Chapter 44

"This is Carlos Chiang O'Brien Gambe reporting to you live for Channel 6 news! Only an hour ago, a giant Techno-terror-drome flew over the city and it seemed as if we were doomed. Now, the city is being evacuated as the military moves in to assess the damages and the cause for why the spaceship suddenly fell into the river behind me."

On the television, two men in army uniforms went over to the news reporter and forced the cameraman to turn off the camera.

Apparently the invasion footage went national the moment the invasion began. Claire's mom had called and told her daughter she was coming to the city to pick up her and Zoey. There was no telling how bad the city would be, but now Claire was glad her mom was on her way.

Military now flooded the streets, people fled the city, and the turtles still hadn't contacted them.

"Do you think the boys will be okay?" Zoey asked as she packed a suitcase.

They had made an announcement that schools were all going to be closed until further notice, and with Christmas break next week, the girls assumed they would be staying back in Pennsylvania until January.

Finally, Claire's phone went off. It was Master Splinter.

"Master Splinter?"

"Claire, are you and Zoey safe?"

"Yes, we're at our apartment. Are you all right?"

"Everyone is fine, including April and her father, but they had to leave the city. Men are invading our sewers. We are trying to gather items and escape. Do not come to the Lair."

"Understood. You and the turtles should come to the apartment. It's safe here."

Zoey and Claire breathed a sigh of relief. The boys were all safe.

When Donatello entered the apartment with his sensei and his brothers, Spike on Raph's shoulder, nothing sounded better to him than passing out for hours. He was so tired and exhausted. Claire and Zoey came out of their bedrooms and rushed over.

Before the purple-masked turtle realized it, Zoey was in his arms and holding him tightly.

It was then that Donatello felt a huge weight off of his shoulders. While the fight was long and the Kraang were dangerous, he couldn't help but fear his Zoey was in danger. Now, she was safe and in his arms again.

"I missed you," she whispered trying to hold back tears.

Don returned the hug and looked up. Claire was standing next to Raphael and gently petting Spike's head.

"Are you all right?" Claire asked him.

"You make it sound like you expected my shell to get handed to me by a bunch of aliens."

Leonardo and Michelangelo were at the fridge and were trying to devour anything in sight. Master Splinter seemed deep in thought, but Don was sure the sensei would tell everyone in time what was wrong.

"Quick, my mom should be here soon. You guys need to change into normal clothes. Zoey has some more in her room."

"Leonardo, you and Michelangelo could wear these," Master Splinter said as he pulled out two spare Japanese kimonos he had in his bag.

"Claire?" Donna Hicks screamed pounding on the front door. "Are you all right?"

Claire opened the door and hugged her mom tight. Her mom cupped her child's face and inspected her for damage.

"We need to go. Are you girls ready?"

"Mom, you need to come in for a minute."

"Sweetie, the army is all over-"

Claire dragged her mom inside.

"They need help. It isn't safe for them here."

"Who?-"

Her mom looked in the living room and saw five figures, three in what seemed to be formal clothes from another country and the other two in jeans, one in an oversized sweatshirt and the other in a biker jacket. There were four with green faces and masks covering their eyes while the other had a rodent-like face.

"M-My God," Donna Hicks muttered before fainting.

"Mom! Mom!"

Raphael went over and helped Claire move her mom to the couch, after nudging Spike out of the way.

"I-I don't understand. These are your friends? You left out the part where Hamato and his sons were turtles-wait, is this Raphael?"

The red-masked turtle nervously waved his hand.

"Nice to finally meet 'cha."

Zoey looked outside.

"We gotta get going. If we don't now, the guys might be seen."

"Mom," Claire said looking her mom in the eyes. "I know this is a lot to take in right now, but we need to leave. I swear everything will be all right but we need to go."

Claire's mom nodded, although she still had a look of horror on her face.

Everyone loaded up in the Tahoe waiting outside. The boys made sure their faces were covered with hoods or scarves and hats but Master Splinter had difficulty trying to hide his mouth.

"I hate wearing kimonos. They're so heavy..." Mikey complained.

"Michelangelo, behave yourself," Splinter scolded. "Hicks-san, thank you for helping us. I will explain everything the best I can on the way."

Kevin Hicks was waiting anxiously for his wife and daughter to return home. Aliens in the city? It was something straight out of a comic book. He would have to talk to Claire and make sure she wasn't hurt or anything. However, when the car pulled up, Mr. Hicks noticed something, there was more than just the three girls in the car.

Donna Hicks was still in disbelief. Mutants? Her daughter was friends and dating a mutant? And aliens invading the city? It was a lot to take in. But if her daughter trusted them, she knew she could as well.

"I-I'm sorry, we don't have any spare bedrooms but the barn has plenty of room. Not to make you feel like animals but-"

"It's fine," Leonardo spoke up as they all got out. "We appreciate you allowing us to come here."

Each of the turtles had a small bag with them and Raphael carried Spike on his shoulder. Donna looked at her daughter.

"You are the one who is going to tell your father all about th-"

The front door to the house swung open and Kevin Hicks stood there with a shotgun in his hand. He marched right over to the car, aimed his gun, and pulled back the safety. Raphael, with his heightened instincts and senses, immediately rushed over, forced the gun out of the man's hands, and forced the both of them to the ground. The turtle sat on top of the man but allowed him to use his arms.

"Dad!" Claire shouted.

"Who are you punks? Did they force you to bring them here? Leave my family alone!"

It was only then that Kevin noticed the boy sitting on him didn't have hair...and had green skin...and a strangely shaped face.

"What are you?"

While Donna Hicks started to make dinner, Master Splinter retold their story to Kevin, who was polishing his gun while staring at Raphael. The father had thought some ruffians had forced their way into the truck in order to escape the city and immediately went into "protective family-man mode."

The red-masked turtle felt as if there was a knife to his throat. He knew Claire said her father was very protective of her but he had no idea it was this bad. Raphael cleared his throat and tried to hold Claire's hand. Her hand nervously held his.

"You okay?"

"I'm just thankful my parents are responding so well to you guys. We're still going to be here for three weeks but I want you to get along with dad. It just seems like he's being stubborn."

"I heard that!" Kevin shouted. "And I refuse to get along with some punk who recklessly drives my daughter around on the back of a motorcycle!"

She went over and kneeled beside her father's chair.

"Daddy, Master Splinter has told you everything, can you please try to get along with them, especially Raphael?"

He groaned and put down the shotgun.

"You're my only kid. This is just like when you first asked to go to New York City. I hated the thought of you leaving. Now I find out you're leaving me all over again."

"That is not true," Master Splinter said. "She may have created new bonds, powerful and strong bonds, with other people, that does not mean the bond between the two of you is gone. All she does is talk about you and your wife when she is in our home."

Kevin looked down at his little girl. It seemed like just yesterday she was 4-years-old, wanting to try gymnastics after seeing it on television. Now, she was a beautiful young lady and was going to be 16 soon.

"Just...try to grow up a little slower, all right?" he mumbled.

Mikey was in pure heaven. Mrs. Hicks was a fantastic cook! She made whatever she had in the kitchen, since she wasn't expecting so many people, and it included homemade French fries, onion rings, a type of breaded chicken, and this amazing treat called Kielbasa! It was a sausage that Claire said was from a local meat shop and it was incredibly good. The brothers couldn't get enough of the delicious food and had to get reprimanded by Master Splinter at times about their table manners. Donatello was a little bummed because Zoey had to go home, but she promised to visit every day. With Claire's parents still adjusting, Zoey was concerned about how her parents would react.

"You boys look like you haven't eaten in days," Mrs. Hicks said, trying to get over the last of her nervousness about the mutants.

They were all very sweet and reminded her of some of her students. And Master Splinter was almost exactly like her husband: a kind heart but would be stern when needed.

Mr. Hicks was still keeping a watchful eye on Raphael, who was feeding lettuce leaves to Spike on his lap. The hot-tempered turtle was half-ready to yell at him to stop, but he wanted Claire's dad to like him. Maybe if he saw them training later, her dad would see that Raph could protect Claire!

"After dinner," Claire said. "I'll show you guys around the house and barn so you can meet everyone. How is Ice doing?"

"She's doing much better. Her muscle is coming back nicely and having her foal I think really perked up her spirit."

"Is Ice the horse you told us about?" Donatello asked.

"Yeah, Ice and Cole. See there is plenty of space out here for us to foster whatever animals the local shelter needs us to. We're a more isolated house so we can set up fencing or stables or whatever we need. Dad's a great contractor and oversees a lot of construction sites around the area so he usually ends up building the stables or add-ons with himself and some of his buddies."

Mr. Hicks excused himself from the table to feed the animals for the night, Master Splinter joining him, but Raphael couldn't help but feel he had left a little too quickly.

"I don't think your dad likes me too much."

"Don't say that, Raph. He's just...getting used to everything. I'm sure once he gets to know you, he'll see what an amazing guy you are."

"Trust me," Donna Hicks said. "Everyone goes through this. You wouldn't believe how much his parents didn't like me at first. I was this rogue girl who wanted to see the world and take their son away from them. I'm pretty sure his mother wore black on our wedding day just to spite me."

Raphael sighed. He was a tough turtle but he knew how much Claire's dad meant to her and he wanted to get along with the man.

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