Never-NeverLand – Chapter 13
Mike watched the girls as the van pulled through the darkened streets of pre-dawn New York. At four thirty AM, the city staggered along, desperate to finish the night, but not willing to start the morning. Sleeping apartment buildings, towering skyscrapers, and dimmed shop windows lined the largely vacant street like dirty stained glass panels lining the nave of a dim cathedral. Occasional shouts, or the barking of stray dogs filtered down the side streets. The girls sat huddled together and draped in a blanket, staring wide-eyed at the billboards, fire escapes, and traffic lights panning by their stunned faces. 'They look so overwhelmed. They're like little kids, trying to take in everything at once.' He smiled. It wasn't like he owned the city, but it was his home and he was so excited to share it with them. Mike chuckled to himself, 'Proud to be a New Yorker? Aaah, why the fuck not!?'
Mike's enthusiasm hit the skids suddenly when he recognized the gleam in their eyes for what it was: panic.
Leo was nervous; the girls were so quiet. Even Sterling had seemed excited by the tall bridge as it spanned the Hudson. Now they just seemed subdued.
Raphael sat forward. 'There's something eatin' at them. They've gone all edgy.' He scanned the passing scenery for potential danger. 'Nuthin.' His city-bred eyes passing right over the biggest threat of all.
Donatello put his hand on Shima's shoulder. She startled and turned to him, worry lines etching her face and digging hollows under her staring eyes. "Oh Donnie, how can we possibly hide from all these humans?!" Her voice whispered raggedly through the van. "They must be everywhere." She swallowed with difficulty, turning back to the windows as if the humans would attack the instant she lapsed in her vigil.
'They're not even blinking.' Donnie's stomach tied itself in knots. 'We've just brought 'em into the scariest place possible.' He moved closer to her, eager to relieve her fears. "Shima… We don't live up here; you're right, there would be too many humans. We live below the city – where the humans don't go."
+"But what if they found us? How would we get away from them all?"+ Pipes blurted out. Her voice trembled; sounding as though it tumbled end over end out of her mouth, like she'd pushed her thoughts out over the edge of her fear.
"We won't let them find us." Leonardo's tone left no room for doubt. His arms crossed over his chest and a stern light in his eyes seemed to turn his statement into fact.
Cabbage's face relaxed slightly as she hesitantly asked, "Promise?"
Leonardo softened his expression. He leaned forward, cupped her chin in his sword-callused hand, and tilted her head up to look her in the eye. "Promise."
Mike made a mental note to talk with Leonardo about being too friendly with Cabbage: 'Next time he touches her, I beat the shit out of him.'
He shook himself. That was then. Right now, all his sisters were scared. He elaborated on Leo's simple claim. "Yeah, the humans can't find us 'cause we patrol regularly and Donnie made all these sensors and alarms and beeping-human-detecting-gizmos and set'em up all around the lair and Master Splinter can sense what the folks in frickin' New Hampshire had for lunch, let alone who's approaching the lair—"
He cut off abruptly, "What?"
Pipes giggled as a few tears escaped her eyes. +"Oh Mikey!"+ Her smile was dazzling, but he only caught a glimpse of it before he had an armful of laughing, crying, hiccupping Pipes wrapped around his neck. Too shocked to do much else, he hugged her back, rubbing her shell until she calmed. She let go reluctantly; he couldn't help but smile, her tears had stopped, but her hiccups remained.
hic…hic…hic…'Silly 'lil sister.'
"Try holding your breath for 10, then breath in again without breathing out and hold it all for 30." Mike sat down next to her, smiling as he watched her try to hold her breath despite the hiccups.
Shima reached up and took Donnie's hand from her shoulder, squeezing it tight. "We trust you." She had yet to peel her eyes from the windows, but her mouth curved into a small worried grin.
Splinter leaned over, releasing his seat belt. He slipped into the back of the van and tapped Raphael on the shoulder. "Casey will need directions soon." Raphael silently nodded, and moved up to the front. Splinter sat on the floor amongst his daughters. He laid a tender hand on Sterling's forehead, sketching her emotional state in his mind. Deep anxiety. Trust. Controlled panic. Hope. Exhaustion. His sounding triggered echoes from the psyches of his other three daughters. "Continue to be brave my daughters. We are moments from home."
They all drew closer to him, embracing him, and taking comfort in his presence.
The van pulled into the dead end alleyway behind Vinny's Pizza and parked beside the dumpsters, effectively blocking the back half of the passage from casual view. Casey cut the engine, and called out, "New York City! Last stop. Everybody off the train!" He leaned over to Raph who was shrugging into his trench coat. "They ok? They sounded a little freaked out back there."
Raphael glared at him, "Freaked out?"
Casey rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean, Foo Fucker."
Raphael spoke through clenched teeth. "Yeah. I'm sure they'll be fine. Which is more than I can say for you if you call me 'Foo"-anything ever again."
"Yeah, yeah." Casey waved off Raph's threat. "Fine, Bunny-Boy. Look, I know everybody's bushed so we'll discuss the beers you owe me later, over those beers you owe me. Cool?"
"Go to Hell, Casey." Raphael put on his fedora. "Yeah, beers later." He opened the door, "Oh, and thanks," and went over to open the manhole at the end of the alley.
kyabetsu here---
It occurs to me that I have yet to say, "Thanks," for all the reviews I've received, and heaven forbid that RAPHAEL be more polite than me. So in the spirit of genuine gratitude, "Thank you." :)
ps… does the ff.net IM thing work for anyone else?
pps… can you guys see the profile picture?
ppps… Can you keep a secret?
pppps…just wondering.