Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT, I don't, really! (viciously beats bloodthirsty lawyers back) sigh

A/N I'm back from Myrtle Beach! If you ever go there, see Ripley's Haunted House. It's awsome! So here is Chapter 4 Thanks for letting me know that the story separations weren't working. I was using asterisks and double spacing. Lets see if numbers work. Thank you so much for the reviews! Sorry if this isn't going the way that you thought it would but this has been in my mind for so long that the basic storyplot is cemented in my cerebral corex! Now tell me if that's accurate or not! hahaha Sometimes they will switch between English and Mamtu. When you see one of those like this, English: that means that is the current language being spoken. I start work at the hospital Monday and Tuesday but am off the next two days, so I'll have more time to update. Review!

Chapter 4

Meet the Family

Leo instinctively stretched his neck, not wanting to even swallow so he wouldn't press on the blade. He couldn't believe that he allowed himself to be put into this kind of situation. It wasn't the first time, Karai did it to him when he first met her but that memory didn't make himfeel any better. Should've known better than to simply trust them. He gave the female turtle a cold look.

Raph immediately reacted to the situation. He wasn't going to let anyone hurt his bro. His fists bunched up and he growled."Hey! What's the big idea! You friggin little..."

Donny threw up a hand to stop him. Raph stared past him, still growling threats, about to break out of Don's block.The purple turtleshook his head and pointed to the strangers. "Hero's trying to take care of it right now. If we intervene someone" he looked at Leo "could get hurt." He stood silent, awaiting the outcome. Whatever it was he'd be ready.

Hero was tugging at his mother's free arm. Shouting something the other turtles couldn't understand. The mother's eyes and weapon never wavered, but the look in her eyes did.

Mamtu:

"Mama! Mama! Please you can't! I know the stories that you and the others told me, but they don't act like that! Please Mama! You have to believe me! They helped me! They saved my life!" Hero practically hung on her free arm. Tears choked his voice as he pleaded with her. The two females behind her began to look a little swayed by his fervent pleas. But not his mother.

"You don't know what you're saying. There has to be an underlying motive. There always is. You haven't dealt with them like I have"

"There's an old rat that lives with them, he's like,... he's like their father. He's really old, but these four respect him and obey him! They protect him! Didn't you tell me that they always killed the old! And what about the young? I'm young and they didn't kill me! Listen to me Mama, please!"

For a moment her eyes were tempted to go off their target and look at her son; but she couldn't do that. If she was right then that would mean certain death. but what if he was right...

Shasha leaned forward close to her sister's ear until her chin was practically resting on her shoulder, her eyes never leaving the four turtles. "You know, he makes a very convincing argument considering it's coming from a six year old." Hero huffed at the mention of his age.

She shook her head. "But what if he's wrong, Shasha. What if this is all a trap. I can't let you guys fall into it, like I did once." For a moment her eyes clouded withsome remembered sorrow, but she mentally shook it off. She agreed with herself that she wouldn't think of that. It was a long time ago...

"Don't you notice something?" Shasha spoke again. She gestured toward the turtles. "Number one, they obviously want to attack us, which isn't surprising considering that we have one of their own at knifepoint. Jade, back at our old home..." This time even her eyes showed the sorrow for a moment. "I never saw any male show any kind of obvious restraint like what these kind are showing. And number two; these suckers have no clue what we're saying."

"Huh?" Jade looked at the four more closely. There was the one in blue, who was trying not to put any sort of pressure on the blade,so asnot to move to give her incentive to follow. She could see his eyes glaring at her. Didn't take a rocket scientist to realize his situation. There was the one in red who looked ready to tear each of them to pieces. She had no clue what vestige of godly power was holding him back. The one in orange looked scared but was battling with himself, not knowing whether to wait or attack. He hopped from one foot to the other, looking anxious. The one in purple was helping to hold the red back and was locking her with his gaze, obviously awaiting the outcome of the situation and ready to act swiftly upon whatever happened. Yet the one thing they all had in common was the utter confusion about what was going on. They weren't following their conversation at all. Shasha was right.

Her eye ridges furrowed. "How can they not know what we're saying? They're turtles, and we're speaking the turtle language!"

Shasha crossed her arms and grinned, her mood different. Jade just hoped that she didn't cause trouble or hurt somebody. "There's only one explanation..."

"They're not from where we're from." Jade finished. Behind her she heard Kit perk up at the comment. If that was true, then they weren'tthe threat that they thought they were.

Hero had been monitering the conversation from the start and felt an immediate sense of relief at the outcome. Slowly he reached on his tip toes and grabbed the arm holding the weapon. He put some weight behind his grasp. Steadilytheshining bladeleft Leo's throat and lowered to the ground. The four turtles visibly relaxed a bit, though obviously still on their toes. At the same time they looked at one another, still unsure of what to do. The red one looked like he knew what he wanted to do, but she had a feeling the others would prevent him.

Both parties stood there for a tense minute, each debating whether to attack or run. No move was made, yet all muscles were ready for any action. Hero looked between the two, unsure of what to do. Though he didn't know it, he was the neutral party. His child's mind played with the situation and he decided it would be easier if they knew each other. After all, he felt better once he knew them, right? Surely it would work with the grown-ups. With a sigh he stepped forward

English:

He walked towards the turtles and instinctively gravitated toward's Donny. He grabbed Donny's hand, without knowing surmising that he'd act more rationally than his brothers. Slowly he ledthe purple wearing turtleto meethis family.

Don went along willingly if not hesitantly. He looked back over his shoulder at his brothers once, then gulped and slowly continued forward. He didn't really want any type of confrontation, and it seemed like he was letting this child lead him right to one. He didn't want to end in the same predicament Leo just got out of; but somehow he had a feeling that this was the right thing to do. He still trailed behind leo as if being led by a rope, having to recieve an encouraging tug every now and then.

Hero stopped in front of his mother and cleared his throat. In what he hoped was a polite, yet dramatic effect he stood straight, clicked his heels and motioned towards Donny. "Mama, this is Don."

Don cleared his throat and held out his hand. He hoped that it wasn't shaking, because that's sure how he felt. "Ah, Donatello, I mean, Hamato Donatello. But you can call me Don, or Donny." He spat the words out a bit too quickly and winced,praying that he didn't show his nervousness. Despite the heated situation, some untapped part of him couldn't help but be blatantly aware that he now stood in front of a female mutant turtle. What a day today turned out to be.

Jade looked down at the hand, her mind battling everything that had been drilled into her since birth. It was hard to forget. Experiences spoke louder than words and she had plenty of those... Experience told her that they were dangerous, not to be trusted. But she agreed with Shasha that these turtles were indeed different. Most likely their culture. What sort of action does their culture dictate? Suddenly she clasped his hand, squeezing firmly, her eyes stillnever leaving his. "I'm Jade. Jade Sabishii Katina. This is my sister Shasha Loba Katina, and my good friend Kitiara Neko Furro."

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Not all the introductions went so smoothly. Raphael looked like he was still debating whether or not to attack and was showing it with each of them in obvious body language. He shook hands with Jade andglared at her the entire time, squeezing hard. Jade squeezed back but didn't return the threat. There was no need for it. Kit shrank awayfrom him slightly. But whenhe shook hands with Shasha it was different. He squeezed painfully, she winced, then squeezed right back. The pressure increased on both sides and their knuckles began to whiten but they took no notice. It looked as though they were trying to crush each others hands. Raphael glared at her like he did the other two, and Shasha glared right back, looking downright manevolent. They had both leaned into each other's faces as though competing in a staring contest all the while putting as much force as possible in their 'handshake.' Don gently disloged Raph before someone pounced on the other like a rabid animal. Raph had a final glare and Shasha surprised him with a growl. Jade glared at her, reminding her about her temper.

Leo was polite but that was about it. After having a knife held to his throat no one could really blame him. He didn't seem to fully trust them, which became blatantly apparent when he shook hands with Jade. They both regarded each other with a cool air of authority, as though trying to downplay the other. Shasha looked almost bored when he met her and Kit grinned at him and shook his hand heartily.

Mikey, the tense situation diffused, went about greeting each with bareley controlled enthusiasm. He practically shook, looking like a firecracker about to explode. Top that with the fact that he blushed madly each time he shook their hand, or made any friendly contact with them whatsoever and he made for a very amusing picture. Jade and Shasha treated him cooly enough, as though they were used to it. Kit grinned and giggled, and for a moment the two just giggled like schoolgirls until Raph, sick of it, grabbed him by his headband and dragged him off. By the end his face felt so hot he thought his head would burst into flames. He was grinning from ear to ear, so wide you'd of thought that his head would crack in two. Finally he channeled some of the enthusiasm on his hapless brothers.

Because of the introductions they were able to get a good look at each of them. Jade, Hero's mother, was slim and fine boned. Her wide eyes looked everywhere at once, not quite trusting them yet. There was something hidden in there... On her head she graced a yellow bandana, it was made of a light, almost filmy material. She had leather wrapped around each wrist and ankle and a leather band around her thigh held a sheathed knife. It looked just like the one that her son wore. Around her waist was a belt with assorted pouches and packages along with another sheath containing another knife. Strapped to her back was a cylinder case that presumably held arrows if the bow attached beside it was any indication. Slung over her shoulder was a pouch-like bag made of stretched leather. The spear she carried was attached to a thin, delicate looking staff. The double edged blade at the end was held with leather strappings.

Other than that the only thing noticable were her scars. She had some particularly wicked looking ones. The first one noticed was the one that graced her throat, it was obvious that some time in the past she'd come close to death from that one. Another one lined her upper thigh, resting above the pumping femoral artery. Other than that the scars were smaller but numerous and curious at the same time. Little slashes that weren't made by any knife, something that looked like cigarrette burns only bigger. She'd obviously been through a lot.

Her sister Shasha was physically the spitting image of Jade. Same height, same bone structure, same look same everything. Only two words could be said: identical twin. But that was where the similarities ended. She had no headband, no straps on her legs or ankles, and no bags to burden her other than the ones on her belt. The only discernable weapon were the ones attached to her wrists. Wicked looking knives were connected to her wrists, the pointed blades going down her forearm until they nearly touched the tip of her elbow. A thick leather sheild hugged her underarm, protecting her from them. There was little of no hilt to speak of, making nearly all the length the knife the blade itself. Upon remembering the fight with Bishop, they knew that somehow she could make those knives spin at any time to the ready. Plus something about what Hero commented on her and the air she carried herself, no one would have been surprised if she was carrying an assortment of conceiled weapons on her person.

Even with looks her difference in personality was apparent. Jade took on the defensive, Shasha was offensive. Rather than study their expressions during the greetings like her sister she clasped their hands and openly stared boldly into their faces, as if challenging them. She carried her share of scars, but none looked as wicked or life threatening as her sister's. Perhaps that was part ofthe reason for the difference.

Kitiara, who had been in the shadows had surprised them by finding she wasn't a turtle at all. Suddenly the hissing and spitting at Bishop's men made sense, for she was a mutant cat. She stood taller than Splinter would have, but shorter than the turtles. She had large triangular perked ears that occasionally flicked or tuned a different direction than the other ear. Large almond shaped eyes stared back at them, colored a brilliant yellow-green. A delicate pink nose was emphasized by long silvery whiskers protruding from her cheeks. Her body was covered with tawny fur that had a slight hint of light brown stripes. The only clothing she had was a triangular scarf tied aroundher chest, the pointed end nearly toching her xiphoid process and a long loincloth-like skirt. Each tip of the skirt reached her knees and a long, slightly bushy tail revealed itself from behind. She had no belt, instead a band of leather was on both thighs with button-pockets on the outside. Other than that she carried nothing, no weapon. But on closer inspection of the needle-sharp teeth and the wicked claws sheathed in her fingers peeked out and it became evident that she needed no weapon: nature equipped her with her own.

The awkward introductions were followed by an awkward silence as the two parties stared at each other. Hero was the one who broke it. He'd been patiently waiting as only a six-year-old could for thegrown-ups to finish the 'adult stuff' but now it was his turn.

Mamtu:

"Where were you Mama?" He spat out, beaming up at her.

She smiled down at him. "Looking for you. Are you alright?"

He nodded so hard it was a surprise his head didn't rattle. "Yeah! At first I was really tired and hungry and sore and thirsty and stuff, but then the guys helped me and I felt better and then I got them to look for you and we found you!" He sucked in air, having said all that on one breath. Grinning at the adults, he awaited response.

The adults grinned despite themselves. "I went to look for you and the other's were going to defend our home." Jade explained, looking at him.

Hero cocked his head. "But Mama, you're all here."

She nodded to himand gave her own questioning look to the other two mutants. "Yes, I was wondering the same thing. They found me right before I found you. They haven't told me yet what happened." she stated the last part with an obvious tone in her voice. Explanation was needed. Hero looked at them as well.

Kit suddenly got a downheartened look on her face and looked down, shuffling her feet. Shasha looked right back at her sister wondering how to explain it and what would happen afterwards. Then she stole a glance at the four turtles standing awkwardly waiting for the women to finish. Suddenly there was a glint in her eye. Maybe all was not lost just yet. Perhaps she could use those four to their advantage. If they were like what her nephew said then they could help with the tradgedy. She cleared her throat and spoke deliberately in clear English so that the guys could understand the conversation.

"There was nothing to defend."

Jade was about to speak but Shasha stopped her. "When you left they had already found our home, we just didn't know it until we reached it ourselves. They destroyed and took everything." For the first time Shasha averted her eyes as she told what happened to their home that they've lived in the past years. "We no longer have a home, Jade."

They were silent for a moment as the information was soaked in. Jade gulped and looked at her sister. "Did anything survive?" Shasha shook her head. Jade thought for a moment. This wasn't the first time she lost a home, but it was no less painful. Where would they live? She didn't know where she was, she just stowed away on one of Bishop's own aircraft. Where would they live?

"Why don't we move in with the guys?"

Seven pairs of eyes looked down at the child at his words. He looked at them all questioningly. He was young enough that the loss of a home could be bounced back into something positive quickly. He just wondered why the other's were looking at him like that.

Jade and Leo gave each other an odd look across the short space.Without knowing it they sized each other up, looking up and down. Quickly they looked away and both turned to Hero and spoke at the same time.

"I don't think that would be possible at this time-"

"Surely we wouldn't want to inconvenience them with our presence-"

But they might as well have been whispering for Mikey's explosion-"THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY RADICAL!" He clapped and hopped in the air, coincidentally missing Raph's aimed slap.

The girls looked up in surprise. Kit grinned. She had no idea what anyone had said specificallybut she knew the subject and guessed the outcome by Mikey's reaction. She gave a mewling squeal of her own and copied Mikey's behavior without even knowing it. She'd always had energy.

Leo reached to calm Mike as Jade did the same thing for Kit. "Now hold on Mikey, we don't know them. We need to talk to Master Splinter about this. Let's not make any rash decisions." He looked over his shoulder at them. For some reason he felt threatened by their presence. Was that the right word? But it wasn't physically; it was something else. Something he didn't know about and that worried him.

Don interjected. "But Leo, surely you aren't suggesting that they spend the night out here on the street where they could be discovered? They aren't familiar with this area. They aren't properly equipped to deal with the temperature, after all it is late in the season and the air is getting chilly." Leo looked at him. Mikey clapped an arm around him and grinned madly at Leo.

"Hold on to your pants, Don." Raph commented. "Leo's got a point."

Mike guffawed laughter. "Man, isn't this zany! Raph and Leo are arguing for the same side! Wonders never cease! Though I think that my vote outweighs all yours since I'm the Battle Nexus Champion!"

Someone slapped him, though everyone was so irritated that he didn't have a clue of where it came from.

Don held up a hand to stop further comment. "Guys, guys. We're being rude. Let's let the, ah, the ladies decide."

The four turtles turned to the mutants. Jade looked at her family questioningly, already knowing deep in her gut what the outcome would be.

"Oh! I've never met nice guys before! Please let us go with them! They are so funny, they act like us, like a family! Please?" Kit spirited in Mamtu, grinning madly. She was still hopping up and down, holding her paw-like hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her tail whipped back and forth as she looked at her with her beautiful eyes.

Shasha sniffed in disdain. "Well, it would provide us shelter for the night. And they don't seem like a half bad pack of pansies." Raph bristled from across the alley. Shasha smiled. "What the heck."

Hero's answer was obvious. "Please, Mama, please, please, please, please, pleeeeeeeeeease!" he hopped up and down with excitement. "They're really nice, and they helped me and I liked them and their master's really nice and they've got good food and they've got neat stuff and lots of other nice stuff!"

Jade sighed and looked at her family. They were all looking at her expectantly. She looked over at the turtles. Raph glared at her, Leo remained cooly detatched, Mikey had the same look her family did and Don gave her one look then looked away with a curious reddening in his cheeks. Her mind battled to find some way around the choice they were expecting her to make but she could find none. Why in the world was she even thinking of this? She should deny them outright but something stopped her. She sighed again and her shoulders slumped. She knew she was defeated.

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A/N OK. Sorry if it was a bit slow. I hate those 'when they meet' scenes because everything is so awkward and you want to get it right and you want to make everything interesting at the same time but you don't want to babble on and on and on...tell me if I'm babbling. teeheehee Truly, hope you enjoyed the chapter. I'm finishing the last part of this at work so sorry if the last bit seems a tad rushed. I'm trying to update as fast as I can. You know why I couldn't this past week...isn't it funny how all beaches have palm trees but we don't have a single type of palm indigenous to America? hm. Tell me what you think, if you have any ideas or comments let me know. I appreciate the input. Until next time, Toodles!