A/N: I hope y'all like this chapter! I had a lot of fun with it! Took me a while to get it out though, lol. Read on my dears! Read on!
Disclaimer: I own nothing blah, blah, blah.
Chapter 14: Revelations
Kallie was dreaming. Mikey could tell it wasn't exactly a good dream; she was muttering things and was restless. It was close to 7 in the morning and the drugs had finally worn off, leaving Michelangelo wide awake. Kallie was still sleeping though. She was stretched out beside him, almost tucked inside of the couch. Mikey could see her eyes moving rapidly beneath her closed lids, her brow furrowed as if she were scowling.
"Don't…" She muttered. Mike almost thought she was talking to him until she sighed and snuggled closer into the couch. Michelangelo heard someone shift and he turned slightly, looking over his shoulder and saw Leo and Master Splinter. He gave them a nod and they returned it, walking into the kitchen.
"Please…" Kaliyah whimpered.
Mike decided it was time for her to wake up. He knew nightmares sucked big time and he wasn't about to let her suffer.
"Kallie." Michelangelo gently nudged her. She merely groaned and turned her head. Mikey chuckled a bit. "C'mon Kallie, it's wake up time."
"G'way." She mumbled sleepily.
"No can do," said Mike. "It's time for all little blondes to wake up."
"M'not little…"
Michelangelo chuckled.
"I'll make pancakes." Mike offered. Kallie shifted and finally looked up with bleary eyes at him. She stretched her arms above her head and brought them down again, pushing her long curly hair out of her face.
"Chocolate chip?" Kallie asked, sounding all of four years old.
Mikey laughed. "Sure sure."
"Kay."
Michelangelo shifted and slowly pulled his arm out from underneath Kallie, shaking feeling back into it.
"How is it that Mikey always gets to sleep with the chicks?" Raph asked as he helped his little brother get up from the couch.
Mike sent him a wink. "Cuz I'm the pretty one."
Kaliyah couldn't help but laugh at that.
"We just fell asleep Raph." Kallie told him.
Raph rolled his eyes, trying to hide his smirk. "Whateva. Yer just gonna give him a big head. He already thinks he's a playa."
"Don't be jealous of my swag Raph."
Kallie burst out laughing at that. "Swag?" She asked.
"Don't encourage him Kallie." Leo said, grabbing Mikey in a loose head lock. Mike laughed and struggled to get out of his oldest brother's hold. Raphael tightened his hold of Mike's arm and ran his fingers along Mike's right side. Mikey squirmed, laughing louder when Leo mirrored Raph's move.
"Stop!" Michelangelo begged.
Kallie walked into the kitchen and laughed at their antics. They could all be too adorable for words sometimes. Leo and Raph had pity for the orange banded turtle and stopped. The youngest turtle limped away to the counters, getting out a spatula and wooden spoon, holding them like weapons as if warding off his two older brothers.
"Somehow I didn't peg you as being ticklish." Kallie commented, fixing a pot of coffee.
Master Splinter chuckled. "Michelangelo has always been rather sensitive."
"All of us are…well except Leo," said Mikey. "He's never been ticklish. That sucked too."
Leo smirked. "You three more than made up for my un-ticklishness."
"You tortured us." Donatello commented, entering the kitchen.
"He's gotta point." Raph added.
Mike whirled around with his mixing bowl and glared at the red banded turtle. "You helped him most of the time!"
"It was either that or get it myself!" Raph defended. "It ain't my fault Fearless here fought dirty!"
"Hey, there were times when it was your idea to gang up on the little ones." Leonardo said.
"Little ones?" Kallie asked.
"Donnie and Mikey." Raph answered.
Don groaned. "Ugh…I forgot you used to call us that."
"That's almost as adorable as y'all being ticklish."
"Not all of us are." Leonardo pointed out with a smug smile.
"I find it hard to believe you're not ticklish," said Kallie. "Everyone is ticklish somewhere."
Michelangelo had a mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked at Kallie. "I'm assuming you're included in this 'everyone is ticklish' thing?"
Kallie's eyes widened. "Don't even think about it."
"Do not worry Kaliyah," said Master Splinter. "We shall talk later so that you have plenty of ammo."
"Master Splinter!" Mikey cried sounding outraged.
Kallie laughed. "Thanks but no thanks. I'm not one to start fights I know I can't win."
Mike smiled smugly.
"We could always help you out Kallie." Don offered. Kallie turned to Michelangelo and smiled evilly, he 'eeped' and hastily turned around, going back to mixing the pancake mix. The others sat at the table and Kallie joined them.
"Have you finished re-writing your father's letters?" Master Splinter asked her.
"Yes. They're all finished."
"Good. We shall have a session today then." Master Splinter said.
Kallie wasn't exactly feeling up to a session, especially after the roller coaster of emotions that had slammed right into her after talking to her mother last night. Mikey was piling pancakes on a plate now and Raph was helping him pass them out. He must've seen the look on Kallie's face.
"Uh Sensei? Maybe we should give Kallie some rest time."
The old rat looked at Kallie and tilted his head. "Do you feel as if you need rest Kaliyah?"
"Um…maybe?" Kallie then sighed. "I dunno actually. I mean, I'm exhausted from seeing my mom and it not going so well. But I really wanna figure this out." She lifted her chin, her jaw set in a defiant manner. "I'm fine. We'll have as many sessions as need be."
Master Splinter smiled at her. "As you wish."
Mikey gave her a worried look but she smiled at him and that seemed to ease his mind. The 6 of them ate breakfast and Kallie volunteered to do the dishes while the boys got ready for morning practice. Once the kitchen was cleaned Kallie joined them. Mikey was sitting in a chair with his leg propped up on a pillow on the other side of the dojo.
"Side-lined?" Kallie asked.
Mikey nodded. "It sucks." He said petulantly.
"Well you're injured," said Kallie. "You really shouldn't be doing too much."
"I can still help." He pouted. Kallie couldn't help but think he looked absolutely adorable.
"How old are you?" She asked as the others went through a Kata.
"17. Donnie did some tests years ago and determined our age," explained Mike. "But we all mutated at the same time."
"So how old are the rest of them?"
"Donnie's 18, Raph is 19, and Leo just turned 20."
"Are y'all positive about that?"
Michelangelo shrugged. "Donnie is, so that's good enough for me."
Kallie smiled at the absolute trust that Mikey seemed to have for his family. They really seemed so very close to one another.
"You're all so young." Kallie commented.
Mike snorted. "You're as old as Leo."
"I feel older." Kallie muttered.
"I feel older sometimes too." Mikey said with absolutely no humor to his voice. Kallie looked at him and couldn't help but think that there was so much more to their story than what they've told her. The fact that they had actually killed people just last night told her that they were years older than what they truly were.
The two of them watched the others finish their practice session. Mikey commenting every once in a while about what move they were doing. The practice session finished and Kaliyah followed Master Splinter into his room while the other three turtles helped Mikey get comfortable on the couch.
"Do you have the letters?" Master Splinter asked.
Kallie nodded and pulled them out of her pocket. She clutched them in her hand as if they were her lifeline. Master Splinter offered her an understanding smile.
"I know that these written words are precious to you," said Splinter. "And I understand that you may want them to belong to you and you alone. However, it is imperative that you allow me to study them."
Kallie held on a bit tighter, feeling all the air in her lungs rush out all at once. "And you…really think that…he may have…known something?" She panted.
"Calm yourself Kaliyah." The old rat told her gently. Kaliyah took a deep shuddering breath and released it. "It's alright to not want to share these. I understand. Do not rush; we have all the time in the world."
Kallie tried to control her breathing and her heart race but it was hard. She literally felt as if she was handing over a piece of her soul. This wasn't easy. She had memorized every letter he had sent her the day he died. She had sat in her closet, completely alone as she clutched his letters to her chest and sobbed. A few weeks later she had made that scrapbook. Her world was turned upside down when her father had passed, and there was still a hole in her heart that she wasn't sure would ever be filled again. Splinter seemed to understand how she felt. She knew that he had lost his teacher and he seemed to have loved him like a father. In all honesty he wasn't really asking too much of her, so she took a deep breath and handed Splinter the letters. He grasped her hand and squeezed it.
"I am going to read over these and copy them myself and when I am finished I want you to dissect each one, letter by letter."
Kaliyah nodded.
"Please tell Leonardo that I would like to see him. And I am sure that Raphael would be most interested in giving you a training lesson today."
"Of course." She replied, standing to her feet. Master Splinter stood with her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Ease your mind of this for now. Concentrate on your physical training." He encouraged.
Kallie smirked slightly before bowing and saying, "Hai Sensei."
Master Splinter smiled brilliantly at her before returning the bow. Kallie walked out of the room and felt marginally better, and planning on giving everything she had in her session with Raphael. She saw Leo sitting next to Mikey and watching some cartoon. Michelangelo was completely engrossed in the show and barely registered Kallie's presence.
"Master splinter would like to see you Leo." She told him.
Leo looked up then snuck a glance at Mikey who was totally oblivious to his brother's knowing eye, before standing and nodding at Kaliyah, making his way to Master Splinter's room. Kallie sprinted to her room to change into a pair of sweats quickly, pulling her hair into a ponytail before making her way back down stairs.
"Where's Raph?" Kallie asked Mike.
Mikey shrugged and grunted. Kallie rolled her eyes and then took a deep breath before screaming, "RAPHAEL GET YOUR AS—BUTT DOWN HERE!" Kallie changed her words in order to avoid the chastising Splinter was sure to give her if he had heard her use such language.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YA WANT BLONDIE?!" Raph's rough voice bellowed.
"MASTER SPLINTER SAID YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME MY NEXT TRAINING SES—!" Before she could even finish her sentence Raphael was there, cracking his knuckles and smirking down at her.
"My pleasure."
"Could you two please keep it down? I'm trying to watch T.V. here!" Mike complained.
Raphael ignored him and steered Kaliyah towards the dojo.
"So, what's first?" Kallie asked.
"What's the last thing ya did with Leo?" He asked.
"We did like three Kata's." Kallie told him. "Then a sparring session. Although, it was more like a 'you really suck at this Kallie' type of session."
Raph barked out a laugh. "Well ya definitely ain't no ninja, but ya can swing a bat pretty damn good. How 'bout a sparring session and then we'll try some weapons?"
"Like, real weapons?" Kallie asked, trying to contain her enthusiasm.
Raph smirked at her. "Yes 'like real weapons'."
"This is gonna be so cool!" She practically squealed.
Raphael rolled his eyes. "Yer gonna start out with wooden ones like all good little newbies."
"Wooden ones? That's such a rip off!"
"Get over it," Raph told her, throwing a Bokken at her. "We all started out with these. Ape did too."
Kallie caught the wooden sword easily and swung it back and forth a few times, trying to get the feel for it. And then the session started. Raph was a surprisingly good teacher. He got a bit impatient at times though when she didn't necessarily catch on as quickly as he thought she should've, but other than that she had learned a lot. She hadn't really managed to get any good hits in on Raphael, but he did shake his hand a few times after he had caught the Bokken; that had made her smile. After her session with Raph it was time for the guys to do another training session themselves, and just like last time Kaliyah had stayed with Mikey while they watched the others. Master Splinter joined in this time and the three of them tried to take their Sensei down, but the old rat had some major skills. Every time they were close to landing a hit or knocking him down he just appeared on the other side of them. It looked like magic. The three boys were breathing a bit heavily after an hour of this and Master Splinter finally had pity on them, informing them that the session was over. Don fell to the floor, his Bo draped over his stomach, Raph had his hands on his knees and even Leo was leaning against the wall as if he needed the support.
"He totally kicked y'alls ass." Kallie smirked.
Raph scowled at her. "I'd like…to see ya…try to take…him on…" He panted.
Kallie laughed and held up her hands. "I'm good, thanks anyways."
Leo chuckled and grabbed a towel, wiping the sweat from his face. "Raph, you and Casey have first watch, Donnie and April have second, and me and Master Splinter are taking third."
"What about me?" Mikey pouted.
Leo shook his head. "Sorry Mikey, you're out for the rest of the week."
"Not cool dude."
Leo patted Mikey's head. "Cool or not, that's how it's gonna be."
"What about me?" Kallie asked. "I could help."
Leo snorted. "Not after last night. Now we know the Foot are involved and they aren't to be toyed with. It's even more dangerous now than it was a few days ago."
"I could still help."
Leo shook his head and gave her a firm look. "You got to see your mother yesterday like you wanted."
Kallie opened her mouth to say something but Leo held up a hand and stopped her. "This isn't up for discussion." He said and then left the room.
Kallie scowled at his shell. "He's starting to get on my nerves." She muttered.
"Welcome to my world." Raphael added. "As much as this pains me to say it though, Fearless is right. It's too friggin' dangerous right now. Yer best bet is to stay here and make sure Mikey doesn't do nuttin' stupid."
"Hey!" Was Mike's cry of outrage.
"Fine, Mikey and I will just have our own party then!" Kallie said, sounding more like a petulant child than the 20 year old adult she was.
Raph walked by and patted her on the head. "Good girl."
"I'm not a dog!" She shouted after him. Donnie chuckled and helped Mikey to his feet. Lunch was next and after that Mikey settled on the couch and took a nap, Raph went to meet Casey for their first shift while Donnie went into his lab to watch security footage of Kallie's mom and Leo went to talk with Master Splinter. Kaliyah figured it was as good a time as any to go analyze her dad's letters. She sprinted up to her room and got out the pages she had written for Master Splinter. She made a small little cave in the corner of her closet and turned on the light. It had been a while since she had read any of the letters and even though she had written them she hadn't really taken the time to appreciate the words. She unfolded the first one and read each word, remembering how she felt when she had first read the letters.
My dearest daughter,
Words cannot describe how proud of you I am! All As this semester?! Great job kid! Your mom told me that your choir concert went well too. Good job on nabbing the solo! You have such a great voice. I'm so sorry I missed it; I'll definitely be there for your spring concert though. Only a few more months left of this tour and I'll be home. I miss you so much kid. I keep bragging about you to all my soldiers. They feel like they know you personally now. Of course it doesn't help that I keep showing them YouTube videos of you singing either though. What is it you kids write these days? 'Lol?' Am I too old to use that? I'm sure you're rolling your eyes right now. Lol. Ha! See? I can use it! I've gotta go now though. I'll write again soon. Keep your chin up and take care of your mom for me alright? I love you Kaliyah.
4ever and ever kid,
-Dad.
Kallie smiled, tears threatening to pour from her eyes. He always did something silly like that when signing his letters. He made each one so silly and so personal, leaving his own mark on each one. He said he always bragged about her to his soldiers. At his funeral several of them had enveloped her in huge bear hugs, claiming that they felt like she was their daughter as well. A few of them had written to her for a few months after her dad had died. She was thankful for their stories of her dad. She wouldn't have made it those first few months without their kind words. She opened another letter.
Kaliyah Ann Miller,
Like how I used your whole name? I know you aren't a big fan of Kaliyah, but Kallie isn't all it's cracked up to be either. Just kidding. I just have a hard time calling you Kallie, especially since your mother gets so upset when I do. Don't let her read that part. And if you do, just kidding honey! I love you oh so much! And Kaliyah was a brilliant name!
So…anyways my favorite daughter (even though you're my only one) your mom tells me that your math scores have dropped some. I know math isn't exactly your favorite subject, but you need to pick those up. Good grades get you into a good college. You don't wanna have to rely on only your voice. I mean, don't get me wrong kid, you will have colleges lined up to hand you scholarships, but academics are just as important. I know you're smart enough, so work hard to bring that grade back to at least a B alright? I'm still so proud of you though. Can't wait to see you! Only two more months. They'll go by quickly I promise. And remember to cut your mother some slack, she's doing the best she can. I love you kid.
T8ke care daughter of mine,
-Dad
Kallie went through the rest of them one by one, six letters total. He had only been gone for 3 months before he had died. It was supposed to be a short term, only six months. He had barely made it half way. Kallie traced her fingers over the words, tears spilling onto her cheeks.
And that's when she noticed it.
Every single time he ended the letter he incorporated a number of some sort! That was it! Kaliyah grabbed the letters and ran as fast as she could down the stairs, she tripped on the last one and went sprawling across the floor.
"Kallie?" Mikey called, looking over the back of the couch with concerned eyes. She scrambled to her feet as Leonardo, Donatello, and Master Splinter entered the room, wanting to see what all the commotion was about.
"What is it Kaliyah?" Master Splinter asked.
"I think I know the combination."
