Don't own TMNT

Chapter 11: Can't Buy Me Love

Master Splinter sat at the kitchen table sipping his tea in silence. This had been if nothing else an eventful evening. First Kaylin's mysterious frantic moment, though he had a firm suspicion about what it might have been, then learning that Molly had finally found her voice. And what a sweet voice it had been. Splinter pondered into his cup why anyone would wish to harm such a child as she. It angered him to know this she had spent so long in the depths of a hell no child should even know about let alone experience.

It was very late, everyone was sleeping again. They had all gone back to bed awhile ago but Splinter wished to enjoy a few moments of silence and a cup of tea before he retired. He inhaled the soothing herbal fragrance in his cup. He sighed deeply while contemplating what techniques he wanted his sons to practice when they awoke the next morning. His sensitive ears picked up the barely noticeable sound of pattering feet approaching behind him. Splinter turned around and saw a very sheepish looking Molly standing behind him, the rabbit clamped firmly under her arm and her other hand clutched something tightly.

"Hello, Molly," he smiled kindly.

"Hi," she said shyly.

"What are you doing up so late, my child?"

"Can't sleep," she said walking over and climbing into the chair next to him. "'Sides, I wanted to ask you somethin'. Whatcha drikin'?"

"Herbal tea."

"Can I have some?"

"Wouldn't you rather have some hot cocoa?"

Molly shook her head, "I wanna try yours."

"Are you sure?" Splinter asked. He personally enjoyed the tea but it was nothing short of an acquired taste and he was sure the little girl would not like it. Molly nodded, determined to try it, so Splinter pushed the cup her direction. She picked it up with the rabbit arm and took a gulp. She immediately made a face but looked to stubborn to admit she didn't like it and swallowed the tea. Splinter chuckled; he had been right. Pushing the cup back to Splinter, Molly wiped her mouth off with the back of her arm.

"I want some hot cocoa please."

Splinter chuckled and got up to make her some. Setting a warm mug in front of the child, he took his seat and let her drink from it for a moment before speaking, "You wished to ask me something, Molly?"

"Umm…yeah I was wonderin' if… Ummm"

"Yes?"

"Can… er… could you… um… can you… Ohhhh..."

"Can I what, Molly?"

"Can… can you be our new daddy?" the little girl blurted out rather bluntly. "Our old one is broken." Splinter was slightly stunned but deeply touched by the child's request, "And he's not really nice neither, but you are," she continued on with her chattering, "I promise I'll be a good girl. Maddy and Kat-Kay too! I'll pick up my toys and I won't be loud or nuthin'... Brian is kinda smelly sometimes when he makes a mess but I'll help keep 'im clean. And Peter too!"

"That is a quite the request, my child, I…"

"I can help pay for stuff too! Here…" Molly placed the contents of her dainty hand in Master Splinter's boney one. He rolled the objects around on his palm with a thumb. There were four coins lying in his hand, two quarters, a nickel and a penny; 56 cents. "Is it enough?" she asked, her pondering eyes sweeping over Splinter's furry face. "It's all I got, but I could find more if ya need me too! You could…" she trailed off a bit. "You could even have Mr. Puffy if you wanted, I don't mind."

Splinter felt very humbled at the moment. For years this child and her siblings had endured unimaginable suffering and torture at the hands of a man who was suppose to love them more than his very life. By no means would he blame her is she was terrified at the thought of another father for she had experienced torment in ways no child ever should. But here she was, as innocent and youthful as spring time, coming to him with a heart tugging appeal. This beautiful loving child had offered to give him every thing she had in exchange for the one thing she wanted and deserved the most; a father who loves her.

Master Splinter clutched the money in his hand and put it to his chest, tears rimming his eyes. Extending his other hand to Molly he said, "Come here." She hopped off the chair, took his boney hand and allowed him to hoist her up onto his lap. He then took her tiny hand, opened it, placed the money there, then closed it again. "You do not need to part with your money, your friend, or anything else you own, Molly. You and your siblings became my children the moment you set foot in our home."

Molly smiled, wrapped her arms around Splinter's neck and hugged him hard. She then yawned deeply, betraying her true exhaust, and Master Splinter kissed her fore head softly. She giggled, "Your whiskers tickle!"

Splinter smiled and let her slide off his lap, "It is time for bed, my little one."

Molly nodded, gave Master Splinter another hug and a kiss on his furry cheek, "Goodnight, Mister Splinter," she said gaily before walking out of the kitchen. "Papa…"

Splinter smiled again and picked up his tea, "And goodnight to you, my daughter."

Molly peaked over her shoulder and watched Splinter turn back around, before spinning around and down the hallway opposite of her room. She didn't want to sleep there tonight. Brian would be coughing and it was going to keep her awake, not only that but he kept trying to take Mr. Puffy from her. She continued walking down the hall until she arrived at a door on the very end. She turned the handle, pushed it open gently and peeked inside at the massive snoring mutant sprawled out on his bed. Molly walked in and gave him a gentle shake, "Raphy? Raphy, wake up," he didn't respond so Molly leaned her mouth down to his ear. "RAPHY!"

Raph snorted and jerked awake. His eyes fluttered open and being finally aware that Molly was standing over him, he propped himself up on his elbow to turn on the light, "Molly? What time is it… is something wrong?"

"Brian's coughing so I can't sleep. And my night lights broken too…" she said sheepishly. "Can I sleep in here with you?"

Raph, who had it been anyone else, would of said 'scram' and gone back to sleep but seeing the pleading look in the little girl's eyes he sighed and scooted over. The bed was big enough for the two of them. Molly smiled and after setting the small cluster of coins on the bed side table she hopped up on the bed and snuggled down under the blanket. Raphael let a smile escape as he watched her fall instantly to sleep. He reached over and turned off the light before settling back down himself. He jumped slightly when a sleeping Molly snuggled herself up next to his warm body, sucking her thumb but Raph just smiled and put a protective arm around her, "Yer ok, Mol, yer ok." With that he closed his own eyes and drifted back into a deep sleep.

The Miller children slept soundly within the walls of their new home. A mere few rooms away, a true father sat sipping herbal tea while his sharp but gentle eyes scanned over the evidence of his growing family with pride. However, topside, a few blocks away, another man sat sipping a beer, seething over his failure to locate them. He had finally received a phone call from someone about possibly seeing the kids. From the sound of the guy on the phone, Miller knew that the guy had to be a punk or gang banger and just after the reward but if he delivered he really didn't care. If he didn't, than the police would have a new buddy.

Miller's eyes scanned the scene and he checked his wrist watch for the third time. The guy was twenty minutes late, "Ten more minutes and he loses his cash," he snorted into his bottle.

"Keep your pants on, Pops, I'm right here," snapped a gruff voice next to him. None to his surprise, a rough looking muscular punk slid on to the stool next to him. "Gimme a beer," he said to the bartender before turning his attention back to Miller. "So, I hear you got a couple o' little lost lambs."

"And you said you had information," Miller's eyes narrowed.

"That I do," the punk snatched the bottle from the bartender and took a long drink from it. "The oldest one has spirit, I'll give her that." The punk glared at the counter and touched a strange scar on his lip.

"I don't care what the hell she's got, she's got my kids and I want them back," Miller snarled. Madison turned 18 today. She was a legal adult now; a legal adult who had illegally abducted four innocent minors. Miller smiled wickedly at his own genius. If he played his cards right he could have her out of the way, and with her out of the way… He grinned cruelly again… the possibilities were endless.

"Just fork over the cash and I'll fork over this," the punk held up a yellow envelope. Miller passed him another, thicker, envelope and snatched the one out of the man's hand. He tore it open and pulled out some pictures. Looking at them he snorted a laugh.

"Are you kidding me?" he asked.

"Nope."

"They're in the sewers?"

"Hell if I know, Mister, that's just where they keep goin' so I guess so," the punk said flipping through the cash, counting it. "They just go in and out of that man hole about every other night. Sometimes with those dudes in the trench coats, sometimes with just each other and sometimes just the one chick. Whether they're livin' down there or just using it to get where they're goin' I dunno..."

"Hmm…" Miller pondered over the pictures. He would have to learn a little bit more about this before going down there after them. It might be a decoy to throw off people trying to find them. He'd have to watch and learn for a little bit before making his move. Gulping down the rest of his beer he got up with the pictures in hand, "Thank you, you have been most helpful."

"Hey, Pops," the punk called as Miller walked out. "If you're planning on gettin' rid of the older chick… let me know."

"Maybe we'll work something out," Miller rolled his eyes as he exited the bar. Looking at one of the pictures of Madison helping one of the kids out of the man hole he smiled venomously "Don't worry, Sweetheart, Daddy won't hand you over to that second rate gang banger trash," He smirked. "… at least not yet…"

Grinning viciously, Miller got into his car. No, he thought to himself, on second thought he wasn't letting Madison go anywhere for now. He had plans for her; much better plans.

Author Note: Sorry if this is short but I needed just a small bridge to carry them over to my up coming chapters. LoL besides... cliffhangers are fun!