AN: (Nervously walks in with newest chapter in her hands) I am so sorry that this one has taken some time to be updated, I've got so many stories going at the moment and hardly any time to work on them. You may need to read back over the last few chapters to remember what's going on, and please help me out here and really scrutinise this chapter. It's been such a long time since I've written anything that I'm struggling quite a bit with it. Thanks :)
Big thanks go to; spootycup, hazlov2004, Rev, Pretender Fanatic, Lioness Goddess, Megazord Master and Jessiy Landroz. Sorry for just giving you guys a mention, I normally like to say something to each of you but I've got to be out of the house in about five minutes so I'm rushing this, LOL. Thank you so much for the reviews, everyone :)
Disclaimer: TMNT no mine :(
Chapter 7 (Leo)"The missile's a cover to hide whatever else they've got planned, I think it's a distraction and one we shouldn't fall for!" Raph paced the small private office room, his hands flailing in the air for emphasis. Mike sits calmly at the table studying the medical papers that he entered with. Don stood by my chair, his hand resting behind me on the back of it. He pushed the surveillance photos along the table towards Raph and stamped his finger down on top of them.
"The photos show that there are two groups advancing on the island, there's no way that this is a hoax, distraction or not, it's still a matter that needs to be addressed!"
"I'm not going to authorise any of my men to go on this mission! The Community would have only a skeleton crew left to protect from attack, and I don't want to come back and find that our home has been burnt to the ground!"
"I'm not talking about an all out attack! I'm merely suggesting a recon, then if the team find anything, we move in!"
"So you're Chief of Security now? Well, thanks for your assessment Don but I think that you should stick to your nuts and bolts and leave the rest to me, okay?"
"Raph…"
"Enough!" I slammed my hand down hard onto the table, causing the jug of water and tumblers to shake. This conversation had been going on for over three hours and after hearing this particular part of the argument twice before, I decided enough was enough. I turn my attention to my silent brother, "Mike, what have you got to report on the medical front?"
Mike tapped his chin in thought until the mention of his name, "Firstly, Adrian is being as stubborn as his father and wants to get back to work. I've given him another week of bed rest and then he's free to leave, but I recommend that he be kept off of active duty for another two weeks after his release." He glances at the pages again, turning a few over, "No major problems to report. A few people with minor injuries due to domestic accidents, a few cases of the flu, that's pretty much it, nothing that we can't deal with. Medical supplies are holding up, the last supply run brought in a good few essentials so there's nothing to worry about there."
I nod my approval and turn to Don, "Engineering?"
Don nods, "We've been busy patching up sensor holes that have began to appear for no reason, several cameras were found offline and certain access points have been tampered with. All have been repaired and extra security measures are being installed as we speak. The domestics division report that they've had an influx of work from the residents, mainly problems with water distribution, it's in hand."
"Good," and it was, but not their reports. My brothers were now focusing and hadn't even noticed my subtle prompting into obtaining that focus, "Security?"
Raph stepped forward, pulled out the chair and slumped into it, he reached for the jug of water and poured the contents into the glasses, sliding them along the metallic table to each of us.
"Aside from Don's security requests when his team found the breaks in the perimeter alarms, its been pretty much quiet down there." Our position put us above the main Community members, each of us occupying rooms near the command centre and infirmary located on the upper levels. "However, there is the issue of Mabe. I don't like her here, she's a security risk and one that I think should be dealt with immediately. I know I'm not the only one who thinks that."
"Raph, she's here under peaceful terms. The New Birth Treaty prevents us from just throwing her out, she's officially an ambassador and as such she is welcome here."
"You sure you're not just getting distracted, Leo? Don't tell me that after all these years you don't have any feelings for her."
"That's in the past, Raph."
"You sure about that?"
"The Treaty stands. Every faction adheres to it, no single community can be exempt…"
"Yeah, yeah. I know what the damn treaty says. Listen Leo, Mabe is a troublemaker, she looks after number one, screw everyone else. You of all people know what she's like and we can't trust her. If she came here to tell us about the missile, she's done her job, there's no reason for her to stick around."
I let out a sigh, Raph was right. There wasn't any reason for Mabe to stay here and the fact that I hadn't had her extradited by now would soon be obvious to the people, they would start asking questions, maybe even doubting my decisions. As an ambassador, she was entitled to stay here as long as she needed, providing of course that she didn't cause any trouble. As far as the Community was concerned, she was trouble. Her actions or more appropriately, her choices forced her into exile.
Mabe had been responsible for leaking information about the supply run that Jess had commanded, she had reported the route and list of essentials to the Scavengers and they in turn attacked the group near the end of their mission, taking much of the items that they had found. Jess was killed trying to protect the supplies and those under her command. I wondered briefly how Don had coped with his meeting with Mabe, my usually shy and passive younger brother had changed dramatically over the years and Jessica's death had attributed much to that change.
"There may be a chance that she could provide more information, if given the right incentive." Don was lightly scratching his bicep, a habit that he's picked up when his thoughts travel inwards and his brain is working at a thousand miles a minute.
"Oh?" Raph asked with a smile, "What incentive would that be?"
"Well," he began, "when I was at the Scavenger base, she asked me a few questions about how Leo was doing. I think that after all this time, she still thinks of you, Leo. Maybe even still loves you, perhaps she'd be willing to talk with you and give you a little more information than she would if we were involved."
I shook my head, "I don't think so, Don."
Don suddenly became active, his movements quickened and I noticed a gleam in his eye. He didn't seem bothered that Mabe was here in our home, although I knew he was.
"Leo, I know that this is difficult enough as it is but you have to consider the information that she may possess. If there's a chance that she'll talk with you then we need to do this."
"Don, I can't do this. Why the hell do you think that I'm staying away from her?" I rested my head in my hands to try and soothe the headache that was developing, Don crouched beside me and his hand rested on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Leo. This isn't something that we can simply dismiss, you'll have to talk to her sometime, why not now?"
"For the simple fact that your wife is dead because of mine! She wasn't just exiled from the Community, she was exiled from my life!"
"Leo…" Mike stood and began to move around the table towards us. Don stood, eyes wide. I detected anger from him and after my last comment I wasn't surprised, Raph didn't move from his chair, he wasn't about to intervene and I was pleased that he chose to remain silent.
"This meeting is over." I pronounced as I stood sharply and headed out of the room.
XOXOXOX.
I thundered along the corridor towards the infirmary, Adrian had been receiving regular visits from me about this time of the evening and despite my mood I would still check in on him, as I neared the door I heard voices, I peered into the room and noticed that Adrian had a visitor. Mabe was talking quietly with him by his bedside and for the first time in my life, I wanted to ignore my son simply to avoid her. I chose not to, it wasn't his fault that he was bed-ridden and she was visiting him, it looks like my brothers were going to get their wish, sooner or later I was going to have to talk to her. I walked into the room and their heads turned in my direction, both smiled but only Adrian received my reply.
"How are you feeling?" I asked as he lifted his hand to take mine. His smile was forced because, I assumed, the painkillers were wearing off.
"I'm good. Ready to get back into the flow of things, this place must be falling apart without me." He joked, I laughed mildly at his humour.
"You're not taking over yet, unless you plan on taking down the old man." I quipped, his chuckle turned into a minor coughing fit and I helped him to sit up, Mabe reached forward and I reluctantly let her reach around him and ease him. Adrian didn't need to see the tension as well as feel it in the room, whether she was here or not, that didn't mean that I was not going to comfort my son.
"Thanks." he rasped, I gently eased the glass from the bedside table to his lips and he sipped at it, after he signalled that he had had enough I rested the glass back down. The room came to an uneasy silence, no one knowing what to say, Adrian rested his hand on my arm and I looked at him.
"Dad," he appealed, "Mabe came here to see how I was, please don't… just talk to each other. The tension's killing me" he smiled and half laughed at himself and I knew that he was just concerned for me in the current situation. Still, nothing was said.
His hand gently squeezed my arm, "You've seen me. I'm okay." He soothed, "Don't worry about me so much, old man." He smiled warmly at me but I could see the pain in his eyes, I needed to take Mabe out of here and let him rest. I turned my attention to her, "He needs to rest," I paused for a moment then let out a sigh as I said: "And we need to talk."
XOXOXOX
As we strolled along the arboretum I watched Mabe stop to smell the newest variety of roses and orchids in the closest flower bed, she seemed so gentle and innocent right now, but I knew that I couldn't let that cloud my judgement. She wasn't as innocent as when we had first met, time had changed us both.
"Leo, these are beautiful." Her hand reached out and cupped one of the flowers and she inhaled the scent that the rose produced, her head turned towards me and she smiled warmly, "This whole place is beautiful. It's changed so much since I was last here."
I stepped closer to her and helped her to her feet, she held onto my hand as I tried to pull it away and I groaned inwardly, "Mabe, please." I said softly, "Let go."
"I can't," she whispered, "Leo… I don't want to."
"Mabe…"
"I don't want to let you go again, not when I've finally seen you after all this time, please."
I wrenched my hand free, this was getting out of hand and I was slightly infuriated with my allowing this to happen. "Mabe, I didn't bring you here to kiss and make up okay? I want to know everything you do about the Scavengers, what threat do they pose to the Community? Are they planning to attack us?"
"Leo, I can't switch my feelings off like you can, okay? I still love you and I'm sorry that that disgusts you so much!"
"Mabe…"
"No!" she turns sharply away from me, "Damn you, Leo! Do you know what you do to me? How you make me feel? And all you want to do is talk business!"
"That's what I do! It's my job to protect these people and I'll do whatever is necessary to ensure that! If you have any information that could help then I'm begging you Mabe, please tell me."
She remained silent for a short while before sighing heavily, her shoulders slumped slightly and she turned back towards me. "I know how important this is to you and I'm willing to tell you what I know, but I want something from you first."
She accepted my silence as confirmation to continue, "Tell me how you truly feel about me. Has it changed after everything that's happened?"
"I can't answer that." I replied quietly. Mabe nodded knowingly, my response was predictable.
She continued on as if nothing had happened, "The Scavengers were not responsible for attacking you, they know what the consequences would be for trying a stunt like that. At first they thought that the Phoenix had tried to frame them but new evidence suggests that we're being played, all of us. Another faction that even I don't know is trying to turn the three leading factions against each other in the hopes that we'll wipe each other out."
"Take out the top factions and the city belongs to them."
"Exactly."
That posed a problem; if what Mabe was suggesting had any truth to it then we have a serious conflict heading our way. "You don't know anything about this other faction? Nothing at all?"
"There's only rumours, talk about certain members within each faction converting to their side, possible spies. I think that includes this place."
"No, this place has been swept from top to bottom. All high level personnel have been questioned and searched, they know the drill when it comes to spies."
She frowned with deep thought, "Maybe that's the point, they know the drill. What if someone here was ready for you?"
I couldn't help but smile then, she is both beautiful and clever. "Maybe. I'll get Raph to look into it. What about the missile?" I could feel myself falling, slipping into the past, to the way we used to be. Together we were a good team. I miss that so much.
"It's a decoy, at least that's what we think. There's no way to be absolutely certain."
"We still need to make sure, there's two teams heading towards it right now. As far as we know that missile is useless, but Don seems to suggest that with the right parts it can be made active again."
"Then we need to make sure that that doesn't happen." She replied firmly. I noticed a smile and she moved closer to me.
"No. When you're ready, you're going to go back to the Scavengers." I reply quickly.
Her smile dropped slightly, "What? Leo, I can hel…"
"Mabe, you've helped enough. I appreciate everything you've done but I can't let you stay here when you work for the Scavengers, Ambassador or not." I held my hands out to her to stop her from speaking but she started to move closer, "Mabe, you don't belong here."
"But your heart tells you that I do." She whispered, "I belong with you and you know it."
"You're a Scavenger."
"I'm a freelancer. I choose who I want to be with." Her arms slowly wrapped around my neck and I found I couldn't pull away.
"Mabe…" she cut me off with a gentle kiss as my mind screamed out to stop her… but I didn't.
"Well, don't you two look cosy."
I pulled away quickly but didn't step back from her; I turned towards Raphael as he approached slowly, arms crossed.
"I knew I couldn't leave you alone with her." He spat 'her' as he glared at Mabe with a look that could kill. She held onto me tighter and I knew she was trying to push Raph's buttons, judging by the look on his face, it was working.
Raph reached out and grabbed Mabe's arm, yanking her away forcefully. She yelped in both surprise and pain as Raph twisted towards me and glared, "You. Stay here." He stomped along the short distance to the door and threw it open, two guards waited just outside, "Throw her in the holding cells, keep two guards on her at all times." There was a quick 'yes sir' and the door shut again. I could hear Mabe yelling, calling Raph a bastard and pleading with me to stop this, but I knew I couldn't do a thing. Raph approached me and I stood firm.
"Raph…" I began but he cut me off.
"Don't. Just… just don't Leo, okay? I am seriously pissed at you right now and all I want to do is knock your stupid ass on the floor." He glared at me for a moment but it dropped and he let out a tired sigh. I suddenly realised that anger was building up inside of me; I knew I shouldn't have done it but I don't think it's worth this much attention. It was just a kiss, that's all. Why was he getting so upset with this?
"It was just a kiss, Raph." I groaned.
"Just a kiss?" he sounded surprised, "Just a kiss that could've led to something more intimate, Leo. Hell, if I came in ten minutes later that's probably what I would've seen!"
"It wouldn't have got that far, it wasn't supposed to happen but it did." I replied weakly.
Raph seemed to cool off a little, he must know that I can't take much more of this. "I can't stand here and tell you that I wouldn't have made the same mistake in your position, I know it's hard. But you've got responsibilities and right now, more than ever, you need to be thinking clearly. This…" he taps his finger against my temple, "needs no distractions."
"So you're telling me that I can't have a private life anymore? That my sole purpose is to run the Community? Cause if you are, you're asking a hell of a lot from me." I reply sharply. Why was I getting so defensive?
"I'm saying that you can't get involved with Mabe! Everyone within these walls knows what she did; you can't be seen with her because of that! You exiled her and that means she can't come back! Get over her, Leo." He was right, I knew I shouldn't allow my feelings for her to get in the way, but it isn't as easy as Raph makes it sound.
"Yeah, right." I mumbled as I walked away.