BTY Chapter 4
HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY KELLYELIZ :D
~*Leeann's P.O.V*~
I wake up in a daze, finding myself in an unfamiliar bed with unfamiliar surroundings.
Upon reflex I find myself taking in every detail of the darkened room. Like the dart board on the far wall and the couch at the foot of the black swathed bed I lay on. Theres a door to the left side of the bed though I don't think it's the way out.i blink as my eyes adjust to the darkness and find a desk, a tv against the back wall and a plain wood nightstand to my left.
Once I'm sure there are no people in the room I attempt to sit up, groaning when my ribs protest in earnest. Suddenly my eyes fly open and I remember every detail of the night before.
I sit there for a moment dazed, wondering if I'd possibly dreamt it all up or hallucinated it. Upon realizing that I'm only giving myself a migraine, I instead try to recall how I came to be in this room.
I remember Michelangelo and Liza forcing me to watch a movie with them before going to bed. it was kind of horror movie about two little girls and a ghost they called mama. at one part I remember hiding under the blanket then there's nothing. It's as though someone knocked me out. although I do vaguely recall the feeling of being carried, but not by who. just remembering the scent of sage and feeling calmed by it.
I try to sit up again, slower this time and succeed in making it up to my elbows. I'm just about to attempt throwing my legs off the side of the bed when a phone rings and I realize that the ringtone, Sugarland 'Down in Mississippi' is my mothers. I quickly follow the song, spotting my bag on the night stand. I curse as I realize I never called her last night. I reach in and pull out the device, answering the call.
"Hello?"
"Leeanna Kathleen Baker! Why didn't you call me when your plane landed?!" My mother shrills over the connection. I yank the phone away from my ear to protect my hearing.
"Sorry ma, I got caught up with-"
"What would be so important that you don't call your own mother to let her know you aren't dead in a ditch somewhere?!" She shouts, I'm thoroughly surprised that she can project her voice as loud as if she were in the room.
"Do you even realize how loud you're being right now?" I ask her, shoving my way to the side of the bed. I sitting up, biting my lip to hold back another groan.
The door creaks open loudly and I turn to shush the opener, seeing Donatello standing in the doorway unfortunately he's holding a myriad of medications in his hands and gauze that he's taking an inventory of as I do so.
"Good morning, I came up to ask you if you were hungry or in any pain from last night! If so I have a few remedies we could try" He says politely, despite my frantic movements. I face-palm and wait in the silence to see if my mother heard.
"Who was that? You've been in New York for less than twenty four hours and you've already had a one night stand?!" She screams into the phone, causing me to pull it away again. I groan and start trying to explain that Don is nowhere near a one night stand. Which causes her worse anxiety because 'if he's not a one night stand then did you have sex on your first date? Didn't I teach you better than that?! In this case this had better be a one night stand!'
I pinch the bridge of my nose as the door opens more to reveal a newly arrived Raphael in the doorway behind Donatello.
"I've got half a mind to get you a plane ticket back to Illinois! I can't believe you had a one night stand! I mean I wasn't exactly a prude when I was your age but I damn sure didn't have a one night stand the first night I moved out of your grandparent's house"
"I did not have a freakin' one night stand ma! Wait what?" I say in frustration, stopping when I hear my mom's admittance of being sexually active at my age. Suddenly Raphael's standing next to me, taking the phone from my hand without a word.
"Ma'am Leeanna was with Elizabeth, Brigit, my brothers and I all of last night. We helped them unpack their boxes and showed'em around da university. If you'll excuse us now It's time we went down to the cafeteria to eat breakfast" He says easily, my jaw drops at how good a liar he is. I hear my mom giggle over the phone and I roll my eyes, she has a soft spot for men with deep voice's. After a moment of conversation and introduction he says goodbye and hangs up, handing me back the phone.
"How'd you do that?" I ask incredulously, I slip the phone back into my bag and give him a half smile, curious as to how he pulled that off. He simply looks down at me and smirks.
"I'm just that good Doll" He says his tone cocky, I roll my eyes again and scoff.
"Don't call me Doll, Red" I say, smirking right back at him when he glares at me.
"Don't call me red" His smirk falls into a grimace and he glares at me a little bit, leaving the room.
"Geez, what a D.Q" at Donatello's confused expression I add "stands for drama queen"
"Don't let Raph hear you say that" Donatello says with a laugh, walking to where I sit on the side of the bed.
"But where's the fun in that?" I ask jokingly, Donatello chuckles and bends to pick me up. "No, I've had enough of being carried"
"But-"
"I think I can handle walking on my own, thank you though" Interrupt politely, holding my hand up to stop him. I push up from the bed, placing my feet on the floor. Quickly ignoring the shot of pain resonating from my ankle to my knee.
I grab onto Donatello's outstretched hand for support and stand. I gasp when my ankle give's out immediately and I fall to the side, forcing Donatello to catch me. He instantly puts a hand underneath my knees and back before I can protest and proceeds to lift me and head for the door. I bite my tongue around the argument fighting to come through and allow it, knowing it's stupid to refuse help when it's clearly necessary.
"I hate not doing things for myself" I think as Donatello reaches the metal staircase, I immediately begin to hear loud conversation downstairs.
"Leo and Brigit came back about an hour ago, before you ask I checked her and she's fine. A little hungover but I gave her an aspirin to calm the headache down. It should be in effect by now which is probably why it's so loud. Oh! she also brought her dog so I want you to be careful around him. Don't let him jump up on yo-" I clap a hand over Donatello's mouth to stop the flow of words as we reach the bottom of the stairs.
"I get it Don, relax" I say, laughing a little.
I take my hand away as we enter the kitchen area where the table is. I look over the seating arrangement. Liza and Michelangelo are sitting across from each other on one side of the table. They appear to be deep in a debate about DC and MARVEL comics and which superheroes are better. Leonardo is at the head of the table with Splinter across from him at the other end while Brigit sits to his left laughing at something I hadn't been in time to hear. Joey, Brigit's Golden Retriever, sits patiently next to her waiting for her to feed him or for her to drop something.
Raphael sits a seat away from her, two empty seats on either side of him. I notice with curiosity that there are two more chairs and a high chair. I have to wonder who the baby is and who he or she belongs to. Brigit turns from where she'd been trying to start a conversation consisting of more than one syllable with Raphael when Joey whines and nudges her elbow with his nose. her looking like she's about to scold Joey for begging. Instead though she catches a glimpse of Donatello and I and turns fully around, grimacing when she gets a clear view of me.
'Holy.. Now that's what I call a shiner!" She says, everyone looks away from their conversations except for Liza and Michelangelo.
"Thanks Brigit, just what I want to hear in the morning" I respond blandly, a small crooked smile on my face despite my best efforts to keep a straight face. Brigit stands and pulls out the seat in between her and Raphael. Donatello sets me in it and goes to the chair on Raphael's other side. I nod at Donatello in thanks and he returns it with a smile.
At this moment as I'm ingratiated into Leo and Bri's conversation. After a few moments of listening to the various conversations and eating a grand helping of pancakes and sausage Leonardo stands and clear's his throat.
"Now that everyone is here I'd like to propose an idea that Brigit and I had last night for our new allies" He says, I wait in expectation but he seems to be waiting for something. At this point I notice him watching Splinter.
"Go on my son" Splinter say's nodding for Leonardo to continue. Leonardo returns the nod cordially and smiles his thanks before speaking again. This reminds me of Brian and his fathers relationship back home. I wonder what he'd think of all this if I could tell him.
"Thank you Father, as I was saying we, meaning my brothers and father, are aware that the men who attacked you last night were members of a Syndicate called the Purple Dragons. Now because they have no doubt put a connection between the eight of us as they did with April. Brigit and I would like to suggest that we train them in ninjutsu or at least in self defense, until we know for sure they won't be in danger if they were to resume their lives and that the purple dragons won't actively target them. We being Raphael, Michelangelo and I. as Donatello is already training April." He concludes sounding slightly nervous. Donnie nods, rubbing his chin in thought which I've noticed him do often.
"It would be a disaster if they should be attacked again and be found unable to at least protect themselves. Needless to say it would have an ending much worse than yours" He gestures to me sympathetically. I find myself wanting to pound my head against the table at the sight and sound of pity from him but I refrain with great effort, giving him a stiff smile. I look to Splinter for his reaction and he too looks thoughtful, looking from Brigit, to Liza then finally to me.
"This is a thought I too have entertained" Splinter says in all simplicity, putting a hand to his chin in thought before raising his gaze to each of us in turn. I see where Donnie got the gesture now, He stares at my bruises steadily. "It would exhaust you mentally and physically. It will be the hardest thing you have ever done to date"
I look at Brigit and Liza, thinking of what could happen if they were caught off guard on their own. I sigh the gears turning, I'm the first to break the silence.
"Well I already practice boxing and Krav, and Elizabeth knows Ju Jitsu from her dad. I'm not sure about you Brigit but I do think this is a good idea" I say in seriousness, looking from each of my best friends and back again. Brigit nods, she's petting Joey distractedly as she thinks. Liza gives me a thumbs up with a goofy smile before going back to her debate with Michelangelo, Brigit nods again.
"I think it's a great idea! It'll help us defend ourselves and keep little missy here out of trouble for once" she says, sticking her thumb at me and then ruffling my hair. I squint an eye shut and push her hand off, frowning as I raise my eyebrow at her.
"I'm not that bad Brigit" I mutter, Liza watching the exchange with an amused look on her face.
"I think it'll be cool to learn to be a ninja turtle! You know without the turtle part of course" she says, laughing and rubbing the back of her neck at the second part of her statement. Splinter smiles good naturedly and nods.
"Then it is decided, After this meal I will assess each of your strength's and pair you each with one of my sons who will benefit your training most as a sparring partner. From here on you will address me as Master or Sensei" He says, putting an endpoint to the discussion. Donatello frowns and I feel like groaning because I have a good idea of what he's going to say.
"But Sensei, Leea can't be assessed right now. She isn't healthy enough at the moment to stand unaided let alone go through an assessment as vigorous as yours" Donatello admonishes doctoral concern in his tone. I have the unmistakable urge to bang my head against the table again in embarrassment. Again though I refrain from it, Brigit and Liza laugh.
"Donnie, if she weren't here right now she'd be beating the snot out of a punching bag at the local gym. Heck she had already bought a membership to the one closest the university three months before moving out here and that's after three months more of research on them" Liza says, giggling. Michelangelo looks at her in amused surprise after hearing her laugh.
"Well that was adorable!" he says, laughing then clapping a hand over his mouth as if to shove the words back into his head. Liza looks back at him and blushes at this, both turning away from each other.
Which causes me and Brigit to look at each other conspiratorially, knowing exactly what the reactions resemble. Suddenly Raphael speaks up with a growl, his voice loud enough that even Bri flinches.
"Why are we doin' this? Why are we goin' ta teach two randoms and some amateur boxer we barely even know how ta fight?" He asks, for a moment I can only stare wide eyed out in front of me. I can tell by the nervous looks of Brigit and Liza that they know I won't stay silent for long, and I don't.
"Excuse me?" I turn to face him, a peeved look on my face, unintentionally cutting off Master Splinter from whatever answer he might have given his son. Raphael looks at me, looking me up and down and smirks.
"Exhibit A, Little miss short stack here, so pathetic she couldn't even defend herself from one has been let alone two, fact is they're too weak ta handle our trainin-" He says, looking at Sensei and putting a hand condescendingly on top of my head. I grit my teeth, pushing to my feet and knocking his hand off of me.
"What do you mean Exhibit A? I was doing just fine last night before you came along Mr. Macho! Don't think for a second that just because you're bigger than us that you're better than us! We may be women but I sure as hell ain't an amateur" I say threateningly, poking him in the plastron to make my point, being sure to keep my weight on my uninjured foot. Raphael glares down at me and shoves my hand away. I hear a growl and I can only guess that Joey doesn't like the situation.
"Not only am I bigger then ya Doll, I am* better then ya so get that inta yer skull" He's say, moving his hand to poke me in the forehead, I grab his hand just before he can.
"One thing you should know about me Red, I don't much like when condescending jerks underestimate me 'fore they even know what they're dealin with. Second thing, I can take you any day, any time, so get that straight or we're going to have a problem" I say, my expression and tone deadly. The silence that transcends is deafening and for a short moment Raphael looks like he might retort. With a huff he checks himself and, turning around, strides away and into the room with a dojo style door.
I turn back to the group and find that the guys jaws have become unhinged. even Sensei looks considerably surprised.
"What?" I ask after a tense moment.
"I've never seen him that tame during an argument" Donatello says in obvious shock, Leo shakes his head.
"I've never seen him back down from an argument" Leo says, my eyebrows jump to my hairline.
"That was him being tame?" I ask, now it's my turn to be shocked.
The sound of an elevator door sliding open suddenly catches my attention and I look for the source of the sound. my eye's landing on a door I hadn't even seen before, standing in the open door with a baby cradled in her arm is a pretty girl around my own age with ringlet curly hair the color of fire. She wears a doctor's coat over a corseted purple top with a floral pattern along with grey jeans and black heel's. The baby has blue jeans and a baggy black hoodie on. The baby is laughing at something we must have missed, making me smile a little despite my still boiling blood.
Donatello jumps up from the table and strides over to the two. He kisses the woman on the cheek and gently takes the baby from her. He pulls the hood off to show a fringe of brown hair and green skin. I'm slightly surprised at this but I keep my emotions in check as Brigit and Liza get up to coo at the baby. Donatello looks to me, smiling apologetically.
"You didn't have the chance to meet Owen and April this morning but it's time for introductions anyway" Donatello smiles, bringing the baby over to me. I smile down at him, He looks just like a baby version of the turtles except with a full head of hair, and I can't help but smile. "This is Owen Albert Hamato"
"He's so cute!" I let Owen grab onto my finger and I giggle at him. He smiles up at me and opens his eyes causing me to gasp at their color
"Are his eye's really red?" I say tilting my head a little to see if I was imagining it, Donatello laughs.
"Actually they are! It's something that must have happened with the combination of Aprils DNA and mine. It's really quite fascinating to be honest, my theory is that-" I almost lose my smile as the beginnings of a boring medical lecture begin to pour from his mouth but then Donatello's interrupted by April.
"Well honey didn't you say that I was taking someone to the hospital?" She says sweetly, I smile for a moment but then I realize that I'm the only one who'd be taken to the hospital. Instantly my smile drops and shatters, Brigit groans my expression changes from happy to stubborn in a millisecond and Liza sighs.
"Here we go again" Liza murmur's just loud enough to be heard. Michelangelo watches Liza's exasperated expression in amusement.
"Not gonna happen, I ain't goin' to a hospital" I say stubbornly, My accent slipping into my voice. Don sighs, handing Owen to his mother and going into the dojo. For a moment I wonder why as Brigit stands and tries to reassure me that her and Liza are going to be with me as well and so not to worry about it.
"Don't get me wrong sweetie I love you guys but it's not going t-" I keep an eye on the dojo doors as Bri and Liza turn me away from it and feel an angry thrum as they're thrown open.
"Oh hell no" I say glaring as Raphael comes out of the dojo with a smirk on his face.
"Oh hell yes" he says and in the next three seconds flat, I'm slung over his shoulder and he's walking toward the elevator. I start to pound my hands against his shell angrily.
"Put. Me. Down. Now!" I shout through gritted teeth, kicking my feet as my hair falls over my face, nearly brushing the back of his knees. Raphael laughs as he opens the door to the elevator, April, Brigit, and Liza wasting no time in getting in despite the possibility of getting kicked in the face as I thrash.
Raphael laughs, and for a moment I'm so struck by it that I stop kicking and pounding on his shell. its so deep and jovial that it's almost as contagious as Liza's, and it hits me. He's enjoying this.
"Paybacks a bitch Doll, Don't ya think?" He says and by his tone I can just tell he's smirking. I snarl and grit my teeth.
"I'm not going to a hospital you got that Red?! It's not happening! And Do not call me Doll!" I retort in anger, Brigit and Liza groan.
"Why do you hate hospitals so much?" Raphael asks, sounding suddenly curious. I huff in aggravation, I refuse to let him in on one of my very few fears.
"She hate's them because she thinks that every time she sets foot in one something bad happens" Liza's voice resonates in the elevator as it jumps to a start. I feel us careening upwards at a stomach churning speed. It's all I can do just to attempt keeping the dizziness at bay
"Liz.." I say in a semi-nauseated warning, apparently she doesn't hear the warning in my tone.
"Oh yeah! She's deathly afraid of needles too!" She says as though my comment actually reminded her of that last part. I grit my teeth and groan as the elevator jolts to a stop and I hear the doors slide open. Raphael starts forward and I renew my struggles in earnest as he steps into a large garage area.
"Put me down right now or I will make you regret it" I growl at him, suddenly an idea forms in my head on how I can get him to let go and I give a smirk of my own.
I stop kicking and reach up to the top curve of his shell that's currently digging into my hip bones and grab it, pushing forward with a painful shove.
Suddenly I'm upright, the world pitch black as my hair falls around my face and then around my shoulders. Then, for a moment, I'm looking down at a very surprised Raphael.
Then in the span of a millisecond his expression changes to a smirk with a raised eyebrow. I realize that I have my hands on his shoulders and he's at waist level to me, his head pressed against my midsection firmly due to him having had to wrap his arms around my hips so as to not drop me and I blush furiously. At that moment he drops me a little but doesn't let my feet touch the ground all the way. just so we're at eye level and I feel my face darken a shade when I'm forced to look into his eye's. These which I've avoided doing since I was sat next to him at the table. Suddenly the playful smirk in his eyes dulls and he puts one arm around my waist and pulls me off balance. so that he's holding me under his arm and pain explodes in my midsection, I start to struggle again cursing with the pain as he continues to walk. "Damn you Red!"
"I'm already damned Doll" He says, his tone conspicuously serious and I have to wonder why he thinks that. Suddenly he twists the arm holding me by the waist up to tilt me up ruggedly and quickly puts an arm under my legs.
After a moment, throwing me into the back of van unceremoniously. I swear as Liza and Brigit, pile into the back and Raphael and April get into the front seat. She quickly starts the van, pulling out of the garage before I can try to get up and out of the van. Brigit gives me an apologetic look and Liza grins at me, forcing me to smile through my anger.
"I hate you guys, you know that right" I say, sitting up carefully. They laugh, telling me they love me too at the exact same time, causing me to chuckle. I see Raph look back at us through the corner of my eye with a small smirk on his face.
I look over at him and notice he's staring at me and right now I don't exactly care for it. What with looking like I just laid down and let a garbage truck run over my face
"What are you lookin at Red?"
"Your pretty half purple face doll" He says with a sarcastic wink. I blush suddenly and look away from him. I look out the window, tilting my head to the right so my hair falls like a veil to hide it from view.
I watch as building's pass by, the streets are somewhat empty and I realize that the sky is still dark. I look up to see if I can find stars but I see nothing but midnight blue sky and the roofs of buildings.
I hear the sounds of New York City in the early morning and I'm not surprised by the fact that I find them beautifully chaotic compared to my small hometown's odd silence. I do, in spite of myself, sigh at the absence of the stars I used to watch night after night back home though.
I lean my forehead against the cool glass of the window. I close my eye's for what feels like a moment but actually spans a good ten minutes. I realize this as the van slows and turns, forcing me to open my eyes in alarm at remembering the reason for this quiet morning drive in the first place. I look over at Raphael and see him struggling to pull on a black sweatshirt over a pair of dark blue jeans, he's already wearing a pair of combat boots. April looks at me pleadingly, as if begging me with her eyes to go quietly the rest of the way. I look past her to the windshield, we're parked facing an imposing structure with white walls and an emergency room sign. I shake my head, fear clawing its way up again as I press against the wall.
"Seriously guys I feel fine" I force my tone to be bright and positive as I look around at everyone's expressions. Brigit raises an eyebrow and before I can stop her she jabs me in the ribs with her finger "Son of a-!"
"See? Not fine, you're going" She says, authority in her tone. I glare at her as the door to the van opens on her side and Liza gets out quickly. Suddenly the door on my side opens swiftly and I fall backwards, having been leaning against it too heavily.
After a second of this a hand falls in underneath my back and knees, bearing upward as if I weighed nothing at all. I shake my head, between the initial dizziness of falling and the rush of fear induced adrenaline I got when I saw the hospital, Raphael almost looks like he's smiling. I'm about to start struggling again when he gives the back of my right knee a warning squeeze. I bite my lip, sighing I look back up at the hospital, forcing the memories that pop up in my head to submerge once again. Raphael looks at me rather suddenly and I jump, looking back at him.
"What?" I ask, my voice coming out meek and dry. The others walk a few feet away from us and I notice that Raphael wears a sweatshirts that zips up all the way to hide his face. all except for his eyes, which blaze with emotion I haven't seen before from him and that I'm pressed hard to place but that I guess is concern.
"Ya shakin Doll" He says, looking me over his tone almost gentle. I blush again and he chuckles, I push my hands into my laps tensing to try and keep completely still as we near the hospital doors.
Brigit, April, and Liza precede us in through the front doors and I look around to find an empty waiting room and a receptionist playing what sounds like solitaire on her computer. I start to feel a rock settle in my stomach. I may not have been to a hospital since my dad died but I know that this quiet isn't usual when Raphael tense's slightly upon seeing the room. The receptionist is a blond woman in blue scrubs with a bun in her hair. who looks up just as Raphael looks like he might turn around.
"Oh my lord!" She claps a hand to her mouth, getting up in a hurry and rushing over to us. I realize upon a closer view of her that she's about my mothers age
"What happened to you sweetie?" She asks with genuine concern. I'm about to speak when Raphael cuts me off.
"Found her in an alley, she said she was mugged so we brought her here" he says smoothly, I realize that his voice is smooth and his tone light when he lies but rough and deep when he tells the truth. The woman frowns at him, and then admonishes him to stay here even as she strides into a hallway on the other side of the room.
"I still don't know how you lie so well" I mutter under my breath, causing him to chuckle and shake his head. The woman returns pushing a wheelchair in front of her. "Oh hell no... I can still-"
"Don't be stubborn" Raphael says firmly, I glare at him but don't say anymore then that as he lowers me into the chair. The woman smiles at me and starts to push me toward the doors. I grip the arms of the chair as though they're the only thing keeping me on the ground. The woman starts to speak to me but I can't hear her over the pounding of my own heart.
The doors open and I see a long hallway, I hear nothing. which scares me more than the hospital itself since I can't even hear the methodical beat of a heart monitor. The woman turns me into an empty room and leaves me there. I lock the brakes and stand, gingerly applying weight to my ankle which seems to be getting better on its own. I stare at it as I move it around, finding it sore but walk-able.
"Hello Miss Baker" I hear a man's voice say behind me, I turn around quickly and plaster a friendly smile on my face even as his expression turns to shock. "Wow!- I mean.. I'm Doc Rogers it's nice to meet you" He has brown hair, tan skin and blue eyes.
"Nice to meet you too, Rogers" I say simply, shaking his hand when he reaches for mine. He turns my arm palm up and touches his fingers to my wrist.
"Pulse is good, Now what else would you say is giving you trouble Miss?" He asks, I give him the laundry list of my injuries and we get to examining. After about ten minutes we're back in the room looking at x-rays. "Looks like you've got some severely bruised ribs, a sprained ankle and good old fashioned bruising. I'll set you up with a boot for your ankle so you can walk around without it hurting"
He opens a cabinet and pulls out a large black medical boot, bending down in front of me. he shows me how to put it on and take it off all the while explaining that it's his twin sister at the door and keeps going.
"you know, this wing of the hospital is brand new! It was set to have its grand opening today! Cameras haven't even been set up yet! Even though it's not procedure the boss told her and I to just hangout here until everyone arrived since this will be our section to manage once it's open but I was sure no one would come in before the ribbon cutting needing help! Luckily for you though he did! Now I do suggest bed rest for a day at least in order to help with your ribs-" The doc sounds like he might continue when the door bangs open, revealing another man in scrubs.
"I'm goin to take it from here doc" The man says, entering the room with a syringe in his hand. I keep my face in check even as my pulse quickens at the sight of the needle.
Out of habit I start mapping out the room and the things I'll need to do to get out of here, surveying my options. Okay one, bend the docs arm behind his back and walk out with him as a shield? no that'd be horrible, he's been nothing but nice and even now I vaguely hear him arguing with the other man. He confirms that he's not supposed to be here and he needs to leave. But as soon as he shoves the doc out of the way I know I have to get out of here myself. as the bald man steps toward me with the syringe, I say the first thing that comes to mind.
"You can't give me a shot without my permission" my voice is stronger than I thought it would be as I stand and rest a hand on the crutch the doctor had given me to use while walking to the X-Ray. My brain starts to shut down in fear as the man laughs, my gaze falling to Doctor Rogers where he lay on the floor unconscious after hitting his head on the cabinet. I glance around the small room, mapping it out and planning an escape of some kind. The man grins at me and reaches for my arm but I jerk away at the last moment.
"Too bad sweetheart" He responds, no hint of apology in his voice. I stand slowly the boot causing my stance to be uneven. I look the man over, recognizing a purple tattoo on his neck with a shock like electricity.
Daniel had the same tattoo, I swallow, my throat dry these must be the purple dragon insignias. As the man tries to grab me again I twist around him, using the crutch gripped in my hand to whack him upside the head as I do and bolt for the door. He shouts in pain but doesn't go down and I know I need help fast.
"Guys! I've got a problem back here!" I shout at the top of my lungs. I shriek as the man catches me by my hair, yanking me back away from the open doorway. I shut one of my eyes, grabbing onto the door frame. I hold on until I see the doors open. Brigit pokes her head in, Then I groan as I'm yanked into the room and thrown to the floor. I quickly throw my arms out to the side to disperse the impact as I hit the floor.
I slide across the cold tiles and hit the wall but when I stop I quickly get up on my elbows. I hold back the grimace as my ribs send a pang of pain through my body as I try to twist. The weight of my boot stops my momentum. I look up to find the man reaching for me.
"Hey asshole!" I look past him as a black hooded figure appears in the doorway and Raphaels suddenly tense voice resonates. His hood is unzipped and his eyes are ablaze beneath his red bandanna. "Come pick on someone ya own size"
The man smirks and turns around, hiding the syringe behind him as Raph steps forward calmly, though I can tell he's ready for a fight. Suddenly I get an idea, lashing out with the heavy boot I kick the mans feet out from under him. He falls like a sack of potatoes as I push to my feet and jump over him, Raphael not missing a beat as he reaches out his hand to steady me through the leap and pulls me behind him.
I don't let go of his hand as the man starts to stand and I don't stop when I end up behind him either. I pull him with me as I run toward the doors where Liza and they others have just started after Raphael. They stop and go back out the doors as we approach.
They open the door for us and, as we pass an open janitors closet, I grab a broom. Once we clear the entryway I jam it into the door handles to keep the man from following us. I can feel my chest tightening up from running but I ignore it turn to Liza, April, and Brigit.
Each looks like they've seen this everyday. Even Liza has a serious expression on her face. Though I do notice Brigit look from my face and down at some point between Raphael and I. I follow suit to see that our hands are still intertwined. Raphael follows my gaze and at the same moment we jerk our hands away from each other.
I scream when the small glass window of the door smashes right next to my head and Raphael grabs my arm, pulling me away from the door. April grabs onto Brigit and Liza and we bolt for the main entrance. We get out just as the door to the hall comes off its hinges. We run for the van, opening the doors and scrambling in.
"Lets get out of here!" Liza shouts as April slides into the driver's seat and the three of us jump into the back, me last. Raphael stands in front of the open door as a group of people pour from the main entrance.
"You guys get out of here! I'll hold'em" He says, his tone so serious it gives me chills. Whether it's because I think he's being stupid or heroic I can't decide. I roll my eyes and with an unspoken agreement Liza, Brigit, and I grab onto the back of his sweatshirt and drag him into the back of the van.
"Don't be a hero Red!" I scold, lunging across him, I grab the door handle and slide it closed. I turn my head to April and shout, my instincts suddenly slamming back into play now that the prospect of needles and hospitals is out of the way. "Go April!"
She nods, turns to face forward and hits the gas as loud popping sounds fill the air. Liza and Brigit scream as the window shatters. I sit up further, shoving Brigit and Liza down by the back of their necks so they aren't easy targets. I stay sitting up to keep my leverage in the jolting van stopping them from coming up into the line of fire.
"It's what I was raised ta be Doll" Raphael says, looking at me with slight recognition as though he's seeing something he remembers, then doing to me what I did to Brigit and Liza.
I feel the van swerve out of control for a moment but in the next I feel us turning a sharp left. Raphaels hand holds me down between my shoulder blades and he ducks suddenly too as the shots grow more numerous.
"We have to get out here" I hear April mutter, more to herself than to anyone else. Then without warning we go into a U turn. I feel myself pressed against Raphaels side and his arm slips around my shoulders, still keeping me from sitting up but also keeping me from getting jostled or thrown. I groan with the pain of being crushed by the weight of the two girls next to me.
When the turn evens out and the popping noises stop I shrug his arm off and sit up. the wind coming through the windows sending my hair flying around my head in a flurry. I see all the windows broken save for the windshield and I look at April to make sure she's okay. I instantly see a gash on her forehead. I realize she must have gotten grazed by whatever they were shooting at us or hit her head on something in the turn. I grab onto the front passenger seat, hauling myself forward with another groan. I flop into the passenger seat.
"April, are you okay?" I ask her, immediately thinking of how stupid that question is. she nods and I gain respect for the determination set in her features.
I turn, opening the glove compartment to find ninja stars, homemade smoke bombs, a comic, a feature of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, a roll of white bandages along with a box of gauze.
I pull out the bandages and gauze and as soon as I look behind us I'm able to tell that whoever was shooting at us couldn't follow. I tell her to pull over.
"What if they're still following?" She protests, I shake my head.
"If they did we'd still have them shooting at us, don't you think?" I say gently, ignoring the aching in my rib cage. She glances at the newly busted back window and then back at me. No doubt debating if my judgement is sound but then nods and turns into a parking garage.
After a moment we find a secluded spot on the first level and I have her turn toward me. I gently set the gauze against the gash and begin winding the bandages around her head gently, when I finish I find myself smirking.
"I still got it!" I think to myself, despite the situation I'm proud that I've remembered stuff I learned over the years of Brian's boxing tournaments. Along with the more morbid reason for my expertise with treating wounds. Raphael gazes from my bandage job to me, looking like he might say something sarcastic about how I know how to bandage like this but I cut him off. "Friend of mine used to get hurt a lot, had to fix him up, not important right now"
I turn away from April and my foot hits something solid that thuds against the door when I bump it. With a frown I lean down under the seat, ignoring the soreness of my midsection to pick it up. I feel around in the dimmed lighting for it among the bullet casings scattered everywhere. My hand lands on something the size of my palm and I bring it up into the light. It's a grey egg shaped thing made of metal and has one blinking red light. At first I'm puzzled but then it hits me.
"Guys.. They weren't just shooting at us.." I feel the blood drain from my face as I recognize the insignia on the side.
"Then what were they doin' doll" Raphael asks sounding oddly gentle when he sees my expression, I slowly hand him the device unable to meet any of their eyes. I inwardly curse myself for not realizing the second I saw that mans tattoo earlier, I knew it seemed familiar, I knew it..
"They're tracking us.." I stare at my hands in my lap, the anger and shame mingling in my heart making me tear up. I'm going to kick his ass when I get my hands on him. I continue, my voice terse, quiet and I can feel them watching me as a single tear drops onto my hand. "That's the logo symbol for my Uncle's company, he creates equipment for the FBI"
For the first time in a long time my voice sounds meek with shock as the other four put the pieces together.
"So your Uncle.." Brigit starts but I finish the thought for her, my heart pounding, I begin to feel lightheaded. I feel my face heat up with my own anger and I start to shake for a second before dropping the device onto the floor of the van.
"My Uncle might be working with the people who are after us, yeah.." I say simply,
"You tellin me your uncle, a man from Illinois who supplies the government with tech is workin with the Purple Dragons?" Raph asks calmly, I sigh heavily and glance at him over my shoulder.
"That is the people who're after us right? Did I not just say that?" I state sarcastically, biting the inside of my cheek. Raph shakes his head, growling slightly.
"Great, just fucking great" He mutters, I turn and glare at him.
"Not like I meant for this to happen, trust me, if I thought he was in on this then I would have told you guys by now" I snap in frustration, turning to face him with my hands curled so tightly that my nails bite into my palms. Liza squeaks when a large SUV screeches into the parking garage.
"Shit! Get down!" Bri hisses, her eyes on the entrance as they drive two aisles down from us. I narrow my eyes at the SUV wishing that the heat of my gaze would melt the tires to the ground. Since I know this can't happen I settle for hoping that the car will pass by us when I remember the tracker. I fish it from the van floor and pitch it out the open window and the SUV jolts to a stop, going in reverse toward where the device landed.
"April, start the van" Brigit says, her voice turning to 'Serious Mode', April turns the key but nothing happens. I groan already knowing what this means even as the jarringly loud chugging sound begins.
"They must have hit the gas line, Stop turning the key or we're going to blow new a skylight in this place" I say firmly, turning again to the door, watching as about six people pile out of the SUV. "Jesus what'd they do? ghetto pack the damn thing?"
"Apparently so, Doll" Raph answers, I shake my head as I reach for the door handle and budge it open slightly. I slowly start slipping from the front seat into the space between the van and the door. Raph's hand shoots from the back and grabs onto my shoulder between the seatbelt and the car. "don't ya even think about it"
"I'm gonna buy you some time to get them the hell out of here" I watch them start talking around their SUV, a whole new plan coming to mind as I reach into the glove compartment. I grab a handful of the throwing stars, careful not to cut myself on them. "Don't worry I got a plan! just wait for my signal, you'll know it when you see it. I'm gonna get y'all a new ride home"
I wink at him as payback for earlier, somehow knowing he'd get flustered and let go but not staying long enough to see it. I duck down and weave my way between the other cars. I ignore the pain in my ribs with a grimace.
"the average altercation only lasts ten seconds, you can do anything for ten seconds! You got this! They need you, this is Benjie's fault so you need to make up for it" I tell myself quietly, taking slow deliberate breathes and feeling adrenaline rush through me as I get closer and closer to the group of searching Purple Dragons.
I pull out the ninja stars I'd grabbed from the glove compartment and stand as tall as I can, raising my hand and hoping to god my aim is still what it used to be. I bite my lip as I spend a minute playing around with how to hold the stars to best throw them. As soon as I get it down I look up over the cars hood, the group has come together again near the SUV and I take another deep breathe.
"Alright.. Three.. Two…"
I get to my feet on one and quickly launch the first two stars at the PDs near me. they stick in their thighs and they go down shrieking like little girls. I quickly throw the other three I brought at the four that are left before they realize what's happening.
One hits a man in the shoulder and the other two pin a man's arms to the side of a conveniently parked tour bus, the last star sticking itself into a car and setting off its alarm.
The remaining two men come at me and I nail one in the face with a solid kick to the jaw, flooring him easily with my uninjured foot. I nod in surprise as I realize how much more effective a kick to the temple is when you have a few more inches to your height. The last one raises a bat over his head and I dodge it. The bat smashes a window to the car behind me and I drop, using my booted foot to sweep his own out from under him.
"Shit!" He shouts as he falls and hits his head on the roof of the car next to him and knocks himself out.
I stand my chest suddenly tight, my ribs reminding me their bruised with a vengeance. I force myself to take a deep breathe along with taking a step back. Almost instantly someone grabs my arms and twists them behind my back.
"Crap I missed one! The driver! How did I miss the driver!" I scold myself angrily as I try to base myself, the boot making this almost impossible since it has no traction. He turns me roughly and forces me face first against the tour bus, yanking me back toward the SUV. I look at the van and see Raphael getting out, I shake my head at him but just before I can go limp and throw him, I'm thrown into the back seat of the car.
"We got Abernathy's niece boss" The man now in the driver's seat says, smirking back at me as he speaks into a radio. I glower, the thought of how I need to work on my observing skills getting pushed to the back of my mind. I use my legs to propel myself upright and, using my momentum, I throw a good punch into the cheekbone of the driver. Just then I start to hear the fighting start outside the car. Didn't wait for the signal but oh well I guess, I didn't even know what the signal would be honestly. I make sure the man's out cold before grabbing the radio and clicking the side button.
"Hi this is Leeanna, Tell dear old Uncle Benjie I said Fuck you okay? Oh! And throw in that when I get my hands on him I'm kicking his scrawny ass!" I say sweetly before ripping the cord for the radio out of the console. After a couple of grunts, I feel the car shift and I look back to see Raphael climbing in with a busted lip. I frown with unexpected concern for him. "You okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine," He says gruffly as Brigit, Liza and April appear at the side door. I shift into the driver's seat and motion for them to get in. after a few seconds I get slapped upside the head, aggravating an already powerful headache from getting shoved into a bus.
"Don't you ever do that again!" Brigit says in frustration, "I swear, every idea you have involves you getting into a fight!"
"Can't promise I won't, you know that" I say simply, rubbing the back of my head and frowning at Brigit as Liza gets in the front and April the back. I push the car into gear and pull out of the parking garage. As we pull out I have a revelation, causing me to swear.
"Whats wrong?" April says, sounding surprised by the sudden vehemence in my tone.
"We have to drive this part of the way, ditch it and then walk" I hit the gas to go faster and as we do I continue "I'm sure those things have a remote start and they probably have one or two hidden in here"
I pull into an empty construction zone and park the car, opening the door. The others follow me out of the car without complaint. Raph walks ahead of me to a sewer grate covered with plywood. I walk up next to the grate and look down into the hole.
"We need to hurry so take off the grate and Raph? I need you to help them into the sewers, it doesn't look like there's a ladder" I say firmly, Raphael looks down at me with a smirk.
"Ya slipped Doll" He says, causing me to frown.
"What?" I ask him, confused as Brigit rolls her eyes, knowing just like I do that we're wasting time.
"Ya called me Raph" He steps closer to me and stays there a moment, leaning down to speak into my ear "Watch out doll, ya walls are comin' down"
He steps away from me and goes to the open sewer grate as my ears turn into the lit end of a candle. He jumps into the sewers and yells up to us for Brigit, April, and Liza to come down first. One at a time they go in themselves and I'm about to follow their lead when someone behind me shouts.
"Hey! What're you doing here? This is private property!" A rugged looking man in a hard hat yells to me. I feel my heart start to hammer as I shove the plywood back over the open grate with my foot, hoping he hadn't seen Brigit go down. I turn and smile innocently, about to explain myself when I feel like I'm being snuck up on. the hair on the back of my neck standing on end as I glance over my shoulder and see another worker creeping up behind me.
"I saw the grate open and thought I'd do you both a favor by shutting it for you since it looked dangerous" I reply, my voice trembling with the lie. I avert my eyes from the men in front of me to seem demure, looking down into the still open sewer. I instantly catch Raphs eyes and nod imperceivably for him to get them out of there. The man frowns in suspicion but nods to his friend and I let out a breathe I didn't know I was holding.
"Thanks but we can handle ourselves sweetheart, we're grown men. But maybe we should get you to a hospital, ya don't look to great" He says, eyeing my bruises in a genuine concern that makes me smile. I shake my head and respectfully decline the offer, brushing past him.
"Trust me sir, I've already been to the hospital today and the service sucked" I say, striding toward the entrance of the construction site and out before he can respond. I walk for a good ten minutes before seeing phone booth.
I step inside and pick up the phone, I roll my eyes as it rings in my ear and I dial the number to Brigit's cell. When the lady asks me to say my name I instead say that I'll meet them all at home and to go on ahead so that when the machine asks Brigit if she'll take the call it'll repeat what I said and she'll tell the others. I hang up the phone and walk from the booth, striding in the direction I hope NYU is in.
~*Leo's POV*~
I start to get anxious as I wonder about how long they've been gone when I hear the door slide open. Everyone at the table gets up, Donny holding a smiling Owen. Joey close at my heels barking loudly until he sees the contents of the living room.
A group of tired looking young women and a more than aggravated looking red banded turtle standing there. April with a bandage around her head, Brigit and Elizabeth are soaking wet and all of the girls have bruises and glass in their hair. Raph looks like he wants to punch something and I realize that the shortest girl is missing.
Joey runs to his owner and she kneels down in front of him as he jumps onto her his paws on her shoulders, he licks her face, This causing her to laugh. I smile at the scene but jump when I realize that Master Splinter has asked something of me.
"I'm sorry Sensei, What did you say?" I ask, tearing my eyes away from Brigit and Joey.
"I said that it would be a good idea to bring towels for our guests so they do not catch cold" He says, his tone insistent and slightly suspicious I blink at him as he watches me. Mikey comes running into the room with two towels in his hands and I take one of them from him and go to Brigit.
She stands as I approach and I put the towel over her shoulders, She smiles her thanks to me and I feel my cheeks warm up a little. To avoid her seeing it I turn my head to see Donny obsessing over Aprils condition and Owen reaching for her and grasping a strand of her hair. Mikey doing the same thing I did for Brigit for Elizabeth, She blushes bright red as Mikey leads her over to the couch with a bowl in his hand.
"Let's see if we can't get the glass out of your hair" He says with a grin, I shake my head and look back at Brigit, She's glaring at Elizabeth.
"Why the daggers?" I ask, chuckling. She snaps out of it, looking up at me.
"She tripped and she grabbed onto me because she thought I could stop her from falling into the water, I mean who does that?" She mocks a scared face that I just have to laugh at. "Oh! I'm falling into sewer water so I'm just going to grab onto you and bring down you with me!"
She sighs and shakes her head with a smile looking back at me. "Hey do you guys have a shower I could use? I feel nasty now"
"Yeah, sure I'll show you where it is" I say after a moment, smiling as I lead her toward the downstairs bathroom. Joey following close behind us obediently.
~*Mikeys POV*~
I sit there for an hour, pulling my fingers through Lizzie's hair as she sits on the floor in front of me, letting the pieces of glass fall into the bowl on my lap. I can't help but think about how it's a miracle I've stayed in one place for so long. then again it was either help a beautiful girl in need or wash dishes in the kitchen and then go train for three hours, so my choice was pretty much made.
"Hmm... My favorite female superhero?" I ask, Lizzie nods with a giggle at my continuance of our new question game.
"Yep!" She says, I frown in thought.
"I'd have to say Canary" I respond, causing Lizzie to gasp and turn around to face me.
"You don't like Cat Woman?" She says in shock, I shake my head.
"No way! All she is, is a criminal with an obsession for cat statues!" I say, Lizzie frowns.
"Well at least she has batman! All Canary's got is a glorified robin hood! Plus even though she's half criminal she's still a great hero when she wants to be!" She retorts with a cute little smirk, she crosses her arms over her chest and I imitate her.
"Are you kidding? She's almost as bad as Thor with his constant need to brag about his hammer!" I say in slight disgust, Lizzie gasps again this time in even more shock.
"Take that back!" She demands, her jaw dropped and I shake my head, sticking my tongue out at her in defiance.
She smirks again and suddenly Lizzie tackles me, laughing as she does. I laugh with her as I roll so that she's beneath me. I hold myself up carefully and look at her, her hair spread around her head like a reddish brown halo. her large brown eyes sparkling from laughing so hard. I blush as I realize the position we're in and quickly roll off of her. I can help laughing till tears come to my eyes though as I lay beside her.
After a minute of laughing I hear a knock on the door but before I can get up to open it Raph's already there, pulling it open and interrogating the person behind it.
"Where were ya? I- We been worried!" He says, slipping up almost unnoticeably, Lizzie and I do catch it though and turn to look at each other at the same time. Identically suspicious expressions on our faces. a tired looking Leea pushes past Raph and limps over to the couch.
Leea groans as she tosses the backpack over the couch, unaware of us probably as she flops onto the couch. I catch the strap just before it hits Lizzie in the stomach and she smiles gratefully, sitting up and taking the backpack. Leea's eyes pop open as she realizes we're there and nods to Lizzie to make sure shes okay before laying back against the couch.
"Save it Red, I been walkin around the sewers for twenty minutes and my bodies killing me" She says with labored breathe that reminds me of when Donnie used to have asthma attacks. Just as this thought has crossed my mind Lizzie dogs in the backpacks front pocket and comes up with a little red inhaler. She tosses it to Leea who nods her thanks and takes a puff, holding her breathe and repeating the process. I notice that she's ditched the sweats and t-shirt combo for a scarlet lace shirt with see through v sleeves ending in a ring around each of her middle fingers, and black skinny jeans. I also noticed she has on a combat boot to even out the difference with the clunky medical boot on the other.
Leo and Brigit come laughing from the dojo and as soon as he sees her, Joey takes a running leap at Leea.
"Aw hel-" She mumbles with a smile just as the Golden Retriever is knocking her down onto the cushions, licking her face relentlessly. The small woman tries to laugh but groans, trying to push the excited retriever off as Raph comes over to the couch. He reaches over and gently pulls him off, helping Leea sit upright. Brigit sitting down next to her on her right side.
Joey comes right back to sit on the floor next to Leea, resting his head on her knee and wagging his tail. She smiles and rubs his ears as I sit up along with Lizzie and turn to face the couch.
I pick up our glass bowl and set it on the table to avoid it getting knocked over. Donny comes out with a newly bandaged April and a smiling Owen and sits in the arm chair.
"So now that everyone's here let's recount the events at the hospital" Master Splinter's voice speaks behind us and Lizzie squeaks, I look at her and laugh.
"You're just full of adorable sounds today aren't you?" I say to her on accident, not meaning to say it out loud. She looks at me and blushes, just like I do and we look away from each other.
As I come back to the conversation Leeann's looking at Brigit with a slightly mischievous glint in her eye. after a moment though the glint is gone and she's telling us what happened at the hospital. Raph and the other girls joining in at the part where they were forced to split up.
I can tell by the look in his eyes that after hearing about her uncle Leo's going to have something to say to her once the story's over and just as I suspected after she's finished Leo moves to stand in front of her.
"So you're saying that your Uncle's a Purple Dragon and you didn't have any idea?" He asks his tone filled enough tension that you could cut it with a knife and burn it and it wouldn't break, Leeann chuckles a little without humor.
"No, I didn't even know about the Purple Dragons till I came to New York" She says, her tone spine chillingly serious. even I know she's picked up the suspicion in Leo's voice.
"But he is a purple dragon, and he is related to you, yes?" Leo retorts, Leeann looks up at him in a split second.
"What are you trying to say?" She asks anger putting an edge to her voice as she narrows her eyes at him Leo backs up a step and I have to admire her for standing up to him. I was once friends with a human boy, I got the same-ish lecture. then again my friendship didn't really end all that well.
"That maybe you're a spy for the Purple Dragons" He says finally, Leeann's eyes widen at this stunned by the bold accusation. she looks like she might stand up but Raph puts a hand on her shoulder and cuts her off.
"Leo get off yer high horse! If she was part of the Purple Dragon's she wouldn't have told us her Uncle was a member or about the trackers, we'd have PD's swarmin this place" He motioned to April where she sits on the arm chair arm with Owen in her arms. He continues, lowering his tone calmly "She definitely wouldn't have bandaged April up in the van, or risked her neck to get us home safe"
Leo sighs and rubs the back of his neck in shame, looking down at Leeann.
"He's right, Leeann please accept my apology" He says, she nods once and relaxes as Raph takes his hand away from her shoulder. Master Splinter paces across the room and back, tapping his chin in thought.
"The part of your ordeal that strikes as the oddest of it is one question" He stops and turns to face us "How did the Purple Dragons know what she looks like without her Uncle there to identify her? And if the Purple Dragons know of her they most definitely know of Miss Jenkins and Miss Duncan" He says, for a moment everything's silent, Leea's the one who breaks it.
"That means we're all in danger" She says solemnly, Master Splinter nods.
"It is time we began preparation for your training" He turns and walks toward the Dojo "We begin your assessment's now"
HIYA! SORRY I'M SO LATE WITH THIS UPDATE! HOPE YOU ENJOYED!