~ If anyone is interested I reposted the last few paragraphs of the Karaoke bar chapter. I think you'll like it better and I think it sounds better as well.
The turtles landed with a splash into some very cold water. Getting out and brushing themselves off they looked around to try and figure out where they were. The sun was just rising above the horizon. Trees were all around, with a light misty fog along the ground. Donatello was looking around while everyone questioned their new location.
"What if we are on the Myst of Avalon," Michelangelo questioned. His brothers looked at him with questioning looks.
"Where did you get that idea from?" Raphael asked.
"I saw something about that on TV once," Michelangelo shrugged.
"Right, remind me to tell Master Splinter to not let you watch too much TV," Leonardo said, then looked around. "Hey guys, where's Donatello?" They all looked surprised to see their brother gone when they heard his voice.
"Guys, over here," Came a shout. Heading over they found Donatello near a sign. "I've figured out where we are," Donatello said. "This is Bloomington Lakes."
"Well, just where in the world is Blooming Lakes?" Raphael pushed. Donatello looked at his brother then pointed to the west.
"Over there was where we met Natalie," Then Donatello turned and pointed to the east. "Across the ocean, there was… Rachael." Donatello paused not sure of the girl's name.
"Rashel," Raphael said.
"Right," Donatello nodded. "This is Idaho." Everyone nodded and looked around.
"Well what are we suppose to save, a deer," Raphael asked.
"Oh, maybe we save our turtle mothers," Michelangelo said, jumping up and down. Leonardo laughed while Donatello shook his head.
"Probably not Mikey. See we started in the beginning of July. A calendar I saw in Newark read the 23rd." Donatello pointed out. "I think every time we go to a new place, time jumps ahead a little."
"So no turtle moms?" Michelangelo asked.
"No, not ours at least." Donatello said.
"Well maybe we should see about getting a map and getting to a town or…" Leonardo paused as they heard a loud pop then a squeal of tires. Running over to the noise, there was a van full of girls that was tipped over. The guys climbed on top, opening the driver door and helping each one out. The last person they pulled out was the driver who had slipped over in the passenger seat.
"Are you all right?" Leonardo asked.
"Yeah," The driver said. She had short brown hair and was wearing a flower-patterned dress. "I had swerved when I thought I saw something run in front of the car when a tire blew, tipping us over.
"Is everyone here and okay?" Leonardo asked. The woman looked over and nodded.
"Yeah, I don't think anyone was badly hurt. By the way, I'm Mrs. Turnbuckle," Mrs. Turnbuckle said and looked at the van. "You guys wouldn't perchance have a cell phone would you?"
"No, but we can turn this van over," Raphael said.
"That's not possible…" Mrs. Turnbuckle stopped when she saw all four guys go to one side of the van and start to lift it. Then they put it down and took a breath.
"Okay we can't lift it that was," Donatello looked around then got an idea. "Do you have some rope?" Mrs. Turnbuckle nodded and watched Donatello go inside the van to find the rope. Outside one of the girls came over to Mrs. Turnbuckle.
"Mrs. Turnbuckle, I dropped my glasses in the van and I can't see anything," The girl said.
"There there, Emma," Mrs. Turnbuckle said to the blond girl. "We'll be able to get them for you as soon as these gentleman are done helping us. Donatello came climbing back out with the rope. Going over to Mrs. Turnbuckle he smiled at Emma and opened his hands.
"I found these glasses in there," Donatello said. "So I brought them out that was when we get the van flipped back over they wouldn't get smashed. Emma recognized the glasses as hers and took them from Donatello.
"Oh, thank you," Emma said putting them on. She smiled at Donatello until Mrs. Turnbuckle shooed her over to the other girls. With the rope, Donatello got some materials together and made a makeshift lever. Raphael and Michelangelo were positioned by the van while Donatello and Leonardo was holding the rope. A few grunts and sweats, plus muttled cursed from Raphael later, the turtles were able to get the van upright. The girls cheered and Mrs. Turnbuckle went over to thank them.
"That was amazing, how ever can I thank you," Mrs. Turnbuckle said.
"We could use a ride to town," Donatello said stringing up the rope.
"A place to sleep," Leonardo put in.
"Ill take some food, Michelangelo put in. Mrs. Turnbuckle laughed.
"Anything, you'll have to crowd in the back though," Mrs. Turnbuckle said. The turtles agreed that was fine and filed in. The girls were crowded in some sitting on each others laps. The ones closes to the guys started to talk to them. Emma was among them.
"So where are you from?" Emma asked.
"We grew up in Manhattan," Leonardo said.
"And what brings you out here?"
"Uh," Leonardo paused not sure on what to say. Donatello thought of something.
"They came out here with me to do a study on the ecological system around here and see how it differs from New York." Emma nodded and turned around when Mrs. Turnbuckle told her to.
"I'll have to drop you guys off at the school parking lot with all the girls," Mrs. Turnbuckle said to them.
"I have an idea," Emma turned as she said this facing the turtles. "I heard you say that you needed someplace to stay, well tonight the school is having an all night sleep over, I'm sure you could get in." Michelangelo gave Emma a smile at the invite.
"Are you sure that would be okay with the teachers?" Leonardo asked.
"Yeah, they probably wouldn't notice," Emma said with a wave of her hand.
"Emma," Donatello called.
"Yeah?"
"What were you guys driving out to Bloomington Lake for?" Donatello asked.
"We were suppose to scout out a site for a Girl Scout troop to camp next week, as a favor, but I think Mrs. Turnbuckle changed her mind when she flipped the van."
"Emma!" Mrs. Turnbuckle called from up front.
"Whoop, gotta sit back down," Emma said and turned around. A little tired, the turtles fell asleep until Emma shaking Donatello's arm waked him up.
"Hey there," she said as Donatello opened his eyes. "You know you didn't even introduce yourselves back there." Donatello looked around to see that the van was empty.
"Everyone else, except Mrs. Turnbuckle has gone home," Emma said, seeing Donatello look around.
"Oh, uh, I'm Donatello," he said and pointed out each of his sleeping brothers to Emma. "Why didn't you go home?"
"Because I practically live at this school," Emma said hoping out of the van. Donatello looked at his brothers and slipped out and followed Emma into school.
"This is the gym that everyone will be sleeping and well most likely staying up all night in," Emma said as she flung her arms out and turned around in the gym. "Are you sure that you are going to want to stay the night in here?" Emma asked.
"Well, we don't have too much of a choice," Donatello said and pulled over a folding chair to sit down.
"Are you hungry?" Donatello nodded and Emma went to grab some food. She came back with a couple of peanut butter and jelly's and some bottled water.
"Sorry, I was going to pop a pizza in but, Mrs. Turnbuckle slapped my hands away," Emma gave Donatello a sandwich and sat down. "So why are you here, really?" Donatello gave Emma a surprised look. "You were stammering for an explanation in the van, so I'm just curious. You're not serial killers or anything like that, are you?"
"No, Emma," Donatello said. Not being able to think of an excuse, Donatello told her part of the truth. "We're sent here, don't ask by who, to help out some people. Then when they have been helped, we have to leave."
"That is the weirdest thing I have ever heard," Emma exclaimed after taking a drink of water.
"I know," Donatello laughed. "Sometimes I'm not sure if I believe it myself." Emma looked at the clock and jumped up. "What's wrong?"
"I don't really live at this school," Emma said. "I just volunteered to help this party for some extra credit, now I'm really wishing that I didn't.' Emma went to walk out then turned to Donatello again. "I guess one good thing is, I got to meet you." Donatello blushed and tried to pretend he wasn't. Emma laughed.
"Better go wake your brothers, since you're here, you can help me." Donatello went to get his brothers from the van and Michelangelo took the whole decorating theme on with some other girls who were there to help. Donatello spent the day with Emma. She would talk about how she was majoring in electronics and Donatello shared some 'shocking' experiences that he has had with her.
When the party started, the gym was half full. One half was full of blankets, pillows and lots of back packs. Music was playing in the gym while Michelangelo danced along with some of the other people that was there. Raphael was over by the DJ booth helping with the music while Leonardo was helping Mrs. Turnbuckle with the food and drinks. Emma had found a quiet corner to sit in where she was still in view but out of the way of feet. Donatello came over with a drink that Emma graciously accepted.
"So what are you going to do after high school?" Donatello asked. He was fascinated with all the classes she could take that he would not be able to take part in.
"I'm not one hundred percent sure," Emma said and sat up. "What do you do for a living?" Donatello hesitated. "You know a lot about me, but I don't know very much about you, on how you live."
"Emma?" Mrs. Turnbuckle came over with some plastic bags.
"Yes," Emma stood up.
"These need to be taken out right away, would you?"
"I guess," Emma reached for the bag but Donatello grabbed them first.
"Here let me." Mrs. Turnbuckle smiled.
"I'll go out with you then," Emma said. Donatello followed Emma outside and tossed the bags into the trash. Emma stopped at the doors before going back in.
"Are you okay?" Donatello asked.
"Yeah, I just need a little more of a break from in there," Emma pointed inside. "That's going to be going all night long."
"Well I'll stay out here with you," Donatello said leaning on the building.
"You know you look different in this light," Emma said.
"How different?" Donatello asked.
"I'm not sure," Emma looked out at the sky for a few minutes. "Out of the corner of my eye, I would say you look green, but then when I face you…" Screeching tired grabbed both attentions as a dark car came into view. Donatello saw before Emma did what was pointing out of the window.
"Emma! Down!" Donatello shouted jumping in front of Emma as a blast sounded through the air. Time seemed to slow down as Emma watched Donatello fall in front of her and not get up. Dropping onto her knees next to him, the car screeched away, as kids from the school crowded out to see what happened. Emma turned Donatello over and closed her eyes for a minute.
"Oh God," she whispered. "You," Emma pointed at a girl looking ready to cry. "Go tell Mrs. Turnbuckle to call an ambulance." The girl ran off as Donatello's brothers got to the front of the crowd.
"Donatello!" Leonardo shouted. Raphael and Michelangelo got the kids to go back inside and went to see to their brother. Mrs. Turnbuckle came back outside.
"Police and ambulance are on the way," she said.
"No ambulance, no time," Donatello said.
"Shh, you'll be okay," Emma said while a tear slipped down her cheek. Then she let out a gasp.
"Emma what's wrong?" Mrs. Turnbuckle asked. Emma looked at the other turtles.
"Don't you see them?" Emma asked.
"Of course I see them, they're four boys here, one hurt bad."
"No, they're…" Emma drifted off as Raphael held a finger to his lips. Emma shook her head feeling that she had to get Mrs. Turnbuckle back inside. "Go in and get some washcloths." Mrs. Turnbuckle went inside.
"We're done here," Donatello said.
"But you can't leave, you're hurt," Emma insisted.
"It doesn't matter Emma," Leonardo helped the unwilling Emma up and told her to stand away from them. Raphael grabbed Donatello hand on one side, Leonardo on the other. Michelangelo closed the circle.
"Bye, Emma," Donatello said. Emma only stood there, not sure what was going on until she saw the guys start to glow. The light started to get brighter until Emma was blinded but she didn't look away. As it flashed, Emma flinched then saw that Donatello was the only one that remained. Emma ran over to him and put a hand on his chest.
"Donatello," Emma said.
"I can still feel their hands, but I can't see them," Donatello said.
"Step away from him girl." Emma looked up at the voice and gasped. A man possibly six feet tall, who seemed to be shining, was standing there. Instead of backing away, she covered Donatello protectively.
"You can't hurt him," Emma said. The man smiled amused by this.
"Hurt him?" he questioned. "I only wish to heal him." He laid his hand over Donatello's chest where he was shot. A hum seemed to fill the air and then there was the sound of something metal hitting the ground. "Stand back," Emma was pulled away from Donatello by an unseen force. With one final flash, Donatello and the man were both gone. Emma walked over to where Donatello was and picked up the bullet that impaled him. She slipped it in her pocket as the police and ambulance pulled up.