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Waiting For You	By : MysticMewtwo Category: Comics > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Views: 7074 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 9
- 10
- 11
Surprise! Another new chapter for you guys. I'm trying to update more frequently, but sometimes I don't get a lot of time in the week to write. I want to thank you for being so patient with me and sticking with this story. It means a lot to me.

After this chapter, there's going to be a bit of a time hop. Enjoy.

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Family
Chapter Twelve

Alisa slowly opened her eyes and found her world shrouded in near darkness. The glow of candles burning a distance away was the only source of light that kept the room from a total blackout. She could barely make out her surroundings, even as she sat up and let her eyes adjust. What she could see was foreign to her, however. Her first instinct was to panic, but gradually the memories of the night at April's began to trickle back to her mind as the fog of sleep lifted from it. She now knew where was and was no longer afraid.

There was something familiar about this room and the bed she resided in, though, as if she'd been here once before. Not only could she sense it, but she could smell it as well. She brought the bed sheet to her face and breathed deeply into it. The scent of sweet musk and jasmine assaulted her nostrils.

Instantly, it triggered a memory of a scene she'd seen in her dreams, but only recently did she discover those dreams weren't 'dreams' at all. They were very real. She knew then whose room this must be.

"Good morning," his voice suddenly came through the darkness.

She turned her head towards the back of the room where it had originated. She could make out a low table, which the candles were sitting upon. At the base, was a large throw pillow, and on it sat the turtle, or so she thought, but the shadows concealed him and she could barely see him.

"Good morning," she echoed, quietly.

Was it really morning already? She noticed a bright green glow to her left and found it was from an alarm clock. The numbers on it read 7:30 am.

"Did you sleep well?" she then heard him ask.

"Yes, thank you," she replied.

She gave up trying to see him. Her eyes hurt from squinting so much and it was starting to affect her head as well. A moment later, she heard a faint click and soft light began to bathe her and the surrounding area as a lamp suddenly lit up on the small table next to the bed. She looked at the turtle, whom she could see clearly now, standing there. He gave her a warm smile.

The fact he had moved so quickly and silently was both amazing and unsettling to her. The only detection she had received from him was a slight breeze that briefly tickled her cheek, and his presence had become much stronger. It reminded her of her ninja assailants and how they too could move in such a way. However, Leonardo wasn't anything like them and she could trust him. She knew she was in no danger.

"That should be better now," he said, "I apologize for the lack of lighting, but I didn't wish to disturb you to turn on the lamp earlier. Usually, windows help alleviate that problem by filtering in natural sunlight, but I'm afraid we have neither here underground."

"I understand," she answered, quietly.

However, she was not pleased with the information. Did this mean she would no longer be able to watch a sunrise or sunset? Nor ever again feel the warmth of the sun on her skin? Already, it was giving her second thoughts on this new living arrangement. Still, though, she knew she shouldn't judge prematurely in spite of one disadvantage. The advantages would probably outweigh it soon enough.

"Would you like to get dressed and come downstairs with me?" he asked, "We'll be having breakfast soon, and you can meet the rest of my family."

He smiled when the young lady nodded her head, and went to retrieve the suitcase in the corner. He placed it on the end of the bed for her to reach easily.

"I'll be outside waiting," he told her, "If there's anything you need, call me."

He turned then and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him. Once he’d gone, Alisa pulled back the covers and eased herself out of bed. She began to unzip and open the case. Inside was her backpack, medical supplies, and everything April had bought her.

She took out the pair of white sneakers and a pair of socks, jeans, and a soft blue sweater. She dressed as quickly as she could, having a little trouble with pulling the sweater over her head. She had to be very careful not to rake the stitches of her wound. It took time to brush her hair for that reason as well.

Nearly twenty minutes later, she was finally ready and felt she could venture out. By that time, Leo had started to grow worried and was about to ask her if she was okay when his bedroom door suddenly slowly creaked open. A moment later, the tiny young woman slipped out carrying a small bundle of clean bandages and gauze.

"Where's the bathroom?" she asked.

"It's at the end of the hall," he answered, "I'll show you."

She followed him as he led her to one of the lair's facilities. They filed past three other rooms on the way, and she assumed these belonged to his brothers. The bathroom was just beyond the third farthest room.

"I'll be waiting outside the door," he said, when they finally reached it.

"Thank you," she replied.

She walked past him inside and shut the door. She did her business first, and then washed her hands and face. After drying off, she began to remove the old bandages and gauze on her head, and attempt to put on the new ones. Unfortunately, it wasn't as simple as it sounded. She struggled to keep the bandages in place while she tried to wrap the gauze around her head, but she was getting nowhere fast. She'd either lose her grip on the gauze strip, or the bandages would slip down when she’d take her hand away to wrap it.

With each failure, she grew more frustrated and angry. Her head was hurting and her arms were tired from holding them up for so long. She knew she needed help, but she was too proud to ask. She then heard a knock on the door.

"Alisa? Is everything okay?" Leonardo's voice filtered through.

"I'm fine," she answered, realizing too late she had snapped at him.

There was a slight pause before he spoke again.

"What's wrong?" he asked, genuinely concerned.

"I told you I was fine," she growled, "I can do this myself."

"You don't need to be afraid to ask for help, Alisa," he said, gently, “Because I will help you; no matter what."

A silence fell over them then. She fingered the gauze absently, mulling over his words. Why did she fear showing him weakness? He hadn't thought of her as weak before, but that she was strong. She didn't feel very strong right now, however, but she was tired of trying to get these bandages on.

After a few moments, she walked to the door and opened it. Leo turned to face her as she appeared. She looked at him, and then wordlessly, handed him the bandages and gauze. He said nothing either as he accepted the bundle and stepped into the bathroom with her. She stood still as he gingerly pressed the bandages to her head and wrapped the gauze around with practiced ease.

When he'd finished taping it securely in place, he went to the sink and began to wash his hands. She watched him for a moment as he then dried them with a hand-towel before she finally spoke.

"Thank you," she said, softly.

He turned to look at her and offered an empathetic smile. He understood what it'd taken for her to ask him for his help. It was, however, a first step in the right direction. Maybe he could teach her the lessons he'd learned not so long ago himself and then she wouldn't be so stubborn to prove she wasn’t weak or a failure because she was neither in his eyes.

"You're welcome," he replied, his voice gentle.

He replaced the towel on the rack and then headed for the door. He beckoned to her, and she followed out of the bathroom behind him. They walked back down the hallway towards his room and to the stairs. From the top, this gave Alisa a perfect bird's eye view of her new home.

For a moment, she paused to take in her surroundings, astounded by the sheer enormity of the subterranean dwelling. She had never seen anything like it. The architecture was clearly one of a kind and seemed to hold an almost mystical energy within it. It was magnificent. There was even a large pond in the center of the floor.

"Do you like it?" Leo's voice suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

He smiled when she simply nodded her head in answer, rendered speechless with awe.

"I'll give you a tour later after breakfast," he promised.

"I'd like that," she said, quietly, finally finding her voice.

He smiled at her once again, and then they continued their way downstairs. Alisa fell in step almost alongside him when they reached the ground floor. She trailed behind slightly as she gazed around her curiously, taking in the sights. Leonardo glanced at her out from the corner of his eye every so often to watch her in her fascination. He found it endearing.

She became aware of faint sounds and smells coming from the room ahead where Leo was leading them to. As they neared closer, she was able to distinguish the sounds as voices and the smells were that of the breakfast cooking. She assumed this must be the kitchen.

He stepped across the threshold first, and she tentatively followed him, suddenly shy. As soon as she entered, all chatter ceased and a hush fell over the room. She felt very much under the spotlight, and it made her nervous for many reasons.

She looked over the unfamiliar faces seated or standing before her. The turtle in a bright orange bandana manning the stove wore an exuberant grin on his face, and the rat sitting at the table regarded her kindly. Only one, however, appeared extremely unhappy with her presence. The turtle in red seated at the table across from the rat seemed to glare daggers at her, and this was why she felt uneasy. It was clear he was telling her she wasn't welcomed here.

She caught Leo giving him a cold, impassive stare in return. The friction between the two brothers was obvious and it crackled like electricity in the air. The last thing she wanted to be was a source of contention to this family. She couldn't stand the thought she would be at the cause of a war.

There was a soft touch on her hand then as it was being squeezed gently. She looked up at the blue-masked turtle beside her, and his sapphire eyes, now gentle, were filled with reassurance. It was as if he knew exactly what she was feeling.

The silence was finally broken by Michelangelo.

"Wow," he breathed, "I know Leo said you were here, but I thought he was kind of pulling my leg too since he knew how much I've wanted to meet you."

"I'm Michelangelo," he added, "But you can call me Mikey or Mike."

The young woman smiled faintly.

"It is an honor to meet you, Michelangelo," she replied.

"Nuh uh," he corrected, shaking his head, "It's Mikey or Mike. Michelangelo's too formal. Only Sensei or when my brothers are really angry at me call me that."

"Mike, she doesn't have to if she doesn't want to," Leo reprimanded.

"It's okay," she said, "I understand how he feels. I don't wish to cause any offense."

She tilted her head and was quiet for a moment as she studied the youngest turtle.

"You are jovial and enthusiastic," she declared, "You love life and you love having fun, but you hide a serious side under all the smiles and laughter. You'd prefer to keep your hands clean and your spirits high, but there will come a time when you must step up. You are smart and capable of anything you can put your mind to, no matter what others may think."

She watched him as his jaw dropped open and his expression turned to shock. She expected this to happen, but there was another emotion on his face she didn't expect to see and never had before. He was amazed at her ability.

"So, you must be like a fortune teller or something?" Mikey asked.

There was a loud, derisive snort from Raphael at the question.

"She got her fortunes mixed up then if she is," he muttered, "She's just playin' with your head, Mikey. She ain't no fortune teller, but she'd better not go tryin' that hocus pocus shit on me. I'll have her packin' her broom before she can say 'abracadabra'."

Alisa felt her eyes starting to burn as the sting of his harsh words hit her, but no tears came. She would not allow herself to cry and provide fuel for any retaliation on her part. She was used to such treatment besides.

"Raphael!" the rat spoke sharply, "That will be quite enough. I will not tolerate such behavior towards our guest."

"She shouldn't even be here!" the red-masked turtle protested, "She doesn't belong here!"

He twisted violently around in his seat and gave his older brother a scalding look.

"What the goddamn fuck were you thinkin', Leo?"

It took every ounce of control he ever learned in his life for Leonardo not to lose his temper and do something he'd deeply regret later. He was visibly shaking even from the effort to constrain himself. He had never felt so infuriated with his brother that he wanted to attack and deliberately hurt him. He felt almost sick at these thoughts.

He should've known he would wait until now to blow a gasket after he failed to earlier that morning when Leo informed him Alisa was staying here now. Raph wanted to make it loud and clear in front of her so she could hear his disapproval of the fact.

"I was thinking she needed our help," Leo replied, through clenched teeth, "I thought we could provide better protection for her down here where she would be safe."

"You can help her, but I'm not," Raph spat, "I’m stayin' away from this and her as far as possible. I'm not gonna die knowin' I helped kill my family when she decides to turn on us."

"Will you stop it already?!" Leo finally snapped, "If I thought for one second she'd endanger our lives, I never would've sought Master Splinter's permission to bring her down here in the first place."

"Mugon!" Splinter suddenly ordered, "Be silent, the both of you."

The room grew so still then, the silence soon became almost suffocating. It was at this moment, Donatello walked in, but he stopped short when he saw the scene frozen before him. Raph's face was a virtual storm cloud, Leo was tight-lipped, Splinter was grim, and Mike was trying his best to ignore them as he finished cooking breakfast. Caught in the middle of it all was Alisa.

She looked pale and stood rigid near Leonardo. Her breaths were quick and short, and he could see her hands shaking slightly. He heard a tiny, almost inaudible, sound then and he realized it was a sniffle. She was trying not to cry. Whatever happened in here must have really upset her.

"I missed something, didn't I?" Don ventured, cautiously.

Splinter noted too the young woman's condition and sighed to himself. So much for making her feel welcomed in their home. That message had clearly been destroyed, but perhaps it was still not too late to make amends.

"Nothing that bears worth repeating, Donatello," he replied, "The matter of this discussion is to be closed now."

He caught Raphael out of the corner of his eye beginning to open his mouth, but one look from the rat and the turtle's protest instantly died in his throat. He’d already pushed Sensei too far. To continue would be suicide.

"I shall speak with you later, Raphael," Splinter informed him.

With a scowl, Raph crossed his arms over his plastron and looked away, but not before shooting a last glare at Leo. It went unnoticed, however, as the blue-masked turtle's attention was focused elsewhere. He'd finally become aware of Alisa's suffering. He wanted to kick his brother for starting a fight, but most of all he wanted to kick himself for not realizing it was hurting her and standing down when he should've.

"Are you okay?" he asked her, quietly.

She took a deep breath and nodded, forcing a small smile. She didn't feel all right, but she didn't want to cause anymore fuss.

"I'm fine," she answered, softly.

"Come, child," Splinter beckoned to her then, gently, "Sit here."

He patted the empty chair beside him. Alisa obediently walked to the table and sat down, but she was a little nervous. She knew he was a revered master. He commanded respect and authority, but at the same time he’d been warm and inviting. It didn’t make her feel quite so small in his presence.

There was another empty seat beside her, and Leo slid into that one. He met her eyes and smiled at her. She smiled faintly in return. She looked briefly across the table to see Don sitting down near the red-masked turtle. She could tell he seemed a little uneasy with the arrangement, but the options were limited. At least there a seat between them, but that made Mikey the unlucky turtle to have to sit beside Raph.

Michelangelo approached then carrying three huge serving platters and set them down in the middle of the table. Each one was piled high either with scrambled eggs, bacon, or toast. Alisa had never seen so much food in over two years, and the sight of it astounded her. She thought all the food April had given her was a lot, but that was nothing compared to this.

The platters were passed around the table as everyone helped themselves. She filled her plate with modest portions from each one upon reaching her. While she was hungry, she knew her stomach wouldn't be able to hold any more than what she had. After going so long on the streets between finding edible food, it would be a while before she could eat a meal considered normal by standards. In fact, she'd never been able to finish the meals April prepared for her when she was staying there.

Mikey couldn't help staring in disbelief at the girl's plate. The tiny amount of food she had on it was unfathomable to him.

"Is that all you're going to eat?" he suddenly blurted out, without thinking.

"Michelangelo, do not be rude," Splinter reprimanded.

"Sorry, Sensei," the orange-masked turtle answered, sheepishly.

"Do not apologize to me," the rat replied, "It is Alisa you must say you are sorry to."

"It's okay," the young woman assured, "I know what it must look like to him. Yes, Mikey, this is all I'm eating. It's all I can eat. I'm not able to eat more."

"Are you sick?" he inquired, a little concerned.

"No, Mikey, she's not sick," Don spoke up, "It's the result of malnutrition. She's lived on the streets for years and had little food in that time. After awhile, your stomach shrinks and its capacity for holding food or liquid becomes less and less. It's the body's defense mechanism and effort to stay alive and conserve what energy it does get. Recovering from malnutrition can take a while and you have to slowly work your way to eating and drinking normally again. Because if she forces herself to eat more than what she has now on her plate, then she'll get really sick."

Michelangelo began to feel guilty for opening his mouth on the subject. He really needed to learn how to curve his tendency for speaking before he thought. He didn't want to cause any more conflict or bad feelings for their new guest than his older sibling already had.

"I didn't know it was like that," he said, quietly, "That must be awful."

Alisa gave him a small, assuring smile.

"Do not worry about me," she told him, "I will be fine."

Mike looked to Donny for confirmation, and brainy terrapin nodded.

"She's right, Mikey," he agreed, "The recovery process may be long, but she'll be good as new."

"I'm glad to hear that," Mikey replied, finally smiling again, "It's no fun when you're sick or injured. Sure, the down time is cool because you can get out of practice, but then you’re feeling yucky too, and you don’t want to do anything."

The chatter died down then as everyone focused on eating their breakfast instead. Eventually, idle conversation was started again when the meal was nearly finished. Raphael had remained in stony silence throughout. He was the first to leave the table and walked out of the kitchen after dumping his empty plate in the sink still without a word.

There was an air of relief when he'd gone, and everyone became more relaxed. Raph in one of his moods was like having a loaded gun around. No one was quite sure what would set him off next. It certainly eased Alisa’s mind because she would feel his searing eyes on her every so often, watching and waiting for her to make a wrong move.

She absently pushed a bit of egg and bacon to the side of her plate with her fork, unable to finish it. She felt bad about wasting food, but she’d eaten as much as she could. She took the plate in her hands and rose to her feet. She headed to the garbage, gently scrapped the food off into it, and then brought the dirty dish to the sink to put with the others.

She'd been one of the last to finish and Leonardo sat waiting patiently until she was ready. He stood to his feet as she returned to the table, heading her off. He then smiled at her.

"Would you like to see the rest of the lair now?" he asked.

She nodded her head, smiling back faintly.

"Yes, I would," she answered.

She followed him as he started to walk out of the kitchen. He led her along the outer rim of the circle the whole dwelling seemed to be built around. She was still marveled over its architectural beauty.

The first room he showed her was the living room. It was that of an average living room, except the lounge lawn chair in one corner. The furniture wasn't as nice as April's, considering it was all salvaged from the junkyard, but Alisa didn't care. In fact, she found she rather preferred this. It made the room feel homey and inviting.

The thing that stood out most to her, however, was the wall of televisions. There had to be at least fifteen of them in all shapes and sizes, and it appeared they were fitted to be like one giant screen. It was actually kind of clever.

"That was Mikey's idea,” Leo informed as he watched her scrutinize the TV wall, "We couldn't find a big screen television, so we put together a lot of smaller ones to create that effect."

"It's certainly imaginative," she remarked.

After a few moments, they moved on to other areas. She saw next the train boxcar that was Donatello's workshop and the room he used as a giant garage to house their many different vehicles, and in repairing or building new ones. Leo also showed her where their father's room was, but of course, they were not permitted to go inside without Splinter's invitation.

He led her then to the final room of the ground floor. As they approached, she could sense this room was different from all the others. There was an aura of respect and discipline contained within its walls. It demanded it even.

She noticed his demeanor had changed as well. He seemed serious and calculating, but at the same time he was completely at ease as if whatever sort of business was conducted in that room was a pleasure to him. He enjoyed it.

"This is my favorite room in the whole lair," he said, a smile creeping across his lips, "My brothers make fun of me because I spend so much time in here. They see it as work and only practice when it's required, but I've made it my hobby and it helps to perfect my skills."

He guided her over the threshold and they stepped inside the room together. It was brightly lit, and she screwed her eyes shut against the blinding glare. She could feel her head starting to pound painfully. Quickly, Leo dimmed the lights to a soft glow and a tolerable level for her.

"Better?" he asked, softly.

She nodded, but her eyes remained closed. She gave herself a moment to recover before she ventured to look. Finally, she opened her eyes, and what she saw she couldn't help but stare in disbelief and amazement at. It took a moment for the realization to sink in of what this place was, but when it did, she couldn’t contain her happiness. She was standing in a dojo.

There was rack upon rack of dozens of assorted martial arts weapons. At least two held nothing but swords. The rest were of different metal and wooden weapons. Much of the floor around them was covered with tumbling mats.

There was also a bench press and barbell in one corner of the room for weight training. A rack nearby held a set of different weighted disks. There was even a punching bag.

She hadn't been in a dojo for years, not since when her life was suddenly and brutally changed forever. She had wanted to so much, however. She longed to be able to train again, to have a sense of normalcy in her life once more, and now she had that opportunity here with Leonardo and his family.

This felt like a dream come true. She feared if she closed her eyes, though, it would all be gone; the dojo, this home, and even her new friend. She was so used to having nothing and now suddenly she had everything. She didn't deserve it.

This time she couldn't fight back the tears. They spilled silently over and down her cheeks. She drew in a shuddering breath and brought an arm up to her face, hastily wiping the tears with her sleeve. She felt a gentle hand lay on her shoulder then and she gazed up at the blue-masked turtle standing beside her.

It hurt him to see her cry. Leo wanted her to be happy here, but not everyone had made her feel welcomed. For a brief moment, his anger at Raphael flared, but he quickly calmed himself once more. It was neither the time nor place to think about it. Right now, he was focused on comforting his friend.

"What's wrong?" he asked, softly.

She could only shake her head, unable to speak at first as she swallowed back a sob. She then took a deep breath and gave a ragged sigh.

"I don't want to trouble you anymore with my problems," she finally choked out, "I'm not worth it. I've caused enough damage already."

Damn. He expected such an answer, but not at this magnitude. Yet, with all the arguments and chaos surrounding her, it was no small wonder she'd been given the idea. He had to set her straight and let her know that he didn’t think she was any of those things.

"Alisa, I want you to listen to me and listen well," he began, in a low, firm voice, "You are not a problem. Do you understand me?"

She stared at him, stunned at the ferocity of his words. Almost numbly, she slowly nodded her head.

"I never would've saved your life that night," he continued, grasping her shoulders gently, "I never would've risked taking you to the hospital and then getting you out again later. I never would have done all those things if for one minute I thought you would be a problem."

"But it was more than I'm worth," she protested, fresh tears starting to roll down her cheeks, "It was too much to ask of you."

"You never had to ask because I gave it to you," he answered, quietly.

A sob escaped her throat before she could stifle it. Without thinking, he brushed a thumb lightly across her cheek, wiping away a tear.

"There's a reason why you're here, but I don't know what yet," he added, "I only know that you're a special young woman and I am glad to have you as my friend."

A smile slowly broke over her face and her eyes shone brightly through the tears. This made him smile as well for he knew he had succeeded in reaching her. She brought her arm to her eyes again and dried the last of the tears on her sweater sleeve. The material was quite damp by now, but she didn't care.

"Come," he beckoned, "There is one more room I wish to show you."

She was a little surprised by the announcement. She thought they had already covered the entire lair, but she was eager to see what room was left in the household. She followed him as he led them out of the dojo and all the way to the stairs. As he started to ascend them, however, her curiosity turned to confusion. She was certain he’d already shown her all the rooms that were up there earlier, but she climbed after him without question. He knew this place better than she did, after all.

When they reached the top, instead of turning right towards his and his brothers’ rooms, Leo veered to the left. What appeared to be the end of the hall actually went into a bend. Tucked around the corner nearly out of sight was a door. The hinges creaked loudly from disuse as he opened it. The air that rushed forth from inside was dank and musty, with a hint of machine oil and rusted metal.

He walked in and flipped a switch on the wall nearby to turn on the lights. There were only a few that had working bulbs, however, so the room was dimly lit. It was enough for them to see by. There was a pile of old sheets, blankets, a dresser with most of its finish stripped, pieces of frame to a bed, machine parts, and other odds and ends.

"It used to look worse than this," Leo spoke then, "Don and I started cleaning it early this morning. We used the room for storage, but I saw fit for another use now."

He glanced to her and gave a smile. The action puzzled her, and she wondered what he had in mind that involved her in this.

"We'll have the rest cleaned and fixed up by this afternoon," he continued, "We're going to paint the dresser and put together the bed. April's going to help us look for a mattress for it, and she'll wash the sheets and blankets. She'll also find anything you want to decorate your room with."

Her room? No, there had to be some mistake. She must have heard him wrong. He couldn’t possibly be giving her this room.

"M-my room?" she stammered, "Did you say this was my room?"

"Your room," he repeated, nodding his head, "It is yours."

She couldn't believe it. This was hers? They were fixing it up just so she could have a room of her own? She felt her emotions threatening to overflow again.

"I… I don't know what to say," she whispered, "Thank you."

She did something next that caught him completely off guard; she hugged him. For a moment, he was too surprised to react. Then slowly, he brought his own arms around her and returned the gesture. He was a little disappointed when she pulled away after a moment. He had to admit the hug had felt nice.

"You really didn't have to do this," she said, quietly.

"But I did," he replied, "I want you to feel at home and I can do that by starting with this room. No matter what anyone may say, you are now a part of this clan."

For the first time in years, she felt truly happy. She was part of a clan now; a member of the family. She knew, however, not all would see it that way, but she would cross that bridge when the time came. She would prove herself in the red-masked one's eyes, but for now, not even he could spoil this occasion.

She began planning then on how to decorate her new room.

End Chapter Twelve
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