"Shadow?"
She smiled. "You did recognize me. It's been a while."
I frowned. "Yeah, guess so." Beat. "What're you doin' here?"
"College," she said. "Umm... Raph, you think we can talk somewhere where I can actually *see* you? Talking to the darkness is interesting, but kinda creepy."
I sighed. Great, just great. She's gonna ask about it, I know it. "A'right, follow me." I lead her back towards the swamp, but turned towards the ledge. When we reached the top, I kept my back to her. "Well?"
"You're being stubborn."
"So?"
Next thing I knew, she spun me around to face her and she gasped. "My God! What happened to-?"
I put a hand up to stop her. "Not important. Why do ya wanna talk to me?"
"Well, Don got my email address. He sent me an invite to go back to the farmhouse. He explained about his and Mike's get-together. he didn't really get into why..."
I let out a shaky breath I didn't know I'd been holding. "Ten years since Splinter's death." How did I know this? After all the years of willing myself not to remember. Never really know what time of year it was. Trying to distract myself, make myself forget the hurt, forget the emptiness...
"I'm going," she said, cutting through my thoughts.
I blinked. "What?"
"Just what I said: I'm going," Shadow said. "I assume you didn't know about it. Do you wanna come with me?"
Do I wannna go? Damn, I couldn't handle his death then, I sure as hell couldn't take it now. Just thinking about it is tough enough.
"I've only been away from them a few years. They miss you. Really."
"You go."
"Without you? I don't think so."
Now, why the hell is she so determined...
"You're coming with me, so don't argue," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me along. The strange thing is, I let her.
Present
I can't help the smirk that crosses my face as I watched Mike's jaw hit the floor.
"Raph!" he yelled, then jumped up, ran over, and hugged me.
I rolled my eye. "Announce it to the world, Mikey. Yes, I *am* alive."
he pulled away and it finally sunk in. His smile faded and his brow lowered. "What..." He paused, looking like he was searching for something to say.
"Don and Leo re s'poseta show?" I interrupt. Mike nodded. "I'll tell ya then."
Mike smiled again. "I can't believe you're here. How
As if on cue, Shadow came in with her bag. "Uncle Mike!"
Mike's jaw dropped again and did the same to her as he did me. I shook my head and sat down at the table, nabbing the cup of coffee that Mike had had in front of him.
Soon, they joined me at the table. Mike kept giving me this dopey grin.
"Shadow, I can't get over that you actually found him!" he said, happily.
"Mikey," I said, glaring at him, "you're makin' me ill. Stop it." I paused for effect, then pointed at the eye patch. "Don't make me show you what's left under here."
Mike cringed. "I won't say another word."
Shadow laughed. "Sure, scare the crap outta poor Mikey."
"Hey, just remember that me comin' here was *your* idea," I reminded her, then saw Mike's questioning look. "Sorry, Mike, but, no, I didn't exactly want to come."
"What the hell's all the commotion down here..?" Casey asked, entering the kitchen. A surprised look crossed his face. "Raph?" Beat. "Shadow!" He went over and hugged her, then turned to me.
"Hug me and die, Casey," I said, adding a grin.
Casey grinned back. "Told ya you oughtta wear a hockey mask."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, waving him off.
"I must be hearing things becuase I thought..." April began, then came through the doorway. "Raph!" She rushed over and hugged me.
I fakded a cough. "Can't... breathe..."
She pulled away, looking at me like she's trying to figure out if I'm real or not. Then I can see her gaze rest on the patch.
I shook my head. "Don't ask, I'll explain it later."
She nodded, tehn went over to greet Shadow.
"Raph, you keep saying that..." Mike said.
I sighed. "For one, it's actually a long story and..." I paused, looking down at the mg I snitched from Mike, "...well... it's..." God, why can't I even explain why it's so tough to explain. Something keeps nagging at me that I'm gonna lose it once I start talking about it. "I'm just not thrilled with remembering what happened, that's all." I looked up to see then staring at me. Wonderful. Gee, now I can't wait for Leo to show. This is too much. I stood, grabbing my bag, and headed for the stairs. Half way up, I remembered that Mike wasn't expecting me and wondered if I even still *had* a room here. I kept going, deciding to check for the hell of it. I turned the doorknob and stepped in to find... the room hadn't been touched, except to be dusted. A smile tugged at my lips and decided to get out of my 'swamp' attire. I wondered if any of them had even noticed...