TMNT - Worlds Change

Twenty - One

Leo POV

"So you saw... three black darts?" I watched Mikee closely as he explained the strange sighting. He and the others had returned just as night fell. While Donnie and Athena warmed up by the fire, Mikee and Raph had come straight to me with information.

"I'm telling you, Leo. Three of them, headed for New York. The last thing we need is some aliens chillin' in New York when we aren't there to kick their butts." Mikee was adamant that something was wrong.

"And you didn't see this at all?" I turned to Raph, who was just as confused as I was. He shrugged.

"I didn't see it Leo. He said it was just as we were getting back to the rope." I shifted my focus back to Mikee, studying how on edge he seemed.

"Let me, Raph, and Casey head back into the city. We could do some scouting and find out if theres a need to call in the whole group of us." I shook my head immediately.

"We can't risk that yet. Our two main fighters, and Casey, gone? I don't like the odds."

"Guys!" Iris came rushing around the corner, excitement surrounding her like a firecracker. "I did it! I did it!"

"Did what Iris?" Venus stood from the couch, as did Master Splinter. Iris beckoned us all into the other room, Venus and Master Splinter were close on her heels.

Venus POV

My heart stopped as Iris entered the room where Master Dante was resting. With his eyes open.

"Master Dante!" Bellona and Athena pushed past me in the doorway, falling at his side. He smiled at each of them.

"My sweet daughters. It has been too long. I feared you would never return." He rested a hand on Bellona's shoulder. Athena checked his vitals.

"It was Venus who saved you. She went back for you when we destroyed Shredders Pagoda in the park." Iris looked up at me. "She saved all of us." I stood paralyzed with emotion.

Master Dante looked up at me with his wise rat eyes. I don't know how I moved from one side of the room to the other so quickly because before i knew it, I was hugging his neck. I could feel him smile as he rested his hand on my shoulders.

"I'm so sorry. You told me the truth about Shredder and I didn't listen." All the guilt I had felt welled up in me. I could feel the others eyes watching me. "I don't deserve to be called your daughter."

"It is alright, Venus. You were young, strong willed, and much more hard headed than you are now. Splinter and his sons have taught you to humble yourself. Just because you make a mistake, does not make you are any less my daughter." I held tightly to him.

"Thank you... father." I looked up to Iris, smiling.

Leo POV

"Iris learned the healing hands? That quickly?" I stood in the hall speaking with Splinter as the girls caught up with their father. Seeing the raw emotion in Venus had me slightly shaken, but overjoyed for her.

"Yes, Leonardo. And she could do the same for you and Venus. Once she has recovered from the strain of her intensive care of Dante." I glanced over to the door, where Venus escorted Athena back to the living room by the fire. Iris followed moments later. I noticed Raph head in quietly. Mikee stood with Iris, but his worry about home was evident.

"Sensei, I have a question for you." Sensei looked to me. "Mikee is worried about the city. He thinks he saw something, and wants to take Raph and Casey back to the city to check on everything. My only concern is leaving our numbers diminished, sending out several of our best fighters." Sensei mulled over the details a moment.

"Has Michelangelo ever been wrong in judging a potential threat?" I thought back on the times he accidentally created the threats. But in a literal sense of threats that already existed, Sensei had a point.

"I suppose you're right. At least he'll have Raph and Casey with him."

Bellona POV

"Hey. You ok, little Red?" I sighed. Master Dante was sleeping again, but was healing. I turned to Raph.

"Yeah. Just a little overwhelmed. With Athena and Donnie home, Iris with physical manifestations of her healing gift, and Master Dante back. Life's a little... crazy right now." I leaned against the wall. Raph pulled me from the wall and into a gentle hug.

"Crazy sounds right. But I'm here if you need me, ok?" I held onto him for a moment longer. It was strange, these tender moments. Raph wasn't the type to get lovey dovey, but in his heart he's a bit of a romantic.

"I know." I pulled back and he just held me there a moment.

"Raph." Leo's voice made us both jump. Raph turned to Leo, who looked a little smug.

"Yeah?"
"I'm giving you the Ok. You, Mikee, and Casey, head into the city. Just recon." Raph nodded.

As Leo walked away, Raph turned back to me. The hurt and anger must have been evident on my face. "Bella? What's wrong?"

"I should be going with you." Raph sighed at my response. "I'm supposed to be there to watch your six. What if you got hurt and I couldn't get to you?" I looked down, all this sudden emotion getting too much to handle.

"Bellona." Raph tilted my chin up, so I was looking him dead in the eyes. And he kissed me softly. "I need you here. To take care of the others while I'm gone."

"So to babysit?"
"To protect them while I'm gone. They need you. I have Mikee and Casey to look out for me." I sighed, knowing there wasn't any arguing with him.

"Just promise me you will come home, ok?" Raph pulled me close, with both tenderness and reassurance.

"I promise."