Disclaimer: I don't own them...honestly don't.
Thanks to Raph's No. 1 Girl for beta reading!
Enjoy it please!
Mikey whooped from the front seat of the Battle Shell, as it sped down the street. The window was down, since it was dark and Mikey loved feeling the wind in his face and how it made his mask float behind him.
Don was in the passenger seat, turned around and planning their strategy with the others in the back. Mikey was supposed to be listening.
"Are you listening to a word I said, Mike?" Don demanded, smacking the orange wearing turtle when he started humming 'Life is a Highway' by Rascal Flatts.
"Yes Donny." Mikey rolled his eyes, grinning when he heard the surprised yelps in the back when he took a corner too sharp. Don grabbed hold of the dashboard and the armrest on the seat, his eyes wide with panic. As soon as the van straightened out and they were flying down the road again, he heard voices yell simultaneously,
"MIKEY!!!"
And Splinter, of course,
"MICHELANGELO!!"
Don shot his youngest brother a dirty look. "Can we please focus on the task at hand?" he turned back to the others. "Anyway, as soon as we get there, Casey, April, you're going to act the part of a buyer."
Casey nodded while April frowned. "And I'm going to be doing most of the talking, correct?" she slapped her boyfriend in the stomach with one hand. "We all know what Casey will do."
Don held up a three-fingered hand as the man opened his mouth. "Yeah, that's what I was going to suggest anyway. Casey, you're going to have to keep silent and let April do the talking. Your job is to act like a hired assistant. Remember April, you're job is to act rich. Money is of no concern to you."
"Of course." She looked down at her jeans and white sleeveless shirt. "Is this fancy enough for someone whose money is of no concern?"
"Just tell them you refused to go down there in your regular clothes. Make it sound like it's a huge sacrifice for you to have to wear those clothes." Don explained. "Casey, while she's talking, you casually walk around, studying everything. Try, if you can, to knock out a few guards 'cause as soon as April gets Shaun to let Leo out of the cage, Casey, you press the button on the shell cell and alert us. We'll be just outside the door."
They all nodded in agreement while Suri studied Don. "I'm sorry, but whose name was it? Shaun?"
Tension quickly filled the van as everyone found a sudden interest in anything but the girl in front of them.
"My daughter," Splinter grasped her shoulder in a comforting manner. "Shaun, the man who led you on the streets, is the leader of this."
"What?" She stared at them in disbelief. "Shaun? No," she shook her head "He's too good for that. He wouldn't stoop that low. He cares for everyone."
"Yeah, everyone that'll pay him money." Mikey growled.
"Suri," Don nervously wrung his hands. "I know this sounds really weird and everything, but you've got to trust us. He right now has Leo captured and is planning to sell him and if we don't stop him, he'll succeed and harm more animals. He's a greedy, rotten person who cares for nothing in life but making animals suffer and making money."
Suri was silent. Could she believe them? She would believe Raph without hesitation, but them? But, why would they lie about something like that? Get everyone worked up and worried over a prank? They grew up on codes of honor, and she was pretty sure this wasn't in the book.
"I'll go in with you guys." Suri said quietly. "Cause I won't believe it unless I see it."
Splinter nodded at the wisdom of the teenager. He knew some that would believe without hesitation, some that would be confused and not speak up, and some that would abandon the whole thing because they didn't, or refused to, believe. Suri was giving them a chance to prove themselves to be trustworthy.
"Very well." He bowed to them as they hopped out the van doors. "I wish you success." He was to stay with the van and act as backup in case they needed it and to drive the van when they were ready to escape. Thank goodness the van was easier to operate than the shell cell.
"And who might you be, my dear?" Shaun said coolly, a smile plastered on his face as he went to greet April and Casey. Suri stayed outside the door with the others, waiting. April put on a fake smile as she shook the man's, a little too eager, hand.
"My name is, um, Judy. Judy Simmons. This here is my…" she was about to say 'associate' but Casey cut in instead. He saw Shaun was flirting with his girlfriend and he hated it.
"Fiancé." Casey said slyly, shaking the man's head. He smirked inwardly when he saw Shaun trying to hide his disappointment. "Me and Judy are going to be married in a week and I promised her she could pick out her wedding gift."
Outside, Don groaned. Leave it to Casey to change the whole, nice and detailed story.
"A wedding gift, you say?" Shaun raised an eyebrow. "Might I interest you in some furs or coats? Or perhaps some scarves? We also have a wide selection of jewelry made from animal bones, teeth, and even some fur. We have true leather purses I can order for you if you like."
April stepped in front of Casey, putting on the spoiled wife act. "No, no. I wanted something rare and alive. Money is of no concern." she waved her hand. "Do you mind if we look around? I would like to see all."
"Of course." Shaun started on one end, showing her wild animals such as tigers, snakes, wolves, birds, and rare insects. He also tried to get her interested in the furs again, but she pointedly refused. Again.
"I am interested in that large turtle over there." she pointed out Leo, her heart racing when she saw his eyes widen. Don't say anything!
"The turtle?" Shaun led April over, not noticing Casey slipping away to take care of some guards he spotted near the door.
Leo was stunned when he saw April and Casey walk through the doors. He knew that his brothers were on the other side, waiting to spring in. But he also knew he had to act like he'd never seen April before and treat her like he was preparing to treat any other buyer.
"This is a rare turtle we recently captured in Canada." Shaun lied, halting outside the cage. "He is one of four in the world that we are currently aware off."
April sniffed, raising her eyebrows as if she was seriously considering it. "This is a hard choice. I was particularly interested in the tiger or the wolf, but now that I've seen the turtle, I would have to decide between the three of them. Hmm." She furrowed her eyebrows as if in deep thought. "I'm afraid I will have to take the tiger out; I already own two of them."
"Really?!" Shaun looked impressed.
"And the wolf is a female?" Shaun nodded. "I already own eight female wolves so I would like the turtle." She straightened her shoulders, her eyes showing her mind was made up. "Yes, the turtle."
Shaun looked a bit hesitant. "The price is steep." He warned.
April smiled. "Can you not remove him from the cage so I can view him better?" At his hesitance, she put on a sweet smile. "I will be sure to pay a few thousand extra."
Shaun sighed. "Alright." He led her to the cage and opened the door. Leo hesitantly stepped out, baring his teeth at April. April seemed unfazed, simply walked around him, muttering to herself, stalling for time.
"AHHH!" The door burst open as Suri, Don and Mikey all poured into the room, weapons flashing and ready.
Shaun gave a grin at their arrival. "Guards!" he called out as he waited for the turtles to be surrounded by dart guns. Nothing. "Guards!"
"Not comin', dude." Mikey snickered, stepping forward. "Ya okay bro?"
Leo rushed to his family's side, almost weak with relief. "Now I am." He gratefully took a pair of katanas from Mikey and gave them a few swings. They gave a sharp whistle, proving their sharpness. "Give up, Shaun."
Suri stood behind Don, her eyes watering as she watched the man she called father, the man who'd raised her and taught her to live on the streets, the man who graciously welcomed her and Sammy with open arms. Shaun spotted her and his face dropped.
"Suri," he wrung his hands. "What are you doing here?"
"Me?" she scoffed. "You know they're Raph's brothers and here you are trying to sell them?" Her voice rose. "How could you?!"
Shaun sighed. "Suri, I'd hoped not to get any of my family involved in this but -"
"Family?" she screeched. "You call me your family? After this?"
Shaun sighed, lowering his hands. "If you're not with me," he hissed. "Then you're against me. I'm sorry to say that unlike those green freaks of yours, you're of no use to me. A thorn in my side if you will." His hand moved in a quick sweeping motion, removing a black revolver from his holder on his belt. Suri took a quick step back, hiding slightly behind Mikey, who stepped in front of the girl while Leo sheltered April and Casey.
Shaun suddenly smirked as the door behind them opened and dozens of more hired men flooded the room. Leo held his swords before him, while Don gave his Bo a few snaps back and forth. Casey produced from beneath his large winter coat a heavy-duty metal baseball bat.
"Seems the Calvary has arrived." He gave them a leering grin. "It would be wise to step away now and maybe I'll let those human friends of yours go."
Leo didn't budge. His mind was clear and focused as he stared at the guns trained on them. Some were tranquilizer guns like those that had shot him down before, while others were real guns that shot out bullets. He was so focused on Shaun he failed to notice the guard sneaking behind Mikey, grabbing Suri.
She let out a scream of fear as the man pulled her to his chest and held a gun to her head. With small steps, eyes covered by sunglasses, he made his way slowly towards Shaun. Quickly they traded, and Shaun had one muscular arm wrapped around Suri's throat and the same gun pointed to her head.
"I'll give ya'll ta the count of three. One."
Nobody budged.
"Two."
Leo prepared himself for a hopeless leap. He knew he could make it to Suri in enough time to shield her from the bullet, but not enough time for him to move. He just prayed the others would make it out in time.
"Three!" he cocked the gun as his finger tightened. Suri closed her eyes tightly, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A voice hissed, low and angry, from the shadows.
Shaun stiffened, hurriedly dropping the gun from numb fingers and raising both hands. A green hand supported the red-wrapped weapon as a thin line of steel was placed across his throat.
Please review and let know what you thought of the chapter!
~raphfreak
