Chapter Fourteen ~ Explanations
"Do you guys sense that?" Mikey asked as they walked through an alley.
"Someone is watching us" Leo commented.
"I don't think it's a hostile, there's something about it"
"Yeah" Raph snorted "It's weird, but she has a vibe about her" Leo stopped and faced him.
"Her? How do you know?"
"Remember when you sent me to follow that girl? It's the same I'm sure"
"Her vibe?" Mikey asked.
"Yeah, it's kinda like a humming or something" Donnie added. "Well, whatever it is, it's strange, I'll give you that"
"Keep your eyes open and stay alert" Leo was unsure of what to make of it. From what he could gather, she was on the rooftop looking down on them. All of them had the ability to sense when someone was close.... but she was four stories up! Making a mental note to ask Master Splinter, Leo turned and continued on their path to the manhole cover they needed. They continued walking for a few minutes when the silence was broken.
"You're gonna leave it at that...?" Raph was interrupted.
"Guys, look there, she's on the move" Mikey pointed to the roof top and they watched as they faintly saw an outline of a figure turn and leave.
"Raph, you take the east, Don, the west, Mike the south and I'll take the north." They all nodded in silence and headed toward the rooftop.
They kept their distance and watched as the Foot girl in front of them paused on a roof top and watched something across the street from her.
Something in Sarah's head clicked. She was annoyed at herself for not picking up on it sooner. Someone was watching her! After a moment she knew who it was. She could sense him. Donnie had this vibe about him - it was similar to the one her sister's gave off. Julie could not explain it and had put it down to her close connection with the 'fab four' she called them. It stunned her that she had not picked up on it sooner. Why now? She asked herself. When she was near him, there was nothing.
Sarah decided not to act on it. They were watching her, just as she had watched them. Sarah stiffened as she sensed someone close by. She turned on her heel whipping the jutte out of her belt as she turned around... just in time to deflect a strike. Sarah looked at the person infront of her armed with a sword. She went into a defensive posture and waited for them to make the move.
"You're good Sarah I'll give you that" came a male voice. "What are you doing here? I thought Josh told you what you needed to know"
"He did, who wants to know?" She eyed him suspiciously, the voice different, but again familiar. He resheathered the sword and took her by the arm into a dark part of the rooftop. He looked around then pulled off his hood. Sarah stood there amazed.
"Dan?" She asked in disbelief as she put the jutte back into her belt. "After all this time!" She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.
"This is very dangerous, what are you doing?"
"To cut a long story short, before Masuki died, she told us, Josh and I what happened. We infiltrated the Foot to find out if it was true" Josh looked around him and pulled her closer to him into the darkness.
"... True? What's going on?"
"She told us about a prophecy that had been passed on for generations. She is Inka. Her clan are rivals to the Foot Clan and always have been. Her clan was founded to find and to protect"
"Whoa? Inka, to find and protect? What are you talking about?" Dan looked around before replacing the hood.
"You're special Sarah, we have always known you were different" He turned and headed toward the fire escape. "Do us a favor and stay away from here" he said as he started to desend.
"I can't I own the building"
"Well, then that makes things difficult.. take care and be well" he faded from sight and Sarah stood there trying to figure things out. She peered into the morning sky and decided there was nothing more she could do. Dawn would be upon them in a few hours and she needed to get back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
The turtles waited for her to leave before gathering on the rooftop.
"What just happened here?" Mikey asked. "That was mega weird, first she was about to attack, then she hugs him?"
"Things are certainly strange" Donnie added. He had gotten to his position after they had started to talk and he recognised the voice.
"I think that we should be alert, something's brewing... and I don't like it" Leo said "I'll ask Master Splinter when we get back" he too looked up at the sky "speaking of which, we should get back, it's late"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
After an hour of sticking to the shadows, she finally came to her building and slowly started up the fire escape. She was tired and needed to sleep but most of all, she was confused. All of this talk about prophecies was scaring her. This was the 1990's. Things like this just don't happen! She sighed and climbed into the kitchen. Sarah looked up at the sign taped to the wall.
AT APRIL'S
She pulled off the hood and headed toward the apartment. She slowly knocked on the door and waited.
"Sarah?" A sleepy voice asked.
"Yeah, I'm back" the door opened and she noticed April asleep on the couch.
"Well?" He asked as he took a seat.
"They're fine, but something's up. Some freaky shit is going down and I dunno what to make of it... oh, I ran into my two step brothers tonight by the way" Casey was about to say something when April stirred.
"Sarah?" She asked as she squinted to see who was in the Foot dogi in front of her.
"Yeah I'm back, they're fine April, go back to sleep"
"Why bother?" She said as she yawned "I've got an early start anyhow. So what happened?"
"They faught and won. The Foot retreated... and into my "Village" building of all places!!"
"What? I'm sorry" April said as she put a hand on her shoulder "I'm going to take a shower. Stay as long as you like" she said as she climbed her spiral staircase.
"So what really happened?" Casey asked.
"I dunno, my brother's spoke of a prophecy. Would you believe that? Also, Jesse's in trouble. I told you so!"
"Is she alright?"
"For now, but I gotta get her back home. Alotta info was passed on tonight"
"Info?"
"Information. I tend to abbrevate things. I thought you were used to it"
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that accent of yours" he said " but you're changing the subject"
"I know Case, I'm tired. I haven't slept since yesterday. I'll tell you everything when I'm rested. Remember, I'm still recovering and I've got a headache"
"Okay, but I want to know everything. I want details"
"Alright Case, now let me sleep. The apartment is open if you want to do anything while I'm here" Casey nodded and handed her a blanket and pillow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Sarah tensed as an image popped into her head and she woke in a fright to find a bo aimed at her throat.
"You've got some explaining to do young lady" an annoyed Donnie said to her.
"Ok, ok. Back off alright!" She sat up as Don put the bo back into the harness on his shell. He crossed his arms.
"Okay spill it!"
"Are the others here?"
"No, April is over. They won't be here for a while. I told them I had to ask Casey something. What's with the Foot dogi?" Sarah looked down.
"I know this looks bad. I lent it from Danny. April asked us to watch you to see if you were okay against those mutants. I needed to blend in. I'm not with the Foot if that's what you think"
"But we saw you, on the rooftop, you knew that guy"
"Of course I did, he's kinda like my step brother. I haven't seen him since I was eight. What did you want me to do, slap him?" Donnie sat on the coffee table and faced her.
"You're kunoichi, aren't you?"
"Yeah. The Foot and I have a history. It's like yours I guess. I need to do some re-con before I can make my next move" Sarah stood and looked at the duffle bag on the floor. Casey had left some clothing for her.
"I need to take a shower and change. Is that okay with you? I'm not going anywhere" Donnie snorted his answer, not too impressed with the whole thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
She looked at him as she took a sip of her coffee. She had sat down and explained everything. By the time she had gotten through with it, it was now early evening.
"You can't tell the others, not yet anyway. I didn't want to deceive you if that's what you're feeling. I didn't know what was going on for me to say anything. Things have been up in the air since I got here. I guess now you can help... that's if you want to." Donnie thought about it for a moment. It was true, she had told him what had happened and he could see her point of view.
"Okay"
"I wanted to ask, what has April said to you about me?"
"Not much, why?"
"So you don't know?"
"Know what?"
"I told you my history with the Foot, but I didn't tell you why I came here. April and I are distantly related. If she hasn't told the others then please don't. I know about your brothers though I haven't meet them yet. I don't want them to freak or anything" Donnie nodded, Sarah had been a little too calm when they first met and it still bothered him. Why?
"Okay, I see your point" He said, not wanting to know that he still did not trust her... just yet anyhow.
"But you will still come and see me right?"
"Sure, I'll help repaint your apartment if you like. Casey told me what happened" He wanted to find out more about her and this was the best way to do it.
"Maybe a spar would be good too. It's different with Casey. He's a streetfighter and he tends to get interrupted easily, besides, most of the people I fight... defend myself against, are trained in one art or another"
"Defend?"
"Yeah, I'm ninja, but I have this thing about killing. I defend and mame. Not kill"
"Oh" That's odd. Donnie thought. She is ninja, she must understand that sometimes these things happen. It's either you or them and it's technically considered as self defense.
"That's why I don't like to use a sword. Don't wanna have an accident, though I can use it" She added feeling a little uneasy.
Still thinking her line of reasoning was odd, and seeing she wasn't comfortable talking about it, he changed the subject. "So how long until you can live in the apartment?"
Sarah was grateful for the subject change. The fewer who knew of her abilities the better. Her training was for her own protection and protection only. Julie couldn't stress that point enough.
"I dunno" she answered honesty. "Upstairs needs two coats of paint on the walls and ceilings and the carpets need a good cleaning. Between Casey and I, we don't have much furniture. Your guess is as good as mine"
"What about downstairs?"
"I couldn't begin to tell you. April said we could eat here until we fix the first floor. I think in the next day or two we should be able to move in upstairs. The carpets will get done tomorrow and we are painting today."
"I see"
"You seem to be very understanding, I don't get it Don" Sarah thought it was weird.
"Do I have a choice? After all, you are April's cousin" Sarah started to feel her blood beginning to boil. That was a lame excuse. She knew it and so did he.
"Yeah you do have a choice!" She snapped at him "I decided not to tell you cuz there was no need! I didn't know where you guys fitted into this, I still don't!" She stood and headed to the door.
"Your excuse is pathetic! When you have something intelligent to say, say it!" She stomped out of the room slamming the door behind her.
Sarah reached her apartment to find the door open. She walked in expecting to find Casey, instead she came face to face with someone swaying on their feet in a black combat dogi, badly beaten. Sarah's heart sunk to the floor as she rushed to her sister's aid.
"Sarah?" She asked as she collasped into her arms. The dead weight brought Sarah to her knees.
"Oh my god!" Sarah gasped as she started to sob.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Don stood there for a moment not sure what to say. She had caught him by surprise. He could have hit himself when he gave her that "April's your cousin" line. It was true, he had a choice - but boy what a temper! His mind ticked over and wanting to explain himself better, he ran after her.
He stood in the door way as Sarah started to sob, the two woman on the floor, Sarah's arms around the others chest. He kneeled before the two looking into Sarah's teary eyes.
"The Black Dragons did this. If it's a war they want, then it's a war they got!"
"You can't be serious"
"I'm deadly serious. This just wasn't an attack on Jesse, it was an attack on me as well!" Don paused for a second before his thoughts ticked over and he went into emergency mode.
"She needs medical attention and now!" Sarah refused to move, to stunned to react. Don paused then reached in and slapped her.
"Move your ass woman!" Sarah double blinked then looked at him. She then moved, helping him lay her flat. "Call 911"
"No, she barely got away, she's safer here!" Don nodded and reached for the phone. There was someone better than him at this. Sarah got up and reached for a clean towel that was now on a cleaned counter.
"Who're you callin'?" She asked as she turned the faucet on.
"Mikey, he's been studyin' this stuff and we need supplies" Sarah nodded. There were some herbs she needed to get that would prevent infection.
"Mike it's Don, any chance you can meet me at Casey's new pad?"
"That's near April's? What's up?"
"Something's come up, I need your advice about something"
"Sure dude, be there soon. Later!" - "We really should move her" Sarah commented "it's not exactly clean here"
"We will, but until we know the full extent of her injuries, leave her. We could aggrevate a fracture or brake" Sarah nodded, then stood.
"I need some Myrrh and Goldenseal. Echinacea wouldn't hurt either"
"They're antispectics, right?"
'Yeah, as well as an antibotic amongst other things. I gotta get to Chinatown. Can you handle this?" She asked as she handed Don the dampened cloth.
'Yeah go. I'll clean her up while I'm waiting for Mikey. He won't be long" She nodded as she reached for her tote bag and headed out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ An hour and a half hour later, Sarah returned to the apartment to see Donnie and a figure in a trenchcoat and fedora still working on Jesse. Donnie looked up as she plonked her bag on the counter.
"How is she?" Donnie paused for a moment.
"From what we can gather, she has two cracked ribs, a broken knuckle, bruising, some nasty cuts and a dislocated shoulder which we popped back in" Sarah remained silent and nodded in acknowledgement. She fell to her knees to look over her sister. The figure looked at her.
"Her breathing, heart rate, temperture and blood pressure are stable, now the rest is up to her"
"Thank you" Sarah managed to say. The figure took off his fedora.
"Hey dudette, sorry to meet you like this. The namez Michaelangelo, or just... Mike"
"And I'm..."
"Sarah, April's cousin. Yeah she told us. Didn't think we'd hook up this quick though or like this"
"How do we prepare this stuff?" Donnie asked as he held up the bags of herbs. "There's another here"
"Yeah I got some grounded bistort. With the goldenseal and myrrh it'll help prevent infection. Mix a quarter of the quantity with water into a paste and we'll put that straight onto any open wounds" Mikey looked at her.
"You know your herbs well dudette"
"Yeah, enough to keep me outta danger" Sarah jumped as the phone rang. She looked at Mike a little nervous.
"Do you want me to get it?" Donnie asked.
"No, i'll get it" She walked over to the phone.
"Hello?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Raph hesitated as a female voice, with an unusual accent answered the phone.
"Hello?" She asked. It was the number Casey had given them. He had to give it a shot.
"Is Casey home?"
"He'll be back later" That's weird, what were Mike and Donnie up to? They went to see him. "Is Mikey or Donnie there?"
"Yeah hold on" In the background he heard voices.
"I'll get it, Mike watch her"
"Yeah?" Donnie asked the caller.
"Donnie?" Raph asked.
"Yeah?"
"What the hell is going on there? Where's Casey?"
"I dunno. Out. What's up?" They were up to something and Raph didn't like it.
"Who's the chick?" Donnie gulped hard.
"Why?"
"Why?"He yelled into the phone "Cuz as soon as April told us about Sarah, Splinter went into a trance. I've never seen anything like it. He's just come out of it and Leo's in with him. You better get yer green butt over here now!"
"Why?"
"Cuz he's asking for ya and won't speak to any of us. He says he has a message for ya" He heard Donnie gulp hard.
"Give me ten"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Sarah watched as Donnie moved the phone away from his ear.
"Someone's in trouble" she whisphered to Mike. She felt movement and looked down at her sister.
"Hey I think she's coming too"
"I doubt it, we had to sedate her to get her shoulder back in"
"Whatcha use?"
"Hops" Sarah nodded as she knew it well. "And you just happened to have some lying around?"
"Actually you did, having trouble sleeping?" Sarah said nothing. She had forgotten she had left out the small pill bottle full of the dried ground herb by the kettle last night.
"I gotta go" Mike and Sarah looked up as Donnie approached them with trenchcoat in hand.
"Is everything cool?" Mike asked.
"I dunno, that was Raph, Splinter's had a vision and he's asking for me"
"Why you?" Sarah asked. Donnie shrugged his shoulders.
"Beats me, I'll let ya know later" Sarah nodded, then stood and let him out.
~Chapter Fifteen ~ Up Soon!
"Do you guys sense that?" Mikey asked as they walked through an alley.
"Someone is watching us" Leo commented.
"I don't think it's a hostile, there's something about it"
"Yeah" Raph snorted "It's weird, but she has a vibe about her" Leo stopped and faced him.
"Her? How do you know?"
"Remember when you sent me to follow that girl? It's the same I'm sure"
"Her vibe?" Mikey asked.
"Yeah, it's kinda like a humming or something" Donnie added. "Well, whatever it is, it's strange, I'll give you that"
"Keep your eyes open and stay alert" Leo was unsure of what to make of it. From what he could gather, she was on the rooftop looking down on them. All of them had the ability to sense when someone was close.... but she was four stories up! Making a mental note to ask Master Splinter, Leo turned and continued on their path to the manhole cover they needed. They continued walking for a few minutes when the silence was broken.
"You're gonna leave it at that...?" Raph was interrupted.
"Guys, look there, she's on the move" Mikey pointed to the roof top and they watched as they faintly saw an outline of a figure turn and leave.
"Raph, you take the east, Don, the west, Mike the south and I'll take the north." They all nodded in silence and headed toward the rooftop.
They kept their distance and watched as the Foot girl in front of them paused on a roof top and watched something across the street from her.
Something in Sarah's head clicked. She was annoyed at herself for not picking up on it sooner. Someone was watching her! After a moment she knew who it was. She could sense him. Donnie had this vibe about him - it was similar to the one her sister's gave off. Julie could not explain it and had put it down to her close connection with the 'fab four' she called them. It stunned her that she had not picked up on it sooner. Why now? She asked herself. When she was near him, there was nothing.
Sarah decided not to act on it. They were watching her, just as she had watched them. Sarah stiffened as she sensed someone close by. She turned on her heel whipping the jutte out of her belt as she turned around... just in time to deflect a strike. Sarah looked at the person infront of her armed with a sword. She went into a defensive posture and waited for them to make the move.
"You're good Sarah I'll give you that" came a male voice. "What are you doing here? I thought Josh told you what you needed to know"
"He did, who wants to know?" She eyed him suspiciously, the voice different, but again familiar. He resheathered the sword and took her by the arm into a dark part of the rooftop. He looked around then pulled off his hood. Sarah stood there amazed.
"Dan?" She asked in disbelief as she put the jutte back into her belt. "After all this time!" She threw her arms around him and hugged him tight.
"This is very dangerous, what are you doing?"
"To cut a long story short, before Masuki died, she told us, Josh and I what happened. We infiltrated the Foot to find out if it was true" Josh looked around him and pulled her closer to him into the darkness.
"... True? What's going on?"
"She told us about a prophecy that had been passed on for generations. She is Inka. Her clan are rivals to the Foot Clan and always have been. Her clan was founded to find and to protect"
"Whoa? Inka, to find and protect? What are you talking about?" Dan looked around before replacing the hood.
"You're special Sarah, we have always known you were different" He turned and headed toward the fire escape. "Do us a favor and stay away from here" he said as he started to desend.
"I can't I own the building"
"Well, then that makes things difficult.. take care and be well" he faded from sight and Sarah stood there trying to figure things out. She peered into the morning sky and decided there was nothing more she could do. Dawn would be upon them in a few hours and she needed to get back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
The turtles waited for her to leave before gathering on the rooftop.
"What just happened here?" Mikey asked. "That was mega weird, first she was about to attack, then she hugs him?"
"Things are certainly strange" Donnie added. He had gotten to his position after they had started to talk and he recognised the voice.
"I think that we should be alert, something's brewing... and I don't like it" Leo said "I'll ask Master Splinter when we get back" he too looked up at the sky "speaking of which, we should get back, it's late"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
After an hour of sticking to the shadows, she finally came to her building and slowly started up the fire escape. She was tired and needed to sleep but most of all, she was confused. All of this talk about prophecies was scaring her. This was the 1990's. Things like this just don't happen! She sighed and climbed into the kitchen. Sarah looked up at the sign taped to the wall.
AT APRIL'S
She pulled off the hood and headed toward the apartment. She slowly knocked on the door and waited.
"Sarah?" A sleepy voice asked.
"Yeah, I'm back" the door opened and she noticed April asleep on the couch.
"Well?" He asked as he took a seat.
"They're fine, but something's up. Some freaky shit is going down and I dunno what to make of it... oh, I ran into my two step brothers tonight by the way" Casey was about to say something when April stirred.
"Sarah?" She asked as she squinted to see who was in the Foot dogi in front of her.
"Yeah I'm back, they're fine April, go back to sleep"
"Why bother?" She said as she yawned "I've got an early start anyhow. So what happened?"
"They faught and won. The Foot retreated... and into my "Village" building of all places!!"
"What? I'm sorry" April said as she put a hand on her shoulder "I'm going to take a shower. Stay as long as you like" she said as she climbed her spiral staircase.
"So what really happened?" Casey asked.
"I dunno, my brother's spoke of a prophecy. Would you believe that? Also, Jesse's in trouble. I told you so!"
"Is she alright?"
"For now, but I gotta get her back home. Alotta info was passed on tonight"
"Info?"
"Information. I tend to abbrevate things. I thought you were used to it"
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that accent of yours" he said " but you're changing the subject"
"I know Case, I'm tired. I haven't slept since yesterday. I'll tell you everything when I'm rested. Remember, I'm still recovering and I've got a headache"
"Okay, but I want to know everything. I want details"
"Alright Case, now let me sleep. The apartment is open if you want to do anything while I'm here" Casey nodded and handed her a blanket and pillow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Sarah tensed as an image popped into her head and she woke in a fright to find a bo aimed at her throat.
"You've got some explaining to do young lady" an annoyed Donnie said to her.
"Ok, ok. Back off alright!" She sat up as Don put the bo back into the harness on his shell. He crossed his arms.
"Okay spill it!"
"Are the others here?"
"No, April is over. They won't be here for a while. I told them I had to ask Casey something. What's with the Foot dogi?" Sarah looked down.
"I know this looks bad. I lent it from Danny. April asked us to watch you to see if you were okay against those mutants. I needed to blend in. I'm not with the Foot if that's what you think"
"But we saw you, on the rooftop, you knew that guy"
"Of course I did, he's kinda like my step brother. I haven't seen him since I was eight. What did you want me to do, slap him?" Donnie sat on the coffee table and faced her.
"You're kunoichi, aren't you?"
"Yeah. The Foot and I have a history. It's like yours I guess. I need to do some re-con before I can make my next move" Sarah stood and looked at the duffle bag on the floor. Casey had left some clothing for her.
"I need to take a shower and change. Is that okay with you? I'm not going anywhere" Donnie snorted his answer, not too impressed with the whole thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
She looked at him as she took a sip of her coffee. She had sat down and explained everything. By the time she had gotten through with it, it was now early evening.
"You can't tell the others, not yet anyway. I didn't want to deceive you if that's what you're feeling. I didn't know what was going on for me to say anything. Things have been up in the air since I got here. I guess now you can help... that's if you want to." Donnie thought about it for a moment. It was true, she had told him what had happened and he could see her point of view.
"Okay"
"I wanted to ask, what has April said to you about me?"
"Not much, why?"
"So you don't know?"
"Know what?"
"I told you my history with the Foot, but I didn't tell you why I came here. April and I are distantly related. If she hasn't told the others then please don't. I know about your brothers though I haven't meet them yet. I don't want them to freak or anything" Donnie nodded, Sarah had been a little too calm when they first met and it still bothered him. Why?
"Okay, I see your point" He said, not wanting to know that he still did not trust her... just yet anyhow.
"But you will still come and see me right?"
"Sure, I'll help repaint your apartment if you like. Casey told me what happened" He wanted to find out more about her and this was the best way to do it.
"Maybe a spar would be good too. It's different with Casey. He's a streetfighter and he tends to get interrupted easily, besides, most of the people I fight... defend myself against, are trained in one art or another"
"Defend?"
"Yeah, I'm ninja, but I have this thing about killing. I defend and mame. Not kill"
"Oh" That's odd. Donnie thought. She is ninja, she must understand that sometimes these things happen. It's either you or them and it's technically considered as self defense.
"That's why I don't like to use a sword. Don't wanna have an accident, though I can use it" She added feeling a little uneasy.
Still thinking her line of reasoning was odd, and seeing she wasn't comfortable talking about it, he changed the subject. "So how long until you can live in the apartment?"
Sarah was grateful for the subject change. The fewer who knew of her abilities the better. Her training was for her own protection and protection only. Julie couldn't stress that point enough.
"I dunno" she answered honesty. "Upstairs needs two coats of paint on the walls and ceilings and the carpets need a good cleaning. Between Casey and I, we don't have much furniture. Your guess is as good as mine"
"What about downstairs?"
"I couldn't begin to tell you. April said we could eat here until we fix the first floor. I think in the next day or two we should be able to move in upstairs. The carpets will get done tomorrow and we are painting today."
"I see"
"You seem to be very understanding, I don't get it Don" Sarah thought it was weird.
"Do I have a choice? After all, you are April's cousin" Sarah started to feel her blood beginning to boil. That was a lame excuse. She knew it and so did he.
"Yeah you do have a choice!" She snapped at him "I decided not to tell you cuz there was no need! I didn't know where you guys fitted into this, I still don't!" She stood and headed to the door.
"Your excuse is pathetic! When you have something intelligent to say, say it!" She stomped out of the room slamming the door behind her.
Sarah reached her apartment to find the door open. She walked in expecting to find Casey, instead she came face to face with someone swaying on their feet in a black combat dogi, badly beaten. Sarah's heart sunk to the floor as she rushed to her sister's aid.
"Sarah?" She asked as she collasped into her arms. The dead weight brought Sarah to her knees.
"Oh my god!" Sarah gasped as she started to sob.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Don stood there for a moment not sure what to say. She had caught him by surprise. He could have hit himself when he gave her that "April's your cousin" line. It was true, he had a choice - but boy what a temper! His mind ticked over and wanting to explain himself better, he ran after her.
He stood in the door way as Sarah started to sob, the two woman on the floor, Sarah's arms around the others chest. He kneeled before the two looking into Sarah's teary eyes.
"The Black Dragons did this. If it's a war they want, then it's a war they got!"
"You can't be serious"
"I'm deadly serious. This just wasn't an attack on Jesse, it was an attack on me as well!" Don paused for a second before his thoughts ticked over and he went into emergency mode.
"She needs medical attention and now!" Sarah refused to move, to stunned to react. Don paused then reached in and slapped her.
"Move your ass woman!" Sarah double blinked then looked at him. She then moved, helping him lay her flat. "Call 911"
"No, she barely got away, she's safer here!" Don nodded and reached for the phone. There was someone better than him at this. Sarah got up and reached for a clean towel that was now on a cleaned counter.
"Who're you callin'?" She asked as she turned the faucet on.
"Mikey, he's been studyin' this stuff and we need supplies" Sarah nodded. There were some herbs she needed to get that would prevent infection.
"Mike it's Don, any chance you can meet me at Casey's new pad?"
"That's near April's? What's up?"
"Something's come up, I need your advice about something"
"Sure dude, be there soon. Later!" - "We really should move her" Sarah commented "it's not exactly clean here"
"We will, but until we know the full extent of her injuries, leave her. We could aggrevate a fracture or brake" Sarah nodded, then stood.
"I need some Myrrh and Goldenseal. Echinacea wouldn't hurt either"
"They're antispectics, right?"
'Yeah, as well as an antibotic amongst other things. I gotta get to Chinatown. Can you handle this?" She asked as she handed Don the dampened cloth.
'Yeah go. I'll clean her up while I'm waiting for Mikey. He won't be long" She nodded as she reached for her tote bag and headed out the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~ An hour and a half hour later, Sarah returned to the apartment to see Donnie and a figure in a trenchcoat and fedora still working on Jesse. Donnie looked up as she plonked her bag on the counter.
"How is she?" Donnie paused for a moment.
"From what we can gather, she has two cracked ribs, a broken knuckle, bruising, some nasty cuts and a dislocated shoulder which we popped back in" Sarah remained silent and nodded in acknowledgement. She fell to her knees to look over her sister. The figure looked at her.
"Her breathing, heart rate, temperture and blood pressure are stable, now the rest is up to her"
"Thank you" Sarah managed to say. The figure took off his fedora.
"Hey dudette, sorry to meet you like this. The namez Michaelangelo, or just... Mike"
"And I'm..."
"Sarah, April's cousin. Yeah she told us. Didn't think we'd hook up this quick though or like this"
"How do we prepare this stuff?" Donnie asked as he held up the bags of herbs. "There's another here"
"Yeah I got some grounded bistort. With the goldenseal and myrrh it'll help prevent infection. Mix a quarter of the quantity with water into a paste and we'll put that straight onto any open wounds" Mikey looked at her.
"You know your herbs well dudette"
"Yeah, enough to keep me outta danger" Sarah jumped as the phone rang. She looked at Mike a little nervous.
"Do you want me to get it?" Donnie asked.
"No, i'll get it" She walked over to the phone.
"Hello?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Raph hesitated as a female voice, with an unusual accent answered the phone.
"Hello?" She asked. It was the number Casey had given them. He had to give it a shot.
"Is Casey home?"
"He'll be back later" That's weird, what were Mike and Donnie up to? They went to see him. "Is Mikey or Donnie there?"
"Yeah hold on" In the background he heard voices.
"I'll get it, Mike watch her"
"Yeah?" Donnie asked the caller.
"Donnie?" Raph asked.
"Yeah?"
"What the hell is going on there? Where's Casey?"
"I dunno. Out. What's up?" They were up to something and Raph didn't like it.
"Who's the chick?" Donnie gulped hard.
"Why?"
"Why?"He yelled into the phone "Cuz as soon as April told us about Sarah, Splinter went into a trance. I've never seen anything like it. He's just come out of it and Leo's in with him. You better get yer green butt over here now!"
"Why?"
"Cuz he's asking for ya and won't speak to any of us. He says he has a message for ya" He heard Donnie gulp hard.
"Give me ten"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~
Sarah watched as Donnie moved the phone away from his ear.
"Someone's in trouble" she whisphered to Mike. She felt movement and looked down at her sister.
"Hey I think she's coming too"
"I doubt it, we had to sedate her to get her shoulder back in"
"Whatcha use?"
"Hops" Sarah nodded as she knew it well. "And you just happened to have some lying around?"
"Actually you did, having trouble sleeping?" Sarah said nothing. She had forgotten she had left out the small pill bottle full of the dried ground herb by the kettle last night.
"I gotta go" Mike and Sarah looked up as Donnie approached them with trenchcoat in hand.
"Is everything cool?" Mike asked.
"I dunno, that was Raph, Splinter's had a vision and he's asking for me"
"Why you?" Sarah asked. Donnie shrugged his shoulders.
"Beats me, I'll let ya know later" Sarah nodded, then stood and let him out.
~Chapter Fifteen ~ Up Soon!