TMNT
It's Never Over
Author's note: Mmkay so if I play my cards right I'll have two more chapters/parts after this and then I'll be done. But I have to share this with you guys before we continue, I laughed at it for a straight five minutes. What do you get when Sleeping Beauty is giving a lecture on the Northern Lights to the people in Wonderland? *paused for dramatic reasons* Aurora Boring Alice.
Why am I allowed to have the internet?
I do not own TMNT.
Update at 9/8/15 at 11:24 A.M: I AM TRYING TO HARD NOT TO FUCKING CRY AT WORK. YOU'LL KNOW WHICH PART WHEN YOU READ IT. GOD DAMMIT! I HAVE THE FEELS!
Part Six
"Raph, you were right. You were right about everything and I am the biggest fucking idiot." Ashley rambled as she held her phone to her ear, she was attempting to keep her words clear as possible, but she couldn't stop crying, "I need you guys…"
A shadowy figure from behind struck Ashley in the head, knocking her unconscious. The person picked up her cell phone and ended her call before destroying it with this weapon of choice.
HOURS AGO:
Slowly, Ashley and Maxwell began to see each other more and more. At first Ashley wouldn't even hold his hand, but the more they went out the more she opened up to the idea of being with him. Her visions never stopped haunting her and most of the time whenever she felt sick she blamed it on the kids at school or her weak immune system so she could keep Maxwell at arms-length. However, he was gone majority of the time, which gave Ashley the space she wanted and the ability to hang out with her friends whenever she wanted.
Most nights she couldn't sleep, her visions kept getting clearer and clearer. Everything was always the same, Raph would be there as a mess, crying and begging. But the one thing she could never see clearly was the person that he was holding. She thought, at one point, it might have been April, but she figured it would have been Donnie in Raph's position if that were the case. And it wasn't Casey; his fingers were too mannish to belong to a woman. Karai was out of the question, the hot headed turtle wasn't close to her, not like Leo.
When Ashley couldn't sleep and she didn't want to be inside, she went for a walk—hoping that the crisp winter air would calm her down. Her mind was so preoccupied she never noticed that she was being followed. Tiger Claw snuck into her apartment, rummaged through her belongings until he found what he was looking for. He reported his findings to Master Shredder, asking what he should do with the new information. All the Foot Clan leader ordered was for Tiger Claw to bring the turtles to him.
The guys were doing their patrolling when they ran into the mutated tiger, they were ready to fight, but the ruthless assassin stopped them before they could even get started.
"What's the matter, are you afraid Ashley will break your jaw again?" Raph teased.
Tiger Claw sighed, "I do not wish to fight you and neither does Master Shredder. He only wishes to talk."
Leo still had his swords at the ready, just in case their enemy was attempting to distract them, "About what?"
"It is about your friend, Ashley. She is in danger." Tiger Claw replied.
The boys glanced at each other with disbelief. "You're talking about Ashley, right? A girl who is highly trained martial artist. Who is beyond everyone's level of ass kicking?"
"Yes, we are talking about the same person. Now come with me or I will take you the hard way." Tiger Claw growled.
"Phrasing," Raph bluntly stated, referencing a show that he and Ashley had been watching a lot lately. The guys huddled up, coming up with a plan just in case Tiger Claw was leading them into a trap. Agreeing to go, Tiger Claw led them to the familiar building where their enemy sat patiently waiting for them.
"What's this about Shredder?" Leo spoke firmly.
"Your friend, Ashley, is in danger."
"Yea your giant kitty cat already told us." Raph stepped forward, "If you're planning something…"
"I assure you I am not." Shredder stood from his chair and glared down at the reptiles, but none of them budged, "I have kept my promise to not fight her or you since my defeat."
"We noticed." Donnie cheekily muttered, actually happy that their fights with the bots had gotten a lot easier. Although, Raph didn't appreciate the fight when the bots just stood there.
"The man she's seeing, Maxwell Spear, is going to kill her." The Shredder said ominously.
"I knew it!" Raph cheered for a half a second before he realized what that meant, "Aw crap!"
Raph ran out of the room alone, his brothers stayed behind to hear the rest of Oroku Saki's explanation.
"What do you know about him?" Leo asked, sheathing his swords—his brother's slowly followed his lead.
"He is a C.I.A agent and he was a close personal friend of Ashley's caregiver, Oliver." The Shredder began, taking off his helmet. "After my defeat, I began to pay close attention to Ashley. Bradford was the one who pointed him out, apparently Maxwell had attended his dojo for a year until he was kicked out."
"Why was he kicked out?" Donnie asked.
The ghoulish Bradford stepped forward, "He went on and on about how he was going to get revenge for his mother. His father was out of the picture before he was even born and after she died from some form of cancer he kind of snapped."
"Didn't he almost kill three of your students?" Xever asked sarcastically.
"So he snapped a lot. I had no choice but to kick him out."
"Which made him angrier," Leo pointed out, "Who was his father?"
"Ashley's adoptive father."
"Plot twist!" Mickey screamed.
"Raph really should have stayed for this." Donnie shot out a quick text, hoping his hot headed brother would see it before confronting Ashley.
Raph phone kept beeping, he ignored it to the best of his abilities, but he was having difficulty trying to get ahold of Ashley. He panicked, thinking something horrible has happened. He crashed through her window, sticking his landing and immediately began to survey her apartment. The boxes from Oliver's storage unit was still in the corner, Ashley still hadn't gone through them. Her home was neat and orderly, everyone was in their place and nothing was turned over and smashed. He heard her shower squeak off, Raph prepared himself with his Sias in hand and waited for the person to come out. He didn't care if it was Maxwell, Raph was ready to kick his ass.
Ashley was the one to walk out of the shower in a short dark purple towel wrapped around her entire body. She was using a matching towel on her hair, she glanced up at Raph, ignored his weapons and walked into the kitchen.
"Sup Raph?" She asked, not really caring that she was practically naked in front of one her best guy friends. Raph's hands fell to his sides, his jaw almost came unhinged and completely forgot why he barged in.
"Why didn't you answer your phone?" Ashley stood before him, in a power stance, and motioned to her dripping wet body. "Right…listen we need to talk."
"Do you want me to change or are you enjoying the view?" Ashley asked arrogantly.
Raph's face turned a deep red, "Please change."
While Ashley changed into her pajamas, Raph checked his phone. Five of them were from Mikey and the other two were from Donnie and Leo—basically telling him the same thing and that they were on their way.
"So what's up?" Ashley sat beside him on the couch, her hair was still a dripping, curly mess.
"It's about Maxwell." Raph began slowly and then his brothers entered the apartment, huffing for air.
"Have you told her yet?" Leo asked in between breaths.
"I was just about to." Raph replied.
"What's going on and does it involved a rat or two humans?" Ashley asked, playing twenty questions.
"No, just you." Donnie handed her a folder.
"Shredder told us something about Maxwell and you totally need to read all of that." Mikey shouted, still completely floored by the plot twist.
Ashley traced the edge of the folder with her finger and then glared at Raph. "What's going on Raphael?"
"Maxwell isn't who you think he is." Raph buckled under Ashley's intense glare, "He's trying to kill you."
Ashley tossed the folder to the floor and standing quickly, "I don't believe this. You said you would back off! And since when do you guys believe anything that shit bucket says?"
"We know how this looks, Ashley." Leo tried to calm her down, "Raph wouldn't be here, we wouldn't be here, if we didn't think there could be a chance that Shredder is telling the truth. But we believe him, Ashley."
"That should tell you how serious this is." Donnie added, "Please read the file, Ashley."
"We don't want to see you get hurt." Mikey added sympathetically, which pulled Ashley's heart strings.
Raphael stood from the couch and pushed Mikey out the window. He knew they wouldn't get through to Ashley, at least not tonight. Donnie soon followed his brothers out the window, leaving Leonardo alone with her. He picked up the file and placed it on her coffee table, looking her with urgent, pleading eyes.
"Please Ashley, read this. If not for your sake, than Raph's. He's extremely worried about you." Leo begged before exiting through the window.
Ashley sat on her couch for hours, staring at the file, ignoring every incoming calls and text messages. Finally, after what seemed like ages, she flipped open the manila folder. The Intel the Foot Clan did on Maxwell was unbelievable, they had everything on him—his high school and college manuscripts, his work records, social media accounts, phone records, family tree and birth records. She recognized her father's name and saw the DNA test he agreed to do when Maxwell was first born, confirming that he was his father.
After reading everything in the file, Ashley went through all of their texts, listened to all of his voicemails and remembered all of their in person conversations. Everything he said was everything that she wanted to hear, their relationship was perfect—for her at least—all the great, hot and sometimes freaky sex without the emotional or personal commitment. How he remembered everything about her, even things that she didn't think she had shared with him. She abruptly stood and quickly closed the gap between her and Oliver's boxes. Ashley hesitated for a moment, but remembered that Oliver wanted her to do this.
She tore through every box, left nothing unturned or wrapped. Three hours later, at the crack of dawn, she found nothing. Just pictures of his family, trinkets that he played with as a child, trophies from baseball and soccer games. The box was nowhere to be found, unless Maxwell and his friend found it first.
"God dammit!" Ashley kicked her kitchen cabinet, a door slightly opened and when she looked up she saw the golden gloss greeting her. "Thank you anger issues."
Ashley climbed on top of the counter and then jumped down with the dusty box in her hands. She went to the living room, took a deep breath before opening the contents. Inside was the envelope with her birth name written in neat cursive—Oliver's handwriting. She carefully opened it and took out the letter and paced as she read along, with his voice following along.
Haley,
Sorry to start this with a cliché, but if you're reading then it means that I'm dead. I first began this letter when I started to receive the phone calls. If a man named Maxwell approaches you, please be careful around him. I worked with him for a few years, he was a good friend to me, but after I told him about you moving in with him he got strangely obsessed with wanting to meet you. I suspect that he's the one that called the house so much, I didn't want you to talk to him. Mainly because you're too good for him. I didn't know serious he was until I had a friend look into his past and he found a few interesting things.
Your father, a wonderful man and I never want you to forget that, had a son with another woman. He never cheated on your mother. But the woman was mentally unstable and unsuited to raise a child, even with medication. When Maxwell was born, he wanted to raise him, but he didn't wish to get married. For a while they lived under the same roof, he tried to make it work Haley, but the woman drove him out. I think she may have told Maxwell a different story, that he just left one day because he didn't want to be burdened by them. It took him a couple of years, but he finally met your mother and fell in love with her.
I should probably also mention that your father and I worked together at NYPD.
A year after they got married, your mother found out that couldn't have children and that's where you come in. I'm sorry to tell you this kid, but we have no idea who your real parents are. All three of us looked, I looked even harder when I joined the C.I.A, but your parents are ghost. You probably actually don't care, which is what I find amazing. Where was I going with this letter? Oh right, Maxwell…"
Ashley laughed at Oliver's random thinking process, she whipped away her tears and sniffled loudly before continuing to read his letter.
"I know you know everything about The Foot Clan, Oroku Saki and The Purple Dragons. I know, or knew in my case, about the mutant turtles that you hang out with. I haven't told anyone. Here's a little secret. When the C.I.A is recruiting people, they're looking for someone who is damn good at keeping secrets. And I'm taking a lot to my grave, except this one. DO NOT TRUST MAXWELL. I only pray that you have found and read this before getting too involved with him. If you're ever in trouble call my partner, Tony Skid, you can trust him. He'll protect you. Not that you'll need help in that department. But please be careful Haley, Maxwell is unstable and unpredictable.
I also feel like I should apologize. I've left you all alone in the world after losing so much already and I am so sorry about that. I love you Haley, just as much as a God Father should and probably even more. Please be safe, talk to your turtle friends and keep them close. I love you Haley.
Forever and always,
Oliver
Ashley sat on the floor with the letter scattered around her, her face was buried in her hands—sobbing loudly to the point of actually wailing. She reached for her phone and quickly pounded Raphael's number. It clicked over to voicemail, she couldn't blame him though, especially after how she treated him and his brothers.
"Raph, you were right. You were right about everything and I am the biggest fucking idiot." Ashley rambled as she held her phone to her ear, she was attempting to keep her words as clear as possible, but she couldn't stop crying, "I need you guys…"
A shadowy figure from behind struck Ashley in the head, knocking her unconscious. The person picked up her cell phone and ended her call before destroying it with this weapon of choice.
Raphael dragged himself into his room, exhausted from his training with Leonardo and Master Splinter. As soon as he got home he demanded a work out from the two of them, he wanted to get his mind of Ashley and Maxwell. He decided that it wasn't any of his business and that he would just stay out of it until he needed her. He hoped that would happen after they broke up and not anything else serious. Like him trying to kill her.
He plopped down on his bed, really wanting to talk someone about all of this, but Spike was now Slash and running around New York with his gang of mutants. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that his phone was lighting up. He slammed his hand down on it and lazily held it in front of his face. It was a voicemail from Ashley, she was probably still mad at him, but he played it anyway. He immediately sat up when he heard her crying, his entire face contorted into a frustrated and saddened expression, but then the message ended and he heard something crash. He played it again and realized that she had been attacked.
Raphael ran out of his room and towards his brother, he put her message on speaker phone and automatically they knew what had happened. On their way to their to Ashley's in their weaponized van, Donnie called April—catching her up on everything—telling her to stay at her place just in case Ashley showed up.
They entered her apartment carefully, just in case the attacker was still inside, but after doing a quick search they cleared the whole place. Donnie found and read Oliver's letter. "Oliver knew about us, guys. And Maxwell is even more messed up than we thought."
His brothers weren't paying attention to him, they were staring down at Ashley's broken phone and the small blood pool that was inches away from it.
"This is not good." Leo spoke, stating the obvious, he looked to his brainy brother, "What should we do Don?"
"We need to call the police." He walked over to the home phone and plugged it in, "We'll need to get out of here fast, the closest police station is only a few blocks away."
Donnie dialed 911 and left the phone sitting a few inches away from the main crime scene. Leo and Mikey were following his lead out their usual way, when Mikey turned around and saw Raph standing there—staring down at the blood and the shattered phone.
He walked back over to his brother and placed a hand on his shoulder. "We have to go Raph." When Raphael hopelessly glanced at his carefree brother, Mikey smiled widely at him, "Let's go save Ashley."
Author's note: I'M NOT CRYING, YOU'RE CRYING!
