A/N: Hey guys - sorry again for so long between updates. Work has been busy and I come home and literally feed the dogs and get ready for bed so I can get up early to go to work the next day. This is my only day off this week - I've been working very long days sometimes a bit shorter but my average is about 9 1/2 - 10 hour days. I worked 13 yesterday and was so tired byt the time I got to home I just got ready for bed. But I have been working on this next chapter when I've had the time. I've got a little vacation coming up here next week so maybe I'll have time to get another chapter written then. That is if it isn't too crazy with me trying to get my apartment packed up and cleaned out so I can move out. The joys of being an adult. :D Thanks again for all of you who take the time to review - and if I don't get this updated again before then - happy holidays to everyone. See you next time.
Chapter 17
Elizabeth found herself relaxing as she inhaled another deep breath.
In… two… three…
Out… two… three…
In… two… three…
Out… two… three…
She never would have believed something could be so relaxing but even though the tatami mat wasn't the softest thing she'd ever sat on, and she wasn't crazy about the sandal wood smell she had to admit that it was peaceful as well.
She would be forever grateful to Leonardo for showing her how to meditate properly. It had taken her a couple weeks but eventually she had learned how to let go of everything and let herself drift into the spiritual plane. It was such an amazing experience for her the first time that it had almost frightened her, but then Leonardo's voice had been there, calm and soothing, reassuring. Elizabeth had gotten used to the strange sensation now and found that when she meditated with the eldest of the four turtles that she was much calmer than she had ever been before in her life. There was just something so soothing about Leonardo's presence as he meditated beside her.
She was almost certain at times she'd felt his presence there alongside her on the spiritual plane as well. She could never be sure of course as she was still so new to all this, but she wouldn't have been surprised.
Elizabeth found herself drifting further and further away from her body, no longer focused on her breathing but on the sensation of no longer being trapped by a physical being. No longer held down by all the fear, hate, and anguish she housed within her own mind. When she was here she was free.
"Leo? Ya in here?"
Elizabeth's eyes snapped open, her concentration and freedom snatched away from her faster than if she'd been doused with cold water. Sitting next to her Leonardo too opened his eyes.
Michelangelo was looking at them sheepishly from the doorway of the dojo, it was obvious that he had no idea that they had been meditating.
Leonardo unfolded his legs with a sigh and got to his feet. "What is it, Mikey?"
"Uh, Casey is here – and he brought something I think you should see," Michelangelo's eyes darted to Elizabeth then back to Leonardo again quickly.
Elizabeth's eyes narrowed marginally, it was obvious that Michelangelo didn't want her to know whatever it was that Casey brought, but from the grim look on his face it wasn't a surprise.
"Mikey, what… ?" Elizabeth started to ask but Leonardo was already hurrying out of the dojo with Michelangelo close behind.
Elizabeth scowled at the spot where Michelangelo had been standing seconds before, she blew out the candles she and Leo had been using and put them back in their rightful places and then stormed out of the dojo. She could see Casey with the turtles on the other side of the lair, they all shared the same grim expression and were talking in whispers too low for her to pick up. Elizabeth was half tempted to walk over and insist to know what they were talking about but she thought better of it. They probably wouldn't tell her anyway and besides she had to go to the bathroom again.
With a resigned sigh she headed for her source of relief. She would question Raphael about it later.
"How many did you say there are, Casey?" Leonardo asked glaring down at the small offending bit of paper.
"Dey are all over da city, Leo. Hard ta miss 'em," Casey said. "And I 'eard on da radio dat da police are lookin' fer 'er too."
"She didn't steal dat guy's money," Raphael growled through his teeth, taking his sai out of his belt and spinning them angrily.
"We know that, Raph," Donatello said quickly glancing over his shoulder briefly just in time to see Elizabeth disappear into the bathroom. "But that isn't going to stop the police from trying to bring her in for questioning."
Leonardo crumpled the paper in his hands. "She just won't be able to leave the lair. It's the best place for her to be so we can protect her."
"When I get a hold of dis guy I'm gonna… " Raphael started.
"That isn't going to solve anything, Raphael," Leonardo said sharply. "The real problem we have is when that baby is due." He turned to his purple-banded brother. "How long do you think she has, Donny?"
"At least four months – although pregnancies can be tricky, Leo. If something happens and Elizabeth goes into early labor or has complications I won't have the equipment she'll need to help her."
"Den get it!" Raphael snapped.
"Raph, it isn't that easy!" Donatello's normally even temper boiled. "Hospitals have all kinds of equipment to help women with a delivery, or to stop an early labor. There is no way we could get a hold of that kind of equipment. We aren't set up for that kind of situation."
"So what we're gonna send 'er out der where dat jerk of a husband can get 'er?" Raphael demanded.
"Of course not, Raphael," Leonardo intervened. "We are doing everything we can to help her and when the time comes and if we can't we'll make sure she's in good hands."
Casey nodded and clapped Raphael on the shoulder. "Nothin's gonna happen ta 'er, pal."
Raphael shook Casey's hand off his shoulder and stormed off to the dojo.
"Dude," Michelangelo breathed not daring to raise his voice above a whisper. "Is it just me or is Raph strung a lot more tightly than usual?"
Leonardo shot him a withering look. "Don't you think it's obvious on why he is, Mikey?"
Michelangelo eyes narrowed a little. "I'm not that dumb, Leo."
"Guys, this isn't helping," Donatello interrupted as Leonardo opened his mouth to snap back. "Casey, see if April can find a way to help Elizabeth get better fitting clothes without her having to leave the lair, internet, sizes… whatever it takes. The less Elizabeth leaves the lair the better."
Casey nodded. "Sure ting, Donny. April and I will help anyway we can."
Donatello nodded, satisfied. Then he turned and headed for his lab.
"Are ya sure it's a good idea ta keep dis from 'er, Leo? Eventually she's gonna find out – it's all over da news."
Leonardo sighed and glanced first towards the dojo where the sounds of Raphael taking his frustrations out on his punching bag could be heard before his eyes darted to the closed bathroom door. "We'll have to let her know, Casey. There's no way to keep this from her without making things worse. She's going to want to know why we don't want her to leave the lair."
"Well I'd better get back – April and I got a reservation fer six. She'll kill me if we miss it. But I t'ought dis was someting I couldn't tell ya guys over da phone."
Leonardo nodded. "Thanks, Casey."
Casey looked towards the dojo before giving Mikey and Leo a strained smile. "Good luck, guys. Call if ya need someting."
"Thanks, Case," Mikey said giving their old friend a tight smile in return. Leonardo, however, didn't seem to be paying attention, he was watching the closed bathroom door intently. Casey turned and headed for the elevator.
"Why don't you see if Elizabeth wants something to eat, Mikey? I'm going to try and talk to Raph before he… " A loud roar of frustration and the unmistakable sound of something breaking echoed out from the dojo. Leonardo winced and Michelangelo's eyes widened in shock.
The bathroom door opened and Elizabeth emerged, looking shocked and worried.
"Go stop her – I've got to get Raph calmed down!" Leonardo ordered giving Michelangelo a little push as he hurried off to the dojo himself.
"Hey, Elizabeth, ya hungry?" Michelangelo asked forcing a bright smile and trying not to look alarmed as another loud crash echoed from the dojo.
Elizabeth's eyes strayed towards the dojo. "Is Raph ok, Mikey?"
"Leo's gonna talk to him – he'll be fine, Elizabeth," Michelangelo said hoping he sounded sincere. "Come on let's get dinner started you promised you'd show me how to do that chicken braid thingy you were talkin' 'bout."
Elizabeth looked reluctant but she nodded and allowed Michelangelo to lead her to the kitchen.
Leonardo stepped into the dojo just in time to see Raphael's sai slash Raph's bag right across the middle and sand began to instantly pour all over the dojo floor. Leonardo winced, Raph loved that bag.
"Raph," Leo began not moving from the doorway as his brother angrily slashed at the bag again slicing another long tear in the bag.
"I don't wanna talk, Leo," Raphael growled. He kicked the leaking bag making it swing around and scattering sand all over the floor.
"Well if you don't keep it down you're not going to have a choice because Elizabeth will come in here to see why you're so angry."
Raphael released another viscous kick at his almost deflated bag, Leonardo flinched as a few of the wayward grains of sand hit him in the face. Raphael didn't seem to notice or care that he'd totally destroyed the bag. Instead he turned and with as much force as he could muster flung his sai into the tatami mat.
"Raph," Leonardo had to work to keep his voice even. "You're gonna have to tell her – it'd be best if she heard it from you."
"We don't have ta tell 'er nothin', Leo," Raphael snarled.
"And you think she won't find out on her own?" Leonardo cocked one eye ridge at his brother.
Raphael snarled and overturned a rack holding dumbbells on it with an ear shattering crash. "WE GOTTA DO SOMETING 'BOUT DIS, LEO!"
"Raph!" Leonardo stepped further into the dojo and motioning with his hands for his brother to keep his voice down. "You want Elizabeth to come in here and see you like this? Calm down. We'll take care of Graham but we can't do it blind."
"He won't stop 'til he kills 'er!" Raphael snarled. "Ya said it yerself he almost did it dat night – he's just tryin' ta finish da job. He wants 'er outta da way."
"We aren't going to let that happen, Raph. Elizabeth's safe here with us," Leonardo's eyes widened in alarm as Raphael sat down so suddenly it was almost as if his legs would no longer support him.
"We can't let 'im get 'er, Leo."
"He's not going to touch her, bro. We'll keep her safe." Leonardo sank down next to his brother, sitting on his knees and raised a hand as if to put it on Raphael's shoulder, but hesitated. Raphael had never been so emotionally vulnerable. It was true that Raph didn't hide his feelings well, they were just as close to the surface as Michelangelo's always were - but where Michelangelo was fun and outgoing and easily worried about small things Raphael's anger was usually just below the surface, with only the smallest provication needed to release it. But Elizabeth had brought something out in him that Leonardo had never expected. He wondered briefly how deep Raphael and Elizabeth were actually involved. He and his brothers had noticed that Raphael spent every night with Elizabeth now, but he had never thought that they had actually be physically intimate before now. But he thought Elizabeth had smelled more strongly of his brother than usual today. He hadn't really paid attention to that – but from the way Raphael was acting now… it was hard to think that they'd hadn't been together physically to create such a strong bond.
Raphael's vulnerability vanished as quickly as it had appeared, a familiar hard glint shone out of his eyes as he nodded determinedly. "He ain't gonna touch 'er. Never again, Leo."
"Not if we have anything to say about it, bro," Leonardo agreed.
Raphael nodded and stood up grabbing the handle of his sai and tugging it out of the mat. He sighed and glared at the sand covered floor, strewn about dumbbells, and finally to the ruined punching bag. "Aww, shell – dat was my favorite bag."
Leonardo suppressed the urge to smirk. "Come on, Raph – I'll help you clean up."
Michelangelo ran his finger along the upper edge of the bowl, licking the concoction off the end and grinning as Elizabeth smacked him gently before taking the bowl away from him and pouring the grilled chicken breasts into the mixture before mixing it well and pouring it out on a rolled out piece of dough spread out over a cookie sheet.
"Mmm," Michelangelo grinned. "That's really good, Elizabeth."
Elizabeth laughed. "If you don't stop having your little taste tests, Mikey, there won't be any left for dinner."
"But I'm hungry," Michelangelo pouted.
"Well lucky for you this doesn't take very long to cook then," Elizabeth said laughing again. She began cutting up a second large piece of dough into strips. "Are you paying attention? This is the tricky part."
Michelangelo sidled up to her and watched as Elizabeth expertly braided the strips of dough on top of the chicken mixture until it was covered. She then folded the bottom piece of dough up to seal off the ends.
"The trick is to make sure that you cover as much as this as you can," Elizabeth said patting a piece of dough a little bit more firmly so it laid flat on the mixture.
Michelangelo reached out to snatch a piece of chicken that was hanging out between strips of the braid. Elizabeth smacked his hand away. "You get out of here and start working on the vegetables."
Michelangelo laughed then glanced over his shoulder. "Oh, hey, Raph."
Elizabeth turned but was surprised that the doorway was empty she turned back just in time to see Michelangelo snatching his hand back, the piece of chicken she'd managed to save the first time pinched between his fingers. He laughed as he darted away from her to the other side of the small kitchen popping the chicken into his mouth as he went, obviously pleased with himself.
Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh a little herself. It was hard to stay stressed when working with Mikey. She grabbed the cookie sheet and stuffed it into the oven before Michelangelo could snatch anymore free samples.
Michelangelo gleefully pulled a bag of mixed vegetables from the fridge and took them to the sink to be washed. Elizabeth grabbed the bowl the chicken mix had been in, made sure Michelangelo wasn't looking, and then copied his example by sticking her finger in the leftovers and licking it off her finger.
"I saw dat," Raphael's voice was so unexpected Elizabeth almost dropped the bowl in shock.
"Don't do that, Raph!" Elizabeth snapped, her green eyes flashing dangerously even though Raphael merely smirked and Mikey chuckled from where he stood at the sink. He obviously hadn't been surprised by his brother's sudden appearance.
Raphael made his way to Elizabeth's side, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her to him, ignoring the surprised look on her face. "Sorry 'bout dat," He smirked not looking sorry at all.
"Yeah, I'm sure you are," Elizabeth said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
Raphael chuckled softly and his free hand came up to caress her cheek, Elizabeth felt her cheeks go red. Raphael's smirk widened, obviously amused but he said nothing. Instead he brushed her long brown hair behind her ear and stared into her emerald green eyes, losing himself in them while she got lost in his.
Elizabeth felt a familiar burning sensation building in her gut and she felt herself smiling, despite her irritation with him for surprising her, when he pulled her tighter against his body. She loved the way his body felt against her, so strong. Like nothing could ever get past him.
"So," Raphael finally said breaking her gaze and looking into the bowl she'd forgotten all about. "What's fer dinner?"
"Uh," Elizabeth's mind went blank.
Michelangelo snickered from the sink and Elizabeth blinked, blushing again as she realized the orange-banded brother was quite amused by their little display of affection.
"Chicken braid," Elizabeth finally recalled the name of the dish she'd just made. She wiped her finger in the leftover mixture again and ignoring Mikey's eyes she grinned teasingly at Raph. "Want a taste?"
Raphael chuckled. "Dat's alright – I can wait."
Elizabeth sucked the mixture off her finger and thought longingly of a cold shower. What had gotten into her anyway? Right in front of his brother?
"How come he gets a free taste?" Michelangelo pouted, interrupting her thoughts.
Elizabeth turned to him and pointed an accusing finger at his chest. "You had several free tastes, I couldn't get you to keep your fingers out!"
"They weren't free – you kept smacking me," Michelangelo protested.
Raphael snorted with laughter as he strolled over to the fridge to grab a soda.
Elizabeth rolled her eyes and handed him the bowl. "Here then, you can have the rest."
Michelangelo's face lit up with delight as he snatched the bowl from her hands and helped himself to the leftovers. Elizabeth shook her head and began to chop up the freshly washed vegetables.
"So what did Casey want?" Elizabeth finally asked after a few minutes of silence while Michelangelo had finished cleaning out the bowl and Raphael sipped his soda.
There was a clatter as Michelangelo tossed the bowl into the sink. Startled, Elizabeth jerked and the knife slipped in her hand slicing into her finger neatly and spraying blood onto the cutting board, just missing the vegetables.
"Ouch! Crap!" Elizabeth quickly pulled her hand away so as not to spoil the vegetables. Raphael was by her side in an instant, his eyes narrowed behind his mask as he gently held her wrist with one hand and examined the cut.
"Dat's gonna need stitches, 'Lizbeth," Raphael said grimly. "Mikey'll clean dat up and finish up tings – ya gotta go see Donny."
Raphael spoke with such finality that Elizabeth didn't dare argue with him.
Michelangelo handed Raphael a small washrag, which Raphael wrapped gently around her finger, but then gripped the bleeding wound so tightly Elizabeth gasped in shock and pain.
"Sorry," Raphael grunted as he applied more pressure. "But we gotta get dis bleedin' ta slow down."
Then to Elizabeth's complete surprise and embarrassment, Raphael leaned down and faster than she could blink had scooped her up in his arms bridal style and was hurrying her out of the kitchen.
"Keep pressure on dat finger," Raphael instructed as he hurried across the lair with ease – as if he didn't notice her extra hundred and twenty pounds. Elizabeth did as he said, applying as much pressure as she could without crying out.
Donatello looked up startled when Raphael barged into his lab without knocking, he quickly turned off the monitor and swiveled around in his computer chair to stare at them. It took him less than a second to see the blood stained washcloth clamped between Elizabeth's hands and he was on his feet in an instant.
"What happened?" He demanded sharply as Raphael hurried to the infirmary through the lab door and set Elizabeth down on the cot.
"She cut 'erself with da kitchen knife," Raphael explained stepping back to allow his brother access and room to work.
Donatello frowned as he got his suturing kit and antibiotic creams. He gently unwound the blood soaked washrag from Elizabeth's finger and frowned at the deep wound. "This is a really deep cut, Elizabeth. But your fairly lucky, if the knife had jerked to the right just a little bit more you wouldn't have the front of your finger anymore."
Elizabeth blanched and from the corner of her eye she saw Raphael go a bit gray. Donatello seemed unperturbed as he got to work.
Donatello pretended not to notice the way Elizabeth flinched when the needle pierced her soft skin the first time, he felt her arm shake a little but he steadied it in his grasp and began to tie the delicate stitches. By the time he'd finished tying the last one almost five minutes later Elizabeth barely seemed to notice the sting anymore. Donatello snipped the thread and glanced up at her, unsurprised that she was staring across the room where Raphael was watching them, his shell against the wall, his arms folded across his plastron, on leg bent and crossed at the ankle in front of the other, his eyes narrowed a little behind his mask as he'd stared a hole into Donatello's shell.
Donatello suppressed the urge to shake his head. Whatever helped Elizabeth out while he was working on her was appreciated. His brothers were usually good patients – with the exception of Michelangelo of course. Michelangelo hated being stitched up and would usually only sit still if Raphael threatened to sit on him. Raphael and Leonardo never liked being bed ridden for more than a day and Donatello was hard pressed to keep them in bed to rest, but other than that he normally didn't have too many problems doctoring his brothers.
Elizabeth had been a difficult patient when she'd first arrived at the lair, terrified of him as she was, and not trusting anyone but Raph, Donny had found it hard to even get near her. Let alone help her with her wounds. But now he knew he had her complete trust – and she was actually a much better patient than even Raphael was when it came to stitches. And Raphael got stitches enough that Donatello would know. With his brother being the fierce warrior that he was – but having weapons that demanded close range to be effective, Raphael often got the brunt of the injuries when the brothers engaged in battle, Leo was usually not far behind. But Donatello had stitched up his brother more times than he cared to think about.
"Thanks, Donny," Elizabeth said as Donatello wrapped up Elizabeth's finger in a clean white gauze wrap and taped it in place.
Donatello nodded grimly. "Why don't you go take it easy for a while, Elizabeth. And take these," he handed her a couple pills, "they'll help with the pain."
Elizabeth slid off the cot shakily and cupped the pills in her hand. "I really should help Mikey finish… "
"Mikey can handle it," Raphael growled from where he stood against the wall. He unfolded his arms and stepped forward, gently grabbing the hand not holding the pills. "Yer gonna rest like Donny said."
Elizabeth knew better than to argue. She nodded once and allowed Raphael to lead her from the room.
"Take that – and that!" Michelangelo cried in triumph as he blew another spaceship out of orbit. "Wahoo – the battle nexus champion reigns supreme!"
Michelangelo dropped the remote and rubbed his stiff fingers. He'd finally done it – he'd topped his own best score. It had taken him months but he had been determined to do it. He leaned back against the couch and inhaled deeply in satisfaction, closing his eyes contentedly.
What was that weird smell?
Michelangelo's eyes popped open and he sniffed again and then he was on his feet darting for the kitchen as fast as his legs could carry him.
Grabbing a pot holder, Mikey pulled open the oven door and had to step back as heavy black smoke filled the room, along with the awful smell of burnt bread. Holding his breath Mikey pulled out the cookie tray and set the sad remains of dinner on the stovetop.
"Mikey, what happened?"
Elizabeth and Raphael rushed into the room, coughing on the awful smell. Elizabeth waved a hand in front of her mouth and nose and stared in disbelief at the blackened chicken braid.
"Sorry, Elizabeth, I uh… lost track of the time," Michelangelo said sheepishly, looking perfectly abashed as he turned the oven dial and poked at the burnt braid with the prongs of a fork. They didn't even make a dent in the charred bread.
Elizabeth gaped at him, open mouthed. "You… how could you lose track of the time, Mikey?"
Michelangelo wasn't sure if he wanted to answer.
"Chucklehead," Raphael growled, though his eyes were soft.
Elizabeth sighed, and took the fork form Michelangelo's hand, poking hopelessly at the remains of dinner. "Well this is inedible. Guess we'll have to make something else." Sadly she tossed the blackened braid into the trash and opened up the refrigerator, pulling out a package of thawing hamburger and sharp cheddar cheese.
Michelangelo hesitated not sure if she wanted his help this time. But Elizabeth looked at him and smiled easily. "You want to get some water boiling, Mikey?"
Michelangelo's grin returned, knowing he was forgiven. Elizabeth never stayed angry for long. He nodded before hurrying to pull a large pot from the cupboard and filling it with water. Elizabeth began to grate the cheese and then pulled out a frying pan to cook the meat in.
"Speakin' of dinner – did ya get da stuff fer Thursday, Mikey?"
"Almost," Michelangelo said, watching the water with more attention than was really necessary.
"Why? What's Thursday?" Elizabeth asked as she picked up the hamburger meat.
Raphael cocked an eye ridge at her and seemed to study her with surprise for a minute. "It's Thanksgivin' – April and Case are comin' down."
The thawed out hamburger fell out of Elizabeth's suddenly nerveless fingers. Michelangelo's quick reflexes allowed him to catch it before it hit the floor while Raphael suddenly bolted across the room to catch Elizabeth as her legs gave way, stopping her from falling heavily to the floor.
"'Lizbeth?" Ya ok?" Raphael asked, brushing his hand across her very white forehead. When she didn't answer his eyes widened in alarm and he looked up hopelessly at Michelangelo who was staring at them with just as much shock and confusion as his brother. Raphael gave Elizabeth a gentle shake.
"'Lizbeth!"
"Should I get Donny?" Michelangelo asked, his eyes widening in alarm when suddenly Elizabeth's eyes rolled into the back of her head and she went totally limp in his brother's arms.
"Get Donny, Mikey! Now!" Raphael half shouted, worry making his voice sharp. Michelangelo dashed out of the kitchen as fast as his legs could carry him.
Raphael patted Elizabeth's cheek, trying to rouse her, his stomach clenching in fear when he got no response.
"'Lizbeth, wake up! 'Lizbeth, can ya hear me? 'LIZBETH!"