Chapter Eleven

Being that it was pretty late, Casey and April decided to take their leave. But before leaving Casey wanted to make sure that Cherise wouldn't try to sneak up top to see her father. "I want yer word dat ya'll stay down here."

"…." Cherise didn't know what to say.

"Look, I promise dat I'll make visits everyday and tell ya what his condition is." Casey swore. "So der's no reason why ya would have ta go see 'em."

Cherise avoided making eye contact with the dark haired manas shetwitched her mouth back and forth. "…ok." She finally answered.

"Yeah mean it?" Casey questioned.

Cherise grunted a sigh. "Yes." With hands on her hips, the young girl crossed one foot in front of the other and bent forward a little. "I can do as I'm told. I'm not a child." Casey looked at her skeptically, but believed that she would mind him. However the minute his back was turned to leave, the young girl sported a sly smile. 'I can do as I'm told, doesn't really mean that I will.'

Leonardo was the only one to notice the smile on Cherise's face, since his brothers and master were escorting the two human out. "I know that look." He whispered.

"What look?" Cherise tried to look innocent as she walked over to the television area.

Leonardo went after her. "That 'up to something' look." He answered. "I know it well, because Mikey gets the same look when he's planning a prank."

"Really? I thought it was gas." Cherise joshed while plopping down onto the couch.

Leonardo forced a chuckle. "Funny." Then he put ona serious look. "You're not going to do as Casey says, are you?"

"Would you?" Cherise asked angrily. "Would you be ok with some guy makingsnap decision like that if itwere your father up there, probably dying?"

"He's just looking out for you." Leonardo defended. "You can't fault him for that."

"But it's my choice." Cherise stated firmly. "He had no right to rob me of that."

"Well you can't go up there." Leonardo said sternly.

"And why not?" Cherise questioned.

"Because you promised not to." Leonardo answered. "What would your father say if you broke it?"

"Did I say I promise? Did you hear me say 'I promise'?"

"Well…no."

"Right, I simply said that I can do as I'm told. However I reserve the right not to."

Leonardo put his hands on his hips and gave the young girl his authoritative 'elder brother' look. "Well you're going to promise me."

Cherise looked at him to see if he was serious. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Leonardo said sternly. "I want you to promise that you'll not go up top to see your father."

Cherise jumped off the couch. "Where do you…" She wanted to tell the blue clad turtle off, but she had the feel he'd be the same as Casey. "Alright."

"No, I want to hear you say I promise." Leonardo told her.

"Fine." Cherise sighed. "I…."

"Wait." Leonardo put a hand out to stop her. "Hold out your arms and separate you legs a little."

"Leo!" Cherise exclaimed.

"I have three brothers." Leonardo pointed out. "I know all about the different way to interpret 'King's Cross'."

Cherise gave a frustrated sigh as she put her hands up into the air and moved her legs about an inch apart. "There, see?" She huffed. "I promise. Happy now?"

"I'm only doing this for your own good." Leonardo said sternly.

"I suppose." Cherise replied.

"Hey Leo, whatchya doing to Cherise?" Michelangelo asked while coming towards the young girl and his brother. "Sticking her up?"

"I'm just making sure that she's promising to do as Casey said." Leonardo answered before going off.

Cherise lowered her arms while flopping back down onto the couch. "He's making me kinda glad that I'm an only child."

"Aw, he's alright." Michelangelo said while sitting down next to the young girl. "You get use to his older brotherness after awhile." Cherise simply smiled at the turtle.

Early the next morning…

When the turtles were preparing for Ninjitsu practice Cherise saw it as her chance to leave the lair unnoticed. She didn't know when the hospital's visiting hours were and she didn't care, she'd wait outside the building if she had to. However the young girl was caught while leaving through the front door.

"Hey Cherise." Michelangelo said loudly and the young girl cringed. "Where are you going?"

"Shhh." Cherise hissed while waving her hands at him. "You tryin' to bring attention or something?"

Michelangelo pretended to ignore her. "You're not trying to go up and see your dad now, are you?" He said at the same volume as when he greeted her.

"You know I am." Cherise chided. "Now tone it down before…"

"Leo finds out?" Michelangelo questioned with voice lowered a bit. "You don't want him to know that you're breaking your promise to him, do you?"

"I had a 'King's Cross'." Cherise replied defensively. "My shoelaces were crossed."

"So…" Michelangelo looked at the girl oddly. "That's got to be the worse loophole I've ever heard."

"It was the only thing crossed." Cherise retorted. "I couldn't cross anything else with him looking at me like he did."

"Good point." Michelangelo answered. "But still, you did promise."

"Ok, you're right." Cherise agreed. "But I just said, 'I promise'. I didn't say what I was promising."

Michelangelo couldn't decide whether he wanted to laugh or smack his forehead. "I'm the king of loop holes and I've never thought up trying that. Good one." Then he put a serious look on. "But why are you so desperate to see your dad anyway? It not like you can do anything for him."

"You don't know that." Cherise replied. "Maybe there is a chance I can bring him around…or something." She saw the orange clad turtle look at her skeptically. "Look, I just can stand around and do nothing. If there's something I can do, than I got to do it."

Michelangelo put his hands up in defeat. "Fine." It was obvious that the girl had made up her mind to see her father and was determine to do it no matter what. "But you should know that it's no use going out now." He told her. "With Ninjitsu practice out in the middle of the lair, there is now way you can sneak out of here without Leo and Master Splinter knowing. The elevator and the front door a pretty noisy."

"So when is a good time?" Cherise asked curiously.

Michelangelo wrapped an arm around the young girl's shoulders. "Just stick with me babe." Cherise cocked an eyebrow at him. "Look, this is what we'll do…." He whispered his plan into her ear.

Sometime in afternoon…

Donatello was working in his lab as usual with Cherise came wandering. "Dante-Chan?"

The purple clad turtle immediately straightened up. "Dante-Chan?" He gulped. "That could only mean one thing." He turned around to see the young girl stand before him. Her long hair in a tight braid, hands behind her back, and looking at him with wide puppy dog eyes. "Oh no. You've been talking to Mikey, haven't you?"

Cherise blinked a couple of times. "Me?" She asked innocently. "Why would I talk to that mischief maker?" She slowly walked up to the mutant turtle and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm here cause I need to ask you a little favor." The young girl said in a sweet voice. Then she brought up the end of her braid so in order to tickle the bottom of his chin with it.

Donatello heldthe girlaway at arms length. "I know Mikey's handwork when I see it." He told herwith blushing cheeks and steam coming out fromthe openingofshell that was around his neck. "Whatever he wants, he's not going to get just cause he's asking to come onto me."

Cherise looked absolutely shocked. "You think I'm that kind of girl?" She exclaimed while knocking the turtle's hand off. "You think that I would come onto any guy just to get something in return? How dare you say such a thing."

"What…I…that is…I mean…" Donatello stuttered to find the right words to defend putting his foot in his mouth. "It's just that…Mikey…I…"

"If that's the way you're going to be than…" Cherise turned her back on him and started to walk away.

"No wait." Donatello grabbed her arm. "What is it you need?"

A sly smile came onto Cherise's face. 'I can't believe that work. Michael is so mean.' She put on a stern look when turning around to face the turtle. "I need help getting outta here so I can go up top to see dad."

Donatello smacked his head. "I knew it." He grumbled. "I knew I was being played." The turtle glared at the girl. "He taught you how to push my buttons, didn't he?"

"Hey, give me some credit here. I already know how to con people when I need to and I've done twice already." Cherise scolded. "Besides, he said to call you Don-San to be respectful or be cute and call you Donnie-Kun. However I decided Dante-Chan was both cute and respectful." She shook Donatello's hand off her arm while giving him a serious gaze. "Look, I wasn't going to drag anyone into this, unfortunately…Michael caught me and said that it would be best if I didn't go alone."

Donatello cocked an eyebrow at the young girl. "Michael?"

"Michelangelo is such a mouthful to pronounce." Cherise explained. "And Mikey makes me thing of that Life cereal commercial."

"But still…Michael?" Donatello mouthed the name a couple times, trying to get a feel for it.

"Oh let's just move on." Cherise snapped. "Point is that he wanted to take me, but knew that Leo would catch on if it was just him and me."

"So Mikey said to con me into becoming some sort of front, right?" Donatello rolled his eyes as he turned his back to the girl.

"If you don't want to do it, just say so." Cherise told him. "I can understand."

Donatello thought for moment before giving a sigh. "Naw, I'll help you." He told her. "I mean I do kind of owe you one."

"You don't owe me anything anymore." Cherise said sternly. "You and your family have repaid whatever debt you owe by just letting me stay here. So don't do this if you feel have to."

Donatello thought for another moment. "There is no obligation, I'd be happy to help."

Cherise gave the turtle a peck on the cheek. "Thanks."

That Evening….

Donatello, dressed in his human clothing, was grumbling under his breath as he adjusted the shoulder strap of his duffle bag. His complaining was loud enough to catch Leonardo's attention as he passed by the subway car lab. "What's the matter?" The blue clad turtle asked with mild concern.

"Mikey." Donatello snorted. "Couldn't keep out of my lab and upset one of my projects. Now I got to go to the junkyard and search for those nearly impossible to find parts so I can fix it."

"Must have been some project if it's got you this upset." Leonardo commented. "Need help?"

"No, I'm taking Mikey with." Donatello replied. "Since he broke it, he's going to help me fix it."

"Is that wise?" Leonardo questioned. "The last thing Mikey does when we go to the junkyard is help."

Donatello clutched a screwdriver so tight in anger that Leonardo felt the sudden urge to back away slowly from his heated brother. "If he knows what's good for him, he'd better help." The purple clad turtle threatened while leaving is lab.

Leonardo followed Donatello over to the alien elevator, where Michelangelo was waiting. He was also dressed in human clothing and looking absolutely miserable and even worse when he saw his angry brother coming towards him. "How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?"

"The first hundred weren't enough and I don't see the next hundred being sufficient either." Donatello pushed past his youngest brother to get into the elevator.

"Your really blew it this time." Leonardo whispered.

"I know." Michelangelo sobbed. "And Donnie says we're going to have to stay out there until we find all the replacement parts." The young turtle dragged his feet as he went into the elevator.

"Well…good luck." Leonardo told them. Donatello let out a snort while Michelangelo gulped hard.

The elevator doors were about to close whenCherise showed up. "Hey you guys, what's going on?"

"Mikey broke something Don was working on and now they both have to go look for parts to replace it." Leonardo told her.

"Oh?" Cherise looked into the elevator. "Can I come with you guys?"

"We're going to the junkyard in the near dead of winter." Donatello told her sternly. "I don't think you'd enjoy the trip."

"He's right." Leonardo agreed. "You should stay here where it's warm. After all, you just got over being sick."

"Aw, but I've been cooped up in here all day." Cherise semi-whined. "I need some fresh air and open space. I don't care where it is, just as long as I can get it." She looked pleadingly at the blue clad turtle. "Please let me go out. I'll dress up warmly."

"I don't know." Leonardolooked skeptically at the young girl before looking over at his brothers. Donatello scowled at his troublemaking sibling while rubbing his right fist with his left hand. It was as if he was daring Michelangelo to ask for such a special request so that he could pop him a good one in the head. Such anger in his usually calm brother made the elder turtle worry that his young brother might actually not come back from the trip to the junkyard. "On second thought…maybe you should."

Cherise let out a squeal and threw her arms around the turtle's neck. "Thank you Leo."

Leonardo pulled her off to the side. "Don't thank me for this." He told her. "Cause you don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"I don't?" Cherise questioned. "What do you mean?"

"Donnie rarely gets mad and I've never seen him likethisbefore." Leonardo replied. "The only reason I'm letting you go is to make sure that Mikey will be coming back in one piece."

"So you want me to baby-sit them?" Cherise asked. "Why don't you want to do it?"

"Knowing Mikey, the minute he gets out into the snow he's going to want to play in it no matter how mad anyone is with him." Leonardo answered. "Better to have someone who could keep him occupied and out of Don's way."

"Ooooh. Okay." Cherise nodded. "I'll try to do my best." She ran off to get a warm winter coat that one of the guys had lent her for any time she had to up top. Then she hoped into the elevator while putting it on.

"Hope I get to see you guys sometime before Spring." Leonardo joshed as the doors were closing.

Donatello snorted a reply and Michelangelo didn't dare to say anything. "I just hope we come back." Cherise replied.

There was an uneasy quiet as the three of them rode up to the street level garage. After they filed out of the alien elevator they climbed into the Battle Shell. Once the doors were closed and everyone buckled into their seats, laughter broke out as the armored truck on its way out.

"I can't believe we pulled that off." Michelangelo exclaimed. "My heart was beating so hard and fast."

"I know." Cherise replied. "I'm not a ninjitsu anything and I could hear it. I even thought it was going to beat right out of your chest."

"Nice planning Donnie." Michelangelo congratulated. "I would have never thought up having Leo actually tell Cherise to come with us."

"Flags would have been sent up if I simply asked for her to come with us." Donatello explained.

"That was some acting though." Cherise admitted. "For a moment there, I thought you were really angry and that Michael really did break something." Both Donatello and Michelangelo mouthed 'Michael' a couple of times. "You guys are never going to get over that, are you?"

Suddenly a Shell Cell went of and all three beings froze. "Um…you don't think Leo caught on…do you?" Michelangelo asked.

"I'll answer it." Cherise said while holding out her hand to Michelangelo. "Donnie is supposed to be too mad and you're supposed to be upset." She took a cell from the turtle. "Hello?"

"Patched me inta da speaker." A gruff voice ordered.

"Ok…" Cherise handed the cell back to its owner. "It's Raph. He said to put him onto speaker?"

Michelangelo looked nervously over at Donatello before doing as he was told. "Yes Raphie?" He asked innocently.

"Nicely ya played two." Raphael said sternly. "But ya know Leo ain't gonna be too happy when he finds out dat you made fool of him like dat. Or should I say, if he finds out."

"What's it going to cost?" Donatello inquired.

"Oh, I'll think of sumpthin' later." Raphael said with a bit of an evil laughter before hanging up. This caused Donatello and Michelangelo exchange worried looks with each other.


A/N: I feel kind of bad that this chapter came out. Cause that only means about one more chapter or so before the end of my story. TT Oh well, all good things must come to an end I guess. But I bet you all are wondering how I'll end this one, right?