Chapter 24 "The Brotherly/Sisterly Pep Talk with Alex"

I awoke in a field. It was so peaceful. I looked at my arms. I was human again. I smiled and sighed. No one missed me. I was truly free.

"Lin, what the heck is wrong with you?" yelled a familiar voice which I hadn't heard in many months.

I stood and turned. There in a beautiful white gown was none other than Alex. I ran to him and hugged him. I started to cry.

"Alex, I'm sorry, this is all my fault! It's not you who should be up here! I should have called you and told you what happened! I'm so sorry! I just couldn't bare the pain of your death on top of all that has happened," I cried.

Alex hugged me back. He finally pulled away and gave me one of those all knowing smiles that he always had when he thought I didn't see the full picture.

"Linnie, you had no control what happened to me. In fact no one knows what really happened. You're going to be the first," said Alex.

"What do you mean?" I asked, very confused.

He laughed and signaled for me to follow him. I walked beside him.

"I got annoyed at my father again and I ran out of the house, screaming I was going to go looking for you again. I ran out of the house and ran into a few old friends who I turned my back on. I was once in a gang. I quit and decided to keep you from making the same mistake. They found me and well, you know the rest," explained Alex as we walked into a densely forested area.

"So this wasn't my fault," I said, finally understanding.

"That's right," he said as we got to a lake.

"Lin, think of me as your guardian angel so I still haven't gotten my wings. I'm telling you, you're friends are afraid you're going to die," he said.

"Does it matter?" I asked.

"Why don't you look," he suggested, pointing to the lake.

"I feel like I'm doing something out of the Lion King," I joked.

"Where do you think they got the idea for that movie?" asked Alex.

I shook my head, knowing what he was getting at. I then looked in the lake. I saw my discarded body, laying on a table. Only Leonardo was in the room. He was holding my hand, not Nicole's, mine. May and Nicole walked into the room.

"Leo, get some rest," said Masy, obviously still upset.

"No, I'm not going to bed until she wakes up," said Leo, stubbornly, "How are you feeling, Nicole?"

"I've felt better after giving blood before. This is the worse I've felt," Nicole said.

"Well, sit down, I think you need it," he said.

Nicole sat down next to Leo. I didn't want to watch anymore. I looked up at Alex.

"I don't want to see anymore! He cares for her! Not me," I yelled.

"I'd continue watching if I were you, you'd find that things aren't always what they appear," he said.

"You know I hate it when you sound all mystic," I said.

I continued to watch. Nicole and Leonardo were talking about me and how Leo never really got to know me.

"She's really a great person.err.I mean turtle. You remember how we treated each other when you first met us," Nicole said.

"Yea, that' true," he said.

"Leo, I think she would want you to know that although Raph was after her, she loved you. Not Raph. I can't make you change your mind about her but I'm just saying, you're not my type anyway," said Nicole.

"Why do you say that?" asked Leo.

"First of all, I'm like Raph. You two fight like crazy. I don't know if you're into that good boy bad girl thing but I'm definitely the bad one. You're too honorable and honor stricken for me. Linnea liked that in you. That's what annoyed her most about Raph but made her favor you," said Nicole.

"You're right; I should have gotten to know her better. The problem was that well, she's so beautiful and she's hard to approach because of it. I don't know why but.," Leo trailed off.

"It's easier to approach me than it is to approach her. I know. Many guys had that problem while we were human. That's why we never got along," she said.

"I understand. If Linnea wakes up, I'm going to make sure that I get to know her better," said Leonardo

My heart fluttered. Nicole told him she had no feelings other than those of a friend for him and he wanted to get to know me. I cried.

"Lin?" said Alex.

"Alex, I wanna go back! I made a big mistake but I can't, can I?" I cried.

"On the contrary, you can. You see, when you're in this limbo, you can actually decide whether you want to. Angels like me only come to show you both sides," he said.

"Can I make my decision?" I asked.

"Yes, go ahead but before you do, I'm going to give you a piece of advice, if you decide to live on earth as a turtle, live life to it's fullest and protect those who need it. You will have that chance. I wanted the same but I never got it. If you decide to say here, it's beautiful and you can meet your ancestors that came before you. Either way, I'd say is good. Just so you know, Lin, you're free either way. Don't ever think you're not," he said.

"Alex, my friend, please, I want to live," I said.

"Very well then but I ask one thing of you," he said.

"Anything," I said.

"First boy," started Alex.

"You're not taking my first born son!" I said.

"No! That's not right! I just ask that your first born son be named after me. You know. I'd be his namesake. Plus, before I send you back, I would like to hug you one last time," he requested.

I smiled. I ran to him and hugged him. He was such a goofball. He was my friend and he was never going to be forgotten. I released him and smiled at him. He soon smiled.

"Close your eyes, Linnea," he said.

I did as I was commanded. I could hear his voice saying my name but suddenly it turned into Leonardo's voice. I opened my eyes and saw Leonardo's face over me.

"Linnea?" he said.

"Leo?" I said.

"Guys! Hurry up! She's awake! Linnea's okay!" yelled Leonardo.