Back at the lair, they'd just explained what happened, and Don was cleaning off the scrapes on his daughter's knees with rubbing alcohol.
"…So the Foot's back…just what we needed…" Cat muttered.
"Who are they, mom?" Violet asked, looking curious.
"Well…This is a long story…"
The kids plopped down, looking expectant.
"…And apparently, you guys are ready for one…"
She sighed, trying to organize everything in her head.
"We've told you of Master Splinter's master, Hamato Yoshi, right?"
The seven nodded.
Cat nodded slightly.
"Well, I don't believe we told you how he died…"
Wide, expectant eyes.
"…There was a man called the Shredder…he wore metal armor, and was an honor-less being…he came one day with his right-hand man and some ninja…he led a ninja clan called the Foot, by the way…he demanded to know about his enemies, but Master Yoshi refused to tell him…Splinter tried to defend him, scarring Hun's face, but it wasn't enough…but Splinter remembered his last words before he died…"
She looked at them sternly.
"'He who lives without honor, will die without honor'…Not long after that, Splinter found me and your uncles…you should all know the rest…"
The seven nodded, Jazz flinching from the alcohol as her father put on band-aids.
"…When we were Jazz's age, we met up with the Foot…and let's just say we're not their favorite people…the Shredder threatened us more than once, but we got him…eventually…"
She shrugged slightly.
"Then Karai kinda took over…been trying to get us back for it ever since…"
Rose quirked a brow.
"Then why are they tryin' ta get us?"
"I guess they found out about you guys…we've tried to hide you as best we could…"
Jazz seemed curious.
"Why? What would they do?"
"…That's what I'm worried about…"
Silence, and then Ben and Theo shared a glance.
"Maybe they want to throw a sleep over?"
SMACK!!!
SMACK!!!
"OW!!!!"
"OW!!!!"
Both glared at Rose, who glared back hotly.
"Now ain't the time!!"
Leo looked sternly at all of them.
"You guys aren't allowed to go topside until I say the cost is clear."
"WHAT?!"
Rose looked at him in surprised anger.
"That's not fair!!"
"Actually, it is."
Rose turned to her parents.
"PLEASE tell me he can't do that!! PLEASE!!"
"Actually…"
"MOM!!!"
"What?! I kinda agree with him!!"
"…Excuse me?"
Her eyes turned more red, and Cat groaned slightly.
'I shouldn't have said that…'
Raph came to her rescue, though.
"Do ya WANT ta be tortured? No? Then yer stayin' here!"
She only glared before standing up and heading for the dojo in angry silence.
"…I'M not going after her!" Violet protested when all eyes landed on her.
"I'd like to KEEP my life, thank you very much!"
"Well, I'M not doing it!" Joss added.
"Not me!!" Ben and Theo chorused.
"I-I really don't want to!!" Jackie stated.
"…I-I'll do i-it…" Jazz offered, standing up.
When she went into the dojo, Violet sighed.
"Such a brave girl…it's too bad she's going to leave this way…"
She smiled sheepishly at her uncle's glare.
"I mean-!"
"I'm sure she'll be fine, Uncle Donnie. Jazz is the understanding listener kinda person. I'm sure Rose won't hurt her." Joss assured.
"…I hope so…"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jazz peeked in warily, seeing Rose punching the punching bag hanging from the ceiling.
"R-Rose?"
The dark red-banded turtle stopped, turning red/purple eyes to her cousin.
"What do ya want, Jazz?"
"R-Rose, I kn-know how y-you feel…I-I like g-going topside, t-too…"
The red started moving back, and Rose dropped her arms.
"Jazz…"
Jazz moved in further, closing the door.
"I-I'm not h-here to j-judge you, R-Rose…"
She saw her younger cousins eyes waver, and moved closer tentatively.
"I-I…" Rose forced out, her voice shaking.
"It's okay…"
Rose latched onto her cousin, just wanting something to hold right then.
"I-I don't mean to get mad…I-I just don't want to be treated like a little kid…"
"They don't think of you as a little kid…" Jazz assured, patting the younger turtle's shell.
"They don't want anyone to get hurt…"
Rose nodded slightly.
"…You don't need to be the tough one, Rose…"
"Then who is?"
She looked up slightly at her shy cousin.
"Ben and Theo are the goofballs, Joss is the leader, Vi is the second-in-command, you're the smart one, Jackie is the little one…The only thing I can be is the tough one…"
"…We're all those things because that's who we are…You need to be whatever you are, Rose…That's all the advice I can think to give you…"
Rose nodded hesitantly, and Jazz smiled shyly.
"Good…now let's head back…I need to go with my dad to the junkyard…"
Rose nodded, trying to pull her wall back up.
She didn't realize how soon that wall was going to be torn down…