TMNT Rae/VC - 2003 Turtles

The concrete hit her back hard as she landed from being shoved. She could hear laughter above as they closed the manhole that she was in, as well as a clank of a knife falling somewhere near her. The smell of the sewer made her stomach turn nauseous and she didn’t have much strength but to lay down. Her head ached, thrumming like someone was trying to learn how to play the drums. She felt her stomach roll again, and she groaned, shifting to her side in case she needed to vomit. Her ribs hurt and she couldn’t feel her feet. She hadn’t expected to be ambushed like that. Normally, small fry like them weren’t too hard to beat. But she could only handle two at a time. Five?

She sighed, pushing herself up and feeling a wave of dizziness enter her mind, making her head throb worse and her stomach protesting. She felt her hands shake under her weight and slip. She needed to get /up/, but up was probably impossible.

She spat and she could taste a tang of blood on her tongue. She ran her tongue against her teeth, but she couldn’t feel anything loose or gone. Probably good. Her hand slipped and she groaned when she caught herself. Did she cut herself on the fallen knife? Where was it?

People were going to be cruel, but why did they dump her down here? Surely they weren’t dumb enough to think that a minor beating like the one that she just had was going to be enough to kill her. This was how you hide dead bodies. Then again, her head drummed, reminding her that a concussion could kill if she wasn’t careful.

Her hand slipped further and she laid down as gently as she could, groaning and closing her eyes. Probably a good thing that the sewers were dark…

Gross as fuck and nauseating. But dark.

"Well look at that. I thought I heard some clangin' and bangin' racket. Dumb fucks shouldn't throw someone down here if they're not dead." A pair of well worn sneakers appeared in her line of sight, "Just what did you do to deserve getting whooped on by the Foot?"

Madeline didn't open her eyes and it really did hurt to talk. She had to concentrate though. "Defending." She managed to say after a moment. "My...knife..."

"Lucky it didn't fall in the water." The young woman reached down and grabbed it, shaking off the goop and wiped the rest off on her pants, not even flinching at the grossness, sliding it into her belt. "You /almost/ look like you belong in a hospital, but also like you can't afford it, so I'll take you to the next best thing." Kneeling down, she hooked her arm under her and slowly helped her sit up, "Alright, one step at a time, but I gotta get you to your feet. Ugh, I know that look. I'm quite familiar with it. Just grit your teeth, girly. We can do this."

"Okay..." Maddie groaned as they got up, her knees and head protesting at the movement. Luckily, the girl stopped and waited for her to get her bearings and started walking. "Madeline...Magic...which ever."

"Magic, huh? That's a funny nickname, unless ya can actually do magic, which I've never seen myself but I know it exists from the stories I've heard," she shrugged, "Angel. Nice ta meetcha. My friends are gunna take good care of ya, I promise."

Madeline merely nodded her head, another wave of dizziness coming over her and she passed out, unable to keep her head in the game anymore.

~*~

Casey was absolutely not expecting the doorbell to his apartment with April to go off. There were only one person who would contact him by the door, the brothers would just come to the window and his stomach twisted. Going to it, he groaned at what he saw, "Aw, man, Angel...what sort of trouble did you get into this time?"

Angel scoffed at him, "I didn't do a damn thing, Casey. I was just goin' through the sewers when I heard clanging and banging. Someone dropped her down a manhole. You've got no idea how much of pain in the ass it's been hauling her around." She looked over her shoulder at the woman, "She says her name's Madeline. Is April home? She's actually pretty banged up and I'm pretty sure she has a concussion, so we need to wake her up and make sure she's ok."

"Casey? Is that-" April walked out of the kitchen drying her hands with a towel when she saw the poor girl on Angel's shoulder. "Casey, grab towels and spread them on the couch so she can lie down. I'll grab my first aid kit. Once she's laid down, wake her up /gently/. Don't force, it can cause more trouble. If she doesn't wake, give it a moment and try again." Only if they couldn't wake her up, April would call it an emergency. Hospital denial be damned.

Taking her off of Angel's back once he got the towels splayed out, Casey easily carried Madeline to the couch. "Angel, get a glass of water for her to drink when she wakes up." When the girl with black and purple hair ran off, he started patting at Maddie's cheek, "Hey...hey, can you hear me? It's no good for you to keep sleepin'. C'mon, we need to know what's wrong with ya to help ya."

Madeline slapped his hand away, in the process smacking herself in the face. She whimpered and tried to open her eyes. It was...blurry...but her stomach wasn't acting up. A man? She blinked slowly as a man with longish black hair was looking down at her. "Vigilante..."

"Oh hey, you know who I am, that's cool," Casey laughed a bit, not too loudly so he wouldn't make her headache worse, "My wife is getting her things ready to patch you up right as rain. I'm Casey. Angel told me you're Madeline?"

"Crazy fucker..." Madeline closed her eyes and took a sharp breath in. "Magic...Madeline...whichever. You're hitched?" She opened one eye to look at him skeptically. "Go figure..."

"I don't think anyone was expecting it really," April said as she came back and set down her first aid kit. "Sounds like you were roughed up pretty badly. Magic you said you wanted to be called?" Madeline shrugged and April understood. "So you're in the same line of business as Casey is in then."

Madeline wasn't certain what that "same line of business" could be. She doubted being a vigilante got anything money wise. Maybe picking the goons. They kind of deserved it if they were dumb enough to get their heads beat in. She was tired, and cranky, and she just wanted to /sleep/ goddamn it. She winced as she felt something cold on her head and something stinging, but it was a minor annoyance compared to the concussion. "Mechanic."

"Oh something you have in common then." April hoped that the girl would keep talking. "Who got a hold of you to beat you up so badly?"

"Ninjas...stupid...fuckers." Madeline hissed. "Ambush, five against one."

"The Foot, to be exact," Angel told them, coming back from the kitchen and she set the newly cleaned knife on the table beside the couch, "I may not have done anything, but that doesn't mean I wasn't /looking/ for them."

"Of course not. You've been antsy lately. I keep telling you to give me a call if you want a fight and we can go chill with Raph," Casey rolled his eyes, "God knows you haven't seen him in ages, anyway."

"Well the ongoing /war/ they have with the Foot might have something to do with it. I go after the Purple Dragons more," Angel grunted.

"Why would the Foot go after a civilian?" April frowned. "That's not their usual MO unless they have something that they want." She looked back at Madeline who was pale and sweating. She didn't have a fever, but she was still in pain. She felt her ribs and noticed that some of them were cracked, but they weren't broken, her lungs didn't sound like a puncture. "No more fighting for a few weeks at the very least. I'm a bit worried about that concussion, but without a proper MRI, there's really nothing we can do...besides wake you every hour, on the hour, and ask you a question about yourself or something..."

"I figure by her nickname she does real magic, April," Angel explained.

"What? No way!" Casey gaped, "That's something we don't see very often. I think the last messed up magic thing I heard about from the guys is time travel and different dimensions. That's some freaky stuff."

"I don't dimension hop." Madeline was proud of herself. She managed to say a full sentence and her head only hurt just...well..it hurt the same but it didn't make her feel worse. "I don't think I wish I could either..."

"I wonder if this is something we should tell them about..." April bit her lip worriedly. "Or if that's just going to cause trouble down the road."

"Later, here have some water, it should help," Angel coaxed Madeline to sit up a little bit for her glass of water, and also placed a cold pack on her head.

"Thanks..." Madeline murmured, taking the glass carefully and with Angel's help took a few sips of water. She rested back into the couch and closed her eyes. "Pay you back..." She murmured, her breathing becoming more even in sleep.

~*~

"So this is your place? Not too shabby," Casey complimented as he rolled his bike into park in her garage, "Are you going to be alright from here? April did offer to fix your phone, we can still do that."

"I'll be alright. The Foot rarely comes to my garage." Madeline said as she disembarked on the bike and stretched. It felt nice to be home, even though she felt a bit embarrassed. It wasn't the greatest little place. She had only enough room to work on two vehicles at a time, and if someone looked inside her little home that's next to it, they'd really wince. "My phone will be alright too. It's really beyond repair and I don't want April to waste time on doing something that'll just frustrate her. You guys done enough anyway. If there's anything I can do, within reason and limits, I'll be happy to help. That also includes the Vigilante."

"I'll keep that in mind," Casey grinned, "You take care. I see two people at the door, might wanna go check on them and see if they're not customers," he gave her a wave an a two-finger solute. Revving up, he whirled around and bolted off.

Breathing carefully and knowing who the two might be, Madeline walked over towards the door. There was a girl with chestnut brown hair wearing a jean jacket and leggings along with some fashionable high heeled boots. She was talking animatedly to a woman next to her and she knew, just knew, what was going to happen. "Talking behind my back?" She teased.

"MADDIE!" Cassidy shrieked, turning around and nearly smacking the girl in the face. "OH MY GOD WHERE WERE YOU?!" She rushed towards her, but stopped short when Madeline took a step back. "You're injured, aren't you?!"

"It certainly looks like it," the other woman came over, "I can make you your coffee for you. You just need to rest. I can't believe you never introduced me to Cassi here, by the way. Shame on you," she shook her finger then brushed her red hair with blond tips behind her ear.

"Sorry, you two always seemed to miss each other." Madeline said and Cassidy immediately started shooing her into the small apartment. It had enough living space for a couch and a coffee table, and there was a tiny kitchenette that had a functioning stove, microwave, coffee maker, and a tiny bar and sink. Cassidy pushed her to the couch and she looked her over. "I'm fine. A minor concussion and cracked ribs."

"Who did /this/ to you?" Cassidy frowned deeply. "Where was your knife?"

"On me, but I wasn't fighting normal people this time around." Madeline shrugged. "I got ambushed by five Feet."

Cassidy blinked, "And your phone?"

"Damaged beyond repair." Madeline confirmed.

Without further ado, Cassidy immediately took out her phone and sent a text to someone or another. Madeline would bet it was this "Mikey" fellow that she met back in high school.

Andrea had a full pot of coffee set to brew and came over to them, "We'll have to get you a new phone. At least you're safe, Maddie. We blew up your phone with texts and calls, so I guess it's a good thing you don't have it. You'd never get through them all."

Madeline smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to worry you."

"No! Don't apologize. We're just glad you're not dead!" Cassidy tossed her phone on the coffee table and grabbed Madeline's hands, squeezing them tightly. "Neither one of us would be happy to hear that you were bested by ninjas. Especially me and Mikey. He's been wanting to meet you for forever and a day! You can't just bow out before we get a solid plan going."

"Haha, she has a point. You've gotten so far. Can't get going when the going gets tough," Andrea laughed and got down a couple mugs for coffee as well as the creamer and sugar.

"I should just stock coffee milk." Madeline made a face she watched Andrea poured the cream into the coffee, enough so that it looked like it was mostly creamer rather than coffee. "So you don't keep using up all the creamer."

"You only live once," Cassidy chirped, taking the rest of the creamer and pouring some in, as well as a few scoops of sugar. "No one else can drink coffee like you can. Black as your soul."

"Excuse you." Madeline pretended to huff. "Black as my undying, eternal soul thank you."

"Right forgot you were a demon." Cassidy teased.

"I'm a lovely fallen angel, fuck you."

~*~

The day rolled into night before anybody knew it, the leaves glowing gold in the early October days when the sun set. Mikey wished he could watch these things with his girl, but they'd gone seven years. What was one more? When midnight rolled around, he waved to his brothers for his patrol and once free in the night, he grabbed the picnic basket he stashed and headed for Central Park. Finding Their Tree, he spread everything out and then actually /did/ a bit of patrolling, watching for her, and smiled when he saw her walking down the lit paths. Going back to Their Tree, he hid among the leaves.

Cassidy smiled when she approached their tree. For the longest time, he'd hide in the leaves and just talk to her like that before he approached her with confidence, knowing that she'd never tell. She beamed when she saw the feast that he set out for her. It was his turn after all to do the cooking and there was some glasses of soda since Cassidy wasn't much for wine or alcohol and Mikey wasn't a fan either. She closed her eyes and in the palm of her hand a gentle light started to glow, much like a firefly and she sent it up towards the tree, watching it dance among the leaves. "I'm home." She called up to him.

"If only we could make a little tree fort," Mikey laughed softly and hung upside down from his usual branch, beaming at her. He reached for her hand and when she gave it to him, he kissed her knuckles, "My fair lady, how art thee?" he let her go and flipped down flawlessly before going to the base of the tree and leaning against it.

"Exhausted. One of my friends...Magic let's call her...got caught by the foot just a couple of days ago." Cassidy sighed as she plopped down on to the picnic blanket and started rummaging for plates and holding one out for Mikey. "I don't know who dropped her off, some guy with a motorbike, but she has a concussion and a couple of cracked ribs."

"Shell! That's Casey. April said they had a visitor, but I didn't know that was a friend! I would've let you know she was okay!" He frowned deeply and reached for her back, rubbing over her jacket. He piled some food onto his plate and watched her carefully, "Magic...the Foot is usually after whatever they can in order to defeat us and/or get stronger. We've almost lost each other many times because of it. Do they know where she lives?"

"If they do, she won't tell me." Cassidy leaned into his touch before he started piling food and she did the same. Once their plates were full, she leaned against his shoulder, taking care not to hinder him too much as they ate. "I'm....terrified. I know that the wars are getting worse as time goes on, and I know that if they find out about me, they can definitely use me and out you to your bothers. Seven years of hard work down the drain. But I also know that if they get my friend...I'll be outing you then too. =Your brother, Raph, would like her I think. Stubborn streak a mile wide, mechanic at heart, trains with a knife, and kind. Compassionate. I wouldn't say bleeding heart, she's not /that/ desperate, but...if someone deserves kindness, she gives it."

Mikey leaned over and kissed the top of her head, "I getcha, love. I'll have to tell Raph later about whatcha told me, and maybe get him to go meet her. Won't that be fun? We could tease them endlessly," he chuckled and took a bite of his sandwich.

Cassidy beamed happily and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "She'd be excited to make a new friend! Oh man, I wonder what he's gonna think when he finds out that she can actually do magic. It'll be so great to see his reaction!" She clapped her hands as she looked at Mikey's eyes sparkling. "Then we just have to work on Leo and Don! I bet Don will be difficult. Leo's probably easy."

"Haha, you'd think. I guess only time will tell. Do you have anyone in mind for either?" Mikey arched an eye ridge at her curiously, "We can only hope if any of them get ladies of their own that they'll ease up and I can tell them about you." He took another bite and then ran his three fingers through her soft hair.

"How are they going to take the fact that we've been together for seven years?" Cassidy grinned as she took a bite of her own sandwich and hummed softly in response to the hair petting. She was being spoiled and she knew it. "I recently met a girl named Andrea. I think she'll get Leo to loosen up. No idea about Donny."

"Oh?" Mikey's smirk grew wider, "Just what makes you think Leo's gunna like her, huh?"

"She has spunk. Something he needs in his life." Cassidy beamed.

"Hahahaha so you're calling Leo boring!" Mikey cracked up, "So Magic's got attitude to match Raph's, Andrea's interesting, you're just as crazy as I am, and so what, does Donny need someone who likes adventure to get him out of his shell? Or maybe someone to be just as nerdy?"

"I think he needs someone who wants to rely on him for well /him/ really." Cassidy frowned. "Someone who sees the person behind the machines and computers. Maddie will do alright, but he needs something /more/ than that. Not nerdy though it helps..."

Mikey was still snickering but he nodded, understanding what she was getting at, "To listen to him and just enjoy his company. Yes. For Leo, to re-light his fire and push him to be even better, yeah? Challenge him, but in a good way."

"For Raph um...." Cassidy thought about and then shrugged. "I don't even know..."

"The unpredictable ones tend to be the most fun to see unravel," Mikey hummed and reached for the soda, unsealing it and taking a swig. Then he gave her a wink, "What do you think you do to improve me? Hmm?"

Cassidy thought about it, taking a sip of her soda and taking a bite of her sandwich to really think about this. "I think I give you focus. I think I improve the reasoning behind why you fight the ninjas. I think you improve on your own ninjutisu so you can come see me. What do you think you improve on me?"

"Your sense of safety and protection," Mikey hummed, "You were...severely lacking in self-preservation when we met, after all. Seeing the good in everybody. Now you still do that, but you're a bit more cautious, gauging someone before you trust them."

"I was naive." Cassidy laughed, leaning back and grinning. "You know, there is one other thing that I know you do to me that I don't think you know." She gave him a grin, just knowing how cheesy this was going to be. "I think you improved on how often I keep falling in love with you."

"Oh really? I could say the same," Mikey cooed and stroked her cheek. He set his food down and brought her face closer to his so he could plant a better kiss on her lovely lips.

~*~

Raph was waiting for Mikey when he got home, arms crossed and looking grumpy, "So, just where were you?"

"Hmm, what ever do you mean?" Mikey looked at his brother innocently, moving to go inside, but Raph blocked his way.

"There were a couple crimes reported in the areas you were supposed to be patrolling, Mikey," Raph frowned, "You can't tell me you didn't catch any bad guys? You look awfully relaxed for being out all night."

Ugh. Mikey always felt awful when that happened. He didn't get to see Cassidy very often, and he wouldn't deny the...enjoyment they had, but there was no way he would give that up. New York hadn't exploded yet, anyway. "I must've missed them. I'm sorry. I'll have to pay more attention this time. I was just...distracted."

"Distracted /how/ exactly?" Raph narrowed his eyes.

Mikey rubbed the back of his neck, "Donny told me about how April and Casey had company the night before last, and another...friend of mine was concerned about the girl who goes by Magic on the streets. She's kinda like you, Raph. Mechanic, hot headed."

"Hey!"

"But also kind. She is on the Foot's bad side. They jumped her," Mikey explained.

"So?" Raph huffed, "What are you trying to say?"

"Nothin', just tellin' ya," Mikey shrugged, "Can I go to bed now?"

Raph sighed, "Alright, sure," he stepped aside and watched his younger brother go inside.

~*~

~*~

"You look gloomy," Angel snorted when she intercepted Raph's patrol a few nights later, "Want to do somethin' fun to livin' things up?"

Raph was just a little shocked to see Angel pop up out of nowhere, "You've gotten a lot better over the years. Are you suggesting bashing some heads in or somethin'?"

"Nah, nothing violent tonight. Just follow me, would ya?" Angel smirked at him and waved her hand. It took some legwork, but Angel was more than capable and Raph didn't even break a sweat, either. After all, the turtle brothers could cross the entire city of Manhattan in just a couple hours on foot where it would take many others half a day. They also knew the backroads when they had to use the battle shell.

Soon enough, however, they happened across a garage where two bikes were loaded onto the platforms and secured, and a woman was working on one of them. The garage doors were closed, but it was obvious she was going to be up all night. Angel walked right up to the door and knocked.

Madeline looked over and blinked when she saw Angel's face peeking through the windows. She pushed her hair back and looked at the motorbike that she was just fixing before going over to the door and pulling it up. "Hello." She greeted. "Angel, right?"

"Yup! You remembered! How are ya feelin', Magic?" Angel grinned, "I actually have a reason for coming by."

Madeline shifted just slightly to remind herself that she still had her knife in her back pocket and whatever there was that Angel needed her to do, well...it depended. "Sore, but I'm not dead so it's a bonus in my book. What do you need? If it's fighting, I know I told Vigilante that I'll help him out, but I'm not going to be any use in a fight right now. Still recovering."

"No, no, I'm not that cruel," Angel grinned at her, "I have someone I want you to meet. Raaaaaaph!" she waved to the turtle in the shadows.

Raph just stayed where he was, in fact moving deeper in the dark, "The fuck do you think yer doin'? You know we can't..." He froze when Madeline came closer to the door, peeking out and looking just as cautious as he was.

She couldn't see much, she trusted that she could see a silhouette of /something/ in the dark. She wondered what made him hide, but knew that there was no way to ask that question without being insensitive. She looked behind her, just for a moment, before she turned her attention back to him. "It's alright. You can -um- stay in the dark if you want. It's -uh- better there I think."

Raph blinked slowly at her and then shifted. Her stutter was...cute. Though he was sure she wouldn't like being called that, just like he wouldn't. "Are you...Magic? My...my brother told me you stayed with my friend Casey and you got beat up by the Foot?"

Madeline paused in her thoughts. She wondered if Cassidy told Mikey and Mikey passed along the message. "She told him? I shouldn't be surprised, she tells him everything." She shifted slightly. "Ambushed five to one. It was...stupid of me really. They're getting aggressive. I don't know if they want me out of the way, or if they want me to join them. They send out mix signals like a date going down south to hell fast."

"Either way, it's bad news," Raph was sure they could agree on that, "What did you do to get on their radar?"

"I think the better question is -um- what /haven't/ I done to get on their radar?" Madeline winced, looking away. "I defend people. Not like Vigilante, I'm not a hero. I just...hide people. Give them new ways out."

"That would certainly do it..." He saw her shivering and sighed, "If you go behind the door, I can come closer and talk to you that way. You were working, too. Unless you can't multi-task?" he snorted.

"Um...I can go behind the door so you can come closer, but you're right I can't." Madeline bit her lip. "I'll loose focus and...well...I might accidentally hurt you. It doesn't happen often enough, but when it does..." She shrugged. "I'm going inside and I'll leave it open a bit so I can hear you better. Is your brother named Mikey?"

"He is...why?" Raph moved with her, coming forward as she moved back, but he stayed out of the main glow of her 'porch light'. When did Angel disappear? That girl... "Mikey only mentioned friend of a friend. That's how I knew you were 'Magic'."

Madeline looked up at the ceiling and nodded her head a few times, but didn't turn around. "I was curious. He's a good person to my friend. You should hear her talk about him. You'd think he's able to command the moon and stars and the sun to obey him."

"That's my little brother...tries his best to please everybody. He certainly seemed happy the other night when he came home..." Well. He didn't have a name but he was certain of his suspicions now. "Any idea how long the two have known each other? This is the first time I'm hearing about anything."

Oh no. Madeline froze a bit and she pursed her lips together. "If I tell you what are you going to do to them?" She felt her magic spark at her finger tips and she clenched her fists. Breathe. Nothing was happening yet.

"I haven't decided that yet," Raph mused, feeling the air charge. Yay for the many years of dealing with /magic/, his body knew how to sense it, "Tch, not like I'd be the one to break them up or anything. I'm just the big bro, is all. There were some things my brother didn't take care of while he was hanging out with her, and I'm sure our dad and eldest brother would bitch him out more than I would. Hell, I'd probably be the biggest hypocrite if I did anything other than give him the basic pep talk, ya know? S'not like I haven't done something I wasn't supposed to. Did you ever hear of the Nightwatcher?"

Madeline breathed, "Sorry. Yeah I have." She winced at the thought that something might've happened on the patrol. "You would like her." She said after a moment. "She's a romantic, very loving. Sometimes a bit naive with people, but she's learning. She's fun, absolutely insane. She learned how to do parkour just so she could roof jump with him. She's absolutely scared of heights, but she did it for him."

The things people would do for love applied here, didn't it? Damn it, Mikey...of all the things...of all the people not to tell...but he understood. "So, how long /have/ they been together, anyway? Or am I going to have to wrangle the info outa him instead?"

"Seven years. Practically married if you ask me." Madeline laughed softly. "I dropped out of high school, I was too much of a freak and teachers didn't like me all that much. My leaving was a catalyst for people to go after Cassi. After school she got chased into an alleyway, badly beat up and I'm sure something bad nearly happened. Mikey stepped in, she saw him, and instead of freaking out, she just...started up a conversation with him without fear. You could say she had him at hello basically."

Mikey never did seem interested in anybody they crossed, not for long, anyway. He and his brothers always assumed he was more interested in playing rather than being serious, but as it turned out, he was completely serious about someone and something entirely different. "That's one hell of a story. I'm sure when I ask he's going to have a lot more flourish to it, but...it sounds like the perfect love story. Might be a little jealous," he said teasingly, "What about you?"

"Huh?" Madeline blinked in surprise and turned her head to glance over her shoulder, but she didn't dare linger or try to look and see. She turned back and sighed as she looked at the bike that was on the platform. "What about me?"

"Jealous? Over Cassi and Mikey?" Raph coaxed, "Or nah? Not interested in that sort of thing?"

Madeline had to think about that. "Sometimes." She admitted honestly. "So jealous it nearly hurts, but other times...I'm thankful. My magic...I love it to do death and the things I wish I could do with it...but people don't like things that don't make sense. I scare them, and sometimes I scare myself."

"Being scared prevents you from learning and growing," Raph murmured, "I know what that's like, obviously. I think you'd feel better if you're able to practice it openly somewhere, really let loose and get a grip on it. Right now you're just half-assed and you rein yourself in too tightly, or you wouldn't be creating so much of a charge."

Madeline nodded and she let out a sigh. "Yeah. I used to practice with it all the time when I was younger. I remember what it felt like...but then you show off. And then you get teased. Then you're erased and scared. Like you said. I'm certain if I have my magic back up to par, that ambush wouldn't have been a problem. I took out one which is a feat when it's five against one."

"You should be proud of that," Raph agreed, "You did good. Once...you're better, talk to Casey and Angel. See if they can get you out to fight. Practice makes perfect and training makes you stronger, faster. It'll be easier to protect yourself and others."

"Now that pep talk is done and over with, I'm guessing you're going to hunt down a little brother and demand to know why you never saw your sister in law?" Madeline teased.

Raph snorted heavily, "Yeah, and find him some new undercover clothes we use to get out and about among the people when we need to. Haven't done that in ages, and it'll make him happy. Rest up and then kick some ass." He pushed himself away from the wall and disappeared into the shadows.

/I sincerely hope that's the only brother./ Madeline pinched her nose and went back to work on the bike. /Otherwise, Cassidy's in for a rude awakening./

()

Cassidy sat silently underneath a tree nearby Turtle Pond and an abandoned castle that wasn't ever in use. No one really wandered this direction at night, and she knew that it was potentially dangerous.

However, she doubted that Mikey would lead her astray. After she had gotten off of work at the "Bookworm", he had sent her a text telling her that she was supposed to meet someone here at midnight. She rested her head against the tree, looking down at the small pond. She wondered to herself if there was any fish or even turtles in the pond that gave it it's name.

She heard the rustle of leaves and a vague sense of someone staring at her. She quietly summoned a small ball of light, nothing bigger than a firefly's glow, and sent it upwards. It always had been their small, little clue that she was okay, alone, and no one around even though Mikey knew it anyway. She wondered if this person knew the code.

"You're a tiny little thing, aren't you?" came the gruff voice watching her, and then there was a grunt and a thud, "Don't push me, Mikey!"

"My love! Save me from the big bad brute!" Mikey cried dramatically as he ran forward from the trees and flung himself at Cassidy, hugging her tight and then scooted behind her when the red banded turtle walked from the shadows.

"I'm Raph," he greeted with a snort, "Seven years?"

"Magic told you!? Oh man...that's a bad way to find out." Cassidy winced patting Mikey's arm since it was wrapped around her chest, but was still hiding him behind her. "I'm Cassidy Parks..um..." She exchanged a look with Mikey and did a bit of a shrug. Seven years and he was giving her the nod so..."Hamato? Yes!" She bit her lip nervously. "It's nice to meet you Raph."

"Hmm? Then where's your ring?" Raph smirked and then laughed when his brother blushed furiously, "It's good to meet you, too, Cassidy. I beat Mikey's ass at training and then I told him if he wanted me to forgive him that he had to introduce me. He was confused and then it clicked that I meant you."

"It's true," the green-blue turtle sniffed, "He's been mean to me all day."

Cassidy blushed as well with the ring comment and smiled fondly at the rest. "It's okay." She squeezed Mikey's arm in assurance before running one of her hands up and down. "I'm sorry you had to find out from Magic. I know that must've hurt and I'm really sorry about that. I hoped that we'd be able to tell you guys directly and personally when the time was right." She looked at him up and down, taking it all in. The red of his bandanna, his height, the sais on his waist and the scars that littered his body to describe the fighting that he had. If he turned around, she was certain she'd see how badly his shell would be dinged. "You know, you're kinda exactly how I pictured you'd be when Mikey talked about you. You're exactly what a big brother kinda looks like. Only with less scars than I thought you might've had."

"It's a good thing, though, that Raph actually will back me up on this. Leo, Donny, and Splinter-sensei wouldn't understand..." Mikey nosed Cassi's shoulder.

Raph's expression softened. His brother hadn't let go of her the entire time. Didn't even look like he was going to loosen up anytime soon, either, and she just leaned back into him and let him do whatever. He also felt a bit of pride at his battle-hardened state when she mentioned all of his scars. "If there were more people like you, Casey and April...maybe we wouldn't have to be so paranoid."

"Maybe you haven't found them yet." Cassidy agreed, with a small smile. "Magic said the same thing to me once. About how she wished there were more people like me." She sighed softly and stopped stroking Mikey's arm, and just held it, tightening her grip a little. "You probably don't need me to say this, Raph, but I want to say it anyway. I do love Mike." She looked at him fiercely, holding Mikey's arm tight. "And I know that the Foot can either use me against Mikey or against Magic, and I'm aware that your family isn't accepting to humans all that much. I know that seven years is a long time to hide and we might have to hide longer, or maybe our cover will be blown to shambles." She gave him a gentle smile. "But that hasn't stopped me yet and I don't think anything will. Mike's my other half as strange as this might be. He makes me happy and I hope I make him just as happy. I hope, that whatever or whoever it might be, you find things that you love and make you happy too. I can't just not wish for that, considering your my brothers too, even if you don't know me."

Raph swore, even if they were mad at Mikey they wouldn't be for long. He was the baby of the group and this girl...he could see it. She was beautiful inside and out. "I noticed you have magic of your own, though, so you understand what it's like a little yourself, don't you?"

Cassidy smiled a little and she held her hands out and concentrated in to making a golden sunflower in her hands before letting the petals scatter and shimmered down to the ground. "My magic is no way in compares to Magic. I just have the ability to shine light where there needs to be. My grandmother can do the same thing I can, so I'm not alone. Not completely, but...people do know when someones's different. Maybe it's the way we act? Or maybe it's the way we talk? I don't know. But people certainly didn't like me after Magic left."

Nodding, Raph watched them for a bit longer before he sighed, "Mikey, grab 'er and let's go home."

Mikey paled and his eyes widened like saucers, "What?!"

"You heard me. C'mon," he smirked at Mikey and turned to walk away.

Mikey had no idea what was going on. Weren't they just talking about how the rest of their family would be upset? Stomach twisting he looked at Cassidy with concern, but he leaned down and hoisted her into a bridal-style hold, "Are...are you going to be okay with this?"

"Whatever happens happens. I'll be okay, we're going to be amazing." Cassidy laughed a little and she flung her arms around his neck. She was just as nervous, there were so many things that could happen. She wondered what Master Splinter was going to do, or what Leo and Donny might think. Would they accept? Would they be hurt? Well, the last one was a no brainer. She could feel his heart beat fast and she gently cupped his cheek with her hand. "Let's take a leap of faith and trust Raph."

Mikey nodded and took a breath, "You're right. Okay. Let's go, then. Lead the way, Raphie!" he chirped.

"Don't /call/ me that!" Raph snapped, but smiled when Mikey only laughed, Cassi's twinkling giggle joining it.

~

It didn't take very long to get back to the lair, and Raph decided to be the announcer, "Leo! Donny! Master Splinter, could ya all come out?! Mikey has a friend we'd like you to meet!"

"Oh Kami, here we go..." Mikey whispered, staying in front of Cassidy as they stood in the main door.

"At least he didn't say wife." Cassidy whispered back, knowing too well that he was just mentally thanking god that it was true. If Raph /had/ said that, there would be hell. Cassidy took a good look around at the lair. It was a huge, two story circular place. The living space was large and spacious, a couple of nooks filled with computers and entertainment systems. There was a dojo that was close by, the kitchen and the dinning room.

It was their home and it made her heart shatter that they had to stay hidden like this, but they did such a beautiful job making it livable.

"Whose this?" Cassidy turned to see a purple wearing masked turtle, looking a little surprised at the sudden company.

"Oh my god." Cassidy's lips widened into a smile. "You're Donny aren't you?!"

Donny blinked in surprise. "I...uh...yeah. I am."

"Wow." Cassidy beamed happily. "It's so good to finally meet you! Mikey told me a lot about you and about Leo!"

"You told her about us?"

Cassidy's head snapped up towards the balcony and watched as Leo jumped down. She noticed that he was suspicious, just like Donny was but she reminded herself to stay positive. She could hear the faint sounds of a walking stick and everyone turned to see Master Splinter coming out of his room.

She was struck with how...important this man was. It was like being in a room with a teacher you loved or a person you respected. He just...had that sense about him. Instant respect, instant love.

"Michelangelo, what is the meaning of this?" Splinter stopped several feet away, is brows furrowed deeply and a slight frown on his furry muzzle, "Another human?"

"Splinter-sensei, I can explain!" Mikey swallowed, but he stood firm, "I saved her! She was being ambushed and bad things were gunna happen and I stepped in. She wasn't afraid of me."

"What our favorite baby brother fails to mention," Raph reached for Cassi to bring her out from Mikey's shadow and held her in front of him, hands on her shoulders from behind, "That was seven years ago."

"Raph! Stop it, you're going to make everything worse!" Mikey appeared to panic when Raph took her from him, jumping the one step from the main door and he took Cassi from his big brother, wrapping both arms around her like he had done at the park. "She's a good person!" he tried to plead to his family, "She's special..."

"Special /to/ you," Raph teased playfully, enjoying how many shades of pink and red a teal colored turtle could turn.

Cassidy wondered how holes Raph was going to force them to dig before bringing them out. Mikey was panicking, pale and embarrassed and she was pale and embarrassed and it was just a round of embarrassment that never seemed to have an end.

Seven years? Leo and Donny exchanged a look with each other, uncertain of what they were supposed to say to this. Mikey was holding onto her like he was afraid. Cassidy tapped Mikey's arm twice, their small sign to let go. He did so with some reluctance, but she knew it was her turn to be brave. "My name is Cassidy Parks." She bowed the way Mikey taught her to. "I'm really happy to finally meet you."

Splinter was surprised at this, but he bowed back, causing Leo and Don to follow his example, "It is...a pleasure to meet you, as well. You are unfamiliar with our customs, but I see you have practiced. You hold yourself high." That was admirable. He had to notice something, as well. "You are not nervous because of what we are." He watched her shake her head vigorously, "You are worried...what /we/ think of you. That is...unusual."

Cassidy blinked and then grinned nervously, fidgeting with her fingers. "Is it? I mean...meeting family for the first time you want to make the best impression that you can, right? I'm human, so naturally I'm already a threat too. People are cruel to things and others they don't understand, or hate on their appearance. I was told so many stories of all of you. I can practically call you family, I know that much. But you don't have anything on me. No stories. No random background information. You just have me, as I am and whatever impression I can give."

Leo had to admit, this wasn't what he was expecting when Raph called them down here to meet. "You could call us family?"

"Fearless Leader." Cassidy grinned, making Leo blink. "You're exactly as I imagined. Though that's only appearance wise. Donny was a bit more of a shock. I was expecting...I don't know honestly."

"Probably me covered from doing one of my experiments or seeing me in my lab," Donny looked between her and Mikey and something clicked in his mind. Why the two of them were so afraid.

Oh Mikey...

"The...the thing is..." Mikey chewed his lip, "Cassidy...she's mine. I love her."

Splinter watched as Raph gripped Mikey's shoulder and stood just that extra closer to Cassi. Well. This was unexpected indeed. "You have known this human for seven years. You are also the one most likely to trust and love someone unconditionally out of all of us. So, it does not surprise me that you love her. My question to you is, my son, how much?"

Mikey gripped Cassi's hand tightly in his own, "If...I was able to...I would marry her, Otou-san."

Ah. It wasn't every day that any of his sons would call him father like that. Splinter smiled tenderly and walked a bit closer, placing his paw on Cassidy's head in a gentle pat, "You make my son happy, and that as well as their safety is all I ever wanted. As wary as we are of humans, we have met several over the years who would accept us as we are. You were not the first and you will not be the last, I am certain of it. I only ask that you are cautious."

Cassidy's eyes brightened and she had to physically hold herself back. "I'll be so cautious! Thank you so much Master Splinter!"

"Shell, Mikey, seven years." Leo's expression softened. "This took a lot of guts to do." He looked at Cassidy with a gentle smile. He was relieved. He didn't know what he had thought was going to happen, but...it was clear to him too that Cassidy made Mikey happy. She was bright, too. "So since you know so much about us," Leo grinned. "Tell us something about you."

Cassidy frowned, "Hmm...um..." She scratched her cheek. "I'm a light user and my best friend can do magic." She offered. "I'm a good cook according to Mikey and I can't sing."

"A magic user? A light user?" Donny blinked. "How on earth are you able to do it?"

"Um Magic and I both have inherited abilities. Magic from her mom, mine from my grandma! So I was taught by her how to use it. Magic's magic...um...she started suppressing it. The Foot keeps going after her since she keeps hiding and defying them and doesn't want to be apart of their group. That's why Raph knows about me, actually. Magic got jumped and was tossed into the sewers. One of you friends came by...April and Casey?" She looked at Mikey for confirmation and looked back at them. "and helped her out. I don't know how Raph got in the middle of this honestly, but it's Raph...I can bet anything."