Ch. 21

Panting we all gawked at the swirling vortex as we all stood up ready for more. I looked over to see that Winters and Master Splinter were alright before I looked back at the portal.

"So did we win?" Mikey asked as we all came closer to look in to the portal. Staring at the portal I felt my pulse pick up as I saw Winters out of the corner of my eye was tense.

"Boys this isn't over yet," I growled as I stood ready. As if on cue Aguila's hand through the portal along with the other generals marching back through. From what I saw the Lady General was fully healed and had control of both her arms again. "Well, that's just great," I muttered backing up along with the others.

"Foolish creatures, we are immortals made of stone," Aguila smirked as Raph pushed me behind him along with Leo keeping me from their view. "Without the final monster to break our curse, we will never be stopped," with that I could see the woman general giving a devilish smile as she looked ready to plow through Leo and Raph to get to me. Growling back at her I was ready for round two, though Leo and Raph kept me back. Then as they started to approach us, I felt my heart lighten when I heard Mikey's van's horn echo from outside the building. Looking behind us April and Casey came at full speed through the entrance with a huge dinosaur like monster right on their heels.

"Special delivery!" Casey shouted as the monster tried to pounce on the van. Seeing April turn a hard right just in time, the monster slipped on the marble floor and started to slide. We also watched in horror as Mikey's van fell on its side and crashed in to a pillar. I felt my heart stop. I wasn't sure for which part; the monster or the van crashing with Casey and April in it.

"NO!" I heard Winters scream as I then felt a force knock me off my feet and out of the way of the monster that was sliding towards us. Coming out of my shock I looked up and saw the monster ended up tackling the generals back in to the portal and was causing a reaction. Covering my eyes I felt someone hold on to me tightly as I returned it squeezing my eyes shut. The wind around us from the shock wave caused a few large chandeliers to fall as well as some loose stone from the walls and pillars. Feeling the room grow dark I opened my eyes to see the portal had closed and no sign of monsters or stone generals. Who ever was holding me, picked me up and walked up with the other to where the portal was.

"Did we win now?" Mikey asked as we all looked around hoping it wasn't too goo to be true. Looking around I felt the arms of my protector start to tremble under my weight as I looked up at them.

"You alright Cat?" Leo asked as his dark eyes peered in to mine full of concern. Staring back there was only once I was this close to the eldest son and just like then, I couldn't catch my breath.

"Y-yea, you fearless?" I tried to maintain my usual teasing nature though I knew my whole face was probably crimson. Leo smiled down at me and nodded as he gently put me back on my feet.

"Yea, I think we did," I heard Don smiled as everyone cheered.

"Yea, that's what I'm talking about!" Raph fist pumped Leo as he then came and lifted me up; "We won!" he shouted as then put me down. I laughed at the boys' silliness as I nodded and smiled at Master Splinter who looked just as relived as everyone. Then a thought hit me; Casey and April! I rushed over to the van, but as I did the van door flew open and fell off. Out came Casey and April along with two ninja.

"Are you all alright?" I asked as Casey gave me a foolhardy thumbs up as April fell out of the van and landed next to him. Then out of the heat of passion, Casey pulled April in to a breath taking kiss.

"We do all the work, and he gets all the thanks," Raph rolled his eyes as he came up behind me along with the others. Laughing I shook my head and turned to them.

"You all want thanks," they all raised their eye brawls at me as Mikey was the first to answer.

"Heck yea," laughing I kissed his cheek and watched as a huge goofy smile played on his lips as he put his hand over his heart. "I think I'm in love," this made me laugh really hard as Mikey came back and point at the other cheek, "How about we make it even?"

"Knock it off shell for brains," Raph shoved him off and stood between us as I got on my tip toes and kisses Raph's cheek.

"Thanks Raph, you all did great," I watched as he froze and looked the other way. I knew that he was blushing from the huge smile that grew on Mikey's face.

"Is wittle oh Raphie poo blushing?"

"Shut up!" Raph yelled back as he chased Mikey making everyone roll their eyes and shake their heads. Don came up and hugged me tight before checking my back.

"Curious, all your injuries are healed. It's almost like they were never there!" Don was shocked as he started to study me making me feel a bit self conscious.

"Thank you Don, that's enough," I laughed as he nodded getting and going to check on April and Casey. Shaking my head at the Raph and Mikey I felt Leo come to my side and give a small smile.

"Nice to know not much has changed," I gave a full hearted chuckle as I nodded and stared up at him.

"Yeah, I think all they needed was you," I smiled up at him making him smile back. Staring back out at Raph and Mikey, Raph had finally caught him and put Mikey in a head lock making him beg. Giving a small laugh I turned back up to Leo to only have my lips almost connect with Leo's. We both stared at each other wide eyed as my heart stopped. Our lips had just barely missed the other, barely a second sooner we would of… I could feel an intense heat cover my whole face as I watched his emerald skin become a dark pink. He was the first to step back we our eyes never left the other.

"I- I was … I didn't," he stuttered as I was pulled out of my shock and put up my hands.

"I-I know, its ok, I didn't know you were…" I blushed harder as we both tried to speak. Even though we were both still embarrassed, we couldn't stop staring at the other for some reason. Out of the corner of my eye I could see the lady ninja trying to help her partner. Shaking it off Leo and I had to put it behind us as we confronted the kunoichi. It was also helpful if we didn't look at the other either. Coming up to her she gave a very small smile as she stopped in front of Master Splinter and looked upon all of us.

"You are every bit of warriors I was informed you were. Savory your victory for tonight," she looked back at her comrade then back at us, "For soon we will have further business together. The kind that deals with familiar faces from your past," she finished as Raph and his brothers all stared at each other.

"She doesn't mean…" Raph and everyone stared back at her wide eyed as she then disappeared in a cloud of dust from one of her smoke pellet. Stepping back April ran to me almost tackling me.

"Your alive!" she sighed dramatically as Casey came and hugged the both of us. I laughed as they slowly released me and I saw a face missing from the crowd; Winters. Looking around I saw him sitting in front of the doors on the steps watching the sun rise. Walking over to him I sat next to him and watched the night sky slowly disappear as fuchsias and violets danced with oranges and vibrant yellows. I don't know what it was, but something in me made me take Winters hand. He looked down at me and gave me a gentle smile as he squeezed my hand.

"You know, when you were still an infant I would tell you stories of my adventures, you would always listen so intently. You were so bold and were fearless, I always hoped you would grow in to a fierce woman," he laughed as he smiled down at me.

"Well?" I teased making him smile down at me.

"You have surprised me more than you know Catherine; I am that you're my daughter. I know your mother would be proud," he smiled as he took my hands and we both stood up. When he stood up he started to laugh as joyful tears then ran down his face and gently kissed both my hands.

"Winters?" Raph asked as everyone came up to us.

"I'm never usually that happy to be beaten," Mikey commented staring at Winters.

"He's happy because he's finally free Mikey," Don replied as Winters face us and smiled down at me before smiling at April.

"April, I have had my eye on you for a long time-".

"Knew it!" Casey interrupted as April nudged him to hush before looking back up at Winters to finish.

"I had always known that you would be the one to help me find my way home, and even helped me find my daughter," Winters smiled down at me and held both my hands hand his. "My little girl I'm so sorry for never being in your life- "I held my hand up and smiled.

"Its fine, I mean I didn't turn out that bad," I smiled as I heard Raph cough behind me making me roll my eyes as I heard a slight chuckle. Turning to Master Splinter and the turtles Winters walked foreword and gave a slight bow to them.

"Thank you, my brothers you have made a very old man, very very happy," he smiled as he then lead me to stand by Raph who stared at Winters. "I have to ask a very hefty favor my brothers; will you take care of this feisty young lady for me? She means the world to me and is all that I have left," Master Splinter took my hand and smiled.

"To us she is already family, and to me, my daughter," he smiled and covered my hands with his gently making tears fill my eyes. I had never had anyone consider me family in a long time, or even openly admit it.

"So what happens now?" Mikey asked as Winters gave me a glum smile.

"I promised you answers Catherine, though I have lied to you," he started as he held me, "For the curse has been lifted that means my time here has ended," he pulled back and pulled out a disk and handed it to me. "This has all the answers to your questions; I tried to keep you hidden from this ugly reality as long as I could. I'm sorry I couldn't do better," he sighed as I shook my head and hugged him. With no hesitation he held me back.

"Thank you," I didn't know what else to say other than that before I started to feel the sun filter through the room. Peeling me off of him, Winters stepped back and his eyes started to glow as his whole body started to glow the same hue. I saw Raph step up to me and hold me back. I looked back; I didn't notice I was stepping forward till he held me back. We all watched till his spirit vanished and is essence started to disappear. Behind me I heard Mikey sniffling.

"I think we got up my- my," then Mikey had his sneeze attacks. Laughing I looked back at Raph and smiled.

"Let's go home," I sighed exhausted as he nodded and we all disappeared in to the sewers. I walked next to Don as I stared at the disk that Winters gave me.

"What's that?" Don slowly took the disk from me and scanned it.

"Winters gave it to me saying it would answer all my questions".

"Like what?"

"Everything," I sighed as we entered the lair. Stopping as Don handed me the disk I felt an eerie heaviness on my shoulders. I knew the moment that I opened whatever was in this disk, I would be opening Pandora's box… just what hell was about to break loose?