DREAMLESSLY17, WOLFJADE28, 5seedapple, Tahti Anna, HunnyBunny95, rebecca2200, Theinzmann111, Nimue Tsukikoi, Sunstar Writer, kmm92886 and gossamermouse101
Thank you for reviewing and following this story ! You guys are the best!
Trying to balance a full time job, school, social life AND write is really not working out for me if you haven't notice. T-T
I tried to make this chapter long for you guys but I didn't do so good -_-
Anywho thank you for waiting patiently!
I don't proofread my chapters! Lol I just dish them out as I write them cause I'm too lazy to do it!
Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT. But I do own my OCs!
Enjoy!
They headed back to the Antonio's pizzeria where as soon as they got there more people waited for them. Even Jack was up and awake.
Catharine was the first to launch herself at Donatello as he walked through the door followed by Skyler who ran into Raphael's arms, her hands skimming over his skin no doubt checking for injuries. April and Casey were cheering and congratulating them on their victory and Master Splinter looked happy that his sons were well. Their celebrating was cut short when they saw Slash looking around with narrowed eyes, searching the place with his fists clenched tightly.
"Where's Anna?" He immediately questioned when he didn't see her in the group.
"Uh…who?" Casey confused.
"Anna. Where. Is. She?" He growled at him.
"That's the woman you brought back with you right?" Casey asked nervously at the change of attitude.
"Yes" he snarled "Now where is she" he said trying to control his anger.
"She was here when you left—" April started.
"She left" Master Splinter spoke up. Slash's head snapped towards him.
"Left? Where?" His eyes narrowed.
"I do not know, but she was quite insistence that she needed to leave" Splinter said calmly.
"You let her go! Just like that?!" He roared.
"Slash you need to calm down!" Kurtzman told Slash.
"I'm sure she's fine Slash, we took down the Kraang, the city's safe again for now and she should be too" Donnie tried to cheer him up.
Slash shook his head "I gotta go find her" he growled and ran out the room.
"W-we should g-go help him?" Skyler asked softly.
"No, this is between him and his mate" Splinter shook his head with a sigh.
Everyone shifted awkwardly in place not sure of what to do.
"Hey! What are we standing around for? You guys just saved NewYork City and possibility the world we should celebrate!" Casey said trying to lighten up the mood.
"You're right Casey" April smiled "I'll go start making some pizzas!"
"Wait up April, Mikey and I will help you!" Kayla smiled and tugged along and all to willing Mikey.
"We'll set up the table" Donnie offered and Cat nodded.
"I'll see if I can find something to play some tunes" Raph said running to the back to find a stereo or even a small boombox.
Joshua stood beside Splinter watching as everyone else set things aside to make more room for dancing and soon the party started.
"Don't you think it is a bit soon to start calling victory?" Joshua commented quietly to Splinter.
"Perhaps…but they need this" Splinter replied "They have been through a lot"
"Agreed" Joshua nodded "However I feel like there is more yet to come and they need more training" he said softly. He wasn't there for the whole fight since he and his squad of solders were taking out the Kraang that were littered across New York City. But when he did get there he knew it was a pretty close call.
"Then we train them harder, prepare them for the worst" Splinter sighed.
Joshua said nothing and continued to stare at the group as they got along and let themselves relax. Splinter was right. He would let them enjoy themselves for now before the real training started.
Leo quietly made his way next to Nia pausing slightly mid-step.
"Nia? Can we…talk?" he said softly. She gave a small nod, following him the corner of the room to get a little privacy but still be in the same room.
"I'm sorry" Leo blurted out quietly "I now know why you were so upset with me, I didn't mean to make you think that you were weak and couldn't protect yourself…it just that…" He trailed off not sure how to explain himself.
"It's fine" her eyes soften at him.
"No it's—"
"Leonardo" she laced her hand with his "It's fine…the bond does that sometimes so it not entirely your fault" she smiled softly making him smile in return.
"I'm sorry too" she continued and looked to the ground making his head snap towards her in confusion.
"For what?"
"For how I reacted…I just" she sighed. "He used to say that all the time, that he would 'protect me' but all he did was more harm and it just set me off"
She cried silently knowing that if she made to much noise it would only get worst.
"I'll protect you but you have to learn how to listen girl" he tsked as the whip made contact with her skin again.
She shook her head at the memories. His eyes soften. He could tell that it had something to do with her past and it looked like to be a touchy subject for her.
"Hey, you don't have to say anything if you don't want to" He squeezed her hand reassuringly "But just know if you need help with anything, I'll be there for you" he promised pulling her closer to him.
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Closing her eyes to gather her thoughts before she opened them again and turned to face him.
"I was a slave before Elder Sylph rescued me and took me in" she whispered. His eyes widen in shock "I was only 6, my father, my real father" she clarified "Owed a lot of money, we didn't have much and he was desperate to provide for my mother and I, no matter how many times my mother told him it was ok and that we would get by with what we had. That wasn't good enough for him so he went behind my mother's back. He went and got a loan from some people" she said the word with distaste and Leo knew that they weren't good people "When it came time to pay them back, he didn't have enough, he pleaded for more time and they only gave him a week. It wasn't enough time for him to get the rest of the money…they gave him an option, trade me or his life" she trailed off.
Leo could feel his anger rise. How could her father just trade her like that?
"Nia—"
"He refused and they killed him before he could even fight back" His anger for her father quickly faded as she continued "My mother quickly followed after him the pain from the broken bond being too much for her. They thought she had fainted in fear so they shot her in the head to be sure and then they kidnapped me, there wasn't much I could do. I was only 6 and my powers had yet to develop" She rolled up her sleeves slowly her eyes lingering on the scars before she spoke again.
"They made me do simple things at first like cleaning, as I grew older they taught me more and if I messed up or didn't do it to their expectation. I was whipped" she said softly "I always tried to block the blows but there were times I wasn't quick enough…" She trailed off. Leo clenched his fists in anger. That only meant she had more scars underneath her clothing. "They didn't care what they hit as long as I was being punished and that I learned my lesson. My arms were easiest to wrap and heal by myself that's why I let them whip them the most" she sighed lightly tracing over the scars.
"When I was 10, I had accidentally spilled tea on a client. I was whipped and locked in my room for three days, when I was let out I was sent to get food for the guard dogs" she paused looking cross the room. Leo followed her gaze and saw her staring over at Kayla and Joshua as they laughed lightly as Master Splinter sighed but smiled softly at his youngest son's antics.
"I was so hungry" she continued and he gave her his full attention again "…and I couldn't spend the money they had giving me for the dog food, so I resorted to stealing an apple nothing expensive but enough to fill me for awhile"
"I was caught" she chuckled lightly.
"By Joshua" Leo said finally understanding how she met Kayla and her father.
"No, by Kayla" she smiled recalling the memory.
"Oooh you're stealing! Daddy she's stealing!" The small dark haired girl with different colored eyes shouted all while pointing at her.
"Snitch!" She immediately snarled at her and pushed the girl harshly in anger. Her eyes widen in panic as the girl's father turned to look at her with a slight frown on his face.
She ran.
Though it wasn't very far until she felt a hand wrap around her arm. She hissed in pain at the firm grip he had on her. It wasn't to hurt her but to keep her in place but he didn't know of her wounds. The apple tumbled to the ground and he picked it up with his free hand.
"Let me go!" She struggled to get away.
"Where are your parents?" He questioned with narrowed eyes. She yelped in pain. Her struggling re-opening her wounds and blood could slowly be seen seeping through her long sleeve shirt. She watched in horror as his eyes widen at the site.
"Please let me go" she pleaded softly. He crouched down to her level.
"Did they do this to you? Your parents?" He questioned. His words sounding disgusted by the thought.
"No!" She immediately shook her head "Mind your own business" she snapped and tugged again, ignoring the pain.
She had wasted to much time already and she had no doubt in her mind that he would send his goons to track her and drag her back to the warehouse like he always did.
"Fine if you aren't going to talk, I guess I'll just have to hand you over to the authorities" he shrugged.
She shook in fear. He had warned her, no, threatened her. That if the police were ever involved that he would kill her just like her parents.
"I won't do it again! Please!" She begged "I don't want to die" she whispered. His opened in alarm at her words and he loosened his grip on her. Grabbing her by the shoulders to steady her and calm her down.
"Hey, no ones is going to die, just tell me who is doing this" he said firmly.
"I can't! He'll find me! He'll kill me" she said in a panic.
"I promise no harm will come to you" he stated softly. She wanted to believe him. But he didn't know what he was capable of or how many men he had at his disposal. She didn't want them to get hurt because of her.
"You don't understand—"
"There you are" a voice sneered behind making her whole body freeze. She knew that voice. It was Riv. "The boss ain't too happy with you right now and he'll be even more pissed when I tell him you've been talking to strangers" he grinned maliciously.
"Who are you?" The man that been holding her stood up straight and pushed her behind him to shield her from harm.
"Don't. You'll make it worst" she whispered.
"Don't worry my daddy's got this, he's really strong" the girl told her as she also hid behind her father. She looked up at said man and saw him smiling down reassuringly at her.
"Look buddy this doesn't involve you. Now hand over the girl" Riv said extending his hand.
"I'm sorry you must be confused with someone else, these are my daughters" he smiled calmly.
"Is there a problem here?" The store manager came into the scene.
"Not at all this gentleman just confused one of my daughter for one someone he knew but as he can clearly see it wasn't and he was on his way out" the man said firmly leaving no room for argument. She watched Riv clench his jaw and turned to leave but not before throwing a glance her way, letting her know that he would definitely be hearing about this and she had messed up big time.
Once he was gone she pulled away from the man and his daughter.
"Why would you do that, he's going to be after you too now!" She cried.
He grabbed her hand and tugged her along with him down the aisle and going back to his shopping.
"You don't know what he's capable of"
He causally hummed ignoring her and continued to put cans of food into his shopping cart all while his daughter followed his lead.
"Do you like Corn Pops or Reese's puff?" The girl asked her holding out the two cereals to her.
"Listen to me!" She yanked her hand away.
"We are" the man stated "I just don't think it's anything to worry about" he shrugged "Kayla why don't you put both of them in the cart so she can try both of them"
"Ok!" Kayla eyes lite up.
"He'll kill you!"
"He can try" he snort in humor.
"Stop being a downer, if daddy says not to worry then you shouldn't" Kayla told her. She blinked at them flabbergasted. She didn't know what to say or think.
"You're both crazy"
"I'm not!" The girl pouted crossing her arms over her chest while her father laughed in amusement.
"Maybe a little" he grinned down at her "By the way I never asked for you're name"
She looked at him strangely "It's Nia, Nia Tate" she said softly.
"Well Nia, my name is Joshua Hale and this is my daughter Kayla" he smiled.
"What happen after that" Leo asked.
"They took me in after I told Joshua everything, he adopted me a year later"
"What about the man that kidnapped you, what happen to him?" he questioned.
"He took care of them like he said he would" she grinned.
"Nia, Leo come over here" Joshua waved them over as everyone crowded around him and Master Splinter all except the Mutanimals.
"Oh no! I know that look, that's the lecture look" Mikey said backing up as both Splinter and Joshua had a similar look on their face.
"Indeed it is Michelangelo" Joshua smirked at him "I have informed Master Splinter of your unique bond and we came to a decision that we gave you 'The Talk'"
They all blanched.
"Dad they already taught us the birds and the bees at school you don't need to do it" Kayla protest.
"Yeah! And Donnie and Master Splinter explained it to us a few years back" Raphael grumbled.
"Then think of this as a review, boys follow me, you too Casey" Joshua lead them to the back room.
"Girls this way" Master Splinter said walking away with his hands behind his back.
Once the lecture was done both groups met back in the main room. The boys slightly pale and nervous while the girls were blushing mad all except Catharine who was grinning madly and locked eyes with Donatello who took a step back and glanced over at Joshua nervously.
"Oh Don" she purred stepping closer to him.
"Not so fast" Joshua said pulling her by the back of her shirt "You and I are having a special talk" he said firmly taking her to the back room where he had taken the boys. A few minutes later Cat came out of the room with Joshua following behind her watching her carefully. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at the ground while grumbling and made her way to Donnie and leaned against his side.
The door slammed open and they all turn to see Slash wet and growling.
"Did you find her?" April asked.
And he couldn't help but snap at her "What do you think?" He snarled at her.
"Hey chill out man!" Casey glared.
"Chill out?" Slash hissed "My mate is out there without my protection!"
"You mean that woman was your mate?" April's eyes widen in surprise along with Casey and the rest of the girls.
"Catharine can't you find her?" Donatello asked her..
"I wish I could but I actually need to meet her to get a link to find her" She shook her head.
"Kind of like when I met April the reason I got a link with her was so I could meet you and when I did I got a link" she nuzzled him. "And the reason I got links with the Mutanimals is because they're your friends and I actually met them" she finished explaining.
"Fascinating" Dr. Rockwell said circling Catharine, examining her intensely that it began to make her feel uncomfortable.
"Back off" Donatello growled at Rockwell taking noticed as she pressed closer to his side.
"My friend, where you going?" Leatherhead called out to Slash as he began to leave again.
"To continue searching for her" he grumbled low.
"Slash, if she left…" Kayla began remembering how upset the woman had been when Slash brought her "…I don't think she wants to be found by you" she said quietly.
"I don't care" he snarled at them and left once more.
So you got a bit of Nia's past. I'll be include a past for all of them as the story progresses. Please review!