Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: "A Very Turtle Christmas!!"

Author: Marsha Walters

Disclaimers: I do not own any of the original TMNT characters. Lori and Hari belong to my friend, ChibiJaime. The lyrics from the songs: O Holy Night, What Child Is This and Happy Christmas(War Is Over) belongs to their respectful artists.

Claimers: I do own this story, myself, Shauna and Ukiyo(Means: 'Life' in Japanese)

                                                             Chapter3

     Raphael lunged at Hun with his one of his sais raised. He was about to stab him in the chest when his arm made contact with his neck and chest area. The blow of the contact forced him to go flying back into a wall.

     "Raph!" Leo called out, alarmed.

     "Tch. Let's get out of here before these losers start to rub off on us, boys. We'll be back for the girls some other time," Hun ordered.

     As soon as the Dragons left the mall, Leo and Mikey rushed over to their brother's side. "Raph, you okay, bro?" Mikey asked, gently.

    "I'm fine. What about Marsha?" he muttered as they helped him to his feet.

    "Don's taking care of her, Raph," Leo explained.

   "Guys, we need to leave, now!" Don declared, standing up with Marsha in his arms.

    "Will she be all right, Don?" Leo asked.

    "She's passed out for now, but if I don't get her to my lab soon..." his voice trailed off. He didn't want Raph to worry, so he kept quiet.

    "Don, don't even THINK that way! Marsha's strong; she'll make it," Lori argued with Don's logic.

    "She's not psychically strong...not like you or us, Lori."

    Lori glanced up at Leo and Mikey for help, yet they kept silent as they stared at Raph who now held Marsha in his arms.

     She had some kind of vision...why couldn't she tell me in the store before those dragons showed up? Lori wondered, looking down at the wrapped presents in the bags in her hands.

    "One thing that worries me...why would she ask about the presents when she was badly injured?" Leo spoke up.

    "She was worried about something. Before she passed out, she told me that she wanted us to have a perfect Christmas...that she didn't want her vision to come true," Don explained quietly.

   "Something terrible must be happening, then. We'd better hurry back to the Lair. Shauna can stay at Hari's place just a little longer." Leo ordered.

    Mikey kept silent. He was used to these kind of things, but he never really liked them. He closed his eyes and tried to think of something pleasant and failed. His thoughts wondered back to the time he first met Marsha. He reopened his eyes and shook his head slightly. "Will she be okay?" he asked quietly.

    The others looked at him. "Bambino..." Lori's voice trailed off and she reached over to take his hand.

   "Mikey, she'll be just fine, bro, don't worry," Don assured him.

   "But, you just said that she's not psychically strong..."

    Don realized he couldn't lie to his younger brother. He let out a shaky sigh as they neared the Lair. "Mikey, forget about what I said. She'll make it, okay?"

    "Cheer up, Bambino," Lori smiled warily at Mikey.

    Mikey nodded, taking one of Marsha's hands in his. I'm sorry I teased you and Donatello that one day, Marsha. Please, just make it through this.

    Raph gently laid Marsha on top of a table in Don's lab and stood back. "Thank you, Raph. I need some time alone with her, you know."

    He let out a shaky sigh and nodded, taking his leave.

    Don shook his head, sighing before he began his operation.

    I sense it...Don...he's trying to heal my injuries. Damn it. If only I could wake up, I would be able to stop my vision before it happens. Sensei, I hope you're okay. Marsha thought through closed eyes.

    She clenched her hands into tight fists. Don saw this and glanced at her face with hope. Damn it...she's not awake...

   "Guys, it's Sensei!" Mikey declared as he rushed into the main room.

   "What's wrong, Mike?" Leo asked gently.

   "Sensei...it's like he's sick or something. He won't talk or anything...just keeps breathing heavily," he said, his voice sounded choked up, like he was going to start crying any second.

   "First Marsha, now Sensei? What else could go wrong?" Raph muttered. He glanced up at his younger brother. "Mike, don't...everything will be fine, you'll see."

   "But it's one week till Christmas! And that vision Marsha had that she has yet to tell us...I'm just worried..."

   "Raph is right, Mikey, everything will be just fine. Sensei just needs some time alone, and Marsha will get better," Leo spoke up.

   Raph glanced at Leo, surprised that he actually said he, himself, was right about something for once. Don came out of his lab a few minutes later. "She's doing a little better. She's not coughing up anymore blood and her injuries are healing nicely thanks to my new invention," he smiled slightly.

   "Don, what's wrong?" Don looked up at Leo and shook his head. "What she told me at the mall. I just can't shake it off...like something terrible's gonna happen soon," he replied softly so Mikey wouldn't hear them.

   "Don?" He looked over at Mikey, curiously. "Is it okay for me to go see her for a little?"

   "Sure, Mike."

   Mikey pulled a chair up beside Marsha's "bed-table". He took her hands in his again. "Marsha, I'm really, REALLY sorry for all the stuff I teased you about. Man, this is turning out to be the worst Christmas ever..." he sniffed a little.

   "M-Mikey?" He glanced up to see her staring at him, tears in her eyes.

   "Marsha! You're awake!" He was smiling now. "How do you feel?"

   "Mikey, I'm fine. Is Splinter...Sensei's okay, isn't he?" she asked softly.

   Mikey lowered his eyes for a few minutes, then glanced back at Marsha. "He's fine, Marsha. Everyone's worried about you. Don wasn't sure if you would wake up or not. If Shauna was here, I don't know what she would do if she saw you in your condition."

   Marsha closed her eyes. "Where is Shauna?"

   "I took her over to Hari's place for a while, Marsha," Leo's voice startled the two. He made his way over to her other side.

   "Leo...I...thank you."

   "No problem. Lori's coming over in a few hours. She wants to check up on you, make sure everything's fine," Leo smiled down at her.

   Marsha just nodded and started to sit up when Leo stopped her. "Ah, ah, you still need rest!"

   She gave him a cute pout. "Leo, you know I'm not THAT weak!!"

   "Of course you're not that weak, honey," Raph chuckled from the doorway. Don stood beside him. "But, you STILL need to rest a little more before you can walk or do anything," Don pointed out, a smile on his face. "Oh, and Hari just called to let you know that Shauna wants to stay with her a few days, if it's okay with you guys," he added.

   Marsha and Raph just nodded. "Sensei..." she murmured as she felt his presence draw close to the room. The others turned around to see Splinter smiling warily at them.

   "My daughter...how are you feeling?" he asked, his voice sounding a little hoarse.

   "I'm feeling a little better, Sensei," she smiled back, relieved as he came to her side.

   My vision is redirecting itself...I hope I'm right. I really do want this to be a perfect Christmas, She thought.

2 be continued...