Chapter 6

The Call

A/N: Well, here's another chapter by me. But first, I want to tell all you Turtles fans that "The Big Brawl" saga is now out on DVD. Check it out 'cause it's outta sight. And now for some shout-outs to those who have reviewed my story.

Ashley: You're a Leo fan too? Awesome! So am I. I also think he'll be okay too. He definitely rocks. Keep reading and reviewing.

Readrrr Grrl: Thanks for the compliments! You'll like this chapter too. Read it and review it.

Shellsboy 24: Thanks for your sweet review. I am feeling much better than I was on Tuesday. Keep reading this story and sending more sweet reviews. Here's a few hugs and kisses back. Xoxoxoxo.

Paciphys: Sorry if I spelled your name wrong. Thanks for your review. Yes, Raph would drink the orange juice, but he decided to drink the milk instead. I can't believe you guessed the movie that Milo's name came from! That movie is adorable. I remember watching it in first grade and getting hooked on it. Keep reading and reviewing.

Okay, now that that's done, it's time for the new chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Turtles. I wish I did, but I'm only dreaming. I do own any characters not related to the Turtles. Enjoy this chapter!

Together, Erin and Raphael took Leonardo by the arms to help him get home. Before they left, Raph spotted something on Leo's back. He tore it off and looked at it angrily.

"What is it?" asked Erin.

"A tracking device," said Raph. "They must've planted it on him, hoping he'd lead them to our Lair. Well, tough luck for them." He dropped the device on the floor and crushed it with his foot. "C'mon, let's get Leo home," he said. The two of them helped Leo get home safely. Erin was praying that he'd be all right.

Splinter was startled when the three of them entered the Lair. "What happened?" he asked anxiously.

"Leo was ambushed by the Foot," answered Raphael angrily. "They took Maureen. Leo tried to fight them off, but there were too many of them."

"I tried to fight them," said Leonardo weakly. "It's my fault. I promised her I'd protect her, and I broke my promise."

"It is not your fault, my son," said Splinter gently. "You didn't know what would happen. You tried to protect her, but there were too many Foot Ninjas. Do not blame yourself. Now, try to rest. You have been put through a terrible ordeal."

Leonardo closed his eyes and tried to do as Master Splinter said, but it was hard. He couldn't stop thinking of Maureen and what had happened to her. Where was she? What was the Shredder doing to her? Leo shivered at the very thought. He didn't even want to think about it.

Meanwhile, Raphael was doing his best to comfort Erin. He knew she was going through a rough time right now. Raph held her and tried to cheer her up, but it wasn't working.

"Those jerks!" stormed Erin. "How dare they hurt Leo and take my sister! I'm going to get her back! I swear I will, Raph!"

"Calm down, Erin!" Raph said. "You're going through a bad time. I know you want to save her, but you can't."

"What do you know?" Erin said harshly. "My sister is at the mercy of the Foot. We should be out there looking for her!"

"She could be anywhere," Raph said. "The Foot have many hideouts. We wouldn't know where to look. We need to just lie low and be patient."

"Since when did you go soft?" Erin snarled. "You never used to care about lying low and being patient. Leo told me you were always rash and careless."

"Leo's right, but it's the way things have to be," Raphael said. "If we do look for your sister, you can't go with us. It wouldn't be safe. Leo would just blame himself is something happened to you, too. He even thinks you blame him for what happened. I can see it in his eyes."

"But I don't blame him," Erin said.

"Then, I think you should tell him that tomorrow," Raph said. "Right now, you should get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." He hugged her and went to his own room.

Erin snuggled under the covers and though about what Raph had said. He was right. She needed to pull herself together. She had to comfort Leo and help him to heal. Before she went to bed, she knelt down and prayed for her sister's return and her brother's recovery. She just hoped everything would be all right.

Foot Headquarters

Maureen looked around her in fear. Where was she? And why had she been brought here? She remembered that she and Leo had been ambushed by the Foot. Was Leo okay? Had he gone to warn the others? She hoped they would rescue her soon.

Then, Maureen heard a door open. Brad Carson walked in, followed by a man in a suit of metal and a metal helmet. It reminded Maureen of the villain in the movie Spaceballs, which her brothers had shown her.

"Hello, Maureen," Brad said with a wicked grin. "How are you doing?"

"Not well, if you must know," Maureen replied angrily. "Why did you kidnap me? What is it about?"

"I'm glad you asked, Maureen," Brad said. "Allow me to introduce the Shredder. He's the leader of the Foot and the one that I serve."

Maureen glared at the other man. "So?" she snapped. "What does he have to do with this?"

"A lot," Brad replied. "I hear that you're living with a new family, a family consisting of four turtles and a rat."

"How did you know that?" Maureen demanded.

"I have my ways," Brad answered mysteriously. "Anyway, these family members happen to be the Foot's worst enemies. They are evil."

"No they're not," Maureen contradicted. "They told me about you. You're the evil ones."

"They're lying," the Shredder said, speaking for the first time. "They are brainwashing you. I know how they are. I once persuaded one of them to join me, but he refused. I hope that you will think differently. I am asking you and your sister to join me. If you do, we can do good things for the city. If you don't, you will be against me."

"I will never join you," said Maureen angrily. "You killed Splinter's master, and you killed my mother. I despise you for what you have done."

Brad grew angry. "Listen, you little brat!" he snarled. "You'll either join the Foot, or you and your family will die! I'll give you a few days to think it over. If you want your family to live, you'll make the right decision." Then he and the Shredder left Maureen to her own thoughts.

Maureen hung her head in despair. She just hoped her brothers would be able to get her out of this mess. If not, they would all be doomed. She didn't want to join the Foot at any cost. Still, if she didn't make the right decision, her family would die. Maureen closed her eyes and prayed that God would help her make the right choice.

The Lair

The next morning, Erin opened her eyes and looked at the alarm clock. It was seven o' clock in the morning. The others were surely up by now and were waiting for her. She crept downstairs and was surprised to see that the T.V. wasn't on.

Puzzled, Erin saw that Leonardo wasn't on the couch as he should have been. She was beginning to get frightened. What if the Foot had come and taken him? She ran upstairs to his room and found him sitting on the floor, gazing at the scrapbook he'd made.

"Leo, you know you're not supposed to be up here," Erin said. "You should be downstairs resting. I thought that you'd been taken when I didn't find you on the couch."

Leonardo looked at her sadly. "I'm sorry I frightened you, Erin," he said softly. "I was feeling down about what happened. I figured that this would make me feel better."

Erin drew closer and saw that he was looking at a picture of herself, Maureen, and Leo on the couch. April had taken the picture a few days before. A lump came to her throat. How she missed Maureen!

Leo saw the look of pain in her eyes, and it made him feel bad. "I'm so sorry," he said softly.

"For what?" Erin asked.

"For your sister getting taken," Leo replied. "It's all my fault. If I hadn't taken her from the Lair, none of this would have happened."

Erin put her arm around him. "Leo, I don't blame you," she said gently. "I never did. It's their fault that my sister was taken. I just hope we find her."

"We will, Erin," Leo reassured her. "I promise you that. But first, I have to get better. I'm in no shape to rescue anyone just now."

Erin giggled and helped Leo to his feet. Together, they made their way downstairs to the living room. Splinter was on the couch watching the news with April beside him. They looked up when Leo and Erin came in.

"Hey, guys," April greeted them. "How are you holding up?"

"Fine, I guess," Erin said with a small smile. "I still miss my sister though."

April looked at her sympathetically. "I know you do, sweetie," she said gently. "I miss her too, and I miss your mom. We had some good times together."

Splinter looked at them with a sad look in his eyes. Then he turned to his oldest son. "Leonardo, were you upstairs?" he asked.

"Yes, Master Splinter," Leo said. "I just went up to look in my scrapbook. I was feeling upset. Where are the others?"

"They are out on a training run," Splinter answered. He looked at his son seriously. "You should have been down here resting," he said firmly. "You are not strong enough to do anything. If you try to climb those stairs, you will injure yourself far worse than what you are now. Erin, make sure your brother gets his rest. I will be in my room."

"Okay, Master Splinter," said Erin. She guided Leo to the couch and tucked the blanket around him. "Just rest, Leo," she said gently. "I'll keep an eye on everything." She kissed him on the forehead, and she and April went upstairs to listen to music and talk.

"Nice room," commented April. "It's so clean and neat."

"Thanks," said Erin. "The stuff you bought really helped. The guys helped me decorate it. Well, at least Leo and Mikey did. Raph didn't want to, and Donnie was too busy in his lab."

"I bet," said April. "I take it Leo's bonded to you, hasn't he?"

"Yeah, he's really taken to me and Maureen," said Erin. Then the phone rang, and she hurried to answer it. "Hello?" she said.

"Hello, Erin," said a deep voice. "How are you?"

"Brad!" said Erin angrily. "What do you want? Where's my sister? Tell me!"

"Relax, Erin," said Brad. "She's safe for now. But if you don't do as I say, you may not have a sister. Just give me what I want, and everything will be fine."

"What do you want?" asked Erin.

"I want the Turtles," replied Brad. "I'll give you four days to bring them to me. This starts tomorrow. If you do, your sister goes free. If not, your sister will die. The choice is up to you." Then he hung up the phone.

Erin sank to the ground in despair. What was she going to do? If she didn't give Brad the Turtles, Maureen would die. Still, she couldn't sacrifice her family; they were too dear to her.

April ran to Erin's side. "Who was that on the phone, Erin?" she asked.

"It was Brad," Erin said through her sobs. "He threatened me. He said if I didn't give him what he wants, he'll kill Maureen."

"Calm down, honey," April said. "Let's go downstairs and tell Master Splinter. I'm sure he can help us."

When the two got downstairs, they found Mikey, Don, and Raph talking to Casey Jones, another human friend. They were telling Leo, Splinter, and Casey about what they had done that day. They all turned when April and Erin came down.

"What's going on, Erin?" asked Raphael.

"I just received a threatening phone call," answered Erin. "It was Brad. He said if I gave him what he wanted, Maureen would be okay. If I didn't, Maureen would die. He sounds serious about it, too."

"What does he want?" asked Leo softly.

"He wants you guys," said Erin, pointing to the Turtles.

A/N: Wow! Cliffhanger! Who would have thought I could pull that off? Will the Turtles be okay? Will they be able to save Maureen and stop Brad? Find out in the next chapter coming soon. Please read and review this one.