Cassie Stone, a gorgeous raven haired and blue eyed twenty-five-year-old woman sat opposite Shredder at his study desk and sipped her coffee. She had worked for him for over three years as his assistant. She was also his girlfriend and had seen the atrocities he'd wreaked, giving her countless nightmares. At first she'd tried to compartmentalize. It had worked for a while, but her conscience had got the better of her and she couldn't do it anymore. That was why she was there in his office.
They'd met at her twenty-second birthday party. Her maternal uncle was Baxter Stockman and he'd introduced them, thinking they could be a good match for one another. Cassie had been immediately taken by the striking Shredder and he had been equally smitten by her beauty. They'd got talking and had soon discovered that they had a fair bit in common: action movies, traveling, reading, art, history and Ninjutsu. Cassie's sensei had been Tatsu, who'd briefly worked for Shredder and she was an expert with the tonfa and sai.
Shredder and Cassie had swapped numbers and gone out on their first date to a Japanese restaurant and had then gone to a coffee shop, where they'd talked until sunrise, finding a kindred spirit in one another. Cassie had been drawn to his aura of strength, domination, determination, the kindness and respect he showed her and had thought he was the one she would settle down with and have a family.
Her own life had been hell too. Her parents had died when she was young and she had been sent to live with her maternal grandparents. Life there was dreadful. Both grandparents were alcoholics and mentally and physically abused her. She had been emancipated at sixteen and had made ends meet by working as a waitress at a restaurant at night. She managed to graduate from high school and worked as a waitress during the day and on weekends and went to college at night, where she obtained a degree in Economics and English.
She moved in with Shredder after three weeks of dating and was appointed his assistant. Life was great at first and she really loved him, but she soon became disenchanted, when he became very controlling and manipulative, monitoring her every movement, physically and emotionally abusing her and isolating her from her friends. She lost her self-confidence and was scared to leave, afraid that he would find her and kill her, even though she knew that could happen when she was with him too. She didn't know what to do or who to turn to and she certainly couldn't talk to Stockman. He wasn't exactly someone you could confide in.
The turning point came when she felt nauseous. She dismissed it as food poisoning, but when it lingered, she realized she was pregnant and that she had to do something fast or she and her child would be subjected to Shredder's wrath on a daily basis. That was also the basis for her meeting with him. She had tried to leave before, but had always backed down when he threatened her. She was three months pregnant, but not showing yet.
"So, what did you want to talk about, Cass?" Shredder asked.
"I can't do this anymore, Saki. You have to choose between your desires to be omnipotent or me."
"You're being dramatic, my dear."
"I am not. The screams of your victims send chills down my spine and make me sick to my stomach. How can you be so barbaric? You'd think after your awful childhood that you'd want to break the mold, be different and help make the world a better place instead of causing further destruction wherever you go."
"Those people wanted to be my subjects. I have given them the opportunity to be part of something incredible. They're grateful."
"Bullshit," Cassie snapped, her dark eyes flashing. "They don't want to be part of your twisted schemes and neither do I. Clearly you don't want to change and you don't want me. I'm out of here."
"The hell you are!" Shredder raged, his dark eyes blazing, as he sprang to his feet and then glowered at her. "I'll kill you if you leave me. I warned you."
Tears rolled down Cassie's cheeks and her heart pounded, but her resolve remained. She had to leave.
She stood up, blinked back tears, looked at him evenly and said, "I'm going, Saki. This isn't working. You know it. We're both miserable and have been for ages."
"But I love you," Saki said, changing his tactic, knowing it always worked. "No one makes me as happy as you do, Cass, my sweet love."
"No, Saki. You don't love me," Cassie said and shook her head. "You wouldn't treat me like dirt if you did. Please stop. We've been over this before. I'm done and I'm going. I won't report your actions, but I don't want to be part of them anymore."
Saki fell to his knees and said imploringly, as his eyes bore into hers, "I can change, Cass. Please give me another chance. I'll do anything."
"No, Saki. You're a narcissist. They don't change. I'm leaving. Please don't look for me if you really love me."
"Go. I don't need you," Shredder spat, rising to his feet, because he saw he wasn't going to get his way. "Go and it's your fault our relationship failed. You sucked in bed, were a terrible girlfriend and I never loved you the way I loved Anika. She was more of a woman than you could ever be and she gave great head. Get out of here, bitch, and don't come back."
His insults were like a dagger to Cassie's heart, but she knew he was only saying them, because he wasn't getting his way and he wanted to hurt her as much as he could. Heck, he hadn't loved Anika. She'd only been a fling on a business trip.
"Goodbye, Saki," Cassie said and left the room.
Cassie headed to the lounge, picked up her cases and quickly left the building. Destination: a woman's shelter for a few days. Then as far away from Saki as she could get. Canada sounded perfect.
A furious Saki picked up a vase of African violets off of his desk and threw it, narrowly missing Bebop, as he entered the room. He ducked and the vase hit the wall, shattering into a million pieces, the flowers strewn on the floor.
Fuck, Cassie. Let her go. I don't care anymore, Saki thought. She was high maintenance anyway. I'll soon find a lovely girl I can mold into my perfect woman. Cassie will miss me so much that she'll beg me back and I'll refuse. Screw her. She'll never get as good as me and she'll be sorry. They always are. I'm a stud after all.
"Bad day, Boss?" Bebop asked.
"No. I just throw vases for fun," Shredder said sarcastically.
The phone rang before Bebop could speak.
"Yeah?" Shredder said irritably. "What? Uncle Sam passed away? Really? I am? You're kidding me. Of course I can be there. Thanks for telling me. Bye."
Shredder replaced the receiver, grinned, gleefully rubbed his hands and said, "My uncle passed away, Bebop. He had no children and that means I'm getting all of his estate and assets. He was extremely wealthy. I have to go to the Will reading tomorrow, so we may put off our Japan trip for a while. Who needs women when one has money, huh?"
"Does that mean we're getting a raise, Boss?" Bebop asked hopefully.
"Of course not, cretin. Now, what did you want?"
"I forgot."
"Typical," Shredder said and rolled his eyes.
Bebop rubbed his head, snapped his fingers and said, "Oh. I saw one of the prisoners escaping over the wall. I ran to stop them, but I was too late."
"You idiot!" Shredder roared. "Why the hell do I employ you?" He pressed the intercom button on his desk and said, "I want lock down and to know who was responsible for the prisoner escaping. Report to my office at once, all security staff!"
"Um, because you like us?"
"No, you useless sack of shit. I would happily dispatch you if I had a chance."
"I don't understand. What does dispatch mean?"
"Grrr. I'm surrounded by imbeciles. Being a villain isn't as easy as I thought it would be!"
The security staff and the Foot appeared, knowing they were in for the dressing down of their lives and that possibly they could lose their lives.
Rocksteady had joined them. He'd been on his smoke break.
"So," Shredder said, as he glared at his men. "Which of you idiots allowed my prisoner to go free and which prisoner was it?"
The men trembled and no one spoke.
"Come on. Tell me," Shredder demanded. "Tell me. Have the balls to own up to your mistake. Not only do I employ morons, but wimps. You men are pathetic and your ancestors are ashamed of you. Tell me and I may go easy on you."
"It was me," a blond, blue eyed and burly young man named Tanner said shakily. "I accidentally left a side gate open when we were exercizing the prisoners in the garden. One escaped through it and then jumped over the wall. It was a female Mutant lizard, one of the newest experiments. I pursued it, but was unable to catch it."
"Did you see where it went?"
"No. I'm sorry, Boss."
"You should be," Shredder said icily. He nodded at his men and said, "Take him outside and execute him. Let this be a lesson to you that I will not tolerate failure."
"But you said you may go easy," Tanner whined, as he fell to his knees, two men lifting him up by the arms.
"I will not. I want my men to understand that they have a job to do and that I will not tolerate failure. Leave no evidence and throw him into the Hudson. He won't be missed, because he has no family."
The men dragged a screaming Tanner to his imminent demise.
"I want the rest of you scum to return to your jobs," Shredder said. "And don't disappoint me or you're next. Do you understand?"
The men, including Bebop and Rocksteady nodded and fled the room, grateful to be alive.
"Right," Shredder said, sitting down at his desk. "What shall I buy first with my newly acquired wealth? I know. A private jet. I've always wanted one of those."
He booted up the Internet and began browsing ads of private jets, finally deciding on one that had belonged to a Chinese billionaire.
XXXXX
Mikey had eavesdropped outside the infirmary, when Don was talking to Splinter and his heart had crumbled when he'd heard what Leo and Raphael could be enduring.
Treated like sex objects and bred, Mikey thought dismally, as tears streamed down his cheeks. We have to find them, but why didn't anyone tell me that? Why do they keep treating me like a baby and that I'm too naïve to understand anything? I'm not and I'm not stupid. I'm fed up of being babied. I want to be treated like my brothers! I have a right to know what's going on, instead of always being kept in the dark.
He cast his mind back to a happier time. His birthday a few months prior. It seemed like just yesterday, when they'd all been together. One united and happy family and there'd been no signs of the impending darkness and blight that was to befall them.
FLASHBACK: APRIL 28
"Hey, guys," Mikey said, as they gathered around the kitchen table, devouring the chocolate and orange birthday cake Raphael had made. Donnie and Leo's lemon meringue pie was to be eaten the next day. Casey and April couldn't make it, because they had a prior engagement, but would be there the next day. "Am in indispensable?"
"Why are ya askin' that, Mike?" Raphael asked.
"Everyone seems to have a role on the team. Leo's the leader, you're the brawn and Don's the brains. I just feel like I don't count. Like, what's my role?"
"Yer our sunshine and that's enough, Mike. We'd be lost without ya. Ya make us smile and yer just as important as the resta us."
"Really?" Mikey asked in disbelief.
"Yeah," Leo replied. "Mikey, you're the glue in our family. It would fall apart without you and you're our light. I'm sorry we gave you the impression you're not needed, but you are. If I ever feel down just spending time with you gladdens my soul."
"Really?" Mikey asked again.
"Yeah. You're my best friend and favorite brother."
"You don't have favorites, Leo," Mikey said and laughed. "You tell that to everyone."
"Heh. You're loved and valuable. Never forget that, little brother."
"Yeah," Donnie said and patted Mikey's arm. "You're my best friend, Mikey. I love you more than all the coffee in the world. You're my confidante and my oasis when times are rough."
"Aw. I'm going to cry," Mikey sniffed, touched by the comments. "I didn't know I meant that much to you guys. I thought I drove you crazy and you were fed up of me."
"Ya do, Mikey," Raphael said and lightly punched his arm. "But in a good way and we would never wanna be without ya. I tease ya, but I don't mean it maliciously. It's just brotherly tease, ya know. I think the world of ya and of Leo and Don. Leo, don't let it go ta yer head. Yer already a stuck-up dick," Raphael said and grinned, when he saw Leo scowl at him. "But I love ya all. Yer my brothers, my family, my universe and I would die without ya. Besides, who else would wanna cope with me?"
"No one!" Leo said. "I pity the woman that ends up with you, Raph."
"Heh. She'd be lucky ta have such a drop-dead gorgeous guy like me," Raphael said and smirked.
Leo rolled his eyes and said, "Man, your head is so big I'm surprised it hasn't burst."
"Yer just jealous that I'm such a hunk and yer average," Raphael retorted.
"Average? I'm better than you at everything, Raph. That's why I'm leader and you're just….."
"Just what?" Raphael demanded, his green eyes narrowing. "Second best? Is that what yer gonna say?"
"Guys, please," Donnie said quickly and stood up. "No fighting. It's Mikey's birthday and remember what we just talked about. Family. We all love one another. Love makes the world go around. Come on, guys. Please."
"Fine," Raphael hissed. "But I want Leo ta take it back. He ain't better at everythin'."
"You're right, Raph," Leo said. "I'm terrible at being a drunk and of acting impulsively. You excel at them."
Raphael growled and stood up, his green eyes flashing, as his blood boiled at the insults.
"Leo!" Donnie yelled, which was rare for the mild-mannered genius, so everyone gawked. "Stop it. Apologize to Raph and let's enjoy Mikey's birthday with no more drama and snarkiness. Please. You guys are family. Hug one another."
Leo and Raphael stood up.
"I'm sorry, Raph," Leo said. "I do love you and that was out of line."
"Accepted, but I'm still sexier than ya."
"Fine. I'll let you indulge in your illusions."
"Leo!" Donnie said crossly.
Leo and Raphael hugged, the latter breathing in Leo's musky scent tinged with sandalwood and thinking it smelled heavenly.
What the fuck is wrong with me, Raphael thought in dismay? I think Leo smells awesome. Maybe I'm gay or somethin'? Fuck. I don't wanna let him go. Feels so good bein' so close ta him. Does he feel the same way? What's wrong with me? I can't like him. He's my brother. Fuck. I'm gonna go ta hell, ain't I? Ya can't like yer brother. Man, I'm so fucked up.
Raphael shook his head, pushing his embarrassing thoughts of Leo aside, extricated himself and said casually, "Anyone wanna watch a movie?"
"Sure. I'm game," Leo said. "You okay, Raph?"
"Peachy."
"I'm up for it," Mikey said. "But first a group hug. Please."
The brothers hugged.
Raphael inhaled Leo's heady scent again and deemed it magnificent, the aroma making him feel dizzy. He sighed and took a deeper whiff.
Yep. I'm definitely attracted ta Leo, but why, Raphael wondered? He ticks me off all the time, so why would I want him? I don't get it.
They disengaged.
"We'll clear up," Donnie said. "You and Mike go and pick a movie, Leo. See you shortly."
"Great," Mikey said. "I'm choosing a horror."
"Sure," Leo said and went to the lounge, followed by Mikey.
Donnie looked at Raphael and saw that he had a dreamy expression on his face.
"You okay, Raph?" Don asked.
"Yeah. Just thinkin'."
"About Leo?"
"Yep. No!" Raphael said and blushed, seeing he was caught out. "Hell no."
"What's wrong with Leo?"
"We're brothers, Donnie. It'd be twisted and repulsive."
"Yeah, but we don't have other options, Raph."
"I'm straight anyway and if I were gay I wouldn't pick Leo! He's such an uppity jerk and so full of himself."
"Sounds like you. You guys would be great for one another."
"Drop it," Raphael snarled. "I'm straight, Donnie! I swear I am. I don't fuckin' fancy Leo!"
Mikey had wanted a soda and had heard the last part of the conversation when he entered the kitchen.
"What's this about fancying Leo, Raph?" Mikey asked.
"Leave it alone, Mikey," Donnie warned. "Okay, Raph, I'm sorry. I got the wrong idea. Can we please all get along now?"
"Fine," Raphael said. "But bring it up again and ya'll eat solid foods for a month, Donnie. Capiche?"
"Roger."
Mikey got his soda and they all went to the lounge, spending a quiet evening watching movies. The prankster noticed that Raphael occasionally snuck glances at Leo, but said nothing, not wanting another outburst from the hothead.
XXXXX
Later that night, Mikey went to Raphael's room to borrow a comic.
The temperamental turtle was lying in his hammock and leafing through a motorcycle magazine.
"Hey, Raph, can I borrow a comic?" Mikey asked, picking one up from a stack on the desk.
"Sure thing."
"Hey, I just wanted to say that whatever your sexuality is I will always love you."
Raphael frowned, raised an eye brow quizzically and said, "My sexuality? What are ya blabbin' 'bout?"
"Um, if you were gay it wouldn't bother me. You'd still be my brother and I would love you."
"But I ain't gay."
"I'm just saying if you were. You're my little brother and I will always love and support you."
"Thanks. Listen, I'm straight."
"Raph, you're my best friend and we tell one another everything, so if anything bothers you, you can always come to me. Remember that, even if you're gay and had the hots for Leo or something. I wouldn't tell anyone and I wouldn't judge you. I know we're brothers, but we're not going to get girls or find mutant turtle girls, so us brothers hooking up makes sense."
"For ya!" Raphael spat. "The idea's disgustin'. I like chicks and I'm gonna get a chick someday. I can do it, ya know. I got the looks and I wouldn't want Leo if I liked guys. He's a spaz."
"I'm just saying….."
"I get it, but I'm straight, Mike, okay? Are ya?"
"Absolutely."
"Cool."
"I'm going then. Goodnight, little brother. I love you."
"Love ya too, squirt."
"Squirt? I'm older than you."
"I know. Just love callin' ya it. Sleep well, Mikey. Thanks for always bein' here."
"No worries, Raphie. That's what brothers are for. Night," Mikey said, as he walked to Raphael's hammock and then touched his forehead to his brother's.
Mikey then left the room, believing his brother and had never brought it up again.
BACK IN THE PRESENT: NOVEMBER 26
Mikey marched into the infirmary and said, "Dad, it's high time you and everyone else keep me informed and to stop treating me like a naïve baby, who is incapable of understanding anything."
"What are you talking about, Michelangelo?" Splinter asked.
"I'm always uninformed, because you don't think I can handle mature stuff. That's not true. I'm capable of handling anything. I'm stronger, smarter and more mature than you think. Don't tell me you're trying to shield me from darkness or harm. I don't want that. I want to be treated like my brothers and that means being included in everything. The good and the bad. For goodness' sake, I'm older than Raph and I have every right to know what happens to my family. How would you feel if you were in my shoes?"
"I'd be disgruntled too," Donnie said. "But we don't do it to rankle you, Mikey. You're our light and our happiness and we want to make sure you never go to the dark side. You know what I mean?"
"Yeah, but I want to know everything when it comes to our family," Mikey said. "They're my brothers too and I deserve and need to know."
"You're right, Michelangelo," Splinter said. "Forgive an old man for trying to protect his son, but I will treat you the same as your brothers from now on."
"Thank you, Dad. So I heard some of your conversation," Mikey said. "Leo and Raph are possibly being held captive and bred and treated like sex objects."
"That is my fear and that they are facing enemies deadlier than we have ever faced before. Enemies that'll test their limits and possibly break them. If so, they may never recover from their ordeal, but another challenge is that we don't even know where they are or who these enemies are."
"Have you tried contacting Leo on the astral plain?"
"I have, but no success. I'll keep trying."
"Mikey, it's dark now, so you can go and meet the Mutanimals," Donnie said. "I'll stay with Dad."
"Got it," Mikey said and left the room.
XXXX
Mikey left the lair. Destination: the Mutanimals' abode. April and Casey had gone home for a change of clothing and would meet him there.
We have to find the guys, Mikey thought. Damn. I already miss them so much.
XXXXX
Cassie was nearly at the woman's shelter, when she was accosted by four knife-wielding stocky men, who stared at her menacingly. There was no one else around.
Frightened, but determined not to show her trepidation, Cassie said, as she rolled her eyes, "You think I'm scared? Hardly. I can wipe the floor with you clowns and I will."
"Oh. She's a wiseass, huh?" one goon said. "Don't be silly, girly. You could never defeat us. Look at us and look at you. You must only weigh one hundred and twenty-five pounds and we're close to nine hundred easy. You're no match, so why don't you be a good girl, give us your belongings and we might let you go?"
"I love a challenge," Cassie said, shaking her long mane. "You should remember that the bigger you are, the harder you fall."
The men gave her a dark look and advanced.
Cassie leapt high into the air, but she wasn't counting on any dirty tricks.
One of the men pulled out a Glock and fired, the bullet slamming into her chest, her blood gushing out like a river.
She shrieked in pain and shock, falling to the floor, her blood pooling around her.
"You can never beat a gun," one man said sneeringly, as he helped himself to her purse.
"You played dirty," Cassie croaked in agony. "You have no honor."
"Who needs honor when there's money?" another villain said and chuckled. "Let's go, guys. It's likely she'll bleed out, because few come to the back streets."
The men left, leaving a moaning Cassie.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd die alone in the backstreets, Cassie thought. I have to try and move and find help. I don't want me and my child to die. Have to move.
She summoned up her bravado and began to crawl, praying that a miracle happened and that someone came upon her.
But after only a few meters, her strength failed her.
She flopped to the ground and closed her eyes.
XXXX
Mikey took the back streets to the Mutanimals, like he always did.
The prankster paused when he saw a prone body a few feet away and immediately ran towards it.
He bent down, checked Cassie's pulse and said, "She's got a pulse, but barely and has lost a lot blood, judging from the blood trail behind her."
Mikey gently rolled Cassie over and said, "Looks like a gunshot wound. I think she needs a transfusion. I can't take her to a hospital. I'm taking her home to Donnie. He can help and I'll give a transfusion if the stored blood we have isn't enough."
He picked Cassie up, jumped down a manhole and ran until he reached the lair.
XXXX
Mikey soon reached the lair and yelled, "Donnie, I need some help."
The genius ran in the direction of his brother's voice and said, "Mikey, what on earth is going on?"
"I found this girl in the back streets. Can you help her? Please."
"I don't know, Mikey," Donnie said, as he took an injured Cassie. "It appears she's lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion. I'm not sure we have enough blood supply."
"Please, Donnie. You have to try. I'll give blood if necessary. Please. Look at her. She's so young and…You have to help her."
"All right. Bring her to the infirmary."
Please make it, girl, Mikey thought, as he went to the infirmary, followed by Donnie.
XXXX
"What's going on?" Splinter asked, when he saw his sons enter the infirmary with Cassie.
"Mikey found a wounded girl, who needs medical attention, Dad," Donnie said. "I'm not sure I can help, but I'll try. Mikey, place the girl on the stretcher and let's see what I can do."
Mikey placed Cassie on a stretcher.
Donnie inserted a narrow tube into her vein in her arm, hooked her up to a drip and said, "Mikey, I need lots of towels, alcohol, scissors and thread. I have my surgical knife.
Mikey got the items, returned a couple of minutes later and said, "She will be okay, right?"
"I don't know," Don said, as he sterilized Cassie's wound with the alcohol.
Mikey watched anxiously, as Don then cut into Cassie's abdomen and dug around with the knife for the bullet.
Don found the bullet, extracted it, placed it in a metal tray on a desk and said, "The bullet missed her heart thank goodness."
He checked for further injuries, finding none, but discovering that her unborn baby was dead. Shaking his head sadly, Donnie gently extracted it and placed it on the metal tray.
"What's that?" Mikey asked, looking at the foetus.
"She was pregnant," Donnie explained. "Judging by the size, I reckon three months along. Poor girl."
"Yeah. What a tragedy a parent should never have to endure. I'd be a wreck if that happened to me. I imagine she will be."
The genius nodded, stitched Cassie up and then sterilized her wound again.
Now it was time for the transfusion.
Donnie checked the blood bags in the freezer and attached one to the drip.
"Whose blood did you use, Donnie?" Mikey asked.
"Yours and then I'll use Raph's if need be. I'll need you to give blood to replace it later."
"No worries."
Mikey's blood slowly flowed into Cassie's IV.
"How long will this take, Donnie?" Mikey asked.
"Could take up to four hours, but if it's going well and she doesn't show any bad reactions to it, I could speed it up."
"Cool. I hope it's a success. By the way, you need to contact the guys and tell them why I didn't pitch."
"I will."
Please let this pretty girl make it, Mikey thought, as he studied Cassie. She looks like an angel and is way too young to die. And who knows, maybe she could even date one of us? That would be amazing!
A/N The last month and a bit has been really difficult, but I'm back and getting stronger every day. Thank you to all for your support and encouragement. It means so much.
Cassie is inspired by my sweet and gorgeous dog, Cassie. I thought it would be a fantastic way of honouring her.
Will Cassie make it and will she fall for Mikey? How will she fit in with the Hamato's? And will she tell them who she is?