A/N: Longest chapter by far, and its probably the funniest. A little break before a huge fight chapter. I think I'm going to write one more TMNT story with a little bit of a different style. Opinions would be great.
Chapter 13
"Huh," I said as I noticed a car key on my dresser. I smiled and went to my closet to change.
"How would you possibly know this Leo?" Raph said lifting a box full of junk.
"Trust me, Alex is so predictable, she's going to come through that door, stop….. look at us cleaning, turn around check the outside of the building to make sure she's in the right spot, come back in… think she's gone crazy and then walk right back out." He said pointing with his hand to the door.
"Just because we're spring cleaning the place doesn't mean she's going to think we've gone nuts," Raph argued.
"She hasn't lived with us long enough," Donnie added as he organized his desk.
Mikey pulled at his apron and adjusted his bandana.
"I think you're so wrong Leo," he chimed as he dusted his skateboards.
"Want to bet," Leo said extending his hand to Raph.
"You're so on," he said shaking his hand.
"Your rare mint condition basketball card….." Raph said thinking.
"For your rare Japanese throwing stars that you didn't tell Alex about," Leo said with a nod.
"Hell no way will I give those up," he said with a grunt. He packed the box on to his shoulder and walked past Leo to the small pile they made.
"Alex is coming," Donnie said noticing me on the camera.
"Speak of the devil," Raph said looking at their junk pile.
"Hey guys," I started to say as I opened the door.
"What's this key….." I puffed my cheeks and looked around.
They were cleaning, like actually cleaning, with brooms, cleaning supplies and even a pile of junk.
"Uhhh," I said and stepped outside the door.
"Step one," Leo said sweeping.
I looked at the building to make sure I was in the right spot.
"Umm," I said and came back through the door. I narrowed my eyes to them for a moment and looked around the room.
The girls where in the dojo with Splinter the green light was on, while the guys where cleaning the entire place.
"Step two," Leo said whistling.
"Uh huh," I said and walked right back out closing the door behind me.
"Step three," he said waving his hand to Raph.
"You are an idiot," he said to him and walked over to his space.
"Hahhaha, how'd you do that man," Mikey said coming towards Leo with his duster.
"Told you, predictable," He said again and grinned.
"She's coming back guys, through the garage…" Donnie said noticing me open the garage door.
"Hehhe, she's going to freak out, the cars done," Mikey said cheerfully.
"If she screams then she noticed the dice," Raph said as he handed Leo his box of prized throwing stars.
"Oh my god," I said as I turned on the light in the garage. I froze in my spot for a moment then came towards the car. It was black, sleek and shiny. I ran my hand against the body.
"Wow," I said excited. I looked through the window, and used the key to open the door.
As soon as I opened it the dashboard lit up.
"Woooooww," I extenuated my words. It had a voice activated screen everything was so advanced and high tech, that even the lights were automated.
I climbed in to the car and closed the door.
I ran my hands along the steering wheel.
"Wow, you guys out did yourselves," I said to myself.
"1,2,3" Donnie said at his desk, he pulled up his glasses as he looked at the monitors.
"AAAHAHHA," I shouted and giggled. There were blue colored dice over my mirror that was shaped like turtles.
"Yup she saw the dice," Raph said as he picked up some more boxes.
I opened the car door and ran to the garage door and to the other room.
"YOU GUYS," I shouted at them running through the station.
"Wwoowoah," I shouted and slipped landing on the floor.
"Floors wet," Leo said looking down at me.
"Jee thanks for the warning," I said and shifted myself up. He extended his hand to me and helped me up.
"You guys, the car looks great," I said to them rubbing my back.
"Like it girl?" Mikey said leaning against the mop.
"I love it," I said to him.
"The dice add a little flare," he said again and smiled.
"I like the dice," I said to him as he danced the mop towards the dojo.
"This from the girl who said she'd kill anyone who put dice over the mirror," Raph reminded me as he came towards me carrying some boxes.
"There better not be any of my things in there," I said to him as he shifted the boxes under his arms.
"Nope we didn't touch your room," he said and walked past me.
"Good," I said and looked to him as he put the boxes down in the junk pile.
"Who'd want to go in there," Leo teased. I turned to him and punched him in the arm.
"I'll be in the dojo, with people who actually care," I said to them.
Donnie chuckled at his desk.
"Wwaaahhhh," I said again and slipped on the floor near the dojo door.
"Floors wet," Raph teased looking down at me.
"You're an ass," I said to him and picked myself up opening the dojo door.
"Alex," Splinter said to me.
"Hi," I said shifting in to the benches.
"Glad to see you on your feet," I said to him again leaning over the bars.
"I hear you saw the car," he said as he shifted around the girls on the mat.
"Yes, it's great thank you," I said to all of them.
"Uhh, so are the guys sick or something?" I asked pointing to the door.
"Hahhaa, no spring cleaning," he said.
I lifted my eyebrows.
"They clean, wow…" I said rather surprised.
I leaned over the bars watching the girls sitting on the mat mediating.
"Meditation?" I said observing.
"Yes, something you'd benefit from too…." Splinter said walking around the girls.
"I don't meditate," I said to him.
"How you feeling?" I asked him. He looked to me and rubbed his goatee.
"Alex," he said after a few moments.
"Yup?" I said to him.
"You're talking too much," He said and chuckled.
I shifted off the benches.
"I'm not going out there they're cleaning and it's scary," I said looking at the door.
"Mikey's even wearing an apron and a bandana," I said making hand motions over my head.
Splinter chuckled and came around to me. He wrapped his arm around my waist.
"My dear Alex, why not you take a day off today and go…. I don't know, take your car out for a test drive?" he said pulling me to the door.
"Oh fine," I huffed and opened the door.
"Waaah," I shouted slipping on the floor.
"Floors wet," Raph said again.
I used my staff for support so I wouldn't slip through the house and walked towards the garage.
"Taking it out for a test drive?" Donnie said taking off his head gear.
"Yeah I think just to my apartment, need to get a few things done today," I said to him.
"Its voice activated meaning there's no key hole or starter, you have to talk to it to turn it on," he said pushing me through the garage door.
"Uhh wouldn't that make things a little difficult, what if the car stalls and I need to boost it?" I said watching him as he opened the car door and got in.
"No boost, watch." He said as the lights went on.
"Car on," he said. This cute accented voice answered.
"Car on," and the car started.
"Wow," I said excited.
"So it's like that movie you guys watch the guy with all the gadgets… what's his name James Bond I think," I said rubbing my head.
"Hahha, no James Bonds car is cooler then this," Donnie said and got out.
"Let's just say this is James Bond car v.101 he said," I smiled and wrapped my arms around him hugging him.
"Okay, okay…. Enough of that," He said and blushed pulling me away.
I slide into the seat and closed the door, the seat belt automatically clicked into place.
"Sweet," I said and touched the steering wheel.
"Anything I need to know about it, there isn't any weapons on here like hidden in the tires or something…." I said to him.
"No weapons, but it does have a navigation system and will talk to you, it's safe," he said.
"I can have a conversation with my car….. sweet," I said and smiled.
"Be careful," he said and opened the garage door.
"Thanks Don, later," I said to him and pulled out.
"Good afternoon Miss Alex," the car's voice said as I pulled away from the building.
"WOAH," I said and nearly swerved.
"Wholly crap you can talk," I said to the car.
"The weather today is a sunny fifty degrees, and traffic is dense. Where will your destination be today?" the voice said. I pulled over near the building surprised it was actually talking to me.
"Uhh, well my apartment," I said. That's when the navigation system automatically switched streets and my address appeared on the top right hand corner.
"April is so going to love this," I said and smiled. I pulled away from the building and drove down the street.
"April O'Neil channel 6 news," the car started to say. I was giving me a detailed history of April's job and who she was, I stopped in the middle of the road and looked at the navigation system as it described this.
"Wholly crap, it can give me information on anyone or anything….. This could come in handy against bad guys," I said tapping on the screen.
"Donatello you sure out did yourself," I said to myself.
"So what do I call you?" I said to the navigation system as I pulled back out onto the road.
"My name is Systematic Automated Monitoring System, version one," she said.
"How about I call you SAM," I said to her.
"SAM," the computer said.
"Yes, I like it… it's easier to remember," I said again.
"Noted," the system replied.
I pulled in to the apartments parking and in to my stall.
"So, how do I turn you off?" I said looking around the dash.
"Miss Alex, as soon as you open the car door I automatically shut off," the voice replied.
"Huh interesting," I said and opened my car door.
The car shut off and the lights all went out.
"Very interesting," I said and got out. I closed the door behind me and the alarm clicked on.
"Sweet," I said and ran up the stairs of the building.
I twirled my keys and hummed to myself as I came down the hallway towards my door.
I stopped at the door and noticed the print recognition pad was smashed and broken.
"Huh?" I said and pushed the keys back into my pocket.
I swung around my staff and opened my door slowly. The door handle was broken and the door looked like it was forced open.
I pushed the door open and froze in my spot.
My entire house was flipped upside down. My couch was torn and ripped my TV broken, my computer system was smashed up and my books where ripped and scattered all over the floor. Even the windows were smashed in, the hallway was a mess, my kitchen destroyed and the bear Mikey and the guys got me was pinned to the back of the door with a knife and letter attached to it.
I closed my door and looked at the letter pulling it off.
Alex,
Consider this as a warning.
My men tore up your place looking for something, we didn't find it.
Your friends are next, unless you bring us what we need.
We will be in contact. Enjoy your new place!
Signed,
Anonymous
I crumbled up the letter and pulled out my cell phone calling the guys.
I mumbled to myself as I lifted the bookshelf off the ground.
"Alex….. what happened?" Leo said coming through the door.
"Someone broke in and did this," I said to him picking up the scattered books. Mikey came over and helped me.
"Are you okay?" Donnie asked pulling down his gear scanning the entire place for any type of evidence.
"I'm fine, I got here and the place was like this," I said angrily kicking at a book in front of me.
Raph went through the house checking the bedrooms and hallway.
"Whoever was here did a clean sweep of the place," he said picking up my lamp.
"I don't know what they were looking for," I said handing Leo the crumbled piece of paper.
Raph leaned in behind Leo and read the sheet.
"They're targeting you, and might come after us and anyone who knows us," Leo said and crumbled up the sheet.
"Woah," Casey said as him and a few officers came in to my apartment.
"Alex what happened?" he said.
Leo handed him the paper.
"No one touch anything, we'll check the place for fingerprints and evidence," he said to the officers.
"Any idea here Casey?" I asked as Leo and I lifted the coffee table.
"April and Vern have had their phones off the hook, and the station too, there's a massive crime wave gripping the city…." Casey said.
"We don't know how this happened it's like overnight we've had break-ins like this, robberies and missing people," he said as he followed Donnie outside.
"We could use you guys, help figuring out the source behind all this," he said to Donnie as he leaned down examining my touch pad by the door.
"What's up Donnie," Leo said to him as he examined the pad.
"Analyzing the panel for finger prints," He said as he swiped the glass of the panel.
"Also the entire thing was smashed with something, like a weapon," he said pulling the pad off the wall.
He passed it to Casey.
"I'll take it to the lab," Casey said and placed it in a bag.
I came outside and crossed my arms.
"Alex stay with the guys until this is figured out, whatever they were looking for, they may come back…" Casey said.
"I'll go to the lab with Casey to see if I can figure out who broke the touch pad," Donnie said. I nodded to him as he followed behind Casey.
"Aawwee man," I heard Mikey say. I came back through the door.
"What is it?" I said to him. He noticed the bear still stuck to the door.
"I'm sorry Mikey," I said to him.
"Man," He said and pulled the bear off the door.
"Dude, I worked hard on this bear," he said as he put him on the counter.
"You made this?" I said to him.
"We all did," Raph said as he looked at the bear.
"You guys, I'm so sorry," I said to them.
"We can easily fix him," I said to Mikey.
As the guys fixed my apartment I sat at the table and fixed the bear by patching him up. He looked almost as good as new, with new stuffing and a patch on him. Mikey seemed to like the patch.
I carried him with me as the guys finished fixing my broken furniture, and we all headed back to the station.
"I'm so hungry," I said as we came through the door.
"Don't worry Miss Alex, we read your mind a mile away," Yuri said as she opened the pizza boxes.
"Sweet," I said and smiled. I took the bear to my room and set him on my bed, and threw my jacket to the stool .
Then I hovered near the fridge pulling out drinks. I awkwardly held them in my arms and closed the door with my leg.
"Thanks girl," Mikey said as he took them from me.
I shifted on to the table next to Splinter.
"Yo Splinter, what's up?" I said to him. He looked at me and shook his head.
"Yes I know I talk too much," I said to him.
He chuckled and took a drink from me.
"Hey what's this?" I said picking up one of the boxes.
It was a red coloured shadow box frame, it had four gold colored throwing stars in it.
"Throwing stars," I said and smiled looking at the box.
"Whose is this?" I said picking up the box and looking at them.. It had Japanese writing on the stars.
"Well it was mine, I lost a bet to Leo," Raph said and sat down between me and Mari.
"Do you know what these are?" I said to them. They all looked at me curious.
"These are ancient Japanese throwing stars, there was a legend back during the Edo era about ninjas using gold coloured stars to ward off samurai warriors." I said tapping on the glass.
"Huh, really?" Mikey said mumbling through his pizza.
"They say these stars are cursed, that any ninja who throws them will instantly kill their opponents by turning them into ash, POOF… it also makes the ninja who uses them filled with pure evil. A good heart would turn black, and a black heart would turn good," I said and made a gesture with my hands.
"But, if purified they can change any weapon to gold, and that weapon becomes one with its wielder," I added.
"Hahahahha," they all laughed.
"Haha, yeah it was just a legend but I doubt these would do any of that," I said to them.
"Where did you find them Raph?" I asked as I passed the box over to him.
"They were actually in one of the train carts when we moved in, we found a lot of useless stuff here," he said pointing to the carts.
"Huh, well you're lucky to have them," I said to them.
"Cool," Leo said and stood up taking the box to his section of the place.
"Are you okay Miss Alex," Aki asked.
"Yes why?" I said to her picking at the cheese.
"Your place was broken in to," she said to me.
"Yes… I'm okay, they took nothing…" I said to her.
Nina turned on the screens on Donnie's desk, channel 6 was broadcasting a news report.
"Hey, turn that up," I said to them sliding out of the bench.
Nina turned it up, I came towards Donnie's computer screens with a pizza in my hand and watched the news report.
"More and more of these guys are hitting the city," I said looking to the table.
"Well go deal with it," Splinter said waving his hand.
"I think he's kicking us out," I said scarfing down the pizza slice.
"No he just wants to shut you up," Raph said as he jumped up off the bench and grabbed his sais.
"Let's rock and roll boys," Leo said twirling his katanas.
"We'll stay here," Aki said as she cleaned up the table.
"Yeah we might be useless helping you right now, we haven't weapon trained yet," Yuri said also helping clean the table.
I ran to my room and grabbed my staff.
"Smooth," Mikey said and nodded as he pulled his nunchucks to his belt.
"Nina," I said to her, fumbling in my pocket for my keys.
"No worries Miss Alex, I'll be your eyes," she said sliding over to Donnie's chair.
Donnie pulled up his glasses and headed for the garage.
"I call shotgun," Mikey shouted as I followed behind him.
"Bye," I said to everyone closing the door behind me.
"Hahha, she's tenacious and lively," Splinter said coming around to the screens.
"Master Splinter, isn't tomorrow Miss Alex's birthday?" Mari asked leaning over the chair Nina sat on.
"Yes, and do not say a word there is something planned," He said to them.
I ran to my car and opened the door.
"Shotgun," Mikey shouted again and ran to my passenger seat side.
"You're riding with me?" I said to him. He nodded and jumped in.
"Sucks to be you Mikey," Raph shouted to him as they jumped in to the truck.
"Their loss," I said as I closed the door. Mikey chuckled.
"So cool," he said admiring the interior.
"Car on," I said and it started and hummed.
"I'm really getting used to this," I said and followed out after the truck.
"Miss Alex, major activity in city center," the navigation system said. Mikey chuckled enjoying the fact that my car talks.
"Thanks SAM, we're heading there right now," I said replying to the car.
"Wow," Mikey said flipping through the music on the screen.
"You didn't just download your music did you?" I said to him.
"Yup," He said and nodded.
He put on a song they had recorded and cranked up the stereo.
I shook my head and sped up behind the truck.
"Alex," I heard Leo's voice.
"Donnie just called they matched the finger prints off the touch pad to that ninja….. Lisa Yamatoo," he said over the cars system.
"What do you mean, Lisa was arrested with her father," I said to him.
"You should head over to the police station, we'll take care of these vigilantes," Leo said again. He pulled over the truck near a building that was being raided by gangs.
"Alright," Mikey said and jumped out of the car as I pulled over.
"I'm heading over there now Leo," I said as Mikey closed the door. I pulled out around the truck and sped off.
I pulled in to the police station next to Casey's black car and opened the door.
"SAM, while I'm gone can you pull up all information on Lisa Yamatoo, or her father Yoshi Yamatoo," I said to her.
"Noted," she replied. I saw the navigation system change and shift through words and pictures.
"Nice," I said and closed the door. The car locked.
I ran in to the station to the front desk.
"Alex Tomaki, here to see Casey Jones," I said to the lady at the desk.
"Alex," Chief Vincent shouted to me. She waved her hand for me to follow her.
She took me to a room with a holding cell and a two way mirror.
"Alex," Donnie said coming to me.
"Donnie what's going on?" I said to him.
I leaned over the desk and computer he and Casey were looking at.
"That ninja, Lisa Yamatoo, her finger prints were found everywhere in your apartment and even on the touch pad," Donnie showed me the prints and the screen flipped.
"She's an assassin, she's not a shadow fighter, she was hired to assassinate all the monks at the temple you trained at, and all the students," he said again scrolling through her rap sheet.
I whistled looking at all this information they pulled up.
"Her father is a mafia member, like you said he is a Yakuza leader," Donnie added again.
"Alex, she is right now the most dangerous person in New York," Casey said flipping through a criminal book. He tapped at a page with her image on it.
I whistled and looked at all the information about her.
"Is she behind the criminal activity in the city?" I said to Casey.
"No, but we think her father is, he's working with someone…. Someone we don't know about," he added.
"How did this happen? How did she even do this, isn't she incarcerated?" I said to them.
Chief Vincent leaned in towards us.
"She is incarcerated, we were hoping you'd interrogate her with Casey and get information, she's being monitored 24 hours we have no idea how she managed to break out and get in to your apartment," she said looking at the window.
I looked at the two way mirror; she was in there sitting on a chair with chains on her wrists.
"Alex," Donnie said and grabbed my arm.
"She was trying to find something valuable…. Apparently she has one more mission to complete," he said to me.
"I don't understand, what do you mean… one more mission to complete?" I said looking at him.
"Her mission is to assassinate you," he said. I felt my heart jump. I looked at her through the mirror and back to Donnie.
"Don," I said to him.
"You should go help the guys, take my car," I said to him handing him the keys.
"Be careful," He said to me as Chief Vincent opened the door for him.
"Alex, we have to talk to her, intimidate her if we have too but we need to know why she was in your apartment and what she wanted, or what she's looking for," Casey said as he grabbed a note pad off the desk.
"Are you sure she'll talk with me in there?" I said to him.
"That's why we wanted you here, she'll talk," Chief Vincent said.
"How do you know this?" I asked looking to her.
"She said she wouldn't talk unless you where here," she said again.
"Really?" I said and looked to the window.
"Then let's go," I said tapping Casey on the arm.
I stood by the integration room door as an office patted me down and took my bag and staff.
"Hang on," I said.
"She's got handcuffs on," Casey said to me quickly.
"Yes but she's also a ninja, she can get out of those cuffs before any of us blink," I told them.
Chief Vincent waved her hand to the man as he passed me my staff.
The door buzzed and all three of us walked in.
"Miss Yamatoo," Chief Vincent said and sat down across from her. She gestured for the officer in the room to leave and he did.
"I don't want to talk to cops," she said with a smirk.
"Well I'm sorry but you don't have a choice in that matter," the chief said to her.
"Want me to talk, I talk to her," she said pointing to me.
Casey looked at me then back to her.
"Not a chance," he said throwing down his note pad.
"Then we're done here," she said holding her hands up.
"Hang on," I said to them.
"Alex," Casey said and turned to me. He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me to the door.
It buzzed and opened.
"You are not talking with her alone," Chief Vincent said to me.
"Look you want information, I can get it… if she's willing to talk to me then so be it," I said to them as I gave my staff to Casey.
"Wire her," Vincent said to Casey.
"Look I know your reputation, fly-on-the-edge of your seat stunts you pull…. But this is serious, you're going to be in a room alone with someone who can easily kill you," he said to me as he pulled the microphone cord to my shirt.
"Don't underestimate me Casey," I said to him.
The door buzzed again and I went in to the room alone. I shifted to the seat pulled it out and sat down.
"Alex," she said with a smile and leaned back in to the seat.
"Lisa," I said to her and crossed my arms.
"I bet your wondering how my fingerprints got in to your apartment?" she said examining her cuffs, she looked at her hands then rested them on her lap.
"There's one thing I know about ninjas who train with the monks…. You may not be a shadow fighter, but I do know all too well how you got in to my apartment," I said to her, the pressure was on. I didn't know how she got in to my place, but if I pretended I did, she'd definitely think I'm one step ahead of her.
"Oh really?" she said with a smirk.
"Ninjas know the art of invisibility, the window and time frame it gives you," I said to her resting my hands on the table. I leaned in towards her.
"You cheated," I said in a half whisper.
"Oh no, no no, I didn't cheat…. I only made them think that I was in the jail cell," she said looking at the cuffs again.
"How so?" I said to her.
"You know, ninja smoke bombs, fluff up some pillows, make it look like your sleeping, and when the bombs go off, you can easily slip between any bars instantly," she said and leaned in towards me.
"I see," I said to her.
"So you raided my apartment, for what reason exactly, what are you looking for?" I said to her.
She leaned back in the chair and started rocking in it, I watched her carefully.
"Your friend April, you close to her," she asked taunting me.
"Do not bring my friends in to this," I said to her agitated.
"How about her partner, that guy you're dating Vern…. Pretty close with him?" she asked again.
"I'm warning you Lisa," I said to her again.
"Casey Jones, he's a cop… not a smart cop," she said again fiddling with her chains.
"Listen and listen well, you stay away from my friends…." I threatened her.
"It would be a shame if anything happened to them," she threatened in return.
I pressed my lips together and clenched my hands into fists, so I wouldn't lung at her in my seat.
She leaned in to me.
"What I'm looking for, you will bring me… or else I will ensure each and every single one of those friends of yours will be killed right in front of you and your brothers, I will cut their shells off and keep them as souvenirs," she threatened.
I lunged at her from my seat and knocked her and the chair down to the ground.
"You stay the hell away from them you hear me, or else you'll be the one who'll wish you never meet me…." I hissed at her I felt Casey's arms pull me away from her.
"You'll be expecting a phone call," she said and smirked as an officer pulled her up.
"What the hell was that Alex," Casey said as he pushed me against the door in the other room.
"You just gave her a motive to hunt you down Alex," he said and half turned around to Chief Vincent.
"You and April get out of town go somewhere, it's not safe for you both here, just leave somewhere," I said to him.
"No, we're going to put her in lock down, a room with no windows and no bars on the door, she won't escape again," he said to me.
"We'll stay together, no one leaves anywhere," he added as he called April to tell her of what happened.
I slide away from the door and paced in the other room calling Donnie.
April and Vern parked their car into our spacious garage next to mine, as Casey and Donnie pulled in as well.
I looked to April and Vern as the garage door closed.
"Leo," Casey said grabbing him by the arm.
I followed April and Vern in to the station shutting the door behind us.
"Guys," Casey said to them.
"Yeah?" Leo replied looking to the door then back to the truck as Mikey and Raph jumped out.
"Alex is really dangerous, when she gets angry it's like she loses all judgement and turns off all inhibition," he said to them.
"Yeah, we know… were not sure how to get her to turn it off," Raph said crossing his arms.
"No I'm serious, she's being targeted this ninja, Lisa…. Threatened her today, threatened us, I know you guys can figure this out and we can all handle it and take her down before she attempts anything, but Alex…." Casey said pointing to the door.
"What are you getting at Casey," Donnie asked adjusting his gear on his head.
"Tie her up or something, lock her in a closet, and don't let her out, if this Lisa contacts her….. and Alex gives her what she wants it'll not only putting her life in danger but all of ours too," he said.
"Yeah right, we can't tie her up, she'll get out," Mikey said.
"No what I mean is, she shouldn't be involved in this case anymore, this is an assassin, we are trained to catch these guys and deal with them, she is a ninja, a shadow fighter, her tactic is to hunt and kill…" Casey added again.
"Casey's right," Leo said as he looked to the door.
"She can't be involved anymore, Alex is a hunter, she fights until she gets her enemy and defeats them," he said.
"Then what do you suggest Leo," Raph hissed at him.
"We talk to Splinter, he's the only one who'll be able to get her to stop," Leo said with a nod.
"April I have some extra sheets, you can share my room if you like," I said to her holding some sheets and pillows in my arms.
"Thanks, it'll be like a girls night," she laughed and reached for the pillows and sheets.
The guys walked in with Casey and over to Splinter who was at Donnie's desk with Nina reading information.
I smiled and passed some sheets to Vern as well.
"I don't mind the couch," he said and pointed to it.
"If you want, it's not that comfy, the train carts do have beds in them and we do have a lot of space," I said to him.
"I'm good," he said and smiled passing the guys towards the couch.
I looked over to Yuri and her sisters as they shifted towards the screens as well. April went in to my room and organized her stuff.
"Alex," Splinter said after a few moments. He came towards me and took my hand.
"Come talk with me," he said and pulled my arm under his.
"Uh, ummm okay," I said.
We walked in to the dojo and the door slide closed behind us.
Splinter pulled me to the benches and we sat down.
"Something wrong?" I asked him.
"Alex, I need to ask you a favour," he said and touched his hands to mine.
"I need you to stop…. Stop fighting and making everyone around you worry, you owe nothing to anyone… there's no need for you to protect everyone all the time," he said calmly.
"Oh, you talked to Casey," I said to him.
"The boys are worried about you, they think your fighting tactic is dangerous and will eventually get you killed, or others around you," he said his voice sounded very worried.
"Splinter, Lisa is an assassin she's dangerous, the boys will not be able to stop her alone," I said to him.
"They will, you need to trust them… you need to allow them to learn to do this on their own, you can guide them, coach them, and help them…. But you will not fight alone," he said sternly.
"You know her skills and her tactics, you might even know her next move… talk to them, tell them, allow them to be the ones to bring her down," He said touching a hand to my face.
"You and April are very important to me and the boys as well, I especially don't want to see my daughters hurt, or in danger," he said again.
"You know that I can't just sit around and watch…." I said to him with a deep sigh.
"My dear girl, no… once the phone call comes in and you find out what it is she wants of you, allow your brothers to handle it, Casey and his team, they can take care of this, however…." He said holding a finger up.
"Guide them, be their eyes, help them… you can see and notice things in others that they don't see, this is all I ask of you," he said again.
"Please, allow them to handle this," he said again.
I sighed and nodded.
"Alex," he said again.
"No, you're right I do jump in to things and don't think before I do them, I'll step aside this time." I said to him. He smiled and touched a hand to my face.
"Good, now let's order some food," He said and laughed.
We all gathered around our now large picnic table and passed plates and cups around.
"Is it just me or does this place smell…. Clean," April whispered to me as she took a plate from Vern.
"Yup the guys were spring cleaning," I said to her, she looked at me rather surprised.
"I've know these guys for a year and six months now and this is the first time I've ever heard about them spring cleaning," she said to me again.
"Hey, that's mean…. We clean were not slobs you know," Raph said hearing us talk.
"No they're just afraid of Splinter's wrath," I said to her. We both laughed.
Splinter heard us and laughed as well.
"Ha ha ha, funny," Raph said again tossing a soda at me. I grabbed it before it hit me or April.
Mikey shifted next to April, he was wearing his cowboy hat. He smiled at her and sat down.
"What's with the hat?" she asked looking at him. I waved my hand at her not to even ask.
"It's cool, I like it," He said and smiled.
"Do yeah feel lucky, punk!" he said in a cowboy Clint Eastwood accent.
I nearly spit out my drink trying not to laugh.
"I don't think Clint Eastwood wears feathers on his hat," April said with a laugh.
He smiled and shrugged as the pizza came around the table.
"Pizza again," I said looking at the box.
"I'm so making you lunch tomorrow," I said to them.
"Eh, why?" Mikey whined.
"Because this is fattening and so bad for you, pizza all the time," I said.
He held his hand over his heart and pretended to fake a heart attack.
"Ha ha ha, you're an idiot," I said throwing a napkin at him.
Vern and Casey laughed at him.
That's when my phone vibrated and rang on the table.
I stood up and lifted some of the boxes looking for it.
"Found it," I said and looked at the number.
"Well answer it," Casey said.
"It could be her," I said to them. I slide out of the table and over towards Donnie's desk. Casey followed behind me.
"Put it on the Bluetooth transfer," he said and pulled my Bluetooth to his ear.
I answered it.
"Hello," I said.
"Alex, I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," her voice said.
"Lisa," I said to her.
"What did they let you have a free phone call?" I taunted her playing with a snow globe on Donnie's desk. Casey waved his hand to keep the conversation going.
Leo and Donnie came over to us.
"Amusing, here's the deal, I want stars…" she said.
"Stars? I hear there are lots of them in Hollywood," I taunted her again.
Donnie waved his hand for me to move, and tapped on his track pad tracking the call. He whispered to me, "keep her on the phone until I can track this," he said.
"No Alex, these stars are rare, different…. Apparently that subway station your brothers live in," she said. This made my heart skip a beat, how did she know where they lived. I looked around the room and to the table.
"How does she know where we live," Leo whispered to Donnie.
"She could have someone follow one of us," Donnie said still trying to figure out how she's making the call.
"…. has a secret," she added again.
"A secret huh?" I said putting the globe back down.
"Those stars were on a train cart in that subway station, the man who had them worked for my father, that station was attacked five years ago, footclan members struck the station killing people and putting an end to the stations existence," she said.
"Get them for me," she said again.
"I don't know what you're talking about, there are no stars here…." I said to her as I turned around and looked at the computer screen.
"Oh you know exactly what I'm talking about, they're gold stars, they hold special ancient powers…" she said.
That's when I remember Raphael's gold ninja stars. I wasn't going to give them up for anything. Leo looked to me also clueing in.
"Well I'm sorry but there not here," I said to her again.
"I believe they are, bring them to me…. At the old pier on 89th Brooklyn, come alone, tomorrow midnight," she said.
That's when Donnie pointed to the screen, she wasn't at the police station lock up, she was calling me from the pier.
"Oh and if I hear anything suspious or even find out your… turtle friends or that cop are with you, I will ensure your friends April and Vern don't suffer," she said then the phone clicked.
Casey pulled out the Bluetooth.
"Someone on the inside, in the station is working with her, no way would she be able to get out of maximum security without anyone noticing," Casey said to us.
"I figured that much," I said and threw my phone to Donnie's desk.
"I'm not giving her Raph's gold stars," I said to them. Raphael came towards us.
"I have a plan," I said to them.
"No, you told Splinter you wouldn't get involved," Raph said crossing his arms.
"She wants me to deliver them, I don't really have a choice," I said to him.
We all gathered around the table again.
"First things first, we need to figure out what she has at that base, if she's alone or with other fighters," I said to them.
"I can look in to that… I can have drones fly around the area, and cops surveying the area," He said calling Chief Vincent to set up the sting operation.
"I'm not giving her Raph's gold stars, she says they have power in them, I don't believe that myth…" I said.
"Then what are you thinking?" Leo asked.
"She wants stars….. she'll get stars," I said to them.
As we finished eating and cleaning the table, the guys hovered around Donnie's desk figuring out a solution to get me in and to have them unnoticed.
I leaned in behind them.
"I'll go in alone, you guys need to be near by," I said leaning over Raph.
"What?" he said and moved aside.
"This is the pier, more then likely she won't do this out in the open, she'll do it inside the hanger," I said to them.
"She may or may not have eyes everywhere, I don't know…. Not until Casey gets us that information," I said to them picking up a pen.
"Casey can have his eyes here, here , and here, this way the cops will be stationed in these area's they'll be able to see everything," I said to them. Casey leaned in and nodded.
"Hm, not bad," he said.
"Leo and Don, you two are over here," I said drawing an X over the roof of the hanger.
"Mikey and Raph, you two are here," I said to them drawing another X three steps away from the hanger.
"Why are we farther away?" Raph asked.
"Because this way it'll be easier for muscles over here, to break through the hanger door and get her first," I said pointing to him.
"Huh, take down in action…. I like that idea," He said.
"I'll go in as she wants, I'll give her fake ninja stars in the same casing as what Raph has them in, she won't know the difference, give me twenty minutes, then take down…." I said to them.
"You'll be wired, there's no way you're doing this without being wired," Casey said to me.
"No, what if she has me patted down, they'll notice," I said to him.
"Not unless I build you one you can put in your boots, they won't even notice it," Donnie said pushing up his glasses. I looked to him and smiled.
"Alex, what if this doesn't go this way… what if she's planning to take you down right there and then, or has any poisons or powders on her," Leo questioned again.
"I promised Splinter I wouldn't get involved, so Leo…. I'll have you ready for that, I'll be your eyes, watch me carefully I can detect her moves and if she's going for any poisons, or anything out of the ordinary you'll know," I said to him.
"Splinter," Leo turned to him as he listened to our plan.
"Watch out for eachother, and Alex, work together with them… not alone," he said to me.
"Then we have a plan," Leo said. We all nodded.
I rolled my shoulder as I came in to my room. April was sitting on the bed writing in her journal.
"I do that too," I said to her and smiled. I jumped on to the futon.
She smiled and pushed her pen in the page and closed it.
"So," she said and leaned over towards me.
"What?" I said to her fixing the sheets.
"Well tomorrow be careful, all of you…. this assassin scares me," she said changing the subject.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure we all get out of there in one piece," I said to her.
"So, was that what you wanted to say?" I said to her sitting on the mat.
"Well no," she said she sounded nervous.
"So, what is it?" I said to her.
"See I'm worried mostly about Casey," she said.
"He's a cop, he's trained for this, he's one of the best I've ever seen," I said to her.
"He asked me to marry him," she quickly blurted out.
"Uh what?" I said surprised.
"He said what?" I almost shouted I covered my mouth and stood up closing my bedroom door.
"And… what did you say?" I said to her jumping on the bed shifting in next to her.
She sat up.
"I didn't give him my answer yet, I told him I needed to think about it…" she said nervously.
"WHAT, April…." I said to her.
"Say yes, why wouldn't you say yes to Casey," I said to her quickly.
"Because…. Of his job, I mean that's not a reason but, he's always out there in the face of danger, and it scares me." She said quickly.
"Your jobs just as dangerous," I said to her.
"You are always chasing scoops and sometimes get in trouble too, so what?" I said to her quickly.
"April," I said to her.
"You are marrying Casey," I said to her again. She took in a deep breath and touched my hands.
"I should talk to him shouldn't I," she said nervously.
"YES, AND SAY YES TO HIM," I half shouted.
"Talk to him tomorrow before we leave," I said to her.
"I think, I will.." she said again. I jumped to my feet and to my lockers.
"I want to show you something," I said to her unlocking the middle locker.
I pulled out a small shoe box.
"Wow," she said leaning near the locker.
"Are those all your journals," she said.
"Yeah I write a lot, everything is from when I was a kid, I always wanted to write a novel….. just to scared too," I told her.
"Why not?" she said. I closed the locker and came to the bed.
"Maybe one day," I said to her and opened the shoe box.
"I've never showed this to anyone," I said to her with a smile. She peeked in.
"Oh my god pictures," she said smiling.
"Yes," I said holding up one of Mikey in a cake.
She took it and laughed.
"What the heck," she said looking at it.
"He got stuck in a cake, he dove right in, and it wasn't a great cake either… Mikey was a crazy one," I said to her. She read the back.
"hahaha, have they seen these?" she asked.
"I've showed no one, I wanted to publish a few of these in the book, but I wasn't sure if I should…." I said.
"Yes, yes you should," she said looking through the other pictures.
She pulled out another picture of Raphael wearing a red knitted sweater.
"You made them sweaters, this is so cute," she said flipping it over.
"Raphael always hated me, he always bit me when I tried to pet him, or even pick him up… I accidently dropped him on my dresser, he fell off and landed on my night stand on his shell, and it cracked. I fixed it as best I could and the vet even said it'll heal, but I guess it never did properly…." I said to her.
"Could be why he's always grumpy," April teased.
"No, I'm grumpy because you two won't shut up," he said leaning against my door.
I held up his picture and smiled.
"We were talking," I said to him.
"That is so not me," he said and crossed his arms.
"Yes, yes it is… and you were adorable, now not so much," I said and put the picture back in the box. He picked up one of my pillows and threw it at me.
"Hey what's going on out there?" April asked hearing the guys cheering.
"Nina and Donnie are playing a chess game," Raph said blocking the door. April stood up in front of him, and he moved aside for her. I stood up and was about to leave when he blocked me.
"Hey you let her leave," I said to him.
"I like her, you… not so much," he said and turned around. I pushed him out and followed behind.
"Sweet chess game," I said and leaned in watching.
"Anyone bet on this," I said watching as Nina moved a piece.
"Why they're evenly matched, no one will win," Mikey said.
"Yeah you're right they're evenly matched," I said.
"Maybe they can read eachothers thoughts," Mikey said again.
I looked at him.
"Wait, you guys can't reach eachothers minds can you?" I said looking to them. Leo looked at me and shook his head.
"No," He said quickly.
"Maybe she's a Jedi," Mikey half whispered and opened the can of orange cola.
"A Jedi Mikey, really…. Jedi's can't read minds," I said to him.
April laughed and shook her head.
Donnie looked like he was thinking; he kept his finger on his bishop, then moved it to the knight.
I leaned on Rapheal's shell as he curiously watched Nina and Donnie.
"Ohh," Casey said as Nina moved her king.
"Check," she said and crossed her arms.
"Hmm," Donnie said thinking.
"Come on Nina," Aki said to her tapping her on the shoulders.
"Donnie you can't let her win," Vern said intently watching.
"Hmm," Donnie said again.
"Check mate," He said after a minute, he moved his queen and won the game.
"Nice," Nina said and smiled.
"So awesome," April said.
"Basketball game," Mikey shouted.
"Wait, not inside the house," I said to them.
"Doll face we built a basketball court on the roof," He said to me.
"Since when?" Yuri said as they cleaned up the table.
"Since last week," Mikey said twirling a ball on his finger.
"I'm game," Casey said taking off his jacket.
"How about girls vs boys," April said crossing her arms.
"Oooh," Mari said nodding.
"Oh, yeah," Aki agreed.
"See, that's an unfair advantage, because see we're guys, and we'll just kick your…" Vern was about to finish his sentence when April stood up in front of him.
"What Vern, afraid of some girls kicking your ass," she said.
He smiled and took off his jacket.
"You're on," he said and followed the guys outside.
"Coming Miss Alex," Nina asked near the door.
"I don't play basketball, never was good at it, but I'll be out in a minute," I said to her. She smiled and left through the door.
I looked to Splinter as he came out of his room.
"Want to watch the game with me?" I asked him.
"Of course," He said.
I helped him out the door.
"Splinter," I said to him. He looked to me as we climbed the ladder to the roof.
"Does Raphael still feel pain in his shell?" I asked him.
"What brought this up?" he said surprised as we reached the roof. There was a piled of sand bags and a small little area that was set up as camp site. I shifted to it and sat down against the sand bags.
"Well his shell is cracked and he tapes it up, hasn't he had it checked..." I asked. Splinter sat down next to me.
"He's never had it checked…. He's never said he was in pain," he said to me.
"Dear why do you ask this?" Splinter said again.
"When he accidently dropped off my dresser and cracked his shell, the vet said it could crack again, and it may cause him a lot of pain," I said watching as the ball flew through the air.
"Maybe you could ask him," he said.
"I'm just worried I don't want it to get worse, his shell protects him and I don't want it to crack and cause him more problems," I said.
"I could fix it if he lets me," I said blowing at my hands.
Splinter looked at me and smiled.
"I see how you look at them, how you're always watching them…" he said after a few moments.
"Oh?" I said looking at him.
"I admire their spirit, and what they've become, I love watching them because…. There amazing," I said to Splinter.
He chuckled and shifted his gaze back to them.
"Hey," I shouted at them as I pulled off my jacket.
"Step aside ladies," I said pushing through the guys.
"What?" Raphael said and looked at me.
"Oooh," Vern said.
I stepped up to Raphael and crossed my arms.
"Raphael," I said.
"Alex," He replied holding the ball under his arm.
"You heard me, ladies," I said to him. April and the girls crossed their arms.
"Hoooo, hoooo, ladies huh?" Leo said leaning in towards Raph.
"You want to challenge us?" he said.
"Toss the ball up Raphael," I said to them.
"You're a tiny human, you won't be able to catch it," he said taunting me.
"Really?" I said eyeing him down.
"Toss the ball Raph," I said and stepped back.
"Okay," He said and dribbled the ball, he tossed it to the air.
I ran at it, jumped and caught it.
"OHHHHHHH….." The guys said as I held the ball under my arm.
"Rules of the game, 10 points, no rough housing, and no travelling," I said rolling my arms.
"Alex knows basketball," Mikey said surprised.
"Seems so," Donnie said.
"Wait a minute," April said leaning against me.
"Let's make this more interesting Alex," She said taking the ball from me.
"What did you have in mind April?" I asked. Nina leaned in towards her and whispered something.
"Nice….. so here's the deal boys," she said crossing her arms.
"If we win, 10 points… you boys, clean our apartments, and make dinner for an entire week.." she said and nudged me.
"Nice…. Oh and no Mikey pizza doesn't count," I said noticing him about to say something.
"Woah woah, wait a minutes," Casey said.
"What makes you think you…. girls, are going to win," he taunted.
I smiled at Casey and dribbled the ball.
"Don't test your luck Jones," I said.
"Wwwoooaaahhh, girls on fire," Mikey and Donnie both said.
"Let's play," I said and dribbled the ball around Raph.
"Hey hey, hang on there," He said running around me.
I ran to the hoop, April came around me and I passed the ball to her. She passed it through the air behind me to Yuri who ran and jumped to the air tossing the ball to the hoop.
"OOOH YEAH," I said and threw my arms in to the air as the ball hit the ground. Donnie grabbed it.
"That's how it's done," Yuri said high fiving Mari.
"What," Vern and Casey said looking at us.
"Donnie," Leo shouted as he dribbled the ball around himself, and tossed it to Leo.
"See this is what we call a cross court throw Alex," Leo taunted me as I blocked him.
"Oh?" I said and smirked.
"Yeah, see …." He was about to say when I stole the ball from him and tossed it to Aki.
"What the," He said as Mikey held his arms up blocking Aki.
"What girl, what…. Think you can get past me?" Mikey taunted Aki, she looked at him and held the ball for a second and then tossed it to Nina as she came around her.
"No but Nina can," she said and came around him.
"Hey," Mikey shouted and ran across the court towards the net.
Nina dribbled the ball in her spot and looked at Mikey and Donnie near the net. She tossed it over her shoulder to April.
"Hey MIKEY WATCH THIS," she said and jumped over Nina using her shell as a boost and tossed the ball to the hoop.
We all looked at it as Casey and Vern jumped to the air and blocked it.
"Mine now," Casey said. April came up to him and crossed her arms.
"What?" He said and dribbled the ball.
He came around April and tossed the ball to Vern, he dribbled it and then tossed it to Raph again, then it was tossed to Mikey. I watched as they tossed the ball back and forth taunting us. I stood near the net as the girls blocked their moves.
"So here's how this is going to go," Vern said dribbling the ball and holding a hand up to April as she blocked him.
"I'm going to come around you, toss the ball to Casey," he said coming around April he tossed it to Casey as the girls got closer to me.
"Then I'm going to cross court through it for a three pointer," Casey said tossing the ball to the net from the middle of the court. I jumped up using Mari's shell as a boost and caught the ball in the air before it hit the net.
"What the heck Alex," Casey said throwing his hands to the air.
"At what point did we lose control here," Donnie said leaning in to the guys as they took a break catching their breath.
"Alex is better then I thought," Leo said rotating his wrist.
"I'm so not cleaning their apartments," Raph hissed.
"Are we going to play here boys or are you chickening out," I shouted to them holding the ball.
"I don't think they want to clean our apartments Alex," April said crossing her arms.
"The two wild cards, I've got Alex, you…. take April," Vern said to Casey as they tapped their fists together.
Vern shifted near me blocking me.
"Hey, so was thinking…" He said distracting me. I looked to April who had the ball.
"How about Friday, dinner?" he said again.
"Sounds great…. Oh wait you'll be cleaning my apartment, we could do dinner there," I said to him as April tossed me the ball.
"I like Italian," I said to him as I dribbled the ball around him. He kept close blocking me.
I tossed the ball to Mari who tossed it to Yuri. Raph came towards them blocking them.
Yuri faked a left then a right and tossed it to April.
"Hey, here…." Aki said closest to the net.
"April," Casey said blocking her.
"Casey," she smiled.
"You look good today," He said trying to distract her.
"Oh, really….." she said and smiled. She was about to toss the ball to Nina, but Casey grabbed it in the air.
"OOoOhhh, yeah," Mikey said.
"Hooo…." Leo said as Casey dribbled the ball down the court. April and I ran after him and blocked him.
He tossed the ball to the air, Mikey jumped up behind him and tossed it into the net.
"Yeah baby that's how its done," he said landing on the floor.
"1-1," Raph said high fiving Mikey.
"Not fair," Nina said grabbing the ball.
"We'll get them," I said catching my breath.
The game had gone on for almost half the night the score was tied 9-9 with one more point in the air.
"How are they matching us," Mikey said catching his breath.
"Didn't think they were this good," Leo said as well.
"Taking a break boys?" I teased twirling the ball on my finger.
"So I think there's one more point," April said coming to the middle of the court.
I dribbled the ball near her and ran.
"Hey Hey," Raph said blocking me. I looked at him and dribbled the ball in front of me.
"Raphael," I said extenuating my words.
"See, here's the deal Alex…" He said waving his finger at me.
I looked at him dribbling the ball.
"I'm not cleaning your apartment," he said trying to take the ball from me. I faked a left then came around his right. Nina was right in front of me, I tossed the ball to her.
"GO," she said as she tossed it to Mari. Mari tossed the ball to Aki as Mikey and Donnie jumped to the air trying to block it.
I noticed Raphael pass us and block the net.
Aki looked at me and smiled she tossed the ball behind her to April, who was being blocked by Casey and Vern.
"Hey Splinter," she shouted at him. He seemed amused he was laughing at our childlike behaviour.
"Watch this," April said to him, she tossed the ball to me. I looked at Raph and jumped up to the air tossing it over his head to the net.
"BOOOYAH," I said as the ball hit the ground.
"Hahhaa," Splinter laughed and shook his head.
"Wooo," the girls shouted high fiving eachother.
"Nice," Mikey said.
"Cowabunga girl," Raph said high fiving me.
"So," I turned around.
"You guys start after tomorrow, we got to deal with this Lisa problem first," April said tapping her fist to the guys.
We all laughed and talked as we came through the door to the station.
"What the….."I said stopping at the door. Raph hit me and pushed me in.
"Hey," he said.
"What happened?" Leo said pushing past us and in to the station.
"We were robbed?" I said coming through the place. Everything was tossed everywhere, the entire place flipped upside down.
"No one touch anything," I said as I came through the place.
Casey looked around and noticed it wasn't a robbery.
"I don't think this was a robbery, I think it's a warning," Casey said placing his arms to his hips.
"How do you figure that Casey," I said going through the train carts checking the rooms.
"Because nothing in anyone's area was touched, all Mikey's boards are where they are, Raph's barbells and work out bench is still where it is, and nothing on the walls was touched….." he added again.
"Then what was the point of this," April said helping Donnie and Leo lift up the picnic table.
"A warning like Casey said," I said to them coming out of my room.
I came over to Splinter and helped him with the mats that were flipped over.
I sighed deeply and looked around as everyone started picking up items and organizing again.
"Where Raph's stars missing or taken?" I asked coming over towards Leo and Raph helping fix Donnie's desk.
"No, I just checked that," Leo said.
"Then this might not be Lisa, it could've just been hooligans," I said to them looking around.
"What you mean like random people or something," Vern asked adjusting some of the screens.
"Probably," I said again.
We managed to fix the entire place up, while Donatello and Nina check the security system cameras for any activity or intruders while we were on the roof.
"Alex was right; they were some kids playing near the entrance…. Must've seen us go up to the roof and came in right after," Donnie said as he flipped through the screens.
"Well at least nothing was stolen," April said watching the screens.
"Mikey," I said as he tried to cheat in a video game.
"Come on," I said trying to make him loose. I bumped him, he tried to take down my character.
"I'm on your team bro," I said to him.
"Yeah but he's got the token and I need it," he said ditching my character and running after the bad guy.
"What is going on?" Casey and Vern said watching us fight it out on a game from Raphael's workout bench.
"Don't even bother with those two they've been at that game for over a week… " Raph said looking over at us.
Vern turned to Raphael.
"I was meaning to ask you guys something, well…. Sort of," he said. Raphael looked to him and to Casey.
Donatello and Leo came over to the bench.
"Oh?" Leo said leaning against the punching bag.
"Well, um outside if that's okay?" Vern said nervously.
"It's about Alex," Leo said and laughed.
"Oh yeah," April and the girls said from around the couch.
Donnie pointed to the garage door and the guys followed out.
"So, what's this about?" Raph teased leaning against the tool bench.
"Wait wait let me guess," Casey said waving his hands.
"You want a serious relationship with Alex and she doesn't," he said.
"Yeah," Vern replied.
"Hahaha," Leo and Donnie laughed.
"That's the whole reason you wanted to talk to us," Raph said crossing his arms.
"Well not really, she doesn't seem like she really wants a serious relationship…." Vern said again.
"Well have you talked to her about this," Casey said leaning against the car.
"No, we never seem to get very far in conversations." Vern said again.
"Vern, dude… just talk to her Friday," Leo said and placed a hand to his shoulder.
"Don't involve me in it, I won't talk to her if you're going to ask," Raph said.
"Well I wasn't going to ask Raphael, just wondering if she's ever mentioned anything," Vern said trying to figure out the words.
"Nope," Raph said and turned to the door.
"Just talk to her bro," Leo said to Vern as Raphael pushed past him to the door.
"Indeed," Donnie said and chuckled.
"Oh my god Michelangelo, like seriously," I said to him as I jumped off the couch.
"Come on girl, you're not still mad are you?" he said trying to reason with me.
"You let my character get eaten by the dragon just because you wanted to go all ninja on the bandits," I said crossing my arms. The guys came through the garage door and looked at us squabbling.
"Are you sure you want a serious relationship with… that?" Raph pointed to me and walked around me and Mikey to the fridge.
"Awe sweet cakes, come on it's just a game," Mikey said dancing around me.
"Right, now I know not to be in battle with you and a dragon," I said to him as I came towards the fridge as well.
"Would you feed your own father to a dragon... no, no you wouldn't..." I said angrily and crossed my arms.
"But me, in a heart beat..." I sighed. Splinter looked to me and put down his books on the table. Then he chuckled and shook his head.
Casey and Vern laughed at us and leaned over the couch watching April and the girls have a go at the game.
Raph leaned against the fridge blocking me.
"Really?" I said and tapped his arm to move. He shifted to the side as I opened the fridge and searched for a drink.
He looked at me and opened his can of orange crush.
"What," I said to him opening my can as well.
"What's going on with you and Vern," he said abruptly. I nearly spit out my drink. I swallowed and wiped my mouth.
"What?" I said to him surprised he's actually asking me this.
"So you serious or not?" he said leaning against the fridge. Vern looked at him and shook his head.
"That was a little rude," I said to him crossing my arms.
"Just asking," he said again.
"Not your concern," I said to him and came around him towards the couch. I slide over Donnie's chair and watched as the girls video gamed.
"Dude, she's in a grumpy mood don't make her madder…." Mikey said to Raphael as he also grabbed a can out of the fridge.
"Yeah because you feed her to a dragon," Raph said to him.
"Had too, it was either me or the dragon…." Mikey said teasingly.
Raph grunted and shook his head, then headed over to his work out bench.
The night ended short, we all crashed on the floor on the training mats, I don't think Raphael slept. I could hear him talking with Splinter for most of the night.
I shifted around on the mat, Mikey had slept between me and April, so I didn't sleep much. I sat up and noticed the dojo light on.
I crawled out of the blanket and to the dojo.
I looked over at everyone; they all looked funny sleeping in a circle on the mats.
I smiled and tapped my hand over the touch pad.
I shifted in to the dojo quietly.
"Alex," Splinter said coming in to the light.
"I'm sorry, I should've knocked but….." I said.
"It's alright, we were just talking," he said taking me by the hand. He pulled me to the benches.
"Everything okay?" I asked noticing Raph leaning against the bars.
"Yes my dear, Raphael couldn't sleep…." Splinter said again. He walked to the dojo door and it slide opened.
I looked at Raph.
"Are you okay?" I asked him.
"Yeah," He said crossing his arms. I turned the light on my watch.
"It's 2AM," I said to him. He came around the bars and sat down on the bench next to me.
"Yeah," he said again pulling at his bandana.
"So…." I said leaning against my knees.
"So Splinter told me that you mentioned something to him about fixing the crack on my shell," he said after a few moments.
"Yeah, I did once before when you fell off my dresser," I said slowly.
"Does it hurt you?" I asked him noticing the tape on his shell.
"Sometimes, but I barely feel it," He said twirling his sias.
"If it's causing you pain or discomfort you should get it checked out, I can help…. But I can only do so much," I said to him.
I reached my hands to his shell and he shrugged me off.
"Raph, can I look at it?" I asked looking at him.
"What could you possibly do Alex?" He asked. He seemed nervous or scared of me touching him.
"I have fixed it before, I'd need to make a type of paste so that it can harden the shell from the inside out," I said to him standing up.
"Raphael, it can become serious, even crack deeper, you need to take it easy if ….. if you let me fix it," I said to him.
He looked at me and nodded.
"Wait here, I'll be right back," I said and jumped down from the benches.
Raph watched me intently as I mixed some red powder with a translucent powder which really had no effect or anything, it was more like rubber cement, and some oil with water.
"Oil and water?" he said watching me mix these ingredients in a bowl.
"The oil activates the red powered and helps clean out anything serious, like infections or bacteria… and the water is the binding agent," I said to him mixing until it became a paste.
"How did you learn to do all this?" he said as I climbed up to the bench behind him and sat down.
"The monks taught me," I said to him as I slowly pulled back the tape on his shell.
"Raphael….." I said surprised. The crack was deeper then I thought and it had gotten longer.
I sighed deeply.
"I know it looks bad huh," He replied.
"How could you let it get this bad Raph…." I said to him rubbing down the crack with a damp cloth.
"I never had it checked, never really bothered, usually just taped it up…." He said cringing.
"It does hurt you doesn't it," I said to him.
"Yeah," He said again.
I leaned over him.
"Tomorrow when we confront Lisa, please…. Don't use your shell as defence; try not to fight as much…" I told him. I tapped the spatula over the crack. He seemed to hate it, he cringed and crossed his fingers together.
"Sorry," I said and rubbed it in, then blew at it so it wouldn't sting.
"You'll feel better I promise," I said to him as I taped it up again and wrapped some bandages against the shell.
I organized everything back into the first aid kit and slide down to the bench pushing the kit to the floor.
"So…. Vern really likes you," he said breaking the silence.
"What brought this up?" I said to him as I pushed some gauze in to the kit.
"Just curious…" he said.
"You're not curious, I think I'd know you better then to be just curious about something," I said again.
"I know Vern likes me, he shows it, I just don't think being in a serious relationship right now will work," I said to him as I leaned over the bars.
"You know, I consider what we do as my job, and helping protect people and fighting bad guys is tough as it is…." I said again.
"Maybe after all this…you should take a break, do something for yourself," he said.
We both looked at eachother and chuckled.
"We're family Raph, don't forget that," I said to him and tapped him on the knee standing up.
I stretched my arms over my head and picked up the kit.
"Here I'll take it," he said taking it from me.
"Good night Raph," I said to him and pecked him on the cheek. He hated when I did that, he'd always shy away from me.
I smiled and turned for the door.
"Get out of here," He said shaking his head. I smiled as the door to the dojo slid opened.
I shifted quietly past the train carts, I looked over at everyone still piled on the floor mats. Splinter was in his room, his gate was down.
I took in a deep breath and went to my room. I slid my door opened and grabbed a jacket to put on. That's when I saw Raphael come towards the mats.
I looked at my staff resting next to my dresser.
I didn't bother reaching for it, I just wanted some fresh air. I couldn't sleep and my mind was thinking to much.
I slid opened my door again and tip toed quietly around the mats, I shifted my feet towards the door and quietly pushed it.
I turned and closed it behind me carefully so it wouldn't make a sound.
"Whew," I said to myself and climbed the metal stair case to the roof.
It was a little windy outside but the black starry sky was beautiful.
I sat against the sand bags and pulled my jacket together.
I closed my eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath.
"Hey," I heard someone's voice behind me.
I quickly turned. It was Raphael.
"Raph," I said.
"Why are you out here?" he said coming towards me. He sat down against the sand bags.
"I thought you were asleep?" I said to him pulling my hands in to my jacket.
"I was, but I saw you come out here…." He said and dropped a blanket over my head.
"Sorry, I just couldn't sleep…." I said to him pulling the blanket around me.
"I could stay out here with you," He said looking to the sky.
"Thanks, but you don't have too… you should rest up," I said.
"Nope," He said again.
"Suit yourself," I said to him sliding next to him to keep warm.
We didn't really talk much after that point. Raph looked like he was sleeping; he was cute when he slept. I smiled imagining him as a baby turtle sleeping in the glass cage.
I rested my head against the sand bags and closed my eyes for a moment.
"Well will you lookie here," a voice said from behind us. I snapped my eyes opened and nudged Raphael.
He woke up and looked at me.
We were surrounded by five or six ninja's with weapons.
Raph touched his belt.
"Damn," he said noticing he left his sais behind.
"On your feet, both of you…" one of the ninja's said waving their sword at us.