Next chappie! sorry it took so long, it's been busy at my house, not to mention my mom thoroughly beleive that i'm addicted to my laptop.

Alex: You are.

Me:I am NOT!

Chloe: You got up and right away, you walked to your computer and turned it on!

Me:Shut up.

Tana: Read on!

Chapter 12

Defiance and Respect

""Tristan, how could you go and pull a stunt like that?! It's THAT kind of behavior that makes me want to take you back with me and keep you where I can see you at all times!" Desdemona lectured, her eyes dark and angry.

Tristan was sullenly staring at the floor, his grey eyes not meeting hers.

Desdemona paused as she looked at her son, wondering why, why he was so rebellious, after all her warnings, all the care and all the lessons she had tried to teach him.

The wolf-boy looked at her and he growled," I'm sorry, okay? I was just going to take a walk, because Tana was driving me insane! Than I got lost, so I thought I'd try to get my bearings by going topside!"

"Tristan, what am I going to do if you get caught?! I can't lose you!"

"Mom, I'm NOT a baby!"

"No, but you ARE my son! Who you are is defined by WHAT you do… your actions are both childish and foolish." Desdemona said this quietly, but her face was dead serious as she looked into the angry grey eyes of Tristan.

He glared, unmoving as he responded," I'm not going back to San Antonio…not with you. My life there sucked. Whether you like it or not, mom, I'm not the same little boy you raised."

***

Chloe paced in the livingroom, her own face grim as she muttered," That brat…why can't he do as he's told? Why is he always going where he's not supposed to go?! I don't know whether to laugh or cry…"

Raphael stepped in front of her and growled," Look, Chloe, I know you're upset, but can you stop pacing?! You're gonna make me puke!"

"Well, excuse me, Raph! But can't you realize what the shell is going on?! my brother is a mutant, he's rebellious and free-spirited, and he doesn't even respect my mom enough to do as she says when it counts the most!!!"

Raphael rolled his eyes," The kid probably needs some space!"

"He's been GIVEN space! Bloody shell, Raph, ever since we were kids, he's ALWAYS gone where he's not supposed to go! I tried and I tried to be an 'example' to him, but he didn't care! And now, it's worse because he's growing up!" Chloe bellowed into his face.

Complete silence followed and Chloe realized she had just lost her temper.

"Oh shell…" she groaned, sinking into the couch.

Raphael frowned as Leo came into the room, asking, "Chloe, what was that all about?"

The turtle-girl shook her head," I'm stressed out. Let me die in peace."

Leonardo turned to Raph, who shrugged," she's upset about what's going on with her brother."

Chloe turned her gaze to them," What if he ends up… getting caught? Killed? Used as an experiment? Shell, he's already been used as an expirement! And he wasn't even abnormal! He was just a human kid, and… Oh shell." She put her face in her hands," This is all my fault…"

Leo didn't know what to say. Raphael muttered," Well, the kid's got spunk. He broke out of the lab by himself. He was ready to take on the foot ninjas by himself."

"Yes, but he has no respect. He's going to end up learning to respect the hard way!" Chloe groaned.

Tana, for once, was completely sober, as she leaned against the door frame. She had already called and informer her patents that she had found a career in New York city…and they could not have cared less. Now, as she looked at her friend, she bit her lip silently.

"I could have stopped Tristan from leaving…I could have done something. instead, I feel like I've just failed my friend."

At this moment, Desdemona came out of the room, and she sat down on the couch. Her eyes were red and sorrowful.

"I'm going to arrange to stay here a few more days… I'll catch a plane on the weekend."

Chloe stood up as her mother looked up, her eyes still sad as she added," Chloe, I'm leaving you here… and Tristan too."

Chloe nodded and was about to make a pledge to protect and guide Tristan when Desdemona added," I'm putting Splinter in charge of Tristan."

"O-okay, mom." Chloe stuttered a little, adding," So, what are you going to tell the others?"

"That you're okay. And that's all. I'll send you more of your stuff, if you want, Chloe." Desdemona added.

"Naw, go ahead and sell my stuff mom. I've already got everything I need here." Chloe smiled a little bitterly.

Desdemona nodded softly.

Tristan came out, looking a little sullen as he went to the kitchen to get something to eat.

Mikey was in there, making dinner.

"Hey, dude, there's soda in the fridge." Mikey told him as he cooked.

Tristan didn't respond. Mikey looked over at the wolf-boy and grinned," Cat got your tongue?"

"Shut up, Mikey."

Mikey snorted," geez, you're just like Raph!"

SLAM!

Tristan's eyes were like ice as he snarled," piss off, you-"

Whack!

Tristan yelped," OW!"

He turned to see a very stern Master Splinter, who told him with great finality," If you are to live here, Tristan, you will not use such language in this house!"

Tristan looked a little dumb-founded as Splinter continued," I will train you in Ninjutsu, as I trained your sister, but if this is to become a reality, you must learn to obey the rules that are set here, and you must show respect!"

Tristan paused as Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael came and stood behind their master, arms crossed as Raphael added," We don't want to make you feel like you're trapped here, kid, but if you disrespect Splinter, then you deal with us."

For the first time in his life, Tristan felt awed by the sight. Here was a father who had raised sons successfully. He had not abandoned them, and they had given him their complete loyalty.

The wolf-boy nodded, still somewhat sullen as he responded," Awright…I'll behave."

Splinter nodded," Good then."

Mikey called out," Sorry to inturrept, but… PIZZA'S UP FOR GRABS!!!"

Do you know anyone like Tristan? i do. Does Tristan really mean all he says? or is he still considering that offer Bishop made?

Review if you want to find out!!!