The Call (a TMNT fanfiction)

Chapter 2: Christmas Shopping

"I don't know. I'm completely out of idea juice." I adjust my phone on my ear to a more comfortable position--my best friend Mallory already on the other end--and pick up a post card that is propped up on a rack in an aisle. It reads, "Alaska: nature's best postcard."  

"How can you not know? She's your mom! Even I  have some ideas on what to get her," Mallory responds, incredulous.

I see another postcard, and this one says: "Bora Bora." 

"Maybe I could get her a trip to Bora Bora," I say, only half joking.

"Right; like you have the funds for that," Mallory laughs, but then pauses, and adds, "But if you do have the funds, can you add me to the itinerary? I could really use a vacation." 

"Very funny," I say, rolling my eyes. "Tell me your ideas since you have so many." 

"She likes memories, right? Like pictures and stuff? I'm planning on getting her a blanket with a family picture printed on it." She pauses. "Of course, one with me in it as well since I'm the favorite child she never had."

Her idea sparks one in me. "Oh I know! I've got just the idea. Thanks for the help, Mal!"

Mallory and I get off the phone, and while I am looking down at my cell phone to turn it off, I slam right into someone who is large and thick, and I feel like I bounce backwards repelling off of them. When I look up, I see someone wearing a long, dark trench coat and a large fedora hat that is tilted to cover his face.

"Sorry--" I start, and I am already moving past.

"Lex?" A rough Brooklyn accent says. I look deeper into the face, and detect a hint of green.

"Raph?"

"Yeah...what're ya doin' here?"

"Uh...Christmas shopping." I pause and tilt my head. "Wait, what are you doing here?" 

It's been almost a week since the night I got attacked by the Dark Angels, and I haven't seen any of the turtles ever since. Not that I would expect to, since they are good enough at hiding that I didn't even know that they existed until recently. And this is definitely the last place that I would have expected to see any of them. Honestly, I am surprised that Raph even recognized me. 

He shrugs. "I was just headin' down to look at motorbikes. I can't buy anythin' though, so I don't know why I'm even here," he says. His hands dig deeper into his pockets. 

"So you can't get your brothers anything for Christmas?"

"Eh, we celebrate Christmas and everythin' but we ain't able to give presents and get a tree and all that. Our friends April and Casey usually get us things but we can't get 'em anything. And they're a couple so they like to spend Christmas together."

Well, I don't like that idea at all. Maybe it's the fact that I love everything about gift-giving: getting to think hard about the perfect gift for the people that I love, and getting to watch their faces when they open it. I just love everything about it, though I have never cared all that much about being on the receiving end. 

"Well, that's going to change today," I say.

He looks confused, but then after a moment of realization, he begins shaking his head.  "Look, I know that we saved you and all, but that doesn't mean that ya have to do any favors for us. It's what we do. We save people."