The Cat.

Chapter 13: Family.

The waking occupants of the layer watched the news report with dismay. Despite Donnie's hacking it seemed that the doctor had already made a statement to the media, it was all over the news and it looked like the general public was believing it:

"A statement from Entrepreneur, Mr. Roberts of Roberts Industries, makes the claim that his daughter's sudden disappearance from the hospital, late last night was because there was a sizable threat that her mother's murderers would return to finish what they started. He denied all claims that she is any different to any other teenage girl in the country." The news girl fiddled with her papers and carried on, "However the rumors come alongside many others that there are more and more humans in the world with extra ordinary abilities and experts claim that Miss. Roberts should be dead from the injuries she endured or at least still unconscious, but it was a mere two days before she'd woken up. Doctors say that it is medically impossible for anyone to awaken that quickly after such extensive damage to the body."

The viewers in the lair felt sorry for Nicole, thanks to that money grabbing doctor, Nikki's life would never be the same again and most likely she'd have to stay down in the sewers with them. Not that Raph would mind and neither would they but it would take some getting used to on her part.

Raphael watched as Lynn checked all of Nikki's vitals and the horrible wounds on her back. He couldn't look at them, they made him feel sick to the stomach and instead cradled her head against his plastron and closed his eyes. Nikki had spent most of the last twenty four hours asleep but she was becoming a lot more uncomfortable as her painkillers wore off and Wally had yet to obtain any that seemed to work and Nikki had taken to lying on her side to relieve some of the pain. Elsewhere in the layer, Mikey was watching television on low so as not to disturb his friend, Leonardo was speaking with Splinter and April was with Casey searching for a new apartment.

Christina was out with Donnie looking for a particular type of shop, a Magic shop. She'd done some exploring of late and was sure she'd seen the type she was looking for. Donatello had tagged along out of curiosity and she'd let him as she had promised to teach him a little Magic. He had dressed in the clothes he'd worn when he and his brothers had crashed a Purple Dragon initiate fight and Christina had to laugh at how slick it made him look. The white hooded jacket that reached down to his ankles, the matching shirt and jeans and the dark sun glasses all said rapper to her but it did look good. It took them about an hour and she finally found it along a small alley near central park. She and Donnie entered the shop and Donnie began to look around. Christina however went up to the counter where a tall dark haired woman stood in clothes, Donnie noted, that wouldn't be out of place in a Harry Potter movie. He watched as the two women spoke too quietly for him to hear and then Chrissy turned to him.

"I won't be a minute Don," she told him smiling, "just look around we're just getting something from the back."

"Okay." He replied quite happy to look at and shelves of book on the art and religion of witchcraft. He picked one up and started to flick through it's pages and became engrossed causing his heart to be in his throat when Chrissy placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly, "I didn't mean to scare you, but I've got what I need, is there anything you want?"

"I don't have any money." He stated showing his disappointment a little more than he'd wanted to and started to place the book back on the shelf.

"Take it young man and bring it back when your done." The woman said from the counter and smiled at him, "I hope the book answers some of your questions strange one."

"I couldn't possibly. . " he started before he realized what she'd said, "wait you've noticed what I am and you don't care?!"

"We are all children of the earth and the mother Goddess it doesn't matter how we came to be just that we are and that she loves us as any mother would." She nodded and smiled at the gaping teen as his friend pushed him out of the store saying a quick thank you as she left.

"She wasn't scared." He stated in awe despite himself.

"Of course she wasn't," Christina replied, "and she was right, it doesn't matter how or why we came to be or how different we look we're still the same under the mother's eyes." She smiled and grabbed his hand, "come on I've got something that should help Nikki." He recovered a little and ran after her. The ran all the way back to the lair and Christina explained to every body that she'd bought a gel made of herbs that would relieve the pain and, not that Nikki would need it, would prevent scaring. Raphael had volunteered to put it on himself despite the uneasiness he felt when he looked at the wounds and Christina set to telling him how and when he should apply the gel.

Splinter sighed and thought about what Leonardo had confided in him. It seemed that, as he had suspected Raphael had fallen in love with Nicole. He had guessed it would someday happen ever since that day he followed his son out of concern for his safety all those years ago. Raphael had been sneaking out, sometimes missing practice and disappearing for many hours at a time. He'd followed him to manhole and to the surface, his heart had raced nineteen to the dozen at that point and he had almost revealed himself to his son. But he decided that he would see where his son was going before and if he would do that. The small turtle ran past an old warehouse and towards a black limo. A man got out and opened the back door to let a small red headed girl out who waved excitedly and embraced his son. He'd been shocked but still decided to simply watch. The child seemed harmless and they were having fun, Raphael was smiling a lot more than he usually did. Splinter had watched the two children play for at least three hours before the red head was told they had to go and she reluctantly re-entered the car and Raphael began his journey home. Like any father he was proud that his son had found someone to love and he was sure that she would love him in return. He rose to his feet and walked the short journey to Leonardo's room to find Raphael smoothing the cream into Nikki's back so gently that it looked as if he was afraid she would break if he rubbed any harder, it had to be the softest Raphael had ever touched any one, Splinter found himself thinking and he marveled at how tender his usually rough son was being. Raph looked up and smiled.

"Hey Sensie." He greeted.

"Hello Raphael," Splinter returned the greeting, "May I speak with Nicole in private for a while my son?"

"Sure," Raph helped Nikki with her shirt and turned her over and left.

"Hello Child," he replied, "Are you feeling better?"

"A little." She looked down at her hands not entirely sure where this conversation would go.

"Do not fret child you are safe here," Splinter assured, "you are welcome here as long as you wish to stay."

"Thank you."

"There is something I must ask of you though," she looked up at him, "look after my son." Nikki didn't answer not really sure of how to answer the request, Splinter smiled at her, "he cares for you a great deal Miss. Roberts and although he shows the world an angry face he is easily hurt," he looked back at her, "my sons are all growing up and I cannot protect them from everything, one day I will not be able to protect them at all and I must ask of you to keep my son safe for this reason."

"I will." She smiled at him, finally understanding, he returned it and left. Soon after Raph came back in and sat down beside her.

"What'd he say?" He asked after he'd given her a kiss.

"Nothing much," Nikki replied, cuddling into him, "I love you Raph." She stated quietly. Raph pulled away and lifted her chin a big smile on his face.

"I love you too Nik, more than anythin'" He leant down and kissed her again passionately, then leaned back and looked into her eyes still smiling. "Welcome ta the family!"

And there you have it, the end! Well sort of, there will be more stories with these characters in and so on, but I want to try and center on one of the other guys, namely Leo for the moment. And there could be a bit of a cross over coming up but I'll leave that to your imagination for now, although I did put a bit of a clue somewhere in this chapter, Can you guess what it'll be? Toodles, Angel.