Chapter 14
Michelangelo smiled at Emry as she walked next to him making idle chatter. They could have passed Donatello a thousand times and Mike wouldn't have known. He had been paying little attention to much else aside from the melodic tones of the woman's voice, the sway of her hips, and the graceful way she practically floated along. She was like a song. Pleasant, soft, and sweet.
Leonardo on the other hand was seething. Quietly glowering down the street, the three were now walking along. They had checked the keep, the library, the gardens, Min's work room beneath the keep, and Min's apothecary shop and clinic, only to find Min was missing as well. And that was all he needed right now. Min missing along with his brother. "Are you sure you know where to look for them?"
"Well," Emry chirped, "I am not sure they are in the same locations. But I know my sister. We will talk to some people, like Issabelle, and see if they have seen her."
"Issabelle?" Leo questioned.
"Yes. She is a rabbit, like your friend, Usagi. She is due to have her baby any day now. There is a good chance Min is paying her a visit. And perhaps Min has seen Donatello."
"I'm not sure this is the most sound lead." Leo grumbled.
"Got a better Idea, dude?" Mikey asked.
Leo frowned but continued to follow the chattering pair. He had kind of liked Emry. Found her sweet and charming. But he found the current attention she was giving Mikey… annoying. He wasn't sure which he was finding more aggravating. The missing sibling, the missing woman, the flirtatious brother, the smiling woman walking elegantly in front of him, or the fact that he felt like he had lost complete control of this entire excursion.
Emry came to a sudden stop giving the road ahead a confused look then suddenly was shoving Michelangelo to the side of the road. Followed by Leonardo forcefully pulling their escorts out of the road.
"Wow, I like you but maybe we should get to know each other a bit more first." Mikey joked as he stumbled to the side of the road. Earning himself a glare from Leo.
If Emry had heard him she didn't say anything as her attention was on her family's coach as it clattered by at a high speed.
Leo watched the coach pass and turned to Emry, "Wasn't that…"
"Yes." Emery stated worry filling her expression. "Something is wrong."
Mikey looked between Emery and Leo's worried faces, "Then why are we sitting here, let's go." He grabbed Emry by the hand and pulled her behind him while pushing Leo into a run.
"Emry!" Someone called from behind the trio.
Emery pulled her hand from Mikey's and turned to see her twin calling after her, followed by her older sister, brother, Raphael, and his lagging escort.
"What's going on?" Emry asked as her siblings caught up to her.
"We were at the pub…" Rayen started.
"Then the coach came roaring by." Layden interrupted. "You haven't heard anything?"
"No. But Min is missing." Emry Explained.
"You guys find Don?" Raphael asked Leo.
Leo shook his head. "No."
"What kind of man is your brother, Mr. Hamato?" Lyra frowned at Leonardo.
Leo gave Lyra a surprised look. "Donnie? He's… he's" He moved his hands about as he looked for the right word.
"A nerd." Raphael stated.
"Ya." Leo said with a sigh. Having no better way to define his brother at the moment.
"What's a nerd?" Emry asked quietly, concern etched across her face.
"Ummm…" Leo thought about it for a moment. "Well, you know how Min is…"
"Quarky?" Emry asked
"Ya, but also…really smart." Leo continued
"And kinda… distracted." Mikey offered. He hadn't really met Min yet but he knew what a nerd was.
The sister's nodded.
"That's a nerd." Raph stated bluntly.
"Well then…" Lyra started. "I suppose he is not the cause of this."
"I highly doubt it." Leonardo agreed.
"Good, well…Lets go see what is going on." Lyra gave Leo an apologetic look for accusing his brother of anything unscrupulous then led the way quickly up the road. The three escorts struggling to keep up after group.
The coach had barely come to a stop before Donatello quickly stepped from it carrying the softly fussing infant to his chest, rubbing her little back through linens in an attempt to help keep her warm.
Min fallowed, close on his heals, carrying a basket with damp fabric and coals that no longer held enough heat. "Go to the kitchen and sit Infront of the hearth. I will fetch my father." She instructed as the entered keep.
Donatello gave a quick nod and hurried to through the dining hall and in to the kitchen. Then sat him self down in the middle of evening kitchen chaos not giving two shits if one of the cooks barked at him or not.
Which the head cook did. "What do you think you are doing?" The furry, literal, bear of a woman snapped. Though her upset drained away as she watched the unwelcome guest lean a tiny terapinian infant forward in his hands trying to get her closer to the warmth of the fire.
"Careful now. You do not want to cook the child." The woman sat next to Donatello. "Do you have any idea what you are doing, young man?"
Don shook his head. "Not really." He admitted. "I know I need to moisten the yolk sack and keep her warm, but…"
The bear nodded, barked out some orders to bring water, fresh linens, and to feed the fire. She also sent Lia to get Lady Ming.
The baby was wrapped snuggly, but carefully, then snuggled in to the cook's thick, furry, warm arms. "There, there." The once gruff sounding woman cooed softly, as Donatello fretted over the child.
A kitchen of round eyed, smiling women crowded the turtle and his new charge. All wanting to get a glimpse at the tiny child.
Lord Maru stood in his study glowering at a candle holder that sat atop his desk. He was listening to his captain's report on the unexpected goings on of the day, and with each word his mood soured.
"With respect, it is time something is done about your foolish daughters, sir. Their behavior has escalated and…"
Lord Maru's glare shifted to his captain's face. "Do not speak to me about behavior, Jayden. Your conduct has not been impeccable."
"Is a woman, a drunk woman, not to be held accountable for the temptation she creates?" Jayden defended. "She struck me today, sir. And when a soldier strikes a commanding officer…"
"I am aware the punishment, Jayden."
"They are out of control, sir. It does not look good for you, respectfully."
As if to punctuate Jayden's point, Min burst through the door without so much as a knock. "Father!" She exclaimed through heaving breaths. She had run to the study. "You are needed in the kitchen."
"Can you not see that he is speaking with…" Jayden attempted to chide the woman.
"Yes, yes. You are so very important, Jayden." She said as she waved him off, in too much of a hurry to care what he had to say. She then looked at her father urgently. "You are needed in the kitchen, father." She then hurried from the room.
Lord Maru stared at the door way in disbelief for a moment. Perhaps Jayden was right… perhaps his daughters were out of control. Good lord how was he ever going to convince this Hamato clan to merry them?
Min's face shown back in the door way. "Now, father. Quickly."
Lord Maru sighed. "We will finish this conversation later, captain."
"But…"
"Later." The Lord commanded as he followed his daughter out of the room and down the hall.
He had to Jog to keep pace with her. "What on earth is so pressing, Min?" his tone did nothing to hide his frustration.
"I had business in water gate." Min started as she hurried down stairs. "Donatello came with me."
"Donatello? You do mean Mr. Hamato." Lord Maru frowned.
Min rolled her eyes. She was all out of propriety. "There are four Mr. Hamatos father. How are you to know which one I am speaking of without some level of informality. Anyways, we were seeing a patient in water gate…"
"Yes, about that. The man was missing all day because he was with you… in water gate…"
Min rounded a corner so quickly she almost pushed her father into it. "Yes father. Do try to keep up I am running out of time to give you all the information."
"And I am running out of patience." Lord Maru frowned.
Min stopped Infront of the kitchen door way. "Then I suppose it is a good thing I am the doctor." She quirked a cheeky grin at her father before entering the surprisingly quiet kitchen, followed by her father.
The kitchen staff, joined by Lady Ming ming, all stood in front of the fire, huddled around Donatello, cooing and the infant in his arms.
"We seen to have acquired an infant." Min stated softly before approaching the huddle.
Her father looked hat her in shock as his brain flew all the possible ways an infant would come into the world and into the arms of this man while in the company of his daughter. "This is exactly why you are supposed to have an escort!"
All the women in the room blinked at him. Donatello raised an eye ridge. No one seemed to follow Lord Maru's logic at the moment.
He was prepared to explain vehemently to his brilliant yet clueless daughter when the kitchen door flew open and the rest of the homato brothers, Min's older sisters, and a handful of escorts (who were trying not to pass out or throw up from their attempt to keep up with the warriors and surprisingly fit gardener.) all piled into the kitchen. Everyone, except to escorts who only wanted to breath, was asking a million questions a minute. Everything "from who died" to "where were you?" and "is there food?" was asked. But all went silent with the soft whimper that floated up from the bundle in Donatello's arms.
"Is that a baby?" Lyra spoke first.
"Yes." Lady Ming ming gushed "And she is beautiful."
Donatello was gently bouncing the infant in his arms as the sisters all crowded around him to see.
"OH, she is beautiful!" Emry grinned as she reached in to folds of fabric.
"You should wash your hands first." Don stated softly.
Emry stopped and looked to Min, who nodded her agreement.
All three girls rolled their eyes and made their way to the wash basis.
"So, you graduated from "salvaging" car parts to steeling babies. That's quite a leap Don." Raph stated as he eyed the infant from a distance.
"I didn't steal her." Don defended.
Min tilted her head to the side in consideration. "Depends on your definition of steal I suppose."
"You can not steal what someone else has thrown away." Donatello frowned as he cuddled the baby a little closer.
Min sighed. "The infant was delivered very early."
"Intentionally." Don grumbled.
"Is that why she is so small?" Leonardo asked.
"Yes." Min answered, and then turned to her father. "She needs our help father. She is going to need round the clock care from someone experienced."
"Unjin still practices I believe." Lady Ming Ming offered. "I don't think the twins would have survived with out her."
"Fighters from the start, huh?" Michelangelo smiled as he gave Rayen a playful nudge.
She rubbed her arm and raised her eye ridge at him as Emry giggled.
"Min, what you are asking for does not come cheap." Lord Maru stated. "Why are you wishing to save this child that the mother did not even want? You have done these kinds of deliveries before haven't you?"
Min eyed Donatello as he remained huddled over the baby. He did not lookup at her as he waited for her answer, and she wasn't sure why she wanted him to.
"None that lived more than a few moments. And none that had someone with the courage to fight for them."
Donatello looked up at her then, a small smile on his lips. He couldn't be too hard on her. She was helping him after all and it wasn't like he had put much thought into it before he had held the baby in his arms, looked down at her helpless and needing. They were really not to different, he and Min, and he couldn't currently fathom how to change the way things were done. Or how to help the woman that sought out this kind of thing. Because help is what they needed, not condemnation. Min was right about that. They had the odds stacked against them. What else could one expect. No, right now all he could do was try to help this tiny baby.
"I am prepared to give up the dowery that comes with my bride." Donatello addressed Lord Maru. 'I am told that should be enough."
Lord Maru Gave Donatello a surprised look, as it was a hefty amount that would cover this child's care four times over. "It would." He answered. "But I will remind you that you have not chosen a bride."
Donatello considered this for a moment, glancing briefly between the sisters before holding Mins gaze for a second, then turned his attention back to Lord Maru. "I don't think it is fare for me to request one of them be a martyr for my cause. So I choose which ever will have me."
Lord Maru snorted "You would leave the decision to the woman?"
"Yes."
Maru shook his head at the madness. "And if none of them will have you?"
"I will." Min spoke even before she realized the worded had left her mouth. Perhaps it was the way he had looked at her when she had run the ocean water over the babe's feet, the selfless ness in his actions now, or even… damn she didn't know… and she always knew. Perhaps that was why. For the first time in a long time she questioned herself and she needed to know why.
Everyone was staring at her. "Well, what are we all standing around staring at me for? Donatello has a bride, and there for the dowery to spend. Someone fetch Unjin."
"I will." Lia announced form among the kitchen staff before she ran from the kitchen.
Min sat next to Donatello and began checking over the baby's needs.
"Are you sure about this?" Donatello asked quietly. Though everyone was huddled close enough to hear.
Min looked into his chocolate brown eyes and found he had as much uncertainty as she did. And so she answered the only way she knew how, honestly. "Not at all."
Donatello's small smile and slow nod brought her an amount of certainty. If she was to be questioning things at least she wouldn't be seeking answers alone.
"So…" Michelangelo whispered, mostly because everyone else was at the moment. "What's the little nugget's name?"
Everyone looked to Min, who immediately looked to Donatello, who looked down at the baby girl. "Tess. Her name is Tess, after Tessla." His attention fully on baby Tess, "And just like Tessla, you will do great things."
And this Narrator has to say I rather like that he named me after Tessla. I mean, it is rather fitting for someone that has gotten to learn not just about electricity but the convergence of it, space time, and the quantum sciences… well, really that is just a part of Time mastery… but that is a bunch of sciency mumbo jumbo. And that's not why you are here, are you?
