TMNT does not belong to me. Just Annie & Co. Big thanks to The Silent Hunter and syzygy101 for reviewing!
You gotta love when your laptop dies when you're halfway done typing a chapter. I had to start all over again! Next time, I'll make sure to keep my computer charged.
As I follow my brothers to the Battle Shell, I can't help but notice that something's bothering my girl. Annaleigh's usually walking right beside me, sometimes holding my hand. But right now... Right now she's lagging behind, her blue eyes locked on the ground. I slow down and wrap my arm around her shoulders when she catches up to me. Annaleigh just stops and lays her head on my shoulder, absolutely quiet. Which, again, is not like her.
"What's wrong, Wildcat?"
She sniffs, "Nothing. I just still can't believe that Daddy's gone." I wrap my other arm around her and pull her close. I have no idea what I'm going to say. But I guess I don't need to say anything. 'Cause my girl just kissed my cheek. "Thanks, di hi," she whispers. I guess she just wanted me to hold her. After two months, I'm beginning to understand her. I think.
"You two lovebirds coming or what?" Mikey calls from the truck.
I glare at him and Annaleigh giggles. She pulls out of my arms and grabs my hand firmly in hers. "We'll get him later, Raph. I've got a plan," she whispers, smiling mischievously.
"What kind of plan?"
She puts her finger on my lips, "Later babe."
An hour later and we're now at the cemetery. Against our better judgement. I can tell that Leo's really not happy to be here. His shoulders are tensed and both of his katanas are in his hands. Just like my sais are in mine. In fact, all of us have our weapons drawn. Except for Annaleigh.
Somehow, she had managed to talk us into bringing her here. Guilted us into it, more like. Mikey said it was because she has me wrapped around her finger. I clocked him really good for that one. He's still rubbing his head.
Anyways, the reason that my brothers and I don't want to be here is that the FOH (and now the PDs) know who Leopard really is. And they also know that her dad's buried here. The perfect setup.
Except for the fact that no one's here but us. Still, I can't help but feel that something's not right. And by the way Annaleigh jerks upright and makes her way cautiously to me... Something's really wrong. I've never seen her this jumpy.
But I don't have time to think on it. 'Cause, suddenly, we're surrounded. "Oh crud."
Stupid! How could I have been so stupid! I only now just heard footsteps. Footsteps of a lot of people trying to be stealthy. I can't smell them. They must be waiting downwind.
The guys had tried to tell me that coming to my dad's graveside was a bad idea. Being the idiot that I am, I'd thought nothing of it. Surely they wouldn't be waiting here. Daddy was buried two months ago. I had thought they would have given up waiting for us here. How could I have been so dumb?
I make my way carefully back to Raph, and then we're surrounded by at least forty FOH. Make that FOH and PDs. Including Hun. How could a man that big hide so easily?
"Do they have any guns, Leopard?" Leo whispers from my right. I shake my head. I don't smell any gunpowder. But that doesn't make a difference anyways. There's too many. And the only reason I can think of as to why they didn't brings any guns with them... They must want us alive. Over my dead body.
Hun gives the signal, and we're swamped. It takes all my strength to keep from being knocked to the ground. In the commotion, I suddenly realize that I've been separated from Raph. As a chloroform-covered rag is clamped to my face, the last thing I hear is my turtle frantically calling my name from a distance.
I was so relieved when Annaleigh shook her head at my question. No guns. That means we can take these guys. We've faced worse.
As the gangsters attack, my brothers and I face them head-on. Annie at Raph's side. It isn't long before we manage to break away from them and make it to safety. Not until I hear Raph calling for Annie, do I realize that something's not right. She's not here!
By the time the four of us make it back to the cemetery, the goons are long gone. They must have had get-away cars. Shell! Why wasn't I paying attention? I'd known that Annaleigh had never faced that many enemies before. But, in the heat of the battle, I'd completely forgotten. Now, all that we have of Annaleigh are her silver nunchuks, which Raph just tucked into his belt. I've never seen my hotheaded brother go this quiet. I can see the fear in his eyes. He's also furious. I would be too, if my brother had left my girlfriend behind.
The only one who doesn't seem to be worried is Don. He's fiddling with his shell-cell. That's when I remember that Annie has hers. And that it has a tracking device in it just like ours. Hopefully we can catch up before it's too late!
Special thanks to The Silent Hunter for the inspiration for this little chapter.
Please R&R.