There was one story houses as well as two stories. From the brothers point they had no idea how many bedrooms would be in each or how they would know when they have found who they were looking for. Some children were playing in the road, when a green car was driving by slowly, so it wouldn't hit the children. The driver was a girl, with long light brown hair, all the windows on the car down and the sun top open. A child ahead turned to fast, slipped and fell, making the girl stop the car. The turtles all slowed down to get a better view and she turned to look at them.
The girl saw four boys, possibly teenagers, she wasn't positive on their age, slowing as she stopped the car. Each was wearing blue jeans and shirt. On had a white shirt and light brown hair, cut short. Another had on a black shirt with black hair to match, some tendrils fell onto his face but he didn't seem to notice. Those two were in the front of the group. Behind, one was wearing, what some people would call a sensible gray shirt and wore his hair tied back in a pony tail. The last wore a shirt that was tie dyed and had long light brown hair, worn loose. The girl did a double take as his hair almost matched her own. All seemed to stand at the same height.
The guy in the white waved and smiling the girl went to wave back. A car horn behind her made her jump and look in the rear view mirror. The car honked again and the girl saw that the kid was gone. She looked back at the guys once more, gave a little shrug with a smile. The car honked again. The girl raised her fist, stuck her tongue out at the mirror, meaning to the car behind her, and drove off.
"Whoa, can she be the one we have to help please?" Michelangelo said watching the car turn the corner. Raphael playfully hit him on the shoulder and they continued to walk. The sun was starting to set and the guys were no where closer to finding what they had come to here for. Frustrated Raphael sat on a curb.
"Man, how are we suppose to help someone, if we can't even find out who it is?" Raphael almost shouted. Leonardo and Donatello sat down next to Raphael, while Michelangelo sat on the other side.
"We just have to keep going until…" Leonardo's words trailed off as a van pulled to a stop in front of them. The door on the side slid open showing some kids who looked like they were ready to get into trouble.
"Hey there, we're going to downtown Vancouver, see if we can get in some bars, wanna go?" Raphael got up but was pulled down by Leonardo.
"Raph, we don't need to get into any trouble," Leonardo mentioned under his breath.
"But Dude, it's going to be around more people so we might be able to find out who we need to help," Michelangelo whispered.
"Yeah, and maybe we can get some food," Donatello said. "I'm hungry." Sighing Leonardo stood up and they guys all piled into the van. They had some fake ID's that they gave to the guys and drove for about twenty minutes. There were four guys in the van, Mark, Brian, John, and the driver Tom. During the drive, the turtles found out that they were in Vancouver, Washington, and where the guys picked them up was called Orchards.
Mark was a little chubby with a shaved head. Brian who was medium built, had black hair which was also shaved. Tom, the driver, and only guy who was legally over twenty one, had a military buzz cut with the military posture. Later they learned that he was dishonorably discharged. John, whose birthday was in two weeks, was currently twenty and wore his hair in dreds. As the van was parked the turtles got out to see a club called FloJo's. Heading in, the waitress promptly checked the ID's, seemed a little suspicious but let them stay.
The bar was laid out to the left. Long tables were arranged in the middle, leaving enough room to dance, and booths were built in to the right. Directly ahead was a small stage and a Karaoke Dj. A few people were scattered around but it wasn't very crowded. As the van guys sat down, Michelangelo noticed the girl, seated up front at the bar, right next to the DJ stand, flipping through a notebook. Raphael looked to the corner booth, but sat with his brothers, with the van guys.
"Good evening everyone, for all who are now joining this is your Monday Tuesday Karaoke DJ, Amy. And remember to also join us on Wednesday and Thursday with Gary." The Karaoke DJ paused smiling at the girl at the bar for a moment, then laughed at something she said. The DJ hostess had short blond hair, and a light complexion. "And don't foget to join us Friday and Saturday for out live performances. Now up to sing is Natalie." The girl at the bar got up and stood by the microphone waiting for the song to begin.
"Hey guys, that's the same girl from the green car," Michelangelo pointed. All nodded.
"You know her?" Brian asked.
"Not really," Donatello said. "We just saw her drive by."
"Man she is sweet, her voice is so cool," Tom said. "She comes in almost every week to sing."
"Have you tried talking to her?" Leonardo asked. Please don't have us be here to help set a guy up on a date, Leonardo thought.
"Yeah, she likes to talk and is very nice," Tom paused a moment. "It's be cool if she would let us drive her home and instead we could drug a drink, take her to a remote area…" As Tom went on from the guys urging, on what they could do to her, the turtles eye's got wide. The were surprised at how fast the conversation turned. Disgusted Raphael tuned them out and listened to Natalie sing. He smiled thinking the song appropriately fit the occasion.
Like any uncharted territory
I must seem greatly intriguing
You speak of my love like
You have experienced like mine before
But this is not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight
Then Natalie looked over at them, and saw them all staring at her. Not knowing the reason for their stare, she simply gave them a smile and finished Alanis Morissette's Uninvited.
I don't think you unworthy
I need a moment to deliberate
As the music thundered it's ending, Natalie stepped down and resumed her seat at the bar. John excused himself for a moment and went outside. At the bar, Natalie was talking to the DJ hostess, who was pointing at the van guys and the turtles laughing. Natalie had her head ducked but kept sneaking glances over at them. The van guys stopped talking about kidnapping Natalie when they saw how uncomfortable their guest was getting and started to talk about beer and alcohol. John came in and joined drinks with his buddies, Tom was the only one who wasn't drinking. They offered to buy stuff for the turtles, but all refused.
"Watch this guys," Brian said and walked over to the DJ. He paused next to Natalie saying hi and asked the DJ for a book. They could hear the conversation all the way to the table.
"So are you going to sing some more tonight?" Brian asked.
"Of course," Natalie replied. "Who in your group is going to sing?" Natalie looked over and smiled at the turtles again. Of course the van guys thought it was for them too.
"Well, I'm thinking of a few songs, and some of my other buddies might." Brian took that chance to put his hand on Natalie's. She smiled but slid her hand away grabbing her water to take a drink. Atta girl, Michelangelo thought.
"Would you sing one with us?" Brian asked. Natalie looked surprised and put her water down.
"Sure, if I know it." Brian nodded and brought the book back to the table.
"She so digs me man," Brian said to his friends. Natalie's eye's shot their way when he said that but turned back to the DJ. Brian's friends were edging him on as Leonardo had his brothers sort of huddle together.
"What are with these guys, I don't think we should have came here with them." Leonardo said.
"But if we didn't they might kidnap that girl and you know," Donatello pointed out. They all nodded.
"Okay, all eyes, on Natalie, or any other girl that they might talk about," Leonardo said.
"Can we put more than our eyes on her if she lets us?" Michelangelo asked jokingly which got him a smack on the back of the head. "Ow."
"Leo, I think Natalie is going to be the only one to worry about," Raphael paused to look around to make his point. "The rest of these woman have people with them or are older."
"To many guys like this, age doesn't matter," Donatello pointed out. The guys nodded and straightened back up when the van guys called to them.
"What you doing there?" Mark asked.
"Uh," Leonardo paused trying to think of something to say.
"Talking about Natalie," Michelangelo interrupted. The van guys smiled.
"You like her?" John asked with a smile.
"Yeah, I kinda do," Michelangelo was starting to feel embarrassed.
"Why don't you pick out a song and see if she'll sing with you?" Tom pushed the book to Michelangelo. He hesitated a second then looked through it.
"Are you really going to sing with her?" Raphael asked.
"No, I'll sing a song for her," Michelangelo flipped through a few more pages. "Maybe I can try to warn her to be careful or something, Dude," Michelangelo finished quietly. Writing a song down, Michelangelo shut the book before anyone could see what it was. He walked up handed it to the Karaoke DJ, and turned to leave when Natalie said hello. Michelangelo paused and looked at her. Natalie's eyes, were blue, no change that to green, then again.
"How do you do that?" Michelangelo asked. Natalie smiled a confused smile.
"Do what?"
"Change your eye color?"
"Oh, I don't know," Natalie said. "So who's your friends? I never seen those guys come in with anyone else before."
"Them?" Michelangelo turned to look at the van guys and pointed over at them. "Well those three are my brothers, the others guys, we don't know really. Just met them today." Natalie nodded, then both looked up as the DJ hostess came to the microphone.
"A new guy tonight, by the name of Mikey." She waited as Michelangelo walked up to the stage and started the music. Looking at Natalie, Michelangelo started to sing.
Crazy, how it feels tonight.
Crazy, how you make it all alright, love.
Crush me,
With those things you do
And I'll do for you
Anything, too, oh...
"I think he likes you," Amy said to Natalie.
"He's better than those other guys that usually come in," Amy nodded to Natalie's statement. "Don't get me wrong they're nice, but they give me the creeps."
"I know," Amy said shuffling some CD's. "Are you still leaving after your last song?"
"Yeah, I'm starting to feel tired." Amy nodded and both girls turned their attention to Michelangelo.
It's crazy, I'm thinking
Just as long as you're around
And here I'll be dancing on the ground
Am I right side up or upside down?
To each other we'll be facing
My love, my love,
We'll beat back the pain we've found
You know I mean to tell you
All the things I've been thinking
Deep inside, my friend.
Each moment the more I love you.
Crush me, come on, baby...
So much you have given up
That I would give you back, again and again.
Oh, my love, many now hold you,
But please, please, just let me, always.
At the end of the song, everyone clapped. Michelangelo's brothers never knew that he knew Dave Mathews, let alone could sing it well. As he sat down his brothers all gave him a look.
"What?" Michelangelo didn't get it.
"We're not staying here, Mikey," Raphael said softly. Michelangelo hung his head a little.
"I know, it's just…" Michelangelo paused when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning they saw Natalie standing there.
"Um, hi," Natalie seemed nervous. The van guys all cheered hi and the turtles were a little quieter. "I'm just getting ready to go and wanted to say that I hope you and your brother's come here more often." Each one felt a little sad that they would be leaving. Natalie was so open, and she welcomed them in with out question. Even thought she didn't know they were turtles, no one has ever treated them that way.
"So drive safe, maybe I'll see you around?" Natalie said.
"Yeah, if we stay here longer, we're kind of traveling," Leonardo said.
"Oh," Natalie's smile dropped a little. "Well at least stop by to say goodbye." She gave them all a smile and walked out.
"Hey we need to go too," Tom said. They all got up went outside and heard Natalie yelling at her car.
"You stupid piece of tin, you were fine a few minutes ago." The sound of the hood opening. Tom went with the van guys to get the van and told the turtles to check on Natalie. Not liking this they walked over and saw her staring inside the hood.
"You okay, Dudette?" Michelangelo asked. Natalie turned at their voice and relax when she saw them.
"No, my car won't start, won't even turn over." Donatello stepped up next to her.
"Can you see what's wrong?" Donatello asked. Natalie looked at him and gave a small laugh.
"No, I don't even know what I'm looking at," Natalie confessed.
"Oh, well that's the hose that leads from…" as Donatello went on about the car and how the engine works. Natalie peered around him to his brothers with a look saying, is he serious. Raphael walked up and put a hand on Donatello's arm.
"Bro, she doesn't get you," Donatello looked up.
"Oh, sorry, basically the battery is gone." Donatello pointed. Looks like some one…" He pause and looked at Leonardo.
"Stole it," Leonardo knew what each other was thinking.
"What? Why would someone take my car battery?" As Natalie finished her question, the van guys pulled around.
"Hey if you're having trouble we'll give you a ride home," Tom said leaning out the window. Unsure, Natalie looked at the turtles.
"No worries, we'll protect you," Michelangelo said. Natalie still looked unsure, but said okay and climbed in the guys following. She ended up sitting between Michelangelo and Leonardo with Donatello next to Leonardo and Raphael was sitting in the seat in front of him. Mark and Brian was next to Raphael and John sat up front with Tom. Once Natalie explained how to get to her house, Tom started driving.
Half an hour later, they were still no where near Natalie's house and she was starting to get scared. Her hand groped for something to hold onto and felt Michelangelo's hand. She grabbed it, surprising him but gave her a reassuring squeeze when he saw her eyes. Looking at him there was something different about him and his brother's but Natalie wasn't sure of it. She kept glancing down at his hand. She would have sworn that she felt only three fingers, but always saw five. One second, Michelangelo almost looked like a turtle. Natalie shook her head thinking she was more tired than she thought. Raphael realized it shouldn't take this long to get to Natalie's house, from seeing her earlier and spoke up.
"Hey are you guys lost or something, because, Natalie should have been home by now." Raphael demanded.
"We're not lost," Tom said up front.
"Yeah," Mark said. "We'll be there soon, we just got turned around." Natalie took a breath, glad she was between Michelangelo and Leonardo. With them and their brother's Natalie felt safe but the van guys, Natalie was never sure about them. Tom made a sudden sharp turn to the right making Natalie fall into Michelangelo's arms which he grabbed her protectively.
"We're here…" Tom said looking back with an evil grin. Before anyone had a chance to react, the van guys all jumped out. Raphael wasn't near the exit, and shut them inside, with something that started to smoke.
"Don't worry, your just going to get really drowsy…" One shouted from outside. Everything became fuzzy then all went back.
Waking up a little later, Donatello turned and coughed finding his arms tied to a chair. Looking around, his brothers were tied the same way but he wasn't prepared when he saw Natalie. A dirty old mattress was on the floor, and Natalie was on it, still clothes, laying on her stomach, her hands tied to her ankles. The van guys were standing around waiting for everyone to wake up. Slowly each turtle woke, Natalie was the last to wake.
"Hey there, we thought you were going to sleep the night away," Natalie looked around trying to find the guys and where they were. Tom turned her around. "Don't worry your friends are right there." Natalie saw them tied and her heart sank. Each turtle struggled but had no luck.
"No what we are going to do first," Tom flicked out a pocket knife and started to cut at Natalie's shirt.
"Wait," Leonardo yelled. Tom paused and looked at him. "Why are you having all the fun. Since we got her in the van, we should be able to have her first." Tom smiled at Leonardo and cut loose the ropes. Natalie started to breath a little faster getting even more scared. Leonardo took the pocket knife, walked behind his brothers and went over to Natalie. Gagged the only thing she could do was moan as Leonardo knelt down by her. He grabbed her face, making Natalie's head arch painfully back.
"Stop your crying and listen," Leonardo said. Natalie shut her eyes, tears falling. "Don't cry," Natalie opened her eyes hearing Leonardo's voice soften. "Because we're getting you out of here." At that moment, each turtle busted off his ropes, thanks to Leonardo who cut them enough when he walked behind them. Tom went to tackle Leonardo but he was easily thrown to the wall, getting knocked out. Raphael took the closest one, Brian and took out his sai's.
"Want to try me?" Brain's face lost all color and he turned to run. "I don't think so," Raphael said throwing the sai's. Brian found himself pinned to the wall. Donatello knocked John out easily by tripping him with his bo and Michelangelo crashed a chair over Mark, causing him to pass out. Leonardo untied Natalie while the rest of the turtles tied the van guys up.
"You really scared me," Natalie said softly looking at Leonardo.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to get you free and away from them," Leonardo felt horrible but it was better than the alternative. They all walked outside and found that they were not too far away from FloJo's. Tom just drove in a big circle. Finding a payphone Natalie called a cab and waited with the turtles. She also called the police but didn't want to be there when they arrested the van guys. Once the cab arrived Natalie paused looking at the guys.
"Do you have a place to stay?" Natalie asked. They shook their head. "You can stay at my house for the night.
"Oh, we couldn't…" Leonardo started.
"Please," Natalie said. Giving in they all piled into the cab and went to Natalie's house. Inside they went to lay down in the living room , while Natalie made some tea. After giving the guys some, she wrapped a blanket around her self and sat next to Michelangelo.
"Will you be leaving soon?" Natalie asked. Instead of her room, she opted to stay with them, feeling safer.
"We're not sure," Donatello said.
"We'll just go when we have to," Raphael said. Natalie nodded and waited until it seemed they all were asleep. Getting up quietly Natalie slipped outside and looked up at the sky.
"Can't sleep," Natalie turned finding that Michelangelo followed her outside. Natalie shook her head and sat down on the porch swing out there. Michelangelo sat next to her and looked up at the stars.
"I almost feel like I should quote the line from Men in Black," Natalie joked. Michelangelo had a grim smile, for her guessing so close that she would probably not see them again.
"So you're from Manhattan?" Natalie asked. Michelangelo nodded. "I'm really glad to have met you, and your brothers,"
"We're glad to have met you too," Michelangelo said. "I just wish we could stay longer." Thinking for a moment Natalie looked at Michelangelo.
"I don't normally do this, but I want to say thank you and,"
"You don't have to thank us, Amiga," Natalie smiled at Michelangelo's words. She leaned over to him.
"Would it be okay to thank you…"
"I already said…"
"With a kiss?" Natalie finished. Michelangelo stopped not sure if he heard what he had heard.
"Did I hear you right?" Natalie smiled.
"Normally, I'd invite you to dinner or hope you would ask me out but it doesn't seem that I'll have that time. So, tell me your full name…"
"Nat," Michelangelo said leaning closer. "There's thing's about us, about me that you don't know."
"I don't care," Natalie was a breath away. "What's your name?"
"Michelangelo," and Natalie first kissed Michelangelo's left cheek, then his right cheek. Natalie leaned back and opened her eyes surprised to find a turtle before her. She didn't back away, instead she reached a hand down and pulled his hand up, three fingers.
"Did you know that you're a turtle and you only have three fingers?" Natalie asked with a small smile.
"You can see me," Michelangelo was astounded. Natalie nodded. "What was that thing you just did." Natalie shook her hair out of her face and smiled.
"That's my Italian heritage you saw," Natalie replied. "It's how we say hello and goodbye, so I thought I could use it to thank you."
"At first I thought you were going to…" Michelangelo trailed off making motions with his hand.
"I'll be honest, I was thinking about it, but thought that what I did would be better," Natalie said and looked at him for a minute. "I'm glad that you were in the bar tonight." She leaned towards him to give a hug when Michelangelo felt a surge through his hands.
"Mikey, what's wrong?" Natalie was alarmed.
"It's time for us to leave," Michelangelo said sadly. He stood up but motioned for Natalie to stay in her seat. "Stay back, I don't want you getting hurt." Confused all Natalie could do was watch as Michelangelo seemed to fill with a blue glow. She was still seeing him in turtle form. As his head shot back, up to the sky, there was a bright flash, blinding Natalie, then he was gone. Running inside, Natalie was not surprise to find three more turtles, each in the same stage that she last saw Michelangelo in. Raphael turned and saw Natalie there.
"Be careful, don't come too close," Raphael warned. Natalie nodded.
"Be safe, turtles," Natalie said, then covered her face as three more burst of bright light blinded her. Regaining her vision they were gone.
~ Can you tell who Natalie is? ::Evil smile:: I wonder who the next person that the turtles help will be?