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Perseverance	By : EvaBrick Category: Comics > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Views: 9920 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
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
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I'm not making any money off this, nor do I own the Ninja Turtles - I'm just borrowing them for a while.
**********

“How’s your arm, Mikey?” Charlie asked, noticing that it was still bandaged. The cast was almost completely covered in pen and marker scribbles.

“It’s a lot better.” Michelangelo grinned coming over to give her a one armed hug. “We broke into a vet’s office last week and Donnie x-rayed it. Hey! Wanna sign my cast? I’ll getcha a pen.” Mikey dashed out of the kitchen.

“I think we can take his cast off in another couple of weeks-” Don said. “And not a moment too soon” Raphael muttered, setting the table. “He’s spilled juice and pizza sauce on it.”

“And yoghurt” Leo reminded, lifting the lid on a pot and stirring the contents with a wooden spoon.

“And he’s been playing tic-tac-toe on it too... and writing grocery lists and Nintendo cheat codes,” Raph finished with a sigh.

“And phone messages” Mickey added with a grin, coming back into the kitchen with a red marker. “Here Charlie, there’s a blank spot near my elbow that I’ve been saving for you.” Charlie set the cookbook down on the table and took the marker. She hadn’t forgotten that he’d saved her twice - she wanted to write something nice. She pulled off the lid and wrote, “Thanks, Mikey. Love, Charlie” and circled it with a heart. It was short and simple, but when she looked up into his face, she knew he understood. He winked at her and she smiled. Mikey could be pretty silly sometimes, but she could see the maturity in his eyes.

“Ah... you must be Charlotte” said a soft voice. Charlie turned around and saw a man-sized rat, wrapped in an oriental-style robe in the kitchen doorway. He was leaning on a gnarled walking stick and looked a bit shaky. The turtles had gone quiet and Charlotte knew they were watching to see how she’d react to their beloved sensei. She smiled and walked over to him and stuck out her hand.

“Yes, and you must be Master Splinter. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Splinter took her hand and shook it gently, bowing slightly. The turtles glanced at each other, feeling both relieved and pleased. Charlie had voluntarily touched a scary-looking, sick mutant rat. April had passed out the first time she saw Splinter.

“And I of you. I must thank you for looking after Michelangelo. I dare not imagine what would have happened to him if you had not taken him in.”

“Raph! The pot!” Leo shouted, interrupting. Raphael darted over to the stove and grabbed a pot that was boiling over. He lifted the lid and peeked carefully in.

“Rice is done,” he sighed.
******
Dinner was surprisingly good. Leo’s chicken wings were excellent, and Raphael’s rice and vegetable side dish wasn’t as bad as she expected. Don whispered that Raph’s secret was to make food in large quantities so they could eat around the burned bits. Splinter, as it turned out, was an avid reader, and was particularly fond of poetry. Charlie made a mental note to order in some Japanese books for him.

Donatello was relieved that everything was going so well. He’d been worried that she wouldn’t be able to handle the sewer, or Master Splinter, or the smell of burned rice... He new the guys were going to want to talk to him later. They kept giving him looks behind her back. They were all really angry about the mess of bruises on Charlie’s face - Splinter had raised them better than that - only cowards hit girls. Donatello was proud of his brothers for having the discipline to not mention the incident or to draw attention to the bruises.

Charlie offered to help with the dishes, but the turtles insisted that they could take care of it.

“Perhaps you and I could adjourn to the living room” Splinter said, offering her his arm. Charlie smiled and slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.

“You remind me a lot of my grandfather” she said as they left the kitchen.

“Thank-you, Charlotte. Donatello told me that he established your store in the 1950’s.”

“1952” Charlie said as they sat down on the couch. “My grandmother was his first customer. She kept coming back to buy magazines as an excuse to talk to him.”

Splinter laughed softly and then coughed. “How old were you when you started working there?” he asked.

“Fourteen, I think. I ran away from home and went to the city. I fell in with the wrong crowd and got into a bit of trouble...” she shook her head and laughed at herself. “I was tired and hungry all the time - I was staying with a bunch of other kids at this hideout in Central Park - anyway, I got caught stealing a chocolate bar from a store in the mall. They wanted me to call my parents, but...” Charlie’s voice trailed off.

“But they weren’t... available ” Splinter finished.

Charlie nodded. “My mother was off on some book launch and I was too scared to call my dad” she said, gesturing to her face “So I called my grandparents. I’d only met them a couple of times before - they didn’t get a long with Dad - but they came to get me right away... I was so ashamed. It didn’t take much to turn me around though” Charlie smiled. “They fed me and let me stay with them... I went back to school and worked at the store... I was pretty happy... except when my parents turned up, of course.”

“Your grandparents saved you from a dark life” Splinted commented.

“Yes, they certainly did.”

Leonardo came in with two mugs. “Coffee for Charlie and tea for you, sensei.” He bowed and set them down on the coffee table. “We’ve finished the dishes, Master Splinter, and we’re going to spend some time in the dojo.”

“Thank-you, Leonardo, we’ll be along shortly” Splinter smiled. Leo smiled and hurried off to join the others.

“For four people who were raised so closely, they have drastically different personalities.” Charlie commented, taking a sip of coffee.

“Yes” Splinter sighed, picking up his mug. “Leonardo is the oldest and most... thoughtful... I chose him to be their leader when I am gone. He will keep them together and safe. Michelangelo was the youngest and smallest... the others have always looked out for him. Raphael reminds me very much of myself when I was young... he appreciates, almost prefers, spending time alone... he’s actually quite contemplative. And Donatello... what have you learned of Donatello, Charlotte?”

Charlotte sipped at her coffee and thought for a minute. She knew this was another test. The turtles had left Splinter alone with her so they could have this conversation - Splinter was human once. He knew what girls we like, and he didn’t want the turtles to make any dangerous mistakes.

“Donatello is very smart, but a bit shy. He’s a gentleman. He’s helpful and likes to be appreciated. He’s never had a girlfriend before...” Charlie paused. Was that what she was? His girlfriend? She’d have to talk to him about that...

Splinter nodded. “They have experienced much, but they are all still quite... innocent. I will not be here forever...”

“Turtles live to be over a hundred - easily” Charlie said, remembering something she’d read a few weeks earlier.

“Yes” Splinter sighed. “But they are part man - part of me - and as much as any parent hates to admit it, my boys have grown up.”
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Perseverance