SHREDDER

December 25, 1995

KRISTIE:

Mikey stepped in front of us, gripping two short sticks as two more men came in through the window. They were joined by a metal chain. I wasn't sure what it was he was holding, but I figured it was some kind of weapon. I doubted that it was going to do a whole lot against the swords the two men held, not to mention the sharp blades all over the other man's costume. He was covered in metal armor.

"What are you doing here, Shred-head?" Mike demanded. I'd never heard him talk in that tone before, and it kind of surprised me. He wasn't really scary, but he was definately serious.

"Step aside, freak," the metal man ordered. His voice was low and threatening. I wanted to run away from him, but we were trapped against the wall. The only way out was through Mike, and that didn't look like a smart way to go. "Just don't get in my way and I won't have to hurt you."

Mike laughed quietly. I pressed against Miss Anna and she put her arms around my shoulders. "Gee, Shredder, I never knew you had a sense of humor," Mike snickered.

"I only want her," the man pointed at Miss Anna. She tensed and I looked up at her. Why did the man want her? "I don't want to have to kill you in the mean time."

"Aw, well, isn't that sweet of you," Mike grinned. "But don't do me any favors, huh?"

The man sighed. "Save yourself the humiliation," he advised. "And save me the trouble. If you could defeat me, you would've done it long ago."

Mike began to twirl his weapons. "You're breakin' my heart, Tin-grin."

Anna held me tighter. The metal man sighed. "Very well."

He waved his hand and the two black figures next to him put one foot forward, raising their swords in front of them. Mike didn't take his eyes off them. One hand reached behind him and pulled the other weapon off his belt. I had never noticed before that he carried them. I'd never thought about it before. Could he actually fight with those? Right now, I really hoped so.

The two figures with the swords came closer. Suddenly, Mike moved, hitting both of their weapons with his. At the same time, he kicked the legs of one of them. He stumbled back and Mike turned to the other one. He attacked, faster than I'd ever seen anyone move. He hit the sword and the hand holding it at the same time, using both of his weapons. Then he jammed his knee into the man's stomach and spun to face the other one, who'd regained his balance by now.

He caught the sword as it came down with the chain between the handles. Then he dropped one arm and swung one of the weapons at his side. He hit the man under his arm, on his ribs. I heard him gasp. Mike hit the sword, close to the man's hand, and he dropped it. Mike turned his body to us but kept his eyes on the man as he kicked to the side. He hit the man in the chest and he flew backward and crashed into the wall with a cry of pain. He turned to the other man, who was recovering quickly.

Mike gripped both handles of his weapons and punched him in the face. Then, suddenly, the room filled with smoke. I choked and gagged, struggling for air. I felt Miss Anna's grip loosen and her arm retracted, letting go of me. "No!" I coughed as the smoke swirled around us. I felt dizzy. "Miss...!"

I dropped to my knees and my eyes slid closed as I fell to the floor, face down.

SPLINTER:

"Has Leonardo returned home?" I questioned.

Donatello looked up from his lunch. "He came in about a half hour ago. I think he's in the dojo," he informed.

I nodded slightly and left the room, walking toward the training room. Leonardo was not there. But it was obvious by the intensity in the atmosphere that he had been quite recently. I turned and walked to his bedroom. Through the door, I could tell he was meditating, and I reconsidered disturbing him. But it had become obvious that something was wrong, and I knew I could not continue to ignore his sudden change. "Leonardo?"

There was a pause as I waited for an answer. The voice came back cold and emotionless. "Come in."

I turned the handle and pushed the door open. He was sitting on the floor, the only light in the room coming from a candle a few feet behind him on the besdide table. I bowed in greeting, and he nodded slightly in return. His face was expressionless.

"You missed practice this morning," I observed. "That is most unlike you. Is something troubling you?"

"I'd rather not talk about it yet," he shot back

I stared at him, slightly shocked. He had never answered me in that way before, nor with that tone. "Why not?" I questioned calmly.

"Because it is not appropriate for a student to confront his sensei in anger," he answered.

Again, I was surprised at his words. I lowered myself to the floor, legs crossed in front of me. "Speak freely, Leonardo," I urged him, concerned. "How have I angered you?"

He looked away and I waited quietly for an explanation. Though I tried, I could not guess at what he was thinking. It was as if he had raised a barrier around his mind - one I could not penetrate. So I waited for him to speak on his terms.

"You lied to me," he finally whispered.

I considered that for a moment. "When did I lie to you? And concerning what?"

"Concerning Anna."

Our eyes met again and I saw cold fury written there. "You told me you didn't know her," he continued. "I asked you if you knew her and you told me you'd never met her before."

I shook my head slightly. "That was not a lie. I never had met her."

"Bull shit!"

His eyes closed almost immediately, and he hung his head, turning away. "I'm sorry," he whispered through gritted teeth.

I considered his words in the silence that followed. I had never seen him so angry. To use such a phrase in my presence was most unlike him, but to speak it directly to me? His anger was fierce. Perhaps moreso than he would care to admit, being so often calm and in control. He prided himself on those abilities, and his lack of self-control at this moment certainly explained his recent seclusion. I quite easily recognized the correlation between his present state and the one person he had no doubt chosen to confide his discovery in.

"Did you speak with Raphael about this?" I questioned.

"Raphael has nothing to do with it," he answered coldly, though he didn't deny it. "You lied to me, Master, and that's what it's about. You said you didn't know her."

I sighed. It was obvious that he knew the truth and there was no point in keeping it from him any longer. "Is it not possible for one to be ill acquainted with a child he has never met?"

"But you knew who she was!"

I shook my head. "You did not ask me if I recognized her, Leonardo; you asked me if I knew her, which I do not."

He stared at me blankly. "Master, I don't understand why we have to play Twenty Questions for me to get you to tell me about something that directly affects my life!"

"How so?"

"Because I'm in love with her and you know that, too!"

I sighed and looked away for a moment. "Leonardo, it is not my place to interfere in your relationship with Anna."

"That's not what I'm saying," he shot back. "How is it interfering to tell me the truth?"

I closed my eyes and sighed deeply. "Leonardo, I do not know my daughter," I finally whispered. "I had no doubt that if you were truly in love with her, you would eventually find out."

"And that's a bad thing?" he cried. "What's with the secrecy? Why not just tell me? Or her for that matter!"

"Would it have made your love for her any less?" I demanded.

He glared at me. "If you'd been honest with me from the start, I doubt that it would change anything between me and Anna. But it would definately change something between me and you!"

I studied him for a moment, not entirely sure how to reply. He looked away. "My whole life I've trusted you unconditionally," he whispered, his head turned to the wall. "And everything you've always hidden from us, I didn't let it bother me because I knew..." He paused and glanced back at me. "... that it didn't have anything to do with us, here, now."

I did not answer, as it was obvious that he was not through. "And I trusted you, that if there was something, that you would tell us. And maybe that's why I feel so betrayed right now. Why I'm questioning all those things that you told us and we believed you even though you didn't give us a reason. Because we trusted that if we needed a reason, if we needed an explanation, if we needed the truth you'd give it to us!"

I said nothing. He closed his eyes and breathed deep. For a long time, it was silent. He was not waiting for me to speak, and I was well aware of that. Whatever he was thinking, he never spoke it. A knock on the door interrupted him. "Leo?"

"Give us a moment," I answered for him, seeing the fury cross his features.

"Michaelangelo's in trouble, Master."

I glanced toward the door, waiting for further explanation. "Shredder just called on his communicator," Donatello continued after a moment of silence. "He said something about Anna."

Leonardo's eyes raised and met mine for a moment. I watched him, knowing that he would choose his duty to his brother over his desire for knowledge. After a few seconds of tension, he stood and picked up his katanas off the bed. He walked out the front door, slamming it against the wall as he threw it open.