Book 3 of Cat and Mouse
Title: Startup Costs
Rating: PG-13 for language, violence, and adult situations
Summary: Sam, former FBI agent and friend of the turtles starts a private security business in New York City, while back in the lair Mike deals with family life, and the return of Agent Sanders.
Credits: Thanks to the beautifully talented and endlessly patient Sassy for the beta read.
Disclaimer: I do not own the turtles, Splinter, Casey, April, or a toaster oven. Not for profit – only for fun.
Author's Notes: Well, Rizzleberry said 'Hurry up', so I did. This is the last chapter in this book. There is one more book folks, and it's in the editing process right now so I expect to be posting in the next week.
Reluctant Dragon: Sam's motivations for everything are pretty questionable right now. She's been under some fairly intense pressure, and her life has been on a roller coaster. Eventually, she might straighten out. We'll see. Oh, and if Don is going to be following anyone around – it's me! (Ahem)
Fallen Hikari: This is your fault, you know. You gave me an evil laugh. I had to find ways to put it to use. And I, too, saw that movie (and read the book). But that is not the inspiration for Juliet's story.
Reinbeauchaser: Yes, it was pretty horrible reading Sam saying that stuff to Don. I know that feeling well. It's probably exactly how I felt when Mindy refused to leave New York with Don in 'Just Outside My Window'. (I love that story!)
BubblyShell: You saw it coming. But will the turtles rescue her? Hmmm. (Insert evil laugh)
Chapter 5:
Three years earlier …
"Goddamn it Noelle! How many times do you have to be told?"
A one-year-old girl, her eyes wide and fearful, stood surrounded by a flurry of paper. It had been a stack of case files on the corner of the dining room table before the child had grabbed the corner of one page, and pulled. Juliet rounded the corner at a dead run from the kitchen in time to see Greg lean down and grab the little girl by her arms, shaking her violently.
"Never, ever touch my things!" he screamed, spittle spraying out of his mouth. Noelle shrieked in terror, and Juliet rushed at her husband.
"Stop it!" she shouted, grabbing his shoulder. "Let her go!" He turned on her, releasing the child who fell back onto the carpet in a daze, and grabbed Juliet by the hair.
"Never interrupt me when I am disciplining our children," he barked, throwing her aside by her hair. Her back hit the wall, and she bounced forward, a snarl disfiguring her face.
"Don't you touch her!" she screamed. She picked up a chair, and threw it in his direction. The surprised look on his face didn't even faze her. "Don't you ever touch her!"
It was a turning point that should have come long before. The next morning, after her husband had gone to work, Juliet packed her car and left, taking her children away from a man who had become a monster in her eyes.
The sound of glass breaking in another room interrupted Sanders before he could continue with his line of questioning. Something hulking and green stepped in the doorway, and Greg Sanders' mouth dropped open in slack surprise.
"What the …?" Before Don could move though, Sanders had recovered enough to retrain his gun on Samantha. Sam met Don's eyes across the dim room. She could see him gauging the distance and trying to decide what to do. He offered her a wan smile.
"I'm sorry I followed you again," he said, glancing over at Sanders. The gun never wavered, and Sam swallowed around a lump in her throat.
"Considering the circumstances, I think that's okay," Sam replied. Their eyes met again. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "For everything."
"You … Whatever you are," Sanders interrupted, eying the turtle. "Stay very still. Gallagher, walk towards me." Sam hesitated. "Now, Gallagher." Sam took five steps, bringing her closer to Sanders. He smirked down at her, and then pressed the barrel of the gun to her temple. "I want my wife." Sanders looked over at Don. "Do you understand me? I want Juliet. That is the only way you get her back."
Don replied with a single nod. Sanders grabbed Sam's arm and started tugging her over to the open door as Don watched through narrowed eyes.
"You have one half hour to comply. Meet me in the parking lot at 85th and Laird, with Juliet," Sanders instructed, slowly exiting from the room and holding Sam between himself and Don. "Or come later, and pick up the body."
Don gripped his bo so tightly Sam expected to hear the wood protest. "Just take him out," Sam said, directing her statement to Don. Don's eyes flickered to her, and then to the gun at her head. There was no margin for error. If Sanders pulled the trigger … Don knew he was fast, but he was briefly overwhelmed with the doubt that he was fast enough. "Just do it," Sam repeated, but she could see that Don had made up his mind to let them go.
"So much as a scratch," Don warned, and Sam's eyes widened at his furious tone. "And you only live long enough to see sunrise."
Sanders grinned, peering over Sam's head. "Sunrise is hours away. A great deal may happen between now and then."
Don shook his head, his eyes feral slits behind his mask, and in the uncertain light of the room he was an eerie demon with shining eyes. "I'll make it last. Don't worry. You'll get to see sunrise before I let you die."
"Say goodbye to your frog prince, Gallagher," Sanders bit out, as he dragged her out of the room.
Mike spread the blanket carefully. Juliet set the basket down in the center, and Noelle plunked down on a corner expectantly. Mike opened up the top of the basket, and Juliet lightly slapped his hand.
"Hey!" he protested, drawing his hand back and clutched it with a wounded expression as though it hurt terribly. Juliet ignored this, and dug out paper plates from the basket, passing them around. She then retrieved a bag of chips, and started filling the plates.
It had been her idea to have a late night 'carpet picnic' in the middle of the lair. She had hoped Rachel would join them, and everyone could make peace. When she had gone upstairs to invite her eldest daughter, Rachel had said she wasn't hungry. Juliet hadn't pushed – for now.
Noelle picked up a chip, and started munching on it, dropping crumbs liberally into her lap. Mike set a cup of juice in front of the little girl, and opened a can of soda.
"Not quite the same as being outside," Mike noted. Juliet smiled, but then she noticed Mike sit up straight and look past her shoulder. She turned her head to see Rachel crossing the lair. The girl's eyes were still red from crying, and her body language – arms crossed over her chest and head down – was closed off.
Rachel stepped up to the blanket, and stood stiffly for a moment, her eyes on her shoes. Juliet held her breath.
"I'm sorry, Mike," Rachel offered in a less than genuine tone. Mike, though, decided to take the olive branch.
"Apology accepted. You want to join us?" Rachel nodded, and knelt down on the edge of the blanket. Juliet set a plate down in front of the girl, and Mike held up a sandwich. "Egg salad, or …"
"Guys!" Don shouted, tearing in from the elevator when the door had barely opened. He charged over to where Mike and Juliet were sitting on the floor. Leo, hearing the shout, rushed out of Splinter's room. "Sam's been kidnapped!"
"We have to go," Don argued from his spot at the head of the kitchen table. Leo frowned from the other end, and glanced over at Juliet.
"It's dangerous," Leo noted. "We don't know exactly what he has planned."
"It's open ground," Raph added. "Not much for hiding places."
Don looked at the clock anxiously. The minutes were ticking by as the debate continued. "We have no choice."
"You can't put Juliet out there with no plan," Mike protested sharply. "Look, I like Sam too, but we can't just throw Juliet out there with no idea what we're doing!"
"Mike," Don started.
"It doesn't matter if there's a plan," Juliet said softly, interrupting Don. "I owe it to her." Mike hopped off the counter, and squatted down near Juliet's chair.
"Babe, you can't," Mike disagreed, looking up at her. He saw the firm resolve on her face, and felt his stomach clench with fear. "No."
"It is not your choice, Michaelangelo," Splinter noted gently from near the door. "Your children are in bed now, Juliet, and sleeping soundly. I will watch over them for you."
"Thank you," Juliet responded. She touched Mike's cheek, and then rose to her feet. She walked out of the kitchen without another word, and walked up the steps to the room where her daughters were curled under the blankets on their mattress.
She stood over them, and watched them breathe and dream. All of her fighting and fleeing, and she still couldn't escape him. He returned even after she had died to strike out at those around her. Would it never stop? Here, finally, she had found a place for her daughters to be safe. Splinter would watch over them, and no matter what happened tonight, Mike would be there to guide and protect them.
Juliet turned and stepped out of the room. She entered Sam's bedroom, and walked straight to the dresser. She had been married to an FBI agent, and all law enforcement officers had certain things in common. Opening the first drawer, she conducted a brief search. But the second drawer bore fruit. Juliet held up the object before her eyes, and gathered her rage around herself like a cloak. This was going to end tonight – no matter the cost.
A customized armored car pulled into an empty parking lot at quarter to one in the morning. Don looked through the windshield at the car parked opposite. He keyed off the engine, and got out of his seat. In the back, Mike and Juliet sat together, holding hands.
"It's time," Don stated. Juliet nodded, and released Mike's fingers. Don opened the back doors, and he climbed out, helping Juliet to the ground. Mike jumped down, and studied the area. Somewhere in the dark, Leo and Raph were trying to outflank Sanders. The coverage was bad, though.
"Okay," Juliet said brightly. "Show time." Mike ground his teeth together to keep from pleading with her to stay: to forget Sam and just go back home. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tightly.
"I feel like I'm never going to see you again," Mike admitted, his voice husky. Juliet hugged him back.
"Look after the girls, okay?" Juliet asked, keeping her tone light. She did not want to start crying, or she would never go through with it. She let go first, and backed away.
Juliet stepped around the armored truck. Across the parking lot, the passenger door opened on the dark car. Greg climbed out, followed by Sam. Juliet swallowed as she noted the gray duct tape over Sam's mouth.
"Send her over," Sanders called out.
"Take your time," Don whispered from behind Juliet. "Give Raph and Leo a chance to get in place." Juliet nodded slightly, and then started to walk.
Greg shoved Sam roughly between the shoulder blades, and she, too, started across the empty lot. As they drew closer to one another, Juliet noted with dismay that Sam's hands were bound in front with the same tape. Seconds seems like an eternity until the two met in the center of the lot.
Juliet stopped directly in front of Sam, and the former Agent's eyes widened with surprise as she felt cold metal brush against her fingers. She opened her hands to accept the gun grip of her backup weapon.
"On three," Juliet said softly. Here, in the middle of the pavement, they were far enough away from the others that no one could hear her words. Sam nodded, and adjusted her handle on the gun. "One …"
"Juliet, get over here now!" Sanders shouted. Don, standing near the armored car, scanned the darkness beyond the parking lot for any sign of Leo and Raph.
"Two …," Juliet whispered, taking a single step to Sam's left side.
Keeping so low that his plastron brushed the concrete, Leo crept up on the parked car and crouched behind it.
"Three." Juliet dropped down, and Sam spun around, arms out and in firing position. Two gunshots ripped through the silence. For a moment, no one moved, and then Sanders slid to the ground, his eyes already glazing over as the bullet wound in his chest took his life.
Juliet climbed to her feet, her heart starting to beat again. She looked at her former husband as blood soaked the front of his shirt, and tried to feel some remorse for her actions. There was none. Next to her, she felt Sam stagger against her. The gun Sam had been holding clattered to the ground.
"Help!" Juliet cried out, her arms moving to catch the other woman as she began to tip over. Other hands – strong hands – were there to take the weight and lower Sam to the ground. Seeing the wound in Sam's abdomen, Juliet put her hands over it, seeking to stop the flow of blood. But there was so much, and Sam's face was already starting to turn pale. "No," Juliet denied brokenly. Not this. Her freedom could not come at this price.
End of Book 3
Continued in Book 4 'Rest in Peace'