A.N.: Figured I'd try posting this again. The chapters will be posted 10 @
a time, so maybe it'll stay up permanently this time 'round. Feel free to
re-read it all if you'd like. =0)
Chapter 1:
Donatello was walking through Central Park, lost in his own thoughts, when he stumbled upon something he never expected to find. What he saw before him, left him in shock and pure wonder. He watched silently for a few long minutes, as a child wandered by itself, looking under pine trees. It was as though the child was looking for something, or someone. He watched a bit longer, before realizing the child was lost. He stepped out of his hiding place, and casually, yet cautiously, walked up to the child.
"Excuse me," he said.
The child turn around, casting scared eyes at him. It was at this time that Donatello realized she was only a mere toddler.
"Excuse me," he repeated. "Are you lost?"
She nodded cautiously.
"Where are your parents?"
She shrugged.
"How old are you?"
She held up two fingers.
"Um." he trailed off, as he began to smell something that wasn't all that pleasant.
He watched as she wrinkled her nose and her lower lip began to tremble.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked, crouching down before her, as she began to cry.
"Waaah!"
"Did you go potty?"
She nodded through tears.
"Hmm." he thought. "I wonder if there's anything nearby I could use as a wipe?"
"Do you wanna come with me?" He asked carefully. "I'll change your diaper and help you find your Mommy and Daddy."
She nodded.
"Okay. Let's go then," he said, taking her small hand in his larger one.
He eventually found something he could use as a wipe, and decided to use his bandana for a diaper. He quickly changed her diaper, and ended up not putting her pants back on as they were full of.well, you know. He placed her inside his jacket and began to carry her back to the lair.
Chapter 2: The lair.
Donatello entered the lair, only to be met by questioning stares from two thirds of his brothers.
"Whatcha got under your coat?" Michaelangelo queried. "It's not a pizza, is it?"
Donatello shook his head. "No. It's not a pizza."
"Then what is it?" Leonardo questioned, noting that his brother was missing his bandana.
"Where's Master Splinter?"
"In his room meditating, why?" Leonardo replied. "What's wrong Donnie?"
Donatello carried the bundle in his arms into Splinter's room, and stood quietly watching his sensei for a couple moments, before softly clearing his throat.
Splinter looked up. "What is it my son?"
"Master Splinter, I need some advice."
"Well, it must be important if it could not wait until morning. Please, have a seat my son."
Donatello remained standing and began to fidget slightly.
"Uh.Sensei. I need to know what to do with her," Donatello said, as he revealed the small child. "I found her wandering around Central Park by herself. I couldn't just leave her there; she would've froze or starved or something."
"Is she hurt?"
"No. I kind of had to change her diaper," Donatello told him. "She was really upset and seemed quite scared."
"It is only natural for a child her size to be scared," Splinter stated. "The poor child has probably been wandering around for a couple days now. It also does not help being in Central Park, and having a rather large turtle talk to you."
"So what should I do, Master Splinter?" Donatello interrogated.
"Did she say where her parents were?"
"I don't think she has any."
"Why do you say that?"
"I don't know. I've just this feeling."
"Well, I do tell you to trust your instincts my son. Keep her here for a few days; see if we can find her family," Splinter instructed. "If we can not find them, we will decide what to do with her."
"Okay. Thanks Sensei."
"Donatello."
"Yes, Master?"
"Put her in one of the spare rooms for tonight."
"Yes, Sensei."
Donatello then left the room with her still asleep in his arms.
"Whoa," Michaelangelo gasped when he saw the girl. "Who's she?"
"I found her in the park," Donatello responded. "Sensei said to keep her here until we find her family. If we don't, we'll go from there."
"How old is she?" Leonardo wanted to know.
"Two," Donatello answered, as he carried her into one of the spare rooms. "Find some pillows. We'll have to place them around her so she won't fall out. Actually, put some on the floor too, in case she does fall out of bed."
Leonardo nodded, then went off in search of pillows. He returned shortly with an armload of them and dropped them onto the foot of the bed.
"Is this enough?" He asked.
"We'll know once we've placed them where they have to be," Donatello replied. "I think it will be though."
Chapter 3: Later that night.
Raphael woke up in the middle of the night, to the sound of someone or something wailing like a banshee. Confused, he rolled out of bed, and headed towards the area the noise was coming from. He was surprised to learn it came from the one spare room. He slowly opened the door and peeked in. He was quite shocked to find a toddler lying on the bed totally hysterical.
"What the hell." he thought, then yelled, "Hey Leo!"
Leonardo came sauntering out of his room. "What is it Raph?"
"What the hell's this?" He demanded, pointing into the room.
Leonardo looked in, and groaned inwardly when he saw the girl screaming.
"A two-year-old," he said simply, as though it were quite obvious.
"I can see that," Raphael returned. "But what the hell's she doing here?"
Leonardo shook his head. "Don't ask Raph. Don't ask."
He then entered the room, and began to try and calm her down. He tried everything, but every attempt seemed to fail miserably.
"Oh. I wondered what the noise was," Michaelangelo said sleepily, as he stumbled into the room. "Thought Raph had stepped on a cat or something again."
"Ha ha. Not funny," Raphael rejoined sarcastically, then turned to Leonardo. "Can you shut her up already?"
"What do you think I'm trying to do, Raph?" Leonardo snapped. "Strangle her?"
"Hell, if it'll shut her up, do it," Raphael muttered.
"Maybe she wants Donnie," Michaelangelo piped up suddenly. "After all, he did bring her here."
"Call him before she wakes Master Splinter up then," Leonardo sighed.
"Donnie!" Michaelangelo called.
Donatello appeared within seconds, looking confused at first, then kind of mad.
"What the heck are you doing to her, Leo?" he demanded as he shoved him aside and sat next to her. "You have to have patience, and not annoyance."
He turned to the child. "Hey. What's wrong Kiddo?"
She turned to him and stopped screaming. She sat up and allowed herself to be pulled into a hug.
"Shh. Did they scare you?"
She nodded slightly, as he glared at his brothers.
"Don't glare at us," Raph stated. "She was screaming before we ever came in here."
"What's wrong?" Donatello asked her. "You have a bad dream?"
She nodded, as fresh tears began to stream down her face.
"Shh," he soothed, hugging her tighter as he pulled her into his lap. "It's okay. Nothing's gonna hurt you. I promise."
Ten minutes later Donatello had managed to calm her down and get her back to sleep. He left the room with the others, quietly closing the door behind him.
"Think she'll be okay Donnie?" Leonardo questioned. "She seemed kinda distraught."
"She'll be fine," Donatello assured him. "Just scared 'cause she's in a new place with strangers."
"I wonder if she likes pizza?" Michaelangelo wonder aloud.
"Mikey, seriously, is pizza all you ever worry about?" Leonardo asked.
"No," Michaelangelo answered. "I think about other things too."
"Like what?" Donatello queried.
"Cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, pineapple pizza, ham pizza," Michaelangelo grinned. "Jam pizza, olive pizza, sardine pizza, beef pizza."
"Mikey, we get the picture," Leonardo said, as he shook his head at his younger brother.
"Does someone wanna clue me in here?" Raphael interrupted. "I really hate to break up your lil' pizza talk here, but will someone tell me just who the hell that kid is?"
"She's the girl Donnie found in the park," Michaelangelo shrugged. "Master Splinter said for her to stay here awhile."
"Great. I'm never gonna get any sleep now that we have a damn two- year-old staying with us," Raphael grumbled. "You just had to bring her home, didn't you Donnie?"
"Raph, she was in trouble. We help those in need," Donatello protested. "She was in need of some care. I'm giving her that care until we find her family."
"You always think of others before yourself, how sweet," Raphael said bitterly. "You ever stop to think about us for once? Hmm? Did you ever stop to think how she'll be getting in our way and disturbing our peace and slumber? Hmm? Did you?"
"No. I."
"Exactly!" Raphael cried. "You never think about how the shit you bring home will affect us!"
"Namely you Raphael," Leonardo put in. "You're the only one who's bothered with her presence."
"I." Raphael began, only to be cut off.
"What is going on here?" Splinter demanded. "Why are you arguing outside a sleeping child's door?"
"Sorry Sensei," Leonardo apologized, giving a quick bow. "We forgot where we were standing."
"Now, what is the meaning of all this yelling?" Splinter continued, then looked at the son he knew would be honest or his conscious would eat him up. "Donatello?"
"Raph doesn't like the idea of her staying with us," Donatello answered honestly. "He's mad because she woke him up with her screaming."
"Why was she screaming?"
"She had a nightmare, then got scared when everyone but myself came into the room," he went on. "She'd never seen the others, just me. She calmed down once I entered and sat next to her."
"Raphael, is what Donatello says true? Do you not like the child staying here?"
"If she was found in the streets, the streets is where she should stay and belongs," Raphael stated. "That's the way I see it."
"My son, she is a mere child; she would not be able to survive on her own," Splinter replicated. "Donatello did right by bringing her here. She needs our help."
"Help my ass," Raphael muttered. "What she needs is a good spanking."
"For what? Flipping out after having a nightmare and having strangers come into her room?" Donatello snapped. "I think you're the one who needs the spanking Raph, not her."
"Enough," Splinter cut in.
Just then, small wails were heard coming from inside the room they were standing outside of.
"Dammit!" Raphael yelled. "There she goes again!"
"Donatello, take care of her," Splinter told him. "Go. Before she becomes even more scared."
Donatello nodded, and hurried back into the bedroom to check on her.
"Raphael, ten flips, now," Splinter ordered.
"What the." Raphael trailed off, as he received a Look from his sensei.
"Now!" Splinter barked.
Raphael walked off towards the practice room, muttering the whole way there.
Chapter 4: A few days later.
It'd been almost a week, and they'd still yet been able to find the girl's family.
"I'm beginning to think she either doesn't have one or she was abandoned," Leonardo stated as he plopped down onto the couch.
"I know whatcha mean dude," Michaelangelo agreed, also plopping down on the sofa. "We've looked high and low all over the city, and no one seems to be missing a child."
"If they are, they're doing a pretty fine job of not showing it," Donatello sighed, as he took a seat in the chair.
"Remind me again why I have to help you guys search," Raphael said.
"Master Splinter said you have to help, seeing as you're the reason she woke up the second time the other night," Donatello reminded him. "You also have to help 'cause you don't think she's worthy enough of anyone's help."
Just then, the little girl came running into the room and eagerly climbed up into Donatello's lap to greet him.
"Hey Kiddo," Donatello smiled as she hugged him. "Were you good for Splinter?"
She nodded furiously, then turned to look at the other guys. She spotted Michaelangelo eating a slice of pizza (as usual).
"Donnie?" She said, turning to look at him again. "Pizza?"
Donatello chuckled. "You want some pizza?"
"Yesth," she replied. "Pwease?"
"Here, you can have my slice," Leonardo stated, offering her his slice. "I'm not hungry, so you might as well eat it."
She took the slice of cheese pizza from him and smiled. "Thank-you Weo."
Leonardo smiled back at her. "No problem Kid."
"Okay, this is pathetic!" Raphael riposted, raising his voice. "She's been here a week, and we're still calling her Kid, Kiddo, or Munchkin! Does she not have a name?"
"Well, should we name her or ask her if she's a name?" Michaelangelo asked.
"Do you have a name?" Donatello asked her.
She nodded.
"What is it?"
"Lana," she answered. "Lana Marie Godin."
"Shit," Raphael muttered. "Triple shit."
"Shit?" Lana said confused.
"Raph!" Leonardo cried, as Donatello placed a hand over her mouth.
"Lana, you don't say that, okay?" Donatello stated.
"Why not?" She wanted to know, after he'd removed his hand. "Waph did."
"Well, Raph shouldn't have," Donatello told her.
"Why not?" she asked puzzled.
"It's a bad word," Donatello explained. "Little girls don't need to be saying bad words, okay?"
"Kay," she shrugged.
"Now, back to before we had a parrot repeat something they shouldn't have," Leonardo began. "What's wrong Raph?"
"Remember on the news last week, how they said they'd found that one entire family murdered?"
"Yeah." The others trailed off.
"Their names were Anne and Jim Godin," Raphael told them. "They'd been found murdered with three children next to them. The neighbours told the cops they'd had four children, but figured whoever had murdered them took off with the fourth. They believe the fourth was the youngest of the family and may be wandering the streets of Brooklyn."
"What happens if they find the kid alive?" Michaelangelo queried. "Would they send the kid to live with a family member?"
"That's just it. It was just them. They had no living relatives that anyone was aware of. If the child was found, she'd be placed if foster care or an orphanage."
"What do you mean she?" Leonardo questioned.
"They said the youngest was a girl," Raphael replied. "They also said the other night on the news, since she's been gone so long and has no family, there's no point in looking for her anymore as she's probably already dead."
"You think Lana's the girl they're talking about?" Leonardo interrogated.
"She has to be," Raphael rejoined. "Though how she got from Brooklyn to Central Park is a mystery to me."
"How the heck can people just give up on her because she has no family?" Donatello thought aloud. "They're making it sound like it's all her fault, when it's not."
"Donnie?"
"Yeah, Lana?"
"Where Jordan?"
"Who's Jordan?"
"Ma brudder," she answered. "Jeff, Nick too."
"Um." Donatello trailed off nervously, as Splinter entered the den.
"What is wrong my son?" Splinter asked, after noting the look on Donatello's face.
"She wants to know where her brothers are," Donatello gulped.
"Do you know where they are?"
Donatello nodded.
"Where are they?"
He ran his finger across his throat as though he were slicing it, then pointed upwards.
"Oh," Splinter said, then turned to the little girl. "My child, I believe they are gone."
"Gone? Where?"
"They have gone to Heaven, my dear," Splinter told her. "So have your mother and father."
She pouted. "They leave me?"
"I'm afraid so Lana," Donatello replied sadly, then glanced at Splinter before continuing. "But if you'd like, you can stay here with us."
"Stay Donnie?"
Donatello nodded. "If you'd like to."
"I like," she responded as she hugged him again.
Raphael rolled his eyes. "Great. Just what we need, a banshee."
"Raphael," Splinter started.
"I know, I know," Raphael groaned as he stood up. "Ten flips."
Chapter 5: A month goes by.
"Donnie pway?" Lana asked, as she held a doll out towards him. "Pwease?"
"Sorry Kiddo," Donatello smiled softly. "I'm kind of busy right now. Why don't you go ask Mikey if he'll play with you?"
"Kay Donnie," she sighed before leaving his laboratory to look for Michaelangelo.
"She sure is bright for two," Donatello thought. "Now, back to work."
Lana looked everywhere for Michaelangelo, but failed to find him anywhere in the lair. She'd already asked Donnie and Leo to play, and they'd said no. She didn't even dare to think about asking Raph to play with her, seeing as he seemed to hate her for some unknown reason. She sighed heavily before sitting down in the den with her doll, that Donnie had gotten her, and began to play by herself. After awhile she grew bored and decided to go exploring.
She wandered aimlessly around the lair, remembering to steer clear on Donatello's laboratory unless she needed something. She toddled into a room, which had weapons lying around. She quickly looked to make sure no one was watching her, before grabbing one of Raphael's daggers. Just as she picked it up and began to admire it, she heard a voice from behind her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The voice demanded, before swiping the dagger from her grasp.
She turned only to find Raphael glaring at her.
"Who gave you permission to touch these?"
"No one," she replied, her lower lip beginning to tremble.
"You don't touch these without permission, you hear me?"
She nodded as her eyes started to water.
"Ah, hell," Raphael thought. "She's gonna cry."
He panicked as tears began to stream down her face.
"Whoa. Don't cry Kid," he riposted. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Waaah!"
"Shit!" Raphael cried. "Don't cry, dammit!"
"Waaah!"
"Look. Take this," he said frantically, crouching down to her height, as he handed her back his dagger. "Just don't cry."
Lana sniffled, but took the dagger from him and clutched it to her chest.
"See, you like that?" Raphael asked, thanking God she'd stopped crying.
Lana nodded. "Like this."
"You want me to show you how to use them?"
She nodded again. "Yesth."
"Can I see that one then? I need to use both."
She nodded yet again, and passed it back to him.
"Watch," he told her, as he began to practice, while at the same time keeping a sharp eye on her.
She applauded happily once he'd finished.
"Do you wanna try?"
She nodded eagerly. "Yesth."
"Hold on a sec. Don't go anywhere, and don't touch anything."
He left the room, and returned a couple minutes later holding something behind his back.
"Come here Lana," he said quietly.
She toddled over to him, while eyeing him suspiciously.
He crouched down to her height, before bringing his hands out from behind his back.
"Here," he began, as he passed her two tiny daggers. "You can have these."
"Thank-you Waph!"
"But don't tell anybody," Raphael told her, knowing he'd be in big trouble if anyone found out he'd given them to her. "It'll be our lil' secret, okay?"
"Kay," she smiled.
Raphael couldn't help but smile back.
"You wanna try some of the stuff I did?" He asked, as he watched her wave them around close to the way he had.
"Yesth!" She exclaimed. "Can I?"
Raphael nodded slightly. "Come here. I'll show you some easy stuff."
They practiced until they heard Donatello call her.
"Lana! Nap time!"
"Here Waph," she said, passing him her daggers. "I go nap."
Raphael took them from her, and set them next to his, before crouching down to her height once more.
"Same time tomorrow?" He questioned.
She giggled, but nodded all the same.
"Have a good sleep, Small Fry," he rejoined ruffling her hair.
She hugged him, then ran out of the room in search of Donatello.
"Hope she doesn't tell the others I'm turning into a softie," Raphael thought. "If she did, she'd ruin my tough guy image."
Chapter 6: Two days later.
"Aw, man!" Raphael groaned. "Why do I have to baby-sit?"
"You mouthed off to Master Splinter, that's why," Leonardo reminded him. "You also did it in front of Lana."
"Don't swear around her Raph," Donatello told his brother. "I mean it. You do, and I'll kill you for it. We don't need her having a potty mouth at the age of two."
"Don't give her all my pizza either," Michaelangelo piped up. "I don't want her eating it all on me. Don't you go eating it all either."
"Mikey, I don't give a shit 'bout your damn pizza," Raphael retorted. "If I want pizza, I'll order my own the way I like it."
"She goes to bed at seven," Donatello went on, ignoring Raphael's language. "If she's really good, and doesn't seem tired, then put her to bed at seven thirty. Don't forget to make sure she brushes her teeth and washes her face. You have to help her with everything."
"Don't forget to change her diaper either," Leonardo added. "She'll get cranky otherwise."
"You got enough damn instructions?" Raphael snapped. "I'm amazed she didn't come with some frigin' handbook."
"We'll be back around ten," Leonardo stated. "Splinter might be back by nine, but did say he may be later than that if he gets caught up playing chess with Andre."
"Fine. Now would you leave already?" Raphael said annoyed.
He watched as his brothers left and smirked to himself. They didn't know it, but he'd wanted to baby-sit Lana, from the very moment they'd said they wanted to go out. He knew he couldn't come right out and say he wanted to because then his cover would be blown. Instead, he'd mouthed off to Splinter, in hopes that Splinter would make him stay home and baby-sit.
"Lana!" He called. "Where are you?"
Lana came running in from the kitchen.
"Donnie gone?"
"Yeah," Raphael replied. "But he'll be back later."
"Pway?" She asked hopefully.
He nodded, knowing she'd meant practice. "Sure Kiddo; why not?"
She grabbed his hand and excitedly began to drag him to the practice room. Once there, Raphael got out their daggers and they began to go over what he'd shown her the day before. They practiced until they both grew hungry, then headed to the kitchen for some pizza.
"Ick!" Lana cried after taking a bite out of her slice. "Yucky!"
"What's wrong with it?" Raphael asked, taking it from her and looking it over.
"Hot," she answered as she took a sip of her juice.
Raphael chuckled. "I take it you don't like pepperoni."
She scrunched her nose up, then stuck her tongue out. "Blech!"
Raphael placed her pizza on his plate, then passed her a new slice.
"Here. Try this one," he told her. "It only has cheese."
"Tank-you," she smiled sweetly, before taking a bite out of it.
"Better?" He wanted to know.
She nodded, before answering with her mouth full. "Yesth."
"Don't talk with your mouth open Kid," he stated. "Donnie wouldn't like it."
She swallowed, then apologized. "Sorry."
He smiled at her. "It's alright."
After they'd had supper they went into the den to watch T.V.
"Chipmunks!" Lana cried, when she saw her fave cartoon.
"Yeah, chipmunks," Raphael sighed, as he was sick of watching Alvin and the Chipmunks.
"Simon!" Lana squealed with delight, as he was her fave.
Personally, if Raphael had to choose a chipmunk to like, he knew he'd pick Alvin. He liked how Alvin was always scheming something and giving Dave a hard time.
"Kinda like me in a way," he thought. "I sure as hell give Master Splinter a headache some days."
They watched cartoons right up until eight o'clock.
"Shit!" Raphael muttered. "I'm a half hour off."
"Shit?" Lana repeated.
"Lana! Don't say that!" Raphael said shocked, but sternly. "Donnie told you not to say that."
"You did. Why?"
"I'm bad, that's why," Raphael stated as he picked her up. "You're a good little girl, who doesn't need bad words coming out of her mouth."
"Oh."
"If you say it again, you could wind up in trouble," Raphael went on. "You don't want that to happen, do you?"
"Donnie mad?"
Raphael nodded. "Yep."
"No want," she replied, shaking her head furiously.
"Then don't repeat bad words," Raphael told her gently, as he helped her get into her pajamas.
Once she was ready for bed, he tucked her in and read her a short bedtime story, as it was already past her bedtime. By the time he finished the story she was asleep, so he kissed her forehead, then turned out her light (nightlight automatically comes on), and left.
He sat by himself watching T.V. after that, and was glad she didn't wake up screaming like she had the night before. He knew if she did she'd want Donatello, but he wouldn't be home for awhile. As it was, he'd had to explain to her why he was tucking her in instead of her beloved Donatello.
"Hey Raph," Michaelangelo said, as him and the others entered the lair. "Whatcha watching?"
"April," Raphael answered. "She's doing a report on the murder of Lana's family. Said Lana may be the only key as to who the murderer was."
"Well, she's not testifying," Donatello stated. "I don't want her going up top in case the guy's still in New York."
"Well, you'd best talk with April then," Raphael rejoined. "Especially since she's already told the cops she knows where Lana is, and that she will testify."
"What the." Donatello trailed off. "April wouldn't, would she?"
"Well, she did pal," Raphael snapped. "Said for you to give her a call."
"I think I'll do just that right now."
They all watched silently as Donatello picked up the phone and angrily dialed April's number.
Chapter 7:
Phone conversation:
"Hello?"
"April?"
"Donnie?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why'd you tell those cops you knew where Lana was?"
"They need to capture the murderer before he strikes again."
"She's two! She won't even remember her family in a few years!"
"Donnie."
"Also, why the hell did you tell them she'd testify before consulting me? You should've consulted me before you told the cops any of this!"
"She's the only witness. They wanna close the case permanently and not worry about the guy who killed her family."
"Well, she's not testifying!"
"What the heck am I supposed to tell the cops?"
"That it was a mistake. You mistook some other child for Lana."
"But."
"April, I'm not letting her go up top to be bombarded by questions and dragged off to some damn orphanage by shit-headed strangers who don't give a damn about her welfare."
"I told you not to grow attached to her."
"Dammit! Even you want her in an orphanage!"
"It's where she belongs Donatello."
"It is not! She belongs with people who love and care for her!"
"I'll bring her to the cops myself if I have to."
"You'll have to get through me first. And I can guarantee that you won't."
"You're being an ass Donatello."
"No April. You're the ass, not me."
End of phone conversation
Chapter 8:
The other three turtles watched as, levelheaded Donatello slammed the phone back onto its cradle. His language shocked them, as he was the one who always tried not to swear. He was the best at not doing it to.
"What she say Donnie?" Leonardo asked carefully. "By the sounds of it, not what you wanted to hear."
"The damn bitch said if she has to, she'll take Lana to the cops herself," Donatello answered. "She also said that Lana belongs in an orphanage and not here with someone who actually cares about her. Dammit! April's thinking like Raph!"
"Hey!" Raphael protested. "I may not like having the kid here, but I sure as hell rather see her here than in some damn orphanage!"
"Wow," Michaelangelo began. "Raph does have a soft side."
"I don't, and you know it," Raphael snapped. "I just know how attached Donnie is to her, and she him. You weren't the one who had to hear her ask where Donnie was when putting her to bed tonight."
Master Splinter entered the lair then. He took one look at Donatello and immediately knew something was wrong.
"What is wrong my son? You look troubled."
"I am troubled Sensei," Donatello replied. "Deeply troubled."
"It has to do with Lana, am I correct?"
Donatello nodded.
"Ah. The sweet child."
"Not according to April," Donatello muttered.
"What ever do you mean, Donatello?"
Donatello sighed, then began to tell Splinter exactly what April had said. Splinter was surprised when the others told him about Donatello's language towards April, but knew it took a lot for him to say those words and mean them.
Chapter 9: Week goes by.
A figure clad in black snuck into the lair undetected, and immediately headed straight towards Lana's room. Once in the room, the figure yanked the child out of bed, and quickly smothered her screams.
"Scream and you'll be sorry," the intruder hissed.
Lana nodded weakly through tears, wishing for Donatello to wake up and come rescue her from the mean stranger.
The stranger quickly carried Lana out of the lair and headed back home for the night.
"I warned him," the stranger thought angrily. "I warned him, and he didn't believe I'd do it. It's his loss now."
Lana whimpered as her kidnapper laughed evilly and tightened her grip.
Chapter 10: Morning.
"I'm telling you Leo," Michaelangelo began, "leave the pizza ordering to me."
"Why should I?"
"Must I recite the ever so famous Pizza poem?"
"What famous pizza poem?"
"This one."
Pepperoni, Hawaiian, Meat lovers So many different kinds. Boston royal, Cheese, Vegetarian, So many pizzas I can't decide. Great north, Canadian, Triple cheese, So I let my brother choose, Until next time. Props to: ~A Celebration of Young Poets ~ ~ Jeff Wiebe ~ ~ Starbuck School ~ ~ Starbuck, MB ~ ~ Grade 7 ~
"Where did you get that from?" Leonardo demanded. "Don't tell me it's actually in a book."
"Actually, it is."
"What book?"
"My book," Michaelangelo grinned.
"Don't tell me Mikey recited his pizza poem again," Raphael groaned. "I've heard that poem so many times, I finally gave up and followed its order at the end just so he'd shut-up."
"Lana? Lana?" Donatello called. "Lana, where are you?"
"What's wrong Donnie?" Leonardo asked. "Why are you looking for Lana? She's still asleep, isn't she?"
"That's what I thought," Donatello started. "But when I checked her room she was gone and her bed was a mess."
"You don't think she wandered off in the middle of the night, do you?" Michaelangelo wondered.
"How the hell would she get out of her crib without help?" Raphael snapped. "Hmm? You ever think 'bout that Mikey?"
"Raph's gotta point," Leonardo said. "She wouldn't be able to get out without help."
"You don't think someone kidnapped her, do you?" Donatello fretted.
"Maybe Splinter took her somewhere?"
"Took who where?" Splinter asked as he entered the lair.
"Sensei, you wouldn't have happened to see Lana this morning, would you?" Leonardo queried.
"No. Why?"
"Oh, hell," Donatello groaned. "She was kidnapped then!"
"But by who?" Michaelangelo questioned. "No one knows we live here, except."
"April," Raphael finished.
"That no good, conniving, stupid, lil' bitch," Donatello growled. "She's taken Lana to the cops!"
"Donatello, there is no need to call names unless you know if the facts are indeed true," Splinter scolded. "Now, why don't you calmly call April, and ask if she knows where Lana is."
"My bet would be an orphanage," Donatello muttered as he headed towards the kitchen to use the phone. "For April's sake, she sure as hell better not be."
A.N.: Thatz it for now, as I dunno if I feel like re-posting anymore tonight. Adios! KTBSPA & KTNTPA & KTACPA & KTJTPA & KTKCPA & KTCPA & KTJTTPA!!!!!
Chapter 1:
Donatello was walking through Central Park, lost in his own thoughts, when he stumbled upon something he never expected to find. What he saw before him, left him in shock and pure wonder. He watched silently for a few long minutes, as a child wandered by itself, looking under pine trees. It was as though the child was looking for something, or someone. He watched a bit longer, before realizing the child was lost. He stepped out of his hiding place, and casually, yet cautiously, walked up to the child.
"Excuse me," he said.
The child turn around, casting scared eyes at him. It was at this time that Donatello realized she was only a mere toddler.
"Excuse me," he repeated. "Are you lost?"
She nodded cautiously.
"Where are your parents?"
She shrugged.
"How old are you?"
She held up two fingers.
"Um." he trailed off, as he began to smell something that wasn't all that pleasant.
He watched as she wrinkled her nose and her lower lip began to tremble.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked, crouching down before her, as she began to cry.
"Waaah!"
"Did you go potty?"
She nodded through tears.
"Hmm." he thought. "I wonder if there's anything nearby I could use as a wipe?"
"Do you wanna come with me?" He asked carefully. "I'll change your diaper and help you find your Mommy and Daddy."
She nodded.
"Okay. Let's go then," he said, taking her small hand in his larger one.
He eventually found something he could use as a wipe, and decided to use his bandana for a diaper. He quickly changed her diaper, and ended up not putting her pants back on as they were full of.well, you know. He placed her inside his jacket and began to carry her back to the lair.
Chapter 2: The lair.
Donatello entered the lair, only to be met by questioning stares from two thirds of his brothers.
"Whatcha got under your coat?" Michaelangelo queried. "It's not a pizza, is it?"
Donatello shook his head. "No. It's not a pizza."
"Then what is it?" Leonardo questioned, noting that his brother was missing his bandana.
"Where's Master Splinter?"
"In his room meditating, why?" Leonardo replied. "What's wrong Donnie?"
Donatello carried the bundle in his arms into Splinter's room, and stood quietly watching his sensei for a couple moments, before softly clearing his throat.
Splinter looked up. "What is it my son?"
"Master Splinter, I need some advice."
"Well, it must be important if it could not wait until morning. Please, have a seat my son."
Donatello remained standing and began to fidget slightly.
"Uh.Sensei. I need to know what to do with her," Donatello said, as he revealed the small child. "I found her wandering around Central Park by herself. I couldn't just leave her there; she would've froze or starved or something."
"Is she hurt?"
"No. I kind of had to change her diaper," Donatello told him. "She was really upset and seemed quite scared."
"It is only natural for a child her size to be scared," Splinter stated. "The poor child has probably been wandering around for a couple days now. It also does not help being in Central Park, and having a rather large turtle talk to you."
"So what should I do, Master Splinter?" Donatello interrogated.
"Did she say where her parents were?"
"I don't think she has any."
"Why do you say that?"
"I don't know. I've just this feeling."
"Well, I do tell you to trust your instincts my son. Keep her here for a few days; see if we can find her family," Splinter instructed. "If we can not find them, we will decide what to do with her."
"Okay. Thanks Sensei."
"Donatello."
"Yes, Master?"
"Put her in one of the spare rooms for tonight."
"Yes, Sensei."
Donatello then left the room with her still asleep in his arms.
"Whoa," Michaelangelo gasped when he saw the girl. "Who's she?"
"I found her in the park," Donatello responded. "Sensei said to keep her here until we find her family. If we don't, we'll go from there."
"How old is she?" Leonardo wanted to know.
"Two," Donatello answered, as he carried her into one of the spare rooms. "Find some pillows. We'll have to place them around her so she won't fall out. Actually, put some on the floor too, in case she does fall out of bed."
Leonardo nodded, then went off in search of pillows. He returned shortly with an armload of them and dropped them onto the foot of the bed.
"Is this enough?" He asked.
"We'll know once we've placed them where they have to be," Donatello replied. "I think it will be though."
Chapter 3: Later that night.
Raphael woke up in the middle of the night, to the sound of someone or something wailing like a banshee. Confused, he rolled out of bed, and headed towards the area the noise was coming from. He was surprised to learn it came from the one spare room. He slowly opened the door and peeked in. He was quite shocked to find a toddler lying on the bed totally hysterical.
"What the hell." he thought, then yelled, "Hey Leo!"
Leonardo came sauntering out of his room. "What is it Raph?"
"What the hell's this?" He demanded, pointing into the room.
Leonardo looked in, and groaned inwardly when he saw the girl screaming.
"A two-year-old," he said simply, as though it were quite obvious.
"I can see that," Raphael returned. "But what the hell's she doing here?"
Leonardo shook his head. "Don't ask Raph. Don't ask."
He then entered the room, and began to try and calm her down. He tried everything, but every attempt seemed to fail miserably.
"Oh. I wondered what the noise was," Michaelangelo said sleepily, as he stumbled into the room. "Thought Raph had stepped on a cat or something again."
"Ha ha. Not funny," Raphael rejoined sarcastically, then turned to Leonardo. "Can you shut her up already?"
"What do you think I'm trying to do, Raph?" Leonardo snapped. "Strangle her?"
"Hell, if it'll shut her up, do it," Raphael muttered.
"Maybe she wants Donnie," Michaelangelo piped up suddenly. "After all, he did bring her here."
"Call him before she wakes Master Splinter up then," Leonardo sighed.
"Donnie!" Michaelangelo called.
Donatello appeared within seconds, looking confused at first, then kind of mad.
"What the heck are you doing to her, Leo?" he demanded as he shoved him aside and sat next to her. "You have to have patience, and not annoyance."
He turned to the child. "Hey. What's wrong Kiddo?"
She turned to him and stopped screaming. She sat up and allowed herself to be pulled into a hug.
"Shh. Did they scare you?"
She nodded slightly, as he glared at his brothers.
"Don't glare at us," Raph stated. "She was screaming before we ever came in here."
"What's wrong?" Donatello asked her. "You have a bad dream?"
She nodded, as fresh tears began to stream down her face.
"Shh," he soothed, hugging her tighter as he pulled her into his lap. "It's okay. Nothing's gonna hurt you. I promise."
Ten minutes later Donatello had managed to calm her down and get her back to sleep. He left the room with the others, quietly closing the door behind him.
"Think she'll be okay Donnie?" Leonardo questioned. "She seemed kinda distraught."
"She'll be fine," Donatello assured him. "Just scared 'cause she's in a new place with strangers."
"I wonder if she likes pizza?" Michaelangelo wonder aloud.
"Mikey, seriously, is pizza all you ever worry about?" Leonardo asked.
"No," Michaelangelo answered. "I think about other things too."
"Like what?" Donatello queried.
"Cheese pizza, pepperoni pizza, pineapple pizza, ham pizza," Michaelangelo grinned. "Jam pizza, olive pizza, sardine pizza, beef pizza."
"Mikey, we get the picture," Leonardo said, as he shook his head at his younger brother.
"Does someone wanna clue me in here?" Raphael interrupted. "I really hate to break up your lil' pizza talk here, but will someone tell me just who the hell that kid is?"
"She's the girl Donnie found in the park," Michaelangelo shrugged. "Master Splinter said for her to stay here awhile."
"Great. I'm never gonna get any sleep now that we have a damn two- year-old staying with us," Raphael grumbled. "You just had to bring her home, didn't you Donnie?"
"Raph, she was in trouble. We help those in need," Donatello protested. "She was in need of some care. I'm giving her that care until we find her family."
"You always think of others before yourself, how sweet," Raphael said bitterly. "You ever stop to think about us for once? Hmm? Did you ever stop to think how she'll be getting in our way and disturbing our peace and slumber? Hmm? Did you?"
"No. I."
"Exactly!" Raphael cried. "You never think about how the shit you bring home will affect us!"
"Namely you Raphael," Leonardo put in. "You're the only one who's bothered with her presence."
"I." Raphael began, only to be cut off.
"What is going on here?" Splinter demanded. "Why are you arguing outside a sleeping child's door?"
"Sorry Sensei," Leonardo apologized, giving a quick bow. "We forgot where we were standing."
"Now, what is the meaning of all this yelling?" Splinter continued, then looked at the son he knew would be honest or his conscious would eat him up. "Donatello?"
"Raph doesn't like the idea of her staying with us," Donatello answered honestly. "He's mad because she woke him up with her screaming."
"Why was she screaming?"
"She had a nightmare, then got scared when everyone but myself came into the room," he went on. "She'd never seen the others, just me. She calmed down once I entered and sat next to her."
"Raphael, is what Donatello says true? Do you not like the child staying here?"
"If she was found in the streets, the streets is where she should stay and belongs," Raphael stated. "That's the way I see it."
"My son, she is a mere child; she would not be able to survive on her own," Splinter replicated. "Donatello did right by bringing her here. She needs our help."
"Help my ass," Raphael muttered. "What she needs is a good spanking."
"For what? Flipping out after having a nightmare and having strangers come into her room?" Donatello snapped. "I think you're the one who needs the spanking Raph, not her."
"Enough," Splinter cut in.
Just then, small wails were heard coming from inside the room they were standing outside of.
"Dammit!" Raphael yelled. "There she goes again!"
"Donatello, take care of her," Splinter told him. "Go. Before she becomes even more scared."
Donatello nodded, and hurried back into the bedroom to check on her.
"Raphael, ten flips, now," Splinter ordered.
"What the." Raphael trailed off, as he received a Look from his sensei.
"Now!" Splinter barked.
Raphael walked off towards the practice room, muttering the whole way there.
Chapter 4: A few days later.
It'd been almost a week, and they'd still yet been able to find the girl's family.
"I'm beginning to think she either doesn't have one or she was abandoned," Leonardo stated as he plopped down onto the couch.
"I know whatcha mean dude," Michaelangelo agreed, also plopping down on the sofa. "We've looked high and low all over the city, and no one seems to be missing a child."
"If they are, they're doing a pretty fine job of not showing it," Donatello sighed, as he took a seat in the chair.
"Remind me again why I have to help you guys search," Raphael said.
"Master Splinter said you have to help, seeing as you're the reason she woke up the second time the other night," Donatello reminded him. "You also have to help 'cause you don't think she's worthy enough of anyone's help."
Just then, the little girl came running into the room and eagerly climbed up into Donatello's lap to greet him.
"Hey Kiddo," Donatello smiled as she hugged him. "Were you good for Splinter?"
She nodded furiously, then turned to look at the other guys. She spotted Michaelangelo eating a slice of pizza (as usual).
"Donnie?" She said, turning to look at him again. "Pizza?"
Donatello chuckled. "You want some pizza?"
"Yesth," she replied. "Pwease?"
"Here, you can have my slice," Leonardo stated, offering her his slice. "I'm not hungry, so you might as well eat it."
She took the slice of cheese pizza from him and smiled. "Thank-you Weo."
Leonardo smiled back at her. "No problem Kid."
"Okay, this is pathetic!" Raphael riposted, raising his voice. "She's been here a week, and we're still calling her Kid, Kiddo, or Munchkin! Does she not have a name?"
"Well, should we name her or ask her if she's a name?" Michaelangelo asked.
"Do you have a name?" Donatello asked her.
She nodded.
"What is it?"
"Lana," she answered. "Lana Marie Godin."
"Shit," Raphael muttered. "Triple shit."
"Shit?" Lana said confused.
"Raph!" Leonardo cried, as Donatello placed a hand over her mouth.
"Lana, you don't say that, okay?" Donatello stated.
"Why not?" She wanted to know, after he'd removed his hand. "Waph did."
"Well, Raph shouldn't have," Donatello told her.
"Why not?" she asked puzzled.
"It's a bad word," Donatello explained. "Little girls don't need to be saying bad words, okay?"
"Kay," she shrugged.
"Now, back to before we had a parrot repeat something they shouldn't have," Leonardo began. "What's wrong Raph?"
"Remember on the news last week, how they said they'd found that one entire family murdered?"
"Yeah." The others trailed off.
"Their names were Anne and Jim Godin," Raphael told them. "They'd been found murdered with three children next to them. The neighbours told the cops they'd had four children, but figured whoever had murdered them took off with the fourth. They believe the fourth was the youngest of the family and may be wandering the streets of Brooklyn."
"What happens if they find the kid alive?" Michaelangelo queried. "Would they send the kid to live with a family member?"
"That's just it. It was just them. They had no living relatives that anyone was aware of. If the child was found, she'd be placed if foster care or an orphanage."
"What do you mean she?" Leonardo questioned.
"They said the youngest was a girl," Raphael replied. "They also said the other night on the news, since she's been gone so long and has no family, there's no point in looking for her anymore as she's probably already dead."
"You think Lana's the girl they're talking about?" Leonardo interrogated.
"She has to be," Raphael rejoined. "Though how she got from Brooklyn to Central Park is a mystery to me."
"How the heck can people just give up on her because she has no family?" Donatello thought aloud. "They're making it sound like it's all her fault, when it's not."
"Donnie?"
"Yeah, Lana?"
"Where Jordan?"
"Who's Jordan?"
"Ma brudder," she answered. "Jeff, Nick too."
"Um." Donatello trailed off nervously, as Splinter entered the den.
"What is wrong my son?" Splinter asked, after noting the look on Donatello's face.
"She wants to know where her brothers are," Donatello gulped.
"Do you know where they are?"
Donatello nodded.
"Where are they?"
He ran his finger across his throat as though he were slicing it, then pointed upwards.
"Oh," Splinter said, then turned to the little girl. "My child, I believe they are gone."
"Gone? Where?"
"They have gone to Heaven, my dear," Splinter told her. "So have your mother and father."
She pouted. "They leave me?"
"I'm afraid so Lana," Donatello replied sadly, then glanced at Splinter before continuing. "But if you'd like, you can stay here with us."
"Stay Donnie?"
Donatello nodded. "If you'd like to."
"I like," she responded as she hugged him again.
Raphael rolled his eyes. "Great. Just what we need, a banshee."
"Raphael," Splinter started.
"I know, I know," Raphael groaned as he stood up. "Ten flips."
Chapter 5: A month goes by.
"Donnie pway?" Lana asked, as she held a doll out towards him. "Pwease?"
"Sorry Kiddo," Donatello smiled softly. "I'm kind of busy right now. Why don't you go ask Mikey if he'll play with you?"
"Kay Donnie," she sighed before leaving his laboratory to look for Michaelangelo.
"She sure is bright for two," Donatello thought. "Now, back to work."
Lana looked everywhere for Michaelangelo, but failed to find him anywhere in the lair. She'd already asked Donnie and Leo to play, and they'd said no. She didn't even dare to think about asking Raph to play with her, seeing as he seemed to hate her for some unknown reason. She sighed heavily before sitting down in the den with her doll, that Donnie had gotten her, and began to play by herself. After awhile she grew bored and decided to go exploring.
She wandered aimlessly around the lair, remembering to steer clear on Donatello's laboratory unless she needed something. She toddled into a room, which had weapons lying around. She quickly looked to make sure no one was watching her, before grabbing one of Raphael's daggers. Just as she picked it up and began to admire it, she heard a voice from behind her.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The voice demanded, before swiping the dagger from her grasp.
She turned only to find Raphael glaring at her.
"Who gave you permission to touch these?"
"No one," she replied, her lower lip beginning to tremble.
"You don't touch these without permission, you hear me?"
She nodded as her eyes started to water.
"Ah, hell," Raphael thought. "She's gonna cry."
He panicked as tears began to stream down her face.
"Whoa. Don't cry Kid," he riposted. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"Waaah!"
"Shit!" Raphael cried. "Don't cry, dammit!"
"Waaah!"
"Look. Take this," he said frantically, crouching down to her height, as he handed her back his dagger. "Just don't cry."
Lana sniffled, but took the dagger from him and clutched it to her chest.
"See, you like that?" Raphael asked, thanking God she'd stopped crying.
Lana nodded. "Like this."
"You want me to show you how to use them?"
She nodded again. "Yesth."
"Can I see that one then? I need to use both."
She nodded yet again, and passed it back to him.
"Watch," he told her, as he began to practice, while at the same time keeping a sharp eye on her.
She applauded happily once he'd finished.
"Do you wanna try?"
She nodded eagerly. "Yesth."
"Hold on a sec. Don't go anywhere, and don't touch anything."
He left the room, and returned a couple minutes later holding something behind his back.
"Come here Lana," he said quietly.
She toddled over to him, while eyeing him suspiciously.
He crouched down to her height, before bringing his hands out from behind his back.
"Here," he began, as he passed her two tiny daggers. "You can have these."
"Thank-you Waph!"
"But don't tell anybody," Raphael told her, knowing he'd be in big trouble if anyone found out he'd given them to her. "It'll be our lil' secret, okay?"
"Kay," she smiled.
Raphael couldn't help but smile back.
"You wanna try some of the stuff I did?" He asked, as he watched her wave them around close to the way he had.
"Yesth!" She exclaimed. "Can I?"
Raphael nodded slightly. "Come here. I'll show you some easy stuff."
They practiced until they heard Donatello call her.
"Lana! Nap time!"
"Here Waph," she said, passing him her daggers. "I go nap."
Raphael took them from her, and set them next to his, before crouching down to her height once more.
"Same time tomorrow?" He questioned.
She giggled, but nodded all the same.
"Have a good sleep, Small Fry," he rejoined ruffling her hair.
She hugged him, then ran out of the room in search of Donatello.
"Hope she doesn't tell the others I'm turning into a softie," Raphael thought. "If she did, she'd ruin my tough guy image."
Chapter 6: Two days later.
"Aw, man!" Raphael groaned. "Why do I have to baby-sit?"
"You mouthed off to Master Splinter, that's why," Leonardo reminded him. "You also did it in front of Lana."
"Don't swear around her Raph," Donatello told his brother. "I mean it. You do, and I'll kill you for it. We don't need her having a potty mouth at the age of two."
"Don't give her all my pizza either," Michaelangelo piped up. "I don't want her eating it all on me. Don't you go eating it all either."
"Mikey, I don't give a shit 'bout your damn pizza," Raphael retorted. "If I want pizza, I'll order my own the way I like it."
"She goes to bed at seven," Donatello went on, ignoring Raphael's language. "If she's really good, and doesn't seem tired, then put her to bed at seven thirty. Don't forget to make sure she brushes her teeth and washes her face. You have to help her with everything."
"Don't forget to change her diaper either," Leonardo added. "She'll get cranky otherwise."
"You got enough damn instructions?" Raphael snapped. "I'm amazed she didn't come with some frigin' handbook."
"We'll be back around ten," Leonardo stated. "Splinter might be back by nine, but did say he may be later than that if he gets caught up playing chess with Andre."
"Fine. Now would you leave already?" Raphael said annoyed.
He watched as his brothers left and smirked to himself. They didn't know it, but he'd wanted to baby-sit Lana, from the very moment they'd said they wanted to go out. He knew he couldn't come right out and say he wanted to because then his cover would be blown. Instead, he'd mouthed off to Splinter, in hopes that Splinter would make him stay home and baby-sit.
"Lana!" He called. "Where are you?"
Lana came running in from the kitchen.
"Donnie gone?"
"Yeah," Raphael replied. "But he'll be back later."
"Pway?" She asked hopefully.
He nodded, knowing she'd meant practice. "Sure Kiddo; why not?"
She grabbed his hand and excitedly began to drag him to the practice room. Once there, Raphael got out their daggers and they began to go over what he'd shown her the day before. They practiced until they both grew hungry, then headed to the kitchen for some pizza.
"Ick!" Lana cried after taking a bite out of her slice. "Yucky!"
"What's wrong with it?" Raphael asked, taking it from her and looking it over.
"Hot," she answered as she took a sip of her juice.
Raphael chuckled. "I take it you don't like pepperoni."
She scrunched her nose up, then stuck her tongue out. "Blech!"
Raphael placed her pizza on his plate, then passed her a new slice.
"Here. Try this one," he told her. "It only has cheese."
"Tank-you," she smiled sweetly, before taking a bite out of it.
"Better?" He wanted to know.
She nodded, before answering with her mouth full. "Yesth."
"Don't talk with your mouth open Kid," he stated. "Donnie wouldn't like it."
She swallowed, then apologized. "Sorry."
He smiled at her. "It's alright."
After they'd had supper they went into the den to watch T.V.
"Chipmunks!" Lana cried, when she saw her fave cartoon.
"Yeah, chipmunks," Raphael sighed, as he was sick of watching Alvin and the Chipmunks.
"Simon!" Lana squealed with delight, as he was her fave.
Personally, if Raphael had to choose a chipmunk to like, he knew he'd pick Alvin. He liked how Alvin was always scheming something and giving Dave a hard time.
"Kinda like me in a way," he thought. "I sure as hell give Master Splinter a headache some days."
They watched cartoons right up until eight o'clock.
"Shit!" Raphael muttered. "I'm a half hour off."
"Shit?" Lana repeated.
"Lana! Don't say that!" Raphael said shocked, but sternly. "Donnie told you not to say that."
"You did. Why?"
"I'm bad, that's why," Raphael stated as he picked her up. "You're a good little girl, who doesn't need bad words coming out of her mouth."
"Oh."
"If you say it again, you could wind up in trouble," Raphael went on. "You don't want that to happen, do you?"
"Donnie mad?"
Raphael nodded. "Yep."
"No want," she replied, shaking her head furiously.
"Then don't repeat bad words," Raphael told her gently, as he helped her get into her pajamas.
Once she was ready for bed, he tucked her in and read her a short bedtime story, as it was already past her bedtime. By the time he finished the story she was asleep, so he kissed her forehead, then turned out her light (nightlight automatically comes on), and left.
He sat by himself watching T.V. after that, and was glad she didn't wake up screaming like she had the night before. He knew if she did she'd want Donatello, but he wouldn't be home for awhile. As it was, he'd had to explain to her why he was tucking her in instead of her beloved Donatello.
"Hey Raph," Michaelangelo said, as him and the others entered the lair. "Whatcha watching?"
"April," Raphael answered. "She's doing a report on the murder of Lana's family. Said Lana may be the only key as to who the murderer was."
"Well, she's not testifying," Donatello stated. "I don't want her going up top in case the guy's still in New York."
"Well, you'd best talk with April then," Raphael rejoined. "Especially since she's already told the cops she knows where Lana is, and that she will testify."
"What the." Donatello trailed off. "April wouldn't, would she?"
"Well, she did pal," Raphael snapped. "Said for you to give her a call."
"I think I'll do just that right now."
They all watched silently as Donatello picked up the phone and angrily dialed April's number.
Chapter 7:
Phone conversation:
"Hello?"
"April?"
"Donnie?"
"What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why'd you tell those cops you knew where Lana was?"
"They need to capture the murderer before he strikes again."
"She's two! She won't even remember her family in a few years!"
"Donnie."
"Also, why the hell did you tell them she'd testify before consulting me? You should've consulted me before you told the cops any of this!"
"She's the only witness. They wanna close the case permanently and not worry about the guy who killed her family."
"Well, she's not testifying!"
"What the heck am I supposed to tell the cops?"
"That it was a mistake. You mistook some other child for Lana."
"But."
"April, I'm not letting her go up top to be bombarded by questions and dragged off to some damn orphanage by shit-headed strangers who don't give a damn about her welfare."
"I told you not to grow attached to her."
"Dammit! Even you want her in an orphanage!"
"It's where she belongs Donatello."
"It is not! She belongs with people who love and care for her!"
"I'll bring her to the cops myself if I have to."
"You'll have to get through me first. And I can guarantee that you won't."
"You're being an ass Donatello."
"No April. You're the ass, not me."
End of phone conversation
Chapter 8:
The other three turtles watched as, levelheaded Donatello slammed the phone back onto its cradle. His language shocked them, as he was the one who always tried not to swear. He was the best at not doing it to.
"What she say Donnie?" Leonardo asked carefully. "By the sounds of it, not what you wanted to hear."
"The damn bitch said if she has to, she'll take Lana to the cops herself," Donatello answered. "She also said that Lana belongs in an orphanage and not here with someone who actually cares about her. Dammit! April's thinking like Raph!"
"Hey!" Raphael protested. "I may not like having the kid here, but I sure as hell rather see her here than in some damn orphanage!"
"Wow," Michaelangelo began. "Raph does have a soft side."
"I don't, and you know it," Raphael snapped. "I just know how attached Donnie is to her, and she him. You weren't the one who had to hear her ask where Donnie was when putting her to bed tonight."
Master Splinter entered the lair then. He took one look at Donatello and immediately knew something was wrong.
"What is wrong my son? You look troubled."
"I am troubled Sensei," Donatello replied. "Deeply troubled."
"It has to do with Lana, am I correct?"
Donatello nodded.
"Ah. The sweet child."
"Not according to April," Donatello muttered.
"What ever do you mean, Donatello?"
Donatello sighed, then began to tell Splinter exactly what April had said. Splinter was surprised when the others told him about Donatello's language towards April, but knew it took a lot for him to say those words and mean them.
Chapter 9: Week goes by.
A figure clad in black snuck into the lair undetected, and immediately headed straight towards Lana's room. Once in the room, the figure yanked the child out of bed, and quickly smothered her screams.
"Scream and you'll be sorry," the intruder hissed.
Lana nodded weakly through tears, wishing for Donatello to wake up and come rescue her from the mean stranger.
The stranger quickly carried Lana out of the lair and headed back home for the night.
"I warned him," the stranger thought angrily. "I warned him, and he didn't believe I'd do it. It's his loss now."
Lana whimpered as her kidnapper laughed evilly and tightened her grip.
Chapter 10: Morning.
"I'm telling you Leo," Michaelangelo began, "leave the pizza ordering to me."
"Why should I?"
"Must I recite the ever so famous Pizza poem?"
"What famous pizza poem?"
"This one."
Pepperoni, Hawaiian, Meat lovers So many different kinds. Boston royal, Cheese, Vegetarian, So many pizzas I can't decide. Great north, Canadian, Triple cheese, So I let my brother choose, Until next time. Props to: ~A Celebration of Young Poets ~ ~ Jeff Wiebe ~ ~ Starbuck School ~ ~ Starbuck, MB ~ ~ Grade 7 ~
"Where did you get that from?" Leonardo demanded. "Don't tell me it's actually in a book."
"Actually, it is."
"What book?"
"My book," Michaelangelo grinned.
"Don't tell me Mikey recited his pizza poem again," Raphael groaned. "I've heard that poem so many times, I finally gave up and followed its order at the end just so he'd shut-up."
"Lana? Lana?" Donatello called. "Lana, where are you?"
"What's wrong Donnie?" Leonardo asked. "Why are you looking for Lana? She's still asleep, isn't she?"
"That's what I thought," Donatello started. "But when I checked her room she was gone and her bed was a mess."
"You don't think she wandered off in the middle of the night, do you?" Michaelangelo wondered.
"How the hell would she get out of her crib without help?" Raphael snapped. "Hmm? You ever think 'bout that Mikey?"
"Raph's gotta point," Leonardo said. "She wouldn't be able to get out without help."
"You don't think someone kidnapped her, do you?" Donatello fretted.
"Maybe Splinter took her somewhere?"
"Took who where?" Splinter asked as he entered the lair.
"Sensei, you wouldn't have happened to see Lana this morning, would you?" Leonardo queried.
"No. Why?"
"Oh, hell," Donatello groaned. "She was kidnapped then!"
"But by who?" Michaelangelo questioned. "No one knows we live here, except."
"April," Raphael finished.
"That no good, conniving, stupid, lil' bitch," Donatello growled. "She's taken Lana to the cops!"
"Donatello, there is no need to call names unless you know if the facts are indeed true," Splinter scolded. "Now, why don't you calmly call April, and ask if she knows where Lana is."
"My bet would be an orphanage," Donatello muttered as he headed towards the kitchen to use the phone. "For April's sake, she sure as hell better not be."
A.N.: Thatz it for now, as I dunno if I feel like re-posting anymore tonight. Adios! KTBSPA & KTNTPA & KTACPA & KTJTPA & KTKCPA & KTCPA & KTJTTPA!!!!!