Chapter3

We're very proud for this chapter! It's really impressive! Anyway, BBP and I hope you all enjoy it and...

Rowan peeled her eyes opened and she blinked repeatedly. Her mind was still groggy as she slowly sat up, scanning the strange room she was in. Her muscles were sore and stiff, and she noticed that this wasn't her room from the lair. Everything flooded back to mind as her eyes widened in realization.Oh right, she thought bitterly,I surrendered myself back to the fucking Foot.

She swung her legs to the side of her large bed and got back up on her feet, flashes of last night's events passed in her mind. Rowan rubbed the crust out of her eyes as she walked to the bathroom door, closing the door shut behind her. Perhaps a shower could do the trick for her aching body and forget for a moment of her problems. She locked the door and peeled off her jacket that greedily clung to her pale as snow skin. She undressed herself and pulled the shower curtains aside. She stepped into the porcelain tub and closed the curtain as she turned the knob and water began to soak her bruised flesh which slowly started to heal up.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt the ice cold water soak her entire being. After adjusting it to room temperature water she relaxed her muscles and stood in the shower for a couple of minutes, letting her healing ability to do its work. Rowan noticed the shampoo and conditioner basket that hung from the wall and she scrolled through them as she read the labels. She opted to pick out the kiwi scented shampoo and cucumber conditioner since those were her favorite scents on the candles she used when she meditated with Leo.

Leo...

She wondered what the turtles were doing at that moment.Sleeping? Mikey most ? Yeah, like they would be in the mood to do that.Maybe they were planning for her and Jewel's escape. After all, it's their typical move.And Splinter? Have they told him? Or not? Fuck me and my dumbass plans, she thought angrily and closed her eyes painfully.

She squirted both contents into her hair and skin and rubbed them through her scarlet hair, paying extra homage to the blue tresses. She continued to rub the contents all over her skin and noticed some of the dried blood had peeled off her skin, fading into the water as it was swallowed down by the drain. Like her happiness was being drowned into sadness and disappointment. Rowan turned the shower off and pulled open the curtains again, stepping out of the tub as she plucked a towel from the rack. She wrapped her sopping wet self with the towel and promptly exited the bathroom, not in the best mood.

Rowan entered back into her room as she tossed the towel back onto the bed. She shuffled into the closet and noticed how large it was that she almost considered it another room. Nothing compared to her own back to the lair. The clothing options looked simple enough, something she had seen normal girls wear. She noticed that there was a dresser underneath one of the racks and she pulled the drawers open, snagging a sports bra since they were training today and dark blue panties. She pulled the panties on along with the bra and rummaged through the clothing articles.

She settled on a dark grey tank top with a pair of purple sweatpants. After pulling the clothes on, Rowan exited the closet and walked to one of her nightstands. She pulled the drawer and searched for anything like a hairband to tie her hair in. Her hair was already dampening the back of the tank top and she was not in the mood to dry and brush it. Normally she asked Jewel to dry her hair for Rowan with her fire powers – from a safe distance, obviously. But Rowan reconsidered since the mercenary wasn't happy with her at the moment. Rowan was just surprised Jewel hadn't drawn on her face or threw her off the building yet while she was sleeping. Maybe she wanted to do that when she was awake. To feel the pain.

Sighing as she could find nothing but a T.V. guide and a phonebook, Rowan opted to just let her hair air dry instead since clearly she wasn't going to find a hair tie. Her stomach growled and Rowan realized then she was hungry since she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday morning back when she was in the lair.

The lair.

The thought burned her and her heart ached. It hasn't even been a day and already I miss home, she thought to herself, saddened. Again, her heart ached and last night's thoughts popped up in her head. She actually dived into hell by doing this. And the fact that she broke her promise to her parents and brother's grave, made her heart split into two. Maybe Jewel was right, her plan sucked, she couldn't stop thinking that Shredder probably had a new plan to destroy their family.

Sucks or not, I'm not gonna let him hurt you, she thought firmly and stood up. She decided to go to Jewel's room and see how she was. Rowan left her suite and travelled to Jewel's and noticed that her curtains were closed and that Jewel was sitting in her chair, furiously typing something on her MacBook laptop. Rowan squinted and noticed that Jewel's fingers looked blurry as she tapped on the keyboard and she automatically knew she was using her enhanced speed.

Rowan bit on her bottom lip as she carefully treaded towards the kunoichi, crossing her hands on her chest nervously. Rowan wasn't terrified of Jewel, not at all. But Jewel was the type of girl who could hold a grudge like it wasn't anybody's business. Typical Jewel. Both spent time together when they were younger, so she knew Jewel like the back of her hand. "Hey," she called out hesitantly, her lips set in a straight line. Jewel didn't pause in whatever she was typing and she didn't answer for a couple of seconds. She tapped something onto the screen and looked like she was scrolling through something. She turned her head and glanced at Rowan, her hair tied in a lazy ponytail. "Hey," she repeated, going back to her typing.

Rowan smiled a bit. So far, so good, she told herself. Jewel's tone wasn't angry, it was nonchalant and relaxed as always. Maybe she had gotten over her anger and decided to trust Rowan in this. They did the right thing, even if it was terrible. But, Leo would be dead right now if it weren't for them. "How'd you sleep?" she asked pleasantly, walking closer until she was right beside Jewel. She glanced at Jewel's screen and saw that she was typing something on a Word document. Most likely an essay for school or something. Rowan briefly remembered that Jewel went to some performing arts school around in New York. "Fine." she answered shortly, typing a sentence into her essay.

Jewel glanced up at Rowan and lifted a brow at her damp hair. She turned back to her MacBook, "Your hair's wet." she observed, her tone matter-of-fact. Rowan nodded as she smiled sheepishly. She ran a hand through her sopping wet hair as it dripped onto the stark white carpet. She shrugged, "Yeah...Didn't feel like brushing it. Plus I couldn't find a hairband anywhere in my room. Can I borrow one of yours –"

"No."

Rowan retreated slightly, her smile slipping off her face, and she blinked in shock as Jewel continued to type speedily. "Wait, what?" she stammered, "'No'?" she repeated, frowning. Jewel didn't speak again for another minute as finished the last details of her sentences. Her calculating eyes skimmed through the typing before she nodded in affirmation, pleased with her work as she clicked Saved and shut the MacBook closed. She turned her head to Rowan and her eyes were anything but happy. But they weren't livid as before. "You're a big girl who can make big girl decisions. You want a fucking hairband then buy a fucking hairband for yourself," she said with a clipped tone, rising off her chair as she walked away from Rowan. She wore a pair of baggy grey sweatpants and a navy blue tube crop top.

Rowan could only stare at her retreating form with an angry look. She knew she should have expected that from Jewel. After all, this was the clan they both had been loathing with a burning passion ever since they were little. Rowan couldn't blame Jewel for being so angry with her, if she was in her place, she would definitely have the same reaction but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. Rowan's angry expression turned into a frown, following after the kunoichi. Maybe they could hash this out and Rowan would just have to hope that Jewel would listen and see the reasoning behind her plan.

"Jewel, hold up," she said, catching up to Jewel as she plopped herself back on her bed, checking her phone for any texts from her friends or from her agent. She glanced up at Rowan with her pretty eyes. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen, okay?" she said, "I just – Tiger Claw was choking your boyfriend to death" she remembered Leo's pale green skin, the way he slowly let his last breaths, how his life was being squeezed out of him and her heart cracked, "...and I couldn't just stand there and do nothing. What other choice did I have?"

Jewel narrowed her eyes into slits, and she shook her head, "That doesn't mean you should volunteer me into the Foot Clan." she countered, setting her phone down, "Just because you're a self-sacrificing bitch doesn't mean I am. You wanted to save Lion Boy's ass then volunteer yourself into the Foot. Don't drag me into it." she argued. Rowan tightened her jaw and shook her head, "You're too a self-sacrificing bitch Fire Queen and you know it damn well. Plus, Shredder wouldn't have never gone for it. He would've been suspicious or maybe he would've wanted the both of us." she countered but Jewel rose off her bed, walking closer to Rowan. She folded her arms across her chest and her jaw clenched, "You're wrong. And I meant what I said earlier. Back when I first met you, if I had any reason not to trust you, I'd blow your head off with my gun. If you ever did anything to really piss me off...I would kill you in a heartbeat. I don't care if the turtles and Splinter think of you as family. You're a liability to me. So you better fucking hope this stupid ass plan of yours works. Whatever the hell it is." Jewel threatened with one last seething glare and she plucked her phone and walked into her own closet.

Rowan turned around as she watched the kunoichi leave and shut the closet door behind her. Rowan flinched at the loud and abrupt noise and she stared at the closet door, Jewel possibly getting ready for their training evaluation. Anger and disappointment rosed up to her heart as she narrowed her eyes to the closed closet door, fangs popping out and her hands clenched into tight fists. "I can too blow your head off your fucking body 'cause we were in the same fucking clan! So don't threaten me Annabel because I can drink your sour blood in less than a fucking second!" she bellowed, tears gathered in her icy eyes and she stormed back to her own room.

Jewel stood still inside her closet with wide eyes. It was the first time in years Rowan had called her by her middle name, her aunt's name. She remembered Rowan calling her that when she was really angry with her. And now, she seemed real pissed. She narrowed her eyes and tightened her jaw, shaking her head. Screw it, Jewel. After all, it's her fault that any of this was happening in the first place, she thought to herself and pulled her fingerless gloves on.

Meanwhile, Rowan shuffled towards the large desk propped up in front of the wall glass and she stared at the city below. Cars passed by and she watched as random people she didn't know walk by the building, oblivious to what was happening inside. She was so envious of those people because those people didn't go through shit like Rowan did. They went through normal things and they didn't realize how lucky they were to be so ignorant.

She couldn't keep the hurt off her face from Jewel's harsh and cruel words. She remembered the day she had met the mercenary for the first time. They were five years old and recruited into the same clan, same training session added with Karai, Shredder's daughter who later turned out to be Splinter's daughter, Miwa. Rowan was in the Foot because of an agreement between her father and Shredder while Jewel was there because her father was an assassin and Shredder's second-in-command. After getting to know each other after a couple of weeks, the two girls quickly became fast friends. And as the years passed, they both became one of the high ranking elite female ninjas in the Foot. They were the best in everything.

The couple of kunoichi's.

Until, that horrible day that turned the girl's world upside down. The day Rowan's parents and baby brother died in a car accident. Rowan made some serious decisions, including the one of quitting the Foot. At first, Rowan and Jewel promised that they both would leave the clan together but the awful events destroyed their plans. Rowan though promised to Jewel that they would keep in touch, even if they were away. So, Rowan flew back to her country, USA, and Jewel stayed behind with her father, the one last relative she had and she couldn't leave him. But then he had died in a plane crash that later turned out to be rigged by one Shredder's former associates.

But they never lost contact.

A year ago, Jewel had came to New York and helped her friend, Clara, steal a couple of artifacts from the museum. Leo had caught the mercenary and attempted to stop her. Unfortunately Leo didn't know at the time that Jewel had powers and royally had his shell kicked to the curb. Leo had claimed that Jewel was flirting with him every time they met and his brothers teased him relentlessly for that. Rowan, on the other hand, knew everything about Jewel, since they kept in touch and she was happy of having her sister back.

Rowan tried to convince the turtles that Jewel wasn't who she said she was. It took longer than she expected, especially with Leonardo and Raphael, and Jewel, the stubborn brat. Jewel had finally relented and agreed to provide her assistance whenever needed but she didn't agree to stay in the lair. She claimed that sewer lairs were beneath her. Jewel lived in her own apartment that was located in one of the more dangerous parts of New York while she attended her performing arts school. Jewel spent more and more time in the lair with her and the turtles and she had been even began spending more time with Leonardo and Rowan.

Jewel and Rowan spent most of their time in Jewel's apartment or at Central Park, Rowan's favorite place, talking about everything that had happened in the past few tears. Her blood boiled at the thought of the Kraang when Jewel admitted she was kidnapped and experimented by them after Rowan had left a couple of months. Jewel announced first to Rowan that she and Leo were dating, much to Rowan's surprise who – secretly – had a crush to the blue banded turtle.

Their friendship blossomed again and the girls talked all the time whenever Jewel hung around in the lair, and she had even invited Rowan to all of her photoshoots, competitions, and once Jewel offered that Rowan could shoot the CEO of Shueben Enterprises in the head, which Rowan had passed on. But now it seemed as if that friendship dissipated and Jewel had reverted back to her cold, cynical self. The girl that Rowan saw only when they were doing a job for the Foot. Rowan prayed that Jewel would forgive her, see the reasoning behind the plan, she really, really did. Because she had lost too many people in her life to lose another friend who was close but now she seemed to be out of Rowan's reach. It was like Rowan was holding out her hand but Jewel wouldn't grab it and pull Rowan back up to the surface. Rowan was drowning in her own sorrow and she felt so defeated. It wasn't even nine yet and already she was feeling depressed. This felt like it was taking a lifetime.

Jewel stood in the center of the Foot Clan dojo. She was clad in a pitch black tube top along with red and black striped skirt that displayed her long, slender legs. She wore a pair of black gladiator sandals that stopped at her knees added with a pair of long leather gloves that went all the way up to her forearm. Jewel flicked the lone strand of hair in the middle of her forehead behind her ear, her hair pulled into a sleek ponytail, a mask covering her features. Jewel had her arms folded across her chest as she waited for Tiger Claw to come back with the Shredder by his side. She could feel the stares of the Foot Soldiers burning into her back. She could hear them whispering behind her and Jewel restrained the urge to turn around and throw one of them across the room or off the Empire Building. Either would be fine. The slide door opened and Rowan finally stepped into the room. Her hair was still damp and it frizzed just the slightest. Her icy blue eyes were rimmed red with either exhaustion or tears, Jewel didn't care either way. She had her arms tightly crossed and she offered Jewel a small smile. Jewel immediately narrowed her eyes and gave the girl a subtle shake, scowling behind the mask.

Rowan's smile immediately faded, knowing that she wouldn't have the chance to talk and change her mind and she timidly stood beside Jewel, hands crossed and face set for hiding her emotions. Jewel didn't spare the girl a second glance as she stared ahead, getting lost into her own thoughts. At least she was safe in her thoughts because everything was an absolute wreck. Jewel had never felt so angry and betrayed at someone who she considered a friend.

Especially from someone whom she might have considered as a sister. Just a little. She wasn't a sympathetic sap like Rowan was.

She had thought she could trust Rowan. They both created dreams and both decided of not coming back into that nightmare called the Foot Clan. But it seemed for Rowan that all of it had faded.

How could she?

Jewel couldn't let this slide. This plan of Rowan's – whatever it is – wasn't going to work and it was ridiculous. Jewel and Rowan knew how the Shredder was. He was never going to stop hunting down Splinter and the turtles until his last breath. He was never going to stop just because he had her and Rowan on his side now. He was always going to come after Splinter. The man had no honor and he was manipulative. Rowan should've known that. Shredder wasn't the type of man who kept his word. Jewel blamed herself for not applying her enhanced strength. It was so simple. She had these amazing powers and she could've just sped behind him, grab him by the head, snap his neck and he was no more. Jewel had thought of so many scenarios in her head on how she could kill him. She could use her pyrokinesis and burn him until he was nothing but ashes. She could almost hear his screams as he begged her for mercy, no longer the fearsome Foot Clan leader he claimed to be.

Tiger Claw and Shredder finally stepped into the room and Jewel could already feel her eyes burn as she struggled not to strangle him to death. He was right there and so close stood with her back straighter just like the way she used to back when she was in the Foot. Stand straight, don't talk unless spoken to, and show no emotion, her father's voice echoed in her head. It was almost as if he was right there and right next to her, like he never died. God, how she missed him.

Shredder had his hands clasped behind his back as he stepped forward and slowly paced in front of the two girls, and his slow pacing instantly reminded Jewel of how Master Splinter did that as he gave them instructions. He stopped on front of Jewel and regarded her with soulless eyes – the same eyes he had always regarded her with ever since she trained under the man and followed his every command like a dog. "Julia," he said, "you have worked under my command over the years with the Foot and trained alongside my daughter, correct?"

"Yes, Master Shredder," came the immediate reply.

"Then you are aware that I expect more than sufficiency from you, adding these abnormal abilities you possess, correct?"

"Yes, Master Shredder," she repeated, her voice steady and confident as she had trained it to be. Shredder seemed pleased with the answer as he nodded once at her, gesturing his arm at Tiger Claw. "Very well," he said, standing aside with the other ninjas, "I would like to reevaluate your skills so I could see what you are capable of now and see how much of a worthy soldier you used to be. Do not hold back those unique abilities you require as you go against my second-in-command."

Jewel clenched her jaw as her eyes settled on Tiger Claw, who grinned at her mischievously and his amber eyes pierced through her. She narrowed her eyes spitefully at the mutant tiger; she wasn't afraid of him. She was far stronger and faster than he was not to mention she could use his large size to her own advantage. She would just have to evade his attacks until he grew tired and then she would strike him where it was the most sensitive.

"Yes, Master Shredder," she droned and winced internally; she sounded just like her old-self back when she was in the Foot Clan when she was at a younger age. Jewel pushed the memories aside as she squared her shoulders confidently and gained into a defensive stance as she faced off against the large tiger. She was smaller and nimbler than he was so she could use some of her old gymnastics skills back when she was in the league. She drew out her Tanto sword in a swift motion and poised it directly towards him. The mutant tiger snarled lowly and tensed rigidly, Jewel observing as she noticed he was about to strike at any second.

The air was thick with a heavy silence and everyone in the room grew still as they stood with anticipation as to who would win – the mutant tiger or the girl with enhanced abilities, adding with pyrokinesis. Tiger Claw pounced high up and everyone's hearts leapt to their chests as they waited for Jewel's reaction. Jewel ducked away immediately and rolled back to her feet as she slid back into another crouched position. Tiger Claw swept his large claws as he swung at her and Jewel leapt off lightning quick and her hand brushed over his shoulder as she flipped gracefully back to the ground. She didn't give him another chance to swerve around as she swept at his legs and applied her enhanced strength. Tiger Claw stumbled as he fell flat-faced to the mats before picking himself up again speedily and whirled back around. He blinked in surprise when he realized Jewel was no longer there and narrowed his eyes.

His ear twitched and the tiger swerved around and placed a powerful kick to the girl's midsection. Jewel went flying across the dojo and crashed into the wall. She grunted as she fell on her face. Pain overwhelmed for a couple of seconds before she narrowed her eyes dangerously behind the mask. She gracefully leapt back to her feet and evaded every blow of his. Jewel ducked low as he swept his large claw and Tiger Claw finally drew out his gun. He shot at her a couple of times but Jewel managed to use her enhanced speed to evade every single one of them. All she had to do was evade him long enough until he lost his temper or until she could manage to find a weak spot.

He roared mightily as he rolled and prowled onto her, catching her by surprise as her back was slammed onto the mats. Jewel's vision spun and she could see spots all over until she blinked her eyes wide open. Her eyes widened to saucers as Tiger Claw bared his fangs, snarling as he raised his arm over his head, preparing for his final blow. Jewel gritted her teeth and without putting much thought into it, her arms ignited into flames, and she dug her nails into his arms, singing his fur with the flames. Instantly, Tiger Claw's eyes popped wide opened and he howled in pain, springing off of her and her nails pried off of his fur. Jewel rolled back to her feet and ran breakneck speed at the tiger, leaping up high and she landed onto him. His eyes widened as he found himself pinned and the tip of her Tanto blade was inches away from his throat, ready to slice the flesh and he could already see the blood flow from the wound, life draining from his eyes...

Jewel's chest heaved up and down as sweat rolled off her back. She drew her short blade away from the tiger's neck as Shredder called for her to stop. She pulled herself away from the mutant tiger and slowly walked up to Shredder, who had his arms clasped behind his back and he regarded her blankly. She kneeled before him and ducked her head low, glaring holes into the mats. "Very impressive, Julia." Shredder complimented, causing Jewel to lift her head, locking her eyes with his, "I see that you've used your new tricks to your advantage and I must commend you for that." he turned his head to Rowan, who glared him without any emotion. "Since you were too in the Foot Clan, Rowan, I shall not repeat myself to what I said to Julia. But, instead, you will be facing against all of my ninjas and I shall observe you from afar. Am I clear, young lady?"

A war raged beneath her icy blue eyes, an internal struggle gearing inside of her head. Jewel sheathed her Tanto sword and walked back to the bench nearby once Shredder excused her. She folded one leg over the other and folded her arms, watching as Rowan decided whether or not she would fire back a retort or risk a punishment from the Shredder. Her eyes turned to Jewel, glaring her with confidence but at the sane time sadly, and Jewel simply blinked and regarded her with cold, blank eyes. Rowan pursed her lips and her eyes slid back to Shredder. She nodded once sharply, "Yes, Master Shredder." she droned, remembering the way her tone of voice was during her childhood in the Foot.

And she hated it.

Shredder stepped away from her and placed himself away from the battlefield of the mats. Foot Ninjas instantly flew over to the mats as Rowan timidly trekked through the center. Jewel watched with interest as Rowan squared her shoulders and her eyes slid from side to side as they all gained into a defensive stance, weapons targeted at her. Tiger Claw stepped off long ago and sat himself on the other side of the bench, watching with mild interest as well.

Rowan slowly unleashed her Tanto sword as her sharp canines grew and touched her lower lip. Her eyes narrowed and she let the energy and power, which her vampire side provided, to coast through her veins. One soldier attacked the girl, running at breakneck speed and his weapons were pointing at her. Rowan made a sharp turn at him, raising a hand. The Foot soldier's weapon slipped away from his hand and with a sharp movement of her hand, the weapon had been thrown away. Rowan super sped at him, landing a hard kick on the soldier's stomach, knocking him out of the battlefield.

All the soldiers attacked Rowan at once and a fierce battle began. Rowan back flipped away and slammed her leg on the mat and ice appeared under the soldiers. Most of them back flipped away and some others slipped down. Before their backs slammed down, they found themselves in the air. Rowan had again a raised hand and with her physic powers she levitated the soldiers. With a single move, they had been all thrown to a wall with ice daggers trapping them on it.

A soldier appeared behind Rowan and raised his katana blade above her. Rowan's usual jiggling rang in her head and her sense informed her to what he was about to do. So, she went intangible and let the katana pass through her. Next, she moved away from the soldier and threw an ectoplasm ball on him, sending the soldier away and out from the battlefield. Two more ran from both sides towards Rowan who jumped in the air and straight opened her legs, kicking their faces. She landed on her feet and grabbed her Tanto with the use of her physic powers.

In a flash, she turned back and her sword met with a kama. Clashing sound heard all over the dojo and Jewel grinded her teeth. She sensed another soldier behind her and she narrowed her eyes again. Rowan jumped in the air and made a roll, landing her feet on the soldier behind her. Her Tanto met again with the kama and clashing sound heard again in the dojo. Rowan did a front flip and landed behind the other soldier, hitting the back of his head with the back of her Tanto.

He fell down unconscious.

More soldiers appeared.

Rowan turned to them, eyes narrowed and lips set in a deep snarl. They stood like that for a few minutes, minutes that Rowan took advantage of to think of how she would demolish them. Jewel's jaw tightened as her own mind made plenty of plans for how Rowan would attack as her dark blue eyes narrowed at her friend with impatience.

Rowan sheathed her tanto back to its place, on her hip, and grinded her teeth by the time all the Foot soldiers attacked. Her legs super sped around them, gathering them into a circle. Then, with her use of her ghost powers, the floor under the soldiers became invisible and all of them disappeared into darkness, screaming for mercy.

"Stop!"

Rowan turned to the bench were her friend and archenemies stood, staring at her with a mixture of either surprise and slight impression, especially Shredder.

She walked to their side, carefully standing some meters away from them. Then, she kneeled before then and ducked her head low, like Jewel did before. Sweat was falling from her nose along with her dried tiffs which covered her face.

"Excellent Rowan. I see that you used your powers wisely through the battle. Your and Julia's tricks were impressive and I am pleased." Shredder said and Rowan lifted her head, eyes full of anger glared at him back while Jewel looked at both, showing no emotion. "Thank you Master." Rowan replied, the last word saying it sarcastically.

Jewel's eyes fixated on Rowan, and she lifted a brow. It was an impressive battle. She was swift and it felt like she watching this straight from an action, sci-fi flick that was sending a message about the usual girl power shit. But just because Jewel was mildly impressed didn't mean she wasn't still mad. Jewel needed her own time and her own space. She just couldn't let this go.

"You may go. Tomorrow night will be your first patrol and Tiger Claw will be with you both. I demand you to capture orkillthe turtles. Is that clear?" Shredder ordered at the two girls who nodded and walked away, keeping a safe distance between them.

Rowan and Jewel walked down to the hall, remaining silent. Both were lost in their own thoughts but...both thoughts centered on the same topic.

How this plan would work.

When they reached their bedrooms doors, Rowan turned her glare to Jewel, icy blue eyes glinting with hope. "Jewel, can we talk?" she asked, tone begging her. The mercenary stared back at her and shrugged her shoulders, relieving Rowan. The red head opened her bedroom door and let Jewel to pass inside while she closed the door shut behind her.

Jewel sat on the big bed while Rowan stood opposite her, arms crossed nervously. Both were looking anywhere else except each other for minutes, remaining silent. Finally, Jewel sighed heavily as she pulled her mask off, eyes levelling to Rowan's tentative gaze. "Look, Rowan, I get why you wanted to protect the turtles and I know how much they mean to you, I really do." she said, folding her arms across her chest as she levelled the other girl with an unreadable expression, "But it wasn't fair of you to drag me along into this hellhole again. I don't even know what we're even gonna do. What's the plan exactly? 'Cause I don't really see one being laid out to me. What's the game plan here, 'cause so far, we're basically being ordered to capture the people we surrendered ourselves for in order to protect them."

She shook her head, smacking her lips, "None of this is making any sense to me, Rowan. So I'm callin' the shots now. Tomorrow, when we nab the guys and bring them to Shredder, you're gonna help them escape. He's probably gonna keep them underground somewhere, probably in Stockman's lair. All you have to do is take out a few of the guards, hopefully not many, distract Tiger Claw with that dog whistle Donnie installed in the Shellraiser, and you're gonna help them out. Got it?"

Rowan stilled, drinking all of it in, and she pursed her lips tightly. She nodded, blinking her burning eyes as she recoiled slightly, noting one important detail Jewel had left out. "And you?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. Jewel's expression didn't change, and she shrugged dismissively, "Probably off the coast in Costa Rica. Or maybe Spain. I've heard they've got pretty good salads there. Although I've always wanted to go to Paris and look at the real life Mona Lisa. I prefer the real painting over the one Mikey drew. It's no Leonardo Da Vinci but it ain't half bad." she said as she turned and Rowan watched as she exited out of her bedroom. The door that had shut seconds ago echoed dully in the air and her eyes were fixated on Jewel's retreated form.

Tears pooled into her icy eyes as Jewel's words echoed in her head, like a record on repeat. She blinked once; a tear slipped down her cheek. She had noticed that Jewel purposely outed herself out of her own plan and Rowan knew that meant one thing. Jewel wasn't planning on sticking around, she was planning on leaving her, the turtles, Splinter. Rowan just couldn't...she just couldn't understand just what the girl's problem was. How could she just leave? How could she just talk about it like it was no big deal? How could she leave her sister?Her boyfriend? People who considered her asfamily?That wasn't right. None of this was right. It wasn't fair and it was just wrong. And it was all of Rowan's fault because she was so unbelievably stupid and she hadn't been strong when she needed to be – when they had needed her to be. Her family needed her, and she had failed them.

She had failed her second family. Her second chance.