TMNT 2007: NightWatching Love (Raph X Jamie)

Chapter 21: Victory At Last

The portal had finally closed and the guys cautiously approached it.

"So did we win now?" Mikey asked.

"Yeah, I think we did," Donnie answered.

They all cheered at that. They got the last monster back and the generals have been defeated.

"All right. That's what I'm talking about," Raph said after fist bumping Leo.

"Yeah!" Mikey and Donnie cheered.

"Nice parallel parking. Next time, I'm driving," Casey remarked, pushing the door open of the party wagon open and it fell off.

Karai and Casey made it out first and accidentally touched hands. Then they were knocked off when April got out of the car.

"Hey. Watch the hair," Casey mumbled.

Then April was knocked out of the car by the Foot ninja. Then he was knocked out of the party wagon by Jamie. She got out without falling and held her shoulder from the impact.

"I don't know who I trust more to drive now," she responded.

Raph came up to her and gently gave her a hug. Then Casey pushed Karai to the side and kissed April. She was shocked but relaxed and kissed back.

"Typical. We do all the work, he gets all the thanks," Raph replied.

"Well, maybe not all of it," Jamie smiled.

He smirked and they kissed too. When they all parted, Mikey gave an "Aw." Then the turtles faced Karai, who was supporting her Foot ninja as they walked.

"You are every bit the warriors I was informed you were. You have passed. Savor your victory tonight. For soon, we will have further business together. The kind that involves familiar faces from your past," she explained.

The turtles' eyes went wide at those words.

"She doesn't mean..." Raph started.

Karai smiled and threw down a smoke pellet, making everyone cough.

"Come on. What is it with ninjas and smoke pellets?" Casey complained.

When the smoke cleared, April walked up to Leo.

"Looks like you picked a good time to come home," she replied.

"Thanks. For bringing me back," he thanked her and she smiled in response.

Skylar went up to Jamie and they hugged.

"You okay?" Jamie asked.

"Best I've felt in a long time," Skylar answered.

"I'm glad. You're the best sister I could ever ask for," Jamie smiled.

Skylar did the same and responded, "Ditto."

Then they heard what sounded like crying. They looked to see Winters sitting on the stairs.

"Winters?" Raph asked.

They were caught off guard when he started laughing happily.

"I'm never usually that happy to be in pain," Mikey remarked.

"He's happy because he's mortal again, Mikey," Donnie pointed out.

"April, I've had my eye on you for a long time," Winters explained.

"I knew it," Casey remarked, making April elbow him.

"I've always known that you'd be the one to help me find my way home," Winters continued, turned to the turtles and Splinter and said, "And thank you, brothers. You've made a very old man very, very happy."

"So, um, what happens now?" Mikey asked.

Winters looked behind him to see the sunrise; he sighed, knowing his time had come. Then he started glowing blue and was lifted into the air. Raph wanted to help him, but Splinter blocked him, letting him know that it must take place. Raph understood and put an arm around Jamie, who placed her hand on his and rested her head on his shoulder. Winters rotated in the air and turned into dust that seemed to glisten in the sunlight. Everyone looked in awe at what had happened.

"Okay. Just a little bit creepy," Mikey commented then sneezed.

"Gesundheit," Jamie responded.

"Thanks, J. But gross. I think he's in my no- My no- My no-" Mikey replied then sneezed again.

Skylar couldn't quit giggling at the sight.

"Gross. Somebody give me a hankie," Mikey asked, Skylar gave him one, and he responded, "Now he's in my mouth. Tastes awful."

They all went back to the lair and Splinter brought Winters' helmet. He set it to the bottom left of Shredder's helmet if you were looking at the mantle. He looked at it for a minute before he heard one of his sons behind him.

"You got room for one more?" Raph asked.

He stood there, holding his Night Watcher helmet; he had given it up. He walked up to the mantle and set his helmet beside Winters'. He looked at Splinter and they smiled and nodded at each other.

"Uh, can I get rid of this too?" Mikey asked, holding his Cowabunga Carl head.

Raph just sighed.

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A/N Winters became mortal again and he found his way home. Yay! You may like immortality because you could live forever, but you'd also have to live with the heartache of people you care about die and never be able to reunite with them. Wouldn't you agree?