"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" Raphael shouted at them.
It had been two months since Antonello and Jacquelyn had come and moved into the sewer with the brothers. Leo still hadn't returned from his trip down south, but the brothers had finished building the extension onto their home and things were running almost like they used to back in the day when they were teenagers.
Antonello had moved into his room. Jack had cleaned up the living room, and with Raphael's persuasion Mikey had moved back into his room… most nights. Jack however spent her nights divided. She had a nice simple little room made up for her. But often struggling to fall asleep on her own, she would find comfort in crawling into bed with Raphael. Raph on the other hand, had a habit of losing sleep when the woman wasn't nearby. He'd wake up constantly just to walk to the other side of the house to check on her. Numerous times passing out, against her door.
The turtles and Jack were all gathered in the training room. All balanced on their hands, well one of them. Doing one handed hand stand pushups. Jacquelyn was still on two hands, doing her best to keep up with the boys that were well past her in skill. Even Ant had advanced in leaps and bounds.
Sweat dripped into her eye as she grit her teeth and lowered herself down again before pushing herself up. Raphael was next to her doing the same exact things the boys on her other side were. But these things all seemed far too easy for him. She always caught him training by himself, lifting weights that weighed four times what anyone else did.
Raph caught Ant lagging. "Ant! Ten ninja hops! Now!" He smiled when the kid started to grumble. "And it'll be an extra five every time I hear you."
So the youngest turtle started doing a series of tumbles and jumps but he had to land with expert precision to be silent like all ninja should. Antonello landed and the floorboard creaked.
"Five more!" Raph shouted.
"Shit." Ant mumbled under his breath as he continued.
Jacquelyn breathed as watched Mikey goof off and go up onto his fingers to do his push ups. His raw talent was envious. He just saw everything as a game. The woman looked back ahead and shifted her weight. She could do this one handed thing. She could. Shifting her balance she slowly pulled her one hand up away from the floor. Her small lean body waivered for a moment before she held her balance. As soon as she tried to do the push up however her balance was lost and she fell over. Hitting Mikey who hit Donnie who hit Ant. They all ended up in a heap on the floor, a tangled pile of limbs and shells.
Raph shook his head as he got to his feet. "That's it today guys. Make sure you eat something good. Not just pizza!" He shot a look towards Mikey and Ant.
"I'm going to stay here and train some more." Jack said, sweaty and panting for breath.
Raph sighed and shook his head. "Don't work too hard." He watched the boys file out of the room as Jacquelyn got back to work. His gaze fell back to her, focusing in on a drop of sweat that was slowly dripping down her neck and over her collar bone, heading towards the low line of the sports bra she was wearing as a top.
"What are you staring at?" She pursed her lips as she paused to ask him.
Raph forced himself to blink. "Nothing." Turning he rushed to catch up to his brothers, and try to forget what he had just seen. The heat in his face and the hammering in his chest however made it a bit difficult. Walking into the kitchen he found Mikey and Ant already raiding the fridge and making a mess Jack would no doubt be cleaning later. Nothing new there; he simply rolled his eyes. Donnie had managed to snag himself some food and was slinking back into his tech cave.
"Don! Wait up!" Raph called after him, following his younger brother into his room, closing the door behind him.
The one clad in purple let out a dramatic sigh. "What now Raph? I have work to do. You know, to earn us money. All of our things don't just come for free." He cracked his neck. "You have been working us ragged, even Leo would be impressed."
Raphael scowled. "Look I need some help." It was the first time the words came so easily to the turtle but it was the first time he felt so clueless. Even his meditation session the previous night left him with no answers.
Donnie blinked. "Help? With what?"
Walking over to one of the shelves, Raph picked up some little gadget as he thought of how to say what he wanted but Donatello was quick to snatch it from his clumsy hands and gently place it back. He sighed. "I want to start training Ant on weapons but I'm not sure what would fit him."
His brother nodded. "I see your query." He paused. "What about Jack?"
"What about her?"
He looked at him and frowned. "Okay Raph, try to deny it but we all see the way you look at her. I can understand you not wanting her to fight, but you have to have seen her progress. Just the same as Antonello, she could make a very skilled ninja. She is a human, yes, more vulnerable but she is far more flexible than any of us and her size lends to her speed. Jack is the only one that has beaten Mikey at his stupid games. She could become an outstanding kunoichi if her training continues…" He paused to let the words sink in.
Raphael clenched his teeth. He knew the truth behind his brother's words, he just didn't want to face them. He didn't want to imagine a time where they would all need to be out one day and Jacquelyn would be fighting alone beside them. How they would all depend on her, just like they did one another. That part didn't scare him, it was the part where the enemy would attack her, just as they attacked him and his family.
"They both need weapons, and masks, Raph." Donnie almost smiled.
His gaze lifted. "The kid isn't getting a mask until he starts treating me like I'm not a frickin' dictator." He pulled the yellow strip from his belt. "He's got be like family."
Donatello moved to his chair and started eating the apple he had snagged from the kitchen. "And Jack? Does she have to do anything else to deem herself worthy of earning a mask?"
Raph looked away, unable to answer. It was clear to his brother he had feelings for the girl, feelings he didn't even want to admit. At this point he couldn't even determine if it was infatuation or real feelings. He was so confused.
"I think she has."
That got Raph's attention.
"If it wasn't for Jack then we all would still be at each other's throats, most likely. But you bringing her home, it was a good thing. She has turned it back into a home. Of course we all still miss Master Splinter, but she somehow connects with all of us and helps bridge the gap that he seemed to. Antonello…" Donnie shook his head with a slight smile. "He was a good move too. Training him, together, this is really good for us."
Raph felt himself start to smile. So he had managed to win his brother's approval. He hadn't been looking for it, but it was nice to get it.
"But back to the weapons." Donnie scratched his head. "Master Splinter was an expert at that. He read people, figured them out and what weapons suited them in every way… Here let me try something. Close your eyes." Raphael snorted at him. "Just trust me and go with it." Grumbling, Donatello's older brother obeyed. "Now just focus on Antonello. Think about him. His personality, his habits, his expressions. How is he during training? Is he flexible? Is he adaptable? Are his movement's fluid? Picture him moving, the way he moves with a sparring partner. What is something you can see him controlling and mastering?"
Taking a deep breath Raphael had to try and calm his normally eager to pounce mind. He listened to his brothers words carefully and just focused on the images in his head. Conscious breathing, chest rising and falling steadily for a few long moments until he finally opened his eye. "Kusarigama." He said simply.
Donnie slowly nodded. "I think that is a good decision. It is a great weapon, but, he will need careful instruction on it."
They nodded together.
"Now again, this time with Jack…" Donnie instructed.
IT took longer this time as Raphael thought on her. Some of his thoughts were clouded with images of her smiling face, her sleeping form curled up in his arms, he huffed slightly and tried to focus harder on her fighting. Her technique and skill. She seemed to dance around them, slipping between them with ease, any large weapon would either be too heavy for the small woman or a hindrance to her agile movements.
A scene played out before him, of his youngest brother teasing her and how she slipped around him, much to Mikey's surprise. Around one side, between his legs, off a wall and then a quick kick to the back had the turtle on his face before he even realized she had moved. Once Michelangelo was back on his game they would be quite a match… but if the woman had….
"Shobo." Raphael opened his eyes and looked at his brother.
He paused. "That's different. I was not expecting something like that, but it fits. It fits really well." A grin spread across his face. "You aren't too bad at this Raph, not too bad." He patted his brother on the shoulder and rolled his chair over towards the computer. "I'll find them some suitable weapons, you can start preparing them in tomorrow's training."
He nodded and turned towards the door but stopped short of walking out. "Thanks Don." Then he left. Heading to the kitchen he shoved aside the mess his brothers left and started making a decent meal for himself and Jack. The chicken and broccoli was done shortly and Raph carried the two plates back toward the training room where he froze in place at the sight he found. Jack had her self balanced on her one hand, her back bent back over her head almost to a contortionist level, her legs bent at different angles to help keep her balanced. He had to shake his head to refocus. "Alright. Enough for today. Time to eat."
The sweat covered woman looked up at him and untwisted her body. She landed gracefully on her feet and bent back up in one smooth motion before walking over to Raphael. "Sorry I knocked everyone down today." She apologized.
He shook his head as he put the plate in her hands. "Don't. You did great today." He flashed a grin before turning and walking towards the living room. "Now time to eat." But when they entered the living room Ant and Mikey were hogging he couch and Shadow was sprawled out on the loveseat. Raph frowned.
Jack elbowed him and motioned towards the other hallway. "We can eat in my room. I need to grab a shirt anyway." So she led him down the hall and nudged the door open. Inside it was rather simple, just a low lying bed, and a small dresser. She had managed to paint the walls, and had her clothes in the dresser but she still didn't spend much time in there. Setting her plate down, the woman leaned over and pulled a towel out of her dirty clothes bin to wipe off her sweaty neck and chest. Tossing it back into the bin she opened a drawer and found a loose fitting shirt. It was still quite big so she bunched up a side and tied it up in a knot before she sat down on her bed beside the turtle.
"So, what's the game plan for tomorrow?" She asked after a bite.
Raph swallowed. "Weapons." He said simply before more food was in his mouth.
Jack froze a moment, her bright eyes flicking down to his belt and the shiney weapons stashed there. "I'm going to learn how to use those?" She quirked a brow and then chuckled. "I don't think I could ever master something like you."
He shook his head. "Master Splinter said that one never truly master's their weapon, you can always learn more from it." He paused and looked at her. "And while I can use my brother's weapons, and am… okay with them, I am much more skilled with my own. You and the kid, will be getting your own. Something more suited to your own set of skills and abilities." He flashed her a quick smile.
Her features flushed a moment before her smile faded. "Raph… I've never used a weapon. The closest thing I've ever used was a frying pan when I was attacked in my apartment…"
Setting his plate down he turned to face her. "Don't worry. I'll teach you the basics. Donnie is going to find some other things for you too… Your weapons are unique to say the least. So they will require a little out of dojo studying." He watched the confused look on her face. "Don't worry, It'll make sense tomorrow."
She shrugged.
The pair sat there and ate their dinner, talking together like they did every night. But it wasn't long until Jacquelyn was so tired, she practically fell asleep mid-sentence. Raphael picked the woman up and laid her down properly on the bed and pulled the sheet up over her. A large green finger brushed a damp blonde lock off her face and the turtle resisted the urge the urge to kiss her forehead. He didn't want to do something stupid so he just grabbed their empty plates from her dresser and quietly left. As he put the dishes away he found his youngest brother and Shadow still playing video games, Antonello passed out on the couch cushion not too far away. Without a word, Raph walked up and turned off the TV.
"Hey!" The gaming pair cried out in unison.
Raph put a finger to his lips and pointed to their sleeping friend. "Tomorrow we start weapons training. Get to bed." He directed at Mikey.
The orange wearing one grumbled, but smiled, a hint of excitement at using his dusty nun-chucks once more.
Shadow was still sitting there pouting. "Why'd I have to stop playing?" She asked.
Picking her up and messing up her hair before letting her hang off his arm, Raph smirked. "We have to go visit your mom Babyface. I need her to do me a favor… And I think it's time I meet your brother."
Leaving a note on the table, Raphael gave one last look towards Jack's door, before he walked out into the sewer with the little girl in tow. The walk to the Jones's was a short one and it was night time, so Raph wasn't too worried about being seen, but he just didn't like leaving things so unguarded at home, especially with Jack sleeping. Helping Shadow up the ladder he had her check to make sure no one was around before he came out into the alley way. Then it was up the fire escape to the right floor. True Shadow could have gone inside, but a little girl alone at this time of night? That might have looked awkward, and besides, Raphael didn't want to send her around the other side of the building alone.
On the landing Shadow knocked on the glass a few times and waited as they heard people shuffling around inside. Both of them were surprised to see A pretty redhead pull back the curtains. She blinked a bit confused as she pulled the glasses off her face and unlocked the window, pushing it up.
"Shadow! Raph?! What… What's going on?" She pulled her step daughter inside and wrapped her arms around her planting a few kisses on her forehead before she reached over and gave Raph a brief hug. "What are you doing here?" She asked, clearly surprised to see them.