Chapter 22

A Good Plan

Jolene tucked her feet closer to her self, refusing to look at anyone. She was still rattled from the ordeal she had just been through. Everyone listened as Tristan began to conclude his tale," So, I've learned that Bishop is untrustworthy, an I-"

"THAT'S the understatement of the year." Raphael growled, as Leo added," We could have told you that Bishop was untrustworthy."

"Correction; you CAN trust Bishop… to be unreliable, sneaky and underhanded." Donatello cut in.

Alex chuckled slightly as she looked over at Tana," Kinda like you can depend on Tana to be a total airhead."

"And I'm quite proud of that bit of reliability on my part." Tana snorted.

Tristan growled," The POINT is, I'm not going to work for him anymore. I wanted to find out what the crystal does, so that way, I can figure out what Bishop wants with it and thwart him… but if no one knows what it does, then my plan is a bit fruitless." Tristan murmured glumly.

Chloe stood up as she looked at Donatello," Should we test out the crystal? To see if it does what Kirby's Crystal could do?"

Jolene looked up, shyly," Uh… how?"

Donatello responded," The crystal your uncle owned could bring his drawings to life…"

Chloe added," I have a couple of harmless sketches that I could trace."

Jolene handed the crystal over.

Chloe tied the crystal to her pencil and quickly grabbed a picture she had sketched of a Butterfly. She traced it's outline, neatly and quickly.

Then, they waited.

Slowly, color spread over the picture, like a fire, and the magnificent creature hoisted it's self from the page, fluttered it's wings once before flitting from the table, a living, breathing object. Chloe sucked in her breath sharply, fascinated as she watched her creation fly gently, like a piece of rainbow through the atmosphere.

Even Tana was quiet as Chloe silently chased after the butterfly, holding out her hand mutely.

The butterfly ignored her, as it explored it's new surroundings delicately.

"Well, now we know what the crystal does… And we all have a very good idea as to what either one of our enemies will do with it if they ever grab it," Leatherhead rumbled quietly as he observed the delicate butterfly in it's meandering path.

Chloe paused in surprise, as the tiger-striped butterfly veered off suddenly, and delicately hovered over and around the giant mutant croc. Leatherhead kept perfectly still, as the artificial creature gently landed on his arm.

Mikey grinned," Wow… butterflies and LH… I guess opposites do attract!"

Raph growled," Mikey, you're an idiot!"

Jolene looked at the butterfly in awe as well, smiling a little as she noticed how still Leatherhead was keeping, careful not to harm the little insect.

Chloe approached, still drawn to her creation.

Leatherhead offered a smile as he gently crouched and held the butterfly out to his little sister.

Chloe smiled as she held her finger out to the butterfly, which gingerly stepped onto her finger.

Squealing silently, Chloe's grin was big enough to stretch from ear to ear. Alex chuckled a little," I have a feeling she's going to be a little philosophical after this."

Donatello, who had his chin resting on his knuckles, contemplated," If Bishop could get his hands on this… he could create anything he wanted. Literally. Limited only by imagination."

Chloe's eyes flickered back to reality as she nodded.

Jolene asked softly," What should I do? What CAN I do?"

Leatherhead stood up, looking at the butterfly in Chloe's hand before his gaze roved to the crystal that had breathed life into the drawing.

Jolene noted it and walked to the pencil, picking it up, she shyly handed it to Leatherhead, who explained quietly as he examined it," I've… I've seen these before. I could swear the utroms kept some of these in their lab facilities…"

Don frowned as he decided," Jolene, you could stay here with us, if you want to, for a while… at least until we decide what to do."

Tristan was frowning as he looked at Leatherhead," I've got… something of an idea."

"What is it?" Don asked, his curiosity piqued.

Tristan shrugged," How do they know her Uncle gave her a crystal with amazing powers? If you think about it, they DON'T. they're just assuming that since he had a super-naturally powered crystal, that means she has one too… it doesn't have to be that way."

"Your point?" Leatherhead growled slightly, growing weary of the boy's arrogant attitude.

Tristan glared slightly before explaining," So, why don't we make a crystal that looks like the one she has, minus the super-powers?"

Don opened his mouth in protest… and then closed it as he thought that one out.

Leo frowned as he thought about it.

Tristan waited quietly as Chloe began to nod," It's not a bad plan."

"But is it a good plan?" Alex asked in a soft growl.

Charis frowned as she pointed out," What else could we do? It's not like we have a choice."

Raph grunted," How do we know we can trust your kid brother? He ain't exactly been a boy-scout."

"Neither are you, Raphael." Chloe retorted, but she did look at Tristan with questioning eyes.

Tristan frowned as he growled," I'll do whatever it is you want me to do, in order to gain your trust. All I can say is… Bishop is gonna just end up using me for scientific crap and I'm not going to let that happen."

Chloe watched as the butterfly floated off her arm, a thoughtful, silent expression on her face.

"Uh… well, yes, I think Chloe should catch her creation and set it loose in Central Park or something, since it doesn't really belong down here, ya know?" Charis commented quietly. Everyone pretty much noticed how Jolene's eyes hadn't really left… Leatherhead.

Tana was grinning like a cheshire cat," Yeah-"

"Ah! Jolene! Uh, let me show you your, uh, your room!" Chloe blurted, grabbing Jolene's arm, she quickly yanked her from the room before Tana could start playing cupid… which was weird, considering that Leatherhead really didn't mix well with… humans…

Although, Jolene was really sweet… and pretty… and she HAD been looking at LH like…

Chloe shook her head quickly, as if trying to rid those thoughts as she muttered," Stupid cupid…"

8~8~8~8~

Jolene sat on the edge of the bed as she asked quietly," So… I am safe here?"

"Yes." Chloe smiled gently at her as she finished setting up the corner of the room for her "guest".

Jolene sighed quietly as she murmured," I thought… I thought Tristan was going to kill me…. So, in a way… I kinda owe Leatherhead. He was just… just trying to save me…" Jolene murmured softly.

Chloe looked up and smiled kindly," Leatherhead's a very kind person. I have to warn you though, he's been through a lot. Humans aren't exactly his best friends. So, if you do run into him, make sure you don't provoke him. No jokes or anything."

"Oh! No! of course not!" Jolene protested indignantly.

Chloe sighed as she nodded, murmuring once to herself," No, no jokes… it's a wonder Tana has survived this long with all the pranks she pulls around here…"

Jolene asked, embarrassed," Um… so, what's the story here?"

Chloe flashed a smile," It's a long story. Do you have the patience for it?"

"I have nothing but patience… to a point." Jolene chuckled and nodded," Yes, please continue."

8~8~8~8~

Don and LH had taken the crystal to Leatherhead's lab, to inspect it and determine how to make harmless replicas.

Tana had decided to tag along… which, in Don's opinion… was a REALLY bad idea…

"Soooo, Leatherhead… what did you think of Jolene?" Tana grinned in a not so subtle manner.

Don bit his lip as he muttered," Tana… button up…"

Leatherhead rumbled quietly," She is very… fragile."

"Yes, yes… what about cute?"

Leatherhead stopped in his tracks, a peculiar expression on his face.

Tana, who was following behind Leatherhead, bumped into his backside and fell to her bottom," Whoa, big fella, I guess that's a… yes?" she grinned.

Leatherhead looked at her with a growl. Don thought he was going to die… until Alex came to his rescue.

WHAP!

"Ow!" Tana blurted as Alex's black-furred hand smacked her upside the head.

"Don't mind Tana, Leatherhead… she's just being an idiot."

"Hey! I'm a sensitive idiot!" Tana objected.

"Ah, so you ADMIT you're an idiot."

"Yes... except have to admit, EVERYBODY can be an idiot at times… therefore, i am no different." Tana said smugly.

Don felt relieved as Alex began to drag Tana back home," That's it! Come on! While you're in this mood, nothing good is going happen! Let's go!"

As Tana protested all the way, leatherhead and Don both exchanged a look.

"You ok?"

"Yes... let us continue." Leatherhead rumbled, trying to forget the various emotions that threatened to break loose.

8~8~8~8~8

Alex sat Tana down as she finished telling Chloe what had happened.

Chloe groaned," Tana, you didn't!"

"And what if I did?" Tana retorted," You should have seen the way she looked at him!"

"Did you forget that Leatherhead hates humans?" Chloe asked dryly.

Tana grumbled under her breath.

Charis looked up from her book and asked," Did you guys forget? The only reason why Chloe and Leo were able to get together is because Chloe's no longer human. If she was human-"

"Well, I wouldn't say it like that, exactly," Chloe protested quietly," True, it was a little confusing, but let's just say I didn't care that Leo's not human like I was."

Alex grumbled," WHY are we talking about this?"

Charis coughed and pointed to Tana, who shrugged," I'm just sayin… Jolene looks real sweet. I think she's perfect for Leatherhead."

"That's YOUR opinion, monkey-brain," Alex snapped.

Charis stood up," I suggest we drop this topic of conversation. For one thing, it's IMPOSSIBLE. Secondly, it's IRRELEVENT. And third of all… It was tana's idea."

"WHY IS THAT A REASON FOR DROPPING IT?" Tana bawled.

Charis nodded," I see your point, Chloe."

Tana cried," You guys are so mean!"

"And so can you." Chloe responded, smiling slightly," Hey, Tana, you KNOW you can be mean sometimes."

Tana sniffled as she shrugged," But… Can't we-"

"Hey Tana! Wanna go for a run on the rooftops?" Mikey came into the room, grinning as Tana jumped up, her troubles forgotten," Do I ever! Yahooo!"

Alex sighed in relief, muttering," Hate to say it… but we totally owe Mikey."

Chloe sat up, readjusting her pink mask," Well, I guess that's that then. If Jolene needs anything, we can call April."

At this moment, Angel tromped in and threw herself onto the couch, her dark eyes glaring as she muttered," i hate your brother Chloe."

Chloe chuckled," I understand the feeling, Angel."

Angel humphed," Doubt it."

Alex leaned back in her seat and muttered," I don't know about you guys, but I think we're doomed… period."

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