Happy Thanksgiving everyone!! Enjoy this chapter!!
Four days later
As the days passed, it was soon on the last Thursday of November. It can only mean one thing: it is Thanksgiving Day in the lair. So the turtles had to go food shopping yesterday, as instructed by Ginny, who has her fair share of cooking and wants to be sure they have enough for nine woken mutants and their four special guests as well. Ginny and Mikey are in the kitchen, prepping the food.
Donnie looks at the security cameras in his computer while he sits inside his lab. He began to yawn, feeling bored already. Before he starts getting bored, he spots something in the camera video. He views the camera closer and sees four intruders he knows very well.
He smiled. "They're here!!" He shouted loudly, his voice echoing the lair.
Ginny stopped prepping the turkey and the sauce, hearing his echo. "Who?" She asked, confused.
"You'll see." Mikey grinned, stepping out of the kitchen and heading to the entrance. Ginny turned the stovetop off and followed him out.
Walking inside the lair are four of the turtles' close allies. Baron Draxum, April O'Neil, and two Jones. Cassandra Jones was dressed in a red tank top with a leather jacket, skinny ripped jeans, combat boots, and fingerless gloves. And Casey Jones, the teen from the future of the Krang's success, is wearing a long sweater over a red shirt, jeans, converse shoes, gloves, and a mask on top of his head.
"Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll!!" April called out, holding a stuffing casserole that her mother cooked in her hands.
Splinter approaches them, smiling at them. "April! So glad you decided to join us!" He bowed to the Jones. "Cassandra, Casey."
Casey bowed to him. "Master Splinter."
While Splinter welcomed them warmly, Ginny, Julian, and Judi watched them behind the wall. They've gotten very well known with April, but the rest, they are very curious about who they are and how they are friends with the turtles.
"Who are they?" Judi asked.
Raph was behind them, smiling. "They're our friends. That's Cassandra Jones. By her side is Casey Jones. Long story short, he is Cass's son in the future." He explained.
Judi turned around and faced him, her face in shock. "I'm sorry, he's what?!" She yelled. Ginny and Julian looked surprised by this.
Mikey let out a chuckle, approaching them as he stretched the back of his neck. "Back at the invasion, Casey came from the future to stop the Krang and helped us take them down." He told them.
"Mind….blown.." Julian whispered.
Raph nervously chuckled. "And that guy is Baron Draxum. The guy who created us." He added, pointing at Draxum.
Ginny blinked. "Wait, create you guys?" She tilted her head to the left.
In the corner of their eyes, they spot Draxum looking at them from their hiding spot. The three quickly hide away, but it is too late; he knows they are here. They hid behind Raph as they watched Draxum coming to them. Raph walked away from him, leaving the three with Draxum.
Draxum leaned close to them, taking in their form and his hand on his chin. "You three must be the new mutants Donatello told me of." He hummed. "Hmmm. Interesting." He tilted his head to the right.
Then he took out a small crystal, in clear color and sizable for his hand. Then he held it close to their head, one by one. He looks at the crystal and looks deep in thought. "No mythical powers like mine give." He proclaimed. "This means that TCRI couldn't figure out my formula and had to turn to an alternative."
"An alternative?" Ginny asked.
He faced Ginny. "I'm a scientist who specializes in alchemy. As you humans call it 'chemistry." He explained. "Because my formula is created with Yokai magic, TCRI looks for a different kind of modern chemical that works like mine without giving them powers like the rest of my creations." He looked at the crystal. "If you do have them, my crystal would have glowed. But it seems you are nothing like my mutants."
"I..never knew that." Ginny rambled. Thinking about the conversation she had with Donnie after they found out TCRI used a chemical to change a genetic.
Draxum then patted her head. "It's quite alright." He reassured her, walking past her as she fixed her hair. "Donatello, where are the other two?"
"One is in the medbay; follow me," Donnie answered, leading Draxum to the medbay.
Raph watched them walking away. Then, he faced Cassandra and Casey. "Cass! Casey!" He grinned. "Meet Ginevra, Judith, and her twin brother, Julian." He introduced his two friends to the three.
Ginny smiled nervously at Cassandra, facing her. "Hello." She held out her hand for a shake.
But Cassandra grabbed her hand and shook it too fast. "Welcome to the team!! The turtles told us so much about you!!" She grinned like an overexcited child, shaking her hand fast.
"Happy to hear!" Ginny's voice shakes from the impact, still skating fast.
"Okay, you can let her go now," Casey told Cassandra. Cassandra let Ginny go, her body still shaking till she almost fell and strained to get herself to stand fully up. "Sorry about her." He apologized.
"No, no. It's alright." Ginny waves it off with a smile. "She got a firm grip."
Casey chuckled and held out his hand for a shake. She shakes his hand, pleasant and calming. Casey reminded her so much of her brothers that thinking about them made her loosen her grip and let his hand go.
Ginny smiled and started to head back to the kitchen. Till April stopped her.
"Say, mind if I help you with the cooking?" April asked.
Ginny looked at Mikey, who nodded at her. Then she turned back to April. "Sure, we can use an extra hand." She answered.
"Thanks!" April smiled at her, walking inside the kitchen as the two turtles followed behind.
While the three are starting the dinner, Raph and Judi set up the table by putting the tables together, hiding them with a long white cloth, and putting the plates down along with the silverware. Judi was humming a soft song while grabbing the napkins.
Behind Raph, Draxum left the medbay with Donnie behind him. Raph listens to their conversation. "Yeah, she is definitely in a coma. Could be the impact of the mutagen." Draxum claimed. "But like the rest, she has no mythical powers." Raph sadly frowned. Primrose is still in her coma; he is afraid of this.
"Do you know how long her coma will last?" Donnie asked him.
"Hard to say. With her condition, only time will tell." Draxum sighed, looking down at Donnie. "I'm so sorry, my boy."
Donnie shook his head. "It's okay, Draxum. For now, the best I can do is try to keep her breathing and watch her heart."
Draxum nodded. Spoken like a trustworthy doctor. "And where is the last teen?" He asked him.
Donnie pointed in the direction of Nian's room. "In her room, lock herself up again." He answered.
Draxum followed his direction. Donnie can only pray that Nina doesn't hurt him like when he first met her.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen. Ginny was cooking the turkey and making the gravy, and April was heating the cranberry sauce. But Mikey stopped mashing the potatoes to make mashed potatoes. He looked very nervous and in deep thought.
Since Mikey realized he was in love with Judi, he was so scared of the feeling of love since he had never been in love. Judi brought life to his world, and she never failed to bring a smile to him. But he is scared that if Julian finds out, he will never let him near his sister and keep her away from him. He dropped the masher on the countertop and frowned.
He turned his head to April, who was stirring the sauce. With a breath, he spoke. "April, can I ask you something?" He asked her.
April stopped stirring and faced him. "Sure thing. What do you want to ask about?"
Mikey gulped, pressing his hands together. "Did…did you ever feel any kind of affection for anyone?" He questioned her.
"Not really." She shook her head. "I've always been an independent woman. Why?" She tilted her head to the left.
"Well…you see." He cracked. "I may have got some feelings for Judi. The butterflies in my stomach, heart racing and hand sweating kind of feelings." He confessed.
April blinked. She gasped. "You're in love with Judi?"
Mikey nodded. "Yeah. But I can't tell her. She still doesn't know who she is, and I promised Julian I would look after her." He explained. "What would he say if he finds out I am falling for his sister?"
April put the spoon down on the countertop and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Mikey. You have nothing to be worried about. You have been helping her and helping her grow." She reassured him. "If you truly love her and are willing to protect her, you must follow your heart. She'll definitely love you for you." She smiled.
"You really think so?" Mikey blinked.
April shook her head. "No. I know so." Mikey smiled at her; then they hugged each other.
While the two are talking, Ginny hears everything and smiles. To think that after three months, Mikey had grown a strong attachment to Judi and was thinking about her well-being, too. If that's not actually love, these boys need to see a love teacher in the art of romance.
Suddenly, the lair heard a loud crash and Draxum's loud yell. It causes them to jump on their spot and turn their attention from the entrance.
Leo and Splinter came running in from the living room and found Draxum running out of Nina's room, holding his eye that formed a black eye. "What happened?!" Leo yelled.
Draxum faced Leo; his swollen eye glared at him. "I was just using my crystal to scan her when she just punched me and attacked me!" He fumed. "I told her I was only trying to do a check-up, but she reacted like an animal!" Then they heard the loud slamming sound of Nina closing her door.
"Sorry about her Draxum." Raph apologized, taking Draxum to the medbay for his swollen eye.
Splinter let out a disappointed sigh. This girl is furthering herself into deeper isolation, refusing to let anyone help her, and it will get much worse if no one can help her pull her out of her deepest depths. "I'll go talk to her." He makes his way to her room and opens the door. He entered her room.
But he was suddenly kicked out and flew to the wall, landing on it as he slid down to the floor. Nina's door slammed closed, and the lock clicked shut.
"Ouch.." Splinter groaned.
Leo helped Splinter up, taking him to the medbay along with Draxum. There was no point in talking to Nina now if she was going to react like this to their guests. She is starting to get more aggressive towards them. At least she spared Donnie, considering how their conversation would result in giving each other a headache.
Inside the medbay, Casey handed Draxum an ice pack for his black eye while sitting on a chair. Leo entered and placed Splinter in the medbay's bed. Leo looks at Casey. His mind is filled with questions that get him thinking about the new turtles.
"Say, Casey?" Leo called out, causing Casey to look at his master. "Do you…I don't know. Do you know any of the girls from your future?" He asked him about them.
Casey blinked, not understanding what he was asking, until he started getting what he meant. The new turtles, Ginny and the others. He let out a sigh. "No, I don't. We never saw or heard of them." He answered. "I heard that they died by the Krang and were put through horrible experiments."
Leo softly gasped. "Even…Ginny and her family?" Just imagining what the Krang could have done to them, especially to Jacob, would be the most monstrous thing to anyone.
Casey nodded. "I'm sorry.."
Leo sat by Splinter, hands pressed together. He inhales in and out. "Well. At least they won't have that future anymore." He pointed out their success. "They're here and in our care." With the Krang now gone, the girls can finally have a better life than being killed by these monsters. And at least Ginny can still have her family alive.
Draxum put the ice pack down, seeing the expression on Leo's face. It was an expression of relief and happiness. "You seem to form a deep bond with Ginny." He pointed out. "Almost affectionately." He noticed another expression on Leo: love.
Leo's face turned bright red and his face changed to embarrassment. "What?! You think I have feelings for Ginny?!" He laughed nervously. "Please! She's not even my type!"
"You gave her your last slice of pizza the other night." Splinter raised an eyebrow at Leo.
Leo stammered. "I was trying to be sure she had enough to eat!" He objected.
"While you boys were getting Thanksgiving food, you spent the whole day looking for caramel sauce for Ginny to make her Caramel Apple Pie even when it wasn't on the list," Splinter added.
Leo's face was a bright red like an apple, sweat forming on his brow. He stuttered. "I-I-I…uh hey!" He got up quickly. "Is dinner ready, guys!?" He called out.
"Yep!" April answered.
"Good! Let's eat! I am starving!" Leo then quickly left the medbay, running like a roadrunner with a coyote on his tail.
Splinter let out a smirk when he watched his son take off. "He may think he only sees Ginny as a friend, but I know that behavior very well." He acknowledged.
"What do you mean?" Casey asked, not understanding.
Splinter just blushed. Then he stammered and leaped off the bed. "Look at the time! Let's eat!!" He, too, took off, running with his tail between his legs.
Casey stared at the entrance, confused about what had gotten over them, while Draxum chuckled at this. Seems the apples don't fall so far when it comes to love.
At the dinner table, everyone is enjoying the dinner. Draxum told them the stories of his job; some laughed at it, while Judi was confused by it. Cassandra told them of her times being a vigilante and the times she busted the Purple Dragon's chances of a tech robbery. April and Donnie laughed at this; the three dragons never learned their lessons. The food was delicious, and pretty much all got seconds.
During this, Donnie would occasionally take a peek at Nina's door. Still closed and shut off from the world. He frowned. She may not be open to everyone around her, but no one should be left alone on a holiday for families.
In Nina's room, she sat on her bed with an emotionless expression, and Bello looked so worried for her. She have kicked out two grown men and on a holiday too, it was starting to really scared him. He wants her to go out and see the turtles aren't like her parents and the bullies, but her hateful emotions are blocking her senses. Nina can only sit in her bed, holding an old staff as she stares at the wall.
Then the door was unlocked, and it opened, revealing Donnie holding a plate of salad, mashed potatoes, a roll, and green bean casserole. He even saves a slice of caramel apple pie for her. He approached her. "Hey, Nina. I save you a plate." He announced while he let himself in.
Nina throws the staff at him, who catches it with his other hand and sets it down. Here we go again, another episode of the two fighting.
"Wow. How mature." Donnie sarcastically rolled his eyes.
Nina turned and faced him. "I'm not in the mood to deal with this." She snarled. "So just leave it and go away, or I will kick you out like those two." She threatens him.
Donnie glared down at her. "So you don't want to join in on the fun?" He questioned her.
Nina growled angrily. "As if! I refuse to join your stupid tradition!" She yelled. "Now leave me alone!"
Donnie sighed angrily. "Fine. And Happy Thanksgiving Nina." He set the plate down by her. He turned around and left her room.
Nina gripped her biceps hard, angry. She looks down, seeing Bello taking a bite of the salad. She sighed; at least he didn't give her any meat. It was the one thing she refused to participate in; she never liked the idea of using a turkey for a Thanksgiving meal. Nina has split the food for herself and Bello.
She took a bite of the pie, her eyes widening from the flavor of it. The caramel brings out the sweetness of the cinnamon apple fillings. She looked down and saw Bello enjoying it as well. The two resume their meal with full stomachs. Nina placed her plate down and glared at the door. She still doesn't trust the turtles and their allies. She is desperate for a way to leave the lair and get back to the surface.
Everyone enjoys a Jupiter Jim movie in the T.V. Room to pass the time together. Judi sat between Julian and Mikey; Ginny sat by Raph while Leo was on the couch with Casey and April. Cassandra was next to Raph as well, while Splinter was in his chair. And Draxum, standing by the sofa with his arms crossed.
Draxum heard grumbling noises, turning his head and seeing Donnie walking towards them with an annoyed expression on his face. Draxum left and approached him. "So?" He raised an eyebrow. He was hinting about how it went with bringing food to Nina.
Donnie huffed out, feeling mad. "She just threw a staff at my face." He answered. "You think after three months of living here, you are used to everything, and I don't know, get out of your room once in a while!" Talking about her has really dampened his mood.
Draxum can tell that Donnie is about to get fed up with Nina's stubbornness. He patted his back. "Give her some time. You'll handle her another time." He told him.
Donnie let out a sigh. "Fine."
"Good." Draxum nodded. "Now, come on, the movie is almost over."
The two walked to the T.V. Room, where the movie reaches the climax—showing Jupiter Jim trying to calm down a very saddened alien who went through too much in their life. Everyone was silent during that part as Donnie sat beside Leo.
Throughout the day, everyone enjoyed the movie and spent Thanksgiving Day together as a family.