A/N: Hello again all! Thank you for your great reivews, I love them and all of you as always. I got a really nice review to ask Mr.Laird and Mr. Eastman for permision to publish my work once I upload all of it. Even though that would be a dream come true,I doubt that my writing is that good and with their busy schedule, I doubt that they would even look at it. I've also heard way too many horror stories about publication. The idea still is appealing to me and I will have the idea in the back of my mind for quite a while. So not all hope is lost..... At least, that the rose-tinted view on it.
And if anyone is interested, I have posted art of my characters and different portions of my TMNT fiction on the web site that is on my bio as my homepage. There are pics of the guys there too, so come on over and check it out. Just go to the gallery and let the fun begin!
Well, enough of my chattering. I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
Chapter Fifteen: Preparation
Everyone looked at Delaney and then at Master Splinter almost at the other side of the room. Delaney kept her eyes glued to the old rat's and stood strong with her determination. He sighed and lowered his head to look at his feet.
"Follow me, Delaney," he turned around and walked toward his room. Delaney did as she as told and quickly followed Splinter to his room. Soon after she entered the room the door slid closed and everyone sat in anticipation. A few heads turned toward Mikey who kept his eyes on his hands, which held the chain and ring that Delaney gave to him.
Splinter retreated to his seat and lit a few incense of jasmine to fill the air. He let himself down slowly on the pillow and set his stick beside him. Delaney knew the drill and sat on the pillow in front of him. She heard him take a few breaths and then release them without another thought. She focused on her right hand were both her father's old tie and the jade turtle bracelet were tied.
"Many have told me that you would think about joining them on the next mission," Splinter said softly, lighting a few more candles around their seats, "And all of them are worried that you will not come back from it."
"I know," she nodded, "But I feel as though they are not giving me the chance to prove that I can do it. I will not try to face him in battle or combat. I just want to hear with my own ears why he did what he did and why my parents had to die. That's all I want."
"You know the consequences to your request are very high if things go wrong?"
"I know that I can be dead by the time the mission is over, if we aren't careful. I understand that."
"And you still want to go?"
"I need to know this, Master Splinter," she leaned forward toward him, "To have peace with myself and at least take the steps toward forgiveness I need to hear it from his mouth."
"You think you are ready to do something as big as this?"
"You told me when I started to meditate and train with you that I will never know what I can do until I try. Let me have that chance to try."
He was surprised by her statement and thought about it for a moment before answering her, "You know that I do not wish for you to go and sacrifice your life."
"I am not sacrificing my life. You said yourself that it is mainly to look over and learn about the operations taking place in the building. There is no fighting included in that. I am only trying to complete myself."
"Then I cannot stop you if that is what you truly believe," he sighed, "You must promise me that you will do everything in your power to come back home alive."
It was her turn to be surprise at his use of the word home and looked at him in the eyes. He had become another father to her. Something that she lost and had now regained in life. He filled the void that was left in her parent's passing, but she never noticed it until now.
"I promise you, Master Splinter. I will come back alive," she bowed her head slightly and took a breath, "I will come back home."
/1/1/1/1/1/1
Everybody's eyes automatically went to the door as it slid open and Splinter came out with Delaney not too far behind. She bowed to Splinter and he bowed back and turned to the rest of the group.
"I have given Delaney my blessing to go with my sons," he said in a retired voice.
"But Splinter-" Callista stood up ready to refute his decision.
He held up his hand and took a breath, "I'm letting her go on some conditions. One, she will be in sight or within reach of at least one of my sons at all times. Two, she will not go in search of Yukio to challenge him- which she has assured me more than once she will not. And finally, that her friends are to go with her."
"What?" Eros popped her head up and looked at him, "We're going too?"
"Yes."
"Why?" Leonardo said warily looking from Amity to Splinter, "Wouldn't that be putting them in extreme danger?"
"Delaney gave a good point that this mission is only one of observation. You are to stay invisible to the ninjas and keep the girls under surveillance."
"But what is the purpose in taking them?"
"Training in part. You will have times in which you must not only hide yourself, but others around you as well," Splinter explained, "And they each have a little to contribute toward the mission. Besides the point that more ears pick up more information. But… if any of them wish to stay and help here, I would understand."
"No way," Amity stood up and shook her head, "Like Callista said the first day we came here. Wherever Delaney goes we all go. We're a team that way. We can't be separated, even if there are disagreements."
All the girls looked at Delaney for a reaction and for the first time in quite a while she gave them a small smile. The girls walked over to Delaney and gave her a hug or pat on the back to know that they were still there for her. They still believed in her, but truly did care and worry for her safety.
"Besides," Callista said draping an arm over Delaney's shoulders, "This way we could keep a closer eye on you. Keep you out of trouble, you know?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Delaney said a little shocked from the over all agreement from the girls about the decision.
"I will now leave you to group and plan how you will spend tomorrow night," Splinter walked back into his room as he was given bows from Delaney and the boys.
"Well, might as well get the set up for the mission ready," Leonardo looked at the group and sat back down in one of the chairs. The rest of the group reluctantly followed and settled in for the remainder of the preparations.
"So, each of us has their one piece to offer to the table, we just have to figure out what those pieces are," Eros said a little distracted.
"I'll take Callista with me," Raphael said from the side of one of the televisions. Everyone looked at him with a questioning glance, including Callista, "With her constant nagging she could help me keep focus. And I don't want her running off, managing to blow our cover. Those are the only talents I've seen from her this far."
"Speak for yourself, turd," Callista grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. He smiled over at her.
"Fine, Raph, just keep your temper in check. We need to protect the girls from the ninjas, not from ourselves," Leonardo waved his hand in agreement to Raphael's proposal. Raphael rolled his eyes and walked over to stand next to where Callista was sitting.
"It looks like you're stuck with me, urchin," he nudged her.
"Oh goodie," Callista rolled her eyes and gave him her own small smirk.
"Well, no offense Eros, but I think I need Amity's help. Especially with the improvements on some of the stealth equipment. She has to still show me how to deal with the goggles after that malfunction in them and all the modifications on the shurikens," Donatello said as he looked over at Eros.
"No problem, Donnie," Eros smiled and looked over at Amity, "Don't get any ideas, girl."
"Oh please," Amity waved her hand at Eros and rolled her eyes, "Remember our talk when we first got our rooms? I'm not attrac-"
"I don't think that you should finish that sentence, brain. Think about it," Callista tapped her head and looked at Amity with a cautious look, "Not a good idea."
She blushed and looked at the boys looking at her with a question mark on their face. She made a small, nervous smile and rubbed the back of the head, "Oh… yeah…right."
"I'll take Delaney since she has some background on Yukio and possibly some personal things that we can use against them if needed," Leonardo looked at Delaney and she nodded her head in agreement, "That leaves Eros with Michelangelo."
"No problem," Eros smiled and gave Michelangelo thumbs up.
He looked at her and gave a small smile as an agreement. Delaney glanced over at him to see him put the ring and chain she gave him back around his neck. He didn't look up, but she could see his frown on his face as he settled the ring against his plastron with one of his hands. She looked away and focused where the bracelet he gave her still decorated her wrist.
"All right, everybody," Leonardo looked around at everybody in the den, "Let's get some sleep. No doubt we're all going to need it."
The girls nodded and headed toward their rooms to go to sleep and in Eros's case to figure out what to wear the next day. Raphael went to his room to sharpen his sais and to lift some weights before he got too tired. Donatello went toward his laboratory to load his bag of tricks once again and make sure he was ready for anything that they could and would throw at them. Leonardo looked at Michelangelo who was still sitting on the beanbag stroking the silver ring with one of his fingers.
"Don't worry, Mikey," Leo said softly and patted his brother on his shoulder, "I'll keep a good eye on her for you. She won't get hurt."
"Thanks, Leo," Michelangelo smiled weakly and let the ring fall to his chest, "but I can't stop worrying. I'm still angry, and so is she… but I will never stop caring. And it hurts. I mean, it really hurts."
Leo looked into his brother's eyes and knelt down in front of him so they were eye to eye, "She still cares too. There are just some things that take a while to get over. Give it some time."
"How do you know that she still cares? We haven't talked to one another since we fought."
"She's still wearing that bracelet you gave her," Michelangelo's eyes widened at his brother, "She hasn't taken it off since the day you gave it to her. If she didn't care, why would she even keep it? Just give it some time."
With that Leonardo went to his room to get ready for the fight ahead. Michelangelo slowly got up as well and walked over to the side of the room where his skateboard was and headed for the tunnels surrounding the lair. He needed some serious air.
/1/1/1/1/1/1
She knew she shouldn't be out this late…
She knew she should be asleep like the others…
But there was no way in hell that she could with what she was feeling inside her head and her heart.
Delaney stood by the gliding water in one of the surrounding tunnels in the sewers. If she didn't know any better it was the exact place that she and Michelangelo had their fight a few days ago. The fight that started this whole mess. The fight that started all this hurt.
She played with the bracelet around her wrist and brushed each one of the jade turtles. It was as if each of the small jade turtles had a specific one of the real life turtles or her friends to represent. She even had one that she thought represented her. It was silly, childish thought that she kept reminding herself to forget, but could never bring herself to do it. There was no way that a little jade turtle would even begin to represent a human being- or any being for that matter. Although, the thought brought comfort, because just like every one of the jade turtles was connected together by the brown string, all of them were connected by a braid of friendship and trust.
She took a deep breath and looked at the one turtle that she designated as Michelangelo's double. It was a different shade from the others and some of the edges of the head were a little off. It looked original… different. She lightly put her two fingers over the small turtle and looked at the other right next to it. She always saw that turtle as representing her. It too looked different from the others because of color, but was the same in almost every other aspect. She lightly closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"God… I really miss him," Delaney whispered to the ceiling, hoping that God could hear prayers even coming from beneath the streets, "I just wish that I wasn't so stuck in my pride. I hurt so much, but I don't do anything to fix it. Please, help me. Give me strength so I can tell him I still care. That I… I don't want to hurt anymore. No more."
She paused for a moment or two and opened her eyes, "Tell mom and dad I miss them and send them my love. Amen."
She still felt it was a little childish to send her love to people who have passed on, but for some strange reason she felt it was actually necessary this time. She slowly wiped her eyes that had started to tear with the back of her hand and started to head back to the lair. She needed to draw or sketch out her frustration. She didn't know what the next picture would be, but she knew that she could spend the rest of tomorrow finishing it. At least spend the time waiting for the mission doing something instead of pacing the room or something. Besides, with how she was feeling, she needed something to do. And Splinter wouldn't allow her to practice in the dojo. If she did manage to get herself in trouble, she needed to conserve her energy to defend herself. She let out one last breath and turned around the last tunnel toward home.
As soon as she walked back into the tunnel leading home, Michelangelo slipped around the side of the sewer wall with his board underneath his arm. He leaned on the wall and placed his head gently on the corner.
"I miss you too," he closed his eyes and started to walk back in to the lair.
/1/1/1/1/1/1
"You're getting their characteristics down really well now," Callista looked over her friend's shoulder before they reported to the den so they could start on their mission, "When you first started to draw them, their heads were too long. Now, it's almost perfection."
"Yeah, I think it turned out pretty well, considering," Delaney looked at the last page in her sketchpad and the picture that she drew, "…Almost perfection."
Callista let a soft look come over her face, "If you don't mind me butting in… is it Mikey?"
Delaney took a deep breath and nodded. The pencil drawing was of Michelangelo sitting in the beanbag chair while a strong light was placed over his features. Delaney had no idea where the light was coming from and had only recently decided that the televisions were on in front of him. In the picture he still had the ring and chain around his neck. One of his hands was up to touch the object as his other was resting gently at his side. His face didn't hold his normal happy go lucky smile she remembered and dreamt of often. Instead it held the same expression he has been carrying for the past few days. A type of forlorn or mourning. She took an overall look at the picture and sighed.
"Why don't you talk to him, D? He is hurting too. Just talk."
"Because I'm not ready," Delaney slammed her sketchpad closed and stood up, throwing it on her bed along with her pencil, "Are we ready to go?"
"Leo just called the group to the den," Callista nodded deciding against fighting Delaney tonight. They needed to keep their concentration focused on the task at hand. Delaney looked at her and gave a small smile. They two girls hugged, which was very rare for Callista to begin with.
"We're going to be okay," Delaney whispered and backed away from the hug, "Now lets see what these bastards have planned for the city, huh?"
"You got it," the two girls met their other two friends on the other side of the door. Eros had something in her hand and shoved it toward Delaney when she opened the door.
"It was on the outside of the door," she said.
Delaney looked at it and slowly opened it against her better judgment. She could tell it was from Michelangelo by the handwriting. She slowly read it over and a small hint of a smile came to her face. Before tears could come to her eyes she folded the letter back up and placed it in one of the pockets in her jeans. The other girls didn't say anything about it or question it. The ragged breath that she pulled in and out from her lungs was all the answer that they needed. The smile turned back to a serious face and as a group the girls walked slowly to the den.
The guys had cautioned them to wear dark colors tonight, so they wouldn't have as hard of a time to hide them. Each girl had on a comfortable pair of black sneakers or dark boots to maneuver in. Callista wore a dark burgundy shirt that tied over one shoulder while it left the other bare and a pair of black, lose jeans. Her hair was put back into a pair of low pigtails that rested at the bottom of her skull. Eros wore her black sweatshirt over a gray shirt and a pair of dark slacks as her hair was put back into a sloppy kind of bun. Amity found a black halter-top and a zip up dark blue jacket. She had to barrow a pair of Delaney's black jeans, which thankfully fit perfectly and tied her hair into a comfortable ponytail. And finally Delaney wore her black jeans over her favorite dark boots. Her black jacket fit snuggly over a dark gray shirt that hung loosely over the hem of her jeans. Her hair was in a tight French braid falling down her back that Eros had to help her with.
The turtles nodded at the girls as they entered the den. The energy around the den seemed tense and uncomfortable. This time it wasn't to go over some evidence or to watch a particularly good movie. This time it was to ready themselves for a dangerous mission.
'Together. As a team,' Delaney thought to herself and then took a quick glance in Michelangelo's direction, 'And yet, torn apart.'
"All right ladies and turtles. Let's go," Leonardo announced to the group and led them to the battle shell to drive to the east docks.