Perseverance
Where there's smoke...
(For girlygeek82 and Lola Hard)
The turtles dropped her off in front of her building early that evening. The trip home hadn’t been as fun as the first drive, since everyone was a little sad to be leaving. Donatello pulled on his trench coat and hat and carried her bag up to her apartment for her and kissed her softly on the lips before climbing out her bathroom window and vanishing into the lengthening shadows in the depths of the alley. He’d offered to stay, but she knew he had things to do like unplug the van’s battery and check in with April to see how Splinter was.
Charlie herself was anxious to get to the book store to check on things. Lisa hadn’t called her all weekend, which wasn’t what they’d agreed on. She’d told Charlie that she was going to call her on Saturday night, just to let her know how things were going. Lisa probably just forgot, but Charlie was a bit disappointed in her friend for not following through on her promise. Charlie watched Don go, then she changed into a pair of jeans and sneakers, grabbed a jacket and headed out the door.
Her muscles were a bit sore from her hike with Raphael, but after she’d walked a block, they loosened up and she felt better. She hardly glanced at the first fire truck as it roared by - hell, it was New York, there were sirens all the time. Even the second and third trucks didn’t make it bat an eye. It was only when she noticed the big plume of smoke floating up above the buildings that a chill ran down her spine. Her steps quickened and she started walking a little faster, then she broke into a run, tearing past people and shops.
Charlie turned the corner and came to an abrupt halt. She opened her mouth to say scream, but no sound escaped her lips as she grabbed her chest over her heart to stop the searing pain that ripped through her chest. She grabbed the lamp post for support, but her legs crumbled out from under her as her head spun. She fell to her knees and stared in shock as she helplessly watched the smoke and flames devour her grandfather’s bookstore.