Chapter 7:

(3rd:)

"Now that you are all safe," Splinter started as they quietly made their way back through the forest toward the city entrance, "Perhaps you could introduce me to your friend," He finished clearly indicating Zira.

This promptly caused all four the turtles to panic as they fought to cover her mouth before she could say what they all knew she was about to, leaving Splinter to blink at them in question as they all smiled sheepishly, trying to pretend that that hadn't just happened.

"Zira," Donnie whispered to the female alien nervously, still holding her mouth to insure she didn't say anything, "This is my father; therefore, I would very much appreciate it if you didn't give him a heart attack."

She just rolled his eyes at him as he finally released her and promptly folded her arms in a huff. "Men," She complained dramatically, but thankfully didn't say anything more.

"Donatello?" Splinter asked, causing the poor turtle to nearly jump out of his skin as he turned to face his father again.

"Hai, Sensei," He acknowledged quickly, far too quickly for the old rat to not realize that something was certainly up, not that he didn't know already.

"Is there something I should know?" He finally requested, looking at them all again as he placed his hands behind his back in that way of his that told them that they had better start talking.

"You know, you're exactly how I pictured you," Zira put in, causing the brothers to freeze, which left their father to look at her again.

"You've been told a lot about me have you?" He asked kindly and she shrugged.

"Donnie mentioned you a few times," She admitted, causing him to raise an eyebrow at her.

"Only Donatello?" He proclaimed in question before looking back at his sons, "And why is it that only he has said these things?"

"Because he was –" She started again only for the turtles to turn on her.

"ZIRA!" They all demanded loudly, causing her to laugh, clearly enjoying herself.

"Well, then tell him," She countered, causing the rat master to fold his arms in front of him this time.

"Tell me what, my sons?" He ordered firmly.

"Well – um –" Donnie started again as he fidgeted slightly under his father's gaze. "She – you – maybe you should sit down," He finally suggested, leaving the older man to give them another look before turning to a fallen tree and did as he was asked; leaving his sons with no further excuse and so they began to tell him everything that had happened since their departure from Japan.

…

When they were finally finished the brothers were honestly worried that maybe Splinter was going to have a heart attack after all, as the old rat just continued to watch them for a moment in shock.

However, the moment passed relatively quickly when he finally turned to Zira again and stood up in order to walk over to her.

"It would seem that a 'welcome to our family' is in order," He finally proclaimed, offering his hand to her, causing her to quietly lay hers in it, allowing him to bow respectfully to her.

"Yep, you're their father all right," She acknowledged around a smile which he returned, "But, you couldn't work on Red's anger issues a bit more?" She added, causing him to laugh.

"Young lady, even I can not perform miracles," He proclaimed, "However, I have found that just ignoring him is often the best course of action," He suggested, leaving the brothers in shock while they watched the two causally walk away during the continued conversation, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Did that – really – just happen?" Raph asked in disbelief.

"Dude, she turned – Splinter – against us," Mikey added worriedly.

"Yes, she did," Donnie acknowledged, causing them all to look at him sourly and Leo to promptly laid down the law.

"You are to never leave our sight again."

…

"Guys," Mikey said nervously as they finally reached the base, only to find Zira engaged in a conversation with Lisa this time, "They're joining forces," He proclaimed in fear, rushing to hide behind Leo for cover, "No one is safe," He cried dramatically, earning a smack from Raph for the theatrics.

"My sons," Splinter interrupted and they all quickly turned to him again, only to notice the other occupant of the room, "You have a guest," Their father finished as the man smiled smugly at their shock.

"This is getting old, Bishop," Leo greeted sourly.

"It would seem we have a communication problem; I was only informed of your capture the day before last. I've been trying to locate you ever since," He informed them mutely, "But, for once, I'm glad to see I'm not needed," He added, causing the turtles to look at each other as they realized there was genuine concern in his voice.

"That and ya were probably hopin' we had some enemy information for ya," Raph proclaimed as he folded his arms, "Am I right?"

"I would be lying if I said 'no'," Bishop admitted with a smile as he steepled his fingers.

"Yeah, well ya can just go ta –" Raph stated again only for Donnie to stop his comment with a hand on his shoulder.

"Bishop," Leo started again as he walked up with a serious expression causing the man's smile to disappear, "We have a window of opportunity to take both Shredder and the Barron off guard," He continued sternly, "But we're gonna need all the help we can get."

This bold assortment left the man in a bought of short silence, as he considered that, before calmly getting to his feet to be at eye level with the turtle as they talked.

"Consider me at your disposal."

…

"This seems kind of risky," Bishop admitted as he watched Donnie work at his computer, "I want to stop these two as much as anyone, but we don't have the man power to take them both on at the same time."

"Yes, we do," Leo countered causing the man to look at him, "Shredder's troops are going to be too busy trying to find us by now, which means his fortress is going to be undermanned. We can take him down, but we need another team to take on the Barron."

"The Barron has been here for years, Leonardo, do you even realize how many people he has under his control by now."

"That's why we have to take him out now," Zira put in, "He's got hundreds of my people enslaved up there, if he managed to prepare an attack we would loose before we even began."

"That's why we have to get him while he's not expecting it," Donnie spoke up as Zira leaned down to watch him point some things out to her and she nodded in understanding, "If this program I have works, we can take out most if not all of the Barron's army and probably most of Shredder's as well."

"If?" Bishop repeated skeptically.

"It has to be uploaded directly into the Barron's mainframe. Zira can do it, but I need someone to protect her," Donnie added sternly, causing the man to frown as he realized that 'someone' was him.

"Then I will lend my strength as well," Splinter suddenly spoke up as he stepped forward, "Between Bishop and I, we should be more than enough to ensure our side of the plan goes well."

"Bishop and Splinter – together?" Mikey muttered quietly, "That's a scary thought."

"Very well," Bishop finally relented as he turned back to look at Donnie's computer again, trying to follow what was being done, but even he couldn't keep up with the turtle's coordinated movement.

"What about the four of you?" He added. "Even undermanned, Shredder's gonna have army of ninja at his base."

"Well, lucky for us, we got an army too,"Raph muttered with a smile, just before the door to the room opened and in entered Casey Jones, decked out in all manner of crazy street armor.

"We're ready."