxwell said as he drew the curtains back, with his gun drawn.

Ashley remained standing in the kitchen nervously, playing with the ends of her hair. She glanced up at the agent with bashful blue eyes, as he approached her he tucked his gun behind his back and caressed her face. In his eyes she was flustered because of their kiss, but Ashley felt ashamed. She knew the force that hit the window wasn't a bird. It was too strong to be an animal, at least a normal animal.

"Do you want me to stay here for the night?" His thumb ran under her chin, lifting her head so their eyes met. "Did you know you can tell what a person is thinking just by looking into their eyes?"

"Is this a pick up line?" Ashley asked dryly.

Maxwell laughed, stepping closer into Ashley's bubble until they were inches apart. "No it's not. I'm being serious."

Ashley pushed his hand away, "I really need to finish this report."

"Are you afraid?" Maxwell teased.

"The only thing I'm afraid of is hurting a person close to me." Ashley admitted, "I'm not afraid to kick an old man's ass."

"Old man," Maxwell barked playfully, "I'm twenty five."

"That's old to a seventeen year old." Ashley bent over to pick up her papers that fell moments ago. She could feel his eyes leering over her and when she straightened Maxwell's hands were on her hips, pulling her close to him. His lips graced her cheeks, leaving a trail of kisses to her ear. His hands traveled upwards, Ashley panicked and pushed him away,

"You need to leave." Ashley spoke quickly, but with authority.

"But I thought..."

Ashley interrupted angrily, "No means no, jack ass. Now get the fuck out and while you're at it don't come around anymore."

"Ashley I think you're over reacting." Maxwell chuckled, walking towards her with open arms.

Ashley stepped away from him, leaving a huge gap in between them, "No I'm thinking perfectly clear and you need to get the fuck out. Now."

Maxwell raised his arms in defeat, slamming the door behind him. Ashley waited a couple of minutes before she called April. She was hanging out with the turtles tonight because Casey was babysitting his little sister.

"Is Raph there with you?" Ashley paced in her living room, something that she started doing after Oliver's death.

"No, I mean he was, but he left almost thirty minutes to come get you. We were going to have another movie marathon." April replied happily, "Is he not there yet?"

Ashley stuttered through her words, "I don't know. He could have been here, but if he was then he saw something that really pissed him off."

April's voice went serious, but she stepped into another room so the guys wouldn't over hear her. "What do you mean? What happened?"

Ashley sighed and plopped on the odium in defeat, "Maxwell has been coming around a lot more lately. He's been helping me with my homework and tonight he…he um…kissed…me?"

"Are you asking me if he kissed you or are you telling me he kissed you?" April asked, in her mom voice.

"I'm telling you that he kissed me and Raph may or may not have seen it." Ashley cringed and plugged one ear, expecting April to start squealing like those fangirls on the street when they saw a celebrity swaggering down the street.

But April wasn't thrilled, "Ashley are you serious?" She was angry, going full on mom mode on her only female friend, "You know how Raph feels about you and I thought you felt the same way?"

"I do April, but it's kind of hard to be in love with someone who's a different fucking species!" Ashley shouted.

"And you don't think Raph knows that?"

"I know he knows it, that's why he's been close, but not close at the same time." Ashley fell on her side. "It's hard April, I like Raph, but I think I might also like Maxwell."

"What do you mean you might also like Maxwell? You barely know him and the only reason why he's around, probably, is because of Oliver." April reminded Ashley of her recent deceased fake uncle.

"Do you think Ollie would have wanted him to kiss me like that?"

"No I…wait how did he kiss you?" April asked, covering her mouth so the guys definitely wouldn't over hear her question.

"Okay you know how in those stupid teenage romance novels when the bad boy kisses the girl and she gets weak in the knees because he's kissing her so patiently she thinks she might faint?" Ashley explained, almost grossing herself out because of the mushiness that just came pouring from her mouth.

"It was that good?" April asked.

"Well yes, he's an agent so he must have kissed a lot of women before me…ew I need to go brush my teeth and maybe drink some bleach." Ashley almost gagged at the thought of all the women Maxwell made out with before her.

April was laughing, "But seriously. Do you want me to call Raph and see where he is?"

"No, I'll call him. Actually, I think I know where he is. I'll text you if I can't find him."

After hanging up with April, Ashley gathered her things and locked her door before hitting the streets of China Town. She needed to be on her guard because at this time of night the creepy dudes came out and they did anything they could to kidnap a stupid girl off the street and force her into something that her parents never warned her about. Ashley hid her Sais inside her sleeves, ready to whip them out if she was approached by a shady character. Surprisingly, not that many guys came up to her, most likely because they saw her dangerous I-will-fucking-slit-your-throat glare and were too afraid to even look at her or approach her. She thought she would have seen Raph sulking on a roof top's edge, but if he did in fact see Maxwell kissing her, then he wouldn't be sulking. He would be venting.

And venting he was. Minutes after running away from Ashley's place he ran into some Purple Dragons selling drugs. He jumped in-between them and their clients, ready to fight an entire army just so he would feel better. Ashley watched from a safe distance, in the shadows. She didn't want him to know that she was there, but the minute he turned his back, one of the PDs attacked him with a knife. She came out from her hiding spot, jumping on the guy's shoulders and flipped him into the river. Everyone, including Raphael, froze when Ashley entered the scene.

"What…what are you doing here?" Raphael screamed, punching his guy out.

"Saving your shell," Ashley whipped out her Sais, taking a defensive stance as three men approached her.

"I don't need your help. Get out of here!" Raphael ordered as he took out another henchman, he turned around just as Ashley knocked all three of her guys at once. He was amazed at her abilities and at the same time jealous.

After all the bad guys were on the cement, whining for their mommies, Ashley and Raphael booked. Raphael, however, stayed far away from his friend. She tried to close the gap between them, but he moved farther away—only proving that he saw the kiss between her and the agent.

"So you saw then?" Ashley felt like garbage, her gaze dropped to the surface of the roof.

"Yea I saw and so what?" Raphael crossed his arms over his dress.

"You're angry about it."

"I am not!" Raphael shouted.

"You sure, because from here you look like you are." Ashley pointed out bluntly.

"Well I'm not, so just drop it and leave me alone." Raphael was about to leave, but Ashley caught his wrist and suddenly hugged him.

"I'm sorry you saw that Raph. I'm sorry about everything. I had no idea he was going to do that."

"But you must have enjoyed it since you kissed him back." Raph added, Ashley pushed him away and punched him in his face. "Ow! What the hell was that for?"

"Idiot, I'm trying to apologize!" She shouted back, "I also sent him away and told him to stop coming around."

"Yea well…wait. You did what?" Raphael questioned.

Ashley lowered her fist, her shoulders shrugged and her eyes nervously looked away from his. "After I told him 'no' the first time he thought I was joking, but he finally got the hint and left."

"Why would you do that?" Raph asked flabbergasted.

Ashley approached Raphael slowly and grabbed his hands, gripping them softly. "I wanted to make sure that you were alright. I also wanted to tell you that you're my friend, that I love you and always will. No matter what happens, even if I'm dating the prince of India, you will always come first."

Raphael was at a loss for words. He clenched his fist around Ashley's fingers and lowered his head with frustrated thoughts. He didn't want to hold her back, not when she could be happy, but he also didn't want her to be with Maxwell.

"Ashley I just want you to be happy and if being with Agent Douchebag makes you happy, then I'll step back." Raphael said, giving up the notion of them ever being together.

"I don't want to be with someone that makes you angry Raph."

Even though it was difficult, Raph admitted, "I won't get angry, I'll be happy for you."

"That's the biggest load of bullshit I've ever heard."

"Would you believe me if I told you I would kick that guy's fat ass if he ever hurt you?" Raphael asked flatly.

Ashley shrugged, "Probably. If I knew you were telling the whole the truth. Besides, who said I wanted to date Maxwell. The guy is eight years older than I am, if anyone ever found out there'd be a huge scandal and I don't want to deal with that."

"I can see it now, 'Teenage girl punches interviewer in the face when he asks about her relationship with a C.I.A agent'." Raph chuckled, "It would sell some papers, that's for sure."

"Shut up." Ashley punched Raph in the shoulder and began to walk away from him when her phone went off. It was a text message from Maxwell, saying that he wanted to talk to her about tonight, but not now; in a few days.

"Is it Maxwell?" Raph asked.

Ashley replied reluctantly, "It is, he wants to talk."

"Then go talk to him." Raphael pushed her, but she stepped aside and let him fall on his face.

"Not tonight. He needs to know that I cannot be summoned like a common dog." Ashley said with a determined chin. "Besides, April and your brothers are waiting for us for movie night."

"Shit I forgot all about that." Raph got to his feet quickly and began to run towards home, he looked over his shoulder to see if Ashley was following, but he slowly came to a stop when she wasn't. Ashley was staring up at the night sky filled with smog and few stars. She slowly closed her eyes as the wind picked up her hair, chilling her exposed skin. Raphael couldn't help but notice at how at peace she looked whenever she inhaled and exhaled deeply. When she finally opened her eyes he saw the darkness in them, a sign that warned them both that something evil was just around the corner—waiting with sharp claws to rip their happiness apart.

Author's note: I don't know about you guys, but I think I'm getting better at ending chapters. And oh man, if you guys only knew what I was planning, you guys would flat out hate me. Which, let's not lie, you probably will. I posted all of my turmoil's on snap chat and my home video is almost 230 seconds long. My non-writer friends probably think I need help.